Coastal Angler Magazine | January 2024 | Fort Myers/Capre Coral/Charlotte Harbor Edition by Coastal Angler Magazine

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By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

Tuna Town TO

had only been fishing a few years when I wound up taking a job in Venice, Louisiana. I had gotten the lead on a first mate position through a mutual friend of a captain who I had never met before. When I called the captain, I asked when he needed me. He told me, “yesterday.” So I went to the tackle shop, bought my first pair of slickers, and hit the road. The only thing I knew about Venice was that there was no cell phone service and no women. As I drove down the road south of New Orleans, I began to notice ships on both sides of the road simultaneously. I realized I had better call someone to let them know I was heading to a deadzone in the middle of nowhere, filled with lonely, salty men. I arrived at night and located my captain’s houseboat, where I would be staying. I made the jump across to the boat and opened the door without knocking—as I was instructed to do. A dozen men, drinking beer, went silent as they stared at me. I looked around the room at the welcoming party, and the walls that were lined with shelves of alcohol bottles and a deer head decorated with Mardi Gras beads and bras. They offered me a beer and I declined. After the 14-hour drive, I most definitely wanted a beer, however, this did not seem like the time and place to let my guard down. The captain showed me the boat docked out back, my bunk where I would be staying, and told me what time to set my alarm for the charter the following morning. I had no idea what to expect or what I had gotten myself into, but I quickly fell in love with the fishery and a week-long trip turned into a year and a half. The fishermen there were nothing but respectful and treated me like one of the guys. I had only been fishing for two years at the time and had a lot to learn. I spent evenings teaching myself how to tie snell knots and throw a cast net. When the locals would go out fun fishing and bring back coolers with hundreds of trout, they were more than happy to teach me how to fillet fish. The fishermen didn’t cut me any slack for being a woman, which I was grateful for. I worked just as hard as they did, earned respect, and learned everything I needed to become a competent fisherman. I was openly doubted every step of the way, until I was able to learn and prove myself, which I did. But I was told that if I made it to the fall, there was no way that a woman could handle shrimp-boat season. Shrimp-boat season involves pulling behind shrimp boats and then boarding them by jumping from the bow of your boat onto the tires that hang from the stern of the shrimp boat. Then you promptly scurry up before your bow has a chance to crush your feet. You then shovel bycatch into a bag or basket, get it back to your boat, and hopefully get yourself back on the boat before your crew hooks up to a big tuna and abandons you there for the fight. The goal is to not die, break your ankles or get murdered by the shrimp-boat crew in the process. I did make it to the fall, and I did survive shrimp-boat season, and it was some of my favorite fishing I’ve done, to this day. It wasn’t until I left that the ball-busting ceased and I received positive feedback, when a captain called to tell me I did a really great job and that I’d earned a place and should come back for the following season. I am so grateful Tuna Town was a stop on my journey to where I am now. I am indebted to the fishermen there who helped teach me things the right way, without mercy. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon, with Sweet e’nuf charters out of Marathon, Florida Keys, can be reached at (504) 920-6342. See CaptainQuinlyn.com and @captainquinlyn.

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THROW UMBRELLA RIGS FOR WINTER BASS

