Coastal Angler Magazine | June 2023 | Florida Keys Edition

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Trophies Traditions !

or those of us afflicted with the fishing bug, nothing will deter us from returning to the ocean. We’re often planning our next trip before the current one is over. There is no difference between fishing daily, or being deprived for weeks, the fisherman’s mind will never stop nagging to get back out there.

Fishing stories and trophies are a great way to keep the inner fishing-monster soothed in between trips.

Photographs are an easy way to relive moments, and should not be overlooked. It doesn’t take much effort to get out a camera and capture the catch when it hits the deck while its colors are vibrant and the smile is fresh on the angler’s face. Friends don’t let friends take deadfish dock photos without at least a few taken out on the blue.

When it comes to fishing trophies, there is a whole lot more to be taken home than just some good photos.

The standard go-to trophies are wall mount replicas, which can easily be reproduced with some measurements and photos. This provides the opportunity to release the fish and also be able to take it home with you. Gray’s Taxidermy does excellent work with this type of customization, and outfits most charter companies with the

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

required paperwork to get you started on this process. Make sure to ask your captain about mounting your catch before you release the fish.

There are still people who work with the tried and true art of fish taxidermy, utilizing the fish itself, but these services are harder to find, and the product doesn’t last forever.

Gyotaku fish rubbings are another way to accredit the true size of a trophy fish. The fish itself is painted and printed on paper. This method does not allow you to release the fish, but if you work quickly, and utilize acrylics, the fillets may still be consumed. This is a fun method to try on your own, but there are artists you can hire for this as well. These trophies work out better when wall space at home is more limited.

Various parts of the fish can be taken and treated, such as bills, tails, skeletal systems and even eyeballs transformed into epoxy shot glasses. These trophies can have some of the best outcomes, but require some involved and stinky DIY processing. There are a variety of techniques for this, and endless creative potential.

Participating in fishing traditions is another great way to boost the excitement of a first catch, and add to the memory. Who knows how these got started, but it is our communal obligation to keep them alive.

I’m sure there are some I have missed, but here

are the ones I know of, and practice.

When you catch your first tuna, it is customary to eat the heart or, at very least, take a bite out of it. It’s not bad with a bit of lime and a chaser. Tastes a bit like what I would imagine tuna-jerky to taste like.

When you catch your first marlin, you earn a celebratory jump in the ocean. Usually, this is done back at the dock for safety reasons. This is the most refreshing dip you’ll ever take.

When you catch your first swordfish, your crew will hollow out the eyeball, as to make a cup out of it, and you then take a drink from it. I highly recommend being quick about this before extra slime leeches out into your drink. Don’t worry, it all tastes like victory.

However deep your commitment to your fishing affliction may be, the best trophy will always be memories of having a good time. Most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy being out there. Your local captains understand that it’s difficult to manage life between fishing trips, and we are here for you. Blue Magic Charters is available for your next fix, out of Marathon, Florida Keys.

Capt. Quinlyn, of Blue Magic Charters, is also a Gyotaku artist and a Gray’s Taxidermy agent. Contact her at (504) 920-6342 and follow her social accounts @CaptainQuinlyn.

Electric AN GREEN DRAKE HATCH

small green drake just as it was annihilated by a frisky brown trout.

I hurried to tie on a Colorado Green Drake and caught a brown on my first cast. My second cast was taken as soon as it hit the water—a nice rainbow. By then, drakes were all over the surface and the trout were feeding without hesitation. One trout went airborne, and I swear it was looking for the next green drake on its way back down.

It was dry-fly heaven fishing my 7.5-foot “Perfectionist” bamboo rod (made by “Preacher Jim” Beasley, of Crossville, Tenn.) and a green drake tied on 5X tippet. But over the ridge came ominous blue-tinged storm clouds. The pyrotechnics began immediately, with lightning pinging down all around me. Seeking safe haven, I dove into a shallow creek bed that emptied into the river. Elk, deer and bear tracks had beaten down the bed and formed foot-high banks. It was muddy but much safer. At first, it was too dangerous to even sit up, so I lay in the mud and watched the hatch, which was still in full swing.

In 25 years fly fishing, I’ve only experienced two bona fide green drake hatches. The second time I witnessed one of these hatches it was spectacular, the stuff of legends.

Green drakes are large mayflies that, under the right conditions, hatch in huge numbers and send trout into feeding frenzies. It happened for me one afternoon at about 8,750 feet of elevation on a Colorado river. The left bank hugged the base of a mountain ridge and the right bank opened onto a flat meadow of grasses and wildflowers. It was hot and windy—a tough day for fishing dry flies, but I’m a stubborn dry-fly bigot. I refused to nymph and hadn’t caught a single fish until the weather changed. Clouds floated over the ridge and the temperature and pressure dropped. A bright-white flash and instantaneous rumble sent me toward the truck, but on the way I spotted a

Eventually, the lightning lessened, and I was able fish. Once, two fish—a rainbow and a brown—came from opposite directions and arrived at my fly at the same time. A violent collision of noses ensued, and both fish quickly retreated. My drake was partially submerged after impact, but a different brown appeared, circled once, and daintily took the fly. He was not happy when I hooked him!

Once, I was surprised when my drake drifted almost back to me without a strike. Just as I was picking up the fly to cast again, an upstream brown came like a freight train. It took the fly on the uptake, went airborne and hit me in the chest. When you get nailed in the chest by a 16-inch brown, it’s gotta be a green drake hatch!

This short story (copyrighted by the author) and many other true-life fly fishing adventures can be found in Michael Fitzsimmons’ book “Adventures of a Dry-Fly Junkie,” available only on Amazon. Contact the author at dry_fly_junkie@hotmail.com.

By Michael Fitzsimmons

PHOTO BY GAIL HAMPSHIRE

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL FITZSIMMONS

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MITZI SKIFF: Affordable Performance on the Flats

boat. It really is a very nice boat, notwithstanding the price point.”

The Mitzi Skiff 17’ is a stripped-down and customizable version of the 17’ Tournament, which comes with the options Grubbs said most of his fishing customers were asking for. Both boats draft just 7 inches loaded, they pole easily, they pole straight, and they reach speeds into the 40s with a 60 hp engine.

While the 15’ is a one or two-man boat that’s at-home on the flats, the 17’ can fish three people and it’s got better range. The 17’s primary purpose is still as a flats boat, yet it also doubles admirably as bay boat.

“It’s not just a flats boats; it’s a little bit of an open water boat, too,” Grubbs said.

The 17’ features a modified V-hull with an 11-degree deadrise at transom. There’s no hull slap, and rolled gunnels knock down spray for an exceptionally dry ride. They are built for light weight to run shallow, yet they are solid and durable to stand up to long years of heavy use.

Going back to the mid-1990s, Mitzi Skiff has led the industry with no-nonsense flats boats for skinny-water anglers.

In the very beginning, Tom Mitzlaff’s intent was to design the boat he needed to fly fish the flats. He couldn’t find an affordable boat on the market with the shallow draft, clean layout and quiet maneuverability he needed, so he designed and built the original 15-foot Mitzi Skiff.

That boat revolutionized the marketplace. Mitzi Skiff became the brand for skinny-water anglers who value simplicity and functionality. A Mitzi does everything the pricier skiffs do, yet they are affordable enough for any angler to own

and operate.

About 30 years later, Mitzi has expanded to offer 15’, 16’ and 17’ skiffs that all perform the purposes of the original design exceptionally well. Continued innovation has made Mitzi a boat other builders imitate, and they still come at a significantly lower price point than the competition. The 17’ and the 17’ Tournament have become the brand’s hottest sellers.

“The 15’ took the micro-skiff market by storm,” said Brad Grubbs, who owns and manufactures Mitzi Skiffs in North Carolina. “Since then, the brand has sort of evolved toward the 17’, which works just fine as a multi-purpose

From hideaway pushpole holders to flushmount hardware, Mitzi has obviously put some thought into making decks clean and fishable for fly anglers. Large, clean and stable casting decks are something Mitzi has become known for.

“Keep it simple stupid, and if it ain’t broke don’t fix it,” Grubbs quipped. For nearly three decades, Mitzi has built skiffs for anglers more interested in fishing than in spending a lot of money. It’s a philosophy that works.

Mitzi Skiff boats are available exclusively through select dealers. For more on Mitzi Skiffs, go to www.mitziskiffs.com.

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BIG CHANGES COMING FOR SNOOK MANAGEMENT

In a move similar to recent management changes for red sh, e Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is looking at changing the way it manages snook. At its May meeting, FWC proposed creating new management regions for snook to allow better

control over localized di erences in the shery. e proposed rule changes would:

• Establish nine snook management regions.

