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VOLUME 27 • ISSUE 322
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By Capt. Ryan Palmer
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ahoo are some of the fastest fish in the ocean. Built for speed with large tails and torpedo shaped bodies, they can accelerate rapidly and turn on a dime. Wahoo can be solitary fish or found in large schools, depending on conditions, time of year and moon phases. Known for their excellent table fare and awesome fighting ability, anglers travel to South Florida and The Bahamas from all over the world to target them. They have razor sharp teeth and their jaws are hinged like scissors, so landing one on mono is always an exhilarating feat. They can be caught year round, but during the winter months they are found in far better numbers and sizes, especially around the new and full moons. There are several ways to catch them, including high-speed trolling, planer fishing, vertical jigging and live bait. High-speed trolling for wahoo could well be the most exciting method to catch them. There’s nothing like hearing the clicker of an 80 wide reel scream while you’re doing 17 knots. In some cases, you will have multiple hook ups with multiple drags going off. Talk about heart racing! I’ll go over my normal high-speed spread, but keep in mind everyone has their favorite way of doing things. I run a three-line spread. I fish two electric reels and a 50W Shimano Talica. My first electric is set at 80 feet from the boat with a 48-ounce cable-rigged cigar lead. To that I have 25 feet of 400-pound mono shock leader, which is then connected to my lure. The next electric is set at 150 feet from the boat with a 32-ounce cigar lead and the same shock leader. Last is my shotgun Talica with a 24-ounce cigar lead and the same shock leader. I have about 25 different lures from different manufacturers in many colors, shapes and sizes. All of my lures are rigged on 480-pound cable with either single or double hook sets. I start my spread with an assortment of colors. If I get more than one bite on a particular color, I will change the others to that or similar colors. High speed trolling is done in both South Florida and the Bahamas. I used to think that it
was pointless in South Florida, but over the last few years I have been more successful catching them, and the fish I’ve been catching are better sized fish than the wahoo I’ve caught while planer fishing. On a trip just after a winter full moon, we caught a double header off Pompano Beach. Each fish was in the 40-pound range. When high speed trolling, the optimum speed is between 15 and 20 knots, and we fish a zigzag pattern between 120 and 300 feet of water. There are a couple reasons for the zigzag. One is to mimic baitfish coming in or going out during tidal changes, and the other is that during your turns your baits will slow down and fall slightly before accelerating again. This is when you get most of your bites. Keeping an eye on your chart plotter is key, because you can generally mark the schools in the upper portion of the water column. High speed trolling is great if you want to specifically target wahoo, as there are only a few species that eat at that kind of speed. Planer fishing is just as fun and doesn’t burn nearly as much fuel. I like to run two planers consisting of a #4 and a #8 planer with either a drone spoon or a bonita strip behind a Sea Witch. Colors, sizes and shapes all vary, but once I find what color they like I switch them over. The drone spoon is a time-tested and proven method. The flash and vibration of the spoon cutting through the water gets their attention. I prefer 3.5-inch blue drone spoon behind a #8 Old Salty planer. I run about 60 to 100 feet of 60-pound mono between my planer and bait. While pulling planers down deep, I also pull a couple surface baits. Anything from a bonita strip behind a chugger-style lure to a rigged ballyhoo on wire behind an Islander will work. If you have outriggers, you can spread two baits wide and run a shotgun with a cigar-weighted rigged ballyhoo. I
planer fish the same areas as I high speed, but my speeds will be much slower at 6 to 11 knots. Lots of wahoo tournaments have been won fishing at slower trolling speeds, so don’t rule out a jumbo just because you’re not highspeeding. Live baiting wahoo is less common because you are either bump trolling or drifting goggle eyes or other live baits. You are not covering as much ground. Live baits rigged on light wire or titanium are my first choice, with fluorocarbon being second, due only to a wahoo’s super sharp teeth. I’ve caught several wahoo on vertical jigs. About 90 percent of those have come way offshore under some type of flotsam. I prefer a simple 2-ounce diamond Jig. All the wahoo I’ve caught on vertical jigs have been less than 10 pounds. Wahoo as table fare is in my top five, maybe even top three. I’ve often said that if you have cooked it, it’s already burnt. Do yourself a favor and try some wahoo sashimi! Capt. Ryan Palmer Family Jewell Fishing Charters 954-882-2631
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Friends&Fishing By Jim Parks
T
here are a multitude of pleasures and benefits to fishing. The beauty of the environment, the challenge, the relaxation, the simple joy of being outside, the fish caught and the big ones that got away are all among the reasons we fish. Intertwined are the relationships created during outings. Like many others, there are times when I would rather be on the water alone. One particular period of my life, I was working full time while going to night school working on my master’s degree. I had no time. Recognizing this, my wife all but demanded I go fishing. Entering the creek that morning, I was mentally exhausted. I perhaps fished 30 minutes before I wound up lying on a rock with the sun in my face. The sound of the creek and my feet in the cool water washed away a lot of stress. At other times, I’ve found the solitude allows me to commune amidst the creation with its creator. After all, even Jesus knew the merits of hanging out with fishermen. To quote Norman MacLean in A River Runs Through It, “And we were left to assume, as my younger brother Paul and I did… that all firstclass fishermen on the Sea of Galilee were flyfishermen... and that John, the favorite, was a dry fly-fisherman.” Over the decades, I’ve been blessed to meet hundreds of like-minded sportsmen. Some, I’d rather forget! However, looking back over fourplus decades, I cannot help but reminisce over what fishing friendships have meant. If you were fortunate to begin fishing young, you had at least one mentor. If you had a father or grandfather who took you on early fishing trips, hopefully you realize how blessed you were 6 NATIONAL
JANUARY 2022
and will joyfully pass that blessing to the next generation. Having no fishermen in my family tree, I adapted. Like-minded friends of my own age, aka the “Three Amigos,” myself, Keith and Steve, as well as their fathers and grandfathers, helped me along the way. Though my father didn’t fish, he worked in a textile mill alongside more than a few fishermen with whom I came into contact. Among them were the late Don Kirk, author of several books on fly fishing, and the late, great fly tyer Kirk Jenkins. To this day, the memory is burned in my mind of my father’s co-worker Charlie Murrell tying flies with me while camped on Forney Creek in the Smoky Mountains. I was 14 years old. Along the way, they and others taught me wading, casting and reading water, always instilling an interest and knowledge of the history of and respect for the locations where I trod as a young fisherman. Growing older meant adulthood; college, career and marriage entered the scene. Still, at least one of the Three Amigos besides myself has kept fishing, and we still get together when life permits. As we grow older and hopefully better in our pursuit, we’re sometimes blessed to invest in the future of our sport by sharing with the next generation. We instill in them an appreciation for the beauty and opportunity of wading in the crystal clear streams while sharing the history passed down to us. Those opportunities make us better fishermen. In teaching, we are forced to consider the intricate, basic skills of the sport, which over time can become blurred by repetition. As my mentors did with me, I am careful to not “over-coach.” This allows the student to make and learn from their
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mistakes. How awesome to be part of their first catch and to share in that accomplishment. If we’re lucky, at some point we are blessed to come into contact with equally experienced fishermen with whom we just click. The best fishing buddies possess a similar interest in locales and styles, but are different enough that we still learn from one another. The best fishing buddies become those who can finish your sentence, agree on the best places to fish, offer insight we didn’t consider and share learned tidbits, making both that much better. An additional bonus are those friends who are willing to take those crazy adventures such as night trips, remote bushwhacking treks and just downright crazy ideas for which they’ll catch it from their spouse when they eventually return home, well past curfew. I remember as kids how we were competitive. We even had the unofficial “Virgil Ward Award” for whoever landed the largest fish that day. Over time, a point is reached when you get just as much joy in watching a friend ply a hole for that big ol’ brown. Sometimes it’s a tag-team approach, with a spotter directing casts to a trophy fish. We realize as much excitement in our friend’s success as if it were our own, if not more! Lately, I’ve been stepping back… just a little… to give my buddy the first crack at a good run. Watching an artist at work, regardless of the canvas, is a joy. When that person is using all the combined skills of a stealthy approach, with the fly you both agree is best, making that cast in just the right spot and setting that hook, it’s like watching yourself from a distance. In that moment, you are just as elated to share and witness the moment. That moment is when you realize having a fishing buddy is priceless.
