The Angler Magazine | August 2023 | Naples/Marco Island/Everglades/Bonita Springs Edition

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By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

Athe cooler waters of great depths, deep-water grouper are some of the better tasting sh in the ocean. of deep-water grouper we target o coast of the Florida Keys are snowy grouper and yellowedge grouper. ey are found in depths of 400 to 1,000 feet.

Yellowedge are open year-round, and they can be a little di cult to nd. ey congregate in localized areas in depths between 600 and 800 feet. You might nd snowies and tile sh where you nd yellowedges, but this is not true the other way around. When you nd an area with yellowedge grouper, mark it, save it, and do not over sh it. Keep your harvest light, and this honey-hole will produce for you again in the future.

When making a deep-dropping rig, use larger hooks on the top and bottom of a ve-hook rig. Mustad 11/0 circle hooks provide excellent hookup ratios for this kind of shing. A x larger baits on these hooks, with the bottom intended for yellowedge, and the top intended for snowy grouper. Pepper in smaller ones in the middle for tile sh.

e nice part about dropping ve hooks is you can play with a variety and see what works. e best

to do what it is made to do.

Bait selection can vary greatly, so use anything and everything. I use chunks of fresh sh, with skin that will stay on the hook longer, for my top and bottom hooks, and squid in the middle. At least one hook should have some greasy, oily, stinky squid for deep dropping.

When it comes to catching deep-water species such as grouper, tile sh, barrel sh and rosies, you don’t need to break the bank to get a reliable electric set-up. e lower priced reels can handle these and can be paired with a rod and stacked with line on a budget of $1,000 to $2,000. I don’t recommend buying these used, as everything electronic on the water has a shelf life, and you never know how they were cared for previously.

With mahi-mahi still prevalent in o shore waters, and with snowy grouper still in season, the timing is perfect to hunt yellowedge grouper. If you aren’t interested in the trial and error of searching the depths of the vast ocean by yourself, Sweet

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E’nuf Charters’ two-boat eet is available to help put you on the grouper.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SWEET E’ NUF CHARTERS.

BILL DANCE SIGNATURE LAKES to Solidify Tennessee as the Heart of Fishing in the Southeast

Bill Dance Signature Lakes will connect the world’s most-loved angler with some of Tennessee’s most excellent natural resources – its lakes. is program is intended to make Tennessee a best-in-class destination for anglers worldwide.

With the new initiative’s goal to improve and enhance Tennessee lakes, increase visitation and honor Dance’s legacy, Tennessee will invest $15 million in improvements above and below the water at 18 lakes that bear shing legend Dance’s stamp of approval. Tennesseans will bene t from increased stocking, habitat and sheries management and improved access for shing and boating. e collaborative e ort between Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee State Parks and Tennessee Department of Tourist Development seeks to solidify Tennessee as the heart of shing in the southeast and drive economic activity across the state.

“I’m unbelievably humbled and excited to be involved in such a helpful project that will bene t so many people and our natural resources in my great home state of Tennessee,” said Bill Dance. “You can bet your favorite lure this project will have a ripple e ect for a mighty long time, not only giving the weekend sherman but tournament anglers a wonderful shery as well, thanks to the great state of Tennessee and my friends at TWRA.”

Bill Dance Signature Lakes touches 39 counties, including 22 at-risk or economically distressed counties, and is an essential step in helping those communities create new revenue streams through increased visitation. Fishing generates $1.2 billion in economic impact annually and supports 7,480 jobs across the state.

Bill Dance Signature Lakes includes nine large reservoirs with a proven track record for quality shing for a variety of sh. In partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority, reservoirs will receive new or upgraded best-inclass ramps to improve public access for both recreational and tournament anglers. Each of the 18 lakes will see such above-water upgrades as courtesy docks, ample parking, additional access points, shing piers and signage, to name a few. Several smaller lakes, many which are located within Tennessee State Parks, will be managed intensively by TWRA for Bill Dance approved family shing with regular stocking to ensure the best chance for success.

Projects are slated to begin in 2022 and near completion by the fall of 2024. For more information, see www.tnvacation.com.

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GETS THE FISH

When the low for the month is 82 degrees and the highs average 100, we have to make some modi cations to our lifestyles… and so do the sh. Let’s cover a few opportunities to take advantage of as we try to entice a bite this summer.

In the past I have written about some night shing techniques, but I realize that is not for everyone. However, optimizing your time on the water when the temperatures are at their coolest is imperative.

Water and air temps should be at their coolest just before dawn, and that is prime time to be chunking and winding. I like to be casting at least 30 minutes before the rising sun. I recommend locating an area that will have ample tidal ow. is obviously encourages the sh to feed, and it also helps keep the temperature lower. Pair the moving tide with some structure like shells or deeper water adjacent to a shallow at, and you should be in business. e area obviously needs to be holding bait, also.

Topwater lures are always fun and a popular

choice before and at sunrise in August. Once that bite slows, it’s time to bounce the bottom with some plastics. I try to not specify jighead weight if I am not covering a speci c location because it depends on tide, depth and a score of other variables. I would position myself to cast toward the shallows and bring my lure down the drop o . is is a good method to locate sh and cover di erent depths. Fish could be shallow early and fall o the edge as the sun rises. I also like to vary my retrieve speed, and don’t be afraid to work your lure very slowly ticking the bottom structure. Fish in warm water can become lethargic just as they do in cold water. Another time to hit the water is a er a summer rain. Take advantage of these showers, which cool

the water temps. ese periods can be short-lived depending on the extent and duration of the rain event. Heavy lighting tends to slow the bite a er the storm moves on, so I am not a big fan of shing a er a lightning storm.

I hope these tips can help you catch a few more sh this summer and stay out of the heat. Another bene t of shing early and heading home is you have the rest of the day to do other things. Wear your sun block, stay hydrated, and have a fun summer on the water!

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®

FIND THE BAIT, FIND THE FISH

Tim Barefoot

August is a pre-transition month, when we’re at the end of summer, and just before the true transition months of September and October. e shing can be hot as a recracker if you pay attention to the bait. is is a pre-staging month for the bait and the bottom sh, as well. Huge schools of cigar minnows and sardines will start their annual migration toward inshore waters for spawning, waiting for the fall and winter.

