Coastal Angler Magazine | October 2023 | Florida Keys Edition

Watauga River

Home of world class fishing on the beautiful Watauga Lake, rugged Doe River and designated trophy trout stream, Watauga River PLAN

Watauga Lake

Doe River

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By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

AN

GAME PLAN FOR

ARTIFICIALS INSHORE

October is one of my favorite months to fish, and the dwindling traffic on the bays is just a small reason why. September may have been a record hot month for a lot of us, but the transition of the seasons is more than just the temperature for wildlife. The length of the days play a big part in the fish transitions for the season. Although October opens several new opportunities for anglers, I am going to give you an insight as to how I plan to catch them.

The marsh should be full of life and hold an

abundant amount of the big three: trout, redfish and flounder. It will not be uncommon to find all three in the same location gorging themselves on last spring’s hatch of shrimp and finfish. I will predominantly throw smaller soft plastics in the 3.25-inch size. I like a durable lure because the action can be fast and furious, and I don’t want to waste time changing out lures after one or two fish and miss my opportunity for more. I lean toward paddletails because I can work them faster, cover more water, and the added

vibration will draw strikes since these fish will be aggressive. The cover type and water depth will determine if I rig them weedless or on a jig head. Either method is acceptable, just adapt to the structure.

I prefer to fish outgoing tides in these areas. Generally, an outgoing tide produces a better bite and concentrates fish in smaller areas where I can target them. These pinch points can be mouths of drains, bayous, pinch points within a bayou or a bend. Those are the more obvious ones, but don’t overlook points extending into a bay or cuts through a reef. The points of islands or reefs can also increase the flow of current congregating the fish in an area.

Here are some retrieves I like to use for each of these three species in October. Keep in mind none of the fish read this article, so you will catch others on these retrieves. In general, reds will hit a lure on a steady retrieve, trout like the erratic twitch-twitch, and flounder react well to my lure darting along the bottom. When darting my lure along the bottom, I hold my rod tip down or sideways to the water and give it firm twitches. I make sure to keep my lure on the bottom and not bouncing it up and down like I would for trout. I want to disturb the bottom to get their attention.

As we all know, all fish will eat any retrieve, but if you are not catching the species you want, try a different action before you change the lure. Enjoy the cooler weather and take a kid fishing, I know I will do both!

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®

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Jetty Fishing:

TIPS ON BECOMING A ROCK JOCKEY

The presence of life was obvious long before we reached the jetty. On an outgoing tide, dingy water rushed through the channel cut from the bay to the ocean. It flushed with a brown plume that carried the detritus of marsh decay.

Diving birds were the first sign we were in the right place at the right time. As we got closer, other anglers came into view. There were a couple of boats jockeying for position off the end of the jetty, another trolled the rip farther offshore, and the beach brigade was set up fishing that corner pocket where current flowing down the shore piled up against the rocks.

Pods of pogies flickered and darted, harassed by gulls from above and by redfish, trout, small sharks and who knows what else from below. Blue crabs skittered around doing cleanup duty just outside a light surf.

With all this life, catching fish shouldn’t be a problem, right? Well, if you talk to any veteran of

By Nick Carter

the rocks, they’ll tell you putting in the time to learn a particular jetty is the key to success. Every jetty has its own peculiarities, its best times and tides, its hidden holes and mixing currents.

Here are a few tips to help flatten the learning curve at a new jetty.

1) Start in the Rocks: The food chain of a jetty is created by the stuff pushed against the rocks. The rocks also create current breaks and hidey holes where predators lay in ambush for baitfish, shrimp and crabs that feed on the buildup of organic matter. Start your search close to the rocks. Work quickly but meticulously to pick a jetty apart. You can’t see everything that’s going on under the surface, but with experience, the sweet spots will become evident.

2) Make Friends with the Old Guy: In the scenario above, it was our first time to this jetty, and we went straight in with a cast net to scoop up pogies. It seemed obvious to match the hatch, and we caught some fish… mostly stingrays

and catfish. As we clambered all over the jetty in search of the magic combination of factors to produce a more exciting catch, an old man posted up in a beach chair came tight with an enormous bull red. After helping him land the fish and jawing with him a while, he gave up a secret. He’d been fishing the jetty for years, and big reds and tarpon at this spot are suckers for half a fresh blue crab fished on the bottom. Because jetties draw anglers as well as fish, being friendly or just watching can lead to solid local knowledge.

3) Find the Current Seams: Fish where fast and slack current meet. Predators hang in the slack and wait as a conveyer belt of food is swept past them. Conversely, baitfish also seek refuge and stack up where there is current shade. Either situation makes these areas high probability targets for anglers.

For more fishing tips, go to coastalanglermag.com.

PHOTO CREDIT: WAYNE CROSS

PHOTO CREDIT: DON SHETTERLY

PHOTO CREDIT: SHANE TROTTIER

GAR CAUGHT ON 6-LB. TEST!

A283-pound alligator gar caught at Sam Rayburn Lake in Texas is set to break a 72-year-old IGFA alltackle world record. Here’s the kicker: It was landed with 6-pound-test line!

Kentucky angler Art Weston teamed up with Texas Capt. Kirk Kirkland on Sept. 2, in search of lineclass records. Weston is an IGFA record breaker who already has numerous lineclass records for alligator gar and other species. It was the first day of a week-long booking aboard Capt. Kirkland’s The Garfish Enterprise, and they hooked and landed what Kirkland called “the Holy Grail of the fishing world.”

Sam Rayburn Lake is the largest reservoir in Texas at 114,000 acres. It’s an impoundment of the Angelina River near the Louisiana border north of Jasper, Texas. According to a report on FoxWeather.com, Kirkland told Weston of an area on the lake with a sandy, snag-free bottom that would suit light line tactics well. The guide also told Weston there might not be many fish in the area, but they were obviously going for quality over quantity.

Before the pending world record showed up on the scene, the pair caught two other monster alligator gar, including a 169-pounder. When they came tight with the

largest alligator gar caught in nearly three-quarters of a century, it took about three hours, remarkable skill and more than a little bit of luck to land the fish on such light line.

“Lots of blood, sweat and tears (and broken line) went into this achievement,” Kirkland wrote on Facebook. “Angler and world record Chaser Art Weston and I did what no other alligator gar angler has been able to accomplish in 72 years.... catch a fish bigger than the all-tackle world record set so many years ago on the bank of the Rio Grande River.”

The existing all-tackle world record weighed 279 pounds. It was caught by Bill Valverde from the Rio Grande in 1951.

“We both had a look of shock when the scale just kept going higher and higher,” Kirkland said. The gar weighed 283 pounds on camera. It measured 100 inches long, with a 48-inch girth. After taking measurements, the giant fish was released alive.

To read the entire FoxWeather report, go to https://www.foxweather.com/lifestyle/world-recordalligator-gar-texas-sam-rayburn-lake

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By Emily Hanzlik

Emily Hanzlik shows one of her more recent records, a 23-pound longnose gar caught on 8-pound test.

area? Living in Florida, I knew bow n were available to me, so that’s where I started. On the IGFA website, you can search speci c species and see the current records for di erent categories. Here you’ll see the all-tackle, alltackle length, conventional female and male, y male and female, junior male and female, and smallfry categories.

For the junior category, you must be 16 or younger. However, if you are a junior you can submit a record for the adult category. All-tackle length is a newer division that requires a special measuring device from the IGFA, so keep that in mind if you want to try for a length record.

Read the rules regarding the category you are shing for. I cannot stress this enough. Many simple mistakes happen, and it is not worth having a record rejected. e rules are in the record book and on the website. IGFA rules can be complicated and include restrictions on things like the lengths of leaders. Your record quest will be much less frustrating if you know the rules and sh accordingly.

