Coastal Angler Magazine | January 2022 | Northeast Florida Edition

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RECORDBREAKING CATCHES

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VOLUME 27 • ISSUE 322

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By Capt. Ryan Palmer

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ahoo are some of the fastest fish in the ocean.

Built for speed with large tails and torpedo shaped bodies, they can accelerate rapidly and turn on a dime. Wahoo can be solitary fish or found in large schools, depending on conditions, time of year and moon phases.

Known for their excellent table fare and awesome fighting ability, anglers travel to South Florida and The Bahamas from all over the world to target them. They have razor sharp teeth and their jaws are hinged like scissors, so landing one on mono is always an exhilarating feat. They can be caught year round, but during the winter months they are found in far better numbers and sizes, especially around the new and full moons. There are several ways to catch them, including high-speed trolling, planer fishing, vertical jigging and live bait.

High-speed trolling for wahoo could well be the most exciting method to catch them. There’s nothing like hearing the clicker of an 80 wide reel scream while you’re doing 17 knots. In some cases, you will have multiple hook ups with multiple drags going off. Talk about heart racing!

I’ll go over my normal high-speed spread, but keep in mind everyone has their favorite way of doing things. I run a three-line spread. I fish two electric reels and a 50W Shimano Talica. My first electric is set at 80 feet from the boat with a 48-ounce cable-rigged cigar lead. To that I have 25 feet of 400-pound mono shock leader, which is then connected to my lure. The next electric is set at 150 feet from the boat with a 32-ounce cigar lead and the same shock leader. Last is my shotgun Talica with a 24-ounce cigar lead and the same shock leader.

I have about 25 different lures from different manufacturers in many colors, shapes and sizes.

All of my lures are rigged on 480-pound cable with either single or double hook sets. I start my spread with an assortment of colors. If I get more than one bite on a particular color, I will change the others to that or similar colors.

High speed trolling is done in both South Florida and the Bahamas. I used to think that it

was pointless in South Florida, but over the last few years I have been more successful catching them, and the fish I’ve been catching are better sized fish than the wahoo I’ve caught while planer fishing. On a trip just after a winter full moon, we caught a double header off Pompano Beach. Each fish was in the 40-pound range.

When high speed trolling, the optimum speed is between 15 and 20 knots, and we fish a zigzag pattern between 120 and 300 feet of water. There are a couple reasons for the zigzag.

One is to mimic baitfish coming in or going out during tidal changes, and the other is that during your turns your baits will slow down and fall slightly before accelerating again. This is when you get most of your bites. Keeping an eye on your chart plotter is key, because you can generally mark the schools in the upper portion of the water column. High speed trolling is great if you want to specifically target wahoo, as there are only a few species that eat at that kind of speed.

Planer fishing is just as fun and doesn’t burn nearly as much fuel. I like to run two planers consisting of a #4 and a #8 planer with either a drone spoon or a bonita strip behind a Sea Witch. Colors, sizes and shapes all vary, but once I find what color they like I switch them over. The drone spoon is a time-tested and proven method. The flash and vibration of the spoon cutting through the water gets their attention. I prefer 3.5-inch blue drone spoon behind a #8 Old Salty planer. I run about 60 to 100 feet of 60-pound mono between my planer and bait. While pulling planers down deep, I also pull a couple surface baits. Anything from a bonita strip behind a chugger-style lure to a rigged ballyhoo on wire behind an Islander will work. If you have outriggers, you can spread two baits wide and run a shotgun with a cigar-weighted rigged ballyhoo. I

planer fish the same areas as I high speed, but my speeds will be much slower at 6 to 11 knots. Lots of wahoo tournaments have been won fishing at slower trolling speeds, so don’t rule out a jumbo just because you’re not highspeeding.

Live baiting wahoo is less common because you are either bump trolling or drifting goggle eyes or other live baits. You are not covering as much ground. Live baits rigged on light wire or titanium are my first choice, with fluorocarbon being second, due only to a wahoo’s super sharp teeth.

I’ve caught several wahoo on vertical jigs.

About 90 percent of those have come way offshore under some type of flotsam. I prefer a simple 2-ounce diamond Jig. All the wahoo I’ve caught on vertical jigs have been less than 10 pounds.

Wahoo as table fare is in my top five, maybe even top three. I’ve often said that if you have cooked it, it’s already burnt. Do yourself a favor and try some wahoo sashimi!

Capt. Ryan Palmer Family Jewell Fishing Charters 954-882-2631

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Friends&Fishing

By Jim Parks

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here are a multitude of pleasures and benefits to fishing. The beauty of the environment, the challenge, the relaxation, the simple joy of being outside, the fish caught and the big ones that got away are all among the reasons we fish.

Intertwined are the relationships created during outings.

Like many others, there are times when I would rather be on the water alone. One particular period of my life, I was working full time while going to night school working on my master’s degree. I had no time. Recognizing this, my wife all but demanded I go fishing. Entering the creek that morning, I was mentally exhausted. I perhaps fished 30 minutes before I wound up lying on a rock with the sun in my face. The sound of the creek and my feet in the cool water washed away a lot of stress. At other times, I’ve found the solitude allows me to commune amidst the creation with its creator. After all, even Jesus knew the merits of hanging out with fishermen.

To quote Norman MacLean in A River Runs Through It, “And we were left to assume, as my younger brother Paul and I did… that all firstclass fishermen on the Sea of Galilee were flyfishermen... and that John, the favorite, was a dry fly-fisherman.”

Over the decades, I’ve been blessed to meet hundreds of like-minded sportsmen. Some, I’d rather forget! However, looking back over fourplus decades, I cannot help but reminisce over what fishing friendships have meant.

If you were fortunate to begin fishing young, you had at least one mentor. If you had a father or grandfather who took you on early fishing trips, hopefully you realize how blessed you were 6 NATIONAL

JANUARY 2022

and will joyfully pass that blessing to the next generation.

Having no fishermen in my family tree, I adapted. Like-minded friends of my own age, aka the “Three Amigos,” myself, Keith and Steve, as well as their fathers and grandfathers, helped me along the way. Though my father didn’t fish, he worked in a textile mill alongside more than a few fishermen with whom I came into contact. Among them were the late Don Kirk, author of several books on fly fishing, and the late, great fly tyer Kirk Jenkins. To this day, the memory is burned in my mind of my father’s co-worker Charlie Murrell tying flies with me while camped on Forney Creek in the Smoky Mountains. I was 14 years old.

Along the way, they and others taught me wading, casting and reading water, always instilling an interest and knowledge of the history of and respect for the locations where I trod as a young fisherman. Growing older meant adulthood; college, career and marriage entered the scene.

Still, at least one of the Three Amigos besides myself has kept fishing, and we still get together when life permits.

As we grow older and hopefully better in our pursuit, we’re sometimes blessed to invest in the future of our sport by sharing with the next generation. We instill in them an appreciation for the beauty and opportunity of wading in the crystal clear streams while sharing the history passed down to us.

Those opportunities make us better fishermen.

In teaching, we are forced to consider the intricate, basic skills of the sport, which over time can become blurred by repetition. As my mentors did with me, I am careful to not “over-coach.” This allows the student to make and learn from their

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mistakes. How awesome to be part of their first catch and to share in that accomplishment.

If we’re lucky, at some point we are blessed to come into contact with equally experienced fishermen with whom we just click. The best fishing buddies possess a similar interest in locales and styles, but are different enough that we still learn from one another. The best fishing buddies become those who can finish your sentence, agree on the best places to fish, offer insight we didn’t consider and share learned tidbits, making both that much better. An additional bonus are those friends who are willing to take those crazy adventures such as night trips, remote bushwhacking treks and just downright crazy ideas for which they’ll catch it from their spouse when they eventually return home, well past curfew.

I remember as kids how we were competitive.

We even had the unofficial “Virgil Ward Award” for whoever landed the largest fish that day. Over time, a point is reached when you get just as much joy in watching a friend ply a hole for that big ol’ brown. Sometimes it’s a tag-team approach, with a spotter directing casts to a trophy fish. We realize as much excitement in our friend’s success as if it were our own, if not more!

Lately, I’ve been stepping back… just a little… to give my buddy the first crack at a good run.

Watching an artist at work, regardless of the canvas, is a joy. When that person is using all the combined skills of a stealthy approach, with the fly you both agree is best, making that cast in just the right spot and setting that hook, it’s like watching yourself from a distance.

In that moment, you are just as elated to share and witness the moment. That moment is when you realize having a fishing buddy is priceless.

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PROPOSAL TO SLASH DOLPHIN LIMITS IN HALF

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he Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is looking at slashing the recreational dolphin limit in half, from 60 to 30 fish per vessel and from 10 to 5 fish per person in Florida state waters, citing a decrease in number and size of fish caught in recent years off South Florida and the Florida Keys.

At its meeting in December, FWC reviewed a draft proposal that would amend the regulations in state waters. The call for action reportedly came from southeast Florida and Keys charter captains, and it follows pending regulations changes approved by the federal South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) in June. The SAFMC ruling reduced the dolphin recreational limit from 60 to 54 fish per vessel for Atlantic federal waters along the entire east coast of the United States. The ruling is pending approval by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

FWC strongly advocated for larger reductions in federal waters as a precautionary measure. That push was blocked by North Carolina representatives, who would only support the smaller reduction.

Part of FWC’s interest for proactive management is increased international engagement concerning the highly migratory species. Dolphin off the east coast of the U.S. are part of the Atlantic-Caribbean stock, which extends from New England to the

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JANUARY 2022

Caribbean coast of South America. The status of the stock is currently unknown, according to FWC’s draft proposal, and a traditional stock assessment is unlikely due to unknowns within the fishery, which include international harvest and the absence of fishery-independent monitoring.

Warming surface temperatures in the Atlantic are also of concern to FWC because of a welldocumented preference of the species for a temperature range between 66 and 84 degrees.

Catch-rate data indicates a tight link to water temperature, and those rates peak at 75 degrees.

