Coastal Angler Magazine | March 2023 | Miami Edition

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A MODERN-DAY TED WILLIAMS

By A. DeGruchy

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

Growing up in Miami, he o en escaped to sh the Florida Keys. rough the years, that passion never faded. He now lives in Islamorada and spends the o season shing with Capt. Brandon “ e Bean” Storin.

Capt. Bean grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and has vacationed every year in the Keys since he was 5 years old. He shed with Capt. Jimmy Willcox, who inspired a dream to become a backcountry guide. In 2021, e Bean ful lled his dream.

Together, JD and Capt. Bean have made memories while landing some awesome sh. eir rst trip in the Islamorada backcountry produced JD’s personal-best tripletail. It was JD’s rst time tripletailing, and they were sight-casting buoys. Just like hitting a 95-mph fastball, timing and execution are everything, and JD made the perfect cast when they spotted a stud tripletail. Several runs and exhales later, Bean swooped deep and netted the 20-plus-pound

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

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

full-grown one to boot.

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

JD is a good angler, and he is not the rst Red Sox slugger to nd a shing home on Islamorada. Ted Williams, considered by many to be the greatest hitter of all time, played for the Sox from 1939-1960. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966, and he is also a member of the Fly Fishing Hall of Fame. Williams resided and shed in Islamorada for bone sh and tarpon with legendary Capt. Jimmy Albright. It is said he became as good an angler as any of the guides.

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

Follow JD Martinez (@jdmartinez28) and Capt. Bean (@bnmbean) on Instagram. Some of their adventures are featured on YouTube at Bean Sport shing TV.

Noodling for Cat sh...what have I gotten myself into?

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

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

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

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

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

TO REMEMBER

By Deidra Thrappas

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

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

At rst there was nothing. en… WHAM! It was like a toothless gator grabbed me. I had been instructed to grab that sucker by its lower jaw with both hands and not to let go. So that’s what I did. A er a brief struggle, I had a dandy on the surface staring right at me! rough the day, we tried many holes, some empty and some with sh. Each time we stopped, the anticipation and excitement were the same as at the rst hole. It was a great experience, and I plan to go again soon. If you’ve ever thought of going noodling, I highly recommend it, 10/10.

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

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

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A CHANGE OF PACE

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

Today we are going to cruise past the shallow South Texas ats, through the pass, and nd some nearshore rocks loaded with huge legal Texas red snapper! What a di erence a few miles and 68 feet of water can make.

I typically make a handful of trips to the short rigs or rocks o the Texas coast each summer for a change of scenery. On the calm summer days, the mosquito eet (smaller bay boats) breaks the jetties and heads out for kings, cobia and red snapper. ese shallow-water snapper are typically in the 16- to 20-foot range. ey are tasty none the less, but nothing like what you nd close to shore in winter, as I recently observed during my rst winter o shore trip. Recently, we were in between cold fronts and had our rst sunny day in more than a week. Several days of windy, cloudy, cold, rainy days had me longing for some sunny rays. When my brother called and asked if I wanted to join him and his neighbor for some Texas red snapper, I didn’t hesitate to say yes! e photos he sent of the previous trip’s catch were the icing on the cake. e forecast called for 2- to 3-foot seas—which turned out to be less—70degree sunny temps, and wind at 6 knots from the east. is was a one-day window.

When we pulled up to a small set of rocks, there were two other boats there and four rods were doubled over! One of the boats was doing a bag check, and I watched him tossing and counting 15- to 20-pound snapper into the cooler. His count ended at 14, two shy of his limit… and they had two on the line. Keep in mind, at this time my personnel best snapper was about 8 pounds, and everything I was seeing was more than twice that size. e anticipation was high as I waited for the trolling motor to lock in.

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

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

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®

It’s Pompano Time in South Florida!

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

Temperature drives the movements of these tasty little jacks. ey prefer 70- to 80-degree water temps, they travel in schools and feed on mollusks and crustaceans in inlets and o sandy beaches. ese are some of the reasons pompano are a favorite target of shore-based anglers. Once you nd them, you are in for a world of fun.

Florida pompano, like permit, are in the jack family. ey have a strong resemblance to each other, so it’s important to be able to tell them apart. Size is a dead giveaway when you’re dealing with mature specimens, as pompano rarely grow larger than 6 pounds and permit regularly reach weights of up to 40 pounds. Pompano and juvenile permit, however, have a similar appearance. e most noticeable di erence is a permit’s larger, humped forehead. Pompano also tend to be more yellow throughout their body, while permit only have yellow on their bellies near their anal ns.

