Coastal Angler Magazine | November 2019 | Lakeland Sumter Edition by Coastal Angler Magazine

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LAKELAND & SUMTER EDITION

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VOLUME 24 â€¢ ISSUE 296

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FISH OF A LIFETIME IN SOUTHWEST ALASKA By Tom Schlichter

o one has to tell you a halibut has taken your bait. As you set the hook with all your might, the heavy rod takes on a full bend, tip pumping rapidly as the beast powers down and away in a series of short, explosive bursts. Within minutes, beads of sweat begin to roll down your brow, and soon your back and arms begin to tire. The battle continues for another five to 10 minutes—or longer— and the enormity of the fish at the end of your line becomes apparent. This is the fish of a lifetime. This is why you came to Alaska! What saltwater angler hasn’t fantasized about taking such a trip? Yet there’s more to the beautiful, chilly waters in the far Northwest than outlandish flatfish. Ferocious-looking lingcod, giant, bright orange shortrakers, yelloweyes and other rockfish are also on the menu, as are king, coho and chum salmon, whether jigged or trolled in open water or tempted with the long rod in a river so full of fish you could walk across the dorsal fins. From breaching whales and soaring bald eagles to grizzly bears, sea lions, otters and endless miles of wild, unspoiled vistas, nature abounds in the forty-ninth state. Of course, where to start is a major questions you’ll need to tackle when planning your first Alaska fishing adventure. By and large, Southeast Alaska is the first choice if you are seeking major-league halibut. From the town of Ketchikan northwest up the coast to Chichagof Island, there are fishing lodges to accommodate your needs in such towns as Sitka, Juneau, Elfin Cove and Gustavus, plus places from which the most adventurous can set out on their own. One of the most popular spots is Tanaku Lodge. At the northwest corner of the famed Inside Passage, it’s tucked inside Elfin Cove, about 25 miles west of Glacier Bay National Park. From here you can get a terrific sampling of Alaska’s great coastal fishery, while seeing astounding amounts of wildlife and enjoying your stay in comfort. “The fishing is always great around here,” said Dennis Meier, co-owner of Tanaku Lodge with Jim Benton. “That’s a given, but we pride ourselves on making the entire experience the best it can be. Our skippers and mates are tops in the business, our lodge staff is helpful and courteous, and you’ll find the accommodations here to be first class all the way around. We may be off the beaten track, but that doesn’t mean we compromise on quality.” Tanaku is a full-service lodge with all-wood interior, vaulted ceilings, and wood burning stoves to keep you warm. Bedroom suites feature two full-sized beds and either a shared or private bath. Huge, wrap-around windows and outdoor decks offer fabulous views of the harbor. You don’t even have to bring foul-weather gear, as slicks and boots are provided for each angler. Leave your tackle home, too; the lodge offerings are in excellent shape and a perfect match to fishing you’ll encounter.

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As for the fishing, there are so many possibilities it can make your head spin. Halibut is the perfect first choice, since big ones can be found just a short ride away. Prepare to fish heavy and in water depths of 130 to 150 feet, though. Expect rods and reels suited for tuna and cannonball weights up to 2 pounds with a herring, pink salmon strip or side of pink salmon for bait. Even with all that heavy gear, a big halibut can still kick your butt. If you want to make things even more exciting (read: strenuous) try tempting these beasties with 1-pound jigs. It took me only 10 minutes of jigging in the Inside Passage to set the point to a 90-pound brute that beat the heck out of me before coming aboard. Over the next two days, I managed four more on jigs as we rotated between fishing for halibut, salmon and rockfish, depending on the most favorable tides. What a blast! As previously mentioned, salmon fishing is the other big draw here. While stocks of kings and cohos have slipped somewhat over the past few years, the number of king (Chinook), coho (silver) and pink (humpy) salmon is substantial. Anglers can troll for salmon, jig them, or set up a trip to wade a nearby river and catch them on the fly. Wherever you decide to stay on your Alaskan adventure, it’s wise to clearly state your wishes when booking a trip—especially if you hope to sample river salmon fishing or want to try for additional species like lingcod, shortrakers and various other rockfish. Not all are available from every lodge. While there are occasional off days even in this remarkable fishing wilderness—weather can be a serious issue late in the season—the odds are you’ll experience some of the best fishing of your life.

For information on Tanaku Lodge in Elfin Cove, AK, visit www.tanakulodge. com, or phone: 800-482-6258.

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Photo courtesy of Controlled Descent Lures By Nick Carter

pearfishers seeking a little variety in their bottom time should take a close look at the waters off New England. You won’t find warm tropical waters off the Northeast coast, but you will find a freediving experience unlike any other. Destinations like Montauk, N.Y. and Block Island, R.I. have long been recognized for some of the best striped bass fishing on the planet. The bass blitzes around Long Island Sound are legendary, and huge schools of stripers in these rocky waters offer conventional anglers and spearos the opportunity of a lifetime. Matt Belanger, of Newburyport, Mass., is one of a growing contingent of divers hooked on what New England has to offer. He’s a member of TriState Skindivers, and a big 54.2-pound striped bass he speared off

Block Island in July topped the club’s season-long TriState Leaderboard Spearfishing Tournament. “The striper is sort of our signature inshore species,” Belanger said. “It’s a very skittish fish. A lot of guys say they can hear your heartbeat. You’ve got to be really stealth when you go after a big striper.” Belanger’s description of a typical dive was intriguing. With a 50- to 60-foot bottom littered with Volkswagen-sized boulders, strong currents and visibility averaging 10 feet, it’s a different environment from Caribbean reef dives. The veil of dingy water actually makes hunting stripers easier. On the drop, you fin down through a school of striped bass to the bottom. “You’re in the middle of a giant school of hundreds of fish,” Belanger said. “Then, when you hit the bottom, they always spook… all at once. It’s crazy. It makes this big noise, almost a boom.” The secret to sticking a big bass is bottom time. After about 25 seconds, Belanger said the school begins to reconvene. Then you must spend precious seconds selecting a target from hundreds of circling fish, while minimizing movement and sound that might spook them. The goal is to take the largest fish in the school. You’re allowed only one fish per day with a 28-inch minimum size limit. A 28-inch striped bass weighs 10 to 15 pounds. They get much bigger. The IGFA all-tackle world record weighed 81-pounds, 14-ounces. It was caught from Long Island Sound off Connecticut. The speargun world record weighed 68.4 pounds. Dave Hochman, who guides Block Island Sound, stuck that fish in 2008. Hochman is the guide who put Belanger on the big striper he killed in this year’s tournament. If one fish per day seems scant to travel for, there’s a lot of excellent eating on a big striper. Also, when you get your limit—with speargun or rod and reel—there are other interesting and tasty species like tautog, black sea bass, fluke and others. A word of warning: Area waters can get sharky, with great whites a concern. A good captain will know where shark encounters are least likely. For information, contact Dave Hochman of Spear-it Charters through his website at www.spearfishcharters.com.