“Because of this temperature preference, warming ocean waters and other environmental changes could contribute to shifts in dolphin distribution and influence migration routes,” reads the proposal. “Reports of more frequent encounters with dolphin in the northeastern U.S. and a growing directed recreational fishery there illustrate the northward distribution shift for this species.

“Similarly, fewer encounters with dolphin in SE Florida and the Keys could be linked to warming sea surface temperatures. Anecdotal reports from SE Florida and the Keys also indicate a change in timing of arrival of large dolphin, which may indicate changes in movement patterns as water temperature increases.”

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Dolphin harvest off the east coast of Florida has fallen precipitously since 2015, according to FWC’s data. In that same data, approximately 90 percent of the harvest in the last 10 years came from federal waters.

A final public hearing for the proposed rule would be held at FWC’s March 2022 meeting.

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DreamCatching

By Zach Harvey

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FINER POINTS of FISHING AFAR

s we head into winter fishing show season, many start shopping for good charters to fish in the coming season. The following points should save you some headaches.

Know Thyself The best thing to ensure a successful trip is to take a hard look at yourself and your crew—your experience, ages, skill levels and general disposition.

Rough out your group’s hopes for the trip: Is the gear type of utmost import?

Are you five old college friends for whom the trip’s fish tally comes after talking and laughing? Are you hoping to take home a load of fillets? There’s a possibility a port’s highliner—the guy who mohawks the fish every trip— could be the worst guy in town given your group’s criteria for success.

Know Your Quarry, Ask Questions Understand the logistical realities, timing issues, and if there’s a viable

fishery underway. One of the biggest problems fishermen encounter in destination fishing is pride prevents us from asking what we view as “googan” questions. We end up trying to convince our would-be hosts that we know what we’re doing and forget to ask the questions that might make that so. Ask the stupid question.

If you’ve been hoping to land X species of X size your entire life, flush out as much detail as possible about the fishery: Are there certain windows of timing for the best fishing? Is tide stage a major factor? Every species and every region is full of caveats and idiosyncrasies.

Full-time chartermen must fish as many days as they can book. You can’t expect to get straight answers to all your timing questions. You can, however, zero in on an area’s better tackle shops to fill in blanks. The quest for reliable intel is something you’ll have to patchwork together.

Policies and Parting Advice As you zero in on a decision, there are other considerations. Do not base boat choice on price first and foremost. Charter fishing is not cheap, but a well-executed trip with a top captain can make your dream trip a reality.

Be sure, however, to get a clear breakdown on the boat’s weather cancellation, deposit, rescheduling and trip-downgrade policies to be sure all in your crew have clear expectations. Ask detailed questions about the boat’s policies on fishing gear and whether you may target more than one species during a trip.

Wherever you fish, whoever takes you and whatever you target, consider: Any seasoned crew will know, inside five minutes, the real extent of your experience. Everything works better if you check your ego at the dock.

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JANUARY 2022

FLORIDA 7

IGFA APPROVES NEW WORLD RECORDS T Carmody’s Southern Bluefin Tuna

he International Game Fish Association (IGFA), headquartered in Dania Beach, Fla., is the worldwide authority on record fish. The organization maintains a massive database of catches for almost any species you can think of and in numerous different categories.

Every few months, IGFA releases a handful of recently approved new records. Here are some of the most impressive fish approved by IGFA this fall:

On July 1, 2021, Carl Carmody was fishing out of Hick’s Bay, New Zealand, when he landed the fish of a lifetime.

This 355-pound, 6-ounce southern bluefin tuna is the second largest ever caught, weighing just 14 pounds shy of the current IGFA All-Tackle World Record. Carl was fishing aboard the Doctors Orders captained by Blake Sheridan when this fish struck a trolled lure. The impressive tuna earned Carl the IGFA Men’s 130-lb. Line Class World Record for the species.

Triana’s Sockeye Salmon Dennis Triana returned from an August trip to Alaska with a handful of records, including this 66-centimeter sockeye salmon that he landed on Aug. 14, 2021 to set the IGFA All-Tackle Length Record for the species. Dennis was fishing unguided on the Russian River in Alaska when the salmon struck a jig.

Sherbovich’s Arctic Char

Williams’ Chinook Salmon Bailey Williams was fishing with her husband on the Salmon River in Pulaski, New York on Sept. 12, 2021, when she landed this 12-pound, 12-ounce Chinook salmon. With this fish Bailey set the IGFA Women’s 2-kg (4-lb) Tippet Class World Record for the species. This beautiful salmon took an egg pattern on an 8-weight and was landed after a brief fight.

8 FLORIDA

JANUARY 2022

On July 28, 2021, Ilya Sherbovich landed this beautiful 25-pound, 11-ounce Arctic char to set the IGFA Men’s 20-lb. Tippet Class World Record. Ilya was fishing the remote Taymyr Peninsula in northern Russia when he landed this amazing fish. The Taymyr Peninsula is located north of the Arctic circle, and is only accessible via helicopter.

Ilya netted this colorful char after a seven-minute fight and released the fish after recording the proper documentation.

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his time of year, it can be tough to put fresh fish on the dinner table, especially close to shore, where cooler temps slow down the bite for the species we chase in summer. Sheepshead, however, are a species that continues to munch through the winter months. Here are some tips to help you load the freezer with delicious white-meat sheepshead.

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FOUR TIPS FOR SHEEPSHEAD

JANUARY 2022

Sheepshead spawn in winter, and many will abandon their inshore homes for the rocks and reefs of deeper water nearshore. Although they will be in deeper water, sheepshead are known to stack up during the spawn, and the catching can be easy once you find them.

A contingent will also remain inshore, on the same bridges, docks and rocks where they spend most of the year. So, whether you’d prefer to take a little ride or if you prefer to stay closer to home, chances are you can find sheepshead willing to bite.

2 3

BEST BAITS

Sheepshead feed primarily on a diet of crustaceans, which they crunch up with their horse-like teeth. This is a species for which live bait is almost a requirement, and since it’s hard to bait a hook with barnacles, most anglers fish live or fresh-cut shrimp, frozen shrimp, fiddler crabs or sand fleas.

HOOKS AND TACKLE

A simple dropper rig, with the weight suspended below the hook, is the most popular rigging for sheepshead. The hook should be small enough to fit into their mouths, yet it must also be strong enough to withstand the crushing power of those teeth. In most instances, a #1 or 1/0 short-shank live bait hook is a good choice. Hide that hook in the bait as best as you can, because sheepshead can get finicky.

The hook, or hooks, should be suspended a couple feet above a leader of 20-pound or heavier test. Teeth and structure are the primary reasons for the heavy leader. A 10-pound mainline on spinning gear is usually enough to handle the fight of sheepshead up to 5 pounds.

One of the great things about a dropper rig is there’s a direct connection with no slack from the rod to the bait. It allows anglers to feel the slightest nibble and set the hook quickly. Sheepshead are also known as “convict fish,” and they are notorious bait thieves.

4

PLAY THE TIDE

Like any saltwater species, “heads” feed best on a moving tide.

Whether you’re inshore or nearshore, you’ll be fishing some type of structure if you hope to catch sheepshead. Anchoring or position-locking the boat upstream of structure allows you to drift baits back into the strike zone for a natural presentation.

The meat on a sheepshead is light and sweet. Cleaning them can be difficult because of their sharp spines and thick rib cages, but the resulting fillets are worth it.

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ACKSONVILLE, Florida (December 9, 2021) – The North Florida Marine Association announces the Jacksonville Boat Show, which will take place January 28 – 30, 2022, at the Prime Osborn Convention Center in Jacksonville. The Boat Show will offer three days of waterrelated fun, family-friendly activities, and educational seminars— as well as amazing deals on hundreds of boats and thousands of accessories. Boat Show attendees will be among the first to see and board brand-new models of all types of watercraft, including fishing boats, cruisers, ski boats, pontoons, inflatables, personal watercraft, and more. The Boat Show is sponsored by VyStar Credit Union.

Jacksonville Boat Show highlights include:

• Seminar presentations on Saturday and Sunday by Captain Tim Altman of Hoodoo Sportfishing Charters and founder of Wahoo Junkies. Seminar series is sponsored by Strike-Zone Fishing.

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Fishing Report & Forecast Mayport

By Capt. Kirk Waltz

A

s I write this report I am wondering has the moderate winter continued. December was quite a variety of fishing forecast with most of us scratching our heads sometime wondering if it was still spring or late summer. The fishing in December was really good for the most part. I would look for that trend to continue. Good numbers of trout both speckled and yellow mouth weakfish should continue to be good. The high outgoing tides were the best where the cleaner water prevailed. Artificials like Bite-a-baits, Bomber Long-A’s, and Gulps in new penny and white work well. Fish the edges of the St John’s River and work them slowly on the rock edges, oyster bars, and grass flats for some good action. Live baits can be effective too! A ¼ oz jig tipped with a live shrimp, mud minnow, or live finger mullet can be the right combination for some fast action.

Redfish will begin to school up in the shallows in fairly good numbers this month in creeks both north and south of the ICW. Sister’s creek, Hannah Mills, Garden, and Broward to the north. To the south try Sherman’s, Dutton, and the Queens harbor rocks. Cut crab, live shrimp, mud minnows, and finger mullet are great baits worked around the edges of run outs, oyster bars, and any structure. A ¼ oz jig, Carolina rig, or float rigs work well.

4 NORTHEAST FLORIDA

JANUARY 2022

The falling tide to dead low are best working towards the back of any feeder creeks slowly and methodically. If it’s quiet and slick calm look for the reds pushing water like mini-subs. Try to be stealthy and you should be able to catch a mess. Flounder, bluefish, black drum, and trout will be in the same locations so a mixed bag is not unusual.

The sheepshead bite should be much bolder as our water temps drop.

I noticed a lot of big ones last month and see that trend continuing.

The big rocks, dock pilings, little jetties, and white shell rocks should be holding decent numbers. The falling tides are best closer to dead low.

Fish with cut blue crab, fiddlers, and clams on ¼ oz jigs, float rigs, and Carolina rigs along the edges of these spots almost vertically to avoid snags, though you will lose some tackle, to bag a few. Chumming with crushed fresh oysters can be a big plus too! Try it and see.

