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PHOTO BY CAPT. BLAKE RIGBY COURTESY OF TRIPLETAIL CHARTERS WWW.TRIPLETAILCHARTERS.COM VOLUME 25 • ISSUE 302
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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
MAY 2020
W O R L D W I D E
4/20/20 10:26 PM
Time to get to your local Suzuki Marine Dealer for the Ultimate Outboard Motors. Buy Time our to get to your local Suzuki Dealer3-Year for theLimited Ultimate Outboardplus Motors. Buy during Spring Sales Event andMarine get Suzuki’s Warranty 3 years of Time to our get to yourSales local Suzuki Marine Dealer the Ultimate Outboard Motors. during Spring Event get Suzuki’s 3-Year Limited Warranty plus 3models, yearsBuy ofand Extended Protection at no extraand charge. There for are Instant Savings on select during our Spring Sales Event andcharge. get Suzuki’s Limited Warranty plus 3models, years of Extended Protection noavailable. extra There3-Year are Instant Savings on select and Low-Rate Financing is at also Extended Protection no extra charge. There are Instant Savings on select models, and Low-Rate Financing at isSuzuki also available. See your participating Marine Low-Rate Financing is also available. See your participating Suzuki Marine dealer for all the details. See yourfor participating Suzuki Marine dealer all the details. dealer for all the details.
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Gimme Six Extended Protection promotion applies to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 04/01/20 and 06/30/20 in accordance with the Gimme promotion a Participating Authorized the continental and customer who and resides in thetocontinental US or04/01/20 Alaska. The SixinPromotion is available Six by Extended Protection promotionSuzuki appliesMarine to newdealer SuzukiinOutboard Motors US from 25Alaska to 350 to HPa inpurchasing inventory which are sold delivered buyer between andGimme 06/30/20 accordance with for pleasure use only, is not redeemable cash. Instant Savings applies to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motorsinmade between 04/01/20 andThe 06/30/20. list of designated models, the promotion by a and Participating Authorized for Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides the continental US or Alaska. Gimme For Six Promotion is available Gimme Six Extended Protection promotion applies to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 04/01/20 and 06/30/20 in accordance with seefor participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Instant Savings musttobe applied purchases against the price of the outboard motor and reflected in theFor billlist of of sale. There are no model pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings applies qualifying of agreed-upon select Suzuki selling Outboard Motors made between 04/01/20 and 06/30/20. designated models, the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. The Gimme Six Promotion is available 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 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. There are no model for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings applies to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 04/01/20 and 06/30/20. For list of designated models, Synchrony Retail benefit Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 Suzuki monthsreserves on newthe andright unregistered Outboard Motors. Subject credit approval. buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and substitutions, substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. to changeSuzuki or cancel these promotions at anytotime without noticeNot or all obligation. * Financing offers available through 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. There are no model terms provided, are Finance. based onAscreditworthiness. $19.99/month permonths $1,000on financed 60 monthsSuzuki is based on 5.99% APR.Subject Hypothetical figures usedNot in all calculation; actual monthly may Synchrony Retail low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 new andfor unregistered Outboard Motors. to credit approval. buyers willyour qualify. Approval, andpayment any rates anddiffer 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 based on provided, financing are terms, credit tier qualification,$19.99/month accessories orper other factors such for as down payment and fees. OfferAPR. effective on new,figures unregistered Outboard purchased from may a participating terms based on creditworthiness. $1,000 financed 60 months is based on 5.99% Hypothetical used inSuzuki calculation; your Motors actual monthly payment differ 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 authorized dealer between and 06/30/20. “Gimme Six”,factors the Suzuki “S”down and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drinkSuzuki and drive. Always wearpurchased a USCG-approved life jacket and based onSuzuki financing terms, credit04/01/20 tier qualification, accessories or other such as payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Outboard Motors from a participating terms provided, are based on creditworthiness. $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 readauthorized your owner’s manual. 2020 Suzuki Motor America,“Gimme Inc. Suzuki dealer© between 04/01/20 andof06/30/20. Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and 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 read your owner’s manual. © 2020 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. authorized Suzuki dealer between 04/01/20 and 06/30/20. “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. © 2020 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
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Catch
BIG BASS
From The Bank
I
f you grew up fishing, you might remember riding your bicycle to a local pond giddy with anticipation of what the day might bring. With a spinning rod held across the handlebars and a pocket full of plastic worms, the tactics were simple but the potential was huge. Would today be the day a monster largemouth tested the strength of your 8-pound line? For most of us, the joy and simplicity of bass fishing from the bank has
been lost to glitter boats and sophisticated electronics. But the truth is, all you need to catch bass—and some good ones—is a pocket full of tackle and a willingness to explore. Here are a few tips that’ll take you back to the good ol’ days. • Find a Pond: Bigger waters do not always hold bigger fish. Find a farm pond or a subdivision drainage lake with the right forage and habitat, and there’s a good chance it holds some bass pushing double digits. The key is access, so look respectful and be polite when asking, and always leave the place looking better than you found it. Google Maps is a great way to seek out small waters, and state or municipal public fishing areas can also be very good. • Keep it Simple: Only take what you’ll need. A small backpack or tackle pack should hold necessities like an extra spool of line, some needle-nose pliers and a small selection of your confidence lures. A few packs of plastic worms in proven colors and styles allow you to probe all depths depending on the rig. Spinnerbaits, bladed jigs and lipless crankbaits allow long casts to cover open water. Take just one rod. A 7-foot, medium-light action spooled with light line will handle most lures and allow for long casts you might need to reach fish. • Fish The Structure: Fish obvious visible cover like fallen trees and docks, but don’t forget the bottom contours. Depth changes attract ambush predators, and in smaller waters even a drop of couple feet will hold fish. Most ponds are deepest at the dam, and there is usually a wide shallow flat with a channel where a creek comes in. Spillways where water runs from a pipe are hotspots, and so are sunken boulders you can find by searching with a Texas rig or jig. Study the banks. Underwater topography often reflects what is visible above the waterline. Features like steep banks and ditches typically continue into a pond. One of the main considerations when prospecting small waters is that familiarity breeds success just like it does on large rivers and reservoirs. The same cover and structure will hold fish consistently. Also, a willingness to explore areas others won’t leads to unpressured fish. Wear long pants and boots, scramble through the high grass, woods and muck. Wade into the water where bank brush doesn’t allow for a cast. Remember, the world record largemouth bass was caught in 1932 from a small and swampy oxbow lake in south Georgia. Big fish live in small waters. That should be enough to make you giddy on the way to your next bank fishing excursion… even if you’re not riding a bike.
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he tuna fishing is on fire,” said Capt. Blake Rigby. “This year has been absolutely phenomenal.”
That was the April report from a Venice, Louisiana charter captain who was sitting at home in the midst of a global pandemic. Meanwhile, some of the best yellowfin action in decades was occurring in the Gulf of Mexico. The fish are out there, but no one is travelling to catch them. Charter captains are suffering, despite the fact that fisheries are still open for business. “It sucks,” Rigby said. “I fished 20-something days in March. I haven’t fished any this month.” In March, near the end of what Rigby called “lump season,” the numbers and size of yellowfin tuna being caught at the famous salt domes about 30 miles out of Venice Marina were astounding. Even in decent years, it’s one of the best winter and early spring tuna fisheries in the world. Plankton-rich currents from deep in the Gulf swirl around vertical domes that top out at 200 to 300 feet deep. It consolidates baitfish and the big fish that eat them. “It’s the best I’ve ever seen in my life,” said the young captain. At 26, he’s been running charters for six years, and said the old timers are
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expressing the same enthusiasm. “I think it’s safe to say it’s the best anyone has seen in 20 years.” The silver lining to the situation is there aren’t many people messing with the fish. When the coronavirus frenzy dies down, Rigby predicts the action will continue right through the summer, as the bite transitions to the massive floating oil and gas rigs of the Mississippi Canyon. More than 70 miles long and 5 miles wide, the Mississippi Canyon is a huge cut in the edge of the continental shelf. The rigs, called “floaters,” sit over depths from 2,000 to 7,000 feet. Every living thing gravitates to these floaters. Yellowfin might be the primary target, but blackfin tuna, mahi-mahi, wahoo, the occasional blue marlin and others are in the mix. Rigby said a good summer trip might include five or six tuna, weighing from 35 to more than 100 pounds. The bigger fish, those heavier than 200 pounds,
Photos courtesy of Blake Rigby/ Tripletail Charters. 8 NATIONAL
MAY 2020
By Nick Carter
typically show up in the cooler months. “I don’t want to raise expectations too high, because every day is different. Sometimes you can really get them, sometimes you can’t,” Rigby said. “But typically, when you find them, you’re really going to be in them.” Out of Venice, the floaters are spread 30 to 70 miles out. There’s an hour and a half run aboard Rigby’s 38-foot Empire Boatworks before it’s time put out the trolling spread. Once fish are located, Rigby slows to drift live or cut baits. Night fishing is a great option in the heat of summer. Usually, night trips depart after lunch and return when anglers have caught their fill. “Sometimes the fishing is so good, I come back that night,” Rigby said. “Sometimes we’ll stay through the next morning’s bite.” For more information, visit www.tripletailcharters.com, email Rigby at blake@tripletailcharters.com or call (409) 651-7639.