Let’s discuss tools you’ll need to record records. I prefer the Rapala Mini 50-lb. scale, which needs to be certi ed. e easiest way to certify your scale is to ship it to IGFA. ey will certify it for you.

LEARNING TO

Break RECORDS

Some people sh for the meat, in tournaments, or simply for fun. I take a di erent approach. I seek out world records.

e International Game Fish Association (IGFA) keeps track of every record ever caught on rod and reel. I’ve been tracking down these records for more than six years, and here’s a little insight into the process.

First, you need a starting place. What species can you target in your

Most IGFA records are line-class records, which means you’ll o en be shing light lines, and the line must be approved by IGFA, meaning it breaks at the speci c pound test. I like Ande tournament line because it breaks at the correct poundage.

Once all your ducks are in a row, you can target the sh you’ve planned for. is is going to take a lot of time and patience, but eventually putting in time pays o . When you eventually catch a sh that looks big enough to break the current record, there are steps you must take. For the all-tackle length record, you need a photo of the sh on the IGFA measuring device and a photo of the angler with the sh and rod. For the other records, you need photos of the girth, length, weight, and the sh and angler.

e main thing to remember is to have patience and enjoy the process. Breaking records isn’t easy, so just keep trying!

Emily Rose Hanzlik holds over 60 IGFA world records in various categories. She hails from West Palm Beach, where she has a part time Bow n Guide Service as well as shing classes for Jr. Anglers. Find her @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.

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A SINGLE TEAM STICKS 648 LIONFISH AT TWO-DAY DERBY

Divers put a hurting on invasive lion sh on Sept. 8 and 9 at the 14th annual REEF Florida Keys Lion sh Derby. A record 1,898 lion sh were collected, and a single team set another tournament record by bringing 648 of the nasty critters back to the docks.

Team Forever Young, led by Capt. Tony Young, of Forever Young Spear shing, really put in the work and won the “Most Lion sh” division of the tourney. With team members Jason Vogan, Billy Moscatello and Luke Rankin, this is the third time Forever Young has set a new tournament record for total catch.

Overall, 22 teams of divers competed at the event, and $7,000 in cash and prizes were awarded to teams that brought in the most, largest and smallest lion sh. e “Most Lion sh” category included the competitive Apex Predators division and the Reef Defenders division for casual lion sh hunters. Forever Young obviously won the Apex Predators division. Volitans nished second with 291 lion sh, and Team Trash placed third with 101 lion sh.

In the Reef Defenders division, Men of Science won rst place with 156 lion sh. Sea Venom Creations brought in 128 lion sh for second place, Barnacles won third place with 121 lion sh.

Competition was close in the largest and smallest lion sh categories. Barnacles won rst place in the “Largest Lion sh” category with a 16.85inch lion sh. Men of Science’s second place sh measured 16.57 inches, and Forever Young took third with a 16.34-inch sh.

e smallest sh of the derby was 2.36 inches and was collected live by ZooKeeper. Team Will 2 Spear won second place with a 2.83-incher, and Tequila Little Time brought in a 2.99-inch sh, also live, to take third. e two live lion sh will be part of an educational exhibit at the REEF Campus.

In case you been under a rock, lion sh are native to the Indo-Paci c and are highly invasive and detrimental to native marine life on our coasts. Events like REEF’s derbies are held all along the Florida coast to both raise awareness of the problem and to cut down on lion sh numbers.

“Lion sh derbies show how a community can come together to support ocean conservation while combating invasive species. It’s so exciting that our teams set a new Florida Keys record of 1,898 invasive lion sh removed. We are very thankful to all of the derby participants, event volunteers, and everyone who attended and helped make the Florida Keys Lion sh Derby & Festival such a great success,” said Alli Candelmo, Ph.D., REEF Conservation Science Manager.

For more information about REEF Lion sh Derbies, visit www.REEF.org/lion sh-derbies.

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ing FOR A CAUSE

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Fishing for charitable causes has become a growing venue for bringing together our love of the sport and helping those in need.

e duality of empowerment and peace that shing brings helps people who have struggled. From easing post-traumatic stress disorder, recovering from physical trauma, mental and social disorders, to helping troubled youths nd redirection, shing can easily be classi ed as therapeutic. No matter what cause is important to you, there is likely a shing tournament dedicated to it.

Fishing tournaments have been put together by donations solely to get certain groups on the water to participate, such as events for veterans and

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pediatric cancer patients. ese events create incredible opportunities for people who truly need them, and they are a great way to donate and help share the therapeutic power of shing.

e other style of charitable shing tournaments are ones you can participate in yourself, and proudly take a minor hit on your winning payout, knowing you are donating to a good cause. While the rst type is extremely sel ess and noble, let’s face it, everybody needs a little shing therapy in their life. O en, the shing tournaments where you participate provide opportunities to people a ected by the cause, and you will be joined by the people you are there helping, as well. is is easily one of the best excuses to sh, and way more fun than simply signing a check.

In honor of breast cancer awareness month, the ladies of the world would like to o cially turn your attention to the boobies. at’s right, you’re invited to look.

Breast cancer a ects one in eight women. Although this type of cancer is rare in men, it has a higher mortality rate due to late detection, and that is a part of the awareness this month is dedicated to.

ankfully, with advancements in awareness and detection, survivability of this diagnosis has increased exponentially. Many survivors turn to shing for recovery, both physically and emotionally.

If you nd yourself in Pompano Beach Oct. 5-7, e Pink Ladies Breast Cancer Foundation invites you to sh their multi-species, 2nd Annual Cureament shing tournament. Founder, and cancer survivor, Carolyn Stash, has put together a non-pro t tournament for breast cancer awareness and fundraising for a cure. She has worked her ta-tas o to attract sponsors and has put together exciting prizes and ra e items for this year’s tournament. Among the list is a one-of-a-kind, pink, 9-foot Reef Runner, with a trailer and a 9hp motor, and shing charters, including one from yours truly, at Sweet E’nuf Charters out of Marathon, Florida Keys.

Fish alongside erce breast cancer survivors and their dedicated supporters. If you miss this year, mark your calendars for next year. Contact Carolyn Stash at (954) 465-3743 and visit their website at www.pinkladiesbreastcancerfoundation.org to get involved.

Call Capt. Quinlyn Haddon, of Sweet E’nuf Charters, Marathon, Florida Keys at (504) 920-6342.

GATOR HUNTERS

BAG 900-POUNDER

A900-pound, 13-foot-long alligator caught on Aug. 25 might be the second largest gator in Florida history, and it’s by far the largest gator we’ve heard about so far this alligator season.

Capt. Kevin Brotz, of Get Bit Outdoors, guided clients Carson Gore and Darren Field to the giant gator on an Orlando area lake, according to Outdoor Life. It took close to four hours to subdue the beast.

“Honestly, my rst concern was safety, because we were in a smaller boat, and then you add a gator whose head is this big,” Brotz said as he spread his arms wide in a CNN video interview. “All he has to do is turn, and we’re in trouble.”

“I laid down in the front of the boat and said I have to lay down until we get back,” Gore told CNN. “I thought I was going to die. at thing was huge.” At one point during the battle, the gator leapt 3 or 4 feet out of the water right next to the boat. Brotz told Outdoor Life it was like being eye-to-eye with a T-Rex.

e statewide alligator season runs Aug. 15- Nov. 1. Hunters are required to apply for and obtain a limited entry permits each season. For information go to MyFWC.com.

Watch video of the team ghting the gator on Field & Stream’s YouTube channel.