The offshore scene should be good this month with sea bass, snapper, and grouper moving in closer on the party grounds. Cut squid, sardines, cigar minnows, and any live bait you can jig will be effective fished on the bottom. Make sure you check the regs for what’s legal and what’s not.

Enjoy the month and Happy New Year!.

Capt Kirk Waltz can be reached at www.Enterprisefishingcharters. com or heard every Sat morning on the Outdoors Show from 7-10am on 92.5fm and 1010am giving out fishing forecasts, tips, and weather conditions with fellow hosts Capt. Kevin Faver and Jeff Lageman. For a charter he can be reached at 904.626.1128

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Serving Up More.

ACGFA - January

By Will Niemann

A

Backwater, Bass, jetty/bay and offshore fishing charters

GEAR BY: Columbia Wear, Salt Life, Guy Harvey, MoJo, Huk, Tormentor, Smith and more! www.ameliaangler.com 904-261-2870 111 Centre St, Fernandina Bch., Fl. 32034

CGFA is proud to support the St. Johns County Social Services Department Food Pantry. As a result, more than 460 food items were donated at the November meeting making the holidays a bit brighter for those in need.

November was also the election of officers and board members to lead the Club into the coming year.

Our Christmas Party was held on December 11th, and Santa made quite a splash, bringing presents to all the youth in the Young Anglers Club.

Our next in-club tournament is for Wahoo and is scheduled for the entire month of January.

Take advantage of all the opportunities our family-friendly club offers and join up today. We’d love to see you at our next meeting!

The next ACGFA club meeting will be held on January 18,2021 at the St. Augustine Shrine Club located at 250 Brainard Dr. in St. Augustine. Social hour begins at 6pm, with dinner at 6:30 pm followed

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by the meeting at 7pm.

New members and guests are always welcome at ACGFA! Our club was founded in 1958 and our mission is to promote responsible and safe fishing in our area; to be a leading force in improving fishing grounds and facilities, and to continue to promote conservation of our local waters. We are a family oriented group who enjoy fishing and good fellowship. Dues are $65 per year per family, we meet on the third Tuesday of every month, usually at the St. Augustine Shrine Club. We have a social gathering starting at 6:00 pm which typically includes dinner and our meeting starts at 7:00. For the kids, our Young Anglers Club is an active and fun part of our meetings. Local speakers share their expertise on some aspect of fishing, boating, water safety, and the environment every month.

We also have in-club tournaments on a monthly basis, and boat of the year competitions for both inshore and offshore anglers. We also have Women’s, Junior, and Men’s Angler of the Year contests. For more information find us on FaceBook or go to www.acgfa.com.

JANUARY 2022

NORTHEAST FLORIDA 7

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Fishing Report & Forecast Nassau Sound

By Capt. Tony Bozzella

W

na 33 vd, 50

m

ater is clean, clear and redfish are schooled up. I like to pick a falling or low tide mid day - early afternoon. This gives you maximum visibility for seeing fish. It’s important to pole or fish leeward side of flats, to get the best results due to afternoon breezes, so you can see pushes as well. Traditional methods for shallow water reds are still in full swing. A 1/4 oz TBS jig with a shrimp of mud minnows is the standard. If there are black drum, or Sheephead in a particular area, I would use shrimp.

Also, with the clear water, I would recommend a 30 inch piece of 20lb fluorocarbon tied as leader to your braid or monofilament. If you see a cruising fish or a school cast in front afew feet, or the edge of the school not to startle them.

However, staked out on rips around oysters with bait combos will also be a good choice.

If you stay 15 minutes with no strikes, move.

The best anglers

find areas like this that are holding reds, note the time of tide for other days of fishing. The goal being to find multiple places like this throughout the tide cycle to create a good day fishing. If you don’t pressure the school, they usually stay around. To much disturbing activity, they will relocate. Redfish handle non fluctuating temps well.

If it stays constantly cool, the redfish are still consistent on the bite.

The term “Deadsticking” is the term for a bait cast out and just sitting on the bottom. This method is a great way to fish the winter time backcountry reds. Fish hold tight on their spots in the cold.

Sometime, redfish schools can be alittle off the mark, don’t be afraid to cast your area covering the whole spot. I have seen anglers catch fish at one end of a small spot & the other angler not getting a bite.

Bait placement is important. If you are fishing a rip of current around an oyster or structure, cast to the inside edge of the rip, in the eddie.

Most fish will be sitting their, waiting for bait to get into the current for an easy ambush. I don’t focus on other species in January. That’s my target!!

Until next month, winter time fishing is good!!

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Capt. Tony Bozzella / TBS JIGS www.tonybozzella.com 904 651 0182

JANUARY 2022

NORTHEAST FLORIDA 9

Fishing Report & Forecast St. Augustine Offshore

By Capt. Robert Johnson

New Year’s resolution!

There is no better way to start the new year than enjoying a day on the water. Everyone’s New Year resolution should be to fish more! Of course, I’m just a little bit biased.

January is a great month to target blue water species. The water temperatures typically cool inshore pushing the pelagic species offshore into the warmer waters of the Gulf Stream. Black Fin Tuna, Wahoo and sailfish will all be available for anglers willing to run the 50+ miles to

the blue water. Look for anything above 72 degrees and you should be in business. I prefer medium ballyhoo rigged on 80# monofilament but there will be plenty of fish caught on cedar plugs. Don’t be afraid to pull your long riggers way back in the spread. Tuna fish especially can be finicky, and you will get more bites back beyond your prop wash.

We pull around 7 knots to prevent washing out our baits. If you can afford to burn the fuel, there will be some wahoo caught high speed trolling. Any large, weighted lure will produce Wahoo. Local bait and tackle shops will gladly steer you in the right direction. I prefer to pull between 12 and 14 knots. Just be prepared to pull out your wallet at the end of the day.

On the bottom all Grouper species are closed but there are plenty of other species to catch. Mutton and mangrove snapper will be biting out near the shelf edge as well as the normal array of Triggers. Porgies and Vermillion snapper.

If you don’t want to make the long run and just want a fish dinner Black Sea Bass will be chewing in the 80 to 100 ft depth. Look for low profile live bottom. The typical double hook rigg and cut bait will produce some tasty fish dinners. Anchoring is not required drift fishing is a great way to catch Sea Bass.

Start the New Year off right!

“Let’s Go Fishing” Captain Robert Johnson (904)540-2628 Jodielynncharters.com Jlfishing@bellsouth.net

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Snook Recipe- Fresh catch from Stuart, FL Kacie Olsen Ingredients

Jalapeño Cream sauce: Core and remove seeds from jalapeño, ADD butter to saucepan-melt and add onion, jalapeño and garlic. Sauté once onion is translucent. Add heavy whipping cream and let simmer on LOW for about 5 minutes. Mix cornstarch with some water and add to cream mixture. Whisk until thickened.

Add more cream if necessary.

Complete with blender or Magic Bullet. Season with salt and pepper- let simmer and keep warm until served.

One filet cut into 4-6 pieces.

Flour- I used unbleached Salt and pepper(optional) or fish rub of your choice- I used Seafood Magic 2 tablespoons of butter 4 tablespoons of olive oil to sear Lemon wedge to finish Jalapeño cream sauce (optional) 2 tablespoons of butter 2 cups of Heavy whipping cream 4 jalapeños ¼ cup of red onion 2 tablespoons of garlic (finely chopped) 2 TSP of corn starch to thicken Salt and pepper to taste Cooking: Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees..make sure fish is dry and season with salt/pepper and lightly dust with flour. Cook on Medium heat adding the butter and oil. Add Snook and sear for 2-3 minutes per side. Place snook on baking sheet under tinfoil and bake for about 10 minutes or an internal temperature 140 degrees.Cooking will depend on thickness of the snook. Garnish with lemon and chives. (optional)

Kacie Olsen is a 3rd generation Florida native raised in Stuart, Florida, the sailfish capital of the world. A strong passion for the outdoors lead her to pursue wild game and offshore fishing. Regardless of the season, Kacie enjoys traveling across the US and aiding in conservation while creating lifelong memories with likeminded folks.

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Wahoo Junkies – January Wahoo Mania

By Captain Tim Altman

W

ahoo Junkies in Northeast Florida and the Carolinas have had wide-open fishing. Look, I could bore you with a lot of fishing tactics, lures and terminal tackle talk..but right now it’s all about finding the weather window and getting out there. Just get your gear ready and go.

Fishing reports have been streaming in, but let’s focus on the Jacksonville Bluewater Club Wahoo Classic. The Jacksonville Bluewater Club with their Wahoo Classic is always the first Wahoo tournament of the season and provides some of the largest fish per capita of any of our regional tournaments. It is designed to be a “head to head” tournament that enhances comradery through competition. The “Classic” is a two-fish aggregate tournament and took place on December 3rd & 4th. Blessed with good weather, the Classic had 10 boats fishing day one and 21 boats fishing day two. On day 1 the first boat to the scales at the Palms Fish Camp Restaurant was the Finnikki, a 47ft Freeman

Team Finnikki With several teams weighing in modest 40lb fish, one of the last teams to weigh on day one was Team Walk Thru owned and captained by Frank Vining. Frank is no stranger to tournament championship weigh-ins with a win 2 years ago in the Conch House Wahoo Tournament out of St Augustine and as a crew member aboard the “Outta Line” with 2 wins in the Northeast Florida Wahoo Shootout. Well…Team Walk Thru (that included Frank’s mom and dad) did it again weighing a 57.76lber and a 78.98lber for a tournament winning 136.74lb aggregate. Did I mention that Frank has also placed in or won the Flounder Pounder Tournament 3 times? Yes..Frank is my friend and he is lucky. One of my good friends says that he believes Frank may be one of the best all-around tournament fisherman in Northeast Florida without a trustfund… and I agree.

Wahoo Classic Winner Team Walk-Thru Other Notable Notes from the Wahoo Classic are: • Team “Relentless” that caught their first-ever 2 Wahoo and placed 8th!