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he Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is looking at slashing the recreational dolphin limit in half, from 60 to 30 fish per vessel and from 10 to 5 fish per person in Florida state waters, citing a decrease in number and size of fish caught in recent years off South Florida and the Florida Keys. At its meeting in December, FWC reviewed a draft proposal that would amend the regulations in state waters. The call for action reportedly came from southeast Florida and Keys charter captains, and it follows pending regulations changes approved by the federal South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) in June. The SAFMC ruling reduced the dolphin recreational limit from 60 to 54 fish per vessel for Atlantic federal waters along the entire east coast of the United States. The ruling is pending approval by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. FWC strongly advocated for larger reductions in federal waters as a precautionary measure. That push was blocked by North Carolina representatives, who would only support the smaller reduction. Part of FWC’s interest for proactive management is increased international engagement concerning the highly migratory species. Dolphin off the east coast of the U.S. are part of the Atlantic-Caribbean stock, which extends from New England to the
4 FLORIDA
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Caribbean coast of South America. The status of the stock is currently unknown, according to FWC’s draft proposal, and a traditional stock assessment is unlikely due to unknowns within the fishery, which include international harvest and the absence of fishery-independent monitoring. Warming surface temperatures in the Atlantic are also of concern to FWC because of a welldocumented preference of the species for a temperature range between 66 and 84 degrees. Catch-rate data indicates a tight link to water temperature, and those rates peak at 75 degrees. “Because of this temperature preference, warming ocean waters and other environmental changes could contribute to shifts in dolphin distribution and influence migration routes,” reads the proposal. “Reports of more frequent encounters with dolphin in the northeastern U.S. and a growing directed recreational fishery there illustrate the northward distribution shift for this species. “Similarly, fewer encounters with dolphin in SE Florida and the Keys could be linked to warming sea surface temperatures. Anecdotal reports from SE Florida and the Keys also indicate a change in timing of arrival of large dolphin, which may indicate changes in movement patterns as water temperature increases.”
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Dolphin harvest off the east coast of Florida has fallen precipitously since 2015, according to FWC’s data. In that same data, approximately 90 percent of the harvest in the last 10 years came from federal waters. A final public hearing for the proposed rule would be held at FWC’s March 2022 meeting. For more information, see myfwc.com.
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DreamCatching By Zach Harvey
the
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FINER POINTS of FISHING AFAR
s we head into winter fishing show season, many start shopping for good charters to fish in the coming season. The following points should save you some headaches.
Know Thyself The best thing to ensure a successful trip is to take a hard look at yourself and your crew—your experience, ages, skill levels and general disposition. Rough out your group’s hopes for the trip: Is the gear type of utmost import? Are you five old college friends for whom the trip’s fish tally comes after talking and laughing? Are you hoping to take home a load of fillets? There’s a possibility a port’s highliner—the guy who mohawks the fish every trip— could be the worst guy in town given your group’s criteria for success.
Know Your Quarry, Ask Questions Understand the logistical realities, timing issues, and if there’s a viable
fishery underway. One of the biggest problems fishermen encounter in destination fishing is pride prevents us from asking what we view as “googan” questions. We end up trying to convince our would-be hosts that we know what we’re doing and forget to ask the questions that might make that so. Ask the stupid question. If you’ve been hoping to land X species of X size your entire life, flush out as much detail as possible about the fishery: Are there certain windows of timing for the best fishing? Is tide stage a major factor? Every species and every region is full of caveats and idiosyncrasies. Full-time chartermen must fish as many days as they can book. You can’t expect to get straight answers to all your timing questions. You can, however, zero in on an area’s better tackle shops to fill in blanks. The quest for reliable intel is something you’ll have to patchwork together.
Policies and Parting Advice As you zero in on a decision, there are other considerations. Do not base boat choice on price first and foremost. Charter fishing is not cheap, but a well-executed trip with a top captain can make your dream trip a reality. Be sure, however, to get a clear breakdown on the boat’s weather cancellation, deposit, rescheduling and trip-downgrade policies to be sure all in your crew have clear expectations. Ask detailed questions about the boat’s policies on fishing gear and whether you may target more than one species during a trip. Wherever you fish, whoever takes you and whatever you target, consider: Any seasoned crew will know, inside five minutes, the real extent of your experience. Everything works better if you check your ego at the dock.
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JANUARY 2022
FLORIDA 7
IGFA APPROVES NEW WORLD RECORDS T Carmody’s Southern Bluefin Tuna
he International Game Fish Association (IGFA), headquartered in Dania Beach, Fla., is the worldwide authority on record fish. The organization maintains a massive database of catches for almost any species you can think of and in numerous different categories. Every few months, IGFA releases a handful of recently approved new records. Here are some of the most impressive fish approved by IGFA this fall:
On July 1, 2021, Carl Carmody was fishing out of Hick’s Bay, New Zealand, when he landed the fish of a lifetime. This 355-pound, 6-ounce southern bluefin tuna is the second largest ever caught, weighing just 14 pounds shy of the current IGFA All-Tackle World Record. Carl was fishing aboard the Doctors Orders captained by Blake Sheridan when this fish struck a trolled lure. The impressive tuna earned Carl the IGFA Men’s 130-lb. Line Class World Record for the species.
Triana’s Sockeye Salmon Dennis Triana returned from an August trip to Alaska with a handful of records, including this 66-centimeter sockeye salmon that he landed on Aug. 14, 2021 to set the IGFA All-Tackle Length Record for the species. Dennis was fishing unguided on the Russian River in Alaska when the salmon struck a jig.
Sherbovich’s Arctic Char
Williams’ Chinook Salmon Bailey Williams was fishing with her husband on the Salmon River in Pulaski, New York on Sept. 12, 2021, when she landed this 12-pound, 12-ounce Chinook salmon. With this fish Bailey set the IGFA Women’s 2-kg (4-lb) Tippet Class World Record for the species. This beautiful salmon took an egg pattern on an 8-weight and was landed after a brief fight.
8 FLORIDA
JANUARY 2022
On July 28, 2021, Ilya Sherbovich landed this beautiful 25-pound, 11-ounce Arctic char to set the IGFA Men’s 20-lb. Tippet Class World Record. Ilya was fishing the remote Taymyr Peninsula in northern Russia when he landed this amazing fish. The Taymyr Peninsula is located north of the Arctic circle, and is only accessible via helicopter. Ilya netted this colorful char after a seven-minute fight and released the fish after recording the proper documentation.
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By CAM Staff
his time of year, it can be tough to put fresh fish on the dinner table, especially close to shore, where cooler temps slow down the bite for the species we chase in summer. Sheepshead, however, are a species that continues to munch through the winter months. Here are some tips to help you load the freezer with delicious white-meat sheepshead.
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• • • • • •
FOUR TIPS FOR SHEEPSHEAD
JANUARY 2022
Sheepshead spawn in winter, and many will abandon their inshore homes for the rocks and reefs of deeper water nearshore. Although they will be in deeper water, sheepshead are known to stack up during the spawn, and the catching can be easy once you find them. A contingent will also remain inshore, on the same bridges, docks and rocks where they spend most of the year. So, whether you’d prefer to take a little ride or if you prefer to stay closer to home, chances are you can find sheepshead willing to bite.
2 3
BEST BAITS
Sheepshead feed primarily on a diet of crustaceans, which they crunch up with their horse-like teeth. This is a species for which live bait is almost a requirement, and since it’s hard to bait a hook with barnacles, most anglers fish live or fresh-cut shrimp, frozen shrimp, fiddler crabs or sand fleas.
HOOKS AND TACKLE
A simple dropper rig, with the weight suspended below the hook, is the most popular rigging for sheepshead. The hook should be small enough to fit into their mouths, yet it must also be strong enough to withstand the crushing power of those teeth. In most instances, a #1 or 1/0 short-shank live bait hook is a good choice. Hide that hook in the bait as best as you can, because sheepshead can get finicky. The hook, or hooks, should be suspended a couple feet above a leader of 20-pound or heavier test. Teeth and structure are the primary reasons for the heavy leader. A 10-pound mainline on spinning gear is usually enough to handle the fight of sheepshead up to 5 pounds. One of the great things about a dropper rig is there’s a direct connection with no slack from the rod to the bait. It allows anglers to feel the slightest nibble and set the hook quickly. Sheepshead are also known as “convict fish,” and they are notorious bait thieves.
4
PLAY THE TIDE
Like any saltwater species, “heads” feed best on a moving tide. Whether you’re inshore or nearshore, you’ll be fishing some type of structure if you hope to catch sheepshead. Anchoring or position-locking the boat upstream of structure allows you to drift baits back into the strike zone for a natural presentation. The meat on a sheepshead is light and sweet. Cleaning them can be difficult because of their sharp spines and thick rib cages, but the resulting fillets are worth it.
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JANUARY 2022
NORTH FLORIDA 3
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COASTAL ANGLER North Central Florida/Nature Coast
JANUARY 2022 EDITION
Find Your Outdoors Here!
