Coastal Angler Magazine | December 2019 | North Central Florida/Nature Coast Edition

NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST EDITION

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Gifts for Anglers Issue

SURF EXPO

Jan. 8-10 in Orlando PHOTO COURTESY OF DARCIZZLE OFFSHORE VOLUME 24 • ISSUE 297

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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

DECEMBER 2019

W O R L D W I D E

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Boaters and anglers up and down the east coast know there’s an important season between the holidays and spring: Boat Show Season!

Timed perfectly to gear-up for some of the best fishing of the year, the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s (NMMA) line-up of premier boating and outdoors shows are the venues where shoppers and dreamers alike can peruse the latest the industry has to offer. From yachts to kayaks and all the accessories, these shows offer hands-on experience with the hottest boats and gear bound for the water in 2020. It’s no secret that shoppers take advantage of the best deals of the year on the floor at NMMA’s annual boat shows.

Here’s the rundown of this years best shows and expositions:

1) Progressive Insurance Atlanta Boat Show

Jan. 16-19, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta With 600-plus boats, the Southeast’s premier boating event returns for its 58th year to Exhibit Hall C of the Georgia World Congress Center.

A boating bonanza, show-goers tour hundreds of boats, and interactive features including virtual reality exhibits, educational seminars on boating, fishing and sailing, a nautical Kids’ Zone, Touch-a-Boat Tour, events with local breweries, DIY workshops, Career Day and more!

Entry is just $15 for adults. Kids 12 and younger are free. Tickets are $3 off for active-duty military, retired military, veterans, law enforcement and firefighters. Advance tickets are also $3 off when purchased at www.

AtlantaBoatShow.com.

2) Progressive Insurance New York Boat Show

Jan. 22-26, Javits Center, New York City A New York tradition since 1905, the world’s first and longest-running boat show enters its 115th year with a five-day celebration of boating at the Javits Center. Boat hop and shop 350 boats along with the latest boating innovations, technology and gear. Highlights include Kids’ Build-aBoat and The Progressive Boathouse, which features hands-on boating courses for all experience levels.

Entry is $16 for adults. Kids 12 and younger are free. Tickets are $3 off for military and first responders. Save $2 by buying advance tickets at 5) Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show NYBoatShow.com.

Feb. 26-March 1, Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City The Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show brings activities to 3) Progressive New England Boat Show give lifelong boaters and novices an all-access pass to discover why life is Feb. 8-16, Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Boston For nine days, this nautical extravaganza will showcase more than 700 better with a boat. Serious shoppers benefit from “Super Thursday” and new boats and watercraft, along with a stunning array of must-have ma- find bargains on hundreds of boats as well as gear, technology and acrine accessories. There is something for all ages and boaters at this year’s cessories to go with them. With everything from kayaks to sportfishers, show. Dozens of seminars will cover fishing, sailing and boating. Explore there is a boat for every lifestyle and budget.

Admission is $17 for adults. Children 12 and younger are free. Adboating careers at Marine Innovation & Career Day. Hop on “Salt,” the life-size inflatable humpback whale. Boost your boating IQ at the Pro- vance tickets can be purchased at ACBoatShow.com. gressive Insurance Boathouse. Kids can captain their own paddleboat at 6) Progressive World Fishing & Outdoor Exposition the Kid Paddle Pool.

Feb. 27-March 1, Rockland Community College, Suffern, N.Y. Entry is $16 for adults. Kids 12 and younger are free. Active military The Northeast’s premier fishing, hunting and travel exposition features receive one free ticket with valid ID. Purchase advance tickets at www. a vast selection of outdoor sports vendors, speakers and events. With newenglandboatshow.com. major manufacturers, trusted brand names and local retailers, show-goers can compare and shop new and hard-to-find outdoors products and 4) Progressive Miami International Boat Show enjoy a variety of educational seminars and attractions. For more inforFeb. 13-17, Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin, Miami Over President’s Day weekend, the world-renowned Progressive mation, go to sportshows.com/suffern.

Miami International Boat Show will host nearly 100,000 visitors from around the globe to shop more than 1,400 boats as well as gear, tech- 7) Progressive Insurance Saltwater Fishing Expo March 13-15, New Jersey Convention & Expo Center, Edison, N.J. nology and accessories from more than 1,000 vendors. From yachts and The one-stop shop for saltwater anglers of all experience levels, catamarans to offshore fishing boats, high-performance boats and family cruisers, visitors will experience one of the largest and most influential the Progressive Insurance Saltwater Fishing Expo returns to Ediboat shows in the world. Sea trials allow serious buyers to take their son, New Jersey, offering a vast selection of vendors, speakers and special events. The three-day event kicks off the region’s saltwadreamboat for a spin.

Tickets are $30 per adult; two-day passes (Feb. 14-17) are $55; Premier ter season with deals from more than 200 vendors selling everyDay (Feb. 13) is $45. VIP packages available. Children 12 and younger thing you’ll need to hit the water, from boats to terminal tackle.

For more information, go to www.sportshows.com/saltwater. are free. Purchase advance tickets at www.MiamiBoatShow.com.

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ENTER TO WIN! Editor’s Pick Holiday Gifts for Anglers

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A modern, high-performance version of an authentic plow disc cooker, FIREDISC is built to last and designed to be easily taken down for travel and storage. FIREDISC fires up fast, cooks virtually anything, seasons like a cast-iron skillet and cleans up quickly with just water.

These portable propane cookers are going to change the way you cook outdoors — you’ll never go back to a traditional grill!

You’ve got a lot riding on your hitch, and the only thing keeping your truck and trailer connected are those relatively small pieces of engineered steel. The hitch matters to your safety and the safety of our roads.

That’s why B&W treats the manufacture of your trailer hitch with the respect it deserves. For one, we insist on American-made steel.

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Simms G4 Pro Jacket

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Cut from advanced GORE-TEX Pro Shell three-layer fabrics and kitted with ingenious fishing details, the G4 Pro Jacket is Simms’ highest-performing, most durable jacket.

The streamlined design of four front pockets reduces bulk and allows rain to sheet off. A three-point adjustable storm hood and a long rear hem to collar length extend protection from the elements.

Nine pockets include hand-warmer pockets as well as a large rear game pocket, accessible through the front. .

With over 20 years of experience, AO Coolers offers well-constructed, innovative coolers made for all outdoor activities, including boating, fishing, and camping. We’ve now taken our knowledge to make the best 80-quart hard-sided cooler – we are excited to introduce the Everest Series!

Built tough to handle the abuse of the great outdoors. Keeps your food, drinks or catch ice cold for days. Rotomolded polyethylene construction, the same process to make whitewater kayaks, ensures excellent impact resistance and long-lasting durability. Now available in three colors: white, deep blue and tan.

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SAILFISH ON THE MOVE

Photo by Craig McMicken

By Gene Dyer

S

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ailfish are on the move off the coast of southeast Florida. It happens every year as the first cold fronts make their way south and bring cooler temperatures and northerly winds. Highly migratory in nature, these acrobatic pelagics can be caught here year round, but the highest concentrations occur from November through April.

Techniques for targeting sailfish vary depending on location. In Stuart, trolling dead ballyhoo with dredges in the spread is the most popular method. Off Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, kite fishing with live bait on the drift is the go-to technique. In the Florida Keys,

it could be a combination of both or it could be sight fishing with a few live pitch baits ready to throw at a hungry sailfish. Regardless of location, wind and sea conditions change constantly and play a huge role in determining the best fishing technique on any given day.

The best sailfish bite happens during tailing conditions. Typically, tailing conditions occur right after a cold front passes, while the western edge of the Gulf Stream is in close proximity to the coast. When the strong north current of the Gulf Stream clashes with strong winds from the opposite direction, it fires sailfish up into a feeding frenzy. In tailing conditions, it is not uncommon for the top sailfish boats in the fleet to catch and release 20 or more sailfish in a day.

Not everyone can afford the expensive electric reels and other gear required for kite or dredge fishing, but anyone who owns a boat with outriggers can slow troll or bump troll baits to get tight with arguably the most majestic gamefish in the ocean.

You will need four 20- to 30-pound conventional outfits. Since sailfish are capable of swimming at high speeds, you want reels with at least a 5:1 gear ratio and high line capacity. Connect the main line to 6 to 8 feet of 40-pound fluorocarbon leader with a small barrel swivel. Tie an inline circle hook to the business end. Use a 7/0 hook for larger baits such as blue runners or goggle eyes. For smaller baits like pilchards or cigar minnows, use a 5/0 hook.

Deploy the two outrigger baits first with one long and one short.

Then send out your flat lines from the corners with one short and one long. Once your spread is out, position your boat down-sea and keep it moving forward slowly by putting the boat in and out of gear.

Keep an eye on your spread, as sailfish will sometimes show up out of nowhere. Sailfish tend to swim in packs, so it’s a good idea to keep a 20-pound spinning outfit ready to go with a live pitch bait. Once you get your fish to the boat, grab it by the bill and remove the hook. Hold your sailfish alongside the boat while in gear to revive it before release.