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he way fish react to live bait is interesting. Predatory fish view struggling or dying prey as an easy meal, right? So why does a half-dead shrimp on the end of the line get ignored? It would seem to represent an easy meal hanging there limp and twitching. Meanwhile, the bait pulling your popping cork across the marsh is going to get absolutely hammered. This runs counter to the theory that fish innately weigh the expenditure versus reward of chasing down prey. Seatrout are always looking for something lively. But what about redfish or any of the other inshore species that are as likely to eat a piece of dead bait as they are a live one? They’ll happily pick up a piece of frozen squid off the bottom, so why would they refuse a sluggish mud minnow on a freeline? It stands to reason that fish, when they are feeding by sight, sound and vibration—rather than smell—don’t even notice a live bait hanging out in the water doing next to nothing. Or maybe it looks unnatural, as if a shrimp that bad off should be bumping along the bottom instead of hanging in the current? Meanwhile, the bait that’s frantically trying to escape the hook it’s impaled on is drawing attention to itself. Active live bait plays on the predatory instincts of fish just like artificial lures. It works for the same reason your dog would rather you throw a tennis ball than hand it to him. The lesson here is to keep your live bait alive. Baitwells that circulate and aerate by pumping water from outside the boat are the best way to keep live bait happy. The water you’re keeping your bait in is the same water you’re fishing. This is important because sudden changes in temperature or water conditions stuns baits. With a baitwell, when you impale and cast that pinfish, it lands in the same water conditions it just came from. It’s likely to freak out when the world suddenly grows a lot bigger and full of predators, and that’s exactly what you want. If you don’t have a baitwell, a bait tank that circulates and aerates water is almost as good. You’ll have to watch the temperature, though. Cooler water makes for livelier bait in the tank, but be careful how much ice you dump in. You don’t want your finger mullet going into shock when it hits the bay. Finally, smaller coolers or 5-gallon buckets benefit from the addition of a bubbler to add oxygen to the water. These systems are very portable and perfect for kayaks and shore anglers. Remember to change the water every few hours, and don’t overload them with bait to begin with. With any of these systems, the idea is to keep the bait fresh long enough to fish it. Because if your shrimp are lethargic, you’re better off peeling and fishing chunks of them on the bottom than you are presenting them to fish as live baits.
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CA Florida STAR presented by Yamaha will have anglers across the state in hot pursuit of valuable orange tags! The new launch date for the 2020 STAR competition is Wednesday, July 1, when anglers of all ages and skill levels will chase tagged fish and also catch and log non-tagged species in 17 inshore and offshore divisions for a shot at their share of $500,000 in prizes and scholarships. Winning anglers have a choice in the signature Tagged Redfish Division of Yamaha-powered boat packages including a Contender Boats 22 Sport, Pathfinder Boats 2200TRS, Hewes Redfisher 16 and Carolina Skiffs 21 LS. “The last five years of competition are proof that tagged fish can be caught, and you would get to pick from the prizes available,” said STAR Director Leiza Fitzgerald. “But remember, any fish you catch can be entered to win something, you just need to be a member and registered for STAR when you go fishing.” Both the east and west coast of Florida have had their share of STAR-tagged redfish recaptured during the competition by unregistered anglers. Since 2015, 102 tagged redfish have been recaptured, but only six of them by CCA members registered for STAR competition. Three of those winners took home new GMC trucks. The others opted for Pathfinder or Contender boat, motor and trailer packages, each powered by Yamaha. To date there have been more than a million dollars in prizes awarded, with $500,000 in college scholarships. On average, four STAR-tagged redfish are released per Florida’s coastal counties with Brevard, Charlotte and Citrus counties being destination counties with each having a total of eight tagged fish released in their waters. In 2019, two of the winning fish were from Charlotte County. In 2017, Citrus County had a winner. Tagged redfish have been caught in Brevard County each year, but the anglers were not registered. You might want to plan your next 8 FLORIDA
MAY 2020
fishing weekend in one of the three destination counties. There are plenty of opportunities for anglers to catch a winning fish, but they better be STAR-registered CCA members, or it will just be another very sad fish tale. STAR has other great opportunities for anglers who catch non-tagged fish, too. Terrific prizes are lined up for those who catch any non-tagged redfish, snook, trout, tarpon, kingfish, dolphin or grouper. Just submit a photo of your legal catch in the Open, Ladies, Kayak or Fly divisions. Even better, any fish can be entered in the Power Pole Conservation Division for a shot at some really cool Power Pole equipment. If fishing is not your thing, the Costa Kick Plastic Trash Division presented by Papa’s Pilar encourages people to collect plastic and trash from coastal waters and shorelines. Submit a photo of every full 5-gallon bucket collected and include The 2020 Official STAR Measuring Device in the photo for a shot at a three-day trip to Key West to visit the Hemingway Rum Distillery or $500 cash from Thrash Can Bucket toppers or gift certificates from AFTCO or West Marine. Kids can also enter their catches. Youth anglers (ages 6-17) can register for free with their current ($10) CCA Florida New Tide membership and are eligible for prizes in the tagged fish divisions as well as the Youth Scholarship Division, Conservation Division and the Trash Division. Prizes for the first two youth anglers in the STAR tagged redfish division include a Yamaha-powered Salt Marsh Skiff, sporting Humminbird electronics and a Minn Kota trolling motor all sitting on a trailer. The registered youth angler who catches the first STAR-tagged dolphin is eligible to win a $10,000 scholarship. The Youth Scholarship Division presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors offers $100,000 in scholarships, two $25,000 scholarships from Realtree Fishing and Academy Sports + Outdoors and ten $5,000 scholarships from Bealls Department Stores, Southeast Environmental Solutions, Talk of
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the Town Restaurant Group, Florida’s Sports Coast, Flagler Sportfishing Club, Plantation Inn Crystal River, Tailin Toads and Carolina Skiff. Other scholarship donors are Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Jacksonville Offshore Sportfishing Club and Ryals Offshore Productions. Unlike traditional fishing tournaments, STAR is a competition that focuses on conservation. Recognized as a ‘catch, photo and release’ competition, STAR’s smart phone app promotes the proper handling of all species and eliminates the requirement for anglers to harvest or capture and transport fish. “Our state’s fisheries are here for everyone’s enjoyment, and CCA Florida is constantly trying to improve them while promoting conservation. We understand that smart fishing will preserve these resources for the future,” said Brian Gorski, CCA Florida Executive Director. There are 17 divisions and 12 species included in the event, and most winners are determined by a random drawing of catch entries made. Registration is $40 for current CCA Florida members or $75 for non-members, which includes CCA Florida membership. With the start of the competition being July 1, plus incentives offered by Engel Coolers to register early and so many amazing prizes, now is the time to get registered and make your fishing more rewarding. For information visit www.ccaflstar.com or call (844) 387-7827.
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E
fficiency is the hallmark of successful predators, and dominant gamefish are no exception. Their savvy as hunters rivals that of any terrestrial predator. But hunting in the sea is very different from hunting on land. The physical contrast between the two mediums produces the distinction. No predatory creature, be they of land or of water, can afford to spend more energy capturing their prey than they obtain from its consumption. A recurrent net loss in energy would bring about the hunter’s downfall. On land, predatory animals— even those considered the most accomplished of hunters—often must work very hard to procure each meal. But, even if they put significant effort into a hunt, they are likely to derive more energy from the meal than they expended to get it. This is because the terrestrial atmosphere offers relatively
little in the way of physical resistance, and therefore requires relatively little energy to negotiate. Most terrestrial predators, accordingly, find the act of chasing their prey to be a bit more forgiving than do the denizens of the sea. While the density of seawater is very high, the compressibility of seawater is very low. Think of compressibility as the amount of “give” in an object or medium. For example, if you were to lay your head on a pillow, it would compress noticeably. If you were to lay your head on a brick, it would not. These factors combine to make the sea extremely challenging to maneuver through. Predatory fish can ill afford to pursue an escaping prey item any distance without earning a suitable caloric reward for so doing. Powerful anatomical propulsion systems are inherent in gamefish, but they require a lot of energy to operate,
Photo by Clark Anderson/Aquaimages
and fish cannot exert themselves in this manner every time they feed. They must feed cost-effectively, when odds of a successful hunt are most favorable. Predatory opportunities in the sea are largely dependent on the presence of swift, predictable water currents, such as those produced by the ocean’s tides. A dense, incompressible wall of moving water can overpower and transport weaker prey items, which are pushed around like dead leaves caught in a strong breeze. This makes an easy meal for any well-positioned gamefish that anticipates the event, allowing the predator to feed without squandering precious calories that would have been depleted by chasing prey.
