Coastal Angler Magazine | February 2020 | Lakeland & Sumter Edition

FRE FREE REE E

LAKELAND & SUMTER EDITION

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deep-drop SWORDFISH LEARN TO

CHUM

PHOTO COURTESY OF DUSTIN BEDGOOD AND TRIPS4TRADE VOLUME 25 • ISSUE 299

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PENN FIERCE III New updates to PENN’s Fierce III reels improve quality and performance while retaining the great value anglers have come to appreciate from these spinning reels. Available in combos with Fierce III rods, the updated line is perfect for anglers looking for solid gear at an affordable price.

Fierce III reels were already known for smooth retrieves and solid construction, with Techno Balanced rotors and full metal body and sideplate.

The newly updated Fierce III reels and combos and the Fierce III LE combos come with a number of upgrades.

Fierce III reels feature an HT-100 carbon fiber drag system upgraded from oiled felt and a 4+1 stainless steel bearing system.

Fierce III combo rods receive upgraded PENN Dura-Guides and are available in one or two-piece combos. Fierce III LE combos offer anglers upgraded machined EVA handle knobs and colorful Winn grips for added comfort as well as PENN Dura-Guides and the HT-100 carbon fiber drag system.

PENN Fierce III reels and combos are available in sizes ranging from 1000 to 8000.

St. Croix’s new Avid Surf series offers 10 powerful, American–made spinning and casting rods designed for serious surfcasters looking to beach serious fish. Whether heaving heavy baits from the beaches of Cape Hatteras, casting 3-ounce bottle plugs for Montauk stripers or trying to steer a crazed tarpon away from bridge pilings in the Florida Keys, these super-strong, extremely versatile sticks handle any challenge surf fishing presents.

Avid Surf rods combine St. Croix’s Integrated Poly Curve mandrel technology with premium, high-modulus SCIII carbon for exceptional strength, smooth power and increased sensitivity. They sport Fuji K-Series KW tangle-free guides with Alconite rings and Corrosion Control frame treatment for superior casting distance and improved corrosion protection. The Fuji DPS Deluxe reel seat with Back Stop lock nut and matte grey hoods ensures a rock-solid connection between rod and reel, while a custom cork tape handle with machined trim pieces provides a sure, comfortable and resilient grip.

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UGLY STIK CARBON SERIES With a new series of carbon rods, Ugly Stik has introduced its lightest, most sensitive and best handling rods to date.

A new carbon technology crafted of 100-percent 24-ton graphite allows new Ugly Stiks to be lightweight and 37 percent stronger than other standard graphite rods while still delivering the timetested toughness that is the hallmark of the Ugly Stik brand.

“The new Ugly Stik Carbon series handles like no Ugly Stik before it,” said Andrew Wheeler, director of global brands for Ugly Stik. “These rods have the feel and performance of rods that come at a higher cost and don’t have the proven durability of an Ugly Stik.

When people get their hands on these rods, they are blown away by their light weight and corresponding sensitivity and balance.”

The series includes casting and spinning rods, as well as spinning combos and baitcast combos—both of which include the Abu Garcia Black Max reel.

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ST. CROIX AVID SURF RODS

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CORTLAND NYMPH SERIES FLY RODS Cortland’s Nymph Series fly rods were specifically designed for modern nymphing techniques. They are built on a super-light graphite blank, which dampens and recovers quickly for exceptional feel. The low-reflective, matte black finish allows for an extremely stealthy approach while providing an additional layer of protection. A downlocking reel seat combined with a composite fighting butt allows for exceptional balance and fast hook sets.

Nymph Series fly rods feature oversized, light-wire, single-foot guides for easier passage of fly line, monofilament and knots. All ferrules and guides are coated with highly durable epoxy to resist cracks, flex stress and excessive knots. Other features include alignment dots, sizespecific rod bags and a protective cordura rod tube.

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CRB ROD BLANKS

TSUNAMI EVICT SPINNING REEL

Harnessing the custom spirit of rod building, while maintaining dependable quality and value, the Custom Rod Builder (CRB) brand develops exciting rod blanks for any level of angler. CRB is proud to expand blank production to offer 12 awesome colors in the Color Series, best-selling materials like fiberglass and E-glass, as well as improved actions and powers across the board.

Synonymous with quality, CRB blanks are the premier source of affordable, functional and innovative custom rod building blanks. CRB satisfies your pursuits in performance, style and price.

From the extremely popular Color Series blanks to heavy Tuna Poppin’ blanks, all around Value E-Glass blanks, and many more, these exciting blank options provide the ideal custom choices at perfect price points.

With the rise of multi-option rod kits, CRB’s trusted blanks and rod components have made serious waves in the world of custom rod building.

From the variety of blanks and color choices, to all the guides, reel seats, and grip options, CRB offers an unbeatable array of components ready to build your next fishing rod!

As one of the newer reel companies in the industry, Tsunami is making waves with great gear at a very competitive price.

Their new Evict spinning reel, available in sizes 2000, 3000, 4000 and 5000, is unlike any other spinning reel on the market for the price. Smooth and powerful, it’s at home on freshwater or salt. But the Evict is constructed and sealed to stand up to the marine environment.

The Evict’s stainless steel main gear and pinion, and sealed stainless main shaft, allow for maximum pressure when battling big fish. A CF3 carbon fiber drag system boasts a serious 20 pounds of drag to haul them up, which makes the Evict ideal for big inshore species and bottom fishing. The aluminum braidready spool means there’s no line slip with braided line.

An aluminum body, graphite rotor, comfortable aluminum ball handle and eight sealed stainless ball bearings round out a durable and high-performing piece of equipment. The 3000 and 4000 sizes come with an EVA knob in the box. The 3000 size holds 220yds of 15lb braid.

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TSUNAMI CARBON SHIELD II Whether you’re hunting seatrout, big bull reds or striped bass, Tsunami has you covered with their Carbon Shield II series of rods. Available from 7’ up to 8’ in medium light to extra heavy models, these spinning rods are designed to be featherlight and sensitive with the power to cast long and battle big fish.

Lightweight IM7 graphite blanks, featuring D16 nonotech and a unique carbon fiber design evenly disperses force in 16 directions. While they weigh little, these rods are up to whatever you want to do with them, whether its live baiting big snook or working topwater baits for seatrout.

They feature quality Fuji K guides and Fazlite inserts, premium cork grips and an anodized aluminum reel seat with stainless steel hoods and custom locking ring.

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OKUMA EPIXOR XT SPINNING REEL Okuma Epixor XT reels—the next generation in a long-standing family of technologically advanced Okuma spinning reels—come loaded with exclusive technologies that anglers will appreciate. These reels offer high-end performance to price-conscious anglers.

Lightweight C-40X carbon fiber composite construction provides exceptional feel and anti-corrosive durability. Okuma’s exclusive Tortion Control Armor and a slow oscillation system reduce twisting and ensure proper line lay, which allows smooth casts and fewer line issues.

A 1-K woven carbon fiber drag knob has progressive drag setting without adding weight, and Japanese oiled felt drag washers perform smoothly with a big fish on the line.

Other advanced features include: Okuma’s Centrifugal Disc Bail; precision machine-cut brass pinion gear; heavyduty solid aluminum bail wire; Rigid aluminum handle arm; comfortable ergo grip; RESII, computer balanced Rotor Equalizing System; Stainless steel bearings; Quick-Set anti-reverse bearing; Cyclonic Flow Rotor technology; and a machined aluminum, 2-tone anodized spool with LCS lip.

There isn’t a more technologically advanced reel available anywhere near Okuma’s price point for Epixor XT reels.

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By Alan McGuckin/Dynamic Sponsorships

itchin’ tubes exploded in popularity following Denny Brauer’s 1998 Bassmaster Classic victory.

A month before the tournament, the legendary shallow-water pitcher/flipper was on a solid summertime jig bite on a shallow flat of North Carolina’s High Rock Lake. When the jig stopped producing during Classic week, he reached for a 3.5-inch tube and discovered the fish wanted something a little different. Brauer won the 1998 Classic pitchin’ tubes. The technique has been a mainstay ever since.

Unlimited Seasonal Use Tubes get bites when nothing else will, and there are no seasonal limitations. Brauer’s win came in early August in hot shallow water. I recently caught bass on a Big Bite Bait Tour Flipping Tube from the frigid winter waters of northeastern Oklahoma.

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“I think it’s definitely a year-round bait,” said Brauer. “As anglers, we initially got conditioned to think tubes were a spawning-season bait. But shoot, it’s very productive year-round. As much as anything, it’s simply a finesse tool to pitch anytime the conditions call for it.”

Hook Size And Rigging Are Critical I gravitate toward the 3.5-inch tube rigged with a 3/0 Mustad hook.

Following his Classic win on the 3.5-inch tube, Brauer had Strike King design a larger 4.5-inch tube so he could match it with a larger 4/0 Mustad hook he felt would put more fish in the boat.

Pitch the size you’re comfortable with, but be sure to match tube size to hook size. A 3.5-inch tube demands a 3/0 hook. A 4- or 4.5-inch tube marries best to a 4/0 hook.

And DO NOT bury the hook point into the tube. Instead, Texas rig it with the hook point level on the back of the tube. You’ll land more fish, and it will still perform relatively snag-free.

Rattles And Weight Some people love rattles; some people hate them. I stuff a glass rattle inside the body of my tubes most of the time.

Line size and worm-weight size are also personal preferences determined by water clarity and the fall rate bass seem to favor. A lot of anglers use 20-pound test with a ¼-ounce weight. Brauer goes meatier with 3/8- or ½-ounce weight and 25-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon. I’ve caught bass for years with a 1/8-ounce weight and 15-pound old-school Big Game.

Watch The Line You must be vigilant in watching your line where it meets the water after every single pitch or flip. Very seldom do bass just thump a tube. It’s like they’re eating a potato chip rather than chomping a bite of rib eye. Often the line will just stop falling, and you need to set the hook!

Still Charting Hits Lures are like country music artists. Some bust onto the scene, score a couple hits, and soon fade from popularity. Others prove that true talent never goes away.

Pitchin’ tubes are whole lot like George Strait or Reba McEntire. They were mega stars at the time Brauer won the ’98 Classic, and they’re still playing to sell out crowds 20 years later.

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By Nick Carter

T

here’s a daytime swordfish bite developing in the northern Gulf of Mexico off Alabama. The fish have always been there, but few anglers have figured out how to catch them when the sun is out.

