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Bad to the Bone Full tang stainless steel blade with natural bone handle —now ONLY $79!
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he very best hunting knives possess a perfect balance of form and function. They’re carefully constructed from fine materials, but also have that little something extra to connect the owner with nature. If you’re on the hunt for a knife that combines impeccable craftsmanship with a sense of wonder, the $79 Huntsman Blade is the trophy you’re looking for. The blade is full tang, meaning it doesn’t stop at the handle but extends to the length of the grip for the ultimate in strength. The blade is made from 420 surgical steel, famed for its sharpness and its resistance to corrosion. The handle is made from genuine natural bone, and features decorative wood spacers and a hand-carved motif of two overlapping feathers— a reminder for you to respect and connect with the natural world. This fusion of substance and style can garner a high price tag out in the marketplace. In fact, we found full tang, stainless steel blades with bone handles in excess of $2,000. Well, that won’t cut it around here. We have mastered the hunt for the best deal, and in turn pass the spoils on to our customers. But we don’t stop there. While supplies last, we’ll include a pair of $99 8x21 power compact binoculars and a genuine leather sheath FREE when you purchase the Huntsman Blade. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Feel the knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the impeccable craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price. Limited Reserves. A deal like this won’t last long. We have only 1120 Huntsman Blades for this ad only. Don’t let this BONUS! Call today and beauty slip through your fingers. Call today! you’ll also receive this
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SEPTEMBER 2021
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The Explorer is one well-constructed 20 ATM dive watch for a price that won’t take you under.
he market’s swimming with overpriced dive watches. We’re here to tell you those guys are all wet. At Stauer our philosophy is everyone deserves the best without having to dig deep into their pockets. We’ve been in the watch industry for decades and know more than a thing or two about getting the ultimate bang for our buck— which means we can pass the fruits of our know-how onto our clients. Case in point: The Explorer Dive Watch. This tough-as-nails sophisticate would cost you in the thousands if you got it from a high-end retailer that’s really in the business of selling a big name more than a quality watch. We keep the big names out of the equation so we can price this top-notch timepiece for just $99 –– a price that let’s you dive in and have enough left over for an excursion or two...or three. You’re getting a lot for your money with this watch. The Explorer is the perfect companion in any locale–– whether you’re exploring coral reefs or investigating the rum options at a beachside bar. With a case, band and crown of stainless steel, this watch is built to last, and its water resistance rating of 20 ATM means it can handle most of your aquatic adventures to a depth of 678 feet. The striking metallic blue face reflects the “...dive watches feel authentic—they project an air of necessity which other categories of timepieces simply fail to match” —Hodinhee.com
deep waters it was designed to explore and it’s sporty screw-down crown can take the pressure in stride. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If you are not completely convinced you got excellence for less, simply return the Explorer Dive Watch within 30 days for a refund of the item price. At Stauer, we never leave our customers high and dry. Limited Edition. Sure you could give your hard-earned money to those other guys, but why would you? We’ve got the thinking man’s timepiece right here. This watch takes six months to engineer and it’s already making waves, so we can’t guarantee it will be around for long. Call today, and experience how good it feels to get true luxury for less.
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SEPTEMBER 2021
NATIONAL 5
IN THIS BATTLE, YOU NOW HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF SHOCK AND AWE.
The next generation of our workhorse spinning reel, the new PENN ® Battle ® III now features our proprietary CNC Gear ™ Technology for ultimate durability, and the proven HT-100 ™ Carbon Fiber Drag System for ultimate control during the fight. Available in nine different sizes, from 1000 to the new 10,000, and in select high speed models, it can handle any situation. The new Battle® III. Fish won’t know what hit them. PENN. LET THE BATTLE BEGIN.
Best Saltwater Reel ICAST 2020 ©2020 Pure Fishing, Inc.
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See Extensive ICAST Coverage In The Angler Video Mag
I
CAST 2021 marked a return to normalcy for the fishing industry. In the 64th exhibition of the world’s largest sportfishing trade show, the halls of the Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center bustled with activity July 21-23. As usual, the event kicked off with the ICAST Cup bass tournament at nearby Lake Toho, and the renowned big-bass factory did not disappoint. In a short four-hour tournament, the winning team weighed a tournament-record 25-pound, 7-ounce five-fish limit. But most of the action went on indoors. The annual ICAST New Product Showcase is an event the fishing world eagerly awaits every year. It is the venue where industry heavyweights and innovative newcomers roll out their best new gear for the year to come. This year, 686 new products were entered by 218 companies to compete for Best of Category awards in 30 different categories. From rods, reels and lures to apparel, electronics, gadgets and accessories, the New Product Showcase is gear-head heaven. The Angler Video Mag team was on-hand at ICAST 2021 to cover the show and give you a first-hand look at some of the cool and innovative products that will make you a better angler this year.
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NATIONAL 7
Live Bait Snook on South Florida Beaches
H
ere on Florida’s East Coast, we have access to some of the most exciting shore-based fishing there is. From spring, through summer and into fall, big snook run the beaches of South Florida, and they can be caught from the sand with lures and even sight fished with flies. I am a lure fisherman, and everyone knows it, but fishing with artificials can be difficult during the doldrums of late summer and fall. The Atlantic Ocean is flatter and big snook become wary. The fish are still here; what are we to do? Here’s a pretty simple technique that will catch snook when the fishing gets tough. The hottest bait this time of year is live croakers. Croakers are catching so many snook right now that the local bait shops here in the Stuart, Fla. area sell out as soon as they get a shipment. With the artificial bite kind of drying up, my friend and occasional fishing buddy, Mike Vars, showed me how to catch big snook on live bait. Mike buys a dozen croakers when he can get them. All you need to keep them alive for a couple days is a round bucket with an aerator. Good baitsized croakers are 5 to 8 inches, anything larger might catch a big snook, but they are harder to fish. Mike uses a 3 or 4 size circle hook and hooks his croakers through the nostrils so they can
8 NATIONAL
SEPTEMBER 2021
By Richard L. Matteson
swim freely. Some anglers prefer to hook them through the tail. Since the tactic involves free-lining, with no weight, casts should be just past the trough on a high tide, which is about 20 feet here. Then open the spool and let that croaker run. On low tide, it might be necessary to wade past the trough and cast farther out. Mike uses a 60-lb. leader and 20-lb. braid on a spinning reel. Before the snook takes the bait, the croaker will often wiggle excitedly—this is a signal you are about to get bit. When the line suddenly starts moving fast, it means a snook has your croaker. Let her have the bait for a few seconds, and then begin reeling steadily so the circle hook lodges in the corner of her mouth. Mike Vars with a nice beach snook Mike averages three or four big female snook caught on live bait. each trip with this method. He has caught several over-slot snook, with the biggest measuring about 40 inches. Florida’s Atlantic Coast. You’re allowed one per day If you want to catch your own bait, use a between 28 and 32 inches. sabiki rig and tip hooks with a small piece of Richard Matteson writes for the Stuart Rod & shrimp. Or fish the trough with light tackle and a Reel Club and he is a long-time contributor small piece of shrimp. to Coastal Angler Magazine. Sept. 1 marks open season for snook on
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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downsize ky fish to shot. My th a hook
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Re-Discover Old Florida
Waterfront Charm
The Perfect Vacation Getaway for Fishing, Boating & Outdoor Enthusiasts A drop shot is an awesome way to get bites when it gets tough. With the bait suspended off the bottom above your weight, it gives fish a different presentation than the normal Texas rig. Pitch it around hard cover like wood and rock, drag it through grass or throw it around dropoffs or deep spots. I always have a drop shot rigged this time of year, and it puts fish in the boat.
Drop Shot Gear A drop shot is a finesse approach. I use a 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’1” medium fast action rod paired with a 2500 size spinning reel. Spool this combo with Seaguar 10-lb. Smackdown braid leading to an 8- to 12-lb. Abrazx fluorocarbon leader depending on the cover and water clarity you are dealing with.
TIPS FROM A PRO
to warm h tend to
DROP SHOT WHEN THE BITE IS TOUGH
T
TYLER WOOLCOTT
he end of summer is here, and the fishing is a little tough. From fishing pressure through the summer to warm water temps, this time of year can be a grind at times. Fish tend to get a little lock-jawed, and this can be really frustrating. When this scenario presents itself, I pull out a spinning rod, downsize my line and bait, and slow down my presentation to get finicky fish to eat. One of my favorite techniques this time of year is a drop shot. My drop shot rig consists of a weight tied to the end of the line with a hook and soft plastic tied in about 12 to 18 inches above the weight. There are two styles of baits I like to drop shot. One of them is a finesse-style worm like the 13 Fishing Rabbit Ear Joy Stick Ultra Thin 4.5’ worm. I like a worm on my drop shot when I’m targeting largemouth, especially in Southern states. These fish are usually feeding on a little bit larger forage, and the finesse worm is a perfect fit. Rig this worm on a 1/0 Hayabusa FPP Straight hook with a 1/4or 3/8-oz. WOO Tungsten weight for the perfect presentation. The other soft plastic I like on a drop shot is a small baitfish imitator. The 13 Fishing Vertigo Minnow gets a ton of bites. When you find fish chasing small baitfish or you’re up north where there are smallmouth bass, this style of soft plastic gets the job done. Rig it on a Hayabusa DSR132 #1 hook with a ¼ or 3/8-oz. WOO Tungsten weight, as well.
Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. R E S E RV E Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.Y
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14 FLORIDA THEANGLERMAG.COM
SEPTEMBER 2021
I like to keep things simple when it comes to colors. With finicky fish, you want your bait to look as natural as possible. I match colors to the forage in the lake. When throwing the finesse worm, my favorite colors are the green pumpkins and even pinkish colors like a morning dawn. With the baitfish, I stick to white and pearl or your green pumpkin and brown. A drop shot is an awesome way to get bites when it gets tough. With the bait suspended off the bottom above your weight, it gives fish a different presentation than the normal Texas rig. Pitch it around hard cover like wood and rock, drag it through grass or throw it around dropoffs or deep spots. I always have a drop shot rigged this time of year, and it puts fish in the boat.
P
Drop Shot Gear A drop shot is a finesse approach. I use a 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’1” medium fast action rod paired with a 2500 size spinning reel. Spool this combo with Seaguar 10-lb. Smackdown braid leading to an 8- to 12-lb. Abrazx fluorocarbon leader depending on the cover and water clarity you are dealing with. Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.
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MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TRIP Tim Barefoot
Y
es, everyone wants to catch a grouper, or three, but you should be prepared— tackle-wise—to come home with “the groceries.” One way to accomplish this is to keep a beeliner/triggerfish rig ready on a rod and to have someone willing to use it when you get on the right mark. Not all big stacks of bait on the recorder are beeliners and triggerfish, but get accustomed to it and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what you’re looking at. The bigger species of the reef complex tend hang out under a big stack of bait, like cigar minnows, sardines, beeliners, etc. But the truth of the matter is, what you might be looking for is near the top of the stack. For example, the larger beeliners might sometimes be the first taps you get on your jig as it drops toward the bottom. When I’m grouper fishing, I fish a revolving spool reel rather than a spinning reel for several reasons. The main reason is so I can feel the bait as it drops. If you feel the bait on the jig getting tapped on the way down, understand that you’re in beeliners, triggers and/or American reds. At that point, it’s up to you to capitalize or just continue to grouper fish for grouper only. If you choose to do it, you can load up on some pretty tasty groceries by sizing down your tackle.
T H E
P E R F E C T
I take a 5-lb. box of squid on every trip offshore for a number of reasons, but this is one of the main reasons. Using a small 1/0 circle hook, double tackle and a 2- or 3-oz. bank sinker, you can harvest grouper bait and dinners deluxe. I count the strips it takes to get to the fish. This is also where multi-colored line can come into play. Drop your bait down to the same color where they were hitting, and then start a very slow descent. These fish like to eat bait as it falls. When you feel the tap or the bait just stops falling, click the reel into gear and let the circle hook do its work. When you get them working upward in the water column, keep them going. If you stop catching them, you’ll see the top of the mark start working it’s way back closer to the bottom. The top of the school is typically where the larger fish will be, especially the triggerfish. Triggers are hard to catch on the grouper jigs, but smaller circle hooks are deadly on these crafty bait stealers. I always anchor to grouper/bottom fish. This style of teasing beeliners and triggers up toward the surface only works from a stationary boat, not drifting. Check out videos on rigging and using doublecircle-hook tackle at barefootcatsandtackle.com.
E S C A P E
I N
T H E
H E A R T
O L D
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F L O R I D A
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TRIP
Y
Tim Barefoot
es, everyone wants to catch a grouper, or three, but you should be prepared—tackle-wise—to come home with “the groceries.” One way to accomplish this is to keep a beeliner/triggerfish rig ready on a rod and to have someone willing to use it when you get on the right mark. Not all big stacks of bait on the recorder are beeliners and triggerfish, but get accustomed to it and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what you’re looking at. The bigger species of the reef complex tend hang out under a big stack of bait, like cigar minnows, sardines, beeliners, etc. But the truth of the matter is, what you might be looking for is near the top of the stack. For example, the larger beeliners might sometimes be the first taps you get on your jig as it drops toward the bottom. When I’m grouper fishing, I fish a revolving spool reel rather than a spinning reel for several reasons. The main reason is so I can feel the bait as it drops. If you feel the bait on the jig getting tapped on the way down, understand that you’re in beeliners, triggers and/or American reds. At that point, it’s up to you to capitalize or just continue to grouper fish for grouper only. If you choose to do it, you can load up on some pretty tasty groceries by sizing down your tackle. I take a 5-lb. box of squid on every trip offshore for a number of reasons, but this is one of the main reasons. Using a small 1/0 circle hook, double tackle and a 2- or 3-oz. bank sinker, you can harvest grouper bait and dinners deluxe. I count the strips it takes to get to the fish. This is also where multi-colored line can come into play. Drop your bait down to the same color where they were hitting, and then start a very slow descent. These fish like to eat bait as it falls. When you feel the tap or the bait just stops falling, click the reel into gear and let the circle hook do its work. When you get them working upward in the water column, keep them going. If you stop catching them, you’ll see the top of the mark start working it’s way back closer to the bottom. The top of the school is typically where the larger fish will be, especially the triggerfish. Triggers are hard to catch on the grouper jigs, but smaller circle hooks are deadly on these crafty bait stealers. I always anchor to grouper/bottom fish. This style of teasing beeliners and triggers up toward the surface only works from a stationary boat, not drifting. Check out videos on rigging and using doublecircle-hook tackle at barefootcatsandtackle.com. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COMSEPTEMBER JUNE 2020 2021
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Getting Out There a Little Earlier By: Capt. Greg Poland
I
know how hot it has been out there on the water but if you set that alarm clock and get out there a little earlier than usual, I think you will find some great fishing this time of year. The past couple of months, I have been meeting up with my clients at first light and fishing till noon then relaxing under the tiki hut with a cold one during the heat of the day. If your headed to the backcountry like I do most days, I like to look for rolling tarpon at first light, and if I don’t find them rolling in channels or around my favorite shoreline I’ll move on in search of live bait. If you know you are only going to fish till that mid-day heat,
only spend enough time on the live bait search as needed so you can get on to the fishing. It is great to have a blackedout bait well but my bait never seems to hold up well overnight, so I tend to only catch what I need for the day. The snook fishing has been great lately in and around the backcountry channels and shorelines but the sharks have also been around, so please don’t put your hands in the water to grab a fish at boat side. I always use a landing net and just the other day had had a 6ft bull shark try to attack a snook while it was in the net! Check out my Instagram feed under to see the action, it was insane. I have always loved shark fishing and this time of year you can chum them up for some great sight fishing in shallow water. Definitely a lot of fun when I have kids on board and a great way for everybody to pull on a giant fish in clear water. If you are more interested in something to eat for dinner mangrove snappers have been biting out on the reef line and I have been venturing offshore for the mahi mahi action when the weather and wind allow. I just got a brand-new Contender Bay Boat and added a retractable Bimini Top for the hot summer days. If you are looking to get out on the water for a few hours in the backcountry, give me a call and let’s get you and your family out for some fun on the water.
gregpoland@icloud.com | www.gregpoland.com 305-393-3327 FACEBOOK.COM/CAMNAPLES/ | SEPTEMBER 2021 | NAPLES 1
2 NAPLES | SEPTEMBER 2021 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/NAPLES/
Take Off, Eh! By: Capt. Fred Gowdy
A
nd that's just what we did! With the Daughter and Dad team from up North, we headed to our spot 9 miles off Redfish Pass in sporty seas. Good thing we were in the Everglades 24, powered by 300 horses! We were locked and loaded with 7 ft/20-50 lb. rated rods with large 5000-6500 spinner reels, loaded with 60 lb. braid and 60+ lb. leaders. We also had 4000-5000 spinner setups to catch bait and snapper. The Daughter and Dad team were looking for some table fare. As the chum disbursed, we got the sabiki rig to work catching threads over top of what the bottom machine is showing to be a great structure. Dad, who was seated in the aft jump seat facing the console and holding the rod as if he were crappie fishing in Lake Wobegon, got a nice bite and wound up in the "over the shoulder boulder holder". He hooked what I thought was a decent snapper. It was on one of the smaller rods with a very light leader. He quickly got rocked up. After standing up and getting a firm grip on the rod, a nice 16" mangrove snapper hit the deck! We then started deploying the larger rods with
the fresh bait from over top the structure. BAZINGA! Both Dad and Daughter started pulling in gag groupers! Two of the gags were legal to keep if the season were open, but as fate always predicts, the season opened in two days. So back in the drink they went. Then one of the larger grouper rods goes off - this fish was from Cincinnati! (!!AKA BIG DADDY!!) With barracudas surrounding the boat, my First Mate lunges for the giant snapper in the 5 to 6lb range with the net. After multiple swipes, the fish is cut in half by a 6' barracuda! The drag screams away as the barracuda makes a run for it. After a tough fight, we landed the barracuda and it made for a great picture! As we made our way back, we stopped at a couple of other reefs in the 3-6-mile range. We caught more snapper to add to the bag and were teased by a keeper-size cobia that swam within rod-length of the boat and would not hit white bait, shrimp or artificial. All in all, Daughter and Dad caught some really nice fish. They had fresh snapper for dinner that night, and I made a couple of new friends from Wisconsin.
fred27152@gmail.com | Fred Gowdy Charters FB 239-645-2127 FACEBOOK.COM/CAMNAPLES/ | SEPTEMBER 2021 | NAPLES 3
The International Sawfish Day Logo. Credit: The Deep, Hull, UK.
Two sawfish at Mandalay Bay Shark Reef Aquarium in Las Vegas. Credit: Tonya Wiley.