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SHRINK WRAPPING

By Justin Witt

he Rio Pico region of Chubut province, Argentina is known to a select and adventurous few as the best big-trout country in all of Patagonia. Comprised of an immense network of lakes and drainages flowing through the Andes of southwestern Argentina, these waters are spectacular, and they’re as far off the beaten path as it gets. The diversity of the fishery is astounding. The area hosts an almost unbelievable quantity of waters in all shapes and sizes, and the region is known for trout that reach “unusual size” in pristine water with very little fishing pressure. “It was incredible. I was fishing dry flies up a little spring creek for trout as long as my leg,” said Greg Baugus, who visited the remote

area with Hemispheres Unlimited, an agency specializing in fishing trips of a lifetime. But spring creeks are not all Rio Pico has to offer. Rainbows, brookies and browns were introduced over a century ago and can be pursued with a wide variety of tackle and techniques. From large lakes and rivers to high-elevation trickles, anglers have the option to throw dry flies on delicate tippets, chuck 6-inch streamers on a heavy sink-tip line, or nymph any day of the week. It all boils down to personal preferences, and it’s all done within the gorgeous expanses and dramatic backdrop of the Andes. Some spots are numbers games, with consistent action for what in Patagonia amounts to smallish fish—fish that would be considered large almost anywhere else in the world. Most folks come down hunting bruisers, though, the photo fish, the monsters that stand out in truly amazing adventures. Hemispheres Unlimited offers perfect trips for those seeking adventure. Their Rio Pico Trout Bum program pairs anglers with local guides who grew up on these drainages and know them like the backs of their hands. It’s a unique, low-cost option for anglers more interested in fishing than luxury lodging. There’s no mint on the pillow, for sure. Instead, the Hemispheres Unlimited team makes certain preparations are in place so you can make the most of your time pursuing the fish that brought you to Argentina in the first place. Accommodations for the Trout Bum program are best described as authentic, in true, local, Patagonia style. Unless there is a specific need for backcountry camping, groups usually lodge at local hospedajes, either in town or out on one of the waters. Each spot has its own characteristics, advantages and style, and Hemispheres helps each group choose the best option for their desires. The program can be set up in a wide variety of styles, ranging from boat fishing every day of the trip to mixed trips with easier wading, all the way to more extreme hike-in and camp expeditions. For more information on the Rio Pico Trout Bum program and everything else Hemispheres Unlimited offers, go to hemispheresunlimited. com/blog/diving-mizpah.

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nglers seeking stellar offshore fishing, including the best Atlantic blue marlin fishing on the planet should book passage to Cape Verde. This island nation about 350 miles off northwest Africa is a horseshoe cluster of 10 islands and eight islets that are a popular tourist destination for Europeans. The fishery is renowned for the consistency of big blue marlin. Billfish Report ranked it best in the world for 500-plus-pound blues, edging out venerable Kona, Hawaii by the numbers in its annual rankings based on 2018 statistics. Last years numbers were 110 blue marlin heavier than 500 pounds, including a 900-plus-pounder and one grander, which stretched the scales to 1,037 pounds. It’s the kind of place where releasing three marlin heavier than 500 pounds in a day is considered possible… because it happens. With big-game fishing this good, the marlin fishing is obviously the headliner. It’s best from April through July, with March and August usually being good as well. It’s a happy coincidence that this time frame coincides with the best seasons for yellowfin tuna, sailfish, wahoo and dorado. Four islands, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vincente, Santo Antao and Maio, harbor most of the medium-sized recreational fleet. The channel between Sao Vincente and Santo Antao is the epicenter of this international hot-spot for blues. For more information, go to www.capeverdeislands.org.

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erious saltwater anglers know how important trim tabs are to optimizing any boat’s ride, performance and fuel efficiency. The ability to fine-tune a boat’s ride is even more important with today’s high-performance center console offshore, bay and flats boats. Adjusting a boat’s running attitude with trim tabs can also compensate for how a boat is loaded, ensuring a dry, safe and comfortable ride. While modern boats have become much “smarter” and more technologically advanced in recent years, operating trim tabs was still largely trial-and-error for the boater. That has changed with the recent unveiling of Dometic Marine’s new Smart Trim Tab System, designed to give owners of inboard/outboard and outboard powered boats precision control never before possible. This new system is a “smart” reinvention of the trim tab—offering robust construction, user programmability, quick, accurate response and intuitive operation. “Today’s modern vessels are becoming smarter and more connected,” said Eric Fetchko, President of Dometic Marine Americas. “With this new introduction, we’ve taken trim tab technology and performance to a new level for boat builders and boaters alike. This will be a true game changer for the industry.” Dometic Marine has engineered the Smart Trim Tab System for inboard/outboard vessels, as well as today’s popular high-performance boats powered by single, twin, triple or quad outboards. It has the ability to connect with the Optimus Electric Steering System, joystick control and shift-throttle controls. Dometic Marine’s CAN-based smart actuator can also be used as a

standalone component to integrate with a boat’s control system. For instance, using this connected technology, wake boarders and wake surfers will be able to precisely control the shape/size of their wake by commanding an exact actuator position. This system uses a Smart Dial controller for intuitive operation and a customizable user experience. User programmable settings (Home and Favorite) make it easy to get the boat into optimum running attitude, whether the goal is to smooth the ride, maximize fuel efficiency or fine-tune the perfect wake. The easy-to-use smart dial can also be turned manually to level the boat quickly as conditions change, with built-in LED lights that indicate trim tab position. This system’s smart actuator provides unparalleled positional accuracy and repeatability. Dometic Marine’s sophisticated all-electric design reduces complexity and increases reliability. The robust actuator shaft and housing design provides strong performance in both the push and pull direction. The design also features superior actuator sealing to prevent leaks, even with extended use in the harsh marine environment. Additionally, the installer has the ability to control the speed at which the tabs deploy and retract. When synchronized with Dometic Marine’s Optimus 360 electric steering, joystick control and shift/throttle controls, the Smart Trim Tab System can respond to RPM and gear position inputs for even greater control. The tabs auto retract when the key is turned off, when the vessel is put in reverse, or any time the vessel is put into joystick mode. This exciting new Smart Trim Tab System will be available to OEM installers beginning in December 2019. For more information, visit www. seastarsolutions.com.

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IN THE KEYS

By Nick Carter

he year-round mahi bite is legendary in Atlantic waters off the Florida Keys. This time of the year the sailfish bite is phenomenal as well. Winter is a relative term when you’re talking about Monroe County, Fla. Wintertime lows average in the high 60s at night and highs run in the mid-70s. It’s downright comfortable. Apparently it’s the same with water temperatures. Just past the reef line, which runs the length of the Keys, big pelagic species show up in numbers to overwinter and feed on abundant schools of baitfish. Chief among them are sailfish. Capt. Chris Johnson, with SeaSquared Charters out of Marathon, looks forward to Thanksgiving every year, but not because of turkey. Late November is the beginning of sailfish season. It’s a time of diving frigatebirds and showering ballyhoo, when sight-fishing sailfish is the biggest thrill on the water. Mornings begin early. Low-light is key to finding sails and other pelagics as they push schools of baitfish up to the surface and into the air. Diving birds are the dead giveaway. From a tower, the activity is visible, as birds circle progressively lower and then plummet from the sky to take part in the massacre. “When you show up on the reef and you’re seeing spraying bait and birds, it’s game on,” said Johnson. “It’s usually an early morning thing, but it can go on into the day when there’s good cloud cover.” Depending on where in the Keys you set out from, the reef is just a 3 to 7 mile run from the docks. The sharp outer reef edge, which drops steeply into the 100-foot depths, is the topography that holds fish. Unlike most fisheries, where anglers attempt to intersect roving sailfish, fish actually congregate to feed off the Keys. Plentiful bait schools on the reef in close proximity to deep water create a unique situation where sailfish move into the shallows to corral and crash balls of baitfish. “This is what we’ve got that’s unique from anywhere else. It’s exciting, with lots of visual activity,” said Capt. Johnson. “We get sailfish spraying ballyhoos in 20 feet of water.” When it’s on, it really is sight fishing. Anglers must be able to cast

FLORIDA

NOVEMBER 2019

live bait with accuracy that puts it on the edge of a spraying school or directly on the nose of a visible sailfish. The action can be hit or miss, but there’s nothing like it when a sailfish picks up the bait, feels the steel and starts tailwalking across the surface. Johnson said a good day sees double-digit release flags flying. When the bait showers die down, the fish remain in the area. Johnson said he’ll move off the reef edge in search of color breaks, weed lines and current breaks where baitfish are easy targets. “You want that blue water from the Gulf Stream up on that powdery water from the reef,” he said. “Sailfish love to hunt and chase bait up into that powdery water.” And where there are sailfish chasing bait, other species gather to feed as well. “If you’re into sailfish, you’re going to catch the other stuff, too,” Johnson said. “We see a lot of kingfish, blackfin tuna, dolphin, cobia, and even the occasional white marlin.” Sight fishing becomes power drifting, as Johnson deploys a spread of live baits and bumps the engine in and out of gear to cover water while presenting lively baits. Pilchards, cigar minnows and sardines are all on the menu. But when fish are keyed on ballyhoo, they won’t eat anything but ballyhoo, and a ballyhoo in open water out off the reef is bound to get hammered. In the right conditions, Johnson deploys kites with bridled goggle eyes. This tactic is particularly useful for skittish sailfish, as most of the tackle is suspended above the water where it’s not as visible to the fish. With the bait dancing near the surface, anglers might notice a fin or bill circling the bait. Then anticipation gives way to adrenaline, as the bait is inhaled and the speed and aerobatics of a fighting sailfish take over. The action is enough to make an angler forget everything but sailfish… until it’s time to unload a cooler full of blackfin and dolphin at the docks. Contact Capt. Chris Johnson and SeaSquared Charters through their website at www.seasquaredcharters.com.