Cary & Lynn Crutchfield
North Central Florida Nature Coast Staff
ALACHUA, MARION, COLUMBIA, GILCHRIST, BRADFORD, DIXIE, LEVY, CITRUS
Cary Crutchfield
A
JANUARY
s I write tonight in late December 2021, I think back to December 2020. The Covid vaccine was about to become available for old people like me, and soon for everyone. The assumption was that everyone would get their vaccine as soon as they were eligible, and by January 2022, Covid would be pretty much a memory. What happened? What are the unvaccinated afraid of? Why are they choosing the possibility of hospitalization and death? January 2021, the US death count was around 300,000, and now January 2022, the death count has exceeded 800,000. Why? Please see this month’s yummy recipe, Bacon Corn Chowder with Shrimp on page 2. It is fast and easy and perfect for a chilly January evening. Serve with a salad and your favorite crackers or crusty bread. Winter fishing can be a challenge, but if anyone can help you, it is our NCF/NC guides. In our FREE magazine, they share very helpful information. If you need more help, or want to book a guided trip, call them. They love hearing from you. Thank you, John Freeze, for the scenic photos on this page. Stay smart, get your vaccine, stay well and stay alive. Pray for, and help if you can, our fellow Americans affected by the recent tornados. May 2022 be the best year of your life. Enjoy every precious day! Lynn Crutchfield Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida/ Nature Coast
SALES
EDITING & PRODUCTION Lynn Crutchfield
DISTRIBUTION Rosa Crisman
GRAPHIC ARTS & DESIGN Kathleen Stemley
WEB DESIGN Kristi Williams
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dr. Kevin McCarthy John Freeze Noel Kuhn Capt. Jason Clark Capt. Katie Jo Davis Capt. Andrew Fagan Capt. Jonathan Hamilton Capt. James Kerr Capt. Tony Johns Capt. Pat McGriff Capt. Brent Woodard
CONTACT INFORMATION
crutch@coastalanglermagazine.com 352-542-0356 www.CoastalAnglerMag.com/NC-Florida
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Tide Charts Local Fishing Forecasts Monthly Recipe
Photo by: Suwannee River Water Management District
BACON CORN CHOWDER WITH BACON (TWO DINNER SIZE SERVINGS)
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Home memo both i Florid and 1 winte
Thank you to The Crab Plant for the 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. 201 NW 5th St. Crystal River 352-795-4700.
TIDES • North Central Florida Time Height
1Sa 2Su
3M
4Tu
5W
6Th
7F
8Sa
6:54 AM 1:44 PM 6:38 PM 12:11 AM 7:43 AM 2:32 PM 7:27 PM 1:01 AM 8:30 AM 3:15 PM 8:14 PM 1:49 AM 9:14 AM 3:55 PM 9:00 PM 2:38 AM 9:57 AM 4:31 PM 9:47 PM 3:29 AM 10:37 AM 5:05 PM 10:37 PM 4:22 AM 11:15 AM 5:37 PM 11:30 PM 5:18 AM 11:52 AM 6:11 PM
-1.4 2.9 1.4 4.0 -1.6 2.9 1.3 4.1 -1.6 2.9 1.2 4.0 -1.4 2.8 1.0 3.9 -1.1 2.8 0.9 3.6 -0.7 2.7 0.8 3.3 -0.2 2.8 0.7 2.9 0.2 2.8
HERNANDO BEACH
JANUARY 2022
9Su
Time Height
12:29 AM 6:21 AM 12:30 PM 6:50 PM 10M 1:39 AM 7:41 AM 1:16 PM 7:38 PM 11Tu 3:00 AM 9:24 AM 2:16 PM 8:33 PM 12W 4:15 AM 10:56 AM 3:25 PM 9:30 PM 13Th 5:16 AM 12:06 PM 4:29 PM 10:22 PM 14F 6:06 AM 12:54 PM 5:27 PM 11:10 PM 15Sa 6:47 AM 1:32 PM 6:17 PM 11:54 PM 16Su 7:23 AM 2:05 PM 7:00 PM
0.6 2.4 0.6 2.8 0.5 2.1 1.0 2.9 0.3 2.0 1.3 2.9 0.1 2.0 1.5 3.0 -0.3 2.2 1.5 3.1 -0.5 2.4 1.5 3.2 -0.7 2.6 1.4 3.3 -0.8 2.6 1.3
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
17M
18Tu
19W
20Th
21F
22Sa
23Su
24M
12:34 AM 7:57 AM 2:35 PM 7:38 PM 1:12 AM 8:28 AM 3:04 PM 8:15 PM 1:49 AM 8:59 AM 3:30 PM 8:51 PM 2:26 AM 9:30 AM 3:56 PM 9:28 PM 3:06 AM 10:03 AM 4:23 PM 10:08 PM 3:50 AM 10:36 AM 4:52 PM 10:53 PM 4:39 AM 11:12 AM 5:24 PM 11:45 PM 5:37 AM 11:51 AM 6:02 PM
3.4 -0.9 2.7 1.2 3.5 -0.9 2.7 1.1 3.5 -0.8 2.7 0.9 3.5 -0.8 2.8 0.8 3.4 -0.6 2.8 0.6 3.3 -0.4 2.9 0.5 3.0 -0.1 3.0 0.4 2.7 0.3 3.1
Lynn Crutchfield, Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida
Time Height
25Tu 12:48 AM 6:51 AM 12:38 PM 6:48 PM 26W 2:07 AM 8:33 AM 1:41 PM 7:46 PM 27Th 3:31 AM 10:24 AM 3:00 PM 8:54 PM 28F 4:46 AM 11:51 AM 4:17 PM 10:01 PM 29Sa 5:51 AM 12:52 PM 5:25 PM 11:05 PM 30Su 6:47 AM 1:38 PM 6:25 PM 31M 12:04 AM 7:35 AM 2:15 PM 7:16 PM
0.2 2.3 0.7 3.1 0.0 2.1 1.1 3.2 -0.3 2.1 1.4 3.3 -0.7 2.4 1.5 3.5 -1.0 2.6 1.5 3.7 -1.3 2.7 1.3 3.8 -1.4 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
High Tide 12 min Low Tide 20 min
High Tide 2 min Low Tide 0 min
JANUARY 2022
COOKING DIRECTIONS
INGREDIENTS
Heat a large pot over medium • 6 slices bacon chopped high heat. Add bacon to pan and • 1 cup diced onion cook until crispy. Remove and • ½ cup diced celery drain on paper towels. • 1 large garlic clove Add onion and celery and minced sauté until tender. Add garlic, • 1 teaspoon chopped thyme and bay leaf. Cook for fresh thyme (optional) two minutes stirring constantly. • 1 bay leaf Add corn and bay leaf. Cook • 2 cups frozen creamed for two minutes, stirring corn occasionally. • 2 cups chicken Add broth, bring to a boil and broth (preferably cook for five minutes. homemade) Stir in shrimp and cook for • ¾ pound peeled and 2 minutes or until shrimp are deveined medium done. shrimp Remove bay leaf Stir in half • ½ cup half and half and half, and salt and pepper. • Salt and pepper Crumble half of bacon over • Parsley minced and stir in. Crumble remainder of bacon and parsley over chowder. Serve with your favorite crackers or crusty bread. Comes together quickly and so good on a chilly January night! COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
By
on the Africa of an slave, rudde sharks waters actual on the would was sh Museu the br annoy that th dazed rescue home Hom enjoye near t “On th tropic with b that fi Amer so cal red sh the sid Florid
FLORIDA WATERWAYS Winslow Homer in North Florida
O
ne of the great American painters who discovered many subjects in North Florida, was Winslow Homer (1836 – 1910). Known for his memorable paintings of marine subjects, both in England and Maine, he visited Florida and the Caribbean between 1888 and 1903 during the cold New England winters. His paintings of Key West, for example “Key West, Hauling Anchor,” captured watery scenes around the town. I used Homer’s “The By Kevin McCarthy Gulf Stream” on the cover of a book I co-authored on African Americans in Florida. The scene of an abandoned man, perhaps an escaped slave, on a boat that has lost its mast and rudder, while trying to avoid the circling sharks and worry about the approaching waterspout, horrified many viewers. Homer actually added the image of the schooner on the left horizon as a sign that the man would be rescued. When the painting was shown at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and some patrons criticized the brutality of the scene, Homer wrote annoyingly that “You can tell these ladies that the unfortunate negro who now is so dazed and parboiled [“agitated”] will be rescued and returned to his friends and home, and ever after live happily.” Homer was an avid fisherman and greatly enjoyed trying his luck around Homosassa near the Gulf of Mexico. His watercolor “On the Homosassa River” pictures a tropical landscape on an overcast day with billowing clouds. He once declared that fishing on that river was “the best in America.” His “Red Shirt, Homosassa” – so called because of the fisherman in the red shirt – depicts the deep foliage on the side of the river. And his “Black Bass, Florida” shows a fish leaping high for a lure.
“On the Homosassa River”
Fishermen on the Homosassa River will no doubt appreciate the keen eye that Homer had for the scenery and especially for the abundant fishing Winslow Homer available in that river. What Zane Grey did for fishing out of Long Key Fishing Camp in the Florida Keys in the early 1900s, and Ernest Hemingway did for deep-sea fishing off the Keys in the 1930s, Winslow Homer did for fishing in and around Homosassa in the early twentieth century. It’s possible that baseballers Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth saw those paintings and were influenced to fish off the Gulf while attending spring training in St. Petersburg. So, while North Florida rivers like the Homosassa give fishermen much to rave about, famous painters like Winslow Homer found a different kind of pleasure there. Kevin McCarthy, the co-author with Maxine D. Jones of African Americans in Florida 1993 - (available at amazon.com), can be reached at ceyhankevin@gmail.com.