Dustin Bedgood, aka Capt. Fed, of Orange Beach’s FED UP Charters, has spent several years learning the area’s daytime deep-water fishery. Drawing from successful captains in wellknown deep-drop locations off south Florida and Venice, Louisiana, Capt. Fed adapted techniques to a point where he’s consistent enough to take charter clients to catch swordfish.

The fishery is productive just off the continental shelf about an hour and a half ride from the Alabama coast aboard Capt.

Fed’s 33-foot Freeman. During daylight hours, swordfish hang out past where the bottom drops precipitously from 200 feet into 1,000-foot depths. This is where anglers can expect a typical day of four or five swordfish bites with one fish landed.

The weights average about 120 pounds, with a top-end over 300 pounds. While the fish aren’t as big as in south Florida, a 150-pound sword is more than most anglers want to handcrank from those depths, anyway.

“They’re a very intense fish,” said Capt. Fed. “They can hurt you very easily.”

The keys to the fishery are bottom structure, the right gear and good bait. Capt. Fed fishes in 1,000 to 3,000 feet of water, and always around some type of structure.

“Whether it’s a nipple, a ledge, a canyon or a salt dome, that’s where the swordfish are,” he said. “All it takes is some little feature that changes the currents and attracts bait.”

Good maps of the ocean floor and sophisticated electronics are necessary to find the right type of bottom in several thousand feet of water. On top of high-end sonar, Capt. Fed uses custom J&M Tackle Blackout Sword Rods with lots of backbone but a very soft tip. Swordfish don’t just load up on the rod. They slash at the bait first, and a soft tip is needed to

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notice the bump when there’s so much line out.

“Once you get it set, the rod will develop a rhythm with the waves and the current. You’ve got to watch that rod,” said Capt.

Fed. “If you see it do anything that’s not normal, something has happened. That’s when you start reeling it up or dropping it down. You’ve got to tease them just like any other billfish.”

Capt. Fed fishes Shimano 50W and 80W reels. The drag is set loose because swordfish have soft mouths, and battles can last an hour or more. The reels are loaded with 80-pound braid tied into a 150-foot wind-on leader of 250-pound mono with a Bimini twist. Fed uses a minimum of 5 pounds of weight, and secures Lindgren-Pitman lights to his leader with rubber bands.

Bait is important, and tying it correctly takes practice.

After the initial slash, the jig is up if the hook tears out or the bait doesn’t retain a natural presentation. A 10-inch squid sewn with 70-pound waxed floss around a 10/0 to 12/0 J hook is one of Capt. Fed’s favorite baits.

While an average day might bring one swordfish to the boat, Fed said he’s also seen five-fish days when conditions are perfect. Swords are very sensitive to the moon, and daily feeding times seem to correspond with moonrise and moonset. Capt. Fed plans trips so there’s time to load coolers with grouper and tilefish before switching to swordfish through the prime moon position.

The swordfish bite goes on year-round, but Fed said he’s noticed an April into July peak, which could be attributed to more time on the water during peak tourist season in Orange Beach. And that brings up another reason to fish the Alabama Gulf Coast. There’s plenty to keep the whole family happy while the anglers are out on the water.

Capt. Fed (Dustin Bedgood) can be contacted through his website www.fedupcharters.com, at (251) 377-7135 or by email at fedupcharters@gmail.com

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GET UP TO 700 OFF SELECT OUTBOARDS! $ JANUARY 2, 2020-MARCH 31, 2020, ONLY AT PARTICIPATING DEALERS

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*At participating dealers only. Qualifying retail customers may receive instant savings off the selling price of a Honda powered boat package or Honda Marine engine(s) sold for repower. This promotion is limited to new Honda Marine 40 HP through 250 HP outboard engines, 2014 and newer models, sold and delivered between January 2, 2020 and March 31, 2020 and registered by the Dealer in accordance with American Honda Motor Co., Inc.’s sales registration requirements. Only Honda Marine outboard engines sold for personal use qualify for this promotion. Fleet, commercial & government sales are ineligible. Engines sold under special pricing / promotions including (but not limited to) demo and tournament fisherman engines are also excluded. Honda Marine reserves the right to modify, amend, cancel or revoke, in whole or in part, this promotion at any time without prior notice. © 2020 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. 8 NATIONAL I FEBRUARY 2020 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM THEANGLERMAG.COM Always wear a Ipersonal flotation device while boating and read your•owner’s manual. All Honda outboards meet EPA and CARB emission levels.

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All trademarks mentioned are owned by, or licensed to, the AkzoNobel group of companies. © AkzoNobel 2019.

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The Force ISC Dolly, introduced by Parkit360°, is a compact motorized trailer dolly that allows anyone to move any boat or camper. Available in 5,000 lb. and 10,000 lb. models, it’s a powerful tool that enables easy parking in tight spots without the need for a truck or back-breaking labor.

The dolly is compatible with practically every camping, boat or cargo trailer with optional adapters for spring-loaded and Atwood hitches. It’s battery powered, easily transportable and compact. The dolly body itself weighs approximately 70 pounds, making it easy to disassemble and transport in the trunk of a small car.

The dolly is built to easily handle both smooth and rough surfaces. No matter the terrain, be it grass, packed gravel or asphalt, the dolly provides plenty of traction. For optimal usage and safety, users should avoid operating on more than a 6 percent incline.

Connecting the dolly to a trailer is as intuitive as possible. It can be done through a ball mount, the tongue jack itself or the universal telescopic adaptor.

Once attached, it wheels around easily. The operation works with a simple button in forward and backward movements.

With an intelligent speed controller, users can achieve fast or more precise parking. At the same time, the motor’s ability to start and stop gradually prevents damage to the trailer from sudden stopping, something that makes the Force ISC Dolly stand out above its competition.

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FLORIDA

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By John Saporito

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he tide is one of the main catalysts for feeding activity among both inshore and nearshore gamefish. It is also an immensely complicated topic that often frustrates Florida anglers. This is largely because the state is home to all three types of astronomical tides.

While the east coast features orderly semi-diurnal tides, which consist of two relatively equal high tides and two relatively equal low tides in a 24 hour period, the west coast exhibits a thorny combination of diurnal (one high and one relatively equal low tide daily) and mixed tides (a confounding blend of the former two). Southwest Florida’s mixed tides are particularly baffling.

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The earth’s tides are a pair of enormous waves, roughly 12,000 miles from crest to crest, that cause the seas to rise and fall as the earth rotates beneath them. One wave is created by the gravitational attraction of the moon acting on the earth’s surfaces; the other is caused by centrifugal force as the earth rotates around the lunar axis. The origins of the earth’s tides may not be of this planet, but the enormous differences in tidal activity that can be witnessed in coastal areas are produced mostly by factors here on earth. The unique shape of the continental shelf at various points in the ocean basin—both in Florida and around the globe—contributes to the disparities we encounter, as the tidal waves change course and rhythm in accordance with the hydraulic parameters of the shallow-water shelf.

Like wind-driven waves, the tidal waves interact with each other as they reach the continents and are redirected by the seafloor. Sometimes they reinforce one another, leading to higher high tides and lower low tides. Sometimes they interfere with each other, leading to more moderate tides. A multitude of patterns can result from the interaction of the two tidal waves; these patterns are responsible for the astounding variation in tidal activity that plays out in southwest Florida.

The interaction of the tidal waves is the main driver of the tidal complexities we observe, but there is also an important extraterrestrial factor that plays into the equation: lunar declination. This is a predictable pattern of the changing position of the moon relative to the equator. It has the effect of displacing the tidal waves on the earth’s oceans, one of which is drawn toward the moon’s position while the other directly opposes it. This creates its own tidal complexities, which are at their most dramatic when the moon is farthest from the equator.

Florida’s tides are tough to comprehend, but there are two huge benefits for those willing to take the time to do so. First, it will help you catch more fish. The better you understand tidal patterns, the better you understand the feeding patterns of saltwater predators. Second, understanding the tides will multiply your enjoyment of fishing exponentially. The rewards are well worth the effort, and your fishing results will prove it.

John Saporito is a lifelong fisherman and student of the seas. Visit him online at guerillaangling.com and follow him on Instagram @guerilla_angling.

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By John Lidington

an. 9, 1493: Christopher Columbus writes in his journal that he spotted three mermaids that day. Although noting they “had a human appearance about the face,” he laments they were “not half as beautiful as they are painted.” Today we believe what Columbus saw were manatees, though it’s hard to explain how he transformed animals often described as “yams with flippers” into human females, beautiful or not.

Though Columbus saw his “mermaids” off the Dominican Republic, for Floridians, February remains prime time for manatee encounters.

That’s because these are warm-water animals. The current Floridian species moved up from the Caribbean about 12,000 years ago, as the last ice age moved out. These animals may spread out along the gulf coast and up the eastern seaboard as far as Chesapeake Bay in summer. But, due to

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their low metabolism, they can’t tolerate temperatures less than 68 degrees for any length of time. So, as winter approaches, they retreat to southern Florida.

Even Florida can prove too cool for the manatees’ liking. They seek out sources of warmer water to keep their body temperature warm and their immune system functioning properly. Since many of Florida’s large springs maintain a water temperature of about 72 degrees, they offer a natural gathering place.

But manatees have also discovered warm water sources beyond Mother Nature. On both coasts, the cooling-water outfalls of power plants have become major winter attractions for these animals. In Riviera Beach, Florida Power and Light has even created a full eco-education facility, Manatee Lagoon, at their Next Generation Clean Energy Center. While you can’t get in the water with them there, it’s not far from snorkeling areas at Peanut Island and the Blue Heron Bridge. If you’re lucky, you might see a manatee passing by.

The association of manatees with man-made warm water sources is not without concern. The number of manatees is growing—more than doubling over the last 20 years. Power plants have a working life of 35 to 40 years. When a plant shuts down, what will happen to manatees that relied on it for survival? Tracking studies show that manatees return to the same areas they visited with their mothers, even after they are weaned. Will displaced manatees find alternatives quickly enough to survive?

The refugium built by the South Florida Water Management District in the Rookery Bay Aquatic Preserve near Naples may help answer some of these questions. A manatee refugium is a warm-water environment in which manatees can shelter. Twenty manatees used the refugium last winter, and hopes are for more this year.

Ready to make your own mermaid observations this winter?

Contact Pura Vida Divers on Singer Island to schedule a snorkel tour at Blue Heron Bridge or rent an SUP to get on the water and begin your manatee observations. Check out Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website for the guidelines for boating, diving and snorkeling around manatees. Then go manateeing!