• Match current Gulf or Atlantic coast regulations within new regions, except for Charlotte Harbor.

- Implement a two- sh vessel limit,

- Include September in the summer season closure.

“ is adaptive, holistic approach to sheries management is the key to conserving our sheries for future generations,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto. “On behalf of the Commission, I want to encourage anglers and anyone interested in the future of snook in Florida to get involved and share your valuable feedback with FWC sta .”

Sta will continue gathering input on the proposed rules ahead of a planned nal rule hearing at the October Commission meeting. Submit public comment on snook regional management by visiting MyFWC.com/ SaltwaterComments.

In other news from the meeting:

• Proposed no- shing zones around three goliath grouper spawning aggregation sites was tabled with no action taken and no plans to resume discussion. e areas that were being considered for 700-foot no- shing zones around wrecks and reefs remain catch-and-release only.

• Management changes were approved for greater amberjack in Atlantic state waters. An April spawning season closure for recreational anglers will be established, the commercial size limit was reduced from 36 to 34 inches, and the import size limit was reduced from 36 to 34 inches statewide. ese changes will go into e ect at a later date.

For more information, go MyFWC.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPT. PATRICK SMITH, SWAMP

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FLORIDA STAR OFFERS MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAN EVER TO WIN

The 2023 CCA Florida STAR competition presented by Yamaha will o er more opportunities to win than ever before. is 100-day, summer-long competition begins Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and invites CCA members, non-members, anglers and non-anglers to take a shot at winning their share of prizes valued at more than $500,000 including boats, motors, electronics, tackle, scholarships and more. e winning begins even before the competition does with the early registration package providing a complimentary ra e ticket to win a Hewes Red sher, a 25 percent discount from TH Marine and free access to the Red sh Mastery course from Salt Strong.

But it’s not just about anglers winning but the shery too. Not only can participants become winners, they become citizen biologists and citizen garbologists by submitting photos of their catch or garbage collected during the competition in the STAR app. In order to win, participants must take their entry photo on the 2023 CCA FL STAR

O cial Measuring device which can be picked up for free a er May 20 in any West Marine store or one of the many other STAR distribution locations throughout Florida.

e competition has a division for everyone, from the non-angler to the experienced angler. It is comprised of 15 divisions targeting 12 inshore and o shore species plus the Costa Kick Plastic Trash Division presented by Papa’s Pilar, which encourages cleanup of trash from Florida’s coastal waters.

STAR’s signature Tagged Red sh Division o ers seven winners, ve adults and two youth, the choice of a Contender Boats 22 Sport, Path nder Boats 2200 TRS, and STAR would like to welcome back Carolina Ski o ering the 162 JLS. STAR has additional new Tagged Red sh sponsors with Dek Kat Boats o ering a 27 Flatz Kat and Sea Doo

and Can-Am o ering a fun package of a Sea Doo FishPro Trophy and the Can-Am Defender. Each boat will be powered by a Yamaha. Be the rst winning tagged red sh angler for your choice of all these packages as your prize.

Once again in 2023, an ALTA SUPER STAR tagged red sh is swimming Florida waters. If it is recaptured, the winner will receive $50,000 cash! For the rst two youth anglers who win in this division, prizes include a tiller boat powered with a Yamaha outboard, a trailer, a Minn Kota trolling motor and Humminbird electronics.

Each coastal county will have, on average, four tagged red sh for a total of over 160 prizewinning sh. e best opportunity to catch one of this year’s tagged red sh will be in Citrus and Charlotte Counties, STAR’s 2023 Destination Counties, which each have eight tagged red sh in their coastal waters.

For the o shore anglers, the Tigress Outriggers and Gear Tagged Dolphin Division o ers one winner a $10,000 cash prize. e rst STAR registrant and CCA Florida member who catches one of the tagged dolphin will win. Twenty dolphin (Mahi Mahi) will be tagged and released for STAR in the Lower Keys.

STAR is a family-friendly competition, and CCA Florida youth members (ages 6 to 17) can participate for free. Kids are encouraged to submit entries in the Youth Scholarship Division presented by Realtree Fishing for an opportunity to win one of twelve scholarships totaling $100,000. To date, the Florida STAR competition has awarded $800,000 in scholarships to youth from all over the state. Another great component of STAR for youth participants is they can earn 30 minutes of community service for every 5-gallon bucket of trash they pick up from Florida’s coastal waters and submit via the STAR app.

Other divisions include the Power Pole

Conservation Division, Bona de Kayak Division and Ladies Division as well as the Yamaha Guides, which allows guides to participate when they are not on a charter for hire. Since most division winners are determined by a random drawing, it is not about catching the biggest sh; any size sh can win. Remember, every sh you catch between Saturday, Memorial Day weekend and Monday, Labor Day, o ers the CCA member who is registered in STAR the opportunity to win their share of nearly $500,000 in prizes and scholarships. But you can’t win If you are not registered.

Not only is the STAR competition a wonderful way for participants to win amazing prizes, it is a tool to gather catch data, it creates awareness for conservation, our sponsors and CCA Florida. Launched in 2015, the competition has set the bar for other shing tournaments to follow by implementing conservation-friendly alternatives such a catch-photo-release format and a trash division.

Florida STAR focuses on conservation with its technology-based, CPR format and dedicated smartphone app which promotes the proper handling of species and allows participants who are members of CCA and registered in the competition to upload photos of their catch or trash buckets in the STAR competition and be rewarded for their e orts. is eliminates the requirement that some traditional tournaments have to harvest or capture and transport sh to win. CCA Florida also provides access to the data collected from the app to other conservation organizations and universities to help educate the public on the importance of protecting Florida’s marine resources and for use in their studies on conservation, habitat and stock assessments.

For more information and to register, visit http://cca orida.org/event/star/.

BACK TO THE BASICS

Ever since I started shing, the basics have stayed the same. If we all tell the truth, none of us started out catching gags and wahoo. It was probably more like bream, bass, cat sh and shad. Granted, we didn’t sh as many lures back then as we do now, but the basics are still the same. Back then, we shed a lot of the four or ve loop sherman’s knots for soaking baits. I no longer use these.

Now, I tell folks if you know how to make ve connections, you can go anywhere in freshwater or salt and sh for almost anything. ese ve connections are:

1) Loop knot

2) Snell

3) Uni knot (includes uni-to-uni knot)

4) Crimps(cable and uoro)

5) Double tackle loop

Granted, there are other helpful knots like the Piere knot, which is a good wind-on for connecting braid to Floro, but I’ll stick to my guns here and say these ve are the ones I use. ere are three of these I can tie in pitch black dark and have tremendous faith they’ll

never fail.

I can hear it now… “Yeah, you forgot this one and you need to know this one.” OK, but the title of the article is “getting back to basics,” and these ve work for everything I need to do. As soon as any of these

meat and potatoes of the freshwater, inshore and nearshore shing I do. I make connections from braided main lines to smaller uoro leader material with the uni-to-uni. e loop knot works best on most lures. e loop knot gives any lure the freedom it needs to swing or change directions freely.

e snell has a place for freshwater, inshore, nearshore and o shore. is is simply because I feel the snell is a requirement for all circle hooks, in my humble opinion.

e crimps make for ease of heavy-duty connections from uoro leaders to swivels and then to braided main lines. e crimps also make heavy-duty cable connection to stinger hooks and to arti cial lures.

ve starts failing on me, I’ll consider something else, but between now and then, these work for everything from bream to bill sh. e loop knot and uni knot make up the

I’ve got some videos on my website on how to tie and utilize these ve connections. Some of these videos have some age on them, and I have received some request to make new ones with better lighting, backgrounds, etc. I may very well update them in the near future. However, all these videos show the knots in pretty good closeup detail. Stay in touch with my you tube channel and website for these new videos.

See more from Tim Barefoot at Barefootcatsandtackle.com.

Tim Barefoot

TOP CAPTAINS TEAM UP WITH NFL STARS

The Sport shing Championship held its inaugural event, e Catch, in mid-April and it sprinkled teams of top local captains with well-known NFL players for o shore action out of Miami.

