Coastal Angler Magazine | June 2023 | North Central Florida/Nature Coast Edition

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Trophies Traditions !

or those of us a icted with the shing bug, nothing will deter us from returning to the ocean. We’re o en planning our next trip before the current one is over. ere is no di erence between shing daily, or being deprived for weeks, the sherman’s mind will never stop nagging to get back out there.

Fishing stories and trophies are a great way to keep the inner shing-monster soothed in between trips.

Photographs are an easy way to relive moments, and should not be overlooked. It doesn’t take much e ort to get out a camera and capture the catch when it hits the deck while its colors are vibrant and the smile is fresh on the angler’s face. Friends don’t let friends take deadsh dock photos without at least a few taken out on the blue.

When it comes to shing trophies, there is a whole lot more to be taken home than just some good photos.

e standard go-to trophies are wall mount replicas, which can easily be reproduced with some measurements and photos. is provides the opportunity to release the sh and also be able to take it home with you. Gray’s Taxidermy does excellent work with this type of customization, and out ts most charter companies with the

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

required paperwork to get you started on this process. Make sure to ask your captain about mounting your catch before you release the sh. ere are still people who work with the tried and true art of sh taxidermy, utilizing the sh itself, but these services are harder to nd, and the product doesn’t last forever.

Gyotaku sh rubbings are another way to accredit the true size of a trophy sh. e sh itself is painted and printed on paper. is method does not allow you to release the sh, but if you work quickly, and utilize acrylics, the llets may still be consumed. is is a fun method to try on your own, but there are artists you can hire for this as well. ese trophies work out better when wall space at home is more limited.

Various parts of the sh can be taken and treated, such as bills, tails, skeletal systems and even eyeballs transformed into epoxy shot glasses. ese trophies can have some of the best outcomes, but require some involved and stinky DIY processing. ere are a variety of techniques for this, and endless creative potential.

Participating in shing traditions is another great way to boost the excitement of a rst catch, and add to the memory. Who knows how these got started, but it is our communal obligation to keep them alive.

I’m sure there are some I have missed, but here

are the ones I know of, and practice.

When you catch your rst tuna, it is customary to eat the heart or, at very least, take a bite out of it. It’s not bad with a bit of lime and a chaser. Tastes a bit like what I would imagine tuna-jerky to taste like.

When you catch your rst marlin, you earn a celebratory jump in the ocean. Usually, this is done back at the dock for safety reasons. is is the most refreshing dip you’ll ever take.

When you catch your rst sword sh, your crew will hollow out the eyeball, as to make a cup out of it, and you then take a drink from it. I highly recommend being quick about this before extra slime leeches out into your drink. Don’t worry, it all tastes like victory.

However deep your commitment to your shing a iction may be, the best trophy will always be memories of having a good time. Most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy being out there. Your local captains understand that it’s di cult to manage life between shing trips, and we are here for you. Blue Magic Charters is available for your next x, out of Marathon, Florida Keys.

Capt. Quinlyn, of Blue Magic Charters, is also a Gyotaku artist and a Gray’s Taxidermy agent. Contact her at (504) 920-6342 and follow her social accounts @CaptainQuinlyn.

ectric AN GREEN DRAKE HATCH

small green drake just as it was annihilated by a frisky brown trout.

I hurried to tie on a Colorado Green Drake and caught a brown on my rst cast. My second cast was taken as soon as it hit the water—a nice rainbow. By then, drakes were all over the surface and the trout were feeding without hesitation. One trout went airborne, and I swear it was looking for the next green drake on its way back down.

It was dry- y heaven shing my 7.5-foot “Perfectionist” bamboo rod (made by “Preacher Jim” Beasley, of Crossville, Tenn.) and a green drake tied on 5X tippet. But over the ridge came ominous blue-tinged storm clouds. e pyrotechnics began immediately, with lightning pinging down all around me. Seeking safe haven, I dove into a shallow creek bed that emptied into the river. Elk, deer and bear tracks had beaten down the bed and formed foot-high banks. It was muddy but much safer. At rst, it was too dangerous to even sit up, so I lay in the mud and watched the hatch, which was still in full swing.

In 25 years y shing, I’ve only experienced two bona de green drake hatches. e second time I witnessed one of these hatches it was spectacular, the stu of legends.

Green drakes are large may ies that, under the right conditions, hatch in huge numbers and send trout into feeding frenzies. It happened for me one a ernoon at about 8,750 feet of elevation on a Colorado river. e le bank hugged the base of a mountain ridge and the right bank opened onto a at meadow of grasses and wild owers. It was hot and windy—a tough day for shing dry ies, but I’m a stubborn dry- y bigot. I refused to nymph and hadn’t caught a single sh until the weather changed. Clouds oated over the ridge and the temperature and pressure dropped. A bright-white ash and instantaneous rumble sent me toward the truck, but on the way I spotted a

Eventually, the lightning lessened, and I was able sh. Once, two sh—a rainbow and a brown—came from opposite directions and arrived at my y at the same time. A violent collision of noses ensued, and both sh quickly retreated. My drake was partially submerged a er impact, but a di erent brown appeared, circled once, and daintily took the y. He was not happy when I hooked him!

Once, I was surprised when my drake dri ed almost back to me without a strike. Just as I was picking up the y to cast again, an upstream brown came like a freight train. It took the y on the uptake, went airborne and hit me in the chest. When you get nailed in the chest by a 16-inch brown, it’s gotta be a green drake hatch!

is short story (copyrighted by the author) and many other true-life y shing adventures can be found in Michael Fitzsimmons’ book “Adventures of a Dry-Fly Junkie,” available only on Amazon. Contact the author at dry_ y_junkie@hotmail.com.

By Michael Fitzsimmons

PHOTO BY GAIL HAMPSHIRE

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL FITZSIMMONS

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MITZI SKIFF: A ordable Performance on the Flats

boat. It really is a very nice boat, notwithstanding the price point.”

e Mitzi Ski 17’ is a stripped-down and customizable version of the 17’ Tournament, which comes with the options Grubbs said most of his shing customers were asking for. Both boats dra just 7 inches loaded, they pole easily, they pole straight, and they reach speeds into the 40s with a 60 hp engine.

While the 15’ is a one or two-man boat that’s at-home on the ats, the 17’ can sh three people and it’s got better range. e 17’s primary purpose is still as a ats boat, yet it also doubles admirably as bay boat.

“It’s not just a ats boats; it’s a little bit of an open water boat, too,” Grubbs said.

e 17’ features a modi ed V-hull with an 11-degree deadrise at transom. ere’s no hull slap, and rolled gunnels knock down spray for an exceptionally dry ride. ey are built for light weight to run shallow, yet they are solid and durable to stand up to long years of heavy use.

Going back to the mid-1990s, Mitzi Ski has led the industry with no-nonsense ats boats for skinny-water anglers.

In the very beginning, Tom Mitzla ’s intent was to design the boat he needed to y sh the ats. He couldn’t nd an a ordable boat on the market with the shallow dra , clean layout and quiet maneuverability he needed, so he designed and built the original 15-foot Mitzi Ski at boat revolutionized the marketplace. Mitzi Ski became the brand for skinny-water anglers who value simplicity and functionality. A Mitzi does everything the pricier ski s do, yet they are a ordable enough for any angler to own

and operate.

About 30 years later, Mitzi has expanded to o er 15’, 16’ and 17’ ski s that all perform the purposes of the original design exceptionally well. Continued innovation has made Mitzi a boat other builders imitate, and they still come at a signi cantly lower price point than the competition. e 17’ and the 17’ Tournament have become the brand’s hottest sellers.

“

e 15’ took the micro-ski market by storm,” said Brad Grubbs, who owns and manufactures Mitzi Ski s in North Carolina. “Since then, the brand has sort of evolved toward the 17’, which works just ne as a multi-purpose

From hideaway pushpole holders to ushmount hardware, Mitzi has obviously put some thought into making decks clean and shable for y anglers. Large, clean and stable casting decks are something Mitzi has become known for.