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During this time of year, sheepshead school around structure such as pilings, rocks and oysters. Acting as a refuge, this structure offers protection to smaller fish and other organisms, like crabs and barnacles that sheepshead feed on. True to their name, sheepshead possess a set of teeth that allows them to crunch down on crustaceans that inhabit structure. As many sheepshead fishermen know, these fish are notorious bait-stealers. With this said, there are tips and tricks that’ll put more fish in your boat.

It’s vital to fish with the right gear since these fish feed so close to structure. A Carolina rig is the go-to for sheepshead fishermen.

Using a braided main line is important for getting these fish out of those pilings. The amount of weight used depends on the current, but a 1-ounce egg sinker is a good baseline. Attached to the swivel connecting the mainline should be an 8-inch piece of 30-pound fluorocarbon leader. This, paired with a 1/0 to 3/0 sized circle hook and fiddler crab should get the job done for those ugly bruisers.

Why target these fish you may ask? Aside from their hard fighting ability, sheepshead are some of the best tasting fish that swim, comparable to any flaky white fish. Fried, grilled or blackened, you can’t go wrong when cooking up these delicious fish. Most importantly, enjoy your time on the water with friends and family… and tight lines!

By Cory Gurman

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ew decade, same fishing opportunities! February acts as a transitional period between winter and spring, especially here in Florida. This provides the right conditions for many fishing opportunities, one of which I’m

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Cory Gurman is a junior at Ponte Vedra High School in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Besides reveling in the great outdoors, Cory enjoys spending time with his two golden retrievers and rooting for the Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Instagram @ fishhunter1119.

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By Dana Burkhart

n the 10 years since my husband George and I exchanged vows on Smathers Beach in Key West, my love of angling has grown from a distant observance to an activity I truly enjoy.

We live in Georgia and make frequent trips to the Keys. Early in our marriage, George asked me if I’d rather be freezing in a deer stand at 5 a.m. or hanging out on a boat enjoying sun, waves, music, birds and fishing. I am so glad I chose the latter!

Three years ago, George and I joined the Atlanta Saltwater Sportsman’s Club. The camaraderie and financial perks have been wonderful. Just before our anniversary trip to the Keys, George and I discovered fellow club members Brent and Valerie Christoper would be down there conchin’ the same week. Brent and Valerie drove up from Ramrod Key, and we split a charter in Islamorada. It just happened to be New Year’s Eve. I can’t think of a better way to cap off 2019 than with a banner day fishing. We arrived just after sunrise at Robbie’s of Islamorada,

greeted long-time friend Capt. Galon Johnson of GoTime Charters and were underway!

It really is all about the bait, and we were not alone in pursuit of ballyhoo. Our captain zigged when the other 20 charters zagged, and after a couple of beautiful pancake casts, Capt. Galon blacked out the livewell with 300 cigar minnows.

We jogged to a wreck in more than 200 feet of water with the color of morning rising into a temperate day. Chumming live bait proved irresistible to the blackfin tuna, and they hit fast and furious.

At one point, a triple hookup had us dancing over and under each other to avoid tangles. We heard the splendid slap of tuna on deck and were content with six 20-plus-pounders. Capt. Galon bled the tuna immediately, which paid dividends in the taste and texture of our tuna steaks. Sushi and pan searing were on the menu for New Year’s Eve and beyond!

Next, Capt. Galon moved west. While trolling live cigar minnows on a wire treble rig over 120 feet of water, our lines started screaming— this time with king mackerel. The reel-dragging fights were a blast.

We “macked-out” with four over 20 pounds each.

With our pelagic needs met, Capt. Galon cruised south of Alligator to wind down with reef fishing. Each cast of “oatmeal cookie” encrusted cut bait kept the lines tight. Several smaller yellowtails gave way to a 22-inch flag anyone would be proud of.

Fearing the end of our charter, one of us sunk a live bait after last call and reeled up a large grouper—on the last day of open season—to clinch Dec. 31 as one of the best days of the year!

We all enjoyed a meateater’s slam back at Robbie’s, followed by a celebratory hook and cook with live music at Lorelei’s.

For more information on ASWSC, visit www.aswsc.org, info@aswsc.org, and like Atlanta Saltwater Sportsman Club on Facebook.

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he Bahamas National Trust (BNT) recently announced changes to user fees for the 176-square-mile Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. Beginning Jan. 1, The Bahamas Government’s 12 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) will be added to user fees. The new fee structures are as follows.

Daily Mooring Fee Structure Boats up to 39’11” - $25 Boats 40’ to 49’11”- $35 Photo by Nils Rinaldi Boats 50’ to 59’11’- $45 Boats 60’ to 69’11’- $70 Boats 70’ to 89’11’- $105 Boats 90’ to 119’11’- $135 Boats 120’ to 150’ - $170 Anchorage Fee Structure Boats <90’ - 50 cents per foot, plus 12% VAT Boats >90’ - $1 per foot, plus 12% VAT Dive Fees- $12 per person to be collected by dive tour operator Fees may be paid online at payexumapark.org or via cash or card at the Waderick Wells Office. Other fees are required for kayaking and camping, film crews, research teams and commercial vessels. Contact Bahamas National Trust at (242) 601-7438 or by email at exumapark@bnt.bs. See their website at www.bnt.bs.

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rescent Lake, which feeds the St. Johns River near Palatka, Fla., pumped out some big crappie despite poor weather during the Jan. 4 Crappie USA (CUSA) tournament.

Anglers from eight states filled a field of 23 boats vying for cash, prizes and a berth in the 2020 CUSA Classic, which features a guaranteed payout of $125,000 in cash and prizes.

“Crappie anglers braved wind and rain while fishing the second qualifying event of the year on Crescent Lake,” reported

Darrell Van Vactor, CUSA Operations Manager. “Fishing was very tough with a front moving in during the early afternoon, but as always several teams caught some good crappie.”

The top spot in the Pro Division went to George Parker, of Okeechobee, Fla., and Tim Eberly, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. They had a total weight of 11.96 pounds that included Second Big Fish at 1.98 pounds. Their bag earned them $1,400, plus $155 for Second Big Fish.

“We used Bobby Garland and Thumper Jigs to fish structure from Dead Lake to the bridge on Dunn’s Creek,” said Eberly. “We fished posts, docks, laydowns, you name it.”

The team caught 30 fish in 8 to 14 feet of water. They did not have a one-pound fish in the boat until after 10:30 when the tide dropped. Working with the tidal flow proved to be an important factor in the bite.

“When the tide was moving strong, the fish quit feeding and hunkered down until a more suitable, lighter current returned,” said Parker.

The runner up spot went to Steve Deason, of Gray, Ga. and Rick Howard, of Warner Robins, Ga. Their bag weighed 9.64 pounds and included a 3.17-pound crappie to take Big Fish honors. They earned $600 for second place and added $370 for Big Fish.

Deason and Howard fished the upper corner of the lake, long lining in 7 to 8 feet of water using Blue Jigs to catch most of their fish. A total of 35 fish made a pretty good day for the Georgia team.

The third spot in the Pro Division went to Robert Harris from Warner Robins, Ga., and Richard Greer, of Kathleen, Ga. Their 8.81-pound bag earned them a check for $400. They added $250 for the Ranger Cup Bonus.

For more information on CUSA, visit www.crappieusa.com and Crappie USA Tournament Trail Facebook Page.

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By Jill Christoferson

W

hile anglers sing the praises of Florida’s summer fishing, seasoned anglers know winter offers great fishing for some of the state’s most sought-after fish species. You’ll spot many anglers, including veteran kayak angler Stephen Stubbs, following spotted seatrout to fresher water, where the fish congregate in large schools.

While this can make seatrout an easy target, this species is also especially vulnerable to fatigue and exposure, so it’s important to use proper gear and fish-handling techniques. This ensures the best chance of survival for released fish.

Prepping for the Day Determine ahead of time which fish you will keep instead of deciding on the water. This helps you release fish you don’t want to keep quicker.

“My friends and I tend to harvest only slot trout under 19 inches to keep the more productive egg-layers—20 inches and over—in the water to continue the sustainability of this wonderful species,” Stubbs said.

Use barbless circle hooks, as they are 90 percent more likely to hook a fish in the mouth, which reduces internal harm and decreases de-hooking time. Also use the heaviest tackle you can get away with.

Heavier tackle allows for quick landings and fish that are released fresher.

Fish On! Reel in fish as quickly as possible. According to Stubbs, the key to landing a big trout is to manage the drag tension. Horsing a trout into the boat results in tearing of the area where they are hooked. It can also cause you to lose the fish. Work them in as they tire and keep tension on the line. Playing a fish too much can result in an exhausted fish that cannot avoid predators once released.

Landing Fish Use a knotless, rubber-coated net to land medium-to-large trout and wet the measuring board before laying the fish on it. This helps reduce loss of slime and scales. Avoid removing large fish from water.

If you must remove them, support their weight horizontally to prevent damage to internal organs. Wet hands before handling a fish, and never hold a fish by the gill cover or eyes. Gripping devices are effective for controlling fish, especially ones with sharp teeth.

Hook Removal and Release If the fish swallows the hook, cut the line as close to the hook as possible. Attempting to remove the hook can do more harm than good. A dehooking tool allows you to remove hooks safely and quickly without touching the fish.

To release a fish, place it head first into the water and allow it swim away on its own. Revive lethargic fish by moving it forward through the water. Using a fugure-8 motion pushes water over a fish’s gills, allowing it oxygen to revive.

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LAKE PANASOFFKEE • BUSHNELL • WILDWOOD • SUMTERVILLE • WEBSTER • THE VILLAGES OXFORD • COLEMAN • MULBERRY • BARTOW • LAKELAND • POLK CITY • AUBURNDALE EAGLE LAKE • WINTER HAVEN • LAKE ALFRED • HAINES CITY • DAVENPORT • LAKE HAMILTON DUNDEE • LAKE WALES • HILLCREST HEIGHTS • FROSTPROOF • FORT MEADE

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If you have a suggestion for a distribution location for Coastal Angler Magazine, please let me know. You can view all 35 magazines in the U.S., including The Bahamas, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands at www.CoastalAnglerMagazine.com Please feel free to send me any fishing photos and comments about the magazine-I would love to hear from you!