• Team “NEXGEN” finished 3rd weighing in an 83.68lber, the 2nd largest fish in the tourney.

• 5 different tournament boats landed 6 Wahoo.

• Team “Hoos on First” had a 64.10lber and Team “Carmen Marie” had a 62.42lber Team Relentless with their first-ever Wahoo!

Folks, pick your days very carefully and get out there because the fish are here. I’ve had 2 Wahoo trips that were both hi-speed trolling in December and both were successful with 3 fish each trip.

Remember folks that there will be Wahoo Junkies “Wahoo Rigging and Tactics” seminars during the Jacksonville Boat Show at 2pm & 5pm Saturday January 29th and 2pm & 4pm Sunday the 30th. I will be accompanied by my good friend, winner of the 2021 Northeast Florida Wahoo Shootout and fellow Wahoo Junkie Casey Smith. These Wahoo Junkies Seminars are sure to be an informative great time and presented

by Strike-Zone Fishing Jacksonville.

Where can you purchase all of your Wahoo tackle and rigging? Strike Zone Fishing Jacksonville is where! Strike Zone owner Dave Workman Jr. has the largest selection of Shimano Reels in Northeast Florida and has a huge selection of Wahoo specific tackle and rigging. Ask for Archie or Dalton to get expert advice on all your Wahoo-specific needs.

HooDoo Charters Wahoo Trips are in full Swing. For more information or to book a trip use the contact info below.

Until next month remember that great things happen when you take a kid fishing!

catamaran captained by Luis de Souza and owned by Mr. Mark Padgett.

Finnikki has been on a Wahoo Tournament tear for the last couple months and this day was no exception. They had 5 fish in total and the first fish they weighed in was 43.71lbs and the 2nd fish was monster 87.34lbs. Team Finnikki set the bar pretty high right off the bat with a 131.05lb 2-fish aggregate.

14 NORTHEAST FLORIDA

JANUARY 2022

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Captain Tim Altman HooDoo Sportfishing Charters www.saltwaterchallenge.com tim@saltwaterchallenge.com

F

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Fishing Report & Forecast Fernandina / Amelia Island

By Terry D. Lacoss

S

peckled trout fishing will highlight December fishing action along the beaches, inlets, and backwaters of Amelia Island. Some of the largest seatrout may weigh over the ten-pound mark and are often caught with live finger mullet, or surface plugs.

Look for areas where deep channels are adjacent to docks, jetty rocks, and deep water oysterbars. Finding clean water is a must as well with some of the best sea trout action coming during long periods of excellent winter weather. Fish slow is key as well as cold water temperatures often slow down the feeding habits of not only sea trout but also other species of inshore game fish.

close to barnacle clad jetty rocks and dock pilings. Boat docks located close to, or right on the edge of a deep channel where a good current is running will often find good numbers of sheepshead. Bring along a long-handled shovel and scrap the barnacles off from the pilings, which will help chum up nearby sheepshead to your barbed fiddler crab.

Other great sheepshead boars include a small piece of clam, or fresh dead shrimp. There is also an excellent winter sheepshead bite at KBY reef where old concrete rubble is covered with barnacles as well.

Whiting and “Puppy” drum will be running during the last few hours of the in-coming tides at both the Nassau and St. Mary’s inlets while

Drifting a live shrimp under a float where the depth of your live shrimp is drifting just off from the bottom is also a deadly winter sea trout technique. Hook your live shrimp starting under the back of the tail and right out through the top of the tail, which helps conceal your hook!

Also, some of the best December seatrout action often comes at night at the deep ends of boat docks which harbor lights. Sea trout are often attracted to night lights exposing their locations!

Sea trout must measure at least 15 inches and not over 19-inches with a bag limit of six per day. One of the sea trout in your bag limit may measure over the 19-inch mark.

Beach fishermen will be targeting black drum, bluefish, and excellent eating whiting while fishing dead on the bottom with ultra-fresh shrimp, or sand fleas. Tides are critical with the last of the in-coming and the first of the out-going tides producing the best action.

Also look for the best the best black drum and whiting fishing action to come during stable weather conditions as well, which always promotes clean water and schooling bait fish.

Redfish will be schooling on shallow, warming mud flats during the afternoon as well. Look for large bays that have a mud bottom where crabs and shrimp are plentiful to offer the best action. Often the best action comes during a low afternoon tide as well when water temperatures are warmest. Fish slow along the bottom with a ¼ ounce led head rigged with a Berkley Gulp shrimp in the “New Penny” or white, color patterns. with a chartreuse tail color pattern.

Sheepshead weighing to 10-pounds will be taking fiddler crabs fished

fishing dead on the bottom with ultra-fresh shrimp. In recent years winter whiting have been weighing to three pounds and excellent eating as well.

Largemouth bass will be spawning during late December and just before a full moon in the many tidal brackish rivers including Lofton and Boggy creeks. Fishing in the deep turns of these rivers where a shallow shelf is located adjacent to deep waters is key. Wild shiners fished under a small float is always a sure bet for hooking into winter bass that can weigh up to 12-pounds. Casting a “Bomber” minnow plug close to shoreline cover also produces excellent bass action.

Offshore bottom fishing at a multitude of Amelia Island offshore fish havens will produce nice catches of black sea bass and gag grouper during the month of December. Some of the more productive offshore live bottoms, wrecks and lime rock ledges are located close to shore as well where small boats can access this winter fishery. Included are KBY, FA, FC, FB and Schultz’s Market, all located within 12 nautical miles from either the Nassau or St. Mary’s inlets.

Fishing dead on the bottom with fresh squid, or cut bait is the preferred angling technique. Also, deep jigging with a five-ounce bucktail jig in the white color pattern and tipped with a small piece of squid is an excellent winter bottom fishing tactic for black sea bass that can weigh up to four-pounds.

16 NORTHEAST FLORIDA

JANUARY 2022

For more information and charters, call Amelia Angler Outfitters (904) 261-2870, or visit www.ameliaangler.com

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Fishing Report Pier and Surf By: Noel Kuhn

T

his is the month for chilly water. At a certain temperature all fish will say “Too cold!” At that point they will either migrate south or towards deeper warmer water. On our local beaches that temp is 60 degrees. When it gets below 60 it is time to travel south, tie rigs, do reel maintenance or rake leaves. The local TV channel 4 is a good reference for water temp during their weather forecast. My favorite websites can be found by searching Sea Surface Temperature. When there I have found the RUTGERS website very accurate and easy to use.

If you’re after Pompano you will need to travel south at least as far as New Smyrna Beach. However there will be plenty of big Whiting in our

surf as long as the water temp is 60 or above. When pursuing a cooler full of good eating Whiting I down size my tackle and baits. Remember even a two pound 18” bull Whiting has a small mouth. This time of year they are mainly feeding on small Donax clams. These are also referred to as Coquina or Periwinkle clams.

When it comes to hook size for Whiting I drop down from a 2/0 to a number 1 circle hook. A double dropper rig, which has ten different names, anchored with a sputnik sinker gets the job done. My go to baits are fresh clams and FKS/FDS. These are fresh killed shrimp and fresh dead shrimp. Fresh killed is live shrimp placed in a plastic container with no water. Then buried in ice until used. These shrimp will stay good for days. You just can not beat fresh bait. I usually get three baits from each shrimp. I cut the horn and the tail fan off. Then get two baits from the tail plus the head.

If you want to catch some winter time Pompano it will require a road trip. The exact spot for these silver nuggets will depend solely on the water temp. When you find 66 to 70 you will find the fish. Somewhere between New Smyrna and Juno will be the sweet spot. Just use the internet and the satellites to plan your getaway. I usually stay in Vero so I can range north to Melbourne or south to Juno.

I wish all of you a Happy New Year and tight lines. Cheers to screaming drags and coolers full of good eats. See you on the beach.

Noel Kuhn Surf fishing guide and long distance casting coach.

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Fishing Report St. Johns River By: Richard Hamilton

F

irst up of course will be speckled perch. These tasty beauties are in the creeks and area lakes just waiting for you to try and catch them. Cresent lake, Orange Lake and many of the smaller lakes around Keystone heights start to produce now. Methods used are slow trolling or drifting in open water. Baits are minnows, beetle spins, road runners and hollow body tubes. A couple handfuls of those and a bucket of minnows and you'd have a fun outing searching and hopefully finding these incredibly tasty beauties.

So go to it.

Largemouth bass are next. They'll be schooling in the main body of the river and on points and bars. All you'll need are crankbaits, both lipless and regular. Perhaps some nice topwater like Rapala's or Devils Horse in the low light. And don't forget to work the grass lines and docks. You can use plastic in these areas and don't forget sometimes these big ladies love creeks to get warm and snack on a nice shiner. Wild shiners are best if you can get them. If we get warm weather in January. Bass will start to spawn in the southern most areas but most will spawn beginning in Feb and March.

So perhaps a couple of dozen shiners and anchor near the creek mouths and cover just might do it. Well, you'll not know unless you go, Redfish are still working grass lines and eating everything they want.

Unless it gets super cold, they will hang around because of the sheer amount of bait. Crabs, strips of croaker, shrimp, and spinner baits, plastic worms and swim baits should all work. So enjoy.

Flounder in this part of the river are becoming more and more common.

People who are fishing on the bottom for other species are doing okay. Baits, shiners, shrimp, plastic swim baits and even nightcrawlers have worked in this area.

Catfish and bream are around, but have seemed to slow down with the onset of the cooler temps. So you still know how to catch them.

Happy New Year!

Til next time, keep your line wet and your lure movin'.--Richard.

R & J Tackle 501 S Orange Ave, Green Cove Springs (904)284-5081

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Fishing Report & Forecast Flagler Inshore

By Captain Chris Herrera

W

ell it’s the first of the year and I hope your new years resolution has something to do with spending more time in the outdoors.