Anytime from March into the beginning of September, pompano move o shore to broadcast spawn. Since they already travel in schools, this is spontaneous, and they head back inshore when they are done. Prime time to sh for them here is April and May, and you’ll nd them along sandy beaches as well as around oyster and seagrass beds. Pompano seem to enjoy water with more current,

which has that milky look.

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

By Emily Rose Hanzlik

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

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

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BLADED JIGS TIPS FROM A PRO

TYLER WOOLCOTT

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

ere are hundreds of situations that make me want to sling a chatterbait. I always keep one tied on because it’s so versatile. Whether it’s grass, rocks, docks, wood or open water, there isn’t a situation where this bait doesn’t work.

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

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

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

ere isn’t a wrong way to use it. With the many colors, weights and size options, there is a match for the style of shing you want to do. From northern smallmouths to giant South Florida largemouths, every bass will eat a bladed jig. Like any bait, a chatterbait will perform best when matched with the right gear. I like a medium-heavy, moderate-action rod. You don’t want to set the hook as much as you want to reel into the sh when they eat the bait. Treat it like a bait with treble hooks. e 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’4mhm is absolutely perfect for this application. I pair a 7:5:1 gear ratio Concept A 13 Fishing reel and 15- to 20-pound Seaguar AbrazX. Hope this shing tip nds you well and puts more sh in your boat. Don’t hesitate to contact me on social media with any questions.

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

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Triple Threat Throwdown to Ra e O Loaded Fishing Kayak

Florida’s saltwater angler recognition program, Catch a Florida Memory, is sweetening the pot this year by o ering anglers a shot at winning a fully loaded shing kayak.

Rigged out with an accessory package from Yak Attack, this Bona de SS127 series kayak is a shing machine. It will be ra ed o to one lucky member of Catch a Florida Memory’s Triple reat Club a er a season-long event billed as the Triple reat rowdown. Only members of the Triple reat Club who are recognized with a Catch a Florida Memory achievement between now and Sept. 5 will be eligible for the ra e.

Triple Threat Club

Triple reat Club status is awarded to anglers who have quali ed for recognition in all three of the following Catch a Florida Memory programs. Once an angler enters the Triple reat Club, they are a member for life. ey receive a dry- t performance shing shirt and entry into Triple reat Club opportunities like the Triple reat rowdown.

• A Saltwater Grand Slam consists of catching three speci ed species within a 24-

hour time period. ere are nine di erent grand slam categories for di erent saltwater species in di erent habitats.

• Saltwater Reel Big Fish recognition is for anglers who catch one exceptionally large specimen from a list of 30 di erent species with pre-determined qualifying length.

• e Saltwater Fish Life List 10 Fish Club is for anglers who have caught 10 di erent species of saltwater sh from the Catch a Florida Memory Life List of 70 species.

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Eligible anglers must qualify for a recognition between now and Sept. 5, 2023 and be a member of the Triple reat Club at the time of the drawing. Eligible recognitions include a Grand Slam, a Reel Big Fish recognition, or a Life List recognition. Each angler will receive only one entry into the Triple reat rowdown ra e.

For more information and to submit catches, go to catcha oridamemory.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more information, go to myfwc.com.

NEW BRICK PAVER SIDEWALKS THROUGHOUT!

Conservation

If you have a passion for conservation as I do, and you want to see Florida’s natural resources protected as I do, consider supporting e Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida (FWFF). is group is a nonpro t 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to protect our outstanding animals and plants and the lands and waters they need to survive. e organization works closely with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and many other public and private partners. Since their founding in 1994, they have raised and donated more than $60 million for conservation and outdoor recreation, including youth outdoor education.

One of the cool ways that you can show your support is to purchase one of the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida’s license plates at https://wildlife orida.org/ buy-a-plate/ or at your local tax collector’s o ce. For every plate sold, $25 is donated to a cause of your choice. It’s not a small thing. ey receive more than $1 million each year from these donations, funds that they and their partners use via grants to conserve Florida black bears, wading birds, and many other species. ey also use these monies to protect and manage new wildlife lands and waters and provide kids with formative outdoor experiences. To learn more about e sh & Wildlife Foundation of Florida and their mission visit them on the web at wildlife oridaorg.