E dition Highlights & Business Spotlight

Page 2-3 Sumter County Map

Page 6 Photo Of The Month Page 9 Clays2Raise

Page 13 Walden Shores 6th Annual Bass Tournament Page 14-15 Polk County Map Page 16 Find Us Here

Page 10 Fly Fishing 101

Welcome

Walden Shores

Polk & Sumter Edition Staff: Sales, Editing & Production- Mary Brasher Graphic Arts & Design - PPP Graphic Design Distribution - Mary & Larry Brasher, Joyce & Capt Dave Ochs Media Mgr - Patrick Powers Contributing Writers - Jim Veal Jr, Capt Dave Ochs, Capt. Scott Taylor, Capt Rick Burns, Chris O’Byrne, Capt Bobby Woodard, Hunter Towery

Facebook -CoastalAnglerMagazineLakelandVicinity • Twitter - @camlakeland • Instagram- camlakeland • Youtube- CAM Sumpter Lakeland Each month I will bring you the latest and best knowledge for you to put to good use. I also invite you to share my passion for this area and if you would like to become a contributing writer contact us. You can read our magazine online anytime or sign up for a free digital subscription.

Just visit our website and never miss an issue! CoastalAnglerMag.com.

Best Fishing Days 2/5 MORNING 2/6 MORNING

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Homosassa Area 1-Capt. Rick Burns 352-201-6111 8975 W. Halls River Rd • Homosassa, FL 34448 www.RealBurns.com

11. Papaw’s Country Store 352-793-1080 8271 W C-48 • Bushnell, Fl 33513 Deli, Groceries, Beer, Live Bait, Tackle, LP Gas Follow us on Facebook

Oxford Area 2- Oxford Mower & Repair 352-748-7485 • 352-748-7490 3185 E CR 466 • Oxford FL 34484 Landscaping Repair Service/ Outdoor Power Equipment Store

Webster Area 12. Scenic Sumter Heritage Byway, Inc. 352-267-8801 P.O. Box 6 Webster Fl, 33597 www.sumterbyway.com/ sumterbyway@gmail.com

Lake Panasoffkee 3- Pana Vista Lodge 352-793-2061 3417 Co Rd 421• Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538 www.panavistalodge.com 4- Villages Golf Cart Man LLC 352-674-9400 Office • 813-508-4360 Cell 3028 N. County Rd 470 • Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538 Tony Colangelo, Jr General Mgr www.VillagesGolfCartMan.com 5- The Inside Out Grill & Catering 352-569-4275 1789 Co Rd 424, Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538 6- Catfish Johnnys 863-793-2083 2396 N County Rd 470 • Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538 www.CatfishJohnnyRestaurant.com Bushnell Area 7- Sumter Realty 352-793-3202 239 N Main St • Bushnell FL 33513 Agent Evan Merritt 8- Canada Meds 352-569-1484 512 N Main St • Bushnell, FL 33513-5112 9. Devine Family Jewelry and Pawn 352-444-2058 8271 W C-48 • Bushnell, Fl 33513 10- ParGas 352-793-1982 1452 W C 48, Bushnell, FL 33513 www.pargas.com

Sumterville Area 13. Blackjack Sporting Clays 352-569-9469 3372 County Road 526 • Sumterville FL 33585 blackjackclays.com info@blackjackdays.com Dale Walker Owner/Operator The Scenic Sumter Heritage Byway Organization began as a Community Action Group in March 2009 in partnership with the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce with the express purpose of improving the southern entrance to Sumter County, therefore enhancing the visitor experience to the National Cemetary.

The Veteran’s Memorial Hwy was designated soon afterwards, and pursuit of a Florida Scenic Hwy designation began. A Corridor Advocacy Group (CAG) began meeting with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District Five Scenic Highways Coordinator in order to pursue the “scenic” classification for a series of roads within Sumter County that encompass the communities of Webster, Bushnell, Sumterville, Lake Panasoffkee, Carlson, Rutland and the surrounding areas.

The roads that comprise the 62-mile Byway traverse rural communities, pastoral farmlands, cattle ranches, parklands, lush hardwood hammock, and floodplain forests within the Withlacoochee River Watershed. The corridor highlights the scenic view and rich heritage of Sumter County through byway travel. Attractions along the Byway include the General James Van Fleet Trail State Park, Richloam Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, Florida National Cemetary, Lake Panasoffkee, Withlacoochee River and the Half Moon Wildlife Management Area.

The Scenic Sumter Heritage Byway Organization is a grass roots organization committed to altering their vision for the byway based on a multi-year work plan.

The SSHBO consists of volunteers who are passionate about the heritage, traditions, recreational and scenic resources fo their community. They work with their partners to showcase these resources, educate the community and advocate for communitybased decision making that protects and enhances these resources. Find out how to partner, be a sponsor, or donate at www.sumterbyway.com.

PANA VISTA LODGE FISHING REPORT

The specs have been doing pretty good on Jiffy Jigs and minnows. The bass fishing is fair but the are starting to bed with this full moon.

For February I would try live bait for bass The bass will be bedding and when they come. off they should be hungry...Drifting minnows and jigs should produce some specs as well. If the weather stays warm like it has been you may be able to pick up some Bluegills as well.

Submitted By: Jim Veal Jr. Pana Vista Lodge • Lake Panasoffkee, Fl. • 352-793-2061

2 POLK & SUMTER | FEBRUARY 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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Support Your Local Sumter County Businesses!

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Unproductive Puttering “I’d go fishing, but…”

By: Chris O’Byrne Leaving the lake after a morning’s fishing, Cecil wiped his forehead with his damp handkerchief and said, “Fishing was impossible this morning. Where were the fish in this heat?”

“In deep water,” Charles answered, “you could have gotten them with a sinking fly line.

Hey, next weekend I’ll break out my like-astone outfit and teach you.”

The authority Charles felt in himself reminded Cecil of a professor who’d said calculating variance was easy, (to him.) So, Cecil decided to begin learning on his own. Before they’d stopped at the Coffee, Bait -n- Beer convenience store, he had ordered a sinking line. *** In a neighborhood park on another hot day, Cecil began. But casting the heavy tackle was frustrating. Wow. It takes so much effort just to pick up the line, and then the darn thing falls on my head.

Persevering through the morning, he was finally able to pull the line into the air behind him.

But the clunky feel was a letdown. I hope this thing doesn’t break my good rod. Then he moved to a small pond.

With time, he learned adaptations to his regular cast-present-pick up routine. Although he initially thought, this weight is like casting a chunk of sod, he learned to start his back cast only after stripping line in almost to the leader. He relaxed his hand, so the heavy line drew a wide, slow loop. He made very few false casts, but enjoyed letting line slip, then reveled in the long final casts.

Before the weekend came, he was confident and independent. *** After positioning the boat away from shore, Charles announced the lesson would begin. Making the drag whine, he stripped lengths of line off his reel. With large movements, he made four false casts then freed much of the line in an impressive cast. “Did you see what I did? Now you take it.” He handed Cecil the rod and moved out of the way to sit low in the boat.

Cecil took the rod and began stripping with a steady rhythm and long pauses. Charles said, “I could begin my back cast about there.”

Instead, Cecil continued stripping in line well past the usual point while concentrating for signs of a strike. When the line felt unusually close to the tip of the rod, he made a gentle roll cast. Using what he learned at the pond in the park he immediately made another roll cast with enough power to hoist the line out of the water, and quickly pulled the ungainly line into a passable back cast loop. Then he cast in front, allowing some line to slip out. Then, feeling in control of the system, he made one last back cast, slipping out a few more inches of line. He pulled the rod into a powerful bend against the heft of the line and, leaving plenty of room above his teacher’s head, he helped the extra line through the stripping guide on his impressive final cast.

All morning, while allowing the heavy line to sink, Cecil imagined the fish below that only he could reach. Then he would strip in extra line before recasting with a quick look at the surrounding water. On what turned out to be the last fish of the day, Cecil stripped until the leader was approaching the surface of the water.

“I would make my cast now.” Charles announced.

But Cecil waited, allowing the fly to dive one more time, and a large fish struck just as Charles finished his sentence.

Cecil stole the show that hot morning, catching several fish well below the surface. But while he took a picture of Cecil with that final fish, Charles said, “I am as good a teacher as I am a caster.”

4 POLK & SUMTER | FEBRUARY 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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CENTRAL FLORIDA REGION FORECAST Well this has been one wild and crazy Winter so far from early November up until now. And looking at the Farmer’s Almanac along with multiple weather sites they are calling for cooler temps (low to mid 70’s) this month instead of the back-and-forth 80’s to 60’s. If it means less drastic swings in temperatures and just a steady ride I’m actually happy with that.

The fish can stabilize, and they will be less traumatized by harsh fronts. That being said we have to be prepared for anything “funny” Ma Nature wants to Alexi w/ his throw our way just for giggles, so let’s go fishing. family from Syberia enjoying Let’s start with the Winter Haven South Chain the Florida Bass and smaller stand alone lakes. These are ideal bodies fishing. of water to fish when Ole’ Girl has gone off the deep end and forgotten that we live down here in Florida for a reason, especially in the Winter. There are many deep spring fed lakes with deeper vegetation which have thermoclines that the fish and baitfish can use as protection when the air temps drop 10-20 degrees in a short period with the wind howling at 15-30mph out of the N/ NE. This is when patience and persistence pay-off. It’s called slow yourself down, then go even slower. As for artificial baits, speed worms excel, along with belly weighted flukes, smaller swim baits, and sometimes it calls for a dead-sticked senko. When fishing shiners, I’m partial to dragging them slowly along the grass but always look around to see what the lake is telling you.

Fishing out of Camp Mack on the Kissimmee Chain, it’s going to be a methodical approach taking wind and lake temps into consideration. There are going to be a lot of confused fish wanting to move up to spawn and if the fronts keep coming through a lot of these fish may stay out in the staging areas. I can’t give you a magic bullet on this one as the weather is one huge unknown and these lakes have a ton of shallow acreage to them. Look for birds and baitfish around grass points,

pads, and bulrush heads that have a drop or deeper water access nearby. Slowly worked speed worms, flukes, and vibe worms are always hard to beat. And take a swim jig or two along for luck and don’t’ be afraid to crawl them over “deeper” grass and hydrilla.

If we get a couple of steady weather days out here, grab the Gambler EZ Swimmers and head for the outside hydrilla and pads and slow-roll that puppy along the surface and let it drop into any holes you see, then hang on for the ride!

