Coastal Angler Magazine | March 2023 | Florida Keys Edition

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A MODERN-DAY

TED WILLIAMS

By A. DeGruchy

M

ajor League Baseball’s JD Martinez has garnered a lot of accolades, including three Silver Sluggers, a Hank Aaron Award and MLB Player of the Year. The man is a fivetime All-Star! What some folks might not know about the former Boston Red Sox turned Los Angeles Dodger is he’s also an avid fisherman.

Growing up in Miami, he often escaped to fish the Florida Keys. Through the years, that passion never faded. He now lives in Islamorada and spends the offseason fishing with Capt. Brandon “The Bean” Storin.

Capt. Bean grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and has vacationed every year in the Keys since he was 5 years old.

He fished with Capt. Jimmy Willcox, who inspired a dream to become a backcountry guide. In 2021, The Bean fulfilled his dream.

Together, JD and Capt. Bean have made memories while landing some awesome fish.

Their first trip in the Islamorada backcountry produced JD’s personal-best tripletail. It was JD’s first time tripletailing, and they were sight-casting buoys. Just like hitting a 95-mph fastball, timing and execution are everything, and JD made the perfect cast when they spotted a stud tripletail. Several runs and exhales later, The Bean swooped deep and netted the 20-plus-pound

beast. It was JD’s first, and it is a personal best that will take some work to beat.

Another epic adventure took place during a sunset blackfin tuna mission. Capt. Bean knew it was the optimal time for bigger blackfins, and they used light spinning tackle to make it more fun. It didn’t take more than a couple minutes for JD to get tight on a monster blackfin. All you could hear was the reel screaming, and the rod was doubled over the whole fight. It was JD’s personal-

best blackfin—a true butterball—and a full-grown one to boot.

On their most recent adventure, Capt. Bean and JD were bottom fishing for mutton snapper when an unexpected bite inhaled a whole ballyhoo. It ended up being an almost record-breaking yellowtail snapper, which at 29 inches was the fish of a lifetime. Gray’s taxidermy commemorated the yellowtail to add to JD’s mount collection, along with the aforementioned tripletail.

JD is a good angler, and he is not the first Red Sox slugger to find a fishing home on Islamorada. Ted Williams, considered by many to be the greatest hitter of all time, played for the Sox from 1939-1960. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966, and he is also a member of the Fly Fishing Hall of Fame.

Williams resided and fished in Islamorada for bonefish and tarpon with legendary Capt. Jimmy Albright. It is said he became as good an angler as any of the guides.

MLB and the Islamorada backcountry have a shared history. Capt. Bean and JD continue adding to the legends to this day.

Follow JD Martinez (@jdmartinez28) and Capt. Bean (@bnmbean) on Instagram.

Some of their adventures are featured on YouTube at Bean Sportfishing TV.

A TO REMEMBER

By Deidra Thrappas

N

oodling for Catfish...what have I gotten myself into?

This past summer, I wanted to do something exciting and different with my friends for my “bachelorette” getaway. I always thought noodling would be a cool experience.

If you’re not familiar with noodling, it’s a technique anglers use to catch catfish with their hands. In the lead-up to the spawn, catfish find holes in the banks where they will eventually lay and guard their eggs. It’s up to the angler to locate either a natural hole or a strategically placed box that a catfish has decided to call home. The angler then sticks their hand into the hole, triggering the catfish to chomp down on their hand and forearm.

Then, it’s a wrestling match to the surface.

The flathead catfish we pursued don’t have teeth, but they do grow large, with some fish reaching well over 50 pounds. It takes all your strength to get them out of their happy place and up to the surface to become fish celebrities.

Because it takes place during the spawn, this style of fishing has become almost 100-percent catch-and-release for many noodlers. After a few photos, fish are released safely to return to their holes and continue spawning duties.

When my two best friends and I left the familiar clear Florida waters for the beautiful state of Alabama, we had the goal to get one of these monster cats to bite... our arms. I’m not going to lie; I was a bit nervous getting on the boat. It was beautiful and peaceful on the river,

but the water is murky like chocolate milk and the banks are muddy. Shoes are highly recommended.

When I entered the water at our first spot, it kind of hit me: “What have I gotten myself into?” But there was no turning back. Our guide located the wooden box he had planted earlier in the season and instructed me to hold my breath and lie on the bottom while slowly sliding my hand into the hole.

At first there was nothing. Then…

WHAM! It was like a toothless gator grabbed me. I had been instructed to grab that sucker by its lower jaw with both hands and not to let go. So that’s what I did. After a brief struggle, I had a dandy on the surface staring right at me!

Through the day, we tried many holes, some empty and some with fish. Each time we stopped, the anticipation and excitement were the same as at the first hole. It was a great experience, and I plan to go again soon.

If you’ve ever thought of going noodling, I highly recommend it, 10/10.

The noodling season runs from midspring through the summer, depending on the location. Get online and find a local guide for the area you’re interested in. Feel free to contact me with questions on Instagram @ get_outside_with_deidra or my husband, Capt. Jamie Thrappas @yellow_dawg_fishing.

Deidra and her husband Capt. Jamie Thrappas are co-publishers of the Volusia County, Fla. edition of Coastal Angler Magazine.

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A CHANGE OF PACE

T

oday we are going to cruise past the shallow South Texas flats, through the pass, and find some nearshore rocks loaded with huge legal Texas red snapper! What a difference a few miles and 68 feet of water can

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

8 NATIONAL

MARCH 2023

make.

I typically make a handful of trips to the short rigs or rocks off the Texas coast each summer for a change of scenery. On the calm summer days, the mosquito fleet (smaller bay boats) breaks the jetties and heads out for kings, cobia and red snapper. These shallow-water snapper are typically in the 16- to 20-foot range. They are tasty none the less, but nothing like what you find close to shore in winter, as I recently observed during my first winter offshore trip.

Recently, we were in between cold fronts and had our first sunny day in more than a week. Several days of windy, cloudy, cold, rainy days had me longing for some sunny rays. When my brother called and asked if I wanted to join him and his neighbor for some Texas red snapper, I didn’t hesitate to say yes! The photos he sent of the previous trip’s catch were the icing on the cake.

The forecast called for 2- to 3-foot seas—which turned out to be less—70degree sunny temps, and wind at 6 knots from the east. This was a one-day window.

When we pulled up to a small set of rocks, there were two other boats there and four rods were doubled over! One of the boats was doing a bag check, and I watched him tossing and counting 15- to 20-pound snapper into the cooler.

His count ended at 14, two shy of his limit… and they had two on the line.

Keep in mind, at this time my personnel best snapper was about 8 pounds, and everything I was seeing was more than twice that size. The anticipation was high as I waited for the trolling motor to lock in.

Once the trolling motor settled into place, we pinned chunks of squid onto bottom rigs weighted with 8 to 12 ounces of lead and the fun began! It became a bit chaotic with doubles on while trying to coax a 20-pound snapper into an oversized net while still trying to catch one yourself.

It is hard to beat the drag zinging of a king mackerel or the Mack Truck power of a cobia during the calm days of late summer, but I might have to switch my snapper season from summer to winter! When the smallest winter ones are twice the size of your largest summer catch, it’s an easy switch.

Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures® and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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It’s Pompano Time in South Florida!

P

ompano have already begun to show up here on South Florida’s east coast, and the bite will only get better as we move deeper into spring.

Temperature drives the movements of these tasty little jacks. They prefer 70- to 80-degree water temps, they travel in schools and feed on mollusks and crustaceans in inlets and off sandy beaches.

These are some of the reasons pompano are a favorite target of shore-based anglers. Once you find them, you are in for a world of fun.

Florida pompano, like permit, are in the jack family. They have a strong resemblance to each other, so it’s important to be able to tell them apart.

Size is a dead giveaway when you’re dealing with mature specimens, as pompano rarely grow larger than 6 pounds and permit regularly reach weights of up to 40 pounds. Pompano and juvenile permit, however, have a similar appearance. The most noticeable difference is a permit’s larger, humped forehead. Pompano also tend to be more yellow throughout their body, while permit only have yellow on their bellies near their anal fins.

Anytime from March into the beginning of September, pompano move offshore to broadcast spawn. Since they already travel in schools, this is spontaneous, and they head back inshore when they are done. Prime time to fish for them here is April and May, and you’ll find them along sandy beaches as well as around oyster and seagrass beds.

Pompano seem to enjoy water with more current,

which has that milky look.

By Emily Rose Hanzlik Pompano migrate seasonally to stay in their preferred water temperatures, and they have been found as far north as Massachusetts. They move north or farther offshore to find cooler water in deep summer. They come back south in fall to prepare for the spring mating season. Local movements also happen due to tides and other conditions. They are either in an area or they are not, and they move to find waters where they can feed comfortably. After strong storms, our sandbars tend to change, which will also change where pompano are feeding.