BACKCOUNTRY FISHING

By: Capt. Greg Poland

It’s a great time to be in the backcountry and the snook fishing has been as good as I can remember. We are catching lots of snook from 2-12lbs and lots of juvenile tarpon as well, my clients have had luck with everything from live bait under a cork to soft baits on a jig head. The tackle I like to use the most is a medium size spin rod, 12-15lb. class, spooled with beaded line and a fluorocarbon leader the length of the rod. I will rig one with a sinker then a swivel and a 3-5ft of 40lb leader and a circle hook so the bait can swim around but be anchored to the bottom and the other rod will be rigged with a R & R cork which you can find them at most tackle shops and a 6ft piece of leader and a 3/0 circle hook. My 3rd rod will have a jig head and feel free to use your favorite soft rubber paddle tail or favorite lure so you can cover more area while the live baits do their thing.

If you are looking for a guided trip, I have some open dates and would love to get you out on my brand-new Contender Bay Boat! The crew at Gus’ Toy Box in Key Largo worked with me to customize this boat and I can do everything from snook fishing in the Glades to kite fishing on the edge of the reef.

They will also be rigging a custom Bimini top by the next time you read this article which can put it up in 2 minutes for that mid-day sun, but have it down for my fly fishermen. I also run trips on private boats so if you have a boat but would like some help figuring out your electronics or finding a new place to fish give me a call and let’s spend a few hours out on the water.

MARVELOUS MUTTONS

By: Capt. Angelia Swanson

Iam always up for some great reef fishing, and mutton snapper are one of the most sought after and desired of the snapper on the reef. Muttons like cooler water temps, so they usually go offshore in the summer months and come back inshore to the reef in the winter months, but this has not been a usual year in the Florida Keys! Maybe the warm water temps have these snappers confused, maybe there is a bumper crop of them this year, or maybe their typical migratory patterns have changed. I could entertain “maybe’s” all day, but the fact of the matter is that this past year has been a great year for mutton snapper whether bottom fishing on the reef or deep dropping far offshore in over a thousand feet of water.

These spots are my number one target for muttons next year where I hope to share the thrill of catching them with my charter clients from around the globe!

These beautiful pink fish are easily recognized by the small black spot below the dorsal fin, and that black spot in my experience is always more distinctive in the younger, smaller muttons. These snapper are special, and hunted by Anglers for so many reasons. They’re smart and will not usually hit any old lure or bait while on the reef. I’ve had the best luck catching them on Ballyhoo plugs or even live Ballyhoo. They are also well known to swim quickly into structure and breaking you off, making your efforts for naught. But once you do hook into one of these prized snappers, be ready because they are fighters! They reach impressive sizes, and the big ones will give you a run for your money, especially when using light tackle. On our reef in the Keys, they commonly grow to be two or three feet long and weigh in at about twenty pounds. It takes them an astounding 14 years to reach their maximum length. Not long considering they live up to forty years! When considering these facts, it is understandable why these beautiful fish are formidable fighters and an exhilarating catch for any Angler. They also make for great pictures for our charter clients. Their pink color is my favorite since it is very well known that pink is my signature color! They are also highly regarded as excellent table fare. They have nice, firm flesh that is extremely mild and slightly sweet and can be cooked many ways. My personal advice is to not use too many spices or flavoring when cooking these beauties. The taste is so fantastic that you don’t want to mask it in any way. Enjoy the natural flavor of this fish and you will never be disappointed.

This past summer I have also hit a few of my secret reef spots only to catch juvenile muttons in unimaginable numbers. These spots are my number one target for muttons next year where I hope to share the thrill of catching them with my charter clients from around the globe!

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

HITTING THE WRECKS

By: Capt. Bruce Andersen

The weather has finally starting to change. The hot sweltering heat of summer is fading away and soon we will have cold fronts sweeping down the Florida peninsula and finally cooling things off here in the Florida Keys. As the weather starts to cool, one thing that will heat up is the bottom fishing on the various shipwrecks offshore in the Keys.

There are lots of ways to catch snapper and grouper here in the Keys. But one of my favorites, especially this time of year, is by fishing the various shipwrecks in depths of 100 to 250 feet of water offshore of the Keys. Drifting the wrecks and areas of hard bottom with long leader’s and live baits has always been one of my specialties on my fishing charters, and personally one of my favorite things to do even when I go fun fishing with the family.

There are a wide variety of species that you might catch with this kind of fishing, but the main target and my favorite is the mutton snapper. Muttons are one of the more challenging snapper to catch. They’re wary, a little bit more line shy and harder to trick than other snapper like red snapper. They fight a little bit harder for their size than many other snapper, and luckily down here in the Keys we have a very healthy fishery for them. They’re open to harvest year-round and offer an exciting, challenging, beautiful catch and are also great eating.

The best way to target muttons would be to charter an experienced, professional captain like myself to take you out and show you the techniques firsthand. There are a lot of variations to these techniques, but most of them involve either anchoring on a wreck or drifting around a wreck depending on the conditions: current, wind speed, and wind direction. Most experienced mutton fisherman will like to fish with fairly long leaders. Sometimes as long as 40 feet, although there are many variations to these techniques with shorter leaders. We’ll usually fish relatively light, fluorocarbon leaders usually in the 30-to-50-pound test range. And most anglers like to use light wire circle hooks in the 3/0 to 6/0 size range, depending on the type of baits they’re deploying. For baits, my favorites include live ballyhoo, cigar minnows, or pilchards. Dead bait will also work with goggle eyes, ballyhoo, and speedo chunks, all being some of the favorites.

There are so many different types of fishing available this time of year and they’re all fun, but if you’re looking to get out there and try some wreck fishing, give me a call and I’ll be happy to take you. It’s a great time of year to get out on the water and try some bottom fishing!

— 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

By: Capt. Bruce Andersen

THE SWORDFISH BITE

Summer is coming to an end and even though we have had some bad seas and storms, the swordfish bite has still been strong. I was happy to keep a couple for friends and family to enjoy while releasing 3 swords just this month. The swordfish makes a great combo with some of the fresh lobster I caught as well. The commercial traps are in, but we are still able to get some good sized tails. I’m super excited to put stone crab traps in this October. Stone crabs are definitely my favorite!

Mahi have still been abundant, and I got my share of rosie’s and 2 ugly beard fish while deep dropping on my last trip out. There are a couple of swordfish tournaments coming up in the Florida Keys. If you’re interested, make sure to sign up soon to get a spot to fish! Even if you aren’t an experi-

By: Beth Steele

enced angler, there are plenty of captains that you can get out and fish with. It’s still easy to load up on snapper, cobia, snook, redfish and of course sharks. I saw a whitetip shark on my last sword trip, and they definitely are not the nicest sharks! As usual, whether you’re interested in chartering or shore fishing, the Florida Keys offers plenty of opportunities to experience great fishing. There are hundreds of species, some seasonal and some yearround, to fish for. The Florida Keys fishing is truly an angler’s dream!

If you are a verified captain looking for more trips, we’d love for you to join the Hooker Booker team! Feel free to contact us for more information.

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

FLY FISHING FOR SPOOKY REDS

By: Brendon Allen

Tis the season for ghosts and ghouls, so what better time to discuss the spookiest of fish for fly anglers prowling the waters - the redfish. Unlike their counterparts in other parts of the country, the redfish inhabiting our backwaters are not known to be aggressive eaters. Increased pressure has sharpened their instincts, rendering them cautious even of the most seasoned angler’s tactics. It’s not uncommon to have days on the water where the redfish are completely indifferent to even the most perfectly selected fly. Assuming the fly is indeed perfectly selected, what can be done to persuade these fish to bite? Sometimes it just comes down to the presentation.