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It’s a boy!

Troll, cast or fly a kite in the warm waters of The Florida Keys, and you could be rewarded with a real bundle of joy. Then again, if a rambunctious bull dolphin isn’t what you were hoping for, you could be blessed with a behemoth blue marlin – truly the mother of all gamefish. fla-keys.com 1.800.fla.keys COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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Photo by Andrea Whitaker A diver awaits pickup at the surface after a drift dive off of Palm Beach.

By John Lidington

rift diving is a major part of the Palm Beach County dive scene, so a lot of divers are introduced to this discipline in our waters. Any open-water diver should have skills to handle diving in currents. But developing and applying some special habits makes such dives smoother, safer and more fun. On the ideal drift dive, divers let the current carry them over long stretches of bottom. The boat drifts overhead tracking the “float ball,” a buoy connected by reel from the surface to an underwater dive guide. The most comfortable dives are those where a diver “goes with the flow” of the current. That means limiting the need to swim against current and facilitating easy pickup back on the surface.

The dive briefing is about more than where to find the goliath groupers or turtles. Listen carefully. Is the dive guide running a continuous drift or planning to tie off for a while? Are there bottom features that alter the current? How strong is the current and how good is the visibility? This information will help refine your dive plan. When the captain shouts “Dive, dive, dive!” you should be ready to jump in quickly. That means having your equipment ready early. One tip in addition to what you know by heart: After testing its power inflator, suck all the air from your BC. You’re then ready for a “negative entry,” where you hop in and immediately begin your descent. As you descend, note the strength and direction of the current with your compass. The stronger the current and the lower the visibility, the more you need to focus on staying near your buddy and the group. A one-knot current carries you about 100 feet per minute. If visibility is 70 feet and you’re poking around in a hole for a minute, your buddy will be gone when you look up. If you’re in a strong current, do your best to maintain neutral buoyancy and dive at a safe distance from the bottom to prevent bumping the reef. At the end of the dive, use your Surface Marker Buoy (SMB). Sure, the well-trained eyes of the pros running the charter boats are great at picking out bobbing divers. But, while it’s a pain to deflate and re-roll “safety sausages,” they can make retrieval of the group faster and smoother. If released when you reach your safety stop, they give the captain a two-minute warning on where divers will be surfacing. There’s a lot more to drift diving than the few tips I can offer here. PADI offers a Drift Diver specialty course that efficiently bundles theory and training into a few hours work coupled with two dives. If you want to jump-start your skills, give Pura Vida Divers a call at 561-840-8750 or visit www.puravidadivers.com.

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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

Owner: CAPT. MARY BRASHER

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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 4 Clays2Raise

Page 9 University of Central FL Bass Tournament Page 10-13 Gift Guide

Page 6 2019 Winter Haven Hospital Gala 30th Anniversary

Page 14 Fly Fishing 101

Page 8 Photo Of The Month

Page 18-19 Polk County Map

Welcome

Scenic Sumter Heritage Byway, Inc. Devine Jewelry & Pawn The Inside Out Grill

Alligator’s Unlimited Airboat Nature Tours

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

NOV 5 MORNING NOV 6- MORNING NOV 7- MORNING NOV 15- EVENING

1 POLK & SUMTER | NOVEMBER 2019 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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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 352-460-6739 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

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 water has dropped from the Summer high water and the Bass fishing has really turned on. The night time temperatures have cooled off a bit so hopefully the specs will turn on early in November. The bluegill fishing has continued on as well Chris and Lori Howard caught there limit of bluegills and a few schellcrackers up to 1 1/2 pounds in mid October while fishing in the Outlet River. Not only is the fishing good this time of year, the local hunting is good as well. We have a number of wildlife management areas close by so try your hunting out as well. We offer cottages to stay in and also have a RV park with full hookups if you have your own RV. Don’t have a boat?? no problem cause we can rent you a nice fishing boat or pontoon. We are one of the few “Old Florida” fish camps left so if you want to go back in time stop by and give us a visit. Submitted By: Jim Veal Jr. Pana Vista Lodge • Lake Panasoffkee, Fl. • 352-793-2061

2 POLK & SUMTER | NOVEMBER 2019 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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tippet size. Flies for Specks: streamers in white, white and chartreuse, and white and black, along with clouser minnow patterns of the same colors should suffice. For Conventional: Ultra-light spinning or spincast rods and reels, in Even though November has some ex4 ½’ to 6’ in length are the best choice for casting the light jigs, and are cellent angling and fish chewing in our the most fun. You won’t have the same results with medium or light tackarea along the coast in the saltwater acle. Your box store super marts carry and sell the rod and reel combos at tion, I’m going to take a step inward to the around $40. You don’t have to take out a loan with this stuff. freshwater scene and cover another favorLine: 3 to 6 lb. monofilament or 3/10 braid line. (3lb. diameter, 10lb. ite and popular type of fishing starting at strength.) Superbraid lines are working well with spinning gear allowing this time of year. you extra small diameter. Then tie on a 2’ piece of 4 or 6 lb. Fluorocarbon Black crappie, speckled perch, or just or mono leader for invisibility. They’ll never know you’re coming. specks as we local natives call them can be Tackle selection: Jigs, jigs, and jigs in various colors should make up Hunter with a nice redfish caught some great fun and even better eating. To at Crystal River spoil banks. Glad your selection. Oh, did I mention jigs? Favorite colors should include me anyway, one of the best eating freshwa- to be in a TwinVee cat that rough white, chartreuse, pink, white and chartreuse, white and pink, and white ter fish that swims. Bigger ones are usually day! and black. Sizes should include ¼ oz. for deeper water, to 1/64 oz. for shalcalled, slabs. lower presentations. 1/8 oz. to 1/32 oz. We’ll cover some of the how to’s on going about catching some decent makes up the most. Marabou, synthetic, slabs and one of my favorite methods, ultra-light tackle that can add a and plastic curly tails are all good choiclot of enjoyment to any angler. Let’s go ahead and shove off into some es. Blakemore “roadrunners”and “beespeck-tactular fishing 101. tlespins” are a good choice and popular THE WHAT: Speckled perch, black crappie, paper mouths, specks. as well, for Speck and bluegills. Limits. 25 per person. No size. One of the most deadly and favorite But use good conservative judgement. I say, if you can’t fillet it, throw choices for Specks has been a jig tipped it back. I also say, good conservation and limiting your catch can go a very with a minnow. Minnows are around a long way. Especially for our grandkids. $1.50 to $2.00 a dozen. Some B & T’s go THE WHERE: Locally. Lake(s) Rousseau. Tsala-Apopka chain- (Herby the pound, naturally. Give the clerk Sumter County boys, Rick Locke and nando, Henderson, Spivey, Floral City Pool) in Citrus County, Harris Gus Kornagey with some sure ‘nough an extra few bucks, and ask em to give chain, Lake County. Withlacoochee and Rainbow River, Lake Panasoffkee fine speck caught in where else?, you the biggest they got. Keep em in a in Sumter County. Basically, any public body of water that has, the next Sumter County. flow troll bucket, or in good aeration. subject. Hot is bad! Cool and bubbly is good! Lil WHERE TO START, WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Weed lines- (right tip. Put a frozen bottled water in the minnow bucket to help keep em cool. along the edges), Submerged hydrilla and coontail, Bulrushes, Matted One of the deadliest tactics is to have same multiple rods rigged (like grass, lilypads, Fallen timber, structure, docks, rock piles, cypress trees 14’ Wally Marshal combos) set at different depths, and placed in rod holdand knees. Also, a lot of these area lakes have “fish attractor” buoys locaters while drifting or trolling the edges of weed lines and lillypads. We call ing their spots of submerged brush piles, timber and such. it spider rigging fishing. Because your boat looks like a spider walking on WHEN: Specks, from mid-November through March depending on the water with all the rods hanging out. Your jig acts as the sinker as well. If ole Mother Nature. January and February being peak, around new and freelining a minnow, add a piece of splitshot weight a few inches up from full moons and before any approaching fronts. I have found Specks prefer the hook to keep ole minnow down. Also add a cork at appropriate depth, water ranging from 68 to 78 degrees. keeping it off the bottom and from snagging. During these peak periods, the fish tend to congregate and concentrate Experiment with different color jigs on each rod, till you find a hookup along the shallows to spawn (1’ to 7’ of water), and are easier to locate and pattern. If you find what color they’re biting best on, and have friends in catch. Otherwise, during what we call the off-season, they can be caught the boat, you better have more of the same! out in deeper depressions and holes, drifting open water. Watch your Other rigs include the popular cane pole and my favorite, the retractdepthfinder, as they hang near schools of shad and minnows. Typically 8’ able “bream busters”. They range in lengths from 10’ to 14’. Can easily be to 25’ of water. You can toss out a couple of marker buoys to mark your stowed when not in use, and are good for flipping, and trolling or drifting. drift or trolling spot. Might not be a good idea though if a bunch of other Prices range from $10 to $20, rigged with hook, line, sinker, and bobber. boats are around. Major retailers sell em as well. WHAT TO USE: For Flyfishing: use 3 wt. To 5 or 6 wt. rods. in 6 ½’ to 9’ in length. With reels and lines to match. Always step up 1 size on line. Get out and enjoy some fun. Please e-mail me for any questions. Usually a WF-F line will suffice for most applications in shallow waSubmitted By: Capt. Rick Burns ter with the type of flies used. For specks, you can sometimes utilize an Reel Burns Charters • 352-201-6111 intermediate sink tip line (1,1.5, or 2.0 I.P.S.) to get the fly down in a little Homosassafishingguide.com • www.reelburns.com deeper water depth. Leaders should be of the tapered type in the 3 to 6 lb.