Pompano are very spirited fighters on light tackle. Small jigs in yellow or chartreuse are commonly used with great success. Beach anglers use long surf rods and chicken rigs baited with shrimp, clams, crab knuckles and sand fleas. Sand fleas are the preferred bait. Many anglers take it a step further by adding a piece of artificial bait, such as Fishbites, to the natural baits. This is especially effective when other fish peck off natural bait quickly. It ensures something stays on the hook, as most of these artificial baits are very durable. These artificial baits can also be added to jigs for scent.

Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 56 IGFA world records in various categories. She hails from West Palm Beach, where she has a part time Bowfin Guide Service as well as fishing classes for Jr. Anglers. Find her on social media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.

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TIPS FROM A PRO

BLADED JIGS

TYLER WOOLCOTT

L

et’s talk a bait that works absolutely everywhere. The bladed jig, also called a chatterbait, is one of the most versatile baits you can tie on the end of your line. It’s one of my all-time favorites. From Florida to New York, in any season, this bait catches them.

There are hundreds of situations that make me want to sling a chatterbait. I always keep one tied on because it’s so versatile.

Whether it’s grass, rocks, docks, wood or open water, there isn’t a situation where this bait doesn’t work.

Use a chatterbait as a search bait and cover some water. If there is a hungry bass around and you match your color to the forage they are feeding on, you will get them to bite. Unless the water you are fishing is extremely muddy, matching color to the forage species is important. In cold water, where bass are feeding on red and orange crawfish, tie on a bright red or orange bladed jig. If you are in the south and bass are feeding on bluegill or shiners, stick to natural colors like a green pumpkin or some kind of gold and silver. The only time I throw

a bright white or chartreuse chatterbait is in extremely stained water, where I need the bait to stand out. Always match the hatch!

I live in Florida, and our spawning season is earlier than most. By the time you read this, most of our fish will be finished spawning. Farther north, they’ll just be getting started. A chatterbait is deadly when bass are staged up before, during and after the spawn. The chattering blade drives these fish crazy. It’s a fish call. Throw it around in a staging area and you will have a very good day on the water.

There isn’t a wrong way to use it. With the many colors, weights and size options, there is a match for the style of fishing you want to do. From northern smallmouths to giant South Florida largemouths, every bass will eat a bladed jig.

Like any bait, a chatterbait will perform best when matched with the right gear.

I like a medium-heavy, moderate-action rod. You don’t want to set the hook as much as you want to reel into the fish when they eat the bait. Treat it like a bait with treble hooks. The 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’4mhm is absolutely perfect for this application. I pair a 7:5:1 gear ratio Concept A 13 Fishing reel and 15- to 20-pound Seaguar AbrazX. Hope this fishing tip finds you well and puts more fish in your boat. Don’t hesitate to contact me on social media with any questions.

Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.

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Triple Threat Throwdown to Raffle Off Loaded Fishing Kayak F lorida’s saltwater angler recognition program, Catch a Florida Memory, is sweetening the pot this year by offering anglers a shot at winning a fully loaded fishing kayak.

Rigged out with an accessory package from Yak Attack, this Bonafide SS127 series kayak is a fishing machine. It will be raffled off to one lucky member of Catch a Florida Memory’s Triple Threat Club after a season-long event billed as the Triple Threat Throwdown. Only members of the Triple Threat Club who are recognized with a Catch a Florida Memory achievement between now and Sept. 5 will be eligible for the raffle.

Triple Threat Club Triple Threat Club status is awarded to anglers who have qualified for recognition in all three of the following Catch a Florida Memory programs. Once an angler enters the Triple Threat Club, they are a member for life. They receive a dry-fit performance fishing shirt and entry into Triple Threat Club opportunities like the Triple Threat Throwdown.

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hour time period. There are nine different grand slam categories for different saltwater species in different habitats.

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• The Saltwater Fish Life List 10 Fish Club is for anglers who have caught 10 different species of saltwater fish from the Catch a Florida Memory Life List of 70 species.

Raffle Eligibility Eligible anglers must qualify for a recognition between now and Sept. 5, 2023 and be a member of the Triple Threat Club at the time of the drawing.

Eligible recognitions include a Grand Slam, a Reel Big Fish recognition, or a Life List recognition. Each angler will receive only one entry into the Triple Threat Throwdown raffle.

For more information and to submit catches, go to catchafloridamemory.com.

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The fight for an unforgettable catch begins here. From elusive bonefish to massive tarpon and beyond, fly fishing adventures across The Out Islands’ shallow-water flats offer more thrills and tales for even the most experienced anglers. See what could be waiting on the other side of your line.

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his month, for the first time in more than 30 years, a few Florida anglers will have the opportunity to harvest a goliath grouper. The limited and highly regulated season runs from March 1 through May 31, and you’re out of luck if you don’t already have a state-issued Goliath Grouper Harvest Permit.

Just 200 non-transferable permits were issued by lottery after the application period back in October 2022. This spring, permit holders will hit the water in search of a very expensive fish sandwich. On top of a $10 fee to enter the lottery, anglers selected for a permit paid $150 for Florida residents and $500 for non-residents for the chance to harvest a single fish.

“No way. Not interested at all,” said one angler from the Florida Keys when asked if they hoped to get a permit. “I guess there’s some novelty in eating a fish that no one is supposed to have tasted for 30 years, and it might make sense if they let you keep a big one, but it’s hardly worth my time to chase a 10-pound grouper.”

The slot limit for the one fish allowed per permit holder is 24 to 36 inches. Fish above or below that slot must be released immediately. Anglers with goliath tags will be intentionally fishing for juveniles rather than the enormous 8-foot-long, 800-pound monsters that lurk around shallow, nearshore structure.

This highly regulated and extremely limited harvest seems to be the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) way of testing the waters. Harvest of goliath grouper was completely banned in 1990 after the population collapsed due to overfishing and the loss of mangrove habitat required by juveniles of the species. Since then, the population has rebounded and abundance continues to increase. Removal of just 200 fish from the population, and no more than 50 fish from Everglades National Park, will not hinder rebuilding, according to an FWC presentation on the fishery.

Additionally, goliath grouper may not be harvested from federal waters or from the waters of Martin County, including the St. Lucie River and its tributaries, south through the Atlantic coast of Monroe County and Dry Tortugas National Park.

Goliath grouper harvest will also allow FWC to collect important data for a species about which there is plenty to learn. Upon catching their one goliath, tag holders must immediately apply their tag to the lower jawbone of the fish and report their catch online within 24 hours. Even if they don’t catch a fish, tag holders must report that after the season ends. Some permitted anglers will be required to provide a biological sample of their fish for genetic testing.

For more information, go to myfwc.com.

12 FLORIDA

MARCH 2023

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Florida Keys Advertise Your Business from Key Largo thru Key West Call 305.280.2021 or email: camflkeys@gmail.com

MARCH IS ON FIRE By: Capt. Greg Poland

T

he fishing in the Gulf of Mexico has been on fire with lots of spanish mackerel and the occasional kingfish mixed in, and if you are lucky, you might even find a cobia swimming up your chum slick. We had a nice size cobia hooked up the other day but unfortunately, the tax man, better known as a bull shark, decided to take a huge piece of him before we could get him into the boat. For this style of fishing, you will want to load your live well with pilchards or live shrimp along with a few boxes of chum and head on out to the edge of the Gulf where you will find a group of boats on the mackerel grounds. When you get to your desired location, drop your humbug over and create a chum slick then anchor up current and start casting with a jighead.

With a small trace of wire and twitching it erratically, before you know it you will be hooked up. If the backcountry is more your style, well the bite for redfish has been as good as I have ever seen it. Just last week, I took friends Braylon and Rylan out for a 1/2 day over is the Glades, they landed 42 redfish and a handful of snook.

These guys live in my neighborhood and fish almost every day of the week. It’s such a pleasure to watch them cast and constantly be hooking fish. Big shout out to team Hillbilly Deluxe who took first place in both the Cheeca Sailfish Tourney and Florida Keys Gold Cup. Jess Jorgensen took top angler with 9 sailfish releases while her fiancé Capt.

Trevor Frins was at the helm to watch the team release an impressive 16 out of 20 Sailfish.