When o shore bottom shing, I’m looking for large stacks of beeliners as well as cigs and sardines. is is where you nd the sh. Period. Many years ago when I was commercial shing, we would stay for days at a time looking for grouper and snapper. We concentrated on the bait as much as the structure. If you found these two together (bait on a ledge), so much the better, but we o en found sh on slick, at, sand bottom on stacks of bait. We’d anchor on these big stacks of bait and go to work. If the bait school moved, so did the sh… and so did we! We’d y the anchor and move around until we found them again. It was just like magic, with instant bites on the bottom. is is the reason I keep saying, nd the bait, nd the sh. It doesn’t matter where these big stacks of bait go, the sh will follow.

With late summer water temperatures, pelagics like the tunas, wahoo and dolphin are scattered all over the nearshore waters due to the hot water. e water temperatures on the beach will be close to the water temps in the Gulf Stream by now, and the sh will follow bait wherever it goes. In August and September, some unsuspecting king mackerel sherman always catches a stud wahoo trolling live bait on some nearshore stack of bait. I remember wrestling a yellow n for more than an hour on lightweight king mackerel tackle just 10 miles o the

beach. We were bottom shing and had a live cigar minnow out on the light line. Eventually, I lost the ght due to a swivel that couldn’t take it anymore. Ha! Neither could I.

Keep a good eye on the recorder and any surface activity around structure. You know the areas that hold the big schools of cigs and sardines. Keep going back to these places now and into September. is is where you’ll nd what you’re looking for.

I’ve always been a bait freak. Now that I’ve seen more than just a few cycles of what happens through the seasons, I’m better able to see the big picture. Bait moves around for speci c reasons during di erent seasons. Whatever you are shing for requires food to keep them in a place. So… nd the bait, nd the sh.

For more from Capt. Tim Barefoot, check out Barefootcatsandtackle.com.

A nice scamp caught o a big stack of beeliners.

CATCH LATE SUMMER TRIPLETAIL SOAKING IN THE SUN

By Emily Hanzlik

In late summer, the humidity is crazy and the heat wants to take you down. e shing can slow down during this time; however, chilling in the sun is a lifestyle for some sh species.

e tripletail is one of the strangest sh in the ocean. Tripletail are usually dark brown with some lighter shades mixed around, and they can sometimes be yellow, depending on their area. ese sh don’t have a typical body structure. Instead, they have a at almond-shaped body and get their name from the appearance of having three tails, which is an adaptation of enlarged lobes on the posterior ns. ey usually don’t grow any larger than 15 pounds and typically range from 20-30 inches. For their size, they put up a heck of a ght.

Many tagging studies have been done on these sh to track their migrations. However, science has yet to gure it all out. e idea is they move north to south, then back up the coast going no further than Georgia. In the Gulf, they make it as far as Texas. e timing of their movements appears to be random, but it probably depends on currents, since they don’t free swim much.

Sometime during the summer months, tripletail will oat o shore to breed. Like most,

they broadcast spawn, with females producing anywhere from 4 to 8 million eggs. ey can spawn every three to ve days.

When these sh aren’t o shore spawning, they typically hang near lots of structure. You might spot them oating near crab buoys, mangroves, oating leaves and poles in the water. Tripletail are known for mimicking and blending in with their surroundings. is makes it especially di cult while shing to spot these creatures. However, it gives them amazing bene t, since their prey is also hiding in these places. Tripletail usually prey on shrimp, sh and small crabs.

ere are many di erent ways to target tripletail. Since they aren’t big swimmers, you’ll normally nd them oating around with seaweed or next to buoys. You can pitch baits, like live shrimp, to target them. Usually, you’ll want to use a small live bait hook without a weight to get a natural dri in front of them. If live bait isn’t your style, you can also use small jigs or swimbaits to grab their attention. Another great way is y shing. Here, you’ll want a y that mimics a small shrimp or bait sh. When targeting them, make sure to nd which end is their face. en try to dri your o ering in front of their nose.

e current IGFA all-tackle world record is

42 pounds. It was caught in South Africa in 1989.

Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 62 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.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AMY LOCKHART

Let’s grow with Florida together.

Tagging Tarpon

By: Caitlyn Gatrell

It’s summertime in Southwest Florida and you know what that means – tarpon are on the prowl! This species is hot around this time of the year as they make their way into the area as part of their annual migration. While there is usually tarpon found yearround in Southwest Florida, the numbers are significantly higher in the summer months. I can say that for myself, August usually is the prime time for when we catch our tarpon in the Ten Thousand Islands area.

We have noticed many schools of tarpon in varying areas around this area this time of year. From backwater bays, beaches, passes, currents, and mangrove lines, we have been sure to see plenty this year. The most exciting moments are when we see the birds zooming through the air, diving into the water, and many bait fish are jumping free from the open mouths of jumping tarpon. This is a sight to see! Once we see the birds, we make our way to that area.

G etting tarpon to bite can be tricky at times, but we have used a variety of bait that has been allowing opportunities at hooking up to some. We have used a mix of mullet, pilchards, threadfin herrings, crabs, as well as some artificial baits such as topwater lures, that have all been a help. Once you hook into one though, be prepared for a ride as their energy level is through the roof.

Something new I have incorporated into this year is tagging fish. It has a beneficial purpose, as it allows us to be able to look at certain paths or behaviors these fish have taken, as well as noting any new changes that may have occurred to them or their habitats. Overall, it benefits conservation and research purposes in our saltwater fisheries.

I was able to tag my first tarpon this year, which was a unique opportunity. We had along some friends, and one of us was able to hook into a nice sized tarpon. After the drag screaming fun, we got the fish to the boat and prepared for the tagging process. As the fish was small enough to be on the boat, we brought it onboard and quickly yet carefully inserted the tag into the skin. It can be a little difficult tagging the bigger species, so be sure to have a good grip on them. After completing the tagging, we then removed the hook and placed the tarpon into the water, preparing for the recovery.

It’s always important to ensure a good revival for your fish, especially the big ones that produce longer and tiring fights. Once we were able to get a good flow of water through its gills and got that firm kick from the tarpon, we let her go and watched her dive back down under the surface.