V
Intimately familiar with the world around them, gamefish know how to use the environment to their advantage and can readily identify when and where they will be able to capture prey with the lowest possible expenditure of energy. Experienced predatory fish have mapped out the areas they frequent and will repeatedly profit on underwater topographic features that serve as both ambush points and safe places to rest. They are calculated in their tactics, and well understand how to navigate currents at the expense of their overmatched prey. John Saporito is a lifelong fisherman and student of the seas. Visit him online at www guerillaangling.com.
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By Capt. Cefus McRae
he other day, Buck the Wonder Dog and I loaded the boat and headed out to the lake. I knew the general area where I wanted to start trolling, so I really didn’t pay a lot of attention to my chartplotter on the way there. Instead, we just enjoyed the sunrise and the brisk ride about 4 miles up the lake. My Simrad was set to display DownScan full screen, and when we arrived in the vicinity, I switched over to my multi-window view which shows DownScan, SideScan and the chart. Oops! No chart chip! I had removed it a few days earlier to download some screen captures and forgot to put it back. I still had all my waypoints, but I was just looking at the ‘base map’ on the screen with no contours, no 4 NORTH FLORIDA
MAY 2020
creek channels, navigation aids, etc. Nevertheless, we fished over several of my favorite marks. I name most of my good waypoints so I can easily see which ones are the ‘go-to’ spots. We caught some nice fish. When I got back home, I dropped in my chart chip to note exactly where we had been catching fish. Interestingly, those spots were very close to creek channels and the convergence of creek channels. I’ve known those places are usually likely spots for fish, but it became even clearer to me just how important understanding bottom features are to a productive day on the water. I’m convinced gamefish, both fresh and salt, use underwater channels, ledges and other distinctive features as highways and
travel routes, much the same way offshore pelagics use currents and water temperature to guide them on their migratory paths each season. Once I saw the overlay of my waypoints on the chart, it was eyeopening. I even scrolled around to other fishy spots on the lake, and the vast majority were either right on top, or very close to, these kinds of features. I know this may seem quite elementary to a lot of anglers out there, but for me, it was a reminder of the significance of underwater highways.
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It also lends some insight on how to fish a body of water for the first time. Get the chart, either digitally on your electronics, or a paper chart of the area. Plan your stops for the day, and make your initial stops at the aforementioned types of places. You’ll be pleasantly surprised, just like me, how helpful an underwater roadmap can be to catching more fish. Capt. Cefus McRae is host of the Nuts & Bolts of Fishing Series. For more, go to nutsandboltsfishing.com.
COASTAL ANGLER North Central Florida/Nature Coast
Cary & Lynn Crutchfield ALACHUA, MARION, COLUMBIA, GILCHRIST, BRADFORD, DIXIE, LEVY, CITRUS
M
ay, a very lovely month. May the month of my birth. Mae, my grandmother’s name. May you all stay smart, and well, and safe, and may our world soon return to something that we recognize as more normal! Cary and I are good. “Sheltering in Place” and “Social Distancing” isn’t a lot different from our normal life here on the Suwannee. I am enjoying our yard, and cleaning out closets and baking. ((I sent cookies to Navy grandson last week, and this week, he is getting banana muffins.) Cary has been fishing several times and is spending a lot of time in his 11,000 sq. ft. Man Cave. I enjoy seeing families in their boats on the river. If they remember the six-foot rule at gas stations and boat ramps, boating and fishing are the very best outdoor activities right now. I chose grouper for this month’s recipe, Grouper with Crunchy Panko and Scallions, but you can use your favorite fish. See page 2. Last week, Cary caught sheepshead, so it was Sheepshead with Crunchy Panko and Scallions. Fast, easy, healthy, and special enough for company, when we can again open our homes to guests. May is the month to apply for permits for the state alligator hunt, August 15th through October 31st. See page 6 for Cary’s guide info. If you want help with your application, call me. More, more, more than ever, our guides and writers would love to hear from you. Second only to actually fishing, they love talking about fishing. Please remember to thank the folks at the location where you picked up this magazine, and don’t forget the advertisers. Without them, there would no money to pay my print bill. Also, thank you to you, our faithful reader. Please keep picking us up. See page 20 for directory of our distribution locations. We’re doing our best to be here for you. Lynn Crutchfield Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida/ Nature Coast
MAY 2020 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 Dr. Kevin McCarthy Bruce Butler John Freeze Noel Kuhn Capt. Jason Clark Capt. Dan Clymer Capt. Tommy Derringer Capt. Eric Hasty 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
GROUPER WITH SCALLIONS & PANKO (EASY, FAST AND HEALTHY)
Thank you to The Crab Plant for the beautiful Grouper. Visit their Fresh Seafood Market or enjoy Cooked Seafood to go. You are welcome to sit at their table and view beautiful Kings Bay while you enjoy your delicious, freshly prepared meal, watching manatees, dolphins, pelicans and boats. Or, you can carry it home; your choice. Open Tues-Thurs 10:00-5:30, Fri-Sat 10:00-8:00. 201 NW 5th St. Crystal River 352-795-4700.
Lynn Crutchfield, Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida
TIDES • North Central Florida Time Height
1F
2Sa
3Su
4M 5Tu
6W
7Th
8F
3:04 AM 10:00 AM 3:17 PM 8:58 PM 4:17 AM 10:58 AM 4:36 PM 10:29 PM 5:20 AM 11:44 AM 5:42 PM 11:45 PM 6:16 AM 12:24 PM 6:40 PM 12:51 AM 7:05 AM 1:01 PM 7:33 PM 1:50 AM 7:50 AM 1:36 PM 8:22 PM 2:44 AM 8:32 AM 2:11 PM 9:09 PM 3:36 AM 9:11 AM 2:46 PM 9:55 PM
0.3 2.9 1.7 3.4 0.3 3.0 1.4 3.5 0.3 3.3 0.9 3.6 0.4 3.5 0.4 3.8 0.5 3.8 -0.1 3.9 0.7 4.0 -0.5 3.8 1.0 4.1 -0.7 3.7 1.2 4.2 -0.7
HERNANDO BEACH
May 2020
9Sa
Time Height
4:28 AM 9:50 AM 3:23 PM 10:41 PM 10Su 5:20 AM 10:30 AM 4:02 PM 11:28 PM 11M 6:12 AM 11:13 AM 4:45 PM 12Tu 12:16 AM 7:02 AM 12:01 PM 5:34 PM 13W 1:05 AM 7:56 AM 12:57 PM 6:32 PM 14Th 2:00 AM 8:55 AM 2:07 PM 7:43 PM 15F 3:03 AM 9:54 AM 3:29 PM 9:14 PM 16Sa 4:08 AM 10:44 AM 4:44 PM 10:41 PM
3.5 1.5 4.2 -0.6 3.3 1.6 4.1 -0.4 3.1 1.7 3.9 -0.1 2.9 1.8 3.7 0.2 2.8 1.9 3.4 0.6 2.8 1.8 3.1 0.8 2.9 1.7 2.9 1.0 3.1 1.4 2.9
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 5:04 AM 11:26 AM 5:44 PM 11:48 PM 18M 5:51 AM 12:02 PM 6:34 PM 19Tu 12:45 AM 6:33 AM 12:34 PM 7:17 PM 20W 1:33 AM 7:12 AM 1:03 PM 7:56 PM 21Th 2:17 AM 7:48 AM 1:32 PM 8:33 PM 22F 2:58 AM 8:22 AM 2:00 PM 9:09 PM 23Sa 3:38 AM 8:57 AM 2:29 PM 9:45 PM 24Su 4:20 AM 9:32 AM 3:01 PM 10:23 PM
1.1 3.2 1.0 3.1 1.1 3.4 0.7 3.2 1.2 3.6 0.4 3.3 1.3 3.7 0.1 3.3 1.4 3.8 -0.1 3.3 1.5 3.9 -0.2 3.3 1.6 4.0 -0.3 3.2 1.7 4.1 -0.3
COOKING DIRECTIONS
Time Height
25M 5:03 AM 10:10 AM 3:38 PM 11:03 PM 26Tu 5:48 AM 10:52 AM 4:20 PM 11:48 PM 27W 6:34 AM 11:41 AM 5:10 PM 28Th 12:37 AM 7:23 AM 12:38 PM 6:11 PM 29F 1:31 AM 8:17 AM 1:45 PM 7:22 PM 30Sa 2:33 AM 9:14 AM 3:02 PM 8:48 PM 31Su 3:38 AM 10:07 AM 4:18 PM 10:18 PM
3.2 1.8 4.1 -0.3 3.1 1.8 4.0 -0.2 3.1 1.8 3.9 -0.1 3.1 1.8 3.7 0.2 3.1 1.7 3.5 0.4 3.2 1.5 3.4 0.6 3.4 1.1 3.4
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
High Tide 12 min Low Tide 20 min
Preheat oven to 400 • degrees. Rinse and dry fish. • Liberally salt, and lightly • pepper both sides of fish, • and place in a low-sided • oven-safe pan (sheet pan). Generously squeeze lemon • over fish. Let sit for a few • minutes. Spread butter over fish. Sprinkle with minced scallions. Blend Panko with Parmesan, about two parts crumbs, to one part cheese, and generously sprinkle over scallions. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on thickness of fish. Fish is done when it flakes easily with fork. Serve with green vegetable and starch of your choice. I chose asparagus and mashed potatoes. Great dish for company (when we can invite guests to our homes again). You can prep just before your guests arrive, and place in oven a few minutes before you are ready to eat. Last week, I made this dish with sheepshead that Cary caught, and it was equally delicious!
