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Why Are Dealers Hoarding These 100-Year-Old U.S. Silver Dollars?
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hen it comes to collecting, few coins are as coveted as the first and last of a series. And when big anniversaries for those “firsts” and “lasts” come around, these coins become even more coveted. Take, for example, the 1921 Morgan Silver Dollars. These 90% pure silver coins were the last of their kind, a special one-year-only resurrection of the classic Wild West Silver Dollar. Three years prior, the Pittman Act authorized the melting of more than 270 million Morgan Silver Dollars so their silver could be sold to our allies in the United Kingdom. Facing our own Silver Dollar shortage, the world’s favorite vintage U.S. Silver Dollar was brought back for one year only while the U.S. Mint worked on its successor, the Peace Silver Dollar.
Dealers Begin Stockpiling Last-Year Morgans
Knowing what we’ve told you about special anniversaries, dealers around the country are preparing for a surge in demand. 2021 will mark the 100th anniversary of the 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar—the last-yearof-issue for the most popular vintage U.S. Silver Dollar ever minted. But slow-moving collectors may be disappointed in what they find when they seek out these coins. Since the days of the Pittman Act, millions more U.S. Silver Dollars have been melted or worn down in commerce. It’s been estimated that as few as 15% of all the Morgan Dollars ever minted have survived to the present day. That number grows smaller each year, with private hoards now accounting for virtually all the surviving Morgan Silver Dollars. And that was before silver values started to rise...
Interest in Silver Is on the Rise
19 19 19 19 19 19 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 LY G T T V C N B R R Y E LY G JU AU SEP OC NO DE JA FE MA AP MA JUN JU AU
Silver Trend Chart: Prices based on monthly averages. ©2020, AMS
As you can see from the chart on the left, in 2020, we’ve seen daily silver prices close as low as $12.01 per ounce and as high as $28.33 per ounce. That rise in value has led to a sharp increase in buyers’ interest in silver. We’re already seeing a surge of interest from collectors wanting to add vintage Morgan Silver Dollars to their collections. But at what price?
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With this special offer, you can secure a lastyear 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar ahead of the rush in About Uncirculated (AU) condition for just $39.95! Mint marks vary. These vintage U.S. Silver Dollars allow you to hold 100 years of American history in the palm of your hand. But only if you secure yours before our limited supply of 1921 Morgan Silver Dollars lasts in our vault. Don’t wait—call 1-800-973-9208 and use the offer code below to secure your 100-year-old Morgan Silver Dollars NOW!
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GovMint.com • 14101 Southcross Dr. W., Suite 175, Dept. MCD241-01, Burnsville, MN 55337 GovMint.com® is a retail distributor of coin and currency issues and is not affiliated with the U.S. government. The collectible coin market is unregulated, highly speculative and involves risk. GovMint.com reserves the right to decline to consummate any sale, within its discretion, including due to pricing errors. Prices, facts, figures and populations deemed accurate as of the date of publication but may change significantly over time. All purchases are expressly conditioned upon your acceptance of GovMint.com’s Terms and Conditions (www.govmint.com/terms-conditions or call 1-800-721-0320); to decline, return your purchase pursuant to GovMint.com’s Return Policy. © 2020 GovMint.com. All rights reserved.
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ust like a good wristwatch movement, fashion is cyclical. And there’s a certain wristwatch trend that was huge in the 1960s and then again in the 1980s, and is ready for its third time in the spotlight. We’re talking, of course, about the flexible stretch watch band. To purchase a vintage 60s or 80s classic flex watch would stretch anyone’s budget, but you can get ahead of the crowd and secure a brand new version for a much lower price. We’re rolling back the years AND the numbers by pricing the Stauer Flex like this, so you can put some bend in your band without making a dent in your wallet. The Stauer Flex combines 1960s vintage cool with 1980s boardroom style. The stainless steel flex band ensures minimal fuss and the sleek midnight blue face keeps you on track with date and day subdials. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Experience the Stauer Flex for 30 days. If you’re not convinced you got excellence for less, send it back for a refund of the item price. Your satisfaction is our top priority. Time is running out. As our top selling watch, we can’t guarantee the Flex will stick around long. Don’t overpay to be êêêêê underwhelmed. “The quality of their watches Flex your is equal to many that can go right to put for ten times the price or more.” a precision — Jeff from McKinney, TX timepiece on your wrist for just $79. Call today!
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Find & Catch Deep Winter Flounder
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Marine Outfitter of Choice Since 1938
By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
D
PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES
o all flounder migrate offshore during the winter? I can’t be certain, but I have caught them in every month of the year. Those latewinter catches may have been flounder that never left, or they might be some that returned early. But one thing is for sure, during cold weather is when I have caught my largest flounder. Let it be known that I am a lure fisherman at heart, but if you want to consistently target the largest flounder this time of year, live and dead bait rule supreme. A large mullet or shad in the 6-inch range is ideal. Any type of fishfinder rig will suffice with the appropriate weight for the depth of water and strength of current you are fishing. You just need enough weight to keep your bait in contact with the bottom, where flounder live. The method I use for flounder catching is to keep the bait in constant contact with the bottom. Pointing the rod tip toward the water and utilizing a sweeping motion, I twitch my rod, kicking up mud and sand to create a trail of dust that attracts fish. This way I can cover some water in search of a hungry doormat. Once I feel the first tap from the flounder, I pause. I wait patiently for the second and usually a quick third tap. Then I give it a solid hook-set! Flounder will hold on to a bait longer than most inshore species, and they don’t always engulf it all at once. I feel they want to injure their meal before swallowing it, which is why it pays to be patient and wait until they’ve got the hook in their mouth before driving the point home. The best area to target the largest of the species is near structure, specifically bulkheads. Flounder like to bed down next to seawalls, where baitfish have fewer angles of escape. Other structure like rock jetties are also great areas to try. On an outgoing tide, I target drain openings where high tide flows out of the marshes. These drains can be small, 1 to 2 feet of width is all it takes. As long as the marsh behind the drain has enough water to hold bait, it’s perfect. Flounder will stage at the opening of a large drain as well, but no drain is too small, and I feel the smaller ones can easily be dismissed and easily missed. One final note is on tide direction and strength. During a strong outgoing tide, flounder use the tide as easy transportation to open water and focus more on swimming than feeding. I tend to avoid the strong outgoing tide when targeting migrating flounder. Be safe, stay warm, and get out there to catch the largest flounder of your life.
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Follow Us @DefenderMarine FEBRUARY 2021
NATIONAL 7 1/4/21 12:18 PM
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KAYAKING FOR
A DAY OF DOUBLES By Brian Nelli
I
n offshore kayak fishing, many of the milestones we pursue come in the form of knocking off “bucket list” fish. Sailfish is at the top of that list for a lot of anglers in South Florida. The sailfish is a great achievement, but there is one fish that many either write off as improbable or just a dream. That fish is the wahoo. One of the fastest fish in the ocean, it bounces around in kayak anglers’ heads with the question of could today be the day. I’ve been a South Florida kayak fishing guide since 2010. Here, where the currents of the Gulf Stream swing so close to coast, it is possible to launch a kayak from the beach in pursuit of offshore species. I have been fortunate to assist clients in catching multiple wahoo over the years. To give an idea of how special this is, my best year for wahoo saw just six of these speedy fish landed in 150 offshore kayak trips. Now what do you think the chances are of catching two in one trip? How about two at the same time? That is where our story begins. Two days after the December new moon phase, winds were light and the ocean was flat calm. My two clients and I were running live goggle eyes on 60-pound wire stinger rigs tied to 40-pound Yozuri Hybrid Line. We were geared with Shimano Spheros 10k reels paired with Crowder Rods E-Namic 6’6” 15- to 40-pound rods. At dawn, we headed roughly a mile from shore and started slow trolling. All hell broke loose within the first hour. It was a double hook-up on sailfish! The fish pulled my two clients in opposite directions. After screaming directions and running back and forth to each angler, we managed to secure both fish for a great photo before release. That sailfish double already made it a great day, but there was more to come.
8 NATIONAL
FEBRUARY 2021
We regrouped and got baits back out in search of another bite. At about 11 a.m., we approached a slight rip line near 150 feet of water. There was very little current and next to no surface action for most of the day, so we slowed down to stick in the rip area. Ten minutes in, I noticed one rod bounce hard and then take off. It was a good high-speed run and then line went slack. I screamed to keep reeling no matter what, as this is typical for a wahoo strike. Sure enough, the fish came tight again for another run to the bottom. As I yelled to one angler, the other client’s rod started bouncing. He reeled down, and there was head thrashing on surface. The fish circled the yak twice, and I
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gaffed the 29-pound wahoo within minutes. Once we got that one, I knew by its behavior the first fish was going to be a wahoo, as well. I was excited and shaking. I’ve been hunting a double wahoo for a decade or more. Ten minutes later, with that first fish safely in-hand, I let out a scream heard round the world, “We did it! DOUBLE WAHOO!” Brian Nelli operates Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters offering inshore and offshore kayak fishing trips out of South Florida. Contact him at Brian@tckayakfishing.com and check out his website at www.tckayakfishing.com.