Spearfishing Freedivers

By: Capt. Chad Carney

Want to learn to freedive and spearfish? New spearos often think about Southeast Florida where the water is clear in shallow depths, and they overlook the Southwest and Florida Gulf Coast where I grew up. In the early 70’s, I started skin diving (much later named freediving) and there was no training. I listened to seniors and soon hit 60-ft. Some seniors built their own boats, found dive sites in 45 to 60-ft with just a compass, and a red flashing bottom finder! No GPS or Loran. They scuba dived and hated donning all that gear to find few or small fish on their drops, so I became their human fish finder! With 20 to 25-ft visibility, I could spot gags and hogfish quickly without spooking them, but my mentors made

me leave my gun in the boat while scouting. Then we slayed them! With today’s electronics Southwest Florida Captains can return to secret wrecks, sinks, towers, short ledges and potholes with great spearfishing spread all over 100-nautical miles. Southwest Florida has nothing like it! Scuba training took off in the US, but freediving took much longer. My 1977 National Association of SkinDiving Schools instructor certification allowed me to teach Skin Diving but only to 30-ft, while advanced scuba allowed to 132 ft. Southwest Florida freediving in shallow needs at least 10 feet of visibility to spot decent fish. Low visibility is better with a line, but 15-20 ft works with a free shaft. I often pull my 50” or 55” spearguns back like shooting a pool cue, with my thumb on the trigger. Always keep your distance from other divers and know what your gun will hit.

In 1994 Kirk Krack and I both joined Technical Diving International (TDI) and then Scuba Diving International (SDI). Kirk made history in 2000 founding Performance Freediving International (PFI), the first agency in BC Canada and the US. Also, in 2000 I started my company Florida Skin Diver and took PFI’s Advanced Course in 2003 and made my deepest free dive to 114-ft. Kirk has trained 23 World Record holders, including his wife Mandy-Rae Cruickshank, Martin Stepanek, Brett Lemaster and Tanya Streeter. He taught celebrities Tiger Woods, Tom Cruise, Margo Robbie, Lindsey Vonn & Woody Harrelson. He trained all the divers in Avatar 1 with Director/Producer James Cameron and again recently for Avatar 2. Recently Krack brought PFI into International Training, joining TDI, SDI, and ERDI.

Southwest Florida is a great place to free dive with abundant quality fish to spear!

chad.carney@yahoo.com facebook.com/floridaskindiver/

Re-Think Paradise

NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THE FLORIDA KEYS

Summer’s Full Swing

By: Capt. Billy Norris

offshore in a little bit deeper water where the water is a little cooler. There has been quite a bit of bait in close, but it is very small and almost unusable. However, in a few months that hatch will be fully grown, and our beaches should be covered with choice gamefish size offerings. Redfish have also been active in the back and this time of the year it is incredibly hot by the afternoon, so try to target reds in shaded areas with moving water. Patience is the key this time of year, and waiting on fish can be very productive. For summertime redfish, I like to use a cut bait like a chunk of ladyfish or mullet. Rig it with a circle hook and just enough weight to get it to the bottom and keep it in place. Again, you will have to have patience, but it definitely pays off.

Summertime is in full swing here in Southwest Florida! The days are hot, and the afternoon rains can throw a wrench into some of your fishing plans, but overall, it is a great time of year for fishing! Right now, both the backwaters and the nearshore wrecks/reefs have been producing fish. In the back, there has been an excellent snook bite. Bait of choice this time of year is certainly pilchards or threadfin herring. Bait has been tricky lately in the Bonita area, as most of the schools are sitting

Offshore has also been great fishing and the wrecks have had big snook and cobia on them. Although there are not a ton of them, there are some quality fish out there right now. The mangrove snapper bite has turned on as we reach our summertime fishing. I like to use a light leader and cut thread fins or sardines for them. It has been the normal to limit out on mangroves on most trips lately. The beaches also have a variety of drag-peeling fish cruising the shores. There are large schools of spanish mackerel and jack crevalle crashing baits in 20-30 foot of water all the way up and down the coastline. As expected, the predators have followed the spanish, and there are tarpon and a seemingly endless supply of sharks of all kinds in our coastal shallows. Fishing has been great, buy make sure you stay hydrated, get out there early and catch some fish!

Fishing the Sea Breeze

By: Joe Sheaffer

Summer is in full vigor; it seems to be warm every second of every day. Many anglers head to the beaches to keep a little cooler as we fish. It can be a bit cooler but that doesn’t mean fishing will be easy. Many days the mornings can be very calm, and the beach looks like a large lake. As the morning heads into the afternoon the beaches become very crowded with people looking to enjoy the gulf and sun. The fish aren’t exactly fired up or even thinking about feeding with these conditions. When the weather forecast is calm and clear, waiting until the evening may prove to me more productive. Many evenings as the sun descends into the Gulf of Mexico, a nice sea breeze causes the surf to churn. Many times, the fish will turn on and begin to feed in the surf. The churn of the water and the lower light conditions can be an advantage for anglers. Snook and other species can be very aggressive and much more willing to hit live bait and artificial presentations. Looking for schools of bait, birds diving and of course feeding fish can key you in on areas holding fish. Many presentations can be effective, but I like using some type of swimming lure. Jig with paddle tails, Swimbaits, Rattle Traps, Chatterbaits are a few that have been productive for me over the years. Focusing your cast parallel to the beach will keep your lure or bait in the strike zone. Fishing in the evenings can be a little cooler and definitely less crowded. When the beaches are calm and busy during the day, think about an evening fishing the Sea Breeze, it may be a great fishing experience. Good luck and keep casting.

Common Courtesy

By: Capt. Tim Ramsey

Part 2 – Continued from last month; One of the two boats already there caught his anchor line when they reeled-in their lines. If not bad enough, another boat coming out to see what was happening powered in a circle around all three boats, turning the once calm sea into a washing machine. One boat almost swamped, having to chase down their cooler afterward, and a girl on the other almost fell overboard.

One day the boat ramp at Caxambas was blocked off. Why? Because the guy at the gas dock nearby pumped twenty gallons of gasoline down his rod holder instead of into his fuel tank, and environmental and safety precautions were necessary before the dealer he just bought his boat from could get him out of the water. Miraculously, his bilge pump didn’t pump it all overboard.