— Contact Capt. Greg at 305.393.3327 or email gregpoland@icloud.com | Instagram: gregpoland Facebook: Fishing in the Florida Keys with Capt. Greg Poland FACEBOOK.COM/CAMFLORIDAKEYS

MARCH 2023

FLORIDA KEYS 1

SPRING BREAK By: Capt. Bruce Andersen

S

pring is here, families are pouring into the keys for their spring break vacations and there’s no better time for a family to get out on the water and experience the great fishing the keys have to offer. I have always felt that the best parts of life are the experiences and adventures. I know that for my family, some of my greatest memories, especially with my son Ian and daughter Abbie, are the many times out Fishing, and having fun on the water. I’ll bet that when your kids are all grown up they may not remember what they got for Christmas when they were 10 or what their birthday present was when they were 12, but there’s a very good chance they’ll remember their first Florida Keys fishing trip.

We’ve got so many different types of fishing here in the keys that there’s something for everyone. If you have younger kids that are inexperienced or may lack a little patience we’ve got options like snapper fishing on the reef, bottom fishing offshore, or Spanish mackerel fishing in the gulf where there is fast action on light tackle to keep them busy and engaged. If your kids are a little more experienced and patient, we’ve got big game options like sailfish, tuna, dolphin, and wahoo, offshore to give them the thrill of a lifetime.

On my charters aboard the Captain Easy, we’ll usually do a quick interview to gauge your level of experience and everybody’s interests. Once we’ve got a good idea of that, I’ll look at the weather and fishing conditions, and come up with a game plan that works best for your family or group. We’ve got good enough fishing to show your family a great time even on a short trip like a half day and with so many different types of fishing available, we can usually try a couple of different things on longer trips like a three-quarter or full day.

Most of the guides, especially the ones that have been doing it for a long time like myself, are very experienced with families and very patient with kids and we take the time to show them the right way to use the equipment and answer all of the questions they can come up with. So, if you’re thinking about taking the family fishing this spring, I’d highly recommend it. Give me a call and let’s get out there!

— www.captaineasycharters.com You can reach Captain Bruce Andersen at Capt. Easy Charters, MM 85, call 305.360.2120 or email at: captbrucekey@comcast.net

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FLORIDA KEYS 3

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MARCH 2023

F

or a lot of inshore saltwater anglers, when you say the words “game fish”, a species that often comes to mind is the Common Snook. They are often found in varying areas, such as marinas, jetties, docks, backwaters, bays, near shore wrecks, flats, etc. We tend to do most of our fishing in the bays of the Ten Thousand Islands, often near mangroves, islands, and flats. There is usually a big population of snook amongst these areas ranging in all different sizes.

We have captured snook small enough to fit in the palm of our hands (caught in our cast net along with bait) up to around 40 inches, but there have been bigger ones caught by others. In my opinion, and I’m sure some may agree, snook can be tough to catch in the mangroves as they tend to move very fast and can maneuver all around the trees, branches, and structures. There have been quite a few times where we unfortunately broke off on a good sized snook, and other times we were lucky.

A few times we have actually managed to catch a snook that has tangled line all throughout the mangroves. This often calls for lots of patience and sometimes even having to get out of the boat and untangle the line little by little with your hands. The snook pictured here is actually from one of those instances. It was a fun and heart racing fight as I was nervous the line would fray too much and break off. But we managed to make it happen, even when we had to have someone get off the boat and go into the mangroves to free it out. I always prefer to try my best to get them out, not just to catch the fish, but also to ensure their safe release as well.

When we get them untangled, they are then able to swim away freely, especially not with a line or a hook attached to them. I will say, I have yet to join the 40-inch club, but I am hoping I will be able to soon! Snook are strong and hard fighting fish, and the big ones often seem to get away from me, but when I am able to capture one, no matter the size, it is still always great being able to see their strength and beauty up close. They truly are a representation of what a game fish is for inshore saltwater fishing.

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THOUSANDS OF CHOICES By: Capt. Angelia Swanson

W

hen you arrive in the Keys for your dream vacation many people are overwhelmed by the literal thousands of choices of charter boats offering a variety of activities on the water. Fishing boats, big and small, are everywhere, as are choices for scuba diving, snorkeling, ecotours, sailing, etc. How in the world do you choose the right one for you?

Recently I had a lovely family that booked our boat. Upon speaking to them, their ideal trip was to be able to fish and snorkel on our beautiful reef in the same trip. They told me that they had contacted many of the charter boats here expressing their wishes but could not find one that would allow them to do both of their desired activities on the same trip until they spoke to us! It gave me a new perspective about what we do! I realized that we offer excursions that are unique. We do our best to cater to the wishes of our guests and go above and beyond to accommodate their wish list while visiting the Keys. This is what makes us special!

We offer offshore trolling trips and go after the big fish that are in season, patch reef fishing trips where you just never know what you may catch, snorkeling trips where you get up close and personal with our extensive varieties of coral, reef fish, sea turtles, sting rays, and some harmless but beautiful sharks, and ecotours where I get to tell you about our very unique and delicate ecosystem of mangrove forests, birds, marine mammals, and other sea life. We can usually offer a combination of these unique and different options on the same trip. We have even been known to serve up fresh caught sushi on the boat to further your special Keys experience! We offer 4, 6, and 8 hour trips to give us enough time for your choice of activities we provide. We really enjoy these trips and it’s the best feeling when your guests end the day satisfied and with a new outlook on the little island chain, we locals get to call home.

I love our little island chain and the 120 miles of North America’s only living reef and getting to share it with our guests is a special treat for me. When I get to take children in the water snorkeling and show them a world that they never knew existed, my heart is full.

When the avid fisherman from far away catches one of their bucket list fish, I go home proud and satisfied!

If you are interested in what our Keys have to offer, do not hesitate to contact me. We have 3 very different and knowledgeable captains that work hard for you to have the best experience possible aboard a comfortable, dry boat with plenty of shade. Hope to talk to you soon!

— Come out fishing with me by contacting me at: floridasaltycowgirl.com | 813-610-0078

6 FLORIDA KEYS

MARCH 2023

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FLORIDA KEYS 7

HERE FISHY FISHY By: Beth Steele

T

he Keys fishing spots have been on fire even in the last couple of cold months. Key West has had some really great flats fishing when captains have ventured out. Sugarloaf Key Islands has been hot for backcountry fishing and or course Islamorada deep dropping and swordfishing on the days the seas have been nice and calm. One of the best things about The Keys is there is always a bit of everything to fish for. Along the reef is always a great location for snappers, groupers, mackeral and cobia.

The Keys strip of tropical islands has the most gorgeous beaches and amazing wildlife. That’s what makes this area such a great place for the avid angler. You will never catch a more beautiful sunrise or sunset like you will in the Florida Keys.

Some people say I love to fish, but they don’t realize I actually live to fish. Even though it’s a ton of work and can be exhausting on the days when you reel in a big one, it’s the most freeing thing I’ve experienced. Since the day I’ve started, I’ve never stopped learning. The more I fish, the better I get at learning the fish…where to find them, their habits, what bait works best. One important thing is to watch the weather. Not only for your own safety, but that will give you a clue on what you might be reeling in. It can be beneficial to check fishing guides for the best fish to catch during the seasons, as well the best time to catch certain fish.

I recently got my boat serviced, and while it’s not the cheapest thing about fishing, it’s so important. The peace of mind about riding out on a well-serviced boat isn’t something I ever take lightly.

One of the things that excites me the most about fishing is the big swordfish catches and deep dropping. On my last trip, I caught another big one and released 3 small ones. With deep dropping, you really never know what’s below you and the excitement of seeing them come to the surface is just as exciting as my very first catch.

It’s been a great few months with my online charter booking company Hooker Booker. We’ve had so many great captains join our team and we are excited about what’s to come in the following months. We’re always welcoming qualified captains to list their charters with us and we’re currently filling up our booking for the next few months. If you or someone you know are looking for a charter, head over to www.HookerBooker.com and we will help you out!

