NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST EDITION
FREE
Boats And Motors Edition Celebrating Our
Local
Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events
PHOTO COURTESY OF LEONARD BRYANT PHOTOGRAPHY VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 280
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM
F R A N C H I S E
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O P P O R T U N I T I E S
A V A I L A B L E
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Living the life of a FAMILY MAN and a FISHERMAN BUILT FOR THAT
210 FSH ® SERIES Go where no other boat has gone before. With powerful twin TR-1® Yamaha Marine Engines, ample storage and comfortable bow seating, the all-new 210 FSH provides the shallow-water capability to get to those hard-to-reach fishing spots and the versatility to enjoy watersports with your family.
210 FSH®
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YA M A H A B OAT S . C O M
©2018 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. Follow instructional materials and obey all laws. Drive responsibly, wearing protective apparel. Always drive within your capabilities, allowing time and distance for maneuvers, and respect others around you. Don’t drink COASTALANGLERMAG.COM and drive. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT YAMAHABOATS.COM CALL 1.800.88.YAMAHA. • THEANGLERMAG.COM JUNEOR 2018 NATIONAL 3
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FLORIDA
BIG BEND : Mike McNamara • (850) 510-7919 • captmike@coastalanglermagazine.com BREVARD : Chris Milner • (321) 631-1001 • cmilner@coastalanglermagazine.com FLORIDA KEYS : Cliff Lumpkin • (305) 849-9093 • cliff@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT LAUDERDALE : Gene Dyer • (954) 680-3900 • gene@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT MYERS : Nadeen Welch • (239) 595-8265 • nwelch@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER ORLANDO : Phillip & Giselle Wolf • (407) 790-9515 • phillip@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER MIAMI : Gene Dyer • (954) 680-3900 • gene@coastalanglermagazine.com LAKELAND & SUMTER : Mary Brasher • (352) 598-4219 • maryf@coastalanglermagazine.com NAPLES : Nadeen Welch • (239) 595-8265 • nwelch@coastalanglermagazine.com NC FLORIDA/NATURE COAST : Cary & Lynn Crutchfield • (352) 372-4237 • crutch@coastalanglermagazine.com NE FLORIDA : Danny Patrick • (904) 742-4696 • danny@coastalanglermagazine.com PANAMA CITY/FORGOTTEN COAST : Randy Cnota • (229) 834-7880 • randyc@coastalanglermagazine.com PALM BEACH COUNTY : Barbara Ryan • (561) 373-8040 • barbara@coastalanglermagazine.com SARASOTA : Phil Prevoir • (239) 257-4684 • pprevoir@coastalanglermagazine.com TAMPA BAY : Chuck Atkins • (239) 464-5153 • chuck@coastalanglermagazine.com TREASURE COAST : Misti & Gary Guertin • (772) 285-6850 • treasurecoast@coastalanglermagazine.com
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ATLANTA : Bob & Brenda Rice • (706) 614-8231 • bobr@theanglermagazine.com CHARLESTON : Sam Buckareff • (843) 607-8629 • sam@coastalanglermagazine.com CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT : Doug Simmons • (704) 361-6189 • simmons@theanglermagazine.com
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COLUMBIA/MIDLANDS : John Lux • (803) 807-6885 • jlux@theanglermagazine.com MYRTLE BEACH : Mike Masiero • (732) 674-3019 • mmasiero@coastalanglermagazine.com TIDEWATER/OUTER BANKS : John Tiger • (757) 707-9654 • john.tiger@coastalanglermagazine.com
Laura Tiger • (757) 707-9655 • laura@coastalanglermagazine.com
WESTERN NC : Debra & Joe Woody • (828) 775-9663 • woody@theanglermagazine.com WILMINGTON/MOREHEAD : Kenny Ritter • (910) 550-9094 • kenny@coastalanglermagazine.com
NORTHEAST BOSTON : George Regan • (617) 488-2842 • boston@coastalanglermagazine.com LONG ISLAND : Lisa & Michael Danforth • (203) 321-7635 • lisad@coastalanglermagazine.com CONNECTICUT/RHODE ISLAND : Lisa & Michael Danforth • (203) 321-7635 lisad@coastalanglermagazine.com
GULF COAST MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST : Adam Nelson • (228) 627-5903 • anelson@coastalanglermagazine.com
Toby Nelson • (228) 623-1761 • tnelson@coastalanglermagazine.com
BEN MARTIN EDITOR IN CHIEF
Dear Reader, Ten years ago, a new publishing concept was born. At that time, the idea that a magazine could somehow become a franchise offering was so unique that at first it was difficult to explain. How could a fishing magazine have more than one edition each month? How could someone without years of publishing experience and substantial capital successfully launch a new magazine? Not just a magazine, but a fishing magazine, and not just a fishing magazine, but a free fishing magazine? Free? What? Ten years ago, we began developing the concept of a franchise publishing system that would allow outdoor enthusiasts the rare opportunity to publish a localized fishing magazine as a professionals. Today there are over 30 editions of Coastal Angler and its interior freshwater component The Angler Magazine throughout the continental U.S., Costa Rica and the Virgin Islands. Every month all over the country local co-publishers work with professional guides and charter captains to share their knowledge of what’s biting where, when, and how with you, our reader! It’s reliable intel that anyone who loves to fish would benefit from reading. And guess what? There’s a lot of people who like to fish. The purpose that this fishing magazine serves cannot be denied, and that’s why there are over 30 separate editions of this magazine being published every month. It is our pleasure, our honor, to present this fishing magazine to you at no cost each month. We actually earn a living by helping to spread the word about fishing. What a great concept. Just like you, we love fishing, boating and the outdoors. In fact, we’re absolutely wild about it. It’s all we want to do. It’s truly amazing how much we all love fishing. Love it. We do, you do, millions of people do! That’s why ten years ago we knew one fishing magazine was not enough. We are proud to be celebrating our 10 year anniversary this month. Our sincerest thank you goes out to all of our co-publishing partners, the guides and charter captains who write for the magazine, the businesses who support the magazine and make it possible for us to continue providing it for free and most importantly to you, our reader. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to produce this FREE fishing magazine each month. For more information on Coastal Angler and The Angler Magazine franchise opportunities, visit http://franchise.coastalanglermag.com/ or call 888-800-9794.
ALABAMA/PENSACOLA : Paul Caruso • (239) 980-7738 • paul@coastalanglermagazine.com
GREAT LAKES WEST MICHIGAN : Phil Belsito • (616) 957-1714 • phil@theanglermagazine.com
INTERNATIONAL PUERTO RICO/VIRGIN ISLANDS : Ace Bassue • (407) 285-9453 • ace@coastalanglermagazine.com COSTA RICA : Mike Erickson • (561) 262-2242 • mike@coastalanglermagazine.com © 2018. 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. SAFETY
Franchise.CoastalAnglerMag.com
1-888-800-9794 Franchise opportunities available worldwide.
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WHO CARES ABOUT INSANELY CLEAR SONAR? DOESN’T EVERYONE?
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NO 26
The best fishing stories start with you getting away.
PINE ISLAND SOUND, FL
Islandology is our way of life. It’s trying a new, secluded spot and finding no matter what you catch – you’re hooked. Plan your trip at FortMyers-Sanibel.com
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POWERFUL FOUR STROKE
OUR MOST
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WHEN & WHERE YOU NEED IT
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BFT250, 225, and 200 bring a large displacement 3.5 liter V6. This narrow V6 design offers great torque and top end performance, as well as magnificent fuel econemy.
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Boat Accessories Product Reviews INTERLUX MICRON WA ANTIFOULING PAINT
DEXTER VORTEX TRAILER HUBS
Micron WA (Water-Activated) is the latest addition to the AkzoNobel’s Interlux industry leading Micron Technology product range. It is a showcase antifouling paint that offers longlasting, multi-seasonal protection in a waterbased formulation. Micron WA combines powerful antifouling performance while reducing impact on the environment, leaving a smooth, clean hull. It is easy to apply with low odor that makes application and clean up easy. This paint is ideal for cruise, power and sailboats and suitable for all waters. Using a novel paint technology called Water Activated Matrix, Micron WA delivers a crisp, vibrant color and uniform appearance to provide a striking, attractive finish, while at the same time efficiently delivering powerful antifouling performance. More information is available at: https://interlux.com/en/us/boat-paint/antifouling/micron-wa
The Vortex lubrication system for marine trailers is designed with towing in mind. Vortex on your trailer axles mean years of service without the hassle of replacing the grease. A great feature that comes with the Vortex is the 100,000-mile or 5-year limited warranty. And, if you are a trailer owner that likes to work on the trailer in the off-season, the Vortex threaded cap screw on/off cap makes it easier than ever to check the bearings. You never have to use a hammer to remove or install the cap. We fill the Vortex hub with Lucas Oil Products Marine Grease, a superior bearing grease that has high heat qualities and is water resistant… even in saltwater! Vortex is available from select OEM trailer manufacturers pre-installed on your new trailer with disc brakes or idler hubs. Vortex hubs can be purchased from marine dealers and marine parts suppliers to replace the old hubs on your trailer. Vortex replacement hub kits are available pre-greased, pre-assembled in clear clamshell packaging, perfect for taking with you in your truck or boat as a spare hub. Depend on quality Dexter Vortex hubs for your trailering experiences.
WWW.INTERLUX.COM
WWW.DEXTERAXLE.COM
ELECTRIC TRAILER DOLLY
SEASTAR SOLUTIONS JACKPLATES
If you own a boat, you know the stress of ParkIt360 Force 10K backing your trailered pride and joy into a tight space. With this in mind, we took it upon ourselves to take Parkit360’s Force 10K electric trailer dolly for a test spin. Right off the bat, we were impressed. Assembly was easy, and by connecting the trailer’s power harness to the Force, we were able to control the trailer’s brakes with the Smart Brake Control System, which provides control and safety on a steep grade. Also, the Bosch-designed electric motor supplied more than enough power to maneuver with little to no effort on the part of the user. The heavy-duty 4”-wide tires maintained traction on concrete as well as gravel and even in wet grass when loaded. The Force dolly proved its functionality regardless of terrain, and that could come in super handy for those parking boats, campers or anything else with a trailer ball where the concrete ends. But the most striking feature of the Force electric trailer dolly was how easy it made maneuvering the boat. With precise and easy-to-use controls, all the stress was taken out of navigating tight corners and turns in forward and reverse. We put the boat into spots we wouldn’t even attempt using a truck. Built of quality materials, powder-coated and compact enough to fit in the trunk of an SUV, Parkit360’s electric trailer dollies are a great tool for anyone who pulls a trailer.
WWW.PARKIT360.CA
With its Gen II Standard and Xtreme jackplates, SeaStar Solutions brings to market improved jackplates that handle up to 300 and 400 hp outboards, respectively, and are easier to install and adjust and stand up better to the marine environment. To handle heavier loads, advanced composite bushings allow for smoother movement of the hydraulic rams when the jackplate is raised or lowered, making SeaStar a superior performing jackplate at all speeds and loads. Both the Seastar Standard and Xtreme are available with 4”, 6”, 8”, 10” and 12” setbacks. Redesigned engine brackets allow mounting of shallow-water anchors on both models without the use of adapter plates. Redesigned engine brackets also improve access to the mounting bolts. Side access has been introduced to make it easier to get a wrench on engine mounting bolts while clearance to access transom mounting bolts has also been opened up, making it easier for one person to install the plate. Installing a SeaStar Jackplate with SeaStar’s ProTap system allows for precise, standardized height adjustment. Key to the ProTap system is the SmartStick sensor, which can easily be installed along the side of the plate. While adding strength and improving access, the new design uses less material for weight reduction of 15 percent over the originals. Thicker MilSpec anodizing of the aluminum frame and lift and effective sacrificial anode mounting points provide improved protection against corrosion.
WWW.SEASTARSOLUTIONS.COM
EAGLE ONE Your boat will get you around on the water, and you can count on the Eagle One to get you around on land. The Eagle One is a sleek, compact vehicle that is packed with features and versatile for all kinds of use. It’s small profile makes storage easy. It is offered with a top or without a top, and also features many other customizable options to suit your own preferences and needs. It’s perfect for cruising the neighborhood, work on the farm, getting around at the docks or riding down to the beach. With seating for two, The Eagle One operates on 36 volts with a top speed of 15 mph. It weighs 672 pounds and has a load capacity of 672 pounds. It measures just 78”x41”x41.5”, so it can be parked out of the way when it’s not in use.
WWW.EAGLEPRODUCTS.US/EAGLE-ONE 12
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ACCESSORIZE YOUR BOAT FOR THE SUMMER SEASON
FILET TABLE
TUMBLER HOLDER
TRIDENT 3-ROD CLUSTER
AVAILABLE IN 2 SIZES
NO DRILLING REQUIRED
AVAILABLE IN STRAIGHT OR OFFSET
AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL MARINE DEALER / RETAILER
800.653.8568 | TACOMARINE.COM
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SeaChaser 27 HFC Specs: LOA: 27’ Beam: 9’6”
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here’s no Weight: 5,300 lbs. need to Max Capacity: 12 people compromise when you can have Fuel Capacity: 181 Gal. the best of both worlds. That’s the Max HP: 500 idea behind the Sea Deadrise: 20 degrees Chaser HFC Series, built by Carolina Skiff. With all the features required by hardcore anglers, the four HFC models are serious fishing boats when it’s time to fish. When it’s time to take the family out on the water, these boats convert easily to offer the comforts and amenities that make them excellent cruising boats as well. It’s all in the name. HFC stands for Hybrid Fish & Cruise. These boats were built from the ground up and designed specifically for the serious angler who is also devoted to family. Anyone who’s ever fished from a Carolina Skiff knows the company has designing fishing boats down pat. Over more than 30 years, they have earned a reputation for building the most durable, versatile, stable and economical boats on the planet. For this reason, there are legions of anglers who wouldn’t own anything but a Carolina Skiff. The Sea Chaser HFC is no exception. With the 20, 22 and 24 HFC, Sea Chaser offers great center consoles for fishing and cruising inshore and nearshore. The latest in the line, launched last year, is the 27 HFC. It has the size and range for blue water, while maintaining the features that make it a comfortable family cruiser suitable for long days on the water. The 27 HFC melds functionality, comfort, style and performance seamlessly. Patented box-beam construction produces a solid, durable wood-free hull with foam flotation that exceeds U.S. Coast Guard requirements. With 100-percent composite construction, it meets stringent durability and dependability standards demanded by Carolina Skiff, and the high-performance step-hull gets the boat up on plane quickly for a smooth, dry ride.
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For an added feeling of safety, it features a 9.6-foot beam with a length overall of 27 feet and a respectable gunwale height. A fuel capacity of 181 gallons feeds up to 500 horses, which is more than enough to get you offshore where the fish are. This boat is loaded with standard features that will keep both your fishing buddies and your kiddos happy. They include: onboard windlass anchor system; wrap-around bow seating with 400-quart insulated storage; two built-in bow cabinets with tackle center and storage drawers; bow-floor 200-quart fish box; under-gunnel retractable wash down hose; molded fiberglass leaning post with 40-gallon baitwell and two tackle centers; rear 30-gallon baitwell; rear sink with stainless steel faucet; rear starboard cabinet with tackle trays and knife holders; freshwater tank with shower spray wand; step-in console with electric flushing head; molded hard top with LED lighting; speakers and electronics box; AM/FM radio with Bluetooth and USB connection; underwater LED lighting; courtesy LED lighting package; electric trim tabs; port side entry door; two rear foldaway bench seats; 12 flush-mounted gunwale stainless steel rod holders; swim platform with step ladder; and a whole lot more. It’s easy to see the 27 HFC was designed with both comfort and fishing functionality in mind. Like all the fine boats in the HFC line, it is the answer for the hardcore angler who doesn’t want to sacrifice on all the other fun stuff one can do out on the water. Check out the SeaChaser HFC series and all of Carolina Skiff ’s other offerings at www.carolinaskiff.com.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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You could get a discount when you combine your auto and boat policies.
geico.com | 1-800-865-4846 | Local Office
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Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. Multi-Policy Discount available to auto insureds that have purchased a boat policy through the GEICO Marine Insurance Company. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2018 GEICO
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
Check Out June’s Cover Shot
“Good Call”
Good Call Sport Fishing team members Ryan Hullihan, Mark Wodlinger, Matt Alligood and Dave Kairalla with release flags flying. Photo by Leonard Bryant Photography.
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FREE Boats And Motors Edition Celebrating Our
epending on which edition of Local Coastal Angler or The Angler you’re holding, the cover photo might be of the Bahama 41’ Good Call. Good Call Sport Fishing is a professional-class sailfishing team that also fishes for tuna, kingfish, dolphin and wahoo in tournaments off Florida and the Bahamas. Since forming in 2011, the team has competed in six to eight tournaments a year and has risen as one of the top teams on the circuit. This season has been a successful for Good Call. They opened in November at the Old Bahama Bay Wahoo Cup in West End, Bahamas. In January the team competed in the Silver Sailfish Derby, winning the top billfish tagging award and placing 9th overall. The Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament followed in West Palm Beach, where they placed 7th. In February, they fished The Sailfish Challenge, the second leg of Bluewater Movement’s Quest for the Crest, and finished 8th. In May they were back in West End for the Winners Circle Charities Tournament. As one might deduce from Good Call’s quad Mercury Verano 350s, the team is sponsored on the Mercury Pro Staff. Fishing reels are sponsored by Daiwa; rods and gaffs are by Chance Rods. Sunglasses are sponsored by Smith Optics. Clothing and apparel are sponsored by Bluefin USA and Gill Fishing. Follow the team at teamgoodcall on Instagram, Good Call Sport Fishing on Facebook and Good Call Sportfishing on Youtube. Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events
PHOTO COURTESY OF LEONARD BRYANT PHOTOGRAPHY VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 280
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Gillz Performance Fishing Shirts With their Coolcore
Technology, Gillz has developed a chemicalfree, lightweight, cooling and sun protective shirt that is the No. 1 choice of tournament pros, guides and avid anglers all over the planet. Coolcore is 30 percent cooler than the competition. Gillz was able to achieve this remarkable feature through research and design of a patented fabric that wicks sweat and moisture away from the body in every direction to keep you dry and comfortable regardless of the conditions. While most cooling fabrics achieve this using any number of nasty chemicals, Gillz has been able to do it chemical-free through their Coolcore Technology. Gillz shirts cool better, last much longer and offer protection from the sun’s harmful rays (UPF). After extensive testing, the following observations were made: • The fabric is very durable both to extreme abrasion and many washings. • Coolcore is more comfortable in hot conditions and prolongs and positively enhances athletic performance. This is most notable when worn by endurance athletes during high aerobic activities. This is by far the most comfortable shirt our testers have ever worn in the heat.
www.gillz-gear.com
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TOW & STOW ®
THE LAST HITCH YOU’LL EVER NEED
• Rotate the Ball
• Adjust the Height
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TowingAdventure.com 18
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Mag Bay Yachts Building On A Legacy Of Fine Boats
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arrett Howarth, of Mag Bay Yachts, may be the only boatbuilder in the industry who can say one of his employees has changed his diapers. His parents, Mike and Patricia Howarth, have always been boatbuilders. Along with their partner Henry Mohrschladt, they created the venerable Cabo Yachts. Barrett grew up on the production floor. His childhood was spent in the shop, learning to build boats from the best in the business. Barrett was conflicted when Cabo was sold to Brunswick Corporation in 2006. “It was pretty tough on me and my dad,” he said, “because that’s what we did… build boats.” Through the heart of the Great Recession, when there weren’t many buyers for high-end yachts, Barrett worked in his garage, building and refurbishing smaller boats. Despite protest from his father, who knew how tough the business could be, Barrett continued pursuing his passion.
“At some point, I guess Dad decided, ‘If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em,’” Barrett said. In June of 2014, Barrett and Mike set out to build what became the first Mag Bay Yacht. Working with hull designs by Michael Peters, one of the most respected designers in the industry, they started work to produce a high-quality 33’ center console that is the embodiment of elegance and function. It took almost a year to get everything the way they wanted it before the first Mag Bay hit the water in 2015. Since then, a lot of travel, hard work, attention to detail and customer support have brought recognition to Mag Bay Yachts for what it is. The Mag Bay 33’ is a high-end, expensive center console, and customers expect and receive the best. Early success allowed Mag Bay to reassemble much of the experienced crew from Cabo, who they consider family. One of those employees changed Barrett’s diapers nearly 30 years ago. They are the same employees who presented Mike with a plaque that hangs in the shop and reads: “I will always build the very best boat—at a profit if I can, at a loss if I must—but I will always build the best.” Barrett said that’s the philosophy for every Mag Bay that leaves the shop. “We’ve always tried to build the highest quality boat on the water,” he said. “We’ve always prided ourselves on using the absolute best products. If there’s not anything out there that’s up to par, we’ll make it. Being a family boatbuilder, it’s not about numbers for us. It’s about building the absolute best boat.” In the near future, the family at Mag Bay Yachts has plans to go back to its Cabo roots in designing a new 42’ inboard express. It’ll be exciting to see what they produce. For more information on Mag Bay Yachts, see their website at www. magbayyachts.com.
For more on MagBay Yachts, go to
THEANGLER.CO
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QUIK-CHANGE II ™ Our Innovative, Interchangeable Fixed Blade Cutlery System 9” FILLET 7” FILLET 5” FILLET 3” SERRATED
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rugged canvas roll pack
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s there anything more exhilarating than scrambling to recover line that’s buzzing off your reel and then landing a well-deserved bonefish? Believe it or not, there is: landing that bonefish and finding it has been tagged. Not only are you having the time of your life, you’re contributing to Bonefish & Tarpon Trust’s (BTT) ongoing bonefish research. Take it from renowned angler Meredith McCord, who recently caught a tagged bonefish off of South Andros while fishing with the Eleven Experience. Many are familiar with the term “tagging” due to projects like the Tarpon Acoustic Tagging Project, but BTT and collaborating scientists employ more than one type of “tag” when studying saltwa-
ter flats species. Research involving acoustic telemetry helps identify movement patterns and spawning sites, in addition to regional population and habitat connections that inform flats conservation. These acoustic tags do not, however, track health indicators like growth rate and sexual maturity—those data are found using something called tag-recapture. This particular type of tag resembles a small post with a diameter similar to that of a toothpick. Each individual tag is marked with a unique serial number and is inserted just below the dorsal fin. Scientists record the tag’s serial number and measurements specific to the individual fish—weight, fork and tail length, gender and any other observations about its condition. In keeping with best handling practices, researchers release the fish in hopes of another encounter. That hope was fulfilled when McCord caught a tagged bonefish in the Bahamas. She was able to record its serial number and length measurements before releasing it again. According to Dr. Aaron Adams, BTT’s director of science & conservation, and Bahamas Initiative manager Justin Lewis, bonefish spawn during full and new moons from October through April. The bonefish McCord recaptured was first tagged at a pre-spawning aggregation site in January 2015. Its recapture, over three years later, occurred 34 miles from the initial tagging location, which is not uncommon, since bonefish typically remain in or near their home ranges except when they leave the flats to spawn in deeper water. BTT thanks McCord and all anglers, guides, researchers and partnering organizations for their participation in research. Their enthusiasm, not only in tag-recapture studies but in all BTT research projects, is vital to the pursuit of specific and science-driven conservation outcomes for our saltwater flats fisheries.
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NATIONAL
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5/17/18 1:37 PM
Boats: They/You Have Arrived B ack in the mid-1980s, Scout Boats founder and CEO Steve Potts was a plant manager with boat builder American Sail. He had been in the industry since the age of 14, and he knew that one day he would be building his own boats. Scout is a true American success story. Working side-jobs, weekends and nights, Potts managed to save up $50,000 and launched his company in South Carolina. The first boat he built was a modest 14-foot fishing boat. It was a simple, functional skiff-like craft. What set it apart was extreme attention to detail and craftsmanship. Dealers and boaters noticed the fine fit-and-finish, even on a little fishing boat. It became very popular across the Carolinas and beyond. With those first boats, built in garages and barns, Potts began constructing the reputation that followed Scout Boats as it became one of the world’s most successful boatbuilders. From humble beginnings, Scout Boats has grown immensely and now offers a full line up of finely crafted and innovative inshore, bay and luxury offshore boats. Throughout the company, a culture of integrity ensures quality products and outstanding customer service. Take, for example, Scout’s flagship, the 420 LXF. It is a 42-foot luxury center console that is truly a landmark for the marine industry. No stone was left unturned in the design and development of this beauty. Its EpoxyInfused hull using Carbon/E-Glass provides improved superior structural stability, strength and a Class A finish for unsurpassed performance. There are countless unique features never before seen on a model like 420 LXF. With quad outboards and up to 1,675 max hp, it is a fishing machine laid out with the luxury of a yacht. That’s the idea behind Scout’s entire line, to build fishing boats with meticulous commitment to craftsmanship and design that allows them to be extremely functional fishing platforms that are low-maintenance, durable and as comfortable and beautiful as they can possibly be.
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Later this year, Scout Boats plans to launch a new flagship, the 530 LXF.
Scout Boat’s flagship, the 420 LXF is a landmark luxury center console.
The commitment to excellence paid off as the world climbed out from under the Great Recession of 2008. While the boating industry was reeling due to the economic instability of its customers, Scout Boats launched 18 new high-end models. The company saw multiple years of 25 percent annual growth. With today’s economy chugging away and growing, the customer base for world-class boats is stronger than ever. That’s good for Scout, and it’s good for you—the angler who is finally in a position to purchase that dream boat. A decade ago, taking on boat payments was a frightening thought. Now that things have stabilized, buying a boat is a worthwhile investment in your quality of life. And when it comes to producing quality on the water, Scout Boats has the market cornered, whether it’s a 17-foot bay boat or a 42-foot center console. To see all of Scout Boats’ finely crafted vessels, go to www.scoutboats.com. For more about Scout Boats’, go to
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FLORIDA
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FLORIDA
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Registration open until September 3, 2018
May 26 - Sept 3, 2018 | 101 days of fishing
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CA Florida STAR, the state’s largest family friendly saltwater fishing competition, began May 26, but there’s still time to get in on the action… and the prizes. Anyone who registers and goes fishing between now and Sept. 3 has a chance to win some awesome prize packages. This 101-day fishing event, presented by Yamaha, is conducted by Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Florida. With more than $500,000 in prizes, the event runs until Labor Day. Registered anglers who catch qualifying fish will be eligible for prizes that include a brand new truck or boat, motor and trailer packages to all-terrain vehicles, marine electronics, scholarships and more. Unlike traditional fishing tournaments, STAR focuses on conservation and uses the social media-based event to educate the public on the importance of protecting Florida’s marine resources. The format allows anglers to fish on their own schedule all summer long. A “catch, photo and release” competition, STAR’s smartphone app eliminates the requirement to harvest or capture and transport fish. New details for the 2018 event include: • Kids - Continued free registration for current New Tide Members (CCA members) ages 6 – 17. • Guides - Guides are eligible to compete in their own division for Tagged Redfish and Tagged Dolphin. • Prizes in the Tagged Redfish Division include a Contender 22 Sport, a GMC Sierra, a Pathfinder 2200TRS, a Hewes Redfisher 16, a Carolina Skiff 21 Ultra and Cottonmouth Aluminum Bay/Flats boat, all powered by Yamaha. Prizes for the first two youth anglers in this division include two Carolina Skiff 16JVX CC boats, powered with Yamaha 40 HP motors and trailers. New divisions include: • Tagged Dolphin Division (mahi mahi) - a minimum of 20 tagged dolphin will be released in the state’s waters, with the first registered angler who catches one eligible to win $10,000 in cash or scholarship. • Non-tagged Redfish Division presented by Atlas Jack Plates even non-tagged redfish are eligible for prizes. • Grouper Division - special prizes for black, gag, red and scamp grouper. • Tarpon Division presented by Humminbird - one winner of a $10,000 prize package will be determined by a random drawing of all catch photos entered in the drawing. Eligibility requirements include proper handling and resuscitation of the catch. Other STAR divisions include: • Youth Scholarship Division presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors - offering over $100,000 in scholarships from Realtree Fishing, Reel Legends Apparel, Southeastern Environmental Solutions, Talk of the Town Restaurant Group and Pasco County Office of Tourism Development. • Power Pole Conservation and Costa Kick Plastic Trash Division - assisting with data collection for potential use in stock and habitat assessment and helping with debris collection. • Lionfish Division - helping with the removal of this invasive species. • Open, Ladies, Fly, Kayak and Professional Guides divisions – targeting various species. Most division winners are determined by a random drawing, a format that encourages participants of all ages to protect and conserve Florida’s fisheries. Register early for an opportunity to win in the weekly Freebie Friday Engel Cooler Drawing! Entry fees are reasonable at $75 for non-CCA members and include a one-year membership. Entry is $40 for current CCA members. For more information on STAR or to register, visit the organization’s Facebook page or ccaflstar.com.
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5/17/18 11:47 AM
By Danny Moody
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Avery Moody releases a late-season sailfish off Jupiter.
here is nothing like the sight of a sailfish taking flight after a perfect hookset. The sound of the screaming reel is pure exhilaration on deck. For me, that feeling is exponentially greater when I experience it while watching my 16-year-old daughter, Avery Moody, skillfully drop back on that fish and reel tight on the snelled circle hook. On a recent spring day, I was reminded what it means to be a proud father of a young lady in love with fishing and our beautiful Florida lifestyle. She set her alarm for 4:30 a.m. Avery likes to catch fish with her own goggle eyes, and by 6 a.m. the baitwell had two dozen. The ocean was beautiful that morning, with a rolling ground swell from the north and light breeze. We pointed the bow east and ran. Dolphin was on her mind, but she knew the shallow bite was slow. At 28 miles out, we found our target water temp and were rewarded with a pair of ’phins for the dinner table. Putting those two fish in the boat made her day. As a dad, I was indifferent about the dolphin. My reward was knowing I had hours of uninterrupted, oneon-one time with my oldest daughter. Boys, lures, school, knots, church youth group, water temp, friends, and trying to figure out what that rattle is on the T-Top… it was all discussed.
About 3 p.m., we were back nearshore setting up a drift 4 miles out of Jupiter Inlet on the ledge. The bridled baits were lively, and we knew something would find them. Avery took a break from monitoring her Shimano Baitrunner to tie a big popper on her plugging rod and cast to small bonita (little tunny) that were crashing surface baits. Mid-knot, she hears her Baitrunner starting to sing. I advise, “Hey Avery, you have a bite, better setup.” She replies, “Hang on dad, let me finish tying this lure.” What I thought was procrastination was her intentional delay. We fish live bait on snelled circle hooks, and she knows to wait before engaging the reel. She finally picked up the rod, pointed straight at the outgoing line and reeled tight. A lit sailfish went airborne. She fired off some quick commands to me for line clearing, and the chase ensued. This past season, I have gone from yelling instructions at her to her yelling instructions at me! After a spectacular fight, the fish was brought boat-side, and Avery revived the sail for release. It was a flood of emotions for each of us after such a perfect day on the water. Avery is a fifth-generation Floridian who lives on the same Loxahatchee River property her great, great grandmother purchased in the 1920s. Avery and her 14-year-old sister Emily are homeschooled by my wife Carrie. When she is not offshore, Avery is fishing the river. Dock light snook fishing on light spin and fly are her favorites. She loves the south Florida environment, promoting conservation, and outwardly living what it means to be a Florida Girl.
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By CAM Staff
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ith more than 30 years in the diesel engine business, Florida Detroit Diesel-Allison is Florida’s largest Volvo Penta Power Center. Do you need a re-power for a tired engine or need more horsepower? Maybe it’s time for that service appointment? Their professionals take care of complete marine repower service, from start to finish anywhere in the state of Florida—plus, parts and service support for all Volvo Penta marine products. These services are available through an extensive marine dealer network as well as from FDDA Orlando, Jacksonville and Fort Pierce locations. Volvo Penta Marine Power for pleasure craft and commercial marine markets are available in engine horsepower ranging from 13 – 1,200 HP; 13 – 900 HP for inboard solutions, and 350-1,200 HP with Volvo IPS, the leading pod system for joystick docking. Authorized warranty service and sales means your marine dealer’s service department can rely on quality OEM replacement parts and a reputable go-to company for your Volvo Penta marine diesel engine servicing needs. Besides carrying thousands of genuine OEM parts in stock, Florida Detroit Diesel Allison has a fleet of mobile service vans with factory trained and accredited technicians dispatched anywhere to fix your engine. They offer daily service throughout Florida for both parts and service with emergency service on call 24/7/365! Today, boaters are looking for exceptional fuel economy, lowered operating expenses, cleaner operation, and smooth, quiet operation for crew comfort. The Volvo Penta Sterndrive Engine is a fully matched package where everything: helm station, engine, drive and propellers are developed together and perfectly matched. Volvo Penta Sterndrive Engines provide low fuel consumption, sporty performance, low emissions, high comfort, excellent low-speed maneuverability, and offered with optional joystick docking and Powertrim Assist. For more information about Florida Detroit Diesel-Allison, go to www.fdda.com, FDDA has nine locations in Florida to support your Volvo.
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
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OWNER’S EDGE ADVANTAGE SUZUKI REPOWER THE ALTERNATIVE TO BUYING A NEW BOAT With the Mastry RePower Centers Owner’s Edge the benefits extend long past just buying a motor. When you purchase a new Suzuki outboard from an authorized Marstry RePower Center you qualify to become a member of the Mastry Suzuki Owner’s Edge. You receive an identification card that provides you with important information about your Suzuki outboard motor as well as a passport to additional benefits during ownership. Members enjoy the following benefits and there will be more to come: · • Detailed Engine Maintenance Schedule - Owner’s Edge members receive a detailed Suzuki factory engine maintenance schedule that spans the life of your motor which includes outlines of the special member pricing. • Suzuki Repower Trade Allowance Program - A trade allowance program that provides members a trade allowance based on age and hours of your Suzuki outboard. • Special Pricing - Including special pricing on Reverso Pumps Automatic Flushing System.
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CANGL_FL1-FL24.indd Owners Edge Ad CA.indd 9 1
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FLORIDA
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5/17/18 10:12 11:47 AM AM 5/13/18
TAKE A KID
CORY GURMAN
E
very year, Florida opens a recreational season to harvest these tasty mollusks from Port St. Joe on the north end of Florida’s Big Bend to Tarpon Springs on the south end. Scalloping with friends and family can be one of the most rewarding and enjoyable activities on the water. A mask, snorkel, some fins, a mesh bag and a dive flag are the basic things you need. Scallops tend to congregate in shallow grass flats and sandy areas in anywhere from 3 to 10 feet of water. Bring your own boat, rent one from the many marinas in the area or hire a charter captain and you’ll be well on your way. As you head out into the gulf, finding their location can be as easy as locating the fleet of boats that has already found some. Or, slowly drag a spotter behind the boat until you locate them. They don’t bite, so just dive down, pick them up and toss them into your mesh bag. If you can hold your breath long enough, you’ll likely pick up two or three at a time. Keep in mind, the limit for scallops is two gallons per person or 10 gallons per boat, whichever is less. These grass flats are also prime real estate for speckled trout. A jig tipped with a Gulp swimming mullet will definitely do the job for these feisty fish. As you get closer to houses and recreational docks, you’ll notice people staked out on their jon boats, cleaning scallops. It can be a pain for someone who isn’t used to cleaning scallops, so I highly recommend you pay the professionals to get it over with. On the way back in, it’s hard not to think about all the differ-
ent ways you can cook them up for dinner. They are delicious fried, sautéed in butter, over pasta, in a salad or whatever else you can think up. I have so many great memories from scalloping with my dad and friends over the years, and I look forward to making new ones each season. I hope you all will get out there and experience this incredible fishery and make some memories of your own. Cory Gurman is a freshman at Ponte Vedra High School in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Besides reveling in the great outdoors, Cory enjoys spending time with his three golden retrievers and rooting for the Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Instagram @fishhunter1119.
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s a linguist at the University of Florida for more than 30 years and an author of several English grammar books, I have long been interested in syntax (what is the plural of fish?), vocabulary (what is the origin of the word shark?), place names (what is the origin of Pompano Beach?), and anything dealing with our language. I’ve been wondering lately about the phrase “tuna fish.” Why do we say “tuna fish,” but not “bass fish” or “shark fish?” Isn’t “fish” redundant after “tuna?” Actually, no, because there is actually another tuna unrelated to fish: the prickly pear cactus. With other fishy words we also add “fish,” e.g. codfish, swordfish, lionfish, etc. That makes sense since “cod” and “sword” and “lion” can refer to items other than fish. Using “fish” after such nouns can help a non-native speaker of English who might not know what a tuna or cod is. Also, it turns out that “tuna” can refer to non-fishy items, e.g. a cactus fruit. California has a place called La Tuna Canyon, not for ocean fish that might have swum there a million years ago, but for the prickly pear cactus found there. The word “tuna” in Spanish can mean “prickly pear.” “Tuna,” then, all by itself refers to the fish in the sea: We went fishing for tuna off the coast. “Tuna fish,” on the other hand, refers to the ingredients in the can: “I’ll have a tuna fish sandwich for lunch.” Somehow saying, “I’ll have a tuna sandwich for lunch” conjures up two pieces of bread around a large albacore. Finally, one of the most famous producers of packaged tuna fish, Chicken of the Sea, explains its name by saying
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that, in the past, fishermen called white albacore tuna “chicken of the sea” because of its white color and its mild flavor, which reminded them of chicken. Using the word “tuna” with “albacore” might be redundant since the albacore is a kind of tuna and is sometimes called “longfin tuna.” Back to the nickname of tuna as “chicken of the sea.” I know that some claim that unusual meats like alligator or crocodile or rattlesnake taste like chicken, but I don’t think tuna fish tastes like chicken at all. Singer Jessica Simpson once ate a can of Chicken of the Sea tuna on her TV show while asking: “Is this chicken, what I have, or is this fish? I know it’s tuna, but it says Chicken [of] the Sea.” So the phrase “tuna fish” makes sense when we realize that “tuna” refers to the fish in the sea and “tuna fish” refers to the stuff in a can. Enjoy your lunch now that this issue is cleared up.
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COASTAL ANGLER North Central Florida/Nature Coast
Cary & Lynn Crutchfield
ALACHUA, MARION, COLUMBIA, GILCHRIST, BRADFORD, DIXIE, LEVY AND CITRUS COUNTIES
C
JUNE
an it be June already; 2018 is half over? After warmer than usual February, cooler than usual March, and an absolutely delightful April, the heat (and even worse, the humidity) hit mid-May. Even though the temps are rising, we almost always have a breeze here on my river, but I would like a little more rain. I don’t like running my sprinkler and I really don’t like brown grass. Saltwater Builders, is making an encore appearance in the FLORIDA sleeve. They build docks, seawalls and other marine related construction. They are located in Cross City. Another encore appearance, and again in the FLORIDA sleeve, Visit Citrus, beautiful Citrus County, that is. This month’s recipe, Open Faced Lobster Rolls, on page 2, was inspired by my new lobster plates. They seemed like the perfect shape for a lobster roll, and I like open faced because that way, we eat less bread. In the photo, they look like shoes, but the lobster was delicious! Father’s Day is June 17th this year. Does Dad like to fish? Would he love a guided/charter fishing trip? (Or maybe you are the Dad?) You can find contact info for guides from Keaton Beach to Homosassa. Give them a call. They love fishing and they love to talk fishing and would love to hear from you, even if you just want to ask a question or thank them for their valuable information shared every month is this awesome publication. As always, always, always, please thank the folks where you picked up this wonderful (world famous?) free magazine and don’t forget our advertisers. They make it possible for us to pay our print bill for this FREE magazine you are holding. Until next month, get out and enjoy North Central Florida and the Nature Coast.
Lynn Crutchfield Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida / Nature Coast
JUNE 2018 EDITION
Find Your Outdoors Here! North Central Florida Nature Coast Staff SALES
Cary Crutchfield
EDITING & PRODUCTION Lynn Crutchfield
DISTRIBUTION Rosa Crisman
GRAPHIC ARTS & DESIGN Kathleen Stemley
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dr. Kevin McCarthy Bruce Butler John Freeze Noel Kuhn David Lacinak Ken Sulak Capt. Jason Clark Capt. Dan Clymer Capt. Tommy Derringer Capt. Stacy Horak Capt. Jimbo Keith Capt. Pat McGriff Capt. Brett Selph Capt. Clay Shidler Capt. Brian Smith Capt. Dan Smith Capt. Craig Spitznogle
CONTACT INFORMATION
crutch@coastalanglermagazine.com 352-372-4237 www.CoastalAnglerMag.com/NC-Florida
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Tide Charts Local Fishing Forecasts Monthly Recipe
Photo by: Suwannee River Water Management District
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OPEN FACED LOBSTER ROLLS
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.
Thank you to The Crab Plant for the lobster. 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.
Cary A. Crutchfield Registered Real Estate Broker GRI and CRS Designations
352.372.4237
COOKING DIRECTIONS
TIDES • North Central Florida Time Height
1F
2Sa
3Su 4M
5Tu
6W
7Th
8F
4:45 AM 10:02 AM 3:36 PM 10:49 PM 5:23 AM 10:39 AM 4:12 PM 11:24 PM 6:03 AM 11:20 AM 4:52 PM 12:03 AM 6:47 AM 12:08 PM 5:39 PM 12:47 AM 7:37 AM 1:08 PM 6:39 PM 1:38 AM 8:31 AM 2:19 PM 7:56 PM 2:38 AM 9:25 AM 3:36 PM 9:24 PM 3:42 AM 10:16 AM 4:47 PM 10:45 PM
3.2 1.6 4.1 -0.1 3.2 1.7 4.0 0.1 3.1 1.7 3.8 0.2 3.1 1.8 3.6 0.4 3.1 1.8 3.4 0.6 3.2 1.7 3.1 0.9 3.3 1.5 3.0 1.0 3.5 1.1 3.1
HERNANDO BEACH
JUNE 2018
9Sa
Time Height
4:44 AM 11:01 AM 5:48 PM 11:56 PM 10Su 5:41 AM 11:43 AM 6:40 PM 11M 12:57 AM 6:33 AM 12:23 PM 7:28 PM 2Tu 1:52 AM 7:20 AM 1:03 PM 8:15 PM 13W 2:44 AM 8:06 AM 1:44 PM 9:02 PM 14Th 3:34 AM 8:51 AM 2:27 PM 9:48 PM 15F 4:23 AM 9:36 AM 3:12 PM 10:36 PM 16Sa 5:11 AM 10:24 AM 4:01 PM 11:23 PM
1.2 3.7 0.6 3.2 1.3 3.9 0.2 3.4 1.4 4.2 -0.3 3.5 1.5 4.4 -0.6 3.6 1.5 4.5 -0.7 3.6 1.6 4.6 -0.8 3.5 1.7 4.6 -0.7 3.4 1.7 4.5 -0.5
KINGS BAY
High Tide -20 min Low Tide 58 min
High Tide 2 hrs, 20 min Low Tide 3 hrs, 7 min
CRYSTAL RIVER
WITHLACOOCHEE ENT
High Tide 36 min Low Tide 1 hr, 30 min
High Tide 7 min Low Tide 55 min
CEDAR KEY
Time Height
17Su 5:59 AM 11:15 AM 4:53 PM 18M 12:12 AM 6:47 AM 12:11 PM 5:53 PM 19Tu 1:02 AM 7:37 AM 1:17 PM 7:02 PM 20W 1:55 AM 8:28 AM 2:32 PM 8:25 PM 21Th 2:53 AM 9:21 AM 3:54 PM 9:54 PM 22F 3:53 AM 10:12 AM 5:08 PM 11:17 PM 23Sa 4:52 AM 10:59 AM 6:08 PM 24Su 12:25 AM 5:46 AM 11:42 AM 6:57 PM
Time Height
25M 1:18 AM 6:33 AM 12:22 PM 7:39 PM 26Tu 2:03 AM 7:15 AM 12:59 PM 8:17 PM 27W 2:43 AM 7:55 AM 1:35 PM 8:53 PM 28Th 3:19 AM 8:32 AM 2:11 PM 9:26 PM 29F 3:54 AM 9:09 AM 2:46 PM 9:58 PM 30Sa 4:27 AM 9:45 AM 3:21 PM 10:30 PM
3.2 1.6 4.1 0.0 3.3 1.7 4.2 -0.1 3.4 1.7 4.3 -0.1 3.4 1.7 4.3 -0.1 3.4 1.7 4.3 -0.1 3.4 1.7 4.2 0.0
HOMOSASSA RIVER ENT
HORSESHOE BEACH
SUWANNEE ENT
STEINHATCHEE RIVER ENT
High Tide 4 hr, 30 min Low Tide 5 hr, 41 min High Tide 6 min Low Tide 18 min
2 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST
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3.3 1.7 4.2 -0.1 3.3 1.6 3.9 0.3 3.3 1.6 3.5 0.7 3.4 1.4 3.2 1.0 3.5 1.2 3.0 1.3 3.7 0.8 3.0 1.5 3.9 0.5 3.1 1.6 4.0 0.2
High Tide 12 min Low Tide 20 min
High Tide 2 min Low Tide 0 min
JUNE 2018
Finely slice green onions. Melt butter in small pan. Add green onions and cook over low heat until soft. Add minced garlic and cook about two minutes more. Remove from heat. In food processor, finely process celery, basil and parsley. Cut lobster into small (about ½ inch) bitesized pieces. Place in bowl and add celery, parsley, basil, green onion and garlic. Add sufficient mayonnaise to hold ingredients together. Add crumbled bacon. Add salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste. Slice Hoagie roll in half and place on plate. Spoon lobster mixture over roll, garnish with carrots and serve with potato chips.
INGREDIENTS Serves 4
• Cooked Spiny Lobster1 per serving • Celery-1 stalk per serving • Green Onions minced-2 per serving • Garlic minced-1 small clove per serving • Basil-2 leaves per serving • Parsley-¼ cup per serving • Shredded Carrots • Bacon cooked-1 slice per serving • Publix Hoagie Roll-½ per serving • Cooked Bacon-1 slice per serving • Lemon Juice • Mayonnaise • Salt & Pepper • ½ tablespoon Butter per serving
Note: I found these lobster plates on line and just had to add them to my “fishy” plate collection. They are the perfect shape for a lobster roll. It is not necessary to cook the onion and garlic. I do because we prefer the more mellow flavor of cooked onion and garlic. (I just noticed that the photo looks more like shoes than lobster plates.) Lynn Crutchfield, Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida
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FLORIDA WATERWAYS
Matanzas River
O
ne of the rivers in North Florida with a long, rather tragic history, is the Matanzas. Technically, a narrow estuary near the Atlantic Ocean in St. Johns and Flagler counties, and By Kevin McCarthy protected from the sea by Anastasia Island, the waterway is 23 miles long. Part of the Intracoastal Waterway, and therefore often full of boats on weekends, the river goes from St. Augustine Inlet south, to Matanzas Inlet. Its name in Spanish, “Matanzas,” means “killings,” referring to the slaughter in 1565 of several hundred shipwrecked French Huguenots by Spanish forces under Pedro Menéndez de Avilés. The Spanish leader was apparently ordered to kill any Protestants he found in the New World and effectively put an end to the French presence in Florida by his actions. The French had tried to establish a foothold in Florida in 1562 by building Fort Caroline on the St. Johns River, and three years later, tried to attack St. Augustine, but a hurricane blew their ships south, where they shipwrecked and were eventually killed by the Spanish. The river passes by the Mala Compra Plantation Archeological Site on the east bank in Flagler County. There, visitors can learn about a 19th-century cotton plantation that the Seminole Indians burned down in the Second Seminole War. The Spanish name of the site, “Mala Compra,” meant “bad bargain” or “bad purchase” and was given to the place by an early owner, perhaps expressing his disappointment in the soil there. The Matanzas was considered a “backdoor” entrance to St. Augustine. Therefore, the Spanish built Fort Matanzas in the 18th century to control access to the river from Matanzas Inlet, about 14 miles south of the city. Visitors to the information center at 8635 A1A S. just off highway A1A, can see a short video about the area, and then go on a five-minute boat ride to the coquina fort across the river and to a very different world. Be aware that the fort is located on Rattlesnake Island – for good
reason. Fishing can be very good in the nearby salt marshes, mangrove wetlands, estuarine lagoons, and oyster bars. Conservationists have done a good job in preserving the ecosystem, but have to be on constant alert to prevent pollution from St. Augustine, from encroaching on the wetlands and tidal marshes. The name of the river and inlet, “Matanzas,” is one of the oldest surviving European place names in this country. The river, then, offers a lot to boaters, fishermen, bird watchers, and history buffs.
Early Spanish map sho wing the river
Early postcard showing the Matanzas River
Kevin McCarthy, the author of “North Florida Waterways” 2013 - (available at amazon.com), can be reached at ceyhankevin@ gmail.com.
Fort Matanza
s
Fort Matanzas ferry
Bridge of Lions in St Augustine
Boat on Matanzas River
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JUNE 2018
NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 3
5/16/18 7:35 PM
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* Image represents the Model. Model pictured may differ from those available on site, which includes but is not limited to color, options, & rigging. 4 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST JUNE 2018 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM ** Prices on all Models are subject to change without notice. Prices do not included tax, title or dealer prep.
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CRYSTAL RIVER
J
Dale Reed with an awesome throw-back red.
Offshore Excitement
une has always been a great month to go out in search of scaled prey, and is even more true with the modern seasons for some of our favorite offshore species. Offshore fishing out of Crystal River, typically means chasing gag grouper and red snapper. Thankfully, the lord blessed our piece of ocean floor with thousands of pieces of natural bottom, that range from large limestone rocks, to hard rocky ledges. Knowing how to effectively fish this structure, is the difference between between coming home with a full fish box and sore arms, or a bruised ego and a bad sunburn. The gag grouper are prevalent from 20 feet, on out to 300 feet of water, but in our area, some of the best fishing occurs in 30 to 70 feet of water over hard rocks, that hold good schools of white grunts and small baitfish. The standard rig is a beefy conventional rod and reel, spooled with 50 to 80 lb. test line, finished off with a fish finder rig, consisting of an 8 -oz. egg sinker, sliding on the main line, with a swivel below it, and a 4 to 6-foot long, 80 lb. fluorocarbon leader, and
an 8/0 circle hook. The bait selection can be as varied, as the personalities aboard your boat, but a healthy mix of live pinfish and large dead baits will get the party started. Just remember that grouper are frenzy feeders, so once you get the fish fired up, you want to try to keep the action fired up. Red snapper are very similar to gag grouper, in the fact that they frequent the same rock piles and ledges, but in our area, you are going to want to look a little further offshore in depths ranging from 50 to 80 feet of water. The snapper are much less likely to try to break you off in the structure, so we will typically downsize to smaller weight, such as 6 oz. lead and 50 lb. leader, terminated with a 6/0 hook. Our bait of choice is usually a small live pinfish or a half of a frozen thread fin herring. Just remember that these fish are valuable, and try your best to release undersized bottom fish with care so they can have the best chance of survival. Capt. Clay Shidler ClayShidler@Yahoo.com
SEAFOOD AT ITS BEST!
EAT IN
7364 W. Grover Cleveland Closed 2315 N. Sunshine Path Homosassa, FL 34446 Sunday and Crystal River, FL 34429
352-628-9588
Addy Suggs & Kelsey Gray (holding fish) with a 22-inch black drum. Dara Gay with a 25-inch red fish. The girls caught both fish in Johnson Creek (between Suwannee and Horseshoe Beach) on live shrimp.
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TAKE OUT
$1 OFF Fresh Clam Strips Basket or Appetizer 50¢ OFF Cup of New England Clam Chowder $1 OFF Bowl of New England Clam Chowder
Monday
352-795-9081
River Coast Realty, Inc 352-302-3114 • Fax 352-447-0001 84 Highway 40 West Inglis, Florida sunnyp45@bellsouth.net www.Yankeetownwaterfront.com Beautiful river front, two story home located on the historic Withlachochee River. Enjoy direct access and the Gulf of Mexico sunsets year round. Metal roof with stone fireplace and your own elevator. Boat dock with lift and water/electric. Too many items to list. This is “MUST SEE”! 5 Oak Drive MLS#773546 $549,000.
JUNE 2018
NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 5
5/16/18 7:35 PM
STA-SEA’S NATURE COAST ADVENTURES
CENTRAL FLORIDA INLAND
Y
es forest fishers, the heat is here - and so are the fish. Whether you're a trophy hunter, fish fry lover, or just looking to have some family fun, it's a great time to be on the water. We're very lucky to have multiple springs out here, and if you put in at Salt Springs; you can cool off in the crystal clear water, plus, fish worldfamous Lake George, all in the same day. For bass anglers, the summer months are when we finally get to break out our topwater gear. Sunrise and sunset are always the peak hours for surface blow-ups, but you can fish top-waters all day long during overcast days. Swim weedless plastic frogs through heavy cover, and twitch poppers along the outer grass lines. On sunny/bluebird sky days, search for shaded areas, and pitch trickworms or craws into that shade. Tip: Bluebird sky days are the best time for night fishing (especially around the full moon-June 28). Warmouth are one of the tastiest fish in the forest, and they're a blast to catch on light tackle. Use a long rod, or cane pole, to dip small crappie jigs into shallow brush piles. A bobber will help prevent snags and also indicate bites. If you lose a nice one don't worry, because these scrappy little fighters will go right back to their brush spot and be ready to strike again within minutes. You can find warmouth everywhere out here, but the Ocklawaha River is your best bet to really fill a cooler. If you have a boat, I would suggest putting in at the Eureka boat ramp and fishing the area around the old lock and dam. If you're a shoreside fisher, then the Sharpe’s Ferry Bridge area is your best bet. Walk up and down the river's edge while dipping your jig into every fallen branch you see. Try to hit all parts of the branch, and if you don't get hit within 5 minutes or so, move on to the next one. Targeting shade and cover is a great technique for catching many different species during the summer, so be
T
he 2nd Annual Ladies Redfish Classic has come and gone. The number of entries increased by almost double this year; 92 lady anglers and 49 boats. The ladies fished their hearts out and the fish brought in were nothing short of trophy catches! The biggest redfish weighed over 7 lbs. and the biggest trout almost 5 lbs.! I'm so proud of all the ladies. We didn’t have ideal conditions on the day of the tournament due to high winds and ready for a battle. When a big bass or high tides, but that didn't stop these bowfin hits your jig, all you can do is competitive anglers! Katie Jo Davis keep constant pressure on it. They will won first place snook with a 6.56. Katie eventually wear themselves out, and Horton won 1st place trout with 4.91. then you can start to untangle your Morgan Linhart won 1st place redfish line to land the fish. I suggest using at with 7.41 and Stacy Metcalf won the least 10 lb. test, and fluorocarbon will ladyfish division with 2.31. All funds help prevent break-offs. Tip: You can raised went to the Homosassa Marine use braid for your main line and then Science tie on a fluoro leader to get maximum Stations Coastal Camp Citrus. strength and stealth. Sending a child to this incredible Due to the rich oxygen level, the summer camp can be life- changing. dams at Rodman and Moss Bluff draw Some of the kids in our very own in every species of the forest. Catfish, coastal town have never even been panfish, and hybrid stripers are what on a boat or seen the beauty of our most anglers are searching for. Just estuaries. I have to give kudos to Earnie cast your bait or lure right into the Olsen, who heads up this program, for boiling water of the spillway. One his passion and dedication to these great thing about fishing the dams is; kids. Homosassa Marine really stepped there are always other people fishing up and donated an outboard motor for them, so you can watch to see what the raffle. They are the kind of people they're using to get bites. The dams who give back to their community and are also great for night fishers looking I wholeheartedly thank them. What to escape the summer heat. The Fin Apparel Company, donated all I'm super happy to see the alligator of the ladies’ tournament shirts and did population thriving this year. a fantastic job on the design. The event Watching birds, reptiles, and the rest was held at Blackwater Grill and Bar in of our forest creatures, makes a day on the water much more enjoyable. Make sure to bring along a brimmed hat and sunscreen, so you can maximiize your time on the water. Until next month folks; take care and enjoy the outdoors. John Freeze Kayak and Shoreside Fishing Tours 352-216-5798 Swampsurf@embarqmail.com
6 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST
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Yankeetown and the owners went above and beyond making sure everyone was taken care of, and the fish fry was out of this world. There's nothing like fishing all day, and then getting to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Jacksonville band Blistur, played an awesome acoustic set that really set the mood for a great ending to a perfect day. We raised over $1500.00 for the camp and got a lot of exposure to ensure future donations. The tournament couldn’t have gone any better and I'm sure each year will bring more and more ‘donations! I'm hoping next year we can double the number of anglers. We will also have an extra division for ladies-only boats. There will be prize money awarded for boats, with no-boy’s boats! I hope to see everyone again next year. Thank you to everyone who helped make this tournament such a huge success! Fishing with Captain Stacy 352-553-3604 Facebook CaptainStacy Horak Instagram captain_stacyhorakfishing Email freeinajeep@gmail.com www.fishingwithcaptainstacy.com
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NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 7
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SIGNS BANNERS
SUWANNEE
Copies Fax
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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
H
ey everyone, the reds are in and boy they are hungry! If you're like a lot of my clients, you want to catch reds. So, I'm gonna leave this article short and sweet and just focus on a few tips for catching those beautiful blue tails. First, slow it down. Most boaters come in a spot at 200 mph and stop on a dime. Guess what? They will notice, and leave just as quick as you got there. Slow down a 100 yards or so before you make it to your spot. If you have a trolling motor, then use it. This will help prevent fish in the area from spooking. Next, let's talk bait. Every red that my clients have caught this year have been on one of three baits. Live shrimp, cut mullet, and cut ladyfish. If they are tailing, don't throw it
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past the fish, and work the baits way up to the fish, and wait for that hard thump. Last let's talk location. To me oyster beds are key. They hold everything a red wants to eat. They are like an all-you-can-eat buffet. Now if oyster beds get to be too aggravating with all those hangups. Then my next choice in the river is shallow grassy spots. Grass still holds a lot of a red’s diet. So just throw your favorite bait around and have fun. Until next time, y'all stay safe out there. Capt. Jason Clark In The Slot Fishing www.intheslotfishing.com Capt.jasonclark@gmail.com 352-639-3209
right on top of them. Throw a little
8 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST
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HORSESHOE BEACH Big Catches!
C
apt. Tyler of Up the Limit Fishing Adventures, guided the two crews to a great day on the water. One group from Tenn. inshore, for a line testing black drum, and one on an offshore tackle testing, grater amber jack trip. Capt. Brett Selph UpTheLimitFishingadv@Yahoo.com 352 498-6029
Dixie Salvage Auto & Truck Parts Foreign & Domestic Scott Ambrose 21214 S.E. Hwy-19 Old Town, FL 32680
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NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 9
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Marine Sporting Goods, Inc.
1866 West US 90, Lake City, FL 386-752-2500 www.mcduffiemarine.com
Servicing the North Florida area for over 60 years. | www.McDuffieMarine.com
10 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST
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BAIT & TACKLE IN NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA THE MARINA IN HORSESHOE BEACH 362 3rd Street Horseshoe Beach, FL 32648 352-498-5405 www.TheMarinainHorseshoeBeach.com MCDUFFIE MARINE 1866 West US 90 Lake City, FL 32055 386.752.2500 www.mcduffiemarine.com
WIGGLERS BAIT & TACKLE 14499 East Hwy 40 Silver Springs, FL 34488 352.625.1156 AnneReynolds06ar@gmail.com
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ACE HARDWARE OF HIGH SPRINGS 18482 High Springs Main St. OCKLAWAHA BAIT & TACKLE High Springs, FL 32643 13600 East CR 25 386-454-0622 Ocklawaha, FL 32179 HighSprings40@Windstream.net 352-816-5853
ALACHUA FARM AND LUMBER 114101 NW 145th Ave. Alachua, FL 32616 386-462-3003 www.AlachuaFarmandLumber.com
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JUNE 2018
NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 11
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SEX IN THE SUWANNEE,
the Secretive Love Life of Gulf Sturgeons Ken Sulak, Fish Biologist, Naturalist, Suwannee River Historian, U.S. Geological Survey (Emeritus), Gainesville, FL
2-month old, 3" long young of the- year juvenile Gulf sturgeon in layout format: USGS photo, Suwannee River, K. Sulak
M
id-February in the Gulf of Mexico, and a timeless ritual is about to repeat itself for perhaps the millionth time. Some mysterious signal, possibly increasing day length, flips an internal switch, feeding stops, and the homeward migration begins in the Gulf sturgeon. From far flung places along the Gulf Coast, Gulf sturgeons start heading back to their natal rivers – they know the way instinctively. Maybe they seek out the special chemical taste of their home river, imprinted at hatching. Or perhaps, the ultrasensitive electric organs decorating the underside of the snout can follow the map of the earth’s magnetic field. Either way, time to make a beeline for the welcoming waters of the Suwannee River, or maybe the Apalachicola, Choctawhatchee, or one of four other spawning
One of the five known sturgeon spawning grounds, in the Upper Suwannee, as revealed by low water. The broken limestone ledge holds pockets of gravel, ideal for deposition of sturgeon eggs. This photo shows the substrate that sturgeon spawn on. As it happens, such substrate is rather rare in the river. Most long reaches are pure sand, and in the upper river there are long areas of rock ledge, but without accumulated gravel, a necessity for sturgeon eggs. 12 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST
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rivers. Some of the adults are on a special mission – time to spawn, time to perpetuate the species. Mature males form the first wave in this homebound marathon, eager to get to the spawning grounds, eager to be the first to greet ready females with a series of sharp clicking sounds. Only spawning once each three years, females laden with large black eggs demure, taking their time, arriving in mid to late March, a month behind the early males. But most sturgeons, juveniles and immature adults not ready to spawn, are simply heading home. Not prompted by the spawning urge, they are just following the ancient annual cycle of intense winter feeding in the Gulf, followed by several months of fasting and R&R in the river. By mid-April, the entire population will be back in the river, no longer easy prey for sharks, no longer having to pump salt out of their blood to deal with a foreign marine environment. Sturgeons may venture into the sea to feed, but they are freshwater fishes. Freshwater rivers are their natural home, a place to comfortably lull away summer, sustained by stored energy. Not feeding for several months may seem odd to humans, but it is not unusual for fishes and other cold-blooded animals. Sturgeons can really pack on the pounds when feeding in marine waters, increasing their weight by 20 to 40 percent in just a few months. Getting big fast is important for a slow-moving bottom feeder. Few predators can attack a 50 or 100-pound sturgeon. Getting big also means being able to store a lot of energy as muscle and fat, energy that can be utilized later on, particularly important for adult females. It takes a great deal of energy, and three years of feeding, to fill the abdomen with 20 to 30 pounds of mature eggs. Stealthy and secretive by nature, Gulf sturgeons enter the Suwannee River mainly at night. They swim close to the bottom, avoiding the stronger surface currents, not jumping during the immigration. Over a period of 4 to 6 weeks, more than 15,000 sturgeons will pass totally unnoticed through the river mouth at East Pass. Large numbers will blitz into the river, sometimes singly, sometimes in groups, particularly during those dark nights of the new moon. Those early males will not tarry, driven by a powerful urge to spawn. Swimming continuously, the 4 to 5-foot long males will make the 125-mile ascent to the upper river in 2 to 3 days, then hang out just a few miles below the gravel beds, awaiting the arrival of the much larger females. Males probably advertise their presence by making a series of evenly-spaced sharp clicking sounds. Females ready to spawn, their egg-laden bellies plump and turgid, are more deliberate, often resting their 6 to 8-foot long bodies in big eddies near the river mouth for several days before deciding to swim upstream. Some males, perhaps older more experienced individuals,
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2-mo old juvenile Gulf sturgeon in fisheries biologist's hand: from EscambiaConecuh River - Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fishes, Steve Rider, biologist.
Sturgeon sperm are tipped with an anchoring device called an acrosome. Hundreds of sperm will attach to each egg, but only one will penetrate the egg’s micropyle (a small opening through the egg membrane) and begin the magic of sexual fertilization. When sperm and egg are conjoined, and the genetic blueprint is complete, a new baby sturgeon begins to develop. After three days, and millions of cell divisions, a half-inch long tadpole-shaped larvae pops open a small circular door in the egg shell, and wiggles out into a raw dangerous world. This helpless imp cannot swim or feed, but it can wiggle and squirm, and it does so, instinctively avoiding light, rapidly working its way under bits of gravel, seeking the safety of darkness, hiding from predators. Drawing nourishment from its large yolk sac for five days, beating the odds against survival, a miniature sturgeon finally emerges from the gravel bed. Miraculously, it is now equipped with eyes, mouth, large teeth, barbels, fins, and a stomach. Only a lucky few make it to this stage. Typically, 99 percent of the eggs and hatchling larvae perish, consumed by predators, but in the process, sturgeons enrich the nutrient-poor upper river with a few thousand pounds of eggs each spring, high-energy food for many aquatic species from crayfish to catfish. For those lucky larval sturgeon survivors, it is now time to feed – look out aquatic insect larvae, the sturgeons are coming! Featured on the baby sturgeon menu, are the tiny aquatic stages of midges and gnats, sometimes including those biting no-see-um gnats (hooray for sturgeons!). Larval Gulf sturgeons themselves are tiny, voracious buzzbombs, tooling and bumping inconspicuously along the sandy river bottom then swimming up into open water - spinning, whirring, and somersaulting, spotting and attacking tiny plankton animals, then, diving back to the safety of the sand. As they work their way downstream, larval sturgeons grow rapidly, turning from dull gray, to jet black, losing their teeth, and beginning to feed like adults – belly to the bottom, feeling out scarce prey with their long sensitive barbels. One tasty touch and, with lightning-fast speed, out shoots that remarkably long, tube-shaped mouth, sucking up insect larvae, worms, and tiny shrimp-like animals. Around age 3 to 4 months, they change color, adopting the brown topside and cream-white underbelly of the adult. Of the millions of eggs spawned in a single year, eight months later only about 500 super-thin 12-inch juveniles will survive to join the ranks of larger sturgeons at the river mouth in late January. Having eeked out a meager existence in the river, these new recruits will now chow down in major fashion, fattening up quickly, soon looking like miniature blimps. They will feast on a rich banquet
accompany the females. Indeed, some male and female pairs remain together for life. Sturgeon relationships are complex with a variety of lifestyle options. Late in March or early in April, all ripe males and females will mass in the upper river, just below the spawning grounds. When river flow, water temperature, and water chemistry are just right, sturgeons ready to spawn will make short upstream forays to the spawning grounds, areas of gravel, each much smaller than a football field. Spawning in the swift, dark, tannic waters of the Suwannee River is a secretive affair, the action taking place in the wee hours of the night, probably around 2 to 4 AM. No one has ever witnessed Gulf sturgeons in the act of spawning, but, in other less secretive sturgeon species, several males surround each ready female, rudely and insistently nosing and nudging her rough sandpaper flanks and sharp scutes, trying to prompt her as she holds a position on the gravel. Gulf sturgeon males pay a price for their amorous advances, ending up with torn, bloody snouts, but the ploy works, inducing the female (belly red and abraded) to release streams of BB-sized eggs that immediately adhere to golf-ball sized gravel. Simultaneously, the males release clouds of semen, billions of sperm, Newly hatched yolksac larva image: of an Atlantic sturgeon (very closely enveloping the eggs in a milky-white shroud. In the lake sturgeon, northern related to the Gulf sturgeon – so early larva is virtually identical). Source: cousin of the Gulf sturgeon, males emit a long series of low drumming, Ryder, J. A. 1890. The sturgeons and sturgeon industries of the Eastern Coast
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” * thumping sounds as they quiver and release jets of milt (the thrill of victory?). Maybe Gulf sturgeon males do the same – no one really knows. We do know that spawning begins suddenly and ends quickly. Having dropped as many as half a million shiny black eggs in 1 to 2 hours, the female is done for the next three years. Her work completed, abdomen shrunken between prominent stretch marks, she drops back downstream, settling into one of several deep holding and resting areas in the middle river. Males are not done. Over the course of 2 to 3 weeks they may spawn with several females on several different nights. Eventually, however, no more females arrive, water conditions change, and the season is over. Then, the males also drop downstream, joining the rest of the population in the spring-to-fall holding areas, where all make their presence known with spectacular leaps in the summertime.
of the United States with an account of experiments bearing upon sturgeon culture. Bulletin of the U.S. Fish Commission for 1888 8(8):213-328, plates 3859. This is a U.S. government document and is not copyright protected.
of tiny crustaceans, worms, and midge larvae that thrive in the Suwannee estuary, including lots more of those pesky no-see-um larvae. Who says Gulf sturgeons are ancient relics with no purpose or value? “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”* How many billions of biting no-see-ums must meet their demise when those blessed sturgeons show up to feed in October? For a yearling Gulf sturgeon, surviving that treacherous first year in the river is a milestone, but, that is only the beginning of a tortuous journey. If that little sturgeon is a male, it will take eight years to become an adult, if a female twelve years. Most will not make it, succumbing to the many hazards of life before having a chance to repeat that timeless ritual, to close the ancient circle of life. Of the females who do reach adulthood, few will spawn more than 3 or 4 times. Among Gulf sturgeons, 25 is a ripe old age, with a rare few surviving to their mid-30s. As long we can keep our coastal estuaries healthy, our rivers flowing, and provide free access to upper river spawning grounds, those magnificent sturgeons will continue their ancient cycle, and continue to awe new generations with their wild leaps in mid-summer. * Ecclesiastes 3:1
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H 420 Dock Street Cedar Key, FL 32625 352-543-5142 steamerscedarkey.com info@steamerscedarkey.com Like us on Facebook! We will cook your catch. We serve fresh local Cedar Key oysters and clams. Try our delicious Gator. We get it directly from the Gator Man himself.
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ey There Folks, I surely hope everyone is enjoying this warm weather, because we surely had to wait a long time for it. The wind has finally calmed down and the water has cleared up nicely. Bait is just about everywhere and the mackerel, jacks, ladyfish, and trout are under them. The trout are on the deeper grass flats in like 5 to 9 feet of water, and are feeding best on the incoming tide. We cast a plain jig with a ¼ oz. Jim’s Jig head, rigged with a Saltwater Assassin Sea Shad tail. This tail has great paddle tail action that the fish love. The glow or whiter colors seem to work best when the water is clear. There will also be a lot of mackerel on these flats as well, so a wire leader might not be a bad idea. The redfish have also made it to their summer haunts around the island oyster bars. Cut mullet fished right on the bottom seems to do the
trick on just about any given day. The incoming tide is my preferred tide to fish for them on the upcurrent side of the bars. Guys and girls, I hope this has helped you out some. If you have any questions and just want a little more info , call or text me, and I’ll do my best to help you out. Capt.Jimbo Keith FishCedarKey.com Saltwater Assassin Fishing Charters 352-535-5083
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ello ladies and gentlemen! I hope your summer has kicked off well, and is a wet one. Cedar Key is popping and running out of parking spaces quickly; so get here early to enjoy what I consider to be the best fishery this state has to offer. The water temp is up, and if you want to have some fun, the tripletail are floating around like trash bags, waiting for that mud minnow hooked through both lips, with a 2/0 hook and nothing else. (Well, line might help.) I like the 15-pound test, power pro. Get it close, and they flat-out, can't stand it. Now those redfish like a pinfish, under a Cajun thunder, and if that doesn’t work, break out your arsenal; they are eating something. It never fails; if I am struggling on what they are into that day, go to a spoon. Sometimes you have to spoon-feed those babies. Anyway,
as always, June brings a lot of action, including lightning and winds out of no-where. Always have a plan, and if the weather gets wild, it's harder to drowned on dirt, so get to it. School’s out, so take the time to take a kid or two fishing. Someone did it for you, and these kids need some healthy habits. If you need anything, swing in the shop. Capt. Daniel | Cedar Key Paddling 352-665-1276 Dan_Gator@yahoo.com
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ummer is here, and the heat and rain along with it. This plays a big factor on how to fish our area during this time of year. The fishing is still great, but you will need to adapt your normal patterns, depending on what is going on. The heat is going to affect where the redfish and snook are staging. I will concentrate on the lighter colored bottom this time of year. I will also try to stay in moving water, around the deeper edges of bars or islands, where the water will be a little cooler and provide a good ambush point for these fish. I will defiantly pick up a top-water plug first thing in the morning. I
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will try to locate mullet or glass minnow schools, to focus most of my effort around. These fish will be more active in the morning or late afternoon, when the water temps are down. In the middle of the day, these fish will become more lethargic, so if you want to improve your numbers, your best bet is probably going to be cut mullet or cut ladyfish. The trout will be in the 5-foot range. I rely heavily on the Zman trout tricks this time of year for these guys. It is a bait that I like to work slowly, bouncing off the bottom over good grass with potholes mixed in. A shrimp on a popping cork is also a big producer this time of year. When you are a little offshore, pay attention to any crab trap buoys or patches of floating grass, because the triple tail are out in force. I like to pitch a zman scented shrimpz or live shrimp to these guys. It will get the job done 90 percent of the time. Something else to pay attention to, are the tarpon. You will find them throughout the area. A live finger-mullet or pinfish, is the ticket for the silver king. Make sure you have a beefed-up rig for this. If you tie into one of these with your redfish set-up, more than likely, you are about to get your feelings hurt. You can get everything you will need for a successful outing in our area at Captains Cove Outfitters. Stop in and Mr. Jim will get you set up for your trip. If you would like to come fish with me, give me a call and book your trip. Until next month, have fun, be safe and take your kids fishing. Capt. Craig Spitznogle www.floridaflatscharterco.com Florida Flats Charter Company (352)445-4978
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TALES FROM THE TUPPERWARE NAVY
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STEINHATCHEE
In memoriam, Fishing with Aidy. Remembering a friend.
idy, The Englishman, he’s called, is a commercial fisherman from Northern England, and has been coming to Hernando County for the last 5 years. “Why?”, you may ask. “The climate?” “The beaches?” “No.” What this commercial fisherman came to do was, fish. (and I thought I was a fanatic!) Tall, tattooed, top-knotted, and a killer goatee, Aidy had become a fixture at Hernando Beach Bait & Tackle for a few weeks out of every year. I hadn’t seen Aidy for a while, but when I went to a get-together at the Pasco-Hernando Fishing Forum at Trader Bay Seafood, there he was. We swapped some fish stories and such, and I asked him how he’d been. That’s when he told me of the doctors’ report, and a grim prognosis, but Aidy being Aidy, the talk quietly went back to fishing. I was surprised to hear, that although he’s fished with several flats guys I know, he’s never brought in more than a single fish on the trips he went on. My mission was clear; I had charters on Saturday and Monday, but I told him Sunday was all his. We hit the water early, and though the cancer had caused the removal of his right bicep muscle, his comment was, “Shouldn’t be a problem; I hardly miss it at all.” My thought ran to, “Could I be that tough?” So, at a little after seven, watching the sun rise across the Bay, we worked our way back to one of my favorite spots. With Aidy at one end of a three-foot wide creek, and me at the other, he proceeded to catch reds, trout, and sheepies, while I to my consternation, hooked an outof-the-slot red. Aidy’s were short and mine was large and never before, had I so wished that the roles were reversed. From there, we paddled out to the front trout hole and met up with my good friend and fishing buddy, Lew Lowrey and proceeded
to put Aidy on to more trout than he has ever caught before. So Aidy came out with his first limit of trout, and we went looking for reds. We worked all my favorite spots and though we kicked up a few, my mission to hook him into a big red, wasn’t working like I planned. Well, that’s why they call it “fishing.” We worked the area ‘til 4:00 and Aidy, God bless him, was still ready to keep going, but I had a charter the next day and had to get the gear ready, and my butt, (which by the way I don't have one), was killing me after 9 hours on the water. So, I set up the next Saturday to go again, but due to commitments, Aidy couldn’t make it. When we talked that Sunday, Aidy, as usual, was full of confidence and I was happy to hear, that on our trip, he had had the most fun in the 5 years he’d been visiting. His goal was to try to make it back in January, and my goal was to get my chance to put him on that big red. Aidy returned the next year, but due to deteriorating health issues, he had to go back to England early. He sent me an email, hoping to return soon, and as always, on a positive note, but it was not to be. Aidy lost his final battle after a good fight, never complaining, except for how it messed up his fishing. If there is a God in heaven, please, let Aidy nail that big red. RIP my friend. Bruce Butler of Indian Bay Outfitters is Hernando County’s premier fishing guide with full and half-day charters available. Kayaks, tackle and gear provided. Just bring your lucky hat and a good attitude and be ready to see some pristine shoreline and great fishing. Bruce Butler "Stumbling Gypsy" (352) 428-5347 Bruce@IndianBayOutfitters.com Web: www.IndianBayOutfitters.com
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he first part of June, the heat is tolerable. The later part, the heat is turned up to the broil of Florida summer. Many people won't notice the increase in temperature because red snapper opens June 1 through July 21 for charter vessels, and June 11 through July 21 for recreational anglers. Also, gag grouper open in federal waters (>9 nautical miles) on June 1 through December 31. Gag grouper are also open in Gulf state waters at the same time, excluding Franklin, Taylor, Wakulla and Jefferson counties. Greater amberjack will be closed June and July. The fishery will reopen August 1 through October 31. I don't understand the closure. The official statement, is amberjack are undergoing over-harvest, based on previous years’ landings data, yet in the previous years, not one fish was counted from my boat? Where is the data being generated? Amberjack are so abundant, you can hand-feed them, evident from videos I have posted in May on my Facebook page. Anyway, please check myfwc for clarification, as regulations seem more complicated and change with the tide. We just want to go fishing, not put anything in orbit. The content here is supposed to be informative, so I feel the necessity to waste words on regulations to prevent folks from being cited. There is going to be a flotilla of boats offshore in June through mid-
July, fishing for red snapper and gags, especially on the weekends. Red snapper are so abundant that any type of bait will work. Live bait is an automatic hookup, but cut-bait and jigs will do the job as well. Keep the rigs uncluttered and not overweighted, as many of the larger fish are suspended. Please do not dead cull. Replacing a live larger fish a for dead iced smaller fish is in no way improving the fishery. One does not gain much meat from doing so in the first place . Instead, up the legal “boat size”, so that smaller fish are not killed. Furthermore, if a smaller fish is badly hooked, as often happens, simply take that fish and not replace it. Catching gags amongst the swarm of red snapper is difficult, unless fishing tactics are changed. One tactic I've learned is to use larger baits, too large for most red snapper to inhale. Larger baits can include live or dead offerings, and a heavier sinker is necessary to “shoot” the bait through the snapper to the bottom, for the grouper. This technique is also great to target larger red snapper. Use beefed-up equipment for this style of fishing. Whatever hits the big bait, isn't going to be small-fry. Inshore trout fishermen need to fish deeper, cooler water to improve catch rate. Refer to Keaton Beach report, in this magazine, from Capt. Pat for great inshore information. Brian Smith | BIG BEND CHARTERS www.BigBendCharters.com CaptBrian@bellsouth.net 877.852.3474 | 352.210.3050
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ithout a doubt, from the inshore to the offshore species, June offers it all for the Nature Coast angler. Migrating schools of tarpon, bruisersized cobia, red fish on rocky points, and gag grouper season opens. Red fish are going to kick off this forecast and there’s no better place to find them then on the various backcountry and outer rocky points. If you’ve never given the gold spoon a try, I suggest doing so for several reasons. With a spoon, you can cover a lot of water, they cast a mile, they’re relatively snag-less around the rocks, and they’re perfect for exploring new areas. The spoon is a great searching tool, and when a red fish is hooked, you can bet that location will produce for future trips. Grab the heavier tackle, some live pin fish, and anchor up-tide from your favorite cobia structure. The cobias are here in large numbers, and channel markers, high profile rocks and wrecks, will be excellent locations for our early summer cobia. Also with gag grouper season opening, they are a welcomed bonus when you’re sending down that pinfish. The much-anticipated gag grouper season, is now open until December 31st, and also, the red snapper season. I suggest starting in the 40-foot range, and heading west from there. Live baits are always more productive during the summer months and spending the time to catch quality baits will prove to be very valuable while going offshore. If you’re into variety shows, the bombing range or “foul area” between Crystal River and Homosassa, will be to your liking. Using DOA cal shad tail and MirrOlure Lil’ John jigs on 1/8th oz jig heads, will produce a multitude of species. Spanish mackerel, trout, grouper, sea bass, flounder, pompano,
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lady fish, blue fish, etc., are just some of the species that will keep you busy. The average depth is 5 to 8 foot of water, and look for the “spotty bottom” of sand, rock and grass to put you in the right area. The mighty tarpon is on location off Homosassa for these couple months, and once again, many world class fly fishing anglers come to battle the silver king. The tarpon fishery to the south of Homosassa is noted fly fishing grounds, but there are several schools that can be targeted migrating north towards Crystal River, for those who want to use bait. As always, feel free to contact me with any other questions about the area. Good Fishing! Capt. Dan Clymer | 352.418.2160 www.crystalriver-fishing.com
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Ladon Toole of Thomasville, Ga., with a fine 23-inch trout, 5/5/18
rout fishing continues to be GREAT as on my last charter, May 5th, I had Jared Singletary, Mandy Medders and Ladon Toole of Thomasville, Ga. out, and we bested 20 trout, with four over 20 inches, from 4.5 to 5.5 feet of water. We fished with live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders to land these fish. We also had a 24-inch red for Mandy, her firstever redfish, and her first-time fishing with me on board One More Cast. We had seven legal black sea bass, with one 14 inches long as well, who were eager to eat the live pins. I have caught nice trout on Assassin 5 inch shads, both bounced and rigged up under the Original Cajun Thunder, on trips when we had a nice breeze and quick drift. Croaker Shad, Panhandle Moon, Stinky Pink, Pink Ghost and Wagasaki, have all produced well for me. We had our limit of one red per angler, four out of five trips, the last week of April, as the reds have made it out of the creeks and are feeding out on the outside rock piles and bars. We have caught reds on Intruder Hex spoons in Copper and Gold, and on live pinfish under the Back Bays. Thunder-Spins and other jig spinners will catch a lion’s share of reds in June. Use Assassin Sea Shads, with chartreuse tails, such as
Doug Garwood of Dalton Ga., with a nice red taken on an Intruder Hex Spoon 5/4/18 20 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST
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Dawn Prietz of Marianna, Fl., with a great red taken 5/1/18
Copperhead, Butt Naked, Texas Shad and Chicken-on-a-Chain for jig spinner tails. Remember to “bump” the bottom every fourth or fifth turn of the handle to catch more reds on Thunder-Spins. June should hold the same outstanding fishing we are currently experiencing in May. Water temps are in the hi seventies, and will creep up to the mid 80’s by mid-June I would expect. We have caught, hooked or seen just about all the species we regularly see on the flats, except a tarpon, and they show up in June each year. Live crabs are rarely refused should one show up and give you a chance to toss a bait at him. We had a nice cobia on last week, only to have it spit the bait and hook out at boat-side early in the fight. June will see cobia as plentiful as they are in May. Cobia will also jump on a small blue crab, free-lined or tossed out under a balloon. Pigfish, pinfish and legal-sized “bsb”, will also take ling. Keep an eye out and have a 40-pound outfit handy for tarpon and cobia. Let's Go Fishing! Pat McGriff dba One More Cast guide service for 28 years! www.onemorecast.net onemorecast@gtcom.net 850.838.7541
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chools out for summer! High tail it to the beach! This time of year, the pogy pods start to show up along the beaches. More importantly, some really big fish will also be showing up to give chase to those giant pods of baitfish. Locate the pods from a few hundred yards off the beach, out to about 50 feet of water. Look for crashing on the surface, as there will be predatory fish in hot pursuit of the baitfish, pushing them to the surface. Sharks, cobia, bull reds, Spanish and king macs, giant jacks, bluefish, and one of my favorites, the silver king, a.k.a. tarpon, will be crashing the pogy pods in an exciting free-for-all that you have to see to believe. A favorite way to fish the pods, is to rig a live pogy on a medium to large circle hook (5/0-10/0). Use about 5 feet of 60 to 80lb fluorocarbon leader, then add a split shot or two, a few feet above the hook. This will keep your pogy slightly under the pod and make for an easy meal for lurking predators. Bring some heavy tackle, because you never know what may lie underneath. Just like last month inshore, some of the best redfish and trout catches will come at daybreak and at sunset. A top-water plug will be the lure of choice at these times, when worked around mullet schools. If the fish seem to be short striking, try to vary your retrieval rate. Sometimes they like it fast, and sometimes a little slower. If they just don't seem to want to inhale the top-water, switch to a sub-surface lure like a Rapala Twitchin Mullet or a soft plastic jerk bait. These lures perfectly imitate a wounded mullet or small pogy and will stay just under the surface when
worked correctly. It can be just the right look for those fish that seem to be "sniffing" your top-waters. During the heat of the day, switch up your presentation. Again, locate the mullet schools and jig a little deeper with soft plastic paddle tail paired with a 1/8-1/4 ounce jighead. A live mud minnow or shrimp on a jighead will also be a great allaround setup for our summertime fish (trout, jacks, ladyfish, flounder, and reds, just to name a few). They will all be hiding around the schools of mullet and pogys, waiting for one of the baitfish, or better yet your presentation, to get out of line for an easy snack. With the water turning towards that summer "yoo-hoo" color, using baits that have some good scent, or “stink” in this case, are a good bet. I like to use a cut mullet or ladyfish for redfish around oyster bars and in creek holes. These baits give off a strong scent and make it easy for the fish to find them in murky water. Another way to attract fish in murky water is to use a gold spoon, tossed along grass edges and oyster bars during the higher tide stages, is sure to get the attention of a few reds and flounder. Another option for our murky summer water, is a lure that has gained a huge amount of popularity with pro tournament anglers and many hardcore inshore fishermen, the spinnerbait. Sometimes spoons and spinners will have just enough vibration to call out those hard to find fish! Tight Lines!
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une is the month of the kings. King mackerel that is. The big pods of bait have shown up, and any day now, the big reels will be singing as the line rips out. Catching these big fish is the pinnacle of pier fishing. The most successful anglers use two rods at once. One is called the mud rod, and the other is the trolley rig rod. If you’ve never done this type of fishing it would behoove you to go to your favorite pier and watch and learn, before you buy any gear. Back in 2013 at the Jacksonville Beach pier, over 100 kings were caught. This type of trolley rig fishing also accounts for nice catches of barracuda, cobia, and sharks. Along with the kings feasting on the abundance of bait, will be redfish and sea trout. There will also be nice catches of whiting and pompano in the shallow parts of the pier near the sand bars. Fresh dead shrimp and fresh clams will produce your best chance of having a fish fry. In the surf, it is game on! All the species of shallow water fish are Capt. Tommy Derringer here. You can choose to bait and www.InshoreAdventures.net wait, or throw lures. Either way, 904-377-3734 you are going to get some action.
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When it comes to lures, you can’t go wrong with a sliver spoon, if the first trough is deep with fairly clean water. Lurking in the trough will be Spanish mackerel, bluefish, trout, and flounder. If you are on a shallower beach, like Jax or St Aug, then you are better off with a top water plug. Later in the month, don’t be surprised if a tarpon crashes your plug. If you want to fill the cooler with some good eats, then bait and wait is the way to go. In the surf, the most effective tackle is a double dropper rig. 2/0 circle hooks will catch whiting, reds, blues, drum, pompano, and just about everything else that swims along the bar. FKS, (fresh killed shrimp), has proven itself to be the #1 bait. Get out there and have some fun before the dog days of summer kick in!
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
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pparently, Dad thought the baby alligator was cute and cuddly in a way most women think of new born babies. I’ve never thought infants were cute, thinking most all of them look the same; kind of like miniature Winston Churchill’s. But there Dad was, bent over the dining room table looking at the small 12 to 14 inch gator I had just brought in, and commenting on how cute it was. I had been bass fishing on Bear Lake after school that day, and was snaking a jelly worm through a patch of lily pads, when I noticed the small gator make a quick move towards the artificial offering. The gator latched onto the worm’s tail, and hung on as I lifted the rod and dropped her in the canoe I was standing in. It crawled around the floor of the canoe as I tried to fish, but I began to worry about my toes since I was barefoot. I sat down and looked towards the sky and deduced that Dad should be home from his construction job by now, and would probably be napping on the couch. I dragged the canoe back to the house and only griped to myself when I had to lift the craft across the paved road, before I could drag it the remaining distance to its backyard home. I carefully pinned the small dinosaur like creature behind the head with the butt of my spinning rod, and grabbed him securely behind his head before heading for the back door. Sure enough, Dad was just coming out of his after-work slumber, and as usual, was interested in what I was up to, especially since Bear Lake was likely to be involved. “Look what I have Dad. It’s a baby gator.” “Oh my,” Dad said. I explained how I caught it, and laid it on the dining room table where Dad and I could view the reptilian more easily, and soon Dad was bent over the monster baby, and exclaiming how cute it was. Dad was about to gently give the small beast a love tap under its chin, all the while saying sweet nothings, like goochie goo. I have to admit, the baby gator did not look very threatening, but as adults their jaws can slam shut with several thousand pounds of force per square inch, and since they have to tear their food apart, they possess up to 80 sharpened daggers for teeth. But none of this was going through Dad’s mind as he extended
Stories from “Old Florida”
his friendly index finger toward the baby monster. It all went bad in an instant. The baby monster clamped onto the end of Dad’s finger and Dad could not shake it off. Blood was dripping on the kitchen table, and in the next instant Dad had swung his arm behind his head, alligator fully extended behind Dad’s index finger, and still firmly attached. Blood spatters had been
created and the scene would have made for some great training for future forensic science types. In the next instant, Dad threw his arm forward, as if pitching a fastball. More blood balls now sprayed in the opposite direction and soon the baby monster was sailing toward the kitchen cabinets at a rate that would have made Nolan Ryan proud. Baby monster hit the cabinets, fell to the floor, and did not move. Dad on the other hand, was quite animated. The small razors of teeth had shredded the pad of Dad’s index finger, and Dad was holding his dripping digit in obvious pain. “That stupid $!!! $$@!! bit the **!!
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out of me.” Dad could have easily won the part in “The Christmas Story”, at least the part when Ralphie’s dad is fixing the furnace. The baby gator was dazed, and out of it. It took at least a half hour for it to regain its capabilities. After Dad had downed a beer to calm himself, bandaged his damaged finger, and cleaned the blood spatters, he said,” Son, why don’t you get that d#?! alligator out of here.” “Ok Dad,” I said, and I laughed all the way back to Bear Lake where I released the cute little baby gator. Dave Lacinak can be reached at ClintLacinakOutdoors@gmail.com.
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By Randy Cnota
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his month you’re likely to experience the most topwater bass action you’ll see all year. Fish have recovered from the rigors of the spawn, their metabolisms are speeding up with the increase in water temps, and they want to eat! Let’s face it, there’s nothing more exciting than seeing a lure get smashed on the surface by a big bass. With the shape and size of their mouth, bass are engineered to be topwater predators. They can easily engulf large prey from the surface by flaring their gills and instantly flushing gallons of water through them in violent strikes. They are vicious predators that are willing to eat a large meal, so when presented with what appears to be a small baitfish injured on the surface… it’s chow time! The Bagley Spintail 05 and Bang-O-Lure are floating jerkbaits with a prop at the tail. The Bang-O-lure is made of balsa, a very light, soft wood with incredible buoyancy perfect for imitating baitfish. Bagley’s been making these balsa lures since 1960, and they flat-out catch fish. The plastic Spintail has proven itself to me over the past few years to be just as effective at fooling fish. I like to fish these lures on a rod less than 7 feet long to increase Airline_Ad_CoastalAngler_8-1-14_Layout 1 8/1/14this 1:14 PMinto Page 1 pockets of casting accuracy, because I often throw lure small
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open water among wood and grass. Pockets like this are often used by bass as ambush spots. They lie in the shade on the edges, so when your lure lands in the pocket, let it settle for several seconds. Don’t be surprised if you get a strike before moving it. If a fish doesn’t blast the bait off the cast, move it with a short, sharp jerk to make it dive, wiggle and slosh the water without moving a long distance. This maximizes your lure’s time in the open water of the pocket and increases the odds of a strike. I prefer to use 15-pound-test monofilament, but braided line can be a good bet depending on the type of cover. Keep in mind you will be hanging the lure and the bass up in the cover, but you’d be amazed by the size of fish you can haul out of cover with 15-pound mono. To scour vast expanses of grass and pads for bass, buzzing frogs and buzzbaits will be hard to beat. I like the Gambler Cane Toad and the Zoom Horny Toad, which provide me completely different actions. The Cane Toad produces a louder gurgling sound while the Horny Toad gives a more subtle buzzing action. Rig these on stout rods with heavy wire hooks and 50-pound braid, minimum. I don’t work these baits slowly unless the fish tell me to. Fully recovered postspawn bass strike with extreme speed and precision when they see a feeding opportunity, so burn it with a high-speed reel… and hold on! Capt. Randy “C-note” Cnota is co-publisher of the Panama City/ Forgotten Coast edition of Coastal Angler and owner of C-note Charters in Panama City, Fla. Check him out at cnotcharters.com.
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ince 1994, when Composite Research was founded as Sundance—its first boat brand—it has been a company devoted to building top-quality boats, and fishing boats have always been their specialty. Having come a long way from the high-performance skiffs and center consoles they developed as Sundance, this Blackshear, Ga. company now offers fishing boats perfectly suited for almost any angler. From three brands, Sea Born, Sundance and Spyder, Composite Research now boasts an impressive lineup of bay boats, flats boats, skiffs, center consoles and larger offshore boats. All of them are built with the same pride as the originals, using the best in materials and craftsmanship to produce dependable, durable, safe and affordable boats that are well designed for fishing. All composite materials and high-quality components go into every boat Composite Research builds. Their extreme-pressure injection process into steel stringer molds creates a high-density foam that is rigid, strong and durable. With quality hardware, stainless-steel rails and two-tone gel coats, their boats are pretty, but they are also built to last. Each boat receives a stringent inspection before leaving the shop. Composite Research is secure enough in their processes and products to offer 10-year transferable warranties. The latest in the Sea Born line takes the brand solidly into the offshore arena. From sport fishing to island hopping, the all-new, 2018 Sea Born SX281 Offshore is yacht certified. It is Sea Born’s largest, most luxurious model ever. Measuring 27’ 9”, the SX281 is ready for bluewater with plenty of freeboard along with dozens of standard features for fishing, friends and family alike. In the bow, there’s a large lounge area with removable cushions
and seat backs with insulated storage below for all the gear you could ever want. They’ve added in a removable dinette table, which turns the forward lounge into a sea-side meeting space or sun deck. Also included is a large, in-console head with sink and counter top, glass-style console face, multi-function Simrad, padded footrest, lower console storage and more. From the helm, and unique to the SX281, they’ve added plush, heavy-duty, two-stage, captain’s chairs, which can be used as a leaning post or traditional seat. The boat also features a side door along with a rear-of-console rigging and bait tackle center, a large livewell and ample aft seating. Big, beautiful, and ready for life on the water, the SX281 Offshore is sure to become a timeless classic. It is a very impressive new offering from a company born of a love for fishing and the water. As a marine manufacturer focused on fishing boats, one of Composite Research’s core philosophies is conservation. “We are dependent on healthy lakes, rivers, and seas to ensure not only the survival of our business but of marine wildlife and ultimately our entire planet,” reads a statement on their website. “As such, Composite Research donates product and services to many charitable and non-profit organizations and is a long-time sponsor of Bimini’s Shark Lab. As a company, we are always seeking additional measures to ensure the safety of our customers, employees, and environment through responsible manufacturing practices.”
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North Carolina angler Dan Bowman with a big dorado and his two favorite fishing buddies, Chloe and Sophie.
s always, it’s tropical, warm and beautiful down here in Costa Rica. The only change here is that the fishing has been white-hot. On the Pacific Coast, we mark our fishing seasons by the presence of two distinct feeder fish populations: dorado from November to June and yellowfin tuna from April to October. The months of April and May are a magical time when both Dorado and yellowfin are abundant. As much as we love coming home with full filet bags of multiple species, the real benefit is that the billfish are in town and they are feeding like hungry hogs. FishingNosara Hall of Famer Chuck Darner invited radio host Roger Walker for a fun week of action in late April. After lighting it up on the Harvester on the April 23, they moved up to the Wanderer the next day for a productive day offshore. Walker got it started with a 45-plus-pound dorado, and then hooked up a nice sailfish heavier than 100 pounds. Then Capt. William pursued a big school of porpoises that were feeding on yellowfin tuna. These dolphin schools are better measured in acres than numbers, and when they are packed in this thick, there is obviously something tasty just beneath the surface. Walker got in on the action with a beefy 50-plus-pound yellowfin, clearly the best fish of the day. Near the end of the day, they
hooked up another big sailfish, which put on an aerial display on the way to a safe release. Other boats on the FishingNosara team accumulated eight marlin releases during the month of April, including a two-release day for anglers Craig Sutton and Marino Lora on April 22. We are just beginning to see multiple marlin release days and expect things to ramp up as we approach the summer months. Speaking of summer, this is a great time to pack up the kids and get them down to Costa Rica for some sportfishing. As much fun as it is to spend three months playing video games and screwing around on the Internet, let the words of North Carolina angler Dan Bowman change your mind. “Best fishing trip EVER,” he wrote, “and I got to enjoy it with Chloe and Sophie, my 4- and 5-year-old daughters! We fought through a slow morning with a huge cubera snapping off on the reef to landing three sailfish in the early afternoon (the first two being a double hookup which was super exciting) to be followed up with a monster dorado on the way home. My girls had the best time ever, as did I! Memories to last a lifetime. Thank you and your crew for being so accommodating! Can’t wait to come back and go out again!” It’s a great feeling to see youngsters get their first taste of blue water action; it means that our sport has a bright future.
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What Everyone’s Saying About U.S. Power Squadrons —America’s Boating Club
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hether you are a first-time boater taking a class to learn the basics or a long-time liveaboard looking for a community of likeminded souls, you’ll find a place in the United States Power Squadrons – America’s Boating Club. The joy of boating is shared by everyone involved in the country’s largest nonprofit boating organization. America’s Boating Club has built its membership up to over 27,000 by offering classes For Boaters, By Boaters with the understanding that people join the organization for the education, but stay for the friends. Nothing captures this feeling better than the words of the members themselves. Here’s what a few have to say: “My husband, Matt, spent a lot of time in squadron classes and doing homework; I thought he was just hanging out with his buddies. While vacationing in the Florida Keys, we chartered a boat to go cruising and snorkeling, but I was a little scared. How do we know how to get to the reef? How do we get back? How deep is this water? How do we know where we are? My husband answered all of my questions, and I felt safe and comfortable knowing that he knew what he was doing. I still think he enjoys hanging out with his class buddies, but I’m glad he took the courses and I can’t wait until our next boating adventure!” – Debbie Murphy
“My boys, ages 11 and 12 at the time, and my wife became enamored with boating after a vacation at New Hampshire’s Lake Winnipesaukee in 1964, and we ended up buying an 18-foot lapstrake wooden boat with a 95-horsepower motor. I signed up to take courses from New Jersey’s Saddle River Power Squadron. I knew nothing about boating, and I had heard that United States Power Squadrons – America’s Boating Club was the way to learn. Over the years, the squadron and the boat became a way of life. Thank you for 37 great boating years.” – Arnold Bucksbaum “As a child of two long-time members, I regularly participated in boating safety instruction as well as rescues and other safety-related activities during the boating season. I first learned to read and write by keeping the log while cruising the Chesapeake Bay with my family. I learned to tie knots, make the vessel fast to the pier, and even lower and raise the anchor while still a preteen. I have been active in United States Power Squadrons – America’s Boating Club since I became a squadron apprentice at 13. I taught my first class, Marine Electronics, at 14. Through the years, I’ve taught the Boating course, Piloting, Advanced Piloting, Weather, Engine Maintenance, Marine Electronics and Coastal Navigation.” – Dwight Bues “My wife and I lived on our 42-foot Tayana Cutter for four years, sailing over 20,000 miles. We give our squadron all the credit for giving us all the tools to live our dream.” — Charles and Marianne Schuler See what everyone is talking about, visit www.americasboatingclub.org to find your local squadron and make experiences to last a lifetime.
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United States Power Squadrons is America’s Boating Club Learn boating skills. Engage with boating friends. Connect with the boating community.
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FRESHWATER FWC photo by Rebekah Nelson
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he Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission called it the “grandaddy of all catfish” on its Facebook page. It’s an apt description for a blue cat that outweighs the existing Florida state record by more than 50 pounds. Running his trotlines on the Panhandle’s Choctawhatchee River in April, Joel Singletary must have known he was in for a workout when he pulled up on the 120-pound behemoth. According to the post, the adrenaline rush that comes with hooking such a huge fish was responsible for Singletary’s ability to haul the big blue into the boat. Because it was caught on a trotline and not on a rod and reel, the fish does not qualify for an official state record to replace the standing 69.5-pounder caught by William Stewart on May 30, 2015. That fish also came from the Choctawhatchee, which speaks to the fishery’s ability to pump out enormous catfish. The IGFA all-tackle world record blue catfish weighed 143 pounds. It was caught by Richard Nicholas Anderson in June of 2011 from Buggs Island (Kerr) Lake, Virginia.
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BOAT REVIEW CustomBilt Pondtoons
SPECIFICATIONS LENGTH: 14’ to 16’ BEAM: 5’ to 6’ MAX HP: 9.9 Hp CONSTRUCTION: .090 Marine-Grade Aluminum BUILDER: Custombilt Pondtoons
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. All boats are all-welded aluminum construction made in the USA with premium options to meet every fisherman’s needs in boating. There are several styles to choose from that include: Fishing Series, Hunting Series, Pleasure Series, Farm/Pond Workboats, Search and Rescue and our new Camo boat. There are even wheelchair accessicle models Our pondtoon boats are factory assembled in three standard sizes with options and additional features that allow you to equip the boat for your fishing and hunting style at a very affordable price. Contact us at 334-684-2210 or pondtoons@gmail.com with any questions to help you “customize” your very own CustomBilt Pondtoon boat.
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5/17/18 1:37 PM
Gulf States Announce Red Snapper Seasons By CAM Staff
Photo courtesy of Larry McGuire/Show Me The Fish Charters
W
ith federal approval of Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) for red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico, the five Gulf states will manage red snapper seasons in state and federal waters for the 2018-2019 seasons. The bag-limit in federal waters remains 2 fish per person per day, with a 16-inch minimum length. Every state except Texas has the same limit for its state waters. Federally permitted for-hire vessels have their own June 1-July 22 season. State permitted for-hire vessels will generally follow the state seasons, but they will only be allowed to harvest red snapper from state waters. Here’s a quick look at what each state has come up with to manage Gulf red snapper fisheries for 2018. FLORIDA The sunshine state has announced a 40-day recreational red snapper season in state and federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico to run June 11-July 20. This season is for private recreational vessels. For-hire operations without a federal reef fish permit must have a State Gulf Reef Fish Charter on their license, which can be obtained from a tax collectors office free of charge. All Gulf reef fish anglers are required to sign up for the Gulf Reef Fish Survey. Sign up at the Gulf Reef Fish Survey page at myfwc.com. ALABAMA The recreational season in Alabama for private recreational vessels is slated for 47 days in state and federal waters. Red snapper harvest will be open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from June 1-Sept. 2, plus July 2-5 and Sept. 3. Alabama’s season length could change based on when the 985,000-pound recreational quota is met. The catch will be closely tracked through the state’s mandatory Snapper Check App. LOUISIANA In Louisiana, the recreational red snapper season for private recreational vessels opened May 25 in state and federal waters. The season will remain open until the recreational quota of 743,000 pounds is met, according to estimates from the LA Creel program. The state might consider amending the season to weekends only if necessary. A free Recreational Offshore Landing Permit is required for all offshore anglers. It is available through www.wlf.louisiana.gov/rolp. All anglers will be subject to LA Creel dockside surveys and associated online and phone surveys. These surveys are voluntary, but participation is strongly urged. MISSISSIPPI Recreational red snapper season opened May 25 in state and federal waters off Mississippi. The season is projected to run through Sept. 3, Labor Day, with a possible season closure from July 9-22. The reason for the potential closure is to remain within Mississippi’s 137,949-pound quota, which will be divided between the recreational and for-hire sectors. The recreational quota is 135,149 pounds. The state for-hire quota is 2,800 pounds. Recreational catches will be monitored through the mandatory Tails N’ Scales reporting program, accessible through the app, as well online at tailsnscales.org or through the call center at 1-844677-6277. TEXAS Texas recently projected an 82-day recreational red snapper season in federal waters starting June 1. Harvest of red snapper in state waters is expected to remain open year-round. Texas has its own 4 fish per day, 15-inch minimum bag limit for state waters. Once Texas’ allotted poundage is reached, the season will be closed. Download the iSnapper app to report red snapper landings. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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BOAT REVIEW CraigCat E2 Elite
Since 1990, the patented CraigCat horizontal catamaran has radically redefined the image of recreational boating. Completey unique in form and function, this state-of-the-art craft offers all the responsiveness, stability and sporty handling associated with a larger boat at a fraction of the price. It is the world’s finest compact watercraft. Quick, roomy and exceptionally wellbuilt, the CraigCat delivers a rare blend of performance and genuine comfort that appeals to both the novice and seasoned boater alike. You’re going to love what the CraigCat does! With many options, it’s possible to trick out your CraigCat just how you want it. Here’s a quick look at some of the standard equipment offered on the E2 Elite, the king of the CraigCat fleet. It comes with: JBL Audio stereo with two HD speakers that pump your tunes out loud and clear; full-width storage compartment for your gear; convertible Bimini top, two polished stainless steel beverage holders; LED interior deck lighting and anchor light; super bright ion halogen docking lights; navigational lights; Four-rod fishing rod holder; electric key start with full remote control; twin side-by-side bucket seats; and more. It’s easy to see how this cool little boat offers all the comforts of a larger, more expensive vessel. Everything on the CraigCat is top quality and built for the marine environment, with stainless steel hardware and brackets of marine-grade aluminum. On freshwater or salt, it’s a machine build for fishing and fun. For more information, call 1-833-CRAIGCAT or visit craigcat.com.
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The Sea Eagle® FishSkiff™ 16 inflatable boat can be motored long distances to fishing spots other anglers only dream about. Fold up & carry in your car, SUV, camper or on a small plane. Features 2 swivel seats with rod-holders, 2 built-in 40” fish rulers & 2 Scotty mounts & 3 separate air chambers for safety. 5 Boat packages available starting at $1799.* *NY & WA residents add sales tax.
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There’s a lot going inside a 4-Stroke engine. Keep it protected with ECSTAR Suzuki Genuine Oil. Available in Gallons or Quarts at a Suzuki Marine Dealer Near You.
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ECSTAR. the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket when on the water and read your owner’s manual. © 2018 Suzuki Motor of Ameria, Inc.
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FLY FISHING
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altwater fly fishing can take you to places off the beaten path. Whether you’re inclined to travel far or stick closer to home, traveling with a fly rod packed in your luggage can be a great adventure. Here are some of my favorites. Keys Tarpon I love the Florida Keys! There are few things that get me more stoked than the thought of sight fishing a fly to a cruising tarpon in shallow water over a white sand flat! The fishing areas in the Keys are endless. If I were to pick one spot that gives the angler the best opportunity to hook a tarpon of a lifetime on the fly, it would be Bahia Honda. From April through June, you have shots at tarpon of all sizes, fishing over white sand flats just a few hundred feet off the shore. If you’re lucky enough and your timing is right, you might experience the legendary palolo worm hatch. There is nothing more exhilarating in saltwater fly fishing than having the opportunity to target tarpon during this annual springtime event in the Keys. The sight of very large tarpon lazily slurping these tiny red worms off the surface will give any angler buck fever! Texas Coast (South Padre Island) If you’re looking for a great fly-fishing/camping adventure, then South Padre Island on the Texas Gulf coast is about as good as it gets! The dune-lined beach runs more than 30 miles east of the coastal town of South Padre. You’ll find great camping among the sand dunes and excellent fly fishing for redfish, jacks and sharks. Also, if the wind lays down and you get a day of glassy water conditions, there is a good chance of hooking a few rolling tarpon from the beach!
Baja’s East Cape is a far-out adventure where West Coast saltwater fly fishing got its start more than 50 years ago. Baja is rugged and wild, where the blazing hot, cactus-filled desert meets the deep blue waters of the Sea of Cortez. Los Cabos is your starting point. Drive north along the beaches to Los Barrilles, also known as the East Cape, and you find some the best roosterfish fly fishing in the world. This area is a sight fisherman’s dream, where roosterfish run along the beach in ultra-shallow clear water, looking for sardines and mullet to eat. The best approach for the fly angler is to stake out in a bait-filled area and wait for the roosters to swim within casting range. Be aware! Roosterfish are one of the toughest game fish to catch on the fly, but once you entice the pes gallo to take the fly you’ll return year after year to pursue these great and unique gamefish. So, get out and go! Venture off the beaten path and explore waters close to home or far way. But make sure you pack your fly rod!
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N • THU
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dawn. The weather was unusually cold and foggy for a late August morning. The thermometer showed zero degrees Fahrenheit. Long-range forecasts predicted pleasant temperatures, but Vicki and I were glad to have prepared for the worst clothing-wise. The cold front suppressed the bite, but with help from Gino’s friend, Bruce Iwasa, we managed to land enough brookies for a shore lunch on one of the lake’s breathtaking islands. The setting was perfect on this uninhabited wilderness island. We sat on tree stumps, drank wine and watched as salad, trout, potatoes and dessert were prepared around a campfire. The fish were caught on light tackle using Muddler Minnow flies tied on jig heads. The unspoiled, wilderness scenery was more than we expected. We returned that night to Thunder Bay to enjoy filet mignon, red wine and a good night’s rest, so to be ready for another early morning departure, this time on the Nipigon River tailwater in search of Chinook salmon. The temperature was only 3 degrees warmer at 7 a.m. when we launched just below Alexander’s Dam on the Nipigon tailwater. Chinook are a species of Pacific salmon. Obviously they are not native to the drainage. They were introduced as a sport fish decades ago and have become one of the river’s most popular species. A thick early morning fog initially restricted us to trolling a small area with Rapala Countdown 11 lures on St. Croix Legend Tournament rods with small Shimano reels loaded with Stren MagnaThin 6-pound line. Two hours later, we were able to navigate downstream, where we tried our hand at fly fishing. Vicki hooked a nice brookie on spinning gear, while Gino and I struck out with fly rods. Around midday, the temperature had warmed and Gino suggested we go back up river to try trolling Rapalas at the dam. It worked! Vicki and I hooked and landed a 12-pound and 5-pound salmon, respectively. They were a blast to battle on light line. Having ended the day on a very high note, we headed back to Gino and Jennifer’s luxury cabin that has a view of Lake Superior to die for. The evening was enjoyed eating scratch-made pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven and meeting family members. The day-3 plan to fish Superior was scrapped because of rain and high winds. We enjoyed the balance of our trip eating gourmet foods such as salt-crusted salmon, Italian pastas, homemade sausages, salads, desserts and lots of beverages with new Canadian fishing friends. The scenery around Thunder Bay is enough to make it a worthwhile trip. The potential for world-class freshwater fishing on an unbelievable amount of diversified waters around the town is limitless. Check out Capt. Terry Fisher and Fish Face Charters in Cape Coral, Fla. at www.fishfacecharters.com.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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BUCKET D
By Capt. Terry Fisher
ne of the benefits of being a charter captain in southwest Florida is the people you meet. Almost always, my first mate Vicki and I have fishing in common with the folks we take out on the water; sometimes the connection runs deeper. That’s how we became friends with Gino Mascarin and Jennifer Wintermans, of Thunder Bay, Canada. Like Vicki and I, both are avid anglers, and over the years we discovered we have many other things in common, including travel, fine foods and fine wines. On their last visit, Gino and Jennifer insisted we travel to their neck of the woods to fish for world record brook trout on Lake Nipigon and Chinook salmon on the Nipigon River. I had never fished Canada, so I decided to give it a try, especially since our hosts are people who know how to catch fish and also appreciate some of the other fine things life has to offer. We departed for Thunder Bay, by way of Toronto, in late August for four days of pampering, which was to include three days of fishing, gourmet cooking and wine tasting. Thunder Bay is a town that sits on the banks of Lake Superior just across the border from Minnesota on the Canadian side of the lake. It is in a relatively sparsely populated western corner of the Ontario province, where a web of lakes and waterways offers an unbelievable amount of good fishing. Over three days, we were to fish for different species at three different venues: brook trout on Lake Nipigon, Chinook salmon on the Nipigon River tailwater and walleye on Lake Superior. Lake Nipigon is renowned for producing large brook trout, including the world-record 14.5-pounder caught by Dr. JW Cook in 1915. Although it is dwarfed by nearby Lake Superior, Nipigon is a pretty big lake at 1,872 square miles of surface area. It feeds the Nipigon River, which is Lake Superior’s largest tributary. Over the months preceding the trip, Gino and Jennifer had shared photos of their catches, and our excitement was running high. We launched Gino’s 19-foot Lund Pro V Tournament Series before
B A Y, C A
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ne of the most dangerous risks to divers is being struck by boat propellers while at the surface. I have personally experienced more close calls with boats than any other hazard, and I’ve witnessed the results of some horrific accidents. There are dive flag laws in place to protect divers. However, accidents occur more from lack of awareness, not due to anyone breaking laws on purpose. In any case, it’s worth reminding both boaters and divers of the rules. The laws are similar from state to state with a few variations. As an example, Florida law requires divers and snorkelers to display a “diver down” flag when in the water to caution nearby boaters. The flag is a red square with a diagonal white stripe with a wire stiffener to keep the flag extended and visible. If on a dive boat, one must ensure that
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lectronics are a very important tool in locating and catching bass, just remember to use them to look for everything underwater, not just big schools of fish. When I launch on a new lake my GPS mapping is everything.
I’ll just run full screen S i d eV i s i o n . The newest revolution from Raymarine is the RealVision 3D. It paints a 3D image of what’s under the boat and is amazing for providing an underwater
I run Navionics Platinum in my Raymarine Axiom Pro units and it works great. Your map card should show great detail and well-defined contour lines. This helps you find new spots when you get on a pattern by simply looking at your map for similar places. Tracks are important, also. I run tracks all the time on my map so I can tell where I’ve been and where I haven’t. I change the color of the tracks each day when fishing multiple-day tournaments to keep track of when I was there, as well. I run three 12-inch Axiom Pros, two units at the console and one at the bow. The reason for two units at the console is so I can have one unit strictly for mapping. I like a full 12inch screen so I can easily see contour changes and such. So many times I’ve been running down the lake and seen a place that looked good on the map and pulled over and caught fish. The second unit at the console is mostly used for SideVision, DownVision and RealVision 3D. I run a split screen most of the time, but if conditions call for it, I run full screen SideVision and/or CHIRP sonar depending on bottom composition. For instance, if I’m scanning a huge flat looking for isolated cover like stumps or brushpiles,
perspective. Keep in mind any time you’re scanning to pay attention to everything you see. We all want to find that mother lode of fish, but more times than not that’s not how you find great fishing spots. Keep your eyes peeled for baitfish, grass, brushpiles, rock piles, roadbeds and anything unusual. The best places are not always obvious. My settings for my bow unit are pretty simple. I run a split-screen 90 percent of the time, with mapping on one side and CHIRP sonar on the other. Mapping is important for following contours and lining up on waypoints. CHIRP shows everything that’s going on under my boat. I find myself constantly looking at this unit because it tells so much about how fish are acting. If I see a lot of fish suspended up high, I might try a jerkbait instead of a jig, or vise-versa. I recommend the Axiom Pro because they’re easy to use, super-fast and have a touchscreen as well as a keypad with a scroll knob, which is nice for zooming in and out on the map while running.
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any anglers think of fall as “striper season,” but there are instances throughout the spring and summer when your odds of catching a truly big cow are actually better. “That’s exactly the case with the striper fishery out of Barnegat Inlet, New Jersey,” said Capt. Dave DeGennaro of the Waretown charter vessel Hi Flier (www.hiflier.com). “We have a 13-mile stretch of ocean between the inlet and Lavallette that gives up a ton of 30- to 50-pound bass this time of year. It’s reliable trophy action and a lot different than you might imagine.” Indeed, it is. Stripers here generally set up in 50- to 65-foot depths paralleling Long Beach Island State Park. Rather than stalk baitfish schools, the big fish spread out. In response, sharp skippers troll to cover more water. “The bottom here is mundane; no real structure, no drop-offs,” said DeGennaro. “It lacks character in terms of bass cover so we use bunker spoons to target these cows. Every ten minutes, we’ll mark a big fish on our electronics, but that single scratch often translates into a vicious strike. ” No one seems sure why the linesiders favor this bland stretch, but no one is complaining, either. Captains that can troll big spoons effectively rarely get shut out and most work up two to five trophy fish per half-day trip. Some days, the action is considerably better. “I put out a pair of Tony Maja E-Z Out-Rodders and 8-foot rods with soft tips,” explained DeGennaro, who pursues these fish aboard a World Cat 25CC catamaran with twin 150 Suzuki Four Stroke engines. “With the rods at a 90-degree angle to the water, there’s not much upward pressure on the spoons, so they’ll run deep without a drail. My favorite offering is #4 Tony Maja (www.tonymajaproducts.com) in white or chartreuse split (half chartreuse, half green). It has a great slow-roll action stripers can’t resist. It comes with an 8-ounce keel weight you can swap out for 12 ounces to help keep the spoon riding down near the bottom.” DeGennaro uses 80-pound-test, high-visibility Dacron for backing, 300 feet of 40-pound Monel wire, and 30 feet of 60-pound test High Seas Quattro monofilament. He attaches the spoon with a Rosco #56, 150-pound Duo-Lock Snap. Don’t use a snap swivel, he cautions, it hurts the spoon’s action. Catches during this big bass bonanza are best on moving water, so concentrate your efforts when the current pushes hardest. Trolling speed varies between 2.5 knots and 3.5 knots. Your spoons are working right when the rod tips are pumping hardest. “These are big, beautiful fish,” said DeGennaro, “but keep in mind they are breeders. It’s okay to toss some of the big girls back.” Barnegat Inlet is easily accessible via Barnegat Bay, from Beach Haven from the south or Manasquan to the north. Holiday Harbor Marina (www.holidayharbormarinanj.com) and Long Key Marina (www.longkeymarina.com) in Waretown are full service operations that accommodate transients. For lodging, check out the Holiday Inn in Manahawkin, N.J.
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