These are just a few examples. Why can’t people slow down? Why can’t people give you some room? Be courteous? It’s funny how when boats blast by you when you’re way back in the mangroves, the people onboard don’t look at you. Sorry, I can still see you. They know not to give you the customary wave since they would get the finger in return. Or do they? Maybe they have no idea what they’re doing. I know it’s fun to run your boat or jet ski in back, but you’re not the only one back there. Life is really not all about you. It’s supposed to be about us. All of us. I still come off a plane near boats on their trolling motor, push pole, or just fishing in calm waters, only now, I wonder if the guy ever blew by me before. Part of me wants to give people who do that a dose of their own medicine, but I’m not that guy, even if they were guilty. I still hope people will be courteous, and I make sure those who are know I appreciate it. Come off a plane for me, you get a smile, a wave, a thumbs-up, a set of steak knives, a standing ovation, a commemorative coffee mug, T-shirt, dinner for two at the main post NCO Club, etc. Well, maybe not all of that, but you know what I mean. Here are some things to remember:

• If you think your boat is too big for the backcountry, it is.

• If you think you’re pushing a wake, you are.

• If you think the water is crowded, it is.

• If you mentally count how many drinks you had already, the number is one too many. Go in.

• Boats don’t stop like cars so don’t tailgate other boats.

• If you trailer your boat and have a few beers on the water, you will soon be driving under the influence.

• If you’re running in the backcountry, the speed limit is not “as fast as you can go.” This applies to jet ski tours too.

• Speed limits apply to jet skis as well as boats.

• If you’re fishing in the channel, you’re in the way.

• There is no reason to operate your boat at a constant “digging a hole” speed.

• Your music is for you. Others don’t want to hear it.

• If you used a saw to cut the bow rail to mount a trolling motor, don’t go follow the guides around. In fact, never follow the guides around.

• If you suddenly see a dolphin, do not pull the throttle into neutral and make a sudden stop in the channel.

• Those girls in bikinis you want to show off will get sunburned and intoxicated and they are your responsibility. How popular will you be when they’re hungover and sunburned?

• Just because the boat doesn’t have a rear-view mirror doesn’t mean no one is back there. Look behind you.

• L aunch the boat, recover the boat, get out of the way.

• Once you’re on the water is no time to ask for directions, especially to bars.

• Just because everybody wants to sit on the bow doesn’t mean they should.

• A rolled-up Bimini top will not protect you from the sun.

• Drowning looks dorkier than wearing a life jacket.

• A prop that is not spinning can still cut you. Use a swim ladder or swim from the beach.

• If you don’t know how to trailer, ask someone. Maybe your dealer will show you.

• If you can’t back your boat down the ramp without five tries, go to an empty parking lot and practice. Videos can give you helpful hints, but they don’t drive your vehicle.

• Don’t know what the markers mean? Take a safe boating course.

• Don’t know how to run your boat or what that blower switch is for? Your dealer should show you.

• A n incoming tide lifts all boats. An outgoing tide strands you on the sandbar.

• Read your owner’s manual. All of them.

• If you wonder if you need a fishing license, you do.

• In the backcountry, your alcohol-induced carrying-on carries at least two hundred yards. Pipe down.

• If you go into the backcountry on an incoming tide and expect that going out on the outgoing tide will get you out, it will only get you lost.

• Don’t take selfies or talk on your phone while driving your boat. The boat you run into or creature you run over might not like it.

• If your boat is only for going to dockside bars, you’re not a boater, you’re a bar hopper. Stay ashore.

• Never skimp on sunblock. Remember it only works for a maximum of 80 minutes, no matter how expensive, and you waste most of that spray you find so convenient.

• You don’t have to keep every fish. Catch and release is a thing. So are slot limits, closed seasons, and minimum lengths.

• You are not a jet ski expert ten minutes after getting on one for the first time.

• Only you are impressed with your jet ski maneuvers. Operate safely.

• If you can’t go on a sandbar or beach without cleaning up after yourself and taking your trash with you, don’t go.

• No one is impressed with how much pot you’re smoking.

• Buy a first aid kit. A good one. You’ll use it more than you might think.

KEY WEST AND BACK

By: Capt. Terry Fisher

Key West is a great boating destination, and I accompanied my friend, Ron Defreitas and his daughter ‘Lilly’, on a new 36ft. Yellowfin from Ft. Myers to the Oceans Edge Resort and Marina, where we spent 4 nights. The three of us departed early on July 1st arriving by noon. A quick lunch, pick up some bait, then back out to sea to catch mahi mahi, as our wives were not due to arrive by car until later that evening. It was a fairly productive afternoon ‘boating’ about eight fish. We had two days of trolling for dolphin and one day in the Dry Tortugas (Ft. Jefferson), fishing for mutton snapper, yellowtail, trigger fish, grouper and anything else that we could catch. The restaurant ‘Yellowfin’, located on the property prepared and served our catch of the day.

A fter another successful, fun filled, action packed 4th of July ‘Adventure’ to Key West it was time to return back to work in SW Florida. However, 1st Mate Vicki and I plan on returning to the ‘Keys’ in late September to join the Maverick Boat Group and other Pathfinder boat owners for a weekend of fishing, fun and food and at Hawks Cay Resort, located on Duck Key. Naturally, we will trailer our new 26 Ft. Pathfinder HPS, sponsored by Ft. Myers Marine, Yamaha, Power Pole and Coastal Angler Magazine.

August in SW Florida is a ‘hot’ month and I suggest when the opportunity comes that anglers look to early departures and early returns when possible.

I NSHORE; early morning high tides will allow ‘shallower’ running boats to access more remote areas to fish for snook, redfish and mangrove snappers. The ‘bite’ will be better in the morning hours as afternoon fishing in the ‘back country’ will be sweltering hot for the angler and the fish. Pilchards for snook, ‘quartered’ blue crabs for redfish and shrimps for mangrove snapper.

A nother option and suggestion for snook anglers is to work the beaches of Sanibel, Captiva, N. Captiva and Cayo Costa utilizing pilchards and pinfish for better results. These fish will be lurking in either of the two ‘troughs’ close to the beach. Tree stumps, wood debris and grasses pushed up into the shallows are a bonus. Most all docks hold snook.