“Keep it simple stupid, and if it ain’t broke don’t x it,” Grubbs quipped. For nearly three decades, Mitzi has built ski s for anglers more interested in shing than in spending a lot of money. It’s a philosophy that works.

Mitzi Ski boats are available exclusively through select dealers. For more on Mitzi Ski s, go to www.mitziski s.com.

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BIG CHANGES COMING FOR SNOOK MANAGEMENT

In a move similar to recent management changes for red sh, e Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is looking at changing the way it manages snook. At its May meeting, FWC proposed creating new management regions for snook to allow better

control over localized di erences in the shery. e proposed rule changes would:

• Establish nine snook management regions.

• Match current Gulf or Atlantic coast regulations within new regions, except for Charlotte Harbor.

- Implement a two- sh vessel limit, - Include September in the summer season closure.

“ is adaptive, holistic approach to sheries management is the key to conserving our sheries for future generations,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto. “On behalf of the Commission, I want to encourage anglers and anyone interested in the future of snook in Florida to get involved and share your valuable feedback with FWC sta .”

Sta will continue gathering input on the proposed rules ahead of a planned nal rule hearing at the October Commission meeting. Submit public comment on snook regional management by visiting MyFWC.com/ SaltwaterComments.

In other news from the meeting:

• Proposed no- shing zones around three goliath grouper spawning aggregation sites was tabled with no action taken and no plans to resume discussion. e areas that were being considered for 700-foot no- shing zones around wrecks and reefs remain catch-and-release only.

• Management changes were approved for greater amberjack in Atlantic state waters. An April spawning season closure for recreational anglers will be established, the commercial size limit was reduced from 36 to 34 inches, and the import size limit was reduced from 36 to 34 inches statewide. ese changes will go into e ect at a later date.

For more information, go MyFWC.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPT. PATRICK SMITH, SWAMP TO SEA GUIDE SERVICE

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FLORIDA STAR OFFERS MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAN EVER TO WIN

The 2023 CCA Florida STAR competition presented by Yamaha will o er more opportunities to win than ever before. is 100-day, summer-long competition begins Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and invites CCA members, non-members, anglers and non-anglers to take a shot at winning their share of prizes valued at more than $500,000 including boats, motors, electronics, tackle, scholarships and more. e winning begins even before the competition does with the early registration package providing a complimentary ra e ticket to win a Hewes Red sher, a 25 percent discount from TH Marine and free access to the Red sh Mastery course from Salt Strong.

But it’s not just about anglers winning but the shery too. Not only can participants become winners, they become citizen biologists and citizen garbologists by submitting photos of their catch or garbage collected during the competition in the STAR app. In order to win, participants must take their entry photo on the 2023 CCA FL STAR

O cial Measuring device which can be picked up for free a er May 20 in any West Marine store or one of the many other STAR distribution locations throughout Florida.

e competition has a division for everyone, from the non-angler to the experienced angler. It is comprised of 15 divisions targeting 12 inshore and o shore species plus the Costa Kick Plastic Trash Division presented by Papa’s Pilar, which encourages cleanup of trash from Florida’s coastal waters.

STAR’s signature Tagged Red sh Division o ers seven winners, ve adults and two youth, the choice of a Contender Boats 22 Sport, Path nder Boats 2200 TRS, and STAR would like to welcome back Carolina Ski o ering the 162 JLS. STAR has additional new Tagged Red sh sponsors with Dek Kat Boats o ering a 27 Flatz Kat and Sea Doo

and Can-Am o ering a fun package of a Sea Doo FishPro Trophy and the Can-Am Defender. Each boat will be powered by a Yamaha. Be the rst winning tagged red sh angler for your choice of all these packages as your prize.

Once again in 2023, an ALTA SUPER STAR tagged red sh is swimming Florida waters. If it is recaptured, the winner will receive $50,000 cash! For the rst two youth anglers who win in this division, prizes include a tiller boat powered with a Yamaha outboard, a trailer, a Minn Kota trolling motor and Humminbird electronics.

Each coastal county will have, on average, four tagged red sh for a total of over 160 prizewinning sh. e best opportunity to catch one of this year’s tagged red sh will be in Citrus and Charlotte Counties, STAR’s 2023 Destination Counties, which each have eight tagged red sh in their coastal waters.

For the o shore anglers, the Tigress Outriggers and Gear Tagged Dolphin Division o ers one winner a $10,000 cash prize. e rst STAR registrant and CCA Florida member who catches one of the tagged dolphin will win. Twenty dolphin (Mahi Mahi) will be tagged and released for STAR in the Lower Keys.

STAR is a family-friendly competition, and CCA Florida youth members (ages 6 to 17) can participate for free. Kids are encouraged to submit entries in the Youth Scholarship Division presented by Realtree Fishing for an opportunity to win one of twelve scholarships totaling $100,000. To date, the Florida STAR competition has awarded $800,000 in scholarships to youth from all over the state. Another great component of STAR for youth participants is they can earn 30 minutes of community service for every 5-gallon bucket of trash they pick up from Florida’s coastal waters and submit via the STAR app.

Other divisions include the Power Pole

Conservation Division, Bona de Kayak Division and Ladies Division as well as the Yamaha Guides, which allows guides to participate when they are not on a charter for hire. Since most division winners are determined by a random drawing, it is not about catching the biggest sh; any size sh can win. Remember, every sh you catch between Saturday, Memorial Day weekend and Monday, Labor Day, o ers the CCA member who is registered in STAR the opportunity to win their share of nearly $500,000 in prizes and scholarships. But you can’t win If you are not registered.

Not only is the STAR competition a wonderful way for participants to win amazing prizes, it is a tool to gather catch data, it creates awareness for conservation, our sponsors and CCA Florida. Launched in 2015, the competition has set the bar for other shing tournaments to follow by implementing conservation-friendly alternatives such a catch-photo-release format and a trash division.

Florida STAR focuses on conservation with its technology-based, CPR format and dedicated smartphone app which promotes the proper handling of species and allows participants who are members of CCA and registered in the competition to upload photos of their catch or trash buckets in the STAR competition and be rewarded for their e orts. is eliminates the requirement that some traditional tournaments have to harvest or capture and transport sh to win. CCA Florida also provides access to the data collected from the app to other conservation organizations and universities to help educate the public on the importance of protecting Florida’s marine resources and for use in their studies on conservation, habitat and stock assessments.

For more information and to register, visit http://cca orida.org/event/star/.

BACK TO THE BASICS

Ever since I started shing, the basics have stayed the same. If we all tell the truth, none of us started out catching gags and wahoo. It was probably more like bream, bass, cat sh and shad. Granted, we didn’t sh as many lures back then as we do now, but the basics are still the same. Back then, we shed a lot of the four or ve loop sherman’s knots for soaking baits. I no longer use these.

Now, I tell folks if you know how to make ve connections, you can go anywhere in freshwater or salt and sh for almost anything. ese ve connections are:

1) Loop knot

2) Snell

3) Uni knot (includes uni-to-uni knot)

4) Crimps(cable and uoro)

5) Double tackle loop

Granted, there are other helpful knots like the Piere knot, which is a good wind-on for connecting braid to Floro, but I’ll stick to my guns here and say these ve are the ones I use. ere are three of these I can tie in pitch black dark and have tremendous faith they’ll

never fail.

I can hear it now… “Yeah, you forgot this one and you need to know this one.” OK, but the title of the article is “getting back to basics,” and these ve work for everything I need to do. As soon as any of these

meat and potatoes of the freshwater, inshore and nearshore shing I do. I make connections from braided main lines to smaller uoro leader material with the uni-to-uni. e loop knot works best on most lures. e loop knot gives any lure the freedom it needs to swing or change directions freely.

e snell has a place for freshwater, inshore, nearshore and o shore. is is simply because I feel the snell is a requirement for all circle hooks, in my humble opinion.

e crimps make for ease of heavy-duty connections from uoro leaders to swivels and then to braided main lines. e crimps also make heavy-duty cable connection to stinger hooks and to arti cial lures.

ve starts failing on me, I’ll consider something else, but between now and then, these work for everything from bream to bill sh. e loop knot and uni knot make up the

I’ve got some videos on my website on how to tie and utilize these ve connections. Some of these videos have some age on them, and I have received some request to make new ones with better lighting, backgrounds, etc. I may very well update them in the near future. However, all these videos show the knots in pretty good closeup detail. Stay in touch with my you tube channel and website for these new videos.