NFL players at the event included stars like Justin Herbert (QB, L.A. Chargers), A.J. Brown (WR, Phi. Eagles), Dalvin Cook (RB, Minn. Vikings), DeAndre Hopkins (WR, Ariz. Cardinals), Chris Jones (DE, K.C. Chiefs), Matthew Judon (OLB, N.E. Patriots), Patrick Surtain II (CB, Den. Broncos) and Quinnen Williams (DT, N.Y. Jets).

e football players were split into groups

By Astrid DeGruchy

to sh with renowned captains aboard powerful sport shers and be challenged in ways they may never have experienced before.

e event was broadcasted live from the Fontainebleau in Miami. Spectators were able to tune in and follow the hook-ups in real-time as NFL superstars got tight, reeling in species like black n tuna, sail sh, yellowtail snappers, bonitas, mahi and more.

rough the tournament, the players learned that catching these sh is no simple task, and that it requires a unique set of skills to hook and successfully reel them in. e experience gave

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them a newfound level of respect for anglers and, for many, sparked a newfound interest in shing. e competition was close, but Team Gypsea, led by Capt. Taylor Sanford and supported by fourtime Pro Bowlers Matthew Judon and Dalvin Cook, claimed the championship trophy. e grand prize winnings consisted of a $100,000 donation to the Coast Guard Foundation.

“It was fascinating to watch elite NFL athletes realize how much e ort it takes to reel in saltwater sh,” said Je Stillwell, president of Salt Life. “ eir willingness to learn about techniques and take a genuine interest in doing things correctly shows why they are top-tier athletes. Plus, there is nothing like seeing someone catch a sh for the rst time!”

SFC’s e Catch had various components, including a pro-am tournament with other NFL legends and athletes. e Awards dinner was incredible, featuring a breathtaking drone light show and a Havana-themed atmosphere.

For more, visit sport shingchampionship.com. Follow Astrid Degruchy’s shing adventures on Instagram @catching_astrid.

Dalvin Cook, Matt Judon and Team Gypsea with a black n caught aboard Rayne Check

(L-R) Patrick Surtain II, Quinnen Williams and angler Jaselyn Berthelot show o their catch.

Florida Keys

By: Capt. Greg Poland

The fishing here in the Florida Keys has been steady with lots of friends reporting a good bite of mahi mahi offshore and quite a few swordfish being caught. However, my fishing time has been much closer to the docks for locating my favorite fish in the sea.

The silver kings have been on their annual migration throughout the Florida Keys, and it’s hard for me to want to fish for anything else while they are here in town! I had a longtime client of mine buy a new flats skiff, which took out for a shake down trip to make sure everything worked properly. It was a lot of fun cruising along through the ocean going through the many schools of migrating tarpon.

My friend made a great cast at the lead fish which chased his fly down and the rest was textbook tarpon fly fishing! Tarpon fishing is one of the most thrilling experiences for anglers, watching the way they fly out of the water.

If you have never tried it, now is the time to get a charter guide or your fishing buddy and get out there on the water and give it a try. And, if fly fishing is not your game, try a live mullet at one of the local bridges or a mangrove shoreline in the backcountry.

While fishing the bridges, there are whopper size jacks as well as other species to have some fun with while waiting for the tarpon to bite. Honestly, it doesn’t matter what tackle we are fishing, it’s all about just being out on the water.

If you would like to come out with me, I have some dates open this month if this sounds like something you would like to try. Give me a call and let’s set up a date on your boat or mine while the tarpon are still in town.

JACKS IN THE CURRENT

By: Caitlyn Gatrell

ave you ever fought a Jack Crevalle before? If you have, then you know they put up some challenging fights and are strong swimmers. Now, have you ever fought one in a current? If so, then you know that’s a tough battle. One that will have your arms burning and your wrist hurting.  Exploring our way through the Ten Thousand Islands, we have found a couple “honey holes” where the fishing produces pretty well. A couple spots happen to be near some backwater currents. Here, we often find a variety of species, even turtles, dolphins, the occasional gator, you name it. Jacks are often found here as well, whether it be within mangroves, out in shallow waters, along a small island, or within the deep ripping currents. On especially the strongest point of the tide, where the water forcefully pushes leaves and twigs past us, and our trolling motor can barely keep up with the current, the jack hook ups are usually very memorable. We don’t see them at first, but we already can tell what is on the line, and the line will fly through the water, the drag

Hscreams and the fish just takes off. It seems within a few seconds the fish is already halfway down the stretch of mangroves. It takes a bit of time, teamwork, and a lot of maneuvering around with the trolling motor, in order to get these jacks to the boat. Just when you feel like you are getting them close, they get a kick of energy and will take off again, swimming quickly with the current. Once we can get them up, we take out the hook, snap some quick photos and get ready for the release. Jacks usually are ready to go with a quick head dive and they scurry off, swimming deeper until you can no longer see them.

We can find jacks of all sizes in the currents, but big or small, they always put up a good battle. Jacks in these currents often are eating (dead or alive) mullet, pilchards, and even swimbaits as well.  We usually have no problem catching them. One thing I notice about these jacks, is that we frequently spot them swimming along the surface of the water. Not enough for their fins or back to surface, but enough to make a big wake appear. There have been quite a few times where we would see one of these big wakes and would throw our bait in the direction its heading, and sure enough, we would immediately hook up to one of these big boys. As mentioned before, Jack Crevalles are the saltwater species that got me hooked into fishing, so I will always enjoy reeling them in. If you haven’t had an opportunity to catch a jack in the current, or a jack at all, it is something you need to experience! Head to your local beach, bridge, pier, jetty, bay, etc., and wait for the strong outgoing or incoming tide, and get ready for some fun!

HEAD OFFSHORE

By: Capt. Bruce Andersen

Summer is here! And in the Florida Keys, that usually means that both the mahi fishing and the daytime temperatures are red hot! As hot as it may be out, it’s always a little cooler offshore and I can’t think of a better way to spend a summer day than to chase mahi out in the gulf stream.

Mahi-mahi or dolphin, as most of the locals call them, have got to be the most popular fish to target in the Florida Keys. Everybody loves them and people come from all over the world to get in on the great mahi fishing here this time of year. There are so many reasons why mahi fishing is so popular. They’re so fun to catch. They’re strong fighters that jump multiple times while being reeled in, they’re great eating, usually readily available most of the summer, and have the beautiful tropical colors that make for such a great trophy.

On my charter boat, the Captain Easy, I’ll spend most of my days from mid-May through the summer heading offshore in search of these fish, with the month of June usually being the best fishing of the year. On most of my charters we’ll start out catching some live bait and then head right offshore. We usually won’t stop until we see the right signs to tell us we’re in the zone! Normally I’ll start fishing anywhere from 12 to 20 miles offshore and work our way out as far as 25 or 30 miles all depending on how far out the fish have been. We’ll spend a good part of the day running and covering ground, looking for signs like birds, floating pieces of debris, big Sargasso weed patches and weed lines. We’ll also troll lures or dead ballyhoo while we’re hunting for all of these clues. Once we find the fish we’ll switch right to the spinning tackle and start casting live baits, such as cigar minnows, pilchards, dead ballyhoo or squid, or cut bait and catch the majority of the fish on 20 pounds spinning tackle, which makes for a very exciting fight.

Once you get on the fish, the action can be very fast paced. Sometimes you might have 40 smaller schoolie size fish right behind the boat racing around fighting over your baits. Other times you might have a small pack of much bigger “slammer” size mahi charging in to eat your baits! There aren’t many activities more exciting than getting in on a great dolphin bite offshore of the Keys! Give me a call and let’s see if we can get you in on the action!

— 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

THE GREAT SARGASSUM BELT

By: Capt. Angelia Swanson

Last month in my Mahi article, I mentioned the dreaded Sargassum that we keep hearing about. Sargassum is actually a catch-all term for over 300 different types of naturally occurring brown algae and it is a vital part of our ocean’s ecosystem. When adrift at sea it provides food and protection for fish, mammals, marine birds, and many others, although in the extremely large amounts we are seeing this year it can be a problem. It actually removes the oxygen from the water much like Florida’s Red Tide and can be very harmful for everything in the oceans including our precious coral reef. I mentioned last month that this Sargassum has grown a hundred-fold in just the last decade and this year it has grown exponentially, with scientists even calling it The Great Sargassum Belt. This patch of sargassum is now over 5,000 miles long and estimated to be over three million tons. That is pretty hard to wrap your head around! It even set a record for the most Sargassum in the Caribbean Sea in the month of April than ever before.

The most talked about problem with this immense amount of Sargassum is it coming up on the beaches during our busy tourist months. As it dries out and dies on beaches it lets off a foul odor and even has been said to cause respiratory problems for beachgoers as it lets off hydrogen sulfide gas, and interesting enough, the tissues of the Sargassum contain high levels of arsenic. It has been reported that right now in Barbados it is piling up on their beaches five to six feet high and they are requiring 1,600 dump trucks a day just to haul it off and that is yet another staggering number to wrap your head around!