SAWFISH NEWS by Tonya Wiley, Havenworth Coastal Conservation
International Sawfish Day is October 17
T
he sawfishes are some of the most imperiled elasmobranchs (sharks, rays, and skates), with all five species assessed as Critically Endangered or Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. International Sawfish Day is an annual event held on October 17 to educate the public about the biology and ecology of these spectacular rays, to highlight the threats they continue to face, to focus on current research and management efforts to safeguard their future, and to inform people how they can contribute to the conservation and recovery of sawfish around the world. Founded by the European and American Associations of Zoos and Aquariums and the Sawfish Conservation Society, the first International Sawfish Day was celebrated in 2017. On October 17, 2021 the fifth International Sawfish Day will be celebrated mostly online due to the global coronavirus pandemic; however, there may be some events at institutions and organizations around the world. To celebrate International Sawfish Day next month, participating aquariums, museums, zoos, schools, conservation agencies, and research groups hold celebrations and events, share messages and images on social media, and help spread the word about sawfish. Social media posts using the hashtag #InternationalSawfishDay and interactive events reach hundreds of thousands of people in the weeks surrounding each International Sawfish Day. In addition to the excitement generated for sawfish protection and conservation, International Sawfish Day also raises funds for sawfish field research programs and helps strengthen the collaborative relationships between the public aquarium community and research and field conservation organizations. The American
The 2021 International Sawfish Day shirts available from the Sawfish Conservation Society. Credit: Sawfish Conservation Society.
Association of Zoos and Aquariums coordinates the fundraiser to contribute to important sawfish research and conservation efforts. Information about events and the fundraiser can be found at www. InternationalSawfishDay.org. Want to get involved? Lots of resources are available to help you celebrate in style or host your own event and increase your knowledge about sawfish. You can print posters, brochures, and handouts and discover fun sawfish games and craft ideas. You can also buy an official 2021 International Sawfish Day t-shirt, which this year promotes the preservation of mangroves which provide crucial habitat for young sawfish, to proudly wear on October 17 (and any day). Information about scheduled events and other International Sawfish Day resources can be found at www.SawfishConservationSociety.org and at the Sawfish Conservation Society public Facebook group at www.facebook.com/ groups/91335002341.
4 NAPLES | SEPTEMBER 2021 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/NAPLES/
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You’re Safe, or Are You? By: Capt. Sue Nerud
S
everal years ago, I was introduced to scalloping up in the Tarpon Springs area. What a beautiful area to boat, play, fish, and of course scallop! After scalloping that day, I made my way to a local fish diner and spent the evening discussing the area waters with local boaters. At one point, a boater mentioned a rock, a rock called Gomez rock. I thought wow, it actually has a name, it's got to be huge. After further questions, Gomez Rock is actually more like an oyster bed, but apparently a big one at that. We had been boating all weekend and following the same GPS tracks, this Sunday morning was no exception. The difference was, I had inadvertently forgotten to check the tides. Since I had been following the same tracks all weekend I figured we would be fine. Famous last words, right? I was up on plane and suddenly felt a little shake at the helm. It was so slight I almost didn't power down but when I went to turn, Alpha Mare would not change course. My first thought was my shift cable snapped. Either way, I powered down to check it all out. I sent my first mate back to check it out while I stayed at the helm.
He said "Sue, trim up, bring your outdrive up". I said "It is up!". The expression on his face was something I will never forget. "Sue, your lower unit is gone!" Yes, it appears I had experienced the infamous Gomez Rock! After further investigation, it was completely sheared off, almost like someone had cut the lower unit off. I had hit Gomez Rock at the exact perfect angle that it sheared the lower unit cleanly off. All I could say was, thank god we were up on plane. Had I been traveling slower, this story may very well have a much darker ending. No one got hurt, other than my ego and of course Alpha Mares' lower unit. Weeks earlier, I had purchased a new stainless-steel prop, which was now missing. But I was determined to find it, and find it I did. Not only did I find my lower unit, but another large prop was also discovered. It appears I was not the only Captain to visit Gomez Rock! I leave you with another quote " Each day, a new day." To clean water, good seas, and blue skies. Captain Sue.
6 NAPLES | SEPTEMBER 2021 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/NAPLES/
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My Favorite! By: Capt. Travis Freeman
H
ello everyone. Capt. Travis here with Steadyfishingcharters living and fishing out of Everglades city, FL. I’m here to tell everyone how the fishing has been for me and my clients this September. First of all, early fall fishing is my favorite time of the year to fish down here in the Everglades. I grew up down here and fishing is definitely always amazing here, but in the fall as the water starts to slowly cool off. The big redfish tend to show up and they will always eat a live shrimp on 30- or 40-pound mono leader. And let’s not forget about the fall snook season that starts in September! For big snook I love casting a MirrOlure, silver on the sides with a grey or black back, 3 & 3/8 inch in length. Also, it always helps to have a live white bait in the live well, such as a finger mullet or pilchard anywhere for 3 to 5 inches in size. I catch them myself with my 8ft 3/8inch cast net; a trade I learned as a young boy from my
grandfather and father, one of the many reasons I’m thankful for growing up in Everglades City, FL. Another species that we catch down here this time of the year is tripletail aka buoy fish - LOL. They live in the gulf along the near shores sticking close to any type of structure. Anything from dead or live mangrove trees to commercial crab trap buoys in the Gulf of Mexico itself, and triple ail are some of the best eating fish that I can think of when it comes to fishing and catching dinner in the Everglades. For tripletail in September down here in the Glades I usually free-line a live shrimp or a live pilchard on a number 4 J hook with 30-pound leader. Or I will cast a white and pink bucktail jig tipped with shrimp 3/8 oz or 1/4 oz in weight. Those things pretty much always do the trick for me when it comes to catching these fish. God bless and tight lines to all.
Steadyfishingcharters.com | Steadyfishing@yahoo.com 239-285-2971 FACEBOOK.COM/CAMNAPLES/ | SEPTEMBER 2021 | NAPLES 7
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Freshwater Scene By: Capt. Roan zumFelde
S
eptember is here and hopefully fall is just around the corner, fishing in the freshwater this month is difficult at best. The Everglades Canals are high, fishing in most of them is not great. I would still suggest the Interceptor early in the morning with small micro crankbaits or 4 inch worms. Wooley Bugger Fly patterns also work well this time of the year, especially on the cichlids in the canal. The Golden Gate system is still going to be pretty good early in the mornings. Take a venture to the Miami canals for exciting peacock bass action, check myfwc.com they have a map of canals. Lake Trafford can be very tough this month, high water and lots of heat have really made things difficult; next month should be better with hopefully a bit of a cool down.
Just about every golf course or housing community in Naples that has lakes associated are full of fish, not only are they full of bass and cichlids but many of them have snook and tarpon in them to boot! When targeting this treasure trove of fish you always want to use a Trace of Shock Leader of at least 20 pound test if not larger, like 30 or 40 pound. If you are fishing a golf course pond be sure to have permission and please be mindful of the golfers so you do not interfere with their play. Usually late evening is your best time, most are in the clubhouse and the course is wide open for fishing. I like to throw top water type baits or small Rapalas in these lakes to start, these make great search baits and the strikes can be vicious. Live shiners under a cork work well, and surprisingly enough, we have some customers that fish live shrimp in the ponds with great success. When fishing live shrimp you will need an aerator and bucket of saltwater to keep them alive, they will not stay alive in the freshwater for very long. Check back each month we will highlight a different area to fish by land or by small boat that you might never had thought of. If you have any questions about where and when, or how to fish these waters I would be happy to see and talk to you at the shop. Come visit Mike and I at Mike’s Bait House and Indian Pass Outfitters on Danford Street, next to Bayview Park in Naples and we can talk Fishing. We carry a full line of tackle including: fly fishing needs and both saltwater and freshwater gear, food, drink, and bait. Thanks and good fishing. Roan z
Mike’s Bait House | Mikesbaithouse.com Indianpassoutfitters.com | 239-775-2248 | C- 239-269-4426
8 NAPLES | SEPTEMBER 2021 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/NAPLES/
r, fishglades d still rankll this olden . Take check tough diffiown.
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Yellowtail Snapper By: Michael Sipos, UF IFAS Sea Grant Agent
T
he yellowtail is a semi-pelagic transient species that sticks out among the ~113 species found in the snapper family. These mid water swimmers are the only member of its genus Ocyurus! Many of the yellowtail’s commonly caught cousins like the mangrove, mutton and red snapper have tails that are wider/square in shape which are perfect for maneuvering in and around structure providing bursts of speed when needed. The yellowtail however have a deeply forked tail that normally is associated with faster and sustained swimming speeds hence the genus translation of “quick tail.” This species is usually found suspended in the water column where that tail shape gives the yellow-
tail an advantage. There aren’t too many species that you can get yellowtail snapper mixed up with although the rainbow runner (Elagatis bipinnulata) also have a deeply forked yellow tail and inhabit the same space in the water column and areas as the yellowtail snapper. Rainbow runners are a member of the jack family and have a smoother cylindrical appearance with a scaly/boney projection on both sides of the base of the tail known as keels. Yellowtail are a schooling species that live in the Western Atlantic and can be found from Massachusetts to Brazil, however this fish becomes more abundant in tropical waters around South Florida and throughout the Caribbean. This primarily nocturnal predator that have great eyesight feeds above the reef structure. Adult yellowtail prey upon invertebrates like crabs, shrimp, squid, marine worms as well as small fish while juveniles feed primarily on plankton. When making a seafood choice based on sustainability, Yellowtail snapper are listed as a “good alternative” by the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch and FishChoice for fish caught in the U.S. on hook and line. In other areas and countries there may be less fisheries management for this species that prevents overfishing. This species is NOT listed as endangered or vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation
Scan code to view video on how to fillet a yellowtail snapper. of Nature (IUCN). Be sure to follow the proper local fisheries regulations when fishing for yellowtail, as they do have a length and aggregate bag limit in both Florida state and federal waters.
.com 4426 FACEBOOK.COM/CAMNAPLES/ | SEPTEMBER 2021 | NAPLES 9
How do Polarized Sunglasses Work? by: CAM editorial Staff
E
very angler knows that fishing sunglasses are polarized sunglasses. Whether you’re slinging flies on a tiny brook trout stream or trolling a spread on the Gulf Stream, sunglasses are a must to protect your eyes, both from the sun’s harmful rays and errant hooks. Polarized glasses block the glare, which allows for increased visibility beneath the surface. If you’ve ever tested the difference between polarized and non-polarized glasses while looking into the water, you’ve seen the difference. The benefits of polarized lenses to anglers are obvious. They allow you to see bait, structure and even fish you would never have seen without them. But how do they work? What is this magic technology that allows you to see beneath the waves? Let’s start with the nature of light. When light from the sun hits a horizontal surface, it is reflected horizontally and concentrated. This is the “blinding glare” you experience as light bounces off the water, a snow bank or a car hood. Even when reflected light is non-uniform—meaning it is refracted at different angles—like off choppy or moving water, it still causes glare that blinds your eyes to what lies beneath the surface. Polarization, which is achieved in glasses via a chemical coat during manufacturing, works kind of like the blinds on your windows. The chemical is laminated in a vertical pattern. When horizontal reflections hit the lens, they are blocked by the vertical laminate pattern, which eliminates the glare that would otherwise reach your eyes. Re-
duced glare allows for clearer visibility above and below the surface. Polarization also reduces eye fatigue and blocks harmful UV rays. Most of the time, you get what you pay for when you purchase polarized glasses. Inexpensive sunglasses might be polarized, but usually the layer of chemical laminate is thin and stamped onto the outside of the lens. Initially, these lenses might work just fine, but over time the laminate will rub off through normal use. If you’ve had a pair, you know it when they are no longer protecting your eyes or performing the way they should be. Higher quality polarized lenses often protect this laminate layer between two layers of lens material, where it cannot be scratched or rubbed away. Also, a thicker polarized layer blocks horizontal light more effectively. The one drawback to polarized glasses is with some LCD displays. Your phone, your GPS, your sonar and the display on the pump at the gas station, all of these necessary technologies feature LCD displays. Generally, they are also polarized, with light emitted in the same direction. Your polarized shades might block this light, depending on the orientation, which means you can’t see what’s on the screen. In the fishing industry, where all the customers wear polarized glasses, most electronics manufacturers have taken steps to solve this issue. If you’re at the gas pump and you are unable to see the display, try taking your glasses off.
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10 NAPLES | SEPTEMBER 2021 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/NAPLES/
Rise and Shine
By: Capt. Billy Norris
F
ishing over the past month has been excellent! Nearshore and backwater have been equally productive. Unfortunately, our brothers to the north in the Tampa area are getting pummeled with a bad red tide bloom, and we pray that they can return to normal soon. Luckily for us however, the Bonita Springs area has not been affected at all. Right now if you are planning on going fishing, the morning bite has definitely been the way to go. By 11am, the temperature is ridiculous and the fishing slows down. If you do decide to go all day, make sure to stay hydrated and be prepared for the temperature…yesterday the heat index was 110 on the water. Backwater Right now is the time of year where fish tend to congregate around the passes and beaches. There are snook cruising every beach and stacked in every pass. There are so many in fact, that I consistently accidentally catch multiple of them in the cast net while throwing for bait in the mornings. The water is crystal clear right now and snook have great eyesight, so you may have to dumb your leaders down a little bit. I use about 3 feet of 30-pound fluorocarbon with a 2/0 - 3/0 hook. Look for them in schools very close to the shoreline. When you spot them, don’t cast directly at the school. Instead, cast ahead of them and retrieve your bait away from them.
Remember, prey would never naturally swim towards a predator. There are also plenty of redfish in the backwater. They will eat pilchards or threadfins, but I find that with the warmer water I catch bigger ones on cut bait. Trout have made a great recovery as well, and are on nearly every grass flat. Regulations as far as size and bag limits have changed from previous years, so ensure that you are reading up on what the new regs are. Nearshore The nearshore fishing has been awesome this month! The water is at around 86 degrees, so we are definitely in full summertime swing. Big mangrove snapper have moved in closer to shore, and limiting out has been fairly common with most of the fish being 15 inches or greater. There have also been plenty of cobia around in the area. Many of them have been on the smaller size, but there have been some studs around as well. The gag grouper bite has also been great. Live baits have been getting hammered almost as soon as they hit the bottom. Look for them around wrecks and artificial reefs. As always, the usual summertime predators like sharks, barracuda, and Goliath Grouper are around as well. Fishing should continue to be awesome this month, and as the we move into fall we should get a good second run of tarpon, redfish should be on fire, and the kingfish should migrate through again as the water cools down. Fishing is great so call today to book a trip with Pale Horse Fishing Charters!
Pale Horse FC | palehorsefishingcharters.com | 239-285-7710 FACEBOOK.COM/CAMNAPLES/ | SEPTEMBER 2021 | NAPLES 11
MARCO ISLAND
3125 Bayshore Dr., Naples, FL 34112 239-417-0141 www.USHarbors.com
September/2021 • 25°58’N 81°44’W
Marco, Big Marco River, FL - Sep 2021 High
Date
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NAPLES
www.USHarbors.com
September/2021 • 26°8’N 81°48’W
Naples, FL - Sep 2021
Low
High
Date
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Moon
11:48
2.2
3:10
1.8
4:26
0.5
7:06
7:47
1
4:16
1.7
5:20
0.3
7:06
7:46
2
Low
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Moon
Wed
12:17
2.2
8:35A
2.8
11:39
2.3
2:46
2.1
3:40
0.6
7:06
Thu
9:38
2.9
11:39
2.5
3:45
2.1
4:31
0.5
7:06
7:46
1
Wed
9:02
2.5
2
Thu
10:08
2.7
3
Fri
12:19
2.3
11:04A
2.9
5:08
1.6
6:04
0.2
7:06
7:45
3
Fri
10:30
3.1
4:33
1.9
5:15
0.3
7:07
7:45
4
Sat
12:48
2.4
11:52A
3.0
5:52
1.5
6:45
0.1
7:07
7:44
4
Sat
12:01
2.6
11:13A
3.3
5:13
1.8
5:54
0.2
7:07
7:44
5
Sun
1:18
2.5
12:36
3.2
6:33
1.3
7:23
0.0
7:07
7:43
5
Sun
12:27
2.7
11:51A
3.4
5:49
1.6
6:31
0.2
7:07
7:43
6
Mon
1:48
2.6
1:20
3.3
7:14
1.1
8:01
0.1
7:08
7:42
6
Mon
12:54
2.8
12:27
3.5
6:26
1.3
7:08
0.3
7:08
7:42
7
Tue
2:19
2.7
2:06
3.3
7:56
0.8
8:37
0.2
7:08
7:41
7
Tue
1:21
2.9
1:05
3.5
7:06
1.1
7:45
0.4
7:08
7:41
8
Wed
2:49
2.8
2:53
3.2
8:41
0.6
9:13
0.4
7:08
7:39
8
Wed
1:47
3.0
1:49
3.5
7:48
0.8
8:23
0.6
7:09
7:40
9
Thu
3:18
2.9
3:43
3.0
9:26
0.4
9:49
0.7
7:09
7:38
9
Thu
2:14
3.1
2:40
3.3
8:33
0.6
9:00
0.9
7:09
7:39
10
Fri
3:48
2.9
4:38
2.8
10:14
0.3
10:24
1.0
7:09
7:37
10
Fri
2:41
3.1
3:38
3.1
9:21
0.5
9:38
1.2
7:09
7:38
11
Sat
4:19
3.0
5:43
2.5
11:08
0.2
11:03
1.4
7:10
7:36
11
Sat
3:11
3.1
4:47
2.8
10:15
0.4
10:16
1.6
7:10
7:37
12
Sun
4:55
3.0
7:01
2.3
12:11P
0.2
11:51
1.6
7:10
7:35
12
Sun
3:48
3.1
6:11
2.5
11:19
0.4
11:03
1.9
7:10
7:35
13
Mon
5:46
3.0
8:25
2.2
1:24
0.2
7:10
7:34
13
Mon
4:37
3.1
7:47
2.4
12:35
0.4
7:11
7:34
14
Tue
7:00
2.9
10:07
2.2
1:00
1.8
2:39
0.2
7:11
7:33
14
Tue
6:01
3.0
10:04
2.4
12:24
2.1
1:52
0.4
7:11
7:33
15
Wed
8:20
2.9
11:26
2.3
2:21
1.9
3:53
0.2
7:11
7:32
15
Wed
7:42
3.1
11:18
2.5
1:55
2.1
3:01
0.3
7:11
7:32
16
Thu
9:39
3.0
3:42
1.8
4:58
0.1
7:12
7:31
16
Thu
9:06
3.2
11:43
2.6
3:08
2.0
4:03
0.3
7:12
7:31
17
Fri
12:05
2.4
10:49A
3.1
4:49
1.6
5:50
0.1
7:12
7:29
17
Fri
10:16
3.3
4:10
1.8
4:57
0.3
7:12
7:30
18
Sat
12:36
2.5
11:48A
3.2
5:43
1.3
6:34
0.1
7:12
7:28
18
Sat
12:02
2.7
11:12A
3.4
5:02
1.5
5:42
0.4
7:13
7:29
19
Sun
1:05
2.6
12:38
3.2
6:30
1.1
7:14
0.2
7:13
7:27
19
Sun
12:20
2.8
11:57A
3.5
5:48
1.2
6:23
0.5
7:13
7:28
20
Mon
1:34
2.7
1:25
3.2
7:13
0.9
7:51
0.4
7:13
7:26
20
Mon
12:40
2.9
12:37
3.5
6:30
1.0
7:01
0.7
7:14
7:26
21
Tue
2:03
2.8
2:10
3.1
7:56
0.7
8:27
0.6
7:14
7:25
21
Tue
1:02
3.0
1:15
3.4
7:10
0.8
7:37
0.9
7:14
7:25
22
Wed
2:32
2.8
2:54
3.0
8:37
0.5
9:00
0.8
7:14
7:24
22
Wed
1:26
3.1
1:54
3.2
7:49
0.7
8:11
1.1
7:14
7:24
23
Thu
3:00
2.8
3:37
2.8
9:16
0.5
9:33
1.0
7:14
7:23
23
Thu
1:51
3.1
2:35
3.1
8:28
0.6
8:43
1.3
7:15
7:23
24
Fri
3:27
2.8
4:22
2.7
9:55
0.5
10:04
1.3
7:15
7:22
24
Fri
2:17
3.1
3:20
2.9
9:08
0.6
9:13
1.5
7:15
7:22
25
Sat
3:51
2.8
5:12
2.5
10:36
0.5
10:36
1.5
7:15
7:21
25
Sat
2:43
3.0
4:10
2.7
9:50
0.6
9:36
1.8
7:16
7:21
26
Sun
4:11
2.7
6:12
2.3
11:22
0.6
11:10
1.7
7:16
7:19
26
Sun
3:08
2.9
5:10
2.5
10:37
0.7
9:43
1.9
7:16
7:20
27
Mon
4:32
2.6
7:24
2.2
12:20P
0.7
11:59
1.9
7:16
7:18
27
Mon
3:36
2.8
6:24
2.4
11:37
0.8
9:41
2.1
7:16
7:19
28
Tue
5:08
2.6
8:43
2.1
1:29
0.7
7:17
7:17
28
Tue
4:16
2.7
7:45
2.3
12:50P
0.9
9:57
2.2
7:17
7:18
29
Wed
6:42
2.5
10:17
2.2
1:19
2.0
2:40
0.7
7:17
7:16
29
Wed
6:32
2.6
11:42
2.3
1:59
0.8
7:17
7:16
30
Thu
8:20
2.5
11:09
2.3
2:39
1.9
3:48
0.6
7:17
7:15
30
Thu
8:00
2.7
10:13
2.5
2:59
0.7
7:18
7:15
12 NAPLES | SEPTEMBER 2021 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/NAPLES/
2:21
2.2
15881 Chief Ct., Ft. Myers, FL 33912 239-489-0884
WIGGINS PASS
www.USHarbors.com
Wiggins Pass, Cocohatchee River, FL - Sep 2021
September/2021 • 26°17’N 81°49’W High
Date
9148 Bonita Beach Rd., Bonita Springs, FL 34135 239-262-2940
EVERGLADES
www.USHarbors.com
September/2021 • 25°51’N 81°23’W
Everglades City, FL - Sep 2021
Low
High
Date
Low PM
ft
Rise
Set
1
Wed
1:01
1.7
9:19A
2.1
3:45
1.5
4:39
0.5
7:06
7:48
1
Wed
2:42
2.2
11:00A
2.7
6:12
1.2
7:06
0.4
7:04
7:45
2
Thu
12:23
1.8
10:22A
2.2
4:44
1.5
5:30
0.3
7:06
7:46
2
Thu
2:04
2.3
12:03
2.9
7:11
1.2
7:57
0.3
7:05
7:44
3
Fri
12:23
1.9
11:14A
2.4
5:32
1.4
6:14
0.2
7:07
7:45
3
Fri
2:04
2.4
12:55
3.0
7:59
1.1
8:41
0.2
7:05
7:43
4
Sat
12:45
2.0
11:57A
2.5
6:12
1.3
6:53
0.2
7:07
7:44
4
Sat
2:26
2.6
1:38
3.2
8:39
1.0
9:20
0.1
7:06
7:42
5
Sun
1:11
2.1
12:35
2.6
6:48
1.2
7:30
0.2
7:07
7:43
5
Sun
2:52
2.7
2:16
3.4
9:15
0.9
9:57
0.1
7:06
7:41
6
Mon
1:38
2.2
1:11
2.7
7:25
1.0
8:07
0.2
7:08
7:42
6
Mon
3:19
2.8
2:52
3.5
9:52
0.8
10:34
0.1
7:06
7:40
7
Tue
2:05
2.3
1:49
2.7
8:05
0.8
8:44
0.3
7:08
7:41
7
Tue
3:46
2.9
3:30
3.5
10:32
0.6
11:11
0.2
7:07
7:39
8
Wed
2:31
2.3
2:33
2.7
8:47
0.6
9:22
0.4
7:09
7:40
8
Wed
4:12
3.0
4:14
3.4
11:14
0.5
11:49
0.3
7:07
7:38
9
Thu
2:58
2.4
3:24
2.6
9:32
0.5
9:59
0.7
7:09
7:39
9
Thu
4:39
3.0
5:05
3.3
11:59
0.4
7:08
7:37
10
Fri
3:25
2.4
4:22
2.4
10:20
0.3
10:37
0.9
7:09
7:38
10
Fri
5:06
3.1
6:03
3.0
12:26
0.5
12:47
0.3
7:08
7:36
11
Sat
3:55
2.4
5:31
2.1
11:14
0.3
11:15
1.1
7:10
7:37
11
Sat
5:36
3.1
7:12
2.8
1:04
0.7
1:41
0.2
7:08
7:35
12
Sun
4:32
2.4
6:55
2.0
12:18
0.3
7:10
7:36
12
Sun
6:13
3.1
8:36
2.5
1:42
0.9
2:45
0.2
7:09
7:34
13
Mon
5:21
2.4
8:31
1.8
12:02
1.4
1:34
0.3
7:11
7:34
13
Mon
7:02
3.1
10:12
2.4
2:29
1.1
4:01
0.2
7:09
7:33
14
Tue
6:45
2.3
10:48
1.8
1:23
1.5
2:51
0.3
7:11
7:33
14
Tue
8:26
3.0
3:50
1.2
5:18
0.2
7:09
7:31
15
Wed
8:26
2.4
2:54
1.6
4:00
0.2
7:11
7:32
15
Wed
12:29
2.4
10:07A
3.0
5:21
1.2
6:27
0.2
7:10
7:30
16
Thu
12:02
1.9
9:50A
2.4
4:07
1.5
5:02
0.2
7:12
7:31
16
Thu
1:43
2.5
11:31A
3.1
6:34
1.1
7:29
0.2
7:10
7:29
17
Fri
12:27
2.0
11:00A
2.5
5:09
1.3
5:56
0.2
7:12
7:30
17
Fri
2:08
2.6
12:41
3.3
7:36
1.0
8:23
0.2
7:11
7:28
18
Sat
12:46
2.1
11:56A
2.6
6:01
1.1
6:41
0.3
7:13
7:29
18
Sat
2:27
2.7
1:37
3.4
8:28
0.9
9:08
0.2
7:11
7:27
19
Sun
1:04
2.2
12:41
2.7
6:47
0.9
7:22
0.4
7:13
7:28
19
Sun
2:45
2.8
2:22
3.4
9:14
0.7
9:49
0.3
7:11
7:26
20
Mon
1:24
2.2
1:21
2.7
7:29
0.7
8:00
0.5
7:14
7:27
20
Mon
3:05
2.9
3:02
3.4
9:56
0.6
10:27
0.4
7:12
7:25
21
Tue
1:46
2.3
1:59
2.6
8:09
0.6
8:36
0.6
7:14
7:25
21
Tue
3:27
3.0
3:40
3.3
10:36
0.5
11:03
0.5
7:12
7:24
22
Wed
2:10
2.4
2:38
2.5
8:48
0.5
9:10
0.8
7:14
7:24
22
Wed
3:51
3.0
4:19
3.2
11:15
0.4
11:37
0.6
7:13
7:23
23
Thu
2:35
2.4
3:19
2.4
9:27
0.4
9:42
1.0
7:15
7:23
23
Thu
4:16
3.1
5:00
3.0
11:54
0.3
7:13
7:21
24
Fri
3:01
2.4
4:04
2.2
10:07
0.4
10:12
1.1
7:15
7:22
24
Fri
4:42
3.0
5:45
2.9
12:09
0.7
12:34
0.3
7:13
7:20
25
Sat
3:27
2.3
4:54
2.1
10:49
0.5
10:35
1.3
7:16
7:21
25
Sat
5:08
3.0
6:35
2.7
12:39
0.9
1:16
0.4
7:14
7:19
26
Sun
3:52
2.2
5:54
1.9
11:36
0.5
10:42
1.4
7:16
7:20
26
Sun
5:33
2.9
7:35
2.5
1:02
1.0
2:03
0.4
7:14
7:18
27
Mon
4:20
2.2
7:08
1.8
12:36P
0.6
10:40
1.5
7:16
7:19
27
Mon
6:01
2.8
8:49
2.3
1:09
1.1
3:03
0.5
7:15
7:17
28
Tue
5:00
2.1
8:29
1.8
1:49P
0.6
10:56
1.6
7:17
7:18
28
Tue
6:41
2.7
10:10
2.3
1:07
1.2
4:16
0.5
7:15
7:16
29
Wed
7:16
2.0
9:53
1.8
2:58
0.6
7:17
7:17
29
Wed
8:57
2.6
11:34
2.3
1:23
1.3
5:25
0.5
7:16
7:15
30
Thu
8:44
2.1
10:57
1.9
3:58
0.5
7:18
7:15
30
Thu
10:25
2.7
5:47
1.3
6:25
0.4
7:16
7:14
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
3:20
1.6
Moon
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
Moon
FACEBOOK.COM/CAMNAPLES/ | SEPTEMBER 2021 | NAPLES 13
Technical Spearfishing
By: Capt. Chad Carney
M
ost technical divers are wreck & cave divers that dive with overhead restrictions at depths below 130’. Their gear & techniques are specific for a sport, very different from that of spearos. Spearfishers avoid overhead caves & wrecks, but sure depth lures us to big quality fish! In 1993 I took a nitrox class in an on-land sink hole. 1994 brought my Nitrox Instructor certification by TDI VP Mitch Skaggs, who is a spearo! We shot a bunch of fish in the Middle Grounds to 130’ on nitrox which gives you more time safely. We used leaner nitrox out to 150’, which is Advanced NiBack of Pack trox & Decompression with stage deco bottles. Big groupers & snappers were plentiful! Technical dive computers came in the late 90’s and fit with my Technical Instructor certifications of Advanced Nitrox, Decompression Procedures & Extended Range out to the Gulf’s 30 Fathom Line, 150’-180’. We dove great sites with my 36’ sportfish/dive boat on long weekends. After that we won the 2000 St. Pete Open with two 80-plus# groupers, red snappers & big hogs, I wrote an article about it in Spearfishing Magazine, titled “Technical Spearfishing.”
Front of Pack
your gun, fish stringing & knifing, high off the bottom. * Hang high... shallower water is your friend & fish won't see you up there. Hit the deepest spots first and save the shallow areas last, to prevent gas loading. * Dive like you're in molasses. Slow everything down, your breathing will follow and your fluid motion won't scare fish. (Only bolt after a shot to pounce on prey.) * Use performance regulators and keep them tuned. I like dual control 2nd stages, de-tune the cracking effort and venturi when it’s a spare & open up only your pri-
mary. • Get long freedive fins, they have overdrive cruise speed with little effort, great for scuba & plastic blades are cheap & durable if you kick bottom. • Get in shape. I exercise swim without my arms, just scissor kicking, to build muscles and stamina. You don't need a big pool for this swim style. * Spearfishers that want to dive deep should get technical training from a spearo instructor, not a cave or wreck instructor. Shoot straight! Capt Chad
er Co. -1536
180-ft+ creates a serious narcosis problem. In 2001 I took TDI Trimix Instructor Joe Odom offshore along with my buddy Dan MacMahon, for our TDI Trimix certifications (& my Instructor cert.) Trimix is a mix of O2, Helium & reduced Nitrogen, which keeps you razor sharp compared to deep diving without He. Dan lead with a 90 plus# carbo, but I found a honey hole & a huge fish - it took 3 shots to kill & drag out a 127# black/carbo! My next article in Spearfishing Magazine, title “Technical Spearfishing II.”
Technical Spearfishing Tips: * A quote I've used for years: "Keep your gas in your tank & out of your body... unless fish are going on your stringer!" • Streamline your gear. "Everything you need, nothing you don't." No double tanks or giant BC needed. • See gear pic. It’s a steel 120 cf tank with a dual DIN valves & 30 cf DIN deco bottle, & 3 DIN regulators. A hose-less computer & a back up. The BC was designed for spearos, it’s a sleek & tough Zeagle Stiletto. * Get the lead out. Check buoyancy at dives end safety stop, especially after suit or gear change. Excess weight makes your BC larger & changes your trim, wasting more power to move through the water. Use your gun butt to push off before kicking (avoids clouding the bottom) & load 14 NAPLES | SEPTEMBER 2021 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/NAPLES/
chad.carney@yahoo.com https://www.facebook.com/floridaskindiver/ https://www.deeperblue.com/beginners-guide-spearfishing/ 727-423-7775
gh off
YOU DON’T NEED A GIANT BOAT TO LAND GIANT FISH!
friend eepest ast, to
everyw and (Only
™
keep stagenturi ur pri-
h little u kick
cking, swim
g from
Whether you want to go fishing in skinny backwaters, cruise the canals & creeks, head out to the beach, party at the sandbar or take that special someone for a sunset cruise and then to dinner - a hyperglider™ of your very own will let you do it all - and do it all in style.
www.ProGliderBoats.cool • sales@ProGliderBoats.com Patent Pending FACEBOOK.COM/CAMNAPLES/ | SEPTEMBER 2021 | NAPLES 15
Navajo Lake By: Dan Carns
T
here lies in northern New Mexico a pure gem of a lake that I’ve recently visited while camping in Navajo Lake State Park. If you know anything about the area you’ll wonder why I’m not writing about the most prolific trophy trout water that flows around the park, but this area gets so much attention that unless your ultra-dedicated and most proficient at fly fishing, the fish will not respond unless they truly believe your fly is food! So, after a couple of days fooling myself that I can fly fish, I loaded up my Vanhunks peddle drive kayak and launched into a more familiar setting. I was raised on bass fishing in the south and also became proficient in fishing for smallmouth bass while in northern New England so when I heard there where both species in Navaho Lake, I was excited to give it a try. It’s just spring when I’d arrived and was told that the bass are hanging out in front of the dam so I peddled my way around the marina at daybreak and found fish rising and busting on bait over the rock structures that hold back the water. Cast after cast, fish after fish I’m sitting in paradise, alone and a little chilly but nonetheless ecstatic at the amount of fish I’m boating! At this point I’m an hour in and haven’t caught anything over two pounds so I work my way across the face of the dam to the other side where it looks like the edge of a can-
yon drop and sure enough it’s deep, really deep, but full of massively large and submerged boulders. I’m using a wacky rigged rubber worm in pumpkin color with a chartreuse tail and constantly getting picked up by what I assume are young fish as I cannot get them to the boat. They literally wear out all of the baits in the package so I switch to a salt and pepper bait and on the first cast it’s game on, big fish, huge pickup and run, hook-set brings my first three pounder to the side of my kayak and I begin to laugh at my good fortune! I spent the next 3 hours dropping the same salt and pepper bait around huge boulders catching and releasing beautiful smallmouth bass in one of the most prolific fisheries I’ve had the pleasure of peddling around. By now I’ve about worn out my welcome around the boulder field and see a shoreline full of sunken trees so off I go, a five-minute journey into classic largemouth territory. There are dead stumps and submerged branches all around so when my first cast gets tagged and disappears into a maze of tangled branches I know it’s going to be hard to retrieve this fish and sure enough it takes me ten minutes to boat my first largemouth. The sun is high and I’m one shore bound and satisfied angler! It’s A Wild World-Get Out There! Fishman Dan
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Friends of the Pelicans
ven if you take precautionary steps to avoid it, sometimes you might hook a bird by accident. That’s when it’s important to remember—don’t cut the line and let the bird fly away with it attached. This will lead to entanglement, resulting in death of that bird and possibly others as well. Instead, follow these simple steps to unhook the bird: Reel. Remove. Release. 1. Wear safety glasses and enlist a partner for help. 2. Reel the bird in slowly and lift it from the water using a hoop net. Even a large pelican weighs only 4-8 pounds 3. Grasp the bird by the head just behind the eyes and fold the wings against the body. For pelicans, hold the beak, keeping the mouth slightly open so it can breathe. Cover the bird’s head with a cloth to keep it calm. 4. Never pull the hook out but carefully push the end through the skin, cut off the barb and back the hook out using pliers or clippers. If the bird is entangled, remove all line. 5. Release the bird (if healthy) by placing it on the ground near the water and allowing it to take off. 6. If the bird has swallowed the hook or is severely injured, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator from the list at MyFWC.com/unhook.
How else can you help a seabird or wading bird? 1. Don’t feed the birds, which teaches them to approach where they are more likely to be hooked. 2. Dispose of filleted bones where birds can’t get them—in a trash can with lid or at home. Bones of a filleted fish will become lodged in or tear throats, stomachs and intestines leading to the death of that bird . 3. Cover bait buckets and take unused bait home. 4. Dispose of fishing line in a monofilament recycling bin or cut into small pieces and place in the trash. 5. Don’t leave your line unattended. 6. Cast carefully to avoid hooking a bird in flight or being snared on trees, bridge pilings etc. 7. Help others learn what to do when they accidentally hook a bird. It’s pretty easy, once you know how. 8. Sponsored by Friends of the Pelicans, Inc. More detailed information can be found at facebook.com/ friendsofthepelicans. — Photos by Carol Cassels
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U.S. Power Squadrons – America’s Boating Club By: Editorial Staff
E
veryone who goes out on the water wants to have a good time and come home safely. No matter what boating activity you take part in, there is something freeing about that feeling of the wind in your face, the gentle rocking of the hull and the sound of the waves. Unlike cars, there are no yellow lines to stay between; you can go anywhere you want. But just like in a car, there are some rules you must follow. The Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook, published by the U.S. Coast Guard, includes the U.S. Inland boating Navigation Rules or NAVRULES and the international rules known as the COLREGS. These rules were developed for the purpose of avoiding collisions and keeping boaters safe. Every boat owner should have a copy and spend some time understanding them. It is mandatory to have a copy onboard any vessel over 39.4 feet in length. Taking a class on the rules can also be extremely helpful. To break it down, the rules tell you what to do when you come across another vessel. In this case, the term “vessel” is used to classify almost anything that floats on water that can be used for transportation. That means there is a rule that applies to almost every situation involving everything from a kayak to a seaplane. They cover steering regulations as well as sound signaling equipment and navigation lights.
ference between good days on the water and tragedy. At a minimum, you should always have a proper lookout, operate at a safe speed and yield or give-way to another vessel when in doubt and to always avoid a collision, even if that means breaking a navigation rule to save lives and avoid damaging property. Don’t leave the dock without knowing the rules of the road. The United States Power Squadrons–America’s Boating Club offers a seminar that simplifies the sometimes complex COLREGS for the recreational boater. Through examples, you’ll discover how to avoid collisions in various situations, the differences between power and sailboat rules, and the special rules for fishing vessels. This seminar includes student notes with slides. The downloadable U.S. Coast Guard’s Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook is the supporting text. This seminar is also a starting point for study preparation for the USCG License examination. For more information on boating navigation rules and how to signup for the seminar, visit www.americasboatingclub.org
BOATING NAVIGATION RULES AND REQUIREMENTS As a responsible boater, you should not only be familiar with the basics of how the regulations apply to the specific situations for where you are fishing. You should also try to know and understand all the requirements. If you regularly go fishing on a small lake or kayak fishing in a river, it is probably rare for you to come into contact with commercial vessels, but you still should know how to handle those situations. Also, just because you are fishing, does not mean you are always a “stand-on” vessel like a commercial fishing vessel using nets or longlines. Knowing the rules that apply to of these situations mean the dif18 NAPLES | SEPTEMBER 2021 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/NAPLES/
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George caught a nice snook in Matlacha.