High Tide 2 min Low Tide 0 min
MAY 2020
INGREDIENTS Grouper fillets or fish of your choice Salt and Pepper Lemon Softened Butter Minced Scallions Panko Crumbs Grated Parmesan
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FLORIDA WATERWAYS
The Madison Shipwreck in the Suwannee
W
ith a coastline of about 1,350 miles, Florida ranks behind only one other state: Alaska – with its 33,904 miles of coastline. And that does not count the miles of land bordering rivers and lakes and other bodies of water in both states. Because the Florida peninsula sticks out toward the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean, it has been subject to storms, including hurricanes, for thousands of years. Those storms, battles, and human error have caused many By Kevin McCarthy ships to sink. In fact, historians and archaeologists have documented over 2,000 shipwrecks along our coast. And while we usually think that shipwrecks occur in the ocean, in fact our rivers have seen their share of important ship sinkings, especially during wars. Such shipwrecks have allowed many divers to explore them, photograph them, and report on the many fish that make their home in the wrecks. Some ships, deemed to be past their useful above-water life, have been deliberately sunk to make artificial reefs. The Suwannee River has several shipwrecks, one of which was deliberate. Visitors can still see that vessel, the Madison, in present-day Troy Spring State Park about six miles north of Branford off U.S. 27. The captain of the sunken Confederate sidewheel steamer, James Tucker, deliberately scuttled her in 1863 to keep her out of Union hands during the Civil War. The picture here is reprinted with permission of the Suwannee Democrat newspaper and shows the remains of the vessel when the river is low. The Madison was one of several steamboats that went up and down the river from the middle of the nineteenth century till about 1922. The vessels would
take goods to and from Cedar Key, and would supply towns along the Suwannee, not only with food and building materials, but also with new settlers. Captain Tucker was from Kentucky, but lived in the Florida town of Madison, after ate Park which the vessel was Troy Spring St Visitor center at My Florida shipwrec named. The 99-ton k book steamboat was 120 feet long and 22 feet wide. Tucker carried the mail along the river and made stops that people could travel to for trading purposes. Tucker could take the Madison all the way up to White Springs when heavy rains and flooding widened and deepened the river. During the Civil War, when Union gunboats blockaded Florida and other southern states, only fast blockade runners could evade capture. In late 1863, as the Clear springs at Tro y Spring State Park noose tightened around the Confederacy, Captain Tucker had his steamboat taken up to Troy Spring and scuttled, with the intention of returning after the war and retrieving her. That might have happened, except that local residents took apart the useful parts of the steamboat, for example her boilers and funnels, to reuse them in producing salt and sugar. The wooden hull, preserved in the fresh water of the river, is a reminder ing Madison remains in spr of former days when steamboats played a major role on the Suwannee. Kevin McCarthy, the author of Thirty Florida Shipwrecks (1992 available at amazon. com), can be reached at ceyhankevin@gmail. com.
The Suwannee River from Georgia to the Gulf
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MAY 2020
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CRYSTAL RIVER
CENTRAL FLORIDA INLAND
F
H
ello from Crystal River. I hope everyone is making the best of the past few weeks and staying healthy. The fishing here has been great, and the fish are getting into their summertime patterns. Fishing for reds has been awesome, and the bigger fish are starting to show up. When targeting them this time of year, I mostly use medium sized pinfish on a 3/0 Owner Circle hook with no less than a 30 lb. leader. Also, it’s always a good idea to keep some live shrimp on board; I’ve had days when all they will eat is shrimp. I’ll free-line the shrimp, or use a 1/8 jig. If using artificial, I’ll use a mirrordine. In the warmer months when targeting reds, I’ll look for the mullet and work the schools. I’ll look for schools close to islands, and look way off islands as well. Sometimes it takes a little work, but I’ll pay attention to mullet that’s holding in one area. That’s where I’ll find the bigger fish. This time of year, I really like targeting the bigger reds and staying on them. Trout can still be found in deeper waters (6 to 10 feet plus). I use either a 1/16 or 1/8 oz jig, tipped with a Little Jon, or sometimes a gulp. I’ll look for spotty bottom or kelp. If I find one fish, I’ll spot, lock and work the area, usually finding more trout. Hope everyone gets out on the water and catches some good ones. Tight lines and stay safe and healthy. Capt. James Kerr 352-362-6893 Citrusfishingchaters.com
orest Fishers, our world seems to have been turned upside down in the last couple months. Everyone is adapting to the changes in our daily lifestyle, and I'm proud to say that our community has done an awesome job of following the safety guidelines, while remaining calm and civilized during these stressful times. That being said, a lot of us have plenty of free time on our hands. Lucky for us, fishing is one of the few activities we're still allowed to enjoy, and let me tell you; it's been extremely enjoyable. Water levels are down a couple feet, but the fish haven't minded one bit. Every body of water is still easily accessible, and with less flooded backwater, finding the prime spots is easier than ever. Just cruise along the shoreline, casting at each pocket and point you see. Once you start getting bites, you'll notice that one of the two (points/pockets) is where most fish are feeding at that time. For bass anglers, this is one of the most exciting times of the year. The spawning process is physically demanding, so they lose a lot of body mass/weight. Once they're finished, they feed like crazy to put weight back on. They are far less picky and will chase after almost anything moving. It's not uncommon to see multiple bass fight over one topwater, all the way to the boat. So rig one rod up with your favorite moving bait, and another rod with a trickworm or senko for when the bite slows. Easy-Peasy. Now for the anglers looking to fill a cooler, blue-gill are the target species. Gills spawn right after bass, and will even use the old bass beds to do so. Most of the spawning in each lake will take place all in the same area; usually around shallow brush piles. As far as bait and tackle go, you can use whatever you
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want once you find where they've all gathered. What else can I say? The fishing is great, and it's right in our backyard. So round up the kids, pick a lake (there's hundreds nearby), and go have a blast. I know I surely am. John Freeze Kayak Fishing and Nature Tours TheWaterwayz@gmail.com 352-216-5798
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MAY 2020
H
ey everybody, I hope y'all are staying as safe as possible during all this craziness. I know it's strange times right now, so let's just talk about some fishing! I've got to do a lot of traveling up and down the big bend this past month due to boat ramp closures, and let me tell you it's been awesome. No matter where I go there seems to be fish! Stretching from Keaton down to Waccassasa, the bite has been great. I've been catching a lot of reds up around bars. Trout are super thick on the flats. There's also been massive schools of black drum, and the tripletail have even showed up! So guys and gals, if you get a chance to book a charter or get out on your own boat, make sure to have plenty of fun, and stay safe out there.