If fly selection or casting skills aren’t the problem, the key to getting that finicky redfish to eat may be to adjust your presentation so it’s lighter and less visible. This involves making careful choices in your fly rod, fly line, and leader selection. A standard fly setup for inshore fishing usually includes an 8-weight rod, a corresponding line, and a leader ranging from 9 to 10 feet that gradually tapers down to a 16 to 20-pound tippet. While this is a typical setup, it can be adjusted for a lighter and less conspicuous presentation that should increase your odds of getting that fish to bite.

Starting with the fly line, lines that are too heavy can slap the water and

potentially startle fish, especially in shallow water. Using a lighter bonefish line when using an 8-weight rod or scaling down to a 6 or 7-weight fly rod, with matching line, enables a more delicate presentation that is less likely to alert fish to your presence. However, this does come with a trade-off. Lighter fly lines are more difficult to cast in the wind, especially when throwing heavy, bulky flies. With the right conditions and a well-honed cast, using a lighter rod and line can increase the odds of enticing that wary redfish to eat.

Another variable that can be adjusted is the size and length of your leader and tippet. Opting for a leader that tapers down to a thinner 8 to 12-pound tippet allows for a stealthier presentation, which is especially important in the upcoming winter months when the water is clear and tides are low. Additionally, extending your leader to 10 to 12 feet allows for a softer presentation by creating more separation between your fly and the fly line. It is important to keep in mind that longer and lighter leaders can be more difficult to turn over, so always practice your cast and experiment with these combinations at home before employing them on the water.

Fly fishing for redfish can be challenging, but with a few variables dialed in, it’s possible to get even the spookiest of fish to eat.

‘

TIDE CHART

DIVING GROUPER & WAHOO

By Captain Tony Young

Anytime someone asks for the best time to visit the Florida Keys, in regard to fishing, I always reply with the same answer. Anytime is a good time to visit and any month provides opportunities that the previous month did not. Historically October is no exception, as the water transitions and fisheries shift. For me, October is all about diving for big fish.

The south Atlantic grouper season opens on May 1st and closes on December 31st each year. The two best times to hunt large grouper in the Florida Keys are opening week and the month of October, in my opinion. There are many reasons for this, but simply put the water in South Florida is hot during the summer. Most large fish will move to deeper water to stay in slightly cooler temps. As October approaches and the water slowly drops, the larger fish return to depths that are diveable for most hunters.

October is usually the start of our winter pelagic season in the Florida Keys, the most commonly targeted would be wahoo. Leaving the dock this time of year is always a toss-up, do you focus on reef for grouper or head offshore for wahoo. This is the month we have those options.

If you search wahoo spearfishing online, you will find countless articles and videos on how to target them. Years ago, this information was not as available, but the past few years this fishery has truly blown up. Take advice from others but find your own patterns in your area. When you get into wahoo, treat the fish like any other and focus on just an easy dive down to them with a relaxed trigger pull. The main difference when hunting grouper and wahoo, is that grouper usually live where you are hunting. If you spook them, they will hole up where they feel safe. In this situation, you can usually work your way in and get off a shot. On the other hand, if you spook a wahoo they will take off, never to be seen again. Migratory fish are armed with the ability to sense danger when it approaches. If you are calm and relaxed, they will generally act the same and allow you to swim right up. If you dive frantically and excited, they will keep their distance.

With October now upon us, take this opportunity to target some late season grouper and early season wahoo. There are only a few days out of the year that both can be hunted, and the month of October provides many of those days. As always, keep a safe distance from other boats and use your dive flag.

Dive safe and happy hunting!

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

MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

MARINE THEFT PREVENTION

• Install motion sensor lights. Make sure areas around the boat are well lighted.

• Install surveillance cameras and make sure they will capture the face of an intruder. Cameras are often installed too high and only capture the top of a suspects head or the brim of the hat he is wearing.

• Install a GPS tracking device on your boat and/or engines.

• Install a boat alarm. Alarms are very effective at preventing equipment and boat thefts.

• Disconnect the batteries to disable the trim / tilt function. Keep the engine down, touching the ground so the lower unit can’t be removed.

• If the boat is on a trailer, chain the rims together or boot one of the wheels to prevent the boat and trailer from being stolen.

• Keep a trailer hitch lock on at all times.

• Install bolt locks on the engine or put extra-long engine bolts on and bend the ends.

• Destroy the threads on one bolt so the nut can’t be removed.

• Keep valuable electronics in a secure location. It might be a hassle, but it will same you thousands of dollars in the long run.

• Take pictures and record serial numbers if available.

• Don’t leave fishing and diving equipment unattended outside. It only takes a thief a minute - literally - to take it.

• If you are gone for an extended period, call your local Sheriff’s Office substation. Our deputies will keep an eye on your property while you are away.

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!

CALL 911 IF A CRIME IS TAKING PLACE

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

tips online at www.floridakeyscrimestoppers.com

HURRICANE BIRDS CAUSE A FLAMBOYANCE ACROSS FLORIDA

YOU CAN HELP:

• Enjoy the view from a distance—these birds are struggling to survive in an unfamiliar environment and constant disturbance expends valuable energy needed for foraging.

• Record your sightings on public platforms like eBird, so researchers can track flamingo numbers and locations in the Sunshine State.

• Advocate for Everglades restoration and efforts to improve water quality. If American Flamingos have healthy places to live and raise their families, their Florida population numbers can improve.

For the first time in almost a century, Floridians are seeing a lot of flamingos. Blown in by Hurricane Idalia in late August, American Flamingos have been spotted across Florida on beaches and in other natural areas, including the Florida Keys, Tigertail Beach, the Sanibel Causeway, Bunche Beach, Siesta Key, Clearwater, Treasure Island, Tarpon Springs, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, and at Lake Pithlachoco in Alachua County! People have even reported seeing flamingos in Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Alabama, and Tennessee.

Where did they come from?

Idalia likely “captured” small flocks from these regions and blew them to Florida on strong storm winds. Some flamingos that arrive in this way remain in Florida, like the famous Pinky that showed up at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge after Hurricane Michael in 2018 and has appeared for part of every year since.

in the Southeast and Florida, decimating bird populations for feathers for ladies’

fashion. Only through the formation of the National Audubon Society and the passage of laws outlawing this carnage—plus hiring wardens to protect the wad ing birds—did bird numbers begin to recover. Sadly, their recovery was stymied in the 20th century when humans ditched and drained the Everglades, which destroyed wading bird habitat.

Wading birds show that if you get the water right, they are capable of breed ing successfully once more. Both 2018 and 2020 proved to be strong nesting s for many of the Everglades’ wading birds, with hopes that continuing res toration projects will make the region more resilient as Florida deals with the ing and future impacts of a changing climate. Audubon works towards a

As Roseate Spoonbills have recovered, as an example, they have spread their range farther north, and Floridians now regularly see them in places like Tampa

The Knotty Dawg is an apparel and dog accessory company that gives back to animal shelters and rescues in need. Owners Samantha and Kevin Mesa mixed the love of their lifestyle, dogs, and charity to create relatable and meaningful products. The brand is dedicated to and inspired by the couple's two pups, Beau and Buddy. Both rescued from local shelters. With thousands of amazing dogs in shelters, Samantha and Kevin want to use their brand to not only share their dogs' stories but also to inspire and educate people about adoption.

Who Doesn’t Want to be Here…

Welcome to Los Cayos!

The spark that led to the creation of Los Cayos was realized in an Upper Keys Tiki Bar one hot summer evening. While enjoying a cold beverage and listening to the vibrant conversations of those at surrounding tables, we soon realized the common theme to those conversations was “Los Cayos”. As those words rolled off their tongues, I couldn’t help to think of how sexy they sound. This was the moment we began our journey to create an authentic “Keys inspired” lifestyle brand. It’s the no-worries, always-sunny, warm breezes, and sunshine experience that everyone wants to live! Here on the island, you don’t move at the pace society tells you to. It’s no wonder our catchphrase is “Who doesn’t want to be here?”