Publisher Coastal Angler Miami Edition

Scott Goodman

FRESHWATER

by Captain Mike Tojdowski

In March both largemouth and peacock bass will be in full spawn mode. e cold fronts felt during the last few months have triggered the sh to do the big dance and start making beds for their eggs to hatch in. For the most part, bass will protect their beds and strike uke baits that are watermelon color with silver ake. e Peacock Bass on the other hand become ultra-aggressive during the spawning months and will attack any bait presented within a few feet of their beds. e trick is to bother them enough to get an all-out attack and not just a warning tap or blow. e golden rule is only hook / catch one sh on a bed, leaving the mate to protect the eggs or fry. Most likely a released sh will return and pair up again insuring they will protect their eggs as a team and secure the future of their young.

Snook and tarpon are still being caught in deeper pockets of water near rock piles on the lake edges and on pilings in canals in water between 15-20 in depth. is time of year, we are running bigger 4 inch mullet plugs, suspending lures silver in color with red dot on back or live bait pair with a #2 circle hook either through both lips or behind the head on the top of the neck area allowing the bait to swim more naturally. Always remember to set the hook in an upward fashion and not sideways. We see this happen on charters all the time. Clients set the hook with a sideways motion which just pulls the bait out of the shes mouth rather than setting the hook in the top lip / bone. Tarpon and snook have boney mouths to begin with and it’s not always easy to set the hook.

Exotics such as midas and Jaguar Guapote cichlids are more active this month with the temperatures slightly warming. You can target them with either bread balls on a free line matched up with small octopus hook or 1/16 oz to 1/32 oz crappie jigs work perfect. You want your bait to gradually fall looking as natural as possible. Typically, they are bite shy at rst and therefore we like to get them going by chumming up the water with bread or cut pieces of sh for a few minutes before sending a small bait or bead ball with a hook in it down. Your best shot at catching several out of a school is to lead the sh you are ghting down the canal or lake and as far away from the other sh in the school as possible. Once the school notices you are catching them, they will refuse to bite and just go into deeper water avoiding your e orts no matter how hard you try.

Captain Mike Tojdowski

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The FishermanTraveling

by Capt. Bouncer Smith

March! Fish catching season has arrived!

What does that mean? Well, let’s see. e sea trout are swarming on the new grass growing on the ats of north Biscayne Bay. Try a rising tide and sh light spinning tackle rigged with an arti cial shrimp under a noise producing oat. Expert or amateur, this rig will produce.

Speaking of shrimp, they will be migrating out of the inlets, which re up snook, snapper and tarpon near these inlets as well as all kinds of bottom sh, jacks, king and Spanish mackerel, and even tuna, as the shrimp are swept o shore by outgoing tides.

Late season cold fronts will turn on tailing sail sh riding big seas caused by strong northbound Gulfstream currents running up against northeast winds. ese conditions use to produce great catches of big mahi, tailing cobia and black n tunas. Will they be back this year?

Another possibility is blacking out your live well with pilchards and trying your luck of chumming up yellow n tuna in 300 to 600 feet of water. Fluorocarbon leaders nished with circle hooks and baited with pilchards might produce a great catch or two.

Be sure to bring along some big live herring or goggle eyes to bait the kite. If you are going to catch a white marlin o Miami it should happen now.

If by chance you have a Penn International 80 or 130 loaded with lots of line, and a tuna tower, you might want to carry a couple of Bait Masters rigged tuna mullet or swimming mackerel. ere has been a good chance to bait, catch and release a giant blue n tuna in March the last several years.

Back inshore, look for pompano in the surf and on the South side of Government Cut this month. Shrimp or sand eas are the proven best baits, but some synthetic pompano baits are catching on. On the south side of Government Cut we caught pompano on incoming tides from against the jetty to one hundred yards South of the jetty on pompano jigs baited with live shrimp on strong NE winds. Beware you might catch a big tarpon.

If by some miracle you get a calm day in March, get out there and catch a sword sh or two. Please don’t overlook an evening try for these gladiators.

So, it’s not my eld of responsibility, but if you want some fast action for the kids from 3 to 93 with no waves, then get out in the Everglades canals. e water is low and the shing is FAST.