Submitted By: Capt. Scotty Taylor TMC Guide Services, llc • 855-354-8433 Scott@TMCGuideService.com • TMCGuideService.com Capt. Scott is the official guide for VisitCentralFlorida.org & Guy Harvey Camp Mack Lodge, Marina & RV Resort

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2020

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CENTRAL FLORIDA FRESHWATER FLY FISHING REPORT Surface Water Temp: 60 Average Water Visibility: 26 inches Water Condition: Slightly Stained, Above Average Lake And River Levels Best Time: Mid Morning, Evening Guide Tips: The topwater bite has been hit or miss with most fish taking subsurface presentations. Starting the day off with a large gurgler or popper fished with a small streamer as a dropper has worked well. A white or tan Crazy Charlie pattern in a size 6 is a great choice for your dropper fly. The dropper should hang about 3 feet off the back of the popper. Popper colors such as orange or chartreuse help you keep track of your flies and have been the best color choices as of late. Fishing shallow tight to the shore and fished out slowly has been the best retrieve. Concentrate around fallen trees and thicker grass mats. These areas retain heat and offer great cover for bass. Bass are still sporadically schooling on shad, so keep your eyes out for nervous water created by the corralled shad. Look for more bass to push shallow and begin to prep beds in many local lakes. Later in the afternoon try switching over to a weighted clouser minnow and cast towards the shore. Bluegill patterned streamers are the best choice since the bass will fend off bluegill to protect their nests. Keeping the fly down is key, try long slow drags or even add a split shot weight to tempt fish hugging the shallows.

The Specs have stayed more active with the cooler water temps, pushing into shallower water. Small heavy streamers that mimic baitfish fished in 4-6 feet of water have worked well on the specs. With colors such as black or chartreuse proving the most effective. Small worm flies in olive or chartreuse have also worked well when fished under a strike indicator. The panfish will be found in shallow water, grouped tight to cover.

A small black wooly bugger fished with a steady retrieve have worked on the more active panfish. This time of year the panfish are feeding heavily on grass shrimp in and around the lily pads. You can hear the loud slurps and are a good indicator that fish are close by. They ram the stalks of the lily pads to knock the grass shrimp off. Small olive or orange scud patterns mimic these shrimp the best.

Local Water Conditions: Our local lake levels are still slightly high for the time of year. This provides some new real estate to fish along the shoreline. Expect lake levels and river levels to continue to slowly fall.

Rivers provide an excellent shelter on those windy days. At the time of this report: the Peace River is above average (high) and falling. Econ River is above average (high) and falling. Myakka River is above average and falling. Hillsborough is above average and stable. Withlacoochee is above average (high) and stable. Kissimmee River near Frostproof is above average and stable.

Submitted by: Hunter Towery Sweetwater Guide Service • 863-837-7028

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KISSIMMEE CHAIN FISHING FORECAST January was an interesting month on the Kissimmee Chain. If you didn’t like the weather all you had to do was wait a few days and it would change. Water temperature ranged from 62° to 76° throughout the month. Look for this trend to continue for February.

During January’s full moon cycle the barometric pressure and high winds made bass fishing as hard as I have ever seen in many years here. Even the anglers that used wild shiners for bait had a very difficult time of it. The 4lb Bass from one saving grace were the canals and the running water.

Lake Rosalie caught on a Plum These areas were very productive even in the worst condiSenko. tions. Senkos fished weightless, speed worms on 3/16 oz.

Texas-rigged weight, white chatter baits, and gold rattle traps really did a job on the bass in those areas.

For February, Eagle’s Nest, Ox Island and 27 Palms are going to be your most consistent areas and your best bets for good bass fishing on Lake Kissimmee. The west end of Lake Hatchineha, the west side of Tiger Lake, the east side of Lake Rosalie, and the east side of West Lake Toho should be strong for good bites throughout February.

For all you crappie anglers, a good dose of cold weather is sorely needed.

The warming trend in January really put the crappie bite in the toilet. I don’t look for the crappie to come in any time soon to spawn. Deeper water is going to be the place to be for February and March. 14’ of water seems to be the ‘magic’ depth with your baits running 11’ down. The two lakes most consistent for crappie this winter are Tiger Lake and Lake Rosalie.

Want to catch some jumbo bream? Check out Lake Kissimmee especially at Eagle’s Nest and 27 Palms. You’ll find these big gills in 5’ of water in scattered pads.

Be on the lookout for my forecast in the March issue of Coastal Angler.

In addition to the forecast, I’ll be listing my top 10 artificial baits for bass for 2020. You won’t want to miss it. I guarantee it!

Submitted By: Capt Dave Ochs Kissimmee Chain Fishing (863) 589-6295 Back Water Fishing Adventures • Lake Wales, FL 33898

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Your Polk & Sumter Tournament News & Community Events 2/1 Triumph Demo Day Fun Bike Center Lakeland 10am (863)6883333 2/1 Xtreme Bass Series Bass Tournament on Lake Panasoffkee out of Dam Ramp. xbsmike@gmail.com 2/1 Angler's Team Trail Bass Tournament on the Winter Haven Chain out of G. Roe Park/Shipp RCAMP@HNJ.ORG 2/4 Dade Pioneers Monthly Youth Program 4-6pm Dade Battlefield Historic State Park Kristin.wood@floridadep.gov 2/7 ASPE Charity Shoot Blackjack Sporting Clays Orange & Blue Course closed 9-12. Black course open to the public. www. blackjackclays.com 2/8 Happy Hookers Club Bass Tournament on Crooked Lake- Ramp unknown http://facebook.com/Happyhookers2016 2/8 Bay Area Bassmasters Tournament on the Kissimmee Chain out of Camp Mack. Contact Steve Mitko (813)714-6488 2/8 Misfits Bass Club Tournament on the Winter Haven Chain out of Old Shipp Ramp 2/12 Central Florida Boyscout Shoot All Courses Open. www. blackjackclays.com 2/14 Supercross Valentine's Day Sales Event Fun Bike Center Lakeland 10am (863)688-3333 2/15 Polk County Toad Slayers Bass Tournament on Crooked Lake out of Bob's Landing (863)514-3572 2/15 Bass Assassin's of Polk Tournament on the Kissimmee Chain out of Coleman Landing (863)206-2815 2/15 Indian River Bass Anglers Tournament on the Kissimmee Chain out of Overstreet (702)743-0305 2/15 North Tampa Bass Club Tournament on the Kissimmee Chain out of Grape Hammock ang2coins@gmail.com 2/15 Florida Bass League Tournament on the Winter Haven Chain out of Old Shipp Ramp www.floridabassleague.com 2/16 Registered Trap Shoot at the Imperial Polk Gun Club thechief022@gmail.com 2/21 Advent Hospital Charity Shoot Orange & Blue Course closed from 9-12. Black course open to the public.

2/22 Crackerboys Bass Tournament on the Kissimmee Chain out of Old Shady Oaks www.crackerboys.net 2/22 Elite Pro Team Trail Tournament on the Kissimmee Chain of out Camp Mack Contact Charlie Wynperle (813)382-2187 2/22 Sumter Byway Charity Shoot "Clays 2 Raise" Orange Course closed from 9-12. Blue and Black course open to the public. Contact Dawn Cary at Sumterbyway@gmail.com.

2/28 Scott Strong Foundation Charity Shoot Orange & Blue Course closed from9-12. Black course open to the public.

2/28-29 The Kawasaki Good Times Demo Tour Fun Bike Center Motorsports Lakeland 9am (863)688-3333 2/29 Casting Lures for Cures Bass Tournament on the Kissimmee Chain out of Camp Mack www.castingluresforcures.com 2/29 Open Bass Tournament on the Kissimmee Chain out of Coleman's Landing Contact Bobbie Walton (863)528-1249 2/29 Tampa Bay Bassmasters Tournament on the Winter Haven Chain out of Shipp Ramp wwwtampabaybassmaster.com 8 POLK & SUMTER | FEBRUARY 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM â&#x20AC;˘ THEANGLERMAG.COM

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Boat/Personal Watercraft/Canoe/Kayak/SUP Dealers Manufacturers/ New & Consignment Sales/Golf Carts Hillman Motors Inc. 2701 Havendale Blvd. NW Winter Haven FL 33881 863-967-4628 • www.hillmanmotors.net M-F 9-7, Sat 9-5 Closed Sunday

Millers Fiberglass Repair 1505 S. Lake Shipp Dr. Winter Haven, FL 33880 863-551-1551 bobby.mfr@gmail.com We Now Have A Certified Marine Technician Offering Service Repair On Outboard Motors.

Your ONE STOP-SHOP For All Your Fiberglass Needs! . Family Run & Operated Since 2003 . Our Team is Certified In Gelcoat & Polyflake Repairs.

No Job Is Too Big Or Too Small.

Our Family Serving Yours Since 1989 Central Florida’s Official Stingray Boats Dealer Factory Authorized Suzuki Marine Dealer Financing Available Gary’s Boating Center 15520 Hwy 27 • Lake Wales, FL 33859 863-638-0537 • 863-638-0527 Fax www.GarysBoating.com Carolina Skiff Mercury & Yamaha Outboards Bennington Boats Hewitt Boat Lifts & Dock Systems

Central Florida Trolling Motor Sales & Repairs

COME CHECK OUT OUR NEW ROUNDABOUT BOATS!

Marine Supply of Winter Haven 717 6th Street SW • 1491 3rd SW (Sales) Winter Haven, FL 33880 863-293-1156 www.MarineSupplyBoats.com Fully Certified Yamaha, Mercury & Evinrude Technicians. Boat Acc. & Engine Parts - High & Dry Storage - Boat Detailing - Gasoline At Our Docks.

Full Line of Yeti Products, Pontoon Rentals

Blackjack Sporting Clays 3372 County Road 526 • Sumtervile, Fl 33585 352-569-9469 • blackjackclays.com Blackjack Sporting Clays is proud to offer incredible amenities to both the public and private groups/events: 38 Stations; 3 Courses, Sub Gauge Course, Five Stand, Trap & Skeet, Cart & Gun Rental, Large Pavilions/Porch, Clubhouse, Merchandise, Paved Cart Paths, Bulk Clay Packages Sweet Ella’s Produce 326 State Road 60 E • Lake Wales Florida 863-223-8775

A unique, family owned indoor produce store which offers a LARGE VARIETY OF LOCAL fresh fruits, vegetables and Amish products.

NOW Carrying: Gemma’s Jams!

The Inside Out Grill & Catering 1789 CR 424 Lake Panasoffkee, Fl 33538 Chef Troy & Rachel 352-569-4275

3780 Hwy 92 East • Lakeland, FL 33801 863-666-2248 • Fax 863-667-0213 cftm3780@yahoo.com www.CentralFloridaTrollingMotor.com Check out our weekly specials on facebook!