Grab those new polarized sunglasses you got for Christmas and hit the flats as the reds are schooled up and eating good! Red fishing on the flats isn’t an early morning ritual like in the summer; waiting for the sun to rise and warm the waters is your best bet. A low mid morning incoming tide is a perfect scenario as the sun heats the oyster beds and once the tide floods schools of redfish will sit on these hot spots

for warmer water. Approach the school with stealth as not to alert the school of your presence before getting into casting distance. Paddle tails or flies are my choices for catching redfish. Once the school is on the move bomb a Sebile Stick Shadd out in front of the school twitch a few times and hook up!

Creek fishing for Seatrout is about as sure as it gets this time of year. Jigging for Trout in creek holes with a 1/4 or 1/8 ounce Jig and a bass assasin (paddle tail) will get the attention of every schoolie in the hole. Most Trout will be on the small side but if numbers is your game, creek hole fishing is the place. Small Reds also occupy the same creek holes and can be caught with live shrimp; small split shot and a Daiichi 82Z 1/0 circle hook.

Fly fisherman get great opportunities on landing the elusive Sheaphead on fly this month. Sheaphead can be found on the most oyster-laden flats during low incoming tides, these striped bandits will be foraging for oyster crabs so a crab pattern is the best fly for the job. If fly fishing isn’t your thing, live bait fishing with fiddler crabs and a fish finder rig vertically fished around bridges, docks and rocks will put the bend in the rod..

Capt. Chris Herrera Serving Flagler Beach, Palm Coast, St. Augustine www.palmcoastfishing.com 386-503-6338

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NEFMA - January

W

inter-time is Wahoo-time in Northeast Florida and the 5th annual Don Combs Wahoo Roundup kicked off last month and continues to the end of January.

The wahoo season started strong with some heavyweight fish in early December caught in the region. Mild weather and friendly seas will hopefully continue into the new year so captains of small and large vessels can get in on the action. If you like to high-speed troll for wahoo, you can cover plenty of ground to find the fish, if you can’t troll at 15 knots or just don’t want to, Many captains prefer to troll over natural bottom, ledges, and artificial reefs for wahoo with natural baits with great success.

Highspeed trolling is a hell of a day when you can cover more than a hundred miles in the morning and have a monster Wahoo chase you down at 14-18 knots. So go fast or go slow, but go now!

The Wahoo isn’t the only fish in the sea this winter, billfish are caught every month of the year in our region, but late winter and

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early spring are peak season for billfish including Marlin, Sword and Sailfish.

The Bluewater Tournament is next May 11th to 14th and we’ve joined the Sportfishing Championship www. sportfishingchampionship.com this year so it’s going to be bigger and better than before!

The Sportfishing championship is a new series that puts eleven tournaments together to crown the Fishing Team of The Year.

Membership and sponsorship renewal starts now for the 2022 season. We’re blessed to have so many terrific sponsors, members, and partners and 2022 is setting up to be a fantastic year.

See the Northeast Florida Marlin Association website www.nefma. com for information about tournaments, memberships and sponsorships and download the NEFMA APP from Reel Time Apps to follow the tournaments and the feeds. .

-Paul Raudenbush, President Northeast Florida Marlin Association

on for Sword ewater 11th d the www. p.com bigger The a new ments Team

orship 2022 ave so mbers, etting See Marlin nefma. about and d the e Apps nd the

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Shallow water anglers in Florida go fishing for Marine Debris

By Neill Holland and Danielle Dawley

P

icture this: It’s tournament morning at your favorite inshore fishery, and eager shallow water anglers are up at sunrise to compete – by center console, kayak, skiff, airboat, and canoe – in the area’s most exciting new tournament. At the event check in tent, situated beside the local boat launch, more than sixty male and female anglers of all ages and skill levels present themselves and, in addition to coffee and doughnuts, receive a tourney shirt and swag bucket full of quality freebies supplied by local businesses. The mood is one of friendly competition, but some of these anglers have hopes of making a “catch” today, big enough to go home with their part of more than $5,000 in gear-prizes provided at each event by fishing tackle sponsors. To the casual observer, this gathering of shallow draft vessels and local families might look like any other well-attended inshore fishing tournament familiar to area residents, but this is a whole new ballgame. This is Ocean Aid 360’s Ghost Trap Rodeo Tournament Event Series for detection and removal of derelict fishing gear, derelict crab traps (which “ghost fish” once lost to their angler), and other marine debris from coastal Florida.

In 2018, Tampa Bay-based nonprofit, Ocean Aid 360, was awarded one year of support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program to launch the Ghost Trap Rodeo in Tampa Bay, in partnership with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and the Coastal Conservation Commission of Florida (CCA). The goal of Year 1 would be to remove no less than 15,000 pounds of high priority debris from Tampa Bay – Florida’s largest open water estuary – including Essential Fish Habitat and protected marine zones, while also promoting local stewardship and conservation of marine resources. Seven sites were preselected through a flyover spotter survey, and in October 2018, the first of seven monthly events was held. At the end of the year, after all seven tournaments had been completed, the Ghost Trap Rodeo Tournament Event Series had weighed in 26,391 pounds of marine debris removed from grass beds, mangroves, and mud flats in Tampa Bay – including 411 derelict or abandoned ghost traps.

Back at the scene of the Ghost Trap Rodeo, excitement is in the air when angler-volunteers return to the dock after their four-hour search.

The early morning talk of, “Do you think we’ll find anything?” is now replaced by shouts of, “Look at all this stuff we found!” and “Wow! Can we help you unload!” – and for the first time, the participants understand what a positive impact they have had in this effort to restore the coastal fishing habitat. As each team’s collection of marine debris is weighed by event staff, cold drinks and catered lunches from local

restaurants are handed out; and a dry-erase leader board is filled in.

Today, thanks to careful planning and a variety of likeminded fishing tackle sponsors, volunteer teams will go home with exciting prizes – like a new Engel Cooler, Temple Fork Outfitters rods and Shimano reels, quality cast nets, artwork, vacation vouchers, or fishing charters. There can be no doubt, the prizes are an exciting part of the experience for every team; but ask anyone here today and they’ll tell you: “We’re here because we care about our fishery, about saving this place so that our kids can experience it like we did. We’re here for redfish, snook, and seatrout; and you’ll see us again at the next Ghost Trap Rodeo.”

Since that first year of events at Tampa Bay, and on account of good results and transparent reporting, the Ghost Trap Rodeo Tournament Event Series has been invited by FWC to expand to new areas around the State, where local communities take an interest in removing marine debris from their fishery and reducing the occurrence of ghost fishing by lost traps, which deplete the remaining resources available to commercial and recreational anglers, alike. Ocean Aid 360 and CCA have organized these tournaments in Apalachicola, Homosassa, and Key West; with a combined haul of 85,269 pounds of marine debris, including 1,563 derelict traps, as of this publication in Coastal Angler Magazine.

In closing, we would like you to know that we support fair fishery access for both recreational and commercial anglers, and have no desire to see additional challenges imposed which would make it difficult for working watermen – and women – to do business. Instead, our aim is to work with fisherfolk to remove trash and old gear from coastal Florida, wherever we find it, and increase the amount of marine life in our waters by reducing kills caused by ghost fishing. Ocean Aid 360 is angler-led and focused, and hell-bent on making sure our kids and grandkids can enjoy fishing in Florida the same way we all do.

The next Ghost Trap Rodeo Tournament event will be Sunday, January 16th, at Whitey’s Fish Camp near Jacksonville. This event will take place in partnership with the CCA NE Florida chapters, during FWC’s scheduled short blue crab fishery closure (FYI: specific timing of these 10-day trap fishery closures, occurring only every other year in each State management zone, was decided a few years back by commercial angler representatives to the fishery management council).

We would love to see a good turnout from the Coastal Angler Magazine community. Registration is online at www.OceanAid360.org.

Note: All Ghost Trap Rodeo participants receive trap determination training (to ensure against removal of legal gear and pinfish traps) and carry a copy of Ocean Aid 360’s derelict trap removal permit, issued by FWC. During the course of each event, participating teams record the type and number of marine species found in each derelict trap removed before live releasing them back into the fishery – high score in 2021 was 26 adult spiny lobsters found in a single ghost trap at Key West.

Thanks to our partnership with the Coastal Impact Fund and St. Marys Riverkeeper, crab trap materials collected at each Ghost Trap Rodeo event are re-used as base layers for new oyster reef recruitment sites, while plastics are recycled through Covanta Energy Company’s wasteto-energy program.

We invite you to find out more about us at OceanAid360.org, and to follow our progress on our Ocean Aid 360 Facebook page.

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Tight Lines!

Capt. Neill Holland and Danielle Dawley Ocean Aid 360

JANUARY 2022

NORTHEAST FLORIDA 23

TIDE CHART - January

Mayport Degaussing Structure 30.3967° N, 81.3950° W Date Day Time Hgt 01 Sat 12:05 AM -0.86 L 02 Sun 01:00 AM -1.14 L 03 Mon 01:53 AM -1.30 L 04 Tue 02:45 AM -1.28 L 05 Wed 03:37 AM -1.10 L 06 Thu 04:31 AM -0.77 L 07 Fri 05:28 AM -0.36 L 08 Sat 12:15 AM 4.62 H 09 Sun 01:10 AM 4.53 H 10 Mon 02:07 AM 4.46 H 11 Tue 03:07 AM 4.42 H 12 Wed 04:06 AM 4.42 H 13 Thu 05:01 AM 4.47 H 14 Fri 05:50 AM 4.55 H 15 Sat 06:34 AM 4.65 H 16 Sun 12:50 AM 0.01 L 17 Mon 01:31 AM -0.14 L 18 Tue 02:09 AM -0.23 L 19 Wed 02:45 AM -0.26 L 20 Thu 03:22 AM -0.21 L 21 Fri 04:00 AM -0.12 L 22 Sat 04:43 AM -0.00 L 23 Sun 05:33 AM 0.12 L 24 Mon 12:18 AM 4.56 H 25 Tue 01:11 AM 4.66 H 26 Wed 02:11 AM 4.74 H 27 Thu 03:18 AM 4.85 H 28 Fri 04:26 AM 5.02 H 29 Sat 05:30 AM 5.23 H 30 Sun 06:28 AM 5.44 H 31 Mon 12:49 AM -1.20 L