Los Cayos started as an apparel company and now offers a full line of outdoor performance clothing, hats, and accessories for the whole family. You’re not like everyone else, so why wear the same clothes they do? What is island living without the proper cold beverage? Well, we also added an absolutely amazing lime lager beer with the unapparelled ability to transport you to a place we call paradise. Look for it at your favorite Keys watering hole. Mass distribution is in the works along with many other great Los Cayos products on the way! Come join the Los Cayos family and take a journey with us. We may not know exactly where we’re going, but hopefully we’ll know when we get there!

Capt. “Franker

Were happy to announce our recent partnership with Coastal Angler Magazine as their exclusive apparel brand for the Florida Keys Region!

Anyone who has spent time fishing in the Florida Keys soon realizes this area is an outstanding fishery. Two of the primary reasons are the incredible diversity of species and the many methods of fishing practiced here. From catching grunts off a dock to trolling the Gulfstream for blue marlin, the Keys offer myriad choices for an angler. Of course, my favorite method of piscatorial pursuit is from a kayak in shallow water. This past summer has been hotter than normal, and the hot water temporarily hurt the flats fishing. But fall is upon us so let’s take a look at what options are available to a Keys

kayak angler between now and the end of the year. Keep in mind that fish don’t read calendars! Water temps and tides are the main factors affecting fishing. But these general guidelines will get you pretty close.

This month, the first thing you’ll notice while kayak fishing these months is how few people are on the water. You’ll have your favorite spots to yourself, and fishing for the big three flats species is usually very good. It’s a great time to try for a grand slam. Some of the biggest bonefish and permit of the year show during this period. One recent September I landed two permit in the same week that were 35” fork length and saw permit in the 40 pound class! Another year at this time, two friends and I spent 3 solid hours in the morning throwing flies at tailing bonefish! Bottom and bridge fishing gets much better than summertime as the bigger mangrove snapper move back to shallow water and the water temps start to drop a bit. The weather starts to cool a little and fishing all day becomes productive and comfortable again.

The next couple of months, the big variable for a kayak angler during these months will be the frequency and severity of the cold fronts that start to push in from the north. As to fishing, the main thing to keep an eye on is the water temps. If you can find water in the high 70s to low 80s, the “big three” (bonefish, tarpon, and permit) should still be cooperative, especially after the front passes and the weather stabilizes for a few days. But as the water temps continue to cool these sport fish will thin out somewhat, and it’s time to change tactics. Snapper fishing typically picks up nicely. Grouper on the patches and around structure make great targets. And some new players emerge - seatrout, big barracuda, cero mackerel, redfish, ladyfish, blacktip sharks, and marauding schools of jack crevalles show up in the backcountry. Wind again becomes a factor, and the wise kayak fisherman will take time to plan his route with this in mind. One tried and true method is to start your day paddling into the wind, so you can use the breeze to push you back to the launch after you’re tired. If I can help you with your kayak fishing pursuits, call, text or email and we will get out there!

By: Randy Morrow

FALL FISHING SEASON

As we enter into the fall fishing season, I start getting excited. Fall fishing season is one of my favorite seasons in the Florida Keys for offshore and inshore fishing as well as lobster diving and spearfishing. One of the biggest changes were seeing right now is that the mahi bite seems to be getting a lot better.

up around the bridges too. Another fish we like to target in early fall is yellow jacks. When I tell clients, we’re going to go to target yellow jacks many times they say Captain, we’ve already caught jack crevalle’s before and although they’re fun, they’re not good table fare. Then I explain to them that a yellow jack is a jack that is yellow not to be mistaken for a jack crevalle which is also a jack that is yellow.

These yellow jacks aren’t indigenous to this area they showed up a two or three decades ago, and they fight like a jack crevalle, but they taste like a permit or pompano excellent table fare.

...I explain to them that a yellow jack is a jack that is yellow not to be mistaken for a jack crevalle which is also a jack that is yellow.

This summer most anglers would agree, the mahi bite was slow with poorer quantity and quality than usual. Some anglers blame it on our near record heat wave, and some blame it on the increase of commercial mahi fisherman in the Bahamas, cutting our mahi off at the pass and some blame it on our increased fishing pressure here at home. Many anglers were expecting a banner mahi season since the daily mahi bag limit was reduced by FWC recently. We have seen better quality and quantity mahi caught the past couple of months and expect October to be an awesome mahi bite as well. Another theory about why the mahi bites been slow and now picking up in dramatic fashion is that they simply had a late migration this year into the Florida Keys. With the fall season comes tropical storms and hurricane with the fall season comes tropical storms and hurricanes.

When it comes to mahi fishing, we have a love-hate relationship with tropical storms and hurricanes. Needless to say, we hate when the tropical storms and hurricanes come close enough to keep us off the water, but we love the debris we find floating offshore after the storms. We find a lot of things floating caused by the high wind and waves. One of my favorite times to fish for mahi is right after a tropical storm or hurricane passes us. The black fin tuna bite gets better at the Marathon Humps too. Not to mention wahoo start showing up. Fall is also great for post spawn snapper fishing. We like to anchor in the back country near East Bahia in Honda Key in 4 to 6 feet of water on grass flats with swiss cheese shaped sand pockets. We chum them up really good with our green tournament chum, chum blocks in floating chum rings and fish for them with live pilchards or small pinfish.

On days when we can’t find live bait, we do well with chunks of ballyhoo on a jig head. Also, the mutton snapper come in closer and are caught in much shallower water inside the reefs. The yellow tail snapper bite picks up at the reef due to off-season decreased pressure. The larger schoolmaster snapper start showing

We also like to slow troll for grouper inside the reefs and under and beside bridges. We use stretch 30’s and also occasionally use planers with jigs and plastic. Once the water cools down bigger, Gamefish move closer in which makes the spearfishing better in the fall than the summer. We also like to lobster dive in early fall. This year the commercial lobster fishermen say, it’s one of the best lobster years they’ve seen in decades. Most of the commercial lobster fishermen have been getting their lobster in deeper water, and mostly on the Atlantic side. Another sign that the lobster have not migrated into the shallow waters of the Gulf in big numbers is the commercial bully netters have had a real tough time catching lobster up to now. Some commercial lobster fishermen say that the lobster are hanging in deeper water because of our heat wave some commercial lobster fisherman are also saying that part of the reason they’ve had such a banner lobster start is because we had terrible weather both days of mini season, and the tourist didn’t put a dent in the lobster migration.

We tell our lobster clients not to come down during mini season or even opening week. We tell them to come down lobster diving in September and October when we seem to catch better quality and quantity lobster. Another good thing about fishing and diving in the fall is that the kids have gone back to school, the tourist off-season is here hotels, motels, and vacation rental homes are easier to reserve and at a reduced off-season price. We hope to dodge all direct hits from tropical storms and hurricanes this fall and hope to fish, dive, and spear with you in our beautiful Florida Keys!

— 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.

By: Capt. Joel Brandenburg

Florida Keys

Check out those colors! Beautiful

BeautifulcatchfishingwithCapt.BruceAndersen withCapy.EasyCharters

What’s better than going fishing? Catching of course! Great day with Main Attraction Sportfishing Charters.

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

Ms. Katie holding a gaffer mahi, caught aboard the Main Attraction, with Captain Marty Lewis.

Baby Biminee’s biggest Keys lobster, with Dad Bobby Z!

Cody and his son scored big aboard Blue Water Bliss Charters, limiting out early on Mahi, then bagged some Tuna and Mutton Snapper on the way in.

yellowtail snapper caught off Marathon, with the Main Attraction Sportfishing crew. Way to go Miss Alexis!