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Denis Burke w/ a 33” snook he caught on fly!
JoGene Holaway, doing what he loves to do!
Tom Sh adr from Pinach with a 26” tro e Island Sound. ut
Debi Decker caught this nice red grouper on the last day out w/ friends.
Colton Franklin Sullivan showing of one of his many SWFL Everglades black bass.
Hall ca ught in Este his first redfi ro B sh Congra tulation ay. s, Colto n!
Photos submitted Courtesy of Coastal Angler Readers and Contributing Writers Submit pics to: camswfl@gmail.com or text to 239.595.8265
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The Perfect Vacation Getaway for Fishing, Boating & Outdoor Enthusiasts A drop shot is an awesome way to get bites when it gets tough. With the bait suspended off the bottom above your weight, it gives fish a different presentation than the normal Texas rig. Pitch it around hard cover like wood and rock, drag it through grass or throw it around dropoffs or deep spots. I always have a drop shot rigged this time of year, and it puts fish in the boat.
Drop Shot Gear A drop shot is a finesse approach. I use a 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’1” medium fast action rod paired with a 2500 size spinning reel. Spool this combo with Seaguar 10-lb. Smackdown braid leading to an 8- to 12-lb. Abrazx fluorocarbon leader depending on the cover and water clarity you are dealing with.
TIPS FROM A PRO
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DROP SHOT WHEN THE BITE IS TOUGH
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TYLER WOOLCOTT
he end of summer is here, and the fishing is a little tough. From fishing pressure through the summer to warm water temps, this time of year can be a grind at times. Fish tend to get a little lock-jawed, and this can be really frustrating. When this scenario presents itself, I pull out a spinning rod, downsize my line and bait, and slow down my presentation to get finicky fish to eat. One of my favorite techniques this time of year is a drop shot. My drop shot rig consists of a weight tied to the end of the line with a hook and soft plastic tied in about 12 to 18 inches above the weight. There are two styles of baits I like to drop shot. One of them is a finesse-style worm like the 13 Fishing Rabbit Ear Joy Stick Ultra Thin 4.5’ worm. I like a worm on my drop shot when I’m targeting largemouth, especially in Southern states. These fish are usually feeding on a little bit larger forage, and the finesse worm is a perfect fit. Rig this worm on a 1/0 Hayabusa FPP Straight hook with a 1/4or 3/8-oz. WOO Tungsten weight for the perfect presentation. The other soft plastic I like on a drop shot is a small baitfish imitator. The 13 Fishing Vertigo Minnow gets a ton of bites. When you find fish chasing small baitfish or you’re up north where there are smallmouth bass, this style of soft plastic gets the job done. Rig it on a Hayabusa DSR132 #1 hook with a ¼ or 3/8-oz. WOO Tungsten weight, as well.
Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. R E S E RV E Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.Y
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I like to keep things simple when it comes to colors. With finicky fish, you want your bait to look as natural as possible. I match colors to the forage in the lake. When throwing the finesse worm, my favorite colors are the green pumpkins and even pinkish colors like a morning dawn. With the baitfish, I stick to white and pearl or your green pumpkin and brown. A drop shot is an awesome way to get bites when it gets tough. With the bait suspended off the bottom above your weight, it gives fish a different presentation than the normal Texas rig. Pitch it around hard cover like wood and rock, drag it through grass or throw it around dropoffs or deep spots. I always have a drop shot rigged this time of year, and it puts fish in the boat.
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Drop Shot Gear A drop shot is a finesse approach. I use a 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’1” medium fast action rod paired with a 2500 size spinning reel. Spool this combo with Seaguar 10-lb. Smackdown braid leading to an 8- to 12-lb. Abrazx fluorocarbon leader depending on the cover and water clarity you are dealing with. Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.
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MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TRIP Tim Barefoot
Y
es, everyone wants to catch a grouper, or three, but you should be prepared— tackle-wise—to come home with “the groceries.” One way to accomplish this is to keep a beeliner/triggerfish rig ready on a rod and to have someone willing to use it when you get on the right mark. Not all big stacks of bait on the recorder are beeliners and triggerfish, but get accustomed to it and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what you’re looking at. The bigger species of the reef complex tend hang out under a big stack of bait, like cigar minnows, sardines, beeliners, etc. But the truth of the matter is, what you might be looking for is near the top of the stack. For example, the larger beeliners might sometimes be the first taps you get on your jig as it drops toward the bottom. When I’m grouper fishing, I fish a revolving spool reel rather than a spinning reel for several reasons. The main reason is so I can feel the bait as it drops. If you feel the bait on the jig getting tapped on the way down, understand that you’re in beeliners, triggers and/or American reds. At that point, it’s up to you to capitalize or just continue to grouper fish for grouper only. If you choose to do it, you can load up on some pretty tasty groceries by sizing down your tackle.
T H E
P E R F E C T
I take a 5-lb. box of squid on every trip offshore for a number of reasons, but this is one of the main reasons. Using a small 1/0 circle hook, double tackle and a 2- or 3-oz. bank sinker, you can harvest grouper bait and dinners deluxe. I count the strips it takes to get to the fish. This is also where multi-colored line can come into play. Drop your bait down to the same color where they were hitting, and then start a very slow descent. These fish like to eat bait as it falls. When you feel the tap or the bait just stops falling, click the reel into gear and let the circle hook do its work. When you get them working upward in the water column, keep them going. If you stop catching them, you’ll see the top of the mark start working it’s way back closer to the bottom. The top of the school is typically where the larger fish will be, especially the triggerfish. Triggers are hard to catch on the grouper jigs, but smaller circle hooks are deadly on these crafty bait stealers. I always anchor to grouper/bottom fish. This style of teasing beeliners and triggers up toward the surface only works from a stationary boat, not drifting. Check out videos on rigging and using doublecircle-hook tackle at barefootcatsandtackle.com.
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F L O R I D A
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TRIP
Y
Tim Barefoot
es, everyone wants to catch a grouper, or three, but you should be prepared—tackle-wise—to come home with “the groceries.” One way to accomplish this is to keep a beeliner/triggerfish rig ready on a rod and to have someone willing to use it when you get on the right mark. Not all big stacks of bait on the recorder are beeliners and triggerfish, but get accustomed to it and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what you’re looking at. The bigger species of the reef complex tend hang out under a big stack of bait, like cigar minnows, sardines, beeliners, etc. But the truth of the matter is, what you might be looking for is near the top of the stack. For example, the larger beeliners might sometimes be the first taps you get on your jig as it drops toward the bottom. When I’m grouper fishing, I fish a revolving spool reel rather than a spinning reel for several reasons. The main reason is so I can feel the bait as it drops. If you feel the bait on the jig getting tapped on the way down, understand that you’re in beeliners, triggers and/or American reds. At that point, it’s up to you to capitalize or just continue to grouper fish for grouper only. If you choose to do it, you can load up on some pretty tasty groceries by sizing down your tackle. I take a 5-lb. box of squid on every trip offshore for a number of reasons, but this is one of the main reasons. Using a small 1/0 circle hook, double tackle and a 2- or 3-oz. bank sinker, you can harvest grouper bait and dinners deluxe. I count the strips it takes to get to the fish. This is also where multi-colored line can come into play. Drop your bait down to the same color where they were hitting, and then start a very slow descent. These fish like to eat bait as it falls. When you feel the tap or the bait just stops falling, click the reel into gear and let the circle hook do its work. When you get them working upward in the water column, keep them going. If you stop catching them, you’ll see the top of the mark start working it’s way back closer to the bottom. The top of the school is typically where the larger fish will be, especially the triggerfish. Triggers are hard to catch on the grouper jigs, but smaller circle hooks are deadly on these crafty bait stealers. I always anchor to grouper/bottom fish. This style of teasing beeliners and triggers up toward the surface only works from a stationary boat, not drifting. Check out videos on rigging and using doublecircle-hook tackle at barefootcatsandtackle.com. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COMSEPTEMBER JUNE 2020 2021
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he recreational harvest of greater amberjack and gray triggerfish opened in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters in August. Greater amberjack is scheduled to remain open through Oct. 31 in Gulf state and federal waters. Gray triggerfish is scheduled to remain open through Dec. 31 in Gulf state and federal waters, but an early quota closure is possible for either species. The bag limit for amberjack is one per person, per day, with a minimum length of 34 inches fork length. The bag limit for triggerfish is one per person, per day, with a minimum length of 15 inches fork length. If you plan to fish for amberjack or gray triggerfish anywhere in Florida state or federal waters from a private recreational vessel, you must sign up as a State Reef Fish Angler (annual renewal is required). To learn more, visit MyFWC.com/SRFS. Sign up today at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
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“A
iyeeeeee, yeeee, yeeee, yeee!” The shout sounded Cajun, or perhaps like the intro to a mariachi tune. Either way, it amplified the chaos on deck. Three rods were bent. Two anglers scrambled to uncross lines screaming off reels. A third angler dove to wrap an arm around the 10-year-old who held a death grip on rod number three. It was a tossup as to whether the kid would lose the rod or be yanked overboard into a very active chum slick. The whole scene unraveled when a 10-foot tiger shark rose to the surface. It smashed the boy’s cobia straight through the surface, blowing up close enough to drench us, maybe 15 feet off the stern. There was stunned silence, then... “Ayeeee, yeeee, yeeee, yeeee!” our captain hollered. “I love chaos!” Man, what a trip. It was a lot more than my two brothers and I expected upon reconnecting with a childhood friend in Bluffton, South Carolina. Our captain, Keene Reese, is a successful real estate agent with Ussery Group, Charter One Realty in the Lowcountry. He is also a very fishy dude. In mid-June, he invited us—along with my 10-year-old son— on a 20-mile ride offshore, where cobia were thick on a well-known wreck. With a beautiful chum slick snaking off the stern of Reese’s 25’ Regulator “Copacetic,” it didn’t take 10 minutes for “brownies” to start showing on the surface. There was no need for down-lines that day. All the action was on top, visible and simple. Pitch a live menhaden on a freeline, and a cobia would take it before you reached the rod holder. Over the course of a few hours, we boated well over a dozen cobia,
although the action came in such crazy spurts that no one could keep count. The thing is, we only landed four fish longer than the 36-inch minimum. That’s good news, according to Mel Bell, the director of Fisheries Management with South Carolina DNR. For decades, South Carolina was famous for its inshore cobia runs. May is the peak of a spawning run that once saw scads of cobia pushing into Port Royal Sound, Calibogue Sound, St. Helena Sound and the Broad River. Bell said boats lined up to target big eggbearing females before they could reproduce. The fishery collapsed. “We were in a bad place in 2016,” Bell said. “The numbers were scary. Even the anglers were telling us we had to do something.” While overall Atlantic cobia stocks are in good shape, according to the latest assessment, Bell said sound-spawners in South Carolina are a distinct “sub-population.” The Southern Cobia Management Zone was formed in 2016 to protect these inshore-spawning fish. The zone stretches from Jeremy Inlet on Edisto Island, S.C. south to the Georgia border. It extends three miles offshore, and within this zone there is a one fish per person, three per boat daily limit—except in May, when cobia harvest is closed. The limit in federal waters is one per person, six per boat. The minimum length is 36 inches, which brings us back to all the short fish. Bell said South Carolina DNR isn’t ready to release hard data. However, he’s heard fishermen reporting lots of smaller fish, which are likely the age classes protected since 2016. If anecdotes translate into survey data, it would mean the restrictions are working. Bell said next year might be time to take a close look and see just how well cobia are returning to the sounds. PHOTO BY GILBERT CARTER
By Nick Carter
For more information, go to www.dnr.sc.gov.