Capt. Jason Clark In The Slot Fishing www.intheslotfishing.com Capt.jasonclark@gmail.com 352-639-3209 Check out our Title Sponsor for the Powerpole Pro Redfish Series! www.Globaloutdoors.com
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TALES FROM THE TUPPERWARE NAVY
STEINHATCHEE A FISH NICKNAMED REEF DONKEY
M
W
elcome back my socially distanced Yak fans. Wow, what a ride we've been on, to say the least. For those of you who know me, you probably noticed I haven't been at the bait shop the last three weeks, or is it four? I'm losing track of time. It’s funny, that one of the few businesses that's really doing well, besides grocery stores and toilet paper manufacturers, is a bait shop! Soo, with the wife and kids telling me with my bad habits, and I hate to admit it, at my age, that this thing would probably kill me, so I'm staying safe. The only good thing is, our sport is socially distancing by its very nature, and the fishing has
been good! The cobia are moving in, and the reds are plentiful! The warmer temps put the snook on the feed, so get out there and provide for your family. This isn't going to be a long article this month. I can't find a lot of humor in our present situation and I know many people are financially struggling to get by. Personally, all of my children are furloughed except my son the fireman, but they and we will survive this! God bless, good luck, and go fishing. Bruce Butler | "Stumbling Gypsy" (352) 428-5347 Bruce@IndianBayOutfitters.com Web: www.IndianBayOutfitters.com
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READERS WOULD HAVE SEEN YOUR AD. Contact Lynn Crutchfield | 352-372-4237 crutch@coastalanglerncf.com for more information 8 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST
MAY 2020
ay first is the opening day of amberjack fishing. I'm as excited as someone declared cancer-free! Actually, I can't be that rejoicing, because that announcement must eclipse anything on a bucket-list. I'm just stating, I'm aflutter about me and all others on the boat tangling with a large fish that battles, at-all-cost, to break free. Some of my best memories are of people’s statements made during and after hooking up with an exuberant amberjack, especially those from first timers. In the Big Bend area, fifty-plus pounders are not common, as in the Atlantic. That means the fun isn't quelled by a stress-test fight, lasting over twenty minutes, and women are not excluded from the match. Women are actually better AJ fisher-people than men, because they know, or are forced to allow the reel drag to assist in catching the fish. They don't try to dominate the fish over the strength of the line, yet permit the fish to peter out in due time. With the smaller sizes, not the big Atlantic eighty pound plus studs, our AJ's in the relatively shallow Gulf waters are younger, and very much worm free. They are excellent eating! They freeze well. Professional fish cleaners cut the dark meat away from the fillet to eliminate the strong fish taste; if you clean your own fish, do as well. My family enjoys eating amberjack cooked in various methods. We prepare extra so to have enough to make AJ salad. My wife is spoiled on eating fish, as spoiled as a hand-sized-purse-dog, carried by a young arrogant socialite. She loves an amberjack meal with having her pick of fish. So, how does one latch on to a reef donkey? I don't have a clue. Just kidding! Most of the haunts are listed on the internet with lat/long. If you have a large, ~6000 series, spinning combo or can cast a 4/0 reel combo, you're set. If not, buy a SpinFisher V 6500 series, the variety I have several of because, they are durable, handling abuse with a sealed drag system. Then attach a leader ~60 pound fluorocarbon to the mainline, 30 to 40 pound mono or braid, terminal to a straight 6/0 to 8/0 hook, depending on the size of the bait. There is no such thing as a
bait too large. Pitch the bait out and let it perform naturally. When the pole doubles over, enjoy. Heavy jigs also work well using big spin combos. My favorites are the ones I make, because I learned what works by experience. They are sold exclusively at Steinhatchee Bait & Tackle Shack across from the Taylor County boat ramp. Amberjack fishing is an awesome experience! The extra fish caught during the charter are fine as well, food worthy, yet not bucket-list. Brian Smith | BIG BEND CHARTERS www.BigBendCharters.com CaptBrian@bellsouth.net 877.852.3474 | 352.210.3050
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NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 9
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MAY 2020
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CEDAR KEY PADDLING
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I
t has been quite unusual this past month being out on the water fishing. Besides a few other local boats, I have the whole place to myself. The bite has been great with all the glass minnows, pin fish, and other bait fish here to fill the bellies of our favorite target species. I have been able to slow down and look at things a little longer and closer. One example of the things I have noticed is the amount of damage the Cormorant has been doing to our mangroves. They have almost killed Deadman’s Key, a favorite redfish spot. These birds are for some reason protected. Why are they? They are not even close to being extinct! These birds eat their body weight daily, and the state of
We serve fresh local Cedar Key oysters and clams. Try our delicious Gator. We get it directly from the Gator Man himself.
Florida acts like we eat our body weight of wildlife daily. It makes me sad that we pay our hardearned money to certain agencies to fish and enjoy nature, and, in my opinion, these agencies do not look out for our best interests. Maybe one day sooner than later, I hope I will see everybody back out on the water doing what they love to do. Hopefully, by the time this article hits the stands, those days will be back. I hope you taught, and are teaching these kids to fish. Capt. Daniel Cedar Key Paddling 352-665-1276 Dan_Gator@yahoo.com
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12 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST
MAY 2020
ay is here, and that means the cobia bite is going to be hot! Mid-April, the cobia start the northern migration from the Keys up to the panhandle of Florida. During the month of May, we should start to see an influx of cobia in our waters, lasting into midsummer. Cobia is excellent table faire, and one heck of a fight. Tips and tricks for catching cobia are nothing too hard. Look for cobia around channel markers, wrecks, and bottom structure. Cobia cannot resist a freeline pinfish, tossed directly in their path! Additionally, artificial baits like a Hogy soft bait or jig will work just fine. Be aware that the regulations have changed again on this fish, so be sure to check myfwc.com for the latest info. Big snook are on the move, hitting a variety of shrimp, pinfish, mullet, and artificial baits. Warmer water has brought these fish out to the bars and spoil islands. I recommend a minimum of 30 lb. fluorocarbon leader while targeting these fish, and replacing it after any snook catch. The snook mouth is very abrasive and will fray the leader causing a break on the next fish; you don’t want to lose the one! If fishing offshore this month, or prefishing for the upcoming red snapper season, I recommend keeping out a freeline for king mackerel. As with the cobia, kings are heading up the Gulf coast. I like to use a short bit of wire leader, configured into a stinger rig. Stinger rigs are easy to make on your own, or can be purchased at stores like Captains Cove Outfitters. I cast out the line, and just let it drift in the current. Usually a frozen herring is my bait of choice. Put the rod in the holder, and go about bottom fishing until you hear the unmistakable sound of drag pulling, then enjoy. May will bring the heat this month, so make sure you have your sunscreen. Remember that the boat ramp at the end of State Road 40 in Yankeetown will be closed for construction, so make plans to launch at a different ramp. As always just have fun, that’s what it is all about!
Please reach out to me at capterichasty@gmail.com with any questions you may have. In addition, check out We Be Tailing, live Wednesday nights 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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SEAFOOD AT ITS BEST!
ay is always a very good month here in Citrus County, and it’s right in the heart of our cobia run. Be ready, because they can pop up anywhere, at any time. If you’re into variety shows, the bombing range 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, lady fish, blue fish, etc., are just some of the species that will keep you busy. The average depth is 5 to 8 feet of water, and look for the “spotty bottom” of sand, rock and grass to put you in the right area. For the inshore and offshore anglers, it’s tough to beat a cobia for a great tug of war. Channel markers, wrecks, artificial reefs and your highprofile grouper structures are ideal locations to target cobia. Inshore, channel markers are always worth a look, and many times cobia can be seen just below the surface circling the structure. With the absence of
fishing pressure on the offshore locations, due to the recent grouper regulations, there should be plenty of hefty cobia for those willing to make a run. Chumming brings them right to the boat, and a live pinfish on a bottom rig and one up top, will have the water column covered. The kingfish will be in good numbers as well offshore. Light drags, wire leader and plenty of line capacity is necessary to tackle a smoker king. Trolling a variety of plugs or spoons works well for those wanting use artificials. Anchoring up over live bottom and using an assortment of live and dead baits such as threadfin herring, cigar minnows or a frisky live blue runner is kingfish candy. Keep an eye on the horizon for the skying fish, blasting through baitfish schools, to help you locate numbers of fish. Homosassa is world renowned for its tarpon fishing, and now it the time of year history is made. Many fly-fishing world records have been set here, and anglers from all over the world come to test their skill against the mighty silver king. The flats to the south of Homosassa are primarily for fly anglers and this is a specialized fishery. The snook action is still good and work the points with good current rips and a glow colored DOA jerk bait is the ticket. Have at least 40lb fluorocarbon leader attached to your baits, as this will prevent a big line sider from “chewing” through your leader…. As always, feel free to contact me with any other questions about the area. Good Fishing!