Gene Dyer is editor and co-publisher of Coastal Angler Magazine/Fort Lauderdale.

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don’t throw much anymore. I don’t throw them except for around the spawn, but it sure does work that time of year!

JD: What was your most productive technique this year?

Lester: A wacky rig, especially early in the season. It’s always huge for me during and around the spawn. It just gets bites and catches big fish, too. I put fish in the boat using the Mustad Titan X Wacky Neko hook with an X Zone Lures True Center Stick. I fish it on the MHX NEPS 81MXF. That rod was my MVP this season too.

BRANDON LESTER

JD: Speaking of MHX rods, you’re well-known for building your own custom rods on tour. What rods will you build this off-season?

Lester: Mud Hole is always making new blanks available, so I plan on building nearly a whole new set this winter. You can build rods efficiently once you do it a few times, and it really doesn’t take much time. For anglers out there looking to have a full complement of rods that are the same brand but won’t break the bank, I highly suggest building MHX rods. They have a starter kit (great Christmas gift) on their website www.

MudHole.com, and all the other bass rods a man would need. They have all the kits broken down by style, and if anyone has any questions they can ask me on social media. Instagram is @ brandonlesterfishing and Facebook is @proanglerbrandonlester.

By JD Blackburn JD: How did your Bassmaster Elite Series season go this year?

Lester: I finished in sixth place in the Toyota Angler of the Year point standings and also finished sixth in the 2019 Bassmaster Classic. Those were both career-best marks.

JD: What one new piece of equipment did you adopt this year that really helped you?

Lester: The new C-Map card from Lowrance Electronics. Case in point: on Lake Guntersville this year, I fished structure I had no idea was in existence on that lake. The detail the card has on it is just amazing.

For more Lester visit,

JD: What was the biggest fish you caught this season?

Lester: The biggest weighed 7-11, and it came from the St. Johns River in Florida. I used an 8-inch lizard, which is a bait people

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he world’s largest and longest-running watersports and beach/ resort lifestyle show is a best-kept secret for retailers of fishing apparel and accessories.

Surf Expo launched its Bluewater category in January 2018 with some of the hottest brands in fishing. Since then, angling has become an integral part of the twice-annual show, which returns to Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center Jan. 8-10.

Savvy buyers will find that today’s Surf Expo is a lot more than surf. Featuring internationally influential brands from all facets of watersports, Surf Expo is the show that drives water-lifestyle trends each season. It is geared toward buyers seeking to stock their shelves, which makes it a unique opportunity for retailers to get ahead of the market’s next big thing.

Bluewater is where buyers can find all the freshwater and saltwater fishing and marine lifestyle apparel and accessory brands grouped together in one easy-to-shop area of the show floor. Since Bluewater’s inception, more and more marinas, tackle shops and outfitters have discovered that Surf Expo is a very convenient way to shop all their mainstay apparel and accessory brands and then easily browse other products they need such as sunscreens, sunglasses, coolers, T-shirts and PFDs. Tackle dealers who don’t take advantage of the crossover between fishing and the overall watersports lifestyle are missing out on a powerful revenue stream. Surf Expo is the one show where you can see and touch it all… and attendance is free for qualified retailers.

“We’ve been attending Surf Expo for many years,” said Aledia Tush, owner of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters, a fishing and boating landmark in Sarasota since 1959. “We’re always looking for new products, T-shirts, sportswear, suntan products, towels, sandals, shoes and sunglasses. Being a Florida retailer, Surf Expo is a show not to be missed!”

Brands exhibiting in the Bluewater category include: HUK, AFTCO, 5Fin, Marsh Wear, Fish Hippie, Hooked Soul Fishing Co., Heybo

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Outdoors, Salt Life, Big Ocean Sport, Florida Cracker Trading Co., REEL Happy, Deep Blue Gear, Salty Crew, MANG Gear, Sunday Afternoon, Anglur, Huntworth, Skinny Water Culture, Tormenter Ocean, Costa, Bimini Bay and more.

“We’ve been coming to Surf Expo since the beginning, and we were one of the first to be in the Bluewater section—where we’ve found a new home,” said Bill Shedd, president of AFTCO and 5Fin. “There’s a whole lifestyle that’s being developed around saltwater, offshore and big game fishing that’s bled off into inshore fishing and more of an outdoor activity in the broader outdoor world. AFTCO and 5Fin fit into that. Bluewater at Surf Expo is a perfect section to corral up a growing number of brands like AFTCO, 5FIN and Marshwear.

The buyers don’t have to walk around looking; we’re in one area.”

Surf Expo is a place where it’s easy to get business done.

It is a pure, trade-only event, which eliminates the hubbub of open-to-the-public trade shows. It’s also a fun place to be, with a laid-back atmosphere that appeals to those in the watersports industry.

The Bluewater Lounge has become a popular hangout for the fishing crowd. Hosted by Hell’s Bay Boatworks, it features happy hours daily and talks with special guests from Captains for Clean Water.

Preserving the waters we love has always been an important part of Surf Expo. It is a platform for the watersports industry as a whole to promote clean water, water access, conservation and sustainability.

“When people come to the Surf Expo for the first time, they notice the relaxed, cool atmosphere. It’s that lifestyle we all buy into, and there are a lot of down-to-earth beautiful people at a surf show,” said Surf Expo buyer relations manager Steven Fisher. “It’s just a great place to be if you’re in the watersports industry. If you’ve got a shop, come check it out for yourself.”

For more information or to register now, buyers should visit www. surfexpo.com.

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Photo: TBA Outdoors

feet; the fish are swimming along the trough looking for baitfish.

When there’s bait around the trough (the deep channel where the breakers hit the beach), there are fish. Look for birds. When there are birds diving around the trough, the fish are near. There are several techniques I use to catch fish.

By Richard Matteson

S

urf ’s up! Grab your spincaster and head for the beach. I just moved to Hutchinson Island, one of the barrier islands on Florida’s Treasure Coast, and I’ve had a lot of fun fishing the surf early in the morning and late in the evening.

I’ve averaged several snook per trip, with a few jacks, plus bluefish and mackerel. My best hour so far was four snook, a dozen jack, two ladyfish, two bluefish and a mackerel. Now that’s an action packed 60 minutes, and the best thing is you don’t have to cast more than 30

W

TACKLE: I use a spincasting reel with 10-pound braided line and a clear 20-pound fluro or mono leader. Tie 2 feet of leader onto the braid with a double uni knot, and then tie your lure on with a loop knot so it moves more freely. I use a 3/8- or ½-ounce jig with a D.O.A. paddletail either in pearl white or silver sparkle. I like the lighter weight, but it’s harder to cast. Silver spoons and topwaters are my secondary lures.

THE SURF: you want some wave action, and rough surf is better than calm, but if it’s too rough the jig doesn’t stay in the strike zone long enough.

Always fish into or toward the wind so you keep in contact with the lure.

TECHNIQUE: I wear shorts and stand in the shallow wash. You don’t have to get wet. After a wave breaks, fish the backside between waves, jigging gently and keeping some tension on the line.

When a wave overtakes the lure, keep in touch with it and let it tumble until the wave crashes on the beach. Then fish the backwash on the beach side of the trough.

If you fish perpendicular to the trough, the lure is only in the trough for a few seconds. If you cast parallel to the beach, the lure stays in the trough longer and you have better action.

Remember, the fish are feeding in 6 inches of water sometimes and can even strike in the backwash. Keep tension on the fish when you get one on, and lower your rod tip so Spanish, snook and bluefish won’t jump as much.

When a fish rides the wave into the shore, you’ll need to reel fast to keep tension or they will flip off.

Where to Fish: Any beach access is good, but look for birds and activity. No birds, consider moving to another beach access. I like the St. Lucie beaches in the Herman’s Bay area and the beaches near the inlets.

Richard Matteson is staff writer for the Stuart Rod and Reel Club. For information, call 336-414-3440.

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COASTAL ANGLER North Central Florida/Nature Coast

Cary & Lynn Crutchfield ALACHUA, MARION, COLUMBIA, GILCHRIST, BRADFORD, DIXIE, LEVY, CITRUS

F

DECEMBER

a-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la, and Merry Christmas. If you don’t celebrate Christmas, we wish you Happy Holidays of your choice, and hope that you enjoy the holidays with loving friends and family. I love December, and everything about Christmas; the decorations, the music, the gifts, the parties and especially the food. Christmas 2018 was a bit unusual, in that we had a flood. We live on the Suwannee, and last December, we were living in the Suwannee. Not to worry, our house is on stilts and we have boats. No chance of a repeat flood this year. South Georgia and North Florida have not had a lot of rain and the Suwannee is very low, and clear. (Perfect for sight fishing at night?)