SOME SPECK-TACTULAR FUN

4 POLK & SUMTER | NOVEMBER 2019 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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CENTRAL FLORIDA REGION FORECAST Well it’s that time of year again when you finally realize the seasons are changing as the jokes start flying about down here on how the colors are changing with different color license plates from every northern state. Some things just never change and stand the test of time. With that being said let me say “Welcome Back” to our veteran snowbirds “Glad To Have Ya” to those snowbirds making their first seasonal migration. I’d like to point out that the Visit Central Florida Outpost & Visitor’s InforAnother Happy Camper mation Center in Davenport on Hwy 27 just Fishing the South Chain 1/2 mile south of I4 has all of the new and up-to-date information on everything to do, and stuff that’s new, here in Polk County along with attraction tickets to most every park. So let me get back on track and talk about our world-class bass fishing here in Central Florida. Fishing out of Camp Mack on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes should be very good this month if the weather stays cooler this month as the Old Farmer’s Almanac is forecasting. They are calling for a cooler than normal month by 4 degrees overall. That may not sound like much but on those big wide-open shallow lakes it can bring the water temps down and the big fish up onto the flats. I will still be starting every morning with a variety of topwater baits just as the sun is starting to roll over the tree lines, along with either a spinnerbait or chatterbait if out in open water. Honestly, the fish are going to tell us right quick whether they are roaming the open flats or up in the pads, grass, and reed heads. Always watch and listen to what is going on around you out here. The rest of the day is always a combo of black & blue senkos, Gambler EZ Swimmers, swimjigs, and bigger ribbontail or mag trick worms. Heading west over to Winter Haven and the South Chain of Lakes the weather is not going to change our approaches as much as it could

on Kissimmee. Many of these lakes are deeper, some sit lower in a bowl, and they are spring fed so they do not change as quickly as the bigger lakes. Here we generally use smaller baits also because shad are the predominant bait, not native wild shiners. Smaller baits in natural colors will serve you very well, and when the water is extremely clear you may need to downsize your line as well. Watermelon red/pearl, whites, chrome, green pumpkin colors all work and pair them up with 10-14# fluoro or even mono. 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 | NOVEMBER 2019

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2019 Winter Haven Hospital Gala - 30th Anniversary

Location Nora Mayo Hall 500 3rd St NW Winter Haven FL 33881 About Join us for the 30th Anniversary of the Winter Haven Hospital Foundation Gala! Polk County's premier black-tie event will be held on Thursday, November 7, 2019 at Nora Mayo Hall. All proceeds raised from the 2019 Gala event will be utilized locally to support the most current and urgent patient needs at Winter Haven Hospital and Winter Haven Women’s Hospital. The Gala event includes: • Live enteratinment by "The Headliners Band" • Four-course gourmet dinner with open bar & exquisite wines • Live and silent auctions • Exciting raffle items For sponsorship inquiries or general questions, please contact the Winter Haven Hospital Foundation at (863) 292-4138 or Holly.Worrell@baycare.org 6 POLK & SUMTER | NOVEMBER 2019 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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KISSIMMEE CHAIN FISHING FORECAST This was one of the hottest Summer’s on record. Like most of you, I’m not sorry to see it gone either. If it’s any consolation, I think this is going to be one of the best November’s in a long time for fishing on the Kissimmee Chain. My predicted hot spots for Fall and Winter are as follows: the North side of Lake Walk in the Water from NalCrest on down to Indian Lake Estates; the East side of Lake Rosalie from Dead Man’s Cove to Rosalie Creek; the West side of Tiger Lake, all of it. On Lake Kissimmee, Eagles Nest, Lemon Point, 27 Palms and the Kissimmee River; the North side of Lake Hatchineha from Candler Point down to London Creek. The West side of Lake Cypress to include South Port Canal; the South side of West Lake Toho from Friar’s Cove to Wilson Cove. Pay close attention to Goblit’s Cove this year. I think a real big spawn could happen in this area for Fall and Winter. For those of you who plan on coming to the Kissimmee Chain form the Northern States and you plan on using wild shiners this year for your Bass fishing trip, my suggestion is to get used to farm raised shiners or artificial bait. Wild shiners are going to be really scarce this year. It’s really a math equation. Here’s how it works. Increased demand by way of increased numbers of wild shiner anglers and loss of wild shiner habitat due to the use of herbicides in the Chain and changes in the slot limit sizes on Bass means there are now more 3lb plus size Bass around to ravage this bait. I think if you look at this math equation for what it is, it doesn’t add up to a good outcome for the wild shiner or the anglers that use them. Please think about this when planning your trip this year and have a great season. Submitted By: Capt Dave Ochs Waters Edge Fish Camp 10730 Camp Mack Rd • Lake Wales, Fl 863-589-6295

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Productive Puttering What Can be Done By: Chris O’Byrne

It is a sad fact of the angling life that any number of events might keep you from fishing. In September, lightning storms hit the south and snowstorms hit the west. Throughout the year, work backups, family demands, and flooding washing machines might also keep you from casting a line. But if you putter around in Stephen Covey’s #2 quadrant during these down times, you can lessen your current frustration and improve your future fishing. Here are a few tasks to try: Look at your rod and reel outfits: ~Do you need to tighten reel seats? ~Are squeaking reels asking to be lubed? ~When was the last time you completely dried the backing on your outfits? ~Is your fly line nicked? ~Should you clean, or lube, or stretch your fly line? ~Is your leader ready for recycling? ~Has the square knot in your loop to loop The author stretches fly line connection pulled out of shape? ~ Have you ever waxed your ferrules? Check out your flies: ~Remove used flies from fly patches, old fast food sacks, truck sun visors, from under the couch cushions at your significant other’s place, and other areas they congregate, then put them back in the appropriate box. ~Do any of your hooks need sharpening? On the water well-honed points will function anonymously, but dull ones will disappoint you. ~Do your hooks still have barbs jutting out? Pressing them down now will save time when Work to be done you get to fish again. ~The tags of old leaders that are still knotted to hook eyes add a poignant touch of artistry to some photos, but they will cause a delay or a hang-up in fishing. Cut the old leader off now while you have some time. ~Do you use a fly threader fly box? You might preload those threaders with go-to flies. ~Are there some flies that need repairs? Flies with loose dumbbell eyes, unbound hackle, mangled popper heads, and other small issues can be set aside now and repaired later. ~Or, now is a good time to say goodbye to flies that Coiled fly line casts are beyond help. poorly Tasks to do inside the house: ~You will be able to tie solid knots and well thought out leaders in the comfort of your tying area. ~What was that one presentation trick you learned last year? Now is a good time to reread a how-to fly fish book. Spend productive time at the tying bench: ~Now, you can complete those fly repairs you found earlier. ~Tie some of your bread-and-butter flies, or variations with different weights or materials. Then use your sink, bathtub, or swimming pool to test some small variations to these flies. ~Try tying a fly you’ve never done. You can focus your energies elsewhere, too: ~Are there old pictures on your camera that should be uploaded or deleted? ~Is the battery charged? ~How about the battery in your flashlight(s)? ~Did you forget to replace that empty tube of sunscreen last time you left the water? ~Is your first aid kit up to date? I hope that these tips fill your dry land time and improve your time on the water.

CENTRAL FLORIDA FRESHWATER FLY FISHING REPORT Conditions: Good Surface Temp: 86f Clarity: Slightly Tannic 20-24 inches Guide Tip:Try to fancast streamers around “nervous” water as this is the time the bass are corralling shad near deeper dropoffs. Fish are still being caught shallow, try to search for fish with topwater flies then dissect the area with streamers. The panfish are switching things up and are really keying in on grass shrimp. Techniques:Take advantage of the hungry fish and hit the water. Our local fishing has been picking up, with the fish starting to search for shad. Match the hatch with small white streamers ranging from a size 10 to a size 2. The shad are smaller this time of year so keep that in mind when selecting your fly. I like to break out a pretty unique tandem rig when the schooling starts. Start with a short leader and tie on a white gurgler with a loop knot. Then attach a small brush style shad streamer about 30 in. below. This is a great rig to throw into the fray of schooling bass, the gurgler will draw attention and keep eyes on your flies. The times when the fish are active out deep turn your attention towards the shore and cast around frog patterns near shade lines or floating grass mats. The retrieve is usually slow with long pauses between loud pops. Moving water will concentrate fish and provide a great source of not only food but well oxygenated water. The panfish are eating topwater still with small micro poppers working well. When fishing subsurface it’s grass shrimp season. These nymphs should be smaller around a size 14 hook, and are great droppers to fish under a popper to pick up those larger more wary TB’s. Water Forecast: The lake levels have continued rising.The Peace is at below average levels, the Econ is at below average levels, the Myakka is at below average levels,the Hillsborough is at below average levels, the Withlacoochee is at above below levels as well. Submitted by: Hunter Towery Sweetwater Guide Service • 863-837-7028

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GIFT IDEAS FOR ANGLERS

heck out these great gift ideas for the outdoor enthusiast on your holiday gift list. These local merchants are available to ensure your holiday gift giving satisfaction. We always try to encourage our readers to shop locally. Itâ€™s our community and we all benefit from supporting our local businesses. Theyâ€™re here for us all year long and our personal convenience depends on their sustainability. Tell them Coastal Angler/The Angler Magazine sent you. By the way, if you see something here that you wish could be under the tree with your name on it, just take out a marker and circle it. Then leave this page open for your friends and family to see. Yes, crude but effective.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Coastal Angler/The Angler Magazine.

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Gifts for Anglers

GARYâ€™S BOATING CENTER

Lake Wales, FL www.GarysBoating.com MODEL YEAR CLEARANCE SALE ON ALL 2019 CAROLINA SKIFF BOATS!

2019 Carolina Skiff 20 JVX $24,450.00 Includes 90 hp Mercury 4 Stroke & Trailer

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Gifts for Anglers

Sales: M-F 9-5:30 • Sat 9-4 PARTS-SERVICE: M-F 8:30-5:30 • SAT 9-4 1916 US Hwy 98 N • Lakeland, FL 33805

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American Cancer Society's Cattle Baron's Ball

Gifts for Anglers Your Polk & Sumter Holiday Happening’s Boat Parades 11/29 Winter Haven Tree Lighting Ceremony in Central Park 6:00pm-8:00pm www.mywinterhaven,com 11/29 Auburndale Christmas Tree Lighting 5:00pm-8:00pm www. auburndalefl.com 11/29-30, 12/1,7-8,14/15,20-31 Legoland Christmas Bricktacular www.LLFinfo@LEGOLAND.com 11/29-1/5 Holidays at Bok Tower Gardens

November 16, 2019 The Bunch Ranch 4641 Hancock Ave. SE Lakeland, FL 33812 You’re Invited... Please help the American Cancer Society finish the fight against cancer. Join us at the American Cancer Society Polk County Cattle Baron’s Ball on November 16th for a oneof-a-kind evening, featuring great food, dancing, a spectacular auction, and much more. With your support, the American Cancer Society saves lives by helping people stay well and get well, by finding cures, and by fighting back against cancer. The American Cancer Society is working to finish the fight against every cancer in every community. We are the largest private, not-for-profit funder of cancer research in the United States, investing more than $4 billion since 1946. Thanks in part to our contributions, more than 1.5 million lives have been saved in the US in the past two decades. Now, that is a reason to celebrate, so please join us. We hope to see you there!

12/3 Fort Meade Christmas Card Lane Parade 4:30pm www. cityoffortmeade.com 12/5 The Lakeland 39th Year Christmas Parade 7pm-pm www. lakelandgov.net 12/6 City of Wildwood’s Winterfest in the Courtyard 3:30pm8:30pm www.wildwood-fl.gov 12/7 Polk City Christmas Parade Freedom Park 2pm-6pm www. mypolkcity.org 12/7 City of Frostproof “A Hometown Christmas” Parade 6pm9pm 12/7 Lake Alfred Christmas Parade Garden Park 6:30pm-7:30pm www.mylakealfred.com 12/7 Light Up The Lakes Winter Haven Boat Parade- Lake Howard 6:30pm-8:00pm www.winterhavenchamber.com 12/7 Lake Panasoffkee Christmas Parade 10am-12pm 12/8 Winterfest in Davenport & Parade 6:00pm 12/13 Holiday Tree Lighting Party With Polk County Parks & Recreation at Johnny & Freda-Brooks Eloise Resources Center 6:00pm-8:00pm 12/13 Bartow Christmas Parade Main St/Downtown 6-7:30pm www.mainstreetbartowfl.com 12/13-14 Florida Flywheelers Christmas in the Village 6:00pm9:00pm www.floridaflywheelers.org 12/14 Lake Wales Kiwanis Christmas Parade Downtown 6pm8pm 12/14 City of Wildwood’s Winterfest in the Courtyard 3:30-8:30 www.wildwood-fl.gov 12/14 Davenport’s Winterfest & Parade 4:00pm-9:00pm 12/14 The Mulberry Christmas Parade: Winter Wonderland Spence Park 6pm-7pm www.cityofmulberryfl.org 12/20 Haines City Christmas Parade Haines City Parks & Recreation 7:00pm-9:00pm www.hainescity.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

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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

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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

Weekly Drawing To Be Held Every Saturday Of This Month For A $50 BRIDGEMASTER GIFT CARD! Come On In And Fill Out Your Entry. No Purchase Necessary. Need Not Be Present To Win. 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 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

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Stretch Outdoors Discount Outfitters 848 W Daughtery Rd. • Lakeland, FL 33389 863-608-1513

WE NOW CARRY FITZGERALD RODS AND A VARIETY OF FITZGERALD FISHING PRODUCTS Come check out our new Lew’s and Abu Garcia fishing reels. Great selection of Gambler and Bitter’s baits. Guy Harvey Camp Mack Lodge, Marina & RV Resort 14900 Camp Mack Rd • Lake Wales, Fl 33898

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16 POLK & SUMTER | NOVEMBER 2019 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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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

10/17/2019 11:39:42 PM

LINE X PROTECTIVE COATINGS

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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 2-Champs Sports Grill 863-647-5900 6645 S. Florida Ave • Lakeland, FL 33813 www.ChampsToGo.com 3- LineX Of Lakeland 863-581-9173 3000 State Road 37 S. • Mulberry, FL 33860 www.linexoflakeland.com 4- Old Salt Marine 863-802-0543 1916 Us Hwy 98 •North Lakeland, FL 33805 www.OldSaltMarine.com 5-Phillips Bait & Tackle 863-666-2248 3780 US-92 • Lakeland, FL 33801 www.CentralFloridaTrollingMotor.com 6-Stone’s Bait & Tackle 863-940-4898 2049 E Edgewood Drive • Lakeland, FL 33803 7- Stretch Outdoors Discount Outfitters 863-608-1513 848 W Daughtery Road • Lakeland, FL 33389 Auburndale Area 8- Action Watersports 863-967-4148 402 Progress Rd • Auburndale, FL 33823 www.ActionWatersports.net 9-Overdue Adventures 863-559-4480 Auburndale, FL 33823 Winter Haven Area 10-Capt. Scott Taylor 855-354-8433 Official Guide for VisitCentralFlorida.org & Camp Mack’s River Resort Scott@TMCGuideService.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

CHARLOTTE HARBOR FISHING FORECAST Well folks since my last report the fall bite has kicked into high gear. Schools of Spanish Mackerel, Bonito and King Mackerel have invaded the bays. Also the cooling water and influx of bait has triggered incredible results for inshore Grouper fishing over shallow rock piles. On the flats the Snook bite remains strong as the are transitioning to their Fall and Winter hangouts and feeding to prepare for the cooler temperatures. The talk of the town lately has been the resurgence of Redfish in both Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. It’s been very nice to see after declining numbers in recent years and it’s in doubt partly due to the current closure for all three main inshore species. As we move into November look for the inshore and nearshore fishing to get even better. The nearshore reefs and wrecks will be the hot spots as offshore species move in with the cooler water as well as pelagic species stopping to feed on their southern migration. Grouper, Snapper, Hogfish, King Mackerel and Blackfin Tuna will all be available for the angler looking for some table fare. Inshore the Snook will transition more into the back bays and residential canals. One of my favorite inshore species to fish for in the fall and winter is Sheepshead. They can be caught on the flats, in the back bays and around structure. They can also be caught on a number of baits but my top preferences are shrimp and mud crabs. One of my favorite things about fishing is trying new things and being innovative. Whether that means new baits, new tackle, new rigging styles or even fishing new areas. Don’t be afraid to to try new things or even travel to new areas and fish. I primarily charter in the Boca Grande area now. However it all started 23 years ago when a buddy and I decided on a whim to try fishing a new area. so we loaded up the boat and drove 2.5 hours southwest. The fishing was ok at best since it was

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 16-Sweetwater Guide Service 863-837-7028 336 Magnolia Ave • Winter Haven, FL 33880 Lake Alfred Area 17-Ron’s Tackle Box,LLC 863-956-4990 380 S. Lake Shore Way • Lake Alfred, FL 33850 www.ronstacklebox.com Haines City Area 18- Hoppy’s Marine 863-439-7616 31499 Highway 27 • Haines City, FL 33844 www.HoppysMarine.com Bartow Area 19- Spurlows 863-635-0240 1264 N Broadway Ave • Bartow, FL 33830 SpurlowsOutdoorOutfitters.com Lake Wales Area 20-Bridgemasters 863-676-1009 2131 FL-60 • Lake Wales, FL 33898 www.Bridge-Masters.com 21-Capt Dave Ochs Waters Edge Fish Camp 863-589-6295 10730 Camp Mack Rd • Lake Wales, Fl 33538 22- Gary’s Boating Center 863-638-0537 15520 Highway 27 • Lake Wales, FL 33859 www.GarysBoating.com 23-Guy Harvey Camp Mack Lodge, Marina & RV Resort 863-696-1108 14900 Camp Mack Rd • Lake Wales, FL 33898 www.GuyHarveyCampMack.com Frostproof Area 24- Erwine’s Marine 863-635-4492 250 S. Scenic Hwy • Frostproof, FL 33843 www.ErwinesMarine.com Placida Area 25-Fly Em High Charters 863-224-1418 Capt Bobby Woodard 6499 Gasparilla Rd • Placida, FL 33946 www.Captain-Bobby.com our first time in new waters. However I quickly fell in love with the area. There is so much history in the Boca Grande area. Almost everyone knows that it hosts the Worlds Greatest Tarpon Fishing but it was also learning of tales of the Dupont’s, Flagler’s, Edison and so many more that intrigued me dig into the history of Boca Grande and the surrounding area. It was then that I learned of the native Calusa Indians that once inhabited the area. Following them were some of the first Cuban immigrants who commercial fished. With the railroad coming to town wealthy northerners discovered the area as a vacation destination. All the while a booming phosphate industry was in town utilizing Port Boca Grande as their shipping hub. I also learned of some of the first fishing guides in the area who would get towed to the pass in rowboats by steam ships. It didn’t take long for word to travel about how great the fishing was and the small town started booming. Another interesting fact is that during World War 2 US Ships traveling the west coast of Florida would seek safe harbor and dock at Port Boca Grande during night to avoid German U boats lurking in the coastal gulf waters. As you can see there is so much more to Boca Grande than just the “World’s Greatest Tarpon Fishing”. So I invite you to come on down and experience the fishing but while your hear do yourself a favor and spend some time learning about the rich and diverse history the area has to offer. Some helpful hints on learning about the area are; speak to a local and ask questions, visit the historical museum inside the lighthouse or best yet book a charter with me and I can share my knowledge and passion with you. I have scattered openings for Fall and Winter inshore fishing and dates for 2020 Tarpon Season are already filling up. If you been thinking of going Tarpon fishing and catching the majestic Silver King now is the time to call me and reserve your spot. Capt. Bobby Woodard www.Captain-Bobby.com • 863-224-1418

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keechobee County is your paradise outdoors. This beautifully serene rural community still values the old Florida lifestyle, with down-home Southern hospitality and scenic land undisturbed by towering growth. Okeechobee County is at the northern shore of the awe-inspiring Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee is 730 square miles of fishing nirvana. Lake Okeechobee, named by the Seminoles as “big water,” is host to a number of guides that will take you to treasured “fishing spots” that will give any angler stories to take home. Largemouth bass dominate the fishermen’s attention throughout the year, while the well-known speckled perch (crappie) take front position during the peak of tourism season which runs from October through March. Lake Okeechobee also offers scenic trails that are excellent for

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tuart, Fla.– The thump on the end of the line nearly pulls the rod out of your hand. It’s the kind of thump delivered by an apex predator confident in its choice to devour the offering. The line peels off the reel at a blistering pace. You can feel the trophy at the opposite end of this tug of war begin making its way to the surface. You prepare yourself for one of those mental memories you swear will stay with you forever. When this fish goes airborne, you know it’s going to be so cool. Backlit by the golden rising sun, the shower of spray from the head shakes will be glorious. You know your followers on social media are going to love it. The beauty of this encounter, for anyone who visits Martin County to fish, is that literally a half-dozen species of game fish can be plugged into the scenario. Is the soon-to-be leaping fish a tarpon, snook, sailfish or bass? Could it be a mako shark or perhaps a blue marlin? This area is known for incredible sport fishing. It developed that reputation more than a century ago, and continues to build upon it with every catch. And as fishing techniques and targets evolved, so did Martin County’s reputation as a world-class fishing destination. INSHORE Presidents once traveled to Stuart to fish for giant tarpon. Grover Cleveland, Chester A. Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt, Howard Taft and Warren G. Harding all plied the waters of the St. Lucie River in search of the “silver king.” In 1905, Cleveland purchased land in Stuart and was planning to build a home here, but never did. However, he was credited with catching one of the largest tarpon ever caught in the river’s North Fork. At the time, 200-pounders were common in the river system each spring. As popular as tarpon are, snook may be Martin County’s staple fish. The waters surrounding downtown Stuart are one of the only in the world where four species of snook can be caught – common snook, tarpon snook, fat snook and swordspine snook. Only the common snook typically reaches the legal size for harvest of 28 to 32 inches in length. Huge common snook, upwards of 30 pounds are caught lurking around bridges, marinas, rocky shorelines and spillways in the winter and spring. By summer, these fish stage closer to the St. Lucie Inlet, where spawning occurs. Live baits like sardines, herring, menhaden, mullet and shrimp are all irresistible, but artificial lures and flies work well, too. On the shallow grassflats and around the spoil islands in the Indian River Lagoon, anglers catch spotted seatrout, redfish, black drum, jack crevalles, ladyfish and sheepshead. During the winter, spring and summer incoming tides, anglers can sight cast these targets in 3 to 5 feet of water. Like the Florida Keys and Biscayne Bay, Martin County is one of

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those rare places where an angler can pursue a bonefish, tarpon, permit slam. During winter, some of the tastiest fish that swim, pompano—swarm the inshore waters. OFFSHORE Ironically, it was a poor year of tarpon fishing in the early 1930s that generated exploration of Martin County’s offshore fisheries. Early in the century, the county produced a lucrative fishing business each winter as commercial fishermen pursued bluefish and Spanish mackerel off the beaches. They would ship their catches, salted and iced, on rail cars to markets in the north. The first winter visitors to Martin County were fishermen from northern coastal towns. But when the tarpon fishing went flat for a couple of years, recreational fishermen started heading into deeper water offshore to find action. What they found would change the area forever. Sailfish are a majestic species of pelagic fish, meaning they travel great distances on open ocean. After exploring the best methods and bait-rigging techniques to catch these fish, which can measure 6 to 8 feet long and swim up to 40 mph, a charter fishing fleet developed. In January of 1938, editor of the Stuart News Ernie Lyons invited outdoor writers from all over the country to come to Stuart and catch sailfish. In a week, nearly 1,000 sailfish were caught. One writer reported to his readers back home, “You may as well call Stuart the capital of sailfish.” Lyons jumped on it. Soon the City of Stuart applied for a charter naming it “Sailfish Capital of the World.” Today, the iconic image of the leaping sailfish can be seen on signage for public and private entities and even on the city’s garbage trucks. A tournament last winter produced over 700 sailfish releases in a single day. But a bluewater angler will have a chance to catch excellent game and table fare, too. Kingfish up to 50 pounds roam the reefs in 40 to 60 feet of water every spring. Cobia up to 70 pounds can be caught when the manta rays come into shallow waters each winter. Dolphinfish are caught offshore year round. Fishing for mutton snapper, mangrove snapper, yellowtail snapper and lane snapper is very good in 40 to 70 feet of water throughout much of the year. Fishing for gag, red and black grouper, scamp and amberjacks is best on the deepwater artificial reefs, of which the county has placed dozens offshore over the past 50 years. Tilefish and snowy grouper are on the deep flats in 700 feet. Wahoo are best during the summer for high speed trollers. In recent years, expert charter captains have developed a fishery for daytime swordfish where they also occasionally catch a mako shark. Each summer, the diving for spiny lobsters creates an offshore armada along the county’s healthy coral reefs. Suffice to say, the fishing along Martin County’s shores is about as good as it can get. The hard part is picking what to fish for.

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By Mikey Erickson

lot of people know Costa Rica is the “Billfish Capital of the World,” but that’s not all it is. Double-digit numbers of tarpon and an abundance of snook can be caught on the Caribbean Coast out of Tortuguero, where rivers like Rio Parismina and Rio Colorado follow the coast and open up into the ocean. Days of 30 or more fish are possible. And the river-locked town of Tortuguero is a true gem.The culture has a lot of Jamaican and Spanish influence. The season here is from February to May. Great spots for freshwater fishing include the beautiful Arenal Volcano, Lake Arenal and the rivers running through northern-inland Costa Rica. Rainbow bass, better known as “guapote,” are the main target of freshwater anglers. They are prized for intelligence, aggression and great tasting meat. The Machaca is another exciting fish that has earned the nickname “mini tarpon.” The town of La Fortuna in Arenal is a very nice place to visit. Everything is green and full of life due to the volcanic soil. There are also hot springs. The best season for this area is from January to May. On the northern Pacific Coast, fishing is great all the way down the coast from Papagayo to El Coco, Flamingo to Tamarindo, Nosara to Samara, and Santa Teresa to Tambor. The sport fishing in this area picks up from May to August with species like mahi, marlin, sailfish, roosterfish, snapper and wahoo. This region is beautiful, and the culture is very European. If you get the chance to explore this region, take it! The best fishing in the central Pacific region is near Jaco, Herradura, Quepos and Manuel Antonio. I’ve lived four years, fishing constantly, and it offers year-round angling. The marlin and sailfish bite is insane from December to June, and from April to November the mahi come in huge numbers to debris pushed out by the rivers. There are also many FAD’s (Fish Attracting Devices) 100 miles off the coast. Overnight trips offer double-digit marlin and sailfish! The southern Pacific Coast offers many great destinations both inshore and offshore. The Sierpe River offers great freshwater fishing, and places like Golfito, Drake Bay and Puerto Jimenez offer killer inshore fishing. These areas known for giant roosterfish year-round, and also feature great marlin and sailfish from August to March, mahi-mahi from May to October and tuna year-round. All in all, Costa Rica is the fishing destination of a lifetime for freshwater, inshore, offshore and spearfishing. Come explore what the land of Pura Vida has to Offer. Mikey Erickson is co-editor of Coastal Angler/Costa Rica and Tres Niñas Tours Manager. Contact him at mikey@coastalanglermagazine.com, info@tresninastours.com, U.S. Cell: +1(561)310-2665, CR Cell: +506-8305-0041. Visit www.coastalanglermag.com/costa-rica/ and www.tresninastours.com.

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his summer I took my second trip to Mexico’s famed El Salto. It didn’t disappoint, dishing out some of the meanest 7- and 8-pound bass I’ve ever seen. Of course, we caught numbers as well, but this time I slowed down and enjoyed everything Angler’s Inn at El Salto has to offer. On this trip, the lake was down 45 feet. El Salto is an irrigation lake, so water gets used a lot in summer. Low water levels concentrated the fish. We caught a bunch on lipless baits, a few on jigs and a good number on crankbaits. By and large, though, the best pattern was a Texas-rigged Photo by Jon Tatum worm. It’s awesome how the lake is different during different seasons. It makes each trip unique. On the first day, guides feel you out to make your trip as fun as possible. Everyone has a different goal. Some guys want numbers; some want their best shot at a 10-pounder. On Day One, we landed 70 to 80 fish, easily, but I didn’t catch any over 5 pounds. On Day Two, my very experienced guide took me after the big ones. We fished for bass suspended in standing timber. It was a little harder to catch them, but the fish were much bigger. Down

there, you can pretty much catch fish any way you want, but you can’t catch big fish doing whatever you want. The guides at El Salto have the big-fish patterns nailed down through the seasons. Last year, I went in January and we caught big fish deep cranking, so the pattern had changed completely. One thing that didn’t change was how mean the fish are. That brings me to my other takeaway: Big fish require the best gear you can throw. I fished extensively with the new 11-inch X Zone Blitz Worm, in both plum and red bug. They bit the fire out of both colors. The bait has very little salt content, so it floats off the bottom, which gives it much better action. The baits are also very soft and easy to rig. Mustad just came out with a complete line of tungsten, and I put it to the test. We used a 3/8-ounce tungsten bullet weight, and loved it. The Mustad line has Titan X finish on it, which is awesome. Most objects in nature aren’t shiny, so this mattestyle Titan X finish is more natural. The sizes are etched onto each weight. It’s a nice touch that makes selection easier. A 5/0 Grip Pin Big Bite hook is the perfect big-bass hook. There were a few sessions where I caught at least 50 fish on one hook. That’s one of the best things about a Mustad hook. Drag it across rocks and set the hook over and over. The points on their hooks will not roll. Feel free to ask me on social media about the trip and any of the gear mentioned here.