See more from Tim Barefoot at Barefootcatsandtackle.com.

Tim Barefoot

TOP CAPTAINS TEAM UP WITH NFL STARS

The Sport shing Championship held its inaugural event, e Catch, in mid-April and it sprinkled teams of top local captains with well-known NFL players for o shore action out of Miami.

NFL players at the event included stars like Justin Herbert (QB, L.A. Chargers), A.J. Brown (WR, Phi. Eagles), Dalvin Cook (RB, Minn. Vikings), DeAndre Hopkins (WR, Ariz. Cardinals), Chris Jones (DE, K.C. Chiefs), Matthew Judon (OLB, N.E. Patriots), Patrick Surtain II (CB, Den. Broncos) and Quinnen Williams (DT, N.Y. Jets).

e football players were split into groups

By Astrid DeGruchy

to sh with renowned captains aboard powerful sport shers and be challenged in ways they may never have experienced before.

e event was broadcasted live from the Fontainebleau in Miami. Spectators were able to tune in and follow the hook-ups in real-time as NFL superstars got tight, reeling in species like black n tuna, sail sh, yellowtail snappers, bonitas, mahi and more.

rough the tournament, the players learned that catching these sh is no simple task, and that it requires a unique set of skills to hook and successfully reel them in. e experience gave

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them a newfound level of respect for anglers and, for many, sparked a newfound interest in shing. e competition was close, but Team Gypsea, led by Capt. Taylor Sanford and supported by fourtime Pro Bowlers Matthew Judon and Dalvin Cook, claimed the championship trophy. e grand prize winnings consisted of a $100,000 donation to the Coast Guard Foundation.

“It was fascinating to watch elite NFL athletes realize how much e ort it takes to reel in saltwater sh,” said Je Stillwell, president of Salt Life. “ eir willingness to learn about techniques and take a genuine interest in doing things correctly shows why they are top-tier athletes. Plus, there is nothing like seeing someone catch a sh for the rst time!”

SFC’s e Catch had various components, including a pro-am tournament with other NFL legends and athletes. e Awards dinner was incredible, featuring a breathtaking drone light show and a Havana-themed atmosphere.

For more, visit sport shingchampionship.com. Follow Astrid Degruchy’s shing adventures on Instagram @catching_astrid.

Dalvin Cook, Matt Judon and Team Gypsea with a black n caught aboard Rayne Check

(L-R) Patrick Surtain II, Quinnen Williams and angler Jaselyn Berthelot show o their catch.

North Central Florida/Nature Coast

Cary & Lynn Crutch eld

North Central Florida Nature Coast Staff

SALES

Cary Crutchfield

EDITING & PRODUCTION

Lynn Crutchfield

DISTRIBUTION

Rosa Crisman

GRAPHIC ARTS & DESIGN

Today is a gorgeous day in late May. e rst half of May was very comfortable here in Dixie County. I love the days of sunshine, low humidity, low 80s, jumping sturgeon and mullet, and a Suwannee River breeze. is week, the rain has increased (and we need it) but so has the humidity and temps! is month’s recipe, Shrimp Scampi Salad, page 2, earned the “You can make this again!” award from Cary. I started to make “Shrimp Scampi Something Else” but ended up with a salad. e dressing is delicious!

Father’s Day is June 18th. How about a guided shing trip for Dad? Our guides are the best in the business!

O cially, the Covid Pandemic is “over”, but we are still losing over 1000 Americans to Covid each week. Does that really sound like it is over? My guess is most of those Americans were not vaccinated. You are still alive (You’re reading this aren’t you?) and if you aren’t vaccinated, it is not too late.

Please thank our advertisers and the location where you picked up the world’s greatest FREE shing magazine.

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

Kathleen Stemley

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Noel Kuhn

Dr. Kevin McCarthy

Capt. Jason Clark

Capt. Katie Jo Davis

Capt. Tommy Derringer

Capt. Andrew Fagan

Capt. Jonathan Hamilton

Capt. Tony Johns

Capt. James Kerr

Capt. Pat McGriff

Capt. Brent Woodward

CONTACT INFORMATION crutch@coastalanglermagazine.com

352-542-0356

Photo by: Suwannee River Water Management District

43 acres (+or-) 1100 feet (+or-) on Suwannee River in Lafayette County at US 27, across river from Branford. Heavily wooded, perfect for residence, camp ground or hunting lodge. Elec. and well.

SHRIMP

SCAMPI SALAD (SERVES 2)

Thank

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.

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

INGREDIENTS COOKING DIRECTIONS

Pour oil in skillet to just cover bottom of pan. Place over medium heat and add butter. When oil and butter begin to sizzle, add shrimp to pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté two to three minutes on each side. Remove from pan and keep

Add garlic, onion, and most of the parsley to pan. Sauté a couple minutes. Squeeze juice from one quarter of lemon into pan and cook for

Place mayonnaise and celery in small bowl. Stir the pan drippings into the mayonnaise. Mix well. (Taste, and if you want, give it another squeeze of lemon juice. I did.)

Arrange lettuce leaves in a “bowl” shape on plate and place shrimp over leaves. Pour mayonnaise dressing over shrimp. Sprinkle with remainder of parsley. Garnish with sliced eggs, tomatoes, the last lemon slice, and dinner roll.

• 12 Extra Large Jumbo Shrimp (shelled and deveined)

• 2 Tablespoons oil

• 2 Tablespoons butter

• 2 Large Garlic Cloves minced

• 2 Large Green Onions minced

• Chopped fresh Parsley (about a handful)

• Salt and Pepper

• 8 leaves Butterhead Lettuce (or lettuce of your choice)

• 8 Sugar Bomb Tomatoes (or tomatoes of your choice)

• 1 Hard-Boiled Egg (cut in quarters)

• 1 Lemon (cut in quarters)

• 1 Stalk Celery minced

• 1/3 cup Mayonnaise

• 2 Frozen Sister Schubert’s Dinner Rolls, warmed in oven

(Cary loved the mayonnaise dressing. He said that he would like it on fsh or chicken, but I have to sauté shrimp to get the pan drippings.)

you to The Crab Plant for the shrimp.

Cary A. Crutchfield Registered Real Estate Broker GRI and CRS Designations

Easy Ways to Catch Fish FLORIDA WATERWAYS

Some people who sh are just not very good at it. ey read the latest articles about the sport, buy expensive equipment, hire the best guides, but simply can’t catch anything and don’t even get a bite. ey need help. Well, here are six suggestions about how to change that bad luck.

First, a history lesson. e famous or infamous, Mark Antony of ancient Rome, met and fell in love with the Egyptian ruler, Cleopatra. Once when they were shing on the Nile with a small otilla of boats, he could not catch anything, unlike many of the others who were having much success bringing up perch. e humiliated Antony resolved to do better the next day and secretly paid some local shermen to dive where Antony and Cleopatra would be shing. e happy locals placed some freshly caught sh on his hook, and Antony was able to reel the sh in, to the surprise of onlookers. e motto of this escapade: if you have any good divers among your friends, have them do what Antony’s friends did for him.

Secondly, do what a friend of mine did when he took two of his grandchildren shing on our Suwannee River. Much to everyone’s surprise, some sturgeon leaped high out of the water and landed in my friend’s boat, to which his grandchildren said: “Gosh, shing is really easy. e sh actually jump into your boat.”

Clever people for centuries have used other animals to catch sh. For example, the Chinese have been known to use cormorants to catch sh. e handlers of the birds tie a chord around the necks of the birds so that they cannot swallow the sh they have just caught. e sh dive deep into the water, pierce or catch some sh, and then return to the boat, where their handlers force the successful birds to regurgitate the sh.

Some shermen in Scandinavia, Scotland, and the Americas train otters to catch sh for the bene t of their owners. e great traveler Marco Polo observed shermen on the Yangtze River in the thirteenth century using otters, not to catch the sh, but to herd them into nets, where the locals could easily scoop out the unlucky sh.

Some intrepid shermen in Southern states, although not in Florida, where it is illegal, practice noodling, which consists of sticking your hand deep into a sh hole at the bottom of a river, nding a cat sh hiding here, and then wrestling it out of the hole. Of course, the noodlers hope that they don’t encounter a snapping turtle or other biting reptile in the sh hole. is is clearly not for every sherman, and one should have an experienced guide along to help you.

A much easier method is to use a sh basket, something o en found along Alaskan rivers. It takes a lot of skill to build such a basket that will rotate in the water, scooping up unsuspecting sh and depositing them in a container, to be retrieved by the lucky shermen later on.

Anyway, unlucky shermen, maybe the aforementioned ways will lead to

better shing days.

Kevin McCarthy, the author of “North Florida Waterways” 2013 - (available at amazon.com), can be reached at ceyhankevin@gmail.com.

By Kevin McCarthy

Gulf sturgeon jumping in the Suwannee

Mark Antony and Cleopatra

A Chinese sherman with cormorants

An old image of an otter shing

A sh basket in Alaska

A successful noodler

Boat with someone you can trust.

ADVENTURES

Hugh Cain Allstate

800-882-9304

Summer is o cially here, and we are gearing up for scallop season on the Nature Coast! Scalloping is such a fun way to spend time on the water with family and friends. It’s an activity all can enjoy!

e majority of our scallops are found west of Saint Martin’s Keys, located in the middle of Crystal River and Homosassa. ey’re found in 2 to 8 feet of the clear water. ey typically lay in the thick grass and are found around the edges of the brown moss near sandy patches. Snorkeling on top of the water while searching for these tasty creatures also allows the opportunity to see many di erent sh, sea turtles and if you’re lucky, even a seahorse!

On the shy side of things, big schools of black drum are lining the deeper channels and red sh are schooling on the rocky points.

Summertime shing creates a fun time on the boat as everything is hungry, so you never know what you’re going to catch!

Captain Katie

Jo KD OUTDOORS FiSHING CHARTERS

www. shcrystalriver orida.com

772–882-8932

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Heyanglers, I hope y'all have been out here enjoying the water as much as my clients and I have. Fishing has been as solid as it comes lately, and it's going to get even better!

Red sh have shown up in full force around the islands, trout have invaded the ats, and you might even nd yourself a snook or two in the backcountry.

So when targeting red sh this past month, and moving forward, not much will beat some good ole cut mullet or live shrimp. ese can be rigged multiple ways. My go-to is to oat them under a cork with a leader, set up slightly above the bottom, to try to avoid snags, and to give your bait a chance to move around with the current.

Expect to see trout in the 3 to 5 foot range until end of June, and then they will start to move out into a bit deeper water. I nd a 1/4

jig works best for shing them in deeper water (7 feet plus).

Hope this helps y'all out. Until next month, stay safe out there.

Capt. Jason Clark

In e Slot Fishing Charters

352-639-3209

www.intheslot shing.com

Come see us at our new location between McDonalds and NAPA - 1517 North Young Blvd.

SUWANNEE

June is a great month to sh during the "Summer Season". e mornings are still very comfortable and with the long days, the evenings are the prime times during certain parts of the month!

It's also a time of the year when we have many opportunities to catch sh in and around the Lower Suwannee River.

On those calm days, you can venture out to the Spotty Bottom, where you will nd a mixed bag of speckled trout, sand trout, Spanish mackerel, lady sh, king mackerel and sharks! e shing method you choose is up to you. While many anglers will "troll baits", you can also dri or anchor up and chum. I like to sh with a ⅜ to ½ ounce jig head with a FishBites 5 inch Brawler Jerkbait, the lighter brighter colors work the best. You cast your bait and then work the water column by varying how long you allow the bait to sink, and then how fast you retrieve the bait back to the boat.

As a rule of thumb, the deeper and slower you sh, the more likely you are to catch trout. e faster and higher up in the water column you work your bait, the more likely you are to catch mackerel or lady sh. Either way, a short piece of 30 to 40 lb. test steel leader is a good idea!

Inshore the red sh and snook will be the primary targeted species. As the days are getting longer, the water temps are rising; especially during the middle of the day, water temps can easily reach the upper 80s to low 90s! is heat pushes the sh out to the deeper cooler waters, adjacent to the shallower feeding zones. Here the sh will be primarily waiting for cooler temps like an incoming tide or the setting of the Sun.

At this time of the year, I really like

a high tide right around sunrise! is combines the incoming cooler waters with the cooler nighttime conditions, which produces an optimal water temp and conditions that can be magical!

As for baits to use? at's really up to you and how you like to sh. Many red sh will be caught using cut bait like mullet or lady sh shed on the bottom. But for the anglers looking for more action in June, all the sh around the Lower Suwannee River "luv to chase a bait"! It doesn't matter if it's a spoon or spinner bait, a walk the dog plug or a plopper plug, the red sh and snook can't resist them! e secret is guring out which one they want on the day that you are there!

If you are an o shore angler, the good news is that red snapper season for 2023 is the longest it has been in years! Until next time, be safe, Tightlines and Catchemup!

Captain Tony Johns | 352-221-2510

www.lowersuwanneriver shing.com

Instagram: captaintonyjohns Facebook: Lower Suwannee River Fishing Adventures or Captain Tony Johns

It’s hard to beat that early morning topwater bite in the summer! Even though you will miss a bunch it's all about the strike!

These cobia are a great plus during the Summer months here along the Gulf Coast!

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Schools out for summer… So get to the beach! is time of year, the pogy pods start to show up along the beaches and some really big sh will also be showing up, to give chase to those giant pods of bait sh. Locate the pods from a few hundred yards o the beach, out to about 50 feet of water. Look for crashing on the surface, as there will be predatory sh in hot pursuit of the bait sh pushing them to the surface. Sharks, cobia, bull reds, Spanish, king macs, giant jacks, blue sh, and one of my favorites, the silver king (a.k.a. tarpon) will be crashing the pogy pods in an exciting free-for-all that you have to see to believe. My favorite way to sh the pods is to rig a live pogy on a medium to large circle hook (5/0 to10/0). Use about ve feet of 40 to 60 lb. uorocarbon leader, then add a split shot or two, a few feet above the hook. is will keep your pogy slightly under the pod and make for an easy meal for lurking predators. Bring some heavy tackle, because you never know what may lie underneath.

Inshore, some of the best red sh and trout catches will come at daybreak and at sunset. A top-water plug, like the Berkley J-Walker, will be the lure of choice at these times when worked around mullet schools. If the sh seem to be short striking, try to vary your retrieval rate. Sometimes they like it fast and sometimes a little slower. If they just don't seem to want to inhale the top-water, switch to a sub-surface plug like the Berkley

Cutter or Juke. ose lures perfectly imitate a wounded mullet or small pogy and will stay just under the surface (2 to 4 feet) when worked correctly. It can be just the right look for those sh who seem to be "sni ng" your top-waters. During the heat of the day, switch up your presentation. Again, locate the mullet schools and jig a little deeper with a Saltwater Assassin paddle tail, paired with a 1/8-1/4oz jighead. A live mud minnow or shrimp on a jighead will also be a great all-around setup for our summertime sh (Trout, jacks, lady sh, ounder, and reds, just to name a few). ese will all be hiding around the schools of mullet and pogys, waiting for one of the bait sh, or better yet your presentation, to get out of line for an easy snack.

With the water turning towards that summer "yoohoo" color, a gold spoon tossed along grass edges and oyster bars during the higher tide stages, is sure to get the attention of a few reds and ounder. Another option for our murky summer water, is a lure that has gained a huge amount of popularity with pro tournament anglers and many hardcore inshore shermen, the spinnerbait. Sometimes spoons and spinners will have just enough vibration to call out those hard-tond sh! Tight Lines!

Capt. Tommy Derringer

www.InshoreAdventures.net

904-377-3734

TheMay pompano run was one of the best on record! e good news is, there are more coming up from south Florida as you read this! So, when you nish reading this issue, make plans to go now, before the dog days of summer run these pompano all the way north to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

In June, July and August I start my beach days very early. I get to the beach by 5:30AM and have lines in the water no later than 6:00AM. e summer bite is best at daybreak through about 9:00AM. When the water gets hot, the sh move out deeper, go into the inlets or just pack their bags and go north to nd that water temperature below 75 degrees. I have also had great success at night on the full moon. is month, it is the rst week. Moon rise is right a er dark, so if you want to beat the heat, give it a try.

rowing lures at daybreak can be a blast for trout, Spanish and red sh. ey all come into the shallows to feed on a wide variety of fry and other bait sh. Top waters and suspending crank baits work great in the shallow surf zone. You do not have to cast long distance, especially for seatrout.

igh deep water is plenty for these

sh who cruse the shallows looking for breakfast. Remember to fan cast diagonally, to better imitate the bait sh swimming north and south. If you want to really get your string stretched, June is a great month for blacktips. ey have been following the pompano migration northward. Fresh dead bait works really well. ey are not real picky, so whiting, jacks, lady sh of even cat sh will do just nd. You do not need a huge bait either, just a piece about the size of a cell phone, and a heavy-duty surf rod with a reel that will hold at least 250 yards of 30 lb. test. Remember to set your drag light when you put it in the sand spike. ere has been many an angler watch their combo disappear into the waves, because the drag was too tight.

e photo is of my friend Mark Burford owner of FSA and OTB surf rods. Recently he doubled up on spotted seatrout!

Noel Kuhn

43 years of surf shing experience, surf shing guide and long distance casting coach. Founding member of Florida Surf Casters club.

904-945-0660

www. eSurfAngler.com

CRYSTAL RIVER

Hello from Crystal River.

Hopefully, everyone is enjoying the warm weather and sunshine.

Red sh have been really red up and we’ve been getting some nice ones. While targeting reds, I look for mullet on the points and near island shorelines. Pin sh are always a great live bait. I prefer to freeline on a #3 or #4 circle hook. Shrimp and cutbait are always good for catching reds.

Snook are always around and fun sh to target for catch and release, because that season is closed now.

e trick to snook is know where they are staged, and make long casts. Live pin sh are always a good choice. I prefer the bigger ones, 40 lb. leader at a minimum. Early morning or late evening are always great times to catch quality snook.

Trout have moved to the deeper ats with the warmer water temps and can be found on spotty bottom.

I prefer a little Jon on a 1/8 oz jig head. Work the bait slowly.

Give me a call to get on the water. Until next month ...

Capt. James Kerr 352-362-6893 Citrus shingchaters.com

Summer is here! School is out and it’s time to spend some great family time on the water! June is a good transition month for our inshore trout shing. I like to sh the near shore rock piles for trout this time of the year. While you’re there, you will nd a plethora of other species to keep the rods bent!

MirrOlure Lil Johns rigged on a 1/8th ounce DOA Jig heads are hard to beat. I like the watermelon red ake or glow. Establish your dri , and once you catch a couple, duplicate that dri . Mackerel, sea bass, grouper, ounder, blue sh and more will be plentiful as well. I like to rig a live shrimp on a jig head and sh the rock piles while your o shore. While you’re on those rock piles, especially the larger rock structure, make sure you have a rig set up for Cobia. Freelined pin sh will produce. Hang a chum bag and let the kids enjoy some great rod bending action!

Inshore red shing will be good

on the incoming tides, on the outside points of the St. Martin Keys to Ozello. Live pin sh or live shrimp are hard baits to beat. I like to sh free-lined baits this time of the year, over bait under a cork. Cut mullet or lady sh will produce bites as well. Gold spoons are great go to arti cial this time of the year, to locate sh. Keep an eye out for snook as well, especially on those points with hard moving water!

June is a great month for tarpon shing the entire Gulf Coast of Florida. Crystal Bay in Crystal River has some great tarpon shing in June. I’m a y guide so I Iike to sh small bait sh ies, or small tarpon toads in dark colors this time of the year. If you are shing conventional sh, live pin sh, thread n or DOA bait busters are great baits to sh for the giant silver king!

Capt. Stump

352-403-2073

www.captainjhamilton.com

June is de nitely the month, that covering ground and grinding it out on the water begins. Long hot days, and taking what the good Lord gives you from a location, and running and gunning is what it takes.

Inshore, big reds, snook, tripletail and massive schools of black drum roam the expansive oyster bars and ats we have here in Yankeetown. Live and cut bait is key this time of year, as well as a bunch of patience and plenty of sunscreen. Red sh will begin schooling hardcore on the outside points, with the occasional chance at a cobia or tripletail just in range. Nearshore and o shore, the cobia bite will start to taper o and the grouper bite will begin to re up! Remember, our season begins later in the year, but plenty of fun still to be had!

Tight lines guys and good luck

Capt. Andrew Fagan

Instagram : Capt_red shdrew

EBB TIDE CHARTERS

account for recent reports of trout coming from 7 to 11 feet of water. If you are fortunate enough to run up on some ballyhoo, they are sh sh. Gold and Copper weedless Spoons such as Precision Tackle’s HEX spoons in the 1/2-ounce size, are taking their share nally showed up and a 55-pound ling, was taken on board Evan Snow’s boat on 10 lb. test! Tarpon will also show up in June er some angling possibilities for those who

Meanwhile, Let's Go Fishing! dba One More Cast guide service for 30 years! www.onemorecast.net onemorecast@gtcom.net cell: 850.838.7541

Hello guys and gals! Hope everybody had a good May. We are de nitely starting to warm up and nally getting some a ernoon showers.

June can be a tough month if you stay with your same tactics and species. So what I like to do, is start chasing some di erent species and change the way we do our trout and red shing.

As far as species go, we are nally getting some Spanish mackerel, blues, tripletail, and tarpon. Obviously, most of these sh require di erent tactics than red sh and trout. Typically, you can catch most species on a popping cork, but and blues and mackerel are gonna be on the deeper part of the ats. Remember, this is the time of the year to break out your heavier leader. A lot of toothy creatures are lurking out there right now.

Red sh can typically be found in their usual hiding areas. For the reds we are gonna start to throw a lot more cut mullet. As for the trout, we will throw the same, just change our depth. We will sometimes remove the corks, depending on how deep.

Well guys, stay hydrated and safe out there, and give us a call for any bookings. Until next time, keep it Reel Native!!

Captain Brent Woodard Reel Native Fishing Charters ReelNativeFishing.com 352-284-5514

Waverly Brittain and Mike Sherman of Gray , Ga. with a double of speckled trout May 4.

Ray Carlile celebrates his 81st birthday with a nice 25-inch red sh

Let’s grow with Florida together.

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20 Sacks Weighed Heavier than 30 Pounds at One Tourney

Catch a 30-pound ve- sh sack of bass, and you’re pretty much a lock to win whatever tournament you’re shing, right?

Imagine that glorious moment when you’ve been culling 5-pounders and pull into the docks to unload your livewell. With a grin on your face, you haul that huge bag of sh up to the scales…only to nd out your 30-pound sack barely put you in the top 20! at was the reality at a May 6 Roland Martin Marine Center Bass Series event on Lake Okeechobee. e shing was so good that anglers weighed 20 ve-bass limits that were heavier than 30 pounds. It took 36.82 pounds to win. We’re not sure who keeps track of such things, but that’s more 30-pound sacks in one tournament than we’ve ever heard of.

A father-son team of Preston and 11-year-old Tavyn Heisler won the 177-team tournament and a $6,500 big check.

“It was an amazing day,” Preston told a RMMCBS reporter a er the tournament. “I’m still shaking and I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

Tavyn said he was the net man early in the tournament, but he caught his own 8-pounder late in the day. His favorite lure was a black and blue charterbait.

To read a full report on the event, visit: rolandmartinmarinecenterseries.com.

Maguire’s frst work is a compelling, fast read. His style is like a mix of Hemingway with a sardonic blend of Hunter S. Thompson. I couldn’t put it down...

Ben Martin

Editor in Chief Coastal Angler Magazine

FLORIDA SNAPPER SEASONS ANNOUNCED

Florida’s red snapper season will be 70 days long in 2023 and include both summer and fall dates. In early May, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced what he called the longest combined season since the state took control of red snapper management. e summer season will be 46 days, followed by a 24-day falls snapper season.

“Florida is the Fishing Capital of the World, and the Gulf red snapper season brings anglers from across the country to enjoy our waters,” said Gov. DeSantis. “It is a generational tradition for so many who call Florida home. I am happy that 2023 will be by far the longest combined season since the state assumed management of red snapper.”

e 46-day summer season will begin on June 16 and run through July 31. e 24-day fall season will include all weekends in October and November, Friday–Sunday.

If you plan to sh for red snapper in state or federal waters from a private recreational vessel, even if you are exempt from shing license requirements, you must sign up as a State Reef Fish Angler (annual renewal required). For more information, see GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.

UPGRADE YOUR CART

BONEFISH SPAWNING AGGREGATION DISCOVERED OFF THE KEYS

For all science knows about our sheries, there is plenty le to discover. Bone sh & Tarpon Trust scientists recently located a bone sh prespawning aggregation (PSA) in the Florida Keys. e discovery is the rst of its kind in Florida waters and the culmination of a years-long search that utilized acoustic telemetry and the historical knowledge of veteran shing guides.

“ is is a major discovery for the Florida Keys shery,” said BTT President and CEO Jim McDu e. “BTT has previously identi ed PSAs in several other countries, but Florida sites remained elusive—until now. By locating this PSA, our scientists will be able to learn more about where and how bone sh spawn in the Florida Keys, which is information critical to the sustained recovery of the population.”

Over the course of the 2022-2023 bone sh spawning season, which spans from October to April, BTT Florida Keys Initiative Manager Dr. Ross Boucek and his team tracked 67 sh and logged more than 94,000 detections. Many of these detections were in the area where BTT research during the 2021-2022 season and reports from shing guides indicated a likely PSA. Fourteen bone sh detected at the suspected PSA site had been tagged at distant ats, including two sh tagged 55 miles away.

e newly discovered PSA is comprised of approximately 2,000 to 5,000 sh and located three to four miles o shore along a reef. Previously documented PSAs in the Bahamas and Belize are located in nearshore waters.

At the site, BTT scientists also observed bone sh gulping air at the surface. Previous research shows that bone sh engage in this behavior before spawning to ll their swim bladders. At night, the sh dive hundreds of feet and rapidly ascend to the surface. e sudden change in pressure during the ascent makes their swim bladders expand, enabling the bone sh to release eggs and sperm. A er fertilization, hatched larvae dri in ocean currents before settling in shallow sand- or mud-bottom bays, where they develop into juvenile bone sh.

“As a Keys shing guide for 53 years, with a science background, I took bone sh for granted—they were what I shed for every day,” said Capt. Rick Ruo , member of the BTT Board of Directors. “I thought that I knew all about the resource, until the population crashed. I discovered neither I, nor anyone else, knew where or how bone sh spawned—a major gap in our knowledge. BTT has come up with the amazing science to determine the dynamics of bone sh spawning. It has been a great lesson to me that we have located this missing piece of the puzzle. To have a healthy population and management goals, you have to understand all aspects of your resource. I am so proud to be part of the BTT science e ort that has unraveled these bone sh mysteries and will witness their rebound.”

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THE KREH KNOT: BEST LOOP KNOT FOR LURES

Re-Discover Old Florida Waterfront Charm

The

Loop knots leave a small loop of line rather than a knot snug against the hook eye. ey are important to have in your repertoire for shing arti cials because that loop allows a little more movement when you’re working lures like jigs, topwaters and plugs.

e Kreh knot, developed by legendary y sherman Le y Kreh, was originally intended to be used for streamers and bait sh ies. It is also a great choice for conventional anglers throwing any lure that needs a touch of freedom to strut its stu Also known as the non-slip loop knot, it is strong and easy to tie, and it works well with both mono lament and uorocarbon lines.

With the Kreh knot, you give up a bit of strength in comparison to snug Palomar or uni knots, but you’re trading it for lifelike lure action. e

venerable Rapala knot is another great loop knot that might be a little stronger than the Kreh. However, the Kreh is a tad easier to tie, making it our go-to loop knot for lures in freshwater or salt.

For more shing tips and tricks, visit usangler.com.

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ANOTHER GIANT BASS

Timothy Crowley was shing Kenansville Lake with Capt. Morris Campbell on March 23 when he caught this 13.10-pound lunker.

Orange Lake keeps pumping out giant largemouth bass. e latest leader in Florida’s TrophyCatch program is a 14-pound, 1-ounce monster from Orange Lake. Chad Dorland caught the sh on April 23 to claim the top spot in FWC’s big-bass recognition program.

Dorland’s sh is the third 13-plus-pounder to come from the 12,550acre Alachua County lake since February. On Feb. 3, Luke Matthews caught a 13-pound, 8-ounce bass at Orange Lake. Anthony Holland caught a 13-pound, 3-ounce beast at Orange Lake on Feb. 25.

Fish weighing more than 13 pounds are awarded Hall of Fame status in the TrophyCatch program. Five Hall of Fame sh have been caught since TrophyCatch season 11 began on Oct. 1, 2022. ree of the ve were caught at Orange Lake, which has also seen 13 other bass weighing more than 10 pounds submitted to the program in that same time period. ose statistics don’t even include all the other lunkers anglers have likely caught and not entered into the program. It’s safe to say Orange Lake is a big-bass factory at the moment.

e other two 13-plus-pound TrophyCatch entries this year were both caught in March. On March 4, Russell Bauknight caught a 13-pound, 8-ounce hawg at Holden’s Pond, which is just up the road from Orange Lake in the same sprawling system of shallow, vegetation- lled waters southeast of Gainesville. On March 23, Timothy Crowley caught a 13-pound, 10-ounce sh that gave him the top spot in TrophyCatch before Dorland caught his 14-pounder. Crowley’s sh came from Kenansville Reservoir down in Indian River County.

For more information, visit www.trophycatch orida.com.

Hand closes Aug. 6, allowing harvest to begin during the weekend in advance of the Fourth of July holiday.

“Extending the season will increase the economic bene ts from this popular recreational shery to local communities in the region,” said Jessica McCawley, Division of Marine Fisheries Management Director. We will continue these e orts by exploring long-term season options for future years via the formal rulemaking process.”

Between 2017 and 2020, FWC took a pilot approach to establish regionally speci c bay scallop regulations while also maintaining the sustainability of local scallop populations. As part of this e ort, the allowable harvest area for scallops was extended to include Pasco County waters starting in 2018. e Pasco Zone for bay scallop management includes all Florida waters south of the Pasco-Hernando county line and north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse, approximately 0.37 miles south of the Pasco-Pinellas county line.

e daily bag limit in this area is 2 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1 pint of shucked bay scallop meat per person, with no more than a total of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1/2 gallon (4 pints) shucked bay scallop meat per vessel.

For more information, go to MyFWC.com.

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For anglers looking to conquer the toughest o shore conditions, Okuma’s Cavalla 2-Speed Lever Drag reels are the ultimate weapon of choice. Over the past decade, Okuma has cemented its position as a leader in the saltwater market, starting with the groundbreaking Makaira line of reels. Today, the Cavalla 2-Speed Lever Drag is yet another example of Okuma’s unwavering commitment to providing top-tier, reliable products for saltwater anglers.

With its compact, machined aluminum frame and side plates, the Cavalla is a reel that can withstand the toughest conditions Mother Nature can throw at it. e rigid one-piece frame ensures stability and durability, while the cold-forged, type-II anodized machined aluminum spool adds to the reel’s sleek, rugged design. Whether you’re targeting monster grouper, sail sh, giant snapper or other o shore saltwater species, the Cavalla is the reel you want in your o shore arsenal.

e Cavalla reels feature a battle-proven carbonite drag system with Cal’s drag grease that can put out an impressive 24 to 34 pounds of drag at full. e 17.4 grade stainless steel main and pinion gear, along with the CRC coating process, make this reel virtually corrosion resistant. With four corrosion-resistant stainless-steel bearings and a silent retrieve system, the Cavalla operates

smoothly and e ciently, ensuring that you never miss a catch.

Okuma’s Cavalla

2-speed reels feature a 6.4:1 and 3.8:1 gear ratio on the 5 size reels and a 4.7:1 and 2.1:1 gear ratio on the 12 size, allowing for versatile performance across a range of shing styles. e 5 and 12 size reels come in both le - and right-hand retrieve and feature an on/o bait clicker. e reel’s compact size and comfortable Ergo Grip handle knob and anodized aluminum handle arm make it easy to handle and use for extended periods of time.

So, why should you choose the Cavalla lever drag reel for your next o shore shing trip? Here are ve reasons:

• Durable Construction: e Cavalla’s machined aluminum frame and side plates, along with its corrosion-resistant components, ensure that this reel can handle the toughest o shore conditions with ease.

• Versatile Performance: With its 2-speed capabilities and variable gear ratios, the Cavalla is a reel that can adapt to a range of shing styles and conditions.

• Smooth Operation: anks to its silent

the Cavalla operates smoothly and e ciently, ensuring that you never miss a catch.

• Strong Drag System: e Cavalla’s carbonite drag system with Cal’s drag grease can put out up to 34 pounds of drag, making it a reel that can handle the biggest and toughest sh in the ocean.

• Comfortable Handling: With its compact size and Ergo Grip handle knob and anodized aluminum handle arm, the Cavalla is a reel that you can use comfortably for extended periods of time, even during the toughest o shore shing trips.

e Okuma Cavalla 2-Speed Lever Drag reel is an all-around, top-of-the-line reel that every saltwater angler should have in their arsenal.

For distributors and retailers, Okuma Fishing Tackle Corporation will be available to meet at ICAST 2023 in Orlando, Fla. July 11-13 at Exhibit Hall Booths 1202 and 1308.

FISH THE GREATER JACKSONVILLE

KINGFISH TOURNAMENT JULY 17-22

GrandPrizeValuedat$160K!

It’s King sh Time! e 43rd annual 121 Financial Credit Union Greater Jacksonville King sh Tournament is slated for July 17-22, 2023. For ve days, with four tournaments and $400,000 in prizes, the “Grandaddy of all King sh Tournaments” will keep the docks buzzing with fun events for everyone from die-hard anglers to casual spectators.

e cornerstone of this historic and thriving event is the general tournament, which launches Friday, July 21 with a boat package valued at $160,000 going to the team that lands the largest king sh. e grand prize is a sweet 25-T Contender with twin 150hp Yamahas, a custom T-top by Custom Marine and an Ameritrail trailer. e tournament pays through 20 places for largest sh and aggregate, as well as a Lady Angler division that pays to 10 places, totaling nearly $250,000 in cash and prizes.

All the boats and the sh coming into the docks at Jim King Park and Boat Ramp at Sisters Creek Park in Jacksonville creates a festival atmosphere. Traditionally, the tournament draws thousands of spectators who enjoy cold beverages, hot food and vendors at the Liar’s Tent. Awards Day on Saturday, July 22 is all about celebration, with Kids Zone activities, drawings and a shing seminar, followed by eye-popping reworks in partnership with the City of Jacksonville.

Also for the kids, there is a Junior Angler O shore Tournament on Wednesday, July 19, as well as a Junior Angler Dock Tournament. e grand prize in the Junior Angler O shore Tournament is an Ohana 14’ ski with a 25hp Yamaha and trailer, and this tournament pays through 25 places.

popular Red sh Tournament shes on Saturday, July 22, with weigh-ins at 2 p.m. during the Awards Day activities.

rough its history, the Greater Jacksonville King sh Tournament has been all about putting on a great tournament and helping to provide access to marine resources and promoting education, preservation and research in partnership with its junior anglers and Jacksonville University’s Marine Biology Department. Jacksonville Marine Charities is the operating arm of the event, and it supports non-pro ts throughout the state. Recently, Child Cancer Fund, the Down Syndrome Association and the Child Guidance Center have bene tted from the organization, which also supports other local charity shing events like e Premier Trout, Flounder Pounder, Wounded Heroes on the Water and others.

For complete details, go to https://king shtournament.com/.

Coastal Angler and The Angler Magazine, Suzuki Marine and Sea Eagle have come together to offer readers a shot at this Sea Eagle FishSkiff 16 paired with a Suzuki DF4 outboard that’ll take you wherever the fsh are. The FishSkiff 16 is an infatable fshing boat that is lightweight, sturdy, stable and extremely packable. It rolls up small enough to ft in the trunk of a car and quickly infates into a fshing machine. Powered by Suzuki’s four-stroke DF4A, you’ll have to hold on to your hat as you scream over the fats. Designed for effciency and performance and portability, the DF4A provides all the speed and acceleration you can handle. It’s lightweight and can be attached or removed with ease.

Images for illustration purposes only and prize may vary from what is shown. Contest runs May 1st through July 31st 2023. Winner till be announced on Facebook July 31st.

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SWIM JIGS AND SPAWNING BLUEGILLS

This is the time of year when bass gorge themselves on bluegill. One of the best ways to catch bluegilleaters is with a swim jig.

e swim jig is a versatile bait. It can be used in di erent colors and actions that drive bass crazy. All the variety can make jig shopping a bit overwhelming. ere are thousands of color options, countless styles, di erent hooks and line-tie variations. When I’m looking for the perfect swim jig, I keep a few things in mind. I only throw two di erent color combinations, bluegill duplicators— the greens, browns and oranges—and a black and blue. You want a jig with a slender head style with a vertical line tie that will come through the cover you’re shing. I also like a jig with a stout hook. rowing a swim jig around heavy cover calls for heavy line, and you don’t want your hook to bend out or break when you hook into a big one.

Selection of jig trailers can also be overwhelming. Guess what? I only throw two di erent styles of trailers. I usually put a swimbait-style trailer with a boot tail on the back, but occasionally I’ll use a craw trailer with two kicker legs. At the end of the day, you just want something back there kicking

and giving your jig some action, and these two styles are my go-to. I match the color of the trailers to the color of the jig. e cover to target with a swim jig can be endless. ey are great in vegetation as well as around docks, wood, rocky banks and for covering water over expansive ats with wood and grass. You can cover a lot of water with this bait, and typically covering more water leads to more bites. You should throw it anywhere bass are chasing bluegills or where bass are actively feeding. I always keep one tied on and ready.

A retrieve I nd myself using a lot is a yo-yo retrieve. Point the rod tip high and vary the retrieval speed by either cranking fast and slow or moving the rod tip. is gives the bait some erratic movements and drives them crazy. I also use a steady retrieve. Depending on the part of the water column you are trying to target, you can reel the bait fast and keep it up high—even on the surface—or slow it down and creep it deeper, maybe to keep it around some submerged cover.

Swim

Jig Gear

Fishing cover requires heavier equipment. I sh a heavy action rod with a length between a 7’3” and 7’6”. e 13 Fishing Defy Black 7’5H is a super a ordable rod and is awesome for the job. Pair the rod up with a fast reel like the 13 Fishing Concept A 7:5 spooled up with 50-pound Seaguar Smackdown braid, and you are ready to put some sh in the boat.

Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcott shing.com.

TYLER WOOLCOTT

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Whether you use a gas or electric motor, the in atable FishSki ™16 will get you to the sh. Add a canopy for protection from the sun or rain. Add a solar panel for perpetual power that can keep your electric motor battery charged; whether your camping, live on the water or just love the idea of solar power.

With the NEW drop-stitch keel, you’ll have less course correction and improved performance. The low gunwales give you superb access to the water for landing sh, releasing sh, and getting on & o the boat.

ORANGE BEACH BOAT LANDS

MASSIVE BLUEFIN

In early May, a 600-plus-pound blue n tuna was brought to the docks at Alabama’s Orange Beach Marina. It was not a world or state record, but it was a giant sh and a rst for Capt. Johnny Greene who has been a charter captain for the last 33 years.

According to the story written by David Rainer for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), Greene and his crew aboard the Intimidator were hosting a group of anglers from Georgia on a three-day trip deep into the Gulf of Mexico. Greene said he has encountered big blue ns before in the April and May timeframe, when they arrive in the Gulf to spawn, but he’s never managed to put one in the boat or even “slow one down.”

“Last year we hooked one about noon and fought that sh four or ve hours. We had 10 people on that charter, and they ended up changing the rod between anglers probably 20 or 25 times,” he told ADCNR. “We ended up breaking a rod a er ghting him that long. We were so close, so that one was really a heartbreaker.”

is recent trip did not end in heartbreak. A er hooking the sh, the Intimidator chased it for about 2 miles before getting to within 100

feet of the leader. en the sh dove deep. ey managed to stop the dive with a Shimano 50-wide and a stand-up harness, and a er battling it for about four hours they could tell the sh had died.

ey began the laborious process of winching it up on 80-pound-test mono.

“When you have to pull a 600-pound animal up, it’s not the easiest thing to do,” he told ADCNR. “It requires communication between the angler, everybody in the cockpit and the wheelhouse. It’s basically a momentum game. You’ve got to get the sh coming up, and you have to keep him coming. If you take a break, the sh is going to start sinking again. It’s tricky.”

e celebration began when they nally brought the giant sh to the surface and tethered it with a tail rope. ey used a come-along to hoist it into the boat.

Knowing their sh was not a record, the crew went ahead and gutted it and iced it down to preserve the meat during the ride home. It weighed 579 pounds gutted, with an estimated total weight of 625 pounds. e Alabama state record, caught in 2006, weighed 829 pounds.

To read David Rainer’s entire account of the catch, go to www.outdooralabama.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF INTIMIDATOR

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

believe the popping cork found its beginnings in the 1930s, and it’s still a mainstay in most saltwater anglers’ tackle boxes. Many versions have been introduced along the way and undoubtedly more will come. One thing is for certain, if they didn’t work, they would not have lasted for nearly a century. In Texas, a popping cork nds itself dragging a live shrimp, but there are other options. What makes the popping cork stand out is the cupped top, which creates a popping sound and splashes water forward when twitched. It simulates a sh feeding on the surface. erent than the masses tossing live shrimp under a cork, but in the early 2000s— when I had already turned my focus to exclusively shing—I found another place for the simple ective popping cork.

At that time, our famous Ba n Bay was plagued with brown tide, an algae bloom that turns the water, well, brown. e water had nearly zero visibility, which made shing so plastics cult at best. Looking back, I wish I had already invented my Knockin Tail Lures with the built in tail rattle, but better late than never. At the time, I started using lures under a cork instead of live shrimp. I realized a noticeable increase in the sh I was able to catch. Depending on the circumstances, I would use a jighead, a weighted weedless hook or an unweighted hook about 24 inches under my cork. Although I heard

a lot of grief from my buddies who would not touch a popping cork, it worked and I continued to out sh them on most trips. I stayed with this technique in Ba n until the brown tide cleared.

A lure under a cork is also a great way to introduce kids to lure shing. Paddletails, twitch baits and arti cial shrimp all work well with this strategy. e method takes a lot of the hand coordination out of the picture for children and lets them realize that you don’t need live bait to catch sh.

Another of the many options this cork gives the angler is a way to e ectively sh jetties. At times, trout will suspend 8 to 10 feet deep o the rocks. In this situation, the popping cork’s sound creating ability is still important, but it needs to be modi ed. Casting a cork with 10 feet of leader to get your lure down to the sh creates a challenge. is is where the slip cork method comes into play. With a slip cork, you can cast a 2- or 3-foot leader or less, but the cork will have a rubber stop that allows your bait to sink to the desired depth where the bite is. Look up slip cork for more on this method.

e weather is warm, don’t forget to take a kid shing!

Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures®, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®

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FAT COLORADO LAKER OUTWEIGHS WORLD RECORD

If this potbellied 73.29-pound lake trout isn’t a new world record, it should be.

Scott Enloe and his son Hunter were shing an undisclosed Colorado lake in early May when Scott hooked into the 47-inch-long monster on a 6-inch tube jig and 10-pound test. According to Free Range American, it took 13 tense minutes to ght the huge laker boat-side, and both men had to haul it over the side because their net was too small to land the sh.

e sh was full of eggs and had an incredible girth of 37 inches. A er some photos and measurements, they released it to go lay those eggs and spread the genetics for obesity.

e IGFA all-tackle world record for lake trout weighed 72 pounds, even. It was caught in 1995 by Lloyd Bull at Great Bear Lake in Canada. With the strict procedures required by IGFA for record consideration, it is unlikely Enloe’s sh will break the all-tackle world record, but there is a chance the organization will consider it for a world length record.

e current Colorado state record weighed 50.35 pounds. It was caught by Donald Walker in 2007. We’re not sure about Colorado’s record submission requirements, but most states require a weight taken on certi ed scales.

Regardless, it is the sh of a lifetime for Enloe, and if it doesn’t qualify for a record… it should.

To read the full report from Free Range American, go to https:// freerangeamerican.us/world-record-lake-trout-enloe/

NORTH CAROLINIAN SMASHES U.S. SURF CASTING RECORD

There’s no doubt these guys can get it out past the breakers. e Carolina Surf Casters Association gets together four times a year to hold distance-casting competitions. In an April contest, North Carolina’s Ryan Lambert set a record for the longest shing cast in U.S. history. He launched a massive 889-foot, 4-inch cast.

Lambert is a frequent competitor in the sport of surf casting, known in Europe as long distance casting of sea weights, in which participants gather on a large marked eld with surf shing tackle to see who can cast di erent sizes of large sinkers (3.5 to 8 ounces) the farthest.

ough the sport originated in the U.S., reportedly as far back as the 1890s, it has become more popular in Europe and South America in recent decades. Only three surf casting clubs exist in the U.S. today. ey are SurfCast USA (SCUSA), based in Maryland, Surf Fishing & Casting Club International (SFCCI), on Texas’ Gulf Coast, and Carolina Surf Casters Association (CSCA), in eastern North Carolina.

Lambert is the vice president/secretary of the CSCA – a more than 10-year-old organization with members from North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland and Texas. e club organizes four competitions per year in spring and fall. ese events are open to surf casters of all skill levels.

Lambert, a sales representative for a large agricultural supplier, lives in Angier, N.C., with his wife Blair and their two daughters. He’s an experienced saltwater sherman who, like most competitive casters, originally developed long-distance casting skills to improve catch rate from piers and the beach. He learned those skills under the tutelage of fellow North Carolinian and long-time U.S. surf casting champion Tommy Farmer.

Tapping into his athleticism from playing baseball for N.C. State University, Lambert is able to generate huge power using a pendulum cast. is highly specialized technique involves swinging the sinker into an orbit around the tip of a long 12- to 14-foot surf rod, and at a precise moment, rotating the body and rod through a large arc, ending with a powerful punch-pull motion with the right and le arms.

“It’s great that one of our own from North Carolina—someone from our club, no less—was able to set this new benchmark,” said Matt Tuers, president of the CSCA. “One of the main objectives of this organization is to grow a community where U.S. casters can develop and start taking back the international records. Casters like Ryan are in a position to do that, as well as inspire the next batch of elite American competitors.”

e current world record longest cast is held by “Big Danny” Moeskops of Belgium with a 940 foot cast made in the early 2000s. e previous U.S. record was held by Will Nash of Texas, with 873 feet.

Check out CSCA at carolinasurfcasters.org.

Popular on the tournament eld, but rarely seen on U.S. beaches, the pendulum cast is Ryan Lambert’s preferred casting style for launching heavy sinkers long distances.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HUNTER ENLOE

Home of world class fishing on the beautiful Watauga Lake, rugged Doe River and designated trophy trout stream, Watauga River