Let’s grow with Florida together.

CRANKBAITS KAYAKS &

By Coty Perry

Tricks You

Didn’t Know You Needed to Know

Although kayak anglers use the same lures as bank and boat anglers, we o en must adjust our approach. One lure I’ve found myself using di erently while bass shing from a kayak is the crankbait. I love throwing a crankbait, but a challenge to shing one in a kayak is the drag created by the lure. Fishing kayaks are much lighter than bass boats, so your kayak moves toward the lure as you retrieve it. Learning to control the yak was a signi cant adjustment I made when

transitioning to shing a crankbait from a kayak. I now steer my yak while reeling a crankbait instead of picking up a paddle. All I do is point my rod tip in the opposite direction I want to go. When my rod tip points to the le , my kayak dri s to the right and vice versa. To go straight, I point my rod tip straight ahead.

Speaking of the rod, I use a shorter rod, mainly because I sh areas with a lot of overhanging trees, and shorter rods transport easier in my rod box on my trailer and kayak. I also use a higher-speed reel than bank and bass boat anglers because I’m losing speed as the kayak dri s towards my crankbait. So, instead of a 6:1, I use an 8:1 or 7:1 gear ratio.

I spool up with braided line and use a 3- to 5-foot, 12- to 17-pound test uorocarbon leader. e length and strength depend on water clarity and how deep I sh.

More than likely, I have a squarebill crankbait tied on while shing shallow, which is a majority of the time. However, I will tie a deep-diving crankbait during the summer.

Where to Fish a Crankbait in a Yak

Crankbaits have a lot of bene ts, but they also have limitations. A lipless crankbait can be shed in the grass, especially along the edge of the grass, but most of the time, I sh crankbaits along rocky or riprap banks and over the tops of brushpiles.

I want my lure hitting every rock on the retrieve back because this o en triggers a bite. e same holds true for shing around laydowns and brushpiles. I don’t want to get snagged, but I’ve gotten so many bites a er bumping into submerged limbs.

Fishing in these two areas has helped me catch loads of bass on a crankbait, plus a few cat sh.

When to Fish a Crankbait in a Kayak

I sh a crankbait year-round. However, I change the style. In the cooler months, I tend to break out a lipless crankbait the most. As the water warms, I switch to a squarebill, and once I’m sure the sh have moved to deeper water, I’ll tie on a deep-diving crankbait during the hottest times of the year.

Coty Perry is a third-generation angler, who has a lot of experience on the water and loves sharing what he knows on anglers.com.

By Will Schmidt

RELEASING FISH THE RIGHT WAY

With so many species closed to harvest, releasing sh properly is more important than ever as we need these sh to thrive and spawn. ere are some very simple rules to follow that will help ensure the vitality of a released sh.

First and foremost, keep them wet. A sh out of water is going through a major amount of stress. is is especially true a er a long ght. It’s like running a race and then having to hold your breath. e best-case scenario is to use a dehooker that allows you to release the sh without ever taking it out of the water. Long pliers or dehookers that slide down the line and allow you to ip the sh o work great. If you do need to li the sh, work fast and get the sh back in the water before it stops dripping water. When taking pictures, keep the sh in the water until you are completely ready. Also consider a more creative angle other than the traditional hero pose so the sh stays in the water. e way you handle the sh out of water makes a huge di erence. Keeping them wet also preserves the vital slime on the sh which is crucial. Make sure your hands are wet. Avoid putting sh on dry surfaces. Rough dry surfaces like boat decks and rocks remove much of the vital slime from a sh. Never use a dry towel to handle a sh; that can be the kiss of death. Using a rubber net versus a nylon net also greatly reduces the amount of slime removed.

Bottom shing in deep water creates another issue, barotrauma, or the expansion of gas inside a sh as it ascends from the deep. You know the bulging stomach and eyes. Descending devices are easy ways to ensure sh su ering barotrauma make it safely back to the bottom. ey are required by law now in many areas for many species. While venting tools work well, most people do not use them properly and o en don’t have the proper tool. Ice picks are not proper devices.

Lip clamps and inverted hook style release techniques are simple and work great. Here’s a bonus: if you visit Return ‘Em Right (https://returnemright. org), you can get the equipment you need for free. It’s a $100 value.

Have a rod rigged and ready with your descending device so you get the sh back in the water and down as quickly as possible. I’ve also found that the using a lighter weight than provided by Return ‘Em Right is much easier to retrieve and works on smaller snapper and such. at said, with many grouper out of season, make sure you keep a heavier weight with you for when you get a big one.

Helping sh survive being caught today is the key to having sh to catch tomorrow.

Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler who has been writing about shing from more than two decades.

Hurricane Season

Be

STICK MARSH FILLS UP FOR FALL FISHING

One of Florida’s premier bass sheries, known as Stick Marsh or Farm 13, is re lling and should become a better shery thanks to a large-scale habitat restoration conducted by FWC and the St. Johns River Water Management District.

e reservoir, which straddles Brevard and Indian River counties, was drawn down by 4 feet in February to stimulate submersed plant growth and re-establish native emergent vegetation, which should improve habitat for sh and wildlife. FWC sta planted the southern portion of the reservoir with native aquatic plants, including 131,000 bulrush and 40,000 spatterdock plants at a total cost of $400,000. Plants were installed across the waterbody going east-west to provide a natural wave break for the shallow southern end.

Custom Spliced Dock Lines & Anchor Rodes

Two tree islands form a Critical Wildlife Area within the reservoir, which provides nesting and roosting habitat for imperiled waterbirds, including roseate spoonbills and tricolored herons. e lower water levels created by the drawdown bene ted waterbirds by increasing foraging habitat and concentrating prey. Water levels will be allowed to slowly rise with rainfall and by now should be back within the normal range.

ree Forks Conservation Area to the north also underwent a drawdown. ree Forks Reservoir will be back within normal range before Stick Marsh/ Farm 13.

e St. Johns Water Management Area boat ramp at Stick Marsh/Farm 13 and the omas O. Lawton Recreation Area boat ramp at ree Forks Conservation Area remain accessible. Be aware that shallower water continues to create underwater hazards.

For more information, visit MyFWC.com.

SHRIMP: THE KING OF BAITS

Tim Barefoot

In the Atlantic, mature white shrimp go on the move in fall and transition to tighter fall and winter homes in the ocean.

ere are only a few sh that do not actively seek out white shrimp this time of year. For almost all the sh we seek to catch, it’s the ultimate bait.

At one point in my life, I spent an incredible amount of time cast netting and storing white shrimp (green tails) for trout shing in October, November and December. e biggest problem with shrimp as bait is all the trash bites from pin sh and all the other little snappers. Snook and tarpon will de nitely key on a big pretty shrimp, but keeping the trash o of them is di cult. Everything down there will give a shrimp a whack and at least take a few legs or the tail o is is the reason I went the arti cial route years ago when it comes to shrimp.

ere is nothing, I mean NOTHING, more e ective on inshore species than a live shrimp with a 6/0 - 8/0 circle hook under a sliding cork or freelined. With that said, I’ve taken the path of least resistance and now sh a DOA Shrimp on a jig head. It gets the bite, and I don’t spend hours messing with live bait or netting it on the morning of the trip.

I’m not saying catching live shrimp is a waste of time… it’s not, but with arti cials, I can show up with my entire tackle box in a small backpack full of tricks.

e hour or two at daylight in the morning, I prefer the “measles” color DOA because a shrimp’s legs and underbody are red in the dark and at rst light. When the sun gets up, I switch to the “near clear” color when the water is clear, but only if they stop eating the measles color. You can’t x what ain’t broke.

