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VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 262
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tretching 500 miles across the northern side of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Trench is the deepest in the Atlantic Ocean. This 6-mile-deep feature is part of what makes the Virgin Islands one of the world’s best sportfishing destinations. Here, where the Atlantic Ocean borders the clear waters of the Caribbean Sea, the Virgin Islands rise as the peaks of an enormous underwater mountain chain. The islands offer some of the best diving, snorkeling and most beautiful beaches anywhere, but it is off these islands that serious anglers come to play. Beneath the surface, the topography is spectacular. About 20 miles north of St. Thomas, the travel hub of the U.S. Virgin Islands, the North Drop falls precipitously to depths of more than 28,000 feet into the Puerto Rico Trench. Cool Atlantic currents are stirred off Virgin Gorda, and sea life abounds. The big pelagic species congregate to feed on an abundance of baitfish drawn by the drop. A similar situation occurs off the South Drop, just 8 miles south of St. Thomas, and the smaller drops around St. Croix. Short boat rides put anglers on abundant baitfish and the bigger fish that feed on them. Marlin can be caught year-round, but spring to fall is peak time for blue marlin, which show up in numbers and feed aggressively around the full moons. The bite is legendary. The IGFA Women’s alltackle world record, a 1,073-pound blue marlin, was caught off the Virgin Islands, along with 24 other world records over the years. The granders—1,000-pound-plus marlin—show up on occasion, but the Virgin Islands also offer numbers. During the USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament, 207 blue marlin were released over four days of fishing. Marlin average about 350 pounds out of St. Thomas, and 500-pounders are caught regularly. But blues aren’t the only game in town. The location of these islands 6
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almost seems strategic. Sailfish, white marlin, tuna, wahoo, dolphin… the most sought after gamefish for sport and the table frequent these drops in good numbers to feed. Working the drop by trolling rigs across the depth contours produces consistently good action year-round. The sailfish bite peaks October through March. Yellowfin tuna are present late summer through winter, and blackfin and skipjack tuna provide
action year-round. Wahoo are also a year-round target, and dolphin fishing peaks in fall. The fishing is world class, and the Virgin Islands are also easy to get to. A short plane ride from the continental U.S. puts anglers in the middle of the action. And with lodging that ranges from quaint to luxurious, there are options for anyone who wants to live out their offshore fantasy. To learn more about the Puerto Rico Trench, go to
FORTHELO VEOFFISHING.CO
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It’s the Honda of Outboards. Literally.
Quality, reliability, technology and fuel-efficiency have made Honda an automotive legend. You’ll find those same strengths in every Honda Marine outboard. Honda outboards deliver best-of-class features in models ranging from 2.3 to 250 hp. Many even share engine technology and components used in Honda vehicles like the Accord, Odyssey, Fit and Pilot — vehicles that have proven themselves over millions of miles. No wonder all Honda outboards are backed by the only 5-year manufacturer’s warranty in the industry. Power your boat with the brand that offers millions of miles of proven performance — Honda Marine.
Take Advantage Of 2.49% APR Financing On All New Honda Outboards Or 4.49% APR Financing On All New Honda Outboard Engines Or Boat/Motor Packages — Going On Now! To Find Your Nearest Authorized Honda Marine Dealer, Visit Our Website Now From Your QR-Enabled Phone, Or Go To ca.hondamarine.com *APR financing available on all new Honda outboard engines through American Honda Finance Corporation upon approved credit. 2.49% APR financing for 24 – 48 months, available to customers who qualify for the AHFC super preferred credit tier. Example for new Honda outboard engines: 2.49% APR for 36 months financing at $28.86 a month for every $1,000 financed. 3.49% APR for 60 months financing at $18.19 a month for every $1,000 financed. 3.49% APR for 84 months financing at $13.44 a month for every $1,000 financed. Offer good on any new and unregistered Honda outboard engine, with a minimum amount financed of $1,000 and a minimum monthly payment of $100. Check with participating dealers for complete details. Dealers set actual sales prices. For well-qualified buyers, not all buyers may qualify. Higher rates apply for different terms and/or buyers with lower credit rating. Lower rates may also be available. Offer valid through 01/03/17, on new and unregistered Honda outboard engines (2hp – 250hp) and only on approved credit by Honda Financial Services through participating dealers. Honda Financial Services’ standard credit criteria apply. **APR financing available on all new Honda outboard engines or packages (boat, motor and trailer, where Honda outboard engine is the main source of power) through American Honda Finance Corporation upon approved credit. 4.49% APR financing for 12 – 180 months (term and rate based on amount financed) available to customers who qualify for the AHFC Super Preferred credit tier. Example for new Honda outboard engines or packages: 4.49% APR for 84 months financing at $13.90 a month for every $1,000 financed. 4.49% APR for 144 months financing at $9.00 a month for every $1,000 financed. 4.49% APR for 180 months financing at $7.64 a month for every $1,000 financed. Offer good on any new and unregistered Honda outboard engine or package, with a minimum amount financed of $1,000 and a minimum monthly payment of $100. Check with participating dealers for complete details. Dealers set actual sales prices. For well-qualified buyers, not all buyers may qualify. Higher rates apply for different terms and/or buyers with lower credit rating. APR may be subject to dealer mark-up. Offer valid through 01/03/17, on new and unregistered Honda outboard engines or packages and only on approved credit by Honda Financial Services through participating dealers. Honda Financial Services’ standard credit criteria apply. ©2016 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual. All Honda outboards meet EPA and CARB emission levels. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2016 NATIONAL 7
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he numbers don’t lie. Guatemala’s Pacific coast is the most productive sailfish destination in the world. Days of double-digit releases would be considered spectacular anywhere. Off Guatemala, it’s just an average day. Annual release rates show a dozen sailfish per boat, per day. And that’s just a year-round average. It is not unusual during peak seasons for boats to raise more than 50 or 60 sails a day, sometimes a lot more. In March of 2006, Capt. Ron Hamlin, and the anglers on the Captain Hook, released 124 sailfish in a single day less than 15 miles off Guatemala. The legendary former skipper out of Casa Vieja Lodge in Puerto San Jose still holds the record. For conventional anglers, it’s pretty much a sure thing. For fly anglers, it’s the best odds you’ll find. The concentrations of sailfish in this small slice of the Pacific are astounding. But it’s not just sails. Natural factors such as dramatically shifting currents, temperature barriers and high oxygen levels close to the surface combine to hold baitfish year-round. The eddy formations that swirl off the Guatemalan coast are crowded with life, including the big pelagics and the fish they feed on. There are more Pacific sailfish than can be found anywhere, but there are also marlin, wahoo, slammer Dorado and yellowfin tuna. Casa Vieja Lodge says blue marlin in the 200- to 400-pound range are thickest April through July, with black marlin up to 400 pounds showing up December through March and smaller striped marlin November through January. On average, every Casa Vieja boat encounters marlin every three days while targeting sailfish. During peak billfish seasons of December through March and then again from May through July, grand slams are an everyday possibility. Boats fish anywhere from 2 to 50 miles out in an area renowned for flat seas. The most consistently productive area is a canyon known as “The Pocket.” Only about 40 nautical miles wide, The Pocket drops to depths of 3,500 to 4,000 feet. Those constantly shifting currents deflect off the walls of the pocket stirring up nutrient rich waters that attract bait and big gamefish. Casa Vieja takes the fishing very seriously. Guided by some of the world’s top-tagging and award winning captains, their fleet of classically maintained 35’ Contenders and 40’ Sportfishers consistently produces world-class results. They are inheritors of history. A majority of the
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captains and lodge staff were employees of the original Fins ’n Feathers Inn that launched the Guatemalan sportfishing industry. These are the same sportsmen who have cared for the fishery since it exploded onto the sportfishing scene in the 1990s. With total release using circle hooks, the conservation philosophy has been central to Casa Vieja’s operations for more than a decade. With this kind of stewardship, as well as emphasis from the Guatemalan Government on limiting commercial fishing, the fishery continues to thrive. The lodge was also designed by lifelong sportsmen who know it is best to recover from a non-stop day of action on the water in worldclass accommodations. Luxurious rooms and top-notch local cuisine are paired with a staff trained to fill the needs of discerning travelers. It’s the perfect place to relive the day’s catch or dream of the morning’s possibilities. For more information on fishing Guatemala and the Casa Vieja Lodge, go to www.casaviejalodge.com.
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Decorè for Coastal Living Hand Crafted Accent & Area Rugs
Sand Dollar on Blue Stripes
www.madisonatmain.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
NOVEMBER 2016
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our Rip Roller is tearing up the water as you retrieve it in short quick jerks. Suddenly the water explodes from the vicious strike of a peacock bass. In your excitement and shock, you instinctively jerk your rod up before the peacock has had a chance to get the hook firmly in his mouth, and 6 inches of lure and three massive treble hooks come flying past your head. Your first encounter with the huge peacock bass of Brazil’s Amazon will be one you never forget. Fishing for this massive, hard-fighting predator can be best described to anglers as hooking into a 20-pound smallmouth bass that is having a bad day. To top off this fishing adventure, you are fishing over 1,000 miles from the ocean in the heart of the world’s largest rain forest on black water rivers that are home to more than 2,500 species of fish and the world’s greatest diversity of flora and fauna. Anglers will catch four or five different species of peacock bass, ranging from the popoca and butterfly species weighing an average of 3 to 5 pounds to the massive paca or arzu, the current world record of which is a 29-pounder caught by Andrea Zaccherini in 2010. Anglers can also catch aerobatic arowana, several species of catfish weighing upwards of 200 pounds, wolf fish and myriad other species. Peacocks will readily hit topwater baits on waters that aren’t heavily pressured, the most famous being the big propeller driven Woodchopper and its clones, as well as the more subtle Spook type baits. As with most species of fish, subsurface jerkbaits and jigs will produce bigger numbers of fish caught than topwater lures. Fly fishermen have discovered this game
2016T AMAZON
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as well, fishing big Deceivers, Dahlberg Divers and Clouser type flies. Heavy baitcasting tackle loaded with 65to 80-pound braided Kevlar line is the ticket for peacocks, as they are structure-oriented fish. The war is outfitters including River Plate Anglers and to keep them out of the cover once hooked. Fly fishermen need to bring saltwater Acute Angling. River Plate Outfitters, fishing in style 9- and 10-weight fly rods coupled with a Brazil since 1992, has leased exclusive fishing fly reel with a smooth drag and 30- to 50-pound rights on 10 different tributaries encompassing over 1,000 miles of black water rivers in all four tippets. In the last 15 years, Manaus, a city of 2 million dry zones in Brazil’s Amazon. It’s all within a 500in the heart of Brazil’s Amazon, has become mile radius northwest and south of Manaus. This the epicenter of South America’s peacock bass enables anglers to fly directly into these private fishing. American Airlines flies a daily five-hour lands by wheel or float equipped Caravan charter non-stop flight between Miami and Manaus planes and be in prime unpressured waters the and back, making Manuas easily accessible. The first day of their trip from mid July through mid majority of operators will have anglers spend March. The key to these operations is their six the first night in Manaus and then fly by charter “river trains,” each consisting of 250-squareaircraft to their fishing destinations. Most mother foot single or double occupancy air conditioned boat and cruise ship operators that offer peacock cabins that can be moved to the tributary in the bass fishing operate on the upper Rio Negro dry zone with the most ideal water conditions in out of Barcelos, a city of 30,000 people located a given time frame and not be relegated only to 300 miles upriver from Manaus. The waters of the upper Rio Negro dry zone. the Rio Negro and the mouths of its tributaries For additional information, contact River within a 150-mile radius of Barcelos receive the majority of the peacock bass fishing pressure. Plate Outfitters at www.riverplateanglers.com There are presently more than 40 mother boats/ or Jim kern at jim@emuoutfitting.com or at 817cruise ships operating out of Barcelos and a large 946-2479. Jim has been to Brazil 32 times since 1997 and can give you the real facts on most of lodge in the area. The other option for small groups of 6 to the Peacock Bass operations in Brazil’s Amazon. 12 people is a fishing trip on private indian For More Amazon Peacock Bass fishing, go to lands and government preserves leased by a couple different
CAMFRESHWATER.COM
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By CAM Staff • Photos Courtesy of Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge
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hey call Islamorada the Sportfishing Capital of the World. This slim string of six small islands about halfway down the Florida Keys separates the Atlantic from the Gulf of Mexico, and just offshore in the Atlantic, warm blue currents of the Gulf Stream deliver a steady flow of baitfish and the big migrating pelagic species that feed on them. The Continental Shelf is a highway for swordfish that move through in depths of 1,400 to 1,900 feet with a consistency that may be unmatched anywhere in the world. It is possible to target these deepwater giants any month of the year off Islamorada, and even during the day. But it is sportfishing only for hardcore anglers. Swordfish are elusive anywhere, the most difficult of the billfish to catch, and fights lasting several hours are the reward for tempting a bite from 150- to 400-pound or larger fish deep in the abyss. If catching a swordfish is one of the boxes that remains to be checked off on your bucket list, you’d be hard pressed to find a better place to do it. A little closer in, where the Gulf Stream swings over broken bottom and the offshore humps Islamorada has become famous for, it creates rips where disoriented baitfish become easy prey for dolphin, wahoo, sailfish, kingfish and tuna. In the summer months, flocks of birds are a dead giveaway for dolphinfish pushing frenzied bait to the surface. When that’s not going on, fish can be found trolling feather or jet head lures and plugs. A bite while trolling means it’s time to slow down and cast baits to catch other fish drawn to the same area. Sometimes this is met with spectacular results, especially for mahi, which tend to gather in numbers. Some of the most spectacular action on the humps comes from blackfin tuna. It can show up in spurts any time of year, but fall typically brings a push of 10-pound-plus tuna that can be incited into surface-feeding frenzies. Chumming up blackfins with pilchards is a very visual experience that allows even anglers armed with fly rods to hook up with multiple hard-fighting fish.
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As the tuna move toward the reefs with the late fall and winter baitfish migrations, the bigger fish begin to show up, and kite fishing becomes one of the preferred methods for teasing up fish 20 pounds and larger. The other fish that shows up to take advantage of baitfish from November through the winter is sailfish. There’s a reason why Islamorada is home to so many sailfish tournaments during the winter months. It can seem like everyone drops everything they’re doing for a chance to fly release flags. In fall and winter, sails move in to gorge on abundant ballyhoo around the reefs. This can present opportunities to anglers less than 5 miles from the docks off the islands of Islamorada. The 130- to 200-foot depths produce the most consistent bite where strong currents and changes in water color to a deep royal blue give away the edges and rips where sailfish hunt. Trolling or kite fishing the reefs can produce numerous fish in the 60-pound range when the bite is on. But on sunny days when the weather cooperates, it is possible to sight fish for sailfish inside the reefs in water as shallow as 20 or 30 feet. Even smaller boats can get in on this action. From the tower, crewmembers seek out the fish. When the alarm goes out, chum and baits are deployed. There’s really no technique more exciting. Anglers in the know await those bluebird skies on winter days when seeking out sailfish becomes as much hunting as it is fishing. And if all the offshore action isn’t enough to convince any angler to start making plans right now, fall also brings some of the biggest bonefish of the year to the Islamorada flats. Time it right, and you can be fishing the flats in the morning and trolling the bluewater in the afternoon. What more could you ask for?
For More Fishing in Islamorada go to
CAMSALTWATER.COM
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10/18/16 3:15 PM
The only thing we don’t fish for is excuses.
With everything from sailfish, grouper and tuna out front to bonefish, permit and tarpon out back, you have every excuse you need for dropping what you’re doing and heading for Islamorada in The Florida Keys. fla-keys.com/islamorada 1.800.322.5397 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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Get six years of product protection at no extra charge on new Suzuki outboards from 25 to 300 horsepower. You’ll be covered until 2022.
SUMMER MIGHT BE WINDING DOWN, BUT THE SUZUKI SAVINGS SEASON IS JUST HEATING UP
Suzuki is extending its popular Repower Finance program, as well, with attractive rates now available to all qualified borrowers. ®
In addition, Suzuki is offering cash rebates of up to $800 on select models. Your dealer has the models and amounts or you can visit our website for more information.
The Suzuki Savings Season 2016 ends soon so see your participating Suzuki Marine dealer today – or visit suzukimarine.com – for details on these special offers.
Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki outboard motors from 25 to 300 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 10/01/16 and 12/31/16 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase. If an acknowledgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Cash Rebates apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki outboards made between 10/01/16 and 12/31/16. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Customer and participating Dealer must fill out the appropriate rebate form at time of sale. Customer will have the choice to either apply the cash rebate against the original dealer invoice (Suzuki will credit Dealer parts account) or have a check sent directly to the customer. There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki marine engines. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki marine engines purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 10/01/16 and 12/31/16.“Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2016 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
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LET THE BATTLE BEGIN... Designed from the inside out for the technical
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THE ONLY DURABLE HIGH QUALITY ROD WRAP
Russ Lane: Bassmaster Elite Series™ Pro
“Winn overwraps help me as a tournament angler in so many ways. They’re great in all weather conditions. I don’t have to physically squeeze my rod during a cast as hard as I did with cork or EVA. That gives me a better degree of accuracy with less fatigue. Multiple color options also allow me to organize different rod actions and lengths using different colors. I honestly could never use a rod again without my Winn overwrap!”
winngrips.com 1-877-854-7601
WinnGrips.com, Winn, and the Winn Brand Symbol is a registered trademark of Winn Inc. © 2016 Winn Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
10/18/16 3:15 PM
By Mike Pehanich
I
believe this is the Golden Age of fishing tackle. For my money, the amazing quality and range of rods available to us today is clear evidence of that claim. Improvements in graphite quality, skeletal reel seats and lightweight braid-resistant guides have paved a path to conspicuous performance benefits, and rods conscientiously tailored to nearly every angling task are helping anglers execute specific techniques with a flourish. Yet, until recently, the seat of angler control—the handle—seemed stuck in the Dark Ages. Cork, a survivor from a bygone era, seemed like it would dominate rod handles forever, with EVA foam the only alternative material allowed any territorial claim. But progress has come, finally, to the rod handle. In recent years, alternative rod grip materials have hit the market including carbon fiber, a slick lightweight option; tough Kevlar tubing; composite cork, a denser and more durable cork-based material blend; and Syncork, a light and durable material with a rough-hewn appearance. Some have used shrinkwrap to give EVA foam a different look and feel, too. Color and design options have emerged, with even a “camo cork” available
now to rod builders. One of the biggest breakthroughs may have come two years ago when Winn Grips (www.winngrips.com), the Huntington Beach, California-based maker of grips for sports equipment, introduced its interchangeable grip system and rolled out a full line of handsomely designed rod grips made from its patented WinnDry material, which maintains its tacky feel in wet conditions and weather extremes. Early Winn prototypes were colorful and interesting, and they provided a hint of the performance benefits of ergonomic comfort and angler control that has come to characterize the grips today. Yet some thought early designs too similar to the golf grips that have made Winn a global leader in that field. Winn’s founder, aerospace engineering pioneer Dr. Ben Huang, took angler feedback to heart. Winn’s grip system has evolved into a versatile line of rod handle components. Rod makers, from leading brands to custom builders, have caught on quickly to the advantages of the grips. At ICAST 2016 in Orlando, Lew’s Fishing Tackle captured three Best of Show awards for products featuring Winn’s advanced polymer materials in rod handles and reel knobs. Lew’s, Kistler, Denali and others displayed new rod lines with Winn grips. Winn has introduced an element of “fashion” to fishing rods, too, by offering a broad range of bold colors and multi-colored and sometimes multi-textured designs that can complement tournament jerseys, boat colors and wraps, or represent a signature look or the colors of a favorite sports team. Winn’s quieter contribution to today’s tackle evolution could come in the emerging practice of “retrofitting” favorite old rods with Winn rod grips and in routinely fitting cork and EVA rod handles with a Winn “skin” in the form of Winn Superior Rod Wrap, a tape-like overwrap.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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UNDER THE SEA
Center s SPEARFISHING TRAVEL
SHERI DAYE
A
s spearfishing continues to grow and capture people’s interest, so has the amount of travel related to spearfishing. The allure of exotic locations, different species, and the possibility of world records has spawned a new breed of traveler, and resorts and charters are happy to cater to this crowd. In Florida, there are live-aboard charters that take scuba divers to fertile grounds out of the lower Keys into the Gulf or the Dry Tortugas – such as Seaclusive Charters. There are also charters that cater to smaller groups of freediving spearfishers such as Killshot, Into the Blue, and more. The Keys are especially attractive to vacationers, as the scenery above the water can be just as interesting as below. In the Bahamas, resorts with marinas are well-equipped to handle divers, some of them weekend warriors coming by boat from Florida. The clear waters and beautiful marine life are a big draw. Bahamian law requires freediving-only and the use of either slings or polespears for spearfishing. Rather than being a deterrent, it’s created a new breed of divers who enjoy this simple and primitive form of hunting. The ability to add cracked conch or a lobster tail to a meal is a big bonus. Both coasts of the United States have a number of spearfishing charters to choose from as well. Divers can enjoy a change of scenery and try their luck at hunting white sea bass in the kelps of California, cobias off the rigs of Louisiana, stripers in the waters off Rhode Island, African Pompanos off the wrecks of Hatteras – all exciting catches. International travel has increased significantly in the past few years. Mexico, Panama, and Costa Rica are a big draw with desirable species such as Cubera Snappers, cobias, and tunas – depending on which coast. Fiji, Tahiti, Tonga, and Ascension Island have been yielding world record wahoos and tunas, drawing the more hard-core divers. Here’s some quick tips to make sure your travel is fun, safe, and productive: 1. Go with friends and watch out for each other - in the water and out.
2. Choose a reputable charter that specializes in spearing and ask the captain about fish and conditions. Make sure your skill level is up to par for that location. 3. Make sure you are properly equipped for the fish you are targeting and follow the law. Be aware of the local fishing regulations and limits. 4. Use a Sportube to pack your spearguns and use the wetsuits for padding. Tell TSA you have “fishing equipment” rather than using the word “speargun”. 5. Buy DAN insurance – they are a reputable agency known for covering divers, including evacuation services. For divers in search of adventure, traveling to different hunting grounds can yield the trip (and fish) of a lifetime. Life is short, so get out and enjoy it! Follow “Sheri Daye” & “The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo” April 22-23, 2017 - Ft Lauderdale - Instagram and Facebook
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he number 64 is not just some number to me. It represents the countries where I have travelled to fish. Because of my passion for fishing, my work as a travelling fishing guide and outdoors journalist, and my job in product development for various brands and companies, I have had the opportunity to fish all over the world. The following is a list of my top 5 fishing destinations and a little information on why it is worth visiting them. 5) Sette Cama, Gabon: If catching big fish on lures from the shore is your thing, then this is the place. Near the Equator on Africa’s South Atlantic coast, it offers the wildest stretch of coastline on the continent. You can hook 150-pound tarpon, 80-pound cubera snapper, 60-pound African threadfin, 50-pound barracuda or 40-pound jack… while walking and casting plugs along the beaches and the inlet.
4) Vastervik, Sweden: A 4,000-island Scandinavian archipelago where fresh and saltwater of the Baltic Sea meet, brings predators to feed mainly on herring. I’ve been there a dozen times because there are true chances for really, really big pike. The local record is 26kg, so around 57 pounds. 3) Archipelago de Chiriqui, Panama: Cubera snapper have long been some of my favorite fish. They have a finicky side as well as the brutal power of a hammer beating steel once hooked. On northern Panama’s Pacific Coast, the islands and rocks in the Chiriqui region are where I have experienced great success catching cubera on lures. I’m not much interested in dropping a 2-pound bonita and waiting for a bite. I’d rather use a Stick Shadd 182fsk or 210sk on 80-pound braid. Cast it, let it sink and retrieve it with twitches, jerks and pauses. The area is also a great for really big roosterfish and tunas. 2) Great Barrier Reef, Australia: When you’re 200 miles away from the shoreline and the depth is only about 20 feet, you know you’re on a special spot. This is what the Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea off Australia’s eastern coast are all about. There are dozens of valuable game fish, from the biggest of all the jacks, the giant trevally, to the incredible wahoo bite of August, the elusive Chinaman, snappers and groupers, and of course giant marlin. The best fishing organization I ever fished with is based there, the Nomad Mothership. 1) Venice, Louisiana, USA: The consistency of the fishery in the Mississipi River Delta is something awesome and unique. Venice offers both inshore and offshore fishing at its best. It’s hard to go there and not be exhausted after catching so many fish more regularly than any place I have ever been. To me, it is definitively the hottest fishing spot in the world. Redfish, seatrout, yellowfin tuna, red snapper, giant jacks… I especially love to fish in the saltwater marsh, using a small Flatt Shad 50 Snagless that I jig like a soft plastic. This lure is longer lasting than soft plastics, which matters when there are so many bites! Patrick Sebile is the owner and lure designer of Sebile Innovative Fishing (www.sebile.com).
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ecently, more than 170 charter captains gathered on Florida’s east coast at Jensen Beach to attend a two-day educational, informative and competitive event in support of their livelihoods and continued longevity of the profession. The event, hosted by Costa Del Mar at River Palm Cottages & Fish Camp, offered fun competitions between captains, bonfires, films and a pig roast, but the encompassing message was conservation. Those in attendance were Costa charter captains from as far away as Michigan, New York and North Carolina. Most, however, were Floridian guides who make their living in these waters and are with the movement Captains For Clean Water. Check out the website www.captainsforcleanwater. org and sign up with your support. Otherwise, it will soon be the Neverglades instead of the Everglades. The Captains For Clean Water movement is the result of years of mismanagement by the Corps of Engineers. Our nationally recognized estuaries in Florida are in long-term collapse due to damming, ditching
and draining of the River of Grass. Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Rivers are artificially connected to Lake Okeechobee by way of man-made canals that allow billions of gallons of nutrient- and sediment-laden freshwater into them. Lake Okeechobee discharges are killing seagrass, oysters and other aquatic life. Nitrogen, phosphorous, insecticides (from spraying) and other pollutants linger for years in the estuaries. These chemicals fuel toxinproducing algal blooms and increased red tide outbreaks. Moreover, the Herbert Hoover Dike surrounds Lake Okeechobee and prevents water from flowing south into the Everglades, as it has historically done. Florida Bay and the Everglades now receive about 1/6th of the freshwater flow it once did, killing thousands of acres of seagrass because of high levels of salinity. The solution in short is: Lake Okeechobee must be cleaned in man-made wetlands before releasing water south through the Everglades. More storage and storm water treatment areas south of Lake Okeechobee are required. Legislation is already passed with the money available to acquire land for additional storage. Everyone needs to get on board and sign the petition (referendum). Go to www.captainsforcleanwater.org for more information and how to support the movement. Many attendees brought their fishing gear and took advantage of the annual mullet run from the beach, the dock and on boats. Those of us who took our boats had the opportunity to welcome visiting guides aboard to experience Florida fishing at its finest. Snook, tarpon and jack crevalle were inshore and off the beaches. Offshore pelagics such as dolphin and sailfish were capitalizing on the mullet as well. My first mate, Vicki, and I welcome aboard Capt. Jason Coslow and his wife Kathy of KC-1 Sport Fishing of Lake Michigan. Kathy hooked up her first tarpon along the St. Lucie inlet. Jason assisted Vicki in landing and boating a sailfish over 5 feet long. Contact Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters in Cape Coral, Fla. at 239-357-6829 or fishfacecharters@yahoo.com. See his website at www. fishfacecharters.com. He is also available as a captain for hire on your vessel.
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What makes a pair of pliers your favorite? For me it is functionality, durability and dependability. The SCARFACE by Danco Pliers is exactly that for me. These pliers have a sturdy frame that does not flex or bend and fail-proof cutters that cut anything I put them on. A comfortable rubber non-slip grip keeps my hand from slipping when wet or covered in fish slime, while the lanyard keeps my pliers attached to my hip if I should drop them. Stainless steel construction and a titanium coating ensure these pliers will not rust or corrode (we all know how harsh saltwater is). An internal spring-loaded hinge assists with keeping these pliers from getting hard to open and close. If you were ever to actually wear a set out, replaceable cutters are inexpensive and easy to swap out. I don’t leave home without a pair of Danco pliers, as I have become dependent on them both on and off of the water. To me, these things make the ultimate pair of pliers. That all Danco pliers and knives come with a lifetime warranty, a 30-day return policy and free shipping as well as an unbeatable price point is all icing on the cake. — Craig McMicken; @backwatercartel
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by boat. Given the remoteness meet, film and interview many great guides, but one and extensive flats, the many that stands out is local legend, Mr. Ralph Moxie, a shallow reefs, mangrove islands man who has been guiding and boat building for and coastlines, it is advisable that decades. Mr. Moxie was more than happy to share his guides are secured for their local knowledge, and I am honored to have met him. He knowledge. Understanding tides, was recently recognized by the Bahamas Fly Fishing currents and fish movements are Industry Association for his efforts, and I can see why. vital in finding fish, and traversing Mr. Moxie is not only a local fixture on Mangrove Cay, this maze of islands requires skills he is a wonderful ambassador for the Bahamas... much only acquired over decades of like many of the elder bonefish guides I have met. learning and experience. Although Central and Southern Andros both Local guide Douglas Saunders came through recent Hurricane Matthew OK, took time to show us the beautiful Northern Andros took a direct hit, and the people waters of Mangrove Cay. “Bonefish there need your help. To support the Bahamas relief Doug,” as he is known, fished while efforts, check out the Bahamas Hurricane Restoration I polled the boat and we discussed Fund : https://www.crowdrise.com/restore-bahamas2/ the fishery, conservation and fundraiser/restorebahamas. tourism. Doug is a professional, knowledgeable and conscientious Tom Karrow is a Doctoral Candidate, University guide whose main priorities are of Waterloo, College of the Bahamas Research Fellow safety and happiness of his clients. and BTT researcher. For more on his research, follow He is an innovator of fly patterns him on Facebook and visit http://tomkarrow.wixsite. and hook-release tools. com/bahamas-guide-tek. By Tom Karrow • Photos by Dan Decible Although easily accessible, the east coast of Mangrove Cay is more heavily fished, and consequently estled in the heart of Andros between South has fewer and more-educated fish. Andros and North Andros is beautiful Anglers seeking fish on the east side of Mangrove Mangrove Cay. I spent weeks this past June Cay can stick with usual patterns but need to use on Mangrove Cay, interviewing bonefish guides and longer leaders with fine tippets to trick wary bonefish. documenting their lives, stories and knowledge for Smaller flies might also be wise, and stealthy wading better bonefish conservation. is a must. While on Mangrove Cay, I was graciously hosted Although I threw a line and polled Bonefish by Swains Cay Lodge. This wonderful facility sits on Doug to some bonefish, the primary purpose was a stunning beach where bonefish, barracuda, snapper for research funded by Bonefish and a host of other species reside, and there is a and Tarpon Trust. Gathering lagoon on the property where resident baby tarpon local historic knowledge is For More Bonefishing in Mangrove Cay, go to continuously roll. critical to understanding changes Like much of Andros, the road runs north to south in the fishery, which allows on the east side of the island. Access to the west is only for enhanced conservation. I
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he Stuart Sailfish Club recently announced the 63rd Light Tackle Tournament and the third-annual Florida Sailfish Amateur Championship to be held Dec. 8-11 at the prestigious Sailfish Point Marina on Hutchinson Island in Stuart, Fla. Tournament Chair Thomas Dyer, who is also president of the Stuart Sailfish Club, is hoping to build on the success of last year’s tournament. “We were sold out last year, and I expect that to happen again this year,” Dyer said. “This is one of Florida’s largest purses, and the event is taking place at a prestigious and private marina that many folks will never have the opportunity to fish from. We are honored that Sailfish Point will once again host this tournament.” The Tournament will again hold two divisions of competitors, the Professional Division and an Amateur Division. This year’s Tournament will be limited to the first 30 entries in the Professional Division and the first 20 entries for the Amateur Division. The Professional Division will fish all three days and the Amateur Division selects fishing any two of the three days. The Calcutta for the Professional Division could reach $345,000 if all the professional boats participate and would be one of the largest purses in Florida. For more information and registration packages, contact the Stuart Sailfish Club at sailfish@stuartsailfishclub.com or call (772) 286-9373.