Seatrout fishing will be productive in the deeper grass flats 4 to 5 ft.

as always with options to use plastics or live shrimps. Unfortunately, anglers will catch more catfish than they bargained for during the hot, August month. The secret for catching one’s limit is tenacity. Most likely anglers will have to move around to several grassy areas to find one or two ‘keeper’ size fish at each location in order to acquire legal sizes and legal limits. Just keep in mind that lighter tackle will make all the difference in the world when it comes to enjoying fishing inshore.

OFFHORE; early morning departures is also a must as the temperature can be brutal in the Gulf. However, too much wind will likely squelch any adventurer seeking opportunity to catch grouper, snapper, triggerfish, grunts or pelagic species. Be mindful of the regulations and rules for every species that you possess as the rules are subject, not only to change, but also to frequent open and closures. Most experienced offshore anglers are aware that in the Gulf waters, the farther out one goes to deeper depths, the bigger the fish. This especially applies to the hot summer months from June through September. As water temperatures drop during the winter months the fish will actually take up residency in shallower waters, closer to the shore.

Offshore anglers need be aware of the of the difference in state and federal waters for size and bag limit requirements. On the west coast of Florida (SW Florida Gulf Waters), the state water is up to 9 miles out whereas the state waters on the east coast of Florida, including Monroe County (Key’s and Dry Tortugas) is only 3 miles out before federal requirements come into play.

Regarding equipment (as mentioned above), I recommend that smaller outfitting of rod and reel provides the most fun and enjoyment. Don’t use anything that is bulky and heavy. Just purchase and use equipment that will get the job done by tiring the fish out, instead of equipment that tires out the angler. Anyone that would like recommendations on equipment purchases, including but not limited to size, makes and models are welcome to contact me at the email and phone number listed below.

Kylie M. w/ a keeper mangrove snapper,

Jane caught this nice slot redfish in the backwaters of Naples on a Captain

nice

Photos submitted Courtesy of Coastal Angler Readers and Contributing Writers

Rich Sarni and Gabbi’s Dad Rich landed this 25# permit!

Emerson landed a 22” lane snapper in 75’ of water in the Gulf.

Redfish Rob’s Charter.

Matt MIller: “El Jobean for the win!”

Brian caught this

over slot redfish on a Captain Redfish Rob’s Charter, Naples, FL.

Travis w/ a nice snook in Rotunda!

Connor w/ an over slot redfish caught in the backcountry of Naples on a Captain Redfish Rob’s Charter.

Everglades National Park.

Gabby Sarni caught this nice cobia out of Naples.

FLORIDA’S WATERS NEED YOUR HELP!

Anglers, your help is needed: Florida’s waters are in serious trouble.

Even a partial list of facts demonstrates the broad failure of Florida’s environmental regulatory system to protect our waters.

• Red tides have increased dramatically in frequency, duration and intensity.

• South Florida is bracing for yet another summer of massive blue-green algae blooms.

• Nearly a million acres of estuaries and 9,000 miles of rivers and streams are contaminated with fecal bacteria.

• Seagrass beds are on the brink of a death spiral.

• Eighty percent of our 1,000 springs are polluted.

• No state has lost more acres of wetlands.

• No state has more acres of polluted lake water. When it comes to our polluted waters, the buck stops with the state. Florida waters su er because our state government permits pollution and environmental degradation through its actions and inactions.

e primary problem is special interests, such as big agriculture, big development and big mining, which wield undue in uence over legislators and thus environmental policy. It’s pro t over public interest.

In 2020, looking to clean up their polluted waterways themselves, an astounding 89 percent of Orange County voters approved a Right to Clean Water/Rights of Nature charter amendment.

e state legislature swi ly took that right away by preempting the authority of local governments statewide from passing such laws. If you want proof that a rights-based approach to protecting our waters would be e ective, it’s right there.

at preemption le Floridians with only one viable course of action: amend our state constitution to give all Floridians a fundamental right to clean and healthy waters, a right beyond the reach of legislators. e amendment is indefeasible and self-executing; it can’t be annulled or compromised by the legislature.

is fundamental right would be on par with other fundamental rights such as the right to free speech and the right to bear arms.

Given how critical clean water is to Floridians, we merit this right. We need this right. With it enshrined in our constitution, we can hold state government accountable when it permits pollution and degradation of our waters and aquatic ecosystems.

To get on the 2024 ballot, 891,589 signed and approved petitions are needed by Nov. 30, 2023.

Go to FloridaRightToCleanWater.org to read the full text of the amendment. Browse the FAQs. Note the growing list of over 150 organizations and businesses supporting this amendment.

CONSTITUTIONAL

Learn that this right doesn’t mean your neighbor can sue you for fertilizing your lawn, or that there will be a proliferation of lawsuits. It means our government must provide real remedies for polluted waterways. en, if you are a registered Florida voter, print out, sign, and mail the petition. Get family and friends to do the same.

Florida waters depend upon it, and we all depend upon clean water.

Visit FloridaRightToCleanWater.org for more ways you can help make a di erence.

Ballot Title:

Ballot Summary:

Amendment Information

Right to Clean and Healthy Waters

This amendment creates a fundamental right to clean and healthy waters. The amendment may be used to sue State executive agencies for harm or threatened harm to Florida’s waters, which include aquatic ecosystems. This amendment defines terms, identifies affected constitutional provisions in Article IV governing the executive branch, provides for civil action enforcement, allows attorney’s and expert witness fees to prevailing plaintiffs, and provides equitable remedies including restoration of waters.

See separate document for the full text of the proposed constitutional amendment.

04/22/2022 2202 Date Approved Serial Number

Sponsor's Information (Return all completed petition forms to the address below.) Name: Address:

FloridaRighttoCleanWater.org

13300 South Cleveland Avenue Suite 56 Fort Myers, FL 33907

Voter's Information

I am a registered voter of Florida and hereby petition the Secretary of State to place the above proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution on the ballot in the general election.

Address

Update my voter registration record to this address. (check box)

Petition Circulator's Information

This Petition form is only to be collected by a volunteer or directly by the voter him or herself.

A paid petition circulator must use the DS-DE 155B version of the form. Forms for paid petition circulators can be obtained from the Division's Paid Petition Circulator website. Visit https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/InitiativePetitions/ for more information.

Attention

• This form becomes a public record once filed with the Supervisor of Elections.

• It is a first degree misdemeanor to knowingly sign the same petition more than once. [§104.185, F.S.]

• An improperly completed form will not be validated.

DS-DE 155A (10-2021) R1S-2.009, Fla. Admin. Code

THROW A WACKY RIG TO GET BIT!

TYLER WOOLCOTT

Have you ever heard the saying, “going catching, not shing?”

Well, there’s a technique that will help you do just that. More than any other bait I can think of, a wacky rig gets bit at any time, under any conditions. If you haven’t heard of a wacky rig, it’s simply a Senko-style bait with a hook through the very center of the worm.

ere are a few reasons this bait outperforms many others when it comes to getting bites. First o , it is versatile when it comes to areas where you can throw it. I wacky rig with a weedless hook, which allows me to pretty much put this bait anywhere. Hayabusa makes an awesome hook called the Wacky Fluoro Guard that is completely weedless and helps you sh through cover. What kind of cover? e options are endless. Docks, grass, wood and rocks are some of the places I’ll throw a wacky rig.

I use a spinning rod with a wacky rig, which allows easier casts, especially when skipping the bait under cover most people can’t reach. A wacky rig skips extremely well, and this lets you reach sh that might never have seen a bait before. e natural falling shimmy action of the Senko drives sh absolutely crazy. It will catch bass when nothing else seems to be working.

For colors, I like green pumpkin or some type of brown when the water is clear. If there’s some stain to the water, I use a darker color like junebug or redbug to help it stand out. In muddy water, the silhouette of a darker bait is what the bass pick up on.

Typically, the slower you sh a wacky rig, the better. I throw it or skip it under and around cover and then let it sink for a few seconds. A lot of times, bass will eat it on the initial fall. If not, I give it a few small twitches or a pull of the rod to cover some area. Repeat this process a few times until your bait leaves the strike zone. If there is a sh around, it will bite.

Wacky Rig Gear

A spinning rod is ideal for this technique. I like a shorter rod for more accurate casts and skips. e 13 Fishing Defy 7’1” medium is an awesome rod for a wacky rig, and it’s super a ordable. Pair it with your favorite 2000 or 3000 size reel, and spool up with 10-pound Seaguar Smackdown braid. I use a uorocarbon leader to help keep the line visibility down. A 10- to 15-pound leader works, depending on the type of cover I am targeting. Seaguar Abrazx is an awesome uorocarbon line that I use for most of my spinning rod leaders.

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

Surf Expo, the premier watersports and coastal lifestyle tradeshow, enhances the buying experience for both watersports and out tter retailers with the debut of its new Shoreline o ering during the Sept. 7-9, 2023 edition.

Shoreline at Surf Expo will feature products dedicated to technical apparel, equipment and gear any enthusiast needs to transition from a day on the water to stretching out on land.

“From the trails to the lakes and beyond, Shoreline at Surf Expo supports the natural evolution of the waterman’s lifestyle with gear, apparel and accessories that will take consumers from coastal shoreline activities into camping, hiking, climbing and other recreational activities found along rivers and lakes,” said Roy Turner, Emerald SVP and Surf Expo Show Director.

Shoreline is positioned to become the hub for industry-leading retailers and brands focusing on shing, boating, wakeboarding, technical apparel, outerwear, camping, watersports hardgoods as well as essential gear and accessories.

e newest oor category complements Surf Expo’s extensive product o erings—Surf, Skate, Paddle and Bluewater—by targeting the business associated with outdoor amenities and recreation found in lake towns across the country.

Eric Marvin, founder of Elakai Outdoor, is exhibiting outdoor games within the new Shoreline category. Some games include cornhole, bocce ball, croquet and more. While this is Marvin’s rst year participating at Surf Expo, he knows it will be the right t for his business.

“Our products can be used on the beach, by the lake or near the ocean. Exhibiting at Surf Expo is a natural t for who we are as a business and what the Shoreline category is all about,” said Marvin.

Shoreline will also create a seamless connection with Surf Expo’s Bluewater category, which showcases notable inshore and o shore apparel and accessory products ranging from lifestyle and technical apparel to footwear, outerwear, sportswear, T-shirts, sunglasses and much more.

“Blending the inshore and o shore worlds under Surf Expo’s one roof exposes buyers and sellers to this growing crossover market within the coastal lifestyle industry,” added Turner.

SHORELINE & BLUEWATER EXHIBITING BRANDS INCLUDE:

Ronix Wake/ Radar Skis, Columbia OCS, MANG, Hest, Bimini Bay Out tters, Burnside Sierra Paci c Apparel, Elakai, Fahlo, HEST, Kracken Adventure Bikes, Intracoastal Waterway, Kanga Coolers, Lowtides Ocean Product, Line + Cleat, Pirani, Preston 1947 by Ebinger Brothers, Promo & More, Sunski, Sunburn Drink, e Grateful Diver, XTRATUF, Welly Bottle, and ZEP-PRO.

Summer-Long Fishing Competition Engages Youth Anglers

CCA Florida’s summer-long STAR shing competition o ers anglers a shot at more than $500,000 in prizes, with $100,000 in youth scholarships and invites anglers of all ages and skill levels to walk away with prizes from new boats to scholarships and more.

“Since we launched STAR in Florida, we’ve seen anglers catch more, release more, support the recovery of our state’s marine resources and walk away with new boats, scholarships and amazing new gear at the same time,” said STAR Director Leiza Fitzgerald. “Since the start of the competition, we’ve awarded anglers with over $2 million in prizes, including $800,000 in scholarships and two new ski s to youth anglers across the state.”

e 2023 STAR competition ends Sept. 4 and includes 15 divisions targeting 12 species both inshore and o shore. Awesome boat, motor, trailer packages and cash prizes and more will be awarded for di erent divisions.

STAR and its scholarship partners also provide tremendous incentives to engage youth in shing and conservation. For only a $10 New Tide Membership, youth ages 6 to 17 can enjoy free registration in STAR and participate to win boats, scholarships, other great prizes and earn community service hours.

At the conclusion of the competition, scholarship winners will be determined by a random drawing of all eligible photo entries.

Registered youth anglers may submit one photo a day of their sh on the 2023 STAR O cial STAR measuring device of the following species: lady sh, jack crevalle, sheepshead, snapper, snook, spotted seatrout, red sh, tarpon, grouper, dolphin or king sh.

e STAR Youth Scholarship Division presented by Realtree Fishing, o ers $100,000 in scholarships: two $25,000 scholarships presented by Realtree Fishing and e Slade Kerr Family and 10

$5,000 scholarships. is year Academy Sports + Outdoors, Florida Cracker Tournaments, e Plantation Inn Red sh Classic, Sodium Fishing Gear and Millers Boating Center join Coastal Conservation Association Florida, Southeast Environmental Solutions, Florida Sports Coast, Florida Sport shing Association, Phillips & Jordan and Tailin Toads Apparel as partners in presenting the $5,000 scholarships for 2023.

e Tagged Red sh Division Youth Prizes include two ski s, complete with Minn Kota trolling motors and Humminbird electronics and powered with Yamaha Outboards sitting on a trailer. e Tagged Dolphin Division o ers a $10,000 scholarship if the rst tagged dolphin is caught by a New Tide member.

Youth anglers also have another wonderful opportunity in the Costa Kick Plastic Trash Division presented by Papa’s Pilar. Youth participants can pick up garbage from the water or a shoreline during the competition and get rewarded. ey must submit a photo of the 5-gallon buckets full of trash for a shot at a $1,500 prize package, Kahuna Wagon, sunglasses certi cate and other great prizes. For every 5-gallon bucket of garbage a STAR Youth participant submits, they will also be provided with 30 minutes of community service hours.

For a full list of divisions, visit cca star.com.

For more information on STAR, or to register, visit the Facebook page or cca star.com.

By TAM Sta

CRAPPIE TIPS for Deep Summer

Spring is long gone and so are the quick limits of shallow-water crappie. at doesn’t mean you can’t go load the cooler with some slabs for a sh fry; it just means you’ll have to work a little harder. Here are a few tips to help you catch crappie when the weather and water are hot.

Trust the Electronics: Sonar is your best friend when crappie move deep. You might know where good brush and structure are on your lake, but you won’t know where the schools of crappie are until you spot them on the graph. Use side-scan to look under docks and around points, ledges, ditches and creek and river channels. Don’t even bother wetting a line until you’ve located sh with your electronics.

Find the Shade: Crappie don’t like the sun, and deepwater docks or piers can be the mother lode on bright days. Even underwater structure like ledges, humps and creek channels provide shade. Pay attention to the location of the sun, and then start searching the side of a given piece of structure that will provide some shade.

Go Early: ere’s no sense baking in the sun for a few sh when you can load the boat in just a few hours before and a er daybreak. Boat tra c and water temps are both lower in the morning, which means crappie and the small bait sh they feed on will be most active. In the morning, crappie move shallower up on the humps and ledges to chase bait. ey are more likely to bite when they are actively feeding.

Troll the Humps: O shore humps that top out at 15 feet or deeper will hold crappie this time of year. ey’re even better when there’s brush on them. Early and late, or if there is some dam-generated current, the sh will move

up to feed on these humps. ey suspend o the sides when the sun is high or the water is still. Slowly pull a spread of jigs or small, deep-diving crankbaits or spoons over and around humps where you’ve located sh. Pay close attention to how deep your lures are getting and add weight if you need to get them deeper.

Shoot Docks: Main-lake docks with 15 or more feet of water under them are comfortable places for crappie to hang out when the water is warm. Shoot lightweight jigs as far under these docks as you can, and let them sink slowly to the bottom before beginning a steady retrieve. If there are sh under a dock, they usually won’t let that jig hit the bottom.

Drown a Minnow: A school of crappie suspended o structure at 15 or 25 feet over a 40-foot bottom can be a frustrating scenario. You see them on your electronics, but they are slow to bite. Try dropping a live minnow down there where you’re marking sh. en just let it sit. e bites will be light, so pay attention.

PHOTOS BY NICK CARTER

Re-Discover Old Florida Waterfront Charm

The Perfect Vacation Getaway for Fishing, Boating & Outdoor Enthusiasts

n a dark, muggy morning, we eased into Campo’s Marina in Shell Beach, Louisiana.

By Gary Turner

We picked up 150 live shrimp for our rst day, and every morning began the same way for the rest of the week.

5 a.m., and it would be getting light at 5:30.For some of us— Dewayne and Blake Pro t, Darrel and I—this was the rst time we had been to Shell Beach in search of giant red sh,

Nestled on six lush tropical acres of pristine waterfront directly on the Indian River Lagoon, take a step back in time to experience the very best of Old Florida charm with modern conveniences and services to make your stay truly memorable and unforgettable.

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Sailfsh House features a wide covered wrap-around porch for larger groups

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massive sheepshead and gator trout. Touted as the “Best Inshore Fishing in the World,” Shell Beach did not disappoint! e red sh shing was incredible! We hooked some giants, some we never even saw!

We shed spinning gear and 17- to 20-pound line with 2/0 circle hooks baited with either live shrimp or chunks of fresh blue crab. We also used two di erent techniques. Some of us popped a Cajun under cork. I used a Carolina rig, with the weight on my line, then a barrel swivel and an 18-inch leader terminating in my 2/0 BKK circle hook with a live shrimp.

Now… back to the sh we never saw! We shed some ats right where the tall marsh grass met the canals. e water was usually less than a foot deep. We would cast right next to the grass and wait for sh that were cruising this edge in search of food. en it was on! Your line would cut a wake as the sh ran for deep water and peeled drag. ese sh used any structure or rocks they could nd to break o . Even when they ran to deep water, they just kept going. We broke several lines before deciding to pull up anchor and chase the next big one.

at worked well, so we started chasing down lots of big red sh. Blake hooked one with the popping cork that broke him o . Later, we spotted the cork in the shallows and eased up to try to net it. Just as we got to it, the sh took o and was never seen again.

e days were hot, in the low to mid 90s with pop-up thunderstorms every day. One day we even spotted two waterspouts. We did our best to dodge all that, but we did get wet a few times. e last 30 minutes of daylight were always the most productive. We shed rock walls and hooked up several big red sh each evening. Mixed in with the red sh were some giant sheepshead that fell for the same tactics as the reds. Blue crabs are everywhere. You can catch them with a long-handle dip net or rod and reel.