FLAMINGO

by NestorAlvisa

This time of year, water temperatures will vary a lot with cold fronts moving in for a couple days before it’ll start getting back to our hot South Florida temperatures. With the drop in water temperature, I’m usually shing ¼ oz jig heads rigged with a live shrimp or 3 in gulp shrimp on the bottom. e size of the jig will vary depending on the current speed and water depth. You’ll nd me shing creek runo s, deep channels with good moving water and deeper mangrove points with moving water as well. Depth and moving water is the key with these water temperature drops. ese areas will hold a warmer temperature than surrounding areas. is will keep the sh a little happier and in a willing state to feed. In these channels and creeks, we are targeting anything from snook, red sh, seatrout, black drum, snapper and sheepshead. Another thing I do with my clients during this time is sh just west of Schooner Bank for the schools of spanish mackerel that are out in the Gulf. A 1/16 oz long shank jig head or 2/0 longshank hooked with a shrimp, a bucktail jig, silver spoon, or gotcha plug will all do the trick. Once anchored, I like to put out a chum block to put some scent in the water to bring the sh in. Once you bring them in close, it’s typically one on every cast!

Nestor Alvisa

786.387.2443

INSHORE

by Capt. Abie Raymond

Ravenous tarpon, snook and snapper seek shrimp in January. e shrimp will run good this month. Shrimp run at night, usually a er 10pm. If possible, look for a hard Northeast wind and an outgoing tide. Fish around lighted bridges with lots of current. I’ve seen shrimp run on all wind directions and both tides, but the fore mentioned conditions are preferable. For tarpon, sh up current of the bridge span and oat the shrimp back with a braided line on a spinning out t. Your leader should be 3 . of 40 lb. uorocarbon with a hook size to match the shrimp size. I like in-line circle hooks. ey are better for the sh and the sh stay on the hook better. For snook (season is closed in January) and snapper, sh a jig-head matched to the speed of the current so your bait can touch bottom JUST BEFORE it arrives at the bridge structure.

Big muttons will be lurking on the patch reefs again this month. Lots of species will be hot on the patch reefs. Use a medium or heavy spinning out t. Fish a dead or live ballyhoo on jig heads appropriately weighted for the conditions. Make sure you cast it far and don’t worry if it doesn’t reach bottom muttons come up to the surface to feed all the time. While waiting for the trophy muttons sh fresh dead shrimp on knocker rigs on the bottom with light spinners and you will rack up the species in no time.

Remember to GO HARD. Good luck!

Captain Abie Raymond

305.775.5197

@abie_raymond

www.gohard shing.com

Hey!As you visit or patronize any of our advertisers… please mention that you saw them in their local

by NestorAlvisa

Enganchado a FLAMINGO

Amedida que avanzamos en marzo vamos a empezar a ver nuestros patrones climáticos típicos del sur de Florida, con frentes fríos menos frecuentes. Este mes, mi tiempo sigue dividido entre la pesca en Flamingo y la pesca de sábalo en Miami por las tardes.

En mis viajes a Flamingo suelo empezar los días pescando en el interior de los arroyos. De esta manera, empiezo en la desembocadura y trabajo lo más atrás posible, dependiendo de la fase de la marea. Voy a hacer mi camino hacia la parte posterior de estos arroyos durante las etapas más altas de la marea y a permanecer más cerca de la boca durante la etapa más baja de la misma. Lo que busco, mientras pesco en estos arroyos, son puntos y estructuras que normalmente puedo ver fuera del agua o que he marcado en mi Humminbird con el sonar de imagen lateral.

Pido a mis pescadores que pesquen con una plantilla de 1/4 onza equipada con una gamba viva, un gulp de 3 pulgadas o una cola de pala (conocida en inglés como paddle tail) cerca del fondo, alrededor de la estructura o el punto en cuestión.

Después de pescar en los arroyos, salgo fuera de los límites del parque en busca de boyas con nasas para cangrejos. A continuación, paso junto a ellas en busca de tricolores, pues a estos peces les encanta otar de costado junto a las boyas, camu ándose como algas para engañar a sus presas y hacerles creer que pueden venir a esconderse. El pez se girará entonces y engullirá al pequeño pez o crustáceo. Una gamba con línea libre, en un anzuelo del 2/0 o 3/0, será su ciente y en caso de que mis pescadores estén luchando para lanzar debido al viento, la adición de un bobber le dará un poco más de peso y esa distancia extra para conseguir que la carnada llegue hasta la boya.