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outfitters that cater to the desire to fish far-flung destinations, there are many locations that with a little homework can be fished on your own. They can produce some great catches at a fraction of the cost. I recently returned from one of my own do-it-yourself trips in Florida where I wanted to experience the annual mullet run on the east coast in the Indian River area. My homework included reading magazines, viewing reports on local fishing forums and studying satellite imagery. I wanted to make the most my time and check off multiple species in both fresh and saltwater. I used Google Maps and Google Earth to pinpoint areas where I thought I could locate fish. I decided on a pond that was connected to a canal. I am glad I made this decision, as I successfully landed several beautiful peacocks! Due to the rainy weather on the coast, I decided to fish the By Capt. Michael Okruhlik • Photo courtesy of My Coast Outdoors canals on the west side of Lake Okeechobee. In the September destination trip doesn’t have to be made to some remote location where no one issue of Coastal Angler Magazine, there was a lives. It could be a densely populated area map that listed bank fishing locations on the lake. with great fishing opportunity. Although there are Using that and satellite images, I decided which
A
ones I would try. I caught more than a dozen bass up to 3 pounds fishing tight to the vegetation. Last but not least, I entered the waters of the fabled Indian River Lagoon near Fort Pierce. Although I still had rain throughout my time there, I fished around the storms. Wading both the east and west shorelines, I was able to locate many legal areas to park my car and enter the water. One evening, after dodging storms all day, I found the scene I had been waiting for. As I entered the water, as far as I could see, there were tight balls of mullet being busted, and not another person or boat were in sight! The mullet were circling counter clockwise just like approaching Hurricane Matthew was. As the circles would get tighter and tighter, the mullet would go airborne with jacks and snook flying right on their tails. Casting into the mullet, I’d catch jacks and bluefish and Snook on the edges, and trout were caught away from the heart of the bait activity. There were also 100-pound-class tarpon going airborne and crushing the schools. Needless to say, catching was easy on this wade. I experienced the east Florida mullet run exactly as I had dreamed I would. I have been fortunate to take many do-ityourself trips that have been just as successful. Take the skills you have for your area and apply it to others. Use the forums and technology we have available, and I am sure you can have a successful do-it-yourself destination trip of your own. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www. MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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he invasive lionfish took a major hit this summer. A total of 16,609 lionfish were removed during the 4.5 month Lionfish Challenge, which came to a close Sept. 30. “The success of this program really shows what Florida’s residents and visitors can do when faced with a conservation challenge such as lionfish,” said Brian Yablonski, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) chairman. Lionfish are a nonnative species that were first noted in Florida waters in the mid-80s and have since spread up the Atlantic coast and across the Gulf of Mexico. There is no mechanism for keeping lionfish populations under control except for human removal. The Lionfish Challenge rewarded participants who took 50 or more lionfish with a variety of incentives including a program T-shirt, a commemorative coin, the opportunity to take an additional spiny lobster per day during the two-day sport season and entry into raffle drawings for prizes such as Neritic polespears, $100 dive tank refills and fishing licenses. The competition began on Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day on May 14. Volusia County resident David Garrett took the most lionfish with a total of 3,324. John Dickinson came in second with a total of 2,408 lionfish removed. “I want the reefs to benefit from this and to save our native fish,” said David Garrett, who is a commercial fisherman. Garrett will be officially crowned Lionfish King at the Nov. 16 commission meeting in St. Petersburg. He will also receive a lifetime saltwater fishing license and be featured on the cover of the January 2017 Saltwater Regulations Publication. A total of 95 people participated in the challenge from across the state and the southeastern United States. Those who didn’t have time to participate in the Lionfish Challenge should check out the Panhandle Pilot Program, which is open through May 2017. The Panhandle Pilot Program
FWC Photo focuses on lionfish removal efforts off Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties. For every 100 lionfish checked in from this seven-county region, the harvester will be eligible to receive a tag allowing them to take either a red grouper or a cobia that is over the bag limit from state waters. The state will issue up to 100 red grouper and 30 cobia tags to successful participants in the pilot program. So far, 38 tags have been issued. In addition, the first 10 people or groups that check in 500 or more lionfish during this one-year period will be given the opportunity to name an artificial reef. Four teams have qualified to name an artificial reef so far, and two of the four have already been named. To qualify for this program, tails of any lionfish harvested must be brought to an approved FWC checkpoint (list at MyFWC.com/Lionfish by clicking on “Lionfish Challenge and Panhandle Pilot Program”.
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COASTAL ANGLER North Central Florida/Nature Coast
NOVEMBER 2016 EDITION
Find Your Outdoors Here!
Cary & Lynn Crutchfield
North Central FL/Nature Coast Staff
ALACHUA, MARION, COLUMBIA, GILCHRIST, BRADFORD, DIXIE, LEVY AND CITRUS COUNTIES
Cary Crutchfield
SALES
EDITING & PRODUCTION Lynn Crutchfield
DISTRIBUTION Rosa Crisman
A
s you read the fishing forecasts this month, you will notice one thought running through all of them. As always, at this time of the year, we are all so grateful that cooler weather has finally arrived and the fishing is great in both fresh and salt water. It is so wonderful to open my French doors and need neither heat nor air. We know that cold stuff is coming soon, so let’s enjoy these glorious days while we have them. The recipe for this month is a Clam Bake on page 5. My parents were from Cleveland, Ohio. When we visited our family there, when I was a young child, we would often have a clam bake. The clams were not baked but actually steamed in a three section pot and the bottom section had a spigot. I was fascinated by the spigot that enabled us to easily access my favorite part, the delicious broth. Some years ago, as an adult, I was visiting family again in Cleveland and found at K-Mart, a clam bake pot. It has only two sections, but it does have that wonderful spigot. I used it for our clam bake this month, even though my pot is way too big for a clam bake for two. On October 22, Cary and I attended Fall at the Farm, at the Drummond Farm near Chiefland, this year’s location for the Haven Hospice dinner and auction. I love that beautiful place. The delicious dinner was catered by The Gathering Table in Chiefland and they are making an encore appearance this month on page 13. New advertiser this month is Barracuda Boat & RV Storage, located in Ocala. Their info is on page 12. Compass Realty in Horseshoe Beach is coming back this month on page 7. New owner is Tammy Bryan. Don’t forget to thank the folks at the location where you picked up your copy of Coastal Angler and remember our advertising partners. If not for them, you would not be reading this wonderful FREE magazine. Do you love the cover this month? I do. Happy, happy Thanksgiving. Lynn Crutchfield Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida /Nature Coast
GRAPHIC ARTS & DESIGN Tony Strong
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dr. Kevin McCarthy Debby Knopf Bruce Butler Noel Kuhn Capt. Jimbo Keith Capt. Brian Smith Capt. Pat McGriff Capt. Dan Clymer Capt. Craig Spitznogle Capt. Dan Smith Capt. Tom Cushman Capt. Tommy Derringer John Freeze Gary Simpson
CONTACT INFORMATION
crutch@coastalanglermagazine.com 352-372-4237
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Tide Charts Local Fishing Forecasts Monthly Recipe
Photo by: Suwannee River Water Management District
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Debby's
POINT of VIEW By Debby Knopf
I
f you are lucky enough to go fishing two or three times a week, then you may experience perfect fishing days. A perfect day may be described as targeting 28 inch redfish and schools of trout, then filing the boat with your limit before noon. But fishing trips like that don’t happen very often. Just ask a good fishing guide. Unfortunately, for most of us, we only have the opportunity to go fishing maybe a couple times a month. Either way, a fishing guide goes fishing five to seven days a week, many times twice a day. They are a professional, and their business is finding fish and getting the fish in the boat. When you go on a guided fishing trip, the fishing guide offers you much more than a great time and a boat full of fish, they offer a learning experience full of many tips and techniques only a pro can provide. We had the pleasure recently of fishing with Captain Marrio Castello of Tall Tales Charters. We met at Plantation Inn at a bright, sunny 8 AM, a far cry from the dark-thirty my husband
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usually makes us leave. Our target for the day was redfish, flounder and bluefish. I started out catching mostly catfish, but the nice part for Ken was he did not have to unhook those pesky critters. Captain Marrio has a unique way of releasing them using boga grips so he doesn’t risk getting stuck. He was also kind enough to bait my hook, since I don’t like touching those large shrimp! Captain Mario knew where to go and was an expert navigating the mangroves. Ken was lucky first and caught a nice flounder, as I continued to catch other species. As the tide was moving in, we anchored and after a short time, I landed a nice redfish. We didn’t see any bluefish schools, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. I highly recommend hiring a fishing guide. You will learn new techniques, where to fish, and how to approach an area, enhancing future fishing trips of your own. But that’s just my point of view!
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10/18/16 6:17 PM
W
FLORIDA WATERWAYS O By Kevin McCarthy
“Apalachicola River”
f all the rivers in North Florida that seem threatened from outside forces, the Apalachicola is at the top of the list. The 112-mile-long waterway, with a watershed of almost 20,000 square miles, is dependent on two non-Florida rivers: the Flint and the Chattahoochee. Officials in Georgia and Alabama drain so much water from those two rivers for agriculture and drinking facilities, that the resulting water that makes it to the Apalachicola, is much less than it used to be.
Map of the Apalachicola Basin watershed and tributaries
Steamboat “Naiad” on the Apalachicola River
Shrimp boats with nets and other equipment at port in Apalachicola
The result, is a marked decrease in the oyster industry which flourished in Apalachicola Bay for hundreds of years. The dispute among the three states (Florida, Georgia, Alabama) about how much water should be taken out of the three rivers is ongoing and bitter, as oystermen in Florida feel that their livelihood is threatened. The name of the Apalachicola comes from a NativeAmerican term that meant something like “the people on the other side” or “the land of friendly people.” A tribe of Indians called the Apalachicola, lived along the river in the distant past. When the British controlled Florida in the nineteenth century, the river formed the boundary between East Florida and West Florida. Steamboats like the “Naiad” pictured here, used to run on the river and serve the towns along the way. On either side of the river, is one of the richest biological areas east of the Mississippi River. Logging in the late nineteenth A fishing and hunting camp along the river and early twentieth centuries, took out much of the forest, but an absence of logging in the last fifty years has allowed many trees to grow back. Just before the river empties into Apalachicola Bay, and then the Gulf of Mexico, it passes by the pretty town of Apalachicola. Among the town’s most famous residents was Dr. John Gorrie, who invented mechanical refrigeration and the predecessor to today’s air conditioning. The Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve in the Bay, has over 200,000 acres of a very diverse area that long provided some ninety percent of the state’s oysters. Some of the richest oyster grounds are in the saltier part of the bay, for example near Saint Vincent Island, a National Wildlife Refuge. Another product produced in the area, is tupelo honey, considered by many to be the best and tastiest in the world. One hopes that the three states can come to a fair conclusion about how best to handle the Chattahoochee, Flint, and Apalachicola rivers, so that those depending on the rivers for their livelihood, will continue to thrive in the area and not move away. After all, fishermen and oyster gatherers have done well there for over ten thousand years. An image of the cover of the book by the author
The river is mostly free of towns
Kevin McCarthy, the author of North Florida Waterways 2013 (available at amazon.com), can be reached at ceyhankevin@gmail.com.
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NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 3
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WELCOME TO THE C
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itrus County is known for waterfront living at its best. We have it all: rivers, canals, and bays with access to the Gulf of Mexico, even lakes and estuaries where a variety of exotic fish, birds and wildlife cohabitate. Work or play, Citrus boasts numerous amenities, unique to Florida’s Nature Coast, that make it a wonderful place to visit or call home. Chassahowitzka, Homosassa, Crystal River, and Inverness, all have easy access to pristine waterways, with city and county boat launches. The barge canal, located on the
NATURE COAST Northwest end of the county, offers excellent fishing, boating, and other water activities to explore. For the avid fisherman, Citrus County’s many bodies of water, host fishing tournaments throughout the year. For biking, hiking, and even horseback riding enthusiasts, Rails to Trails, spans a stretch of paved trail-ways, from the northern most end of the county, continuing on down to the heart of Tampa Bay. Located between Orlando and Tampa, many choose Citrus County as their forever destination because of its rare blend of
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CLAM BAKE (NOT ACTUALLY A BAKE, MORE LIKE A STEAM)
COOKING DIRECTIONS Scrub the clams well and discard any that are open. INGREDIENTS Rough chop the onion, celery, carrots and parsley. Lay out • Clams (about 2 doz. per a square of cheesecloth, put serving) chopped veggies in middle, • Chicken Breast (about ½ per bring up corners and tie serving) with string. In a large pot, • Shrimp (about ½ doz. per place chicken in bottom, with serving) potatoes and cheesecloth bag • Onions (about ¼ per on top. Add water to cover serving) chicken. Add salt and pepper. • Celery (1 stalk per serving) Bring to boil, cover and • Carrots (about ½ per reduce to low simmer. When serving) potatoes are almost done, • Parsley layer corn, shrimp and clams • Corn (½ cob per serving) last. Check to be sure that • Potatoes (1 small per enough water is still in pot. serving) Continue to cook on simmer • Salt & Pepper about 10 minutes, until corn • Butter is tender and clams have opened. Melt butter for clam dipping. You can drink the broth or use it as a base for fabulous clam chowder (which is what I did).
Now serving steamed shrimp, crabs and other seafood.
Thank you to The Crab Plant for the beautiful clams. Visit their Fresh Seafood Market or enjoy Cooked Seafood to go. You are welcome to sit at their table and view beautiful Kings Bay while you enjoy your delicious, freshly prepared meal, watching manatees, dolphins, pelicans and boats. Or, you can carry it home; your choice. Open Tues-Thurs 10:00-5:30, Fri-Sat 10:00-8:00. 201 NW 5th St. Crystal River 352-795-4700. Lynn Crutchfield, Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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STEINHATCHEE
KEATON BEACH
Anna King of Steinhatchee, Fl. with a fine trout taken September 27, 2016
T
rout never missed a beat throughout the near miss of Hurricane Matthew. Our water color is "perfect" and with the current cool trend ( it was 50 degrees here Monday, October 10) we caught twelve trout and three reds to 25 inches, in Gulf temps running from 73 to 80 degrees by the late afternoon. How this translates for November is -- we will be WIDE Open. Everything should be biting and feeding voraciously to beef up for winter and "hitting on all cylinders". Your artificials of all kinds will be taking trout, reds and flounder in November. Me? I'll be throwing MirrOlure's Top Dogs, Top Dog Juniors and She Dogs and Top Pups on top in the mornings, then by mid-morning, if the water temps are down into the upper 60's; we'll be fishing slower with Catch 2000's, MirrOdines in models #17 and #27, and Softdines. Tip: Start off with the smaller top waters, especially if you are throwing a stick bait and if you can get them to eat the little stuff; then switch UP to the larger baits. Sure you can still catch trout on live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders in early in November, if the water temps hold up above 70 degrees; but you will probably have to switch over to live shrimp by Thanksgiving. TIP: Switch to longer leaders under your Thunders in mid-November for an improved keeper to short ratio on trout. Expect to find large concentrations of short, to just keeper-sized trout, ganging up in troughs and depressions leading into the major creeks with rocky areas adjacent. Find fish with an Original Cajun Thunder and some reliable soft plastics like Assassin's Sea Shads Electric Chicken, Stinky
Pink, Cantaloupe, Limetreuse Ghost or Pink Ghost. Tip: Once you locate these fish switch to a 5 inch Assassin Shad in Albino, Violet moon, Grey Ghost, Houdini or Panhandle Moon and pick up more wary keepers which let the brighter "Gaudy" colors go by. You can't catch a keeper if a short fish already has the bait. I can't talk about soft plastic in November, without mentioning Assassin's Elite Shiners here. Last year, we caught hundreds of trout from October through December on the "Ripper" pattern (mostly) with fish coming in on Wakasagi, Mamma's 14kt and Hammertime as well. I fished these Elite shiners, bounced on a 1/8 ounce chartreuse Assassin jighead in either the Elite Shiner or the Chartreuse Flash model. TIP: I Spray all my plastic with BANG shrimp flavor yearround; but the cooler the weather (and thus the water) the more important scent becomes. Reds have been mixed in with our trout and have yet to move back in to the "hill", at least for my One More Cast charters, as evidenced by the three reds we caught all over 3/4 of a mile off the grass and the same trend has been going on since Hurricane Hermine on September. Tip: If you are targeting reds, Pop your Original Cajuns or Back Bays 3 (three) "pops" every ten seconds, and use smaller pinfish. Precision Tackle's ThunderSpins, Sleighs, Flats Intruder and Intruder 2 spoons will all load up reds for you in November. Meanwhile...Let's Go Fishing! Pat McGriff dba One More Cast Guide service for 25 years! onemorecast@gtcom.net www.onemorecast.net cell 850.838.7541
Gene Seago of Valdosta, Ga.
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The Fall Upward
T
he water temperature fall, is the rising up of the fishing! We have experienced it already. The bite has improved for trout, red fish, Spanish mackerel, gag grouper, cobia, amberjack, Florida snapper and black sea bass. The flats guides are coming in with fine catches of both trout and red fish, with a scattering of Spanish mackerel on ice. The depth of the bite will change with the temperature, but the trend is the cooler the water, the shallower the fish. Typical baits such as small live pinfish under a cork of your choice, “shiner tails” on a jig head, or your favorite artificial—jig or plug—will produce. Remember: the best bait is confidence. Bait pods have been popping up on the flats, to just off the grass within seven miles, especially during the early morning and evening, if the conditions are relatively calm. Most importantly, Spanish mackerel and their cohorts, blue fish, ladyfish and the ilk are working them. Some may say, “I don’t like to eat those fish.” I say, “Come on, how many hours of your life do you get to spend fishing?” And of that time, how much of it is hand over fish, outright catching in a froth of feeding fish? So, why are you denying yourself and others the pure fun of madness fishing for just a short time? It is worth the time, whether you toss them back and lose some tackle. Cobia won’t be in our water much longer. If a cold front hits, it
will accelerate their departure. But for the moment, they are here and ready. The typical channel marker and public wreck fishing, is a safe place to start. A combination freelined pinfish and juicy dead bait on the bottom is a good tactic. Amberjack are on the romp at their regular haunts. They are abundant. I guess that is why the season is closed. The regulations do not make sense to me or anybody else, but amberjack are still fun to play with. A free-lined live bait is a fun ticket. The operative word is live, not lethargic. Amberjack like to play with their food. Gag grouper have started to bite, but I’d keep it close on good bottom with live bait, or try trolling weighted large spoons or appropriate diving plugs. Be patient and you will be rewarded even if you don’t know which direction to head. You will become a better fisherman by paying attention to the sonar machine, finding the fish and tagging the GPS. Besides, rolling around in a boat all day ain’t a bad gig, just do it right. Brian Smith BIG BEND CHARTERS www.BigBendCharters.com CaptBrian@bellsouth.net 877.852.3474 352.210.3050
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10/18/16 6:17 PM
HORSESHOE BEACH It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
A
month-plus has gone bye, and we are starting to get back too normal here in Horseshoe Beach. This town was pummeled by Hurricane Hermine during Labor Day weekend, and has gone through a great transformation-from devastation to recovery. A lot of activity from seawall repair to home repair, cleaning up debris and rebuilding all the necessities of life. I had to rebuild my dock and construct a whole new fish cleaning station (which I had plans to do anyway). So now, we try to get back into the swing of the things that we love to do, and what makes this place special. Fishing is on the top of the list and as of the second weekend of October, the fishing is on fire. Redfish have been as plentiful as I have ever seen them. Slot fish have been caught and people are coming in with reports of catching twenty to thirty fish on a single tide cycle. All along the Northern grass line, and off the grass points, such as Drum Point and Stuart Point, have been holding quality fish. Finding your hard bottom areas that hold Rock Grass “the long brown weed that will lay over and on top during a low tide” will also produce reds and some gator trout. A Cajun thunder and Gulp shrimp seems to be most anglers’ choice. However, when
they’re this hot, I think you could throw the kitchen sink at them and get a hit. Trout bite is good also, your shell bars are holding fish and inshore flats. The trout and reds have been mixed up and sharing a lot of the same water. This is the first weekend I have been able to fish since the storm and I hope to gather some more intel over the next week or two. This is the best time of the year to go fishing. The bite is hot and fish are very plentiful. Incoming tide is my favorite to target, but both cycles should be great over the next month or so. Try to get on the water three to four days after each cool front comes in. This seems to be one of the better times to go. So now that it is time to fish, I’m going to hit the water and hopefully have a lot more to talk about next month. Bring somebody fishing, this is the time to make memories and put fish on the deck. Until next month be safe and keep those lines tight.
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T
his flower, blooming in my back yard, is a Confederate rose. They are blooming all over the south this time of the year. The flower opens white in the early morning, begins to turn pink during the day, and by the next morning is deep pink, and then it is gone. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 7
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H
ey y'all, hope you are enjoying the cooler weather. Surely is nice, and the fish also love it. Large gags and mangrove snapper are everywhere. The nearly extinct red snapper are so thick it is unbelievable. New limits are needed! Hog fish are everywhere, a diver’s delight! Unfortunately, lion fish are also making a pretty good presence on our reefs in 20 to 50 feet. We see half a dozen or better on most dives. Be careful if you spear these critters. If stung, your bone will feel like it is
melting. No fun! There are so many goliath grouper and other marine life, that it will amaze you. The flora and fauna are eye opening. So many picture opportunities. Great for new or experienced divers. Get out there and see what, Suwannee has to offer. To book a Goliath Tour, Drift Dive ,or Spearfishing trip. Call Capt Cliff Clark Rig it up Charters 1(352)362-1463 Like us on face book!
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10/18/16 6:17 PM
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ou have to love the fall time of year! The cooler waters have made the inshore species more active and for the offshore fans, the gag grouper are an easy reach away. The first real aggressive cold fronts usually arrive in November and especially on the blue bird days after the cold front, it’s time to troll up some grouper. Over all my years of fishing, November has always been my absolute favorite month to target grouper. The majority of the 20lb plus fish I’ve caught, have usually been taken the week of Thanksgiving and the ever reliable bright orange colored plug, usually gets the job done. Rocks and ledges from 10 to 30 feet, are the depths to concentrate your efforts. If you don’t have a bunch of productive grouper honey holes, put the sun at your back and begin trolling over the dark bottom patches. When the rod goes off, mark the location and you’ll be rewarded with a new grouper spot. The speckled trout fishing has been fantastic since October and I expect it to continue right through the holidays. Shallow hard bottom areas with good stands of kelp grass are holding the fish. Long drifts with jig and cork rigs like the DOA deadly combos, are a simple and very effective way to capitalize on the trout action. The snook are migrating into our spring-fed rivers, to seek comfort for the upcoming winter and can be targeted with success. Boat docks and rocky points are likely spots and many fish may be holding on one location. I
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Happy Hour Monday-Friday 3pm-7pm 2-4-1 Wells 1/2 Price Wine $2.50 Bud Light, Miller Lite, Yuengling
H
ey Folk, I hope y'all are enjoying the cooler temps and the great fall fishing. The fishing in our area from The Suwannee River to Waccassa Bay has been awesome! Let's start with Redfish. They are starting to make their move to the creeks and outer bars along the shore. They are still in small schools, so if you catch one, make sure you make a few more casts in that same area before you move on. Our bait of choice while on a charter, is freshcut mullet that we catch ourselves. If the oyster bar where we are fishing has enough shell or sand on the edge of it, we fish it right on the bottom. I prefer a 4/0 circle hook with a 3/8 to 1/2 oz egg sink. The weight depends on how far I need to throw it. If the bottom has too many oysters, we put the cut mullet chunk about 15 inches beneath a B52 cork on a 1/4 oz Jim's jig head. The speckled trout bite has also been steady. They are plentiful this time of year and it's pretty common to bring in your daily limit. They are spread between the close grass flats in 2 to 4 feet of water, to all the way
up in the creeks. The go-to rig that I and other guides use in our area is a DoubleXTackle's B52 Supper Sounder cork with about an 20 inch piece of fluorocarbon leader, beneath with a 1/4 oz Jim's jig head, rigged with a Saltwater Assassin Sea Shad tail. The color of this tail may vary, depending on water clarity. Some of the hot colors right now are Glow, Green Moon and Meat Hook! Just remember, when using this rig. IF YOU AN'T POPP'IN, YOU AN'T FISH'IN!! So pop your cork about every 3 to 5 seconds, and be ready for a strike between pops. If you like to throw a hard bait for trout, the UnfairLures 90mm RipNSlash in slow suspend, is hard to beat. I like the lighter colors for our area. There is also plenty of buy-catch around when the bait is present, such as mackerel, bluefish and ladyfish. We catch most of these species on the same rig that we catch our trout. Well folks, I surely hope this will help y'all out next time you are on the water. God Bless, and get outdoors and enjoy what God has made for us. Capt.Jimbo Keith FishCedarKey.com Saltwater Assassin Fishing Charters 352-535-5083
420 Dock Street Cedar Key, FL 352-543-5142 steamerscedarkey.com Like us on Facebook! info@steamerscedarkey.com 10 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST
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NOVEMBER 2016
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CEDAR KEY PADDLING
FLORIDA SUWANNEE RIVER WATERFRONT
FOR SALE 43 acres (+or-) 1100 feet (+or-) on Suwannee River in Lafayette County at US 27, across river from Branford. Heavily wooded, perfect for residence, camp ground or hunting lodge. Elec. and well. MAKE OFFER
W
ell, the hits kept on coming with this weather here in Florida. I hope everyone made out okay. It has cooled off a bit as I write this, and I love it, and the fish love it too. Let's talk about sheep head. This fish is so much fun to catch, once you figure them out, and to help you figure them out, it takes the right equipment. To start you want to have a VERY sensitive tipped rod. When these babies bite, you can barely see it and will have a huge advantage to landing them if you can actually see the tip of your pole move slightly. Your hook only needs to be a 1/0 or 2/0 and a circle hook will work fine in this situation. Choose your lead according to your current. You want to fish off of the barnacle infested structure here in Cedar Key in about 6 to 12 feet of water. Feel free to stop by the shop for directions on where to go, whether you are fishing from land, kayak, or power boat. Last but not least-bait! The absolute best bait I have found is a shucked oyster. If you pick your own, please check with FWC on where it is legal to harvest your own. It is very messy if you do this and there is a much better way. That way is to buy the eatable ones already shucked and in a nice tub. It helps keep our local oyster men and
Cary A. Crutchfield Registered Real Estate Broker GRI and CRS Designations
352.372.4237 women working hard, doing what they do also. Another great bait is fiddler crabs, and we can also help you with that if you stop on by. Now, you have the low down on the sheep head and you have zero excuses to not fill your coolers with them. Just in case, the limit, and sizes 12 inches and you can have 15 each. That's a lot of fish tacos! Hope to see you at the shop and take a kid fishing! Capt. Daniel Cedar Key Paddling 352-665-1276 Dan_Gator@yahoo.com
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We are your local authorized dealer for Built by fishermen, for fishermen! Come by and check out our selection! Cedar Key Marina II
FULL SERVICE MARINA & HOOKED UP CHARTERS • Boat Storage • Boat & Motor Repair (352) 543-6148 • Live & Frozen Bait CEDAR KEY MARINA II INC. • Tackle 12780 SR 24 • P.O. BOX 744 • Rental Boats Cedar Key, FL 32625 • Lodging • Boat Parts/Supplies • Rod Rentals & Repairs • Non-Ethanol Fuel SIGN UP FOR OUR • Fishing Charters MONTHLY NEWS LETTER! • Power Poles www.CedarKeyMarina.net & Installation NOVEMBER 2016
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10/18/16 6:17 PM
an you Brin d r g th we scal in em w lo fo ill co ps rf o re k e
ER G AT KIN W R A IN P T A BO
INGLIS/YANKEETOWN
Join us for our 2 year anniversary in August
November is here and so is the cooler weather and water temps. The fish are starting to pack in the shallows and site fishing in our area is starting to get good. I love having to put on a hoodie in the morning for that first run out. The only thing is, you need to pay attention to the constant weather fronts that we see this time of year. For me, it is usually better pre-front as opposed to postfront. For the site fisherman, this is a great time of year. Hopefully, now we have seen all the hurricane action we are going to see and the water will turn gin clear. With the water temps hovering in the mid to low 70’s, the redfish will be extremely active. While I am site fishing, I love to use a Zman scented shrimpz or btb jig. These baits are smaller profile, and make very little noise when entering the water, so you spook far fewer fish when poling around in the shallow water conditions. If you are having to deal with some windy conditions as we have had lately, be sure to make it work to your advantage,
and position yourself upwind of your target and cast with the wind. You will be much more accurate and be able to fish the area much more thoroughly. For all the snook fisherman, it is time to head up the river. As the water temp starts to fall, the snook are going to run to the warmer waters of the river or the discharge canal. I will target these with a 4 inch Zman paddler z or Aqua Dream spoon. You want to find good moving water over or around structure. This fish are ambush feeders and these places provide the best climate to do just that. The grouper will be in shallow as well. If you are lucky enough to have some inshore rock number in the 8 to 10 foot range, you can pick up some nice gags casting plugs. Cast over the rock piles and rip the plug back across it at a brisk pace and hold on. Trout are going to be targeted in the 3 to 4 foot range. I prefer a MirrO-Lure mirrodine or Zman trout trick to put the yellow mouths in the boat. Target the potholes in the grass flats or the many oyster bars that our area offers. This is a great time of year to be out on the water. We would love to have you come spend some time with us. If you are ready for an amazing experience on the water, give us a call and book your trip today. Until next month, have fun, be safe and take your kids fishing. Capt. Craig Spitznogle Florida Flats Charter Company (352)445-4978
Live Shrimp $15.98 per 100 All Our Staff Fish
12 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST
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CENTRAL FLORIDA INLAND
(352) 493-0878 Fax (352) 493-0879
Val’s Complete Auto Repair Inc. MV#:60926
15 NW 1st Avenue - P.O. Box 1205 Chiefland, FL 32644
F
all is finally here! It seemed as if the temperature would never drop, but it has and we can now fish all day long in comfort. Hurricane Matthew came through last month and knocked tons of huge trees down into our lakes and rivers and this is great for the fishing! Everything from minnows to monsters use tree branches as their home. Tip: A branch with a lot of limbs on it will have more fish living in it than one with fewer limbs. Look for twigs sticking out of the water to locate fully submerged trees. Speckled perch and warmouth fishing have both started heating up. They will get even better once winter is here. Both types of fish can be caught by using minnows or small jigs fished under a bobber. Specs will be in deeper water, while warmouth usually stay closer to the water's edge. Most people favor slow trolling (in boats) to increase their catches of specs. Once you start getting bites, check the depth of water, and try to target that depth. Rodman Reservoir and the old lock at Eureka have been producing the best numbers. Shore-side fishers can fish Rodman Dam with great success. Lakes in the Ocala National Forest are still showing good catches of bream, gar, and catfish. Lake Eaton and Half Moon Lake are among the best spots. Moss Bluff has a mixed bag of all species right now, with the occasional "lunker" bass in- between. Minnows seem to be working best for everything, but
artificials will do in a pinch. November 14th is the full moon and November 29th is the new moon. The closer you get to these days (with good weather) the better the fishing will be. However, with temperatures like this, everyday is a great day to wet a line! John Freeze 352-216-5798 Swampsurf@embarqmail.com
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SIGNS BANNERS Copies Fax
Forms Letterhead We also offer apparel and promotional items. Envelopes Business Cards Brochures Newsletters & More Invitations Located in Chiefland Shopping Center Wedding & Graduation 208 N Main Street, Chiefland, FL 32626 NOVEMBER 2016
NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 13
10/18/16 6:17 PM
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10/18/16 6:17 PM
TUPPERWARE NAVY Or, Of Myths and Superstitions!!
T
he Banana Curse and me, folks. Having grown up in rural Indiana, and I mean rural, we still had an operator and party lines!, and also being of Cherokee and Irish descent, many superstitions were drilled into me with mother's milk. But now that I'm older and more sophisticated (more or Less), I find I still won't walk under a ladder. I knock on wood to ward off bad luck and face a black cat across my path with a certain trepidation. I'm not really big on horseshoes or four leaf clovers and I don't actually hold my breath when driving past cemetery, but as to the banana curse. I believe! The first incident was while filming my very first TV show with my friend Glen Pla, "The Average Angler". We had a horrible day and I said goodbye. I saw a banana peel on his front seat, "Glen”, I said, “What's that?" “Don't go there.” He replied. My response, “I don't have to. You did a show on it and it was less than well received.”, and therein lies the beginning of my fear. After that, I thought I'd never see him again, but we went on to become friends and much to my surprise, we shoot several more shows together. I even bought him a banana cream pie for his birthday. That experience was the first with the "Yellow Peril" and fishing. The latest was on my last charter with Jim from Colorado. I told him I wouldn't use his name, but I lied. I only change names to protect the innocent! I admit to a partial blame, when I tell people what to bring. I always mention a hat, sunglasses water, sunscreen, etc. and jokingly (but deadly earnest) not to bring a banana along. In his case, he was out to eat and my normal spiel was cut short. By the gods of fishing, this will never happen again! As the story begins, Jim, and did I mention his name was Jim, you know, from Colorado, I mean, how many of them can there be?
Anyway, we put in at Indian Bay in Aripeka and paddled North. I placed him on spot after spot with both bait and lures, and nothing! Now I'm not saying that the bite was hot, but I caught nice mangrove snapper, redfish and trout, and he can't catch a cold. I'm dumbfounded! Finally, at the lower end of the tide, we are sitting inside of Indian Key, with bait and mullet schools everywhere, around a quarter-mile radius. I mean, that bay was lit-up. He reached into his backpack and pulled it out! I cross myself and screamed. “What's that?!” “Oh, my dad gave me this as I was leaving. I didn't think they can affect kayaks!” Yes, dear reader, that was the cardinal sin. He (Jim from Colorado) knew of the curse, and set his fate, but it gets worse. “Let me get rid of it.” he said as he ate it and threw the peel to the tides, and said, “There, it's gone!” We both turned our heads back to the bay (you know, the bay that was alive with fish) and there was nothing-nada, zilch. Every fish in a halfmile radius was gone. We looked at each other and he said, “Where did everything go?” I replied, “Only one thing changed.” looking at that yellow peel floating away. Oh, I'm not saying the banana was the cause, maybe 5000 fish just decided to leave at the same time. Maybe it was recess, and they had to get back to school. Oh, and Jim, remember Jim? I couldn't put him on anything, and I doubt he will ever bring a banana with him again! PS he still had a great time So, humming that old Monkee's tune, I'm a Believer, as I sign off. May you have tight lines and no bananas. Bruce Butler The Stumbling Gypsy (352) 428-5347 Bruce@IndianBayOutfitters .com Web: www.IndianBayOutfitters.com
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TWIN RIVERS MARINA AND BOAT RENTALS
2880 N Seabreeze Point crystal River, FL 34429 352-795-3552
Inside storage • wet slips • live bait • frozen bait • beer • snacks • drinks • clothes • ice rods • tackle and MORE. ONLY TRAVEL LIFT IN AREA www.TwinRiversMarina.com
Reserve your day on the water. Skiffs & Pontoons Kayaks & Paddleboards Jon Boats LIcENSEd ANd INSuREd FOR OPEN WATER IN ThE GuLF www.TwinRiversMarina.com NOVEMBER 2016
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10/18/16 6:17 PM
PROFESSIONAL FIREARM TRAINING
OCALA CARRY NRA Certified Instructors ph. 352.239.2889 OcalaCarry@gmail.com
www.OcalaCarry.com
LADIES ONLY CLASSES AVAILABLE
16 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST
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NORTH CENTRAL FL
W
hile many anglers shift their attention away from angling to other important seasonal activities, such as hunting and football, there is a dedicated group that can’t wait for the uptick in feeding we always see with both fresh and saltwater fish. The increased redfish and mackerel feed will be well-covered by saltwater reporters, but one very popular freshwater target has likewise perked up. As they do every year, cooler nights have kicked off the fall feed for speckled perch in our lakes. Tropical systems that recently dumped tons of rain on other parts of the state, somehow largely missed us here in the north-central region. I reckon we’re the only part of Florida that remains below average in annual precipitation. Some years it just goes that way. Still, our best crappie lakes remain easily accessible, and as I write this, we’re just beginning to see some of the season’s first really good speck catches. Lochloosa is a well-known speck producer--but lately, the better catches have come from its sister lake at the other end of Cross Creek. Orange Lake’s open water is producing nice numbers of its uniquely colored dark gold/green specks for fishers drifting minnows and crappie jigs. Newnan’s Lake remains shallow near its cypress-lined shoreline, but out in a slightly deeper zone off the east side, folks drifting minnows set under floats, are picking up nice numbers of fish.
Lake Santa Fe speckers, typically employ a method different from those used on other area lakes. A deeper and clearer lake than most locally, the top speck takes here, often come from water 20 or more feet deep. While folks do make the standard trolling and minnowunder-a-float methods work, lots of locals simply drop a minnow weighed a few inches above the hook, straight down off the edge of their drifting boats. Once it reaches the bottom, they take a couple of cranks up and rest the rod on the deck with the tip over the water. Now, it’s just a matter of watching the rod tip to detect bites. Of all our lakes, Santa Fe might arguably hold the biggest specks, on average, and last weekend, just a day after Hurricane Matthew passed to our east, a small bass tournament on Santa Fe saw several very impressive catches. The top three five-bass limits weighed in at 23.20, 19.63, and 18.26 pounds, and the biggest single bass came in at 8.56. With water temperatures falling, the improving speckled perch and bass bite is evident in our North Central Florida lakes. Gary Simpson Gary’s Tackle Box 352-372-1791 Garystacklebox.com garystacklebox@gmail.com
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10/18/16 6:17 PM
BAIT & TACKLE IN NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA MCDUFFIE MARINE
TOOMEY TOOLS
12055 South US 441 Belleview, FL 34420 352.347.0017 Check us out on Facebook
TOOMEY TOOLS
2827 NW Pine Ave. (US 441) Ocala, FL 34475 352.369.0001 Across from Ford of Ocala
HIGH ROLLER LURES 4613 NW 6th St-D Gainesville, FL 32609 877.205.1764
THE MARINA IN HORSESHOE BEACH
362 3rd Street Horseshoe Beach, FL 32648 352-498-5405 www.TheMarinainHorseshoeBeach.com
1866 West US 90 Lake City, FL 32055 386.752.2500 www.mcduffiemarine.com
FLORAL CITY BAIT & TACKLE OUTFITTERS 7737 S. Old Floral City Rd. Floral City, FL 34436 352-423-1507 FloralCityBaitAndTackle.com
GARY’S TACKLE BOX 5721 NW 13th St Gainesville, FL 352.372.1791
TWIN RIVERS MARINA
OCKLAWAHA BAIT & TACKLE
12831 Whiddon Ave Cedar Key, FL 352-543-6109 352-222-9383
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12780 SR 24 PO Box 744 Cedar Key, FL 32625 352-543-6148 www.CedarKeyMarina.net
ANGLER’S RESORT
DW&D BAIT HOUSE
NOVEMBER 2016
14383 East SR 40 Silver Springs, FL 34488 352.625.1156 myasnana@aol.com
CEDAR KEY MARINA
12189 South William Street Dunnellon, FL 34432 352.489.2397 www.blue-gator.com
13600 East CR 25 Ocklawaha, FL 32179 352-816-5853
WIGGLER’S BAIT AND TACKLE
2880 N Seabreeze Point Crystal River, FL 34429 352-795-3552 TwinRiversMarina.com
44 TACKLE CO.
2421 Hwy 44 West Inverness, FL 34453 352.726.6100 www.44Tackle.com NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 17
10/18/16 6:17 PM
ST. AUGUSTINE
PIER & SURF
H
urricane Matthew has destroyed our piers, trashed our beaches, ruined hundreds of homes, and put many families into turmoil. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who has been severely impacted by this storm. I waited till 10/17 to write this forecast. I was hoping to write about something other than surf water filled with bacteria, weeds, and building materials. Well I have some good news. The pompano are finding their way back to the beaches after moving into deep water. The offshore shrimp boats had been reporting pomps jumping out of their nets! The whiting are also biting; nice big ones up to two pounds are making up for the lack of numbers that we would expect for late October and early November. Even the big blacktips up to 150 pounds are cruising the inside trough looking for a big snack! There is so much debris in the
water, I’m recommending that you take plenty of rigs, line, and sinkers with you. When you lose tackle, move! The big debris like docks, walkovers, and furniture will not be moving soon. Nature will break all of it down eventually, but for now, just move north or south to find a clean bottom. Don’t forget your cast net. With a little luck from Mother Nature, the mullet run just may resume. After the mullet run, my go-to baits are blue crab and live clams. This picture above was taken just a couple of days before Matthew changed many of our lives, for a long time. Tight lines my friends. Better days are ahead of us.
To set up your own surf fishing adventure or long distance casting lesson please visit www.thesurfangler.com or call Noel at 904-945-0660
Rare palometa, smaller cousin of the pompano. Check out the long fins and “grill marks” 18 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST
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I
t’s “flatty” time! I'm talking about big "doormat" flounder. Traditionally, the Fall is a great time to target and catch big flounder in St. Augustine. A live finger mullet or a big mud minnow rigged on a jighead or fish-finder rig, is the go-to setup. Flounder will be holding in deep cuts in the creeks at lower tide stages as well as just about any small creek mouth or runout. It’s not uncommon to find them stacked up in these areas, so if you get one, make sure to try a few more casts in the same spot. Another popular spot to target the flat fish is at the inlets. They will hold close to the jetties. You’ll know you’re fishing the right spot after you’ve lost a rig or three to the rocks. It seems like every year, most of the monster "doormat" founder come from in and around the inlets. As our weather continues to cool off, trout catches should be on the increase, both in size and in numbers. Toss a top-water or subsurface plug for trout around first and last light. Two of my favorite topwater lures for trout (and redfish) are the Rapala Skitterwalk and the Rapala Skitter V. Your best bet when targeting trout is to look for moving water at creek mouths, around oyster bars, and along the ICW banks. Sea walls, jetties, and rip-rap are also good trout haunts. The good 'ole live shrimp under a float is always a sure thing for trout. The soft plastic STB
jerkbaits from Slayer Inc. imitate a finger mullet perfectly and have been producing some nice trout (redfish and flounder seem to love them as well). Pair them up with a 1/8 or ¼ ounce Slayer Inc. jighead and you’ve got a deadly trout combo. Our redfish love the cooler weather and this is such a great time of year to get out there and catch them. Redfish will continue to shadow finger mullet schools this month. There should be a ton of finger mullet around, so when you find a really good concentration of them, you can be sure the reds won't be far behind. Low tide creek hole fishing for reds should be hot this month as well as the banks of the ICW at low tide, Many people overlook these banks but when the tide is low and the mullet are schooled up Mr. redfish will be on the prowl! The water will continue to be fairly murky at least until the water temps really drop down so using a bait or lure with some really good action, or some good scent, is the best way to spark interest from a redfish. One go-to Fall redfish lure is a Gulp jerkbait. The darting action and scent helps the fish locate the bait in our murky water. Happy Thanksgiving and Tight Lines! Capt. Tommy Derringer www.InshoreAdventures.net 904-377-3734
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NOVEMBER 2016
NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 19
10/18/16 6:17 PM
MICANOPY Pearl Country Store Reddick Bros. Hardware
CHIEFLAND Drummond Bank BubbaQue’s The Deer Camp The Print Shop 208 N. Main The Gathering Table Sully’s New Day Wellness NAPA 1523 N Young Blvd (US 19-98) Shep’s Welding Beachamp Saw Shop Suwannee River Kubota Val’s Complete Auto 15 NW 1st Ave Bill’s BBQ
STARKE/ WALDO Murray Ford Bryan’s Ace Hardware Cedar River Restaurant Revels Fast Lube Murray Chrysler/Dodge Huddle House Sav-A-Lot
MELROSE Lake Area Watersports 829 N SR 21 Williamson’s Grocery Melrose Cafe
OCALA
OCKLAWAHA/BELLEVIEW UMATILA/WEIRSDALE)
GTO Airboats Tex Trail Jerry’s Pawn & Gun Miller Boating Center Ace Hardware (Weirsdale) RideNow Power Sports Still Water Marine (Belleview) Gator Joe’s Rest. (Ocklawaha) Southern Blade Alfie’s Restaurant (Ocklawaha) Fat Daddy’s Bait Wiggler’s Bait Oklawaha Bait & Tackle Northern Tool (Ocklawaha) Bi Lo Lake Weir Marine (Belleview) Gander Mountain Dick’s Sporting Goods HAWTHORNE Flint Creek Outfitters Battery Source Hitchcocks Toomey’s Tools Ace Hardware
OLD TOWN/FANNING SPR.
TRENTON/BELL
BBQ Shack (Fanning Springs) Stephenson 349 (Old Town) Hitchcocks (Old Town) Suwannee Shores Marina (Old Town) Drummond Bank (Old Town) Brownie’s Marine 9061 SE 349 Dixie Salvage
Adkin’s BBQ (Bell) Cherry’s Restaurant (Trenton) Hobos (Trenton) Green’s Outdoors & More (Trenton) NAPA (Trenton) 1620 E. Wade
NEWBERRY Backyard BarBQ Picketts Weaponry Newberry Feed & Seed Ace Hardware NAPA 25235 W Newberry Rd (SR 26) Hitchcocks
ALACHUA/HIGH SPRINGS JD Sanders RV Center 12380 US 441 Oaks Pawn (High Springs) Polaris of Gainesville 12556 NW US 441 (Alachua) Alachua Farm & Lumber (Alachua) Hitchcocks (Alachua)
Sonny’s BarBQ (Alachua) Springs Diner (High Springs) Allstate Ins. Hugh Cain LTD Motors (High Springs) Alice’s Parkside Rest. (High Springs) Bennett’s True Value (High Springs) ACE Hardware (High Springs)
BRONSON/WILLISTON Ace Hardware (Bronson) NAPA (Bronson) 809 E Hathway (US A 27) NAPA (Williston) 412 E Noble (US 27) Grocery Depot (Williston) Bubbaque’s (Williston) Do Right Cookin (Bronson)
LAKE CITY McDuffie’s Marine 1866 W US 90 Wilson’s Hardware B&B Marine Green’s Marine Nettles Sausage Co. Pickett Weaponry B&B Marine Harvey Foods Boat Doctor Spring Food Store
DUNNELLON Ace Hardware Angler’s Resort/Blue Gator Riverside Trading & Pawn Stumpknockers Bubbaques BBQ Swampy’s Rest. NAPA 11473 N Williams (US 41)
ARCHER Sav-A-Lot
CROSS CITY Dixie Salvage Drummond Bank Putnam Lodge Ace Hardware Max & Ruby’s NAPA 15717 US 19/98 Quicken Mfg.
HORSESHOE BEACH Compass Realty Panama Paul’s Main Street Diner The Marina
SUWANNEE Salt Creek Restaurant Suwannee Marina Gateway Marina Waterfront Market Bill’s Fish Camp 63 219th St.
CEDAR KEY
INVERNESS
Cedar Key Marina II 12780 SR 24 Cedar Key Marina Dock River Coast Realty Island Hotel DW&D Bait & Tackle 12831 Whiddon Ave. Drummond Bank Annie’s Café CK Paddling Steamers 420 Dock St. Chamber of Commerce The Market CK General Store Robinson’s
McPherson’s Outdoors Apopka Marine Gulf to Lake Marine Fisherman’s Restaurant Wild Bill’s Air Boat Tours Stumpknockers Coach’s Nick Nicholas Ford Riverside Lodge Resort Brown Water Airboats
INGLIS/YANKEETOWN Young Boats (Inglis) NAPA (Inglis) 24 US 19/98 N Drummond Bank Capt Cove Outfitters 39 W SR 40 Shrimp Landing Riverside Inn 6301 Riverside Dr.
L
Pawn Shop
TA
Gary’s Tackle Box 5721 NW 13th St. Batteries Plus Zell’s Hardware AAA Refrigeration Play It Again Sports Lloyd Bailey Scuba The Short Stop Oak’s Pawn Hobby Town Winn-Dixie BubbaQue’s L&S Auto Trim 5721 NW 13th St Agri-Grow Equipment Ward’s Market The Donut Connection Sapp’s Pawn & Gun P&J Marine 100 NE 23rd Ave. Sonny’s BBQ Mirage Manufacturing Town Tire Rapid Service Winn-Dixie Po’ Boys Seafood FL Citizens Bank NF Express Care Care Spot Powder Coating of Gainesville Heritage Bank Dick’s Sporting Goods
(and many more)
AS
GAINESVILLE
COASTAL ANGLER at These Locations
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Find Your Copy of
Media Kit
CRYSTAL RIVER Moore Bait & Tackle Twin Rivers Marina 2880 N Seabreeze Pt Plantation Inn West Marine Coldwell Banker 6212 W Corporate Oaks Dr Pete’s Pier Rural King Dan’s Clam Stand 2315 N Sunshine Path AAA Marine Good Times Restaurant The Crab Plant 201 NW 5th St American Pro Dive Seafood Seller Citrus County C of C 915 N Suncoast Blvd
HOMOSASSA Bluewater Bait & Tackle Homosassa Marine Dan’s Clam Stand 7364 W Grover Cleve. Loves Motorsports Seagrass Resort Mike’s Trailers 2560 S US 19/98 LTD Motors
Coldwell Banker
155 Douglas St.-B Back Water Fins Marine Service 6521 S Suncoast Blvd Homosassa Springs Marina
2013 2012 | 13
If you have a suggestion for a distribution location for COASTAL ANGLER MAGAZINE, please let us know. We can be reached at 352-372-4237 or Crutch@CoastalAnglerMagazine.com. You can view all sixty magazines in the US, including Hawaii and the Bahamas, at www.CoastalAnglerMagazine.com. 20 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST
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FISH & FISHING
PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER MARK SOSIN
S
uccessful fishing necks down to two things. The first challenge focuses on finding the species you are planning to catch, and the second phase centers on getting them to eat a bait or strike an artificial. Everybody may know that, but not all anglers achieve their goals on the water. The key lies in planning your day and working your plan. Did you ever wonder why leading guides almost always find and catch fish every time they are on the water. There’s no mystery or deep, dark secret. They know the area they fish, they understand the preferences of the species they seek, and they plan their day in advance. If you fish the same waters repeatedly, you should have a pretty fair idea of where your quarry should be based on the tide, water temperature, bait concentrations and basic experience. Decide before you leave the dock where you plan to start and the next three or four spots if the first one doesn’t pan out. It’s also important to spend sufficient time in each location to make sure you give it a fair chance to produce results. Regardless if you are new to the area or fish there all the time, there are basic approaches you should constantly remember. If you can learn the depth where fish were caught recently, chances are they will still be lingering at that depth even if you don’t know the precise spot. During new and full moons, if you fish the shallows, the tides will be higher and lower. On incoming water, fish will push up shallower and then drop off the flat during the last of the outgoing tide. If you see sharks cruising a flat, that’s a good indication of the depth you should be looking for
fish. For those who prefer trolling, try a zigzag course working at a 45-degree angle deeper and then shallower until you start getting strikes. On the offshore grounds, look for weedlines, debris, currents, birds, baitfish and anything else out of the ordinary. Troll with the current, against the current, from deep to shallow, and shallow to deep until you hit paydirt. Remember the theory of “seats in a restaurant.” Fish tend to hold in very specific places. Even if you catch one, another will replace it shortly. That means you need to keep going back to exact spots where you caught fish in the past. Too many anglers simply fish at random without studying the area they plan to fish. Even if you’ve never fished those waters before, study the currents, the dropoffs and necks of a funnel where water flows in an out in channels. Finally, if you use natural bait, make sure it is fresh and change it frequently so it constantly gives off maximum odor. Live bait should be frisky. Replace it every 15 or 20 minutes. If you prefer artificials, stick with the basics and with lures that have caught fish in the past. You can try new lures when you find the fish and are having a banner day. The price of success is eternal vigilance on the water. Stay alert, follow a game plan, and you should be smiling at the end of the day. Award-winning writer, photographer, radio personality, and television producer, Mark Sosin is a leading educator, journalist, and more than 3,000 of his articles have been published and he is currently working on his 31st book.
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BETTER DECISIONS.
By Christina Weber
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’m going to share some packing tips that’ll help you prepare to kayak fish in remote locations where you’ll rely on what you brought and someone else’s kayak… where you’ll fish on water you know very little about, in an area so remote that once you’re there, you’re there. If you’re like me, you’ll fish from a Hobie Mirage for roosterfish, a fish with an aggressive attitude and a killer Mohawk. When travelling it can be beneficial to share baggage expenses with a friend. We made our own 8’6’’ rod tube that was wide enough to hold eight rods and two gaffs. I use a large dry bag backpack for all my kayak accessories: extra rod tube extenders, gear ties, PFD, headlamp, pliers, cutters, extra dry bags, sunscreen, my TackleWebs, rain gear and other useful tools. Tackle takes up an entire suitcase with lures, hooks, leader and tackle boxes. It doesn’t sound like much until you lay everything out. Terminal tackle has to be checked baggage. I pack my reels in a Pelican case. I use it as a carry on. It also holds my laptop/POV camera. By the time this guy is packed, there isn’t much space, but it gets the job done. You might think your reels can handle the abuse of travel, but all that rattling and banging has the potential to loosen screws and drags. Plus, I’m not comfortable with the thought of losing thousands of dollars in gear. Occasionally I’ve been forced to check my reels. Prepare for the possibility.
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ave you ever been in a bar fight? I’m not either a 2/0 kale hook or a ¼-ounce jig should be talking about the fake western movie fight tied to the end of the leader. Buy a quality hook; a with broken whiskey bottles and chairs. bull red will straighten out a cheap one. I’m talking about a real, knockdown, drag-out bar I like a 4-inch plastic eel or a Queen Cacahoe fight with just you and your opponent, no holds in purple and gold (LSU). I also like Gulps if the barred. bite is slow. Cast your bait as far away from the boat Well, if you’re looking for a real bar fight, as possible. The fish can hear you banging around come on down to Venice, La. We have plenty of in the boat. Pop the cork two or three times really bars down here… sandbars, that is. And on these hard and let her sit. If there is a bull within 40 yards sandbars there’s a bunch of bull reds with chips on he will come to see what’s making the noise. He their shoulders. They’re just looking for a fight. may slam your offering or the cork may just slide The fight isn’t over until someone cries “uncle.” under the water. Either way, the fight is on. Make Big Red will kick, bite, pull, hit, and spit to win. sure you have your nitro glycerin pills, because Don’t let him get close to your ear. You could come these bruisers’ will give you a coronary. Usually you up missing an ear lobe. If you’re not up to it then can turn a bull after the second run. If you can’t, hit stay home: the bull red gives no quarter. your trolling motor and chase him. Once he gets All of our main passes off the Mississippi River close to the boat, he will look for the big motor, the have sandbars. They are like beaches built up by anchor, the trolling motor, anything he can wrap the river’s flow and the wave action of the Gulf of around to break your line. This is a cagey adversary. Mexico. Southwest Pass, South Pass, Pass a Loutre, Once you think you’ve whipped him, he’ll make Main Pass, South East Pass, etc., all have sand bars. another run. So be ready. Bull reds love the bars. They roam along the Once he’s worn down, he’ll roll on his side. current looking for an easy meal. So if you want Either net him or reach down and remove the hook a fight, drift across the bar and give them with pliers. I never keep a bull, but you are allowed something to eat. to keep one per person. He’s very hard to clean and I use a 7-foot medium you will have to cut out a lot of blood line. However, rod with a baitcasting reel. A the meat makes a great courtbouillon. good drag is important along Capt. Owen Langridge owns Big O Charters with good line. I use braid, but and can be contacted at 225-978-1136 or through quality mono will work. I tie on a noisy his website www.bigocharters.com. cork. The ones with beads on both For More Fishing in Venice, Louisiana go to ends and a scooped top are my favorite. Then 2 feet of 30-pound mono leader and
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acking for a fishing trip can be frustrating. Here are a few items I always carry when LC Medical Center traveling that come in handy. 1) Pliers: Pliers are the link between you and the fish, making the releasing of fish easier and less stressful, as an aid in pinching down Office POT Max THE S hook barbs, cutting wire or heavy monofilament, and opening a ! G Boat N I ATV bottled beverage to quench your thirst on a hot day. NANC March 7, 8, 9, 10, 2013 Sale 2) Towel: There are few things more of a turn off than tarpon Office Max Parking Lot, West US Hwy. 90 or barracuda slime. Once on your hands this sticky gunk will foul Lake City, FL everything within reach, your gear, your clothes and that sandwich en: Thursday, March 7th you brought for lunch. Bring a good absorbent towel. A word of thru Sunday, March 10th warning: Don’t take one of your wife’s monogrammed bath towels! Fina 3) Sun Block: Sunburns can ruin a trip. Arm yourself with a fieldme: Thursday - Saturday Avai ncing lable 9 am to 6 pm tested, water-resistant sunscreen. Today’s market is glutted with every ! Sunday 9 am to 4 pm sort of sun-protection ointment. Some afford excellent protection, while others provide all the protection of a jar of women’s cold cream. cation: Some sunscreens have even been tested so as not to disrupt the wy. 90 West properties Custom Golf Carts of your fly line. Once you have applied the sun block, make Office Max Parking Lot sure you rinse you hands. Fish can sense the chemicals on your fly or cross from Lake City Mall line. Also, excellent protective sun clothing is available today. 4) Rain Gear: It’s the smart (and dry) angler whose tote bag carries a good suit of rain gear. Even throwing a large garbage bag into your bag can make the difference between dry gear and soaking wet gear. 5) Super Glue: Nothing is more annoying than a cut or cracked finger while fishing. Whether situated on a Belizean flat or 60 miles offshore, super glue will close the cut or crack, stop bleeding, and keep you fishing. Super glue also repairs broken rod tips. 6) Duct Tape: As one of my fishing buddies stated, “Duct tape is like The Force… it has a light side and a dark side and it holds the rices LC Mall
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universe together.” Duct tape can be a real friend in taking care of your emergency needs, whether securing a fly reel onto a broken reel seat, taping rod cases together for the flight home or applying a piece around your stripping finger. 7) Anti-Bacterial Gel: Shout hosannas for this stuff. When catching and releasing fish, there are times when your hands suffer nicks and cuts. These micro-cuts become home to infectious bacteria. Avoid nasty infections by carrying a pocket-sized container of antibacterial hand-wash. 8) Hook Sharpener: Dull hooks are responsible for many lost fish. When fishing in rough areas such as jetties, rocks, coral, and even sand-bottoms, hooks, dulled over time, require constant sharpening. 9) Hand-Held GPS: One of the worst fishing-nightmares is becoming lost on the ocean. A GPS can prevent this situation. Also, if you find an area where the fishing is red-hot, you can enter it into your GPS. Most GPS units contain moon phase and tidal information, which are keys to successful saltwater fly fishing. 10) Tackle Bag: When purchasing a traveling tackle bag, choose one that will carry all the gear needed. Also, to save you from a possible wrenched back, make sure it’s a rolling-duffel. Choose a bag with numerous pockets, interior and exterior, heavy-duty or even water resistant zippers and above all, a bag constructed of durable material.
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FISHING FROM BRIDGES
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aving just finished a book about one of the most famous bridges in Europe, the Galata Bridge in Istanbul, I’ve thought a lot about the value of bridges for fishermen, especially those in Florida. The Galata Bridge is unique in that several hundred fishermen every day of the year fish from the upper deck of the two-deck bridge. People on the lower deck, usually dining or imbibing spirits, can actually see the hooked fish go from the water to the upper decks. One of the most popular edibles, in fact, at the lower level is the fish sandwich, although the fish in the sandwich usually comes frozen from Norway.
with pedestrians and fishermen. The Bahia Honda Bridge is just one of many that the Florida Department of Transportation built, gradually replacing all of the bridges that Henry Flagler built for his “railroad that went to sea.” Some popular fishing bridges are around Islamorada, where guides can put fishermen onto tarpon, goliath grouper and sharks, including black tips, bulls, hammerheads and lemons. The advantages of such abandoned bridges are that motorized vehicles are not allowed to use the designated fishing bridges and they span the deep channels that run between
Florida has some great bridges that have attracted fishermen for dozens of years. Two of my favorites are the Bahia Honda Rail Bridge in the Keys and the remnants of the Tampa Bay Bridge that the Sunshine Skyway Bridge replaced in 1987. The first one, which used to connect Bahia Honda Key with Spanish Harbor Key in the Keys, was once a part of Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railway that connected Key West to the mainland. After the monster hurricane of Labor Day 1935 destroyed that railway, the federal government bought the line and built the Overseas Highway in 1938, making the connection to Key West much more secure. When workers built a fourlane Bahia Honda Bridge north of the old bridge in 1972, they took away two spans of the former bridge to give space for boats to pass through the waterway. Today the eastern part of the old bridge is part of Bahia Honda State Park and is popular
the islands. Another favorite fishing bridge in Florida is the older one that has since been replaced by the very impressive Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay that connects Sarasota and Terra Ceia in Manatee County. Fishermen can park their vehicles just a few feet away from where they will fish, even at nighttime since the former bridge is lit at night. That light attracts fish to the bridge, including grouper, pompano, sea bass, snook and tarpon. The piers and bridges around Florida allow fishermen the chance to fish relatively deep waters without getting wet or relying on a boat. So get out and enjoy our really great bridges to try your luck for some big ones Kevin McCarthy, the award-winning author of the forthcoming “The Galata Bridge in Istanbul” (2016), can be reached at ceyhankevin@gmail. com.
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roseate spoonbill paid little attention as we crept along the mangroves less than a mile from where the ocean and river converged. The cool incoming tide pushed against my legs, as a definitive line of blue water slowly flowed into the Indian River lagoon. Casting into the current, my buddy Ed and I slowly retrieved lures over a thick bed of seagrass. “Fish on!” he shouted, as a scrappy blue-and-green striped fish wiggled on the end of his line. It wasn’t the snook he was expecting, or a redfish like the one I’d caught earlier. “Little mutton snapper,” he said, tossing it back. “You never know what you might catch around here.” Moments later, my rod also curved into an arc. “What’ve you got?” Ed asked. “Snook!” I happily replied, catching a glimpse of its dark lateral line as it launched out of the water and into the air. “We’ve got a double then,” he said, as his rod bowed for the second time. Only it wasn’t a snook, redfish or snapper at the end of his line; it was a huge spotted seatrout. Referred to as “gators,” for their large size, it was one of the largest seatrout I’d ever seen. Ed and I stared in awe as the giant fish thrashed and churned saltwater just feet from Ed’s rod tip. I quickly landed my snook then released it, while Ed continued to battle the big fish for several minutes before managing to grab it with both hands. “They don’t get much bigger than this,” he beamed proudly, lifting the massive fish up for a photo. We estimated the seatrout to be more than 30 inches long, and after admiring it for a few moments, Ed gently lowered it back into the water where it swam away. Made For Anglers Home to the current International Game Fish Association (IGFA) world record for the largest spotted seatrout caught (it weighed more than 17 pounds), the diverse crystal blue waters of Fort Pierce, in St. Lucie County, always deliver a spectacular fishing experience each time Ed and I visit. Spotted seatrout grow much larger here than in other parts of the country, a benefit of the region’s warm tropical climate and abundance of prey fish commuting through the Fort Pierce inlet from the Atlantic Ocean. There are also redfish, tarpon and all four types of snook, along with a smorgasbord of other varieties such as lookdown, flounder, bluefish, black drum, jack crevalle, sheepshead, pompano, snapper and grouper to catch, as the lagoon is an estuary for many inshore and pelagic species alike. For more than a hundred years, Fort Pierce in St. Lucie County has been 14 FLORIDA
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a fishing town, and each year I’m pleasantly surprised to find that all the local hotels, tackle shops and restaurants still eagerly accommodate anglers like us. There are plenty of fishing piers, boat launches and public parks providing easy access to the water. Kayaking around areas like Little Jim Island and Bear Point, we’re always able to find a fish or two to catch. Seventeen miles (give or take a few miles) off the coast, the warm currents from the nearby Gulfstream provide plenty of bluewater action each winter when the “Sailfish Capital of the World,” just south of St. Lucie County, experiences huge migrations of Atlantic sailfish through its world famous “Sailfish Alley.” All Around Alluring Yesterday, Ed and I found several private inshore and offshore fishing charters in the area that cater to anyone’s budget and schedule. We ended up booking an offshore charter—aboard The Last Mango—and had a blast winching up grouper, snapper and amberjack from the patchwork of reefs and wrecks along the ocean floor. That evening, we recounted fish tales over wine and dinner at Cobb’s Landing overlooking the Fort Pierce City Marina. The open-air, tiki-style restaurant cleaned, prepared and served our very own catch in a variety of delectable entrees. After a short stroll to the Sailfish Brewery for craft beers, it was back to our rooms to rest up for the following day. This morning, Ed and I were eager to get to the lagoon to cast our lines. After putting on my waders, I quietly stepped into the calm serene water just after sunrise. As the ocean slowly drank the river, it reaffirmed to me why wade fishing during a falling tide is the real treasure of the area. Even without a boat or kayak, I can still immerse myself within one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, where dolphins, manatees and birds of every color abound. It’s one of few places where the next cast could be another world record, or result in catching a species I’ve never seen before. And best of all, it’s knowing as soon as the sun illuminates the warm blue water, a few of life’s worries will wash away with the tide. Get hooked on Fort Pierce in St. Lucie!
For More Fishing in Ft. Pierce Florida, go to
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TUART, FLA— It’s a well-known fact that as one’s leg and near state record status, or small Stuart and Martin County are often referred to tarpon snook with a tarpon-like eye and mouth, but in fishing circles as “The Sailfish Capital of the snook like body, or the fat snook, which looks like a World.” What is lesser known, but just as true, is humpback fish, can all be caught within 3 miles from that this area of Florida’s Treasure Coast could also where a sailfish can be caught. be called “Snook City” or “Kingfish Kountry” for the What’s beautiful is that snook can be caught on same reasons the sailfish has become a community a wide variety of live or dead baits like mullet and icon. shrimp, artificial lures and flies, and can be caught Sailfish Capital of the World was a hard-earned from boats, on foot, from bridges, docks, wade and appropriate moniker first penned in an outdoors fishing, on the beach, near spillways and pretty much column in 1938 by a journalist who worked for the anywhere water can be accessed. Miami Herald. As for kingfish, anglers can find a personal The writer had been a guest of Ernie Lyons, best swimming less than a mile off Martin County longtime editor of the Stuart News, along with beaches during these months. The Southern Kingfish several other outdoor columnists from other areas Association, the nation’s largest saltwater tournament of the country during a week in January 1938. Lyons, trail, has made plans to fish its 2016 and 2017 a savvy and colorful columnist, knew Stuart’s true National Championship tournament in these waters gifts to the world lay in its subtropical location and for that very reason. King mackerel up to 60 pounds proximity to world-class sportfishing. Working with are possible, and numerous kings between 30 and 40 local tourism officials and the charter fishing fleet, pounds will be caught by tournament fishing teams. Lyons and Stuart lucked out when a particularly Winners will take home boat-motor-trailer packages strong run of migrating sailfish passed offshore of the worth tens of thousands of dollars. St. Lucie Inlet. That week, an estimated 1,000 sailfish Large lively live baits are the best way to land a were caught, and most were released, during what was trophy tournament-winning kingfish, but if it’s fun described as an unprecedented confluence of fish and fishing, these sporty predators will eagerly take dead skilled anglers. Typically, in this region, trolled dead baits like ribbonfish, live blue runners or bluefish, or baits are used to catch them in 80 to 160 feet of water even lures. only a few miles off the shore. All three of these remarkable catches are available But the rivers and inshore waters of the area and eager to feed this time of year. Regardless of one’s have also always been full of memory-making fish desired type of fishing, there are plenty of options to of a lifetime. The snook fishing in Stuart has always be enjoyed in the Sailfish Capital of the World. been exceptional. The waters of the St. Lucie River, Ed Killer is an outdoors columnist with Treasure although sometimes beleaguered by Lake Okeechobee Coast Newspapers and the USA Today Network. discharges, are still home to five subspecies of snook. For More Fishing in Martin County, go to Nowhere else in the world can this claim be made. Common snook as long
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for our baitcasters we use a 1/8- to ¼-ounce jig head with a Berkley PowerBait 4-inch Mullet in either Dorado or glow/chartreuse color. Now we’re covered from top to bottom. An early morning topwater bite is not unusual but lasts only as long
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omething we love to do this time of year before all the hard fronts begin to arrive is visit the Charlotte Harbor area for fast small tarpon action. While most of the attention in this tarpon hotspot on the southern Gulf coast of Florida is given to those big Boca Grande bruisers in the spring and summer, the small guys are a lot of fun. Young tarpon come out to play in October, and the bite can last until December especially in the mouths of the Myakka and Peace Rivers. These rivers meet in the headwaters of the harbor around Port Charlotte. Two freshwater rivers that feed the harbor are where tarpon love to winter. Here the water is more stable and often warmer than the harbor itself. Other fish in big numbers move into these rivers this time of year for the same reason. Snook, redfish and largemouth bass live here and share food with the tarpon. The same conditions exist along the east coast where tarpon move back into residential canals, under bridges and in backcountry bays. We simply idle up these bodies of water and look for tarpon rolling or busting bait. Once we see a few tarpon, we go into stealth mode and study where the most activity is shown and concentrate in that area. Most flats tackle will do the job as long as the leader is beefed up to 30- and 40-pound test fluorocarbon. We prefer Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorcarbon as it is virtually invisible under the surface. For our spinning reels, we spool with 10- to 20-pound test Spiderwire Stealth, 30-pound test Stealth on baitcasters. Snook and tarpon, even the smaller ones, are tackle busters, so we rely on a 7-foot medium heavy rod. This has the backbone to control the fish but light enough to enjoy the fight. Tarpon can be suckers for a weightless Berkley Gulp! Jerk Shad, either pearl white or rootbeer gold color, rigged on a 3/0 or 4/0 Superline hook. This is a bit too light of a bait for anything but spinning gear, so 18 FLORIDA
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Photo by Sam Howzit as the sun stays low. Once the sun is up, the fish drop down but the bite stays strong. After we spot fish rolling slowly on the surface, we’ll cast about 5 or 6 feet directly in front of the fish. The trick is to work the baits slowly. Usually tarpon do not want a bait that is quickly retrieved. The bite will feel like a tiny thump. These fish have a tough lip, so a hard hook set is required. To release a tarpon, we handle with care. They still have some fight left even after being boat side. A firm hold on the fish prevents damage while we remove the hook. It is important that we return the fish to the water quickly and revive until he can swim away on his own.
For more Tarpon fishing in Charlotte Harbor visit
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TIPS FROM A PRO
FRESHWATER MY FAVORITE FISHING DESTINATION
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
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DOWNSTREAM ROLLTOP BAG
BRANDON LESTER
raveling across the country for the last three years with the Bassmaster Elite Series has led me to some amazing fishing destinations. I’ve been about as far as one can go in every direction in the United States and have gotten to experience some great fishing. Although I don’t have a definitive answer on where my favorite place to fish is, I will say that without a doubt my favorite fish to target are big northern smallmouth bass. Let’s talk about some of the places I’ve been and what makes the places and the
Lakes. My next experience with northern smallies was on the St. Lawrence River in upstate New York. The Thousand Islands area is a beautiful part of the country and should be on every bass fisherman’s bucket list. The river is full of fish, and a lot of people there seem to fish more for other species so the smallmouth are quite catchable. A little ways away on Lake Ontario is the home of more willing smallmouth. Next on the list is Lake St. Clair in Michigan. St. Clair is
Chums’ new Downstream waterproof bag is a medium-sized shoulder bag or fanny pack for folks who enjoy the outdoors, especially if you like water sports and fishing. From offshore boaters to kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders, this 6” x 10” x 4.5” travel bag is designed to protect your gear against the elements encountered while on your adventure. It has a roll-top closure that fastens at both ends and is completely airtight and waterproof. The material is very durable, made of double sided TPU-coated nylon and has waterproof RF welded seams. A front pocket with YKK water-resistant zipper is handy for your sunscreen or lip balm and has a drain hole for quick drying. The Downstream is a smart choice for boaters, anglers, stand-up paddle boarders and kayakers in need of a personal bag with easy access and a variety of wearable options. Keep your gear dry with Chums’ new line of accessory cases. Visit www. chums.com or your favorite specialty outdoor retailer to get yours today. Chums came about in 1983 when a Colorado River guide sought a simple way to keep his sunglasses out of the river. Through this innovative idea, the Chums original cotton eyeglasses retainer was born. More than thirty years later, Chums is now a global brand that offers a wide range of outdoor products and apparel. Chums’ mantra is simple: provide fun, quality products to enjoy while at work or play. Chums - Helping you hang on since 1983.
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fisheries so special. My very first experience with the Great Lakes was at the Elite Series AOY championship in 2014 in Escanaba, Mich. I ended up finishing that tournament in ninth place and qualified for my first Bassmaster Classic. I was super impressed with the place as soon as I rolled into town. Everyone in Escanaba was very nice and hospitable, which is something you don’t find everywhere these days. It is a nice quiet town much like the Tennessee town I was raised in, with great places to eat and nice places to stay. As far as the fishery, just take a look at the weights from that tournament and they will speak for themselves. Little Bay and Big Bay de Noc are chock-full of big smallmouth as well as walleye, pike, perch and everything else you would expect to find in the Great
unique because you can either fish in the lake, which is great, or you can fish one of the rivers that flows into or out of the lake, which is what I chose to do when I was there. In all these places, smallmouth bass will absolutely chew a small soft plastic bait on a Mustad dropshot hook fished on a MHX EPS 81MLXF rod from Mud Hole Custom Tackle. Catching these fish requires good electronics, so I rely heavily on my Raymarine units to locate the big schools. As I was writing this last week, I got thinking I needed to go and pay those smallmouth a visit. My dad and I jumped in the car, drove to Lake Michigan and had a ball. I would encourage you to do the same before it gets too cold!
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FRESHWATER PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT CUSTOMBILT PONDTOONS INTRODUCES CAMO MODEL
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Custombilt Pondtoons introduces for fall 2016 a new camo model that makes the perfect duck hunting boat or just a cool version of their small-water fishing boat. Also new is the optional Lehr 9.9 HP 4-stroke propane motor that will run off the propane tank for your grill to deliver clean and efficient power. All boats are all-welded aluminum construction and made in the USA with premium options to meet every hunter and fisherman’s needs in boating. The Pondtoon is the perfect small-water boat for the avid river and pond angler, duck and bow hunter, as well as the family with children or grandchildren. Their pontoon boats are factory assembled in three standard sizes, 14’x5’, 14’x6’, 16’x6’ with options and additional features that allow you to equip the boat for your fishing and hunting style at a very affordable price. In addition to the new camo style boat, they also have a fishing series, hunting series, pleasure series, farm/pond work boats, search and rescue and wheelchair accessible models. Call or email with any questions to help you customize your very own CustomBilt Pondtoon boat! For more information, email Steve Bynum at pondtoons@gmail.com or call 334-684-2210.
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here’s stocking trout, and then there’s unintentionally releasing 80,000 rainbow trout into the open ocean. In the short-term, recreational anglers will be the beneficiaries of a $1.5 million accident at a Danish fish farm. Reuters reports that a cargo vessel collided with fish farm nets between Danish Islands in the Baltic Sea on Oct. 11. The fish, which were bound for the slaughterhouse within a few days’ time, weighed about 6.6 pounds each. Recreational anglers are being encouraged to get out on the fjord and catch as many of the escapees as possible. Authorities are concerned the jailbreak could have disastrous consequences for the native sea-run rainbow trout populations. According to the Associated Press report, wild populations are preparing to run up the rivers to spawn right now, and their eggs would make tasty morsels for the farmed fish. Other Danish biologists have dismissed the threat as minimal because the farmed trout are unprepared for life in the wild and are conditioned to heavy feedings. There is a good chance the fish will die of starvation or be consumed by larger predators before they are able to do much damage. One thing is for sure, if there are Walmarts in Denmark, the shelves will be emptied of spinners, salmon eggs, Powerbait and canned corn. There isn’t a stocked trout in the world that can resist Green Giant Niblets.
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even it wasn’t so beautiful. Most places they are found, BUCKET LIST roosterfish are A commonly known A RI T C A • C OS as denizens of the surf. In Costa Rica, they are in the surf and everywhere else. Midway down the spit of land that is Central America, Costa Rica is in the heart of the By CAM Staff roosterfish range, which spans the Pacific from Peru to the Baja Photos Courtesy of Francisco Mejias California Peninsula. The average fish caught probably weighs less than 20 pounds, but it takes one weighing 60 or 70 pounds to really ames Like Los Sueños, Quepos and the Osa Peninsula ring out in raise eyebrows. our collective angler imaginings as the sportfishing destinations They are plentiful, big and powerful, and half the fun of catching of fantasy. Reports filter back to the U.S. with stories of 50-sailfish them is fishing for them. Sure, the most consistent way to catch them days, multiple blue, black and striped marlin… billfish action that seems is trolling or drifting live baits. But we’re talking about a fish that will too good to be true on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. cream a topwater lure. There is not much in fishing more exciting than a Well, those reports are most likely true. Costa Rica is one of the world’s topwater take, so when it is possible one might as well take advantage of it. best billfish destinations. But not everyone is into spending long days With roosterfish, the preferred surface presentation is ripping a trolling offshore. For some anglers, casting a line or working a bait is as popper across the top with as much splashy commotion as possible. It’s much a part of the fun as fighting a fish. That’s where Costa Rica’s exotic not a finesse technique. When a fish homes in on the bait, it will chase, and astoundingly good inshore fisheries step in. often hitting several times before it finds the hook. Year-round, just off the coast of Costa Rica, huge snook, big cubera It’s this kind of explosive action that makes Costa Rica worth the snapper and giant roosterfish hunt the gorgeous beaches, rocks and reefs. trip for inshore action alone. And of course there’s also all those marlin, Any number of species is subject to find the end of your line, but the chief sailfish and tuna. target for anglers has to be the roosterfish. For More Inshore Fishing in Costa Rica Visit With its tall Mohawk of a dorsal fin and multi-hued stripes, the roosterfish’s oddball appearance is enough of a reason to try and catch one. FRABILL-8.5 X 4.94-IFLOATSUIT.pdf 8/9/16 11:20 Its aggressive nature and powerful runs1 would make it aPMtarget for anglers T
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10/18/16 3:15 PM
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT PIRANA FISHING LURES With its patented Jet Trail System, Pirana Fishing Lures has given the fishing world one of those “why didn’t someone think of this before” moments. Pirana has taken proven elements of highly successful crankbaits and jerkbaits and given them a new feature that is the most innovative and effective to hit the market in years. These lures leave a bubble trail, an enticement that draws in predatory fish and triggers them to strike. The effectiveness of bubble trails is well documented. Bluewater anglers troll jet head lures. Bass anglers fish gurglers and buzzbaits. Pirana’s Jet Trail System brings the same concept to crankbaits and jerkbaits. With an open mouth and gill slots along the lure’s sides, water is forced through the lure on retrieve to create the jet trail. Pirana has also put a lot into the details. These lures have a finely tuned wobble and dive as well as a rattle chamber for additional noise. Bright red gills, holographic silver eyes, a hex-scale pattern and a high-gloss finish complete the package. The lasting trail of bubbles, however, is what sets them apart. Pirana’s latest, which should hit the market soon, is the new and improved P200, which has a lip above the mouth opening. Whether the target species are redfish, seatrout and snook inshore or largemouth and smallmouth bass or trout in freshwater, anything that will eat a plug will be more likely to eat one with a jet trail. For more information visit www.piranafishinglures.com or call 386310-7165.
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT UNDERWATER FISH LIGHT If you live on the water or have ever cruised any local canals or shorelines at night, you’ve probably seen how effective and widespread Underwater Fish Light’s products are. They seem to be just about everywhere, and are almost always loaded with fish. Their classic Natural Green lights look amazing in any waterway, but they recently released a new line of Vibrant Green underwater lights that illuminate the water with a richer green color that really stands out from the crowd. In addition to the unique look, these lights are also 50 percent brighter than the classic systems and are perfect for those looking to “out glow” their neighbors. Of course these new lights come backed by the same guarantees that Underwater Fish Light is famous for, including their well known “Fish Guaranteed or Your Money Back” promise. You can try the new Vibrant Green systems or any of their other models for sixty nights in your own waterway, and if you’re not thrilled with the performance of the light, you can return it for a full refund. Obviously they don’t get too many returns. There is also a new line of Caribbean Blue underwater lights that look incredible in clear waterways, but customers outside of the Florida Keys should opt for either the Natural Green or Vibrant Green, as these will look the best in murkier waters. With a 3-year warranty and money back guarantee, you can’t go wrong with Underwater Fish Light. Visit them online at www.FishLight.com or call 1-855-FISH-LIGHT for more information.
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT NEW RECHARGEABLE HEARING AID Hearing loss can leave you feeling disconnected. And it can be more than just a nuisance for those who enjoy fishing, boating or the outdoors. The inability to hear or understand warnings from the captain or guide can be downright dangerous. MDHearingAid, the doctor’s choice for affordable hearing aids, has the solution for your hearing loss with discreet, easy-to-use devices that are surprisingly affordable. The MDHearingAid Volt is a rechargeable hearing aid that eliminates the need for finding and fumbling with tiny batteries. It plugs in just like a cell phone or tablet, and the lithium-ion battery lasts up to 22 hours with each charge. Just plug it in at night when you go to bed and you’ll hear clearly all day long. Doctor-designed, this state-of-the-art digital technology utilizes dual microphones paired with noise reduction to filter out background noise. With four programs and volume control, the user has complete control to communicate confidently even in the most challenging listening environments. You’ll be able to focus on what you want to hear, not the surrounding noise. It sits discreetly behind the ear and is nearly invisible so even those closest to you may not notice you’re wearing it. The MDHearingAid Volt includes dual USB charging station and convenient carrying case. Try this rechargeable and affordable FDA-registered digital hearing aid at home with a 45-day risk-free trial and a 100 percent money-back guarantee. Call 800-514-1609 and get FREE shipping with offer code CV74 or visit
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT INHIBITOR VCI PRO CHIPS FOR CORROSION PROTECTION Protecting your fishing gear from rust and corrosion has never been easier, or more effective. The Inhibitor VCI offers unrivaled corrosion and rust prevention to protect lures, hooks, reels and more. Fishing tackle is a magnet for rust and corrosion. Many people do not fully appreciate the money and time avid anglers put into building their collection of lures. Rust will damage hooks, split rings and the body of the lure. With VCI Pro Chips you can make sure you never lose any of your fishing equipment to rust. Saltwater speeds up rust and corrosion; protect your fishing tackle from saltwater. Inhibitor VCI Pro Chips are a safe, easy and economical way to ensure your fishing tackle, tool boxes, small part bins and any other small metal items stay rust free. Each chip is treated on both sides with Volatile Corrosion Inhibitors that release a non-toxic vapor to blend with moisture and oxygen and stop rust and corrosion. The special vapors penetrate into the smallest cracks or crevices, providing total protection in marine environments. There is no scent residue. Fish will never know you are rust free! With Inhibitor rust prevention products, even saltwater cannot cause your fishing tackle to rust or corrode. They are great for parts bins and tool boxes at home, too. It works on all ferrous and non-ferrous metals: brass, bronze, copper, aluminum, steel, and stainless steel. Visit www.theinhibitor.com to get your 20-pack of VCI Pro Chips for only $5.99.
WWW.THEINHIBITOR.COM
www.power-pole.com
Fishing Lights Dock Lights Flounder Lights 785-621-2646 30
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fishinglightsetc.com
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
10/18/16 3:15 PM
RHODAN INTRODUCES 72” SHAFT GPS GUIDED TROLLING MOTOR
New Longer Shaft for High Bow Boats Excellent for Offshore Fishing Same Superior GPS Technology 4X More Accurate 36% More Efficient
Attention Advertising Sales Reps Have you ever wondered what it would be like to own the media company that you were selling advertising for? Ever considered how different your life would be if you didn’t have to hand over the bulk of your sales revenue to your employer? Have you ever thought about how much easier your sales job could be if you didn’t have to beg your sales manager for every little extra thing that you wanted to give your customer? Ever wondered what it would be like to control your own time? You don’t have to wonder anymore. Coastal Angler and its freshwater component The Angler Magazine are offering magazine franchises throughout the continental U.S. and abroad. Now, you can be the publisher and completely control the advertising department of your magazine. After nine years of franchising this magazine and with 42 current locations, we can say with confidence that these home-based magazine locations can be opened in nearly any location with a minimum population base of 500,000 and an active angling community. We have also identified our ideal candidate as being someone with previous media sales experience. Male or female, success in this endeavor is gaged more on advertising sales than fishing prowess. If you are a current or former media advertising sales rep, you owe it to yourself to check out our franchise opportunities. For more information, call 888-800-9794 or email info@ coastalanglermagazine.com.
Outstanding Customer Support Media Sales Representatives wanted immediately for fishing magazine franchisee opportunity. Must have 2 to 5 years media sales experience. Dependable transporation, a love of the outdoors and a good solid work ethic. Type A’s welcome.
www.gpsanchor.com
888-434-7726
For Information Contact Editor in Chief Ben Martin at 888-800-7974 or email at info@coastalanglermagazine.com
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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• No Hassle Return Policy
On All Hand Tools
Does your dog have
FISH BREATH?
presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
Naturally Removes Plaque & Tartar, Controls Bacteria and Freshens Breath Without BRUSHING!
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hft_coa
How Does Harbor Freight Sell GREAT QUALITY Tools at the LOWEST Prices? We have invested millions of dollars in our own state-of-the-art quality test labs and millions more in our factories, so our tools will go toe-to-toe with the top professional brands. And we can sell them for a fraction of the price because we cut out the middle man and pass the savings on to you. It’s just that simple! Come visit one of our 700+ Stores Nationwide. R PE ON RAPID PUMP® 1.5 TON SU UP ALUMINUM RACING JACK CO
Customer Rating • 3-1/2 Pumps Lifts Most Vehicles • Weighs 34 lbs.
ITEM 69252/68053 62160/62496/62516 60569 shown
5999 comp at
8999 $119.99
SAVE $60
$ $
LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
SUPER COUPON
12999
comp at
ITEM 69052 shown 69111/62522/62573
4
$ 97 VALUE
29 PIECE TITANIUM NITRIDE COATED HIGH SPEED STEEL DRILL BIT SET ITEM 62281/61637 shown
R PE ON SU UP CO
SAVE 37%
A
SUPER COUPON
WOW
A. HOT DOG
3 GALLON, 100 PSI OILLESS AIR COMPRESSORS
B. PANCAKE
ITEM 69269/97080 shown
ITEM 95275 shown 60637/61615
comp at
5999 $98.62
$3999
YOUR CHOICE
Customer Rating
SAVE 59%
$
ITEM 69397 63308/61427 95272 shown
5 DRAWER TOOL CART
R PE ON SU UP 30", CO
SAVE $235
Customer Rating
16499
comp at
18999 $399.99 Customer Rating
$59.99
comp at
ITEM 38391 62376 62306 shown
$4799
SAVE 20%
SUPER COUPON 3-IN-1 PORTABLE POWER PACK WITH JUMP STARTER
WOW
LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
• 704 lb. capacity
LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
$59.97
SAVE $ 78% $ comp at
67500 shown
Customer Rating ITEM 69779
1500 LB. CAPACITY DUAL WHEEL SWING-BACK BOAT TRAILER JACK
LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
16999 $268.99 $1299 $1999
$
ITEM 69662 shown 60432/63018/63019
POWER INVERTER
LIMIT 1 - Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or prior purchase. Coupon good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Offer good while supplies last. Shipping & Handling charges may apply if not picked up in-store. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one FREE GIFT coupon per customer per day.
$
R R 2000 WATT CONTINUOUS/ PE ON PE ON SU UP Customer Rating 4000 WATT PEAK SU UPCustomer Rating CO CO
SAVE $139
LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
ITEM 93068 shown 69590/61910 62447
$ 99 $ 99 16 $ $29.99 2799comp at29$44.99 comp at
$1199
Customer Rating
ALERT SYSTEM
PON WOWWIRSUPELEERSSCOU SECURITY
SAVE 60%
800-423-2567. Cannot or HarborFreight.com or by calling LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original or be used with other discount Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original purchase with original receipt. through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day. coupon must be presented. Valid
At Harbor Freight Tools, the “comp at” price means that the same item or a similar functioning item was advertised for sale at or above the "comp at" price by another retailer in the U.S. within the past 180 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of "comp at" should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.
LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
• HarborFreight.com • 800-423-2567
800-423-2567. Cannot or HarborFreight.com or by calling LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original or be used with other discount Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original purchase with original receipt. through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day. coupon must be presented. Valid
B
QUALITY TOOLS LOWEST PRICES EVERYDAY VALID NOW ON 5,000 + ITEMS
99 $163.06
WITH ANY PURCHASE 3-1/2" SUPER BRIGHT NINE LED ALUMINUM FLASHLIGHT
20% FREE
ANY SINGLE ITEM
OFF
9 PIECE FULLY POLISHED COMBINATION WRENCH SETS METRIC
ITEM 63282/69043/42304 shown
SAE
Limit 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day Parking Lot Sale item, automotive lifts, compressors, floor jacks, saw mills, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, trenchers, welders, Admiral, Badland, Bremen, CoverPro, Creekstone, Daytona, Diablo, Doyle, Drummond, Earthquake, Franklin, Hercules, Holt, Jupiter, Lynxx, Maddox, Portland, Predator, Quinn, StormCat, Union, Viking. Not valid on prior purchases. Nontransferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17.
R PE ON SU UP CO
SAVE 70% Customer Rating
ITEM 42305 69044/63171
$19.97
$899
comp at
YOUR CHOICE
5
$ 99
ITEM 69381 60338 shown
LIMIT 8 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
WOW
SAVE $73
comp at
$
$8999 119
SUPER COUPON TS 900 PEAK/700 RUNNING WAT 2 HP (63 CC) 2 CYCLE GAS RECREATIONAL GENERATOR
Customer Rating
On All Hand Tools
• 700+ Stores Nationwide • Lifetime Warranty
800-423-2567. Cannot or HarborFreight.com or by calling LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original or be used with other discount Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original purchase with original receipt. through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day. coupon must be presented. Valid
• 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed • Over 30 Million Satisfied Customers • No Hassle Return Policy
R PE ON SU UP CO
ITEM 46807/68975 69221/62123/63017 69222 shown
12" RATCHET BAR CLAMP/SPREADER
2
SAVE comp at 85% $ 99 $399 $20.76
SAVE $105
LIMIT 8 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
R PE ON SU UP Customer Rating CO
ITEM 61258 shown 61840/61297/68146
comp at
5499 $8999
$159.99
2500 LB. ELECTRIC WINCH WITH WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL
$
LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
comp at
$17.97
$ 99
8
$ 99
5
ITEM 66537 shown 69505/62418
R 72" x 80" PE ON MOVING BLANKET SU UP CO Customer Rating
SAVE 66%
SAVE 106
$
ITEM 63054/60728 69034/62858 shown
9999
™
10 FT. x 20 FT. PORTABLE CAR CANOPY
LIMIT 7 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
R PE ON SU UP CO
Customer Rating
$
$205.99
$14999
comp at
LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
9/30/16 2:16 PM
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NOVEMBER 2016
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
COME JOIN OUR TEAM!
Franchise locations available throughout the U.S. and abroad.
Ever wanted to be your own boss, run your own business and be involved in the fishing industry? Well now you can. Our franchisees enjoy the benefits of controlling their own time while building their incomes in an industry that they love. If you enjoy the outdoors and don’t mind meeting the public and immersing yourself in the world of boating and fishing, then you owe it to yourself to check out our franchise opportunities. We now have locations available throughout the U.S. and abroad. These are home based businesses designed to operate on relatively low overhead and modest investment. No prior publishing experience necessary. We provide a complete training program and ongoing support. For more information on a franchise location near you, visit www.coastalanglermag.com, call 888-800-9794 or email info@coastalanglermagazine.com.
Now Available
• New Orleans, LA • Baton Rouge, LA • Gloucester, MA • Nashville, TN • Denver, CO • Charlotte, NC • Milwaukee, WI • Seattle, WA
• Upstate New York SOLD • Costa Rica Reduced • Raleigh, NC New Listing • Newport, CA • Savannah, GA • Corpus Christi, TX New Listing
...And More!
© 2016. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Disclaimer: Coastal Angler Magazine / The Angler Magazine will not be held liable for injuries incurred while partaking in activities described herein, or for claims made against products or services provided by advertisers.
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES
FLORIDA
Corporate Headquarters
info@coastalanglermagazine.com
888-800-9794
GREATER MIAMI
Scott Deal • (561) 945-6999
scott@coastalanglermagazine.com
Monica Isaza-Deal • (561) 945-8899 monica@coastalanglermagazine.com
NAPLES
TREASURE COAST & BAHAMAS
OKEECHOBEE
Mike Weber (414) 531-4172
Ken Gabryel (863) 532-3671
Misti & Gary Guertin (772) 285-6850
FORT MYERS
PALM BEACH COUNTY
nwelch@ coastalanglermagazine.com
barbara@ coastalanglermagazine.com
Nadeen Welch (239) 595-8265
Barbara Ryan (561) 373-8040
BREVARD
David String (321) 684-5888
pprevoir@coastalanglermagazine.com
NE FLORIDA
LAKELAND & SUMTER
danny@ coastalanglermagazine.com
maryf@ coastalanglermagazine.com
Danny Patrick (904) 742-4696
dstring@ keng@ coastalanglermagazine.comtreasurecoast@coastalanglermagazine.comcoastalanglermagazine.com flahama@coastalanglermagazine.com
Chuck Atkins (239) 464.5153
chuck@ coastalanglermagazine.com
BIG BEND
Mike McNamara (850) 510-7919
Mary Flaitz (352) 598-4219
captmike@ coastalanglermagazine.com
GULF CAOST
mikew@ coastalanglermagazine.com
TAMPA BAY
SARASOTA
Phil Prevoir • (239) 257-4684
GREATER ORLANDO
PANAMA CITY/ FORGOTTEN COAST
Phillip & Giselle Wolf (407) 790-9515
FLORIDA KEYS Ed Gocher (305) 587-9101
Randy Cnota (229) 834-7880
phillip@ coastalanglermagazine.com
Cary & Lynn Crutchfield (352) 372-4237
FORT LAUDERDALE
Jim “Mack” & Pat McKinney (954) 603-2304 fortlauderdale@ coastalanglermagazine.com
crutch@ coastalanglermagazine.com
DAYTONA/ NEW SMYRNA BEACH Don Meadows (407) 960-2340
ALABAMA GULF COAST Sarah Clark (205) 522-1756
donm@coastalanglermagazine.com
sarahclark@ coastalanglermagazine.com
CAPE COD/ISLANDS/ SOUTHERN MASS
Jessica Baptista
NORTHEAST
randyc@coastalanglermagazine.com
ed@coastalanglermagazine. com
NC FLORIDA/ NATURE COAST
GALVESTON/MATAGORDA/ UPPER COAST
PENSACOLA/DESTIN/ MIS GULF COAST
BOSTON
Kevin Ogle • (850) 586-3474
Chanci & David Mowry (713) 446-7395
gulf@coastalanglermagazine.com
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
GREATER ATLANTA AREA /SW GEORGIA
woody@theanglermagazine.com
bobr@theanglermagazine.com
boston@ coastalanglermagazine.com
RHODE ISLAND/ LONG ISLAND
UPSTATE NEW YORK Frank Geremski (518) 898-6484
Lisa & Michael Danforth (203) 321-7635
frankie@theanglermagazine.com
lisad@ coastalanglermagazine.com
Paul Drepanos (508) 733-7173
MAINE
jessicab@ coastalanglermagazine.com
pauld@ coastalanglermagazine.com
SOUTHEAST
chanci@coastalanglermagazine.com davidm@coastalanglermagazine.com
George Regan (617) 488-2842
Debra & Joe Woody (828) 775-9663
WILMINGTON
Brian Slesinski • (910) 797-6093
Bob & Brenda Rice (706) 614-8231
SE & COASTAL GEORGIA Tony Martin (912) 269-9679
CHARLESTON/COLUMBIA SESE& &COASTAL COASTALGEORGIA GEORGIA Eddie Hardgrove (910)264-5487
eddie@coastalanglermagazine.com travis@theanglermagazine.com travis@theanglermagazine.com
OUTER BANKS/ VIRGINIA BEACH
N.C. PIEDMONT
TravisHarper Harper Travis (912)266-1430 266-1430 (912)
MOREHEAD CITY
Roscoe Worth-Jones & Frank Jones (276) 274-9889
roscoe@theanglermagazine.com frank@theanglermagazine.com
Eddie Hardgrove • (910)264-5487
WEST MICHIGAN Phil Belsito (616) 957-1714
John Tiger • (757) 707-9654 eddie@coastalanglermagazine.com brians@coastalanglermagazine.com Eddie Hardgrove • (910)264-5487 tony@theanglermagazine.com john.tiger@coastalanglermagazine.com Brian Slesinski • (910) 797-6093 phil@theanglermagazine.com Laura Seitz • (757) 707-9655 brians@coastalanglermagazine.com eddie@coastalanglermagazine.com laura@coastalanglermagazine.com
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HILTON HEAD
Kathy & Mark McElheney (843) 478-5095
mark@coastalanglermagazine.com
PUERTO RICO/ VIRGIN ISLANDS Ace Bassue
MYRTLE BEACH
Kenneth & Ana Moore (843) 446-5777
kenmoore@ coastalanglermagazine.com
COSTA RICA
Thomas Hauer, Jr. (321) 445-1557
thomash@coastalanglermagazine.com (407) 285-9453 ace@ Thomas Hauer • (321) 445-1557 coastalanglermagazine.com tomh@coastalanglermagazine.com
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
10/18/16 3:15 PM
Graphite and fiberglass construction. One-piece stainless steel guides. Tougher than the original.
uglystik.com
@uglystik /uglystikfishing COLORS
PANTONE 200; CMYK: C-16.69, M-100, Y-87.59, B-7.22
PANTONE 877; CMYK: C-47.43, M-39.86, Y-39, B-3.48
COMMON CVRS_1116.indd 3
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COMMON CVRS_1116.indd 4 1559-16B1 Coastal Angler_NewSize.indd 1
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