Time 06:40 07:35 08:27 09:19 10:10 11:00 11:51 06:27 07:27 08:27 09:27 10:24 11:18 12:07 12:51 07:16 07:55 08:33 09:11 09:49 10:28 11:09 11:52 06:29 07:31 08:36 09:42 10:46 11:46 12:42 07:23

AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM PM PM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM PM AM

Hgt 5.84 H 5.97 H 5.99 H 5.88 H 5.67 H 5.37 H 5.00 H 0.04 L 0.39 L 0.64 L 0.77 L 0.77 L 0.66 L 0.48 L 0.28 L 4.75 H 4.85 H 4.92 H 4.94 H 4.92 H 4.85 H 4.74 H 4.58 H 0.22 L 0.26 L 0.21 L 0.07 L -0.17 L -0.47 L -0.76 L 5.58 H

Time 12:57 01:49 02:39 03:29 04:19 05:10 06:02 12:42 01:35 02:33 03:34 04:34 05:28 06:16 06:59 01:31 02:09 02:45 03:20 03:55 04:32 05:11 05:56 12:41 01:36 02:39 03:47 04:53 05:54 06:49 01:33

Approximate Correction Times Palm Valley ICW: H: +2:20 L: +2:00 +/- for Other regional Locations JAX Beach: H: -:29 L: -:20 Bings Landing: H: +2:57 L: +2:44

Hgt PM -0.76 L PM -0.95 L PM -1.01 L PM -0.93 L PM -0.76 L PM -0.53 L PM -0.28 L PM 4.62 H PM 4.26 H PM 3.97 H PM 3.79 H PM 3.72 H PM 3.75 H PM 3.82 H PM 3.90 H PM 0.10 L PM -0.02 L PM -0.09 L PM -0.10 L PM -0.08 L PM -0.06 L PM -0.03 L PM -0.01 L PM 4.38 H PM 4.19 H PM 4.04 H PM 4.00 H PM 4.09 H PM 4.27 H PM 4.47 H PM -0.99 L

St. Augustine Beach: H: -:07 L: -:15 St. A City Dock: H: -:04 L: +:09

Time 07:03 07:56 08:47 09:38 10:30 11:22

Hgt PM 4.71 PM 4.81 PM 4.85 PM 4.84 PM 4.79 PM 4.71

06:54 07:46 08:38 09:31 10:25 11:17 12:06

PM PM PM PM PM PM AM

-0.05 L 0.15 L 0.31 L 0.40 L 0.40 L 0.32 L 0.18 L

07:39 08:16 08:53 09:29 10:07 10:47 11:30

PM PM PM PM PM PM PM

3.96 4.00 4.04 4.10 4.19 4.30 4.43

06:46 07:42 08:43 09:47 10:51 11:52

PM PM PM PM PM PM

-0.00 -0.03 -0.11 -0.29 -0.56 -0.89

H H H H H H

H H H H H H H L L L L L L

07:41 PM 4.65 H

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State Awarded $33M for Apalachicola Watershed

L

ast month, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced the award of more than $103 million from its Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund to 11 new projects and two amendments in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi.

Developed in consultation with state and federal resource agencies, the projects are designed to remedy harm and reduce risks of future harm to natural resources that were affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

This was the ninth round of awards from the fund, bringing the total awarded

by NFWF to projects across the five Gulf States to nearly $1.6 billion.

In Florida, $33 million was awarded for a new project to acquire and manage approximately 32,000 acres of wetland and floodplain habitat in the Apalachicola watershed, ensuring sufficient freshwater and nutrient flow to Apalachicola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico to support oysters and marine fishes.

This project is being co-funded by Walmart’s Acres for America Program.

The number of awards from the GEBF in the state of Florida now stands at 45, with a total current value of approximately $290 million. All projects were selected for funding following extensive consultation with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, FWS and NOAA. Learn more at www.nfwf.org.

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able to sniff out a drop of blood in an lthough the nostrils of humans Olympic swimming pool or other largeand other terrestrial animals play volume basin. What gets no fanfare, an important part in respiration, however, is that bony fish also have a in fish they are devoted completely to tremendous sense of smell. They live their scent perception. Further, most fish entire lives in a liquid medium and are species have two sets of nostrils—one as good at detecting dissolved chemicals used strictly for water intake, and the as the best noses of the continents are other solely for water expulsion. This at picking up scents on land. For some, setup gives fish the capacity to analyze the survival of their species is a continuous influx of water, predicated on a superb sense which is examined by the of smell; many are compelled fish’s olfactory receptors to migrate hundreds or before being ejected to make thousands of miles to spawn room for more water. guided by nothing more than Fish are always pulling minute traces of dissolved water into their nostrils for scents. Never underestimate the purposes of extracting the nose of a fish. scent, employing a variety The senses of smell and of techniques to accomplish taste are intimately connected this. At rest, a fish can rely across the animal kingdom, on the tiny cells within its and fish are no exception. nostrils to brush water inside; Fish have taste buds located the fish also draws water into internally on their tongue its nostrils each time it pumps and mouth. They also have its gills to breathe. When taste buds located externally a fish is swimming, water on their lips and face. This is forced into its nostrils as means a fish can taste an it moves forward. Finally,

By John Saporito object (like the bait you left sitting in the sun all day) without while facing into a current, water is constantly flowing into ever having it in its mouth. Fish frequently use their muzzle the nostrils, granting the fish access to an endless stream of scent dispersal without it actually having to move. This last method is no this way to test potential food items. You never know, the faintest “bump” different than a dog sticking its head out a car window. The headlong rush on the end of your line might just be the fish of your dreams, poking at of air, carrying with it the aromatic vestiges of the world, allows the dog your bait to see if it is fit for consumption. to pick up a tremendous assortment of scents without moving so much as John Saporito is a lifelong fisherman, writer and student of the seas. an inch.

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here’s interesting research coming out of North Carolina that explores the reasons for variations in redfish numbers year to year. Near the northern end of the species’ range, populations of inshore redfish vary widely in coastal waters of the state, which makes it an excellent place to hone in on factors that affect populations—and the fishing—wherever redfish are targeted.

A study out of the University of North Carolina Wilmington examined how environmental factors affect the numbers of juvenile red drum present in nearshore areas each year. Fisheries scientist and lead author on the study Danielle Goldberg dove into 26 years of data on redfish recruitment compiled by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries.

Her focus was on wind, water temperature and productivity. Productivity can be understood as the amount of phytoplankton in nearshore areas, which serves as an indicator of the amount of prey available to juvenile red drum.

Goldberg and co-researchers found that when north and northeast winds occurred in August, as opposed to later, there was an increase in red drum recruitment. This indicates that wind plays an important role in transporting larval-stage red drum to nearshore areas. They also found that higher nearshore water temperatures early in the spawning season occurred during years with high recruitment.

Knowing this can help red drum fisheries managers forecast what years will facilitate high recruitment and can help managers understand what is happening during years with low recruitment.

To read the study, go to bit.ly/3rQ0bT7

he FWC TrophyCatch pro g r a m awarded its Season 9 Phoenix bass boat to angler James Bernard from Lee, Fla. From thousands of TrophyCatch registrants, five drawing finalists were randomly selected for an exciting “reverse drawing” held Dec. 4 at the Bobby Lane Cup youth tournament.

The last remaining name drawn from the bucket revealed Bernard to be the winner of the Phoenix boat package.

“This event is a great way to cap off a record-setting Season 9 for TrophyCatch, and a fantastic reward for one of our many TrophyCatch citizen-scientists,” said Tom Graef, Director of the Division of Freshwater Fisheries. “This program provides trophy bass data that is guiding our research and helping identify Florida’s premier bass waters.”

Although participating in TrophyCatch by documenting and submitting a trophy bass increases the chances of winning, anglers need only to register for the program to be automatically included in the boat drawing. This was just the case for Bernard, who avidly fishes tournaments but had not submitted a bass to the program.

The Phoenix boat package is a brand-new Phoenix 819 powered by Mercury ProXS 200, guided by Lowrance electronics and trolling motor and anchored by Power-Pole.

The TrophyCatch program rewards anglers who provide documentation of their catch and release of largemouth bass weighing 8 pounds or heavier in Florida.

For more information about the TrophyCatch program, visit www.trophycatchflorida.com.

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NORTH FLORIDA 7

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hristmas has passed, and a lot of money was wasted on lastminute purchases, made with guesswork and good intentions to fill the yearly, obligatory gift-hole beneath a tree. If your wellintentioned plastic-wrapped knick-knacks didn’t spark the smiles you were hoping for this year, there is still time to make it right. Redeem any Christmas failures by gifting your family with memories; take them fishing!

Whether on your own boat or a charter, this might easily be misconstrued as a selfish gift to the family of an avid angler. However, there are lots of selfless components to be considered, especially when children are included.

As a female in the industry, it was extremely difficult for me to get back into fishing after I became a mother. I had always prioritized catching fish above anything else. I was an absolute fishing machine and only had one gear: full throttle, get’er done. Once I became a mother, I transferred this mindset to keeping my child safe. It was daunting to even consider taking my baby on the boat and meshing these two parts of who I was. What would happen on a boat if an epic fish were to hit the line?

As I began pioneering my new fishermom persona, there were a few things I learned to help make it work. The biggest of all was support, the support of things and the support of people.

Shamelessly over-packing for a fishing trip is completely acceptable for parents. Having everything you need alleviates a ton of stress in the myriad of situations for young children on a boat. I’ve gone as far as hauling baby swings and beanbags to nap in, dry clothes and a baby carrier to strap the lil’ one to my chest. All are great things to consider. A big issue for babies on the boat is how brutally hot it gets. Toss some jugs of water in the cooler and bring a pot so your lil’ one can get a cool bath. Bring a tarp or umbrella to set up for shade.

Fishing with little ones can be a large undertaking, but with planning and discretion, it can be stress-free and enjoyable. Take it slowly, and eventually modify your parental arsenal for the boat.

Support from others cannot be overstated here, especially for new mommas. Instead of hiring a babysitter to stay behind with your child, have the sitter watch the child on the boat. Invite extra friends who are more into the boat ride than fishing, and they can help with the kids.

It can be difficult to scale down the intensity of a fishing trip, but creating a special trip that’s geared toward the children’s experience, or helping a new fishermom get her confidence back, is rewarding. Besides, the earlier you start your kiddos on the boat, the sooner you will have them matching your skill and intensity, begging for bigger and more hardcore trips.

Capt. Quinlyn Haddon fishes with Blue Magic Charters in Marathon, Florida Keys. Check her out at CaptainQuinlyn.com, @captainquinlyn or call (504) 920-6342.

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n early December, I set out in search for large trout in an area known to hold these magnificent fish from December through early April.

Under typical conditions, they can be found warming themselves by hovering over the mud/grass bottom in knee-deep water, which is also where I prefer to target them. However, on this particular day the temperature was at a near record high of 80 degrees! The trout had no reason to hang out in the hot mud, so I had to read the signs to catch the fish.

Before launching my kayak, I stood high on the bluff and scanned the area. This shore runs north to south, and there was a slight south to southeast breeze. I didn’t see any slicks to alert me to feeding fish, nor did I see busting bait. I didn’t even see any lazily flipping mullet. What I did see were several pelicans drifting on the water several hundred yards out and two kayakers to the north. There were three separate groups of pelicans, and they were not near each other.

I launched the kayak and headed east, or straight out. I made a few cast in the shallow water, but the vegetation was too abundant to properly work my lure, and I didn’t see any bait. With the bowmount trolling motor, I was able to stand and look for visible signs of life while slowly moving forward. The water in this area was crystal clear, and if fish were present, they would be easy to locate.

When I reached water with a little less grass, I decided to make short drifts and try my luck.

Once a drift didn’t produce, I would head east again until I reached new water with a little more depth, and drift again. The wind would push me to the northwest and somewhat back toward the shore. I also noticed the other kayakers were moving around a lot. With that observation and the fact that I hadn’t had a bite, I concluded they were not catching either, and the fish were not shallow.

My next move was to head deeper toward the pelicans. As I mentioned earlier, there were three groups of them, and the one thing they had in common was their distance from the shore. I headed straight east until I was inline with them, but up-wind. Once I reached this area, I noticed baitfish in the water. They were not being chased, but they were present. The water was still very clear, and it was about 3 to 4 feet deep with a mix of grass and potholes.

I began launching my 4-inch paddletail toward the potholes. Utilizing a steady retrieve and keeping my lure about midway in the water column, I received a vicious strike. After some tail-walking, I landed a nice 5-pound speckled trout. Not bad for the first fish of the day!

I had to depart from my pregame plan and follow the signs to the fish. By following that pattern, I was fortunate enough to play catch and release with specks and reds the remainder of the day.

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

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ere’s a feel good story about anglers using a passion for fishing to do good in the world. Harrison Konsker and Maccabee Harman were avid anglers and high school students back in 2014 when they recognized the potential their angling success had to serve their South Florida community.

On the water every weekend, they regularly filled bag limits, and decided the best use for all their fresh fish was to offer it those in need. They began reaching out to local food banks before taking the next step to form Fillet for Friends (FFF), a 501 (c) (3) non-profit whose mission is to reduce hunger and empower marginalized communities by working with local fishing and hunting communities and provide fish, wild game, education and community resources for the under-served.

Since its inception, FFF has been feeding South Florida through a variety of methods. FFF regularly attends fishing tournaments across Florida to collect surplus fresh fish. A majority of their donations come from this process to help reduce waste and fill the plates of the hungry. They have developed a network of volunteers comprised of high school students with several chapters across Florida, and are in the process of expanding nationally.

Aside from tournament donations, FFF makes it effortless for individual anglers across Florida to donate fish. Fishermen are able to contact FFF through a variety

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of outlets: Instagram Direct Messaging, email, texts and through their website. The fish are then picked up, filleted, packaged and delivered to food banks. All contributions are tax-deductible.

The young philanthropists, who are now university students, have taken their organization to the next level.

The team at Fillet for Friends has grown to 10 individuals, including Captain Bill Kelly, executive director of the Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association. Last month, FFF was awarded a grant from Feeding South Florida to augment their efforts, which have provided thousands of pounds of fish to thousands of Florida families.

For more information, check out www.filletforfriends.org and follow @filletforfriends on social media.

Gulf Descending Devices Requirement Begins in January

O

n Jan. 13, the federal requirement will go into effect for anglers fishing for reef fish species to have a descending device or venting tool rigged and ready to use in Gulf of Mexico federal waters.

This requirement was part of the DESCEND Act of 2020, which was signed into law last January. It applies to commercial, for-hire and private recreational vessels.

The intent is to reduce mortality caused by barotrauma on reef species, like red snapper.

Barotrauma is an increase in internal gas pressure caused by the sudden changes in pressure that fish undergo when being reeled up from depths generally greater than 90 feet, though it can occur in shallower waters of 33 feet or more. Fish experiencing barotrauma have difficulty quickly swimming back to catch depth, often floating on the surface where they are vulnerable to attack by dolphins, sharks and birds.

Descending devices are a weighted hook, lip clamp or box that will hold a fish as it is lowered to a sufficient depth to allow for recovery from barotrauma. A venting tool is a sharpened, hollow instrument that can penetrate a fish’s abdomen to release excess gas acquired as it was brought to the surface.

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NOAA Fisheries is currently seeking comments on a proposed rule to clarify descending device and venting tool definitions for the DESCEND Act. Learn more at www.fisheries.noaa.gov.

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Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show is Back for 2022

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he Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show is gearing up for 2022 and the largest boat and yacht event in the world. The show returns to the Miami Beach Convention Center and four additional locations from Wednesday, Feb. 16 through Sunday, Feb. 20 over Presidents Day weekend for the premier boating extravaganza in South Florida.

Produced by Informa Markets and owned by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show will be the first production of South Florida’s preeminent winter boat shows after joining forces earlier this year and combining the Miami Yacht Show, SuperYacht Miami and the Miami International Boat Show. The 2022 Miami event is the first boat show to be integrated with the Discover Boating brand, which is the North American lifestyle brand for boating aimed at attracting the next generation of boaters and engaging current boaters.

“We are looking forward to delivering an unparalleled experience at the 2022 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show,” said Andrew Doole, President of U.S. Boat Shows with Informa Markets, who produces the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show. “With our return to the Miami Beach Convention Center and alongside our partners at the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the 2022 boat show will be unlike any other winter boat show.”

Historically, the Miami International Boat Show, the Miami Yacht Show and SuperYacht Miami have attracted more than 100,000 visitors from 35 countries to South Florida while generating an estimated $1.34 billion for the state.

Bringing the events together offers numerous benefits for exhibitors, visitors and the greater boating community. The on-land portion of the event will take place at the newly reimagined Miami Beach Convention Center, while the featured in-water activities will be offered at One Herald Plaza, Sea Isle Marina, Museum Park Marina, and IGY Yacht Haven Grande at Island Gardens.

The boat show will feature new elements such as the Boat Show Experience, which will be the ultimate boater’s destination, located outside the Miami Beach Convention Center. Guests will have access to the AquaZone presented by Nautical Ventures in addition to a collection of experiential boating lifestyle activations, live music entertainment and a marine accessory pavilion. Don’t miss the 2022 show!

For more information about the 2022 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show, visit www.miamiboatshow.com.

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Agencies Respond to Manatee Mortality Event

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he U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in cooperation with Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), are enhancing ongoing efforts to address the unusual manatee mortality event along Florida’s Atlantic coast.

After thorough science, policy and legal reviews, and substantial coordination, the USFWS and FWC leadership recently approved the Unified Command establishing a Temporary Field Response Station at FPL’s Cape Canaveral Clean Energy Center in Brevard County. The Response Station will support several response operations already underway in the central Indian River Lagoon, such as manatee rescues, carcass recovery and limited field health assessments.

In approving the Response Station, USFWS and FWC leadership also approved staff to conduct a short-term feeding trial, referred to by many as supplemental feeding.

The goals of this limited, small-scale feeding trial are two-fold: 1) to reduce manatee mortality and 2) to reduce the number of animals in need of rescue, allowing the limited space in permitted critical care facilities to remain open for animals needing rehabilitation for other reasons.

“We understand the importance of a timely response. Our agencies and Unified Command partners carefully considered all aspects of a short-term feeding trial,” said Shannon Estenoz, Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. “It is critical we help manatees in the short term with actions that are compatible with their long-term wellbeing and resilience.”

The Response Station is not a location for mobile veterinary care or rehabilitation. The Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership will continue to care for rescued animals at their federally permitted rehabilitation facilities.

Unified Command partners still anticipate relatively high mortality along Florida’s Atlantic Coast during the winter of 2021-22 due to chronic effects of starvation from the loss of seagrass associated with poor water

quality within the Indian River Lagoon.

Because this trial effort is a management action that has not been tried before, it is unknown how many manatees will visit the site or how much vegetation individual manatees will consume. The goal of this action is to reduce manatee mortality. It will not eliminate it.

Beyond on-site support, FPL is substantially contributing to other manatee response operations by working with the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida to obtain an additional FWC rescue truck and provide on the ground assistance.

“Environmental stewardship is a critical aspect of FPL’s continued efforts to deliver clean, reliable and affordable energy to its customers,” said Kate MacGregor, FPL vice president of environmental services. “For over 30 years, we have worked closely with state and federal agencies to ensure manatees are protected and we stand ready to support FWC and USFWS in their ongoing conservation efforts for this important species.”

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FLORIDA 15

WORKING THE NIGHT SHIFT

Tim Barefoot

Y

ears ago, before I had access to a boat slip at the marina, I frequently pulled the boat to work completely ready to drop in the water and go fish by 5 or 5:30 p.m.

This time of year, when it gets dark at 5:30 in the afternoon, this was the only time I had to fish, but it wound up being the best time of the day/season to fish.

