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

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THE

KINGS DAYTIME SWORDFISH TACTICS

OF FALL

LOCAL REPORTS PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHELLE DALTON INSTAGRAM: @BOMBCHELLE_FISHING VOLUME 26 • ISSUE 320

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NYMPHING FOR WILD

Chattahoochee

BROWNS

By Nick Carter

rifting between forested banks over bedrock shoals, it’s easy to forget where you are on the Buford Dam tailrace of the Chattahoochee River. This beautiful stretch of water snakes southwest through densely populated suburbs north of Atlanta, yet riverside development is limited. There are long stretches where this river feels like wilderness— where the sounds of the city are replaced by lapping oars and the soft swish of fly rods cutting air. Chris Scalley, owner of River Through Atlanta guide service, manned the

4 NATIONAL

NOVEMBER 2021

oars. He rowed and coached and again showed us the bounty of the “Hooch.” The Angler Magazine Atlanta co-publisher Bob Rice and I have fished with Scalley several times before. Our late-September trip was another good one. The river’s wild reproducing brown trout were active in cooling weather patterns, and they punctuated a steady catch of sleek and feisty rainbows. The Chattahoochee is one of the best tailwater trout fisheries in the Southeast. It is a success story for fisheries management. Georgia DNR stopped stocking brown trout in the river in 2005 after natural reproduction was discovered. Today, those beautiful butter-bellies still thrive. It’s a unique situation that has made this 30-mile-long stretch a destination fishery. The Hooch has produced a string of state-record browns, including the current nearly 21-pounder. But before you get geared up for 30-inch trout, realize that while monsters do exist in the river’s deep holes and log jams, they are not frequent catches. Over several trips with Scalley, it seems a pretty good day consists of numerous rainbows, a handful of browns in the 10- to 12-inch range and a fish or two in the 14- to 16-inch range. Of course, the opportunity for larger fish is always present. Early in our float, a wading angler hailed us over to show photos of a 20-plus-inch fish he had in his net earlier that day. It was proof the big girls were eating, and it inspired us to fish our triplenymph rigs more diligently. After bringing several 8- to 12-inch rainbow trout to hand, I hooked into our first brown, a gorgeous 15-incher that took the big black stonefly anchoring the rig. We went on to catch several more good browns and a bunch of rainbows. The bows preferred either the small Baetis nymph in the rig or an egg pattern Scalley called a Stormy Daniels. While fishing three nymphs at once might sound like a recipe for disaster, it’s actually quite simple. Under Scalley’s coaching, even beginners catch on to the looping lob it takes to cast such a rig. Once it’s in the water, nymphing with an indicator is a lot like the bobber fishing you did as a kid. You just float down the river and watch for a fish to bite. Those bites should be frequent over the next few months. Water temperatures remain consistent on the tailwater year-round, and fall and winter offer great fishing for wild browns. Contact Chris Scalley and River Through Atlanta through their website riverthroughatlanta.com, or call (770) 650-8630.

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MUD HOLE URTESY OF PHOTO CO

Tailing the Kingfish Migration By CAM Staff

PHOTO CO

“K ‘th be lo URTESY O

F ERIC MAR

EST

erhaps more than any other species, king Texas. Some of these fish push farther south mackerel are temperature driven. Kingfish into waters off Mexico’s Yucatan. Regardless of where you fish along prefer a temperature range of about 68 to 73 degrees, which is extremely specific, and it these migrations, kingfish are looking for the same conditions. They can be found on keeps them on the move. That magic temperature window also makes ledges, reefs, oil rigs and wrecks, wherever them easier to find. With today’s technology and there are baitfish. They like nearshore subscription services providing daily updates and offshore structure and color breaks on offshore conditions and currents, identifying where plankton-rich waters exist in the prime hunting grounds for kings can be a matter temperature range they prefer. Trolling or drifting are the most of checking your phone or tablet in the morning effective methods to target kings, and before you head out. It’s no surprise that general seasonal good live bait is the best way to hook migratory patterns take king mackerel to up with big ones. Blue runners, pogies warmer waters as cold fronts of fall arrive. (menhaden), pilchards, threadfin Tagging and genetics studies have shown that herring, any bait with some silver Atlantic king mackerel push south to waters off flash is good. Switching them out and Florida to overwinter. Their numbers this time keeping them lively is important. A of year thin out the farther north you go, yet fall heavy chum slick can do wonders for can also be the best time to catch big isolated bringing them up near the surface. Idle speed is about right for smokers off the coast of the Carolinas. Off South Florida, Atlantic kingfish pulling baits. Stagger depth and intermingle with Gulf kingfish during the winter distance from the boat. Bump the months. This winter mixing zone is primarily throttle into neutral and drift when around the Florida Keys, where the December the sonar shows good bottom or kingfish bite ramps up along with the action for bait. other species like sailfish and wahoo. For more kingfish tips, visit In the Gulf of Mexico, kings spend summer coastalanglermag.com. in the northern Gulf, with high densities tracked to waters off the mouth of the Mississippi River. KINGFISH RIGS In fall, they push south in two separate groups. Some fish move east and then south along the A mainline of 20- to 30-pound monofilament will suffice, but with all the teeth in Florida coast, where anglers intercept them as a king’s mouth, a wire leader is required. Depending on water clarity, go as heavy as the fish will they move down the coastline. allow, but keep it light enough for your bait to appear natural. The other group of Gulf kings moves west A 24-inch, single-strand wire of 40-pound test is a starting point. Go lighter in clear water or with the arrival of cooler weather. They run with smaller baits; go heavier in dirty water or if you’re fishing big baits. down the Texas coast to winter2021 off the south 6 NATIONAL NOVEMBER COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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NATIONAL 7

g n i fish

THE EVOLVING ART OF DAYTIME

d wor

ithin the last decade, swordfishing has steadily evolved from being exclusively a nighttime pursuit into a roundthe-clock affair. The ongoing pioneering of daytime swordfishing techniques leaves room for experimentation to perfect personal preferences within this art. A lot of work goes into going after just a single bite, and many variables are at play fishing in 1,000 to 2,000 feet. Then, factoring in tackle, crew and the inconsistent bite style of these fish, the best way to figure out daytime swordfishing is to go do it. Although you might see little sport in utilizing an electric reel, this type of fishing requires an incredible amount of teamwork. There’s always a job for everyone on the boat. Good communication is essential, not only to land fish, but also just to set the bait correctly. Rigging a bait for swordfish is more satisfying than buying one pre-rigged. It’s a chance to flex your creativity and experiment with different styles and baits. After all, you want more than one bait on-hand during a sword trip. Whether you go with the tried-and-true squid bait or hardier mahi- or bonita-belly strips, the most important factor is whether or not the bait spins. If it spins on the surface, it will spin worse at the bottom, and it must be modified or scrapped. Personally, I like a glow-in-the-dark squid skirt on any bait, not just for added movement and visual enhancement, but the skirt also streamlines the bait and compensates for rigging errors. Once you’ve sewn the bait, slowly troll it behind the boat to check for spinning. If your Franken-bait is straight as an arrow 8 NATIONAL

NOVEMBER 2021

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

on the surface, send it on down. Affix breakaway lights along the wind-on leader near the bait. About 100 feet up the leader, use rigging floss to create a loop where the clip for the weight will attach to the main line. The clip is attached to about 30 feet of lighter leader, in the 50-pound range, that is then affixed to a weight. Adjust weight to the current. A reasonable go-to is 10 pounds. Again, ensure you have extra weights on board before investing in a sword trip. The last thing you want is to get revved up over a bite, come up without a weight and have to scavenge a tool box for your heaviest wrenches to toss overboard. There are a few different styles of driving the boat for swordfishing that have proven successful. Regardless of the method you chose, the idea is to keep the weight from free falling and tangling the line. Keep tension on the line while it is going down, take up the slack, and relocate the bottom. Come up off the bottom 100 feet, or so, and continue that process as you drift over varied depths. Keep eyes on the rod tip the entire time, and find the happy medium between not blinking and not losing your mind. Swordfish might swipe the bait before committing to the hook, or they might hammer it. Sometimes they just start swimming to the surface with it. All the different bites look different on the rod tip. You might see the rod bounce with taps, get heavy and not bounce at all, or just completely go slack. Whether the bite is obvious or subtle, setting the hook or knowing when to reel up to check the bait is a matter of experience. Swordfish are counted like tarpon, where the overall bite count is included along with those landed. Don’t even bother fishing for swords if

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you don’t have patience or enough love of fishing to be okay with coming home skunked. It’s all hands on deck boating one of these very aggressive, potentially large fish. If you’re lucky enough to get a swordfish to the boat, you’ll find out very quickly which friends to invite back on the next trip. While the captain remains behind the wheel, ideally someone will be on the rod with another person unclipping the weight and pulling off the breakaway lights as the leader gets to the boat. Once all that gear has been removed, there is the matter of hand-leadering the fish, gaffing it, potential use of tail rope, and heaving that sucker into the boat. There are many ways to go about this, and many ways the fish could react. Swordfish are well known for stamina and can be quite dangerous to green gaff. Be prepared for the fish to get a second wind boatside. This is where communication and teamwork can make or break the experience. Go into a swordfish trip with everything you’ve got, but with the intent to relax and hang out. You might sit there all day without a bite, so bring people you enjoy the company of, and leave the “I’m-so-bored” guy at the dock. He is worse than bananas, anyway. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon fishes with Blue Magic Charters out of Marathon, Fla. Check her out her Instagram @CaptainQuinlyn, her website CaptainQuinlyn.com, or call (504) 920-6342.

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Goliath Grouper Recovering; Angler Harvest Proposed

4 FLORIDA

NOVEMBER 2021

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By CAM Staff

lorida has moved one step closer to allowing harvest of goliath grouper. In early October, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a draft proposal to allow limited and tightly controlled harvest of the species. Don’t run out and stock up on heavy tackle just yet. A permit to keep a single fish will come with a hefty price tag, and anglers will only be allowed to keep a smaller one. These iconic fish, which grow to more than 800 pounds and 8 feet in length, have been protected from harvest in state and federal waters off Florida since 1990. The harvest proposal is at the beginning of the long road that leads to regulation change. The proposal, with changes, must now be brought back before the commission at a future meeting. If approved again, it would then enter into the public feedback and data gathering stage before a final public hearing in March 2022. Regulations changes would take effect in 2023, at the earliest. Here’s an outline of the limited season the latest draft proposal would create: • Goliath grouper season would run March through May. • A lottery system with a $10 entry fee would issue $500 permits to harvest one fish per person. • Only 200 total permits would be issued. • There would be a slot limit from 20 to 36 inches. • Harvest would not be allowed off Palm Beach County, the Atlantic

• Fi coast of the Keys and Dry Tortugas National Park. • There will be post-harvest requirements. Commissioner Robert Spottswood said limited harvest should help better determine the overall stock of the fish in the next three to five years. “This stock is rebuilding,” Spottswood said. “We’re hearing that it can easily sustain this very small harvest of fish. We’re going to learn something from it. And more importantly, we’re going to give some access that we can give safely and sustainably back to the stakeholders that own the resource.” Goliath grouper were in a bad situation prior to harvest restrictions put in place in 1990. There are numerous factors that make the species susceptible to overfishing. They are a desirable and easy target for anglers because of their size and because they inhabit shallow waters in comparison to other groupers and tend to gather in large numbers in predictable locations. Since the 1990 harvest ban was enacted, goliath abundance has increased, and that positive trend is expected to continue. A limited harvest, managed similarly to the existing alligator program, would provide both data and funding for goliath grouper research, while allowing expanded recreational angler access to the species. The 200 permits issued are not expected to impact the population or its growth. For more information, go to myFWC.com.

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Hialeah Angler Catches State Record Peacock

f all the non-native fish species that have established themselves in South Florida’s system of freshwater lakes and canals, peacock bass are the only ones that arrived legally. Butterfly peacock bass are a species anglers are glad to have, and Felipe Prieto, of Hialeah, caught a dandy out of a Broward County lake while fishing live bait after work. His 9.11-pound, 23 5/16-inch catch was recently certified by FWC as a new state record. Prieto’s big peacock bested a mark that has stood for nearly three decades. The previous state record of 9.08 pounds was caught back in 1993. It is not, however, the largest ever caught in Florida. FWC has record of a 12-pound, 25.5-inch peacock that was not submitted for state record recognition. That fish was not far off the current IGFA all-tackle world record, which weighed 12 pounds, 9 ounces and was caught from Venezuela’s Chiguao River in January of 2000. Peacock bass are native to South America, and they were intentionally introduced to Florida. The FWC stocked peacock bass in coastal southeast Florida canals in 1984 to help reduce the number of undesirable exotic fishes, especially spotted tilapia. An awesome new fishery was a side benefit of the stocking. Limited low-temperature tolerance normally restricts butterfly peacocks to Broward and Miami-Dade counties, but recent mild winters have allowed anglers as far north as Palm Beach County to enjoy catching this species. “The butterfly peacock bass is colorful, a lightning-fast striker and a hard fighter,” said FWC Commission Chairman Rodney Barreto. “Anglers from across the country travel here to catch a peacock bass, which only adds to the tremendous economic impact fishing has in Florida. This unique game fish is just one of the features that makes Florida, truly, the Fishing and Boating Capital of the World.”

6 FLORIDA

NOVEMBER 2021

To properly certify a new freshwater Florida state record, an FWC biologist must identify the species and an FWC employee must witness its weighing on a certified scale. Anglers can check the current state records at BigCatchFlorida.com by clicking on “State Record” and should notify the nearest FWC regional office if they believe they have caught a record fish. Anglers are encouraged to be prepared to provide a photograph of the fish on a scale with the weight legible, for expediting the initial verification of the fish species and potential state record status. Contact information for FWC regional offices can be found at MyFWC.com/Contact by clicking on “Contact Regional Offices.”

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Easy Pickin’s By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

all fishing can be the easiest and best fishing of the year. For me it is the flounder run, schools of trout and reds under flocks of gulls, and the prelim to giant trophy trout time. The fall flounder migration is definitely a staple of fall fishing, and I know that it goes on wherever flatfish exist. We do have a closed season for the first time, so be sure to check the regs wherever you plan to fish. Most states have changed flounder regulation in the last couple years. Not only are flounder easier to find when they travel though the passes in their voyage to their spawning grounds, they also feed aggressively as they follow baitfish out of the bays. When I focus on flounder, I change my presentation dramatically. I like to apply scent to my lures, which gives you a great advantage when it comes to catching flounder. A tandem rig is a popular method to utilize for flounder. Since flounder frequently ambush bait by burying themselves in the sand, I keep my lead lure in contact with the bottom at all times and give the lure a twitch with my rod using a sideways motion. If I am in a boat, I do this with my rod tip down, but while wading my rod moves to my side. Finding trout and reds smashing shrimp under feeding gulls can really get your heart pumping from the visual excitement. It can also provide nonstop fish on every cast. This is especially true in the fall, when it is more common to find larger trout schooling than in the other three seasons. When fishing the birds, I use a heavier jighead than I typically do. A ¼- to 3/8-ounce jighead works well. The more skittish the fish and birds, the heavier head I will use. I do this simply to increase my casting distance, so I can reach the schools sooner and stay farther away in an attempt to

not break up the schools or push them down. Using a durable soft plastic and smashing down the barb of the hook are helpful in maximizing the number of fish you can pull off each school. If you can keep the birds off of it, throwing a topwater might pull out some of the larger fish and add to the fun and visual stimulation of the entire event. By the end of fall, trophy trout become my main focus, and this continues through mid-spring. At this time, the water will have cooled considerably, and the majority of bait will have left the bays. Artifical lures will become a more reliable option for catching trophy trout. Enjoy this cooler weather, and spend some time on the water. This is a great time to introduce young anglers to the sport. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures and Controlled Descent Lures, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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f you’ve spent any time on a boat in sharky waters, there’s no doubt the tax man has taken his due from what you thought was going to be fish dinner. Racing sharks to get your catch to the boat is a part of fishing, and it’s a component of our fisheries that NOAA wants to look at a little closer. NOAA Fisheries is considering an exempted fishing permit (EFP) that would authorize the collection of fish with evidence of shark depredation on charter vessels in southeast Florida. The project seeks to collect fish carcasses with evidence of shark depredation and conduct genetic analysis to determine which shark species were responsible for the damage. If the EFP is approved, fish carcasses collected may be outside of the range of minimum size limit, bag limit, or seasonal closure regulations. Information collected would be useful in understanding the impact shark depredation has on the charter fishing fleet in South Florida. Researchers would work with specific captains who fish in federal waters between Sebastian Inlet and Jupiter Inlet, Fla. These charter vessels would continue routine fishing operations, and if a fish is caught that exhibits signs of depredation, the fish would be retained by the researcher, isolated from other catch, and transferred to Florida Atlantic University (FAU), Harbor Branch Laboratory when returned to port. Signs of depredation from landed fish include: fresh teeth marks and active bleeding; partially removed trunk tissue (scales, skin, and muscle); exposed musculature and/or internal organs; and missing fins. The skin and flesh exposed by the bite wound would be swabbed to identify depredating species from trace amounts of DNA left on prey remains. Researchers would retain a maximum of 240 individual fish distributed across the following species complexes during the study: snapper-grouper, dolphin-wahoo, and coastal migratory pelagics. Some samples collected may be under-sized, above the recreational bag limit, or caught during a closed season. Only the captain and crew aboard authorized charter vessels would be permitted to retain species with evidence of shark depredation that may be recreationally harvested out of season, or out of the authorized recreational bag limits or size limits. The EFP would be valid for two years during the course of the study. For more information, see www.fisheries.noaa.gov.

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FLORIDA’S E X PA N S I V E ARTIFICIAL REEFS

By Kevin McCarthy

ne of the best additions to Florida waters in my opinion is the great number of artificial reefs that have been placed just offshore. Divers like them because they offer an array of colorful fish that take refuge in the hiding places of the reefs. Environmentalists like them because they keep divers away from our fragile coral. Fishermen like them because of the wide diversity of fish one can find in the manmade contraptions like culverts and shipwrecks, which offer much fishing success to those who know where the reefs are. The Florida Legislature began the state’s artificial reef program in 1982. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Division of Marine Fisheries Management, has administered the reef program and has helped local towns and cities develop the reefs, which have attracted thousands of divers and fishermen, all of whom usually enrich the local coffers and spread the good word about the benefits of the reefs and of Florida fishing. Most of the state’s 35 coastal counties have been involved in the development of artificial reefs. Our 1,000-plus miles of coastal shoreline along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico offer many, many ideal places for the reefs. Our state, in fact, has long led the 14 Gulf and Atlantic coastal states in developing such reefs. Because this state has had more than 2,000 documented shipwrecks along our coast over our

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long history, Floridians know how much damage a grounded ship can do to our reefs and sea bottom. For the past 70-plus years, dating back to the early 1940s, concerned Floridians have placed almost 3,000 public, artificial reefs in our federal and state waters. Most of the active artificial reef permits off our coasts are held by local governments, who work with local fishing clubs, nonprofit corporations and interested private individuals to maintain and monitor the reefs. For more information on the state’s program for such reefs, their locations, guidelines for materials used in the building of such structures, photos and permits for the construction of such reefs, see the website of the Florida Fish and

Wildlife Conservation Commission: http://www. myfwc.com/conservation/saltwater/artificialreefs/ The many large fish that inhabit the reefs, the clarity of our Florida waters and the cooperation of local fishing clubs make our artificial reefs valuable and accessible for fishermen. One source that I like for locating fishing reefs is http://www. floridagofishing.com/index.html, but others are available on the Internet.

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also be caught closer to shore on natural bottoms and wrecks. Excellent fishing in the area is accessible for anglers who might not have access to big sportfishing yachts capable of running way offshore. And a good guide can put you right on top of good fishing for wahoo, kingfish, sailfish and tuna, as well as outstanding snapper and grouper opportunities. Even closer in and accessible even to small boats are nearshore rockpiles and ledges, where the area’s famous kingfish tournaments are often won. Jack crevalle, tarpon, cobia and spanish mackerel are also frequently caught nearshore. Get some charts and go find them yourself, or better yet, hire a guide to show you the ropes. If you really want to do it alone, the pier and jetty fishing along the coast of northeast Florida is excellent for redfish, trout, sheepshead, croakers, bluefish, tarpon, sharks and pretty much anything that swims the Atlantic. By the

same token, surf fishing as well as inshore fishing in the marshes and the St. Johns River are very good. Flounder, seatrout, drum and redfish come in good numbers and size. Because of this, the Jacksonville area is home to a strong community of kayak anglers. Take one more step inshore, and you’re in brackish or freshwater. Northeast Florida has some very good bass fishing and pan fishing. Whether it’s on the St. Johns, one of the regions reservoirs or other rivers, year-round mild water temperatures and abundant forage lead to good numbers and excellent growth rates for both largemouth bass and bream. No matter how you like to fish or what you want to fish for, chances are you’ll find it in northeast Florida.

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Fishing Report & Forecast Mayport By Capt. Kirk Waltz

he month of November should be normal for us discounting that we have had a particularly warm October. With that being said, I believe the big rocks should be really good this month. October’s weather might be a real blessing to the fishery this month. Look for shrimp and mullet to be pushing out of the river driving trout, black drum, reds, flounder, and sheepshead to the inlet. The black drum started showing last month and I believe they will increase in numbers during November. Cut crab, shrimp or fiddlers work well typically fished on the bottom near the ends of the rocks. The bottom of the dead low or the last push of the high flood seems to be the most productive times. An egg sinker Carolina rig works well, 3-way swivel rig and even a small jig when the current slows can be deadly. Redfish will also be in the same areas and will readily take

the same baits. Look for the Bull Reds to still be around but, beginning to wane as the water cools. The edges of the shipping channel is your best bet all the way to the Dames Point Bridge and a few spots past that. A half of a blue crab or cut mullet are my favorite go to bait fished with a stout 7ft Shimano rod and a Shimano Saragosa 10,000 Spinner and 50 lb. braided line. The last of the falling tide to dead low seems to be best. Remember these are the breeding stock so handle them with kid gloves. Yellow mouthed trout should begin to show in good numbers as well as the croakers. The outside of the big stones are good areas and the edges of the channel towards White Shell Rocks are favored haunts. Cut mullet or live shrimp seem to work well for these tasty and testy fighters. I typically use a light tackle rod with a 1/4oz jig or a small float rig for the trout and a Carolina /egg sinker rig for the croakers. Sheepshead should move onto the local docks, rocks and jetties this month. Small shrimp or fiddler crabs are great baits for this. An egg sinker rig or jig head tossed into the structure are great methods for catching some of these testy fighters. The docks at Mayport, rocks at White Shell, and the big jetties are favored haunts for sheepshead, The offshore scene this month should improve for sea bass, snapper, and hopefully grouper. The near shore party grounds are your best bet. Cut squid, cigars, and even cut mullet work well for me fished on the bottom. Make sure you check the regulations to see what you can keep. Go to MYFWC to look at what is and isn’t legal this month.. 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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ctober was a big month for JOSFC as always. We had a changing and addition of board members, our banquet with amazing food and raffles, and some wonderful meetings. Fishing is transitioning from the warmer season fishing that we grow accustomed to over the summer to the cooler month fishing. I know some guys that are out looking for blackfin tuna and trolling the break for some early wahoo. Bottom fishing should be on fire this month. If we get some good weather days you should be able to get out and see limits on b-liners and start loading up on triggerfish. We have had some major tournament restructuring for JOSFC, quite possibly some of the biggest tournament changes in quite a while. The biggest thing we have done is gone to a “Declare a Day” format. You have a whole month to pick and choose your weather days. Please check out our website or visit a meeting to learn more about our new rules and how

to properly declare your day. We are excited about the new year, our new board members, and seeing you at the meetings. Awesome job to all the winners on the 2021 fishing boards and Captains of the year. We are always looking for new 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. JOSFC Upcoming Events: November 4th- Club Meeting. Speaker TBD November 18th - Club meeting Watch for Tournament Schedule updates as we plan the 2021-2022 season. 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.

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Fishing Report & Forecast Flagler Inshore By Captain Chris Herrera

his time of year Flounder is usually one of our main target species but this year it is closed so its only catch and photo time for Flounder. New season closure dates are October 15th to November 30th. The outside bends of creeks that have a bluff with tree blowdowns are a favorite, shallow flats near drop offs, docks and creek mouths, are what I look for not only for Flounder but Trout and Redfish also. It’s fairly simple fishing as using a ¼ ounce Slayer Jig head with a finger mullet or mud minnow slowly dragged across the bottom. Other simple rigs consist of using split shots or an egg sinker (fish finder rig) and 14 inches of leader with a 3/0 Daiichi D16Z Octopus wide hook. For artificial applications any jig head and soft plastic combo (Z-man Paddle Tail) works well in deep water areas. Spoons, soft plastics and hard baits fished on shallow sandbars will produce flatties as well. Flounder strikes or “thumps” as I like to call it are very distinct to other inshore game fish. When fishing for flounder patience pays a great part after feeling the “thump”. Flounder will grab a hold of your bait and sit on the bottom till bait stops moving around and that’s when the flounder will

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turn mullet or mud minnow around and swallow it head first which will initiate the second “thump”. Many “Old Salt” flounder anglers know the importance of feeling for flounder on the line by slowly lifting the rod tip to make sure the flounder is still attached to the line and then give some slack for about a minute before setting the hook. Trout fisherman will get their limit and more using float rigs with shrimp. Some good drops near Matanzas Inlet can be very good between the new and full moon of November. The last 2 hours of outgoing tide and first of incoming is the locals preferred time to fish. Topwater plugs like a Spook Jr., Rapala or Mirrorlure can catch the biggest trout looking for a bite in the shallows or ICW drop offs at creek mouths. When the bite slows down on top switch gears to diving plugs like a Sebile Stick Shadd or curly tail grubs with a ¼ ounce Slayer jig. Redfish will start to huddle in masses and seek the warmth of oyster beds during afternoon high tides. Long casting spoons or jerkbaits will produce. For scattered redfish live or cut mullet on a fish finder rig tossed around points, creek mouths or oysters will do the trick. During low tides look for reds cruising shallow mud banks with their backs out of the water chasing small grass shrimp. Matching the hatch (live shrimp) or a FishBites shrimp on a weedless hook tossed in front of a belly crawling redfish will result in a catch. Capt. Chris Herrera Serving Flagler Beach, Palm Coast, St. Augustine www.palmcoastfishing.com 386-503-6338

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Nassau Sport Fishing Association NEFMA - November

he Nassau Sport Fishing Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to develop and promote saltwater fishing in the Nassau County area while adhering to state, federal and local regulations, to encourage compliance with rules of water safety by club members and the general public, and to promote youth related community activities. The 2021 Angler of the season contest continues with the currently running fall season Sep thru Nov. Our Summer season ended at the end of August. The summer season 3 species targeted Kingfish, Tout, and Whiting. Mitch Fields took 1st prize for Kingfish with a weight of 8.96 pounds. Lou Mazzeo weighed a 3.64 fish for 1st place in Trout category, and a .47 pound Whiting took first place which was weighed in by Lorraine Conover. This summer, we also were able to hold a special season within a season as Red Snapper were once again on the table for a weekend.

Lou Mazzeo also reeled in a prize for his 3.72 pound snapper. For the fall season, our anglers are targeting the local “slam” of Redfish, Trout, and Flounder. NSFA meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at Kraft Athletic Club on Amelia Island. With the holidays rapidly approaching, NSFA combines the monthly business meeting and social. Join us at our next monthly gathering on 17 November. If interested in joining, please visit our website at NSFAFISH.NET or stop by one of our meetings. As always, Stay Safe, stay healthy, and we will see you on the water!

he Northeast Florida Marlin Association is baited up and ready for North Florida’s Premier Fall Billfish Tournament, The El Pescado! In 2020, the tournament honored long time NEFMA member, Capt. Bucky Odom. Participating boats released 16 billfish, a handful of a gamefish and more than $30,000 in cash prizes were award to the Captains and Crews. This year, the El Pescado will honor the legacy and memory of Captain Patrick Price, Owner of Day Maker Charters and Sailfish Pioneer of Florida’s East Coast. Proceeds from a special raffle presented by one of Patrick’s long time Sponsors, Steve Martin of Fish Razr, at the El Pescado Captains Meeting, will go to the Price Family. In addition, a Calcutta for most Billfish releases has been added in memory of Capt. Price with 50% of proceeds also going to his family. The Captains meeting will be held at 6pm November 3, 2021 at the Northeast Florida Marlin Association Club House, located at the beautiful Camachee Cove

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Marina in St Augustine, FL. Captains Choice fishing days will be November 4 - 6. Captains will be able to choose 2 of the 3 days. We’ll follow the El Pescado up with the Don Combs Wahoo Roundup in December and then we’ll be gearing up for the biggest NEFMA Bluewater tournament in many years. It’ll be the 50th year of the Bluewater Tournament and we’ve joined the Sportfishing Championship www.sportfishingchampionship. com this year so it’s going to be bigger and better than before! The Sportfishing championship is a new series that puts eleven tournaments together to crown the Fishing Team of The Year. See the Northeast Florida Marlin Association website www.nefma.com for information about tournaments, memberships and sponsorships and download the NEFMA APP from Reel Time Apps to follow the tournaments and the feeds. -Paul Raudenbush, President Northeast Florida Marlin Association

NOVEMBER 2021

NORTHEAST FLORIDA 7

Fishing Report St. Johns River By: Richard Hamilton

ell, they're here! Shrimp have taken center stage and they are eating size.The first half of this month should be the top placer item in this forecast. Lots of large shrimp moving into downtown jax area.. Secondly will be the "roe" mullet. They typically start showing up in the Fall with gusto. So if these silver beauties are for you, then get at it! Now the croaker fishing should be great with the largest of the season available. Baits of choice shrimp or nightcrawler. Remember, keep what you want and return alive the rest.

Redfish will be at it as usual. And those "rat" reds, the 15-17 inchers, will now be legal as they usually grow about two inches in a good summer or more. So go for it! Catfishing in the evening will be good and the usual haunts are good to go! Bass fishing should pick up. Last year at this time fishing around Welaka with live shrimp for Large mouths bass was fantastic. Just use a spilt shot and a popping and about 3 ft leader. These gems will be schooling and using ambush points like sandbars to fatten up. Top water, lipless crank baits, or regular crank baits should well. So enjoy! Now is the time to start probing the creeks for speckled perch. Yes, speckled perch. These beauties over the last dozen or so years will have increased activity during the autumn season. Best baits are minnows, beetle spins, road runner and small jigging spoons. Hunting season is upon us so many of you are headed to the woods. Its finally cooled off some so hopefully the bugs do not carry you off. LOL. Good luck and we'll see you in a couple of months. But to all of you that fish, until next time. Keep your line wet and your lure moving!- CA staff..

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Fishing Report & Forecast Nassau Sound By Capt. Tony Bozzella

s the water continues the cool and the last of the mullet leave out and head south to warmer water the back country Redfish turn on. Many of them end up in the back country tidal marshes of the Saint Johns River in North Florida tributaries, feeding on fiddler crabs, grass shrimp, blue crabs etc. Most of the redfish will stay in the shallows on the mud flats foraging these baits. I like to get a mid day low tide & high sun and either pole the mud flats looking for backing fish or stake out and put baits in areas that redfish might stage waiting to get back on the flats. The weather has a lot to do with that decision. Low wind, & good visibility with clean water, make for great poling conditions. Water will continue to clean itself as the water cools & with less boat traffic and rain, the water tends to get clean after all the micro organisms die off making sight fishing good. I like a TBS jig in the 1/8-1/4 oz tipped with shrimp or a mud minnow. Often redfish will stage close to an adjacent flat at the low tide waiting for the tide to switch back to

incoming, and they can ride it back into the grass and other places they are safe & can feed. I also look for pinch points, & run outs to place my baits. Places where bait gets disturbed by current can be a good place for fish to feed. Learning these type of spots can help make a better backcountry angler. Rig your baits with a 30 inch piece of Fluorocarbon in the 15-25 lb range. I personally like 20 lb. & tie your jig with a loop knot. Any knot with a loop will work so the bait is free to move naturally. For lure fishermen this is a must for consistent lure action! I use a bowline. I mainly use shrimp because there is a good chance of hooking up black drum & Sheephead and they do not normally take mud minnows. Deeper holes should start loading up with black drum. We usually catch these delicious fish while fishing for redfish. The methods are the same, just different areas. Flounder will also be in the mix this month but unfortunately Flounder season is closed until the end of November. Hopefully the water temp stays warm enough for some Flounder to stay around into December when it opens back up. Everyone should email or call the FWC to give their opinion of this Flounder closure. Fishing a bright colored bait tipped bucktail jig is a favorite. Put a small piece of shrimp, mud minnow or finger mullet, on the jig in a stream line fashion so the lure pulls through the water naturally hopping the lure off the bottom around structure can be good. When you get the “thump” wait a second and set the hook. The Mayport area gives up a few big flounder every year. Until next month get out and fish! Capt. Tony Bozzella / TBS JIGS www.tonybozzella.com 904 651 0182

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1 bell pepper, diced 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste 2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce 1 teaspoon garlic salt 1 ½ teaspoons dried dill 1 ½ teaspoons dried marjoram 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning 4 ounces shredded Mozzarella cheese ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a casserole overtop. sprinkle with Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Bake in dish with cooking spray. preheated oven until the cheese is bubbly and browned, about 25 Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and minutes. cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until al dente; drain. Kacie Olsen is a 3rd generation Florida Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat native raised in Stuart, Florida, the sailfish until it begins to smoke. Add venison and cook until well browned, capital of the world. A strong passion for about 5 minutes. Stir in onion and green pepper, continue cooking the outdoors lead her to pursue wild game until softened, about 4 minutes. Add tomato paste and tomato sauce, and offshore fishing. Regardless of the season with garlic salt, dill, marjoram, and Italian seasoning. Bring season, Kacie enjoys traveling across the US and aiding in conservation while creating to a boil, then reduce heat to medium, and simmer for 5 minutes. lifelong memories with likeminded folks. Place drained pasta into prepared casserole dish and pour venison

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

ith water temperatures cooling down, look for the inshore fishing to heat up. For me, the next few months are the most exciting time of year to target reds on the flats and creeks. As the water cools down it tends to clear up, making sight-fishing possible in some of our shallow flats. The creek fishing should start to fire up too... The redfish will push into the shallowest areas of the creeks on the low tides to warm up and feed on small minnows and shrimp. As things cool down this time of year, you’ll get to sleep in and wait for the sun to be out for a while to warm up the water. Clearer water can mean spookier fish, so downsize your baits/lures for a stealthier approach. On extreme low tides the redfish, trout and flounder will get schooled up in area creek holes. A live shrimp or mud minnow tossed into those holes using a 1/4oz Saltwater Assassin jighead can’t be beat. When up on the flats, look for darker mud and oyster-laden bottom to be holding redfish, trout, and flounder. These areas will warm up faster than others on sunny days; a few degrees can really make a difference. Another benefit of dropping water temps is the redfish will start schooling on the flats over the next few months. If you know where to look you can find some big schools of tightly packed redfish. Locate these fish from a distance by looking for “muds” (discolored muddy 14 NORTHEAST FLORIDA

NOVEMBER 2021

water caused by moving fish) and/or pushing wakes made by moving fish. Redfish singles and doubles can also be found sunning themselves in the shallows, especially along side and on top of oyster bars. These fish will be lazy so make sure to present your bait in a slow and methodical manner. When I spot a stationary fish, I like to cast long of him and at least a few feet to either the left or right of the fish depending on which way he’s facing. Then work the bait slowly back to where the fish is (this will help to not spook the fish). Sometimes they will like it moving a little faster and sometimes a little slower. It’s always fun trying to find the right approach. Trout fishing should turn on as it cools down as well. My favorite trout lure for this time of year is a Saltwater Assassin “Lil Boss” paddle tail in a natural color paired with a Saltwater Assassin 1/4oz jighead. The tail has a ton of thump and the trout just can’t resist it. The jig, jig, pause method works best for me. Target creek mouths, ICW banks, and any type of structure with moving water and you’ll be sure to find some trout hanging out. Sheepshead fishing was pretty good through October and should only get better this month. Target area bridges, docks, and pilings with fiddler crabs to catch the tasty porgies. The black drum should start showing up in better numbers in the same places as well as in the creek holes on the lower tide stage. Be sure to check out my Daily Fishing Reports online @www. InshoreAdventures.net. Happy Thanksgiving! Capt. Tommy Derringer 904-377-3734 • www.InshoreAdventures.net

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Wyoming Elk Hunt of a lifetime Tony Bozella

s l luck would have it. I was lucky enough to draw a tag for Wyoming elk and it was time to gear up and head west. My partner Larry Minard and I, who have hunted with on many trips throughout the United States, decided it would be best if we just camped because we were so far back in the wilderness in the Teton National Park. It has more land than you can ever hunt in two lifetimes. So we

Meadows bugling periodically looking for the right Elk to try & call in for a Bow shot. As we continued on and covered lots of ground we had a bull respond to our call and we pursued him. Everything has got to come together perfect for Elk hunting to make it happen with a bow and arrow. Wind, distance, correct calling, etc. etc. As this bull led us up the mountain and we ascended to 9400 feet, we encountered a herd of antelope and that was neat in and of itself but we were after Elk so we continued on and then we saw fresh sign. I knew we were getting close. With the wind in our face and pursuing the bull. it was looking good until the wind took a bad swirl and we were busted. There’s no recovery when an elk gets your wind. But it wasn’t long until we had another bull in the distance answer our call. With hearts pounding and thin air going in our lungs we moved fast approximately a half a mile to get closer to the bull. As we took positions and I moved ahead of Larry 50/ 60 yards, so the bull would have to pass me to get to his calls and I could get a reasonable bow shot. As we were communicating with the bull, he stepped out on the edge of the meadow approximately 150 yards from my position, he was beauty, a true giant. It was a National Geographic moment. As I attempted to maintain my composure and do some cow chirping in accordance with Larry’s bugling to sound as if we were a herd of elk ourselves, A second bull stepped out alongside of the giant and within seconds they commenced to fighting. As I watch the fight in total amazement, a third bull stepped out and ran the other two larger elk off. He then turned and started coming to the calling in a trot. I knew I had to move fast to get in the exact location to close the distance to make a good humane accurate shot. I watched the elk as he came quickly, I knew from prior elk hunting experience that he would get downwind of the caller to try to wind other elk. As he came closer I jogged through the dark timber on my side of the meadow, keeping the wind in my face and I repositioned for the best shot possible. As the bull, A nice symmetrical 5 x 5, came closer he turned and did exactly what I thought he would do. He headed downwind and when he did I took cover in the blow down and there was a hole through the broken trees that would give me a clear shot to his vitals. I drew my bow anchored for a good shot & chirped like a cow to stop him and I let the arrow fly. He was just over 40 yards, and the arrow found its mark just above the heart. I love a good clean humane shot. The elk ran a little over 40 yards and expired. Pure joy and excitement was running through my veins. As I knew only one bow hunter harvest an elk every 10 years according to statistics. Of course the work starts at this point. At 9400 feet in the truck a couple miles away we had our work cut out for us. We quartered and deboned the big elk and packed him out on our backs to the truck which took the rest of the day. Cleaning and packing out an Elk 2 miles away will test your endurance..LOL After all that I was a tired hunter but a happy one.with Im looking forward to inviting my friends over to dinner and enjoy a wonderful elk roast and some fine memories!!

camped in our a little one man tents and carried our dry food, jet boil stove, water, and just enough necessities to get by cleaning and packing out an elk while living as comfortable as you can in weather that dipped daily into the teens every night. Not for the faint of heart.. LOL One day we walked upstream through the timber and edges of COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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ACGFA - November

FLAGLER SPORTFISHING CLUB

By Will Niemann

By Chris Christian

ur annual Pink up the Spots Fishing Tournament, held on October 8-9th was a success with over 50 registered anglers and more than $6,000 raised for the Pink up the Pace foundation. Congratulations to club members Donna Frantz and Linda Manucy for another successful and fun event bringing awareness to breast cancer. In October we held our Red Fish Spots Tournament. No winners have been announced yet. We won’t hold any club tournaments in November or December. The next ACGFA club meeting will be held on November 16, 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. New members and guests are always welcome at ACGFA! Our club 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.

he Flagler Sportfishing Club will be having its monthly meeting at the VFW on Tuesday, November 9th, 2nd Tuesday (Elections), the meeting will consist of Quick Tips and a featured speaker. Fish of the Month Winners will be announced at the meeting. Attention!! The Club is forming fishing groups based on the type fishing you like. So fish with friends on the beach and share ideas and catch some fish at the same time. Link is below. 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 – Nov. 9th, VFW, Old Kings Road, Palm Coast

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Free Club Flounder & Redfish Tournament – Nov. 13th – Weigh-in at Bing’s Landing Fishing Groups - https:// flaglersportfishing.com/fishinggroups-signup/ 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

NOVEMBER 2021

NORTHEAST FLORIDA 17

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

iant schools of red drum will be schooling both at the Saint Mary’s Inlet and Nassau Sound. Red drum weighing to over fifty pounds will also be holding in the deep drops of Amelia River as well. Fishing dead on the bottom with cut mullet, ladyfish, or menhaden is key when hooking up to the late Fall redfish run. Slot size redfish will also be active in the backwaters of Amelia Island during all tidal phases with the last of the in-coming and the last of the falling tide offering the best action.

jetties located at the southern portion of Amelia Island is also a real hot spot for late Fall redfish and sea trout as well. The best fishing action comes during the morning and late evening hours. Work a ¼ ounce led head rigged to a clear colored plastic curly tail with blue glitter slowly along the bottom. Offshore bottom fishermen should do well while fishing at some of the near to shore rock ledges and live bottoms. Gag grouper and giant sea bass are plentiful at FA, FC, HH and Schultz’s live bottoms

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An all-time favorite Fall redfish tactic includes casting a ½ ounce led head rigged with a 3-inch Berkley Gulp shrimp in the “New Penny” color pattern. When the redfish are really fired up, try vertical jigging with a 1-ounce Hopkins’s silver spoon! Fishermen are advised to keep hooked redfish in the water when releasing your catch. If the air bladder is inflated use a venting tool to deflate the air bladder. The venting tool consists of a hollow needle 1.5 inches long. Puncture the redfish at a 75-degree angle at the tip of the pectoral fin until you hear the air excepting the air bladder. Sea trout will also be schooling during the falling tide at both the St. Mary’s north and south jetty rocks. The small rock 18 NORTHEAST FLORIDA

NOVEMBER 2021

during pleasant weather days during the month of November. Best bottom fishing tactic includes fishing dead on the bottom with live cigar minnows, or fresh local squid. Black sea bass action should be excellent as well at FA & FB fish havens while fishing deep with cut baits. Fall anglers will also hook up to flounder and sheepshead which are also plentiful at these both popular fish havens. Finally black drum weighing to 50-pounds are plentiful during the month of November in the deep waters of Cumberland Sound and the mouth of Bell’s River. Fish dead on the bottom during the slack moving tides with a quarter blue crab. Barb small pieces of shrimp while black drum fishing and enjoy a nice fall whiting bite as well. Surf fishing should be excellent for fall run blues and whiting. Look for the dredge working close to the beach, which stirring up the bottom and stirring up excellent beach fishing action as well! Best baits are fresh shrimp, cut baits, and sand fleas. Freshwater bass fishing should be excellent in the Nassau tidal river system including Lofton, Boggy and Mills, and Plumbers tidal creeks. These tidal creeks are seldom fished, offering excellent action for largemouth bass, stripers, catfish, and bream. In the lower portions, look for sea trout, redfish, and striped bass to take your freshwater plug! For more information and charters, call Amelia Angler Outfitters (904) 261-2870, or visit www.ameliaangler.com

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

Weather or Not Fall is upon us and so are the expected cold fronts. These fronts bring not only wind and cooler temperatures but also some of the best fishing of the year. On the bottom it’s Grouper, Cobia, Amberjack, Vermillion and Mutton snapper, Sea Bass and many other species fattening up for the coming winter. Dig out the sweat shirts and boots. Its my favorite time of the year. The inshore wrecks and reefs are covered up with bait this time of year. It’s hard to beat a live sardine or Cigar minnow

on the bottom. I use a no 5 circle hook and around 6 ft. of 80 pound monofilament for a leader. Always keep a jig rod ready for the Cobia that are sure to show up when you least expect. The wrecks in 80 to 130 ft are best for Cobia. Im not sure if its global warming but it sure seems like we have more sailfish in our area especially in the fall. Sailfish will be found from 21 fathoms out to beyond the 28 fathom ledge. Look for schools of bait showing on your fathometer. Bird activity is another sign to be on the lookout for. If Sails are your target 80 to 100 pound monofilament leaders and small ballyhoo are the most effective rigs. I prefer naked baits trolled between 3 to 5 knots. Teasers are a must and it’s hard to beat a dredge full of silver mullet. Small Mahi will also be around and will help keep your crew awake in between Sail bites. If Wahoo are your target, add some wire, pick up your speed and pull something down deep. I like a medium ballyhoo behind a blue and white islander Hawaiian eye behind a number 3 old salty planner. Whatever type of fishing you choose to do, be flexible and wait for good weather. Nothing worse than pushing the envelope. As my good friend and veteran captain George Strait would say “There are days to fish and days to dry your net”. Until next month Tight Lines and “let’s go Fishing” “Let’s Go Fishing” Captain Robert Johnson (904)540-2628 Jodielynncharters.com Jlfishing@bellsouth

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Wahoo Junkies – Time to Get Started! By Captain Tim Altman

ahoo Junkies get ready to go, because November is your month to find the weather break and get out there and start trolling. The end of November after Thanksgiving is prime time to start targeting our addiction…Wahoo. Look some of the best fishing starts that Full Moon in November which happens on the 19th and usually triggers the first solid bite of the season. From a purely non-scientific perspective I’ve found that while the Full Moon brings us bigger fish, that the New Moon brings us more numbers fish. This year the Jacksonville Bluewater Club Wahoo Classic falls on the weekend of the New Moon (December 4th), so it should be an awesome tournament. Entry is $400 for the general public and $350 for Bluewater Club Members. It’s an inexpensive and fun way to kick off the new Wahoo Season. To find out more about the Jacksonville Bluewater Club and register for the Wahoo Classic go to jaxbluewaterclub.com

The biggest question I get from the folks and the question most asked about in the Facebook Wahoo Junkies Group is “What Kind/Type of lure works best to target more and bigger Wahoo?”. Folks, it is a general consensus among everyone that fancies themselves a Wahoo Killer that the answer is…..whatever works the best for you. But how does that help the guy in search of figure out what works the best if he or she has only had limited or little success? Ask your tackle guy. Back in the day when I first started for me that was Steve Grant and Dave Workman Jr. I got started hi-speed trolling with Mr. Biggs and the American Express (a.k.a the Deep Runner) both made by C&H Lures. I mean that’s all I literally pulled and we had tremendous success. But I branched out as Lure Makers started making lures specifically designed for Hi-Speed Trolling. Lures makers like Palmetto, MagBay and Fathom have dedicated an entire line to hi-speed trolling. I’ve tried them all… folks I’ve spent A LOT of money on lures. What do I pull today? I pull a smorgasbord of different brands and types….but the one thing that will never change is a White over Blue color on the way back… the shotgun…the longline, whatever you want to call it. Presently I pull those colors on a MagBay El Plomero head. The MagBay folks have even designed a hard body diving lure that you can actually hispeed troll with called the “MagTrak”. I’ve pulled this lure effectively and caught fish at 15kts. The MagTrack has an innovative design that actually works at hi-speed. Toby and Eric at MagBay are constantly pushing for innovation that meets our hi-speed fishing world. You can

find all of the MagBay products at Strike Zone Fishing Jacksonville. The Key to landing an early season Wahoo while hi-speed trolling is SPEED. Many fish are lost because we pull back the throttles and begin the fight too slow. Remember to keep your speed up for at least 30 seconds after the hook up. Pull your speed back slowly to about 10mph and start clearing lines. When you’re comfortable slowly pull the throttles back to 8mph and this is where you diagnose the fight. As you slow down you’re looking for the point the line quits paying out and then gently back to where the angler can start getting line on the reel. The first several minutes of the retrieve on the fish are crucial. The Capt. must be at the helm ready to respond with power when the fish charges the boat. How will you know? With one eye on the rod tip and an ear out for the clicker. Any change in the rod angle and/or the sound of the clicker increasing must be met with power on the throttles… don’t worry, you’re not going to pull the fish off. You must speed the boat up to recover the belly in the line created by the trolling weight and the fish charging the boat. If the fish gets ahead of the trolling weight while charging the boat the weight will act as a counter weight and effectively de-hook the fish. Ask me how I know….you guessed it, I learned the hard way. *Pro tip* With multi engine boats adjust your slowdown smoothly by slowly pulling of the power 1 motor at a time. This enables a very smooth transition to fight-mode. On January 29th & 30th of 2022, I will be at the Jacksonville Boat Show doing a series of Wahoo Fishing Seminars. Fellow Wahoo Junkie, frequent co-host on the Wahoo Junkies Live broadcasts and Winner of the 2021 Wahoo Shootout Casey “Wahoo King” Smith will be joining me in presenting Wahoo fishing from the basics all the way up to where, when and why. The Wahoo Junkies Seminar Series is presented by Strike Zone Fishing Jacksonville. It’s guaranteed to be a good time and very informative. HooDoo Charters Wahoo Trips are in full Swing in November! Our 3rd livestream of the season in the Facebook Group “Wahoo Junkies” will be during late November and most likely we will begin a series of Wahoo Junkie podcasts in early December. 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

NOVEMBER 2021

NORTHEAST FLORIDA 21

Fishing Report Pier and Surf By: Noel Kuhn

he water temp in October was way to warm! 80-82 in mid October was crazy. So, this month should be off the chart good for Pompano and everything else. Pomps comfort zone is 65 to 75. We should have great action even into December this year. Since the Pompano are migrating north to south they will first show up towards the Georgia border. Some hot spots to try are the jetties at Ft Clinch, Fernandina Beach, Little Talbot Island and Huguenot Park. As the water gets cold they will jump the St Johns river and continue southward. A great tool to find them is your computer. Search SSTcharts to find daily water temps via satellites. Once again, find that 65-75 degree range for your best results. As pier and surf fishermen, we cannot

travel very far east and west. However, we can range north and south very quickly. Do not fish in water too cold, too hot or too dirty. That simple formula will increase your catch. When it comes to bait for Pompano, Whiting, Redfish and Black Drum you cannot beat live sand fleas. Other great baits include clams, shrimp, and Blue Crab knuckles. Shrimp is the most readily gobbled up in the surf because every fish there will eat a shrimp! Not so much with clams and crab. However when the water temp is dropping near 65 those two are my go to baits. When the water gets cool the sand fleas go deep in the sand and the shrimp go deep for warmer water. Success comes with matching the hatch. All of my big Pompano, over 6 pounds, have been caught late in the Fall or early in the Spring with water temps near 65. This will be the best month for big Redfish in the surf. They have finished their breeding in the inlets. Now they move out to roam the surf and they are hungry. One half of a Blue Crab is money. I fish it on a fish finder rig tied with 100lb mono. The 7/0 circle hook is attached with a loop knot. Go now because when the water gets cold they will move off shore to warmer water. November is a great month for our beaches and piers. Get out and enjoy before old man winter drives our fish south or offshore! 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 - November

Mayport Degaussing Structure 30.3967° N, 81.3950° W Date Day Time Hgt 01 Mon 05:50 AM 5.38 H 02 Tue 12:18 AM 0.54 L 03 Wed 01:05 AM 0.10 L 04 Thu 01:51 AM -0.25 L 05 Fri 02:37 AM -0.47 L 06 Sat 03:25 AM -0.52 L 07 Sun 03:14 AM -0.40 L 08 Mon 04:08 AM -0.15 L 09 Tue 05:07 AM 0.16 L 10 Wed 12:07 AM 5.16 H 11 Thu 01:09 AM 5.04 H 12 Fri 02:15 AM 5.01 H 13 Sat 03:21 AM 5.07 H 14 Sun 04:22 AM 5.21 H 15 Mon 05:16 AM 5.38 H 16 Tue 06:03 AM 5.52 H 17 Wed 12:18 AM 0.42 L 18 Thu 12:59 AM 0.35 L 19 Fri 01:37 AM 0.35 L 20 Sat 02:15 AM 0.44 L 21 Sun 02:52 AM 0.59 L 22 Mon 03:28 AM 0.78 L 23 Tue 04:06 AM 0.98 L 24 Wed 04:47 AM 1.16 L 25 Thu 05:34 AM 1.29 L 26 Fri 12:28 AM 4.33 H 27 Sat 01:20 AM 4.44 H 28 Sun 02:18 AM 4.64 H 29 Mon 03:18 AM 4.93 H 30 Tue 04:16 AM 5.30 H

Time 11:58 06:40 07:29 08:17 09:06 09:57 09:49 10:44 11:41 06:11 07:18 08:24 09:27 10:27 11:22 12:12 06:45 07:24 08:02 08:39 09:16 09:55 10:36 11:19 12:04 06:28 07:28 08:29 09:30 10:30

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

Hgt 0.83 L 5.80 H 6.20 H 6.51 H 6.70 H 6.74 H 6.64 H 6.45 H 6.20 H 0.47 L 0.71 L 0.86 L 0.93 L 0.92 L 0.84 L 0.72 L 5.62 H 5.66 H 5.64 H 5.58 H 5.49 H 5.40 H 5.31 H 5.23 H 5.16 H 1.35 L 1.31 L 1.17 L 0.91 L 0.55 L

Time 06:13 12:51 01:41 02:31 03:20 04:10 04:04 05:01 06:02 12:42 01:45 02:50 03:52 04:48 05:39 06:25 12:57 01:38 02:17 02:54 03:32 04:11 04:53 05:38 06:26 12:53 01:46 02:44 03:42 04:40

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 5.63 H PM 0.42 L PM 0.04 L PM -0.23 L PM -0.36 L PM -0.31 L PM -0.12 L PM 0.16 L PM 0.45 L PM 5.93 H PM 5.68 H PM 5.49 H PM 5.35 H PM 5.25 H PM 5.16 H PM 5.08 H PM 0.61 L PM 0.53 L PM 0.52 L PM 0.60 L PM 0.75 L PM 0.95 L PM 1.15 L PM 1.31 L PM 1.37 L PM 5.09 H PM 5.04 H PM 5.01 H PM 5.02 H PM 5.08 H

Time

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

Hgt

07:03 07:52 08:40 09:30 10:21 10:14 11:09

PM PM PM PM PM PM PM

5.75 5.82 5.83 5.78 5.66 5.50 5.33

H H H H H H H

07:04 08:05 09:03 09:57 10:47 11:34

PM PM PM PM PM PM

0.67 0.79 0.82 0.77 0.66 0.53

L L L L L L

07:07 07:47 08:26 09:04 09:43 10:21 11:00 11:42

PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM

5.00 4.90 4.79 4.67 4.54 4.42 4.34 4.30

H H H H H H H H

07:16 08:07 08:58 09:50 10:42

PM PM PM PM PM

1.32 1.15 0.87 0.52 0.12

L L L L L

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Challenge Harvests 21K Lionfish from Florida Reefs

t its October meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced the winners of this year’s Lionfish Challenge. The Lionfish Challenge is a summerlong (May 21-Sept. 6, 2021) tournament that rewards divers for their lionfish harvests. The tournament is open to everyone, is completely free to enter and participants can compete from anywhere in the state. Divers receive prizes based on the amount of lionfish they harvest and compete for the title of the Lionfish King/Queen or Commercial Champion. Since 2016, this incentive program has encouraged divers to help reduce numbers of invasive lionfish that are detrimental to the native ecosystems of Florida reefs. This year’s lionfish removal and incentive program ended Sept. 6, and a total of 21,146 lionfish were removed during the 3.5-month program. This year, 471 people registered and 185 people submitted lionfish. It’s the highest participation number since the Lionfish Challenge began in 2016.

Winners Recreational Category: • First place Lionfish King: Brooks

Feeser, Palm Beach County, 1,632 removed. • Second place: Carl Antonik, Santa Rosa County, 1,582 removed. • Third place: Christina Raber-Jehn, Palm Beach County, 1,475 removed. Commercial Category: • Commercial Champion: Rachel Bowman, Monroe County, 730 pounds removed. • Second place: Paul DeCuir, Escambia County, 725 pounds removed. • Third place: Alex Fogg, Okaloosa County, 657 pounds removed.

First place winners received a customized trophy, $150 for SCUBA air fills, an HP 100 SCUBA cylinder, and will be featured in the 2021 Saltwater Regulations publication and in the FWC Lionfish Hall of Fame.

Final Stats • 21,146 lionfish removed. • 185 people submitted lionfish (172 recreational, 13 commercial). For more information, go to FWCReefRangers.com or MyFWC.com/Lionfish. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

NOVEMBER 2021

NORTH FLORIDA 5

BIG TIME ANGLING ON THE NORTHERN GULF

t its heart, Panama City Beach is a fishing town. An enormous fleet of charter boats runs pretty much year-round, giving access to everything from great inshore fishing on St. Andrew Bay to marlin and sailfish out on the Loop Current. Sure, there are all sorts of other tourism activities to get into, but for anglers, Panama City provides outstanding access to productive waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Those who’d rather keep their feet on shore will find pier fishing that’s arguably the best on the Gulf Coast. There are four fishing piers in the area, three that reach far out into the emerald waters of the Gulf. And the piers aren’t just places to pass the time with a line in the water. Pier fishermen regularly catch big king and Spanish mackerel, flounder, pompano, redfish and trout. Every now and then, tuna and even sailfish show up. As with any pier, the catch is dependent on what’s within casting range. That’s not the case for anglers on a boat. Out of Panama City Beach, a short ride will put you on fish no matter the time of year. This time of year, anglers will find the crowds are gone from the inshore reefs, where various species of grouper and snapper are easy targets. Big speckled trout and redfish around the canals and river mouths are a great fall-back if the winds are high, and these fisheries will remain good all winter long. In the spring, warming water temperatures bring on the ladyfish, bluefish, bonito and Spanish mackerel. Trout move onto the grass flats and start 6 NORTH FLORIDA

NOVEMBER 2021

chasing topwater. Cobia show up in late spring, and summer brings on the some of the best trolling action for kingfish anywhere. By summer, snapper and grouper fishing has migrated offshore. Boats out of Panama City Beach will be fishing reefs in more than 100 feet of water for some big red snapper and lots of them. Summer is also the height of the big-game fishing, and big redfish will likely be in the pass. The weather may be cooling some when fall rolls in, but the fishing remains hot. Flounder fishing picks up, along with the rest of the inshore action. The bottom fishing will again move closer in, and it’s a great time to try light tackle for snapper and grouper. From anglers looking for a fishing vacation to vacationers looking for a little fishing, there’s always something for them in Panama City Beach. Unequaled access to the northern Gulf opens up some incredible options for anglers. For more information, visit coastalanglermag.com.

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ere’s your reminder. The recreational harvest of flounder in all Florida state and federal waters closed Oct. 15 and will remain closed through Nov. 30. Flounder harvest reopens Dec. 1. This annual season closure and other management measures were approved by the Florida Wildlife Resources Commission late last year because a stock status update suggested that the flounder fishery statewide has been in a general declining trend and is likely overfished and undergoing overfishing on the Atlantic coast of Florida. Other south Atlantic and Gulf states have also reported declines in flounder populations and have been making their own regulation changes. Learn more about flounder regulations at MyFWC.com/Marine.

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NOVEMBER 2021

NORTH FLORIDA 7

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPT. BRENT JUAREZ

GREAT FISHING!

WHERE THE SUWANNEE & STEINHATCHEE RIVERS MEET THE GULF OF MEXICO

Ugly Fishing Spots By Tobin Strickland

Often Produce

YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND A BOAT RAMP

DIXIE COUNTY VISITDIXIE.COM

e all have an idea of what a good fishing spot should look like. Perhaps it’s surrounded by pristine sand dunes and native grasses and has that perfect seagrass bottom? Or maybe it’s a hidden marsh lagoon surrounded by mangroves? We spend so much time running to the prettiest spot and wonder why we don’t catch fish. Maybe it’s time to take a look at the ugly fishing spots? I’ve found great fishing wherever great fishing occurs, and many times those locales haven’t been pretty. Earlier today, I ran the boat to several isolated bays only to find a school of nice speckled trout right behind the boat ramp. I knew the structure was right, and when I saw good sign of fish presence, I didn’t hesitate to fish close to the ramp. It was less than 50 yards to the entrance to the harbor. In fact, three other fishing boats left the harbor while I steadily caught fish. We always feel the need to make the run to that “perfect” spot. I did that this past Friday and made a 22-mile run. Granted, I knew fish were there— and I caught fish—but I also caught solid fish today less than half a football field from my parked truck. Here’s the deal: Fish don’t know they aren’t supposed to be somewhere. As long as the location matches what they are looking for, the fish will be there regardless of what the above-surface features look like. So what makes a good fishing spot for speckled trout, redfish or flounder? First of all, it must be in the right part of the bay system for season. No spot will produce if it’s not where the bait and fish want to be seasonally. Next, it has to have the right structure for the fish you are targeting. If you’re seeking trout, that spot better be trout habitat. It should be the right depth for trout and give them plenty of opportunities to ambush prey from below, whether it’s a main-bay drop-off, the edge of an oyster reef or the edge of a pocket in the grass. The habitat must be a match for the species you are going after... period. And similarly to the seasonal requirement, the location has to have forage. If a fishing spot contains all the above parameters, yet it’s a little less than pristine, that can be a great spot. Take, for example, a big-trout spot I found last fall. I found this location using aerial photography, and it seemed promising. There was deep water nearby, a great oyster reef and a mud bottom. It was in the upper section of the estuary, so I knew it would fit the bill for late fall and early winter. I did wonder how the boat traffic would be… because it was in the back of the harbor. I caught fish closer to my truck than the actual run distance to the spot was. Today’s location was similar. Did it matter to me that it wasn’t 22 miles away? Not after that first hookset; No. Tobin created TroutSupport.com - Tech Support for speckled trout and redfish anglers who want to up their game to the next level.

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NOVEMBER 2021

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alking Liberty Half Dollars, or “Walkers” as they were called, led a coin renaissance in the U.S. that was in large part inspired by President Teddy Roosevelt’s 1904 comment that U.S. coinage was “artistically of atrocious hideousness.” During the first two decades of the 20th century, every circulating coin denomination in the U.S. got a new look. The front of the Walking Liberty Half Dollar features Adolph Weinman’s Walking Liberty design of a confident Miss Liberty striding toward the sun and the dawning of a new day, draped in an American flag, carrying laurel and oak branches representing peace and strength.

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TIPS FROM A PRO

FLIPPING HEAVY GRASS FOR FALL BASS

time or two until I get a bite or two in an area. Once you know there are fish around, slow down, make very precise flips and work the bait up and down multiple times with each cast. I flip and pitch with a craw-style bait. If the water has a good stain, black and blue colors are a must. If you’re working with cleaner water, TYLER WOOLCOTT green pumpkin or brown variations usually do the trick. When you are dealing with pressured fish or fishing in colder conditions, downsize and flip a creature bait like the 13 Fishing Lunch Bug. When the ith fall upon us, it’s time to bring out the big sticks and heavy braid. One of my favorite techniques weather is stable and you are around aggressive fish, flip a full-sized to target bass is flipping and punching grass, and fall is a creature bait like the 13 Fishing Invader. great time to do it. Fish seek heavy cover Flipping/ Punching Gear and vegetation to feed up on forage and get warmth under matted grass. This presents It is important to use the correct the opportunity to place your bait right in equipment to get your bait into the grass front of them. and then winch fish out. I like a 13 Fishing Flipping and pitching grass can be hard 7’9” Heavy Fast Envy Black rod paired to learn, but once you get the hang of it, it up with a Concept A 8:3:1 reel. The long can be one of the most exhilarating ways to heavy-action rod gives you power to get catch a bass. I live in Florida, where grass a hook into fish and then get them out of is always prevalent. It has taught me a few grass. Pairing that rod with a fast-gearthings about how fish position in fall, and ratio reel allows you to make lots of flips I’ve been able to use this knowledge all and to pick up line quickly. over the country. Heavy braided line is imperative. I Seek out either a clean edge or patches like 65-pound Seaguar Smackdown braid of grass that are isolated away from in grey. I use a Woo! Tungsten weight expansive areas of grass. These areas between 1 and 2 ounces, depending on concentrate fish in targetable places and the thickness of the grass. Hook size varies give you the highest probability of getting depending on the size bait. I use between a your bait in front of a hungry bass. 3/0 and a 5/0 Hayabusa FPP Straight HD When flipping, cover as much water as hook. possible until you run into a group of fish. Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament Fish tend to group up in the fall, and this is angler and guide. Check out his website at also true with fish in the grass. I like to flip www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com. fast, only pumping the bait up and down a

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StyleCraft and A&M Introduce Versatile, Premium Fiberglass Hull Pontoon Boats

ptimum durability and performance are the design achievements for an all new line of pontoon boats named Style Craft Boats. These premium fiberglass-hulled pontoon boats result from a partnership between Billy Chapman and John Hemken, and they are only available through factory direct sales. Chapman, pioneer of Amazon peacock bass fishing and creator of the Floating Suite mobile lodge, and Hemken, with over 25 years of perfecting new and innovative production and owner of A&M Manufacturing, are designing several models of pontoon boats. Flagship of the line is the Fun Slide boat, a 28-foot pontoon craft built on Bulldog hulls with a 10-foot-wide main deck and upper deck featuring two water slides. The 22- and 26-foot Outfitters are recreational tritoons with multiple floorplans for family fun and fishing built on Riptide hulls. Outfitter pontoon boats also feature multiple deck boxes with cushion seats, and much more. StyleCraft Boats also offers three different kit boats, allowing the DIYer to finish out the boat to their liking. The Kit Boat includes fiberglass hulls and heavy-duty aluminum C-channel floor beams ready for assembly. The StyleCraft Boats Tuff Boat is a workboat created for the rigors of heavy-duty operations. A deck boat that can be configured for any task, the Tuff Boat can be outfitted with a crane, welder and anything else a work boat

might need. StyleCraft works with the owner to determine the right size pontoon boat for the work at hand. All StyleCraft Boats are built by A&M Manufacturing and feature a heavy-duty set of fiberglass hulls measuring from 30 feet to 53 feet in length. The deck is built with marine-grade composite that is fiberglassed, gelled and webbed. No wood is used in StyleCraft Boats. Each boat can be configured with an outboard engine. More models will be introduced. The Fun Slide boat and Outfitter series are equipped with a Humminbird Helix GPS depthfinder, anodized aluminum railing and Phifertex rail coverings, upgraded custom upholstery with hydraulic steering and steering wheel on a fiberglass console. A&M Manufacturing is the contract manufacturer of Elite Craft leisure boat, hand built from fiberglass but with the regal look of real mahogany wood. Elite Craft boats have been built for over 30 years. For more information about StyleCraft Boats, visit stylecraftboats.com.

TRAVEL PROTOCOLS RELAXED FOR BAHAMAS INTER-ISLAND TRAVEL

ffective Immediately, the requirement for a travel health visa for inter-island travel within The Bahamas has been removed. Other important updates include: • Vaccinated persons travelling inter-island from New Providence and Grand Bahama will now only be required to produce a negative result of a rapid antigen test of the type approved by the Ministry of Health, and if non-vaccinated, travelers are required to produce a negative result of the RT-PCR test at the point of embarkation to the operator of the airline or vessel on which they are travelling. • For persons travelling inter-island from any other islands of The Bahamas, only a negative result of an antigen test of the type approved by the Ministry of Health is required. • The requirement for secondary testing for inter-island travelers is now removed. Curfew times have also been relaxed to 11:59 p.m. to 5 a.m. on New Providence and Paradise Island, Grand Bahama, Exuma mainland, Abaco mainland, Bimini and North and South Eleuthera, including Harbour Island. For entry into the U.S., beginning Nov. 1, 2021, all adult foreign nationals traveling to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated, with limited exceptions. Additionally, unvaccinated U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents who return to the United States will be required to provide proof of a negative test result taken within one day prior to their departure. For more information on US requirements, visit https://bs.usembassy.gov/ covid-19-information. For full Bahamas Covid Protocols & Requirements for Boaters, visit www.bahamasmarinas.com/procedures-and-protocols.

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olor mutations occur in a variety of wildlife species—albino whitetail deer, black (melanistic) coyotes and yes, piebald catfish. To witness, and especially catch, one of those unique creatures, however, is rare. Yet it happened recently for Rocco Mansueto on the Tennessee River. Mansueto was fishing in late September with Capt. Joe Jellison, a guide working with Scenic City Fishing Charters in Chattanooga, Tenn. Capt. Jellison also produces the popular YouTube Channel, Chatt Cats Fishing. Capt. Jellison routinely fishes on the Tennessee River near Chattanooga. His clients had already enjoyed a successful day, including a 27-pound blue caught by Rocco’s brother, Phillip, when Rocco hooked up again on a respectable catfish. When they fought the fish close enough to the boat to see it, Capt. Jellison, who has boated thousands of catfish, said he was awestruck. “Piebald catfish are quite rare. There’s one-in-a-million chance of getting one,” said Capt. Jellison. “They are actually blue catfish with a genetic mutation. I told Rocco many (or most) fishermen will fish their whole life and not catch a piebald catfish.” Piebaldism is the absence of melanin-forming cells (melanocytes) in certain areas of the skin. It is different from albinism, where all cells lack the ability to produce pigment altogether. Hence, piebald creatures do not have the pink eye characteristic of albinos. The piebald gene is often hereditary. Another Scenic City Fishing guide, Capt. Sam Simons, caught a similar fish in 2019. While it appeared to be a totally white albino, it did not have the characteristic pink eye, hence was probably a piebald as well. At the time of the catch, Capt. Jellison was drifting chicken breast as bait in the Tennessee River current, what Scenic City guides refer to as their “light tackle technique.” They use standard spinning gear and relatively light line (10-pound mono or 20-pound braid), which allows the bait to drift more naturally. Even though they use light tackle, the technique sometimes produces big catfish—up to 50 and 60 pounds. However, trophy-sized catfish are not as rare, or as cherished, as a once-in-a-lifetime piebald. Mansueto released his rare piebald catfish back into the river in hopes someone else might someday have the same experience he did. Richard Simms is an outdoor journalist and owner/guide at Scenic City Fishing Charters in Chattanooga, Tenn. Check them out at www.sceniccityfishing.com.

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719-POUNDER WINS BLUEFIN BONANZA L ocal captain Pete Speeches, of Scarborough, Maine, and the crew of Backstabber, brought a giant 719-pound bluefin tuna to the scale to win the Third Annual Casco Bay Bluefin Bonanza out of South Portland, Maine. They took home their second consecutive Casco Bay Cup. It was a fretful year for the Bonanza, as proposed restricted fishing days threatened to scuttle the event. Then, an 11th-hour category closure forced postponement of the three-day tournament from early August to early September. Despite the tremendous inconvenience to all, and a less-than-favorable forecast, the boats set out and didn’t disappoint. First to the dock on Day 1 was Endorfin with a 511-pounder. Keith Jordan, of the Bailey and Bella, quickly set the bar higher with a fat tuna that weighed 700 pounds on the nose. Speeches was hot on his tail, arriving at the scales just 20 minutes later with what would eventually prove to be the tournament winner. He was preceded by Mitch Napalitano’s 598-pounder, moving Mitch down to a third-place position, at least temporarily. Perennial frontrunner Kurt Christensen and the Molly Jane came in with a 373-pounder with Wasabi, High Anxiety and Lion’s den bringing in fish of 478, 311 and 440 pounds, respectively. Forecasted high winds and thunder showers kept many boats off the water on Day 2, but Backstabber—vying for the cumulative-weight prize—landed their second, a 467-pounder followed by Bailey & Bella’s 582-pounder. Bounty

Hunter II, one of the smaller boats in the tournament went way offshore and after a five-hour battle managed to wrangle in a 422-pounder, and made the scales before they closed. Despite challenging conditions, the crew of Molly Jane showed their mettle, bringing in a 632-pounder to open Day 3 that would ultimately hold up in the top five. Hot on their heels was Bailey & Bella with a 646-pounder that would take fourth place and secure the overall cumulative weight. The final fish was ANUT’s 698-pounder, which moved them back into third place. In the end, over $18,000 in prize money was handed out, including a top prize of $7,500 and the Casco Cup for the largest fish. More importantly, the Bluefin Bonanza raised enough money to ensure that 14 students, two from each of Maine’s seven community colleges, will receive scholarships next year. The Bonanza will also be able to fulfill their endowment to the Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges, ensuring there will always be scholarships in the future. Furthermore, a new endowment will be established with the University of Maine’s School of Marine Sciences and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute to support vital bluefin tuna research that will ensure the resource and the fishery remain sustainable. For more information, check out the Casco Bay Bluefin Bonanza on Facebook, visit www.bluefinbonanza.org or email bluefinbonanza@gmail.com.

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

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