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JANUARY 2022
Cover of my book with “The Gulf Stream”
“Red Shirt, Homosassa”
“Black Bass, Florida”
“Key West, Hauling Anchor”
NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 3
KATIE JO’S NATURE COAST ADVENTURES
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ENGLISH.BRAD@YAHOO.COM 24304 NW 182ND AVE. HIGH SPRINGS, FL 32643 4 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST
JANUARY 2022
intertime fishing, means the fish begin congregating in the rivers and creeks along Florida's Nature Coast! This time of the year is some of my favorite fishing, especially for very large snook. Although they are out of season, catching big, over-slot snook always makes an angler come back for more! I personally caught my biggest snook, and am now an honorary member of the 40-plus snook club, and I cannot be more excited! Snook tend to swim in schools in deeper holes in the rivers, and like to stay down deep where they can ambush their prey above their heads, while looking up for the perfect bait swimming by. Fallen trees along the river are also good places to cast a DOA Glow jerk bait. Rapala Xrap lures are my go-to for the fish that eat in deep holes, with long casts, so that I do not spook them or create a shadow of my boat over their heads. While reeling at various speeds to see what they're reaction time is, I am prepared to keep my line tight, once one takes the opportunity at my lure. The water clears up a lot during the winter so a 30 pound fluorocarbon leader is recommended to ensure they don't break off, and they are landed in the boat. In the creeks, I move slowly with my trolling motor looking for swirls of mullet on top of oyster bars. The redfish like a mud minnow attached to a floating cork (not a popping cork) with a short enough leader so that the bait isn't swimming into the rocks. I use a 1/16 ounce jig
head to have some weight in order to make a longer cast to the oyster bar. I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year! Captain Katie Jo Davis www.fishcrystalriverflorida.com 772-882-8932 KD OUTDOORS FISHING CHARTERS
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CRYSTAL RIVER
HOMOSASSA
H
ere we are, 2022! Wow 2021 went by really fast. I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a great year. I know it was a bizarre year and difficult time for some. Hopefully, in between the dramas of 2021, you were able to get out on the water or in the woods. I wish everyone a healthy and prosperous new year. It is believed that the meaning of Homosassa, is derived from the Seminole’s meaning, “River of Fish”. With that being said, you can see why the Native Americans would have named it that during the winter months. January and February bring us our coolest months, and the river holds tons of fish! With the head springs pumping out a consistent 72-degree water temperature, it has the ability to keep the river water temperature significantly warmer than the Gulf. During this time the tribes would move their families to the river, where they could feast off daily catches of fresh fish. This was not so much of an option for them in the summer months. So, with that being said, my report for January will be similar to what the Native Americans would be doing this time of the year, fish the river! With the Gulf temperatures cool, look for the main rivers to produce good fishing for the next couple months. For snook, try straight jigs with Mirror Lure Lil Johns, DOA 5.5 CAL in glow and Mirror Dines for good bites along deep rocky points, with good moving water. These fish will sometimes find good ambush points, and be there in large numbers as well. So, if you have a good strike with a miss, don’t give up on that spot. A lot of times there will be more than one fish sitting in these spots. These same spots will also produce nice catches of snapper, drum, redfish and sometimes
trout. Fishing with live shrimp rigged on a jig head or a knocker rig will keep the rods bent. Also, look for big schools of Jacks in the river. You won’t miss their aggressive top water action! There will be some trout in the rivers, while some trout I believe, go offshore in the winter months. The ones who do stay inshore will transition from the river, to the river and creek mouths, based on water temperatures. So, if its mild, try the yellow hard bottom areas around the creek mouths. Popping cork rigs or J hooked DOA Cal will produce bites. If it’s really cold, then look for trout in the main river concentrating around deeper holes. Grouper season is closed. I know, stinks, right? However, if the weather is permitting, the near shore rocks can still be lots fun. Sheepshead will move in from offshore and bring great eats to the table. Shrimp on a jig head will be your go-to. Remember to pay attention to your wake this time of the year. Good fishing in the river means there will be a lot of boats in the river. You are responsible for your own wake. Be courteous to others. Capt. Stump Jonathan Hamilton 352-403-2073 www.captainjhamilton.com
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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ello and I hope everyone is enjoying the cooler temperatures and the holidays, hopefully you have been on the water catching some 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 to 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, it is different. I always start with a little jon. If no success 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. Live shrimp are always a good choice when it comes to bait. If using artificial, I will slow the retrieval. This time of year, I like a JANUARY 2022
mirrordine, tied 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 safe and healthy New Year… Capt. James Kerr 352-362-6893 Citrusfishingchaters.com
NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 5
CEDAR KEY
420 Dock Street Cedar Key, FL 32625 352-543-5142 steamerscedarkey.com info@steamerscedarkey.com Like us on Facebook! We will cook your catch. We serve fresh local Cedar Key oysters and clams. Try our delicious Gator. We get it directly from the Gator Man himself.
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Forms Letterhead We also offer apparel and promotional items. Envelopes Business Cards Brochures Newsletters & More Invitations Come see us at our new location between Wedding & Graduation McDonalds and NAPA - 1517 North Young Blvd. 6 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST
JANUARY 2022
ey everyone, I truly hope each of y'all had a great Christmas! I know the fish had to be happy to be safe from our C&M custom baits for the day. It's cold, and with that comes those tide timing low water hardcore creek fishing days. Every fish and its momma is hanging in the creeks right now, and we love it! Let's talk about what to do once you're in those creeks. If you are blessed enough to have a trolling motor, then go ahead and get it ready to beat up those tree lines and shell beds. Also, try to put your boat one cast distance away from the bank, so you aren't right on top of the fish you're targeting. Casting slightly ahead of the boat will also help you fish for fish you haven't spooked. Look for dips and pockets on water depth change as well. Sometimes, these happen right off channels and around bends. From time to time, fish will stage in these areas.
Until next month, stay safe out there. Capt. Jason Clark In The Slot Fishing Charters 352-639-3209 www.intheslotfishing.com Check out our new Popping Cork line at. www.intheslotfishing.com/ william-wade-tackle.html
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Clark harters 9-3209 ng.com g Cork g.com/ e.html
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ello everybody! I hope everyone had a good Christmas and New Year. Deer season has gotten a little better for us, with my wife killing a nice 8 point, and hope it’s was a good one for y’all. If your New Year’s resolution is to catch more fish, then stick around. January is probably one of the toughest months fishing for me personally, especially if it’s a cold one. If it’s a mild winter, it can also be some of the best fishing Florida has to offer. Trout will sometimes go very deep, to winter these cold months, so they can feed and get ready to pull up for the spring. If you find deep trout, you pretty much use the same technique; just cut the cork off. If you have any deep grass land marked, I would definitely try them. Redfish will be doing the same thing, just in creeks. A lot of us without air boats have to wait for a higher tide to get back to them, but usually at that point, they pulled up on a shallow mudflat to warm up. These fish can be very spooky after being run over by the air boats all day. Your best chance is to finesse them with a light rig, like soft plastics or a light jig head and shrimp. You definitely, don’t want to throw anything that makes a big commotion or hits the water with a splash. So get out there and catch them. I’ve also seen a big flush of black drum and sheepshead out there. The same techniques work for them
Boat with someone you can trust.
as well. I hope everybody has a good start to the New Year and you keep all your resolutions. Bookings are going to go through the roof after this month, so go ahead and get on the books, if you’re thinking about it. Until next time, keep it Reel Native! Captain Brent Woodard Reel Native Fishing Charters ReelNativeFishing.com 352-284-5514
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Based on coverage selected. Subject to terms, conditions, availability & qualifications. Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Co. © 2015 Allstate Insurance Co.
JANUARY 2022
15066848
out
HORSESHOE BEACH
NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 7
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ka ty used to for mo chunky dozens the St. fill a co and sto minute will kn it's hard on; leav for the anglers Rodma fish. M (white, under a Beca Decem wonde get. Th into th Dec. 11 looks id that do anythin gals, th season I may b just be Howev how las may be SPRIN In ca the key can get fish fin see and ledge a a cours always Traditi we hav transm as low "YEAH As f prairie
8 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST
JANUARY 2022
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KEATON BEACH
CENTRAL FLORIDA INLAND
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kay Forest "Slab-sters”, this is the type of crappie fishing I could get used to! Speckled perch are the goal for most anglers right now. Beautiful, chunky specks are being caught by the dozens. For boaters, the Ocklawaha and the St. John's River are your best bet to fill a cooler right now. Just troll along, and stop at each hyacinth patch for 10 minutes, until you find the one. (You will know!) Once you're catching fish, it's hard to leave, but make sure to move on; leaving some there makes it possible for them to re-stock. As for shoreside anglers, the dams at Moss Bluff and Rodman are easily accessed and full of fish. Minnows and multi-colored jigs (white, chartreuse and pink) fished deep under a bobber are the preferred baits. Because of November's temps, when December arrived, most people started wondering how cold this winter might get. Then, BAM, daytime temps jumped into the mid 80s. I'm writing this on Dec. 11th, and the two week forecast looks identical, every dang day. Now that doesn't mean it's set in stone or anything, but to all my fishin' pals and gals, that've theorized what this winter season has for us. (This is my opinion.) I may be wrong of course, and it could just be a standard, Florida winter. However, going by what I've seen, and how last winter turned out, I think we may be looking at the beginning of SPRING, Dec.11th! Crazy, I know. In case it does get super cold though, the key to mastering that style of fishing can get pretty expensive. A high-end fish finder with GPS is key, so you can see and mark, each brush pile and ledge as you pass over. Then, just plot a course and follow it, confident you're always exactly where you need to be. Traditional Sonar was great, but now we have units that use "CHIRP", which transmit a pulse 10x as long. Some cost as low as $200., with others as high as, "YEAH, RIGHT!!! As far as the smaller lakes and prairies, they're loaded with more big
Matt Williams of Woodstock, Ga. caught his fine trout on Assassin’s Stinky Pink 5 inch fished un-weighted on a 5/0 offset worm hook.