This month’s recipe Bucatini with Shrimp in a Tomato Pan Sauce on page 15, is tummy warming and very festive, with white pasta, red tomatoes and green spinach. Sommer, our daughter, and Cary ate every bite.

See page 5 for Kevin McCarthy’s three new publications, available at Amazon. Kevin is a very prolific writer and has been writing Page 3 for us since we began. Send him a note, and let him know how much he is appreciated.

When you pick up your FREE Coastal Angler, please thank the business who generously shares space for our magazine display. Also, since this magazine is FREE, without our advertising partners, there would be no revenue to pay for production, printing and distribution.

Without our knowledgeable writers, you wouldn’t have these wonderful articles and forecasts. Without Cary, our designer Kathleen and me, there would be no magazine, and no need for writers, advertisers or distribution locations. Without the hard work of the folks at our corp. office, and printer, there would be no FREE magazine.

Without Fed Ex, this FREE magazine would not travel from the printer in Kentucky to Florida. Without Cary, Rosa and me, 10,000 magazines would not get to the distribution sites in our eight-county market. Without Kristi, we would not have an online presence. It takes many people, working many hours to put this FREE magazine into your hands.

Again, we wish you the Merriest Christmas and Happiest Holiday Season ever!

Lynn Crutchfield Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida /Nature Coast

CAM_NCFL_1219.indd 1

DECEMBER 2019 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

WEB DESIGN Kristi Williams

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bruce Butler Dr. Kevin McCarthy John Freeze Noel Kuhn Capt. Jason Clark Capt. Dan Clymer Capt. Tommy Derringer Capt. Eric Hasty Capt. Stacy Horak Capt. Jimbo Keith Capt. James Kerr Capt. Pat McGriff Capt. Brian Smith Capt. Dan Smith

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

11/15/19 11:29 AM

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TIDES • North Central Florida Time Height

1Su

2M

3Tu 4W

5Th

6F

7Sa

8Su

3:39 AM 10:53 AM 5:31 PM 10:52 PM 4:23 AM 11:32 AM 6:12 PM 11:42 PM 5:14 AM 12:16 PM 6:59 PM 12:43 AM 6:17 AM 1:08 PM 7:55 PM 2:01 AM 7:42 AM 2:13 PM 8:53 PM 3:21 AM 9:20 AM 3:20 PM 9:45 PM 4:27 AM 10:40 AM 4:19 PM 10:28 PM 5:21 AM 11:43 AM 5:10 PM 11:07 PM

3.6 -0.2 2.9 1.4 3.3 0.1 2.8 1.4 3.0 0.4 2.7 1.4 2.7 0.7 2.7 1.3 2.5 0.9 2.8 1.1 2.4 1.1 3.0 0.7 2.6 1.2 3.1 0.3 2.7 1.2 3.3

HERNANDO BEACH

DECEMBER 2019

9M

Time Height

6:07 AM 12:35 PM 5:56 PM 11:43 PM 10Tu 6:49 AM 1:20 PM 6:38 PM 11W 12:17 AM 7:28 AM 2:01 PM 7:18 PM 12Th 12:51 AM 8:05 AM 2:41 PM 7:57 PM 3F 1:27 AM 8:44 AM 3:21 PM 8:36 PM 14Sa 2:05 AM 9:24 AM 4:02 PM 9:17 PM 15Su 2:47 AM 10:06 AM 4:43 PM 10:02 PM 16M 3:33 AM 10:50 AM 5:26 PM 10:53 PM

-0.1 2.9 1.2 3.5 -0.5 3.0 1.2 3.7 -0.7 3.1 1.2 3.8 -0.9 3.1 1.3 3.9 -1.0 3.1 1.3 3.9 -1.0 3.0 1.2 3.9 -0.9 3.0 1.2 3.7 -0.7 2.9 1.2

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

17Tu

18W 19Th

20F

21Sa

22Su

23M

24Tu

4:27 AM 11:37 AM 6:10 PM 11:51 PM 5:30 AM 12:30 PM 7:00 PM 1:01 AM 6:46 AM 1:30 PM 7:57 PM 2:25 AM 8:25 AM 2:38 PM 8:56 PM 3:45 AM 10:05 AM 3:45 PM 9:50 PM 4:54 AM 11:25 AM 4:45 PM 10:39 PM 5:53 AM 12:29 PM 5:39 PM 11:24 PM 6:43 AM 1:19 PM 6:27 PM

Time Height

25W 12:07 AM 7:26 AM 2:02 PM 7:11 PM 26Th 12:48 AM 8:06 AM 2:40 PM 7:52 PM 27F 1:26 AM 8:43 AM 3:16 PM 8:31 PM 28Sa 2:04 AM 9:18 AM 3:50 PM 9:10 PM 29Su 2:42 AM 9:51 AM 4:23 PM 9:49 PM 30M 3:22 AM 10:24 AM 4:55 PM 10:30 PM 31Tu 4:04 AM 10:57 AM 5:28 PM 11:15 PM

3.8 -1.1 3.0 1.1 3.8 -1.1 3.0 1.1 3.8 -1.0 2.9 1.1 3.7 -0.9 2.9 1.0 3.5 -0.7 2.9 1.0 3.4 -0.4 2.8 1.0 3.1 -0.2 2.8 1.0

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

CAM_NCFL_1219.indd 2

3.5 -0.4 2.8 1.1 3.2 0.0 2.8 1.0 2.8 0.4 2.9 0.7 2.6 0.7 3.0 0.3 2.6 1.0 3.2 -0.2 2.7 1.1 3.4 -0.6 2.8 1.2 3.6 -0.9 2.9 1.2

NEW

High Tide 12 min Low Tide 20 min

High Tide 2 min Low Tide 0 min

DECEMBER 2019

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

11/15/19 11:29 AM

FLORIDA WATERWAYS

Wearing Protective Gear While Fishing

I

spent a recent weekend in the Bradenton area of Florida, fishing with my younger son and his wife on the Gulf of Mexico. Having lived in Florida much of our adult lives, we know now to wear protective headgear and even face-gear while on the water.

Notice the face mask my daughter-in-law and I are wearing,

By Kevin McCarthy masks that might not be good when entering a bank, but really effective on the water.

Combined with a large floppy hat that covers the ears, a thin protective face mask that can also cover the ears and mouth and nose is smart. I’m also wearing a long-sleeved shirt and long pants, which may be a little hot on a sunny day, but it’s worth it.

I’m always surprised to see totally bald fishermen on the water without any protective head gear.

I once had a Maine sea captain tell me how to apply sunblock: begin by dabbing it on the BACK of the hands, a place that people often forget to put sunblock on. Putting the lotion there first is a good way not to forget that sensitive skin area.

Having spent my teenage years at the beach baking in the sun, and reasoning (incorrectly) that a sunburn at the beginning of the summer would make me more immune to the sun in July and August, and also being Irish-American, I know that I am more susceptible to skin cancer in the Sunshine State, so I take precautions in my old age, and now see a dermatologist twice a year. He usually tells me that I’m paying the price for my fair Irish-American skin and my crazy, sun-burned teenage years.

I’ve read that over nine thousand people every day are diagnosed with skin cancer in this country and that every year over 161,000 people are told they have melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer. When I give lectures on cruise ships before we dock in a sun-drenched place like

hermen

fis Two well-protected

The author with a mask

the Caribbean or the Aegean, I include an image of a hat, sunblock, sunglasses, and long-sleeved shirt as a warning how tough the sun can be on fair-skinned people, but relatively few people seem to heed my words.

Those of us living in the Sunshine State know how treacherous the sun can be, but – with a little bit of foresight and care – we can live a long life and catch lots of fish.

Kevin McCarthy, the author of St. Jerome: An Illustrated Biography (2019, available at amazon.com), can be reached at ceyhankevin@ gmail.com.

Young fisherman with a big hat

n Stop Melanoma sig

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

CAM_NCFL_1219.indd 3

The place to begin with sunblock

A good hat for hu

DECEMBER 2019

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11/15/19 11:29 AM

CRYSTAL RIVER

Florida Waterways Author H

ello, and I hope everyone is enjoying the cooler temperatures and the holidays, and hopefully, you have been on the water catching fish.

This time of year, I’m really focused on catching trout. The cooler temperatures can make trout fishing pretty good. When targeting trout, I look for hard bottom areas that have smaller fish, and even birds. Birds just don’t eat bait fish.

I like the lower parts of the tides; it seems keep the trout concentrated.

The beginning of the incoming, or the end of the outgoing, works well for me.

I’ve been using DOA jerk baits, mirriodines and a popping cork with a short leader with a 1/16th oz jig. As far as what I put on the jig, every day is different. I start with a Little Jon though. If no success

Kevin McCarthy

on artificial, live bait is always a good choice. With live bait, I’ll let it drift for a good distance over good bottom.

Redfish have been moving inside to the creeks, and live shrimp are always a good choice when it comes to bait. If using artificial, I will slow the retrieval down. This time of year, I like a mirrordine tide with a loop knot, and I will either use a slow and steady retrieve, or a couple twitches and a pause.