I mash the barb down on the jig hook. is way, when sh I don’t plan to eat come to the boat, I don’t have to touch the sh. Just grab the jig head and give a quick reverse motion. e hook comes right out. You can get back in the action, and the sh has a better chance of survival. e same jig and so plastic shrimp combo is extremely e ective shed under a xed cork at night. Make a long cast up-current around bridge pilings, docks or other structure. is is not the situation for a popping cork with all the beads and rattles. I like a nice quiet, heavy-duty cork that can be shed quietly or with quite a bit of noise. I stay in touch with the cork, and let the current dictate the speed of the retrieve. Any way you sh it, white shrimp reign supreme for inshore shing, especially in October and November.

To see more from Tim Barefoot, go to barefootcatsandtackle.com.

GO GET SOME GULF SNAPPER!

Florida’s extended fall Gulf of Mexico red snapper season is still going on. Gulf Anglers are taking advantage of some great shing, and there are still eight weekends in October and November to get in on the action.

e limit is two per person, per day with a 16-inch minimum size limit. e remaining 2023 dates available for harvest of red snapper in the Gulf are:

• October 6–8

• October 13–15

• October 20–22

• October 27–29

• November 3–5

• November 10–12 (Veterans DayWeekend)

• November 17–19

• November 23–26 (ThanksgivingWeekend)

Anglers pursuing red snapper in state or federal waters from a private recreational vessel, even those exempt from shing license requirements, must sign up as a State Reef Fish Angler (annual renewal required) at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.

For more information, go to MyFWC.com.

ATLANTIC BLUELINE HARVEST CLOSED

Prospects for loading the cooler bottom shing got a little slimmer when harvest of blueline tile sh closed in Atlantic state waters of Florida on Sept. 1. is closure is consistent with the closure in adjacent federal waters. Harvest will reopen May 1, 2024.

ese delicious bottom dwellers are frequently caught by anglers targeting deep-water groupers. ey inhabit 250- to 800-foot depths and their popularity as a game sh has risen in the last decade as restrictions on other species has led anglers to target them. ey came on the radar for federal sheries managers in 2014 and 2015, when blueline tile sh were determined to be over shed.

e regular season for blueline tile sh in Atlantic state waters is May 1 through Aug. 31. e daily limit is three sh within the aggregate limit for blueline tile sh and grouper.

For more information, visit MyFWC.com.

You need a new watch…the one you are wearing was made when Nixon was in office, but extravagantly-priced watches that add zeros just because of a high falootin’ name are an insult to your logic. Why shell out big money so some foreign company can sponsor another yacht race? It’s time to put an end to such madness. It’s absolutely possible to have the highest quality, precision classic timepiece without the high and mighty price tag. Case in point: The Stauer Urban Blue

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COOK ISLANDS GRANDER CAUGHT SOLO FROM A 22-FOOT BOAT

Catching a grander is one of the most sought-after feats in sportfishing. Boats, crews and anglers enter rare air when they hook and land a 1,000-pound-plus marlin, and untold time and money are spent chasing the dream.

Fishing solo from a 22-foot boat, angler Arnold Pauro achieved his lifelong dream Aug. 25 when he hauled in a 1,128-pound blue marlin that is a new record for the Cook Islands. According to the Cook Island News, Pauro came tight with the huge blue fishing just 3 miles off the southern end of the island Rarotonga.

Rarotonga is the most populated of the Cook Islands, which is an archipelago nation out in the middle of the South Pacific northeast of New Zealand. Rarotonga is renowned for excellent flats fishing, especially for bonefish, and like many volcanic islands, the water drops into thousandfoot depths just a few miles offshore. This creates a situation where bluewater fishing is very accessible, even for anglers in smaller boats.

According to the Cook Island News, Pauro managed to subdue the giant fish solo in his small boat, Haurua, by keeping a short line. He first brought the fish boat-side after just 3 minutes, and then all hell broke loose. Arnold told the news outlet that the fish jumped 40 or 50 times and ran out of steam after about an hour and a half.

“I kept it to 50 metres of line, kept it short, I don’t like letting my marlin go,” he told the Cook Island News.

Arnold’s fish topped the Cook Island weight record of 1,045 pounds, which was set by angler Paku Poila in November 2020. The IGFA all-tackle world record for blue marlin was caught off Brazil in 1992. It weighed 1,402 pounds.

To read the original report, go to www.cookislandsnews.com.

Hanapa‘a - Mahi

Hanapa‘a - Ono

Hanapa‘a - Ahi

Hanapa‘a - Marlin

Fish flags inspired by Sun Dot Marine Flags.

@fishflags

For the third time in the last 13 years, serious flaws have been revealed in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) data collection programs for recreational fisheries. A recent pilot study conducted by NOAA itself and published in August found that estimates on angler effort might be overestimated by 30 to 40 percent.

These inflated estimates are important because they are part of the equation used to manage our fisheries. The data is used in stock assessments, and to estimate harvest numbers and recreational discard. By overestimating angler effort, catch data is also inflated, which means the data erroneously reflects a larger harvest by recreational anglers than actually exists.

In a nutshell, the pilot study found that the Marine Recreational Information Program’s Fishing Effort Survey is confusing to respondents, which led to “reporting errors” and “illogical responses.” NOAA said this survey, which is mailed to licensed saltwater anglers, “remains the best and sometimes the only available science for tracking relative year-to-year and long-term effort trends.”

The immediate reaction to this revelation from some outlets was a call to reduce restrictions on recreational anglers. The estimate means fewer fish were actually caught, which means there are more fish still in the water, right? Not so fast. This catch and effort data also figures into stock assessments. The inflated effort numbers translate to an overestimation in fish populations.

“The news of this significant overestimation has serious implications for all of our fisheries. Since every species is managed differently, the ramifications of this information cannot be quantified under a singular umbrella,” reads a

report from the American Saltwater Guides Association (ASGA). “It does not mean that because fishing effort is less than originally expected, there must be more fish to harvest. In fact, it will mean there needs to be a major re-calibration because effort is used to help determine stock size. If we have overestimated effort, we also overestimated the stock. We must go species by species to understand the best path for management moving forward. Now more than ever, we need to be precautionary in our management approach.”

NOAA has indicated it will initiate further studies into the findings of its pilot study, according to the ASGA report. Meanwhile, a group of marine conservation and recreational fishing organizations has ramped up its call to wrest control of recreational data collection from the federal government and turn it over to state agencies.

“Yet another major revision to the federal recreational data collection system is upon us, and it should bring a realization that NOAA is just not capable of doing this job,” said Ted Venker, conservation director of the Coastal Conservation Association. “At best we are looking at several more years of questionable revisions, recalculations, and recalibrations based on a suspect data system that has never proven it can produce accurate information. This is no way to manage a public resource. It would be irresponsible to continue down this road rather than exploring and supporting state-based options to better manage the recreational sector wherever feasible.”

HIGHWAY 17 SOUTH, GREEN COVE SPRINGS, FL 32043

31-INCH LIMIT ON ATLANTIC STRIPER EXTENDED

New Management Plan Delayed Until at Least January

Recreational anglers in Chesapeake Bay and along the Atlantic Coast must continue to release all striped bass longer than 31 inches after fisheries managers extended an emergency regulation that was set to expire on Oct. 28. The extension’s new expiration date is Oct. 28, 2024, which gives the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) more than a full year to grapple with a complex management plan intended to rebuild the coastwide striper population by 2029.

The emergency measure was first implemented in May, after estimates showed recreational harvest nearly doubled in 2022 over 2021’s figures. At the time, projections plummeted from a 97 percent chance the stock would be rebuilt by 2029 to just a 15 percent.