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he very best hunting knives possess a perfect balance of form and function. They’re carefully constructed from fine materials, but also have that little something extra to connect the owner with nature. If you’re on the hunt for a knife that combines impeccable craftsmanship with a sense of wonder, the $79 Huntsman Blade is the trophy you’re looking for. The blade is full tang, meaning it doesn’t stop at the handle but extends to the length of the grip for the ultimate in strength. The blade is made from 420 surgical steel, famed for its sharpness and its resistance to corrosion. The handle is made from genuine natural bone, and features decorative wood spacers and a hand-carved motif of two overlapping feathers— a reminder for you to respect and connect with the natural world. 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 Huntsman Blade. 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 Huntsman Blades for this ad only. Don’t let this BONUS! Call today and beauty slip through your fingers. Call today! you’ll also receive this
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earlier, the biggest trout caught during February and March will eat crappie-sized jigs… so, there goes that theory. For the most part, though, I like bigger shrimp to eliminate as many of the dink trout bites as possible, but even the dinks will give the biggest shrimp you throw a whack. When you miss a bite, I always say, “don’t Tim Barefoot worry about it, it’s a dink.” Trout always eat a shrimp from behind, so they can fold the shrimp up and swallow it with the horn going forward. his is the time of year when the inshore bite can slow down or get hot as a firecracker, especially for speckled trout. Always. A missed bite usually means the fish didn’t have a mouth large Right now, bait size can make all the difference between enough to “inhale” your shrimp backwards. Another key ingredient stacking ’em up and getting to getting bites in cold water skunked. Live baits are is the speed of the retrieve. really the best bet when This is a perfect situation to things get tough, but for use a sliding cork or a fixedhard-headed anglers—like depth cork. For example: If me—who prefer artificials, you’re in water 6 feet deep it’s important to use smaller and you want to slow the profile baits and slow down bait way down, set the stop the retrieve considerably. at 5 feet and just let the As a matter of fact, I cork stand up and drift the know a guy who scales same speed as the current, down to crappie-size or if there is no current, jigs through the coldest just barely slow-take a stretches of February and wind on the reel to keep March. the bait moving forward. I prefer a smaller Don’t twitch the bait, just version of the same shrimp barely move it forward, and I always use. I normally always use a shrimp scent throw the 4-inch shrimp on like Pro Cure Shrimp. a jig head, but when it gets cold, I like the 3-inch size. There is not a time of the year when fish won’t eat a shrimp; there’s only a Videos for this style fishing will soon be available at: few weeks of the year when they won’t eat the 4-inch version. The reason I normally throw the bigger shrimp is that the old saying, BAREFOOTCATSANDTACKLE.COM “bigger bait, bigger fish” kind of holds true for seatrout. But like I said
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Uniquely American stone ignites romance
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n May 18, 1980, the once-slumbering Mount St. Helens erupted in the Pacific Northwest. It was the most impressive display of nature’s power in North America’s recorded history. But even more impressive is what emerged from the chaos... a spectacular new creation born of ancient minerals named Helenite. Its lush, vivid color and amazing story instantly captured the attention of jewelry connoisseurs worldwide. You can now have four carats of the world’s newest stone for an absolutely unbelievable price. Known as America’s emerald, Helenite makes it possible to give her a stone that’s brighter and has more fire than any emerald without paying the exorbitant price. In fact, this many carats of an emerald that looks this perfect and glows this green would cost you upwards of $80,000. Your more beautiful and much more affordable option features a perfect teardrop of Helenite set in gold-covered sterling silver suspended from a chain accented with even more verdant Helenite. Limited Reserves. As one of the largest EXCLUSIVE gemstone dealers in the world, we buy more carats of Helenite than anyone, which lets us give you a great price. However, this much gorgeous green Helenite Earrings for this price won’t last long. Don’t miss out. Helenite is only found in -a one section of Washington State, so with purchase of call today! Helenite Necklace Romance guaranteed or your money back. Experience the scintillating beauty of the Helenite Teardrop Necklace for 30 days and if she isn’t completely in love with it send it back for a full refund of the item price. You can even keep the stud earrings as our thank you for giving us a try.
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14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. HEN355-01, Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com Necklace enlarged to show luxurious color
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• 4 ¼ ctw of American Helenite and lab-created DiamondAura® • Gold-finished .925 sterling silver settings • 16" chain with 2" extender and lobster clasp
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PHOTO BY NICK CARTER
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Winter Surf Fishing Forecast
W
ith beach erosion from the fall hurricanes, some areas of the Treasure Coast have developed a sandbar. To get to the best water, surf casters need to think about getting their baits farther out past the sandbar. You’ll need to go across the sandbar with longer casts by using heavy spoons or jigs or wade across the trough and fish from the sandbar. On low tide, you absolutely need to fish from the sandbar to get good results. Surf cast with 3/8-ounce chartreuse jig with a 4-inch plastic bait in pearl white. One- or 2-ounce silver crocodile spoons are another good choice, and you can cast them a mile. Bait schools have been sporadic recently, so look for birds to locate feeding fish. No birds, no fish. Schools of jacks, mackerel and bluefish are cruising the beach. They are in the trough early in the morning on medium to high tides. It’s best to fish the trough at around 7 a.m., when the sun rises. If cold weather has kept you out of the surf or from getting out to the sandbar, consider using neoprene waders. Waders are also great for fishing the Indian River Lagoon. There are a lot of jacks in the lagoon right now, with larger ones hanging around the bridges and deeper water. Pompano are being caught on sand fleas and fish bites on the incoming tide from Fort Pierce Inlet to the St. Lucie Inlet. Some are nice sized, but the numbers aren’t great. Whiting and croaker are being caught on shrimp, sand fleas and cut bait. I’ve caught some on small jigs and spoons at high tide around the trough. There are a lot of beach accesses from Fort Pierce Inlet to Bathtub Beach and St. Lucie Inlet. Although Bathtub Beach is closed, the St. Lucie inlet is within walking distance from other beach accesses. Stop and look for bird or bait activity before you decide to fish. Although the feeders are in the trough early in the morning, you’ll need to find baitfish to have success during the day. I use a medium-action, 7-foot spinning rod and 10- to 20-pound braid. I like white line, for its visibility, and I use a 30- or 40-pound fluorocarbon leader in the winter months. Make sure you retie your lure after catching a few mackerel, ladyfish or bluefish so you don’t lose the big one because of frayed line.
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THE PERFECT GRIP By John Saporito
A
handle is much more than just the part by which you hold the rod. It is the conduit that transmits strikes to your hands and the trusted grip that ensures a hold on the fish of your dreams. But not all handles are created equal, and each material has strengths and weaknesses. Whether buying a factory rod, building your own or having a custom rod built for you, it pays to know which handle style is the best choice for the job. This primer will give you a “grip” on which one is right for you. EVA Foam: Foam handles are common across all types of fishing rods. They are inexpensive and durable, making them a go-to option for anglers. However, foam is neither the most comfortable choice nor the best in terms of grip. It can become slippery when wet or after handling fish. It also lacks true sensitivity, muffling what is transmitted from hook to hand rather than delivering it directly. Cork: A fan favorite, cork is as comfortable as it is elegant. However, it is less durable and more expensive than foam. A lightweight material, cork offers good sensitivity and a solid grip—even when wet. Split Grip: A split grip is simply a handle that is partly covered with foam, cork or another material, and partly left bare. The narrow diameter of the naked rod won’t tire out a hand over long periods
of use and allows for maximum sensitivity, translating whatever is happening on the end of the line to the hand as efficiently as possible. Lacking coverage of their entire length, split grips are also very lightweight. The gripping potential depends on the material. The main concern of split grips is durability, as the unprotected portion is damaged more easily than a fully covered handle. Cork Tape: A favorite of surf fishermen, cork tape offers an incredibly reliable grip under all conditions. Its “sandpaper” texture may scare some anglers off, but it is actually quite comfortable. Cork tape is durable, although it may need replacing after seasons of use—much like the grip on a golf club. It promotes good sensitivity due to the thin and firm nature of the material. It is perhaps the most underutilized handle type of all. Heat-Shrink Vinyl: A cork-tape lookalike, vinyl permits excellent sensitivity, is comfortable, and provides good gripping grip materials are available for the rods that meet ability. It is both durable and inexpensive. Many anglers turn to heat-shrink vinyl as an easy your needs. Then, the decision will practically make itself. replacement for worn handles on well-used rods. In the end, selecting a handle doesn’t need to be a confusing affair. Evaluate which qualities you Lifelong fisherman and student of predatory fish, seek in a rod, how the rod will be used, and which visit John Saporito online at guerillaangling.com.
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COASTAL ANGLER North Central Florida/Nature Coast
Cary & Lynn Crutchfield ALACHUA, MARION, COLUMBIA, GILCHRIST, BRADFORD, DIXIE, LEVY, CITRUS
FEBRUARY
Did it seem as if January was the 13th month of 2020? I’m really afraid to even think what February might bring. I have visited our beautiful Capitol many, many times, and seeing the loss of life and insane destruction made me sick. This month’s recipe, Sheet Pan Shrimp & Grouper Cheeks in Lemon Garlic Butter with Broccoli Over White & Wild Rice is really, really good and comes together quickly. Cooking time is less than ten minutes and you can do the minimal prep ahead of time and keep in the fridge. See page 2. Cary and I got our first Covid-19 vaccine in January. We get our second, the first week of February. I am so proud of our Dixie County Health Dept. I called and made an appointment. We showed up at the appointed time, filled out our paperwork, received our injection and were done in about 30 minutes. We did not stand in a long line, and we did not have to sleep in our car. Again, let me remind you that our guides are the best in the business. If you need winter fishing advice, you have no farther to look than to our guides. Call them. Second only to catching fish, their favorite activity is talking about catching fish! How about a guided fishing trip for your Valentine? As always, please thank our advertisers and the folks at the business where you picked up this FREE magazine. Stay smart. (Wear your mask.) Stay well, get your vaccine and stay alive! Lynn Crutchfield Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida/Nature Coast
FEBRUARY 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 Capt. Eric Hasty Capt. Stacy Horak Noel Kuhn Capt. Dan Clymer Capt. Tommy Derringer Capt. James Kerr Capt. Pat McGriff Capt. Bryan Smith
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
SHEET PAN SHRIMP & GROUPER CHEEKS IN LEMON GARLIC BUTTER, WITH BROCCOLI, OVER WHITE & WILD RICE (FOR TWO)
Ca
A
most a which Crossdated Florid
Thank you to The Crab Plant for the grouper. Visit their Fresh Seafood Market or enjoy Cooked Seafood to go. You are welcome to sit at their table and view beautiful Kings Bay while you enjoy your delicious, freshly prepared meal, watching manatees, dolphins, pelicans and boats. Or, you can carry it home; your choice. Open Tues-Thurs 10:00-5:30, Fri-Sat 10:00-8:00. 201 NW 5th St. Crystal River 352-795-4700.
Lynn Crutchfield, Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida
TIDES • North Central Florida Time Height
1M
2Tu
3W 4Th
5F
6Sa
7Su
3:40 AM 10:25 AM 4:35 PM 10:40 PM 4:32 AM 11:03 AM 5:09 PM 11:33 PM 5:31 AM 11:42 AM 5:46 PM 12:35 AM 6:43 AM 12:27 PM 6:30 PM 1:52 AM 8:22 AM 1:24 PM 7:27 PM 3:18 AM 10:16 AM 2:42 PM 8:38 PM 4:38 AM 11:46 AM 4:01 PM 9:51 PM
3.5 -0.5 3.0 0.3 3.2 -0.1 3.1 0.2 2.8 0.3 3.1 0.1 2.4 0.8 3.2 0.0 2.1 1.2 3.2 -0.2 2.1 1.5 3.2 -0.5 2.3 1.6 3.3
HERNANDO BEACH
FEBRUARY 2021
8M
Time Height
5:44 AM 12:43 PM 5:12 PM 10:57 PM 9Tu 6:38 AM 1:23 PM 6:12 PM 11:56 PM 10W 7:22 AM 1:56 PM 7:03 PM 11Th 12:48 AM 8:00 AM 2:25 PM 7:47 PM 12F 1:33 AM 8:34 AM 2:52 PM 8:27 PM 13Sa 2:15 AM 9:05 AM 3:18 PM 9:06 PM 14Su 2:55 AM 9:34 AM 3:43 PM 9:44 PM
-0.8 2.5 1.5 3.5 -1.0 2.7 1.2 3.6 -1.0 2.8 1.0 3.6 -0.9 2.8 0.7 3.6 -0.8 2.9 0.6 3.5 -0.6 3.0 0.4 3.4 -0.3 3.0 0.3
KINGS BAY
High Tide -20 min Low Tide 58 min
High Tide 2 hrs, 20 min Low Tide 3 hrs, 7 min
CRYSTAL RIVER
WITHLACOOCHEE ENT
High Tide 36 min Low Tide 1 hr, 30 min
High Tide 7 min Low Tide 55 min
CEDAR KEY
15M
Time Height
3:35 AM 10:02 AM 4:08 PM 10:23 PM 16Tu 4:16 AM 10:29 AM 4:34 PM 11:03 PM 17W 5:01 AM 10:57 AM 5:03 PM 11:47 PM 18Th 5:51 AM 11:26 AM 5:35 PM 19F 12:39 AM 6:55 AM 12:01 PM 6:15 PM 20Sa 1:49 AM 8:30 AM 12:53 PM 7:09 PM 21Su 3:11 AM 10:16 AM 2:22 PM 8:23 PM
3.2 -0.1 3.1 0.3 2.9 0.2 3.1 0.2 2.7 0.5 3.1 0.3 2.4 0.8 3.1 0.3 2.1 1.1 3.1 0.3 1.9 1.4 3.0 0.2 2.0 1.7 3.0
Time Height
22M 4:26 AM 11:33 AM 3:51 PM 9:40 PM 23Tu 5:27 AM 12:23 PM 5:00 PM 10:45 PM 24W 6:16 AM 1:00 PM 5:57 PM 11:41 PM 25Th 6:58 AM 1:31 PM 6:46 PM 26F 12:32 AM 7:37 AM 2:00 PM 7:29 PM 27Sa 1:19 AM 8:14 AM 2:28 PM 8:12 PM 28Su 2:05 AM 8:50 AM 2:55 PM 8:54 PM
0.0 2.2 1.7 3.1 -0.3 2.4 1.5 3.3 -0.5 2.6 1.3 3.5 -0.7 2.8 1.0 3.7 -0.8 2.9 0.7 3.8 -0.8 3.0 0.4 3.9 -0.6 3.1 0.1
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
FEBRUARY 2021
COOKING DIRECTIONS
INGREDIENTS
Preheat oven to 450 F. Combine butter, garlic, lemon juice, onion, parsley, ½ teaspoon salt and pepper in microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals until onion is soft, and parsley is wilted. Set aside. Cook white and wild rice separately in ½ cup water each. (Or according to directions if using box mix.) Mix cooked wild and white together and keep warm. Mix shrimp and grouper with melted butter mixture. On a rimmed baking sheet (jelly roll pan) toss together broccoli, oil, and grouper. Sprinkle with salt. Bake in pre-heated oven about 3 minutes. Add shrimp and lemon slices and pour the butter mixture overall. Bake another 4 to 5 minutes until shrimp are pink and sizzling. (Don’t overcook!) Serve over rice and drizzle with every drop of the yummy butter and juices in the pan.
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 4 garlic cloves finely chopped 1 small onion finely chopped 2 tablespoons Italian parsley finely chopped 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice ½ teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon black pepper ¼ cup white rice and ¼ cup wild rice (Or box of white/wild rice mix) 1 cup water Broccoli flowerets for 2 servings 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium lemon thinly sliced 8 jumbo shrimp shelled and deveined 8 grouper cheeks or 8 small pieces grouper or mild fish of your choice
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
aroun or the many conclu examp jobs to The who p ecosys Gover Cabin a few r examp the Oc out to Two Florid conne then a with t map h green of Wa Tho their p to the long, a The sk “F.S. L the 18 but th
FLORIDA WATERWAYS Canals in North Florida
A
mong the waterways of North Florida, we have lakes, rivers, creeks, and, believe it or not, canals. The most ambitious canal project in the state, which was never completed, was the ill-fated Cross-Florida Barge Canal, which actually dated back to the Spanish occupation of Florida in the sixteenth century. Many entrepreneurs dreamed of a relatively short way across the peninsula, thus cutting off hundreds of miles that ships would By Kevin McCarthy have to travel around the Florida Keys and up the Gulf or the Atlantic. The project was studied by many committees, usually with negative conclusions, but the idea kept resurfacing, for example in the 1930s as a means of providing jobs to many unemployed Floridians. The idea was opposed by environmentalists who pointed out how much damage to the ecosystem such a waterway would cause. Governor Lawton Chiles and the Florida Cabinet, finally killed the idea in 1991, but a few remnants of the project still exist, for example some bridge piers south of Ocala on the Ocklawaha River and a straight waterway out to the Gulf of Mexico near Inglis. Two short canals that were built in North Florida and which served the area well connected Little Santa Fe with Lake Alto and then another one that connected Lake Alto with the town of Waldo. The red arrow on the map here indicates the first canal, while the green arrow shows the canal to the outskirts of Waldo. Those two canals allowed farmers to take their produce by boat in a relatively short time to the railroad in Waldo, thus bypassing the long, arduous trek across country by wagon. The sketch on this page shows the steamboat “F.S. Lewis,” which operated on the canals in the 1880s. One can still see both canals today, but the overgrowth of weeds and the lack of
dredging have filled in the waterways, so that only small boats can make the trip on the canals today. Boaters can see the entrance to the canal leading to Waldo from Lake Alto, but the other canal, which leads from the lake to Little Lake Santa Fe, is very difficult to find. Those driving along C.R. 234 east of Highway 30, and north of Micanopy may see a small green sign that says “Camps Canal.” One can see the canal on either side of the bridge. That canal, sometimes written “Camp’s Canal,” was part of a plan dating back to the 1920s in which engineers were going to drain Paynes Prairie, to make a vast grassland for grazing cattle. The canal would take the water down to the River Styx, then to Orange Lake, out through Orange Creek to the Ocklawaha River, then to the St. Johns River, and eventually the Atlantic Ocean. Such canals help make the water history of North Florida so fascinating. Kevin McCarthy, the author of North Florida Waterways (2013 - available at amazon.com), can be reached at ceyhankevin@gmail.com.
The Cross-Florida Barge canal out to the Gulf
A map showing the two canals near
Waldo
The entrance to the An 1880s sketch of the steamboat “F.S.
Lewis”
The highway sign for Camps Canal
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
FEBRUARY 2021
canal leading to Wa ldo from Lake Alto
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ell Forest Fishers, whether you just recently started reading my articles, or you've been following them since those dreadful "Dried Up" years, everything keeps changing so quickly, that many times one month's article will sound like a whole different area than the next month's. Just four or ello from Crystal River, and five years ago, if you tried searching hopefully you’ve been staying for a productive body of water, you warm. The fishing here has stayed would almost always end up standing pretty good even with the colder at the edge of a nasty, barrier of muck. temps. This winter has been one the Aside from the few big lakes that have coldest we’ve had in recent years. a public boat ramp, and a handful We’ve been getting cold fronts about of private lakes, there weren't many every 4 to 6 days. places that you could even cast far The cooler weather can make enough to reach the water. fishing challenging at times. When the Now, as hard as it was to find a temps drop, fish are seeking warmer "secret" fishing spot back then, I'm sure waters and slow down. They don’t feed I wasn't the only angler who would as much because they are saving all eventually end up finding a small their energy for staying warm. lake, and then just stare out at the one When targeting fish this time of tiny patch of lily pads thinking, "I bet year, you have to slow everything there's a giant under those pads. That down. Patients is key. has to be where the Queen lives!" For redfish, I uses a long shank Needless to say, I used to have plenty hook with a shrimp. I tend to stay of blue-jeans, but it didn't take long away from jigs. With the lower clear before I had plenty of black ones. Note: water, the redfish can be really spooky, Don't be dumb like I was and trudge so I go as light as I can. I even drop through thick, dangerous muck. down the leader to 12 to15 lbs. Also, The fishing was hard out here for this is a great time to do sight-fishing quite a while. The prairies had been with the clear water. There’s nothing dry for ages, and even the bigger, more rewarding for a fisherman than accessible lakes were producing sight-fishing reds. It’s one the coolest extremely low quality, un-healthy things, to see a fish target it, and watch fish. With their numbers dwindling, it eat your bait/lure. artificial when targeting them. For the and the lakes at their worst, it got so The trout have been pretty good artificial side Mirrordines and DOA bad that most anglers I spoke to that on the warmer days. I use live and Jerkbaits are always my go to. I target fall, felt like the Ocala National Forest shallow areas looking for good hard bottom and prefer an outgoing tide. For live bait a shrimp under a cork is always a good choice. Hopefully everyone gets a chance to get out on the water. If you’re looking to get out on the water, give me a call, and let’s catch some fish.
H
Capt. James Kerr 352-362-6893 Citrusfishingchaters.com
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
FEBRUARY 2021
(ONF) had no chance of recovering. After one more year of desert-like conditions, the Ocklawaha and St. John's River were our only options to find quality fishing. Things were looking bleak, to say the least, but when spring began (four years ago), a miracle happened. Mass downpours drenched the forest, one storm after another, and the flooding rains kept coming through that whole summer. Hurricane Irma as the final kicker. After the rains finally stopped, we had lakes that were flooded way back into the trees, and all the prairies were filled again. Finally, and most importantly, the water levels have stayed high ever since, which is interesting, because when I looked up all the recorded levels, any time mass rains raised the shorelines, it only lasted a couple weeks before the lakes drained into the rivers, and the rivers drained into the ocean. None the less, ever since there's been water way back into the shallow grass and flooded trees, all the species (especially bass) have been growing at an extremely fast rate. Catching a 5-pounder is common now! Personally, I just started crappie (speck) fishing, and man is it a blast having so many quality slabs! Tip: The pic above is all my favorite styles and colors. The 100% most important thing though is, ALWAYS USE A GOLD HOOK! John Freeze Kayak Fishing and Nature Tours TheWaterwayz@gmail.com 352-216-5798
NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 5
SUWANNEE
H
ey everybody, man it's been a chilly winter, and I for one cannot wait till spring is here. Not that I don't like fishing during these
6 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST
FEBRUARY 2021
30 and 40 degree mornings, but let's face it, most of us don't. Enough about this colder winter; let's talk redfish. I can personally tell you, if you are fishing anywhere between the Suwannee River and Cedar Key, you should have little trouble finding reds in most of the creeks. We have been throwing 1/8 C&M custom baits jigs red or chartreuse paired with C&M Granny Smith swim baits. Just a slow steady retrieve bouncing off the bottom seems to do the trick really well. Well y'all, until next month, stay safe out there! Capt. Jason Clark In The Slot Fishing www.intheslotfishing.com Capt.jasonclark@gmail.com 352-639-3209
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STEINHATCHEE SHE'S UNPREDICTABLE
FLORIDA SUWANNEE RIVER WATERFRONT
FOR SALE
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.
I
don't know if it is easier, or more difficult, to predict the weather/ marine forecast in February. There is a rhythmic pulse of cold fronts pushing south, yet the severity of the event is variable. Cold, either windy, wet, warmish, calm, etc. is the only common denominator. Anyway, there is a general fishing trend. Those with inshore boats, tend to fish in the river for trout, as trout use the river as a thermal refuge. Best baits can be jigs, slow sinking twitch baits, or shrimp (dead or alive). Fish aren't apt to chase anything down when it is cold, so Sloooooow down, then take it more easy. Trout run in the same year class—same size—so if you're catching undersize after undersize-move. There is no need to handle/ kill, fish after fish. Removing the protective slime from the fish significantly increase death by disease. Dead fish are never caught again. Consider the tide first; trout and reds can be caught at the mouths of the many creeks that spill out the estuary. Shrimp or cut mullet, fancast using multiple rods, will pick up good catches if you’re one who can stand to be still for awhile. This method is not recommended for bass fishermen, rather cat fishers.
Again, be aware of the tide, as you might find yourselves an island unto yourselves. This is the time of year airboats show-out. During the low tide periods, airboats can glide to the side of deep holes in creeks, inaccessible to other boats, and “shoot fish in the barrel”. Over-dress in layers, as airboats generate gale force cold winds that only airboaters experience. Delicious sea bass are just a short jaunt off the bank. It is spawning time, and hordes of sea bass are located best from 18 to 35 feet over hard bottom. It is a fish-fry kid grab, I refer to as yo-yo fishing, as the slowest aspect is fish removal. Expect ratio of shorts to 10 inch keeps, to be high, but at the end of the day, is the reward. Drift fishing with squid or cut bait is the ticket. I make my own jig chicken rigs—sold at Steinhatchee Bait and Tackle—to eliminate the necessity of re-baiting. Always check the weather for that day, and the following day to ensure a happy day of catching sea bass.
Cary A. Crutchfield Registered Real Estate Broker GRI and CRS Designations
352-542-0356
Brian Smith BIG BEND CHARTERS www.BigBendCharters.com CaptBrian@bellsouth.net 877.852.3474 | 352.210.3050
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FEBRUARY 2021
NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 7
W
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8 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST
FEBRUARY 2021
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elcome back Yak fans. February, one of my favorite times for fishing, is upon us. Yep, wintertime fishing! For those Hardy Souls willing to venture out in the winter times massive (for us) tide swings, and cold weather outings, the return is well worth the effort. First, some Rules of Engagement. Rule number one. Dress appropriately. Waders, layers of clothing and chemical heat pads are a must. Rule number two. Look at the tide charts, and check the weather carefully. Twenty mile an hour gusts can make even protected spots tough to fish, and mudding through a negative tide is no fun, even if you're not dragging a loaded kayak. Rule number three. Plan your trip. Cold temps can empty the flats. Plan your trip accordingly. For those of you who haven't yet developed your own water spots, virtually all the creeks, rivers and outflows on the Nature Coast are spring-fed. Warm water outflow, equals a fishy happy spot, if you haven't figured it out yet. On my last trip, I headed out with some friends. The wind was out of the South with a negative 7 tide, and the flats were empty. Not even a bird moving, so I headed back to one of my favorite holes. As I got setup (not an easy task with the gusty weather) finally got situated with about 80 to 25 feet of water under me, and a graph that was lit up at three different levels. Game on! The first trick was to get the bait below the cloud of mangrove snapper at the higher levels, but once I got down around 25 feet or
so, the black drum were chewing. I landed my first black drum and as I tied my stringer on the side of the yak. He gave a flip, and off went my stringer and a 20-inch black drum down the bottom of an 80-foot hole, but wait, it gets worse. Less than 10 minutes later, Lou’s son was doing the same thing and splash there went Sampo stringer number two down the crack. Muttering a few obscenities, I pulled out my back up and we continued to fish. About an hour later, the wind shifted and was moving me off the spot. As I drifted back toward the shallow side, I got a bite. Paddling with one hand to get away from the rocks, and fighting the fish with the other, made for an interesting minute or two as I got control, and was able to focus on the fish. I got it shallow enough to see--something? What!! Yep my stringer. I'd hooked one of the open nylon clips. Every time I would real, it would stretch open and began to slip off the open loop. Well, finesse may not be my middle name, but I had my game on that day. After about three careful tries, I recaptured my stringer and my fish. What a day! I told them I should be able to count that fish twice in the daily totals. I mean, I did catch him two times, right? They said, “No” Oh well, I got my stringer back . Till next time Bruce Bruce Butler | "Stumbling Gypsy" (352) 428-5347 Bruce@IndianBayOutfitters.com Web: www.IndianBayOutfitters.com
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ecember was cold; January was cold. Will February be cold? Yes, it will! These cold winter months push the redfish deep into the back country, the snook into the springs, and the trout, well they could be anywhere on any given point in the tide. Without an airboat or mud boat, what must one do to catch some fish? Well, let me tell you. Sheepshead will be in full spawn now near shore. Sheepshead are primarily an inshore species, but this time of year, you can find them in water 10 to 30 feet. Look for structure, preferably large rocks and rubble. A live bait hook, on a drop rig or knocker rig, works best for me, but some people prefer a jig head. I like to chum up the water with Aquatic Nutrition’s Super Shrimps pellets. Chumming puts the fish in a feeding frenzy, making them ready to inhale your bait. Shrimp will usually get the job done for bait, but I do find that small crabs will keep the bycatch at a minimum. While they say catching sheepshead is tricky, I find them to be quite easy to catch if you follow these simple steps. Drop the bait to the bottom, and raise it one turn of the reel, so you have some tension on the line. As you feel the pecking on the bait, raise the tip of the pole very slowly, until you feel some weight. If weight is felt, set the hook and retrieve the fish. If no weight is felt, lower the rod tip back down and repeat. Sheepshead make excellent table fare. Do keep in mind that these fish are spawning. Please release the larger ones back to the wild and only keep 12 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST
FEBRUARY 2021
what you need. We do not want to end this wintertime resource. February is a short month; spring is coming, and I want my Florida back! I’m ready for the heat wave! If you have some down time, now is the time to get your boat in full working order. Please reach out to me at capterichasty@gmail.com with any questions you may have. In addition, check out We Be Tailing, live Wednesday nights at 7:00 for more tips and tricks at the ShastyMcNasty Fishing Facebook page. Capt. Eric Hasty ShastyMcNasty Fishing LLC www.shastymcnastyfishing.com 352-220-3206
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ebruary can be a feast or famine month here on the Nature Coast. If the weather is favorable, the fishing can be quite good for both trout and sheepshead. On the other hand, if Old Man Winter is giving us some trouble, it’s best to stay home and get in preparation for the upcoming spring. On the inshore scene, speckled trout, key in on hard bottom this time of year. Rock flats, spoil islands and oyster bars are where you want to concentrate your efforts. The hard bottom holds heat, and often, trout will be in schools over these areas. Try to locate an area with both a deeper depression and hard bottom, so the fish can stage on both tide periods. Soft plastic DOA glow jerk baits and MirrOlure MirrOdines are ideal for these areas. Once the tide comes in, work these areas thoroughly and if you hook up, there’s likely to be more in that area. Sight fishing redfish is always fun during the winter. You can leave the dock later, and let the sun come up. A shallow draft boat is usually required, as the tides are generally running pretty “skinny” this time of year. My favorite go-to for sight fishing, is a golden bream colored soft plastic, on the lightest jig head possible. If you haven’t been offshore yet this winter, now is the time to do so. The sheepshead are in their full spawning pattern, especially around the major moon phases, and the action is excellent. The extensive near shore rock piles, wrecks and reefs where we target grouper, will be holding good numbers of spawning sheepshead. Position yourself upcurrent from the structure your fishing, and drop down a live shrimp rigged on a knocker rig. A knocker rig consists of a sliding ½ oz egg sinker lying right against a 1/0 short shank live bait hook. Remember, sheepsheads are notorious bait stealers and if you feel the slightest tap on your line and feel resistance, set the hook. Also, recently in my quest to always try to target something different, I’ve been having some steady success catching hog fish, “hog snapper” offshore. Bring lots of live shrimp; begin in 30 feet of water on any live bottom, and if your catching grunts, you’re in the right area. You will, without a doubt, catch loads of grunts and grouper, which are fun in
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their own right on light tackle. However, on that next drop down, a hard-fighting hog fish could be coming to the surface. The Mangrove snapper are a great bonus too…. Good Fishing! Capt. Dan Clymer 352.418.2160 www.crystalriver-fishing.com
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NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 13
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y favorite time of year to catch redfish is here! This winter has been the chilliest we’ve had in the last ten years, and that has meant some really clear water for Northeast Florida, and you know what that means; it’s time to sightfish for redfish! When the water gets below about 60 degrees, the brown algae will die off, resulting in clearer water and some exciting fishing opportunities. This colder winter has had the water temp hovering right around that mark. and that means the redfish will be schooled up, both on the flats, and in the deeper creek holes. Black drum, trout, and sheepshead will also be schooled up in the same areas. If you can get out on a nice sunny day over the next couple of months, you better go, because the fishing will be on fire! We have some really good low tides coming up in February which means easy pickings for schooled up fish of all kinds. These winter-time low tides will concentrate fish down to the deeper parts of the creeks and flats. Fish the last hour or so of the outgoing tide with a 1/4oz Saltwater Assassin jig and just about anything live or artificial pegged to it and you’re sure to get hooked up. Hard bends in the creeks will have the deepest holes and a live shrimp or mud minnow will work incredibly well in those deeper spot for red, drum, and trout. Some creeks may have a shallow mouth but don’t be afraid to do some exploring, as some of the best creek holes are pretty far back in there. If you’re unsure of the depth or afraid of getting stuck, just wait until the tide goes slack and then starts pushing in. That way you’ll know if you can make it in, you can definitely make it back out as long as the tide is still coming in. Then next time you’ll have a better idea of where your boat can and can’t go.
On those days where we have bright sun you’ll find me up shallow on the flats sight-fishing for schooled up redfish. The sun allows you to see in the water so make sure you keep it at your back if at all possible. Redfish will tend to hang out on flats that hold bait, have easy access to deeper water, and have areas that warm up quickly. Flats with an abundance of oyster bars are a good place to start, as they tend to cover most of the above-mentioned criteria. Once you locate the school approach them as stealthily as possible. Drifting and/ or poling the boat are hands down the best but if you have to use the trolling motor use it sparingly and on a low speed. The redfish get spookier every year with added pressure so slowing down will help you get in range to make a cast. This is also a good time of year to downsize your baits as clear water tends to mean spookier redfish as well. My favorite sight-fishing bait for redfish is a 1/4oz or 1/8oz Saltwater Assassin jighead with a Saltwater Assassin paddle tail. The size and action seem to be just right for our wintertime reds. Sheepshead fishing will be in full swing by now. Just about any bridge piling or jetty rock with barnacles on it will be holding some sheepies. The go-to bait is a fiddler crab on a small j-hook or jighead. Fish the pilings and rocks vertically with enough weight to hold the bait close to the structure. Just remember they’re quick so you’ll need to be on your hook-setting game. The old saying goes, “You have to set the hook before they bite”! Be sure to check out my website for daily fishing reports with photos.
SURF & PIER
W
hat a cold crazy year we have had. At my writing, the surf temperature is 58 degrees! February is typically our coldest water of the year. We could see 55 degrees this month! The pompano are long gone. They left at 64 degrees, and are feeding like crazy down in south Florida. So, my advice to you is make a road trip, or stay home tying rigs or doing reel maintenance. It is game-on right now from Melbourne to Jupiter, just like it will probably be here in April when things warm up. It is all about the water temp. You and your spouse/roommate may argue about the thermostat, but fish DO NOT! They just leave! So, if you want to have a good time on the beach, just head south for three hours down I-95. There are a lot of public accesses from Cocoa to Jupiter. Also, there are a lot of bait stores that carry live fleas and shrimp. A great tool to make your road trip a success is the internet. My first go-to is googling Sea Surface Temperature. I really like the Rutgers University site. Their color chart is so easy to read. Once you have found the 65 to 70-degree water, then, refocus on sea and wind conditions. My next
go-to is the app Magic Seaweed. Then, finally for wind speed, “Windy” is my favorite. Every year for the past 15, I have made at least one successful road trip in Jan or Feb to south Florida. It is great to make a long weekend out of it. Typically, we stay is Vero Beach. That way, we can range north or south. We always find hungry fish, whether north to Sebastian Inlet, or south to Hutchinson Island. If a road trip is not in your plans, then just stay home and get things done. Our surf fishing action will be very slow until our waters warm back up. If you want to improve your casting distance, now would be the time. Ninety-nine percent of my students have reached 300 feet in one lesson. A lot of them achieve 400 feet. Just give me a shout to set something up. You can reach me through www. thesurfangler.com 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
Capt. Tommy Derringer www.InshoreAdventures.net 904-377-3734
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ebruary will just be too cold if our current trends hold. Last report I got put the Gulf water temperature at 49 degrees. Fortynine degrees is pretty much a speckled trout’s lower end tolerance point; 45 degrees for too many hours will kill them. Just needs to warm up. Last year this week, our Gulf water temp was 60 to 63 degrees, and we were catching fish like crazy. If creeks are your thing, then have at it. Fish suspending baits such as L&S MirrOdines in the size #14 or Catch Juniors, and MirrOminnows and S-L-O-W is the key. Redfish will
hole up in the creeks as well, and most will be rat reds with larger fish holding near the mouths of rivers and creeks. Synthetic baits such as FishBites FIghtClub will take slot reds in February. Me, I will be waiting on the water to warm up, and maybe March will see warmer water to fish in. 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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L
et's talk about something other than politics! I would like to share with you some of my fondest childhood memories. When I was a kid growing up in Brooksville, Florida, a normal Friday night was spent with all my friends, most in big jacked-up trucks with Hank Williams Jr. blaring out of the cab, in the parking lot of Winn Dixie, or McDonald's. As silly as that sounds, we had the most fun, laughing, dancing, singing, and maybe a little “makin'-out” in the back seat. We would meet up and then head to a trail, or a lake in the middle of nowhere, have a bonfire, and maybe do some mudslinging. There were no cell phones, and no social media. We were just a bunch of kids hanging out and enjoying the warm, starry nights Florida so graciously blessed us. The hot summer days were filled with cane poles, sweet tea, and if you were lucky, there would be fried chicken and potato salad along with about 20 of your friends and neighbors, crowded around your front porch when you got home. People were always helping each other. If someone's truck was broken down, it was usually in my front yard with 4 or 5 of the local guys, beer in hand, trying to get her running again. I was sent to the local parts store on one of those occasions to pick up some muffler bearings. They were out of them that day and the clerk made sure everyone in town knew I came in and asked for them. Word spreads mighty quick in a small town. If there was a hunter that got his
big buck, we would all pitch in to get it dressed and in the freezer for the many upcoming Sunday get togethers. Fishing was a way of life. I heard more fish stories than I could count, and I sat wide-eyed listening intently, believing every word! Family wasn't just blood relatives; family was your friends and neighbors. Family always looked out for you. Family wasn't afraid to tell you that you were doing wrong. Family was there through the good and through the bad. Family didn't fight over politics. Family fought over whose fish was bigger, or who's truck was tougher. Let's get back to family. Let's get back to Sunday picnics. Times have changed and we now have to take precautions, but that shouldn't stop us from being family. Grab that fishing pole. Fix up that old truck. Get that boat to float, fry that chicken and brew that sweet, as molasses sweet tea. Forget about the news, and social media for the minute, and focus on family! Captain Stacy Horak Cell 352-553-3604 Facebook: CaptainStacy Horak Instagram: captain_stacyhorakfishing
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Vincent Canabal got this shot of a lemon shark swimming gracefully over a shallow reef.
SHARK
AWARENESS W
By John Lidington
intertime is shark time off south Florida’s Atlantic coast! Yearround populations of lemon, bull and reef sharks swell as thousands of migrating blacktip sharks move through. The concentration of hammerheads, which feed on blacktips, also goes up. If you poll dive tourists on what marine animals they most want to see, you’ll find sharks at the top of the list. In Palm Beach County, Pura Vida Divers focuses on February as “Shark Month.” This “sharky” time maximizes the probability divers will encounter sharks in the wild. But for those who want more than a passing encounter, February is a great time to take the PADI AWARE Shark Conservation Specialty course. Anyone diving in the ocean will have some thought of sharks lurking
in the back of their mind. But whether of curiosity, anxiety or excitement, these thoughts generally center on shark behavior. When they think of sharks, few divers relate those thoughts to a need for conservation. The shark conservation course aims to change that. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) maintains the “red list” of species threatened with extinction. Of the 1,000 or so shark and ray species, over 30 percent are on that red list. Unfortunately, it’s a downhill trend. In 2019, the IUCN increased the threat level of both the great hammerhead and scalloped hammerhead from “Endangered” to “Critically Endangered” (their highest threat classification) and jumped the oceanic whitetip two levels to “Critically Endangered” from its 2015 ranking of “Vulnerable.” The shark conservation course includes a morning classroom session, followed by a two-tank charter dive in the afternoon. “The course revolves around creating diver awareness of sharks, the threats they face, and the conservation initiatives that strive to protect them,” said Jillian, Pura Vida Divers’ Director of Training. “Students will learn about these themes during the classroom session, along with details about local shark species. Once students have a baseline understanding of sharks as a whole, they’ll learn more about why shark populations are declining and what they can do to make a difference.” After the classroom session, students will head out on two dives. The dives are planned to maximize the chance of shark encounters in a natural setting. “The course is tailored to local shark species, which divers will aim to see and study during the specialty dives,” Jillian said. “Typically, these dives take place at deeper sites—the 70- to 90-foot wrecks and reefs—since that’s where we tend to see more sharks. Since winter is prime shark season, we’re usually lucky enough to see sharks on most dives. As we drift along the reefs or wrecks, students will find and identify different shark species, observe their natural behavior, and identify potential threats.” Nitrox is recommended, though not required, for these dives. If you aren’t enriched-air certified yet, ask about that, too. Contact Pura Vida Divers at (561) 840-8750 and see their website at www.puravidadivers.com.
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Gyotaku G yotaku is a Japanese art form that replicates a catch with a print made from the actual fish. Gyotaku artists can produce a beautiful representation of your catch at a fraction of the cost of traditional taxidermy, and the final product might also compliment your home better than a giant 3D mount. Even better, you can attempt this art for yourself. While providing the satisfaction of catching and memorializing the fish yourself, if you’re quick enough with the process, you can still enjoy eating it. You will need: • A fish • Acrylic paint and paintbrushes • Paper towel • Rice paper or cloth After a long day on the water, the last thing you’ll want to do is start painting a fish. The sooner you get to a print, the better the final product will be. However, it is fine to leave your catch on ice overnight or even freeze it. If you freeze it, make sure it’s as flat as possible and its fins aren’t squished. Fins damage easily when shoved up against the back of the freezer. When you’re ready to start, the first step is to dry the fish. Open all the fins and dry out all the crevices. The drier the fish is, the more readily it will receive paint and transfer it back to your canvas. Next, use rolls of paper towels to prop open and extend the dorsal, pelvic and anal fins and tail. Use bits of paper towel shoved into the gills to give them depth in the final product, as well as propping up the pectoral fin for the same reason. Consider colors of the fish for your paints as well as for which color
16 FLORIDA
FEBRUARY 2021
By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon
paper or cloth you want to use for the background. Then cut a manageable sized piece. Typically, white or black backgrounds produce the best outcome. Apply paint directly to the fish while standing above it. Keep in mind that you want to achieve a two-dimensional image. If you paint too far over the top of its head or too far under its belly, your final image will look obese. This is especially important to keep in mind with rounder fish, like tuna. Have fun with all the details, and don’t forget the eyeball and even small amounts of paint on the teeth. Next, lay the cloth or paper over the painted fish and rub your fingers over it, starting from the center and working to the edges. Be delicate and thorough, touching every ridge on every fin, every contour, every scale and every tooth you painted. Slowly peel off the paper or cloth, let it dry, and then touch up the details. Any fish works for this process, but ones with more pronounced scales, like a snapper, produce a much more detailed print. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Reel Lucky Fishing Charters out of St. Petersburg, Fla. Contact them at (504) 920-6342.
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Impressive IGFA
By CAM Staff
2020 World Records R
ecords are made to be broken, and with so many species and line-class records out there for anglers to chase, the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) is constantly updating its records. Here’s a quick look at some of the most impressive IGFA records caught and confirmed in 2020.
JUDY LANGENHOVEN Giant African threadfin inhabit waters of the Atlantic coast of Africa and grow quite large. The IGFA all-tackle world record weighed more than 122 pounds. Last July, Judy Langenhoven used a McCarthy paddletail and 30-lb. test to land a 93-pound,11-ounce behemoth from Angola’s Kwanza River. It took her more than an hour to subdue the beast, which set a new Women’s 30-lb. line class record.
JULIETH CASTRO SANCHEZ
RAY YAMAO A big brown trout from Japan might be the most impressive salmonid record from 2020. Angler Ray Yamoa caught the monster 26-lb., 10-oz. brown on Aug. 8, while trolling an Ora Minnow plug on Japan’s Lake Shikotsu. Averaging 870 feet deep, Shikotsu is a 30-squaremile caldera lake that maintains stable temperatures year-round thanks to volcanic influence. It is most famous among anglers for salmon, but it obviously grows big trout, too. Yamoa’s giant brown trout set a new 30-lb. line class world record.
EMILY ROSE HANZLIK
How’d you like to haul up something like this on your next bottom-fishing trip? Julieth Castro Sanchez was jigging a Williamson jig out of Esterillos Oeste, Costa Rica when a giant Pacific cubera snapper yanked on her line. The big snapper weighed in at 70 pounds, 8 ounces, which was good enough for a new Women’s 50-pound line class record. The all-tackle world record, caught off Costa Rica in 1988, weighed 78 pounds, 12 ounces.
Hanzlik is a 15-year-old fishing fanatic with 29 IGFA world records to her name. In 2020, she tallied two records that have already been accepted by IGFA, and her third of the year was still pending at presstime. Last June was good to Hanzlik. On June 12, she set a new women’s 20-lb. line class record with a 22-lb., 6-oz. grass carp from the canals of West Palm Beach, Fla. Then, on June 23, she set the junior class record for jack crevalle at 32 lbs., 10 oz. The jack crevalle Hanzlik is holding in this photo is a pending record. If accepted by IGFA, this 35-lb., 6-oz. jack will be a new women’s 50-lb. line class world record. Hanzlik caught it fishing from the shore in West Palm Beach. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
FEBRUARY 2021
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The Deal With
WESTERN DRY ROCKS
A
bout 10 miles southwest of Key West, Western Dry Rocks is an area of reef and rocks known for large spawning aggregations of permit and various snapper and grouper species. Its proximity to Key West as well as the dependable nature of the fishery make it a popular fishing spot, especially for charter captains and private anglers in search of
bountiful half-day trips. Over the past few months, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Resources Commission (FWC) has been mulling a seasonal closure at Western Dry Rocks to allow some of these spawning aggregations to go unmolested by angling pressure. Most recently, FWC held workshops and gathered public input on a proposal to close fishing at a 1-square-mile area at Western Dry Rocks from May through June for the next five years. This time period is the heart of the season when several species congregate to spawn in a relatively small area, which leads to the kind of spectacular fishing that can do damage to overall populations. Western Dry Rocks is a unique environment where it is thought these aggregations play a role in supporting fish populations throughout the Florida Keys and up into nearshore waters of South Florida. Swirling ocean currents collect fish eggs and larvae and carry them northeast up the coast, where they are deposited. Also, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) has conducted tagging studies, which show permit from throughout the Lower Keys travel up to 50 miles to the annual aggregation at Western Dry Rocks. FWC data shows angler effort absolutely centers around known aggregation areas, which makes sense. Numerous Keys fishing guides are understandably unhappy about the prospect of a closure. Permit, yellowtail snapper, mutton snapper and gray snapper are all known to aggregate at Western Dry Rocks from April through July. Other species, such as black, Nassau and gag groupers, aggregate at Western Dry Rocks during the cooler months, and they are already protected by seasonal bag limits. BTT has called out for an even longer, four-month closure from April to July at Western Dry Rocks, to encompass the entire spawning season for permit. Permit harvest is already closed throughout the Keys from April through July; however, BTT studies show up to 39 percent of hooked permit at Western Dry Rocks were eaten by sharks before they made it to the boat. “When spawning aggregations are protected, the predictable outcomes are more abundant fish populations with a greater abundance of larger fish in the surrounding area,” reads the BTT press release. At presstime, FWC was collecting public input prior to taking action on the proposal for a seasonal closure at Western Dry Rocks.
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lounder regulations on Florida’s Atlantic coast will be tightened as part of a package designed to restore flounder numbers. Both increased size limits and reduced bag numbers were approved at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s December meeting. The regulations changes become effective on March 1, 2021. A stock status update suggested the flounder fishery statewide has been in a general declining trend in recent years and is likely overfished and undergoing overfishing on the Atlantic coast of Florida. Other south Atlantic and Gulf states have also reported declines in flounder populations and have been making their own regulation changes. Changes include: • Extend all FWC flounder regulations into federal waters. • Increase the minimum size limit from 12 inches to 14 inches total length. • Reduce recreational daily bag limit from 10 to five fish per person. • Establish an Oct. 15 – Nov. 30 recreational closed season. • For commercial harvesters using allowable gear: Establish a commercial trip and vessel limit of 150 fish from Dec. 1 – Oct. 14, and 50 fish from Oct. 15 – Nov. 30. • Modify incidental bycatch limit for commercial harvesters using non-allowable gear from 50 pounds to 50 fish per trip. • Create a federal waters trawl bycatch limit of 150 flounder per trip from Dec. 1 – Oct. 14, and 50 fish per trip from Oct. 15 – Nov. 30. Learn more about flounder regulations at MyFWC.com/Marine.
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elebrate the fight against invasive lionfish at the seventh-annual Lionfish Removal and Awareness Festival May 15-16 at AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar in Harbor Walk Village, Destin. Activities will include fillet demonstrations; family-friendly games and activities; art, diving and conservation booths; and the world’s largest lionfish spearfishing tournament, the Emerald Coast Open. Satisfy your taste buds by visiting any of the participating locations of Lionfish Restaurant Week May 10-14 to try this delicious invasive. The event is currently seeking vendors for the festival and divers for the tournament. Booth space is being implemented to abide by COVID-19 guidelines and allow for social distancing. Learn more by visiting FWCReefRangers.com. Divers interested in competing in the Emerald Coast Open lionfish tournament should register at EmeraldCoastOpen.com. The tournament is currently seeking sponsors and volunteers. The state’s 2021 Lionfish Challenge removal incentive program will begin May 21 and continue through Labor Day, Sept. 6. More details on how to get rewarded for your harvest is coming soon to FWCReefRangers.com.
22 FLORIDA
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Catch A Florida Memory Closed On Banner Year
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ast year was record setting for the state’s Catch a Florida Memory program. The FWC angler-recognition program sent out a thank you to nearly 1,400 program participants who have sent in more than 15,000 submissions for recognition of about 2,800 achievements over the years. One headline-making fish in 2020 was a monster catch coming out of the 2020 Pelagic Shamrock Shootout in Palm Beach in March. The first fish to hit the scales in the tournament was a 194.8-pound big eye tuna caught by Team HYJENX. The species didn’t qualify for the tournament, but it did qualify Anthony Beau Kelly and his fishing buddies for a Florida state record. The monster tuna measured 71 inches in length. Catch a Florida Memory also recognized three new additions to their Grand Slam Tier 1 list. Grand Slams require anglers to catch three specified species in a 24-hour period. There are nine different Grand Slams anglers can pursue for different habitats and styles of fishing. Those appearing on the Grand Slam Tier 1 list must achieve three Grand Slams. Richard Brundage, John Dobbins and George Saridakis landed on the Tier 1 list in 2020. Dobbins qualified with several Family Grand Slams, a Bay and Estuary Grand Slam and multiple Inshore Grand Slams, while Saridakis got on the list with a Reefs and Rubble Grand Slam, an Inshore Grand Slam and a Family Grand Slam. Brundage made the list, with an Inshore Grand Slam, Family Grand Slam and Shoreline Grand Slam. Adam Ball and JD Malone became the second and third anglers to ever reach the Saltwater Fish Life List 50-Fish Club, which is quite an achievement. The two anglers have landed some special catches like Malone’s bull red drum earlier this year and Ball’s yellowfin tuna from back in 1986. It was a
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This 194.8-pound state-record big eye tuna was caught during the 2020 Pelagic Shamrock Shootout.
spectacular adventure for both anglers to reach this milestone. Lastly, Catch a Florida Memory saw countless anglers reach the Life List 10-Fish Club in 2020. This is exciting because it shows new anglers catching a diverse array of saltwater species, not just the same few. In fact, the over 5,200 fish that were submitted in 2020 by nearly 700 different anglers reached close to 1,000 achievements. Find out how to participate by visiting CatchaFloridaMemory.com. Follow the action at the Catch a Florida Memory Facebook page.
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Harvest Increases Expected For Gulf Snapper/Triggerfish
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ulf of Mexico anglers have a couple new reasons to be excited as we head into the spring and summer fishing seasons. NOAA is looking at loosening regulations for both Gulf red snapper and gray triggerfish. That should help fill some coolers for bottom-fishers who’ve found it’s sometimes tough these days to catch anything other than snapper and triggerfish. New catch level recommendations for red snapper are expected in time for
the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s April 2021 meeting, which should provide time for adjustments prior to the traditional summer peak in recreational snapper fishing. This good news is the result of a massive study called “The Great Red Snapper Count,” a $10-million, congressionally funded, independent stock assessment initiated in 2016 and conducted by 21 scientists and 12 institutions across the Gulf. The Great Red Snapper Count showed red snapper are far more abundant than previously estimated using the Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review stock assessment process that has been used to all but shut down snapper seasons over the last decade. The Great Red Snapper Count estimates that for 2-year-old-plus red snapper there are 23 million off Texas, 29 million off Louisiana, 10 million off Mississippi and Alabama, and 48 million off Florida. It also showed that large fish are comparatively more abundant in the western Gulf than the eastern Gulf. NOAA’s plan is to integrate the Great Red Snapper Count’s findings into its interim analysis for Gulf red snapper. It is worth noting that even though anglers and researchers are seeing more and larger red snapper, the spawning potential of the population is still below the original target of NOAA’s rebuilding plan. Adjustments to the state-specific catch limits are being considered to account for the harvest monitoring programs used by each state. Loosened restrictions on gray triggerfish are being considered following an interim analysis, using video surveys to estimate abundance, that showed the stock size has been increasing, especially in the eastern Gulf, and that catch limits can be increased. The Gulf Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee recommended increasing the gray triggerfish acceptable biological catch limit to 456,900 pounds whole weight, which allows an increase in the gray triggerfish annual catch limit. Action is expected prior to the end of the 2021 recreational fishing season. The Council is also considering modifications to the gray triggerfish recreational fixed closed seasons and will consider that action in a separate framework action that will also address changes to the vermilion snapper recreational bag limit.
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FEBRUARY 2021
NATIONAL 13
TIPS FOR DIALING ’EM IN
By Nick Carter
A
T
here’s no mistaking it when a monster striped bass blows up on the surface. At a slow troll just after first light, you can almost feel it’s going to happen. Behind a planer board, the stinger-hooked gizzard shad begins to struggle. Anticipation goes through the roof as the bait flees for its life. “When you see that big shad get exploded on, it’s like a bowling ball dropped out of the sky,” said Shane Goebel, of Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. “The planer board streaks across the water, and it’s on! There’s really nothing else like it.” Goebel has watched this scene take place hundreds of times while guiding the mountain lakes that straddle the Georgia/North Carolina border. He knows what it takes to boat striped bass in the 30- to 40-plus-pound range. Here are Goebel’s tips for dialing in the big-fish bite: 1) Fish Trophy Striper Season: Giants are caught year-round, but fate favors the uncomfortable angler. When the water is cold, baitfish and big stripers are forced into the shallows in search of warmer water. They push out of the main lake and into the backs of creeks and rivers, where big fish are more predictable than when they’ve got the whole lake to roam. 2) Offer Them Everything: By putting out a large spread of different baits, you’re more likely to troll a preferred meal past that big girl’s nose. Goebel fishes as many baits as the confines of a 14 NATIONAL
FEBRUARY 2021
creek allow. He might run a couple planer boards out each side of the boat, a couple freelines off the stern and a couple of balloon baits way in back. He staggers distance and depth to cover water both horizontally and vertically. Goebel fishes a mix of baits, too. Big gizzard shad and rainbow trout are big striper baits, but when blueback herring are the predominant forage, he’ll fish all three at the same time. You never know which bait will get hit. 3) Stay With the Baitfish: You’re probably sick of hearing this, but… “find the bait, and you’ll find the fish.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF BIG OL’ FISH GUIDING SERVICE
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Goebel starts cold mornings in the backs of the creeks looking for baitfish. When he sees what he likes, he deploys his spread and works from the shallows out to the creek mouth as the day advances to follow the movement of baitfish and stripers. On some lakes, diving birds are a dead giveaway. Keep binoculars on the console to scout for gulls. Also, especially on warmer days, don’t be afraid to drop downlines if you mark bait deep in a creek mouth. 4) Keep a Pitch Rod Ready: Goebel keeps lightweight spinning rods rigged and ready with Flukes and Redfins. Those casting rods come in handy when feeding breaks loose on the surface. It’s quicker and easier to cast lures to visible fish than it is to steer a trolling spread over them. And nothing beats fighting a big striper on light tackle. Check out Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service at bigolfish.com.
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ome days you battle the fish. Some days you battle the elements. Some days you battle both. You know the kind of day. The one that’s chilly, windy and choppy, with spray everywhere. But you’re determined to stay out until you get a few hits. These are the times GILLZ gear was made for. Innovative gear, with performance in every stitch, is designed with a single goal: for you to be able to fish better, longer and harder— in total comfort! Take the Pro Series Full Zip Storm Fleece. Engineered with air pockets embedded in the fabric, it provides insulation and temperature regulation while keeping the hoodie lightweight. This soft, warm hoodie can handle light rain, boat spray and features four-way stretch comfort, three zippered front pockets, a rear key pocket, and is fully lined. The Waterman Pant is ideal on cooler days. Extensively field-tested on the ocean, these pants are made with heavy-duty polyester, yet are amazingly lightweight and durable. Add a quick-dry, stretch fabric for maximum comfort, UV 50+ sun protection, water-repellant coating, security zipper pockets, and these may become your favorite fishing pant. Whatever the conditions, GILLZ has www.gillz-gear.com the gear.
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NATIONAL 17
TACTICS FOR TOUGH DELAYED HARVEST TROUT E By CAM Staff
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ven in the depths of winter, there is trout action to be found on delayed harvest (DH) streams where state agencies stock trout heavily under catch-and-release regulations. DH stretches offer high densities of trout that grow progressively wilder through winter into spring. And while stocked trout are renowned for their gullibility, they can also be difficult at times. Bill Stranahan, a veteran guide with Southeastern Anglers has a few tricks up his sleeve for catching DH trout. Bugger Time: “Wooly Buggers are so important this time of year,” Stranahan said. “You’re looking for that reaction strike. Swing and strip. Keep it moving.” Olive and black are perennial favorite colors whenever and wherever, and for winter fishing he prefers smaller Buggers in sizes 6 to 10. The primary DH stretches he fishes are Tennessee’s Hiwassee tailrace and the Tellico River, which is a freestone. They are very different fisheries, yet swinging and stripping Buggers is pretty much universally productive. Get Down On It: If catching numbers of fish is the goal, nymphing is normally the best tactic. When the trout are less active—especially when they’re holed up in deeper, slower runs during a cold snap—it might be the only way to catch fish. The key to catching fish in these conditions is depth. Trout won’t move far to feed when they’re hunkered down, so getting your nymphs down to them is imperative. Stranahan likes a weighted Pat’s Rubber Legs, or a similar heavy stonefly nymph in sizes 6 to 10. It’s a big buggy-looking mouthful, and it’s also a great anchor fly to fish in tandem with other nymphs. Depending on what the fish want, the Pat’s could be fished below “junk food” like a Squirmy Worm, a mop or egg pattern, or flashy attractor nymphs like a Rainbow Warrior or Lightning Bug. Or, if trout want something more natural, the Pat’s could anchor a small black stonefly nymph, a Hare’s Ear or a Prince. Again, depth is the key, so Stranahan likes a good sliding indicator that’s easy to adjust. Judge the depth of each hole, and try to get your anchor fly to drift just off the bottom. Headhunting: “Depending on how froggy you feel as an angler on a given day, you can go out running and gunning with big streamers,” Stranahan said. On a large tailwater or in deep holes on a smaller stream, big streamers have a way of turning the biggest fish. A big Zonker, a Swimmin’ Jimmy, a Zoo Cougar or one of Kelly Galloup’s other articulated patterns make a commotion when fished on sinking line. You’re trying to get their attention. If you don’t get chased in one hole, switch something up and move until you find what’s working. Sticking to the plan is important, though. You’re hunting a few fish large and aggressive enough to eat a raucous fly. Check out Southeastern Anglers at www.southeasternanglers.com.
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ong recognized for strength, smoothness and durability, PENN Battle spinning reels are revered as reliable workhorses. With upgraded gears and technology, new Battle III spinning reels and combos offer enhanced performance for inshore, offshore and surf fishing, while remaining one of the most accessible reels available. The Battle III is equipped with PENN’s proprietary CNC Gear Technology, which ensures pinion and drive gears are cut to exact tolerances using premium metals. The PENN HT-100 Carbon Fiber Drag System is smooth under the strain of hard-fighting saltwater fish. With a full-metal body and sideplate, Battle III reels stand up to the harsh marine environment. These features make Battle III extremely durable and high performing across a wide range of applications, at a price point that encourages anglers to get down and dirty with fish. Additional features include a superline-ready spool, line capacity rings for easy reference and 5+1 sealed, stainless ball bearings. Battle III comes in nine sizes, from 1000 to 10000. Three high-speed configurations, designated by an eye-catching red-and-black trim package, are also available. Battle III Combos feature graphite composite blanks with updated actions for inshore models, PENN Dura-Guides and a Sea-Guide double locking nut reel seat. Also new for 2020 are two new travel models, which include a case, reel and spare spool. If you’re looking for high-end performance and durability at a surprisingly low cost, check out PENN’s new Battle III reels and combos. They’ll serve you for years in the surf, on the deck of a skiff www.pennfishing.com or out on the open blue.
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E-Z ANCHORING Applies to Pontoons
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PART II
ebuting the Hinged Pontoon Anchoring Solution and Retractable Tritoon Anchoring Solution at Pennsylvania’s Lake Youghiogheny, E-Z Anchor Puller president Aaron Knopp and system installer Don Snyder spoke about and demonstrated the ease-of-use of these two permanent solutions. Underneath the crossmembers of a 24-foot Playbouy pontoon, a Hero EX-1 drum anchor winch was paired with the Hinged Solution, while the Retractable Solution was retrofitted to the 24-foot SouthBay tritoon sporting the Hero EX-2. Read on to discover the similarities and differences between these two innovative solutions that anyone can install! Aesthetics: The difference between the two is a matter of visibility; the Hinged protrudes ever-so-slightly underneath the deck in order to lift and drop the river anchor out of the water, whereas the Retractable remains completely invisible until it slides out from underneath the boat to release anchor, rode and chain in one sweeping motion. While some prefer to see the river or mushroom anchor lifted and held by the Hinged, a waterproof, wifi camera is also available so the operator can watch their Hero EX-1, EX-2 or Patriot EZ-1 deploy the rode from their smartphone. Mechanics: Each system’s operational differences lie within hollow-tube raceways. While the Hinged system has a folding bow roller that lifts when the anchor makes contact, the Retractable system has an internal spring that compresses with deployment and retrieval. Installation: For the Hinged solution, place the bow roller head so it protrudes slightly from under the deck. Keep trailering in mind, and plot where the best-suited location is in tangent when trafficking your boat to and from the water. The sleeve of the hollow raceway, which is immediately connected to the hinged bow roller’s head, is placed directly on the edge of the bullnose/front of the decking bracket that secures the square hollow raceway
Scan the QR code with your smartphone to watch the full review of the Hinged and Retractable solutions’ performance, installation, drum winch stats and more.
to the vessel’s crossmembers. For the Retractable, install the raceway 10 to 12 inches from the front of the boat. Both solutions have four drilled holes at the opposite end of the solution (the drum winch end) to allow for further flexibility when mounting to the crossmembers of the boat. Hardware: Both solution kits come with a universal underside mounting plate with pre-drilled holes for the winch selected. Elongated slots are designed to fit any crossmember, no matter how close or far apart they may be. Additional mounting hardware includes required mounting brackets, hex bolts, lock nuts and flat washers. Both solution raceways have several predrilled holes to correctly locate the included mounting tabs and brackets to the crossmembers, and both can be powered by the Hero EX-1, EX-2 or Patriot EZ-1. The drum anchor winch of choice is sold separately.
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ake parking your boat or RV trailer easier than ever with Parkit360’s new Transformer 15K Trailer Dolly. Optimized for today’s rigorous moving standards, the allnew low-profile design easily fits underneath any ball-mounted, fifth wheel or gooseneck trailer. The Transformer 15K is built strong and secure to safely move up to 15,000 pounds on firm grass, packed gravel, and 4 to 6 percent inclines. Controlled by an all-new rechargeable wireless remote, the Transformer 15K now includes Intelligent Speed Control (ISC), a mainstay feature on the Force ISC 5K and 10K dollies. Switch between high and low speed anytime, anywhere at the press of a button! With a gradual start and stop to every movement, get your trailer into position without putting strain on your hitch or cargo. Mount the remote on the dolly’s handle, or control it from a distance! This lightweight controller fits in the palm of your hand or in your pocket when you’re on the go. Micro-adjust your trailer’s position at the source of those trouble areas like tight door frames, corners and trees within a range of 50 feet or more! Every Transformer package includes two 12V U1 Interstate Batteries and an internal battery charger for self-contained power that’s always ready to work. Plug your trailer’s electric or surge brakes into the dolly for added safety and control. Move your trailer with ease and get in PARKIT360.CA and out of storage faster than ever!
HIGH PERFORMANCE TRAILER COMPONENTS
Dexter offers the most comprehensive line of axles, actuators and disc brakes engineered specifically for the marine market. Popular features include removable spindles on Eliminator™ axles, aluminum master cylinders and corrosion resistant coatings. Choose Dexter for trouble-free towing.
Together. Carrying what matters most.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
FEBRUARY 2021
NATIONAL 23
ls n e a i c ari e p S iM Make it a r e k t Super Cool White Winter Win S u z u with some amazing deals f ro m from Suzuki Marine
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33
INSTANT
SAVINGS SAVE RIGHT NOW ON
SELECT SUZUKI OUTBOARDS
INSTANT SAVINGS Instant Savings on select models when you buy a new Suzuki Outboard. See your dealer for details.
REPOWER FINANCE Rates as low as 5.99% on new Suzuki outboards on approved credit.* [60 Months]
SIX YEARS OF PROTECTION 3 Years Limited Warranty + 3 Years Extended Protection, No extra charge.
™
Gimme Six Extended Protection promotion applies to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 01/01/21 and 03/31/21 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings applies to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 01/01/21 and 03/31/21. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Instant Savings must be applied against the agreed-upon selling price of the outboard motor and reflected in the bill of sale. There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on 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 01/01/21 and 03/31/21. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2021 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
N PO OCW OU
WUPER
Shop When You Need To Online & In-Store
SUPER COUPON (3755) 3-Ply Disposable Face Masks Pack of 10
2
3
Save
$
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Black
ITEM 58065
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Blue
ITEM 57593
In-Store Only
*56201167* 56201167
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WOW!
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56338012
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3
ITEM 69504/62336/47262 shown
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119
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115
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199Use Online & In-Store 99 ITEM 62859/63055/62860 shown
99 *56312091* LIMIT 1 - Exp. 3/3/21*
ITEM 61277/63881
3/8" Drive 1/2" Drive
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9
*56323345* 56323345
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hft_coastalangler_0221_M-REG176349.indd 1
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*56299466 * LIMIT 3 - Exp. 3/3/21* 56299466
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69
99
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1,100+ Stores Nationwide • HarborFreight.com
99
99
2500 lb. Capacity Electric Winch with Wireless Remote Control
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ITEM 68998/63248 64080/64263 shown
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$
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ITEM 61276/63880
18" Working Platform Step Stool
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1/4" Drive
(5547 )
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40
56252177
6.5 HP (212 CC) OHV Horizontal Shaft Gas Engine
3999
(4271)
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56312091
56277684
2999
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174
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ITEM 64031, 64722, 64030, 64721, 64061, 64720, 56429
10499
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94
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99
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1199
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19999
23999
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Hot Dog
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*56231627 * LIMIT 1 - Exp. 3/3/21*
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1899
ITEM 60637 61615 shown
59%
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30", 5 Drawer Mechanic's Cart
99
56208312
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*56208312*
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ITEM 56862
56214959
99
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56203480
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$ 99
4
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*56203480*
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3
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$ 89
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27999
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99
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$
64999 699 $
WHILE SUPPLIES LAST
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10 Gun Electronic Security Safe
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$ 99
Swivel Lens Headlamp
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9000w Max. Starting Extra Long Life Gas Powered Generator
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(4614)
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83
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ITEM 63350
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*56329809* 56329809
LIMIT 3 - Exp. 3/3/21*
Pricing, promotions, and availability may vary by location and at www.harborfreight.com and are subject to change without notice. We reserve the right to limit quantities. “Compare to” advertised price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. Although we make every effort to assure that our prices and products are advertised as accurately as possible, we are only human and in the event an error is made, we reserve the right to correct it.
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