As an offshore troller, I am very used to keeping my trolling lines free of Sargassum during this time of year, but that has become much more challenging these days! We are already seeing much more Sargassum along our island chain than usual and it is a constant workout continually cleaning lines all day. We have some brilliant scientists who are coming up with amazing ways to deal with this problem. They are using nets to collect it in some areas in the Caribbean and that is working well. In doing research for this article my favorite solution is happening in Martinique where a man named Laurent Brousseau has designed a boat to remove the Sargassum from the water after containing it with a boom much like they do with oil spills.

This Sargassum issue is already affecting our Keys as I’m seeing reports of it floating up in large patches in Marathon and Key West, but we are the Keys and we are KEYS STRONG!! We work together and overcome. And we are blessed to have some of the best conservation groups, scientists, and marine biologists in the world. And for passionate trolling anglers like myself, we just work a little harder for our catches this year.

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

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FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR

or many divers and anglers, our favorite time of year has finally arrived! Grouper and Hogfish season is officially open and will remain open through November 30th for Hogfish and December 31st for Grouper. If you’re diving, Grouper is always the fish we look forward to hunting all day. For fishing, this season adds excitement to every spot you fish, whether it be a wreck or a reef. While drifting for muttons, or anchored up yellow tailing with a bottom rod, May 1st marks the beginning of excitement knowing all those fish you’ve been releasing all winter can finally come back to the dock with you!

After spending most of the winter months drifting for pelagic fish, spearfishing the shallow and deep reef spots for Grouper is a great change of pace. The shallow patch reefs are great for entry level freedivers, looking for those red groupers and hogfish. Red Grouper, unlike Black Grouper which are generally found deeper, act very curious in the water and allow newer hunters an easier target. They taste absolutely delicious, and you are allowed to keep three per day within your total grouper aggregate. Hogfish love the sand and use their snout-like mouth to dig down in search of food. The Florida Keys has seen a great recovery in the Hogfish population since the size and bag limit changed a few years back. Hogfish, alike Red Groper, are a great target for new hunters. We find good sized fish in shallow depths, and they are easy to approach for a shot. Remember they need to be a 16” fork length size to be legal, I look for that dark line on their head with a curved snout. Black grouper on the other hand are a little more difficult to hunt. Unlike Red Grouper, which allow you to swim right up, Black Grouper will never give you that shot. A legal size Black needs to be 24” and to get that size they have seen a few things in their life. They can pick up on your energy in the water and a frantic/ excited diver will be picked off as a threat before a shot can be taken. All grouper have a hard time seeing up and down, but see very well side to side. We always hunt from above, spotting the fish from higher up in the water column or from the surface, then working straight down on them. In order for the Grouper to see you, they will need to turn on their side, allowing for a great broadside shot if you play your cards right. Black Grouper are also big on eye contact and approach angles, I rarely swim directly towards them and always keep my head looking in a different direction. If the fish runs from you, keep them barely in sight and back off. They will always go into a hole somewhere, which will allow you a chance to work them

out. If they keep running down the reef line, back off and swim higher in the water column, they will slow down and if you don’t pose a threat you will be able to get a shot off with patience.

FComing off the winter bluewater season, you will need to switch up your rig. For winter pelagics we run powerhouse guns with floats, this is not needed for grouper. I recently built a new gun, specifically for hunting large Black Grouper. I call my gun the “Super 60”, which is a 60” Amero speargun built by Hatch Custom Spearguns. This rig is outfitted with three bands, 5/16” diameter shaft, cable Neptonics stiptip, cable rubber coated shooting line, and a 60m reel. Groupers have a very different skin than snapper and a slip tip can hang onto the thinnest little piece of Grouper Skin if you do not apply too much pressure, which is why the reel comes in handy. The cable will keep your fish from breaking off if they run into a coral head or section of a wreck, nothing is more heartbreaking than losing a nice fish to the wreck. If you’re shooting without a reel, I’ll often let go of my gun to allow the fish to run on a less than ideal shot placement. Your fish will head to the first hole he sees and try to get cover.

When your fish holes up, do not pull the line to drag them out, you will most likely tear them off. Reach in and get your hands on your fish, following the shooting line and shaft to the fish. Get your hands on the gills and push in while you turn, this will release his grip on the structure around and allow you to pull the fish right out. If you’re freediving and can’t get this done on your breath, it’s safer to ascend to the surface, keeping enough pressure on the line so the fish has to work to stay put without ripping him out. This will tire him out over time and allow you to more easily work the fish out on your next breath.

Getting back to the dock with a nice mature Grouper in the box is a great feeling. Save every part of the fish and enjoy the meals. Currently, my favorite cut of meat from this fish is the collar (throat). My favorite way to prepare the throat is to make smoked pulled grouper sliders. I’ll do a BBQ rub on the grouper collar and smoke it at 220 degrees till the meat pulls off the bone, basting the meat in a good sauce while it smokes. Once you get the meat pulled apart, place it on your favorite bun or roll with some good coleslaw and sauce of your choice. This recipe is excellent and has a unique taste that most aren’t accustomed to with fish. We also enjoy cooking what I call Grouper chips, thinly sliced pieces of the Grouper meat that is floured and pan fried. Dip in a homemade chipotle sauce and you have a perfect appetizer or meal on its own!

I hope you enjoy the challenge of hunting grouper as much as we do, they are an amazing fish and a prize species to target for the day! Remember that mature grouper have been down there a long time and have seen every trick in the book. Take your time and hunt them slowly, the reward is worth the patience.

Dive Safe!

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

By Captain Tony Young

MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

BOATING SAFETY TIPS TO REMEMBER

The weather is starting to warm and that means larger crowds on the water. The Monroe County Sheriff’s We urge mariners to stay safe and respect other boats. Use common sense, stay alert, have fun, and come home alive! Please remember these safety tips:

• Be Weather-Wise

Always check local weather conditions.

• Use Common Sense

Operate at a safe speed, especially in crowded areas. Steer clear of vessels that are restricted in their ability to slow or turn. Respect buoys and other navigational aids.

• Designate an Assistant Skipper

Make sure more than one person on board is familiar with all aspects of your boat.

• Develop a Float Plan

Always be sure someone else knows where you’re going and how long you’re going to be gone.

• Use Life Jackets

Assign and fit each person onboard with a life jacket.

• Avoid Alcohol

Save the alcohol for later. BUIs are just as serious as DUIs.

• Learn to Swim

Proper boating safety means knowing how to swim.

• Take a Boating Course

Take a local course or check online tutorials.

• Get a Free Vessel Safety Check

The U.S. Coast Guard offers boat examinations to verify the presence and condition of safety equipment.

• Boating Must Haves

Working VHF radio, Fire Extinguisher that’s not expired PFDs and throwable PFD Flares that are not expired and First-aid kit

CALL 911 IF A CRIME IS TAKING PLACE

Crime Stoppers offers a reward for the arrest of anyone in a felony criminal case.

If you see anything suspicious, call the Sheriff’s Office immediately! It is our job to check out suspicious activity. Your call may be the one that helps us catch the bad guys!

Boaters should also be mindful of migrant vessels underway at sea and others that are abandoned in nearshore waters. Always report migrant vessels underway to the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16. Migrant vessels lack the safety and operational features of normal boats. Use

If you see something you think may be suspicious. Call CrimeStoppers with any crime tips: 1-866-471-8477

Submit tips online at www.floridakeyscrimestoppers.com

Loretta Sova

KAYAK FISHING

By: Randy Morrow

June is a terrific time for kayak anglers to pursue the most well-known inshore fish species in the Lower Florida Keys - tarpon, bonefish, and permit! Winds are usually much lighter, tides are moving nicely, and water temps are perfect.

Tarpon fall into two basic categories: smaller, “resident” fish, and large, migratory fish. The resident fish, generally 10-30 lbs., are tremendous fun on medium-light spinning gear or 9wt fly tackle. They collect around the bridges and are also scattered throughout the backcountry. Sunrise, sunset,

and nighttime are the best times to target them as they roll on the surface. In the middle of the day, they don’t roll as much though they are certainly catchable. These smaller tarpon will be active through summer and fall and generally respond well to lures and flies - you really don’t need bait for them. The large fish, ranging from 50-150 lbs. or more, roam in similar areas as their smaller brethren, but are sometimes harder to feed. Additionally, the big tarpon will run along edges on the Atlantic side of the Keys, sometimes in large schools. May is considered peak time for these big beasts, and there should still be some around in June as well. By July, most of the big fish have moved on.