NOAA’s Fisheries Effort Survey, which was found recently to have overestimated angler effort by 30 to 40 percent, is an important part of recreational harvest estimates. It also plays into stock assessments for the striped bass fishery.

However, scientists still believe striped bass reproduction has been down since 2015. The 2015 age class was strong, and those fish are now the larger fish in the population that contribute most to reproduction. The emergency measure was implemented to protect the larger breeding fish.

The Chesapeake Bay “Trophy” season, which has historically been an important fishery for bay anglers, is exempt from this emergency regulation. The short early May season in Maryland has allowed anglers to keep one fish longer than 35 inches per person. A press release from ASMFC warned anglers that this special season might change once the emergency measure is replaced by a management plan that is supposed to come from ASMFC’s Addendum II of the Atlantic Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan.

Addendum II is a complex document with a range of management options intended to rebuild the striped bass stock by the end of the decade. It was hoped Addendum II would be ready for implementation in October. After five hours of back and forth at an August commission meeting, the decision was made to delay action. Now, the earliest a new management plan can be implemented is January 2024.

“Moving the emergency action forward was an important stop-gap measure to balance fishing mortality in the recreational fishery,” said David Sikorski, a Maryland delegate to the ASMFC. “Unfortunately, the delay in advancing draft Addendum II leaves uncertainty in our ability to meet our rebuilding goals and reduce overall fishing mortality ahead of the 2024 fishing year. Between now and the October 2023 meeting, draft Addendum II will be updated and provided to the board and posted online.”

The 31-inch maximum emergency rule will remain in place until Oct. 28, 2024, or until it is replaced by restrictions in Addendum II.

For more information, go to http://www.asmfc.org/

SNELLING A HOOK

Snelling a hook is an age-old way of attaching it to your line. It is a technique that pre-dates the invention of hook eyes, when hooks only had flattened tops and snelling the hook was required to create a good connection to the line.

Thanks to hook eyes, this is no longer necessary, but a snell knot remains one of the best connections out there for simple line-to-hook connections. The knot’s ability to orient the point of the hook in the right direction for octopus and circle hooks makes it a go-to knot for live and cut bait fishing. You’ll get more solid hook sets when you snell circle hooks.

A snell knot is quick and easy to tie and it provides a strong connection. The only real disadvantage is the knot is on the shank of the hook, where it is vulnerable to the teeth of toothy critters. It’s probably not the best choice if you’re fishing for muskie or barracuda.

For more information, go to usangler.com.

HAVE

YOU CAUGHT A LENGTH-RECORD SMALLIE?

This gorgeous Colorado River smallmouth bass is a new IGFA alltackle world length record for the species.

The chunky smallmouth measured 53 centimeters (20 inches) on an official IGFA measuring device, which tied the fish for the length record with two other officially recognized smallies. Sarah Harris landed her big fish while night fishing on the Colorado River in Arizona. It slammed a topwater lure and was boated after a short fight. After snapping some photos, Harris released it safely.

Harris’s bass tied a smallmouth caught by William Brent Evans from Alabama’s Lake Guntersville in 2014 as well as one caught from Washington’s Osoyoos Lake by Shane Hoelzle in 2020.

The IGFA all-tackle world record smallmouth by weight is a longstanding 11-pound, 15-ounce mark that was set in 1955 by David Hayes at Dale Hollow Lake in Tennessee.

Hayes’s Dale Hollow fish is a record that might stand forever, but those length records can be beaten. While a 20-inch smallmouth is definitely a trophy fish, 20-plus inchers are caught pretty regularly. It’s a matter of time before someone with an official IGFA measuring device puts one in the boat. For more, go to IGFA.org.

SEARCH WITH A BLADED JIG

TYLER WOOLCOTT

This time of year, when bass are feeding up ahead of winter, it’s tough to beat a bladed jig—or Chatterbait—to find hungry fish.

In most cases, the Chatterbait is in my arsenal as a search bait to cover a ton of water. There isn’t a piece of cover that I can think of that I haven’t thrown it around with success. Docks, wood, grass, rocks, anywhere a bass might live and feed is a good place to throw it. Most of the time you can locate fish with this bait and then go back through the same area with something else and pick up some more bites. If there are hungry bass around and you present this bait in the right way, you will get a bite.

A lot of times I am trying to duplicate an injured baitfish with a Chatterbait, whether they be shad, shiners or bluegill. Whites, golds and green pumpkin colors are my go to baitfish imitators and are what I have tied on most of the time. If the water is dirty or when fish are feeding on crayfish, I’ll switch to a black and blue or even an orange or red color. Match a trailer bait of your choice on the back like a swimbait or a craw trailer, and you’ll be good to go.

Chatterbait bites are usually reaction strikes, so I vary the retrieve to create erratic action while keeping the lure in the strike zone. I do this by speeding up my retrieval speed and then pausing for a very short period of time and then resuming a normal retrieval rate. Believe it or not, there are way more fish that follow your bait and don’t commit than you think. A very small adjustment in the speed can make the difference and convince these fish to eat. A 3/8-oz. and a ½-oz. are pretty much the only two sizes I throw. This covers all different depth ranges from a foot of water down to 10 feet. Cover as much water as possible until you pin point a healthy population of feeding bass then slow down with a different bait that you can work slower.

Chatterbait Gear

A moderate-action rod makes a huge difference when it comes to keeping fish hooked up. The 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’4mhm is absolutely perfect for fishing a Chatterbait. I pair a 7:5:1 gear ratio Concept A 13 Fishing reel with this and spool it with 17-lb. Seaguar Abraz X. I throw some bigger line with this, as you are usually around some type of cover and are working the bait fairly fast, so they won’t get a chance to see your line anyway.

Hope this fishing tip will give you some confidence to try this technique, if you haven’t already. It flat out catches them. Good luck out there and tight lines!

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

THROUGHOUT!

RECORD MAHI CAUGHT OFF WASHINGTON STATE

A20-pound mahi might not be surprising off the coasts of Florida or Mexico, but this 21-pound, 48-inch-long dolphinfish is a super rare catch off the coast of Washington State. It’s the largest one anyone’s ever caught there.

Angler Wade La Fontaine caught his state record mahi 42 miles out in the Pacific off the Washington coast on Aug. 25. He was on a charter trip with Capt. Keith Johnson aboard the Tunacious. They were trolling for tuna with plastic squid lures behind a spreader when the mahi hit.

Upon landing at the dock in Westport, Washington, the dolphinfish was checked by a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist, then weighed on a certified scale. After review, the record was certified on Aug. 30.

Dolphinfish are sporadically caught by recreational and commercial fishers targeting albacore tuna and other species off the Washington and Oregon coasts, including a handful recorded last year at the ports of Westport and Ilwaco and at least two this summer.

“Most mahi mahi caught off our coast are smaller fish in the 6- to 12-pound range,” read a WDFW press release. “La Fontaine’s fish — which was 48 inches long and 40 inches to the inside fork of the tail — was more reminiscent of large

dolphinfish caught in warmer waters off southern California, Mexico and Hawaii.”

The previous Washington state record weighed 16.27 pounds. It was caught by Albert DaSilva in 2013.

The charter reported 70-degree water temperature in the area where the fish was caught, which is warm, even for the warmer offshore currents, though not unprecedented especially during El Nino years, explained the release.

The Return of a

“I’m blessed beyond comprehension,” La Fontaine said. “I’ll be getting another tattoo of a mahi!”

Albacore tuna are the primary target for Pacific Northwest offshore anglers, with large schools of these “longfin tuna” abundant off the coast of northern California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia in the summer and early fall. Albacore are found in the blue water, a mass of warmer Sea Surface Temperature water typically found off the West Coast of North America during summer and fall, and off Southern California yearround.

For more information, go to https://wdfw.wa.gov/