Coastal Angler Magazine | August 2021 | North Central Florida/Nature Coast Edition by Coastal Angler Magazine

NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST EDITION

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HARDCORE

TUNA

MYSTERIOUS

SAILFISH Sept. 9-11 • Orlando PHOTO CREDIT: DARCIZZLE OFFSHORE COURTESY OF HAIRCLUB / WWW.HAIRCLUB.COM VOLUME 26 • ISSUE 317

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM

F R A N C H I S E

O P P O R T U N I T I E S

A V A I L A B L E

W O R L D W I D E

AUGUST 2021

Upper Class Just Got Lower Priced Finally, luxury built for value— not for false status

ntil Stauer came along, you needed an inheritance to buy a timepiece with class and refinement. Not any more. The Stauer Magnificat II embodies the impeccable quality and engineering once found only in the watch collections of the idle rich. Today, it can be on your wrist. The Magnificat II has the kind of thoughtful design that harkens back to those rare, 150-year-old moon phases that once could only be found under glass in a collector’s trophy room. Powered by 27 jewels, the Magnificat II is wound by the movement of your body. An exhibition back reveals the genius of the engineering and lets you witness the automatic rotor that enables you to wind the watch with a simple flick of your wrist. It took three years of development and $26 million in advanced Swiss-built watch-making machinery to create the Magnificat II. When we took the watch to renowned watchmaker and watch historian George Thomas, he disassembled it and studied the escapement, balance wheel and the rotor. He remarked on the detailed guilloche face, gilt winding crown, and the crocodile-embossed leather band. He was intrigued by the three interior dials for day, date, and 24-hour moon phases. He estimated that this fine timepiece would cost over $2,500. We all smiled and told him that the Stauer price was less than $100. A truly magnificent watch at a truly magnificent price! Try the Magnificat II for 30 days and if you are not receiving compliments, please return the watch for a full refund of the purchase price. The precision-built movement carries a 2 year warranty against defect. If you trust your own good taste, the Magnificat II is built for you.

Stauer Magnificat II Timepiece $399* Offer Code Price

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† Special price only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer.com without your offer code.

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n the blockbuster film, when a strapping Australian crocodile hunter and a lovely American journalist were getting robbed at knife point by a couple of young thugs in New York, the tough Aussie pulls out his dagger and says “That’s not a knife, THIS is a knife!” Of course, the thugs scattered and he continued on to win the reporter’s heart. Our Aussie friend would approve of our rendition of his “knife.” Forged of high grade 420 surgical stainless steel, this knife is an impressive 16" from pommel to point. And, the blade is full tang, meaning it runs the entirety of the knife, even though part of it is under wraps in the natural bone and wood handle. Secured in a tooled leather sheath, this is one impressive knife, with an equally impressive price. This fusion of substance and style can garner a high price tag out in the marketplace. In fact, we found full tang, stainless steel blades with bone handles in excess of $2,000. Well, that won’t cut it around here. We have mastered the hunt for the best deal, and in turn pass the spoils on to our customers. But we don’t stop there. While supplies last, we’ll include a pair of $99, 8x21 power compact binoculars, and a genuine leather sheath FREE when you purchase the Down Under Bowie Knife. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Feel the knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the impeccable craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price. Limited Reserves. A deal like this won’t last long. We have only 1120 Down Under Bowie Knifes for this ad only. Don’t let this beauty slip BONUS! Call today and through your fingers at a price that won’t drag you’ll also receive this you under. Call today! genuine leather sheath!

Stauer® 8x21 Compact Binoculars -a $99 value-

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What Stauer Clients Are Saying About Our Knives

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*Discount is only for customers who useNot the offer code versus the shown listed original Stauer.com price. actual size.

California residents please call 1-800-333-2045 regarding Proposition 65 regulations before purchasing this product.

• Etched stainless steel full tang blade ; 16” overall • Painted natural bone and wood handle • Brass hand guards, spacers & end cap • Includes genuine tooled leather sheath

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FRANCHISOR-CORPORATE DIRECTORY

EDITOR IN CHIEF : Ben Martin • camads@coastalanglermagazine.com COO : Tracy Patterson • tracy@coastalanglermagazine.com ART DIRECTOR : Laura Kelly • graphics@coastalanglermagazine.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR : Nick Carter • editorial@coastalanglermagazine.com WEBMASTER : Ryan Clapper • webmaster@coastalanglermagazine.com ADVERTISING & FRANCHISE INQUIRIES:

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4 NATIONAL

AUGUST 2021

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

Sizzling Hot Deals From Suzuki’s Summer Sales Event Suzuki’s Summer Sales Event is finally here! It’s time to get to your local Suzuki Marine Dealer for a sizzling hot deal on the Ultimate Outboard Motor. You can get Low-Rate Financing on the all new DF140BG with Drive by Wire Technology, or our Flagship DF350. Get all the details at your participating Suzuki Marine Dealer.

REPOWER FINANCE

YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY†

REPOWER FINANCE Rates as low as 5.99% on new Suzuki outboards on approved credit.* [60 Months]

*REPOWER FINANCE is available through Synchrony Retail Finance, as low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new, unregistered Suzuki outboard motors, subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on creditworthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories, or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki outboard motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between from July 1, 2021 through September 1, 2021. †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. The Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2021 Suzuki Marine, USA, LLC.

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ISTIOPHORUS: THE MYSTERIOUS SAILFISH

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

he sailfish is one of the most commonly caught billfish. Due to its proclivity for shallower coastal waters and frequency of ascension to the surface, the odds of catching one of these beauties can be much greater than for other billfish. There is little scientific certainty about the mysterious behavior of sailfish. They exhibit a general migratory pattern throughout the year, but they often break their own rules and show up unexpectedly. Summer sailfish catches are generally more associated with the Gulf of Mexico, yet they do appear on the Atlantic coast this time of year, as well. Sailfishing in the Florida Keys is usually a late autumn and early spring

bite. It can be an absolute catching frenzy. However, in July, following the passage of tropical storm Elsa, sailfish were seen tailing at the surface, cruising the waves along a strong current line off of Marathon Key. It was a bizarre and welcomed phenomenon. The conditions that followed the storm created a concise current line, with greener nearshore waters touching the blue water, and a milky powder-blue highway running down the center. Sailfish were spotted swimming east to west at the top of the waves, and seemed to dive deeper to circle back. The locals are no strangers to this phenomenon that occurs in the Keys. Though the time of year may be unpredictable, anglers are always ready to make the most of it. This type of fishing requires polarized sunglasses and a tower boat. Slowly creeping through the powder blue highway, scan the waves for black torpedo shapes or blobs that resemble black garbage bags. Hunt for the opportunity to sight cast live baits. Without the visual vantage of a tower, trolling lures or bump trolling live bait may be more productive than trying to spot them from deck level. Sailfish truly are an incredible and unpredictable species. Very few have been successfully tagged, and few have held a tag long enough to transmit much information. Of those tagged for up to a year, their patterns were generally erratic. They seem to be extremely transient, foraging and spawning in many different coastal regions, predictably unpredictable, like majestic aquatic gypsies. Commonalities in their behavior are that they primarily stay within a water temperature of approximately 80 degrees; they mostly stay near the surface, rarely diving below 300 feet; and they exhibit extremely curious evening routines. All of the transmissions showed sailfish spending the evening within 30 feet of the surface, descending briefly before sunrise and sunset. They were also observed to be active nightly, seemingly unaffected by lunar phases. Help uncover the mysteries of sailfish by reporting tagged fish or by visiting billfish.org to purchase a tagging kit. Remember to handle sailfish with care and revive them before release when necessary. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon fishes with Blue Magic Charters out of Marathon, Fla. Check her out her Instagram @CaptainQuinlyn, her website CaptainQuinlyn.com, or call (504) 920-6342.

MFD

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

AUGUST 2021

NATIONAL 7

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W N E IG S N DE

The Biggest Event In Silver Dollar History!

he American Silver Eagle has been the most popular silver coin on the planet since its introduction in 1986. Its beautiful, iconic design inspires collectors, and investors love it because it’s struck in one full ounce of 99.9% fine silver, and guaranteed for weight and fineness by the U.S. Government. Now in 2021, for the first time ever, the coin’s design is changing.

The Most Important Coins in the Modern Era

When President Ronald Reagan signed the Liberty Coin Act into law, he didn’t know American Eagles would have the impact they’ve had, year after year. The coins were so popular that between 1986 and 2020, over 535 million were struck. That’s more than HALF A BILLION coins, easily making Silver Eagles the most bought coins in the world. Hugely popular now, Silver Eagles may soon become even more popular!

Collectors Crave Firsts

Collectors covet coins with Key Dates. Key Dates mark significance in a coin’s history...firsts, lasts, lowest mintage,

new finishes and new designs. Now, for the first time in over three-and-a-half decades, the Silver Eagle is getting a new design, leading to a historic “first” unlike anything we’ve seen. The iconic Heraldic Eagle reverse is being replaced by a beautiful new “Eagle Landing” design. This is arguably a bigger deal than even the actual introduction of the coin because there’s so much more interest now than in 1986, with investors and collectors!

If You Knew Then What You Know Now...

If you’d had a crystal ball in 1986, you undoubtedly would have grabbed every Silver Eagle you could get. Those coins in uncirculated condition continue to be sought-after. Now you’re getting another chance to land a big Silver Eagle first, a Key Date. Additionally, since these newly designed Silver Eagles are only being released during the second half of 2021, it’s quite possible this will be one of the lowest mintages we’ve seen. That’s significant because it could make 2021 a DOUBLE Key Date, with both a new design and a low mintage. Demand for these coins is already sky-high, but if that

happens, watch out! No one can predict the future value of silver, but many Americans are rushing to stock up, for themselves, and their loved ones.

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DADDYghter u a DOFF DAYS VIRGINIA BEACH

By Nick Carter

or Matt Metelsky, daddy-daughter time with his 17-year-old is a little more involved than a trip to the ice cream parlor. Matt’s daughter Lily is a rising high school senior. She loves nothing more than waking up at 2 a.m. to run 85 miles off Virginia Beach and troll the edge of the Continental Shelf with her dad. In late June, the duo fished the Virginia Beach Tuna Tournament, where Lily placed second in the Lady Angler division with a yellowfin that weighed 39.9 pounds. But that’s not her biggest tuna to-date. Her heaviest yellowfin weighed 44 pounds. She caught it last summer, and at 5-foot-4 and 115 pounds, it took her about 15 minutes to haul it in stand-up with a belt. “I don’t know. We do wood work on the side, so we load wood, and I guess that gives you some back strength,” Lily offered as explanation for feats of fishing strength. “We always stay active. With Dad, it’s work hard, play harder.” Lily’s strength and stamina are a given considering she qualified and is working as an oceanfront lifeguard at Virginia Beach this summer. Matt, however, has another explanation for his daughter’s skill, as well as her love for this hard-core style of fishing. Lily was 5 years old when Matt purchased his Contender 25 with twin 150s. At a tender age, Lily cut her teeth going toe-to-toe with hard-pulling spadefish in 50 feet of water, 20 miles offshore. “I’m thinking the technique she picked up with those spades when she was little just kind of morphed over into the tuna,” Matt said. “It really amazes

me she is able to battle those things stand-up.” Lily began joining Matt for long days offshore when she turned 13. She was 15 the summer of 2019 when she was first physically able to handle a yellowfin—a 26-pounder—by herself. But pumping and reeling aren’t Lily’s only deck duties. She helps rig and bait and steers the boat while her dad deploys an eight-rod spread on the Gulf Stream. Last Jan. 11, she manned the helm while Matt battled a 550-pound bluefin. When the handle on the 50w reel broke under the stress, it was Lily’s idea to improvise with a screwdriver and electrical tape to eventually land that fish. The peak yellowfin season is June and July out of Rudee Inlet. Matt and Lily make five or six trips a summer, often with friends. Normal days consist of two or three tuna, some bonita and mahi, and occasionally a white marlin. Two or three times a year, January and February bluefin trips are just for the two of them. There aren’t many people interested in waiting on one big bite in brutal mid-winter conditions, anyway. “She’s just tough as nails,” Matt said of his daughter. “I don’t know how else to describe it. She’s just tough.” Lily doesn’t seem to perceive any hardship. She considers herself lucky to be able to spend time with her dad on the water. “When we’re out there on the boat, it’s just so peaceful,” she said. “I pretty much sleep the whole time. When that reel goes off, that’s my alarm.” For more action from Virginia Beach, visit coastalanglermag.com/tidewater-obx/.

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10 NATIONAL

AUGUST 2021

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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A gemstone 10,000 times rarer than diamonds

So rare, you can only find it one place on earth. Two, if you count Stauer! Over 7 carats of ethereal Larimar— From a remote Caribbean mountain

he rarity of larimar is legendary. Its exquisite beauty, unique color and scarcity make it a truly treasured gem. Found in only one square kilometer of the world, the ONLY source of larimar lies in the relatively inaccessible Bahoruco’s mountains in the Caribbean. Formed by unique combination of volcanic minerals and geological conditions, larimar is very dangerous to get to and therefore is only mined 5 months out of the year. Because of its rarity, few people have ever seen larimar, and it is only recently that the Caribbean yielded its secret to us. But luckily, the prices are not controlled by a syndicate so this rare stone is still affordable, as long as you know where to look. And, you’ve come to the right place, we are your ticket to paradise. We’ve crafted rare larimar into remarkable jewelry that’s also remarkably affordable. Each stone in our Sea of Love Larimar Collection is a picture of perfect swirling blue. Nature guarantees that no two larimar gemstones will be exactly alike, each has a wispy white swirl that looks like the highest clouds on a sun-filled day. You could spend PRAISE FOR STAUER LARIMAR RINGS well over $1,000 “There are not enough adjectives in for a larimar ring the dictionary to describe the beauty set in sterling silver. and excellence of this ring. Buy it, do But why would you not wait.” — C., Longwood, FL when you can bring her this gorgeous stone for an exclusive Stauer price. Her Satisfaction is 100% Guaranteed. If she’s not swept away within 30 days, simply return your purchase for a refund of the item price. Mother Nature has given us such a small quantity of this beautiful stone and there is no way to replenish the few carats that are available. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to own this captivating gemstone that’s 10,000 times rarer than diamonds. Quantities are extremely limited, so please act quickly!

Add the entire collection to your jewelry ensemble C.

Jewelry shown is not exact size

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By Nick Carter

BAY COUNTY’S

t the mid-point of the Florida Panhandle, St. Andrew Bay dominates the map of Bay County, flanking Panama City on three sides. It’s a 107-square-mile inshore playground that bustles with all sorts of watersports during the heavy tourism months. But there’s a quieter side to St. Andrew. With access points spread throughout Bay County, skinny water is where it’s at for redfish anglers. The water is clear and maintains predictably high salinity thanks to limited freshwater inflow. There are vast prairies of spartina grass, cut through with channels, as well as acres of sand, mud and grass flats. Much of it is accessible only to shallow-draft vessels, and therein is the allure for folks seeking respite 2 FLORIDA

AUGUST 2021

from party pontoons and jet skis. When you’re in less than 2 feet of water, the only other boats you’ll see are kayaks, paddleboards and flats skiffs. “I fell in love with inshore fishing and kayaking here because of the ease and lower expense,” said Josh Damon, who hails from Fountain, Fla., about 25 miles north of Panama City. “I enjoy the tranquility and access to areas big boats can’t reach.” The fishing is good, too. Damon is a passionate angler who enjoys inshore tournaments, so he specializes in redfish on artificials. He said a good day might results in five or six reds from 18 to 24 inches, with a few trout or flounder thrown into a mixed bag. He fishes from a paddle-powered kayak, which is perfectly at home in the one-and-a-half-foot depths he prefers. Redfish are comfortable and free from predatory threats in extreme shallows, and it’s also where the food is. St. Andrew reds grow fat on mullet, mud minnows, pinfish and a variety of other little baitfish. With good visibility, sight fishing is a good tactic. This time of year, there’s usually a good topwater bite in the mornings and evenings, and walking baits are a favorite of many anglers. Damon, however, fishes soft plastics almost exclusively. With tackle modifications, they can be worked across the top, bounced on the bottom or fished anywhere in between. They’re delicate enough for sight casting and also make great chunk-and-wind search baits. “Aside from the versatility of a soft-plastic bait, I don’t want a fish flopping around in the kayak with six hooks,” Damon said. At St. Andrew, Damon’s go-to lure is a 4-inch D.O.A. C.A.L. Shad Tail rigged on a 1/8-ounce 4/0 Screw Lock jig head. He likes the Houdini color and dresses it with Kings Stank Stick, a scent product he said increases hookups. He fishes variations of this set-up, but this basic rig gets the job done. For safety reasons as well effective fishing, planning is key. Damon studies wind and tide before selecting a put-in on a given day. With the whole bay to choose from, he’s looking for a location that will provide long drifts over productive water. Follow Josh Damon’s adventures on his Facebook page Josh Damon’s Inshore Fishing. For information on kayaking the Panama City area, check out Sunjammers at www.sunjammers.com.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

PHOTO COURTESY OF PHAMILY CUSTOM 360 KAYAK LIGHTS

IN THE

STILL OF THE NIGHT By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

ith the dog days upon us, night fishing can be productive and much more comfortable than slogging it out during the heat of the day. Many fish feed aggressively in the still of the night. They can be

targeted by anglers in multiple ways in different locations. Here are a few options to try. I’ve utilized all three methods and found success with each. • Perhaps the coolest strategy is wade fishing in the dark. Large trout and redfish move unbelievably shallow under the cover of the night sky, and tossing a topwater plug on the flats can result in exciting explosions. I typically wade in the dark without lights, other than a headlamp for changing lures or unhooking fish. With vision impaired, your sense of hearing is on high alert. Nighttime is quiet on the water, which makes the commotion of a topwater take startling. It can give the impression that a fish is larger than it really is. That’s part of the excitement of a topwater bite! For safety reasons, I only wade at night in areas I know well and have fished many times. • Another way to beat the heat is to focus on dock lights. This can be done from the dock, a kayak or a boat. Many canal homes have lights, both under water and above the surface. Lights attract baitfish, which in-turn attract the gamefish we target. Trout, reds and snook are all drawn to baitfish around lights at night. I like to target these areas with smaller lures. In this situation, I’ve had a lot of success throwing my Knockin Tail Lures, which are soft-plastic paddletails with a built-in rattle. Small, lipped hard baits can also be very productive around canal lights. I prefer natural colors, with some shade of white or clear and some silver mixed in. • Fish also feed around rock jetties at night. The setup for this bite requires a little more work, but it can yield terrific results. When jetty fishing, I bring a generator and two 1,500 watt stage lights. These areas typically have more current, so I fish slightly larger lipped hard lures, but I still go with the smallest lure I can work properly in the current. I stick with the same color pattern as mentioned earlier. The channel and surf side of the rocks can both be productive depending on the tide, water clarity and bait presence. I recommend pointing one light in each direction until you determine which areas have the best conditions. Night fishing definitely brings new challenges, but it can offer some of the best catching of the summer. Remember, safety first and don’t fish alone. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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AUGUST 2021

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SCALLOPING

Reports Look Mighty Good

By CAM Staff

eports from a few of the historic scalloping hotspots indicated a very good beginning to the season. Capt. Katie Jo Davis, of KD Outdoors Fishing Charters, said scalloping out of Crystal River and Homosassa has been great. “It’s been fantastic. It’s been a lot better year than the last few to be sure,” she said. “They have also been larger than in recent years. The quantity and quality are very good, and I expect it to continue into August and September.” Davis said they are finding scallops six and seven at a time in 2 to 6 feet of water. She took her 6-year-old out, and it took them about an hour to get their 2-gallon limit. Up in Steinhatchee, there are reports of plentiful scallops. Headed north out of the river, scallopers are seeing tons of scallops in 6- to 7-foot depths. The bottom is loaded with them, but they are on the small side. Headed south, scallops are running larger, but there are not as many. Either way, quick limits are being reported. With the bulk of the season still ahead for most of the scalloping zones and Gulf County opening up this month, it’s shaping up to be a mighty good year for scallops. For regulations and information, go to myfwc.com.

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AUGUST 2021

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COASTAL ANGLER North Central Florida/Nature Coast

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

AUGUST

t is August on the Gulf. Have you gotten your SCALLOPING on? We haven’t, but definitely will try to get out there this month. I love scalloping, but only on sunny days, when the rays of the sun go deep into the water, and I can clearly see the beautiful world below the waves. If you want to experience scalloping, but have no boat or are clueless about what, where or when, contact one of our guides. Just bring your snorkel and mask and even your little ones will love it. It’s underwater hunting for Easter Eggs! Hope for a sunny day (Don’t forget sunblock!) and you will have a great experience and “dinner” for later. New advertising partner, NAPA, is introducing their new location in Homosassa. (Tell them I sent you.) See page 12. Also new this month, Outdoor Expo, happening this month indoors at the Equestrian Center in Ocala on Aug. 14th. More info, page 4. Thanks to an excess of N FL and S GA rain in June and July, and of course Elsa, the Suwannee is pretty high. It is beautiful when it is full, but a little scary, because another big rain maker, and we will be walking in water again. Such is life on the river. This month’s recipe Shrimp and Artichoke stuffed Mushrooms combines several of my loves, shrimp, artichoke hearts, portabella mushrooms and cream cheese. It is a “show off” dish but very easy to make. See page 2. Every month I make the case for getting the Covid vaccine, and here it comes again. As of late July, Florida has registered over 38,000 deaths from Covid, and over 2,000 of those deaths came from our eight counties. The vaccine can put an immediate halt to those increasing figures. If you are not vaccinated, ask for advice from a trusted medical professional. Please don’t let misinformation (lies) hospitalize or kill you. Don’t let your death increase these figures next month. Covid does not have to take another life from North Central Florida and the Nature Coast. Thank you, John Freeze for the photos and the cute little girls and the sunset on this page. As always, please thank our advertising partners and the folks at our distribution sites. If not for them, you would not be reading the World’s Greatest FREE Fishing Magazine. Lynn Crutchfield Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida/Nature Coast

AUGUST 2021 EDITION

Find Your Outdoors Here! North Central Florida Nature Coast Staff SALES

Cary Crutchfield

EDITING & PRODUCTION Lynn Crutchfield

DISTRIBUTION Rosa Crisman

GRAPHIC ARTS & DESIGN Kathleen Stemley

WEB DESIGN Kristi Williams

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dr. Kevin McCarthy Bruce Butler John Freeze Noel Kuhn Capt. Jason Clark Capt. Dan Clymer Capt. Katie Jo Davis Capt. Andrew Fagan Capt. Tony Johns Capt. James Kerr 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

SHRIMP AND ARTICHOKE STUFFED MUSHROOMS (FOR FOUR)

I sugg a boo water then i

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.

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

COOKING DIRECTIONS

TIDES • North Central Florida Time Height

1Su

3Tu 4W

5Th

7Sa

8Su

1:53 AM 8:09 AM 3:26 PM 9:47 PM 2:45 AM 8:59 AM 4:35 PM 11:11 PM 3:49 AM 9:56 AM 5:39 PM 12:24 AM 4:54 AM 10:52 AM 6:36 PM 1:23 AM 5:56 AM 11:46 AM 7:25 PM 2:09 AM 6:53 AM 12:36 PM 8:08 PM 2:47 AM 7:43 AM 1:24 PM 8:46 PM 3:20 AM 8:28 AM 2:10 PM 9:23 PM

1.7 3.7 1.0 2.8 1.9 3.8 0.9 2.8 2.1 3.8 0.7 2.9 2.2 3.9 0.5 3.0 2.2 4.0 0.3 3.2 2.2 4.1 0.1 3.3 2.0 4.2 0.1 3.4 1.9 4.3 0.0

HERNANDO BEACH

AUGUST 2021

Time Height

3:51 AM 9:11 AM 2:54 PM 9:58 PM 10Tu 4:20 AM 9:53 AM 3:39 PM 10:34 PM 11W 4:49 AM 10:37 AM 4:26 PM 11:11 PM 12Th 5:19 AM 11:23 AM 5:18 PM 11:48 PM 13F 5:51 AM 12:13 PM 6:14 PM 14Sa 12:26 AM 6:26 AM 1:07 PM 7:16 PM 15Su 1:07 AM 7:07 AM 2:12 PM 8:32 PM 16M 1:55 AM 7:55 AM 3:28 PM 10:08 PM

3.4 1.7 4.3 0.1 3.5 1.5 4.3 0.2 3.6 1.3 4.2 0.4 3.7 1.1 4.0 0.6 3.9 0.9 3.8 1.0 4.0 0.7 3.5 1.4 4.1 0.7 3.1 1.8 4.1 0.5 3.0

KINGS BAY

High Tide -20 min Low Tide 58 min

High Tide 2 hrs, 20 min Low Tide 3 hrs, 7 min

CRYSTAL RIVER

WITHLACOOCHEE ENT

High Tide 36 min Low Tide 1 hr, 30 min

High Tide 7 min Low Tide 55 min

CEDAR KEY

Time Height

17Tu

18W 19Th

20F

21Sa

22Su

23M

24Tu

2:58 AM 8:57 AM 4:46 PM 11:40 PM 4:12 AM 10:07 AM 5:59 PM 12:55 AM 5:25 AM 11:17 AM 7:03 PM 1:49 AM 6:32 AM 12:22 PM 7:56 PM 2:29 AM 7:32 AM 1:22 PM 8:40 PM 3:04 AM 8:23 AM 2:15 PM 9:19 PM 3:34 AM 9:09 AM 3:03 PM 9:54 PM 4:03 AM 9:52 AM 3:48 PM 10:26 PM

2.1 4.2 0.4 3.0 2.3 4.2 0.2 3.1 2.2 4.3 0.0 3.3 2.1 4.4 0.0 3.4 1.8 4.4 0.0 3.5 1.6 4.4 0.2 3.6 1.3 4.4 0.4 3.6 1.1 4.2 0.6

Time Height

25W 4:30 AM 10:33 AM 4:31 PM 10:56 PM 26Th 4:57 AM 11:14 AM 5:15 PM 11:25 PM 27F 5:24 AM 11:56 AM 6:01 PM 11:55 PM 28Sa 5:54 AM 12:38 PM 6:49 PM 29Su 12:26 AM 6:26 AM 1:26 PM 7:45 PM 30M 1:01 AM 7:04 AM 2:26 PM 9:01 PM 31Tu 1:47 AM 7:53 AM 3:39 PM 10:31 PM

3.7 1.0 4.0 0.9 3.8 0.9 3.8 1.1 3.9 0.9 3.6 1.3 3.9 0.9 3.3 1.6 3.9 0.9 3.0 1.9 3.9 1.0 2.9 2.1 3.8 1.0 2.8

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

AUGUST 2021

INGREDIENTS

Carefully wash mushrooms. Remove • 1 Tbsp Olive Oil stems (set them aside). Scrape out and • 4 Large Portabella discard the gills. Cut off and discard the Mushrooms very end and any “woody” part of the • 2 fresh artichoke hearts or stems. Finely mince the remaining soft frozen, minced part of the stems. • 1 Small Onion finely In a large skillet, combine oil, minced chopped stems, minced artichoke hearts, onion • 3 Garlic Cloves minced and parsley. Cook over medium heat, • Handful of Parsley Leaves stirring frequently, until onions are • 12 Jumbo Extra-Large translucent and moisture in pan has Shrimp shelled, deveined cooked off. Add garlic and cook for a and butterflied couple minutes, stirring constantly. • 4 Ounces Soft Cream Stir in cream cheese and about half of Cheese the Parmesan. Stir until well combined. • 1 cup Shredded Parmesan Add a little milk or cream if too thick. Cheese Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a • Salt and Pepper baking sheet with foil or parchment • Milk or Cream paper. • 1 cup Panko Crumbs Arrange mushrooms on baking sheet • 4 tbsp. melted butter and place three butterflied shrimp on each mushroom. Sprinkle shrimp with salt and pepper. Spoon cream cheese mixture over shrimp. In small bowl, combine Panko, remaining Parmesan and melted butter and spoon over the cream cheese mixture. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until cheese is melty, and tops are golden. If you like, garnish with more minced parsley, and serve immediately. I used fresh artichoke hearts. I cooked the artichokes, and we “ate” the leaves the night before. The heart is the little gray rubbery part left when you pull off all the leaves. If mushrooms aren’t your thing, you can substitute a boneless, skinless chicken breast, pounded thin. You can also substitute your recently caught bay scallops for the shrimp. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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FLORIDA WATERWAYS Orange Lake

hile visiting a friend of mine, James “Jim” Stephens, at his home in Cross Creek, Florida, I suggested to him that we co-author a book about the nearby large body of water, Orange Lake, and he agreed. We then interviewed residents around the lake, attended meetings with staff of the St. Johns River Water Management District, looked up archival By Kevin McCarthy reports, and then boated all around the lake in my friend’s airboat. Florida, the country’s 22nd largest state, has three million acres of lake. 7,700 of those lakes are greater than ten acres in size. One-fifth of the state, in fact, is water. Orange Lake, at around 12,500 acres is the ninth largest lake in Florida. Located in both Alachua and Marion counties and right next to Cross Creek, the lake is in the Ocklawaha River watershed. The maximum depth of the lake under normal conditions is about twelve feet, but the average/mean depth is about 5.5 feet. A major problem with the lake is the overabundance of weeds and hydrilla, which choke off much of the northern part of the lake. Airboats are therefore essential for those who want to go through the hydrilla, but fishermen in open water can usually be found on clear days. Native Americans lived in the area, as evidenced by sites dug by archaeologists near the River Styx, which flows into the lake. Those early settlers probably used canoes to get around the body of water. When a severe drought in the spring of 2000 lowered lake levels in North Central Florida, explorers found the decayed remains of over one hundred dugout canoes at the bottom of Newnans

Lake near Gainesville and north of Orange Lake. One wonders if the muck at the bottom of Orange Lake has a similar trove of ancient canoes. Our Orange Lake book What sets the lake apart from other Florida bodies of water is the presence of floating islands, large tussocks of grass and water plants that mix together to form islands that can be big enough to have trees growing there and even deer and other animals living on them. Author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, who wrote Cross Creek and The Yearling, fished and hunted for ducks on the lake, which was very close to her Cross Creek house. A neighbor once gave her a duck-shooting trip on Orange Lake as a Christmas present, something that she said was better than what any millionaire could give her. Final note: if boating or fishing on the lake, be sure to take along your cell phone, which should be able to work anyplace on the lake. If your boat breaks down, as ours did in the weeds, a call to the sheriff ’s department will result in a rescue by deputies. All in all, Orange Lake is a peaceful body of water that boaters and fishermen have enjoyed for decades. Kevin McCarthy, the co-author of Orange Lake, Florida: An Illustrated History (2021 available at amazon.com), can be reached at ceyhankevin@gmail.com.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

AUGUST 2021

A boat on the lake

in 1959

A deer near the lak

Using an airboat on the lake

A floating island in

the lake

Rescue by sheriff's deputies

NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 3

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4 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST

AUGUST 2021

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

CRYSTAL RIVER

ello from Crystal River. I hope everyone is enjoying the summer and getting out on the water. The fishing has been really good here, especially the redfish. August is my favorite time of the year here on the Nature Coast. When targeting reds this time of year, I try to get an early start, usually before sunrise. It’s cooler, and the fish are ready to feed. You have to plan it with the tides and moon phases. When targeting them, live pinfish are my go-to, followed by shrimp and fresh cut mullet. Like always, look for the mullet schools, and you should have no problem landing some nice reds. The snook bite has been pretty good also. While targeting them, I use live pinfish, and at a minimum, 40 lb. leader. The snook usually are in the same areas as the reds. If you stay a good distance from them, and make a long cast, you will have a good chance of hooking up. Scalloping is also in full swing and has been great this year. The scalloping guides have been doing really well, and this year is the best it’s been in a few years. Until next month.

Capt. James Kerr 352-362-6893 Citrusfishingchaters.com

CENTRAL FLORIDA INLAND

orest Anglers, as most of you know, Mother Nature has been ahead of schedule this go around. In February, when the bass spawn would usually just be starting, most of our lakes were already finished with it. Now that August is here, instead of catching mainly smaller skinny bass, you can look forward to thicker chunky bass when you set your hook. Another plus we have going for us, is that water levels are super high, so all the prairies and little canals are prime spots to target. When areas fill quickly, like we've just seen happen, minnows will move in and follow the shoreline. Where there are minnows, you know that gamefish will be nearby. For me, when I see everywhere filling up, I instantly start thinking about all my Secret Spots that either weren't accessible before, or weren't worth the effort. Nows is the time to take advantage. Think about all the inaccessible areas you haven't been fishing; make a list, and start marking them off one by one. I prefer not to hit the same spot twice in a row. That way you give the fish time to return to prime. Obviously, now is storm season, so ALWAYS be prepared with a rain suit, and if you don't have a bilge pump in your vessel, at least bring something you can bail out the water. Hurricanes are, by far, not the only threatening condition we have out here. The pop-up storms can be (and often are) just as bad,

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

AUGUST 2021

if not worse, than most hurricanes. Just because weather forecasters say a system is going to miss us, don't take that chance unless you're 100% prepared for the unexpected. Let's be honest, they haven't been the most accurate lately. Other than that, get your butts out on the water. August is absolutely my favorite time of the year to fish, no matter what species I'm after. John Freeze Kayak Fishing and Nature Tours OurNationalForrest@gmail.com 352-216-5798

NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 5

CEDAR KEY

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AUGUST 2021

ey everybody, I hope y'all’s summer is kicking butt! We are having so much fun this year. We started running scalloping trips out of Steinhatchee and it has been an absolute blast! It doesn't seem to matter which way you run; they are plentiful. Some spots are slightly better than others, but only people on my boat get to know those areas. Fishing in Cedar Key has also been fantastic; we have more snook now than we have ever had, and my clients and I couldn't be happier when we hook into one of them. I pretty much fish for snook the same way I fish for reds. A little bit of cut bait seems to work wonders, but so does a gold spoon, hint-hint, wink-wink. Well y'all, until next month, stay safe out there! Capt. Jason Clark In The Slot Fishing Charters 352-639-3209 www.intheslotfishing.com

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HORSESHOE BEACH

BAIT & TACKLE

ello from Horseshoe Beach to all you guys and gals. Hope everyone made it through the storm just fine. Horseshoe Beach definitely saw the worst of it, but definitely could have been worse. Now for your August fishing report. I know it’s a fishing report, but I’m going to have to start with scallops. Horseshoe has had one of the better years for scallops that I’ve seen. They started off small, however they now are finally getting some size to them. You can find them in their usual range of 3 to 4 feet, depending on the tide. To make your scalloping experience that much better, try to plan for a good sunny day and not after a lot of thunderstorms which tend to murk up the water. There’s nothing

better than starting your morning off fishing, getting hot, and then taking a dip to find scallops! The fishing bite has slowed down tremendously, and we have mainly been targeting redfish with cut bait. If you want to throw artificial, definitely throw something with some flash, because this time of the year, the water tends to get very cloudy. Give yourself some time to find bait early morning when preparing for the trip. Sometimes the mullet are thick, and sometimes you have to throw your cast net a dozen times for two or three. For that reason, I like to throw an 8-foot cast net with a 3/8s mesh Just give us a call if you want us to help you with your next scalloping and fishing adventure. We generally stay booked out two weeks, but don’t hesitate to call for availability or any questions. Until next time, keep it Reel Native! Captain Brent Woodard Reel Native Fishing Charters ReelNativeFishing.com 352-284-5514

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AUGUST 2021

NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 7

8 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST

AUGUST 2021

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

SUWANNEE

Rhonda, from Warner Robins, GA caught this huge blackdrum!

he month of August is officially the last month of summer, but here in the South, we know our summer will last well into September, maybe even October! On the flats, the speckled trout will be in their last spawning cycle of the year. While the trout do not have a calendar, they do have the ability to sense the change in how many hours a day it is light, vs dark. This is known as the photoperiod, and its Mother Nature’s clock and calendar all rolled into one! So, even though the water temps are still hot, the trout, and all other fish will know that fall is on the way! (The photoperiod affects most plants and animals) As the trout are completing their spawning activities, they will now be focused on feeding and packing on the fat for the coming winter. This means they will be feeding for longer periods and more often. I have to say, this time of the year, I really like a high tide early in the morning! This is the time of the day when the water temps are the coolest and the fish will most likely be active and feeding. While we are talking about speckled trout, I want to introduce you to a program called Release Over 20. Release Over 20 is an initiative to encourage recreational anglers to voluntarily release all spotted seatrout and southern flounder over 20 inches, in essence, creating an upper-slot for these valuable gamefish – even if the law allows it. https:// eyestrikefishing.com/releaseover20/ You can also find them on FB and Instagram. While you are trout fishing on the flats, there will also be cobia and sharks in the area. If you are looking for some fast and fun action, these are the fish for you! With the sharks, many times measuring over 8 feet long, and with cobia in the 20 to 30-pound range, you will need the right equipment! If you want to catch a shark, then just about any bait will work, but the bloodier the better! More blood = more scent = more sharks = more

Debby with a nice 25-inch trout that was caught and released.

Brothers, Dylan and Aiden with a nice shark.

opportunities! Let’s get this out of the way. SHARKS are DANGEROUS!!! Please if you have never handled a shark, then DON’T! Use plain steel hooks and cut your leader. The redfish will continue to be at the mouths of the creeks, along the grassy shorelines and around the grassy islands on the high tides. I have found that the redfish like to feed on the incoming tide as it pushes the bait into the grass along certain parts of the shore. Always keep an eye on the weather when fishing this time of the year, especially in the afternoon and evening hours. The thunderstorms can blow up quickly and can be dangerous! Remember to seek the nearest safe port if a storm is approaching! 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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t’s ho Here of the b We are “dog da that we guaran so the m to go. W keep in down e see the evenin shore t in reac Nea been st right d 30 feet been an trolling throug only le are app want to on the casting someth I recom Jig in w can fish a slow of the r trick w If you a one of practic your pi the wat Insh consist and the warm ( that the your fa

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t’s hot, the fishing, and the weather! Here in Inglis/ Yankeetown, some of the best fishing is this time of year. We are now in what many consider the “dog days of summer”. With the weather that we’ve been having, you can almost guarantee an afternoon thunderstorm, so the morning and evening is the time to go. While the rain can be frustrating, keep in mind that it cools the water down even more, and we continue to see the best bite in the morning and evening. As always, you should have a shore to shore radio, and a weather app in reach just in case. Nearshore, the gag grouper bite has been steady for anglers who pick the right days and make the run to 20 to 30 feet of water. The floating grass has been an on-going issue for those people trolling for grouper and will continue through scallop season. I would suggest only letting the trolling plug out, as you are approaching the rock or ledge you want to fish, to avoid grass building up on the lure. You could also try getting casting distance and show those fish something they don’t see all the time. I recommend a 1-2 oz. Spro Bucktail Jig in white or chartreuse for this. You can fish a jig many different ways, but a slow steady retrieve with a few pops of the rod tip, always seems to do the trick with grouper or even big snook. If you are fortunate enough to hook one of these big breeder snook, always practice safe handling techniques. Get your picture, and get them right back in the water. Inshore, the redfish bite has been consistent on the outside shell bars and the points. As the water temps stay warm (close to 90 degrees), I’ve found that the best approach is to anchor on your favorite oyster bar, or island, and

toss out a big chuck of cut mullet or ladyfish, and wait! The biggest mistake that you can make in the summer, is thinking that the fish move faster. Just stay put and wait it out. Most of the time, the redfish will sniff that cut bait out. The trout remain deep in the warm water; look for them on the outside shell bars and spoil banks. Captains Cove has a wide selection of jigs and my personal favorite, The Pig Jig in a ¼ oz. chartreuse pattern, rigged with a live shrimp or MirrOlure Little John in Chicken/ Chartreuse. Tight lines and stay safe out there! Capt. ANDREW FAGAN 352-818-8927 Instagram:@redfish_drew EBB Tide Fishing Charters

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t’s sti heat. in the w or leavi advanta for the The typicall fish are Howev be migr to 40-fo keeperaggress the tim pinfish, are gro groupe the fish biggest live bai head. The target m from th will be mango location and get mood. possibl minima

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t’s still toasty out there from the summer heat. Keep cool by spending some time in the water with the family scalloping or leaving the dock early and taking advantage of the morning bite, especially for the inshore species. The grouper action in August is typically good, but the majority of the fish are still offshore a bit - 40 to 60 feet. However, next month the grouper will be migrating to shallower water. The 20 to 40-foot range will start holding more keeper-sized gags, and they will be more aggressive in the coming weeks. Spend the time catching some quality live baits; pinfish, sand perch, porgies and grunts are grouper candy. It is usually said with grouper – “the bigger the bait, the bigger the fish.” Over the last couple of weeks, the biggest gags have definitely preferred big live baits, or soaking a freshly cut grunt head. The full moon of August is the time to target mangrove snapper. Any structure from the shallow rocks, to offshore ledges, will be holding large concentrations of mangos. Once anchored up on your location, spend a little time chumming and getting the snapper in a feeding mood. Use the lightest weight leader possible, and free line a live shrimp with a minimal amount of weight. This is really

fun fishing and you can catch everything from snapper, grunts, grouper, mackerel, flounder, etc. The major moon periods of August bring large schools of red fish, and they will be holding on the outer limestone bottom keys, from Chassahowitzka, to the spoil islands north of Crystal River. This is the time when it’s very possible to catch the largest red fish of the year, and many fish encountered will be in excess of 30 inches. Cut baits such as fresh mullet are always a favorite as well as lady fish. Artificial lures such as soft plastic jerk baits and “walk the dog” type pugs can be very rewarding at sunup “depending on the floating grass” and always watch for mullet activity, and an incoming tide is best. The best bet for the trout bite right now is to head west. The spotty bottom in the 10-foot depth range west of Marker #2, will hold a variety of species. Trout, sea bass, flounder, lady fish, sharks, etc. will keep the rods bent. Lately, the trout have preferred the dragging technique. This consists of casting your jig into the wind, or the opposite side the boat is drifting, and letting the boat drift do the work. This is a summertime technique that is extremely effective. Slow twitches and letting the jig fall slowly is all that’s needed for a proper presentation. DOA shrimp or cal shad tail jigs on a 1/8oz jig head in the holographic root beer and glow colors are my go-to baits. Good Fishing! Capt. Dan Clymer 352.418.2160 www.crystalriver-fishing.com

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KATIE JO’S NATURE COAST ADVENTURES

SURF & PIER

lthough August may be scorching hot, it is usually the start of the hottest fishing of the year! I am specifically talking about the mullet run. Every year, the mullet come flooding out of our rivers and into the surf zone. When they arrive, they hook a right, and begin the long journey to South Florida. This is their annual mating run. The run triggers all of the predators to stack up along the beach. There, they will gorge themselves on mullet. This event makes for fast and exciting fishing, within an easy cast from the beach. The one thing you will need is a cast net. When the run is full on, you will be able to cast net your bait in knee deep water. The size of bait you choose will depend on what fish you are targeting. If you want to keep them alive, you will also need a bucket and possibly an aerator. If all you take is a five-gallon bucket, then put a smaller bucket inside of it. You can use the smaller one to refresh the water often to keep your bait alive. My set up may be over the top, but I always have frisky bait ready to go. A ten-gallon round Igloo water cooler is the base. Inside of it in the bottom, is my six-foot cast net. On top of that is a two-gallon bucket.

ummer is moving along, and the fishing is heating up on Florida's Nature Coast! I personally enjoy fishing in the upcoming months, August and September, as these months are when many of the Inside the bucket is a short handle bigger fish come back inshore from dip net, aerator and hose. Just below spawning, in the deeper water. As the screw on top, I drilled a hole the summer shrimp begin to come, just big enough for the air hose to fit in much smaller numbers and size, through. Then I fastened a bracket using cut bait on a 3/0 circle hook for the aerator to hang from. Voila, seems to do the trick. One of my gofresh bait by keeping it cool, aerated to baits is a large chunk of ladyfish and fresh water often as possible. measuring around 4 to5 inches Size your leader and hook for in length. Cut mullet is always a what you want to catch. i.e. trout, good option to use, should ladyfish jacks and flounder, 30lb mono not be available. I typically cut the leader and 2/0 hook. Bluefish and chunks large enough so that the Spanish, 3/0 hook and some light summertime catfish are not able to steel leader. Tarpon and redfish, 60lb mono leader and a 6/0 hook. For sharks I use a 10/0 hook and 480 lb. cable. Also, size your bait accordingly. From a three inch to twelve-inch mullet, hooked live or fresh chunks of fresh cut up, you cannot go wrong with so many predators in the surf! Many years the mullet run lasts all the way until early October. Get out and enjoy the fast action while they are here! See you on the beach.

eat them. Schooling redfish begin to get really hungry during this time of the year, and when they are eating, they will eat just about anything thrown at them. Early morning, and late afternoon and evening fishing are better options, than in the middle of the day. Just be cautious of the afternoon thunderstorms. Double and triple hookups are very common in late summer, so when one eats the bait, throw right in that same general area, and be prepared to reel the next one in. Capt. Katie Jo Davis www.fishcrystalriverflorida.com 772-882-8932

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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KEATON BEACH

Debbie Bartow of Dallus, Ga. with a great trout 6/26/21

hew! Did we ever dodge a bullet with Elsa? Yes, only a 1/2 inch of rain here at Keaton, and less than 30 mph winds with no surge, unbelievable. She left us more floating grass to contend with, and moved a lot of tannic stain (that accumulated from the 14 plus inches of rain we had in the nine days previous) on the back side push of wind, but overall didn’t affect our fishing much at all. We have had some awfully slick days of late, on which are hard to produce limits of trout, while on days with some w-i-n-d, we have caught good fish. Expect high water temps and slick conditions in August to hamper trout activity, but adjust your efforts to only fishing the days with over three feet of range of tide and you should have good success. It is all about oxygen, and that translates to current from the tide. I prefer the incoming, as the water coming in from offshore is cooler, and thus more oxygenated; 5 to 6-foot depths have produced trout on board One More Cast with live pinfish rigged under Back Bay Thunders, taking the majority of our fish. We caught trout bouncing Assassin’s Sea Shads, 5-inch Shads and some on the 3.5 inch Die Dappers in June, and I will be throwing those same baits in August. Pink Ghost, Green Moon, Northern Minnow and Stinky Pink have been the best colors for me this

Ben Baker of Ellenston, Ga. loaded for Bear and holding a trout 6/18/21

summer. We have caught some nice slot reds mixed in with our trout in 5 to 6.5-foot depths, as most of our redfish have abandoned the creeks and shallow rock piles, and are eating with the trout out in deeper cooler water. Jack Minchey from Eatonton, Ga. had a 32-inch red in 6 feet of water July 10th. Scallopers continue to pry waters south of Keaton and are finding the larger scallops in 6 to 9 feet of water. 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

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AUGUST 2021

TALES FROM THE TUPPERWARE NAVY

elcome back Yak fans. This month, the story is about the art of fishing backwards! As some of you know, I have a favorite spot I always head to at high tide, and it's called home! But due to circumstances (a trip to Ozello got cancelled) I had everything loaded and nowhere to go, so I went fishing! I suppose an explanation is in order as to why I don't like high tide fishing. The area I was fishing is about 20 miles of salt marsh and flats, and as the tide comes up, the fish move in, making them way harder to find. Whereas on the outgoing tide, I set up and let them come to me. The day called for a midmorning high tide at about 3 feet, but it went way beyond that! If you've ever fished the marsh and grass flats, then you know that your buddies can be on the other side of the grass line, and you can hear them but not see them. That wasn't the problem on this day. The water was within inches of the top of the grass. I could see the other kayak nearly a quarter mile away; there was that much water. So, I figured if the fish move in, so will I, and we worked our way back in further then I have in years. The little foot-wide creeks, were now three to four feet deep. It was awesome. The deeper we paddled, the more movement we saw. We were getting back into the actual tree line places you can only paddle to a very few times a year. To give

you an idea, you know how the snails will work up the grass to stay out of the water? At the high end of the tide, we were so far back in that the critters at the top of the grass we're grasshoppers. As we got all the way back to the forest tree line, I asked my buddy, “When we're this far back, do we need a fishing license or a hunting license?” We turned at the tree line, and I immediately caught a couple of nice black drum and then ran into a school of big reds. This is why I call it fishing backwards. We were so far in that the fish following the high tide, were coming to us. I'm not going to change my habits or my preferences for an outgoing tide, but it was interesting to be able to paddle around a half a mile back in from the outer Mangrove line. By the end of the day, we had landed some nice reds and then we saw some big snook, but they didn't want to play that day. The other benefit of fishing a super high tide is that you can explore your favorite marsh area and pick up details for later trips, I learned a lot, just being able to see over the salt grass, so give it a try. Hope to see you out there, and to my Tampa Bay readers, “Come on up; our water is fine.” Till next time, Bruce Bruce Butler | "Stumbling Gypsy" (352) 428-5347 Bruce@IndianBayOutfitters.com Web: www.IndianBayOutfitters.com

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t’s hot. The bass are transitioning, and the fishing can be very fun if you can locate them. Generally, summer bass are chasing baitfish. This can group fish up and make them eager to eat easy meals off the surface. Whether you’re throwing a walking bait, a buzzbait or even a popper, topwater lures can do some extreme damage in the heat of summer. When targeting fish chasing bait near shallow water, I like a popper-style bait or a bait that kicks up water, like a buzzbait or a Whopper Plopper. Bank dwellers usually chase bluegill and shad. They can be very aggressive and fun to target. Always keep your eyes peeled for movement and baitfish activity when you’re working down the bank. Bass won’t be far from this activity. Often times in the summer, fish group up near deeper water to harass large schools of baitfish. The baitfish will be different from lake to lake and region to region, but the patterns will be similar. Focus on points and humps, where the fish can push and ambush bait. These deeper fish tend to show themselves, and you’ll sometimes see them schooling on top or chasing bait near the surface. Keep your eyes and ears open

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Topwater Gear When targeting fish chasing bait near the shallows with a popper or a buzzbait, I like a shorter rod for more accurate casts. I use a 13 fishing 7’ 1” MH Omen Black casting rod paired with an 8:3:1Concept A reel spooled up with 20-pound monofilament or 40-pound braided line. When chasing schooling fish in deeper water, I like a longer rod for longer casts. I use a 13 Fishing 7’ 5” Omen Black casting rod paired up with an 8:3:1 Concept A reel spooled with 30-pound Seaguar Smackdown braid. The braid and the long rod pair up to allow long casts to get the bait in the strike zone when fish come up schooling far from the boat. The fast gear ratio reel is important in both the shallow and deep scenarios. They allow you to get your bait back to the boat quickly if you need to make a different cast when the moment presents itself. Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.

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urf Expo is a lot more than surf. As the largest and longest-running watersports and beach lifestyle tradeshow in the world, the show is about watersports; it’s about boating; it’s about everything that has to do with the coastal lifestyle. Surf Expo’s “Bluewater” category caters to the fishing lifestyle that is an inherent part of the “waterman” lifestyle of today’s watersports enthusiast who lives on, in and for the water or just aspires to the lifestyle. Surf Expo caters to all things water, from surfing, to fishing, and paddling on a SUP, kayak or canoe, or just a day at the beach or on the lake. For apparel and accessory brands and manufacturers, Surf Expo is the ideal place to promote products to a new audience of buyers searching for products to cater to the “waterman” customer. AFTCO’s Chairman and CEO Bill Shedd said, “We’ve been coming to Surf Expo since the beginning, and we were one of the first to be in the Bluewater section—where we’ve found a new home. There’s a whole lifestyle around saltwater, offshore and big game fishing that’s bled off into inshore fishing and more of an outdoor activity in the broader outdoor world. AFTCO fits into that.” For buyers, it’s the ideal way to conveniently shop top fishing apparel and accessory brands and source from the show’s 10 other water-related categories to fill shelves with everything from sunglasses and sunscreen to towels, footwear and sportswear. Tackle dealers who don’t take advantage of the crossover between fishing and the overall watersports lifestyle are missing out on a powerful revenue stream. Owner of Sarasota fishing and boating landmark CB’s Saltwater Outfitters, Aledia Tush said, “We’ve been attending Surf Expo for many years. We’re always looking for new products, T-shirts, sportswear, suntan products, towels, sandals, shoes and sunglasses. Being a Florida retailer, Surf Expo is a show not to be missed!” Brands you’ll find in Bluewater at Surf Expo include AFTCO, Deep Blue Gear, Fish Hippie, Habit Outdoors, Jeep by Buck Wear, John Boy Brand, MANG Gear, Marsh Wear Clothing, Reel Life, Reelhead, Salt Life, The Qualified Captain, Unsalted Coast and WTF-What The Fin. Other core brands to be found across the show include Costa, YETI, Salty Crew, Avid Gear, Hook & Tackle, Reel Skipper, Beach and Barn, Bimini Bay Outfitters, Unsalted Coast, Skinny Water Culture and many, many more. Surf Expo’s upcoming show stages September 9-11 at the Orange County Convention Center’s West Concourse in Orlando, Fla. Registration is free for qualified retailers, at surfexpo.com or contact steven.fisher@surfexpo.com.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

SEPTEMBER 9-11, 2021 ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER WEST CONCOURSE ORLANDO, FL

Shop ﬁshing & marine apparel and accessories at Surf Expo.

SEE BRANDS INCLUDING:

AFTCO Avid Gear Beach and Barn Bimini Bay Outﬁtters Blue Planet Eco-Eyewear Cablz CHUMS Corkcicle Costa Dakine

Deep Blue Gear Fish Hippie Flyvines Geckobrands Grip 6 Guy Harvey Habit Outdoors Hook & Tackle ICEMULE Coolers I-SEA Sunglasses Jeep by Buck Wear

WATERSPORTS Surf • Wake • Bluewater • Paddle • Wind • Skate COASTAL LIFE Swim • Boutique • Resort • Coastal Gift • Footwear

Salt Life

Local Boy Outﬁtters MAKAI Hat Co.

Sandbar

MANG

Salty Crew

Marsh Wear

Skinny Water Culture

Mustang Survival

Sun Bum

O’Neill

The Qualiﬁed Captain

Reelhead

Unsalted Coast

Reelskinz

Wave Life

Reel Skipper

What The Fin

Rheos Nautical

YETI

Learn more about Bluewater at Surf Expo

A Trade-only event. Qualified Retailers Attend for Free A Trade-only event. Qualified Retailers Attend for Free | R E G I S T E R A T S U R F E X P O . C O M

AUGUST 2021

NATIONAL 17

CAMP FOR TROUT DEEP IN THE SMOKIES By Nick Carter

hen the boat dropped us off Friday morning, it was with an understanding someone would return for us Sunday afternoon. We debarked into two nights and three days of camping and trout fishing deep in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With no cell service or road access for miles in any direction, we were about as disconnected as you can get in this part of the world. It was a glorious feeling. Actually, one of our guides, Jake Tallent, of Fish Tales Outfitters in Franklin, N.C., had a satellite phone/EPIRB “for emergencies.” Around the campfire one night, he admitted using it to text his girlfriend. Guess the whole out-of-touch and roughing-it fantasy is a little outdated these days. We weren’t really roughing it much at all. Tallent and our other guide, Nick Potts, rolled cartloads of gear up the trail to our campsite near the mouth of Hazel Creek. Three other clients and I sat in camp chairs and got to know each other while the guides set up camp. That set the mood for the weekend. The camping was comfortable, everything was provided for. All we were expected to do was fish hard, enjoy ourselves and return to hot meals around a campfire each evening. Hazel Creek flows through high mountains on the north shore of

North Carolina’s Lake Fontana. Road access to the north shore was completely cut off in the 1940s, when TVA flooded this impoundment of the Little Tennessee River. Abandoned, the communities that existed there returned to the forest. In three-quarters of a century since, it has become one of the most beautiful and historically intriguing areas of the Smokies. The best access is by boat across the lake. Proctor, N.C. is the ghost town on Hazel Creek. The town’s main drag, Calico Street, is now the gravel trail that parallels the creek for 15 miles up into the hills. Ruins of Proctor are hidden everywhere in the creek and up steep wooded hillsides. Tallent regaled us with history as we passed landmarks hiking upstream in search of good trout water each day. The creek itself is on the large side of typical for the park. It is cold and clear with a relatively flat gradient that makes for easy streamside hiking. A mix of boulder-strewn stretches and bedrock shoals create interesting holding water. There are also some deep, dark pools. Hazel Creek is loaded with beautiful 7- to 12-inch stream-born rainbow trout. There are also some big browns lurking in the deep holes. Over three days of fishing, we caught good numbers of fish with simple dry-dropper rigs on 3- and 4-weight fly rods. There’s nothing more fun than wading up a mountain stream to toy with wild trout that are eager to jump on a dry fly. Hazel Creek is a gorgeous place to do it. For a guided backcountry trip into the Great Smoky Mountains, check out Fish Tales Outfitters at www.fishtaleswnc.com.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

AUGUST 2021

NATIONAL 19

Re-Discover Old Florida

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The Perfect Vacation Getaway for Fishing, Boating & Outdoor Enthusiasts

E-Z ANCHOR PULLER BOWSPRITS

idely used anchoring accessories such as hawse pipes, bowsprits, guide rollers and more have been added to E-Z Anchor Puller’s catalog. They are manufactured specifically to accommodate the Hero, Patriot and Rebel drum anchor winches. Included in this catalog are straight and swivel bowsprits:

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Kingfish Lodge includes a wide screen TV and bar for small gatherings Sailfish House features a wide covered wrap-around porch for larger groups Boat Trailer Parking on site w/ Water and Power 250 Foot Dock w/ Covered Area FREE Ice / FREE Guest Dockage TRAVEL Cable TV, Hi-Speed Internet Cover Your Vacation 2 miles to the Ft. Pierce Inlet with Travel Insurance 12 miles to the Gulf Stream Laundry, BBQ Grilles and FREE use of our Kayaks P R O T E C T I O N

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All accommodations are completely cleaned and sanitized prior to guest arrival 20 NATIONAL

AUGUST 2021

This fixed 316 stainless steel bowsprit features a self-launching design to ensure your anchor always drops. Universal mounting holes make it easy to install yourself with just a few bolts. If you’re looking for a self-launching bowsprit that not only looks great but performs flawlessly every time, you can’t go past the Swivel Arm Bowsprit! Designed to be adaptable to most boats, marine grade 316 stainless steel and a self-launching design ensure your anchor always drops and self rights the anchor on retrieval. The large is perfect for any vessel up to 45’ / 15m while the small suits boats up to 27’ / 9m.

THE STRAIGHT BOWSPRIT The Straight Bowsprit is a fixed 316 stainless steel bowsprit featuring a fixed design with angled rollers that ensure almost every anchor drops freely. Universal mounting holes make it easy to install yourself with just a few bolts. If you’re looking for a timeless, reliable bowsprit for your boat, you can’t go past the Straight Bowsprit. Marine-grade 316 stainless steel and a fixed design with angled rollers help self right the anchor on retrieving. It is designed to be adapted to most boats. The large is perfect for any vessel up to 45’ / 15m while the small suits boats up to 27’ / 9m. “For a while, we’ve identified ourselves as the drum anchor winch experts. But really, having dealt with various consultations and unique boating experiences over the years, we’ve really become boat anchoring experts along the way,” said Sara Hitchins, Trade Show and Office Manager, of the expanded inventory. She said it only made sense to begin selling all components of boat-anchoring configurations. E-Z Anchor Puller will attend the in-person IBEX show in late September, Booth 3-2130. The “Trade Only” Tampa-based event caters to marine industry professionals and is “dedicated to advancing the business of boating.” E-Z Anchor Puller Mfg. Co. will showcase their winch series along with other products in its expanded catalog. Customers can call 1.800.800.1640 to place EZANCHORPULLER.COM their order.

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NATIONAL 23

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