A
bass than ever, but remember, this is spawn season for bass. Do your best to get them back in the water ASAP, so they can get back to protecting the future populations! Remember, the biggest females always bed first. So keep your eyes peeled for large white circles of sand (beds) along the shallow grassy edges. Alright, that's it. You better get out there sooner than later, but only if you're looking to catch your fish of a lifetime. Happy New Years, and best of luck, bending your rods! John Freeze Kayak Fishing and Nature Tours OurNationalForrest@gmail.com 352-216-5798
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s I tell them on my boat, “I haven’t lied to you yet!” The second half of November was simply outstanding and so far, December is holding the same patterns and we are kicking butt and taking names. Water temps were up to 66 degrees as of Monday (Today is Wednesday December 8th) and the trout are loving every minute of it. We are catching fish on MirrOdines, EC. PFSBG, and 09. Paul Brown Devils, in EC, 91 and 98, Soft-Dines in 91, EC and 08(Pink) and Catch Jrs. in #11, EC & 808 in the series III. Oh, and if you wish to throw hard jerk baits, they have been eating those as well as, Bite-A-Bait fighters, Bomber Long A’s, and Cordell Redfins to mention just a few. Yes, yes, we also caught trout on live shrimp under a Back Bay Thunder, but not nearly as fast or fun as on the artificials. The best bait of all, bar none, has been Assassin’s 5 inch Shads rigged on a 5/0 offset worm hook fished un-weighted. This rig accounted for a four-hour bite with 44 keeper trout and 33 short trout released. We were throwing the NEW Laguna Shrimp pattern for that weekend. We have also slayed them on Stinky Pink and Pink Ghost. Yep “PINK” has been Hot! January could continue the present trends if Gulf water temps will hold around 60 degrees. Our 87 trout day had 59 plus degrees the whole trip. It will slow somewhat if we have a few days of frost between now and January. but if you watch the fronts and fish the warming trends, you should still have some great days out on the Gulf in JANUARY 2022
David Marsano of Woodstock had this nice 20-inch trout for top honors on 12/ 4/21
Waldon Davis of Macon, Ga. with a fine red caught in late November.
January. Throw the same baits which have been working for my charters, and you should have a Blast. Meanwhile, Let's Go Fishing! Pat McGriff dba One More Cast guide service for 30 years! www.onemorecast.net onemorecast@gtcom.net | cell: 850.838.7541
NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 9
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e e holida time w Nature taken a sheeps fire off the win Decem groupe look fo great t and pa They h bite, so and a s braide leader the bu octopu rig wit on the either and or or a fid of shee day an fisherm many s we like to 5 pe tasty th Insh bite ha of the and cr live sh the roc rivers This ti simple long le quite a advent almost and ro light fl
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ello from Yankeetown! I hope everyone had wonderful holidays, and spent some well needed time with the family. Here on the Nature Coast, the fishing hasn’t taken a break at all. Nearshore, the sheepshead bite should begin to fire off pretty good in January. After the windy cold and foggy filled December, we dealt with, all the grouper anglers, including myself, look forward to it. Sheepshead are a great table fare and are a very willing and patient fish to learn how to catch. They have good eyesight and a light bite, so a medium light action rod and a small spinning reel with light braided line, and a long fluorocarbon leader will always do the trick. On the business end, I like a 2/0 circle or octopus style hook and a fish finder rig with a 1 to 2 oz. sinker, depending on the current. The bait of choice is either live shrimp, preferably smaller, and or a small crab. Either a blue crab or a fiddler crab will suffice. The limit of sheepshead is 8 per person, per day and most of us guides and avid fisherman know just how difficult that many sheepshead can be to clean, so we like to limit customers or ourselves to 5 per person, and look for other tasty things to add to the fish box. Inshore, the redfish and trout bite has remained steady, with most of the fish in and around the river and creeks this time of year. A big live shrimp fished in and around the rocky deep outcroppings in the rivers and creeks is the way to go. This time of year, I prefer to keep it simple and use a light jig head and a long leader, as I know I’ll be retying quite a few jig-heads throughout the adventure. The trout have settled into almost any area that has some depth and rock grass. A popping cork and a light fluorocarbon leader, with a gulp
shrimp, is the go-to way to search and find out just where they are. Once you have them located, I implore you to try a handful of different tactics before giving up on them, because at times they can be stubborn. Free lining shrimp or pinfish or even a small paddle tail on a light jig head sometimes gets them fired up. Always remember to stop in Captains Cove Outfitters, and talk to the friendly staff. They can point you in the right direction, no matter what you’d like to target! Tight lines everyone. Andrew Fagan Ebb Tide Guide Service @capt_redfishdrew
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SURF & PIER
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his is the month for chilly water. At a certain temperature, all fish will say “Too cold!” At that point, they will either migrate south, or towards deeper warmer water. On our local beaches, that temp is 60 degrees. When it gets below 60, it is time to travel south, tie rigs, do reel maintenance, or rake leaves. The local TV channel 4, is a good reference for water temp during their weather forecast. My favorite websites can be found by searching Sea Surface Temperature. When there, I have found the RUTGERS website very accurate and easy to use. If you’re after pompano. you will need to travel south, at least as far as New Smyrna Beach. However, there will be plenty of big whiting in our surf, as long as the water temp is 60 or above. When pursuing a cooler full of good eating whiting, I downsize my tackle and baits. Remember, even a two-pound
18-inch bull whiting, has a small mouth. This time of year, they are mainly feeding on small donax clams. These are also referred to as coquina or periwinkle clams. When it comes to hook size for whiting, I drop down from a 2/0 to a number 1 circle hook. A double dropper rig, which has ten different names, anchored with a sputnik sinker, gets the job done. My go-to baits are fresh clams and FKS/FDS. These are fresh killed shrimp and fresh dead shrimp. Fresh killed, is live shrimp placed in a plastic container with no water. Then buried in ice until used. These shrimp will stay good for days. You just cannot beat fresh bait. I usually get three baits from each shrimp. I cut the horn and the tail fan off. Then get two baits from the tail, plus the head. If you want to catch some wintertime pompano, it will require a road trip. The exact spot for these silver nuggets will depend solely on the water temp. When you find 66 to 70, you will find the fish. Somewhere between New Smyrna and Juno will be the sweet spot. Just use the internet and the satellites to plan your getaway. I usually stay in Vero, so I can range north to Melbourne or south to Juno. I wish all of you a Happy New Year and tight lines. Cheers to screaming drags and coolers full of good eats. 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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he month of January can be a tricky month to consistently find fish, and then get them to eat! With some of the coldest water temps of the year, a rule to follow is “slow down”. When water temps drop, the fish’s metabolism slows and they become more lethargic, as they try to conserve energy. They still eat, but not as often and not as much. You will find that your bait presentation becomes even more critical, and scent becomes a key factor! This is also the time of the year when a shallow water boat is necessary when fishing the Lower Suwannee River Estuary! When you combine the lunar negative tides, with a brisk northerly wind, you will get low tides 2 to 2.5 feet lower than a normal low tide. There are days when the high tide for all day, will be lower than a normal low tide! So be careful, or you will find yourself spending time someplace you really don’t want to be! For the angler, these extra low tides concentrate the fish in the deeper holes of the creeks, and if the water temps drop low enough, it will force many fish into the warmer waters of the river. It has been 10 years since we had a really COLD winter; that year we had consecutive morning lows in the teens! December 2011 was the second year in a row that we had water temps cold enough to kill fish in the Lower Suwannee River and the Estuary! While there were some mullet, trout and redfish killed, it was the tarpon and snook that people really noticed, since these fish are not “normally” found in this area, especially in the winter! I have fished these waters for over 55 years, and it has only been in the last 10 to 12 years that we have seen snook in
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Grant Harrell landed this beautiful 34-inch Lower Suwannee River snook on the 12/4/2021
the Lower Suwannee River and Estuary. In the last few years, we have seen the population of snook increasing each year. While the numbers of snook are increasing, it is still not a species that we specifically target, but that might be changing! This fall I caught snook on many trips, especially when fishing inshore waters south of the river. Now that we are getting into the winter season, I am seeing more snook in the river. It seems the snook have figured out how to cope with, and survive the mild winters we have had the last few years. It will be interesting to see well they do when we get a COLD winter! As we begin the New Year, I would like to thank all of you who read my articles! Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or comments. Until next time be safe and Catchemup! Captain Tony Johns | 352-221-2510 www.lowersuwanneriverfishing.com Instagram: captaintonyjohns Facebook: Lower Suwannee River Fishing Adventures or Captain Tony Johns
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State Awarded $33M for Apalachicola Watershed
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ast month, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced the award of more than $103 million from its Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund to 11 new projects and two amendments in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi. Developed in consultation with state and federal resource agencies, the projects are designed to remedy harm and reduce risks of future harm to natural resources that were affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This was the ninth round of awards from the fund, bringing the total awarded by NFWF to projects across the five Gulf States to nearly $1.6 billion. In Florida, $33 million was awarded for a new project to acquire and manage approximately 32,000 acres of wetland and floodplain habitat in the Apalachicola watershed, ensuring sufficient freshwater and nutrient flow to Apalachicola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico to support oysters and marine fishes. This project is being co-funded by Walmart’s Acres for America Program. The number of awards from the GEBF in the state of Florida now stands at 45, with a total current value of approximately $290 million. All projects were selected for funding following extensive consultation with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, FWS and NOAA. Learn more at www.nfwf.org.
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able to sniff out a drop of blood in an lthough the nostrils of humans Olympic swimming pool or other largeand other terrestrial animals play volume basin. What gets no fanfare, an important part in respiration, however, is that bony fish also have a in fish they are devoted completely to tremendous sense of smell. They live their scent perception. Further, most fish entire lives in a liquid medium and are species have two sets of nostrils—one as good at detecting dissolved chemicals used strictly for water intake, and the as the best noses of the continents are other solely for water expulsion. This at picking up scents on land. For some, setup gives fish the capacity to analyze the survival of their species is a continuous influx of water, predicated on a superb sense which is examined by the of smell; many are compelled fish’s olfactory receptors to migrate hundreds or before being ejected to make thousands of miles to spawn room for more water. guided by nothing more than Fish are always pulling minute traces of dissolved water into their nostrils for scents. Never underestimate the purposes of extracting the nose of a fish. scent, employing a variety The senses of smell and of techniques to accomplish taste are intimately connected this. At rest, a fish can rely across the animal kingdom, on the tiny cells within its and fish are no exception. nostrils to brush water inside; Fish have taste buds located the fish also draws water into internally on their tongue its nostrils each time it pumps and mouth. They also have its gills to breathe. When taste buds located externally a fish is swimming, water on their lips and face. This is forced into its nostrils as means a fish can taste an it moves forward. Finally, By John Saporito object (like the bait you left sitting in the sun all day) without while facing into a current, water is constantly flowing into ever having it in its mouth. Fish frequently use their muzzle the nostrils, granting the fish access to an endless stream of scent dispersal without it actually having to move. This last method is no this way to test potential food items. You never know, the faintest “bump” different than a dog sticking its head out a car window. The headlong rush on the end of your line might just be the fish of your dreams, poking at of air, carrying with it the aromatic vestiges of the world, allows the dog your bait to see if it is fit for consumption. to pick up a tremendous assortment of scents without moving so much as John Saporito is a lifelong fisherman, writer and student of the seas. an inch. Visit him online at johnsaporito.com Sharks are widely touted for their sense of smell. They are purportedly
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here’s interesting research coming out of North Carolina that explores the reasons for variations in redfish numbers year to year. Near the northern end of the species’ range, populations of inshore redfish vary widely in coastal waters of the state, which makes it an excellent place to hone in on factors that affect populations—and the fishing—wherever redfish are targeted. A study out of the University of North Carolina Wilmington examined how environmental factors affect the numbers of juvenile red drum present in nearshore areas each year. Fisheries scientist and lead author on the study Danielle Goldberg dove into 26 years of data on redfish recruitment compiled by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Her focus was on wind, water temperature and productivity. Productivity can be understood as the amount of phytoplankton in nearshore areas, which serves as an indicator of the amount of prey available to juvenile red drum. Goldberg and co-researchers found that when north and northeast winds occurred in August, as opposed to later, there was an increase in red drum recruitment. This indicates that wind plays an important role in transporting larval-stage red drum to nearshore areas. They also found that higher nearshore water temperatures early in the spawning season occurred during years with high recruitment. Knowing this can help red drum fisheries managers forecast what years will facilitate high recruitment and can help managers understand what is happening during years with low recruitment. To read the study, go to bit.ly/3rQ0bT7
he FWC TrophyCatch pro g r a m awarded its Season 9 Phoenix bass boat to angler James Bernard from Lee, Fla. From thousands of TrophyCatch registrants, five drawing finalists were randomly selected for an exciting “reverse drawing” held Dec. 4 at the Bobby Lane Cup youth tournament. The last remaining name drawn from the bucket revealed Bernard to be the winner of the Phoenix boat package. “This event is a great way to cap off a record-setting Season 9 for TrophyCatch, and a fantastic reward for one of our many TrophyCatch citizen-scientists,” said Tom Graef, Director of the Division of Freshwater Fisheries. “This program provides trophy bass data that is guiding our research and helping identify Florida’s premier bass waters.” Although participating in TrophyCatch by documenting and submitting a trophy bass increases the chances of winning, anglers need only to register for the program to be automatically included in the boat drawing. This was just the case for Bernard, who avidly fishes tournaments but had not submitted a bass to the program. The Phoenix boat package is a brand-new Phoenix 819 powered by Mercury ProXS 200, guided by Lowrance electronics and trolling motor and anchored by Power-Pole. The TrophyCatch program rewards anglers who provide documentation of their catch and release of largemouth bass weighing 8 pounds or heavier in Florida. For more information about the TrophyCatch program, visit www.trophycatchflorida.com.
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hristmas has passed, and a lot of money was wasted on lastminute purchases, made with guesswork and good intentions to fill the yearly, obligatory gift-hole beneath a tree. If your wellintentioned plastic-wrapped knick-knacks didn’t spark the smiles you were hoping for this year, there is still time to make it right. Redeem any Christmas failures by gifting your family with memories; take them fishing! Whether on your own boat or a charter, this might easily be misconstrued as a selfish gift to the family of an avid angler. However, there are lots of selfless components to be considered, especially when children are included. As a female in the industry, it was extremely difficult for me to get back into fishing after I became a mother. I had always prioritized catching fish above anything else. I was an absolute fishing machine and only had one gear: full throttle, get’er done. Once I became a mother, I transferred this mindset to keeping my child safe. It was daunting to even consider taking my baby on the boat and meshing these two parts of who I was. What would happen on a boat if an epic fish were to hit the line? As I began pioneering my new fishermom persona, there were a few things I learned to help make it work. The biggest of all was support, the support of things and the support of people. Shamelessly over-packing for a fishing trip is completely acceptable for parents. Having everything you need alleviates a ton of stress in the myriad of situations for young children on a boat. I’ve gone as far as hauling baby swings and beanbags to nap in, dry clothes and a baby carrier to strap the lil’ one to my chest. All are great things to consider. A big issue for babies on the boat is how brutally hot it gets. Toss some jugs of water in the cooler and bring a pot so your lil’ one can get a cool bath. Bring a tarp or umbrella to set up for shade. Fishing with little ones can be a large undertaking, but with planning and discretion, it can be stress-free and enjoyable. Take it slowly, and eventually modify your parental arsenal for the boat. Support from others cannot be overstated here, especially for new mommas. Instead of hiring a babysitter to stay behind with your child, have the sitter watch the child on the boat. Invite extra friends who are more into the boat ride than fishing, and they can help with the kids. It can be difficult to scale down the intensity of a fishing trip, but creating a special trip that’s geared toward the children’s experience, or helping a new fishermom get her confidence back, is rewarding. Besides, the earlier you start your kiddos on the boat, the sooner you will have them matching your skill and intensity, begging for bigger and more hardcore trips. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon fishes with Blue Magic Charters in Marathon, Florida Keys. Check her out at CaptainQuinlyn.com, @captainquinlyn or call (504) 920-6342.
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By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
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n early December, I set out in search for large trout in an area known to hold these magnificent fish from December through early April. Under typical conditions, they can be found warming themselves by hovering over the mud/grass bottom in knee-deep water, which is also where I prefer to target them. However, on this particular day the temperature was at a near record high of 80 degrees! The trout had no reason to hang out in the hot mud, so I had to read the signs to catch the fish. Before launching my kayak, I stood high on the bluff and scanned the area. This shore runs north to south, and there was a slight south to southeast breeze. I didn’t see any slicks to alert me to feeding fish, nor did I see busting bait. I didn’t even see any lazily flipping mullet. What I did see were several pelicans drifting on the water several hundred yards out and two kayakers to the north. There were three separate groups of pelicans, and they were not near each other.
I launched the kayak and headed east, or straight out. I made a few cast in the shallow water, but the vegetation was too abundant to properly work my lure, and I didn’t see any bait. With the bowmount trolling motor, I was able to stand and look for visible signs of life while slowly moving forward. The water in this area was crystal clear, and if fish were present, they would be easy to locate. When I reached water with a little less grass, I decided to make short drifts and try my luck. Once a drift didn’t produce, I would head east again until I reached new water with a little more depth, and drift again. The wind would push me to the northwest and somewhat back toward the shore. I also noticed the other kayakers were moving around a lot. With that observation and the fact that I hadn’t had a bite, I concluded they were not catching either, and the fish were not shallow.