— Beth Steele | Owner, Hooker Booker LLC fishing@hookerbooker.com | @hookerbookerllc

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TIDE CHART KEY LARGO

www.USHarbors.com

Key Largo, South Sound, FL MARCH - Mar 2023 2023 High

Date

Low

AM

ft

PM

ft

AM

ft

PM

ft

Moon

TIDE CHART ISLAMORADA

www.USHarbors.com

Islamorada, Florida Bay, FL -MARCH Mar 2023 2023 High

Date

Rise

Set

6:42

6:23

1

Low

AM

ft

PM

ft

AM

ft

PM

ft

Rise

Set

Wed

7:57

0.2

6:08

0.5

2:05

0.0

12:30

0.2

6:43

6:25

1

Wed

4:31

1.2

4:33

1.1

11:49

0.3

2

Thu

5:33

1.2

5:35

1.2

12:14

0.1

12:47

0.3

6:41

6:23

2

Thu

8:41

0.2

7:18

0.5

3:09

-0.1

1:46

0.2

6:43

6:26

3

Fri

6:25

1.3

6:28

1.2

1:08

0.0

1:38

0.2

6:40

6:24

3

Fri

9:10

0.3

8:12

0.6

3:57

-0.1

2:47

0.1

6:42

6:26

4

Sat

7:09

1.3

7:15

1.3

1:55

0.0

2:22

0.2

6:39

6:24

4

Sat

9:34

0.3

8:55

0.6

4:34

-0.1

3:37

0.1

6:41

6:27

5

Sun

7:48

1.4

7:57

1.4

2:37

0.0

3:01

0.1

6:38

6:25

5

Sun

9:57

0.4

9:33

0.6

5:05

-0.1

4:21

0.1

6:40

6:27

6

Mon

8:24

1.5

8:36

1.4

3:15

-0.1

3:37

0.0

6:37

6:25

6

Mon

10:20

0.4

10:10

0.6

5:31

-0.1

5:01

0.0

6:39

6:28

7

Tue

8:58

1.5

9:15

1.5

3:51

-0.1

4:11

-0.1

6:36

6:26

7

Tue

10:43

0.5

10:47

0.6

5:55

0.0

5:39

0.0

6:38

6:28

8

Wed

9:33

1.5

9:53

1.5

4:26

-0.1

4:43

-0.1

6:35

6:26

8

Wed

11:08

0.5

11:25

0.6

6:18

0.0

6:17

0.0

6:37

6:29

9

Thu

10:06

1.5

10:31

1.5

5:00

-0.1

5:16

-0.1

6:34

6:27

9

Thu

11:33

0.5

6:41

0.0

6:56

-0.1

6:36

6:29

10

Fri

10:40

1.5

11:10

1.5

5:35

0.0

5:50

-0.2

6:33

6:27

10

Fri

12:04

0.5

11:58A

0.6

7:05

0.0

7:38

-0.1

6:35

6:30

11

Sat

11:15

1.4

11:52

1.5

6:12

0.0

6:28

-0.2

6:32

6:28

11

Sat

12:48

0.5

12:25

0.6

7:32

0.1

8:25

-0.1

6:34

6:30

12

Sun

12:53

1.4

7:54

0.1

8:13

-0.1

7:31

7:28

12

Sun

1:36

0.4

1:56

0.6

9:01

0.1

10:19

-0.1

7:33

7:31

13

Mon

1:39

1.4

1:38

1.3

8:42

0.2

9:06

-0.1

7:30

7:29

13

Mon

3:35

0.3

2:35

0.6

9:33

0.1

11:24

-0.1

7:32

7:31

14

Tue

2:35

1.4

2:33

1.3

9:40

0.2

10:10

-0.1

7:29

7:29

14

Tue

4:54

0.3

3:28

0.6

10:13

0.2

7:31

7:32

15

Wed

3:41

1.4

3:42

1.3

10:49

0.3

11:22

-0.1

7:28

7:30

15

Wed

6:41

0.2

4:42

0.6

12:43

-0.1

11:11A

0.2

7:30

7:32

16

Thu

4:53

1.4

5:00

1.3

12:03

0.2

7:27

7:30

16

Thu

8:10

0.2

6:17

0.6

2:08

-0.1

12:38

0.2

7:29

7:32

17

Fri

6:03

1.4

6:15

1.4

12:35

-0.1

1:13

0.1

7:26

7:31

17

Fri

9:03

0.3

7:47

0.6

3:21

-0.1

2:10

0.2

7:28

7:33

18

Sat

7:05

1.5

7:21

1.6

1:41

-0.2

2:14

0.0

7:25

7:31

18

Sat

9:41

0.3

8:59

0.7

4:19

-0.1

3:27

0.1

7:27

7:33

19

Sun

8:00

1.7

8:19

1.7

2:40

-0.2

3:09

-0.1

7:24

7:32

19

Sun

10:15

0.4

9:59

0.7

5:04

-0.1

4:32

0.0

7:26

7:34

20

Mon

8:49

1.7

9:12

1.8

3:35

-0.3

4:00

-0.3

7:23

7:32

20

Mon

10:47

0.5

10:53

0.7

5:44

-0.1

5:30

0.0

7:25

7:34

21

Tue

9:35

1.8

10:01

1.9

4:25

-0.3

4:48

-0.4

7:22

7:33

21

Tue

11:18

0.6

11:43

0.7

6:19

-0.1

6:24

-0.1

7:24

7:35

22

Wed

10:19

1.8

10:48

1.9

5:13

-0.3

5:34

-0.4

7:21

7:33

22

Wed

11:48

0.6

6:52

0.0

7:16

-0.1

7:23

7:35

23

Thu

11:01

1.8

11:33

1.8

6:00

-0.2

6:19

-0.4

7:20

7:34

23

Thu

12:31

0.6

12:20

0.7

7:25

0.0

8:07

-0.2

7:22

7:36

24

Fri

11:43

1.7

6:46

-0.1

7:04

-0.3

7:18

7:34

24

Fri

1:17

0.5

12:52

0.7

7:58

0.1

8:57

-0.2

7:21

7:36

25

Sat

12:18

1.7

12:26

1.6

7:32

0.0

7:50

-0.2

7:17

7:35

25

Sat

2:04

0.4

1:26

0.7

8:30

0.1

9:49

-0.1

7:20

7:36

26

Sun

1:04

1.6

1:09

1.5

8:19

0.1

8:38

-0.1

7:16

7:35

26

Sun

2:53

0.4

2:04

0.6

9:03

0.1

10:46

-0.1

7:19

7:37

27

Mon

1:51

1.5

1:55

1.3

9:09

0.2

9:32

0.1

7:15

7:35

27

Mon

3:50

0.3

2:47

0.6

9:38

0.2

11:52

0.0

7:18

7:37

28

Tue

2:43

1.3

2:46

1.2

10:05

0.3

10:32

0.2

7:14

7:36

28

Tue

5:07

0.2

3:42

0.5

10:19

0.2

7:16

7:38

29

Wed

3:41

1.3

3:46

1.2

11:09

0.4

11:36

0.2

7:13

7:36

29

Wed

7:01

0.2

4:57

0.5

1:09

0.0

11:25A

0.2

7:15

7:38

30

Thu

4:45

1.2

4:54

1.2

12:14

0.4

7:12

7:37

30

Thu

8:22

0.3

6:28

0.5

2:27

0.0

1:04

0.2

7:14

7:39

31

Fri

5:48

1.2

5:59

1.2

1:13

0.4

7:11

7:37

31

Fri

9:00

0.3

7:46

0.5

3:30

0.0

2:30

0.2

7:13

7:39

12:38

0.2

Danial Marrs, PSA Realtor 305-767-3495 Danial@SeafarerRealty.com

Moon

Jen Davis Realtor 815-236-1328 Jen@SeafarerRealty.com Alexia Mann, GRI, MRP, AHWD Broker/Owner 305-209-5166 Alexia@SeafarerRealty.com

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12 FLORIDA KEYS

MARCH 2023

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11400 Overseas Hwy, Ste 105 Marathon www.SeafarerRealty.com