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KEEP IT GENUINE PRECISION PROTECTION
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Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-Approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. Suzuki, the Suzuki “S” ECSTAR and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. © 2021 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC.
MASTER YOUR GAME
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ALL SEASON LONG! T
he approach of autumn doesn’t mean you should fall back on the game! The seasons are changing, but the action isn’t. Fall is nothing more than a second spring. So, spring into action with the Contender series raglan long sleeve shirt. The raglan sleeve construction allows for increased movement, which you will need since the fair weather will liberate you from the sweltering summer heat. Even though the sun is less intense in the fall months, you still need sun protection, and the raglan long sleeve shirt delivers by blocking UVA and UVB rays for all-day protection. In fall, there’s no better time to be out on the water. With fall breezes blowing in, you’ll need to check out our men’s tournament anorak. Featuring a full storm hood and a center placket that provides critical coverage to protect you, you can count on the jacket to comfortably protect you, rain or shine. As the days get shorter, you will need something sturdy like the men’s pro series storm fleece. Designed with spacer-fabric and engineered with air pockets embedded in the fabric that provides insulation and temperature control to keep the piece lightweight, it is the perfect accessory to make your fall epic. No matter the season, GILLZ has you covered. Check out the website: gillz-gear.com
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ave the parking headaches—oneshot your boat into position every time with one of Parkit360’s Electric Trailer Dollies. The Force and Transformer models are compatible with almost every trailer thanks to ball-mounted Stablelock technology. Just connect to the hitch and steer your trailer into place. With weight capacities ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 pounds, these portable powerhouses handle the most difficult parking challenges with ease. The user faces the trailer, allowing complete visibility and control while parking. Park in ways that are impossible with a truck, with the flexibility to move around the trailer to check its position. The dolly’s compact design also allows the user to park hitch-end forward as a theft deterrent. All models include Intelligent Speed Control to move through open areas quickly and more precisely in tight spaces. Have a unique trailer hitch? Easily move any ball-mounted, fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailer with standard adapters, or try the Telescopic Hitch Adapter. It’s a non-invasive, alternative connection point that bolts around your existing trailer frame. Built strong and secure to safely move on firm grass, packed gravel, and 4- to 6-percent inclines. Move your trailer with ease, and get PARKIT360.CA in and out of storage faster than ever!
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SEPTEMBER 2021
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THREE WAYS TO TARGET
I
BIG CATS
f you like the feel of really big fish on the end of a line, catfish are a good option. There are several different types, but trophy hunters set their sights on blue and flathead catfish. Both species grow large and can weigh in excess of 100 pounds. For bait, catfish have been caught on just about everything you can think of. But generally, big flatheads are predators and like whole, live, hand-sized bream. Blues like large cut bait like bream, skipjack or carp. Once you’ve got your bait, here are some ideas for how to fish it. Fish a Fan: My favorite technique is to anchor up in a good spot near rocky bottom or structure such as a ledge, river channel or creek bed. I have 14 Driftmaster 255 H Pro Duo rod holders, which I use to put out a fan of baits on Penn Fathom reels and medium to heavy rods. These are spooled with 80-pound PowerPro braid. The terminal end is a weight slide on the main line then a swivel and a 3- to 5-foot leader, with a Gamakatsu 8/0 circle hook on the end. These are the rigs I use to fish Cabela’s King Kat tournaments. They are heavy duty because you never know when a 100-pound monster will show up. Back-Trolling: On big rivers, back-trolling can be very effective. Use your trolling motor in reverse to slow
the boat’s drift in the current and present baits to catfish holding on the bottom. Bottom bouncing is Bill Dance’s preferred method on the Mississippi River. It’s also very popular on the Tennessee River. It allows you to keep your bait about a foot off the bottom and bounce it to fish facing upstream. Tie a three-way swivel to a mainline of 40- to 80-lb. braid. On the bottom eye of the swivel, tie in 12 inches of 20-lb. mono drop line and attach a bank sinker. The drop line should be lighter than your main line so you can save the rest of the rig when your sinker gets caught. On the third eye, use a 2- to 3-foot piece of the same line as your main line and attach a 6/0 to 12/0 circle hook, depending on the size of your bait. Drift Fishing: Drift fishing is very popular on big lakes like Santee Cooper in South Carolina. On windy days, set all your rods on one side of the boat with weights that will slide along the bottom. Pencil, Lindy and slinky sinkers all work well for this. If the wind pushes the boat too fast, deploy driftsocks to slow the boat. If you don’t have driftsocks, 5-gallon buckets work in a pinch. Gary Turner is a long-time contributor to The Angler and Coastal Angler Magazine. Contact him at gary@purgeright.com.
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SEPTEMBER 2021
NATIONAL 13
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A LOOK AT THE NEW 35IFC AND ITS ‘RELATIVELY NEW STYLE DRUM WINDLASS’
nsetta Boatworks has always aimed to “continuously challenge the standards of an average catamaran” by setting the bar high for performance, stability and safety. Insetta’s IFC system (Internal Foil Catamaran) not only increases cruising speed and handling and stability, it also provides the boat with better acceleration and better fuel efficiency by 20 to 40 percent, meaning “20 to 40 percent farther cruise range.” Last spring, their commitment to being “the best-performing center console sportfish boat in its class by way of the hull design, cruise speed and best miles per gallon” expanded to the anchoring system on the new 35’ Internal Foil Catamaran. They installed an E-Z Anchor Puller Patriot EZ-3 drum anchor winch. The Georgia-based, fiberglass original equipment manufacturer excitedly announced in an April 23 Facebook post that they were “extremely impressed with the performance and reliability” of the installation, posting the maiden voyage of their demo boat on social media as well as writing about it on their official blog. “We kept it simple on Hull #2 with the Patriot by E-Z Anchor Puller Mfg. Co. and have really enjoyed using it,” they wrote. In another Facebook post from July, they wrote: “[It] takes up [approximately] 3 cubic feet and holds 560’ of chain, rope and dyneema.” Utilizing the Patriot series, Insetta’s boats are equipped with a complete 316 stainless steel unit, much like their commitment to use this corrosionresistant, marine-grade metal wherever applicable during the construction of their own vessels. Insetta has instilled a standard of transparency in their day-to-day processes as well, encouraging factory visits and taking a sales-
team approach to the buying process by giving customers a single point of contact for each buying experience. “The highest quality materials and best workmanship possible are paired to produce the finest boats on the market. From the first drawing to final installation, the Insetta design and construction teams ensure the final boat can withstand the rigors and stripes in adverse conditions.” - Insetta Boats, insetta.com
About the Patriot Series The Patriot series is the perfect shallow coastal saltwater anchoring solution for center consoles and sportfishing boats. With three sizes, the Patriot spools rope capacities from 1/2” nylon down to 1/4” dyneema. Completely 316 stainless steel components make the Patriot the ultimate saltwater anchoring solution. Engineered to evenly spool anchor rope, these units deploy and retrieve at an average 100-feet-per-minute. Call 1.800.800.1640 or visit ezanchorpuller.com for more information.
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SEPTEMBER 2021
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