Factory Warranty Service for Minn-Kota Cannon Downriggers- Motor Guide

Erwine’s Marine 250 S. Scenic Hwy • Frostproof, FL 33843 863-635-4492 www.ErwinesMarine.com Come in to check out our new line of Lowe's Jon Boats

Yamaha - Evinrude - Mercury - MerCruiser Volvo Penta - Avalon - Magic Tilt - Exide Technologies Power-Pole - Teleflex Marine Starcraft Marine - Engel Coolers & Tumblers

Pana Vista Lodge 3417 Co Rd 421 • Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538 352-793-2061 www.panavistalodge.com Cottages - Rv Camp Ground Hook-Ups - Camping - Boat Sales & Service. JohnsonEvinrude Motors Sales & Service. Boat Rentals Pontoon Rentals - Licenses - Bait - Ice - Gas Ramp

Action Watersports 402 Progress Rd • Auburndale, FL 33823 Ph: 863-967-4148 The brands we offer: Hobie • Jackson • RTM Perception • Feel Free • Wilderness Systems Ocean Kayak • Old Town • Hurricane • Kiwi • Solo Skiff • Evoke • Pau Hana • Amundsen are all leaders in the Kayak, Fishing, and Stand Up Paddle Board industries. Our accessories are sure to make your water experience more fun and safe.

Alligators Unlimited Airboat Nature Tours Captain John Wathey 863-696-0313 14400 Reese Dr. • Lake Wales, Fl 33898 airboatnaturetours.com

WINTER HOURS: Sun 12-5 Mon • Tues. & Wed. 11-2 & 4-7 Our Airboats are the “Real Deal” not 20+ passenger Air-Busses! This guarantees your Thurs. & Fri. 11-7 Sat. 12-7 EVERGLADES AIRBOAT TOUR to be Daily Specials! COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COMpersonal and powerful! | FEBRUARY 2020 POLK & SUMTER 11 LKL.indd 11

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Bait & Tackle Shops/Outfitters/Apparel Taylor Made Charters & Guide Service Central Florida & Great Lakes Bass Fishing Capt. Scott Taylor USCG Licensed Captian The Official Guide for VisitCentralFlorida.Org & Guy Harvey Camp Mack Lodge, Marina & RV Resort Scott@TMCGuideService.com 855-354-8433 Bridgemasters 2131 Highway 60 E • Lake Wales, FL 33898 Phone: 863-676-1009 • Fax: 863-679-1638 www.TheBridgmaster.com

Every Saturday 10% OFF Purchases Over $100 (Excluding Sale Items) Phillips Bait & Tackle 3780 Hwy. 92E • Lakeland, FL 33801 863-666-2248 www.PhillipsTackle.com cftm3780@yahoo.com Live Bait: Cricket - Worms - Minnows - Shiners.

Full Line Of Tackle - Tackle Boxes - Rods & Reels

Stones Bait & Tackle 2049 E Edgewood Drive • Lakeland, Fl 33803 863-940-4898 Instagram: Stones Outhouse Follow us on Facebook & Instagram

Stretch Outdoors Discount Outfitters 848 W Daughtery Rd. • Lakeland, FL 33389 863-608-1513 We Now Carry Googan Baits!

Come In And Check Out Our New Lew’s and Abu Garcia Fishing Reels and Great Selection of Gambler and Bitter’s Baits. We also Carry Fitgzerald Rods and A Variety of Fitzgerald Fishing Products and 13 Fishing Products!

Guy Harvey Camp Mack Lodge, Marina & RV Resort 14900 Camp Mack Rd • Lake Wales, Fl 33898

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Always Good Fishing - Airboat Nature Tours RV Camping - Trophy Bass Fishing - Cabin Rentals Liars Motel - Home Sales

Ron’s Tackle Box The Old Angler’s Antique Gallery 380 S. Lake Shore Way • Lake Alfred, FL 33850 863-956-4990 • Fax 863-956-2525 imareellady2@aol.com Live Bait & Tackle - Cast Nets - Sportswear Gifts & Decor Mon - Th 6AM - 6PM • Fri & Sat 6AM - 7PM

Kissimmee Chain Trophy Bass Fishing

A Variety of Freshwater Rods & Reels Avaiable: NEW Abu Garcia Revo X Spinning Rods & Shimano SLX Rods . Large Selection of Strike King, Zoom & Gambler Baits.

HUGE Apparel Sale- Save BIG!!

Now Available- Stone’s Bulk Senko’s 25Ct/50CT/100CT

Big Fish Bait & Tackle 6908 US Hwy 98 North • Lakeland Fl 33809 863-815-9492 wwww.CentralFloridaAngling.com Bob Woodard-Owner Live Bait- Rod & Reel Repairs

Captain Dave Ochs Lake Wales, Fl 863-589-4480 Overdue Adventures FL. “Cracker” Fishing Style Family Fishing, Shore Lunches, Waterside Dining Snorkeling Trips, Scalloping Trips, Egmont Key Day Trips Capt. Daryl Brown First Mate: Joy Brown 518 Main Street • Auburndale, FL 33823 863-559-4480

Scalloping Charter Capt. Rick Burns Reel Burns Charters Homosassafishingguide.com 352-201-6111 Manatee Charter

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Fly’Em High Charters Capt. Bobby Woodard www.Captain-Bobby.com 863-224-1418 USCG. Licensed Tarpon, Snook, Grouper Redfish, Trout, Scallop Trips

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Lakeland Area 1- Big Fish Bait & Tackle 863-815-9492 6908 US Hwy 98 North • Lakeland FL 33809 wwww.CentralFloridaAngling.com

16-Sweetwater Guide Service 863-837-7028 336 Magnolia Ave • Winter Haven, FL 33880

2-Champs Sports Grill 863-647-5900 6645 S. Florida Ave • Lakeland, FL 33813 www.ChampsToGo.com

Lake Alfred Area 17-Ron’s Tackle Box,LLC 863-956-4990 380 S. Lake Shore Way • Lake Alfred, FL 33850 www.ronstacklebox.com

3- LineX Of Lakeland 863-581-9173 3000 State Road 37 S. • Mulberry, FL 33860 www.linexoflakeland.com

Haines City Area 18- Hoppy’s Marine 863-439-7616 31499 Highway 27 • Haines City, FL 33844 www.HoppysMarine.com

4-Phillips Bait & Tackle 863-666-2248 3780 US-92 • Lakeland, FL 33801 www.CentralFloridaTrollingMotor.com 5-Stone’s Bait & Tackle 863-940-4898 2049 E Edgewood Drive • Lakeland, FL 33803 6- Stretch Outdoors Discount Outfitters 863-608-1513 848 W Daughtery Road • Lakeland, FL 33389 Auburndale Area 7- Action Watersports 863-967-4148 402 Progress Rd • Auburndale, FL 33823 www.ActionWatersports.net

Bartow Area 19- Spurlows 863-635-0240 1264 N Broadway Ave • Bartow, FL 33830 SpurlowsOutdoorOutfitters.com Lake Wales Area 20. Sweet Ella’s Produce 863-223-8775 326 FL-60, Lake Wales, FL 33853 21- Bridgemasters 863-676-1009 2131 FL-60 • Lake Wales, FL 33898 www.Bridge-Masters.com

8-Overdue Adventures 863-559-4480 Auburndale, FL 33823

22- Capt Dave Och’s Backwater Fishing Adventure 863-589-6295 Lake Wales, Fl 33538

Winter Haven Area 9. Caribbean Bait & Tackle 863-292-9755 1004 N Lake Howard Dr, Winter Haven, FL 33880

23- Gary’s Boating Center 863-638-0537 15520 Highway 27 • Lake Wales, FL 33859 www.GarysBoating.com

10-Capt. Scott Taylor 855-354-8433 Official Guide for VisitCentralFlorida.org & Camp Mack’s River Resort Scott@TMCGuideService.com

24-Guy Harvey Camp Mack Lodge, Marina & RV Resort 863-696-1108 14900 Camp Mack Rd • Lake Wales, FL 33898 www.GuyHarveyCampMack.com

11-Hillman Motors Inc. 863-967-4628 2701 Havendale Blvd. NW • Winter Haven FL 33881 www.hillmanmotors.net 12- Marine Supply of Winter Haven 863-297-7003 1700 3rd St SW • Winter Haven, FL 33880 www.MarineSupplyBoats.com 13- Millers Fiberglass 863-551-1551 1505 Lake Shipp Dr, Winter Haven, FL 33880 www.facebook.com/Millers-Fiberglass-Repair-157407427716301

Frostproof Area 25- Erwine’s Marine 863-635-4492 250 S. Scenic Hwy • Frostproof, FL 33843 www.ErwinesMarine.com Placida Area 26-Fly Em High Charters 863-224-1418 Capt Bobby Woodard 6499 Gasparilla Rd • Placida, FL 33946 www.Captain-Bobby.com

14- Polk Tractor 863-967-0651 3450 Havendale Blvd NW • Winter Haven, FL 33881 www.PolkTractorco.com 15-RKY Seafood 863-294-2300 175 Ave A NW • Winter Haven, FL 33880

CHARLOTTE HARBOR FISHING FORECAST The inshore bite has remained steady throughout the Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor estuaries. There is plenty of bait still around and that has kept the fish biting.

Snook fishing around mangrove points, oyster bars, river mouths and residential docks has been productive with both live and artificial baits. Drifting the open flats and targeting sand potholes or deeper cuts and depressions has produced consistent action with trout, flounder and sheepshead in the deeper areas. Speaking of sheepshead as we move deeper into Winter, I like to make sheepshead a primary target. When specifically fishing for them I like to anchor over deeper structures like reefs, wrecks, bridges and dock pilings. I use a variety of baits to include live shrimp, mud crabs, clam strips and sand fleas. I will usually use a pinch weight and circle hook or jig head depending on the depth and current. You must pay attention when sheepshead fishing. They are nicknamed “convict” fish both for their black stripes and their uncanny ability to steal your bait. As soon as you feel a bite you must either set the hook or reel depending on your tackle set up. I also have had good success with using longer shank hooks than most for sheeps-

head. I believe it allows the hook point to get past their row of teeth and deeper into the mouth thus hooking up at a higher percentage. In the cooler months the sheepshead will congregate on the deeper structures in preparation to spawn. Smaller groups can also be found on the edges of flats as they drop off and in potholes that are deeper than the surrounding flat. They are a little tricky to clean but once you do a few you can get the hang of it. The key is to just cut above the rib section and not worry about leaving a little meat on the bones. Sheepshead have white flaky meat and taste great prepared many different ways, a simple classic is just pan seared with lemon and butter. I encourage you to try your luck at sheepshead fishing in the coming months. The best part is it doesn’t require throwing a cast net!!

I have available dates coming up for Winter and Spring and only a few dates left for 2020 Tarpon Season in the Tarpon Capital of the World beautiful Boca Grande, Fl. Give me a call and let’s book your trip now!

Capt. Bobby Woodard www.Captain-Bobby.com • 863-224-1418

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rom Feb. 8 through March 29, offshore anglers in northeast Florida have the opportunity to compete in a unique tournament that has been billed as the largest wahoo tournament in the world.

By allowing anglers to select three fishing days from a 50-day time frame, The Northeast Florida Wahoo Shootout, presented by Yellowfin, levels the playing field for boats of all sizes to compete. Since bad weather days can be avoided, everyone can get in on the world-class wahoo fishing available off north Florida’s Atlantic coast.

Winners are determined by the heaviest three fish aggregate, and all fish must be weighed at Strike Zone Fishing in Jacksonville or Melbourne. First place takes home a prize package worth $85,000 and includes a 21’ Yellowfin Bay Boat, 200 hp Yamaha 4 stroke and AmeraTrail trailer. Second place is awarded a Kubota Sidekick valued at $15,000. Third through 10th places win cash. General entry is $600.

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The Science of Sport Fishing.

Fish Mapping™ is the newest, most comprehensive service package from SiriusXM Marine. Delivering regularly updated, science-based data via satellite to compatible Garmin multi-function displays, this service is available well beyond cellular range to help locate the right conditions to fish faster – saving time and fuel. Fish Mapping also includes all the weather information in SiriusXM's Marine Offshore package as a chart overlay on your display.

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Fishing features include recommended locations for specific game fish, Weed Lines, Sea Surface Temperatures and Front Strength, Sub Surface Sea Temperatures, Sea Surface Height Variance, and Plankton Concentration data.

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FLORIDA

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By Gene Dyer

I

n South Florida, we are lucky to have access to many fishing options. From the urban canal and lake systems to the Gulf Stream just off our beach, there are plenty of opportunities to get a kid hooked on fishing. Not only can fishing put smiles on young faces, but our sport can teach patience, everyday life lessons and positively influence impressionable minds. Fishing also provides an avenue for young children to develop hand-eye coordination, motor skills, confidence and self-esteem they will carry with them for life.

Most importantly, fishing is a great way to have fun and make lasting memories with children.

When introducing your child to fishing, it’s important to remember they have short attention spans. You won’t want their first trip to be a full day of offshore trolling. Instead, take them to a spot where they will almost certainly catch a fish in the first few minutes.

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Urban canals and lakes are a great place to start. They are loaded with small fish like bluegill, bream, small bass and cichlids. Local saltwater canals can be accessed from seawalls and will produce pinfish, grunts and small snappers.

You can find everything you need at your local tackle shop. Rig a small push-button outfit with a small hook and bring some live worms for freshwater or frozen shrimp for saltwater. Use a bobber so they can get a visual of when they are getting a bite. Once they catch a fish, let them know they did a great job. Positive reinforcement is key. After a few successful outings, your child will be asking when the next trip is.

Once your child starts showing a real interest in fishing, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Talk with the folks at your tackle shop or ask a local guide for pointers. Among adults, fishing spots and techniques can be closely guarded, but throw a kid in the mix and those walls come crashing down. There are also plenty of online resources to learn about fish identification, knot tying and techniques.

Now that your little fisherman has learned the basics of fishing, it’s a good time to begin teaching responsibility. Talk to them about size and bag limits. Show them how to handle fish correctly and explain proper catch-and-release techniques. Teach them about the environment and how they impact it. If you see discarded fishing line or garbage, pick it up, throw it away and tell them why. Conservation is essential to the future of our sport, and it’s up to the adults to pass on those principles.

There are reasons we call it fishing and not catching. Sometimes fish don’t bite. Sometimes the fish gets away. Use these opportunities to talk about patience and persistence. Life doesn’t always go the way we would like, and fishing is no different. Fishing develops character traits that will help kids when they become adults.

Gene Dyer is co-publisher of Coastal Angler Magazine Fort Lauderdale. Contact him at fortlauderdale@ coastalanglermagazine.com.

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he Spring Orlando Boat Show is coming to the Orange County Convention Center March 27-29. Central Florida’s premier boat show will fill the convention center’s North Hall A with more than 500 boats for boaters and anglers to peruse, along with tons of other activities for the whole family.

Vendors will find new customers for all kinds of products at the show.

The area’s best dealers will fill the show floor with all types of boats, especially those suited to Florida waters. Whether you’re an offshore, inshore or freshwater angler, or if you’re just someone who wants to get out on the water, this show is the perfect place to get a look at everything out there so you can find the boat that suits your needs.

And if you’re into fishing, this spring’s show will debut the Fishing Zone, with 40 booths where retailers will offer great deals on all types of fishing gear, from rods and reels to tackle, lures and clothing.

The seminar line-up is also very fishing oriented. Expert anglers and captains like Pete Cammarano, Jim Ross and Tony Summers will share knowledge on the best places to go and how to catch fish with hourly seminars about local waters including the Indian River and central Florida lakes. Capt. Kerry Kline, who knows Florida’s waters like the back of his

hand, will give seminars on the best places to launch your boat for an unforgettable day on the water.

Other highlights of the Spring Orlando Boat Show include the Kids’ Live Trout Pond, where kids under 12 can actually catch real trout; the Virtual Saltwater Fishing Simulator, which offers the hands-on experience of fighting and landing big saltwater gamefish; a nationally renowned caricaturist; face painting; and crowd favorite Twiggy the water skiing squirrel.

Adult tickets are $9 at the door and $7 with the Early Bird Discount, which is available online at the Orlando Boat Show website starting Feb. 1. Kids 12 and younger are free.

For more information, go to www.orlandoboatshow.com.

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FISH & FISHING

MARK SOSIN

I

keep asking myself why I didn’t think of it. It makes sense. Basic chumming ranks as one of the most effective ways to locate and attract fish, particularly over reefs and wrecks. Successful chumming demands more attention to detail than simply hanging a frozen block of bait over the side or tossing tidbits in the water. Here are a few suggestions from skippers who do it every day.

Position is everything, whether you are anchoring near underwater structure or drifting a reefline. To be effective, the chum must reach the fish. If it falls short or drifts too far above them, it becomes an exercise in futility. It’s not unusual to watch professional captains anchor and reanchor four or five times before they put the first tidbits of chum in the water.

The key factor centers on calculating the lie of the boat in relation to the target and the force of the current. The flow of water has to carry the chum to the target at the precise depth to reach the fish. If you choose to chum while drifting, position the boat so that the wind and current will take it over the spots where you expect the fish to be. If the boat is being pushed too fast to raise the fish close enough to the stern to catch them, try using a sea anchor to slow the drift.

Airline_Ad_CoastalAngler_8-1-14_Layout 1 8/1/14 1:14 PM Page 1 In case you’re curious, here’s the approach that I should

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have figured out. A handful of captains tie a heavy weight on the end of some stout line and then tie a few bags of chum at various depths on the line. This system gets bottom fish feeding and they start following the chum shallower and shallower until they are on the surface.

You can also do this with one or two bags of chum. Lower the first bag to the bottom with the second bag a few feet above it. After a couple of minutes, raise the line about 5 or 6 feet, wait a couple of minutes and do the same thing until the chum is on the surface.

Chumming effectively demands a rhythm. No matter how busy you are or when you’re slugging it out with a fish, you have to keep the chum slick going. Before the last piece of chum drifts out of sight, there has to be more chum moving away from the boat. If you use too much chum, the fish will hold well astern of the boat. It’s a tradeoff that you learn with practice.

For those who fish a fly in a chum slick, you might do better casting the fly in the middle of the chum and then letting it drift without retrieving it. That’s something I discovered by observation when I caught the first yellowfin tuna known to be taken on fly.

When I was a young boy, my father chummed striped bass, bluefish and weakfish very effectively. That’s how I caught my first saltwater fish. It’s just as effective today as it was then.

For more from Mark Sosin, visit

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Reel in the memories.

Sitting on the most biodiverse estuary in the Northern Hemisphere, Martin County is a fisherman’s paradise. Ocean, lake and river ecosystems are home to more than 800 species of fish, from the ever-popular sailfish and snook to largemouth bass and perch. Forget your gear? Visit one of Martin’s many bait and tackle shops or outdoor retailers. Inshore, offshore, saltwater or fresh, head out for an adventure and reel in the memories.

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reels, apparel and other fishing/sporting goods and accessories.

As the largest supplier of everything from fishing rod blanks and components to rod building equipment, tools and supplies, Mud Hole looks forward to showcasing an incredible selection to their valued customers as well as anglers interested in this rewarding craft. Plus, they are dramatically increasing their inventory of apparel, gear and travel accessories to truly satisfy any outdoorsman.

Advanced Fulfillment Center The new fulfillments center occupies 35,000 square-feet, which more than doubles the company’s storage capacity, giving the operations team space to maximize inventory levels, develop more new products and increase product offerings across the board. Mud Hole has invested in an automated conveyor system to modernize fulfillment capabilities by integrating over 1,000 feet of conveyor and providing warehouse associates the means to fill your orders faster, more efficiently and with more accuracy.

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ud Hole Custom Tackle, the world’s leading supplier of everything rod building, marks 2020 with the grand opening of its new 70,000+ square-foot facility devoted to rod building, tackle crafting and the outdoor lifestyle. They invite you to come wade through the marbled blue water floors of Mud Hole Custom Tackle to shop authentic fishing villages and see the most exciting products in the industry.

Plan a trip to Oviedo, in sunny Central Florida, to experience Mud Hole’s immersive new showroom and more!

Stunning Modern Showroom Visitors will walk into a fully immersive retail space themed with a full rod building workshop, authentic fishing village and even the transom from a large sportfisher. From floor to ceiling, the showroom is designed to put the most popular tools, equipment and components at your fingertips. It will also feature some new product additions such as

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Rod Building Education Center The 5,000 square-foot seminar space is built with education in mind and will be home to local rod building classes as well as advanced seminars offered throughout the year. This space will also be available to rent for fishing clubs, meetings or banquets.

State-of-the-Art Production Studios The guys down in the Mud Hole basement are moving on up, too, with professional film and still photography studios. It will provide the marketing team assets to continue hosting and improving the production of live streams, instructional videos and more product resources. This means exciting new content for your laptops, mobile devices and on mudhole.com.

Thank You Customers!

2020 is a BIG year for Mud Hole Custom Tackle, and none of it would be possible without their valued customers. Mudhole is proud to be your No. 1 source for rod building and tackle crafting goods. They are grateful for the opportunity to provide even better service, selection and delivery.

For more information, go to www.mudhole.com.

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FEBRUARY 2020

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FLORIDA

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ictured here, Team Blitzsea, out of Pompano Beach, Fla., took top team honors in Wahoo Smackdown IX. The tournament was hosted by Bimini Big Game Club Resort and Marina in November, and saw more than 70 competing anglers land more than 1,500 pounds of fish. Over two days, 108 fish were caught, the largest weighing over 52.7 pounds.

Team Blitzsea caught 16 fish, with their largest six weighing a total of 251.4 pounds. They took home $8,200 in cash as well as Top Lady Angler, which went to Lisa aboard Blitzsea.

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in SECONDS! Americagofishing® .com/chips

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MHX may very well have produced the best push pole ever to navigate the shallows.

With 100 carbon construction, this 21-foot push pole is a combination of unidirectional and off-axis carbon fibers, which gives you an excellent power to strength ratio.

Weighing in at under 4 pounds, anglers and guides can pole all day on the flats without the fatigue that comes from a fiberglass push pole.

Assembly is very easy. The pole comes in three sections along with the fork, tip and replaceable 316 stainless spike. With easy shipping, replacement parts and ferrule repair kits available, this could be the best $399 you spend on your boat this year.

“In all my years of guiding, I would have to say that I’ve never found a push pole to be this good,” said Capt. Keiland Smith. “The weight of this pole and the strength of it are amazing. I would have to say, I think this is the best push pole ever made.” www.mudhole.com

E

arly next month, the Bassmaster Classic will return to its Alabama roots with the 50th anniversary of “The Super Bowl of Bass Fishing” on Lake Guntersville.

The 2020 Bassmaster Classic, with title B.A.S.S. photo by Andy Crawford sponsors Academy Sports+Outdoors and presenting sponsor Huk, will be based in Birmingham, Ala. from March 6-8. Daily weigh-ins and the Classic Outdoors Expo will be held in the downtown Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. Competitors will fish Lake Guntersville out of Guntersville, Ala. With a purse of $1 million for a 53-angler field and $300,000 going to the winner, the Classic is the biggest stage in tournament bass fishing, with life-changing implications for the winner. Lake Guntersville, a 68,000-acre Tennessee River impoundment, is a fitting location for the event’s golden anniversary. This historic largemouth fishery is the second most visited lake in B.A.S.S. history, behind only Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Texas.

Expect Birmingham to be bustling the weekend of March 6-8. Last year’s Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville, Tenn. drew 153,000 fans to experience activities surrounding the tournament.

The Classic will be covered live and streamed on Bassmaster.com, ESPN3 and the ESPN App, and five hours of original programming will be aired on ESPN2 and the Pursuit Channel following the event.

For more information, go to www.bassmaster.com.go to www.bahamas.com.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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Proper fly reel drag settings are essential when saltwater fly fishing. When you’re hooked into a powerful and hard-fighting fish, the proper setting can spell the difference between landing or losing the fish.

Unlike conventional or spinning reels, where the drag is usually preset and not adjusted during the fight, the fly reel drag can be manipulated by applying pressure to the reel with the palm of the hand or fingers, a tried-and-true method that gives the angler more control over the amount of pressure (more or less) needed throughout the fight.

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IGFA This question has a few correct answers. First, if you’re fishing IGFA tippet requirements in search of a record fish, tippets can be very light. I like to set the drag less than the tippet rating by using digital scale. For example, if I’m fishing 8-pound-test tippet I would set my drag to 4 or 5 pounds of pressure by attaching the tippet to the scale and pulling the line off the fly reel until I achieved my desired drag setting. That 5-pound setting gives me a 3-pound cushion when fighting a fish.

Non-IGFA If I’m not using IGFA tippets, which is the case most of the time, I’ll set my drag to the tippet rating. Remember, it is very difficult to break a tippet even with a max-out drag setting unless you’re using very light tippets. When targeting large saltwater gamefish, I use 20to 30-pound-test tippets. The max drag I can put on my heaviest saltwater reels is 18 pounds of pressure. So, breaking one of these tippets due to pressure alone is almost impossible even with the reels pegged to the maximum.

Palming The Reel Take your fly reel and tighten the drag so there is only light tension on the reel as you pull the line off with your free hand. Then tighten the drag until you feel resistance.

Begin fishing using the light drag pressure. Once you have a fish on and the fight has begun, apply needed pressure by palming your reel. Apply the pressure carefully, as a sudden change in pressure can cause your tippet to break.

Don’t be surprised if in applying this method the first few times you make mistakes, often losing a fish because of applying too much pressure or too little. Reel palming, like nymph fishing, is instinctive.

You’ll learn to know when and how much pressure to apply.

For more Bowman, go to

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Choose Dexter for trouble-free towing.

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Dexter’s BrakeRite electronic/ hydraulic actuator features rapid response for improved braking distance, an electronic proportional pressure valve for consistent braking, and dual fill caps for easy maintenance. In addition, BrakeRite is compatible with most in-cab electronic brake controllers.

Dexter offers three BrakeRite models to easily match your application. The BrakeRite Plug & Play model is simple to install. It has no hard wiring and has a large reservoir for triple axles. An optional Australian 12-pin flat plug model is also available. The Dexter BrakeRite SD model provides a complete plug-in wiring harness to simplify field installation, while the standard BrakeRite model is available in both disc and drum brake options.

Dexter knows corrosion resistance is important on all types of trailers, and especially in saltwater or other corrosive environments. Dexter disc brakes for marine trailers are designed with this in mind, using brass fittings, stainless steel guide bolts and sleeves, and stainless steel pistons. Rotors are offered in multiple finishes including E-coated, Dacromet, and stainless steel. At a minimum, Dexter caliper castings and caliper mounting brackets are E-coated with options for Dacromet coating or an all stainless steel product.

Dexter’s BrakeRite and disc brakes combine two high performance products.

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www.dexteraxle.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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H

ooker Electric continues driving innovation in the fishing industry. Their top-of-the-line baitwell system is tops for keeping your bait fresh and lively. This system includes Hooker’s patented high-flow baitwell pumps and streamlined design that includes full variable flow that allows anglers to decide how much flow is needed depending on the species of bait they are keeping in the livewell.

Also a great choice for the tuna tube setups, the system allows the perfect amount of flow to the tubes.

The pumps have an outstanding high flow, measured in 2,500, 4,500 and 7,500 gallons per hour. With the 12 VDC brushless motor system, these pumps are superior to anything else on the market.

Completely serviceable and rebuildable, Hooker Pumps are made to last. Another huge feature integrated on the pump system is that they are mounted outside of their custom sea chest.

This provides easy access and the ability to change a pump out fast, without taking the entire sea chest apart like the competitors.

Hooker Electric’s custom sea chest was specifically designed around their patented pumps. The sea chest is constructed of 316 stainless steel, welded to perfection, and then passivized. Passivization is a non-electrolytic finishing process that makes stainless steel more rust-resistant to avoid corrosion from the saltwater.

It is then heavy-duty powder coated for extra protection. The sea chest comes with a ¼-inch rubber gasket seal, stainless steel bolts, washers, a breather valve and acrylic lid that can be custom engraved with the boat’s name or boat manufacturer’s name upon ordering.

The crucial benefit of installing Hooker’s sea chest system is simple: less air in your system, especially with step-hull boats.

The sea chest allows the boat to pull clean water in and keep air out of the hoses, therefore out of the system.

Paired with the sea chest, Hooker has created custom manifolds cut from a solid block of schedule 80 PVC, which ensures longevity and quality. The manifold cleans up the aesthetics on the system by simplifying it and allowing water flow to be dispersed to multiple livewells as needed.

The Hooker pump system will keep you ahead of the rest when it comes to live baiting. The company is currently working with leading boat manufactures like Contender Boats, Jupiter, Conch Boats, Winter Custom Yachts, Freeman Boatworks, Intrepid Power Boats, Billfish Boatworks, Tracker Marine, FMC, Yellowfin Yachts, Sea Vee boats, and the system now comes standard in all of the Valhalla boats by Viking.

See Hooker Electric’s innovation for yourself at Booth D308 at the Miami Boat Show. For more information, go to hookerelectric.com.

14

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24_NAT.indd 15

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FEBRUARY 2020

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1/20/20 10:20 AM

KEEP IT GENUINE PRECISION PROTECTION

Whether you take your boat out to the lake or the ocean, your 4-stroke outboard needs ECSTAR Suzuki Semi-Synthetic Engine Oil so it can run long and strong.

ECSTAR features special additives that protect the engine in harsh salt and fresh water environments, advanced detergents that keep engine parts clean, and viscosity index improvements that help the engine start in cold conditions.

No matter where your next boat ride takes you, go confidently with ECSTAR.

RUN LONG. RUN CLEAN. RUN STRONG.

Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-Approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. Suzuki, the Suzuki “S” ECSTAR and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. © 2018 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

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FEBRUARY 2020

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DOA 2.75 Shrimp - the totally new design is the best of both worlds – it’s like fishing a jig and a DOA Shrimp.

The weighted hook is super sharp and slips seamlessly into the body of the shrimp. Slightly smaller and heavier than the Original, it has a molded in rattle cavity to easily add sound, skips well, sinks fast, and casts like a bullet.

24_NAT.indd 16

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n 1975 and 1976, the United States Mint released special Bicentennial Eisenhower Dollars to mark the 200th birthday of our nation. Upon their release in 1975, a family purchased five full bags—5,000 coins in all—and simply stashed them away... until now!

Special Bicentennial Design Normally, the short-lived Eisenhower Dollar displayed a stylized version of the Apollo 11 mission patch on its reverse. But for the nation’s 200th birthday, a new onetime-only design was created, showing the Liberty Bell before an image of the Moon.

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LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 4/3/20*

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Customer Rating

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WINTER SALES EVENT SIX YEARS OF PROTECTION 3 Years Limited Warranty + 3 Years Extended Protection, No extra charge.

INSTANT SAVINGS

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