TIDE CHART

KEY COLONY BEACH www.USHarbors.com

Key Colony Beach, FL - Mar MARCH 2023 2023 High

Date

Low

TIDE CHART KEY WEST

Key West, FL - Mar 2023

High

Date

www.USHarbors.com

MARCH 2023

Low

Rise

Set

6:48

6:30

0.4

6:47

6:31

0.4

6:46

6:31

1:30

0.3

6:45

6:32

-0.2

2:14

0.2

6:44

6:32

3:24

-0.1

2:54

0.1

6:43

6:33

1.6

3:48

-0.1

3:32

0.0

6:42

6:33

10:46

1.5

4:11

0.0

4:10

-0.1

6:41

6:34

11:25

1.4

4:34

0.0

4:49

-0.2

6:40

6:34

4:58

0.1

5:31

-0.2

6:39

6:35

1.5

5:25

0.2

6:18

-0.3

6:38

6:35

1:17

1.6

6:54

0.3

8:12

-0.3

7:38

7:35

0.9

1:56

1.6

7:26

0.4

9:17

-0.3

7:37

7:36

4:15

0.7

2:49

1.6

8:06

0.4

10:36

-0.3

7:36

7:36

Wed

6:02

0.6

4:03

1.6

9:04

0.5

7:35

7:37

16

Thu

7:31

0.7

5:38

1.6

12:01

-0.3

10:31A

0.5

7:34

7:37

7:34

17

Fri

8:24

0.8

7:08

1.7

1:14

-0.3

12:03

0.5

7:33

7:38

7:28

7:35

18

Sat

9:02

0.9

8:20

1.8

2:12

-0.3

1:20

0.3

7:32

7:38

-0.1

7:27

7:35

19

Sun

9:36

1.1

9:20

1.9

2:57

-0.3

2:25

0.1

7:30

7:39

2:40

-0.3

7:26

7:36

20

Mon

10:08

1.3

10:14

1.9

3:37

-0.3

3:23

-0.1

7:29

7:39

-0.3

3:32

-0.4

7:25

7:36

21

Tue

10:39

1.5

11:04

1.8

4:12

-0.2

4:17

-0.3

7:28

7:39

3:57

-0.2

4:22

-0.5

7:24

7:37

22

Wed

11:09

1.7

11:52

1.6

4:45

-0.1

5:09

-0.4

7:27

7:40

4:37

-0.1

5:10

-0.5

7:23

7:37

23

Thu

11:41

1.8

5:18

0.1

6:00

-0.4

7:26

7:40

5:17

0.0

5:59

-0.5

7:22

7:37

24

Fri

12:38

1.4

12:13

1.8

5:51

0.2

6:50

-0.4

7:25

7:41

2.0

5:56

0.1

6:49

-0.4

7:21

7:38

25

Sat

1:25

1.2

12:47

1.8

6:23

0.3

7:42

-0.3

7:24

7:41

12:50

1.9

6:37

0.3

7:42

-0.2

7:20

7:38

26

Sun

2:14

1.0

1:25

1.7

6:56

0.3

8:39

-0.2

7:23

7:41

1.2

1:37

1.7

7:22

0.4

8:41

-0.1

7:19

7:39

27

Mon

3:11

0.8

2:08

1.6

7:31

0.4

9:45

-0.1

7:22

7:42

2:52

1.0

2:32

1.6

8:15

0.5

9:48

0.1

7:18

7:39

28

Tue

4:28

0.7

3:03

1.5

8:12

0.5

11:02

0.0

7:21

7:42

Wed

4:00

1.0

3:38

1.5

9:21

0.5

10:58

0.1

7:17

7:40

29

Wed

6:22

0.6

4:18

1.4

9:18

0.6

7:20

7:43

30

Thu

5:18

1.0

4:52

1.5

10:35

0.5

7:16

7:40

30

Thu

7:43

0.7

5:49

1.3

12:20

0.0

10:57A

0.6

7:19

7:43

31

Fri

6:25

1.1

6:03

1.5

12:01

0.1

7:15

7:40

31

Fri

8:21

0.8

7:07

1.4

1:23

0.0

12:23

0.6

7:18

7:44

AM

ft

PM

ft

AM

ft

PM

ft

Rise

Set

Moon

11:39

0.0

6:45

6:27

1

AM

ft

PM

ft

AM

ft

Wed

7:18

0.6

5:29

1.3

10:23

0.5

PM

1

Wed

5:13

0.9

4:28

1.5

10:06

0.5

2

Thu

6:17

1.0

5:36

1.6

11:10

0.4

6:44

6:27

2

Thu

8:02

0.7

6:39

1.4

1:02

-0.1

11:39A

3

Fri

6:58

1.1

6:31

1.7

12:30

0.0

12:04

0.3

6:43

6:28

3

Fri

8:31

0.7

7:33

1.5

1:50

-0.2

12:40

4

Sat

7:31

1.2

7:17

1.8

1:11

-0.1

12:51

0.2

6:42

6:28

4

Sat

8:55

0.9

8:16

1.6

2:27

-0.2

5

Sun

8:02

1.3

7:58

1.8

1:46

-0.1

1:32

0.1

6:41

6:29

5

Sun

9:18

1.0

8:54

1.6

2:58

6

Mon

8:33

1.5

8:36

1.9

2:18

-0.1

2:12

0.1

6:40

6:29

6

Mon

9:41

1.1

9:31

1.6

7

Tue

9:03

1.6

9:14

1.9

2:48

-0.1

2:49

0.0

6:39

6:30

7

Tue

10:04

1.2

10:08

8

Wed

9:34

1.7

9:52

1.8

3:18

-0.1

3:26

-0.1

6:38

6:30

8

Wed

10:29

1.3

9

Thu

10:04

1.8

10:31

1.7

3:48

0.0

4:04

-0.2

6:37

6:31

9

Thu

10:54

1.4

10

Fri

10:33

1.8

11:12

1.6

4:18

0.0

4:44

-0.2

6:36

6:31

10

Fri

11:19

1.5

11

Sat

11:04

1.8

11:56

1.4

4:50

0.1

5:28

-0.3

6:35

6:32

11

Sat

12:09

1.3

11:46A

12

Sun

12:38

1.8

6:25

0.2

7:19

-0.3

7:34

7:32

12

Sun

12:57

1.1

13

Mon

1:47

1.3

1:20

1.8

7:04

0.3

8:18

-0.2

7:33

7:33

13

Mon

2:56

14

Tue

2:47

1.1

2:14

1.7

7:53

0.4

9:28

-0.2

7:32

7:33

14

Tue

15

Wed

4:01

1.0

3:25

1.7

9:00

0.5

10:43

-0.2

7:31

7:34

15

16

Thu

5:24

1.0

4:48

1.8

10:19

0.4

11:54

-0.3

7:30

7:34

17

Fri

6:36

1.1

6:08

1.9

11:36

0.3

7:29

18

Sat

7:31

1.3

7:18

2.0

12:55

-0.3

12:44

0.2

19

Sun

8:16

1.5

8:19

2.1

1:47

-0.3

1:45

20

Mon

8:57

1.7

9:13

2.2

2:33

-0.3

21

Tue

9:35

1.9

10:03

2.1

3:16

22

Wed

10:13

2.1

10:50

2.0

23

Thu

10:50

2.1

11:36

1.8

24

Fri

11:28

2.1

25

Sat

12:21

1.6

12:08

26

Sun

1:08

1.4

27

Mon

1:57

28

Tue

29

11:43A

0.5

ft

Moon

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MARCH 2023

FLORIDA KEYS 13

FISH OF A LIFETIME

By Captain Tony Young

I

f you have been spearfishing, hunting, or fishing for a while then you either have or want a story like this for yourself. As watermen, there becomes a point when you long for the “BIG ONE”. The goal is still to bring fish home for the family, don’t get me wrong, but as you do it more you look for larger and more mature fish. Spearfishing is a lot like bow or rifle hunting. You can stalk your fish and learn about them, their behaviors, and where they live. I believe this is one of the reasons why spearfishing can consume so much of your life and drive you crazy at times. Just like hunting a mature whitetail buck, learning his pattern, where he eats, and where he sleeps. Hunting a big fish on a specific spot will require the same amount of time and dedication.

When I first met Pat Galyon, I had no idea how close of friends we would become and how his passion for spearfishing would challenge me as a guide.

Pat and I started diving together about eight years ago. He was a great diver and we shot a lot of beautiful fish together. As time went on, I challenged Pat to continue his dive training and he challenged us to find him larger fish to shoot.

Long story short, Pat would become one hell of a diver and ready to put the work in for a fish of a lifetime.

A few years ago we found a new spot, by accident, and dove it on a clear day to see what it was. The spot had hundreds of lobsters on it and we shot a few nice. There was also a nearby wreck that provided good habitat for large fish and it was always loaded up with a ton of bait. We knew of a large cubera snapper that frequented this wreck, from diving it in the past, but we really only saw him once or twice and didn’t know much about him. With Pats dedication and some new information on this area, we started to piece it all together. Over the next two years we learned a lot about this fish. The tough thing about cubera snapper is that they move and change daily routines with the seasons. The window to hunt him at this particular spot was short and we really didn’t have any idea where he went the rest of the year. However, the puzzle was being put together and it was only a matter of time until we got a chance at him.

Pat and his wife Nancy dive with us most every week, his wife especially loves to dive the reef and hunt Lionfish. When it was just Pat on the boat, he called it big fish day and we would go try for the big cubera. Most of the time, the fish would bust us. He was usually in the mid water column feeding and we bumped him out into the sand before we could get a shot. When the water was clear, it was tough to hunt this fish. The wreck is deep and he would always see us long before we were in the shooting range. You could tell this fish had a long life in the Upper Florida Keys, as he definitely knew the drill and most likely had been shot at by other divers in the past. Long story short, another year went by and we didn’t get the fish. Pat never took a shot at him, nor did I, we didn’t want to pose a threat with hopes he might become more comfortable with us in the water.

Another year passed and it was finally time to hunt this snapper again. The 14 FLORIDA KEYS

MARCH 2023

feeling of not knowing if the fish would return or if he got caught or died, was killing us. He was an amazing fish and for how much work we had put in on him, we really needed to close the story ourselves. Years ago, we had a black grouper that was well over 100 pounds, we tried countless times and had some good opportunities, but never connected on the fish. One day this grouper was gone, we never saw him again, it was heartbreaking to not know what happened to him.

We really wanted to get this cubera snapper and were determined to put in the work. Usually, we would dive the spot with clean water, making it easy to spot the fish and see the wreck on our way down. That wasn’t working, as the fish would always bust us and run out to the sand, so we tried something different. Pat and I dropped in on the spot and like always the cubera was feeding in the water column, but with dirty water this time. We couldn’t see him at first but ended up getting very close to the fish and surprised him, he did not act too spooked and went right into the wreck. This was his fatal mistake and we slowly closed in on him. This fish was smart and we figured this would be our only chance, no way he was going to make this mistake twice. Pat swam around the back and I went to the front over the top of where he was. When Pat was in position, I shined my light and Pat’s gun went off without hesitation. Pat shoots a 65” Super Amero gun

by Hatch Custom Spearguns, with a 5/16” heavy shaft and slip tip. His shot was right in the gill plate and into the throat. The gill plate cut the spectra line and the fish was free, it also bent the slip tip on Pat’s gun. Confused, the fish swam a circle in the sand and went right back into the wreck. With the fish back in the wreck and bleeding out from Pat’s shot that tore out, I placed a quick top down shot into his brain and the fish rolled over dead. We quickly got our hands on the fish and started our assent. On our way up I gave Pat a huge hug and broke out in tears, my mask was filling with water as we laughed and cried together. This was a huge moment for all of us and years of hard work put in. To this day, it was one of the best moments in both of our lives!

Back on the boat, it started to set in as we saw how large this fish was. He was measured at 49.5 inches, over 69 pounds bled out, and estimated around 40 years old. This cubera snapper was a fish of a lifetime, I would say a fish of many lifetimes for the area we were diving! Pat has landed over 200 species of fish on rod and spear in his life. This is one of his most memorable moments and we couldn’t be more happy to share it with him! When you are spearfishing, always remember that you have the choice on what you shoot, in order for large fish like this to exist, we need to let them mature and grow. Shoot what you need for dinner and leave the rest to spawn and grow!

Dive Safe!

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— Capt. Tony Young can be reached at Forever Young Spearfishing in Islamorada, FL at 305-680-8879

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MARCH 2023

FLORIDA KEYS 15

TARPON FISHING FROM A KAYAK By: Randy Morrow

O

ne of the easier sport fish targets for a kayaker in the Florida Keys is the juvenile tarpon. Generally, around 10 to 20 pounds with considerably larger ones in the mix, the fun factor on these fish is off the charts! Once hooked, they pull hard and jump completely out of the water, somersaulting through the air end over end. It’s quite a sight!

Many of the bridges in the Keys will have tarpon around, especially on an outgoing tide. Tarpon are generally more active in low-light situations, and are primarily nocturnal feeders, making sunrise, sunset and nighttime the best periods to fish them. They also seem to show themselves (“roll”) more frequently when there is little to no wave action from the wind.

Probably the toughest part of catching one is getting a good hookset. Tarpon are notorious for throwing hooks and getting away even after you think you have them. They have a very bony mouth with little soft tissue so here are a few pointers to increase your hookup ratio.

First, make sure your hooks are razor sharp. This is true of most saltwater fish but particularly true with tarpon. I use Owner and Gamakatzu hooks exclusively because they are extremely sharp right from the package and stay sharp for a long time. Second, carry a small file in your gear at all times, and check the sharpness of your hooks every time you go fishing. Just drag the hook point across your fingernail to check it. If it doesn’t immediately stick, it’s not sharp enough - touch it up with your file. If you can’t reestablish a good point, toss that hook for a fresh one. (I was lazy about this in the early days of my fishing career, but not anymore.) Third, pay attention to your hook setting technique. With spinning gear, it should be short but very firm, and I like to hit them twice. The giant, over-the-shoulder hook setting nonsense you see on prefer little to no weight on these because tarpon like to eat UP, not down.

TV has no value here and will lose you fish. For fly fishermen, the “strip strike” Fly fishers’ quiver should include gurglers, small baitfish, and unweighted with your line hand is an absolute must, and again I like to hit them twice. shrimp, 30lb fluorocarbon tippet and an 8wt or 9wt rod.

Northern river techniques of simply raising the rod (trout setting) WILL NOT If you’d like some help with your Keys kayak fishing adventures, call, ring, or get the job done on tarpon. text anytime. And please visit my website for plenty of good kayak fishing info!

Live shrimp or crabs will catch plenty of small tarpon, but frankly, you don’t even need live bait. Soft plastics like shrimp and baitfish work very well.

— Randy Morrow | 305-923-4643 And I’ve generally found that larger, wide gap hooks (2/0, 3/0) work best. I Kayak Fishing Guide | LowerKeysKayakFishing.com 16 FLORIDA KEYS

MARCH 2023

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MARCH 2023

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MARCH MADNESS By: Capt. Chris Johnson

T

he month of March, and sometimes even into April, can be the windiest time of year in the Florida Keys. If you want quality fishing, go with an open mind and listen to your captain’s recommendations for what your best target species is. Both the Atlantic and the Gulf waters have quality fisheries happening but, again, the wind will dictate which direction you can go.

In the Atlantic waters, we have plenty of pelagics, including blackfin tuna, kingfish and some big cobia. But the star attraction is the abundance of sailfish. March and April will be prime time to target sails, but take your iron stomach with you because conditions can be quite sporty.

In the Gulf and Florida Bay venues, we’ve seen some of the best fishing in ten years, with loads of Florida pompano, cobia and large kings. Goliath groupers and sharks keep the game interesting.

On the deep side of the reef in 150 to 250 feet of water, there are good numbers of blackfin tuna in the 10- to 20-pound class plus king mackerel and a more common occurrence of dolphin as well as sailfish. Live baits are key with live pilchards providing the most consistent action. Live ballyhoo, if you can find them, also work well. Cigar minnows and sardines will also put fish in the box.

Moving inshore to the wrecks, March is typically very good for mutton snappers, kingfish and very large amberjacks. The amberjacks are beginning their spawn this month, and it’s now that we catch some of the biggest ones of the year. Fish in the 60- to 80-pound class are not unusual, with plenty of 20- to 40-pounders to wear you out.

The best baits to attract the attention of the AJs are bluerunners, grunts and large pilchards. Jigging also produces excellent results. For the muttons and kings, live pinfish, pilchards or ballyhoo all work, fished down near the bottom.

On the reef, the yellowtail action picks up tempo at this point in the spring.

With the warming waters, the fish become more active and need to feed more, which makes it a bit easier to coerce them into taking your bait. Using plenty of chum is important. SnapperUp or Mojo Oats will bring them in right behind your boat. All you need for successful yellowtail catching are 15-lb fluoro leaders and small hooks, such as the Owner #4 Mutu Light hooks we use.

The reef edge will have good numbers of king and cero mackerel. And, of course, plenty of grouper that must be released as the season is closed until May 1. In Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, there are loads of cobia, large king mackerel, spanish mackerel and mangrove snappers.

Pinfish is the go-to bait for all but the kings, which love small bluerunners fished either under a balloon or, preferably, hanging from a kite.

We use #7 wire, as these kings are quite large and can bite through smaller wire. For everything else in the bay and gulf, it’s all about pinfish on a jighead. You’ll most likely catch some Goliath grouper.

Be sure to release them quickly and unharmed as they are protected.

March is a good time of year to target sharks around the flats and banks.

It’s primarily blacktips, spinners, bulls and a few hammerheads to start but, as we get toward the end of the month and the waters warm up, we begin to see more lemons.

Any kind of fresh dead bait or live bait works, such as jacks, bluerunners, ladyfish and the like. Be sure to use circle hooks. We always use Owner 9/0 SSW circles for fishing for all shark species, with #7 to #8 wire and 20-lb class tackle rounding out your setup.

— Capt. Chris Johnson | SeaSquaredCharters.com | 305-393-2929 | Facebook.com/MarathonFishing Marathon Florida Keys

20 FLORIDA KEYS

MARCH 2023

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Most Snook

Most Redfish

Most Bonefish

33RD ANNUAL

FKFGA SWAMP GUIDES BALL

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he 33rd Annual FKFGA Swamp Guides Ball presented by Costa Del Mar Sunglasses, was, in true fashion, loaded with 48 teams of 116 excellent Anglers and Guides that fished through the notoriously challenging weather conditions on Feb 4, 2023, and got back to the dock with 244 landed fish including 28 Redfish, 12 Bonefish, and 204 Snook! A “Slam Style” tournament required the participants to go out with the goal of landing all three species in the course of 8 hours. Of the 48 boats, 5 teams came in with Swamp Guides Slams with all three species and 2 Anglers (Mitch Gaither and Lance Keene) individually got Slams.

Fly Champion

SWAMP GUIDES BALL RESULTS: Redfish: Award: Ashley Weber Art Angler: Lance Keene - 4 Redfish Teammate: Mark Gilman Snook: Artwork: Award: Ashley Weber Art Angler: Howard Ohren - 29 Snook Teammate: Jake Leon Bonefish: Award: Ashley Weber Art Angler: Lance Keene - 2 Bonefish Teammate: Mark Gilman

Female Champion (Not Pictured)

Youth Grand Champ

Fly Division Champion: Award: Frederick Stivers • Angler: Kevin Sheehan - 1 Snook on Fly • Teammate: Johnny Sheehan

Youth Grand Champion: Award: Bentley’s Art • Angler: Julian Robertson, IV - 2 Snook, 1 Bonefish • Teammate: Julian Robertson, III • Guide: Rob Fordyce

Female Grand Champion: Award: Cheri Tindall • Angler: Kim Clement - 2 Snook, I Redfish (Won on “Time”) (Not Pictured) • Teammate: Poppy Brownlee • Guide: Jack Given

Runner Up Team: Awards: Jorge Martinez • Team Total: Slam w/ 800 points - 4 Snook, 3 Redfish, 1 Bonefish • Angler: Mitch Gaither • Angler: Brian Gwilliam

Runner Up Youth: Award: Bentley’s Art • Angler: Corben Dean - 1 Snook, 1 Bonefish • Teammate: Ray Scuderi • Guide: Perry Scuderi

Grand Champion Team: Awards: Tim Borski • Team Total: Slam w/ 2200 points - 13 Snook, 6 Redfish, 3 Bonefish • Angler: Lance Keene • Angler: Mark Gilman

The Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association would like to thank all of our Sponsors that made this event possible, the Anglers and Guides that provide some of the toughest competition in Islamorada Backcountry tournaments, the board members and guides of the FKFGA and the Upper Keys Community and Fisheries that support and fuel the passion we have for our resource.

Thank you!

If you have interest in fishing or supporting the 34th Annual Swamp Guides Ball on Feb 2-3, 2024, please contact Kaylee Fordyce: 305.484.4336 | Kaylee@lockeandkeyproductions.com.

Tight Lines,

Youth Runner Up

2nd Runner up team 22 FLORIDA KEYS

MARCH 2023

23 SGB Grand Champions COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FLORIDA-KEYS

— Wesley Locke, Tournament Director Locke + Key Productions 941.268.1331 wesley@lockeandkeyproductions.com

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bass g Blitzin inshor fisheri the m they a south, the lan stocke by the base is and and tr inshor striper Nassau I, north Altam each fr condit and co Iw a.m. w Camp charte for clie a perfe Al Jones w of gor and th Str drift fi he swi with so Be maze on the comin shrimp of slow an old ballast Europ 20-pou the cr

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n cold, rainy, winter days, when most fishermen are happy to stay home dreaming of better weather, a few die-hards gear up and get on the water. In the Southeast, bad weather is striper weather, my friend, and just the thought of hooking a 15- or 20-pound striped bass

By Danny Patrick is enough to keep you warm on the inside.

Atlantic striped bass get all the attention up north.

Blitzing linesiders are a prize of inshore and nearshore recreational fisheries from the Carolinas up through the mid-Atlantic and New England. But they are down here in the south, too, and not just the landlocked stripers stocked in reservoirs by the states. My home base is Jacksonville, Fla., and although redfish and trout are the staple inshore species here, there are fishable striper populations in coastal rivers like the St. Johns, Nassau and St. Marys.

I, however, was lured by reports a little farther north in Georgia, where rivers like the Satilla and Altamaha are producing big-time striper fishing with each front that rolls through. Stripers prefer low-light conditions and colder water temps, so overcast, rainy and cold days are the best days.

I was giddy about the cold, foggy drizzle at 6:30 a.m. when I met guide Drew Jones at the Two-Way Fish Camp on the Altamaha near Darien, Ga. Jones runs fishing and duck-hunting charters in the area, and he’s caught more than 300 stripers up to 14 pounds for clients this season. They’ve had some 30- and 40-fish days, and this felt like a perfect striper day!

All I had to do was get in the boat with my gear and a thermos of hot coffee.

Jones was waiting for me with his Carolina skiff in the water and a livewell full of gorgeous local live shrimp. As we motored off in the mist through creeks and the winding river, he told me a little about the fishing.

Stripers are constantly on the move, and they hunt in packs. Jones drift fishes live shrimp on float rigs to locate concentrations of fish. Then he switches to artificial lures. Slow-sinking stick baits and bucktail jigs with soft-plastic tails both work great.

Between Brunswick and Darien, Ga., the Altamaha system is a maze of creeks and tributaries. We stopped at the mouth of a creek on the Darien River, not far from downtown Darien. The tide was still coming in but slowing near the end of the high tide. Jones said to cast shrimp out in front a point where the current split to create a back eddy of slower flow. He said this was one of his favorite striper spots. It was an old ballast pile, where sailing ships from the 1800s dumped ballast weight from their hulls after crossing the ocean from Europe. They used hundreds, if not thousands, of 10- to 20-pound round rocks to stabilize their ships during the crossing and then dumped

the rocks in order to navigate over the shallow sand and mud bars of the river.

Georgia’s sounds and rivers are littered with piles of ballast rocks, many of which are fish magnets. We fished the point for a good 20 minutes with no bites before moving up the creek.

Through the early morning, we fished several spots with only a few small redfish and speckled trout to keep our attention. We fished a creek loaded with fishy-looking downed timber and carefully navigated beneath a low bridge, where Jones thought we might find fish on the outgoing tide.

He was correct. Jones hooked up with a nice 6-pound hybrid striped bass on his first cast near the bridge. Hybrids are a hatchery-produced cross between striped bass and white bass. They are unable to reproduce and are an excellent sportfish with the aggression of white bass and some of the size of a striper. These hybrids came from the Georgia DNR hatchery at Richmond Hill, Ga. Jones said he catches true stripers and hybrids together, and that sometimes aggressive stripers move in and take over when he’s catching trout. I threw to the same spot Jones caught his fish and immediately hooked and boated a 4-pound hybrid. The bite was on! We saw them busting finger mullet and had one come unbuttoned right at the boat. But then, as is sometimes the case with stripers, it ended as suddenly as it had begun.

So, we picked up anchor and went back to the creek mouth where we started. Now the tide was running out swiftly. We caught several trout and a couple more hybrids before we headed back to the docks.

As we ran past downtown Darien, I saw remnants of old buildings from the 1800s and thought of the history. This was a major port during the early rise of the United States. Cotton and rice from slave plantations were shipped out of Darien, and old-growth cypress trees were logged way up the Altamaha. Loggers would cut trees close to the river and then raft them together in units of dozens of massive logs, which were floated down to the coastal sawmills with men riding the rafts.

Darien is a quiet town now, but it was a truly a bustling place then. It is beautiful with old live oaks and Spanish moss, and history buffs will not be disappointed. If you want to change up your fishing and explore a special place, give Jones a call. He can hook you up…

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To register as a scallop-sitter, you must meet the following requirements: • Have no FWC violations on your record • Live near St. Andrew Bay, St. Joseph Bay or St. George Sound • Have access to the bay: via private dock, boat, or kayak • Register through the UF Pace platform before May 25, 2023 • Watch virtual training video following registration and complete the program pre-survey

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By Will Schmidt

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f you don’t already troll for grouper or if you’re looking for ways to improve your success rate, here are some things to consider while we wait for the seasons for our most popular species to re-open.

Large-lipped and big-profile plugs are deadly, but many anglers struggle with getting lures into the strike zone. Many think if they are fishing in 30 feet of water they need a plug that dives 30 feet, but that’s not always the case. Maximum dive depths are with everything optimum: speed, amount of line out and rigging.

First, consider your speed. I use Nomad DTX Minnow lures, which are designed to run anywhere

from 20 to 50 feet at speeds of 2 to 12 knots. The plugs will dive deeper at the higher end of that speed range than the lower end. I usually run about 5 knots and can easily get a 40-foot plug down to 30 feet at that speed, but a 30-foot plug would likely be short of the bottom.

The amount of line you have out also greatly affects the depth your plug is running, and this is where many mistakes are made. Slower speeds equal a flatter angle of descent, so more line is needed. The idea is to be so close to the bottom that you occasionally bounce off it.

Watch your rod tip for signs of the lure bouncing off the bottom. You will likely find you need more line than you think. Keep dropping back until you start hitting bottom. The downside of this is you will get snagged on the bottom occasionally. When you do, don’t just try to wrench it off the bottom, get back behind the lure and pull it off in the opposite direction. A plus to the DTX Minnow is the single hooks seem to come off the bottom easier than treble hooks.

The final piece to the puzzle is your rigging.

Pulling 8- to 9-inch lures, and handling the fish that smack them, means you need stout tackle. But heavier lines create drag in the water that will impede the lure’s ability to dive. Using braid is a huge plus, as the diameter is much smaller and creates less drag. To further streamline, I use crimps on my leader between my lure and a small (but strong) swivel. It’s a little thing, but knots on heavy leader can be bulky and add to the rig’s drag.

Heavy drags as well as keeping the boat in gear helps pull the fish away from cover quickly. Large single hooks aid in keeping you connected as the bigger gaps decrease the possibility of ripping the plugs out of the fish. Trolling is fun way to catch grouper and it’s a great way to find new spots, as you can cover a lot of ground.

Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler who has been writing about fishing for more than three decades. Check out Nomad Lures at nomadtackle.com.

22 FLORIDA

MARCH 2023

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2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic Returns to the Tennessee River

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he prestigious championship bass tournament—widely known as the “Super Bowl of Bass Fishing”—will be held March 24-26 in downtown Knoxville and on the University of Tennessee Campus.

The Bassmaster Classic pits 55 of the world’s best bass anglers against one another for the title of Bassmaster Classic Champion. The Classic is a catch-and-release event, with bass being returned to the fishery under the supervision of the TWRA. Daily takeoffs will be from Volunteer Landing on the Tennessee River in downtown Knoxville each competition day, and weigh-ins will take place in the Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus. The fan-favorite Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo will be held Friday through Sunday, March 24-26 in the Knoxville Convention Center and the adjacent World’s Fair Exhibition Hall.

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For more information, visit Bassmaster.com.

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NATIONAL 11

COLOMBIA: A GOLDEN ERA OF FISHING BEGINS

By Riley Love

T

wenty years ago, I wrote an article on the Golden Age of Panama fishing. Long have anglers waited for access to the salt and freshwater environments of Colombia.

In 2016, a lengthy peace process was negotiated and a final agreement for a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities between the government and militias. In truth, there are still areas of the country to be avoided and cocaine production remains high, but the political and drug-crime environment has improved enough to move Colombia nearer the top of the target list for angling. The country’s upward trajectory with new tourism outstrips its neighbors. The latest three trips we’ve taken to the country have been completely safe.

Fishing the Amazon and Orinoco River basins are “peacock bass trips.” It is a stunning fishery, where you routinely encounter fellow anglers from the far side of the world. From there, these trips can be divided into peacocks and “what else.” In Guyana it was giant arapaima. For the last Brazil trip, it was big wolf fish. This venture was to the Guaviare River, massive itself, a tributary to the mighty Orinoco. It is hard to understand the size of these watersheds until you see them yourself. Our quarry here was payara, the vampire fish.

The dichotomy of life in the tropics is the wet and dry seasons. During the time of rain, the rivers swell from their banks into dense rainforest. Sitting in your boat, you listen to peacock bass bust prey far back in cover where no cast can go. The fishing season is refined to those months when the rivers shrink back into their skeletal forms and fish are targeted in remaining aneurysmal pools. But the payara have a need for speed. They stack up in current and mouths of tributaries where more water flows. There is something about going after speed freaks… it presses my buttons.

Alberto “Beto” Mejia is the young progenitor of FISH COLUMBIA. He has developed lodges here, on the Orinoco and on the Pacific coast at Punta Ardita, just inside the Panamanian border. He is a stone-cold payara fly fisherman. This lodge is more rustic, and you really feel away from it all.

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The angle

Peacocks and payara take flies very well, both poppers and streamers. For the conventional fisherman, it’s a chance to use multiple baits and techniques.

Very large topwater prop baits and poppers, big minnows at multiple depths.

The Dramatis personae includes numerous others- pacu, sardinata, also the opportunity for multiple species of catfish, some in the 400-pound range.

Uraima falls in Venezuela was a specialized lodge for payara. This is off the list as a destination for various sordid reasons. I have bagged them across the frontiers of South America. Most run 6 to 7 pounds, and a very good one about 15 pounds. The fish on Columbia’s Orinoco run twice that size. I believe this is the best payara lodge on the planet.

For more information, go to www.fishcolombia.com. For more from Riley Love, go to rileylove.com and find him on social media @rileyloveauthor.

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SUPER GLUE BELONGS IN YOUR TACKLE BOX

By CAM Staff

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Soft Baits: You’re throwing away money if you fish soft plastics and don’t use super glue. Most soft plastics are designed for action rather than durability. They’re disposable, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get the most you can out of them.

If you’re fishing a paddletail, grub, eel, worm or any soft plastic on a jighead, a small drop of super glue will extend the life of that bait indefinitely.

Secured to the jig, it will never slide down to the bend of the hook like a loose sock. To a lesser extent, this trick works for bare hooks, as well. Forget multiple fish, a soft bait can last multiple trips when it’s glued in place— barring, of course, interactions with toothy fish.

When it comes to fish with teeth, there’s no way to avoid rips and tears in your soft plastics. Even toothless fish will beat up a bait with extended use. Super glue repairs slices and gouges in soft plastics. The rigidity of the repaired area will affect the action of the lure, but this can be a trip saver when you’re down to the last in a bag of that one color fish are biting.

Hard Baits: With hard baits, super glue is for on-the-water repairs.

If the lip on your crankbait gets loose, a tiny dab of glue will hold it tight and keep your lure swimming true. If the screw eye comes out of your favorite topwater or swimbait, gluing it back will render it stronger than it was to begin with. Super glue extends the life of expensive lures that would otherwise be headed for the trash.

Knots: The debate is ongoing on whether super gluing knots increases their strength. Most folks who do it are in the “it can’t hurt camp.” However, there are a couple situations when it just makes sense. Coating line-to-line connections that frequently run through the guides smooths the knot and protects it from wear. With braided line, good knots, and the right knots, are crucial. Even so, braided line can cut itself when knots shift and tighten under stress. A drop of super glue keeps knots snug and secure.

Miscellaneous: Super glue can save the day when an eyelet or rod tip ust like pliers or a good knife, super glue is an essential item in your fishing kit. There are numerous practical uses for this stuff in fishing, and comes loose. It’ll also keep you on the water when you cut yourself chunking it’s also a catch-all tool. It’s like liquid duct tape. When you have it, there’s bait. Glue the wound shut and keep fishing. Save the emergency room for later. no end to the situations when it comes in handy.

Here are a few good reasons you should keep a tube of super glue in your For more tips, go to coastalanglermag.com.

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GOLDEN BASS GEORGIA SHEEPSHEAD TIES CAUGHT IN VIRGINIA STATE RECORD

By Molly Kirk

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irginia angler Jacob Moore was quite surprised when he reeled in this largemouth bass from the James River. Moore was expecting to catch a largemouth—he was targeting them. But he definitely wasn’t expecting to catch a golden largemouth!

“I was out there practicing for a tournament, catching a bunch of fish,” said Moore, who works as an arborist and participates in local tournaments. “I was on the lower James near Chippokes [State Park]. When I hooked into that one, I thought I had a saltwater fish on at first, but lo and behold, it was a largemouth! A very different largemouth, though. I haven’t seen anything like that before. I’ve seen bass with black spots, but I’d never seen an albino one.”

“Golden largemouth bass are extremely rare and most anglers have never seen them, let alone heard of them before,” said Alex McCrickard, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) Aquatic Education Coordinator.

“The fish is a product of a genetic mutation that alters the skin pigments called xanthism. Yellow pigmentation dominates in xanthism, as you can see in Moore’s golden largemouth.”

Moore measured the fish at 16 ½ inches, took a few photos, then returned it to the water.

For more information, go to dwr.virginia.gov.

T

his big Georgia sheepshead tied a two-decade-old state record for the species after weighing in at 14 pounds, 14.37 ounces.

The angler, Ben Golden III, of Midway, Ga., caught his fish near the Sunbury community outside of Midway on Feb. 3. The catch qualifies as a tie with the existing record of 14-pounds, 14-ounces set by Ralph White, of Rincon, Ga., in 2002.

“To be honest, I’ve been telling folks it’s been my goal to catch a state record for 10 or 12 years,” said Golden, who grew up in Midway and has been fishing the Georgia coast most of his life. “I’m excited to say that I did it.”

Sheepshead are common around 7 pounds but can easily be found up to 10 pounds. They reach maturity around 3 to 4 years of age and primarily live inshore, often near rocky areas, docks, bridges or artificial reefs, or other areas with barnacles.

Between 2017 and 2021, NOAA Fisheries estimates that Georgia recreational anglers caught an average of 490,197 sheepshead each year, with an average of 262,457 being harvested.

For more information on the Georgia Saltwater Game Fish Records program, visit www.CoastalGaDNR.org/SaltwaterRecords.

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