Ahora, en cuento a mis salidas nocturnas para pescar sábalos, estaré en los puentes que rodean Miami, sobre todo durante la marea baja. Posicionaré mi barco en la corriente del puente que vamos a pescar, usando mi motor de curricán MinnKota Ulterra. Una vez en posición lanzamos una gamba viva y ¡comienza la acción!

Nestor Alvisa

@hooked_on_ amingo_charters

Hooked On Flamingo Charters

786.387.2443

AGUA DULCE

by Capitán Mike Tojdowski

En marzo, tanto la lubina como el pavón estarán en plena fase de desove. Los frentes fríos, sentidos durante los últimos meses, han provocado que los peces empiecen a hacer los nidos para la eclosión de sus huevos. En su mayor parte, los peces se centrarán en proteger sus camas y golpearán cualquier tipo de cebo uke (que son de color sandía con escamas de plata). Por otro lado, el pavón (conocido también como cichla) se vuelve ultra agresivo durante los meses de desove y atacará cualquier carnada que se le presente a pocos metros de su lecho. El truco está en molestarlos lo su ciente como para que ataquen de lleno y no sólo con un golpecito advertencia. La regla de oro es enganchar o capturar sólo un pez por lecho, dejando que el compañero proteja los huevos o alevines. Lo más probable es que un pez liberado regrese y se empareje de nuevo, de forma tal que protegerán sus huevos como un equipo y asegurarán el futuro de sus crías.

Róbalos y sábalos siguen siendo capturados en los bolsillos de agua más profundos, cerca de pilas de rocas en los bordes del lago y en los pilotes en los canales en el agua entre 15-20 pies de profundidad. En esta época del año, estamos utilizando salmonetes de 4 pulgadas, señuelos suspendidos de color plateado con un punto rojo en la parte posterior o carnadas vivas con un anzuelo circular #2, a través de ambos labios o detrás de la cabeza en la parte superior de la zona del cuello, permitiendo que el cebo nade de forma más natural. Recuerde siempre poner el anzuelo hacia arriba y no hacia los lados, vemos esto suceder en los charters todo el tiempo; los clientes colocan el anzuelo con un movimiento hacia los lados, lo que sólo saca el cebo de la boca de los peces, en lugar de colocar el anzuelo en el labio superior / hueso. El tarpón y robalo tienen bocas huesudas, así que no siempre es fácil poner bien el anzuelo.

Los peces exóticos como el midas y el jaguar guapote están más activos este mes con el calentamiento de las temperaturas, así que puede apuntar a ellos con bolas de pan en una línea libre, emparejado con un gancho pequeño de pulpo o bien los crappie jigs de 1/16 oz a 1/32 oz también hacen un trabajo perfecto. El señuelo debe caer gradualmente, con un aspecto lo más natural posible. Por regla general, estos peces son tímidos al principio y, por lo tanto, nos gusta hacer que se pongan en marcha cebando el agua con pan o trozos de pescado durante unos minutos antes de lanzar una pequeña carnada o una bola con un anzuelo. La mejor manera de capturar varios ejemplares de un banco es llevar al pez con el que lucha por el canal o el lago lo más lejos posible de los demás peces, pues una vez que el banco se dé cuenta de que los están capturando, se negarán a picar y se irán a aguas más profundas, evitando sus esfuerzos por mucho que lo intente.

Capitáns Mike Tojdowski

Llamada / Texto: 305-998-3375

Síguenos en Urban Legends Fishing Charter Facebook / Instagram @Urbanlegends shing

www.ULFish.com

Pesca en marzo con los vientos del este

by Capt. Abie Raymond

Marzo entra como un león y sale como un cordero, con esto me re ero a los fuertes vientos del Este que suelen asociarse al mes de marzo aquí en Miami. Estos vientos del este remueven muchos sedimentos del fondo de la bahía y oxigenan la super cie del agua con olas agitadas. Dicha combinación suele dar lugar a aguas turbias, así como a una gran cantidad de peces cebo y crustáceos. Todo esto me lleva a centrarme sobre todo en las ensenadas oceánicas; los espigones albergarán róbalos, sábalos, pargos y sargos.

Para la pesca de este mes, recomiendo usar anzuelos lastrados o jigs del tamaño adecuado, cebados con sardinas y gambas vivas. Utilice un bajo de línea de uorocarbono de 3 pies y 30 lb con un equipo de spinning de línea trenzada ligera/media. La pesca nocturna será muy productiva para todas las especies ya mencionadas. Recuerde pescar en la parte exterior de los espigones con la marea entrante y en la parte interior con la marea saliente. Los jureles grandes se pueden pescar con sardinas como carnada y debería poder encontrarlos en la marea saliente, dentro de las ensenadas donde el agua uye alrededor de las esquinas y hacia el océano. ¡Buena suerte en la pesca de este mes y vayan por todo!

