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FLATS FISHING INSIDE:

• Local Reports • Running of the Bulls • Fall Migrations PHOTO COURTESY OF GILLZ GEAR VOLUME 25 • ISSUE 307

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Four Destinations To Get Your

Flats Fishing Fix By CAM Staff

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALPHONSE FISHING COMPANY/WWW.ALPHONSE-ISLAND.COM

here’s no experience in fly fishing like standing on the deck of a skiff and watching for shadows that belie cruising fish. Sight casting saltwater flats is a pursuit that lies somewhere between biggame hunting and angling. For many anglers it is the ultimate expression of the sport. The following are four destinations that offer some of the best flats fishing in the world. Whether you seek the visceral thrill of leaping tarpon, the bone-jarring speed of giant trevally or the finesse and skill it takes to hook bonefish and permit, these places should be part of every angler’s bucket-list.

The Bahamas

No other island chain in the world has so completely associated itself with a single species of fish as the Bahamas. This 1,000-mile-long archipelago is bonefish heaven, and it has supported generations of famous fly fishing guides on more than 500 square miles of mostly hard-bottomed flats. There’s a reason the Bahamas are so famous for bonefishing. From Grand Bahama and the Abacos in the north all the way down to Long Island and Acklins in the south, there are more than 700 islands. Each little cay supports its own flats, which all offer perfect habitat for bones and perfect environs for fly fishing. Another great thing about bonefishing the Bahamas is easy access to the fishery. The islands are a quick hop from southern Florida, and every inhabited island has its own bonefish lodges. From swanky resorts to beachfront huts, there’s something for every type of angler, and the fishing is varied as well. Whether you seek the challenge of big wary fish or you’d rather have fun catching numbers, you’ll find it somewhere in the islands—and Bahamian guides are legendary for their skill and hospitality.

Seychelles

Out in the middle of the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa, the Seychelles are an

archipelago of 115 islands that offer some of the most remote and beautiful flats in the world. With a strictly managed fishery, the atolls of the Seychelles are teeming with fish, and the out islands offer flats that few anglers have ever seen. It’s one of the few remaining destinations where the fishing experience cannot be oversold. Bonefish are big, numerous and lightly pressured, so they will readily take a fly. But traveling anglers should go geared up for multiple other exciting flats inhabitants. From high-flying milkfish to powerful giant trevally, there’s really no place on the planet that offers such a diverse and exotic cast of characters. And you’ll be sight fishing for all of them, either wading or poling gorgeous shallow-water flats.

Belize

If permit are your passion, you’d be hard pressed to find a better place to chase them than Belize. This little English-speaking nation,

wedged in on the Caribbean between Mexico and Honduras, lays claim to what just might be the world’s best permit fishery. Belize is small. You could fit the entire country within Florida six times, and its population density is the lowest in all of Central America. These statistics explain the unspoiled nature of Belize’s forests, flats and beaches. Punta Gorda, on the southern coast, is the headliner destination for permit devotees. Yes, there are opportunities for tarpon, snook, bonefish and jacks, but the abundance and size of permit is astounding. Now, that abundance doesn’t make individual permit any easier to catch. It does, however, mean an angler will have numerous shots to get everything just right, which is a necessity when it comes to hooking permit on a fly.

The Florida Keys

No such list would be complete without mention of the Keys. The Florida Keys are the birthplace of backcountry fly fishing, and for decades the waters within the Gulf-side curve of this island chain have provided some of the best shallow-water fishing in the world. The more than 1,000-square-mile expanse of Florida Bay is a vast shelf lagoon, where bays, channels, flats and small islands exist in the mix of warm Gulf waters and freshwater seeping in from the Everglades. A skiff with a captain opens up a world of mud and grass flats to spot and cast to fish. Even an angler in a kayak could explore the mazes of mangrove islands. And there’s no telling what fish you might encounter. The summertime tarpon run is legendary. Bonefish and ever-difficult permit cruise the flats. Big snook and redfish are also potential sight-fishing targets. It’s a place where even big sharks have been known to take a fly. From the eastern United States, the Florida Keys are a no-hassle flats experience, and the fishing can be spectacular.

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11:34 AM

OCTOBER 2020

NATIONAL 5

FOUR TIPS FOR

very river is its own enclosed ecosystem. The specifics rarely translate from one fishery to the next when it comes to trout fishing. But there’s at least one thing you can count on when the first cold fronts roll in and autumn leaves color the banks of our mountain trout streams: the fishing will be good. The small window between hot summer and cold winter is a trout’s opportunity to fatten up for the lean months. But nature is not kind. Fall does not bring massive hatches of meaty mayflies like spring. Feeding opportunities can be sparse, which forces trout to be opportunistic. It is advantageous for anglers. Here are some general guidelines to remember when you’re fishing for trout in fall: 1) Conditions: Although water temperatures are cooling, levels remain low and clear in most streams. This makes trout wary. Wade stealthily and use longer, thinner leaders to avoid spooking fish.

all F TROUT By CAM Staff

2) Meat Theory: Trout pack on weight in fall, particularly brown trout, which are also fueling up for the spawn. Consider fishing larger flies than you normally would to give them a mouthful they can’t refuse. Streamers target the largest, most aggressive fish in a run. Large articulated streamers might seem outlandish, but they’re the deal if you’re willing to sacrifice numbers for size. Use a loop knot to tie streamers to tippet, it’ll give your fly more

PHOTO BY NICK CARTER

action, and consider an intermediate sinking line or a sink-tip to get your streamers down. Fluorocarbon leaders are also a good idea for stripping big streamers or drifting heavy stonefly nymphs through deep holes. Fluorocarbon sinks, and its abrasion resistance helps your rig stand up to the rock and wood you’ll encounter. 3) Spawning Browns: Brown trout run upstream to spawn this time of year. That means big browns show up in places you wouldn’t normally expect. Go ahead and fish the deep undercut at the tail-out of a pool, but look to the head of the run, too. There might be a giant butterbelly up in the riffles getting ready to move up the creek.

4) Dry Flies: If you just have to fish a dry fly, most of the topwater action will go on in the afternoon and evening. Terrestrials that carried fish through the summer are still a primary food source until the first hard frost. Be sure to carry hoppers, beetles and ants. Some areas see hatches of October Caddis, also called Autumn Sedge. These big orange bugs are mostly nocturnal, but trout will be looking for them. Other than that, most fall insect life is small. Blue-winged olives and midges are what trout rise to when cool weather settles in. Bring your box of size 18-24 BWOs and Griffith’s Gnats. Try fishing them behind a large, high-floating attractor pattern so you can track those tiny flies on the water.

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The Mystery of Silver Bullion A coin’s value is often tied to its rarity. One way to determine a coin’s rarity is by its mint mark—a small letter indicating where a coin was struck. Since Silver Eagles are almost always produced solely in West Point, the coins don’t feature one of these mint marks. But this year’s Silver

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BULL REDFISH On theFly I

By CAM Staff

t’s a special time of year for anglers who specialize in redfish on fly tackle. For the next couple of months, bull reds from the Carolinas to the Texas Gulf Coast will be on the move. Invigorated by cooling waters and the spawn, they run inshore to stack up in the passes and along the beaches. They’ll even push up into the marshes to feed with their smaller cousins. It’s the time of year to trade your 7-weight fly rod for a 9-weight, because the chance of hooking into a 20- to 40-pound redfish is better now than at any other time. In the South Carolina Lowcountry, big reds are herding adult shrimp on shallow mud flats. In the world famous Louisiana bayous, bulls are visible cruising and crunching crabs on the bottom. All along the Gulf and southern Atlantic coasts, anglers seek diving birds with binoculars. The schools of hungry redfish pushing baitfish from beneath are primed and ready to eat a fly. Those new to saltwater fly fishing will find that redfish are a very good place to start. Although the pursuit requires some stealth in terms of boat handling or wading, the fish are not leader shy and rarely spook at errant casts or line hitting the water. These are not wary bonefish that run from shadows. Catching red drum does require quick, accurate casts, but this time of year generally provides anglers with numerous shots at fish. One of the great thing about reds is they are aggressive and opportunistic feeders. Fly selection is a matter of matching the predominant forage where

you’re fishing, but generally they will eat most anything that runs away. Crab, spoon, shrimp and baitfish patterns all work, and the local fly shop will clue you in to the top producers. These flies are frequently tied in highly visible colors with flash and rattles. The key is put your fly in front of a redfish and then get its attention. You have to provide action for the fish to take notice, and seeing a fish react to your bait is extremely exciting. It’s one of the things that make reds on a fly so much fun, even for veterans of the mud flats. As a rule, you’ll want to keep the fly moving with short, quick strips. Let sinking flies bounce on the bottom to kick up mud. Whether it’s a waking dorsal fin, the violent parting of marsh grass or a shadow streaking across the bottom, you’ll know it when a big redfish homes in on your fly. At that point, you can slow it down, but keep that bait twitching. Let the rattles, flash and undulating feathers do their work. Strip-set hard on the take and PHOTOS BY NICK CARTER let the fish put a bow in the rod before giving another jolt to make sure the hook is home. You’ll soon realize why you needed a large arbor reel with a smooth drag and 100 yards of backing. A 20-pound bull red is going to seriously test a 9-foot leader tapered from 40 down to 15 or 20 pounds. It’s the kind of struggle that’ll bring you back for more.

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FREE-FALL U.S.A. The Rebel Series from the Last Frontier to the Southernmost Point

PHOTO BY PAUL PLASCJAK

he Rebel series’ reputation for being the ultimate Alaskan anchoring machine precedes itself. Churning out ultra-thin dyneema cord at impressive free-fall speeds in the North Pacific from Oregon to Alaska, the “Alaskan-tough” anchoring solution is not isolated to the rugged beauty of America’s last frontier where it was made most famous; its true free-fall capabilities are utilized for charter businesses and recreational boaters who set sail from the extreme north of Fairbanks all the way down to the southernmost islands of the Florida Keys. One example rests in Paul Plascjak, who splits his time between Maryland and Florida. No stranger to boating, the retiree docks his 1985 Bertram 30 Flybridge Cruiser at his Key Colony Beach residence where the Rebel EZ-5 drum anchor winch is comfortably perched on the bow of the 31-foot vessel. “All of us old guys with bad backs are sick and tired of all the old piece of crap windlasses that we have had to repair and cuss at all these years,” Plascjak said. “We just want to go fishing and keep the kids safe!” Proudly nestled at the front of the bow, the complete stainless steel anchor winch simply requires a two-second push from the helm or wireless remote. Gravity does the rest! Paul’s installation consists of 230’ of ⅝” rope combined with a homemade rock anchor. He says that the Rebel EZ-5 could “easily take another 60’ to 70’ of line,” if needed. It’s no wonder Paul’s neighbors are absolutely “envious” of the ease of use Paul experiences when they inspect the “beautiful” jam-free, time-saving anchoring installation. “A friend across the canal was hammering on his windlass last night trying to get it to grip the chain,” Plascjak emphasized in a summer e-mail to the

E-Z Anchor Puller team. “I loudly expounded on the virtues of your reliable drum winch with the free-fall capability [and] it’s looking prettier to the neighbors every day!” The Rebel’s spool design and internal spring around it’s drive shaft provides constant pressure on the braking plate, so Paul never has to worry about rope backlash or tangling while his Rebel churns out the anchor, rope and chain combination down to the seabed. Paul says E-Z Anchor Puller has greatly improved his recreational experiences and that the manufacturing company makes safe boating and fishing in the Florida Keys possible. Paul’s personal installation is right in the ballpark of the 2020 manual recommendation for rope and chain configuration: the EZ-5 is conservatively rated for 275’ of ⅝” rope plus an additional 20’ of ⅜” chain by the company.

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NATIONAL 11

THE BASICS FOR

A BETTER DAY

OFFSHORE By CAM Staff

PHOTO COURTESY OF FISHINGNOSARA.COM

he habits you bring to the boat can be as important as all the gear and knowledge in the world when it comes to catching fish. Whether you’re the guy with a new boat just figuring it out or a seasoned tournament captain whose main duty is to shout at the crew, developing good routines and fishing with the right mindset leads to better days on the water.

Here are a few tips that might help:

Get Organized. We all know the gear guy who loads everything and the kitchen sink in the boat. We’ve also been with this same guy when the last 8/0 circle hook breaks off in a big gag grouper. He’s got a fresh pack of 4/0 hooks under the seat from the last time he went scamp fishing with sardines, but that just won’t do for the big pinfish in the baitwell. You’re left looking in the cup holders for an appropriate hook while the fish are down there waiting to be caught. Keeping your tackle—and all your other gear—well organized makes you a better angler because you’ll have what you need when you need it. Not only will your tackle remain rust free longer in waterproof storage boxes with compartments, these handy trays tell you at a glance when you need to restock the items you use most. Be Prepared. Pre-rig leaders and ready the gear you plan to use the night before a trip. Check the latest reports, gather local intel, follow the weather and use a service like Sirius XM’s Fish Mapping to keep up with what’s going on before you leave the dock. Having a plan puts you on the fish quicker so you’ll be there when the bite turns on. But offshore fishing is also about adapting to circumstances on the water. The best anglers recognize and react to opportunities as they arise. This requires planning for what might happen on top of what is expected. Make sure you’ve got rigs, tackle and lures handy for when bottom fishing becomes chasing birds. Keep It Simple. Whether you’re trolling or sinking baits, know the limits of your crew. More lines in the water does not always equate to more fish on the deck. It takes an experienced and aware bunch of anglers to deploy and man complicated trolling spreads. Even a simple drop can come confusing when there are multiple fish on the line and unmanned rigs on the rails. One of the best ways to have an enjoyable and productive day on the water is to spend less time untangling snarls and more time fishing. Knowing how to avoid aggravation and wasted time is a skill in itself, and the first step is to keep it simple.

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EMILY HANZLIK

By CAM Staff

MEET A 15-YEAR-OLD WITH MULTIPLE WORLD RECORDS W

Q: How much do you fish?

Q: What’s your process for going after a record? A: First, it depends on what time a year it is and what is biting. Then I’ll look at the records for that species and target the lightest fish weight of all the line classes for that species. Then I move to the next lightest and work my way up until I have them all. I currently hold all the female line class records for bowfin.

Q: How did you get involved in the quest for IGFA world records? A: I got involved in the quest from my dad. He’s lived in Florida his whole life and has fished for records for many years. He has been unable to secure any for himself. I already had a head start since he’s been hunting down records for years and already knows all the good spots.

4 FLORIDA

OCTOBER 2020

A: I fish two days during the week and one during the weekend. I would fish more, but school is in the way. When I go fishing after school, it’s normally the little freshwater canals around the house, or we try hurrying to the beach for a few hours.

Q: Do you enjoy any other sports/ activities or are you just an outright fishing fanatic? A: I really love anything involving the outdoors; everything is just so calming. When I can’t get outside, I am inside playing video games, anything from Modern Warfare to Sims 4.

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Emily Hanzlik’s latest pending world record is a women’s line class record for this 35-pound, 6-oz. jack crevalle.

Q: Any crazy stories to go along with your record catches? A: The best story has to be the 7-pound, 12-ounce largemouth bass I caught on 12-pound test. My grandfather had just passed, and my dad received a bunch of old tackle, including a vintage Johnny Rattler by Rhoden, still in the box. Not wanting to sell it and not being much of a collector, my dad decided to open it and let me give it a try. It was a bass magnet. After a few trips of landing lots of nice bass on it, I landed that beauty, and it is still my biggest today. After posting a picture of it on my social media @emilhanzlikoutdoors, I was contacted by the son of Mr. Rhoden, who saw it. I now consider him a friend.

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hen she was a toddler, 15-year-old Emily Hanzlik showed an unusual interest in fishing the freshwater canals of West Palm Beach. With encouragement from her family and a father who enjoys taking her, that early interest developed into a full-blown quest about three years ago. Today, Emily is a sophomore at Seminole Ridge High School with an impressive 29 IGFA world records, 20 of which are currently standing. A 35-pound, 6-ounce jack crevalle she recently landed from the beach while shark fishing stands to set a new women’s line class world record. If it’s approved, she’ll have 30 world records to her name, and she’s barely even getting started. It’s safe to say Emily is one heck of a young angler. The following is a question and answer session about her quest for world records.

Q: Of your 29—soon to be 30—IGFA records, what’s your favorite? A: I would say this jack record. I’ve always wanted an official women’s line class record in saltwater. But I don’t really think about it as records. I just go to enjoy fishing and get records along the way… but the bigger the better.

Q: Which record are you gunning for next? A: The next record I am shooting for would have to be blacktip shark. I can’t really get started on that until the mullet get here, but once they show up, it is game on! Q: What is your dream fishing trip? A: I would go back to Costa Rica. The country is so beautiful, and the people are so friendly. Not only is it an amazing place, the fishing is even better. I definitely need to go back and try for the roosterfish record on 2-pound test. Q: Anything else you want to say to the other anglers reading this? A: As the need for more support for conservation grows, so does the importance of educating and engaging all of the new anglers of all ages in our sport. While you are out there enjoying the sport, take time and educate new anglers. Teach them how to tie a knot, rig a bait, properly release a fish, etc. Let’s help them enjoy it too. The more anglers we retain, the better we all will be long term.

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FLORIDA FLATHEAD RECORD FALLS AGAIN

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t’s pretty safe to say that Yellow River is the hot spot for big Florida flatheads. For the second time in a little over a year, the Panhandle river has produced a new state-record flathead catfish. This time the record fell to a fish that weighed nearly 70 pounds. Lavon Nowling, of Santa Rosa County, has fished the Yellow River for as long as he can remember. He’s caught plenty of big catfish, but none came close to the size of the monster that recently picked up his live bait. Weighing in at 69.9 pounds and measuring a little longer than 4 feet with a girth of more than 3 feet, Nowling’s fish barely edged out the previous record, a 69.3-pounder caught last year from the Yellow River by Marvin Griffin. “I’ve caught some good ones before this fish, but none of them were more than 54 pounds,” said Nowling. “I’ve been fishing since I was old enough to hold a pole and have been fishing on Yellow River as long as I can remember.” Nowling took his catch to the FWC’s Blackwater Hatchery near Holt, where biologists weighed it on a certified scale. “I’ve been deep sea fishing to creek fishing and I never expected to catch a state-record fish,” said Nowling. “That day I was fishing for channel catfish, and can’t believe I caught a huge flathead. I was in the right place at the right time.” Flathead catfish are a nonnative fish found in many northwest Florida Panhandle river systems. Flatheads prefer long, slow-flowing, moderately turbid rivers. Their solitary lifestyle makes them more difficult to catch than other catfish. Flatheads are also generally more predatory than other catfish species. While blue and channel catfish are typically caught with cutbait, adult flatheads feed primarily on live fish, crawfish, freshwater clams and mussels. It wouldn’t be too surprising to see the Florida flathead record fall again. Although giants like Nowling’s are rare, flatheads do grow much larger than 70 pounds. The world record was caught from Elk City Reservoir in Kansas in 1998. It weighed a staggering 123 pounds. To properly certify a new freshwater Florida state record, an FWC employee must witness its weighing on a certified scale and a biologist must identify the species. Anglers can check the current state records at BigCatchFlorida.com by clicking on “State Record,” and should notify the nearest FWC regional office if they believe they have caught a record fish. Contact information for FWC regional offices can be found at MyFWC.com/ Contact by clicking on “Contact Regional Offices.”

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DIVING THE DANNY MCCAULEY MEMORIAL REEF

These are fitting adornment for the ship that will become the Danny McCauley Memorial Reef. Within minutes, the Danny traveled 75 feet to the bottom. Everything went smoothly. Back at the surface, divers are already suiting up to check things out and recover the GoPro cameras mounted on board to record the sinking. (See the footage at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nly97M2kwT8). The old derelict settling into the sand is far from pretty. The ship, gutted and opened up to make it diver-friendly, is covered in rust and peeling paint. But the sea will change that. Although the process of assimilation is slow, it begins immediately. Fish take up occupancy. Unseen, tiny sessile organisms land on its surfaces to lay the foundations for the carpet of life that will eventually engulf the wreck. The Danny’s makeover starts. Today, as wrecks go, the Danny is in its prime. After seven years, divers will find its structure now softened by sponges, sea anemones and gorgonians. Goliath groupers reside in its recesses. It now belongs to the sea. The interior, so carefully prepared for safe diving, still entices divers with easy and safe exploration. Wheelhouse, cabin and below-deck areas are readily accessed, and you are never out of sight of daylight. Divers will find plenty to occupy themselves on the Danny—checking out its two unique crosses and boldly lettered stern, cruising its interior spaces, and stalking goliath groupers. Staying on the wreck also offers the benefit of shelter from the current that is usually running there. However, there’s a second attraction nearby. Just a short distance away lies Andrea’s Reef. This small artificial reef, created in 2016, is definitely worth a visit. Where else are you going to find a 60,000-pound concrete mermaid? Need another reason to dive the Danny? Location. It’s less than two miles north of the Palm Beach inlet, close to the middle of the standard Palm Beach County dive sites. On a two-tank charter trip, you can easily reach a variety of The stern leaves no doubt you’re diving the Danny McCauley Memorial Reef. interesting wrecks or reefs with a reasonable run during your surface interval. If you don’t have nitrox certification yet, a PADI Enriched Air Diver t was Feb. 22, 2013. Exactly a year earlier, Danny McCauley, a West Palm specialty course is worth the investment. Like much of Palm Beach diving, Beach teenager, died in a car accident. Now, a 110-foot tugboat—formerly the Danny is at a depth where nitrox can significantly boost your noknown as Pocahontas—slips beneath the waves. It has a new name, decompression bottom time. “DANNY,” spelled out in bold, iron letters welded across its stern. Give Pura Vida Divers a call at (561) 840-8750 to check out The ship bears two crosses—a simple one with the inscription “RIP DLM” upcoming trips or to look into an enriched air course. mounted above the cabin, and a Celtic cross on the roof of the wheelhouse.

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Capt. Mike Manis

On the Move

his is one of my favorite months. We are putting summer behind, but are still a month or so away from the first front and signs of winter. Cooler water temperatures put fish on the move. Snook, redfish and even pelagic species like bonito and kingfish are entering favorable transition periods. This combined with moderate breezes provides opportunities to get off the beaches, as well as inshore flats and shorelines. Snook, looking to fatten up after the summer spawn and before the slim pickings of winter will begin moving away from open water shorelines towards backcountry river, creek, and canal systems. Later in the month, they should really be on the move. It’s hard to imagine now, but these river and creek systems will provide protection and more stable water temperatures when the fronts and cooler temperatures start pushing through. Here, it’s hard not to put some time in on the west wall. It can see a lot of traffic, but it’s a natural migration path for fish making their way towards the Myakka River. Across the harbor, the east side on both sides of Alligator Creek can fish well. This area includes an extensive collection of mangrove islands and tidal creeks. Due to the warm water, I’ve been working the outer islands and in particular shorelines facing the open harbor. Now, I’ll begin making my way a couple islands deep, anticipating snook to do the same. The redfish spawn continues and look for them to be grouped up on open flats. They will move in and out with the tide, so keep an eye out around shorelines on higher tides. Any bay or sound could hold fish. More often than not, flats with good flush are a good bet. For this reason, I like flats adjacent to passes. The public ramp at Placida is relatively close to three gulf passes. Gasparilla, Stump, and Boca Grande. Flats inside and adjacent to the intracoastal around any of these passes are worth a look. To the south out of Pine Island, Captiva and Redfish are adjacent to some of the best turtle grass flats in our area. Outside the passes, this is a good time to feel the pull of a bonito and get into the backing of a fly rod. Keep an eye out for diving birds as they’re picking at the scraps from the bonito blowing up on bait. It’s a feeding frenzy and you can get close enough to throw just about anything into the mix. Also, schools of black drum can still be found bouncing back and forth between the U.S. 41 Bridge and the perimeter canals of Punta Gorda. They’ll eat a fly and will also get you into the backing. Until next month, good tides.

Punta Gorda Fly Charters • 941-628-7895 puntagordaflycharters.com 2 FORT MYERS | OCTOBER 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

Capt. Dave Stephens

Fall Changes

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all on Charlotte Harbor, it’s a special time of the year. It’s one of the best times for our spectacular fishery. We have so many extreme things going on. We have pelagic fish that are passing through the harbor. For the people that do not understand what a pelagic fish is, I’ll explain. This is a fish, that migrates from north to south. These fish follow the water temps in the gulf. As the waters cool in the fall, they follow the waters south. As the waters warm they follow the waters north. Our harbor has many pelagic fish that pass through our harbor. One of the most popular is the Spanish mackerel. These guys follow water temps around the mid 70 mark. Another well-known pelagic is cobia. Also, another fish that follows the cooler waters. We also have many fish that call Charlotte Harbor home and the most popular is snook. Without a doubt they are the most sensitive to weather changes. Snook can survive in freshwater and have been introduced to help control certain fish populations. The only problem, a certain level of salinity is required for spawning. Over the past week I have seen large schools of glass minnows in the harbor. This has brought in the ladyfish and jacks. Locating these guys isn’t that hard; look for large swarms of terns. Often you might see large tarpon feeding on these ladyfish. So, I recommend bringing a large rod with you. The snapper bite has been probably the best I have seen in many years, and will probably start to slow down. Mother Nature always has her say in things, hopefully next year will be as good. Well it’s hard to talk about fall without talking about redfish. Over the next couple months these guys should be making a strong presence in the harbor. Large schools of mullet will start to school up on our local bars, attracting these guys. Mullet are a vegetarian fish, but they stir up the food sources that reds feed on. As waters cool down a lot of changes will be happening in the harbor and that will make for some great fishing. If you would like to experience some of Southwest Florida’s finest fishing? Give us a call or send an email. All of our charters are customized to fit you sand your party’s needs.

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FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | OCTOBER 2020 | FORT MYERS 3

Capt. Neil Eisner

The Reds are Coming!

he month of October is my favorite time to fish. It’s also known for Halloween. Ghosts, goblins, and redfish all come out. This time of year is what us locals call Red October. It’s the time of year when the fish will start to move into the back bays and creeks. There’s no date on the calendar, as there is for Halloween, so how do you know when it starts? Well, as the story goes, after the third cold front moves down from the north and crosses over the Florida peninsula, that’s the start of Red October. The outside temperatures starts to fall. The nights are cooler and the highs for the day are not so high. The water will also start to cool off. When redfish start to feel the changes, they know winter is on its way and it’s time to feed and fatten up for the winter months to come. But how long will it last? Well I’ve seen years where it lasted for 4 weeks, but with an Indian summer it might last through Thanksgiving. As you move around the bay, notice all the schools of bait fish. Pilchards are an excellent choice if you are proficient in throwing the cast net. If you want to use live shrimp, it’s worth an extra buck or two for the hand-picked shrimp at the bait shop. I pinch off the tales of the shrimp and push the hook of a 1/4 oz jig head through the tail and have the hook come out the underside of the shrimp. Pitch the rig up under the mangrove overhangs. When the sun comes out you might find the reds on the sun shadow, line as they are warming up. Want to learn more, email or call me. I’m your captain. Neil Eisner

Fishing the Flats FC • 239-860-4242 Captneileisner@gmail.com 4 FORT MYERS | OCTOBER 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

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6 FORT MYERS | OCTOBER 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

Into

Capt. Bart Marx

the Deep

ello fellow anglers! Just a few more weeks till 2021, can you believe it? 2020 the year of surprises and first-time occurrences. Offshore possibilities this month depends on the first cold fronts to enter our area that will start the waters to cool off. This will help the migration of bait fish and mackerels. My Pop’s always told me 72° for the kings or somewhere close to that. Kings are fun to cast live baits to, use a little wire and live baits this works well. Sabiki up some thread herring or white bait or even pinfish. Go to an artificial reef that has lots of bait around it and drift or anchor and cast some livies into the schools of bait and hang on. This is my most favorite way to harvest king mackerel! Another technique that is easier to do is you troll the same areas with a #1 planer with wire in front and behind the planer and a 6’-8’ leader with more wire and a king spoon. Troll these only about 30’ – 50’ behind the boat, just into clean water. When you find them, roll through the strike zone, make a U-turn and pull through the same area. In the proper conditions you may have two at a time. Always check the regulations as to how many and size to harvest. I like to cut steaks out of the king about an inch thick, soak them in teriyaki sauce over night and toss them on a hot BBQ grill a few minutes on each side. Let’s talk about snappers, like lanes, mangroves, and yellowtails. You can find these guys from 60’ – 80’ of water. Lanes like grassy and some rocks where hang out, mangroves like ledges and low relief wrecks, and the yellowtails like some good size structure. Squid, shrimp, and Spanish sardines are good for lanes and mangroves. Yellowtails are a little more selective; they like small baits freelined drifting down with some chum. I like to use twenty-pound mono leader with a 1/0 VMC circle hook. This is light and strong. most of these places you have to be faster than the Goliath to have yellowtail for dinner. In the deeper waters you will encounter the reef donkey, aka amberjacks. They like live baits too; if you catch a small grunt or pinfish save them and set up a pole for the amberjacks. Also, in the 60’ – 70’ range you can find red and gag grouper on the bottom. Most of the time red grouper will eat dead baits and gags will eat live baits. And this time of year, you may encounter the big bull reds on some of the nearshore artificial reefs. Or you may find them in large schools eating everything in sight. And always remember singing drags and tight lines make me smile. <*(((((>{

Alpha Omega Charters • 941-979-6517 alphaomegacharters.com FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | OCTOBER 2020 | FORT MYERS 7

Better & Better

Capt. Billy Norris Master Chum in a

here are few places in the world that offer the diverse fishing opportunities that we have available here in SWFL. Nearshore, offshore, backwater and even the rivers have been hot on the bite this whole month. This month’s top performers have been permit, snook, redfish and especially snapper. Lots of action in Estero Bay and Wiggins lately. The redfish bite on the shallow water flats throughout the bays remains very productive with snook, big jacks and trout around as well. Especially encouraging is the return of numerous trout, including large females. After 2018’s Red Tide, trout were all but wiped out in Estero Bay, with a once easily caught species becoming a rare catch. Over the last month trout have made a huge comeback and they are starting to make a rebound to historical pre-2018 populations. Whitebait or pinfish rigged to sit on the bottom will get you on the action for snook and redfish. Work the deeper channels and moving water around mangrove islands on the last of the outgoing tide and beginning of the incoming tide for a good redfish and snook bite. As the water rises get up on the shallow flats to target fish foraging the grass flats. Remember to use either a trolling motor or push pole when navigating the flats for two reasons. One is to ensure not to damage the fragile seagrass ecosystem, and two is to sneak up on fish that become incredibly spooky on the flats. For trout, freelined whitebait has been the rig of choice. If you can’t get whitebait, a Gulp Shrimp on a jighead under a popping cork has also been effective. The nearshore reefs and wrecks have been fantastic this month. The star of the show has unarguably been mangrove snapper. Nearly every rubble pile, patch reef and artificial reef has been covered in large mangrove snapper. We have been limiting out on nearly every trip. In fact, the bite has been so good that we haven’t been keeping any fish under 12-14 inches even though the legal size is 10 due to the fact that they are so plentiful and there are so many big ones biting. There are several ways to target mangos. To start, chum heavily. I use a combination of regular Tournament

chum bag, while at the same time using larger diced up baits as well. Purchase a bag of threadfins or sardines from your local tackle shop and dice them up into one-inch pieces. Every few minutes throw in a few handfuls of the diced-up fish to keep the snapper lit up behind your boat in your chum slick. Both Master Bait and Tackle on Bonita Beach Road and Engel’s Outta’ Line Tackle Shop on Old 41 in Old Bonita carry all of the frozen baits you’ll need. Once you get them fired up, you can catch quality mangos as fast as you can get baits in the water. The permit bite has also been fantastic this past month. We have been targeting them very successfully, with some huge fish coming on board. Permit can be a very spooky fish, so once you find a school, ensure to be quiet and use your trolling motor to navigate around the school. For bait, crabs are a must. Permit have excellent eyesight, but luckily, they also have no teeth and very soft mouths. This allows you to use light fluorocarbon leader on big fish. If the water is dirty you can get away with 30# test fluoro, but I typically stick with 20#. Freeline crabs in the school, or if necessary use a light split shot to allow the crabs to drop into the depth of the school. Once hooked up, take your time and don’t try to muscle the fish in, wear them out or you’ll lose them. In addition to permit, there have been a lot of cobia around. We have caught plenty with some large ones in the 35# range. Cobia are not as picky and can be caught on nearly any large bait that you throw at them. Whitebait, threadfins, pinfish, crabs, shrimp, etc. will all work to catch the “brown clowns”. (A few years ago, I even found several baby sea turtles in the stomach of a cobia while cleaning it.) With cobia, I tend to stick with 50-pound fluorocarbon and at least a 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook. Beef up your gear a little bit, as they are hard fighting, strong fish. At a minimum a 5000-level reel with the Penn Slammer 6500 being my go to. The reefs and wrecks have also been producing some beautiful grouper over the past month. In addition to plenty of Goliaths, gags have started to move in. We have boated some nice gags, but important to remember that the size limit on gags has been raised from 22” to 24” now. Unlike red grouper, gags will rarely get excited over dead/frozen baits. They prefer live baits like giant pinfish, threadfin herring, or blue runners. Look for gags around structure like rubble piles or artificial reefs. Fishing has been fantastic this past month and as we move into fall will just continue to get better and better. In the coming months, the redfish bite should be the best of the year and the tarpon will show back up so get your big sticks ready.

8 FORT MYERS | OCTOBER 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

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ell folks, here we are again getting ready to host the 17th Annual Calusa Blueway Kayak Fishing Tournament albeit in an altered format from past events due to the ongoing pandemic. In addition to a virtual Captain’s Meeting the fee has been reduced and we’ve also added an exciting Team option for our corporate sponsors. For many years now we’ve held this tournament as a benefit event in support of the Candelighters of Southwest Florida whose mission it is to provide support, education and assistance to families of children with cancer and blood disorders. Unfortunately for them almost all of their out reach fundraisers have been cancelled this year so in hopes of giving them the most money we can raise this year, we’re handing out trophies and prize packages which may include a new kayak but is not assured as of this writing date. This has become the premier S.W. Florida paddle sport fishing event and we know that locals relish the chance to compete with each other as well as those that live outside of our little paradise who travel a long way to compete in this tournament. As I write this the fishing around Lee County has been on fire and promises to heat up as we head to a little cooler weather and water for the fall run. Redfish are beginning to cruise the flats in good size schools and the snook will have already begun their slow migration into the inner canals all the while fattening up for ‘winter’ and the trout bite should be great. If your new to this event it is a Catch, Photo and Release (CPR) tournament and is really low key with a small entry fee and really gives anyone at almost skill level a chance to try their luck. Over the years I’ve seen anglers of every ability try their hand at this event and it really is a rewarding way to give back and have some fun at the same time. A few tips if I may, first and foremost have all your gear clean, pre-rigged with new leader material and don’t try something you’ve never fished with on tournament day, also make sure you have a spare rod and reel in case of breakage. If you plan on using bait will they be open early and will they have it early, if not then reserve some ahead of time. Plan on giving yourself plenty of time to arrive and setup before launch so your not stressing about being late and make sure you can get back to weigh-in on time! Stay hydrated and fed as you will be power fishing for almost 8 hours under possibly hot conditions but also bring something to warm up in as last year proved to be a challenge to stay warm! Regardless of your ability or skill level come out and join us for this great event! It’s a Wild World-Get Out There!

Gulf Coast Kayak • 239-283-1125 gulfcoastkayak.com 10 FORT MYERS | OCTOBER 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

SWFL Freshwater Scene

Capt. Roan zumFelde

ctober is one of my all-time favorite months to fish in SWFL. Salt or fresh it is just one of those times where you cannot go wrong. A little cooler temperatures and still light people pressure on the water equates to some great fishing. Lake Trafford this month: talking to Ski Oleski, at Trafford Marine he thinks Mid October and into November is going to be excellent. All things considered it has been a pretty good summer for them. Flipping and pitching worms or creature baits will still reign supreme, but the long anticipated top water bite should come on in a big way. Water levels will be dropping and the fish should get more accessible to top-water plugs, and flies. The old tried and true baits still work: The Devils Horse, Bangolure, and the Tiny Torpedo. Fly selection should include various top-water poppers and muddlers and of course the new and improved Uncle Foamy if you are looking for a trophy on fly. The Everglades Canals are still going to be having issues with high water, but some canals like The Miami and L28 (access point

Hwy 41) should start picking up this month. You will always catch some bass and cichlids using small plastic worms rigged Texas style, so you can cast or pitch them into the deeper cover. Fly fishing these canals should get a little better especially if our night time temps start to decrease. I would still suggest early or late afternoons. If there is a good amount of water flowing over the earthen dams on L28, then the peacocks should gang up at the mouths of each. Small jigs and Clouser Minnow type flies cast up close to the water runoff and worked into the deeper water should catch them pretty well. Good places to start are along any of the weirs where water is running. Check out anywhere there are man-made structures along this canal they usually concentrate fish. But just about anywhere along the canal can be good. I have caught: snook, tarpon, bass, and cichlids in this canal from time to time. It is usually easier to fish with two people if you want to keep working along the canal. You just keep working your vehicle east on the access road. I would suggest having both a fresh and saltwater license just to stay out of trouble. Thanks and good fishing. Roan z

Mike’s Bait House • 239-775-2248 Mikesbaithouse.com • Indianpassoutfitters.com

FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | OCTOBER 2020 | FORT MYERS 11

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Capt. Terry Fisher

The Wonderful World of Fishing

reeting ‘fishing friends’! The waters of SW Florida and other ‘Ports of Call’ are full of new boaters and clients looking to escape the restrictions that the COVID-19 Pandemic and scare has created. It appears to be the best escape on the planet and many are re-kindling the flames by enjoying their boats and fishing equipment of yesteryear, while others are just getting into the recreational aspects of fishing and boating. Labor Day Weekend was a testament to the number of people boating, fishing and enjoying the waters. Political parades of boats were out in huge numbers to support their Presidential Candidate with flags waving and music playing. Since my last article, 1st Mate Vicki and I took another three (3) day trip to Key West (with our boat in tow) to enjoy catching dolphin and numerous other species (Vicki is pictured with some of the catch from the waters off of Key West). The only caveat to going is that we have our Chocolate Lab (Moby Dick) to consider and he requires being ‘boarded’. That makes him sad and costs me money (making me sadder). However, I promised him he gets to go on some trips to the ‘Keys’ next summer and that seems to appease him for now. Subsequent to the summer trips to the ‘Keys’, I took a number of clients out in Pine Island Sound and other areas to catch snook, redfish, seatrout, pompano and the likes (pictured are some of those catches with the clients). They also talked me out of giving them some dolphin fillets we brought back from the last visit to Key West and the Marquesas, as they follow Fish Face Charters on FaceBook and Instagram! I encourage everyone to get ‘on board’ and follow us as well. The fishing has been really good here in SW Florida! Offshore; the red grouper and other reef species catches are good. However, for the better results one needs to fish the deeper waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Waters from 85-110 foot have been the most productive. Reefs closer to shore in waters of 40-50 foot have

been producing some good catches for a variety of snappers such as lane, vermillion and gray. Permit and other species will cruise the reefs looking for a meal and with a little luck could produce a good day of fishing. Shrimps and squid are good choices for bait. Be sure and use circle hooks when fishing the reefs. Be cognizant of the law, including requirements for fish sizes and harvest restrictions). I suggest that to insure the best possible chances for a good offshore day is to load up on chum. The fact is: no chum, little to no fish! Lots of chum and continuous use of chum will provide the best opportunity for all reef and migratory species. Instead of $50 for beer, spend it on chum! Inshore fishing has been really good in the mornings compared to the hot afternoons. Recently we have experienced extremely warm coastal waters and record to nearly record daily heat. Heat indexes have been brutal after high noon. Moreover, afternoon summer heat will slow the bite down regardless of the tide levels or the species. I suggest fishing early morning and be finished by 1pm or earlier. All species are plentiful and active on the early morning bite. Snook, redfish and seatrout will provide no harvest opportunity, but are lots of fun to catch. Mangrove snapper, Spanish mackerel, sheepshead and flounder are basically the only inshore fish allowed to be harvested at this time and in the near future. Shrimp and pilchards should be the primary baits of choice for anglers. The waters of SWFL are the top choice for recreational activities. Labor Day Weekend festivities brought lots of charters from families and friends. Clients from the east coast of Florida, Ohio and other venues joined me for the boat parades as well as fishing. I am looking forward to continue teaching people when, where and how to catch fish on their vessels. I am available as ‘Captain for Hire’ (by the hour) on vessels to ensure that everyone regardless of age or level of experience to enjoy boating and fishing the waters of SW Florida. I encourage everyone to join in Captain Terry’s ‘WONDERFUL WORLD OF FISHING’ to get the most out of the beautiful waters of Florida.

Fish Face Charters • 239-357-6829 fishfacecharters.com

14 FORT MYERS | OCTOBER 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

sher

FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | OCTOBER 2020 | FORT MYERS 15

Grilled Florida Spiny Lobster Roll

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound Florida spiny lobster meat, grilled and • • • • • • • • •

chopped Florida Romaine or Butter lettuce, shredded (or your favorite lettuce) ½ cup Florida celery, chopped Rolls, split in half 2 green onions, chopped ½ cup mayonnaise 1 tablespoon prepared Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

PREPARATION

Heat grill to medium-high. Cut the lobster tail in half, leaving the lobster meat in the shell. Season with salt and pepper and grill for 2-3 minutes per side or until meat is no longer translucent. Remove from shell to cool and cut into bite-size pieces. Combine the mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire, celery, salt and pepper, mix thoroughly. Gently fold in lobster meat. Fill rolls with lobster mixture and garnish with green onions. Serve chilled.

THE 48th ANNUAL FORT MYERS BOAT SHOW NOVEMBER 12 – 15, 2020

he Covid10 pandemic has affected us in so many ways, but it appears we are finally turning a corner. Certainly, it is not a time to let our guard down, but it is time, along with some common sense, to begin returning to some semblance of normal. We are beginning to see the return of some events, including the 48th Annual Fort Myers Boat Show, November 12th – 15th in downtown’s historic River District. “It’s an exciting time for our show,” said show manager Kyle Good. “After three years of construction, the long-awaited Luminary Hotel and the totally refurbished Caloosa Sound (formerly Harborside) Convention Center are open. We can’t wait for show visitors to see this spectacular new addition to the show. You can make a weekend of your visit, stay right on the show grounds, enjoy a great show and the good times that the River District offers.” This is the largest display of boats, boating products, and services on Florida’s west coast, featuring over 600 boats on land and in water, representing over 130 manufacturers. It is also one of the most beautiful settings for a show in the country. Set on the Caloosahatchee River, exhibits wind along the river, through

Centennial Park and Edwards Drive, through the convention center and to the City Yacht Basin. Whether you are in the market for a boat, looking to repower or upgrade your current boat, or just want to see what’s new, you will find what you are looking for at this show. “In light of the Covid19 virus, we are taking preparations for safety and sanitation very seriously,” said Good. “Most of our event is outdoors, allowing plenty of room for social distancing. Indoors, we have designed the floorplan with wider aisles to keep everyone safe. We will have frequent hand sanitizing stations and will have staff monitoring entrances, exits and other high traffic points to maintain distancing requirements. All of our major exhibitors are returning, and we are working closely with them to keep boats and displays clean and to maintain distancing in their display areas.” For complete details about the show, hours, directions, listing of exhibitors and boat lines on display and on-line ticket sales information, visit www.FortMyersBoatShow.com.

16 FORT MYERS | OCTOBER 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

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More Information Available at www.FortMyersBoatShow.com FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | OCTOBER 2020 | FORT MYERS 17

Geocaching

Mike Hammond

uring the first Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival many years ago, my predecessor asked me to facilitate a geocaching program. I agreed and began to research geocaching. Geocaching. com was a great resource for everything I needed to learn. I found a family-fun activity that gets people outdoors and into parks and places of interest that they may not typically visit. For those who do not know, geocaching is often compared to a treasure hunt. Instead of a map, you have a smartphone or a GPS unit. In place of a chest full of gold, you will most likely find a container filled with small prizes and a logbook. At the geocaching program all those years ago, I met another paddler there to learn about this relatively new activity and then became super engaged in doing it. Brian Wiley has since hidden and maintained caches throughout Lee County for years. Luckily for us, he has combined his hobbies and hidden many of the caches along the Calusa Blueway. Wiley reports there are more than 150 geocaches on or near the Calusa Blueway. Paddling off the trail and into new mangrove tunnels sounds like a lot of fun and is what caching is all about – exploring new spots you wouldn’t normally go if not for the cache. If you’ve never gone geocaching before, I recommend downloading the free version to your phone from the app store and taking a look at how many caches are near you. They are everywhere. Try to find a couple and see how you like it. If you enjoy it, why not grab your kayaks or SUPs and hit the water to find a few more? There is a small monthly fee for finding caches with a level of difficulty greater than two. Because they are on the water, most Blueway caches require you have the membership to locate them. My daughter and I tried a cache on land before attempting one on the Calusa Blueway. I think this was very helpful for our later search from paddle craft. You can go to Geacaching.com for more information on etiquette, but the general principle of “Leave No Trace” applies. You should not need to blaze any new trails to find the cache. Just slip in, find the treasure, and slip out without being spotted by “muggles.” My daughter and I had a blast finding our first caches. I loved watching her navigate and problem solve on the water. She enjoyed the challenge and the fact there was a container of toys hidden on an island. We both appreciated a new way to enjoy our time on the water together. Adding geocaching to your paddling adventures is a sure way to get you to explore new locations and make old favorites feel new. If you haven’t yet, grab your paddle and phone and give it a try!

CalusaBlueway.com 18 FORT MYERS | OCTOBER 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

Jo e

Sh e

aff er

What’s on Your Spool

here has definitely been a learning curve for me, fishing inshore in SW Florida. I moved down here 4 years ago and compared to most of the great anglers in our region, I’m basically a rookie. It has been a challenge learning the area, lure selection, presentations, figuring out what equipment to use, to name a few. A couple weeks ago a fellow angler asked me “What type and strength of fishing line do you use?”. After many adjustments and experimenting I have finally become comfortable with what I have on my reels. Braid is definitely the way to go, as far as I’m concerned. It is definitely way more sensitive, superior castability and very durable. I have tried different brands and most of them are solid choices. I went through a few different sizes from 20 lb. down to 10 lb. test and have settled on 10 lb. test. I definitely can make longer casts and as long as I have a solid leader attached I haven’t had any issues hooking and landing nice size fish. The main selling point for me is casting distance, making long casts has given me a great advantage to get fish to bite. Sure, there are times when heavier braid is necessary, especially fishing heavy cover or for very large fish. I typically use 20-30 lb. test Fluorocarbon leader depending on the structure, water clarity or species. Monofilament leader works as well, especially in dirtier water. Sure, your rod and reel are very important, but the line you use on your reels should be a big priority; that is what is in direct contact with the lure and fish. I surely don’t have all the answers, but this setup has worked for me and it may work for you. Keep casting and good luck.

Capt. Chad Carney

Grabbin' Stone Crabs

arly in 1978 I got my first chance to hunt stone crabs, scuba diving under the Skyway Bridge across Tampa Bay. Cold dark water at sunrise, my buddy and I couldn’t see past 4-feet, but it was just enough to descend on rows of concrete pilings meeting the sand and rocks in strong current. Stone crabs thrived there! Of course we lost each other, but came ashore carrying mesh bags stuffed with enough tasty claws for a big dinner for all that night. Ever since, my favorite seafood is stone crab claws!

20 FORT MYERS | OCTOBER 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

Novice crabbers have trouble approaching stone crabs that resemble Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson vs other crab’s Justin Bieber-like appearance. People think I’m nuts when I tell them, “Just set fear aside and pounce on them with your whole hand. Hunt like an octopus!” Cover them up, pinning both claws at once, then drag them out and get a hold of each claw. If they start to pinch, try slipping your finger back, leaving them nothing but glove. Their pinch hurts but it’s not going to take off a finger. They tire quickly and can’t keep the pressure on, so pull away quickly. If you fiddle around with them you won’t be eating much for dinner! By pinning one claw to the crab you can measure the larger one (against a notch cut in a crowbar), then apply steady pressure out and down, and it will break cleanly, or the crab will “drop” the claw. Stop if it starts to tear, this will kill the crab. Bag the claw and put the crab immediately back in its hole where it can defend itself. Stone crabs are a unique and sustainable fishery because they regenerate a new claw after losing one. It’s legal to take both claws of size, but they recover faster if they have one claw to collect more food. Tools you’ll need: The above mentioned small crow bar is mostly used to block their retreat into holes, move rocks and

pull yourself along the bottom. Cut a notch at 2 7/8-inches from the bars end, it’s the new claw size regulation. A thin bright dive light, tough Dyneema or Kevlar gloves, a sharp stiletto knife, a small wide mouth mesh bag, that will hold your one gallon limit, and don’t forget your dive flag float. Keep your claws in a bucket half full of seawater, not on ice. Always boil all of them for about 5 minutes before refrigerating or freezing any. Otherwise they will stick to the shell. Rinse them with freshwater, melt some butter and serve hot, or make a Dijon sauce and serve cold. Mmmm! By the way large channel-lock pliers will crack them better than nut crackers or hammers. There are professional table claw crackers. Stone crabs have had a tough time the last few years, so for 2020 legal stone crab claws will have to be 2 7/8th-inches across the bottom fixed part, that’s up an 1/8th-inch for the season starting October 15, 2020. The season will also close May 2nd instead of May 15th. See myfwc.com for regulations, photos & videos of how to measure and remove a claw. Crab trap pullers have more changes, also on the website.

Florida Skin Diver • 727-423-7775 floridaskindiver.com

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Brag Board The Best Angler Photos From Southwest Florida!

Happy clients hauling in the redfish w/ Matlacha Fishing Charters. Scott Larsen caught this nice red grouper 30 miles out of Long Boat Key.

Charlotte Wilcox show off a 20# permit caught w/ Captain Whitney Jones of Whitney’s Bait and Tackle on Sanibel.

Ami Neri’s 1st ARS ever! Caught offshore Venice, FL

Jeff Wheeler showing off a nice redfish in Matlacha. Mason Shaffner proudly holds a nice peacock bass caught behind his house!

Angling w/ Adria had to fight off the barracudas to get some of her amberjacks on board!

52lb. King was the pot-winner in the Tortugas, from Capt. Jim Kalvin (orange shirt).

Ryan McKenna caught this 38” snook in Bokeelia!

Photos submitted Courtesy of Coastal Angler Readers and Contributing Writers

Submit pics to: camswfl@gmail.com or text to 239.595.8265 24 FORT MYERS | OCTOBER 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

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LIFE IS A BEACH

to their spawning grounds. Some pompano are showing up already, and I’ve been catching bluefish regularly. The snook and tarpon are still active, and it is now snook season in the Atlantic, when one snook may be harvested between 28 and 32 inches. I’ve had my best luck with a 4-inch D.O.A. paddletail on a 3/8-ounce By Richard L. Matteson jig head. Pearl white and silver sparkle have been the best colors. My light tackle rod and reel has between 10- and 20-pound white braid with 16 to 24 inches of 30- or 40-pound clear leader. I use a double uni-knot to attach the leader to the braid and a loop knot to attach the jig. If it’s windy or rough, I use a heavier jig head. For snook, I cast almost parallel to shore just behind the first cut and the closest beakers. I work the jig along the trough, which is the deep cut near the shore. Snook will sometimes be in the wash in 12 inches of water, so be ready. Don’t have your drag too tight or snook will break you off on the first run. After the hook set, keep your rod tip low and keep constant pressure. I like a steady retrieve to keep the tail wobbling, but when it is calm I let the lure bounce off the bottom and then pull it near the top. I also twitch the lure near the top and wait till I feel and pressure. Remember to keep in touch with the lure by reeling faster through breaking waves. For larger fish including tarpon, big jacks and kingfish (yes, they sometime run the beaches), I use 40-pound-test Power Pro braid with a 60-pound clear leader on a heavy rod. I throw topwater plugs, shallowrunning plugs, large 1-ounce jigs and 2-ounce Krocodile Spoons. On the plugs, I replace the treble hooks with large single hooks. You lose fish with the treble hooks because they either come loose, bend or break off. Bait is an effective method for catching larger fish. Fresh cut bait (ladyfish or blue runners) free lined and live pilchards, mullet and small whiting are some top natural baits. Use a cast net or sabiki rig to catch bait. You’ll also catch sharks when fishing bait, so be ready. When you go to the beach, look for bait. Usually the birds will tell you if there’s bait around. If there are no birds, it might be prudent to try another he summer heat is waning, and the cool-water fish are coming down beach. Fortunately, no matter what the conditions are, there will always be a from the north. Bluefish are cruising down the beach along with few fish around to bend your rod. schools of mackerel, big jacks and ladyfish. The ocean is alive with fish. For more information about the Stuart Rod and Reel Club visit In the early part of October, schools of mullet are making their final runs www.stuartrodandreel.com or call (336) 414-3440.

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Gulf Gray

Triggerfish Harvest Is Open

riggerfish are delicious and seemingly plentiful on Gulf of Mexico reefs, but they never seem to be in season when you catch them. That’s a good reason to go fishing this month, as PHOTO BY NICK CARTER gray triggerfish harvest is allowed through Oct. 25 in Gulf state and federal waters. Get your chicken rigs ready, but go armed for grouper, too. The daily bag limit for Gulf gray triggerfish is just one per person, with a minimum size of 15 inches fork length. NOAA Fisheries is reopening Gulf federal waters because data indicates the recreational quota for gray triggerfish was not met when the fishery was open earlier this spring. FWC is also opening state waters to be consistent with the federal season and to provide additional harvest opportunities for recreational fishermen. Gray triggerfish are open year-round on Florida’s Atlantic coast with a 12-inch minimum fork length and a bag limit of 10 fish per person. If you are fishing for gray triggerfish from a private recreational vessel, you are required to sign up as a State Reef Fish Angler. Learn more at MyFWC.com/SRFS.

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et you didn’t know that Oct. 17 is International Sawfish Day. This annual event is intended to raise awareness of the five species of sawfish, all of which are recognized internationally as Endangered or Critically Endangered. It is an opportunity to educate the public about the biology and ecology of these spectacular rays, to highlight the threats they continue to face, to focus on current research and management efforts to safeguard their future, and to inform people how they can contribute to the conservation and recovery of sawfish around the world. Founded by the European and American Associations of Zoos and Aquariums and the Sawfish Conservation Society, the first International Sawfish Day was celebrated in 2017. This year, International Sawfish Day will be celebrated mostly online due to the global coronavirus pandemic; however, there will be some limited events at institutions and organizations around the world. To celebrate International Sawfish Day, participating aquariums, museums, zoos, schools, conservation agencies and research groups hold celebrations and events, share messages and images on social media, and help spread the word about sawfish. Social media posts using the hashtags #InternationalSawfishDay and #INTLsawfishday and interactive events reach hundreds of thousands of people in the weeks surrounding each International Sawfish Day. International Sawfish Day also raises funds for sawfish field research programs and helps strengthen the collaborative relationships between the public aquarium community and research and field conservation organizations. Information about events and the fundraiser can be found at www.InternationalSawfishDay.org. Information about scheduled events and other International Sawfish Day resources can be found at www.SawfishConservationSociety.org and at the Sawfish Conservation Society public Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/91335002341.

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ON THE FLY By CAM Staff

edfish, permit, bonefish, tarpon… flats fish are what everyone thinks of when it comes to saltwater fly fishing. Well, here’s another one to add to the list: cobia. Cobia are the perfect offshore species to pursue with fly tackle. Their peculiar migrating behaviors make them targets for sight fishing, and any species that can be sight fished with artificial lures can also be caught with a fly. Cobia will jump all over a well-placed eel, crab or baitfish pattern, but you’d better be geared up to deal with a mean fish once it feels the hook-set. Let’s start with finding them. In spring, cobia run north along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, where they are hounded along the beaches by anglers in small boats with tall towers. They’ll be moving the opposite direction in fall, and if you keep an eye on the fishing reports and web forums, it’ll clue you in on their progress southward toward their wintering grounds off the Florida Keys. Fall brings high winds and rains with each successive cold front, but it also pushes the migration. The key to sight fishing cobia in fall is to find a calm day with clear water. Under the right conditions, cobia can be spotted running the beaches behind rays and turtles, just like in spring, only the opposite direction. The angler must remain vigilant. The window of opportunity begins to close as soon as a group of cobia is encountered. Leave all those pretty false casts on a trout stream somewhere, because casting to cobia should be quick and dirty. Use a water load on the backcast to load the rod and shoot the fly forward. If you misfire, don’t mess around; pick it up and try again. If you can swim a fly in front of a cobia’s nose, chances are it will eat. The heavy 10 and 11 weight rods necessary for this style of fishing will help you achieve the casting distance you might need on the water. They should also have plenty of lifting power and be paired with a quality reel with a smooth drag. Whether it’s a 5-pounder or a 50-pounder, cobia are brawlers that will make you haul them up off the bottom after that first run. A standard weight-forward floating line will suffice, but an intermediate sink tip can be fished near the surface or allowed to sink if the fish decide to dive a little deeper. A 9-foot, 20-pound leader with a 30-pound shock tippet will stand up to most fish in open water, but you’ll want at least 200 yards of 30-pound Dacron backing. You’ll see that backing shooting through the guides if you hook even a mid-sized cobia.

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ou choose your fly with the utmost care. The same should go for the gear you wear for an outstanding day on the flats or shoreline. GILLZ Gear is made right, so it’s incredibly durable and will last as long as you do. Shirts, shorts, masks and hats provide super sun protection, and the hoodies, jackets and pants are perfect for those days when you need more protection from the elements. Innovative fabrics with unique design features offer enhanced performance, like the revolutionary GillzTec fabric, which regulates body temperature. And check out the cross-breeze ventilation system on the GILLZ mask, featuring GillzVents, which direct air through the vents and down your body. Remember, no gear’s as comfortable or performs better than GILLZ. Before you go out on your next fly fishing adventure for snook, bonefish, tarpon or any other species, check out Gillz gear. For more information, visit www.gillz-gear.com.

J.O. SPICE COMPANY CELEBRATES 75 YEARS AND 4 GENERATIONS

teamed blue crabs seasoned with J.O. No.2 or a custom blend that J.O. manufactures is the flavor people experience at crab establishments all over. Most people credit this crab house seasoning to another product but J.O. has been the crab houses’ seasoning of choice since 1945. J.O. Spice, started by J.O. (James Ozzle) Strigle and his wife Dot in Baltimore City in 1945, is celebrating its 75th Anniversary. A native of Tangier Island, Va., J.O. Strigle brought the seafood spice blend he created in his kitchen on the island to Maryland. Jane McPhaul, J.O.’s daughter took over operations of the family business in the late eighties while her son, Don Ports, was serving in the Marine Corps. In 1990 Don joined his mother in the family business with a vision to expand. In the summer of 1991 Don met his spice girl, Ginger, with the pick up line, “you’re destined to be mine; you’re named for a spice,” said J.O. Spice Company president Don Ports to wife Ginger Ports the moment they met. Twenty eight years later, Don and Ginger- alongside their children Brittany, Tyler and Bethany, are continuing the family traditions of quality seasonings, spices, and more at reasonable prices at their Halethorpe based J.O. Spice Company. “We can provide crab houses everything they need for the crab eating experience, minus the crabs”, Don says. The company added crab boxes, crab paper, bushel baskets, crab knives, crab mallets and a variety of other items to their offerings. “We purchased our first laser engraver and that opened the door to the retail gift world and personalized options,” Don says. J.O. specializes in custom blended seasonings for pizza companies, pit beef stands, butchers, potato chip companies and more. We are more than seafood seasonings. “My children, the fourth generation, and our amazing team work side-by-side to make all of this happen,” Ginger says. “At J.O., we are all family who enjoy working with so many other family businesses. We are blessed.” Please visit us at jospices.com.

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This 18-pound Everglades snook is proof that big fish eat artificials. It ate a Chicken on a Chain-colored Knockin Tail Lure.

ctober is one of the best months to fish in the southern United States. This transition month signals the migration of marine life along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, creating a feeding frenzy and a great opportunity for anglers in more ways than one. The obvious opportunity is an abundance of feeding fish congregating in the path of schools of bait. From the mullet run on the Atlantic to the shrimp migration of the Texas and Louisiana marsh, these two annual migrations give anglers the opportunity to catch any native fish they desire. Some of the more popular game fish include snook, tarpon, speckled trout, redfish and flounder. The flounder will also be making their annual voyage to spawn in open water, which makes them extremely easy to target. In addition to making fish easier to locate, and catch, the second opportunity is not as obvious. However, I feel it is one of equal importance to hone your fishing skills. The time is now to learn or fine-tune your skills fishing with lures. With aggressively feeding fish, this is the best time to gain confidence throwing plastic, and as the saying goes, “fool’em, don’t feed’em.” As a lifelong angler, I’ve utilized just about every legal means to catch fish, but none are more rewarding than tricking them into eating something that is not natural. Sure, as a youngster I just wanted to catch and that was very rewarding, but until you make the switch you will never know the feeling I am referring to. Soft plastics will pay the most dividends when it comes to artificials. They are tried and true lures and some of the easiest to use. They will also save you money because, unlike a live or dead shrimp, you can catch several fish on one lure. To hone this down even more, paddle-style lures, or swimbaits as they are often called, are the most simple to use for the novice angler. Depending on the area and structure you are fishing near as well as the strength of the current, you will either choose to rig these on a jig head or a weighted weedless hook. A great attribute of the swimbait is it can be very effective on a steady retrieve. For the beginner, you can just cast, reel and catch. It can literally be that simple. The jerk-style or “fluke” soft plastic is also very effective, but takes more effort to fish and you will need to develop “the touch” when working the lure. It’s is not that difficult, but it does take a little practice to produce that erratic action fish love. This fall, pick up a few packs of soft plastic lures, grab a few jig heads, and leave the bait bucket and stinky dead bait at home. The time is now to catch fish, gain confidence in something new, and save money doing it. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures with the built-in tail rattle, Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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Handle Fish With Care By Jerry Kane

hether you intend to release a fish you catch or legally keep it, the fish should be handled properly... for the fish’s sake – and yours. Any caught fish that you do not intend to keep should be returned to the water immediately with as little stress to the fish as possible. That means minimal handling of the fish. One thing can make handling fish challenging is fish are slimy, potentially making grasping and holding them difficult. A fish’s coat of slime is what protects it from diseases and parasites. The more a fish is handled, the more its protective slime coat is compromised. The best way to release a fish without causing damage is to remove the hook and release the fish while in the water. There is another option. Take an old kitchen towel with you fishing and soak it. When you catch a fish, cradle the fish in that wet towel. It not only will let you get a good grasp on the fish and prevent possible punctures from fish spines, but it will protect the fish and its slime coat. Remove the hook while holding the fish and then release the fish back into the water. For removing hooks from fish, use needle-nose pliers or forceps. If you plan on releasing all your fish, use the pliers to bend down the barb on the point, making hook removal easier. Another tool you can use is a net made of fish-friendly material that minimizes stress on fish. On the other hand, if you want to harvest some fish, there are ways to handle that. A bucket of water or stringer will keep fish for a short time. Otherwise, place the caught fish on ice immediately.

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Recreational Marlin And Spearfish Harvest Closed In Atlantic

OAA Fisheries closed recreational harvest of Atlantic blue marlin, white marlin and roundscale spearfish on Sept. 30. Fishing for these species in all Atlantic waters will be catch-andrelease-only through Dec. 31. The closure was implemented due to landings PHOTO COURTESY OF BLUE MARLIN WORLD CUP information that suggests the 250-landings limit for 2020 had been met and exceeded in September. Under applicable regulations, only catch-and-release fishing is permitted for these species for the rest of the year. HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat category permit holders and persons aboard vessels permitted in the Atlantic tunas General category or Swordfish General Commercial that fish in registered Atlantic HMS Tournaments, may catch-and-release (or tag and release) Atlantic blue marlin, white marlin and roundscale spearfish of all sizes. Atlantic sailfish may continue to be landed and retained consistent with applicable regulations. Anglers are reminded that Atlantic billfish that are released must be handled in a manner that will maximize survival, and without removing the fish from the water. Here are some additional tips:

• Do not remove fish from the water, even for a photo. • Rig a measuring device so the fish can be measured in the water. • Never gaff billfish in the body. Use a lip gaff in the front lower jaw or a snooter. • Use non-offset circle hooks. • If you cannot safely remove the hook, cut the leader as close to the hook as possible. • Use heavier tackle to reduce fight time. • Slowly tow spent fish with the boat until their color/energy returns before release.

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Big Sheepshead Is A Maryland Record

massive 14.1-pound sheepshead caught by an angler targeting speckled trout and striper is a new Chesapeake Bay record, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Daniel Mastronardi Jr., of Dorchester County, Maryland, caught the record-breaking fish on Aug. 9 in the lower bay while fishing peeler crab in about 15 feet of water. Mastronardi’s catch breaks the 13.73-pound record that was set three years ago by Dave Alveberg. Mastronardi, 33, said his catch came unexpectedly. “I really had no idea what I had on the line,” he said. Mastronardi reeled in the recordbreaking sheepshead and immediately called his father to check the current state records. He said, “It really was one of the biggest I’ve ever seen.” He plans to have his catch mounted. Maryland state records for sportfish are kept four divisions – Atlantic, Chesapeake, Non-tidal, and Invasive. The Maryland record for sheepshead in the Atlantic division weighed 18 pounds and was caught in 2017. The IGFA world record, caught off New Orleans in 1982, weighed 21 pounds, 4 ounces.

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SHRIMP BOATS AND OIL RIGS OUT OF GRAND ISLE

By Dana Burkhart

erched on the outer edge of the bayous south of New Orleans, Grand Isle, Louisiana, is like a whole other world to outsiders. Last year, my husband and I entered the Battle at Bridge Side tournament with the Atlanta Saltwater Sportsman’s Club, simply because neither of us had ever fished Louisiana. Arriving over the bayous hinted at the otherworldliness of this excursion. We had entered a realm where time didn’t hurry or run out; it ebbed and flowed as it pleased, just like the creole accent dripping from every local’s greeting. Our first adventure invoked scenes from Forrest Gump as we prepared to fish the shrimp boats. A line of smaller vessels patiently waited for turns behind Miss Geraldine. While we were waiting, Capt. Ward Lang informed us it would go incredibly fast. We cut up small porgy in anxious preparation. When it was our boat’s turn, I squelched the urge to declare we were WAY too close—I could see the boots of Miss Geraldine’s crew! We inched 5 feet behind Geraldine’s prop wash and threw out fistfuls of porgy parts as we drifted. The fish popped hard for what seemed like a split second, and then it was over. My husband, George, reeled in a 25-pound tuna on the first pass before the rest of us got sharked on the second and third passes. The fish fight coupled with the urgency of this maneuver gave a great shot of adrenaline. All I could say for the next few hours was, “That was awesome!” Ten miles from Bridge Side Marina, we used sabikis weighted with 8 ounces of lead to fill baitwells with blue runners. That bait would fuel an overnight excursion to a deep-water rig. I bowed out; my husband did not. A day and a half later, I welcomed him back, along with his play-byplay account of a bucket-list night. The teenage grin was still on his face as he began: “Once we finally got 100 miles out there, we waited for the sun to go down and the action to pick up. We circled ‘Brutus’ (the rig’s nickname). I caught a beautiful yellowfin head, and a shark got its tail. You know how it goes! “Two of Brutus’ support ships shielded us from the weather, and our captains’ Rhodan spot locks did the rest of the anchor work. We were in 3,000 feet of water with vertical jigs, and the bite was around 350 feet. By 6:30 the next morning, only one person was awake in each boat. We hauled in 31 blackfin with the help of an electric reel. I helped position the outriggers for morning trolling back to the docks and caught a nice mahi. Then I caught a nice snooze in the beanbag. It was amazing!” I rejoined the team on the last day of the tournament. We dropped baits 60 feet around a system of ocean-floor oil pipes and pulled up some nice red snapper. It was nice of the DNR to give us an additional weekend of open season right at the last minute.

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PENNSYLVANIA’S

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ctober means pumpkin spice is everywhere and the smallmouth bite is strong. As the first cold fronts show up, cooler temperatures kickstart a feeding frenzy as the fish rush to fatten up before the long cold winter. Normally we would be hitting the Susquehanna River this time of year. The Susquehanna runs right through Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and is known as one of the best smallmouth fisheries in the country, especially for fly fishing. Bob Clouser actually developed the Clouser Minnow here as he helped make the area famous. Unfortunately, we had a hot dry summer that left the river so low it’s hard to even get a kayak around in some parts. Fortunately, one of the Susquehanna’s tributaries, Conodoguinet Creek, seems to stay much more hydrated. The bass have no issues moving up into it. This is a great time of year, even for novice fly fishermen, as it’s all pretty basic from equipment to technique. I use a G. Loomis Asquith 7 weight and a Nautilus 7/8 with Scientific Anglers floating line and an 8-foot, 10-poundtest leader, but any quality 6 to 8 weight will do. For flies, a yellow, green or black popper works perfectly. You know the kind. They are the popping bugs you find anywhere from high-end fly shops to gas stations with microwavesized fishing departments. The fishing is pretty simple, and even a beginner can catch dozens of fish in a day. The bigger bass tend to hang in the creases created by disruptions in the water produced by rocks sticking up or bridge pilings. Fish these

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Sav 40% creases far downstream of where you think the water has fused again, as there is still a freeway of food being funneled to waiting fish. When there is nothing to create creases, it’s best to concentrate on the shoreline, which holds abundant small fish. Presentation is pretty basic, but accuracy helps. Cast into the crease and let the fly settle until the ripples disappear. If you haven’t hooked up by then, give the fly a slight twitch and pause again. I find that most of my strikes come right after the fly hits the water, so the fish are keying in on that sound. That said, making hard strips with the popper tends to act more like a fire alarm than a dinner bell and sends fish running for cover. Usually, after a couple of twitches, it’s time to recast to keep in the crease. Utilizing a backcast is also useful to work both sides of the creek, especially if you are being guided, so as to not hook your captain. Regardless of whether you are working down the creek by boat, tube or foot, this time of year is great for fly fishermen who want to catch strong and lively smallmouths.

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Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler and has been writing about fishing for more than two decades. For central Pennsylvania fly trips, contact Wildeastoutfitters@outlook.com.

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Custom Built Quality Outdoor BBQ Products Since 1989

Heavy Alumin

YOUR C OF CO

$ Pig Cookers, Patio Grills, Smokers, Customized BBQ Trailers

299 .

Compare to Coleman 635394 $56.49

UltraWeath Locka

$ 9

For More Info 1-252-236-4464 www.BQGRILLS.com 6043 Hwy 301N, Elm City, NC

129 .

Compare to Pelican 1150-000-1 $50.50 ITEM 64550 63518 shown

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SUPERSUPER COUPON COUPON Customer Rating Customer Rating (1551)

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*73985852 *73985852 * *

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ITEM 57593

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ITEM 57593

Headlamp Headlamp

(1551)

$ 99 $ 99

20 20%% OFF OFF

(4396)

2000w2000w Super Quiet Super Quiet Inverter Inverter Generator Generator

$ 99 $ 99 .

(4396)

SUPERSUPER COUPON COUPON

*73889114 *73889114 * *

LIMIT 3 LIMIT 3

ANY SINGLE ITEM*

*73888962 *7 73888962 * * 3 8 8 8 97 63 28 8 8 9 6 2

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Compare to Use Online Use & In-Store Online & In-Store Energizer HDB32EH $16.97 7 3 8 8 9 1 7 93 9 8 8 9 1Exp. 9 911/17/20*Exp. 11/17/20*

*73889199 *73889199 * *

SUPERSUPER COUPON COUPON SUPERCustomer SUPER COUPON COUPON SUPER SUPER COUPON COUPON SUPERCustomer SUPER COUPON COUPON Customer Rating Customer Rating Rating Customer Rating Customer Rating Customer Rating Rating Customer Rating (7479) (7479) (697) (697) (2385) (2385) (1712) (1712) 0.30 cal. 0.30Ammo cal. Ammo Box Box 7 ft. 4" 7 x ft. 9 ft. 4" 6" x 9 ft. 6" MODEL 9800 MODEL 9800 YOUR CHOICE YOUR CHOICE All Purpose/Weather All Purpose/Weather 30", 5 DrawerOF 7 COLORS $ 49$ Waterproof 49 Waterproof Protective Protective Rifle Cases Rifle Cases OF 7 COLORS Resistant Resistant Tarp Tarp $ 99 $ 30", 995 Drawer Mechanic’s Mechanic’s Cart Cart YOUR CHOICE YOUR OFCHOICE COLOROF COLOR Side Side

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Black

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Use Online Use & In-Store Online & In-StoreBG8X10-Y $10.98

® Rapid Pump Rapid®Pump 1.5 Ton 1.5 Ton Lightweight Lightweight Aluminum Aluminum Floor Jack Floor Jack

(337)

*73891846 *73891846 * *

SUPERSUPER COUPON COUPON Customer Rating Customer Rating (3957)

(337)

4 4

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79 79

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Compare to Valeo 25521 $10.64

Compare to Compare to K Tool K Tool $ KTI63094 KTI63094 $163.09 $163.09

(4093)

Compare to Anvil A137HOS Use Online Use & In-Store Online & In-Store$75.88

Save Save 60% 60%

Compare to Anvil A137HOS $75.88

Save Save 59% 59%

39 39 99 $

*73919738 *73919738 * *

SUPERSUPER COUPON COUPON SUPER SUPER COUPON COUPON Customer Rating Customer Rating Customer Rating Customer Rating (5300) (5300) (890) (890) HeavyHeavy Duty Foldable Duty Foldable Aluminum Aluminum SportsSports ChairsChairs 100w Solar 100wPanel Solar Kit Panel Kit YOUR CHOICE YOUR CHOICE OF COLOROF COLOR

$99 99 99

Compare to Coleman 635394 $56.49

Save Save Green 64% 64%

Green Blue

ITEM 63066/62314 ITEMshown 63066/62314 ITEM 56719 shown

Blue

*73931687 *73931687 * * MODEL 1800

MODEL 1800

(1416)

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$99 .

ITEM 63585

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ITEM 64550 63518 shown

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99 6999$69 Save Save .

Compare to Compare to DieHard DieHard SLC10120 $89.99

Use Online Use & In-Store Online & In-StoreSLC10120 $89.99

*73942710 *73942710 * *

SUPERSUPER COUPON COUPON Customer Rating Customer Rating

SUPER SUPER COUPON COUPON Customer Rating Customer Rating

33% 33%

Use Online Use & In-Store Online & In-Store

*73948806 *73948806 * *

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(3609)

(1519)

(3609)

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4 4

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(2353)

54$995499

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(2353)

2500 lb. 2500 Electric lb. Electric WinchWinch with with 500 lb.500 Capacity lb. Capacity Steel Steel Wireless Wireless Remote Remote ControlControl Cargo Cargo CarrierCarrier

$ 99 $ 99

5 5

SUPER SUPER COUPON COUPON Customer Rating Customer Rating

(1519)

Save Save 55% 55%

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Compare to Compare to Compare to Compare to Ironton Ironton Compare to Compare to Highland Highland 54123 54123 Green Power Go Green Power Use Online Use & In-Store Online & In-Store Use Online Use & In-Store Online & In-StoreGo Use Online Use & In-Store Online & In-Store Use Online Use & In-Store Online & In-Store 1394500 1394500 $84.99 $84.99 GG-113-30LPOP GG-113-30LPOP $89.99 $89.99 $14.99 $14.99 ITEM 61258/61297/63476 ITEM 61258/61297/63476 ITEM 69623/66983 ITEMshown 69623/66983 ITEM 64110 ITEM 64110 Exp. 11/17/20* LIMIT 4 - Exp. 11/17/20* LIMIT 4 - Exp. 11/17/20* LIMIT 3 - Exp. 11/17/20* - Exp. 11/17/20* LIMIT 2 - Exp. 11/17/20* 61840 shown 61840 shown 7 3 9 5 0 77 8 3 9 5LIMIT 0 7 48- 3 7 3 9 6 2 67 83 6 9 6 2LIMIT 6 846- Exp. 11/17/20* 7 3shown 9 6 6 27 6 3 9 6 LIMIT 6 2 63 -3Exp. 11/17/20* 7 3 9 7 2 57 53 7 9 7 2LIMIT 5 52 7

Compare to Compare to Pelican Pelican 1150-000-180 1150-000-180 $50.50 $50.50 ITEM 64550 63518 shown

59$995999

* 73935323 * 73935323 * * LIMIT 1 - Exp. 11/17/20* 7 3 9 3 5 37 2 3 9 3 5LIMIT 3 213- Exp. 11/17/20*

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99 1299$12Save Save

Compare to Compare to Neocraft Neocraft 60635 $39.99 $39.99

(2324)

3-in-1 Portable 3-in-1 Portable PowerPower Pack with Pack with Jump Starter Jump Starter

19$991999

Use Online Use & In-Store Online & In-Store60635

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(2324)

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Compare to Use Online Use & In-Store Online & In-Store Coleman 635394 $56.49 ITEM 63585 Exp. 11/17/20* LIMIT 3 - Exp. 11/17/20* 7 3 9 3 1 67 83 7 9 3LIMIT 1 6 38- 7

9 9

SUPERSUPER COUPON COUPON Customer Rating Customer Rating (5060)

2999$2999

SUPERSUPER COUPON COUPON Customer Rating Customer Rating

LIMIT LIMIT 2 - Exp. 11/17/20* 7 3 9 2 9 87 33 69 2 9 82 -3Exp. 6 11/17/20*

18" Working 18" Working Platform Platform Step Stool Step Stool

*73929836 *73929836 * *

RENEWABLE RENEWABLE ENERGY, ENERGY, ANYWHERE ANYWHERE

29 29 99 $

(5060)

Use Online Use & Online In-Store & In-Store

*73926277 *73926277 * *

SUPERSUPER COUPON COUPON Customer Rating Customer Rating

$1.89

5499$5499

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Use Online Use & In-Store Online & In-StoreCompare to Compare to Use Online Use & In-Store Online & In-StoreITEM 62434, 62426, ITEM 62434, 62426, Porter-CablePorter-Cable ITEM 68998/64263 ITEM 68998/64263 ITEM 64552 ITEM 64552 62433, 62432, 62433, 62432, 63248/64080 63248/64080 PCFP02003 PCFP02003 64832/64980 64832/64980 62429, 64179, 62428, 62429, 64179, 62428, 63091 shown 63091 shown LIMIT 3 - Exp. 11/17/20* Exp. 11/17/20* LIMIT 1 - Exp. 11/17/20* LIMIT 4 - Exp. 11/17/20* 23 9 9 0LIMIT 9 0 12- 9 7 3 9 1 9 77 33 8 9 1 9LIMIT 7 348- Exp. 11/17/20* 7 3 9 2 6 27 3 7 9 2 LIMIT 6 2 73 -7Exp. 11/17/20* $98.62 $98.62 64178 shown 64178 shown 64545 shown 64545 shown 7 3 9 0 9 0 7

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(4093)

3939

$99 99

53% 53%

Compare to Valeo 25521 $10.64

SUPER SUPER COUPON COUPON Customer Rating Customer Rating

(3957)

2929

$ 99 $ 99

Use Online Use & In-Store Online & In-Store

*73903278 *73903278 * *

130 Piece 130 Piece YOUR CHOICE YOUR CHOICE Gallon, 3 Gallon, 100 PSI100 Oil-Free PSI Oil-Free Tool KitTool3 Kit Air Compressors Air Compressors $ with Case with Case $99 99

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Use Online Use & In-Store Online & In-Store$830

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$ $99 99 $

SUPERSUPER COUPON COUPON Customer Rating Customer Rating

(1796)

Save Save Save Save Compare to Compare $ to $ 72% 72% 630 630 Snap-on Snap-on

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*73950783 *73950783 * *

*73962686 *73962686 * *

1,000+ Stores 1,000+Nationwide Stores Nationwide • HarborFreight.com • HarborFreight.com

*73966263 *73966263 * *

*73972557 *73972557 * *

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WPON

9/9/20 3:35 9/9/20 PM 3:35 PM

SUPER COUPON

Exercise Your Liberty Comfort and class go hand in hand in the Liberty Walking Stick. Yours for ONLY $59!

he right to free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly are what make the USA the land of liberty. These constitutional rights are embodied in the Walking Liberty half-dollar, the famous coin showing Lady Liberty striding powerfully and purposely forward into the future. The Liberty Walking Stick showcases this iconic symbol of freedom with a genuine Walking Liberty Silver Half-Dollar— 90% pure silver— struck by the U.S. Mint. The perfect way to celebrate what makes this country great while putting some pep in your step. Today these tributes to a gentleman’s power, prestige, and posture are fetching as much as $200,000 at auction. Because Stauer takes the quicker and less expensive route and goes right to the source, we can offer you the vintageworthy Liberty Walking Stick for only $59! Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Experience the comfort and class of the Liberty Walking Stick for 30 days. If you’re not feeling more liberated, simply send it back within 30 days for a refund of the item price. At Stauer, we walk the talk. Limited Edition. Only 4,999 available! These handcrafted beauties take months to craft and are running (not walking) out the door. So, take a step in the right direction. Call today!

PRAISE FOR STAUER WALKING STICKS

“An excellent walking stick. Solid and elegant. Perfect for a night out. Well crafted.” – J. from Pacific Grove, CA

36" Liberty Walking Stick $79*

Offer Code Price Only $59 + S&P Save $20 40" Liberty Walking Stick $99*

Offer Code Price Only $69 + S&P Save $30

1-800-333-2045

Not shown actual size.

Your Offer Code: LWS235-01 You must use the insider offer code to get our special price.

Stauer

14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. LWS235-01 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com

Rating of A+

*Discount is only for customers who use the offer code versus the listed original Stauer.com price.

• Eucalyptus wood with cast brass handle containing genuine obverse U.S. Walking Liberty Silver Half Dollar (1916 -1947); rubber tip • Supports up to 250 pounds

Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®

Featuring a genuine Liberty half-dollar

Fall Specials from Suzuki Marine Fish On! Make sure you don’t REPOWER miss a single bite this fall. Reel FINANCE in a super low finance rate from Suzuki Marine or hook a select model and get instant savings. Now bring it home with Gimme Six, get six years INSTANT of protection without SAVINGS paying extra! SAVE RIGHT NOW ON

SELECT SUZUKI OUTBOARDS

™

Gimme Six Extended Protection promotion applies to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 10/01/20 and 12/31/20 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings applies to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 10/01/20 and 12/31/20. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Instant Savings must be applied against the agreed-upon selling price of the outboard motor and reflected in the bill of sale. There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on creditworthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 10/01/20 and 12/31/20. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2020 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.