When the bass are feeding up on baitfish in the winter, the natural bait ball presentation with multiple baits swimming together drives these bass absolutely crazy. It can make for a very fun day on the water. Setting up your “rig” is not complicated. Depending on how deep you are looking to fish, use 1/8-ounce jig heads for shallow water (10 feet or less) and ¼-ounce jig heads for anything deeper than 10 feet. Pick TYLER WOOLCOTT out some small 3- to 4-inch natural shad colored boot-tail swimbaits to attach to your jig heads and that’s all there is to it. inter can be a tricky time of year to go fishing, The winter months is typically the time when bass to feed up before but I want to tell you about a bait that might help you put some more fish in the boat. In fact, this lure is so good that they spawn. Whether you see it going on or not, they are eating a lot of bait somewhere on your some tournaments don’t allow body of water. You can throw anglers to use them anymore. this rig basically anywhere, I’m talking about the Alabama and if there are fish around, rig, which some people call they will bite it! I throw it the umbrella rig. around grass, rocks, docks, This device made its debut open water, points and on the bass fishing scene in ditches. 2011 and absolutely dominated the tournament fishing scene Gear for a few years before it was When throwing an A-rig, eventually outlawed by most it can get pretty heavy once professional fishing series for you add all the jig heads and basically being an unfair way swimbaits onto it. You’ll want to catch fish. The rig consists to use a big heavy rod with of a baitfish-style head where some strong line. A 13 Fishing you tie your line with multiple Muse Black 7’6” rod paired metal-wire arms that extend with a Concept A 6:8:1 reel is out where you attach jig heads a good fit. Spool this up with with a swimbaits. Most come 20-pound Seaguar Abraz-X standard with five metal arms line and you are good to go! and five jig heads. Good luck out there! Even though the Alabama rig is outlawed by most pro fishing leagues, that doesn’t mean you can’t use it when you are out fun Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. fishing or even fishing smaller tournaments. It is a fish-catching machine! Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.

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JANUARY 2024

NATIONAL 7

A GREAT LAKES FORMULA FOR

By Nick Carter

JUST ONE FISH

obi Pellerito’s goal in a day is just one fish, and with the surge in Great Lakes smallmouth fisheries, there’s a good chance he’ll find what he’s looking for: one giant smallie. “Big smallmouth is my jam,” he said. “It’s not like tournament fishing, where you’re looking for a limit. I’m out there looking for one big fish.” Pellerito theorized that three invasive species are responsible for Great Lakes smallmouth achieving grotesque proportions with weights in the 7- to 8-pound range. European round gobies and rusty crayfish from the Ohio River Basin have become important prey species since their invasion. European Zebra mussels are forage for another smallmouth favorite: perch, and these filter-feeders also create clear water, which is great for visual hunters like bass.

8 NATIONAL

JANUARY 2024

Pellerito bemoaned the destruction these invasives wreak but figures we might as well take advantage. THE FORMULA: The size of the Great Lakes system is incredible. From a home base in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, Pellerito has explored parts of it from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, downstream through lakes Michigan, St. Clair, Huron, Erie and over to the St. Lawrence River. Over this vast expanse, state fisheries reports tell him where the largest smallmouth are. “Once you’ve picked a fishery, there’s no substitute for time on the water,” he said. “Find the most desirable structure in the lake or in the part of the lake you’re fishing.” Smallmouth can be patterned seasonally. From there, Pellerito fishes long days to eliminate water. He looks for big points and transitions in bottom composition. He seeks out subtle structure like boulders or logs on barren flats. Bait presence is important, whether its gobies or crayfish in the rocks, perch in the grass or balls of suspended baitfish. THE FISHING: When he finds an area he likes, Pellerito covers water quickly with a crankbait. He likes a Megabass Deep-X 300, which dives 12 to 15 feet. “Covering water until you find where the fish are is important, then you slow down,” he said. “The biggest fish tend to be a step off from where the rest of them are.” Big smallmouth hold in “wolf packs” of two or three fish, and this can sometimes lead to days of more than “just one fish.” Recently, Pellerito boated an incredible 35-pound, 9-ounce five fish limit. Find one big fish, and it pays to pick that area apart. For this, Pellerito switches to classic drop shots or tubes. A standard tube crawls through the rocks like a goby or a crayfish. With the drop shot, Pellerito fishes a Megabass 3-inch Hazedong, which looks like a goby. It takes light line to draw strikes in clear water. Pellerito uses 15-foot leaders of 5- to 7-pound fluorocarbon with a main line of 8- to 10-pound braid. He’s experienced tremendous success with these tactics. This season, he boated 39 fish heavier than 6 pounds, 19 heavier than 7 pounds and two heavier than 8 pounds. To see more of Cobi Pellerito’s giant fish, see his Instagram @cobi.pellerito.

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CATCH FRENZIED SPANISH MACKEREL

panish mackerel are a year-round target, but this time of year they love following bluefish schools to clean up injured baitfish left behind. During this time, bluefish and mackerel all tend to school together into a feeding frenzy of terror. I definitely wouldn’t want to get my hand in the way of any of those toothy fish. Spanish mackerel are sometimes confused with baby kingfish and cero mackerel, since they can school all together. However, there are a few ways to differentiate these fish, which is important since they all have different regulations. All these mackerel have yellow spots on their sides, but there are a few differences to look for. Cero mackerel have yellow lines along their lateral line that are combined with the yellow spots. King mackerel tend to have smaller spots that are closely grouped along the lateral line. As for the Spanish mackerel, they have large uncontrolled spots. There is simply no rhyme or reason for their pattern. Another way to identify Spanish mackerel is they usually have a wider girth compared to the other mackerel. A large Spanish mackerel is considered to be around 24 inches and over 5 pounds, while kingfish are typically over 20 pounds and ceros tend to be smaller. Spanish mackerel are typically nearshore fish that hang close to shore in order to feed on bait

schools by pushing them into the breakers. In certain locations, you can find Spanish inside the intracoastal. In specific conditions, if the water becomes too warm, mackerel move deeper to find their preferred 70 degrees. Spanish mackerel are found off the Atlantic coast of the United States and in the Gulf of Mexico. They follow a migration pattern of spending the winter off Florida and then move north to North Carolina in early April and all the way up off the coast of New York by June. There are many ways to target Spanish mackerel. Some use live bait such as sardines, baby pilchards and smaller threadfins. A simple freeline with a short wire leader to a live bait hook and one of these smaller baitfish can be deadly. The wire is not absolutely necessary, but mackerel do have extremely sharp teeth. When mackerel are tailing bluefish schools, they are normally frenzied. They’ll slash at everything that comes their way. I like throwing crappie jigs into the frenzy, and I think any kind of small jig will work. A lot of commercial anglers use popping corks with a spoon tied about 4 feet below. The pop gets their attention, and then the shiny fluttering spoon is too much for them to resist.

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For larger Spanish mackerel, X-Raps or other diving crankbaits work best since they imitate larger baits. If you’re throwing a lure, don’t use your favorite one. There is a good chance you might lose it. Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 62 IGFA world records in various categories. Find her on social media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.

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FLORIDA 3

By Astrid deGruchy

No Telling What You’ll Catch

ON THE PATCH

atch reef fishing is the epitome of, “You never know what you’re going to catch.” These underwater gems are filled with all sorts of fish, and it makes them fun and exciting places to be an angler. Patch reefs are small coral formations found in the shallower parts of the water. They were named for the patchy appearance when viewed from the surface and form wherever hard bottom exists in 10 to 25 feet of water. The rocky bottom, combined with ledges, coral heads and other growth provides the structure fish love. Many of these areas are well-known here in the Keys, but if you’re up for some exploration you can find less-pressured patch reef especially when the water is clear and visibility is good. Just keep an eye out for rocky or live bottom. These areas are usually not too far from shore, so they’re easy to reach and perfect for angling action. All sorts of fish congregate around these patches. The variety includes mutton snapper, mangrove snapper, yellowtail snapper, lane snapper, hogfish, black grouper, red grouper, gag grouper, porgy, cero mackerel, yellowjack and barracuda. We fish a lighter setup on the patch reefs, and this makes for a blast. Our go-to is a PENN Authority 4500 reel with the PENN Carnage III rod. Live bait like pilchards or shrimp work like a charm. If catching live bait is a problem for you, just stop at a local tackle shop and grab some live shrimp, pinfish, or even some frozen ballyhoo. Keep it simple, and tie on a knocker rig or jig head. Anchoring the boat in the right position to present baits around the reef is an important part of this style of fishing. Dropping bait on the sandy areas near the reef allows you to fish the bottom without getting hung up. Chum can be a good idea, but don’t be so quick to put out the chum as soon as you get lined up. I recommend breaking it out only if the fishing is tough. Chum can attract some of the “trash fish” like blue runners, jacks and sharks. Also, make sure you’re up to date with the rules and regulations. There are so many species you might catch, and some of those species might be out of season. Patch reef fishing is a blast. It’s a mix of stunning views and tons of action. If you want to experience this, the cooler months are the best for this type of fishing. That’s when some better-quality fish move into the shallower reefs.

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SLIP CORKS AREN’T JUST FOR LIVE BAIT

Tim Barefoot

here was time in my life when I was fanatical about live bait, and a lot of the fishing I did was under a sliding cork. Well, that ship has sailed, at least the live bait part. I still fish under a sliding cork, but I now fish artificial lures under the cork for several reasons, only one of which is the evolution of soft plastic baits. Here are a few arguments for fishing artificial: 1) There’s no need to catch and store live bait. 2) My entire tackle box is now small and light enough to fit in a backpack for travel. 3) Soft Plastics are versatile in terms of presentation, and they’re effective. 4) Artificials can be cast farther and more accurately. 5) You can be ready to fish at a moment’s notice anywhere, under almost any conditions. These advantages add up to the sum of my new fishing style under a sliding or popping cork. I cherish my two- or three-hour mini vacations after work, wherever I am while traveling. I travel quite a bit and can bail out of the truck and fish for whatever is there. I’ve grown fond of fishing under and around bridges for several species, and the ease and effectiveness of this style of fishing is easy to love. In addition to fishing just a single lure under a cork—or without a cork in deeper, faster water—I’ve started fishing a tandem tackle. The bottom bait is the jig head for the weight, and the second bait has no weight and just trails out behind the jig. Some days, it’s all bites on the jig; other days, it’s a third or more of the bites on the weightless trailer. This suspended bait and trailer under a cork is not only effective, but it keeps you from staying hung up. Once I figure out how deep the water is, it’s easy to adjust the depth. I typically keep one rod set up for 6 feet deep as a starting point. If I see the cork laying over, it means the jig is sitting on the bottom. I’ll shallow it up a bit to where the jig is just off the bottom and makes a clean drift. If the water is deeper, I’ll adjust it deeper. The end goal is to keep the jig a foot or two off the bottom and allow a natural drift. I like to fish a pair of DOA Shrimp on this tackle in saltwater, and this same tactic is deadly in freshwater with Zoom Flukes or Super Flukes for smallmouth, largemouth and striped bass. The other bait I love for this style of fishing is Gulp! baits. For more detailed videos of the tandem tackle and how to tie it, and the construction of my sliding cork set up, visit my Youtube channel and/or the website. For more from Tim Barefoot, visit barefootcatsandtackle.com.

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*LIF 16 BREVARD

Water Temp and Color

By: Capt. Dave Stephens

ell fellow anglers we made it through another year! It seems like the years are going by a lot faster these days. January can be a tricky month when it comes to fishing. The biggest factor is the type of weather Mother Nature is giving us. There is always something to fish for, we just have to adjust our approach. If we're having some cold fronts that are keeping our water temps in the mid to low 60's, then we will be fishing with shrimp and sea trout will be one of the main targets. Normally, these guys are located in deeper water, areas such as residential canals and deeper creeks. Also, deeper potholes on the flats. Shrimp fished on a jig head do really well. Color seems to be the angler's choice. If I'm fishing in clear water, I prefer lighter colors. Colors such as white and chartreuse work very well. If you are fishing in darker water, then darker colors are preferred. If you like to try your luck at tossing some artificial around, this is a great time to get your confidence up. Trout are normally very willing to take soft plastics fished on the bottom this time of year. Small paddle tails

and DOA shrimp work very well and remember the same goes for water clarity with your soft plastics. Another fish that will be biting very well this month is sheephead. Not to be confused with the freshwater northern species, these guys are actually in the porgy family. This time of the year, sheepshead are spawning and can be found in large groups. Since they are crustacean eaters, shrimp is a top bait for them. If you're lucky enough to get your hands on some fiddler crabs they work very well. These guys are not aggressive eaters, so you need to put your bait in their line of sight, which is normally on the bottom. A small hook such as a 1/0 circle hook and a split shot work great. When Mother Nature cools our waters down you just have to adjust your technique. If you would like to experience some of Southwest Florida's finest fishing give us a call or send an email. Our trips are private and customized to fit you and your party's needs.

Back Bay Xtremes |Backbayextremes.com 941-916-5769

FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | JANUARY 2024 | FORT MYERS 1

January’s Opportunities

By: Capt. Bart Marx

anuary in Southwest Florida and we start a new year of fishing! There are many options this time of year of for species to target. Starting with inshore possibilities, there should be plenty of trout on the grass flat in two-to-four-foot depths. Popping corks with live or artificial baits are a good bet to harvest some keepers for a fresh fish meal. You may also use some top water lures and suspending like mirror dine or catch two thousand by Mirror lure. Also, some soft plastics with paddle tails to make some vibration to get their attention. If you find an area that they are very aggressive, I sometimes use a fly rod with some top water flies. I like to target red fish, as they like to hang around the roots of the mangrove and on the cooler days and I find them hanging out in the sand holes on the flats. Fishing along the mangroves like you would bass fish trolling motor along and hit the pockets and out cropping's gold spoons or soft plastics are a good bet. Fishing the sand holes, anchor a long casting distance from your target spot and use shrimp or quartered blue crabs or cut bait, lady fish or sardines. Around the passes where there is some sand flounder can be targeted with a shrimp and a jig slow rolled across the sand. They may also be offshore on the edges of the close to shore reefs around the edges in the sand and the near shore reefs should be holding sheepshead. In moving water around the passes, I cast pompano jigs tipped with a small piece of shrimp to target pompano. Depending on the temperature of the water you can hunt for king and spanish mackerel. My Pop's always told me kings at 68/ 72-degree water was the best time to catch kings. In our area, there are some natural ledges that I will use shrimp to catch hog fish. These are the same areas we find snappers, lanes and mangroves. There will be white grunts and porgies out there also. All of these species are great eating and are always fun to catch. Keep an eye on the FWC regulations for the size limits and bag limits and an easy way to keep up to date is to use the Fishrules app from FWC. Don’t forget, if you are able to get into federal waters 9 miles out, some of the rules are different. If you would like to come along with Capt. Bart Marx and catch some of these species or you would like me to join you on your boat for a training session, call 941-979-6517 or e-mail me at captbart@ alphaomegacharters.com and we can get you on the calendar for your memory making trip. And always remember singing drags and tight lines make me smile.

Alpha Omega Charters | alphaomegacharters.com captbart@alphaomegacharters.com | 941-979-6517 2 FORT MYERS | JANUARY 2024 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

Tropical Fish in a Tropical Oasis By: Caitlyn Gatrell

SCHUMAN INSURANCE

"Nothing Like A Day On The Water!"

f saltwater fishing is your cup of tea, then you most likely know all about popular gamefish like snook, tarpon, redfish, and more. Beyond the gamefish of saltwater fishing, there are other cool species you can catch while fishing for the ocean’s creatures. One of my favorite not-so-common saltwater species to catch is the parrotfish, and one of the best locations to find these guys is the Florida Keys. Their beautiful colors and unique build are what catch my attention. We visit the Keys yearly, so we see quite a few each time we’re down there. I don’t really fish for these guys, but there’s been a couple times where they just so happened to be interested in my bait. This beautiful blue fish you see in the photo is a parrotfish that decided to bite my hook while fishing off a bridge in Marathon. We were using shrimp on circle hooks, with a sinker attached due to the fast-moving current. We tend to walk the bridge until we reach deeper points, and we cast our bait along the pilings. This hungry parrotfish was in a little group with other colorful parrotfish, just nibbling along the piling, on the search for some food. Once I felt that little tug and saw my rod tip bend down, I began to reel in and sure enough a flash of blue was seen below the surface. It’s always fun fishing along the brides of the Florida Keys because you come across so many different types of marine species. In just one trip we had sharks, turtles, stingrays, tarpon, and various fish species stroll by us. That was only an hour or two trip too! You can find plenty of tropical fish while visiting the Keys, whether you’re in Key Largo or you’re all the way south to Key West! The Keys is a global fishing capital after all, so there’s a very diverse ecosystem present. Areas you can expect to find tropical fish in the keys consist of piers, docks, jetties, bridges, pilings, reefs, wrecks, and even some mangrove islands. You can reach these areas by land or by boat, so you have plenty of opportunities to get out there and get your eyes on some beautiful fish. There are also numerous aquariums and research centers throughout the Keys that allow visitors for hands-on opportunities and viewing experiences with many, various marine species. Instructor-led shows are often held for visitors to learn about the critters, which is especially fun for the young ones. Whether you’re interested in fishing, or you just enjoy being by the ocean, you’ll love every minute you spend in the waters of the Florida Keys. And if you’re an inshore angler like me, sometimes it’s fun to have a unique species on your line!

WE KNOW BOATS!

Why insure yours with anyone else! I'm Capt. David Schuman a second generation insurance agent. Our family has been serving Lee County for 42 years.

Boat Auto Home Motorcycle Life Business Capt. David Schuman 1329 Hibiscus Dr., Cape Coral, FL 33909 239-242-8072 Davidschuman3@allstate.com 2801 Del Prado Blvd S., Cape Coral, FL 33904 239-945-8888

3114 Lee Blvd Suite 4, Lehigh Acres, FL 33971 239-369-1313

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er Co. -1536

Fishing Recommendations for This Year By: Capt. Terry Fisher

he November 2023 Ft. Myers Boat Show had a great showing with a number of inquisitive folks asking a variety of questions at my exclusive seminar(s). The question that was mostly asked

was, ‘WHAT IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO CATCH FISH’? The answer: ‘Every Month”! Every species of fish that we have in our rivers, creeks, canals and estuaries are here year-a-round. During seasonal changes, some species become less in number and sizes due to water temperatures, migratory patterns and spawning rituals. Below is a quarterly outline of what anglers may expect to catch throughout the year by targeting species that are more prevalent during specific months. During the winter months (January, February and March) larger sheepshead migrate from the gulf to infiltrate the inshore piles, rocks, docks and mangroves of Pine Island sound. These fish are spawning and will eat shrimps and crabs. Sheepshead are a great delicacy and provide great action on light tackle. Spanish mackerel are migrating south and will be in good numbers and bigger sizes compared to other months of the year. They are a blast to catch on light tackle. Look for them where the birds are diving on bait fishes both inshore and offshore as well as the passes between the outer islands. Seatrout catches will be good in regard to number and larger sizes in the grass flats from 3 to 6 feet of water. ‘By-catches’ will be spanish mackerel, pompano, ladyfish and jack crevalle. Offshore action will provide larger grouper and snapper species closer to shore (5 to 30 miles out) as the water remains cool. In the coming springtime months (April, May and June) brings warmer weather along with warmer water. This is the beginning and continuation of the tarpon migration, spawning snook along the beaches and in the passes of the outer islands. Redfish become more active as they make preparation to spawn with larger ‘Bull’ reds in the summer and early fall months. They are usually smaller in sizes but will be plentiful. Triple tail, cobia will be around offshore and at times throughout some inshore waters. ‘Jacks’, mangrove snapper and ladyfish will provide the balance of action during these months on the inshore and close offshore estuaries. Summertime months (July, August and September); expect smaller

seatrouts on the grass flats along with lots of catfish. However, the Redfish action should be good with larger fish. Snook will be just off the beaches, under docks, around rocks and mangroves as the higher summer tides provide access to ‘back country’ locations that were not accessible during the first quarter of the year. However, the larger size reef species such as, grouper and snapper will be farther out as the water temperatures warm up, possibly requiring a 30-to-40-mile boat ride to get to their preferred summertime depths, of 120-160 feet of water. Fall months (October-December) provide good opportunity for everything but big tarpon. Fall fishing is subject only to cold fronts. Winds become more likely to be out of the north and northeast during November and December months. October is likely to be one of the more productive months for large redfish. Get them while you can as they will be gone as the water temperature cools and the water levels are lower, due to the winds and winter tide patterns. When this happens, I suggest fishing the docks and deeper current cuts close to the passes during November and December for the better results for catching redfish and snook. Shrimps and bait fish (pilchards, threadfin and pinfish) will be available throughout the year but will fluctuate in size and numbers depending on the quarter (winter, spring, summer and fall). Baits of choice will more than likely determine the success of the species being targeted. Artificial presentations are numerous and can be a lot of fun as well. I submit that higher water levels and water movement throughout a day will be the predominate factors for angler’s success of any species. Every month, Southwest Florida has good to great fishing opportunities both inshore and offshore. Offshore requires low winds and vigil attention to type of vessel that is being used. This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters (www.fishfacecharters.com). Call me direct at 239-357-6829 or email me at fishfacecharters@yahoo.com to book a charter on my vessel or yours. I am available as ‘Captain for Hire’ on your vessel (by the hour) for either offshore or inshore fishing locations, proven techniques along with instructions that will guarantee every fishing and boating trip is a success.

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

4 FORT MYERS | JANUARY 2024 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

23rd Annual

C H A R LO T T E C O U N T Y

B O A T S H O W January 11-14, 2024

Thursday - Sunday 10AM - 5PM

Hundreds of Boats From All the Major Dealers

Charlotte County Fairgrounds 2333 El Jobean Road (Route 776), Port Charlotte, FL 33948

$5 ADMISSION - FREE PARKING

Accessory Displays in Expo Hall:

Boat Lifts, Marine Supplies, Fishing Tackle, Clothing, Sunglasses, Gifts, Repair & Service, OnSite Financing, Boating Safety & How-To Info

More Info Available at: GoBoatingFlorida.com

Presented by: Marine Industries Association of Southwest Florida & Tampa Bay FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | JANUARY 2024 | FORT MYERS 5

Personal Safety

by: Dan Carns, Gulf Coast Kayak

anuary and February are considered winter months here is Southwest Florida. While that may seem impossible due to the huge influx of tourists sporting shorts and tank tops, rest assured that the locals have broken out their winter gear and the fish sense the cooling waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the many estuaries here. There may be beautiful stretches of bluebird skies and warm temperatures, but the water is chillier than you may think. Many of us kayak anglers love fishing with a buddy or in a group but as you may have seen we are often alone. That’s where your personal safety comes into play. It seems counterintuitive to have to say this, but kayaking is a watersport and all too often people expect to stay dry in their kayak. What if it rains or gets super windy and choppy? The truth is kayaks are within inches of the water and even though it may be a flat calm day there is going to be boat traffic and crossing boat wakes that will likely enter your kayak. Are you prepared to stay warm if you get wet. There is a great selection of quick dry pants and long sleeve shirts available and while you may want to work on your tan while you’re out fishing you cannot escape the sun’s rays. You will be completely exposed so having something to cover up with is key to a great day on the water. Water shoes are mandatory for kayaking in S.W. Florida as the water is full of oyster shells that will open you up like a razor and shoes can help you stay warm. Water shoes will also protect you from the searing sun. Big floppy hats that cover your ears will also help keep the sun off your face as well. Don’t forget that the sun is bouncing off the water so sunglasses are a must! Next in terms of personal safety you are required by law to carry a lifejacket and a sounding devise such as a whistle. While you are not required to wear a lifejacket, I would encourage you start wearing it on your next trip out. It could save your life if you find yourself in the water and it’s almost impossible to put one on once you’re in the water. An anchor may not seem like safety gear, but in fact it may help you or a fellow kayaker if the weather turns or find yourself in a raging tide that your too tired to fight. An anchor can also help you maintain a perfect position for fishing if its windy. Just an FYI, if you use sunscreen or bug spray make sure you have a way to clean your hands off as the fish can smell chemicals that you transfer onto your lures and lines. Also do not over spray these on your rods, reels, lines and lures! Be prepared and have a great day on the water!

@paddlinandfishin | gulfcoastkayak.com | 239-283-1125 6 FORT MYERS | JANUARY 2024 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

-1125 FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | JANUARY 2024 | FORT MYERS 7

fishfacecharters@ yahoo.com 239.357.6829

MATLACHA

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January/2024 • 26°38’N 82°4’W

Matlacha Pass, FL - Jan 2024 High

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January/2024 • 26°39’N 81°52’W

Fort Myers, FL - Jan 2024

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