Capitán Abie Raymond 305.775.5197

@abie_raymond

www.gohard shing.com

CUANDO EL TRAYECTO ES

LA MITAD DE LA DIVERSIÓN

será tan maravilloso que le permitirá crear recuerdos que durarán por años.

La GARANTÍA LIMITADA DE 5 AÑOS se aplica a las compras de motores fueraborda Suzuki, vendidos y entregados al comprador minorista, únicamente para uso de placer (no comercial), desde el 1 de Abril de 2021 hasta el 30 de Junio de 2022. Ver la Garantía Limitada Suzuki para más detalles. Suzuki, el logotipo “S”, y los nombres de modelos y productos de Suzuki son marcas comerciales de Suzuki o ®. No navegue en estado de embriaguez o bajo el uso de sustancias. Lleve siempre un chaleco salvavidas aprobado por la USCG y lea el manual del propietario. Suzuki Marine USA, LLC. Todos los derechos reservados.

Patrocinador de la Sección Española.

El PescadorViajero

by Capitán Bouncer Smith

¡Ha llegado la temporada de pesca de Marzo!

¿Qué signi ca eso? Bueno, veamos, este mes trae consigo varias cosas interesantes. Para comenzar, las truchas de mar están pululando en la nueva hierba que crece en los bajos del norte de la bahía de Biscayne. Pruebe con la marea alta y pesque con un aparejo de spinning ligero, equipado con un camarón arti cial bajo un otador que produzca ruido. Ya que sea un experto o un a cionado, este aparejo le dará buenos resultados.

Si pasamos a las gambas, estarán migrando fuera de las ensenadas, lo que a su vez pone en marcha a los róbalos, pargos y sábalos, así como a todo tipo de peces de fondo como jureles, caballas reales y españolas, e incluso atunes; esto debido a que las gambas son arrastradas mar adentro por las mareas salientes.

Los frentes fríos, de nales de temporada, provocarán que los peces vela de cola monten en grandes mares provocados por las fuertes corrientes del Golfo, que se dirigen hacia el norte y se enfrentan a los vientos del noreste. Estas condiciones suelen producir grandes capturas de peces dorados, cobias y atunes de aleta negra. ¿Volverán este año? Ya lo veremos.

Otra posibilidad para este mes, es ennegrecer el pozo de pesca con sardinas y probar suerte pescando atunes de aleta amarilla, entre 300 y 600 pies de profundidad. Los bajos de línea de uorocarbono, terminados con anzuelos circulares y cebados con sardinas, podrían producir una gran captura o dos. Asegúrese de llevar arenques vivos grandes u ojuelos para cebar la cometa. En caso de que desee pescar también un marlín blanco en las costas de Miami, debería hacerlo ahora.

Si por casualidad tiene un Penn International 80 o 130 cargado con mucha línea, y una torre de atún, es posible que desee llevar un par de Bait Masters equipados con atún salmonete o caballas. En los últimos años, durante el mes de marzo, ha habido buenas posibilidades de cebar, capturar y soltar un atún rojo gigante.

Ahora, de vuelta a la costa, busque pámpanos en el oleaje y en el lado sur de Government Cut, allí pescamos con jigs de pámpano cebados con gambas vivas. Aprovechamos los fuertes vientos del noreste, con mareas entrantes desde contra el espigón y hasta cien metros al sur del mismo. Debe estar muy atento, pues hay buena posibilidad de pescar un gran sábalo. Las gambas o las pulgas de arena son las mejores carnadas en este caso, no obstante, algunos cebos sintéticos para pámpanos se están poniendo de moda.

Si por algún milagro tiene un día tranquilo en marzo, salga y pesque uno o dos peces espada y no pase por alto un intento nocturno con estos gladiadores.

No es mi campo de responsabilidad, pero si quiere algo de acción rápida y diversión para los niños de 3 o adultos de 93, sin olas, salga a los canales de los Everglades, pues el agua está baja y la pesca será RÁPIDA.

Capt Bouncer Smith

305-439-2475

captbouncer@bellsouth.net

Let’s grow with Florida together.