My next move was to head deeper toward the pelicans. As I mentioned earlier, there were three groups of them, and the one thing they had in common was their distance from the shore. I headed straight east until I was inline with them, but up-wind. Once I reached this area, I noticed baitfish in the water. They were not being chased, but they were present. The water was still very clear, and it was about 3 to 4 feet deep with a mix of grass and potholes. I began launching my 4-inch paddletail toward the potholes. Utilizing a steady retrieve and keeping my lure about midway in the water column, I received a vicious strike. After some tail-walking, I landed a nice 5-pound speckled trout. Not bad for the first fish of the day! I had to depart from my pregame plan and follow the signs to the fish. By following that pattern, I was fortunate enough to play catch and release with specks and reds the remainder of the day. 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 feel good story about anglers using a passion for fishing to do good in the world. Harrison Konsker and Maccabee Harman were avid anglers and high school students back in 2014 when they recognized the potential their angling success had to serve their South Florida community. On the water every weekend, they regularly filled bag limits, and decided the best use for all their fresh fish was to offer it those in need. They began reaching out to local food banks before taking the next step to form Fillet for Friends (FFF), a 501 (c) (3) non-profit whose mission is to reduce hunger and empower marginalized communities by working with local fishing and hunting communities and provide fish, wild game, education and community resources for the under-served. Since its inception, FFF has been feeding South Florida through a variety of methods. FFF regularly attends fishing tournaments across Florida to collect surplus fresh fish. A majority of their donations come from this process to help reduce waste and fill the plates of the hungry. They have developed a network of volunteers comprised of high school students with several chapters across Florida, and are in the process of expanding nationally. Aside from tournament donations, FFF makes it effortless for individual anglers across Florida to donate fish. Fishermen are able to contact FFF through a variety
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of outlets: Instagram Direct Messaging, email, texts and through their website. The fish are then picked up, filleted, packaged and delivered to food banks. All contributions are tax-deductible. The young philanthropists, who are now university students, have taken their organization to the next level. The team at Fillet for Friends has grown to 10 individuals, including Captain Bill Kelly, executive director of the Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association. Last month, FFF was awarded a grant from Feeding South Florida to augment their efforts, which have provided thousands of pounds of fish to thousands of Florida families. For more information, check out www.filletforfriends.org and follow @filletforfriends on social media.
Gulf Descending Devices Requirement Begins in January
O
n Jan. 13, the federal requirement will go into effect for anglers fishing for reef fish species to have a descending device or venting tool rigged and ready to use in Gulf of Mexico federal waters. This requirement was part of the DESCEND Act of 2020, which was signed into law last January. It applies to commercial, for-hire and private recreational vessels. The intent is to reduce mortality caused by barotrauma on reef species, like red snapper. Barotrauma is an increase in internal gas pressure caused by the sudden changes in pressure that fish undergo when being reeled up from depths generally greater than 90 feet, though it can occur in shallower waters of 33 feet or more. Fish experiencing barotrauma have difficulty quickly swimming back to catch depth, often floating on the surface where they are vulnerable to attack by dolphins, sharks and birds. Descending devices are a weighted hook, lip clamp or box that will hold a fish as it is lowered to a sufficient depth to allow for recovery from barotrauma. A venting tool is a sharpened, hollow instrument that can penetrate a fish’s abdomen to release excess gas acquired as it was brought to the surface.
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NOAA Fisheries is currently seeking comments on a proposed rule to clarify descending device and venting tool definitions for the DESCEND Act. Learn more at www.fisheries.noaa.gov.
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Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show is Back for 2022
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he Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show is gearing up for 2022 and the largest boat and yacht event in the world. The show returns to the Miami Beach Convention Center and four additional locations from Wednesday, Feb. 16 through Sunday, Feb. 20 over Presidents Day weekend for the premier boating extravaganza in South Florida. Produced by Informa Markets and owned by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show will be the first production of South Florida’s preeminent winter boat shows after joining forces earlier this year and combining the Miami Yacht Show, SuperYacht Miami and the Miami International Boat Show. The 2022 Miami event is the first boat show to be integrated with the Discover Boating brand, which is the North American lifestyle brand for boating aimed at attracting the next generation of boaters and engaging current boaters. “We are looking forward to delivering an unparalleled experience at the 2022 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show,” said Andrew Doole, President of U.S. Boat Shows with Informa Markets, who produces the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show. “With our return to the Miami Beach Convention Center and alongside our partners at the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the 2022 boat show will be unlike any other winter boat show.” Historically, the Miami International Boat Show, the Miami Yacht Show and SuperYacht Miami have attracted more than 100,000 visitors from 35 countries to South Florida while generating an estimated $1.34 billion for the state. Bringing the events together offers numerous benefits for exhibitors, visitors and the greater boating community. The on-land portion of the event will take place at the newly reimagined Miami Beach Convention Center, while the featured in-water activities will be offered at One Herald Plaza, Sea Isle Marina, Museum Park Marina, and IGY Yacht Haven Grande at Island Gardens. The boat show will feature new elements such as the Boat Show Experience, which will be the ultimate boater’s destination, located outside the Miami Beach Convention Center. Guests will have access to the AquaZone presented by Nautical Ventures in addition to a collection of experiential boating lifestyle activations, live music entertainment and a marine accessory pavilion. Don’t miss the 2022 show! For more information about the 2022 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show, visit www.miamiboatshow.com.
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JANUARY 2022
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Agencies Respond to Manatee Mortality Event
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he U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in cooperation with Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), are enhancing ongoing efforts to address the unusual manatee mortality event along Florida’s Atlantic coast. After thorough science, policy and legal reviews, and substantial coordination, the USFWS and FWC leadership recently approved the Unified Command establishing a Temporary Field Response Station at FPL’s Cape Canaveral Clean Energy Center in Brevard County. The Response Station will support several response operations already underway in the central Indian River Lagoon, such as manatee rescues, carcass recovery and limited field health assessments. In approving the Response Station, USFWS and FWC leadership also approved staff to conduct a short-term feeding trial, referred to by many as supplemental feeding. The goals of this limited, small-scale feeding trial are two-fold: 1) to reduce manatee mortality and 2) to reduce the number of animals in need of rescue, allowing the limited space in permitted critical care facilities to remain open for animals needing rehabilitation for other reasons. “We understand the importance of a timely response. Our agencies and Unified Command partners carefully considered all aspects of a short-term feeding trial,” said Shannon Estenoz, Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. “It is critical we help manatees in the short term with actions that are compatible with their long-term wellbeing and resilience.” The Response Station is not a location for mobile veterinary care or rehabilitation. The Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership will continue to care for rescued animals at their federally permitted rehabilitation facilities. Unified Command partners still anticipate relatively high mortality along Florida’s Atlantic Coast during the winter of 2021-22 due to chronic effects of starvation from the loss of seagrass associated with poor water
quality within the Indian River Lagoon. Because this trial effort is a management action that has not been tried before, it is unknown how many manatees will visit the site or how much vegetation individual manatees will consume. The goal of this action is to reduce manatee mortality. It will not eliminate it. Beyond on-site support, FPL is substantially contributing to other manatee response operations by working with the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida to obtain an additional FWC rescue truck and provide on the ground assistance. “Environmental stewardship is a critical aspect of FPL’s continued efforts to deliver clean, reliable and affordable energy to its customers,” said Kate MacGregor, FPL vice president of environmental services. “For over 30 years, we have worked closely with state and federal agencies to ensure manatees are protected and we stand ready to support FWC and USFWS in their ongoing conservation efforts for this important species.” Report injured, distressed, or dead manatees to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.
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JANUARY 2022
FLORIDA 15
WORKING THE NIGHT SHIFT
Tim Barefoot
Y
ears ago, before I had access to a boat slip at the marina, I frequently pulled the boat to work completely ready to drop in the water and go fish by 5 or 5:30 p.m. This time of year, when it gets dark at 5:30 in the afternoon, this was the only time I had to fish, but it wound up being the best time of the day/season to fish. My favorite nights are the full moons of winter. This is the time of year to catch some gator trout. With all the fishing pressure trout endure, some of the big girls may go completely nocturnal. I would be putting the boat in the water when everyone was taking out, and my constant question was, “Did you catch ’em today?” On quite a few occasions, I would get the answer, “We didn’t catch sheet.” That was the answer I was looking for. That meant they were going to eat after dark. You see, when a lot of boats are buzzing around and on top of them, it can put them in the “lockjaw” mode. Let it turn dark, when all the “day-timers” go home, and that’s when the numbers of bites and some of the big girls eat. NOTE: I can only talk so much smack… The biggest speck I’ve ever caught at night was 7.75 pounds, but I have caught some pretty impressive numbers. For example, one night we had 42 good ones. That was before there
16 FLORIDA
JANUARY 2022
was a limit, so my “limit” was when I had a cooler full. Back then I was selling them, so I didn’t have a problem keeping big numbers. One of the standout colors was chartreuse at night. This produced more bites than anything else, and that was what I was looking for. The more I fished the old faithful chartreuse MirrOlure, the more I loved it. But then we discovered the Rattle Trap. This was a complete game changer. Not only could you keep in touch with it, due to the resistance and vibration on the plug, but you could also cast it into the wind and a long distance. Now I have come full circle back to fishing what they really eat best of all… a shrimp. A soft plastic (DOA) shrimp on a jig head, the 3/8oz. Barefoot Jig. Primarily, I have been talking about speckled trout up to this point, but redfish and snook are especially good candidates for a night bite. All three of these species are programmed to eat a shrimp in the current. So, make the best out of the shortened daylight hours. Get in the boat after work and go fish the night shift. For more info on this jig head and D.O.A. shrimp combo, visit these websites: Barefootcatsandtackle.com or Rigandjig.com.
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Bassmaster Classic Returns to Hartwell T
he world’s most prestigious professional bass tournament is returning to the site of some of the best moments in the sport’s famed history. The 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk will be held at Lake Hartwell March 4-6. It is the fourth time the crowds and pageantry of the Classic have descended on Upstate South Carolina. Takeoffs will be conducted from Green Pond Landing & Event Center, while daily weigh-ins will be held at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The annual Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo will take place at the Greenville Convention Center, both of which are in nearby Greenville. B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin said the organization is excited to once again visit a venue that has become the gold standard for professional bass fishing events. “Everything about Lake Hartwell and the city of Greenville make them the perfect setting for the Super Bowl of Professional Bass Fishing,” Akin said. “The Bassmaster Classic is not only a chance for the best anglers in the world to showcase their abilities, it’s an annual celebration of the sport itself. “Lake Hartwell provides the perfect site for amazing competition, and the city of Greenville provides the hotels, restaurants and other facilities you need for an event the size of the Classic.” Hartwell is a 56,000-acre man-made reservoir situated between Georgia and South Carolina and encompassing portions of the Savannah, Tugaloo and Seneca rivers. It features a vast array of habitat and a good population of both largemouth and spotted bass that are likely to be in the prespawn phase when the Classic competitors arrive.
“We are very excited for the opportunity to host the Bassmaster Classic once again on Lake Hartwell,” said Neil Paul, Executive Director of Visit Anderson. “The leadership of Anderson County has made a significant commitment to Green Pond Landing and the marketing efforts of Lake Hartwell, and we expect another record-breaking event with our teammates from Greenville. “Hosting our fourth Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell is significant to our community because no other fishery will have hosted more Bassmaster Classic events. Having hosted this great event in the past, we can speak first hand to the significant economic impact it will have on the upstate of South Carolina and the impact of residual tourism that will be felt in Anderson County for years to come.” The 2022 Classic will feature 55 qualifiers with berths earned through the Elite Series, the Opens, the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation circuit, the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops and the Bassmaster Team Championship, plus the defending Bassmaster Classic champion and winner of the final Elite Series event of the 2021 season. They will compete in the no-entry-fee event for their share of a whopping $1 million purse, with the champion earning $300,000. For more information, go to www.bassmaster.com.
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252-235-2461 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
JANUARY 2022
NATIONAL 11
THINKING ABOUT QUITTING BOATING? P erhaps your vessel needs a major repair. Maybe you sold your house and are moving away from the seashore. Maybe you are too busy to sell your boat, or you tried and found a lot of people didn’t have the resources to buy it, much less to move it. There are a lot of reasons people have for getting rid of an older boat, working or not. We want to let you know that you can trust Boat Angel Outreach Center. We here at Coastal Angler have seen them help thousands get rid of their unwanted boats and receive generous IRS1098 tax receipts for doing so. Did you know older, larger working boats can be donated for their fair market value? Did you know Boat Angel will walk you through the whole process, and most of the time even a boat that has been unused on your dock or in your backyard will be gone in less than 15 days? I’ve known the people at Boat Angel Outreach for more than a decade, and I can personally vouch that this charity is both caring and focused on helping kids. 100 percent of their funding is from the sale of donated boats. They currently fund projects on four continents and ceaselessly work to make this world a better place, especially for children. They have a courteous and diligent staff. They are experienced in solving logistical problems and multi-state title issues, all while achieving their goals of getting the donated vessels moved away quickly. So, if you’ve got a vessel that’s no longer
working, or you have decided to move on from boating, I strongly recommend you give this great organization a call or contact them through their website. When your donation is completed, just forward your receipt to your tax preparer. Who knows how much money your donation will put back in your pocket? We all know that an unused or nonworking boat is a drain on anyone’s finances. Fuel, maintenance bills, registration, insurance and slip fees are year-round expenses. Maybe it is finally
Donate A Boat or Car Today!
12 NATIONAL
JANUARY 2022
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time to move on. A friend of mine once asked, “What is better than being a boat owner?” “I don’t know, what?” I said. “A friend with a boat,” he replied, smiling. We all have friends with boats. Why not put the money saved into their gas tank and take a small fishing trip? Boat Angel Outreach Center; www.boatangel.org; EIN 42-1619552; 800-700-2628.
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KEEP IT GENUINE PRECISION PROTECTION
Whether you take your boat out to the lake or the ocean, your 4-stroke outboard needs ECSTAR Suzuki Semi-Synthetic Engine Oil so it can run long and strong. ECSTAR features special additives that protect the engine in harsh salt and fresh water environments, advanced detergents that keep engine parts clean, and viscosity index improvements that help the engine start in cold conditions. No matter where your next boat ride takes you, go confidently with ECSTAR.
RUN LONG. RUN CLEAN. RUN STRONG.
Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-Approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. Suzuki, the Suzuki “S” ECSTAR and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. © 2021 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC.
SZ Q3 ECSTAR HALF HORIZONTAL CSTL ANGLR 7-16-21.indd 1
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JANUARY 2022
7/16/2021 9:56:33 AM NATIONAL
13
Angler Lands Record Red Hind
A
North Carolina angler boated a new state record red hind off Cape Lookout in October, and it’s a record that’s likely to stand for a while. The fish weighed 7 pounds, 1.6 ounces and measured 21.5 inches in length with a 17.5-inch girth. The new state record holder, Matthew Parr, of Wilmington, N.C., was fishing with Capt. Charles Stewart Merritt of Salt Air Ventures. They were dropping cut bait on 80-poundtest line, probably looking for big grouper. The record breaker Parr hauled from the depths was less than 2-pounds off the IGFA all tackle world record, which stands at 9 pounds even and was caught by Eddie Vanmeter out of St. Marys, Ga. in July of 2019. Previously, North Carolina did not list a state record red hind but created the category after Parr applied for the state record. The Division of Marine Fisheries creates new state record categories for fish that are exceptionally large for North Carolina. Parr’s was exceptionally large for anywhere. Although red hind are known to grow up to 23 inches and exceed 10 pounds in weight, anglers rarely encounter them that large. The typical specimen brought over the rail measures about 16 inches. Red hind is a quality table fish that is important in Caribbean commercial fisheries. In the South Atlantic it is regulated within the three grouper aggregate recreational bag limit. It is also listed in the ShallowWater Grouper Complex, which means there is a closure for the species from January through April.
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Meet the Beauty in the Beast Discover this spectacular 6½-carat green treasure from Mount St. Helens!
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or almost a hundred years it lay dormant. Silently building strength. At 10,000 feet high, it was truly a sleeping giant. Until May 18, 1980, when the beast awoke with violent force and revealed its greatest secret. Mount St. Helens erupted, sending up a 80,000-foot column of ash and smoke. From that chaos, something beautiful emerged… our spectacular Helenite Necklace.
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Helenite is produced from the heated volcanic rock of Mount St. Helens and the brilliant green creation has captured the eye of jewelry designers worldwide. Today you can wear this massive 6½-carat stunner for only $149! Make your emeralds jealous. Our Helenite Necklace puts the green stone center stage, with a faceted pear-cut set in .925 sterling silver finished in luxurious gold. The explosive origins of the stone are echoed in the flashes of light that radiate as the piece swings gracefully from its 18" luxurious gold-finished sterling silver chain. Today the volcano sits quiet, but this unique piece of American natural history continues to erupt with gorgeous green fire.
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HOOKED ON™ A CLEAN OCEAN
CLEANING OUR OCEANS FOR A BETTER
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SUZUKI’S CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT If you’re going to claim to be “The Ultimate Outboard Motor,” you’d better do more than just build great engines. This is why, for the past 10 years, Suzuki has been committed to cleaning up the marine environment through voluntary “Clean Up The World” activities around the globe. Through the recently launched CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT, Suzuki Marine is committed to reducing the use of plastics in packaging materials to its consumers which has led to eliminating 2.3 tons of plastic waste annually. Suzuki is continually finding ways to reduce plastic waste while educating and informing the boating industry about this critical issue. This is only the beginning and Suzuki is pledging itself to the important cause of protecting our planet’s waters, coastal environments, and marine ecosystems for future generations to enjoy.
YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY
5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY applies to qualifying purchases of Suzuki outboard motors sold and delivered to the retail purchaser, for pleasure (non-commercial) use only, from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. See Suzuki Limited Warranty for additional details. Suzuki, the “S” logo, and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki Trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2021 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC. All rights reserved.
FOR REEL
GOOD FISHING Visit Upcountry South Carolina Stop by the South Carolina Lakes booth at the Bassmaster Classic Expo, March 4-6, 2022 at the Greenville Convention Center.
Perfectly Seasoned FishUpcountrySC.com
864-233-2690
Lake Hartwell, host of the 2008, 2015, 2018, and 2022 Academy Sports & Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk