Coastal Angler Magazine | October 2021 | Northeast Florida Edition by Coastal Angler Magazine

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STREAMERS FOR

FALL TROPHY

BROWNS

By Jacob Milholland

ctober is a special month in the mountains. Autumn colors and cooler weather signal it’s time to head back to trout water. Hunting a trophy brown trout is what fall is all about. These fish can be caught nymphing a big stonefly or drifting an October caddis, but the old adage, “big bait, big fish,” holds true. Streamer fishing is a surefire way to try and target these old brutes. Streamers are flies that imitate forage such as baitfish, crawfish, sculpin, other trout or even mice. While the common way to fish a streamer is to enact action by “stripping” or pulling the fly line, streamers can be dead drifted, jigged or swung. There is no wrong way to fish streamers, but the goal is to make the fly look like the real thing. Equipment: We fish heavier rods, tippets and leaders, as we are targeting larger fish. The flies are more wind resistant or heavily weighted, and the strikes can be more aggressive. Think 5 to 8 weights and 8 to 20-pound fluorocarbon tippet/leader. A misconception of streamer fishing is that it must be done from a boat on a large river. While a boat is nice for covering ground, wading anglers can adapt these tactics to any size body of water. If you have the option to fish from a boat, multiple rods with different rate-of-fall (ROF) sinking fly lines should be in your arsenal to probe different depths: floating, intermediate (falls at one foot per second), and ROF-6 (falls at six inches per second). Fly Selection: Ask anyone what they throw, and you’ll get a different answer. It’s hard to go wrong with Woolly Bugger variations—like Sparkle Minnows or Bow River Buggers—any Kelly Galloup pattern or Clouser minnows to start out. Pick staple colors that allow you to adjust to conditions: white, black, bold (yellow or chartreuse) and flashy. Big fish drop their guard in nasty weather, and these can result in the best days on the water. Tactics: Brown trout ambush their prey, so look for places adjacent to current where fish can sit without expending too much energy. Covering water is paramount to success with a streamer. Likely holding water can produce results immediately, so don’t spend too much time in one spot. You are hunting the largest fish willing to eat the fly, not trying to force inactive fish to feed. Vary your retrieve; sometimes jigging or dead drifting can be better than a strip, or slower or faster retrieves may get a fish to react. Mental fortitude is just as important as the where and how. You can go hours or even days without seeing a fish follow the fly, but the magic of streamer fishing lies in the take of the fly and the caliber of fish. Jacob Milholland fishes with Cohutta Fishing Company in Blue Ridge, Ga. Check them out at www.cohuttafishingco.com or call (706) 946-3044.

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OCTOBER 2021

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By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

t seems even the most remote waterways are becoming more crowded every year. More boats can lead to some extremely dangerous situations when boaters exhibit a lack of respect for the water, and it’s pretty easy to identify those who should not be allowed to operate a boat. But there are also people who create frustrating situations, particularly while fishing, who might just be unaware of certain etiquette. It is unique to the Southeastern United States to have access to such vastly diverse fisheries within a relatively small area. It is fortunate boat owners can easily travel to a new and different fishery and bring their own vessel with them. However, just as you don’t have to travel far before the fishery changes, the same applies to local fishing etiquette. Some of the unspoken rules will apply no matter where you are, but it is generally a good idea to check in with local knowledge and identify the local vhf channel before launching your boat somewhere new. While nobody owns the water, commercial and charter fishing captains generally operate with respect for each other to make sharing the fishery feasible and pleasant. When pleasure boaters don’t understand or don’t respect local etiquette, it disrupts fishing enough to affect the people who are trying to make a living on the water. As a general rule, try to stay away from other boats as much as possible. If you have to maneuver around or fish near another boat, be respectful of the type of fishing they are doing. If a vessel is anchored, they will generally be fishing off the back of the boat, often running a chum slick, which means you should avoid driving behind them. If a boat is anchored

offshore, in an area that you are unfamiliar with, they are probably fishing coordinates that took them years of hard work to acquire. You should absolutely not anchor near them,

nor should you drive next to them to mark their location. If you are offshore hunting for fish that appear under flocks of diving birds, look for a flock that isn’t currently being worked by another fisherman. These birds are moving around over fish that are traveling, and moving in can cause the boat that got to the birds first to be cut off from the school of fish. The ocean is vast and birds are plentiful, look for birds on your own, not just an easy-to-spot boat under birds. Overcrowded fishing areas, that don’t operate under anchor, follow certain traffic patterns. These patterned drifts or trolls should be observed and followed just like any roadway. The Marathon Humps, for example, should be trolled east to west, and west to east. Fishing oil rigs in the northern Gulf of Mexico can be made extremely difficult by poor etiquette, as locations are limited and can be made even more limited due to weather. Places like this rely heavily on unspoken rules of the road, and respect. These areas are primarily fished in two different ways: live bait and chum drifts. Charter boats take the time to catch live bait before making it out there, which can be time consuming and difficult. If there are fish on the surface, and someone nearby starts a chum drift, this pushes the surface fish down deep, where the fish will no longer be eating the hard-earned live bait. This is horrible etiquette that rewards lazy and ignorant fishermen. If you show up to a rig without live bait and see other boats using it, with fish clearly on the surface, you should probably just troll lures until other people start a chum drift. Learn and respect the local etiquette anywhere you get your boat wet. There’s no reason we can’t all catch fish, be safe and have fun doing it.

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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OCTOBER 2021

NATIONAL 7

WHEN TEMPS COOL DOWN, THE GROUPER BITE HEATS UP

’m going to date myself here, but what is about to happen will come as no surprise to me. This is time of year I live for. You see, I’ve been watching this beautiful cycle happen with grouper for almost four decades now. As soon as the mullet run slows, and the vast schools of cigar minnows (cigs) and sardines drift inshore, so do the larger (male) gag grouper. This generally occurs around the middle of October. The scamp bite will be hard and fast during this same time in deeper water. I started my grouper fishing career with heavy electric and hydraulic commercial reels and eventually switched over to Elec-Tra-Mates and Precision Auto Reels, but now I’ve gone full circle to lighter (heavyduty) level-wind reels with braided line and ultra stealth terminal tackle to stay ahead of the mental evolution of grouper and large snapper. You see, back in the day when there were so many grouper, it was a competitive atmosphere on the bottom. The first bait to the bottom used to catch the biggest red snapper or gag, even using monofilament leader, but

Tim Barefoot

sardines are by far the best choice for instant bites, but the problem with them is everything down there gives them a whack. Fishing a bait that eliminates everything but large black sea bass, large snapper and grouper helps weed through the smaller fish to find the big male grouper you’re looking for. Live pinfish, sailors

now it’s just not that way. I haven’t cleaned hundreds of grouper… I’ve cleaned thousands of them before selling them, and I’m always curious about what they were eating. One common denominator in gags and red grouper, but not as many scamp grouper, are the small red crabs that are obviously plentiful on live bottom.

This is what prompted me to experiment with crab jigs. I made my first batch of Crab Decoy Jigs over a decade ago and quickly realized they out-fish any other bottom rig I’ve ever used. I tie them in with red braided line and a short piece of fluorocarbon leader tied in a loop knot. Then I sweeten the pot with a live bait. Bait selection is important. Live cigs and

choice grunts, grass grunts and tomtate grunts all work. I like to fish big stacks of beeliners, and that makes beeliners one of my alltime favorite baits. I fish them live or butterflied on a Crab Decoy Jig. The older, wiser males are growing increasingly tackle shy, so shed all the useless terminal tackle and scale down to “clean” heavyduty tackle that can fool ole big boy into biting. For video with detailed instructions on fishing Tim Barefoot’s rigs and proof that they work, visit his website at barefootcatsandtackle.com.

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.

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ANGLERS SET NEW FLORIDA SALTWATER FISHING RECORDS Scamp

t was a monster summer for three anglers who Record on April 7 while fishing at Santa Rosa each landed a Florida Saltwater All-tackle Beach. Sidney’s 2.8-pound catch beat out the previous record of 2.4 pounds. If you feel like Fishing Record. you’re having déjà vu, don’t worry, you’re not Scamp alone. That previous record of 2.4 pounds was set A new Florida Saltwater Fishing Record for earlier this year by angler Joseph Peckham. scamp was set by Mark John Gibner during a Schoolmaster fishing expedition near John’s Pass Marina in Pinellas County on June 11. His 29.6-pound scamp Anthony Mastitski filled the vacant beat the previous record of 28.38 pounds set by schoolmaster category, which was opened Jan. 1, Braden Douglas Pursell in April 2002. 2019. Mastitski’s 2.07-pound schoolmaster was “I think that for the first 20 feet or so, the caught in Broward County on July 27. fish didn’t know that it was hooked,” said Gibner. Claim Your Record “When it did, it started to dig. At first, as he was Want to claim your own state record? There pulling drag, I had to palm my reel to slow him are currently no records listed for white grunt or down. But after a short back and forth, I finally got blueline tilefish in the all-tackle category. There the upper hand and was able to land him with lots are also numerous fly-fishing tackle categories of enthusiasm from my friends.” with vacant records, giving anglers an opportunity Whiting (Gulf kingfish) to hold the record for these species. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Capt. Sidney Little caught the latest Gulf kingfish (whiting) Florida Saltwater Fishing Commission (FWC) maintains state records in 2 FLORIDA

OCTOBER 2021

fish)

Whiting (Gulf king

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all-tackle and fly fishing categories for 81 species caught in Florida state waters and adjacent federal waters. Saltwater record holders receive a certificate of accomplishment, prize pack, recognition in various publications, and a custom ink fish print to memorialize their catch courtesy of Fish Print Shop. To qualify for a record, the catch must be weighed on land with a certified scale, and photographs must be submitted clearly showing the weight displayed on the scale, the scale’s certification, the rod and reel used to make the catch, the angler with their catch, and various views of the fish for identification purposes. The angler’s signature on a completed application form must be witnessed by a notary. For more information and to view current records, visit CatchaFloridaMemory.com and click “Records,” contact AnglerRecognition@ MyFWC.com or call 850-487-0554.

EIGHT MONTHS OF THE KEY WEST FISHING TOURNEY

look at the results from the eight-month-long Key West Fishing Tournament is a pretty good glimpse at what’s been going on in one of the world’s best fishing destinations over the last year. The 2021 tournament drew 312 participating anglers who entered 753 releases and 262 weighed catches. A South Dakota woman was named the women’s master angler after scoring multiple divisional wins and tournament records in the long-running challenge. Katelynn Wells, of Miller, S.D., took top honors for overall releases with 59, including six dolphin, as well as tallying 14 division-leading catches including a 28-pound amberjack, a 12-pound barracuda on plug and a 17-pound red snapper on 30-pound-test line that set a divisional record. She also scored three “heaviest fish” wins and two fish that set tournament weight records: a 2.8-pound ladyfish on plug and a 4.8-pound seatrout on 12-pound line. Wells fished on Off the Rock with Capt. Brad Nowicki and on Live Action Sportfishing with Capt. Ryan Carter, both of Key West. The men’s master angler was Rob Ripka, of Pulaski, New York. His achievements included catching two division-leading fish on 12-pound line: a 12-pound bonito and a 4-pound yellowtail snapper—as well as a divisionleading 31.6-pound kingfish. Fishing on Bait Stealer with Capt. Dale Bittner, of Key West, he also set a “heaviest fish” record for catching a 6-pound yellowtail on 30-pound line. Ten-year-old Julia Bernstein, of Miami, fishing in the peewee division, eclipsed her competitors to earn the peewee master angler award for achievements including a remarkable 104 releases. Her catches included a 23.8-pound Jack Crevalle on 30-pound line that earned a tournament weight record, a 24.8-pound barracuda on 20-pound line that earned divisional “heaviest fish” honors, four other “heaviest fish” winners and three division leaders. The young Bernstein fished with Bittner on Bait

bl Stealer and also on a private boat. Capt. Bill Wickers III, of the Linda D V, earned overall guide honors in the general division, tallying 14 winners and a division-topping 36 releases including three marlin. Capt. Brice Barr of the Double Down was named top guide in the light general division, guiding his anglers to a divisional best of 66 releases—64 of them sailfish. Capt. Tim Carlile of the Outcast earned the overall guide achievement award in the flats division. He also guided his anglers to the most flats releases with 213, including 86 tarpon. Celebrating the diverse variety of fish found in Florida Keys waters, the Key West Fishing Tournament provides recognition and awards to anglers posting the heaviest catch in each of 33 species and the most releases of fish in seven other species. The 2022 challenge begins Dec. 1, 2021 and continues until July 31, 2022. For a complete list of winners and catches, visit keywestfishingtournament.com.

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USE THE WIND TO FIND FISH

By John Saporito

he wind is a great mover of bait, and a mover of bait is a mover of fish. Among the myriad factors that contribute to gamefish location, wind ranks somewhere near the top. Short-term winds influence the whereabouts of baitfish schools in many ways, which in turn influences the location of the gamefish that feed on them. Fish are highly sensitive to water temperature. Even a change of a degree or two can motivate them to seek out water of a more desired temperature. In the northern hemisphere, a cold northerly wind may lower water temperatures enough to force baitfish to move toward areas of more stable temperature, such as deeper water. Conversely, a southerly wind may raise water temperatures beyond a certain bait species’ comfort range, causing them to seek out areas with cooler water. Many migratory baitfish begin their seasonal journeys based on temperature changes initiated by short-term wind events, such as storms. They respond by relocating to areas that better suit their specific needs. When a localized or short-term wind pattern changes the water temperature, you can bet the baitfish will take notice and act accordingly.

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OCTOBER 2021

Baitfish of all sizes are always on the lookout for an easy meal. Just like the predators that hunt them, baitfish prefer to feed with the lowest possible expenditure of energy. Suspension feeders, such as many members of the herring family, look for big blows to stir up detritus, plankton and other small organisms and organic matter that they can eat. The wind also creates surface currents, which push plankton and other miniscule prey items. Any significant wind has the potential to concentrate, stir up, or otherwise move the food baitfish feed on. The wind also has the power to enhance or diminish tidal action. A wind moving in the same direction as a tidal current will accelerate the water’s movement, overpowering and transporting both baitfish and their prey. A wind-against-current scenario may form a natural corral that concentrates and traps baitfish in a temporary location. In bays and other inshore waterways, a strong offshore wind can combine with a low tide to render certain areas uninhabitable to baitfish due shallowness. A strong onshore wind, in conjunction with a high tide, can pile up water in areas that before were dry, allowing baitfish to enter feeding grounds that were previously inaccessible.

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It’s important to know where there is deep, stable water for baitfish to take shelter in when the temperature suddenly rises or drops. Also look for “dead ends” in the areas you fish, such as coves and points of land, which act as barriers that trap and hold bait when the wind is howling. If you find baitfish, odds are good that the gamefish are nearby. John Saporito is a lifelong fisherman and student of the seas. Visit him online at guerillaangling.com.

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GIANT SWORDFISH IS A CANAVERAL RECORD By CAM Staff

n the early morning hours of Saturday, Sept. 11, three anglers fishing out of Cape Canaveral, Fla., idled the “High Maintenance” into Sunrise Marina towing a swordfish that’s being called a Port Canaveral record. The broadbill bottomed out a set of 500-pound scales after being dead for more than 16 hours, so it’s safe to say it outweighed the unofficial and long-standing port record of 365 pounds. One of the anglers, Steven Sharpe, estimated its weight to be 550 pounds, based on measurements. Records aside, it was a huge fish. Sharpe, his long-time fishing buddy, Jeff Thummel, and George Birkhead, who was on his first swordfish trip, were drifting in 1,500-foot depths about 40 miles out of Port Canaveral. On their first set, they had bite that came unbuttoned. They re-baited with a whole ladyfish and dropped it down to about 1,400 feet. The big fish came tight at about 10:30 a.m. and then rocketed toward the surface. Sharpe said they had no idea of the size of the fish through most of a 5 ½-hour fight.

Their Lindgren-Pitman S2-1200 electric reel and Handler custom rod battled the fish as it surfaced and dove numerous times and dragged the boat 25 miles from where the fish was initially hooked. “About every hour, he’d show,” Sharpe said. “We didn’t realize how big he was until we got him to the boat. “We harpooned it, hauled it in and gaffed it. When we gaffed it, all hell broke loose.” The big fish beat itself against the boat until it finally expired and the crew got a tail rope on it at about 4 p.m. Only then was there a moment for celebration and cigars. They pulled a tape on the fish and got a short length of 101 inches from the fork of the tail to the tip of the lower jaw. Then the hard work began. “There were three people on board, and we couldn’t get that fish in the boat,” Sharpe said. “We tried everything and ended up having to idle it all the way home. We didn’t get to port until about 1 a.m.” They had to wait until 8 a.m. Saturday morning to get the fish up on scales.

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Fishing Report & Forecast Mayport By Capt. Kirk Waltz

ctober conjures up a number of meanings for folks from the New England shore to Florida. For the folks way up the coast it usually means the beginning of cold weather coupled with exceptionally cold weather that gets mighty uncomfortable at times. On the other hand it means cool temperate mornings in the mid to low sixties with highs anywhere from the low seventies to the low eighties for us here in Northeast Florida. This gradual swing for us means red hot action for 4 to 6 weeks. The inshore species like redfish, trout, jacks, flounder, black drum and sheepshead are going to feed hard on this cool water trend. The Inlet at Mayport will begin to hold large numbers of these inshore fish that at times can be seen pinning baits up against the rocks and shore all adjacent to the deep water inlet. This is one of the most opportune times to catch some of the biggest redfish you have ever seen. These “bull” reds will come in to the inlet to spawn and can measure anywhere from 38in. to 48in. at times. An incredible species on medium tackle, you can only imagine what it feels like to tug on the rod with a 35-40lb redfish. These bruisers can be had on a variety of light tackle rods but, I prefer a Shimano Saragosa 10000 spinning reel coupled with 50lb braid attached to the reel. A medium heavy rod usually will get it done as the other side of this fighting formula...As the current will at times exceed a couple of knots it’s important to use adequate weight to put the bait where the fish are. One tip I really like to deploy is to use my Penn downriggers with a 5lb. ball attached to put the bait on the bottom. This technique allows the angler to fish with no weight on the rod and reel using only a 3ft leader of 50lb mono and a 5/0 live bait hook. I will anchor the boat in a location off one of the many drops inside or outside the inlet depending on the tide. After the boat is firmly anchored I will attach either a piece of fresh blue crab, a live mullet , pogie or cut bait, ladyfish are great for this by 2 NORTHEAST FLORIDA

OCTOBER 2021

the way, pin the line in the clothes pin on the downrigger ball and drop it to the bottom. When the fish comes up and eats the bait it’s you and he unbridled with no additional weight to hinder the fight. The offshore will also begin to change ever so gradually. Kingfish and other species of striking fish will still be right off the beach and can be caught on many of the local party ground areas like MR and PM. With the weather cooling also look for good sized schools of Spanish mackerel to work the inlet on high tides and the areas right off the beach like the Red Tops, Spoil area and the Southeast Hole. Small Clark spoons or Seahawk lures are extremely effective for these fish. Further cooling during this month depending on how cold the weather gets will push the kings further out to TW and beyond. The bottom fishing will also be good as schools of black sea bass move closer in with the cooling water. These guys are great table fare and will readily eat cut squid or cigar minnows. The snapper and grouper will also be available and will push in to the party grounds fairly close in. The nine mile area , middle grounds , RL areas will hold good numbers of fish as well as east fourteen fifteen just to name a few. Remember fishing requires time an effort. Check the regulations for what you can and cannot keep. Don’t get caught on the couch because you won’t catch’em there!.. For info on charters from 4 to 50 call Capt. Kirk at 904-241-7560 or 904-626-1128 or visit us on Facebook …Enterprise Fishing Charters or www.Enterprisefishingcharters.com . Listen every Saturday morning on fishing tips from Capt. Kevin, Capt. Kirk, and Jeff Lageman on 1010am or 92.5fm on The Outdoors Show from 7-10am

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eems like every weekend we try to get offshore there is another tropical storm blowing in the ocean and I know that’s ruining fishing for a lot of people who are limited on days they can fish. We do have some great inshore options right now for the days you cannot get out. The bull reds have been showing up in the river in good numbers. The most important thing to remember if you do decide to target them is they are over slot and cannot be kept as coming out of the deep river they need to be revived, vented, or send back to the bottom on a fish descending device to make sure they survive. These big fish are our breeding population and we want to keep the fishery as healthy as possible. Offshore I have been seeing nice mangroves coming off the reefs. Kings are still around but we will probably see them start to disappear as the water temperature starts to drop. As we transition into fall start to think ahead a little to wahoo and

black fin tuna. It’s always good to get a head start on getting your gear prepped and lures ready especially if you high-speed troll. We are always looking for guests and speakers so if you have anything you’d like to come and talk to the club about that is fishing or boat related send us an email or Facebook message. Upcoming Events: October 7th- Club Meeting. Speaker TBD October 16th - Annual banquet. See board members for tickets. October 21st- Club Meeting. Speaker TBD Check out our website to keep up with upcoming events, schedules, or any changes. www.JaxFish.com Our meetings are on the first and third Thursday of each month. We are open to the public so we would love to have you at a meeting even if you are not a member love to have you. Captain Lee Bowman

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Fishing Report & Forecast Flagler Inshore By Captain Chris Herrera

t’s that time of year to practice your cast netting technique as the mullet are running in full force! Net a well full of mullet and head to your local inlet with an assortment of weights to hold bottom (which can change as the tide speeds up or slow down) different size leaders as you never know what you will encounter. When the mullet run is in full swing you can hook everything and anything from redfish to tarpon. Fishing the inlet for redfish is best during change of tides but not always necessarily true as some spectacular days have been had within the last two hours of outgoing tide. A fish finder rig with enough weight to hold bottom, 18 inch leader and 3/0-5/0 Daiichi circle hook is a rig I like to use to catch redfish and flounder. (For flounder change that hook to a j hook instead of a circle for a better

hook up). Make sure you have at least 20lb. test line as the current will make a 6 lb. redfish feel more like a 20lber. Once the tide goes slack start dragging the bottom with your fish finder rig for flounder as this is doormat season. Tarpon can also be seen rolling and crashing bait while fishing the inlet so free line a live mullet with a circle hook and set it in the rod holder. Heading inshore a topwater lure at first light will get blown up around areas that are holding bait. Once the topwater bite slows down you can switch to artificial lures that “match the hatch” which will be mullet so jerk baits, paddle tails and spoon are great lures. If live bait is your thing I would toss two lines out, one live mullet and another rod with cut mullet and see which one the fish like best. Best areas to target are oyster beds during low or high tides or shorelines at high tide that are holding mullet. Night time dock light fishing is still great as trout, lady fish and snook will be popping the bait that drifts by the light all night long. Live shrimp is a local favorite hooked on a 1/0 circle hook and bb split shot. When you run out of shrimp go for the artificial lures like a D.O.A shrimp that will get just as many bites. Snook should be great this month in the southern region of the county. Tomoka Basin is best fished on outgoing tides concentrating on the mosquito controls creek mouths with either live bait or artificial lures. Expect to catch not only snook but redfish, trout and juvenile tarpon as well. October brings us some great fishing so get out there and catch um! Capt. Chris Herrera Serving Flagler Beach, Palm Coast, St. Augustine www.palmcoastfishing.com

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Fishing Report St. Johns River By: Richard Hamilton

he shrimp are beginning to show in good numbers near welaka. The piers and the deep water haunts are alive and well with activity. So get to it. Redfish; all about using crabs, live shiners, (about finger mullet size) and shrimp are the ticket. Check out all around the drop-offs and near grass lines to get your string stretched. Some are oversized so check the length Croaker as usual at mile market eighteen. But also in or near most deeper holes or drops. Baits are shrimp or nightcrawlers. The biggest ones of the year should be showing up. Its a great way to take kids fishing

because its easy and fun… If you want to catch a Tarpon up in the river, now is the time.. Targeting these bad boys on bass lures or live bait is your best bet. Downtown Jax and around doctors inlet bridges are good spots now. A live 8” mullet works great. Speaking of Mullet. They will be big and are starting to have "roe" in them the first part of the month. So grab some chum and worms and go have a ball. Largemouth will be near the drop-offs probably schooling to feed up for the change coming, i.e., cooler temp within a month or so. Also, check under docks. Live shrimp (or not) on heavy line with a small float; it doesn't get any better. From Dunns Creek south to Welaka in the mouths of of the creeks that dump into the St Johns are great spots to catch Largemouths with live shrimp now. Some great catches will come from there. Catfish in the creeks and out in the deeper holes of the river. They'll come up shallow at night to feed. Usually a nice cut bait, e.g., croaker or a nightcrawler will do the trick. Bream fishing: grab some fly rod poppers and hit the creeks. Lots of enjoyment. Til next time, keep your line wet and your lure movin'. CAM Staff

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he Flagler Sportfishing Club will be having its monthly meeting at the VFW on Tuesday, October 5th; The meeting will consist of Quick Tips and a featured speaker. Fish of the Month Winners will be announced. In addition, the Club will be holding its renown Smoke Fish and Dip Contest which pays cash prizes for the winner and runner up. Also, on October 9th the Club will be having its Annual Picnic at Herschel King Park. On October 23rd the Free Club Surf Tournament will be held, so be sure to sign up. The Club teams up with the Litter Gitter each month and they have Trips on the 1st Tuesday of every month at 10am until 12 noon sign up if interested. Upcoming Events: Monthly Club Meeting – Oct. 5th,

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OCTOBER 2021

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VFW, Old Kings Road, Palm Coast Free Club Surf Tournament – Oct. 23rd – Weigh-in at Betty Steflik Preserve Club Litter Gitter Trips – 1st Tuesday of every month – Sign Up on the web Join the Flagler Sportfishing Club www.flaglersportfishing.com Join now and get 3 free months. flaglersportfishing.com/become-anew-member/ . Contact: Chris Christian @ chris@flaglersportfishing.com YouTube: Also, check out our new YouTube Channel for Fishing Quick Tips – search Flagler Sportfishing Club and subscribe

Fishing Report & Forecast Nassau Sound By Capt. Tony Bozzella

ctober is a great month for any species. As the fall mullet run takes the mullet and other bait fish south, the back country loads up with redfish. Shrimp and mudminnows on a quarter ounce jig head will be the main staple around the mud flats and oyster bars. There will be many juvenile red fish, however many slot fish will be taken as well. Last of the outgoing tide’s should prove best as the fish are pulled from the grasses. Also, tasty black drum will be in the mix. I like to fish shrimp, as

drum normally do not take mud minnows. Flounder will also be in the bag this month. Area structure, docks, rocks, & edges of bars can be productive. I like moving water and a bait tipped TBS bucktail, hopping it across the bottom in areas mentioned. Be patient, when you feel a take, give it a second and set the hook. Be sure to have a net, as they come off the hook boat side commonly. For the Lure anglers, a great month to get a big trout around area inlets. I like fishing around the top end of the tide last of the incoming first of the outgoing over structure with top water plugs, and lip divers. Any lure imitating a migrating bait fish will produce. Pick a lure that you are very familiar with and in tune it at all times knowing what that lure is doing and you will be successful. There are no magic Lures, Know how to work the baits that you choose, for a better success. My record show many of the bigger trout come in the spring and fall with October being a great month. Low light conditions can prove to be the best early morning, or late afternoon. If you get the desired tide and low light conditions this would be a great time for your Trout. Float Fisherman, will also take their fair share also. These areas could be holding some of the last tarpon. Often fishing area inlets on an outgoing tide with a free lined mullet can be great. Bait schools get pulled out with the tide and tarpon will explode on them!! Rig your hook on a 30-40 inch piece of fluorocarbon for best results. The smaller the diameter the more hook ups, however, tarpon will wear through it faster. Get out and enjoy fishing!!. Capt. Tony Bozzella / TBS JIGS www.tonybozzella.com 904 651 0182

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How Do We Restore Our Waters? Frank J. Gidus, II, CCA Florida Director of Habitat and Environmental Restoration

itrus groves have existed in Florida for over 450 years, the cattle industry for over 350 years, and over 250 years ago, sugar, citrus, rice, and indigo plantations were established here. Steamboats began transporting settlers to Florida in the early to mid-1800’s and naturally, railroads and new development followed. New industries such as timber, truck farming, phosphate and tourism greatly expanded. Florida was a major site for military training and shipbuilding during World War I and II. By 1950, Florida had grown to be the 20th largest state in the nation in terms of population and then quickly jumped to the 4th largest by 1990. Florida is now the 3rd most populous state and the boom continues with almost 1,000 people reportedly moving to the state each day. Not surprisingly, 77 percent of Florida’s nearly 22 million residents live in or near coastal areas. With this kind of land use and growth also comes roadways, houses, buildings, factories, paved areas, dredging, filling, dikes, dams, crops, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, solvents and petroleum products, just to name a few. And most of these activities didn’t fall into any type of

exacerbate the current and historic pollution in the water and on the bottom, acting as a catalyst of sorts. From here we all know too well what happens. The “naturally occurring” algae gets over-fed, mother nature steps in, and a bloom and sometimes a fish kill ensues. It makes sense that with a growing population, more severe storms and weather events from climate change and sea level rise, our algae blooms are getting worse and much larger. It doesn’t matter if the algae are red, green, brown or blue-green, they all love to eat the excessive nitrogen, phosphorus and other pollutants that we are feeding them. Instead of remaining important “natural occurring” microscopic organisms, they grow quickly and can become lethal to plants and animals in the water and on land. While this is a snapshot of how we got here, how do we fix our issues and restore our waters? How do we slow down or even stop the pollution and the blooms? It all boils down to a few very important steps. We must fix our issues on land first, find the funding to do so, and elect the right officials who are more concerned about our waters than

local, state or federal regulation until the mid-1900’s. The first major U.S. law addressing water pollution was the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948. Growing concern for water pollution during this time led to the Clean Water Act of 1972. When you have this kind of development over the course of not just decades but centuries, it doesn’t all just disappear as we are finding out. The more recent issues which are common all over the state of Florida are things such as the legal and illegal discharges to our waters, leaks and spills from outdated infrastructures, outdated wastewater treatment plants, septic tanks, untreated stormwater runoff, water shortages, and commercial and residential fertilizers. From Apalachicola to Charlotte Harbor, Lake Okeechobee, Tampa Bay, the Indian River Lagoon, and Biscayne Bay, no coastal water body is unaffected. And let’s not forget Florida’s annual average rainfall is about 54 inches, the 5th most in the nation. The rains wash everything downhill toward water bodies, whether it be groundwater, canals, retention ponds, rivers, lakes, streams or oceans. Some of the pollution accumulates in the sediment on the bottom of these water bodies while some of it suspends and moves around in the water column. We tend to forget about it at this point (out of sight, out of mind). But then mother nature sends us a blunt reminder that it is in fact still there, and that we are still flushing it into our water bodies. A tropical storm, hurricane, drought, heat wave, or even a freeze can

their votes. We need to stop all wastewater discharges to our coastal waters with heavy fines for violators, upgrade wastewater treatment plants to advanced wastewater treatment technology, replace highpriority coastal septic tanks to sewer, upgrade outdated stormwater systems, remove muck and pollution from the bottom of our waterways, continue habitat restoration work, increase public education, enforce summer fertilizer restrictions and impose fines to violators for starters. And as anglers, we all need to do our part in protecting and preserving what we have left. Gently handling fish and practicing catch, photo and release is a great start. Getting more involved with the issues by emailing and calling local, state and federal officials will make a difference as will speaking at public meetings. Finally, we all need to stop scratching our heads and asking how did this happen and how do we fix it? We already know the answers to those questions. The red tide, algal blooms and fish kills are not over and will likely get much worse before they get better. But with all of us working together, we can make a difference and right our wrongs. The future of Florida depends on it.

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Fishing Report & Forecast St. Augustine Inshore By Capt. Tommy Derringer

t should finally be cooling off this month it’s going to be all about the mullet… Our fall mullet run is one of my favorite times of year to get on the water and do some fishing. Cooler air temperatures and hungry predatory fish means fun for everyone on the water. The best areas to fish will be easy to find right now… where you see the mullet, you’ll also find redfish, trout, flounder, and just about anything else you want to catch. These fish will be lurking just underneath the mullet schools looking for an easy snack. There are countless numbers of lures both hard and soft plastic that do a great job of imitating a mullet. This is a great month to go the top-water plug route and use a Rapala Skitterwalk or Rapala Skitter V. Both are great “walk the dog” type plugs that even the shyest redfish or trout can’t resist this time year. If you want to go subsurface, try a soft plastic paddle tail or jerkbait from Saltwater Assassin. They look just a like a mullet and can be fished weedless or on a traditional jighead. Along with the influx of mullet to Northeast Florida comes our fall flounder run. Some of the best catches both in numbers and in size come in the fall. The fishfinder rig is the go-to for many anglers looking 14 NORTHEAST FLORIDA

OCTOBER 2021

to catch some flounder. It consists of using about 12” or so of leader attached to a swivel with a barrel weight above the swivel. You want to use enough weight to hold the bottom and a hook sized accordingly to the size of mullet or minnow you’re using. Another favorite rig is a Saltwater Assassin jighead in either 1/4 or 3/8 oz with a finger mullet pinned to it. The jighead rig allows you to fish without getting hung up as easily on structure like oysters and rocks. Just remember the new closure for flounder from Oct 15-Nov 30. The inlets will come alive this month. Big bull redfish will be schooling up in the in the St. Augustine and Matanzas inlets as well as some of the deeper areas of the St. Johns River near Mayport. A blue crab or mullet on the bottom will get their attention. If it doesn’t get too chilly there will also be some tarpon around the inlets feeding on the bigger mullet schools, so make sure to have a bigger rod ready to go for those monsters. If you missed out on the flood tides last month don’t worry... you still have plenty of days in October to find some tailers. Redfish and sheepshead will still be tailing away looking for crabs, snails, and just about anything that hangs out in the grass. Any crab or shrimp soft plastic imitation will work well for the reds. With the higher-thannormal tides this month it’s also a great time to use some noise making devices/rigs to lure the reds out of the flooded spartina grass. A popping cork is great way to go, and a spoon or spinner bait will give off an irresistible thump that can call out a redfish from even the thickest of grass patches. Capt. Tommy Derringer 904-377-3734 • www.InshoreAdventures.net

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Flatwoods Whitetails By Danny Patrick

he fall is a litle different in South Georgia and Northeast Florida. It’s typically a little warm and at times a mite bit muggy. The ever present misquitos can be at times large and extremly numerous which can limit the tree time for hunting. The one thing that warms every hunters soul is the reality that despite the hurdles of heat and bugs it’s officially hunting season. That unto itself fires up many a southern boy or girl into thoughts of sitting for hours on end in a peaceful little honey hole waiting for a deer, any deer, or hog to just stick it’s nose out so that we can see them. I have hunted for many years and have enjoyed the peace and solitude of sitting in the woods on a early morning watching the sun come up uliminating the woods with golden rays of sunlight. This early morning wakeup call effects every animal in the forest from squirrels to hawks and most days it stirs my soul. I call it tree time decompression where I can escape the world and watch Weston Hamby, 8 years old of God’s glory and works unfold. Northeast Florida was hunting I have truly been fortunate to opening day in South Carolina with hunt a little patch of heaven his grandpa and shot this nice 8pt in South Georgia the last 20 buck in velvet years. It is amazing to see all the

animals in the forest wake up, begin there daily routines and learn about their traits. The work it takes to get ready for hunting season is at times a little ardous but , the fruit it pays back is well worth it. The roads have to be mowed,trees and bushes cut back, stands checked for safety, shooting lanes cut, food plots tilled and planted, and the camp house prepared for the season. My clothes cleaned in unscented laundry detergent, hung to dry outside, sprayed with scent blocker and stored somewhere away frrom anything that could contanimate them with perfumes or human scent. The guns and bows sighted in....very important and at least shot to improve your accuracy. Gather up my gear like backpacks, binocs, boots, climbing harness ,thermocells , tree hooks, or whatever I need to have a successful day in the woods. Make a list if need be to ensure you don’t forget anything. A couple of other things to consider when getting ready to hunt remember you are entering their domain. When you insert yourself into the forest you have entered their bubble. Stealth, being slow to move, watching and listening to the other animals is paramount to a succesful hunting experience. Walk slowly into the woods, pan your head from side to side watching every bush, tree, listening carefully to ensure you don’t miss any oppotunity. Always play the wind because deer and hogs have a highly evolved sense of smell....their eyesight isn’t too shabby either so good effective camo really does help. Wear comfortable clothes and I reccomend snake boots around here as we have an ample supply in the flatwoods. Always file a hunt plan and tell someone where you are going. Things happen so always play it safe and hunt with a frind when you can. Enjoy the woods this season and try to do some treetop decompression. It’s good for the soul.

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ow that the long hot summer is over the cooler winds and cooler water should bring in the billfish this month and the next. Sailfish could race through our region in a few weeks or they could linger longer as their annual migration brings them along our coast. October sail fishing in Northeast Florida resembles the South Florida techniques including use of dredges, similar bait rigging and careful bait presentation but the use of kites and balloons hasn’t taken off in North Florida, we typically have more wind and less live bait to present to the sails. We also have far more water to cover in our search. Finding the right combination of water clarity, temperature and bait is the key to finding the sailfish. We can also expect the tuna bite to improve near the ledge and out to the edge of the gulfstream currents this month. Winter blackfin schools often stack up inside the ledge so they’re easier to get to and easier to find. Tuna will often push bait to the surface so you can see schools

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breaking the surface and jumping playfully, particularly early in the morning or late in the afternoon. And the Wahoo should also arrive in October! At the Northeast Florida Marlin Association, the fall and winter mean tournament time and this year we kick off with the El Pescado tournament on November 3rd to 6th, 2021. We’ll follow that up with the Don Combs Wahoo Roundup in December and then we’ll be gearing up for the biggest Bluewater tournament in many years. It’ll be the 50th year of the Bluewater Tournament and we’ve joined the Sportfishing Championship this year so it’s going to be bigger and better than before! See the website 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

OCTOBER 2021

NORTHEAST FLORIDA 15

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ACGFA - October By Will Niemann

ark your calendars for our annual Pink up the Spots Fishing Tournament on October 8-9th at Northeast Florida Marlin Association Club House located inside of the Camachee Cove Yacht Harbor. Register early at the Bait Shack, 101 Vilano Causeway, by October 7th, 2021 for only $30.00 per angler. CASH ONLY. Come out and enjoy Music, Food, Cash Bar, and Raffle. Lots of additional ways to WIN!!! Proceeds benefit Pink up the Pace, www.pinkupthepace.com. For sponsor, vendor or fishing information contact Donna Frantz 904-814-0515 or Linda Manucy 904-824-6436 or find us on Facebook. The next ACGFA club meeting will be held on September 21, 2021 at St. Augustine Shrine Club located at 250 Brainard Dr. in St. Augustine. Social begins at 6pm, with dinner at 6:30 pm followed by the meeting at 7pm with guest speaker James Liao, UF associate professor of Biology with Whitney Lab. In August we held our flounder tournament. Congratulations to the following anglers: 1st place - Alison

Colvin, 2nd place - Cody Burgdorf, 3rd place - None. We will have both our redfish spots tournament and our bottom tournament in October. New members and guests are always welcome! ACGFA was founded in 1958 and the purpose is to promote the sport of 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. Our 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. We have speakers on some aspect of fishing, boating, or water safety every month. We have inclub 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.

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Fishing Report & Forecast Fernandina / Amelia Island By Terry D. Lacoss

he many tidal creeks that make up the Nassau Sound, Cumberland Sound and Amelia River waterways are teeming with backwater species during the month of October. Redfish are the main target for shallow water fishermen, while other species include seatrout, flounder, bluefish and more. Cooling water temperatures signals a major shrimp spawn in the fertile marsh creeks and bays which is the main attraction for area game fish. Flounder weighing to 10-pounds will take weighted bullhead minnows, finger mullet, strip baits, or live shrimp along a rough bottom when fished with a ¼ ounce led head jig. In line spinners fished slowly over a shell bottom is also a deadly flounder fishing tactic. I ounce fished with Jacksonville guide Roger Bump who instructed me how to hook a flounder!

points of the creek mouth. Finally cast far back into the creek mouth and work your artificial lure out into the main creek making sure that you keep your rod tip in a high position to feel strikes better and for a better hookset. Once the lure enters the main creek, slow your retrieve allowing your lure to work the deep edges of the creek mouth. Surf fishing at Amelia Island and Nassau Sound should produce excellent catches of sea trout, whiting, pompano, flounder, bluefish and redfish during the early morning and late evening tides. Casting a ¼-ounce led head jig rigged with a clear curly plastic tail with blue glitter is key for big catches of sea trout measuring to over twentyinches. Fishing dead on the bottom with live finger mullet is also a great surf fishing tactic, so be sure and bring along a six-foot cast net and live bait bucket. As the water temperatures begin to cool over night during the month of September, many of the freshwater ponds and lakes located on Amelia Island will offer excellent early morning topwater fishing action. The Storm “chug Bug” in the Baby Bass color pattern remains would be my first choice. However, an eight-inch grape plastic worm with red metal flake worked close to deep water and shoreline structure such a fallen trees and boat docks is key. Finally, redfish will be tailing in the flooded marshes during a full moon and when a strong northeast wind is blowing. Fly fishermen will do well while casting a crab pattern, or a brown and orange “Clouser Minnow” pattern. A live finger mullet or bullhead minnow barbed to ¼ ounce led head jig may well be the best angling tactic when hooking up to September flood tide reds when fishing under boat docks, jetty rocks and the deep sides of oysterbars. Offshore fishermen will be targeting gag grouper at FA, HH and FC fish havens while targeting rock ledges, wrecks and live bottoms. Fish dead on the bottom with live pinfish, mullet, Spanish sardines, fresh local squid, or menhaden. Be sure and bring along a couple of boxes of frozen cigar minnows just in case live baits are hard to locate. Black sea bass fishing should also improve with cooling water temperatures while fishing with cut baits, or fresh local squid. Roland Williams recently landed a 10.57 rock hine grouper which is a pending new IGFA world record. Trolling species including kingfish, barracuda, cobia and Spanish mackerel will take a trolled “Popsicle” more commonly known as a dead cigar minnow. Bull reds and a few tarpon will be hanging around the mouths of the Nassau and St. Mary’s inlets and along the beaches while chum fishing with freshly netted menhaden. The middle of the in-coming tide is key Roland Williams recently landed a 10.57 rock hine grouper which is a when arriving at mid-morning . Finally, redfish will be tailing in the flooded marshes during a full pending new IGFA world record moon and when a strong northeast wind is blowing. Fly fishermen will “Once the flounder strikes your bait, or lure, it’s critical to not setting do well while casting a crab pattern, or a brown and orange “Clouser the hook right away,” Roger said. “Instead give your line a little slack Minnow” pattern. A live finger mullet or bullhead minnow barbed to ¼ and wait for the flounder to pick up the bait and swallow. Now set the ounce led head jig may well be the best angling tactic when hooking up to September flood tide reds when fishing under boat docks, jetty rocks hook!” Fort Clinch historically produces heavyweight flounder weighing to and the deep sides of oysterbars. 10-pounds with an average flounder weighing from 2-5 pounds. The Florida State world record southern flounder was caught by Larenza Mungin on December 23, 1983 weighing 20.9-pounds. Mungin was For more information and charters, fishing with live mullet from the Nassau Sound Bridge. call Amelia Angler Outfitters (904) 261-2870, or Targeting tidal creek mouths during the first of the falling tide with visit www.ameliaangler.com a Berkley Gulp shrimp barbed on a 1/8 ounce led head jig and worked ameliaangler@net-magic.net slowly along the bottom will produce excellent redfish and sea trout action as well. I also like to cast a “Redfish Magic” spinner at these same creek mouths while using a white/chartreuse colored plastic tail. Simply position your fishing boat with an electric motor at the mouth of a falling creek mouth and make casts first to both the left and right

18 NORTHEAST FLORIDA

OCTOBER 2021

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Fishing Report & Forecast St. Augustine Offshore By Capt. Robert Johnson

Fall is in the air It’s hard to believe that October is here. The crowds are gone, most of them chasing football and Gods other creatures in the woods. They don’t know that they are missing some of the best fishing of the year. Bottom fishing is king. As the water starts to cool it triggers fish to start putting on weight for the upcoming winter. Gag Grouper are getting ready for their annual spawn that takes place between January and the end of April. They can be found anywhere between 120 ft out

to the shelfs edge. The best depths are normally between 145 and 160 ft. This is full contact fishing with heavy tackle and tight drags if you want to be successful. In addition to grouper there will still be some mutton and mangrove snapper around as well. October is normally the start of the fall Cobia migration. These fish will show up in the 100 -120ft range on wrecks and the larger ledges. There will be some African pompano around as well. A jig worked vertically through the water column is a great way to target both. Do not work the jig too fast, they normally will take the lure on the fall. All the double rig species will be on fire including Triggerfish, Vermillion Snapper, Porgy and many others. On the trolling scene there will be plenty of King Mackerel inshore if the water temperature stays above 72 degrees. October is also a great month to look for Sailfish especially if we get a couple of early cold fronts. Look for schools of bait in 120 to 160 ft. find the bait find the fish. We like to pull naked ballyhoo rigged on mono. Teasers will help pull the fish off the schools of bait. The typical daisy chain works, but a dredge rigged with mullet or ballyhoo is better. Keep your eyes on your teaser that’s where he is going to show up. Some days you just need to leave the smoke pole in the closet and pick up the fishing pole instead. “Let’s Go Fishing” Captain Robert Johnson (904)540-2628 Jodielynncharters.com Jlfishing@bellsouth

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Wahoo Junkies - October – First Trips By Captain Tim Altman

ctober will bring the first hints of a chill in the air and our real first trips for Wahoo here in NE Florida. For we knuckle-dragging hi-speed trolling Wahoo Junkies this activates our instinctive urge to go fishing. Most likely we will look to increase our odds by picking the best weather days around the New Moon on October 6th or the Full Moon on the 20th. Traditionally we have found that there are more fish caught on the New Moon, but larger fish caught on the Full Moon. That observation is not scientific, but just cumulative data by a few of us that have been Wahoo fishing for the last 15 to 20 years.

One of my best October Wahoo For early season Wahoo I commonly have the best luck in deeper water usually in depths of 145-190ft. BUT with that being said, I almost always put lines in at 120ft and troll my way out to deeper water. We usually depart the inlet a full 2 hours prior to scheduled sunrise. I want lines in as the sun is coming up. The darker the better. Even though it seems counterintuitive, some of my best days have been in a heavy overcast with dark colored lures. I try to follow the pattern of dark lures on dark or overcast days and light colors on bright or sunny days. But as my good friend and 2 time Wahoo Shootout Champion Matt Joseph says “You gotta put it in front of them”….meaning that you have to find the fish. Which brings us to the uniqueness of high-speed trolling, it gives you the ability to cover a tremendous amount of ground and still catch fish. I have covered up to 150 miles trolling in a single day of fishing….this is not including the transit out and back…yes I’ve put

265 miles on my boat in a single day of fishing (dock to dock). In some cases, I’ve made the complete transit out and back in darkness. A Nice Sunset October Wahoo! So, take the time to make sure your Wahoo gear is prepped and ready to go. But MOST importantly re-check all the safety gear onboard your boat. Although I’ve done it without, Radar is a must in nighttime navigation. An autopilot if used properly allows you to get your head up out of the electronics presentation and on the water in front of you. See and avoid is the best way to avoid a collision of any kind. All my life preservers have whistles and strobe lights. I have 2 Epirbs, a 6-person offshore life raft, 8 survival suits and a Satellite Phone. Yes, I may be a little overboard on the safety aspect, but 42 in the aviation business has taught me one thing that is an absolute…it’s not a matter of “if ” but a matter of “when” something is going to happen if you do it long enough. Make sure your VHF Radio is monitoring 16 by choosing the “Dual” button which allows you to listen to your designated channel while simultaneously monitoring Channel 16 Traffic. This might not only save you from getting boarded by violating a US Navy ship’s exclusion zone, but it just may save someone else’s life one day be hearing a distress call you otherwise would not hear. The lives of our crew and the other mariners on the water are precious and deserve our best effort and equipment. Our boats are expensive and one heck of an investment that we must protect also. By ensuring that you have a solid insurance policy covering the true value of your boat, its contents and liability you are protecting your investment and yourself. It never ceases to amaze me the number of people that will pay outrageous amounts of money on a boat and under-insure it with some out of state, out of town broker with a company they’ve never heard of just to get the lowest possible rate. I ensure my investment with Beale Marine and Casualty. Roger and Johnny Beale have been serving North Florida Captains and Boat Owners for over 40 years…and most importantly they are your advocate. If something goes wrong, they are there to ensure that your claim is handled in a fair and timely manner. And as I said before, it isn’t a matter of “if ” but a matter of “when”! So, “when” you need them you they are here and committed to serve you. www.bealemarine.com HooDoo Charters Wahoo Trips will be in full Swing in October…and again while my Wahoo Junkies Live co-host and last year’s winner of the Northeast Florida Wahoo Shootout…Casey Smith will be sitting in a tree stand, we will be fishing in an attempt get better to de-throne him as the “Wahoo King”. Our 2nd livestream of the season in the Facebook Group “Wahoo Junkies” will be during late October and most likely we will begin a series of Wahoo Junkie podcasts this fall. If you’re not part of the Wahoo Junkies Facebook Group go to www.facebook.com/ groups/wahoojunkies and request to join. Until next month remember that great things happen when you take a kid fishing!

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

OCTOBER 2021

NORTHEAST FLORIDA 21

Fishing Report Pier and Surf By: Noel Kuhn

ctober is finally here and you know what that means! POMPANO are back in town! They have spent the long hot Summer up in the Carolinas. You see they prefer the water temp to be between 65 and 75. This Summer our water temp got into the upper 80’s. So October and November are prime times for catching these tasty gold nuggets. This is also the best two months for catching big Redfish in the surf. Let’s start with Redfish. For bait choice let’s match the hatch. As long as there are mullet in the surf then that is what you should use. When the mullet move out then it is time to switch to Blue Crab. My go to rig is very simple. It is

a fish finder/ sinker slider tied out of 80lb mono. The size hook depends if you are casting a cut chunk of mullet, live whole mullet or blue crab chunks. I use from a 2/0 to an 8/0 circle hook. My leader is only 18” long. Do not concern yourself with 80lb leader being too big. I have caught surf Redfish using 100lb mono! I have also landed huge Reds on 480lb steel cable while shark fishing with half of a 13” Whiting. Surf Redfish are not picky. Pompano on the other hand are very picky. When I head to the beach I like to have several kinds of bait ready to go. Matching the hatch is again crucial. If you were in a mountain trout stream if might be a dry fly. Offshore it may be a live Blue Runner. Well for Pompano its Sand Fleas, clams, crabs, Fishbites and shrimp. Fresh and live is always the best. The rigging is very simple or as complicated as you want to make it. For me it is simply a double dropper rig. My twist is a rig that a friend of mine developed 10 years ago. It is called the Fishing Mortician Rig. I use a white float on the top and an orange bead on the bottom, which again matches the hatch. I will leave you with the secret to being a better surf angler. Just put a good bait in front of a hungry fish! Now get out and enjoy this best time of year. See you on the beach!

Noel Kuhn Surf fishing guide and long distance casting coach. 904-945-0660 www.TheSurfAngler.com

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TIDE CHART - OCTOBER

Mayport Degaussing Structure 30.3967° N, 81.3950° W Date Day Time Hgt 01 Fri 04:39 AM 4.59 H 02 Sat 05:33 AM 4.83 H 03 Sun 12:12 AM 1.18 L 04 Mon 12:56 AM 0.76 L 05 Tue 01:39 AM 0.35 L 06 Wed 02:21 AM 0.02 L 07 Thu 03:03 AM -0.18 L 08 Fri 03:48 AM -0.22 L 09 Sat 04:35 AM -0.10 L 10 Sun 05:27 AM 0.13 L 11 Mon 12:27 AM 5.45 H 12 Tue 01:25 AM 5.27 H 13 Wed 02:28 AM 5.13 H 14 Thu 03:35 AM 5.09 H 15 Fri 04:42 AM 5.16 H 16 Sat 05:43 AM 5.31 H 17 Sun 06:37 AM 5.50 H 18 Mon 01:04 AM 0.57 L 19 Tue 01:46 AM 0.43 L 20 Wed 02:26 AM 0.37 L 21 Thu 03:04 AM 0.41 L 22 Fri 03:41 AM 0.55 L 23 Sat 04:18 AM 0.79 L 24 Sun 04:56 AM 1.07 L 25 Mon 05:37 AM 1.35 L 26 Tue 12:30 AM 4.57 H 27 Wed 01:14 AM 4.49 H 28 Thu 02:04 AM 4.47 H 29 Fri 02:59 AM 4.53 H 30 Sat 03:58 AM 4.70 H 31 Sun 04:55 AM 5.00 H

Time 10:43 11:36 06:23 07:10 07:56 08:42 09:29 10:17 11:08 12:01 06:25 07:29 08:35 09:41 10:45 11:44 12:39 07:25 08:08 08:48 09:27 10:04 10:42 11:22 12:03 06:22 07:13 08:09 09:07 10:06 11:03

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

Hgt 1.48 L 1.19 L 5.15 H 5.51 H 5.87 H 6.18 H 6.41 H 6.52 H 6.52 H 6.43 H 0.41 L 0.66 L 0.83 L 0.90 L 0.88 L 0.80 L 0.69 L 5.67 H 5.80 H 5.86 H 5.85 H 5.79 H 5.69 H 5.57 H 5.45 H 1.59 L 1.74 L 1.78 L 1.70 L 1.51 L 1.21 L

Time 05:08 06:00 12:26 01:15 02:03 02:49 03:37 04:27 05:20 06:19 12:59 02:00 03:07 04:15 05:18 06:14 07:04 01:30 02:15 02:57 03:37 04:17 04:57 05:38 06:24 12:48 01:37 02:31 03:28 04:26 05:21

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 5.44 H PM 5.63 H PM 0.85 L PM 0.49 L PM 0.19 L PM -0.01 L PM -0.08 L PM 0.00 L PM 0.20 L PM 0.46 L PM 6.26 H PM 6.08 H PM 5.93 H PM 5.85 H PM 5.82 H PM 5.81 H PM 5.76 H PM 0.59 L PM 0.53 L PM 0.55 L PM 0.64 L PM 0.81 L PM 1.05 L PM 1.32 L PM 1.58 L PM 5.36 H PM 5.29 H PM 5.26 H PM 5.29 H PM 5.37 H PM 5.49 H

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

Time Hgt 11:26 PM 1.55 L 06:48 07:33 08:18 09:04 09:52 10:41 11:32

PM PM PM PM PM PM PM

5.83 5.98 6.06 6.07 5.99 5.84 5.65

H H H H H H H

07:21 08:26 09:29 10:29 11:25 12:17

PM PM PM PM PM AM

0.71 0.91 1.00 1.00 0.90 0.74

L L L L L L

07:49 08:31 09:11 09:50 10:29 11:08 11:48

PM PM PM PM PM PM PM

5.68 5.56 5.40 5.22 5.04 4.86 4.70

H H H H H H H

07:14 08:07 09:00 09:52 10:42 11:31

PM PM PM PM PM PM

1.78 1.88 1.86 1.69 1.39 0.99

L L L L L L

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he weather is starting to cool, and days are shorter. Sunrise is a 7 a.m., and it’s getting dark around 7:15 p.m. At the end of October, daylight savings time will begin. Fishing on the beach has been improving, and October is an excellent beach-fishing month. Snook and tarpon have been cruising near the trough, and my friend Larry recently hooked a tarpon that was so big it straightened out the treble hooks on his Krocodile spoon. Snook are being caught on live bait (greenies or croakers) but are also hitting jigs and crankbaits. In October, you may harvest one snook between 28 and 32 inches, except in the catchand-release areas on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The weeds (sargassum) are much better, and the wind has not been that bad. In general, tides are higher and the trough is deep. Croakers and whiting are hitting small jigs tipped with shrimp, and they can also be caught on small jigs. Cast, let the jig hit bottom, and then jerk it near the top of the water and let it sit. The fish are trying to pick it off the sand. Numbers of small jacks have been reported, with an average size of 2 pounds. I usually use 3/8-ounce DOA chartreuse jig with a 4-inch pearl Shad Tail. I’ve had good luck for jacks, ladyfish and snook when there is bait present. Look for birds, and then walk the shoreline looking for bait. Most of the fishing action is in the trough during high incoming or outgoing tides. The best time to fish is morning and evening. I’ve had more luck this year fishing slower and keeping the lure down near the bottom. On low tide, the fish are not in the trough; look for deeper shorelines. I’ve been fishing the bridges in the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie around dusk and at night. There’s some hot night fishing on topwater for snook where overhead lights hit the water. I use Zara Spooks (gold) and Rapala Skitterwalks (trout) and have been getting some great action on preslot snook. If you fish from the bridge, you’ll need a long-handled net. Try fishing around the lights on Jensen Beach Causeway or the 10-cent bridge in Stuart. Crabs are swimming along with the current near the top of the water. Predator fish are looking to the top to grab them. Both bridges are excellent snook spots, and you might just catch a big trout. Richard Matteson is a longtime contributor to Coastal Angler Magazine who writes for Stuart Rod and Reel Club. Contact him at (336) 414-3440.

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FLORIDA 15

PRESSURE IER

By Ryan Izquierdo

hen I was 12 years old, I moved to Palm Beach County, and I didn’t know anyone. I found a great way to spend my time when I discovered the Juno Beach Pier. From the first moment I walked out on that beachfront pier, my addiction for pier fishing was born. I have become a better fisherman and a better person because of it. What I find most exciting about pier fishing is the diversity it offers. Seasonal changes bring different species to catch and a variety of techniques to catch them. Bait & Lures: Organization is key. There is usually a limit on how many rods you’re allowed to bring on the pier. I bring a light spinning rod to catch bait, a conventional rod for casting live baits on bottom and a long surf rod to cast lures and freeline live baits. I always have Sabiki rigs. Usually you can find pods of pilchards, sardines, cigar minnows or other baitfish at piers. I use a size 3 Sabiki and a 1-ounce weight. Cast into the school and jig slowly. You will have a bucket of live bait in no time. From tarpon and snapper to snook, pretty much every species will eat a live pilchard. I keep a little bit of everything in my tackle bag to match the conditions: leader from 20 to 80 pounds, pyramid and egg weights, swivels and 1/0 to 6/0 J and circle hooks. Mullet Run: The changing of seasons initiates the mullet run. Millions of baitfish push south along Florida’s east coast. It’s not hard to spot or hear. Mullet are being attacked from every direction by hungry tarpon, snook,

16 FLORIDA

OCTOBER 2021

jacks, Spanish and king mackerel, bluefish and sharks. I recommend buying or cast netting mullet on the beach or in the river. Make sure to have a livewell or bucket and bubbler to keep the bait alive. Hook mullet through the lips or under the dorsal fin. Live-line them around the outside edges of bait schools with 60- to 100-pound leader, a 6/0 to 8/0 circle hook, and nothing smaller than a 5000size reel loaded with 30- to 50-pound braid. I recommend a drop net to help land and release your catch safely. Artificial Lures: I love to throw artificial lures at piers. I find the most success when the wind is blowing and the conditions are rough with white wash in the surf. Large 2- to 4-ounce plugs, swimbaits, Flair Hawks, bucktails and topwater plugs are some of my favorites. If I’m throwing lures, I won’t use anything less than 60-pound leader. Throw lures at first light and sundown because it can be tough hooking up in the middle of the day. Try and match the hatch with whatever live bait is around. Throw lures similar in size and color to what’s actually in the water. For more pier fishing tips from Ryan Izquierdo, check out the videos posted on his YouTube channel: Ryan Iz Fishing.

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tone crab season opens Oct. 15 and runs through May 1. Remember that regulations changes were made last year that changed requirements for traps as well as the minimum length for legally harvestable claws. The minimum harvestable claw length is 2 7/8 inches. Trapping is the most efficient method of collecting the legal limit of 1-gallon of stone crab claws per-person, per-day. There is a 2-gallon possession limit per vessel, regardless of how many harvesters are on the boat. Requirements for stone crab traps are also very specific, so be sure to check the current regulations at myfwc.com before dropping them. Legal traps can be purchased at most bait and tackle stores. Recreational harvesters are allowed up to five traps. Although it’s not nearly as easy as pulling traps, diving and snorkeling for stone crabs is more adventurous and a lot of fun. In many areas, you can find spiny lobsters and stone crabs on the same reefs or rock piles. Whether diving or trapping, it is illegal to harvest claws from eggbearing females. Although it is permitted to take both claws if they are of legal length, most people choose to take just one. This leaves the crab with something to feed and defend itself with, which also allows it to re-grow its missing claw more quickly. For more information, go to myfwc.com.

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ith students across the country returning to school, Mud Hole Custom Tackle stepped up in its efforts to bring custom fishing rod building and tackle crafting to the youth of America. As the industry’s number one supplier of tools, supplies, components and education content, Mud Hole is uniquely positioned to engage kids and create an educational experience through rod building. “We’ve been working closely with teachers and school organizations throughout the United States for over a decade, teaching students valuable life skills, and in many cases, providing an avenue to earn required academic credits in their science and agriculture programs,” said Brook Oliva, Vice President of Operations at Mud Hole. “Rod building is the core of our business, and we are always excited to bring this craft to kids. Whether they pursue rod building as a pathway to a career in the hunting and fishing industry, or if they simply gain a lifelong passion, Mud Hole is happy to play a small part in their development.” Mud Hole works very closely with educators as well as youth groups and clubs, including Boy Scouts of America and 4-H, to provide discounted pricing for all the equipment and supplies needed to bring rod building and tackle crafting to the classroom. Mud Hole also provides personal online instruction to the teachers, sharing the skills needed to transfer rod building 24 FLORIDA

OCTOBER 2021

expertise to their students. Since its inception over 13 years ago, the Mud Hole Education Program has reached more than 650 institutions and over 30,000 students across America and in Canada and Australia, with hands on activities that promote classroom engagement. “It’s an honor for me to work directly with the teachers who bring this important skill set to students across the country,” said Anthony Youmans, Mud Hole’s Education Program Director. “I lead online rod building workshops each month dedicated to teachers, and I attend state-level teacher conventions throughout the year. We have even set up a Mud Hole Education Program Facebook group as a platform for educators to share their experiences and techniques with each other. It’s an amazing community, and I am so proud to support it.” In 2021, Mud Hole has stepped up efforts to reach new students with new classroom-focused education kits and enhanced price discounts, and adding new online resources to assist teachers through their curriculum— by all with the goal of supporting education. For more information about Mud Hole’s Education Program, contact Anthony Youmans directly at 866-790-7637, ext. 135.

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DRAG: SET IT AND FORGET IT

By Will Schmidt

cringe every time I see it, whether it’s a seasoned pro or newbie. A fish makes a blistering run; the angler reaches down to tighten the drag only to part ways with the fish due to too much pressure. There are a variety of reasons why tightening the drag during a fight is a bad idea. First, as the diameter of the spool gets smaller with less line, the drag already actually increases. The spool is spinning at the same rate, but less line is coming off. Physics, who knew? Also, the drag of the line itself in the water adds more strain—the more line, the more pressure. Finally, even if the line doesn’t break, the chances of pulling or straightening the hook increases with the additional load. Worst of all, losing a fish due to applying too much pressure is one of the easiest things to avoid. Set your drag and forget it. Old-school tactics still hold true today when it comes to setting a drag. Set it to 20 to 30 percent of line test strength. For example, if you’re using 10-pound test, you want your drag to be set between 2 and 3 pounds, 4 to 6 pounds for 20-pound test. To do this, you need a scale and a friend to hold it. An inexpensive spring scale will do the trick. Attach the line to the scale and pull against it. When the drag starts slipping, read the scale and that’s your drag setting. There’s some debate as to whether you should pull straight or with a bend in the rod. I use a bend, and it has never failed me. I generally set my drags at 25 percent of the test strength of the line, but there are certain situations that call for going higher and lower. If you are grouper fishing or chasing big snook near structure, you need to be able to turn the fish by applying maximum pressure. In this case, setting your drag more toward 30 percent of the test strength would be advisable. Because this rule was devised before the advent of braid, the type of line should also be

considered. The stretch of mono gives you a bit of forgiveness at the strike and during jumps. When setting the drag for braid, lighter or closer to 20 or 25 percent would be sensible. Many seasoned anglers, myself included, will add extra pressure to turn a wayward fish by thumbing or palming the spool. This can be useful, but it takes practice to get that touch, and all who do it will at some point apply too much pressure. Sometimes it’s a case of turn the fish or lose it, so your only option is to apply more pressure. However, in general, your best bet is to set it and forget it. Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler who has been writing about fishing for more than two decades.

Gulf Cobia Study Underway

exas researchers are conducting some pretty cool research with Gulf of Mexico cobia in order to better understand the migratory patterns of this highly mobile species. Each spring and fall, you’ll see tower-bearing cobia boats cruising Gulf Coast beaches sight fishing for cobia as they migrate along the coast from Texas to the west coast of Florida and back again. Research has shown that brownies over-winter off the coast of Mississippi and Alabama as well as off South Florida, where there is mixing of Gulf and Atlantic cobia stocks. Researchers with the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation are tagging Texas cobia with pop-up satellite archival transmitting tags (PSATs) to better understand the species. Many Texas anglers have reported declining cobia landings in recent years. Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and federal agencies have funded additional assessments of Texas’ cobia populations. Areas of interest are post-release survival, habitat use patterns and seasonal movements. Evaluating whether or not cobia stocks mix between U.S. and Mexican waters is of particular interest. It could have Gulf-wide management implications if the stock overlap between the U.S. Gulf and Mexican waters is high. To learn more about the program, and how to claim your reward if you catch a tagged one, check out this video: https://bit.ly/LoneStarLing.

10 NATIONAL

OCTOBER 2021

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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GovMint.com • 14101 Southcross Dr. W., Suite 175, Dept. BVC130-02 • Burnsville, MN 55337 GovMint.com® is a retail distributor of coin and currency issues and is not affiliated with the U.S. government. The collectible coin market is unregulated, highly speculative and involves risk. GovMint.com reserves the right to decline to consummate any sale, within its discretion, including due to pricing errors. Prices, facts, figures and populations deemed accurate as of the date of publication but may change significantly over time. All purchases are expressly conditioned upon your acceptance of GovMint.com’s Terms and Conditions (www.govmint.com/terms-conditions or call 1-800-721-0320); to decline, return your purchase pursuant to GovMint.com’s Return Policy. © 2021 GovMint.com. All rights reserved.

INSPECT AND MAINTAIN YOUR BOAT’S HYDRAULIC STEERING E

By the Experts at Dometic Marine

xperienced boaters know regular inspection, preventative maintenance and fixing small problems before they become large ones are keys to trouble-free time on the water. Many boaters, however, tend to overlook hydraulic steering systems. This isn’t surprising, given these systems’ reliability and durability. Owners of outboardpowered boats expect smooth, easy steering control and rarely think about steering-system components until they wear out or need repair. According to Brian Dudra, vice president/ general manager for Dometic Marine, boaters can ensure trouble-free steering and extend the life of components through simple inspections and maintenance. “While each of our hydraulic systems are designed for the harsh marine environment, like any critical control system, it requires periodic checks and maintenance,” Dudra explained. “As per your owner’s manual and product labels, hydraulic steering systems should be inspected prior to every use for fluid level, steering response, leaks or worn/ binding components.” In addition, most systems require a small amount of maintenance from a qualified dealer every six months. Here’s how to inspect and care for your hydraulic steering system. Check the Helm: Starting with the steering helm, make sure the steering cylinder and helm hydraulic hose connections are tight. Dudra recommends greasing the helm shaft when installing the steering wheel to facilitate easier future removal. Check hydraulic fluid level inside the helm by unscrewing the fill plug and looking inside. The level should be 1/8- to ¼-inch below the lowest thread in the fill port. If lower than this, fill the helm to the proper level, but avoid over-filling. Check steering response when turning the wheel. It should respond within a quarter turn. If not, the system might need fluid or there might be air in the system, which requires purging. For tilt-and-lock steering helms, make sure the plastic covers are secured. Inspect Hoses & Fittings: When inspecting hoses, run your hand down them to feel for cuts, chafing or cracks. If you discover wear, have a qualified service shop replace suspect hoses. Also, ensure hose fittings are tight. Feel for hydraulic fluid leaks or weeps by running a finger around the fitting. If you find a leak, tighten the fitting. If that fails, have a qualified service shop address the issue.

Check Steering Cylinder & Glands:

Most outboard-powered boats use front-mounted hydraulic steering cylinders. The cylinder should be periodically inspected with focus on the cylinder hose connections and glands on each end of the cylinder to ensure there are no leaks. 12 NATIONAL

OCTOBER 2021

Inspect the glands, which contain seals, on the ends of the steering cylinder by running your finger around the edges. If you discover fluid weeping, it’s time to replace the gland with authentic SeaStar parts. Check the steering cylinder’s shaft and support rod. Inspect the cylinder shaft for salt buildup, corrosion and nicks that might damage the cylinder. Major damage might require replacement of the entire cylinder. Apply a thin film of grease to the visible portions of the support rod. Remove and inspect the rod annually. The support rod and outboard tilt tube must be cleaned of old grease and debris prior to re-applying quality marine grease before re-installing.

Fix Leaks: If the hose fittings are weeping fluid, the hoses might require replacement. The same applies to the glands. SeaStar offers a gland replacement kit and O-ring seals for the bleeders and other fittings. If you follow the provided instructions carefully, fixing leaks is relatively easy for competent DIY boaters. You can also turn the job over to a qualified marine shop. To ensure the steering is secure and tight, check all assembly nuts for proper tightness,

including the adjusting nut on the starboard side of the support rod. Purge Air: Air in the hydraulic steering system causes sloppy unresponsive steering and noisy operation. It can make your boat unsafe. Air finds its way into the hydraulic system through leaks or when replacing key components. It must be purged through a process called “bleeding.” Your owner’s manual explains bleeding. If you lack confidence, tools or manpower to do it yourself, ask a qualified marine shop to handle this.

Check for Water Intrusion. Make sure water hasn’t entered the system. Water can cause damage and internal corrosion. “This is a subjective examination, but can be performed by taking a syringe and sampling the fluid in the helm reservoir,” Dudra advised. “If the fluid looks like ‘chocolate milk,’ then the fluid is likely contaminated with water.” If this occurs, the entire system must be inspected for leaks. Once these are fixed, the system should be flushed with clean oil to remove any contaminated oil. To learn more about marine steering and components from the industry leader, visit www.dometic.com.

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Together. Carrying what matters most. 14 NATIONAL

OCTOBER 2021

By Rex Hannon

itting in the Cancun International Airport, I couldn’t help but reflect on the past 15 days on Mexico’s beautiful Caribbean coast. In August, I traveled to the little fishing village Xcalak to compete in the Silver Scales International Fly Fishing Tournament. Xcalak is a quaint little village very near the border of Belize in southern Quintana Roo. It doesn’t make it on most tourist lists. In fact, a large 9:54 AM percentage of Mexican citizens have probably never heard of the place. If it wasn’t for Xcalak’s world-class flats fishery, even fewer would know of it. The Silver Scales International Fly Fishing Tournament is an annual gathering of some of the finest saltwater fly fishers on the planet. The tournament focuses on the “grand slam” of permit, bonefish and tarpon. Combine that with a snook, and you have the “super slam.” Points are assigned for each fish, and there’s an added bonus for anglers who catch a slam. The grand slam is all three species in a 24-hour period, or in this case the day’s allotted fishing hours. Xcalak is an amazing fishery. If your bucket list includes the pursuit of this elusive challenge, there is no better place on the planet. Sighting schools of bonefish is commonplace, but the real prize is the abundance of “black-tailed devils” known as permit. Just because there are great numbers of these highly sought after game fish, they are by no mean easy. It’s much more fishing than catching. Fifteen teams and 30 total anglers fished three days in 2021, and the results were impressive. There were seven grand slams caught and two super slams. Total catch included 27 bonefish, three snook, 13 tarpon and 22 permit. Like I stated earlier, the Silver Scales draws some very talented anglers from around the globe. Brothers Javier and Mauricio Osorio, of Escamas Plateadas dedicated months to ensure the gathering was a success. The success our team “Fly Fish Costa Maya” is due to the passion and dedication of my friend Will Robins and the hard work and intimate knowledge of our guide Moises Cordova. The tournament is a grueling three days of hot sun, little sleep and nothing short of physical torture. It was one of the best times of my life. Preparation, hard work and endurance paid off in a respectable fourth-place finish. But, our success in fishing the tournament was nowhere near the highlight of this trip. Just knowing there are special places and people like this warms the heart and makes you want to return. I was anxious to board the plane for home and see my beautiful wife, but— with God’s blessing—I know I’ll return to this place soon.

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FISH A LIPLESS CRANK

TYLER WOOLCOTT

he weather is cooling, and bass are feeding heavily before the spawn. This time of year, baitfish is prevalent in waters across the country, and there is one lure that puts fish in the boat just about everywhere. This bait is a lipless crankbait. A lipless crank can play a huge role in getting baitfish-feeding bass to bite. I use it all over the country. Sometimes it’s as easy as casting it out and retrieving it steadily. But sometimes it’s a bit more complicated. Inside the lure, there are rattles. Sizes vary from ¼-ounce up to an ounce, and it is best to match the size of baitfish bass are feeding on. There are different types of rattles inside different lures. Two I like are a multi-rattle and a one-knock. Multi-rattles make a lot of noise. I throw this style when fish are very active and feeding heavily. The noise draws their attention from real baitfish and gets them to react and eat your bait. I like the one-knocker version and its slower, deeper-pitch knock when fish are feeding on baitfish, but not very actively. Fish tend to scatter out when they aren’t actively feeding, and that deeper pitch can sometimes trigger them to bite. There are many ways to retrieve a lipless crankbait. A steady retrieve can sometimes be the trick, especially if you see bass

feeding. But my absolute favorite way to fish a lipless crank is to yo-yo it. This is a varied retrieve with the reel handle, with an occasional pull and pause with the rod to let the bait flutter up and fall back down. This technique is deadly. When you pull the bait up fast, it makes a loud rattle. Then, when you let it flutter down, it looks like an injured baitfish, and bass can’t resist it. In the fall, bass also feed on crayfish in some parts of the country. A lipless crank can be a massive player in this scenario. When crayfish flee, their tails smack against their bodies and make a clacking noise similar to a rattle. When deciding colors, I match the color of the lure to the color of the baitfish present. 13 Fishing makes an awesome lure called the Magic Man that comes in both multirattle and one-knocker versions. When matching baitfish, I use chromes, whites and sometimes chartreuse. When mimicking crayfish, I use reds and oranges.

Trap Fishing Gear I’ve done a ton of experimenting with setups for lipless cranks, and I’ve got it down to a science. When dealing with treble hooks, you want a rod with a decent amount of backbone and a bit of bend to let the fish get the hooks. I use a 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’4MH Moderate action rod. I pair this with a 7:1 Concept A 13 Fishing reel spooled with 15-pound Seaguar Abrazx line. Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.

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OCTOBER 2021

NATIONAL 15

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES

TIPS FOR CATCH-AND-RELEASE FLOUNDER

A MONSTER CANADIAN STURGEON

hite Sturgeon can live longer than 100 years, so it’s likely this monster fish has been swimming between the northern Pacific and British Columbia’s Fraser River for the better part of a century. According to the Vancouver Sun, it took a group of Canadian anglers about 25 minutes to land this huge sturgeon in August. It stretched the tape to 11-feet, 6-inches and had a girth of 55 inches. An estimate based on those measurements puts the weight of the fish near 900 pounds. That would make it a Canadian provincial record for the species, according to the Sun. The anglers were fishing the Fraser River east of Vancouver. National Hockey League great Pete Peeters and his buddy Jake Driedger took turns on the rod. White sturgeon are widely protected, which makes them a difficult species in terms of records. In British Columbia, catch-and-release fishing for sturgeon is allowed, but fish longer than 5 feet must remain in the water before release. These protections as well their size makes it nearly impossible to get a certified weight on angler catches. The IGFA all-tackle world record white sturgeon was caught in 1983 and weighed just 468 pounds. There have been several reported but uncertified catches heavier than 1,000 pounds, including a 12-foot, 4-incher caught in 2012 from the Fraser River. It was estimated at 1,100 pounds. However, it’s likely the all-tackle record is permanent because it’s no longer possible to weigh white sturgeon. For more on fishing opportunities in British Columbia, see www.gofishbc.com.

16 NATIONAL

OCTOBER 2021

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

s the weather changes, so do the fishing patterns. This year, along with the seasonal changes, we also have some regulation changes to keep in mind. Here in Texas and also in Florida there are new closed seasons for flounder in 2021. From Nov. 1-Dec. 14, Texas flounder will be catch and release only. In Florida, the recreational season will be closed Oct. 15-Nov. 30. These closures are part of regulations-tightening trend for Gulf and Atlantic states after a federal study showed southern flounder numbers at historically low levels. I’m happy to report we’re still catching flounder, but be sure to check for updates to your state’s seasons and bag limits before applying the following tips. I enjoy the precise approach to successfully and consistently catch flounder. Although I won’t be able to harvest any during the closed period, I’ll still land some saddle blankets for photos before release. I’ll also modify my tactics to improve my hook-up ratio, which will also increase the odds of flounder survival during this spawning season. While targeting flounder, I generally pause after I feel the initial strike. I do this for a few reasons. Flounder hold their prey in locked jaws for a period of time in order to kill the bait and reposition it before swallowing. I don’t get as many hook-ups when setting the hook on the first thump of a flounder strike. In preparation for the closed season, I’ve practiced downsizing lures. A shorter and smaller profile significantly increased my first-strike hookup ratio. A lure that has proven very effective is the new 3.25-inch Knockin Tail Lure. It has a small profile, which allows for a wider gap between the plastic and the hook tip. With the boney jaw of a flounder, ample hook exposure increases penetration. This lure also has a built-in tail rattle and a ton of action. When targeting flounder, I start each day with a new jighead, and I might even replace it during the day depending on the bottom structure in the area. A sharp hook is crucial to consistently piercing a flounder’s jaw, which is where most of the hooks will be if you’re not waiting for the second or third bite, which is what I do if I plan to retain my catch. I also recommend a jighead with a strong solid hook with little to no flex. My final tip for targeting flounder is to use bright colors. Any color can work, but I catch more flounder on bright patterns. Some of my favorites are, white/limetruese, chartreuse with glitter and a bright green/bright red combo. I hope these tips give you the edge during this year’s flounder runs. Don’t forget to take a kid fishing. Flounder can be an easy target for young anglers, even on lures. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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