Hope everyone has a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.

s one of Dessie Smith Prescott wa a to earn eric Am in n the first wome a pilot's license.

St. Jerome was one depicted person of the most s from ancient times in paintings an d drawings.

Tight lines and fish hard.

Capt. James Kerr 352-362-6893 Citrusfishingchaters.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

CAM_NCFL_1219.indd 5

“Introducing three new books by author Kevin McCarthy. (Kevin has written FLORIDA WATERWAYS, page 3 for us since we began publishing March 2012.) The Life of Dessie Smith Prescott. Ms. Prescott was Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ fishing guide. The Biography of St. Jerome tells the life of the man who translated the Old Testament Greek into Latin.

The Black WACs of World War II is obviously about AfricanAmerican women who served our country in World War II. All are available at Amazon.” Each is available at amazon.com for $12.

The African-American women who became part of the Women's Army Corps in World War II helped integrate the Armed Forces of this country.

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NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 5

11/15/19 11:29 AM

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CAM_NCFL_1219.indd 6

DECEMBER 2019

ey everybody; fall fishing in on fire. Between reds, tripletail, and trout , there are plenty of tasty treats swimming around out there.

As the weather continues to cool down, look for the reds and trout to start making their way into the creeks. Currently the trout are staging on flats near the creek mouths, and reds ate spread out between being deep in the creeks and at the mouths.

Tripletail are still floating around deeper water near structure and floating grass. Be sure to drive a little slower when looking for them. Also, Spanish Mackerel are loaded down on near-by reefs, so get yourself some wire leader and have fun.

Until next month, stay safe out there.

Capt. Jason Clark In The Slot Fishing www.intheslotfishing.com Capt.jasonclark@gmail.com 352-639-3209

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11/15/19 11:29 AM

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CAM_NCFL_1219.indd 7

DECEMBER 2019

NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 7

11/15/19 11:29 AM

TALES FROM THE TUPPERWARE NAVY W

elcome back Yak Fans. This month, I'm taking us up to Yankee Town, located north of Crystal River, just above the barge canal and the Withlacoochee River.

This area is a kayaker’s dream.

Yankee Town was founded in 1923 by Armanis F. Knotts, also known as AF Knotts, from northern Indiana. He was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives, as well as being instrumental in the founding of Gary, Indiana. As you know, I really enjoy doing these kinds of stories; you never know what you may learn as you dig in.

Also, as to two other things near and dear to my heart, bait shops, and food. Captains Cove Outfitters on SR 40, (AKA FOLLOW THAT DREAM PARKWAY) just west of the light, has a great shop with a full line of bait and tackle, helpful staff, spot-on fishing reports (as they say, everybody there is a fisherman).

If you head that way, stop in and tell them I said "Hey". As to food, I was going by the Shrimp Landing restaurant at like 5:30 am, and saw they were open, so next trip I'll be stopping in. Back to fishing; this column is about kayak fishing, in case you forgot. Yankee Town offers several put-ins, both on the Withlacoochee and the Gulf side.

On the river side, you have Allen Park. This one was a little hard to find, and locals of warned me about leaving a vehicle there, so be warned.

Another is just before Yankee Town, at the end of the barge canal. You drive out to the end of that road, and there is a little launch from which you can reach the river, or the power plant outflow (but that's a bit of a paddle). Going out toward the boat ramp on the right, you have Bird Creek Park. Both of these areas are best to fish on incoming tide, and by the time you read this, the monster black drum should be stacking up at the outside of the river. I'll be going back soon. The last trip I took was to Bird Creek Park. I paddled back toward Pumpkin Island. My client was working a fast-moving cut, with a gulp mantis shrimp on a jig head, and soon had his limit of trout. I was working a top- water, the Zara Spook Jr. in bone silver (like that's a surprise to those of you who read my stuff) around the grass islands, and a monster red came up and snatched it. After fighting for a minute, he headed straight for the grass, and I'm thinking, “Not again.” Into the grass

T

he went, as my leader goes thumping through, and he came out the other side. I'm trying to figure out how that spook didn't get caught in the grass, but he didn't give me much time to reflect, as he came straight at me, and under the yak he went. I barely got that back under control, and into another stand of grass he went, and again, I don't lose the lure or the fish.

Now, I'm really confused! I finally worked him into deeper water, and after about five minutes, I got the answer to my question. The reason I didn't get hung up, was because it wasn't there. Mr. Red swallowed the whole thing! As I peered down, I saw the spook, sideways no less, and just above the crusher plates. I'm wondering how I'll ever get it out, but a pair of forceps came through, and with only a bloody lip from the leader, five minutes later he swam away.

We caught more reds, a few black drum, and had two really heavy break-offs. At the end of the day, my client had his limit, and a fun day on the water.

Till next time, and happy holidays to you and yours.

Bruce, The Stumbling Gypsy.

Bruce Butler | "Stumbling Gypsy" (352) 428-5347 Bruce@IndianBayOutfitters.com Web: www.IndianBayOutfitters.com

8 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST

CAM_NCFL_1219.indd 8

KEATON BEACH

DECEMBER 2019

Johnny Jackson, Blake Odom, and Clay Jackson of Opp, A labama with a nice day’s catch 11/9/19

rout fishing was scorching, until this last cold front, and then the keepers went into hiding, mostly, as water temps went from 83 to 61 degrees in three days, and then crept back up to 74 as of this afternoon (11/11/19) We had four trout over 24 inches long on one trip (10/25) for the Cook/ Williams trip and two over 24 inches long for Robert Cross of Shelman, Ga. the day before! Folks, that is some great trout fishing! Then, we had a 25-inch trout for Johnny Jackson of Opp, Alabama Saturday in 61-degree water.

All of these trout, except Johnny’s, came in on live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders, and all were caught in water less than three feet deep.

Plug fisherman have had some relief this week, as last week’s w-i-n-d blew a lot of floating grass out. We are promised another hard blow from the Northeast again this week, so look for plug fishing to vastly improve by the time this issue is out. Gulf water temps should continue to drop, and would be ideal if they settled in around 65 to 70 degrees by the first of December. Look to fish live shrimp under your Cajun or Back Bay Thunder in December, as we have already begun to fish them this week. However, if the water temps drop below 60 degrees, I would expect to be fishing with MirrOlure’s Catch 2000’s, Catch Jrs. , Catch 5’s , MirrOdines, SoftDines and Paul Brown Devils and Originals. All of these suspending baits will take fish in cooler water when trout just aren’t willing to take a live shrimp any longer.

We have caught a lot of fish on Assassin’s plastic this week, including trout, reds, black sea bass, flounder, and a 20 inch grouper, who thought he’d get in the act with the black sea bass. Butt

Dale Kay of Valdosta, Ga. said this 20 inch grouper (He thought he’d eat an Assassin Salty Chicken Sea Shad.)

Jason Weekley of Lake City, Florida with a nice trout taken November 2, 2019

Naked, Money, Salty Chicken, Pink Ghost, Fried Chicken, and Stinky Pink patterns have all yielded great fish these last few weeks. The Sea Shads, and 5 inch Shads have been my best catchers.

Meanwhile, Let's Go Fishing!

Pat McGriff dba One More Cast guide service for 30 years! www.onemorecast.net onemorecast@gtcom.net 850.838.7541

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

11/15/19 11:29 AM

STEINHATCHEE STILL OPTIONS

C

old weather and cold water can limit fishing options, but the options still available can be very good!

Air boaters relish the cold temperatures and low tides. Why? Because they possess the best option to catch trout and redfish.

Winter low tides are more severe than those of summer. It has everything to do with position of the moon relative to the earth in the northern hemisphere. So what?

During winter, the water drains out so much that only the deepest holes in the creeks retain enough water to harbor fish. The fish are in the proverbial barrel. The only means to get back to the barrels is via airboat. Casting a shrimp or chunk of cut-bait into the deeper pools is almost as effective as tossing in a half stick of dynamite. (I'm not suggesting using dynamite.) A limit of fish can be caught faster than it takes to get to the barrel. Tip: Dress warmly because airboats generate wind. No, really, that's how they move, but seriously, wear warm head and foot gear, as well as layered clothes. Once you get cold, the fun is over.

Grouper season will end this month. Not that grouper fishing has been that great before, thanks in part to the over-abundance of red snapper. Historically, this is the time when trolling deep running plugs has been very effective.

Trolling on blue-bird days has led to many great grouper trips. Tip: If water temperature is at or below 59 F, forget about trolling.

For fast action and great eats, sea bass can't be beat. If conditions allow, simply drift fish. Hard bottom areas are covered with the black

fish. Any type of cut-bait will work just fine. Squid tends to be better, as it is tough, however, if you can get some octopus, it is prime. To select out the larger sea bass, try bouncing larger jigs on the bottom, tipped with a pinch of cut-bait. Jigging can also produce a surprise flounder. A jig trailer hook rig makes for faster action and catch rate. Premade rigs, by yours truly, are available at Steinhatchee Bait & Tackle, across from the boat ramp. The rigs work very well and are great stocking stuffers.