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ake Picachos, Mexico might not warrant the title of the world’s best trophy lake, but it might just be the world’s most fun bass fishery. Picachos is the newest of northwest Mexico’s storied bass fisheries. The dam for this 14,000-acre reservoir on the Presidio River was completed in 2009. It was opened to anglers in 2013. A decade since its formation, the lake is pumping out almost unbelievable numbers of 3- to 5-pound fish. According to Angler’s Inn International, it’s not unusual for a pair of skilled anglers to catch 200 to 300 fish a day. According to Ron Speed Jr.’s daily reports, Picachos regularly produces 150-fish days with big fish each day topping out at 6 to 8 pounds. That’s incredible action for solid fish. The lake record is 12-pounds, 14-ounces, and the bar is expected to rise as the fishery matures. An ample forage base of tilapia, plenty of heavy cover, clean water and catch-and-release regulations point to a bright future. Mornings and evenings generally see an outstanding topwater bite, which is a ton of fun for conventional anglers with walking baits and poppers as well as for fly-rodders throwing bass bugs. Spinnerbaits, lizards, stickbaits, Flukes and shallow-running crankbaits also provide action that leads to bleeding bass thumb. Lake Picachos is about 30 miles inland from the Pacific Coast resort town Mazatlán. Fishing is great year-round, with a peak from February into June. For information, go to www.anglersinn.com or www.ronspeedadventures.com.

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ITEM 64486 ITEM 64739 63483 shown

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ITEM 56257/63022 shown

*85710490 * 85710490

*85717895 * 85717895

*85719354 * 85719354

*85721807 * 85721807

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

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At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare to” price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

*Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 1/3/20.

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NOVEMBER 2019

NATIONAL

10/2/19 1:38 PM

EXPERIENCE THE

ore litigation looms in the latest chapter of the three-decade saga to protect the world’s largest salmon run. Bristol Bay, Alaska, home to thriving sport and commercial fishing industries, is under the gun again as the U.S. photo by Nick Carter Environmental Agency recently removed protections that again Julie Carter with a Kvichak River sockeye. open the door for the proposed Pebble mine. Pebble mine is an exploration project investigating enormous deposits of gold, copper and other minerals near the headwaters of the Kvichak River and lakes Clark and Iliamna. These remote and pristine waterways offer some of best rainbow trout fishing in the world and feed Bristol Bay with the clean water that supports massive sockeye and Chinook salmon runs. Trout Unlimited recently joined other groups in filing suit against the EPA, alleging that the EPA ignored science and the potential impacts of developing the mine when it withdrew the Bristol Bay Proposed Determination, which are protections for the region that have been in place since 2014. “Billions of dollars have been spent in attempt to restore salmon runs in the Pacific Northwest. Meanwhile, Bristol Bay sets records for its salmon returns year after year. All we need to do is have the humility and common-sense to leave this landscape alone,” said Chris Wood, CEO of Trout Unlimited. “Sacrificing a place such as Bristol Bay for some gold is a short-sighted fools-errand. We are not a litigious organization, but we and millions of other sportsmen and women will not allow greed to compromise the most important salmon fishery on the planet.”

FIGHT!

For more information on the Save Bristol Bay campaign, go to SaveBristolBay.org.

NATIONAL

NOVEMBER 2019

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FLY FISHING

The permit is the Holy Grail for many serious saltwater fly anglers. Many, including me, have traveled and spent endless days pursuing these great gamefish with little to show for our efforts. Of course, the challenge is what’s special about permit fishing, not the number of fish brought to hand. However, there is one place where an angler can have great success catching permit on the fly; that place is the Yucatan Peninsula’s Punta Allen. Here, just a few kilometers south of Tulum in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere, is the world’s most fertile and diverse permit saltwater fly fishery. The Unicorn of the Flats Ghostlike, spooky and finicky are three words to describe permit. It is one of the most difficult saltwater fish to catch on the fly and has been the Achilles heel for many saltwater fly angers. But if there is one destination where one can successfully sight cast to large schools of permit consistently, it’s the Sian Ka’an Biosphere. Because of the vast numbers of permit ranging from 2 to 20 pounds, a fly angler will have multiple shots per day. In addition, Yucatan permit are aggressive eaters, making them a great target for the less-experienced or first-time saltwater fly anglers. Flies and Tackle The primary food items for permit are crabs and shrimp. A good selection of these patterns will give the angler the best chance at success. For crab patterns, I like Merkins and Ragheads in sizes 4 and 6. I find the color of the fly should match the color of the habitat you’re fishing. For example, if you’re fishing over light colored sand, then a fly pattern should be tan or even white. If you’re fishing in turtle grass or a darker bottom, then a green or even a dark brown works best. Tackle A 9-foot, 9-weight rod matched with a large arbor reel that holds 250 yards of 30-pound Hi Viz Dacron or micron backing is the perfect combo for Yucatan permit. Since a majority of the fishing is in shallow water, I suggest only using a weight-forward tropical floating line. Keep your leaders long: 10 to 12 feet with 16- to 20-pound tippets. Casting to Permit It’s important to be able to quickly and accurately cast 30 to 60 feet when targeting permit on the flats. Your ability to make longer casts will increase your chances of catching more fish. Of course, you can hook a permit close to the boat, but it’s always to your advantage be able to make the long cast when the opportunity presents itself. The back-hand cast is another to be able to execute. Permit schools will often present themselves on the opposite side of the boat, so being able to make a quick back cast is very important.

For more Bowman, go to

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NOVEMBER 2019

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NOVEMBER 2019

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12/19/18 3:50 PM

êêêêê “The quality of their watches is equal to many that can go for ten times the price or more.” — Jeff from McKinney, TX

“Blue face watches are on the discerning gentleman’s ‘watch list’.” – watchtime.com

Stone Cold Fox So good-looking...heads will turn. So unbelievably-priced...jaws will drop.

very once in a while a timepiece comes along that’s so incredibly good looking, masterfully equipped and jaw-droppingly priced, that it stops us stone cold. A watch that can take you seamlessly from the 18th hole to the board room. A watch that blurs the line betweens sports watch and dress watch. We’re talking the Blue Stone Chronograph, and it sits at the top of the discerning gentleman’s watch list. Striking in appearance and fully equipped with features, this is a watch of substance. The Blue Stone merges the durability of steel with the precision of crystal movement that’s accurate to 0.2 seconds a day. Both an analog and digital watch, the Blue Stone keeps time with pinpoint accuracy in two time zones. The watch’s handsome steel blue dial seamlessly blends an analog watch face with a stylish digital display. It’s a stopwatch, calendar, and alarm. Plus, the Blue Stone resists water up to 30 meters, making it up for water adventures. A watch with these features would easily cost you thousands if you shopped big names. But overcharging to justify an inflated brand name makes us blue in the face. Which is why we make superior looking and performing timepieces priced to please. Decades of experience in engineering enables Stauer to put quality on your wrist and keep your money in your pocket.

Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Experience the Blue Stone Chronograph for 30 days. If you’re not convinced you got excellence for less, send it back for a refund of the item price. Time is running out. Originally priced at $395, the Blue Stone Chronograph was already generating buzz among watch connoisseurs, but with the price slashed to $79, we can’t guarantee this limited-edition timepiece will last. So, call today!

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Burnsville, Minnesota 55337

www.stauer.com

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• Precision movement • Digital and analog timekeeping • LED subdials • Stainless steel crown, caseback & bracelet • Dual time zone feature • Stopwatch • Alarm feature • Calendar: month, day, & date • Water resistant to 3 ATM • Fits wrists 7” to 9”

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FANTASTIC FALL SAVINGS There's plenty of fish to pull in this fall season and your Suzuki Marine Dealer has exceptional deals to get you out on the water. See your local Suzuki Marine Dealer for all the details!

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Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 10/01/19 and 12/31/19 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase. If an acknowledgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 10/01/19 and 12/31/19. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine. com. Instant Savings must be applied against the agreed-upon selling price of the outboard motor and reflected in the bill of sale. (Suzuki will, in turn, credit Dealer’s parts account.) There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 10/01/19 and 12/31/19. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2019 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

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9/6/19 9:21 AM