Shell Beach is in St. Bernard Parish on the Gulf Outlet Canal near Lake Borgne, just 30 minutes from New Orleans. We plan on going back next year.

Check out Gary Turner’s YouTube channel @FishingMagicWithGary.

O

NORSE BY NORSEWEST?

Embrace your Scandinavian side with a 7" blade

If you looked out your window a thousand years ago and saw a fleet of Viking longships coming your way,you knew you were in trouble. For roughly two centuries, the Vikings voyaged, raided and pillaged wherever they pleased. As expert sailors and navigators, they reached as far from Scandinavia as Iran, Constantinople, North Africa and the New World in their quest to expand their kingdom.

A mini sword. Too organized and too aggressive, no one stood in a Viking’s way. That’s exactly the message that our Viking Blade sends. Crafted from Damascus steel with brass inlay, this 12" full-tang knife is essentially a mini sword. Paired with its hand-tooled leather sheath, this knife belongs in the collection of any avid aficionado.

Join more than 322,000 sharp people who collect stauer knives

The steel of legend. For centuries, a Damascus steel blade was instantly recognizable and commanded respect. Renowned for its sharp edge, beauty and resistance to shattering, Damascus steel was the stuff of legend. While the original process has been lost to the ages, modern bladesmiths have been able to re-create Damascus steel to create the best blades imaginable.

Sure to impress, naturally. Combining natural strength and natural wonder at a price that’s hard to beat, the Viking Blade is a study in Damascus steel that’s sure to impress. And should you ever find yourself facing a Viking horde, a flash of this knife will show that you’re not to be messed with.

Don’t delay: Order within the next week and we’ll offer this blade to you for just $99, a savings of $200! That’s the best bang for your buck we can possibly offer: our Stauer® Impossible Price. Get your hands on one of the fastest-selling knives in our company’s history today.

Knife Specifications:

• 12" overall length. 7" Damascus full-tang blade

•Includes genuine leather sheath

Viking Blade $299 $99* + S&P Save $200

California residents please call 1-800-333-2045 regarding Proposition 65 regulations before purchasing this product. *Special price only for customers using the offer code.

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Tennessee Angler Breaks His Own State Record

Aer a grueling 15-minute battle while shing solo, angler Micka Burkhart successfully netted and boated a 122-pound blue cat sh from Tennessee’s Cumberland River on June 28. e sh is a pending state record that should top the 118.7-pound record mark, which Burkhart set himself at Barkley Reservoir last September.

e whole ght can be viewed on a video posted to Burkhart’s YouTube channel, with the action climaxing as Burkhardt breathlessly pleads with the sh and promises to release it if he can just get it in the net.

Burkhart’s monster blue o cially weighed 122.3 pounds and measured 57.5 inches long, with a 42.25-inch girth. It ate a white bass head shed on 40-pound-test line. A er transporting the sh in a large livewell on his trailered boat to get o cial measurements, Burkhart returned to the Cumberland River and successfully released it back to the Stewart County stretch in northwest Tennessee near the Kentucky and Missouri borders. In a Facebook post, Burkhart reported that he also caught 69- and 72-pound blue cats on the same day. at’s a mighty ne day of shing.

e IGFA all-tackle world record blue cat sh weighed 143 pounds, even. It was caught from Kerr Lake, Virginia by Richard Nicholas Anderson in June of 2011.

The Return of a

To watch Burkhart catching the new state record, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ni4BPAaEng&t=1s

This Is How You Walk the Walk

Comfort and class go hand in hand with our Walking Stick Collection. Yours for ONLY $59 each!

They call walking the “perfect exercise.” It gets your heart pumping, clears your head and fills your lungs with fresh air. Not bad, but we found a way to make it even better. Before you take your next 10,000 steps, add a little strut to your stroll. Take a Stauer Walking Stick anywhere and I promise that you’ll feel like a conquering hero. Heads will turn. Doors will open. Its powers will astound you.

What’s the secret? Pure class. Our Stauer Walking Sticks are a tip of the top hat to turn-of-the-century tradition. Today these tributes to a gentleman’s power, prestige, and posture are fetching as much as $200,000 at auction. But only Stauer can deliver a modern version of these vintage classics that looks and feels as good as the original for $59 each!

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A Time of Porpoise

Amemorable beach moment: You’re basking in the warm sun, toes in the sand, letting the gentle turn of the foam-capped waves lull you into a state of complete relaxation. As your eyes scan the endless horizon of blue on blue, you’re rewarded with a school of dolphins making their way across the sea.

There’s no denying their signature shape as they leap from the water. If you don’t see anything else extraordinary the rest of day, you can take solace knowing you’ve witnessed one of nature’s most playful and human-like creatures in their natural habitat.

Why not re-create that special moment with our Balinese Dolphin Pendant? We’ve captured two dolphins mid-jump in sterling silver crafted in the Balinese style. Tucked between these beloved sea mammals is a full carat of shimmering blue topaz. Made by some of Indonesia’s finest artisans, this pendant is an absolute steal at JUST $29! That’s what we call our Stauer IMPOSSIBLE PRICE!

Nothing captures the shimmering color of the ocean in the midday sun like blue topaz. With its sparkling, clear blue color and high reflective index, blue topaz is one of the world’s top-selling gemstones. The Gemological Institute of America lauds topaz for its hardness, noting that blue topaz is known for its intense color that’s better than aquamarine. With this special price, you can score quite the catch. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Enjoy the Balinese Dolphin Pendant for 30 days. If it doesn’t pass the test swimmingly, send it back for a full refund of the item price.

Limited reserves. This pendant is already one of our best sellers this year. A full carat of genuine blue topaz set in .925 sterling silver for this price is as rare as a dolphin sighting. We cannot guarantee availability for long. Call today! This offer is limited to the first 1,900 responders to this ad!

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