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

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

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

the rocks in order to navigate over the shallow sand and mud bars of the river. Georgia’s sounds and rivers are littered with piles of ballast rocks, many of which are sh magnets. We shed the point for a good 20 minutes with no

shed several spots with only a sh and speckled trout to keep our attention. We shy-looking downed timber and carefully navigated beneath a low bridge, where nd sh on the outgoing

Georgia On My Mind STRIPERS

By Danny Patrick

He was correct. Jones hooked up with a nice 6-pound hybrid striped bass on his rst cast near the bridge. Hybrids are a hatchery-produced cross between striped bass and white bass. ey are unable to reproduce and are an excellent sport sh with the aggression of white bass and some of the size of a striper. ese hybrids came from the Georgia DNR hatchery at Richmond Hill, Ga.

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

All I had to do was get in the boat with my gear and a thermos of hot co ee. Jones was waiting for me with his Carolina ski in the water and a livewell full of gorgeous local live shrimp. As we motored o in the mist through creeks and the winding river, he told me a little about the shing.

Stripers are constantly on the move, and they hunt in packs. Jones dri shes live shrimp on oat rigs to locate concentrations of sh. en he switches to arti cial lures. Slow-sinking stick baits and bucktail jigs with so -plastic tails both work great.

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

Jones said he catches true stripers and hybrids together, and that sometimes aggressive stripers move in and take over when he’s catching trout. I threw to the same spot Jones caught his sh and immediately hooked and boated a 4-pound hybrid. e bite was on! We saw them busting nger mullet and had one come unbuttoned right at the boat. But then, as is sometimes the case with stripers, it ended as suddenly as it had begun. anchor and went back to the creek mouth where we started. Now the tide was running out swi ly. We caught several trout and a couple more hybrids before we headed back to the docks.

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

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

Capt. Drew Jones can be contacted at (912) 242-2502.

BECOME AN FWC SCALLOP-SITTER

If you’re a scalloper looking for a way to get involved in making more of the bivalves we all love, FWC has put a call out for “scallop-sitters” in the Florida Panhandle. e Scallop-Sitter program is available for volunteers in St. Joseph Bay, St. Andrew Bay and St. George Sound, and it is intended to increase scallop populations and reintroduce them to suitable areas from which they have disappeared.

Scallop-sitters volunteer to maintain cages with up to 50 bay scallops from June through January. On a monthly basis, volunteers check, count and clean their cages and scallops. Each volunteer will receive a cage, a bucket of scallops, tools to maintain cages, instructional materials and some fun giveaways.

To register as a scallop-sitter, you must meet the following requirements:

• Have no FWC violations on your record

• Live near St. Andrew Bay, St. Joseph Bay or St. George Sound

• Have access to the bay: via private dock, boat, or kayak

• Register through the UF Pace platform before May 25, 2023

• Watch virtual training video following registration and complete the program pre-survey

For more information, go to MyFWC.com or email bayscallops@myfwc.com.

By Will Schmidt

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

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

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

from 20 to 50 feet at speeds of 2 to 12 knots. e plugs will dive deeper at the higher end of that speed range than the lower end. I usually run about 5 knots and can easily get a 40-foot plug down to 30 feet at that speed, but a 30-foot plug would likely be short of the bottom. e amount of line you have out also greatly a ects the depth your plug is running, and this is where many mistakes are made. Slower speeds equal a atter angle of descent, so more line is needed. e idea is to be so close to the bottom that you occasionally bounce o it. Watch your rod tip for signs of the lure bouncing o the bottom. You will likely nd you need more line than you think. Keep dropping back until you start hitting bottom. e downside of this is you will get snagged on the bottom occasionally. When you do, don’t just try to wrench it o the bottom, get back behind the lure and pull it o in the opposite direction. A plus to the DTX Minnow is the single hooks seem to come o the bottom easier than treble hooks.

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

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

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

“The renown of Italy’s jewelry, with its sensual beauty and extraordinary craftsmanship, is founded on the goldsmithing skills passed down through generations.” – The New York Times

Iguess I was a little bored. For the past hour, I’d been on the phone with Daniele, the head of my office in Italy, reviewing our latest purchases of Italian gold, Murano glass and Italian-made shoes and handbags.

“Daniele,” I said, “What is the hottest jewelry in Italy right now?” His reply? Woven gold bracelets studded with jewelry. He texted me some photos and I knew immediately that this was jewelry that Raffinato just had to have.

The best part about these bracelets? The price. Because of our longstanding connections in Arezzo, the mecca of Italian goldsmithing, we can offer both bracelets together for just $99, a fraction of the price you’ll pay anywhere else for similar jewelry. Order today. These bracelets are one of our hottest sellers this year, and with disruptions in the supply chain, we can only guarantee that we have 1,273 861 of these bracelets on hand for this ad.

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Located within two hours driving distance to all major attractions in central Florida, international airports and Florida’s beautiful beaches, Putnam County’s outdoor recreational choices are legendary. Between world class fishing, boating, hunting, cycling, hiking, golf, and more, Putnam County has it all. Whether you are seeking real Florida culture and heritage, recreation, or just relaxing in a small historic town, the residents and businesses of Putnam County invite you to Experience Real Florida visitputn

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

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

e Bassmaster Classic pits 55 of the world’s best bass anglers against one another for the title of Bassmaster Classic Champion. e Classic is a catch-and-release event, with bass being returned to the shery under the supervision of the TWRA.

Daily takeo s will be from Volunteer Landing on the Tennessee River in downtown Knoxville each competition day, and weigh-ins will take place in the ompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus. e fan-favorite Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo will be held Friday through Sunday, March 24-26 in the Knoxville Convention Center and the adjacent World’s Fair Exhibition Hall.

All activities and venues are free and open to the public. For more information, visit Bassmaster.com.

B.A.S.S. PHOTO

COLOMBIA: A GOLDEN ERA OF FISHING BEGINS

By Riley Love

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

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

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

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

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

Peacocks and payara take ies very well, both poppers and streamers. For the conventional sherman, it’s a chance to use multiple baits and techniques. Very large topwater prop baits and poppers, big minnows at multiple depths. e Dramatis personae includes numerous others- pacu, sardinata, also the opportunity for multiple species of cat sh, some in the 400-pound range. Uraima falls in Venezuela was a specialized lodge for payara. is is o the list as a destination for various sordid reasons. I have bagged them across the frontiers of South America. Most run 6 to 7 pounds, and a very good one about 15 pounds. e sh on Columbia’s Orinoco run twice that size. I believe this is the best payara lodge on the planet.

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

FastTrack™Angler 385fta

The Fastest, Most Stable, Best Paddling Fishing Kayak

The in atable shing kayak is super rugged and ready to take on hooks, ns, and rocks. Tough, fast, portable, and built especially for anglers. The patented NeedleKnife™ keel cuts through the water so you can paddle or motor your way to your favorite spot quickly and easily. The Angler 385fta is 12’6” x 36” fully in ated and holds up to 2 people or 635 lbs. of people and gear. Packs down to 36” x 15” x 20” to t in a car trunk, SUV, RV, any small place. Various seating and trolling motor options are available.

console or tackle bag. You’ll nd other uses as necessity dictates.

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

If you’re shing a paddletail, grub, eel, worm or any so plastic on a jighead, a small drop of super glue will extend the life of that bait inde nitely. Secured to the jig, it will never slide down to the bend of the hook like a loose sock. To a lesser extent, this trick works for bare hooks, as well. Forget multiple sh, a so bait can last multiple trips when it’s glued in place— barring, of course, interactions with toothy sh.

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

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

By CAM Sta

SUPER GLUE BELONGS IN YOUR TACKLE BOX

Just like pliers or a good knife, super glue is an essential item in your shing kit. ere are numerous practical uses for this stu in shing, and it’s also a catch-all tool. It’s like liquid duct tape. When you have it, there’s no end to the situations when it comes in handy. Here are a few good reasons you should keep a tube of super glue in your

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

Miscellaneous: Super glue can save the day when an eyelet or rod tip comes loose. It’ll also keep you on the water when you cut yourself chunking bait. Glue the wound shut and keep shing. Save the emergency room for later.

For more tips, go to coastalanglermag.com.

By Molly Kirk

GOLDEN BASS CAUGHT IN VIRGINIA

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

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

“Golden largemouth bass are extremely rare and most anglers have never seen them, let alone heard of them before,” said Alex McCrickard, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) Aquatic Education Coordinator. “ e sh is a product of a genetic mutation that alters the skin pigments called xanthism. Yellow pigmentation dominates in xanthism, as you can see in Moore’s golden largemouth.”

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

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

TIES STATE RECORD

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

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

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

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

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

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