Whatever you target, always wear layered clothing with a waterproof outer shell. If you get wet, you will get cold. Becoming cold is not only miserable but can bring hypothermia which is serious. A stocking hat is necessary gear. A hat keeps the toes warm. Much body heat is lost from the head. Better to retain it and send it to your feet.

Brian Smith | BIG BEND CHARTERS www.BigBendCharters.com CaptBrian@bellsouth.net 877.852.3474 | 352.210.3050

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

CAM_NCFL_1219.indd 9

DECEMBER 2019

NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 9

11/15/19 11:29 AM

SUWANNEE RIVER/CEDAR KEY

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DECEMBER 2019

H

ey there folks! I hope y'all had a great Thanksgiving and got to spend some time with friends and family. The weather has been somewhat warm at the time I'm writing this, and the fishing is pretty durn good.

The trout are scattered between the rivers and creeks. There are also a few still on the grass flats, the flats that still have grass. One cool new bait I’ve starting using is made by A Band of Angler and it’s called the Dart Spin. I think it’s going to be an awesome wintertime bait, so get you some, and get ready for that thump.

Don’t get me wrong, still use our favorite B52 Super Sounder corks with a Saltwater Assassin jig beneath it, and it still puts the meat in the box.

The reds have also moved into the creeks and rivers. They can be caught numerous ways from bottom fishing, to top water, even this time of year.

Just remember, don't pass up your favorite shoreline after we have a few warm sunny days. The reds will be on the move, looking for some food

when the water warms a little, even if it's just a little bit.

Well folks, I hope y'all have a Merry Christmas and like I always say, “Get outdoors and enjoy what God made for us. “ Saltwater Assassin Fishing Charters www.FishCedarkey.com 352-535-5083 Capt.Jimbo Keith

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H

allelujah, we survived another year! Water temperatures are dropping, and pushing our redfish into the creeks. I recommend two options, to get to the redfish. The first is by kayak, but please make sure that you have a high-flying flag so you can be seen over the marsh grasses by the airboat folks who cannot hear you or see you.

The other way to get in there, you guessed it, by airboat. Once you find your way to the deeper holes in the creek, you can usually have a field day with the redfish by simply fishing a live shrimp or different types of tackle and bait. When you find them, they're usually not alone, and you can catch multiple reds out of each hole. Other than that, sheepshead are definitely coming in. If you can find fiddler crabs, they is a great bait to catch sheepshead. Another good bait is an oyster, if you can keep it on your hook. Make sure you have a very fine and sensitive tipped fishing pole, as most of us already know that fish barely move the rod when eating the bait. Typically, anywhere

we have structure or dock poles in deeper spots, the sheepshead are there. Also, this time of year, you usually can find some very nice inslot trout. We are still in love with the B-52 popper and live shrimp or multiple different colors of DOA Shad Plastics. I hope this helps. I hope to see you out on the water.

Please make sure you get these kids out there fishing.

Capt. Daniel Cedar Key Paddling 352-665-1276 Dan_Gator@yahoo.com

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INGLIS/YANKEETOWN

D

ecember is upon us and not only does that mean the holiday season, it means excellent fishing opportunities if you know where to look. Tripletail will be out along the crab trap buoys, gag grouper will be in shallow, trout will be in the deeper flats, and reds will be in the backcountry.

While looking for tripletail along the crab buoys have a freelined shrimp ready to throw. Upon spotting a triple tail, pass him up, do a U-turn and ease back towards the buoy being careful not to spook the fish. Toss your shrimp slightly past the fish, ease it to him and let it fall. Once the fish has it, set the hook and hold on!

Trolling in the shallows is producing some nice sized gags. I have had great success using the Rapala X-Rap in 15 and 20’. Use various colors as the gags get picky from time to time.

Available in 17’, 20’, 22’, 24’ and 27’

Captains Cove Outfitters in Inglis has a huge selection.

Trout are responding well to shrimp and soft baits under a popping cork.

We love the B-52 popping cork for its sound and visibility. Also, try shrimp on a Jim’s Jig, it needs to be heavy enough to reach the bottom with current, so at least a ¼ ounce at minimum.

Reds in the outback love, I say love a mudminnow this time of year. A spoon or Gulp will also do the trick, but vary your retrieval speed until you find the bite. In addition, the old shrimp will still do the trick, but with the cold snaps it might be hard to find shrimp.

December can be a spectacular month for fishing, when you know where to look. Please reach out to me at capterichasty@gmail.com with any questions you may have. In addition, check out We Be Tailing, live Wednesday night’s at 7:00 for more tips and tricks at the ShastyMcNasty Fishing Facebook page.

Capt. Eric Hasty ShastyMcNasty Fishing LLC www.shastymcnastyfishing.com 352-220-3206

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DECEMBER 2019

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SEAFOOD AT ITS BEST!

H

appy Holidays Citrus County anglers, our gulf waters are cooling down, and many of our favorite species we like to target, are heading East. The trout and redfish will be making their way towards the spring-fed rivers and back-county creeks. If Old Man Winter hasn’t hit us hard yet, start your days near the mouths of the rivers, and target the adjacent oyster bars and shallow rock flats. Soft plastic jerkbaits, such as the DOA 5.5-inch model in the glow and golden bream colors works equally well for both species. If the gulf water temperature has reached the low 60’s, it’s time to think warmer locations and slower presentations. Tie on a soft plastic jig or slowly suspending twitch bait, and target the deeper backcountry holes with nearby shallow hard bottom flats. These areas will concentrate the majority of the fish who don’t seek refuge in the rivers.

For the river anglers, the springs flow a warm 72 degrees, and hold a variety of species such as mangrove snapper, tarpon, trout, ladyfish, jack crevalle, red fish and snook. All of these species will be calling the rivers home for the next couple months.

One of my favorites, and one of the tastiest fish in the gulf, the sheepshead, will begin covering various hard bottom areas just off the coast, in preparation for the late winter spawn.

Rock piles and ledges are home to these guys, and you never know what else that next cast may bring. Fishing these areas can be nonstop action with, grunts, porgies, sea bass, grouper, hog fish etc., and it’s really great for the kids.

A live shrimp on a knocker rig is simple and works fantastically well.

If you’re a fly fisherman, or thinking of giving fly fishing a try, the ladyfish are in the head water bays and coves by the thousands. This scenario is a perfect opportunity to experience fly fishing and have guaranteed success. An 8-foot rod, floating line and a hand full of Clouser

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minnows in the white and chartreuse color combinations, will keep the rod bent. Remember to pinch the barb of the fly, to make releasing a ladyfish more enjoyable.

December is our last month to take a gag grouper home, and I must say this has been an excellent season. From trolling and casting plugs, to dropping down live and dead baits, the grouper action has been great. Watch the weather before you venture offshore, as the cold fronts are coming more and more frequently this time of year. Depths from 10 to 40 feet, are holding plenty of keeper gags. Good Fishing!

Capt. Dan Clymer 352.418.2160

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BUCATINI WITH SHRIMP IN A TOMATO PAN SAUCE COOKING DIRECTIONS

In large pot cook pasta in boiling, salted water until tender.

Using your largest skillet, heat the oil over med-high heat. Salt and pepper the shrimp, and add to pan and cook on both sides for about two minutes. Push the shrimp to the outside edges of the pan, and add the white parts of the onions to the middle of the pan, and red pepper if you are using. Cook a few minutes and push to outside edges of the pan. Add the minced garlic, again to middle of pan, cook for about 30 seconds and push to outside edges of pan. Add the tomatoes and a little more salt, and cook until they soften and begin to release juice. Add the spinach and green parts of onions and gently fold into contents of pan. When spinach is wilted, about two minutes, (hopefully you have space in your skillet to add the cooked pasta and Basil) and very gently fold into pan contents. Taste, and add more salt if necessary. Plate, and sprinkle with the feta, and serve with crusty bread.

Thank you to The Crab Plant for the beautiful shrimp. 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.

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Lynn Crutchfield, Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida

Note: You can inexpensively stretch this recipe deliciously, with a chicken breast or two, cut into bite size pieces. About the Bucatini tomatoes; they are the best commercially grown tomatoes I have eaten since I bought tomatoes from “The Tomato Man” 40 years ago in Gainesville. I am now finding these at Publix and Winn Dixie.

INGREDIENTS

• 1-pound shrimp, shelled and deveined • Bucatini, Spaghetti (or Pasta of your choice) for two • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil • 1-pint Campari or Cherry Tomatoes, sliced in half • 2 cloves garlic minced • 1 bunch of green onions chopped • 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional) • 2 ounces roughly crushed feta cheese • 1 large bag spinach (I remove the yucky stems) • A handful of fresh parsley chopped • A few leaves fresh Basil chopped • Salt and Pepper

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DECEMBER 2019

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ST. AUGUSTINE

W

ith water temperatures cooling down this month, look for the inshore fishing to heat up. For me, the next few months are the most exciting time of year to target reds on the flats and creeks.

I’m hoping for a cold-ish winter this year, as much as I don’t like freezing my butt off, the cold temps will kill the algae in the water, resulting in clearer, sight-fishable awesomeness.

It’ll be time to go to your favorite flat, put on your polarized Costa sunglasses, and start looking for fish. The creek fishing will be on fire as well. The redfish will push into the shallowest areas of the creeks on the low tides, to warm up, and feed on small minnows and shrimp.

This time of year, you'll get to sleep in, and wait for the sun to be out for a while to warm up the water.

Clearer water can mean spookier fish, so downsize your baits/lures for a stealthier approach. On extremely low tides, the redfish, trout and flounder will get schooled up in area creek holes. A live shrimp or mud minnow tossed into those holes using a ¼ oz. Saltwater Assassin jighead can’t be beat.

When up on the flats, look for darker mud and oyster-laden bottom to be holding redfish, trout, and flounder. These areas will warm up faster than others on sunny days, and a few degrees can really make a difference. Another benefit of dropping water temps, is the that redfish will start schooling on the flats. If you know where to look, you can find huge schools of tightly packed redfish this time of year. Locate these fish from a distance by looking for “muds” (discolored muddy water caused by moving fish) and/or pushing wakes made by moving fish. Redfish

singles and doubles can also be found sunning themselves in the shallows, especially along side and on top of oyster bars this time of year. These fish will be lazy, so make sure to present your bait in a slow and methodical manner. When I spot a stationary fish, I like to cast long of him, and at least a few feet to either the left or right of the fish, depending on which way he's facing.

Then, work the bait slowly, back to where the fish is (this will help to not spook the fish). Sometimes, they will like it moving a little faster, and sometimes a little slower. It’s always fun trying to find the right approach.

Trout fishing should turn on as it cools down as well. (Last month was pretty awesome!). My favorite trout lure for this time of year is the Saltwater Assassin Lil Boss paddle tail in pearl paired with a their 1/8-1/4 oz. jighead. The tail has a ton of thump, and the trout just can’t resist it. The jig-jig- pause method works best for me. Target creek mouths, ICW banks, and any type of structure with moving water, and you’ll be sure to find some trout hanging out.

Sheepshead fishing should really start to get good this month as well.

Target area bridges, docks, and pilings with fiddler crabs to catch the tasty porgies.

Be sure to check out my Daily Fishing Reports online @www.

InshoreAdventures.net. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good bite!

Be sure to check out my Daily Fishing Reports online @www.InshoreAdventures.com Capt. Tommy Derringer www.InshoreAdventures.net 904-377-3734

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CAM_NCFL_1219.indd 17

SURF & PIER

D

ecember is shaping up to be a very good month for surf and pier fishing. November was fantastic, between the nasty cold fronts with strong winds. So, your key to success will be to go on those days when the high-pressure system sets in with clear skies and light to moderate winds out of the SE to NE. The last and most important part, is for the water temperature to be above 64 degrees.

The best bait for sheepshead, redfish, whiting, and pompano is fresh sand fleas. In December, they are a little harder to catch. You need a warm sunny day to get these little mole crabs, aka sand fleas, to come up to the surface. My next favorite bait is fresh clams that you buy at the seafood markets. The markets call them chowder or Quahog clams. If you cannot acquire either of those, you will never go wrong with fresh shrimp.

As the water cools. I always use a smaller #1 circle hook, with a small thumb nail size piece of bait. In the surf, my go-to is a double drop rig

with a white float on the top hook, and an orange bead on the bottom hook.

If the water temperature stays above 64 degrees, you will have a good shot at BIG redfish near, within 500 yards, of all of our inlets.

My go-to in the surf is a fish finder rig tied out of 100-pound mono, and a 7/0 circle hook. The bait is a half of a blue crab. Big reds will not shy away from heavy leaders. The reason for 100-pound mono is for the crab loving bonnet head sharks.

Go get them now before the frigid air turns our water temp too cold for comfort. When that happens, the pompano boogie south, and the whiting and redfish head offshore to warmer water. See you on the beach.

Noel Kuhn 43 years of surf fishing experience Surf fishing guide and long distance casting coach. Founding member of Florida Surf Casters club.

904-945-0660 www.TheSurfAngler.com

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STA-SEA’S NATURE COAST ADVENTURES

CENTRAL FLORIDA INLAND

R

A

lright fishers of the forest, we've made it through the brutally hot months, and fish population numbers are looking great. It wasn't long ago that the only people consistently catching fish, were either going to a friend's private (stocked) pond, or had an offshore "honey hole" (GPS marked) where they used a specific/complicated system to achieve success. Fortunately, Mother Nature has gone through a miraculous transformation over the last couple years, and that's no longer the case.

The Ocala National Forest is an amazing place, made up of many different and unique areas. A short drive in any direction, and you're in a whole new world. When I purchased my home here (6 years ago) I began searching everywhere, thinking there must be one lake hidden out here with the quality of bass fishing we trophy hunters dream of.

I could never have imagined the mass amount of quality lakes I discovered. I went to middle school and high school near here (Ft. McCoy) and was an avid fisherman then also. Without a cell phone GPS to rely on though, everyone just fished the Ocklawaha and St. John's Rivers. The only lakes I knew of were Lake Kerr and Lake Bryant.

Now, that I have endless spots to choose from, there's always somewhere that perfectly fits the weather conditions I'm facing, and species I'm targeting. For most of us, our focus during winter is mainly on crappie (specks). Are they schooled up well?

How big is the average size, and where are the giants? Judging by the monster sunfish everywhere, and the loads of medium size specks we saw last year (pic), I'd say, "Don't worry about a thing". Just gear up for some good times and good eating. December will still be producing big sunfish on the outer edge of reed patches and lily pad fields. The great thing is, you'll be there catching bluegill and shell crackers, and then one

day you'll end up getting a few specks thrown into the mix. That's when you know it's time to start trolling open water in search of the schools. Hint: Any cheap depth finder will show schools as you go over them. It'll also show the prime areas to target, which are depth drop-offs (ledges) and brush piles.

Yes, my friends, it surely is nice to know that anytime you hit the water, you're gonna have a blast. Whichever type of vessel you have, just let the wind drift you around a bit, and when you start seeing boils from spooked gamefish, you'll know you're on "the juice". As always, feel free to contact me anytime for advice, or to book an adventure. Our prairies are truly gorgeous right now.

They're full of fish, full of wildlife, and with a knowledable guide leading the way; you're free to take it all in and enjoy every second.

John Freeze Kayak Fishing and Nature Tours TheWaterwayz@gmail.com 352-216-5798

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CAM_NCFL_1219.indd 19

aising a teenager, is to say the least---frightening. I have a 16-year-old daughter who can test my patience like nobody else. I also have a 29-year-old daughter and a 28-year-old daughter, so this is not my first rodeo. I consider myself almost an expert. (That's all in my own mind.) She was raised on and around the water. She has also witnessed firsthand, my journey you become an inshore fishing guide, and this has taught her that you can do anything you set your mind to.

It has given her some tenacity that she may not otherwise have learned.

She is now at the age, where hanging out with her friends, shopping, doing her makeup, taking selfies and driving around, now sometimes takes precedence over fishing. We have to remember as parents, that no matter what they want to do, sometimes they need to do things that we want them to do. I ask her to go fishing with me because it clears your mind, it brings you back to nature, it lets you get a glimpse of a world that is oh, so precious. Most of the time, she is willing to go and loves to be on the water, but lately I see her becoming more concerned with the previously mentioned activities. I decided to take a leap and ask her to fish with me the other day, and I had to tell her it would just be a couple hours, and we would have a good time. She had just done her makeup, so she wasn’t exactly thrilled to go.

We went out, and the temps were cooler than normal; normal being 85 degrees. So only climbing to 80 degrees was a nice change. We stayed inshore and she was the first one to hook up. Between the two of us, we probably caught 25 small redfish. She told me that she saw an opening to a small creek and that there was a swift current and some cover in that area, and asked if I could take her to that DECEMBER 2019

spot. I obliged, and on her very first cast, she hooked a beautiful 24-inch redfish. I could see while she was fighting this fish, at this minute, there was nowhere else in the world she would rather be. It was a huge victory for me. Sometimes we just have to make our kids put down their phones and enjoy the outdoors, completely unplugged. We ended up catching a plethora of fish, from sheepshead to snook. It was a very successful day on the water in more ways than one. At the end of the day she looked at me and said, "I am so glad I went fishing with you today, it was one of our best days". WIN! Captain Stacy Horak Cell 352-553-3604 Facebook: CaptainStacy Horak Instagram: captain_ stacyhorakfishing Website: www. fishingwithcaptainstacy.com

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Decked for the holiday season during Palm Beach’s By John out Lidington 2018 boat parade. Photo by Andrea Whitaker.

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t’s the holiday season, a time of giving and good cheer, and divers are as ready as any to participate. One source of good cheer is supporting good causes. Humanitarian causes are typically linked to this season, but we can feel good about aiding organizations focused on our diving environment, too.

A number of worthy organizations stand ready to put your aid to good use. This year, on the humanitarian front, there’s a special cause for divers to consider. Hurricane Dorian did a number on Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands. The devastation has dropped out of the news cycle, but their needs will be great well into the future. The Bahamian government maintains a webpage listing relief organizations at www.bahamas.com/relief.

While donations are a major component of the relief effort, restoring jobs is also essential. If you want to boost your spirits along with the local economy, try a winter dive vacation to Grand Bahama.

Its major dive operations are back up, and flights to Fort Lauderdale and other international airports should have resumed. Restoration of Abaco’s services will lag Grand Bahama’s, but the islands should offer

great adventures for the more self-reliant.

Of the many marine-focused organizations, here are several that Florida divers might consider: Probably the best-known diver-oriented nonprofit is Reef Environmental Education Network, based in Key Largo. Check out R.E.E.F.’s website (www.reef.org) but plan on a lengthy visit. Their “quizlets” will hook you if you’re into fish-ID. Coral propagation is an important tool in restoring disease-damaged reefs. The Coral Restoration Foundation (www.coralrestoration.org) has focused primarily on growing elkhorn and staghorn corals to replace stands wiped out in the 1980s. Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium (mote.org/research/program/coral-reef-restoration) is working with brain and boulder corals, with the goal of repairing reefs hit by the new disease outbreaks from Martin County down into the Florida Keys.

Are sea turtles your thing? Two long-established local organizations are the Loggerhead Marinelife Center (marinelife.org) and the National Save The Sea Turtle Foundation (savetheseaturtle.org), which now hosts the Florida Hawksbill Project (www.floridahawksbills.com). In addition to collecting nesting and tracking data, Loggerhead operates a turtle hospital. NSSTF funds turtle research projects, including several at Florida Atlantic University.

There are more ways to offer support than giving organizations cash.

Check off your gift list while supporting your favorite cause. Check out their online stores. Apparel, books, toys—they’re all there. Save the Sea Turtle even offers subscriptions to “Florida Environmental Outreach” for a gift that gives all year.

You can spread the holiday cheer close to home, too. Pura Vida Divers is participating again in the Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade and supporting the Toys for Tots donation drive.

Every new, unwrapped toy you donate at the shop earns you 20 percent off in-store items and a raffle ticket for Pura Vida’s Holiday Party on Dec. 13.

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DECEMBER 2019

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FLORIDA

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By Will Schmidt

G

rowing up, I used corks a lot, usually to know when a bream had taken my little dough ball when I was fishing in my backyard. Later, I used them to keep track of lively white bait or aid in casting shrimp farther. Now days, I use them more as a dinner bell than anything else. I am also using them in much deeper water than you would ever expect, but here you need a little patience.

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If you’ve fished the flats in saltwater, you have probably used a popping cork and a shrimp at some point. Giving your rod a sharp tug to make the cork pop always seemed to liven up the action. Well, the same can be done in deep water to help hungry reds find your meal offering.

The really cool thing about this is it works with conventional tackle as well as fly setups.

The concept is pretty simple, a popping cork with about 20 inches of mono out of the bottom tied to large swimbait or fly. We use them around large schools of bait that are being worked over by breeding-sized reds.

“Pop it hard and wait at least 10 seconds. You know it’s deep here and it will take at least that long for the fish to find it,” said Capt. Gary Dubiel.

He should know since he invented the Pop N Fly technique. The key is to make a huge pop with a lot of noise and then pause. The deeper the water, the longer you wait. The fish are in constant movement around enormous schools of bait. When they hear what seems to be another fish feeding, they come running to get their share. But it might take a minute. You want to make sure your bait gets straight down below the cork, as well as giving the fish plenty of time to locate it before popping again. On average, wait 8 to 10 seconds in 14 feet of water, longer if the water is deeper.

It is also nice that you don’t need live bait for this technique because it saves time at first light, making it easy to run and gun on large schools of bait. For tackle, a medium weight spinning rod with plenty of 20- or 30-pound braid will do the trick. On the fly, you will want a 10 weight to cast the rig and plenty of backing.

Below the cork, your fly or swimbait will slowly sink down looking like a stunned or wounded baitfish that seemingly escaped a vicious attack… aka an easy meal. Pop and be patient, the strikes are basically unremarkable; the cork just disappears. But the fight of these 40-plus-pound beasts on light tackle or a fly rod is much more noteworthy.

Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler who has been writing about fishing for two decades. Reach Capt. Dubiel at (252) 249-1520.

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FLORIDA

19

VISIT THE

STUART BOAT SHOW JANUARY 10-12

Photo by Cayne Grace

A wide variety of boat brands are represented at the show including the latest models of motor yachts, cruisers, center consoles, speed boats, sport fishing boats and pontoons ranging in size from 12 feet to 90-plus feet in length.

Additional exhibitors include the latest in personal watercraft, safety equipment, marine electronics, inboard and outboard engines, financing and insurance companies, nautical clothing and jewelry, fishing gear, accessories and financing and insurance companies.

The schedule is full all three days with seminars presented by female angler Darcizzle, captains Chris and Alyse Caldwell, Capt.

Paul Sperco, Capt. Planet and Mark Palazzo. It will be lots of fun for the whole family with an expanded food court area with delicious food, and a bar and large screen TVs to round out the show.

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Friday, Jan. 10, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 12, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

WHERE:

54-290 NW Dixie Hwy., Stuart, FL - Free shuttle service available from Whitham Field and Wright Blvd./Dixie Hwy. parking lots.

ENTRY:

$14 General Admission, $12 Veterans and $7 Children 12 and under.

Tickets available at www.stuartboatshow.com/tickets. Sorry, no pets.

F

ind your dream boat at the largest boat show on the Treasure Coast Jan. 10-12 in Stuart, Fla. In its 46th year, the Stuart Boat For more information on the Stuart Boat Show, visit http://www.

Show will feature more than 175 local, national and interna- stuartboatshow.com. Follow the Stuart Boat Show on Facebook, tional exhibitors displaying hundreds of boats in water and on land. YouTube, Instagram and Twitter.

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F L O R I D A

FWC has approved several draft rule changes for spotted seatrout. Based on public comment, the Commission also directed staff to continue considering public input and update the proposal as needed prior to bringing this back at a future meeting for final approval.

Approved draft changes include:

• Splitting the Northwest spotted seatrout management zone into two separate zones including the Western Panhandle (Escambia County through most of Gulf County, not including Indian Pass/Indian Lagoon) and the Big Bend (Franklin County, plus Indian Lagoon, through Fred Howard Park Causeway in Pinellas County).

• Moving the boundary between the southern management zones to create the newly-renamed South Florida zone (Fred Howard Park Causeway in Pinellas County near the Pasco County line through Broward County) and Central East zone (Palm Beach through Volusia counties).

• Reducing bag limits - Western Panhandle: five to three fish - Big Bend: five to four fish - South Florida: four to three fish - Central East: four to two fish - Northeast: six to five fish • Modifying the recreational slot size limit from 15-to-20 inches to 15-to-19 inches total length.

• Allowing one seatrout over 19 inches per vessel (currently, per harvester).

• Changing the current daily commercial limits to 50 per harvester and 100 per vessel.

• Prohibiting captain and crew from keeping a bag limit on a for-hire trip.

• Re-establishing the February recreational closure in the Western Panhandle zone and the November-December recreational closure in the Central East zone.

Provide online comments about these draft changes at MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments.

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DECEMBER 2019

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FLORIDA

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By Paul Tyre

F

rog fishing is one of the most exciting ways to catch the largemouth bass that ambush feed in grass-choked reservoirs of the South.

Lake Seminole, on the Florida/Georgia border, is one of the best frog-fishing lakes in the country.

If you ever get the chance to visit Seminole, do it. In the meantime, these tips and techniques may help on your local grass mats.

My favorite hollow-body frogs are the Spro Bronzeye series. Spro Bronzeye frogs are built

around a Gamakatsu EWG double hook that is very strong and sticky sharp, which is needed for getting big bass out of heavy cover. They come three styles: Bronzeye Frog, Bronzeye POP and Bronzeye Shad. Each has a unique action that works great under different circumstances.

The Bronzeye Frog 65 has a pointed nose that can be worked over and through the heaviest cover or in open water. It’s the frog I choose for covering water to find concentrations of bass under grass mats. As the grass starts to die under mats, it creates open pockets and perfect frogging conditions. When fishing a Bronzeye Frog 65, heavy braided line is a must. My choice is Cortland Master Braid for its durability and strength. I also prefer a high speed reel, at least 7:3:1 gear ratio mounted on a 7-foot, 2-inch to 7-foot, 6-inch heavy action rod with a fast tip and a lot of backbone to haul big bass out of cover.

Make long casts across a flat and work the frog with a fast hopping action. Expect a blowup! This is a great technique for covering large expanses to find out where fish are holding. When you get a strike, be sure to pause before setting the hook. Also, when a missed strike occurs, reel the bait in as fast as possible and cast back past where the strike occurred. Work the frog slowly with slight twitches to move it side to side but not forward. The bass should key in on the bait and strike again.

The Bronzeye Pop 60 has incredible attention-drawing power. Its concave nose allows you to fish slower with a popping of the rod tip. The frog remains in the strike zone longer and generates explosive strikes. Fish this frog around all types of cover from laydowns to docks, to grass lines and holes in grass beds. I prefer a 7-foot to 7-foot, 3-inch heavy action rod with a fast tip and a high-speed reel with 50- to 65-pound braided line, depending on the cover I’m fishing.

The Bronzeye Spit Shad 65 has a spitting and gliding action. It can be fished anywhere you would want to throw a hard bait but can’t due to hangups. I fish lily pad fields with this bait. It comes through pads very well and allows faster fishing to cover more water.

Contact Paul Tyre, of Lake Seminole Fishing Adventures, at (850) 2647534, e-mail paultyrefishing@yahoo.com and follow him on Instagram @lakeseminilefishingadventures and Facebook @paultyrefishing.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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Instant Savings apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 10/01/19 and 12/31/19. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine. com. Instant Savings must be applied against the agreed-upon selling price of the outboard motor and reflected in the bill of sale. (Suzuki will, in turn, credit Dealer’s parts account.) There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 10/01/19 and 12/31/19. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2019 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

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“My first time there was surreal,” Viens remembered, “definitely my favorite moment on the track.”

One day, after fighting again with a rusted adjustable wrench trying to get the drainplug from his boat, Viens knew there had to be a better way. On one of the Nascar driver’s long walks, the idea for the Boat Gadget was born. Viens wanted an all-in-one boat tool that could truly be useful and not something that just sat in the garage. What came to fruition was one of the most useful tools on the market today. The Boat Gadget has more than 10 uses, including: 1) Molded notches for deck plates 2) Wine or canvas snap opener 3) Fishing line cutter 4) 30mm & 35mm gas cap key 5) T-bar drain plug crank 6) Bottle opener 7) Flat top drain plug tool 8) Flip top gas cap 9) Safety whistle 10) Square boat drain plug

By CAM Staff

N

ascar driver turned inventor Tim Viens is bringing a revolutionary new boat tool to the industry this December, and Coastal Angler sat down to see just how he made the switch from the track to the docks.

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You can find this innovative new product for purchase at www. boatgadget.com, and make sure you follow them on Facebook and Instagram @boatgadget.

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MODEL: SS-16-MB-E

$

34999

SAVE $264

COMPARE TO

ITEM 64008/64011 shown

SUPER COUPON

6.5 HP (212 CC) OHV HORIZONTAL SHAFT GAS ENGINE

Customer Rating

NOW

$9999

NOW

99 SAVE 49%

ITEM 60388/69514 shown

564

Customer Rating

NOW

239 $1 89 99

STACK-ON $ 57

99 $299

LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*

2/10/50 AMP, 12 VOLT BATTERY CHARGER AND ENGINE STARTER

• Boom extends from 41" to 61-3/4" • Crane height adjusts from 73-5/8" to 89"

Contents not included.

COMPARE TO

*27797800 * 27797800 SUPER COUPON

SUPER COUPON

9 PIECE FULLY POLISHED COMBINATION WRENCH SETS

SUPER COUPON

SUPER COUPON

Customer Rating

SUPER COUPON

HUSKY

72" x 80" MOVING BLANKET

• 5 hour run time @ 50% capacity

$4

COMPARE TO

SUPER COUPON

900 WATT MAX. STARTING 2 CYCLE GAS POWERED GENERATOR

99

ITEM 64110

B

*27725225 * 27725225

Limit 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day Parking Lot Sale item, compressors, floor jacks, safes, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, welders, Admiral, Ames, Atlas, Bauer, Central Machinery, Cobra, CoverPro, Daytona, Diamondback, Earthquake, Fischer, Hercules, Icon, Jupiter, Lynxx, Poulan, Predator, Tailgator, Viking, Vulcan, Zurich. Not valid on prior purchases.

Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 2/3/20.

SUPER COUPON Customer Rating

$ 99 NOW

B. WITH 2" ANVIL Customer Rating

Cannot be used with other discounts or prior purchases. Original coupon must be presented.

Valid through 2/3/20 while supplies last. Limit 1 FREE GIFT per customer per day.

Customer Rating

26999

13

*27724488 * 27724488

LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*

20% OFF

ANY SINGLE ITEM*

ITEM 63878/63991 PERFORMANCE $ 52 64005/69567/60566 MODEL: W2364 TOOL 63601/67227shown

Pre-drilled for two padlocks (locks sold separately)

*27726160 * 27726160

ITEM 64520

WITH ANY PURCHASE

SUPER BRIGHT LED /SMD WORK LIGHT/FLASHLIGHT

ALL IN A SINGLE SUPER POWERFUL LIGHT

Adjustable pressure relief valve equalizes pressure for easy opening

COMPARE TO

FREE

• Super-Strong, Ultra-Lightweight Composite Plastic • Magnetic Base & 360° Swivel Hook for Hands-Free Operation • 3- AAA Batteries (included) • 144 Lumens

Customer Rating

NOW

$

Pick and pull foam insert for impact-absorbing protection

SUPER COUPON

59

9 $299

ITEM 60581 SCHUMACHER $ 77 3418 $ MODEL: SE-1250 60653 shown ELECTRIC

5499

$ ITEM 60363/69730 ITEM 68121/69727 shown CALIFORNIA ONLY

COMPARE TO

HONDA

$

11999

329 99 SAVE $ 230

MODEL: GX200UT2QX2

*27802566 * 27802566

*27803818 * 27803818

*27804066 * 27804066

*27807499 * 27807499

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*

LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*

LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*

LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*

*Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 2/3/20.

hft_coastalangler_1219_M-REG163334.indd 1

At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare to” price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.

11/4/19 2:14 PM

Don’t Suffocate Your Boat with Shrink Wrap!

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Visit CarverCovers.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

I

DECEMBER 2019

I

NATIONAL

16

1782-18B Coastal Angler.indd 1

12/19/18 3:50 PM

Secrets of a Billionaire Revealed “Price is what you pay; value is what you get.

Whether we’re talking about socks or stocks, I like buying quality merchandise when it is marked down.”

— wisdom from the most successful investor of all time

W

e’re going to let you in on a secret. Billionaires have billions because they know value is not increased by an inflated price.

They avoid big name markups, and aren’t swayed by flashy advertising.

When you look on their wrist you’ll find a classic timepiece, not a cry for attention–– because they know true value comes from keeping more money in their pocket.

We agree with this thinking wholeheartedly. And, so do our two-and-a-half million clients. It’s time you got in on the secret too. The Jet-Setter Chronograph can go up against the best chronographs in the market, deliver more accuracy and style than the “luxury” brands, and all for far, far less. $1,150 is what the Jet-Setter Chronograph would cost you with nothing more than a different name on the face.

With over two million timepieces sold (and counting), we know a thing or two about creating watches people love. The Jet-Setter Chronograph gives you what you need to master time and keeps the superfluous stuff out of the equation. A classic in the looks department and a stainless steel power tool of construction, this is all the watch you need. And, then some.

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Time is running out. Now CLIENTS LOVE that the secret’s out, we STAUER WATCHES… can’t guarantee this $29 chronograph will stick around long. Don’t overpay to be “The quality of their underwhelmed. Put a precision watches is equal to many chronograph on your wrist for that can go for ten times just $29 and laugh all the way the price or more.” to the bank. Call today!

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Absolute best price for a fully-loaded chronograph with precision accuracy...

ONLY

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TAKE 90% OFF INSTANTLY! When you use your OFFER CODE

Jet-Setter Chronograph $299† Offer Code Price $29 + S&P Save $270

Limited to the first 1900 responders to this ad only.

You must use the offer code to get our special price.

1-800-333-2045

Your Offer Code: JCW208-01

Rating of A+

Please use this code when you order to receive your discount.

“See a man with a functional chronograph watch on his wrist, and it communicates a spirit of precision.” — AskMen.com®

Stauer…Afford the Extraordinary.® • Precision crystal movement • Stainless steel case back & bracelet with deployment buckle • 24 hour military time • Chronograph minute & small second subdials; seconds hand • Water resistant to 3 ATM • Fits wrists 7" to 9"

Stauer

® 14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. JCW208-01, Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com † Special price only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer.com without your offer code.