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MAY 2020
NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 13
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14 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST
MAY 2020
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ST. AUGUSTINE
M
ay is an awesome month for fishing in Northeast Florida. The inshore fish (redfish, trout, flounder, drum, bluefish, ladyfish, jacks, etc.) will be on the feed with the influx of baitfish (finger mullet and pogies). With warming air and water temps, the nearshore fishing should be firing up as well with huge jacks, cobia, and maybe even a tarpon or two, all waiting to put up that fight of a lifetime. Inshore, the redfish will be crushing the finger mullet, and that means a top-water plug, especially at first and last light, will be the go-to lure of choice. Look for large concentrations of mullet, and toss your plugs around them. There's sure to be a redfish lurking around, looking for an easy snack. Once the sun gets higher in the sky, I like to switch to a search bait this time of year. The water will become fairly murky and a lure that makes some noise will be a good way to get the redfish's attention. Some of my favorites are spoons, twitch-baits, and the spinner bait. My clients and I have caught a ton of big redfish on spinner baits. You can pair them up with a scented soft plastic like a Fishbites paddle tail, for a deadly combination. Of course, a popping cork with a shrimp or mud minnow will catch its fair share of reds this month as well. May has always been a “gator” trout month for me. A top-water plug will account for some of the
bigger trout catches this month. The outgoing tide along the ICW banks should be loaded with trout, especially if the baitfish are around. Once the day heats up a bit, I like to fish a 1/4-ounce jighead paired with a Bass Assassin soft plastic paddle tail for the trout. Use a twitch-twitch-pause method, and most of the time, they'll hit it on the pause. A free-lined live shrimp with a small pinch weight a few inches above, is a great way to catch some trout too. The inlets will come alive with all kinds of fast-hitting fish this month. Look for jacks, blues, ladyfish, and Spanish macs to be on the feed around all the area inlets. Crankbaits, spoons, and just about anything that's moving fast through the water will catch these fish. The flounder bite has been consistent all year, and will be a good bet this month. Some of the bigger springtime flatties will start to show in the inlets. Use a finger mullet, or big mud minnow pinned to a jighead or fish-finder rig. Bounce the minnow (or mullet) along the rocks at the area inlets to find some of the big "doormats". Be sure to check out my Daily Fishing Reports online @www.InshoreAdventures.com Capt. Tommy Derringer www.InshoreAdventures.net 904-377-3734
SURF & PIER
L
ast month was crazy, with the beach and pier closures. For those of us who were able to get our toes in the sand, we experienced some great surf fishing. May should be even better. Hopefully, you are reading this between your fishing trips. Pompano, whiting, and black drum have been plentiful and eager to take a fresh bait. My favorite goto baits, are live shrimp cut up into thumb-nail size pieces, fresh clams, and live sand fleas. Almost always, I use a double dropper rig with 2/0 Eagle Claw L197 circle hooks. My most effective rigs include a white float on the top hook, and a clear orange bead on the bottom. Nothing will shy away from this set up. Last month I scored a double sheepshead on this rig! Try flea on the top hook, and clam strapped on the bottom hook with Miracle Thread. This thread is now available at Strike Zone Fishing. Whether you are in the surf, or on the pier, the boys in the grey suits will be in full force this month. To get your string stretched, just soak a whiting head in a deep trough along the beach. The blacktip sharks will be actively feeding on them, and the pompano. I like using a foot of 480 lb. cable, tipped with a 10/0 L2022 by Eagle Claw. Above that, six feet of 300 lb. mono to avoid being tail whipped.
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MAY 2020
This fish will run 70 to 160 pounds. So, make sure you have enough line, 300 yds of 30 lb., to soak up the first run. Blacktips are a blast, because in shallow water, they almost always go airborne when hooked. My personal best happened on Crescent Beach. The tide had dropped out leaving a deep, eighty-yard-wide trough about 4 feet deep. It put on a big show. Twenty one jumps, total including flips, spirals, and tail walking! This is why I have nicknamed them “Beach Marlin”! I am pleased to announce that the Florida Surf Casters Club will be holding their 16th Annual Surf Fishing Tournament on Saturday May 16th. This tourney is for pompano and whiting only. The weigh-in will be hosted by the Strike Zone in Jacksonville, Fl. For more information go to www. surffishingflorida.com or call Steve Austin 904-386-4565. As a founding member of the club, I want to thank Dave Workman, and his team at Strike Zone Fishing for making this tourney an ongoing success! 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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If you have a suggestion for a distribution location for COASTAL ANGLER MAGAZINE, please let us know. We can be reached at 352-372-4237 or Crutch@CoastalAnglerMagazine.com. You can view all forty-plus magazines in the US, including the Bahamas, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands, at www.CoastalAnglerMagazine.com.
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MAY 2020
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r u O g n i c n u o n An
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By CAM Staff
Veteran’s Program
Photo courtesy of J&H Surf Fishing the Space Coast.
onsider the lowly whiting. Small in size, it’s not a species most anglers get excited about. Big “bull” whiting might weigh a couple pounds, but most weigh less than a pound. And unless you’re geared down to some super-light tackle, fighting them is akin to reeling in a live bait. But if your mission is to collect meat, there’s no better target than whiting. The tactics are simple, the action is fast, and they are absolutely delicious when dredged in cornmeal and fried up crisp. Whiting are the saviors of countless busted inshore fishing trips; they are the rice to surf fishing’s seatrout gravy; they are bucket fillers on piers from Texas to Chesapeake Bay. Whiting are the fish you can count on when times are tough. Most states have very liberal limits for whiting harvest, so even though they are small, you can fill a cooler and feed the masses. Their soft bodies make for quick work at the cleaning table. Also known regionally as kingfish, croaker and sea mullet, whiting is the name for a group of species that look and act similarly. They school up thick, which makes them easy to catch when you find them, and their downturned mouths make them suckers for small cut baits fished on the bottom. In The Surf Whiting are a staple species for surf anglers. They run the troughs between sandbars and and feed on morsels uncovered by wave action. Many anglers prefer a double-drop rig in the surf, and small pieces of frozen or fresh shrimp and sand fleas are the best baits. Whiting have small mouths, so pinch off a piece of bait about the size of the end of a pinky finger and thread it on a #1 J hook. If whiting are in the area, the action should begin quickly. If they haven’t bitten within 15 minutes, move. From A Boat Hordes of whiting move inshore in spring to feed up on sand or mud bottoms near channel drops. They prefer 15- to 20-foot depths near deeper water, and with electronics it’s not hard to find these conditions in any tidal river, inlet or bay. A Carolina rig with an egg sinker heavy enough to keep the bait on the bottom is the rig of choice. Use that same #1 J hook, and bait the first one with a small piece of peeled shrimp. Once you catch your first whiting, you can cut it into chunks and use it for bait. From The Pier Depending on the water clarity, it’s possible to spot whiting feeding on the bottom from the elevated position of a pier. Even if you can’t see them, they’re probably down there. Once you catch one, throw back to the same spot. There will likely be another one waiting for an easy meal. That same Carolina rig and the same baits are good for pier fishing, but you might want to beef up your line strength in case a big black drum or redfish takes the bait instead.
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G
lenn Hughes, president of the American Sportfishing Association, issued a letter in April announcing the cancellation of ICAST 2020. It reads as follows: For more than 80 years, the American Sportfishing Association has created a legacy of working hard to ensure our industry's future. Nowhere is this more evident than at ICAST, our industry's trade show, where lasting friendships and business partnerships have been forged and fostered. However, given the ongoing stay-at-home orders and the desire to keep the health and safety of everyone in our recreational fishing family first in the decision-making process, ASA's board of directors made the decision to cancel the physical ICAST Show that was scheduled for July 14-17, 2020, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Two weeks ago, we asked for your patience as we strived to make the best business decisions we could on behalf of our exhibitors, members, staff and all our show attendees. Cancelling this year's show was the only decision that could be made when considering everyone's well-being and the impact the pandemic is having on the sportfishing industry and our economy. Despite cancelling our in-person show, we are committed to keeping all of us connected as a global community this July. As the largest sportfishing industry trade show in the world, we look forward to producing ICAST 2020 Online, our version of a "virtual trade show," that will provide a wide variety of tools and a wealth of information that you've come to expect from us. We will share more with you very soon! We ask for a little more patience as we shift gears. Please allow us to reach out to each of our exhibitors to discuss their options, including a full refund if desired. There is no doubt that we are in uncharted waters, but we are confident that we will get through this together and stronger than ever! As we always have. From all of us at the ASA, please stay safe and stay healthy. Glenn Hughes, president
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t seems this coronavirus has pushed everything online. We grocery shop online, the kids go to school online, and now bass tournaments are being conducted online, also. In mid-April, the Association of Collegiate Anglers completed its first-ever online tournament. Over six days, numerous college anglers fished public lakes, streams, rivers and private ponds from upstate New York to the delta in California in search of the longest bass they could catch. Approximately 100 fish were submitted, with dozens of fish measuring over 20 inches. Cole Sands, from Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee, won the Online Tournament with a largemouth bass measuring 24.6 inches. When he set out on Tennessee’s Lake Chickamauga, Sands knew he needed a fish over 20 inches to have a shot of finishing in the top 5. By the end of that day, he had managed to sack up 30 pounds of bass for his best five. The longest of those fish measured a little over 22 inches. “I knew that wouldn’t hold up against the guys in this competition,” said Sands. “So I went out on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday just trying to catch one true giant.” Knowing what he needed to do to claim the lead, Sands armed himself with a large swimbait and went in search of a bass that would best the 23.5inch leading mark. “I picked up that big swimbait, and about my tenth cast that one bit and it jumped,” Sands said. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is the fish to win this tournament.’ I horsed it in.” For more information about the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, visit www.CollegiateBassChampionship.com.
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Keeping Your Catch In A Kayak By Mark Armstrong
F
rom affordability to portability and the ability to access narrow, shallow waters, there’s plenty to say about the advantages of kayak fishing. A big fish box where you can toss your catch and keep it fresh is not one of those advantages. If you hope to bring home dinner next time you go kayaking, it’s worth considering how you’ll deal with your catch. Plan Ahead And Come Prepared: You can only store so many fish when you’re out on a kayak. You’ll need to plan ahead and make sure you have a plan to keep your catch while you’re out paddling. Investing in a high-quality fishing cooler is your best bet. They’re designed specifically to maximize storage capacity while easily securing to your kayak. They’ll keep your fish and your drinks and snacks cool. Keep Them Alive: Live fish don’t spoil. If you don’t plan to be out long and if you’ve got space, stringers and livewells are two common methods for storing live fish.
Stringing fish on a line and putting them back in the water will certainly keep them alive, but it has limitations. Some say the stress and damage caused by the process is inhumane and results in lower quality meat. Also, stringers are not a great idea where there are large predators. Sharks, turtles, larger fish and even sea lions have been known to steal a stringer. If you’re targeting smaller species, a bucket with an aerator can serve as
a livewell. Obviously available space is an issue with this method. Kill ’Em Quick: In most situations, killing fish quickly and packing them on ice is the best way to keep fish in a kayak. Aside from the fact that it’s cruel to allow any creature to suffer unnecessarily, allowing fish to die on their own creates several problems. For one, the stress of slowly being starved of oxygen can have a negative impact on the meat. Additionally,
dying fish thrash, which causes the flesh to bruise. A best practice is to quickly kill your prey with a swift blow to the head, bleed the fish, remove the guts, and then pack it in ice. Let’s Talk Ice: Ice is just ice, right? Well, not really. You might think large blocks of ice are preferable because they melt slowly. While this is true, not as much ice makes contact with the fish. This allows heat and air to start the decomposition process. Try crushed ice. It’s ideal for storing your catch because it has more surface area than a large block. This allows direct contact with your fish, and it gets into all the nooks and crannies, keeping it thoroughly cooled. Layer ice below, between, and on top of your catch to keep it uniformly chilled and fresh. Mark is a full-time, globe-trotting, kayaking junkie. When he’s not paddling, he’s chief editor for Kayak Guru, where he writes about anything and everything kayak-, fishing-, and SUP-related.
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harter fisherman across the United States use America’s No. 1 drum anchor winch to help them beat the competition. When it’s time to get “all hands on deck,” the time consuming task of dropping and retrieving anchors is tedious, potentially hazardous and wastes valuable manpower and resources. After opening his business, BIG Worm Charter Fishing in Maryland, Drew Payne knew he needed reliable equipment to take the 49-passenger “Worm” out on Chesapeake Bay. “Many days, I’ve had to re-anchor eight to 10 times a trip depending on the type of fishing,” Capt. Payne wrote. “It’s been extremely reliable, and I highly recommend E-Z Anchor Puller products.” The “Worm,” a 45-foot, custom-built Chesapeake, has been operating for nearly 20 years now, and Capt. Payne said there’s been an E-Z Anchor Puller on it from day one. Time and manpower really add up when you’re raising and lowering an anchor manually “eight to 10 times” in a day while searching for fish. Luckily, the Rebel free-fall series deploys line as fast as gravity will take it to the ocean floor, and anchoring the vessel is as easy as one push of the button. It saves time and a trip to the bow for the first mate. Capt. Payne isn’t the only charter fisherman in the lower 48 states who benefits from E-Z Anchor
Puller’s direct drive and free-fall units. Capt. Phillip Ridge operated Blue Runner Charters out of Marco Island, Fla. for more than 25 years and was one of the first charter fishermen to utilize an E-Z Anchor Puller drum anchor winch in his area. In an interview with company founder George Towns, Ridge said the E-Z Anchor Puller saved him a lot of work, employees and even helped him catch more fish. “I have had a unit on the bow of three different boats,” Capt. Ridge said. “I was one of the very first captains in the area to install one… [they are] the best by far.”
Another Marco Island charter fisherman, Capt. Shaun Chute, decided he couldn’t settle for fewer than four units for his fleet. “The oldest one is 20 years old and still works perfect,” Capt. Chute said. “They just last and always work. I use them every day on our charter boats at Six Chuter Charters.” When time is money, the E-Z Anchor Puller unit is a must-have for quicker drop and retrieval times with less hassle and manpower. The freedom to spend more time with customers and even fish alongside them is time best spent. Let the E-Z Anchor Puller drum anchor winch do the rest!
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David Delph caught this red grouper off Key West.
W
Reel in the memories. Sitting on the most biodiverse estuary in the Northern Hemisphere, Martin County is a fisherman’s paradise. Ocean, lake and river ecosystems are home to more than 800 species of fish, from the ever-popular sailfish and snook to largemouth bass and perch. Forget your gear? Visit one of Martin’s many bait and tackle shops or outdoor retailers. Inshore, offshore, saltwater or fresh, head out for an adventure and reel in the memories.
DiscoverMartin.com 14 NATIONAL
MAY 2020
By CAM Staff
ith grouper seasons opening in federal waters and Gulf red snapper fishing not too far away, now is a good time to start tinkering with a jigging technique that’s created a bit of a buzz in the charter industry. Slow pitch jigging has been around for well over a decade, but its effectiveness in U.S. waters is only now being realized. As more captains adopt and adapt the technique to different species and conditions, it has gained traction as a proven fish-catcher. In the Gulf of Mexico as well as in the Atlantic from South Florida, through the Carolinas and up into the Northeast, it’s being used to catch anything that eats crippled baitfish. Groupers and snappers, amberjack, mackerel and tuna, they’ll all take jigs slow pitched over hard bottom, and so will rockfish and cod. The technique evolved in Japan and was popularized in a series of Japanese-language videos by Norihiro Sato. Sato promoted it as a way to catch fish even when they’re not actively feeding. With conventional jigging techniques, the idea is to rip a lure off the bottom and let it flutter down, enticing reaction strikes from aggressive gamefish. Slow pitch is slower, more seductive, a finesse tactic to present what looks like an easy meal. Anyone who has ever fished a jig knows the bite almost always comes on the fall. The idea behind slow pitch is to maximize the time a jig spends in freefall. With specialized gear and a cadenced technique, the jig remains in the strike zone and presents both vertical and horizontal action. A slow pitch jig is supposed to dance like an injured baitfish struggling to stay off the bottom. The technique requires a specialized rod. Slow pitch rods look like buggy whips when compared to conventional short and beefy jigging rods. They are 6 to 7 feet long with a slow action. With a quarter or half turn of the reel, the weight of the jig loads the rod, and as the rod straightens the jig accelerates smoothly upward before hesitating and kicking to the side. The angler then begins the process again, with a rhythm that keeps the jig moving. By varying rod action and cadence, the angler can impart varied presentations. All of them are physically easier than the grueling labor of conventional deep jigging with heavy tackle. The drawback to the technique—which might be attractive to folks who love shopping for new gear— is you’ll need a whole new arsenal. The rods are thin and designed to bend evenly from handle to tip. The reels are small but geared-up to take the brunt of the fight off that bendy rod. The jigs are specially shaped and weighted to impart the right action. You’ll even need new spools of braid and new terminal tackle. Like any new technique, slow pitch jigging requires some research and practice to execute effectively. Take some time to figure it out, and you’ll be showing wary fish something they’ve likely never seen before.
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By Dan Saknini
T
he comfort zone for crappie is generally 35 feet or shallower. The depth fish are found is directly related to water temperature. Baitfish location is the best indicator of crappie habitat. Where I do most of my fishing, crappie generally feed on threadfins and blueback herring. The average lifespan of a crappie is five years. An average female will lay 5,500 eggs per season. Less than 5 percent of the eggs will hatch, and only a small number of hatchlings survive predators. That sounds bad, but it is Mother Nature at work. There are two species of crappie, black crappie and white crappie. It’s pretty rare where I fish most, on Georgia’s Lake Lanier, but there is also a group called blacknose crappie. These are black crappie with a naturally occurring genetic variance that gives them unique markings. They look like you took a black Sharpie and drew a line from the tip of the mouth to the dorsal fin. I caught two this year. Black crappie have variations in color. In the winter, when they go deeper to escape the colder surface temps, they become much more pale. However, once you put them in your livewell, they quickly regain much of their color. The same thing happens if you catch them in shallow, muddy water. In spring, when surface temps reach the upper 50s to mid-60s, female crappie begin to spawn. This does not happen all at once, but over about a month, with some spawning earlier than others. Females hit spawning grounds in the backs of the creeks, lay their eggs and pull out. Males fertilize and guard the eggs. That’s when you see fishermen catching dark black-purple crappie on the banks. There’s an old Southern myth that “when the dogwoods bloom, it’s time to go crappie fishing.” I actually have my best luck when the daffodils are blooming, which can precede dogwoods by a month. But like any other species, fish have to eat. If you know where to look, you can catch them all year long. If you’ve ever been to Bass Pro and seen the fish tank, you’ll notice most of the species roam the tank, with the exception of the crappie, which are almost always in the corner hiding by a log. That is the perfect example of how crappie relate to structure. They roam in pursuit of food, but always come back to the brushpile they call home. Many homeowners live on lakes because they enjoy fishing, and many sink Christmas trees under or near their docks. It is important to find those submerged trees or brushpiles that have bait nearby. That is where you will find crappie. In winter, some crappie move from docks to seek shelter in standalone brushpiles. Electronics play a key role in locating those brushpiles. Many fishermen prefer live bait, which is very effective in spring, but I prefer jigs. Bobby Garland soft-body grubs and Jiffy Jig hair jigs are my “go-to” baits. If you are fishing stained water, always go to darker jigs.
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H
ow’s this for the proverbial bad apple? In a time when lawabiding anglers are saddled with strict regulations in attempts to bolster flagging Atlantic striped bass populations, a pair of yahoos were recently caught in New Jersey with 66 undersized rockfish. The two men face a variety of charges after being caught by New Jersey conservation officers when they returned to a private Atlantic City dock on March 30. They had been night fishing, and drew attention to themselves by “running their vessel at high rates of speed from various fishing locations under the cover of darkness and fog without any navigation lights,” according to a press release. The harvest allowance at the time was one fish with a 28- to 43-inch slot limit and one fish longer than 43 inches per person. On the boat, the officers found 66 stripers between 13- and 24-inches. The men face a penalty of $100 per fish, or potentially $12,800 for each angler. They were also charged with unsafe operation of a vessel, operating a power vessel without valid registration and failing to have appropriate vessel safety gear. Authorities seized the anglers’ fishing gear for evidence and will seek forfeiture due to the severity of the violations, the release said. The seized fish were given to the Atlantic City Recuse Mission. The current recreational limit is one fish per day, within the 28- to 38inch slot.
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IT’S DRY FLY TIME On North Carolina’s
TUCKASEGEE
T
By Nick Carter
he delayed harvest sections of the Tuckasegee River, at Sylva and Bryson City, N.C., are some of the most famous trout fisheries in the Southeast. With regular stockings and catch-and-release regulations through the cool months, the Tuck holds incredible numbers of healthy rainbow, brown and brook trout. Because it fishes so well, it sees a ton of fishing pressure, but Shannon Messer, of Tuckaseegee Fly Shop, has noticed an interesting pattern from the anglers. “In April and May, almost every day from about 5 p.m. until dark, fish are rising all over the river. Most people miss the best part of it because they’re off getting a burger and a beer,” he said. “For people who want to experience dry fly fishing and casting to rising fish, that’s the place to be and
the time to be there.” The Tuckasegee is a tailwater, wide and flat, with bedrock ledges and shoals that channel water into obvious holding water. The caddis hatches can be huge, and trout line up in lanes to feed on the surface. Casting to individual rising fish is a challenge dry fly anglers relish on the Tuck. Early spring brings on enormous black caddis hatches, which give way to tan and then olive caddis as the season progresses. Messer likes a beefy Corn Fed Caddis or a simple Elk Hair Caddis in sizes 12 to 16 to match what he sees on the river. There will also be mayflies and midges mixed in, so a double dry fly rig is a good idea. Try trailing a Blue Dun, size 14 or 16, or a size 18 Griffith’s Gnat behind the caddis. One thing about having so many bugs on
the water is fish become finicky. The trick is to make them choose your fly over all the real ones. Good presentation is paramount, and Messer recommends long 9- to 12-foot leaders to cut down on micro drag that leads to refusals. Another trick if you notice your caddis being snubbed is to trim the hackle so it floats lower in the water. For information, see Tuckaseegee Fly Shop’s website at www.tuckflyshop.com, call (828) 4883333 or e-mail info@tuckflyshop.com. For maps, GPS coordinates and tactics for the Tuckasegee and all of the area’s best trout waters, get a copy of Nick Carter’s book “Flyfisher’s Guide to North Carolina & Georgia.” It’s available on Amazon, and autographed copies are available by emailing the author at nsc8957@gmail.com.
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MAY 2020
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everal weeks ago, my 6-year-old son asked me to take him fishing. To say I was excited was an understatement, since he typically doesn’t ask to go. Now the pressure was on for me to make sure this was more of a catching trip than a fishing one. His request piqued my curiosity as to why he had the sudden interest, so I ask him. His response: “I want to catch a redfish and have my picture in a magazine!” Ok, now the pressure just went off the chart! Not only do I need to make this a great catching day, but we have a specific fish and a great photo to capture. The day began at 3 a.m., and we made the three and half-hour drive to one of my favorite redfish spots. We were on the backside of a full moon, so I knew I had my work cut out for me. We made two quick stops to pick up some fresh dead shrimp and some donuts, and then launched the kayak. My son was extremely excited and full of questions, which I was pleased to answer. The 30-minute kayak ride felt like hours for my little man, and he wanted to cast a line. When we finally arrived, the tide was higher than I had anticipated. This area doesn’t generally produce well under these conditions, but we were already there and needed to figure it out. The plan was to bait him up for pan fish, while I get my fish fix with lures. As soon as his cork settled, he was hooked up! He had nonstop action on a variety of fish, but no reds. My rod stayed in the holder because I was busy being the happiest deckhand around. He had his heart set on catching a big red and started to ask where they were. We drifted to a shallow bar where the reds typically hang out. We switched to a larger hook and shrimp while we drifted. We fished the bar from different angles, moved to an area with wind-driven current between two small patches of land, and to the area where his older brother smoked the reds on our previous trip. Nothing! At this point, I was contemplating heading home. However, he was determined to stay until he caught a red, so we fished on! We started to fish our way back to the truck and the wind drifted us to an island that I’ve wanted to try but just never have. Since we already used all of the shrimp, I decided to make long cast with a soft plastic rattling tail swimbait and then hand my reel to my son to work the lure back on a steady retrieve. BAM! Redfish on! The look on his face when that red hit was priceless! He ended up catching two reds before we headed home. Mission accomplished! Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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ere’s a memorable beach moment: You’re basking in the warm sun, toes in the sand, letting the gentle turn of the foam-capped waves lull you into a state of complete relaxation. As your eyes scan the endless horizon of blue on blue, you’re rewarded with a school of dolphins making their way across the sea. There’s no denying their signature shape as they leap from the water. If you don’t see anything else extraordinary the rest of day, you can take solace knowing you’ve witnessed one of nature’s most playful and intelligent creatures in their natural habitat. Why not recreate that special toes-in-the-sand moment with our Blue Topaz Dolphin Pendant? The beloved sea mammal has been captured mid-jump in sterling silver. And, tucked into its fins is a full two carats of shimmering blue topaz. Nothing captures the shimmering color of the ocean in the midday sun like blue topaz. With its sparkling clear blue color and high refractive index, blue topaz is one of the top-selling blue gemstones. And with our special price, you have quite the catch. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Enjoy the Blue Topaz Dolphin Pendant for 30 days. If it doesn’t pass the test swimmingly, send it back for a full refund of the item price.
A full two carats of shimmering blue topaz set in sterling silver
Limited Reserves. A full two carats of genuine blue topaz set in sterling silver for this price is as rare as a dolphin sighting. We cannot guarantee availability for long. Call today!
Limited to the first 1900 responders to this ad only! To show exquisite details, pendant shown is not exact size. Chain sold separately.
“Enormously popular, significantly intelligent and scientifically sophisticated, dolphins are amidst the most beloved animals among people.” — Dolphins-World
Blue Topaz Dolphin Pendant non-offer code price $395 † Offer Code Price Only $79 + S&P Save $316!
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You must use the insider offer code to get our special price.
“This sterling silver dolphin is absolutely beautiful and the blue topaz is like the color of the ocean”
— Vivian, Cabool, MO
† Special price only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer.com without your offer code.
Stauer
1-800-333-2045
Your Insider Offer Code: DPP279-01 Please use this code when you order to receive your discount.
® 14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. DPP279-01, Burnsville, Minnesota 55337
www.stauer.com
Rating of A+
• 2 ctw blue topaz; ½ ctw Ultimate Diamond Alternative®, DiamondAura® • .925 sterling silver setting • Sterling silver chain sold separately
Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®
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© 2020 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. , TM and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. In the U.S.A., products are distributed by BRP US Inc. Carefully read the operator’s guide and safety instructions. Observe applicable laws and regulations. Always wear appropriate protective clothing, including a personal flotation device and wetsuit bottoms.
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