Bonefish should be plentiful and agreeable throughout June and will surprise you with their speed as they sizzle the drag on your spinning or fly reel! A shrimptipped jig or weighted, shrimpy fly will should get their attention. An incoming tide is a great time to target these speedsters as they move across our hard-bottomed flats looking for their next snack. A depth of 1-3 ft. seems ideal. If the water isn’t moving, you are unlikely to see fish until the tide picks up.

It’s hard to say for sure when the permit will reappear in numbers on the flats, though they should be fishing well by June as they return from their spring spawning event. Tailing permit are one of the most exciting sights in flats fishing, and a fairly common sight in the summer, especially early and late in the day during calm conditions. Stealth is critically important as you approach these wary fish.

Warm weather in the Keys also brings thunderstorms, and the lightning that accompanies them. Operating under paddle power makes us kayakers particularly vulnerable since we generally can’t outrun the weather. The ubiquitous mangroves, however, provide us an option if lightning is getting too close. Simply paddle into any opening in the trees and wait it out. The one place you DON’T want to be is out in the open. There is a silver lining to this situation though since many times the period just after the passage of a storm cell can be excellent fishing.

As always, ring, text, or email if I can help you maximize your kayak angling in the beautiful Florida Keys!

CAPT. JOEL’S FISHIN’ HOLES

By: Capt. Joel Brandenburg

lackfin tuna is one of the hardest, fighting fish pound for pound in the Florida Keys. We target blackfin tuna many different ways offshore in and around the Marathon Humps and we also target blackfin tuna during certain times a year just outside the reef. Since January 2020 the bag limit on blackfin tuna has decreased to two blackfin tuna per person or 10 per vessel whichever is greater and presently there is no closed season on blackfin tuna. These are Florida state regulations that extend to federal waters.

Occasionally in the Florida Keys we’ll catch a bluefin tuna, Big Eyed tuna or a yellowfin tuna. Ana Banana Fishing, Company in Marathon, has only caught one yellow fin tuna this year the rest have all been Blackfin. We target blackfin, tuna, many different ways, depending on the weather, the depth and what the tuna are feeding on.

First, I’ll talk about how we like to target in Blackfin tuna at the Marathon Humps. The Marathon Humps is an underwater mountain range, and a world-renowned fishing destination off the coast of marathon Florida Keys. The peak of the Marathon Humps is at a depth of 483 feet and the ledge angles down to over 1000 feet deep on the backside of the peak. Tuna and other game fish sit under the peak of the ledge, waiting for bait to be swept over the peak by the west to east current.

Bing out, dozens of crippled, pilchers, often blackfin tuna will start launching into the air and swirling on your chum.

When the tuna get fired up, we have Angler’s on standby with Hooks pilchers free lined with 30 lb test mono Flora carbon using a 3.0 “J” hook with the Pilcher Hooked under its pectoral fin. The anglers cast on the spots that they last saw the blackfin launch or swirl behind the boat. The reason we had them cast where they last saw the tuna is because many times the tuna will miss the chummer and swing right back to the same place to try to take another shot at the bait fish that they just missed and mistake the hooked bait for the chummed bait.

The other technique we like to use while blackfin tuna fishing at the Marathon Humps is vertical jigging. This technique works best on a sunny day and in the middle of the day especially when many boats are at the Humps all jockeying for the peak position. Sun and boat traffic drives the tuna down and causes them to feed deeper. I The shinier the vertical jig, the better. We do a similar west to east drift towards the peak of the Humps while vertical jigging. We typically only have two or three anglers vertical jigging at a time, so as not to get, our lines crossed.

If you like eating sushi, many avid sushi eaters agree that blackfin tuna is the best tasting tuna in the ocean.

The top three ways to target in Blackfin tuna at the Marathon Humps is trolling, live, baiting or vertical jigging. When trolling for blackfin tuna at the Marathon Humps, we like to have one line long about 150 yards and another line short about 75 yards, so no matter how we turn the boat towards the schooling tuna, our lines won’t get tangled together. When your short line gets hit, get ready, your long line will get hit quickly following.

Our favorite bait to troll with is a plastic black sand eel. We use a 50-pound fluorocarbon 5-foot liter and troll at an average speed of 4 knots. I don’t know what the tuna thinks the black sand eels are, but they sure love them. The sand eels are most effective on overcast days. The best tuna bite at the Marathon Humps is very early in the morning or very late in the afternoon. If the tuna aren’t liking, our black sand eels then we will switch up to red purple or blue tuna darts.

Tuna darts with a daisy chain work well too. When large tuna are feeding at the Marathon Humps we sometimes troll with a mono rigged ballyhoo. While trolling with ballyhoo it’s not uncommon to get a mahi, wahoo or billfish to strike at the Marathon Humps. No matter what you’re trolling with when you get a tuna or other game fish on the line, remember to reel the game fish in quickly don’t play the fish, or it will get eaten by a shark at the marathon Humps. We also like to live bait at the Marathon Humps it’s best to come with a Livewell full of pilchers and start your drift west of the peak so your boat and your crippled Pilchard chum will both drift towards the peak. As we’re throw-

We found the best way to drop the vertical jigs is have each angler count to 80 Mississippi then start violently jigging. Certain times of the year large blackfin tuna show up in 80 feet of water to 240 feet of water just outside the reef. We target these tuna a couple different ways when they show up outside of the reef. One way is a technique we call running gunning. When we are running and gunning, we are quickly driving up on schools of tuna and throwing spoons or plastic jigs into the school and reeling through the school as fast as we can.

We also like to slow troll through the schools of tuna. When trolling, we like to use a number three or four planer with a 30- or 40-foot leader tied to a spoon or a plastic on a jig head. We also like trolling with small Tormentor’s or lipped nomad lures. The colors pink, red and purple seem to be the number one colors preferred by the blackfin tuna.

If you like eating sushi many avid sushi eaters agree that blackfin tuna is the best tasting tuna in the ocean. After a tuna trip, we have our clients bring their tuna filets next door to Castaway Restaurant and Sushi Bar. Castaway will prepare the tuna many different ways raw and seared only for Ana Banana guests. With tuna season open year-round, Blackfin tuna is one of the most sought after gamefish in the Florida Keys. In my opinion nothing fights harder and taste better pound for pound.

— For a charter with Captain Joel or Jojo Brandenburg of Ana Banana Fishing Company in Marathon Florida Keys call cell 813-267-4401 or office 305-395-4212 or visit www.marathonkeyfishingcharters.com or visit us in person at Ana Banana Marina located at 11699 Overseas Hwy Marathon Florida Keys. Look for the big yellow Ana Banana sign with antlers around it.

Florida Keys

about a large

If you have a catch to brag about send your picture and caption to: flkeys@coastalanglermagazine.com

TrishWise with her 14 lb. mutton caught in the Marquesas’

Talk

mangrove snapper! Captain Steve of Reel Attraction is the reef fish whisperer!

Bull Dolphin caught off Marathon with Capt. Bob Brown and Sundance Sportfishing

Austin Capers with a nice Mutton Snapper landed off Marathon

Let’s grow with Florida together.

Confessions of a Fishaholic, by Thatch Maguire, is a hilarious and irreverent look at one man’s quest to catch fish in spite of life’s annoying interferences. You’ll travel with this awkward adventurer as he risks home and health to pursue his passion for fishing...regardless of the consequences. Anglers of all expertise levels will immediately identify with why his addiction is incurable. This book defines the blurred line between passion and obsession.

20 Sacks Weighed Heavier than 30 Pounds at One Tourney

Catch a 30-pound ve- sh sack of bass, and you’re pretty much a lock to win whatever tournament you’re shing, right?

Imagine that glorious moment when you’ve been culling 5-pounders and pull into the docks to unload your livewell. With a grin on your face, you haul that huge bag of sh up to the scales…only to nd out your 30-pound sack barely put you in the top 20! at was the reality at a May 6 Roland Martin Marine Center Bass Series event on Lake Okeechobee. e shing was so good that anglers weighed 20 ve-bass limits that were heavier than 30 pounds. It took 36.82 pounds to win. We’re not sure who keeps track of such things, but that’s more 30-pound sacks in one tournament than we’ve ever heard of.

A father-son team of Preston and 11-year-old Tavyn Heisler won the 177-team tournament and a $6,500 big check.

“It was an amazing day,” Preston told a RMMCBS reporter a er the tournament. “I’m still shaking and I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

Tavyn said he was the net man early in the tournament, but he caught his own 8-pounder late in the day. His favorite lure was a black and blue charterbait.

To read a full report on the event, visit: rolandmartinmarinecenterseries.com.

Maguire’s frst work is a compelling, fast read. His style is like a mix of Hemingway with a sardonic blend of Hunter S. Thompson. I couldn’t put it down...

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Editor in Chief Coastal Angler Magazine

FLORIDA SNAPPER SEASONS ANNOUNCED

Florida’s red snapper season will be 70 days long in 2023 and include both summer and fall dates. In early May, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced what he called the longest combined season since the state took control of red snapper management. e summer season will be 46 days, followed by a 24-day falls snapper season.

“Florida is the Fishing Capital of the World, and the Gulf red snapper season brings anglers from across the country to enjoy our waters,” said Gov. DeSantis. “It is a generational tradition for so many who call Florida home. I am happy that 2023 will be by far the longest combined season since the state assumed management of red snapper.”

e 46-day summer season will begin on June 16 and run through July 31. e 24-day fall season will include all weekends in October and November, Friday–Sunday.

If you plan to sh for red snapper in state or federal waters from a private recreational vessel, even if you are exempt from shing license requirements, you must sign up as a State Reef Fish Angler (annual renewal required). For more information, see GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.

UPGRADE YOUR CART

BONEFISH SPAWNING AGGREGATION DISCOVERED OFF THE KEYS

For all science knows about our sheries, there is plenty le to discover. Bone sh & Tarpon Trust scientists recently located a bone sh prespawning aggregation (PSA) in the Florida Keys. e discovery is the rst of its kind in Florida waters and the culmination of a years-long search that utilized acoustic telemetry and the historical knowledge of veteran shing guides.

“ is is a major discovery for the Florida Keys shery,” said BTT President and CEO Jim McDu e. “BTT has previously identi ed PSAs in several other countries, but Florida sites remained elusive—until now. By locating this PSA, our scientists will be able to learn more about where and how bone sh spawn in the Florida Keys, which is information critical to the sustained recovery of the population.”

Over the course of the 2022-2023 bone sh spawning season, which spans from October to April, BTT Florida Keys Initiative Manager Dr. Ross Boucek and his team tracked 67 sh and logged more than 94,000 detections. Many of these detections were in the area where BTT research during the 2021-2022 season and reports from shing guides indicated a likely PSA. Fourteen bone sh detected at the suspected PSA site had been tagged at distant ats, including two sh tagged 55 miles away.

e newly discovered PSA is comprised of approximately 2,000 to 5,000 sh and located three to four miles o shore along a reef. Previously documented PSAs in the Bahamas and Belize are located in nearshore waters.

At the site, BTT scientists also observed bone sh gulping air at the surface. Previous research shows that bone sh engage in this behavior before spawning to ll their swim bladders. At night, the sh dive hundreds of feet and rapidly ascend to the surface. e sudden change in pressure during the ascent makes their swim bladders expand, enabling the bone sh to release eggs and sperm. A er fertilization, hatched larvae dri in ocean currents before settling in shallow sand- or mud-bottom bays, where they develop into juvenile bone sh.

“As a Keys shing guide for 53 years, with a science background, I took bone sh for granted—they were what I shed for every day,” said Capt. Rick Ruo , member of the BTT Board of Directors. “I thought that I knew all about the resource, until the population crashed. I discovered neither I, nor anyone else, knew where or how bone sh spawned—a major gap in our knowledge. BTT has come up with the amazing science to determine the dynamics of bone sh spawning. It has been a great lesson to me that we have located this missing piece of the puzzle. To have a healthy population and management goals, you have to understand all aspects of your resource. I am so proud to be part of the BTT science e ort that has unraveled these bone sh mysteries and will witness their rebound.”

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THE KREH KNOT: BEST LOOP KNOT FOR LURES

Re-Discover Old Florida Waterfront Charm

The

Loop knots leave a small loop of line rather than a knot snug against the hook eye. ey are important to have in your repertoire for shing arti cials because that loop allows a little more movement when you’re working lures like jigs, topwaters and plugs.

e Kreh knot, developed by legendary y sherman Le y Kreh, was originally intended to be used for streamers and bait sh ies. It is also a great choice for conventional anglers throwing any lure that needs a touch of freedom to strut its stu Also known as the non-slip loop knot, it is strong and easy to tie, and it works well with both mono lament and uorocarbon lines.

With the Kreh knot, you give up a bit of strength in comparison to snug Palomar or uni knots, but you’re trading it for lifelike lure action. e

venerable Rapala knot is another great loop knot that might be a little stronger than the Kreh. However, the Kreh is a tad easier to tie, making it our go-to loop knot for lures in freshwater or salt.

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ANOTHER GIANT BASS

Timothy Crowley was shing Kenansville Lake with Capt. Morris Campbell on March 23 when he caught this 13.10-pound lunker.

Orange Lake keeps pumping out giant largemouth bass. e latest leader in Florida’s TrophyCatch program is a 14-pound, 1-ounce monster from Orange Lake. Chad Dorland caught the sh on April 23 to claim the top spot in FWC’s big-bass recognition program.

Dorland’s sh is the third 13-plus-pounder to come from the 12,550acre Alachua County lake since February. On Feb. 3, Luke Matthews caught a 13-pound, 8-ounce bass at Orange Lake. Anthony Holland caught a 13-pound, 3-ounce beast at Orange Lake on Feb. 25.

Fish weighing more than 13 pounds are awarded Hall of Fame status in the TrophyCatch program. Five Hall of Fame sh have been caught since TrophyCatch season 11 began on Oct. 1, 2022. ree of the ve were caught at Orange Lake, which has also seen 13 other bass weighing more than 10 pounds submitted to the program in that same time period. ose statistics don’t even include all the other lunkers anglers have likely caught and not entered into the program. It’s safe to say Orange Lake is a big-bass factory at the moment.

e other two 13-plus-pound TrophyCatch entries this year were both caught in March. On March 4, Russell Bauknight caught a 13-pound, 8-ounce hawg at Holden’s Pond, which is just up the road from Orange Lake in the same sprawling system of shallow, vegetation- lled waters southeast of Gainesville. On March 23, Timothy Crowley caught a 13-pound, 10-ounce sh that gave him the top spot in TrophyCatch before Dorland caught his 14-pounder. Crowley’s sh came from Kenansville Reservoir down in Indian River County.

For more information, visit www.trophycatch orida.com.

Hand closes Aug. 6, allowing harvest to begin during the weekend in advance of the Fourth of July holiday.

“Extending the season will increase the economic bene ts from this popular recreational shery to local communities in the region,” said Jessica McCawley, Division of Marine Fisheries Management Director. We will continue these e orts by exploring long-term season options for future years via the formal rulemaking process.”

Between 2017 and 2020, FWC took a pilot approach to establish regionally speci c bay scallop regulations while also maintaining the sustainability of local scallop populations. As part of this e ort, the allowable harvest area for scallops was extended to include Pasco County waters starting in 2018. e Pasco Zone for bay scallop management includes all Florida waters south of the Pasco-Hernando county line and north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse, approximately 0.37 miles south of the Pasco-Pinellas county line.

e daily bag limit in this area is 2 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1 pint of shucked bay scallop meat per person, with no more than a total of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1/2 gallon (4 pints) shucked bay scallop meat per vessel.

For more information, go to MyFWC.com.

CAV-5NII

OKUMA CAVALLA OFFSHORE REELS

For anglers looking to conquer the toughest offshore conditions, Okuma’s Cavalla 2-Speed Lever Drag reels are the ultimate weapon of choice. Over the past decade, Okuma has cemented its position as a leader in the saltwater market, starting with the groundbreaking Makaira line of reels. Today, the Cavalla 2-Speed Lever Drag is yet another example of Okuma’s unwavering commitment to providing top-tier, reliable products for saltwater anglers.

With its compact, machined aluminum frame and side plates, the Cavalla is a reel that can withstand the toughest conditions Mother Nature can throw at it. The rigid one-piece frame ensures stability and durability, while the cold-forged, type-II anodized machined aluminum spool adds to the reel’s sleek, rugged design. Whether you’re targeting monster grouper, sailfish, giant snapper or other offshore saltwater species, the Cavalla is the reel you want in your offshore arsenal.

The Cavalla reels feature a battle-proven carbonite drag system with Cal’s drag grease that can put out an impressive 24 to 34 pounds of drag at full. The 17.4 grade stainless steel main and pinion gear, along with the CRC coating process, make this reel virtually corrosion resistant. With four corrosion-resistant stainless-steel bearings and a silent retrieve system, the Cavalla operates

smoothly and efficiently, ensuring that you never miss a catch.

Okuma’s Cavalla

2-speed reels feature a 6.4:1 and 3.8:1 gear ratio on the 5 size reels and a 4.7:1 and 2.1:1 gear ratio on the 12 size, allowing for versatile performance across a range of fishing styles. The 5 and 12 size reels come in both left- and right-hand retrieve and feature an on/off bait clicker. The reel’s compact size and comfortable Ergo Grip handle knob and anodized aluminum handle arm make it easy to handle and use for extended periods of time.

So, why should you choose the Cavalla lever drag reel for your next offshore fishing trip? Here are five reasons:

• Durable Construction: The Cavalla’s machined aluminum frame and side plates, along with its corrosion-resistant components, ensure that this reel can handle the toughest offshore conditions with ease.

• Versatile Performance: With its 2-speed capabilities and variable gear ratios, the Cavalla is a reel that can adapt to a range of fishing styles and conditions.

• Smooth Operation: Thanks to its silent

the Cavalla operates smoothly and efficiently, ensuring that you never miss a catch.

• Strong Drag System: The Cavalla’s carbonite drag system with Cal’s drag grease can put out up to 34 pounds of drag, making it a reel that can handle the biggest and toughest fish in the ocean.

• Comfortable Handling: With its compact size and Ergo Grip handle knob and anodized aluminum handle arm, the Cavalla is a reel that you can use comfortably for extended periods of time, even during the toughest offshore fishing trips.

The Okuma Cavalla 2-Speed Lever Drag reel is an all-around, top-of-the-line reel that every saltwater angler should have in their arsenal.

For distributors and retailers, Okuma Fishing Tackle Corporation will be available to meet at ICAST 2023 in Orlando, Fla. July 11-13 at Exhibit Hall Booths 1202 and 1308.

FISH THE GREATER JACKSONVILLE KINGFISH TOURNAMENT

JULY 17-22

GrandPrizeValuedat$160K!

It’s Kingfish Time! The 43rd annual 121 Financial Credit Union Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament is slated for July 17-22, 2023. For five days, with four tournaments and $400,000 in prizes, the “Grandaddy of all Kingfish Tournaments” will keep the docks buzzing with fun events for everyone from die-hard anglers to casual spectators.

The cornerstone of this historic and thriving event is the general tournament, which launches Friday, July 21 with a boat package valued at $160,000 going to the team that lands the largest kingfish. The grand prize is a sweet 25-T Contender with twin 150hp Yamahas, a custom T-top by Custom Marine and an Ameritrail trailer. The tournament pays through 20 places for largest fish and aggregate, as well as a Lady Angler division that pays to 10 places, totaling nearly $250,000 in cash and prizes.

All the boats and the fish coming into the docks at Jim King Park and Boat Ramp at Sisters Creek Park in Jacksonville creates a festival atmosphere. Traditionally, the tournament draws thousands of spectators who enjoy cold beverages, hot food and vendors at the Liar’s Tent. Awards Day on Saturday, July 22 is all about celebration, with Kids Zone activities, drawings and a fishing seminar, followed by eye-popping fireworks in partnership with the City of Jacksonville.

Also for the kids, there is a Junior Angler Offshore Tournament on Wednesday, July 19, as well as a Junior Angler Dock Tournament. The grand prize in the Junior Angler Offshore Tournament is an Ohana 14’ skiff with a 25hp Yamaha and trailer, and this tournament pays through 25 places.

popular Redfish Tournament fishes on Saturday, July 22, with weigh-ins at 2 p.m. during the Awards Day activities.

Through its history, the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament has been all about putting on a great tournament and helping to provide access to marine resources and promoting education, preservation and research in partnership with its junior anglers and Jacksonville University’s Marine Biology Department. Jacksonville Marine Charities is the operating arm of the event, and it supports non-profits throughout the state. Recently, Child Cancer Fund, the Down Syndrome Association and the Child Guidance Center have benefitted from the organization, which also supports other local charity fishing events like The Premier Trout, Flounder Pounder, Wounded Heroes on the Water and others.

For complete details, go to https://kingfishtournament.com/.

Coastal Angler and The Angler Magazine, Suzuki Marine and Sea Eagle have come together to offer readers a shot at this Sea Eagle FishSkiff 16 paired with a Suzuki DF4 outboard that’ll take you wherever the fish are. The FishSkiff 16 is an inflatable fishing boat that is lightweight, sturdy, stable and extremely packable. It rolls up small enough to fit in the trunk of a car and quickly inflates into a fishing machine. Powered by Suzuki’s four-stroke DF4A, you’ll have to hold on to your hat as you scream over the flats. Designed for efficiency and performance and portability, the DF4A provides all the speed and acceleration you can handle. It’s lightweight and can be attached or removed with ease.

Images for illustration purposes only and prize may vary from what is shown. Contest runs May 1st through July 31st 2023. Winner till be announced on Facebook July 31st.

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SWIM JIGS AND SPAWNING BLUEGILLS TIPS FROM A PRO

This is the time of year when bass gorge themselves on bluegill. One of the best ways to catch bluegilleaters is with a swim jig.

The swim jig is a versatile bait. It can be used in different colors and actions that drive bass crazy. All the variety can make jig shopping a bit overwhelming. There are thousands of color options, countless styles, different hooks and line-tie variations. When I’m looking for the perfect swim jig, I keep a few things in mind. I only throw two different color combinations, bluegill duplicators— the greens, browns and oranges—and a black and blue. You want a jig with a slender head style with a vertical line tie that will come through the cover you’re fishing. I also like a jig with a stout hook. Throwing a swim jig around heavy cover calls for heavy line, and you don’t want your hook to bend out or break when you hook into a big one.

Selection of jig trailers can also be overwhelming. Guess what? I only throw two different styles of trailers. I usually put a swimbait-style trailer with a boot tail on the back, but occasionally I’ll use a craw trailer with two kicker legs. At the end of the day, you just want something back there kicking

and giving your jig some action, and these two styles are my go-to. I match the color of the trailers to the color of the jig.

The cover to target with a swim jig can be endless. They are great in vegetation as well as around docks, wood, rocky banks and for covering water over expansive flats with wood and grass. You can cover a lot of water with this bait, and typically covering more water leads to more bites. You should throw it anywhere bass are chasing bluegills or where bass are actively feeding. I always keep one tied on and ready.

A retrieve I find myself using a lot is a yo-yo retrieve. Point the rod tip high and vary the retrieval speed by either cranking fast and slow or moving the rod tip. This gives the bait some erratic movements and drives them crazy. I also use a steady retrieve. Depending on the part of the water column you are trying to target, you can reel the bait fast and keep it up high—even on the surface—or slow it down and creep it deeper, maybe to keep it around some submerged cover.

Swim Jig Gear

Fishing cover requires heavier equipment. I fish a heavy action rod with a length between a 7’3” and 7’6”. The 13 Fishing Defy Black 7’5H is a super affordable rod and is awesome for the job. Pair the rod up with a fast reel like the 13 Fishing Concept A 7:5 spooled up with 50-pound Seaguar Smackdown braid, and you are ready to put some fish in the boat.

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

TYLER WOOLCOTT

Roll-Up Fishing Skiff

The super sleek, super stable inflatable FishSkiff™ 16 now features a patented drop-stitch outside keel for precise steering and better open sea motoring performance! Due to the new ultra-light, ultra-strong fusion technology that bonds two layers of reinforced PVC together the FishSkiff™ is super tough and super stable. Great for 1, 2 or 3 anglers.

Whether you use a gas or electric motor, the in atable FishSki ™16 will get you to the sh. Add a canopy for protection from the sun or rain. Add a solar panel for perpetual power that can keep your electric motor battery charged; whether your camping, live on the water or just love the idea of solar power.

With the NEW drop-stitch keel, you’ll have less course correction and improved performance. The low gunwales give you superb access to the water for landing sh, releasing sh, and getting on & o the boat.

ORANGE BEACH BOAT LANDS

MASSIVE BLUEFIN

In early May, a 600-plus-pound bluefin tuna was brought to the docks at Alabama’s Orange Beach Marina. It was not a world or state record, but it was a giant fish and a first for Capt. Johnny Greene who has been a charter captain for the last 33 years.

According to the story written by David Rainer for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), Greene and his crew aboard the Intimidator were hosting a group of anglers from Georgia on a three-day trip deep into the Gulf of Mexico. Greene said he has encountered big bluefins before in the April and May timeframe, when they arrive in the Gulf to spawn, but he’s never managed to put one in the boat or even “slow one down.”

“Last year we hooked one about noon and fought that fish four or five hours. We had 10 people on that charter, and they ended up changing the rod between anglers probably 20 or 25 times,” he told ADCNR. “We ended up breaking a rod after fighting him that long. We were so close, so that one was really a heartbreaker.”

This recent trip did not end in heartbreak. After hooking the fish, the Intimidator chased it for about 2 miles before getting to within 100

feet of the leader. Then the fish dove deep. They managed to stop the dive with a Shimano 50-wide and a stand-up harness, and after battling it for about four hours they could tell the fish had died. They began the laborious process of winching it up on 80-pound-test mono.

“When you have to pull a 600-pound animal up, it’s not the easiest thing to do,” he told ADCNR. “It requires communication between the angler, everybody in the cockpit and the wheelhouse. It’s basically a momentum game. You’ve got to get the fish coming up, and you have to keep him coming. If you take a break, the fish is going to start sinking again. It’s tricky.”

The celebration began when they finally brought the giant fish to the surface and tethered it with a tail rope. They used a come-along to hoist it into the boat.

Knowing their fish was not a record, the crew went ahead and gutted it and iced it down to preserve the meat during the ride home. It weighed 579 pounds gutted, with an estimated total weight of 625 pounds. The Alabama state record, caught in 2006, weighed 829 pounds.

To read David Rainer’s entire account of the catch, go to www.outdooralabama.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF INTIMIDATOR

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

believe the popping cork found its beginnings in the 1930s, and it’s still a mainstay in most saltwater anglers’ tackle boxes. Many versions have been introduced along the way and undoubtedly more will come. One thing is for certain, if they didn’t work, they would not have lasted for nearly a century. In Texas, a popping cork typically finds itself dragging a live shrimp, but there are other options. What makes the popping cork stand out is the cupped top, which creates a popping sound and splashes water forward when twitched. It simulates a fish feeding on the surface.

I was once no different than the masses tossing live shrimp under a cork, but in the early 2000s— when I had already turned my focus to exclusively lure fishing—I found another place for the simple but effective popping cork.

At that time, our famous Baffin Bay was plagued with brown tide, an algae bloom that turns the water, well, brown. The water had nearly zero visibility, which made fishing soft plastics difficult at best. Looking back, I wish I had already invented my Knockin Tail Lures with the built in tail rattle, but better late than never. At the time, I started using lures under a cork instead of live shrimp. I realized a noticeable increase in the number of fish I was able to catch. Depending on the circumstances, I would use a jighead, a weighted weedless hook or an unweighted hook about 24 inches under my cork. Although I heard

a lot of grief from my buddies who would not touch a popping cork, it worked and I continued to out fish them on most trips. I stayed with this technique in Baffin until the brown tide cleared.

A lure under a cork is also a great way to introduce kids to lure fishing. Paddletails, twitch baits and artificial shrimp all work well with this strategy. The method takes a lot of the hand coordination out of the picture for children and lets them realize that you don’t need live bait to catch fish.

Another of the many options this cork gives the angler is a way to effectively fish jetties. At times, trout will suspend 8 to 10 feet deep off the rocks. In this situation, the popping cork’s sound creating ability is still important, but it needs to be modified. Casting a cork with 10 feet of leader to get your lure down to the fish creates a challenge. This is where the slip cork method comes into play. With a slip cork, you can cast a 2- or 3-foot leader or less, but the cork will have a rubber stop that allows your bait to sink to the desired depth where the bite is. Look up slip cork for more on this method.

The weather is warm, don’t forget to take a kid fishing!

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®

To some, sunglasses are a fashion accessory…

But When Driving, These Sunglasses May Save Your Life!

Drivers’ Alert: Driving can expose you to more dangerous glare than any sunny day at the beach can… do you know how to protect yourself?

Thesun rises and sets at peak travel periods, during the early morning and afternoon rush hours and many drivers find themselves temporarily blinded while driving directly into the glare of the sun. Deadly accidents are regularly caused by such blinding glare with danger arising from reflected light off another vehicle, the pavement, or even from waxed and oily windshields that can make matters worse. Early morning dew can exacerbate this situation. Yet, motorists struggle on despite being blinded by the sun’s glare that can cause countless accidents every year. Not all sunglasses are created equal. Protecting your eyes is serious business. With all the fancy fashion frames out there it can be easy to overlook what really matters––the lenses. So we did our research and looked to the very best in optic innovation and technology. Sometimes it does take a rocket scientist. A NASA rocket scientist. Some ordinary sunglasses can obscure your vision by exposing your eyes to harmful UV rays, blue light, and reflective glare. They can also darken useful vision-enhancing light. But now, independent research conducted by scientists from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has brought forth ground-breaking technology to help protect human eyesight from the harmful effects of solar radiation

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FAT COLORADO LAKER OUTWEIGHS WORLD RECORD

If this potbellied 73.29-pound lake trout isn’t a new world record, it should be.

Scott Enloe and his son Hunter were fishing an undisclosed Colorado lake in early May when Scott hooked into the 47-inch-long monster on a 6-inch tube jig and 10-pound test. According to Free Range American, it took 13 tense minutes to fight the huge laker boat-side, and both men had to haul it over the side because their net was too small to land the fish.

The fish was full of eggs and had an incredible girth of 37 inches. After some photos and measurements, they released it to go lay those eggs and spread the genetics for obesity.

The IGFA all-tackle world record for lake trout weighed 72 pounds, even. It was caught in 1995 by Lloyd Bull at Great Bear Lake in Canada. With the strict procedures required by IGFA for record consideration, it is unlikely Enloe’s fish will break the all-tackle world record, but there is a chance the organization will consider it for a world length record.

The current Colorado state record weighed 50.35 pounds. It was caught by Donald Walker in 2007. We’re not sure about Colorado’s record submission requirements, but most states require a weight taken on certified scales.

Regardless, it is the fish of a lifetime for Enloe, and if it doesn’t qualify for a record… it should.

To read the full report from Free Range American, go to https:// freerangeamerican.us/world-record-lake-trout-enloe/

NORTH CAROLINIAN SMASHES U.S. SURF CASTING RECORD

There’s no doubt these guys can get it out past the breakers. The Carolina Surf Casters Association gets together four times a year to hold distance-casting competitions. In an April contest, North Carolina’s Ryan Lambert set a record for the longest fishing cast in U.S. history. He launched a massive 889-foot, 4-inch cast.

Lambert is a frequent competitor in the sport of surf casting, known in Europe as long distance casting of sea weights, in which participants gather on a large marked field with surf fishing tackle to see who can cast different sizes of large sinkers (3.5 to 8 ounces) the farthest.

Though the sport originated in the U.S., reportedly as far back as the 1890s, it has become more popular in Europe and South America in recent decades. Only three surf casting clubs exist in the U.S. today. They are SurfCast USA (SCUSA), based in Maryland, Surf Fishing & Casting Club International (SFCCI), on Texas’ Gulf Coast, and Carolina Surf Casters Association (CSCA), in eastern North Carolina.

Lambert is the vice president/secretary of the CSCA – a more than 10-year-old organization with members from North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland and Texas. The club organizes four competitions per year in spring and fall. These events are open to surf casters of all skill levels.

Lambert, a sales representative for a large agricultural supplier, lives in Angier, N.C., with his wife Blair and their two daughters. He’s an experienced saltwater fisherman who, like most competitive casters, originally developed long-distance casting skills to improve catch rate from piers and the beach. He learned those skills under the tutelage of fellow North Carolinian and long-time U.S. surf casting champion Tommy Farmer.

Tapping into his athleticism from playing baseball for N.C. State University, Lambert is able to generate huge power using a pendulum cast. This highly specialized technique involves swinging the sinker into an orbit around the tip of a long 12- to 14-foot surf rod, and at a precise moment, rotating the body and rod through a large arc, ending with a powerful punch-pull motion with the right and left arms.

“It’s great that one of our own from North Carolina—someone from our club, no less—was able to set this new benchmark,” said Matt Tuers, president of the CSCA. “One of the main objectives of this organization is to grow a community where U.S. casters can develop and start taking back the international records. Casters like Ryan are in a position to do that, as well as inspire the next batch of elite American competitors.”

The current world record longest cast is held by “Big Danny” Moeskops of Belgium with a 940 foot cast made in the early 2000s. The previous U.S. record was held by Will Nash of Texas, with 873 feet.

Check out CSCA at carolinasurfcasters.org.

Popular on the tournament field, but rarely seen on U.S. beaches, the pendulum cast is Ryan Lambert’s preferred casting style for launching heavy sinkers long distances.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HUNTER ENLOE

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