My favorite nights are the full moons of winter. This is the time of year to catch some gator trout. With all the fishing pressure trout endure, some of the big girls may go completely nocturnal. I would be putting the boat in the water when everyone was taking out, and my constant question was, “Did you catch ’em today?”

On quite a few occasions, I would get the answer, “We didn’t catch sheet.” That was the answer I was looking for. That meant they were going to eat after dark. You see, when a lot of boats are buzzing around and on top of them, it can put them in the “lockjaw” mode.

Let it turn dark, when all the “day-timers” go home, and that’s when the numbers of bites and some of the big girls eat.

NOTE: I can only talk so much smack…

The biggest speck I’ve ever caught at night was 7.75 pounds, but I have caught some pretty impressive numbers. For example, one night we had 42 good ones. That was before there

16 FLORIDA

JANUARY 2022

was a limit, so my “limit” was when I had a cooler full. Back then I was selling them, so I didn’t have a problem keeping big numbers.

One of the standout colors was chartreuse at night. This produced more bites than anything else, and that was what I was looking for. The more I fished the old faithful chartreuse MirrOlure, the more I loved it. But then we discovered the Rattle Trap. This was a complete game changer. Not only could you keep in touch with it, due to the resistance and vibration on the plug, but you could also cast it into the wind and a long distance. Now I have come full circle back to fishing what they really eat best of all… a shrimp. A soft plastic (DOA) shrimp on a jig head, the 3/8oz. Barefoot Jig. Primarily, I have been talking about speckled trout up to this point, but redfish and snook are especially good candidates for a night bite. All three of these species are programmed to eat a shrimp in the current.

So, make the best out of the shortened daylight hours. Get in the boat after work and go fish the night shift.

For more info on this jig head and D.O.A. shrimp combo, visit these websites: Barefootcatsandtackle.com or Rigandjig.com.

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Bassmaster Classic Returns to Hartwell T

he world’s most prestigious professional bass tournament is returning to the site of some of the best moments in the sport’s famed history.

The 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented

by Huk will be held at Lake Hartwell March 4-6. It is the fourth time the crowds and pageantry of the Classic have descended on Upstate South Carolina.

Takeoffs will be conducted from Green Pond Landing & Event Center, while daily weigh-ins will be held at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The annual Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo will take place at the Greenville Convention Center, both of which are in nearby Greenville.

B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin said the organization is excited to once again visit a venue that has become the gold standard for professional bass fishing events.

“Everything about Lake Hartwell and the city of Greenville make them the perfect setting for the Super Bowl of Professional Bass Fishing,” Akin said. “The Bassmaster Classic is not only a chance for the best anglers in the world to showcase their abilities, it’s an annual celebration of the sport itself.

“Lake Hartwell provides the perfect site for amazing competition, and the city of Greenville provides the hotels, restaurants and other facilities you need for an event the size of the Classic.”

Hartwell is a 56,000-acre man-made reservoir situated between Georgia and South Carolina and encompassing portions of the Savannah, Tugaloo and Seneca rivers. It features a vast array of habitat and a good population of both largemouth and spotted bass that are likely to be in the prespawn phase when the Classic competitors arrive.

“We are very excited for the opportunity to host the Bassmaster Classic once again on Lake Hartwell,” said Neil Paul, Executive Director of Visit Anderson. “The leadership of Anderson County has made a significant commitment to Green Pond Landing and the marketing efforts of Lake Hartwell, and we expect another record-breaking event with our teammates from Greenville.

“Hosting our fourth Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell is significant to our community because no other fishery will have hosted more Bassmaster Classic events. Having hosted this great event in the past, we can speak first hand to the significant economic impact it will have on the upstate of South Carolina and the impact of residual tourism that will be felt in Anderson County for years to come.”

The 2022 Classic will feature 55 qualifiers with berths earned through the Elite Series, the Opens, the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation circuit, the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops and the Bassmaster Team Championship, plus the defending Bassmaster Classic champion and winner of the final Elite Series event of the 2021 season.

They will compete in the no-entry-fee event for their share of a whopping $1 million purse, with the champion earning $300,000.

For more information, go to www.bassmaster.com.

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NATIONAL 11

THINKING ABOUT QUITTING BOATING? P erhaps your vessel needs a major repair.

Maybe you sold your house and are moving away from the seashore. Maybe you are too busy to sell your boat, or you tried and found a lot of people didn’t have the resources to buy it, much less to move it.

There are a lot of reasons people have for getting rid of an older boat, working or not. We want to let you know that you can trust Boat Angel Outreach Center. We here at Coastal Angler have seen them help thousands get rid of their unwanted boats and receive generous IRS1098 tax receipts for doing so.

Did you know older, larger working boats can be donated for their fair market value? Did you know Boat Angel will walk you through the whole process, and most of the time even a boat that has been unused on your dock or in your backyard will be gone in less than 15 days?

I’ve known the people at Boat Angel Outreach for more than a decade, and I can personally vouch that this charity is both caring and focused on helping kids. 100 percent of their funding is from the sale of donated boats. They currently fund projects on four continents and ceaselessly work to make this world a better place, especially for children.

They have a courteous and diligent staff. They are experienced in solving logistical problems and multi-state title issues, all while achieving their goals of getting the donated vessels moved away quickly.

So, if you’ve got a vessel that’s no longer

working, or you have decided to move on from boating, I strongly recommend you give this great organization a call or contact them through their website. When your donation is completed, just forward your receipt to your tax preparer. Who knows how much money your donation will put back in your pocket?

We all know that an unused or nonworking boat is a drain on anyone’s finances. Fuel, maintenance bills, registration, insurance and slip fees are year-round expenses. Maybe it is finally

Donate A Boat or Car Today!

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time to move on.

A friend of mine once asked, “What is better than being a boat owner?”

“I don’t know, what?” I said.

“A friend with a boat,” he replied, smiling.

We all have friends with boats. Why not put the money saved into their gas tank and take a small fishing trip?

Boat Angel Outreach Center; www.boatangel.org; EIN 42-1619552; 800-700-2628.

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KEEP IT GENUINE PRECISION PROTECTION

Whether you take your boat out to the lake or the ocean, your 4-stroke outboard needs ECSTAR Suzuki Semi-Synthetic Engine Oil so it can run long and strong.

ECSTAR features special additives that protect the engine in harsh salt and fresh water environments, advanced detergents that keep engine parts clean, and viscosity index improvements that help the engine start in cold conditions.

No matter where your next boat ride takes you, go confidently with ECSTAR.

RUN LONG. RUN CLEAN. RUN STRONG.

Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-Approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. Suzuki, the Suzuki “S” ECSTAR and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. © 2021 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC.

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JANUARY 2022

7/16/2021 9:56:33 AM NATIONAL

13

Angler Lands Record Red Hind

A

North Carolina angler boated a new state record red hind off Cape Lookout in October, and it’s a record that’s likely to stand for a while. The fish weighed 7 pounds, 1.6 ounces and measured 21.5 inches in length with a 17.5-inch girth.

The new state record holder, Matthew Parr, of Wilmington, N.C., was fishing with Capt.

Charles Stewart Merritt of Salt Air Ventures. They were dropping cut bait on 80-poundtest line, probably looking for big grouper.

The record breaker Parr hauled from the depths was less than 2-pounds off the IGFA all tackle world record, which stands at 9 pounds even and was caught by Eddie Vanmeter out of St. Marys, Ga. in July of 2019.

Previously, North Carolina did not list a state record red hind but created the category after Parr applied for the state record. The Division of Marine Fisheries creates new state record categories for fish that are exceptionally large for North Carolina. Parr’s was exceptionally large for anywhere.

Although red hind are known to grow up to 23 inches and exceed 10 pounds in weight, anglers rarely encounter them that large. The typical specimen brought over the rail measures about 16 inches.

Red hind is a quality table fish that is important in Caribbean commercial fisheries. In the South Atlantic it is regulated within the three grouper aggregate recreational bag limit. It is also listed in the ShallowWater Grouper Complex, which means there is a closure for the species from January through April.

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or almost a hundred years it lay dormant. Silently building strength. At 10,000 feet high, it was truly a sleeping giant. Until May 18, 1980, when the beast awoke with violent force and revealed its greatest secret. Mount St. Helens erupted, sending up a 80,000-foot column of ash and smoke. From that chaos, something beautiful emerged… our spectacular Helenite Necklace.

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Make your emeralds jealous. Our Helenite Necklace puts the green stone center stage, with a faceted pear-cut set in .925 sterling silver finished in luxurious gold. The explosive origins of the stone are echoed in the flashes of light that radiate as the piece swings gracefully from its 18" luxurious gold-finished sterling silver chain. Today the volcano sits quiet, but this unique piece of American natural history continues to erupt with gorgeous green fire.

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SUZUKI’S CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT If you’re going to claim to be “The Ultimate Outboard Motor,” you’d better do more than just build great engines. This is why, for the past 10 years, Suzuki has been committed to cleaning up the marine environment through voluntary “Clean Up The World” activities around the globe.

Through the recently launched CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT, Suzuki Marine is committed to reducing the use of plastics in packaging materials to its consumers which has led to eliminating 2.3 tons of plastic waste annually. Suzuki is continually finding ways to reduce plastic waste while educating and informing the boating industry about this critical issue. This is only the beginning and Suzuki is pledging itself to the important cause of protecting our planet’s waters, coastal environments, and marine ecosystems for future generations to enjoy.

YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY applies to qualifying purchases of Suzuki outboard motors sold and delivered to the retail purchaser, for pleasure (non-commercial) use only, from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. See Suzuki Limited Warranty for additional details. Suzuki, the “S” logo, and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki Trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2021 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC. All rights reserved.

FOR REEL

GOOD FISHING Visit Upcountry South Carolina Stop by the South Carolina Lakes booth at the Bassmaster Classic Expo, March 4-6, 2022 at the Greenville Convention Center.

Perfectly Seasoned FishUpcountrySC.com

864-233-2690

Lake Hartwell, host of the 2008, 2015, 2018, and 2022 Academy Sports & Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk