Coastal Angler Magazine | June 2023 | Northeast Florida Edition

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Trophies Traditions !

or those of us afflicted with the fishing bug, nothing will deter us from returning to the ocean. We’re often planning our next trip before the current one is over. There is no difference between fishing daily, or being deprived for weeks, the fisherman’s mind will never stop nagging to get back out there.

Fishing stories and trophies are a great way to keep the inner fishing-monster soothed in between trips.

Photographs are an easy way to relive moments, and should not be overlooked. It doesn’t take much effort to get out a camera and capture the catch when it hits the deck while its colors are vibrant and the smile is fresh on the angler’s face. Friends don’t let friends take deadfish dock photos without at least a few taken out on the blue.

When it comes to fishing trophies, there is a whole lot more to be taken home than just some good photos.

The standard go-to trophies are wall mount replicas, which can easily be reproduced with some measurements and photos. This provides the opportunity to release the fish and also be able to take it home with you. Gray’s Taxidermy does excellent work with this type of customization, and outfits most charter companies with the

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

required paperwork to get you started on this process. Make sure to ask your captain about mounting your catch before you release the fish.

There are still people who work with the tried and true art of fish taxidermy, utilizing the fish itself, but these services are harder to find, and the product doesn’t last forever.

Gyotaku fish rubbings are another way to accredit the true size of a trophy fish. The fish itself is painted and printed on paper. This method does not allow you to release the fish, but if you work quickly, and utilize acrylics, the fillets may still be consumed. This is a fun method to try on your own, but there are artists you can hire for this as well. These trophies work out better when wall space at home is more limited.

Various parts of the fish can be taken and treated, such as bills, tails, skeletal systems and even eyeballs transformed into epoxy shot glasses. These trophies can have some of the best outcomes, but require some involved and stinky DIY processing. There are a variety of techniques for this, and endless creative potential.

Participating in fishing traditions is another great way to boost the excitement of a first catch, and add to the memory. Who knows how these got started, but it is our communal obligation to keep them alive.

I’m sure there are some I have missed, but here

are the ones I know of, and practice.

When you catch your first tuna, it is customary to eat the heart or, at very least, take a bite out of it. It’s not bad with a bit of lime and a chaser. Tastes a bit like what I would imagine tuna-jerky to taste like.

When you catch your first marlin, you earn a celebratory jump in the ocean. Usually, this is done back at the dock for safety reasons. This is the most refreshing dip you’ll ever take.

When you catch your first swordfish, your crew will hollow out the eyeball, as to make a cup out of it, and you then take a drink from it. I highly recommend being quick about this before extra slime leeches out into your drink. Don’t worry, it all tastes like victory.

However deep your commitment to your fishing affliction may be, the best trophy will always be memories of having a good time. Most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy being out there. Your local captains understand that it’s difficult to manage life between fishing trips, and we are here for you. Blue Magic Charters is available for your next fix, out of Marathon, Florida Keys.

Capt. Quinlyn, of Blue Magic Charters, is also a Gyotaku artist and a Gray’s Taxidermy agent. Contact her at (504) 920-6342 and follow her social accounts @CaptainQuinlyn.

Electric AN GREEN DRAKE HATCH

small green drake just as it was annihilated by a frisky brown trout.

I hurried to tie on a Colorado Green Drake and caught a brown on my first cast. My second cast was taken as soon as it hit the water—a nice rainbow. By then, drakes were all over the surface and the trout were feeding without hesitation. One trout went airborne, and I swear it was looking for the next green drake on its way back down.

It was dry-fly heaven fishing my 7.5-foot “Perfectionist” bamboo rod (made by “Preacher Jim” Beasley, of Crossville, Tenn.) and a green drake tied on 5X tippet. But over the ridge came ominous blue-tinged storm clouds. The pyrotechnics began immediately, with lightning pinging down all around me. Seeking safe haven, I dove into a shallow creek bed that emptied into the river. Elk, deer and bear tracks had beaten down the bed and formed foot-high banks. It was muddy but much safer. At first, it was too dangerous to even sit up, so I lay in the mud and watched the hatch, which was still in full swing.

In 25 years fly fishing, I’ve only experienced two bona fide green drake hatches. The second time I witnessed one of these hatches it was spectacular, the stuff of legends.

Green drakes are large mayflies that, under the right conditions, hatch in huge numbers and send trout into feeding frenzies. It happened for me one afternoon at about 8,750 feet of elevation on a Colorado river. The left bank hugged the base of a mountain ridge and the right bank opened onto a flat meadow of grasses and wildflowers. It was hot and windy—a tough day for fishing dry flies, but I’m a stubborn dry-fly bigot. I refused to nymph and hadn’t caught a single fish until the weather changed. Clouds floated over the ridge and the temperature and pressure dropped. A bright-white flash and instantaneous rumble sent me toward the truck, but on the way I spotted a

Eventually, the lightning lessened, and I was able fish. Once, two fish—a rainbow and a brown—came from opposite directions and arrived at my fly at the same time. A violent collision of noses ensued, and both fish quickly retreated. My drake was partially submerged after impact, but a different brown appeared, circled once, and daintily took the fly. He was not happy when I hooked him!

Once, I was surprised when my drake drifted almost back to me without a strike. Just as I was picking up the fly to cast again, an upstream brown came like a freight train. It took the fly on the uptake, went airborne and hit me in the chest. When you get nailed in the chest by a 16-inch brown, it’s gotta be a green drake hatch!

This short story (copyrighted by the author) and many other true-life fly fishing adventures can be found in Michael Fitzsimmons’ book “Adventures of a Dry-Fly Junkie,” available only on Amazon. Contact the author at dry_fly_junkie@hotmail.com.

By Michael Fitzsimmons

PHOTO BY GAIL HAMPSHIRE

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL FITZSIMMONS

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MITZI SKIFF: Affordable Performance on the Flats

boat. It really is a very nice boat, notwithstanding the price point.”

The Mitzi Skiff 17’ is a stripped-down and customizable version of the 17’ Tournament, which comes with the options Grubbs said most of his fishing customers were asking for. Both boats draft just 7 inches loaded, they pole easily, they pole straight, and they reach speeds into the 40s with a 60 hp engine.

While the 15’ is a one or two-man boat that’s at-home on the flats, the 17’ can fish three people and it’s got better range. The 17’s primary purpose is still as a flats boat, yet it also doubles admirably as bay boat.

“It’s not just a flats boats; it’s a little bit of an open water boat, too,” Grubbs said.

The 17’ features a modified V-hull with an 11-degree deadrise at transom. There’s no hull slap, and rolled gunnels knock down spray for an exceptionally dry ride. They are built for light weight to run shallow, yet they are solid and durable to stand up to long years of heavy use.

Going back to the mid-1990s, Mitzi Skiff has led the industry with no-nonsense flats boats for skinny-water anglers.

In the very beginning, Tom Mitzlaff’s intent was to design the boat he needed to fly fish the flats. He couldn’t find an affordable boat on the market with the shallow draft, clean layout and quiet maneuverability he needed, so he designed and built the original 15-foot Mitzi Skiff.

That boat revolutionized the marketplace. Mitzi Skiff became the brand for skinny-water anglers who value simplicity and functionality. A Mitzi does everything the pricier skiffs do, yet they are affordable enough for any angler to own

and operate.

About 30 years later, Mitzi has expanded to offer 15’, 16’ and 17’ skiffs that all perform the purposes of the original design exceptionally well. Continued innovation has made Mitzi a boat other builders imitate, and they still come at a significantly lower price point than the competition. The 17’ and the 17’ Tournament have become the brand’s hottest sellers.

“The 15’ took the micro-skiff market by storm,” said Brad Grubbs, who owns and manufactures Mitzi Skiffs in North Carolina. “Since then, the brand has sort of evolved toward the 17’, which works just fine as a multi-purpose

From hideaway pushpole holders to flushmount hardware, Mitzi has obviously put some thought into making decks clean and fishable for fly anglers. Large, clean and stable casting decks are something Mitzi has become known for.

“Keep it simple stupid, and if it ain’t broke don’t fix it,” Grubbs quipped. For nearly three decades, Mitzi has built skiffs for anglers more interested in fishing than in spending a lot of money. It’s a philosophy that works.

Mitzi Skiff boats are available exclusively through select dealers. For more on Mitzi Skiffs, go to www.mitziskiffs.com.

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BIG CHANGES COMING FOR SNOOK MANAGEMENT

In a move similar to recent management changes for red sh, e Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is looking at changing the way it manages snook. At its May meeting, FWC proposed creating new management regions for snook to allow better

control over localized di erences in the shery. e proposed rule changes would:

• Establish nine snook management regions.

• Match current Gulf or Atlantic coast regulations within new regions, except for Charlotte Harbor.

- Implement a two- sh vessel limit,

- Include September in the summer season closure.

“ is adaptive, holistic approach to sheries management is the key to conserving our sheries for future generations,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto. “On behalf of the Commission, I want to encourage anglers and anyone interested in the future of snook in Florida to get involved and share your valuable feedback with FWC sta .”

Sta will continue gathering input on the proposed rules ahead of a planned nal rule hearing at the October Commission meeting. Submit public comment on snook regional management by visiting MyFWC.com/ SaltwaterComments.

In other news from the meeting:

• Proposed no- shing zones around three goliath grouper spawning aggregation sites was tabled with no action taken and no plans to resume discussion. e areas that were being considered for 700-foot no- shing zones around wrecks and reefs remain catch-and-release only.

• Management changes were approved for greater amberjack in Atlantic state waters. An April spawning season closure for recreational anglers will be established, the commercial size limit was reduced from 36 to 34 inches, and the import size limit was reduced from 36 to 34 inches statewide. ese changes will go into e ect at a later date.

For more information, go MyFWC.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPT. PATRICK SMITH, SWAMP

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FLORIDA STAR OFFERS MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAN EVER TO WIN

The 2023 CCA Florida STAR competition presented by Yamaha will o er more opportunities to win than ever before. is 100-day, summer-long competition begins Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and invites CCA members, non-members, anglers and non-anglers to take a shot at winning their share of prizes valued at more than $500,000 including boats, motors, electronics, tackle, scholarships and more. e winning begins even before the competition does with the early registration package providing a complimentary ra e ticket to win a Hewes Red sher, a 25 percent discount from TH Marine and free access to the Red sh Mastery course from Salt Strong.

But it’s not just about anglers winning but the shery too. Not only can participants become winners, they become citizen biologists and citizen garbologists by submitting photos of their catch or garbage collected during the competition in the STAR app. In order to win, participants must take their entry photo on the 2023 CCA FL STAR

O cial Measuring device which can be picked up for free a er May 20 in any West Marine store or one of the many other STAR distribution locations throughout Florida.

e competition has a division for everyone, from the non-angler to the experienced angler. It is comprised of 15 divisions targeting 12 inshore and o shore species plus the Costa Kick Plastic Trash Division presented by Papa’s Pilar, which encourages cleanup of trash from Florida’s coastal waters.

STAR’s signature Tagged Red sh Division o ers seven winners, ve adults and two youth, the choice of a Contender Boats 22 Sport, Path nder Boats 2200 TRS, and STAR would like to welcome back Carolina Ski o ering the 162 JLS. STAR has additional new Tagged Red sh sponsors with Dek Kat Boats o ering a 27 Flatz Kat and Sea Doo

and Can-Am o ering a fun package of a Sea Doo FishPro Trophy and the Can-Am Defender. Each boat will be powered by a Yamaha. Be the rst winning tagged red sh angler for your choice of all these packages as your prize.

Once again in 2023, an ALTA SUPER STAR tagged red sh is swimming Florida waters. If it is recaptured, the winner will receive $50,000 cash! For the rst two youth anglers who win in this division, prizes include a tiller boat powered with a Yamaha outboard, a trailer, a Minn Kota trolling motor and Humminbird electronics.

Each coastal county will have, on average, four tagged red sh for a total of over 160 prizewinning sh. e best opportunity to catch one of this year’s tagged red sh will be in Citrus and Charlotte Counties, STAR’s 2023 Destination Counties, which each have eight tagged red sh in their coastal waters.

For the o shore anglers, the Tigress Outriggers and Gear Tagged Dolphin Division o ers one winner a $10,000 cash prize. e rst STAR registrant and CCA Florida member who catches one of the tagged dolphin will win. Twenty dolphin (Mahi Mahi) will be tagged and released for STAR in the Lower Keys.

STAR is a family-friendly competition, and CCA Florida youth members (ages 6 to 17) can participate for free. Kids are encouraged to submit entries in the Youth Scholarship Division presented by Realtree Fishing for an opportunity to win one of twelve scholarships totaling $100,000. To date, the Florida STAR competition has awarded $800,000 in scholarships to youth from all over the state. Another great component of STAR for youth participants is they can earn 30 minutes of community service for every 5-gallon bucket of trash they pick up from Florida’s coastal waters and submit via the STAR app.

Other divisions include the Power Pole

Conservation Division, Bona de Kayak Division and Ladies Division as well as the Yamaha Guides, which allows guides to participate when they are not on a charter for hire. Since most division winners are determined by a random drawing, it is not about catching the biggest sh; any size sh can win. Remember, every sh you catch between Saturday, Memorial Day weekend and Monday, Labor Day, o ers the CCA member who is registered in STAR the opportunity to win their share of nearly $500,000 in prizes and scholarships. But you can’t win If you are not registered.

Not only is the STAR competition a wonderful way for participants to win amazing prizes, it is a tool to gather catch data, it creates awareness for conservation, our sponsors and CCA Florida. Launched in 2015, the competition has set the bar for other shing tournaments to follow by implementing conservation-friendly alternatives such a catch-photo-release format and a trash division.

Florida STAR focuses on conservation with its technology-based, CPR format and dedicated smartphone app which promotes the proper handling of species and allows participants who are members of CCA and registered in the competition to upload photos of their catch or trash buckets in the STAR competition and be rewarded for their e orts. is eliminates the requirement that some traditional tournaments have to harvest or capture and transport sh to win. CCA Florida also provides access to the data collected from the app to other conservation organizations and universities to help educate the public on the importance of protecting Florida’s marine resources and for use in their studies on conservation, habitat and stock assessments.

For more information and to register, visit http://cca orida.org/event/star/.

BACK TO THE BASICS

Ever since I started shing, the basics have stayed the same. If we all tell the truth, none of us started out catching gags and wahoo. It was probably more like bream, bass, cat sh and shad. Granted, we didn’t sh as many lures back then as we do now, but the basics are still the same. Back then, we shed a lot of the four or ve loop sherman’s knots for soaking baits. I no longer use these.

Now, I tell folks if you know how to make ve connections, you can go anywhere in freshwater or salt and sh for almost anything. ese ve connections are:

1) Loop knot

2) Snell

3) Uni knot (includes uni-to-uni knot)

4) Crimps(cable and uoro)

5) Double tackle loop

Granted, there are other helpful knots like the Piere knot, which is a good wind-on for connecting braid to Floro, but I’ll stick to my guns here and say these ve are the ones I use. ere are three of these I can tie in pitch black dark and have tremendous faith they’ll

never fail.

I can hear it now… “Yeah, you forgot this one and you need to know this one.” OK, but the title of the article is “getting back to basics,” and these ve work for everything I need to do. As soon as any of these

meat and potatoes of the freshwater, inshore and nearshore shing I do. I make connections from braided main lines to smaller uoro leader material with the uni-to-uni. e loop knot works best on most lures. e loop knot gives any lure the freedom it needs to swing or change directions freely.

e snell has a place for freshwater, inshore, nearshore and o shore. is is simply because I feel the snell is a requirement for all circle hooks, in my humble opinion.

e crimps make for ease of heavy-duty connections from uoro leaders to swivels and then to braided main lines. e crimps also make heavy-duty cable connection to stinger hooks and to arti cial lures.

ve starts failing on me, I’ll consider something else, but between now and then, these work for everything from bream to bill sh. e loop knot and uni knot make up the

I’ve got some videos on my website on how to tie and utilize these ve connections. Some of these videos have some age on them, and I have received some request to make new ones with better lighting, backgrounds, etc. I may very well update them in the near future. However, all these videos show the knots in pretty good closeup detail. Stay in touch with my you tube channel and website for these new videos.

See more from Tim Barefoot at Barefootcatsandtackle.com.

Tim Barefoot

TOP CAPTAINS TEAM UP WITH NFL STARS

The Sport shing Championship held its inaugural event, e Catch, in mid-April and it sprinkled teams of top local captains with well-known NFL players for o shore action out of Miami.

NFL players at the event included stars like Justin Herbert (QB, L.A. Chargers), A.J. Brown (WR, Phi. Eagles), Dalvin Cook (RB, Minn. Vikings), DeAndre Hopkins (WR, Ariz. Cardinals), Chris Jones (DE, K.C. Chiefs), Matthew Judon (OLB, N.E. Patriots), Patrick Surtain II (CB, Den. Broncos) and Quinnen Williams (DT, N.Y. Jets).

e football players were split into groups

By Astrid DeGruchy

to sh with renowned captains aboard powerful sport shers and be challenged in ways they may never have experienced before.

e event was broadcasted live from the Fontainebleau in Miami. Spectators were able to tune in and follow the hook-ups in real-time as NFL superstars got tight, reeling in species like black n tuna, sail sh, yellowtail snappers, bonitas, mahi and more.

rough the tournament, the players learned that catching these sh is no simple task, and that it requires a unique set of skills to hook and successfully reel them in. e experience gave

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them a newfound level of respect for anglers and, for many, sparked a newfound interest in shing. e competition was close, but Team Gypsea, led by Capt. Taylor Sanford and supported by fourtime Pro Bowlers Matthew Judon and Dalvin Cook, claimed the championship trophy. e grand prize winnings consisted of a $100,000 donation to the Coast Guard Foundation.

“It was fascinating to watch elite NFL athletes realize how much e ort it takes to reel in saltwater sh,” said Je Stillwell, president of Salt Life. “ eir willingness to learn about techniques and take a genuine interest in doing things correctly shows why they are top-tier athletes. Plus, there is nothing like seeing someone catch a sh for the rst time!”

SFC’s e Catch had various components, including a pro-am tournament with other NFL legends and athletes. e Awards dinner was incredible, featuring a breathtaking drone light show and a Havana-themed atmosphere.

For more, visit sport shingchampionship.com. Follow Astrid Degruchy’s shing adventures on Instagram @catching_astrid.

Dalvin Cook, Matt Judon and Team Gypsea with a black n caught aboard Rayne Check

(L-R) Patrick Surtain II, Quinnen Williams and angler Jaselyn Berthelot show o their catch.

Jacksonville Marine Charities

In 1980, a small group of local businessmen wanted to organize a fishing tournament, similar to those in which they had participated in other coastal areas. They thought Jacksonville was an ideal location for such an endeavor and plans were made to launch the First Annual Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament, held in July 1981. Since then, the GJKT has become one of the largest events in Jacksonville. Jacksonville Marine Charities, Inc, the 501 c(3) organization behind the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament, evolved through the success of the GJKT and utilizes its proceeds to support marine science research, preservation, and education. Ultimately, our goal remains what it was when we were founded

43 years ago, to deliver to the fishermen and our community a first class Tournament and generate support for local marine charities.

Over the past 43 years, Jacksonville Marine Charities, Inc has donated over $650,000 to the First Coast family. The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish tournament itself, however, remains the Jacksonville Marine Charitis greatest gift to the First Coast community.

JMC is proud to support a variety of marine-focused charitable programs within the community including:

• Host of the ‘Down at the Dock’ Derby in partnership with Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville.

• Safe Harbor Boys Home Spot Tournament

• North Florida Women Veterans Organization

• Jacksonville School of Autism Flounder Pounder Tournament

• Linda Netti Memorial Kayak Challenge Tournament

• Jacksonville University’s Marine Science Research Institute

• Development of Sisters Creek Park as the permanent site of the GJKT

• Support of the MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation

• Support along with the City of Jacksonville offshore & inshore reef programs

• Support of the St. Johns Riverkeeper

• Support of the Florida Lure Anglers Banding for Austin & Clay Roberts Inshore youth tournaments

• Support of the Heroes on the Water.

• Support of the Florida Wildlife Commission.

• As an advocate of coastal conservation along with CCA of Florida.

• Support of Duval County Maritime Management Plan

• Support of Hunger Fight of North Florida

• Wounded Hero’s of America

• Child Cancer Fund

• Child Guidance Center

Chairman of the Board Captain Jim Suber

“ It is all the good things that sport, volunteerism, and charity are supposed to be—all rolled into one event.”

-Senator Jim King

2023 Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament Board of Directors

Jim Suber, Chairman of the Board

Bob Brindle, Vice Chairman

Rita Contos, Treasurer

Inez Higginbotham, Secretary

Mel Hammock, Tournament Chairman

Tom Anderson

Howard Collins

Tom Darga

Carl DiSalvo

Robert Gipson

Fred Holmes

Jeff Lentz

Steve Thompson

Dave Workmann, Jr.

Steve Hould, Attorney of Record

2023 Greater Jacksonville Vice Chair and Committee Chairmen

Tournament Chairman: Mel Hammock

Marketing & Sponsorships: Sherrie Blunk

Vice Chairman Administration: Karla Bennett

Boutique: Elaine Wozny

Volunteers: Karla Bennett

Vice Chairman Administration: Fran Beach

Registration: Marilyn Remm

Banking: Becka Dufault

Vice Chairman Prizes: Caren Hammock

Raffles: Melodee Williams

Kidz Zone: Kathy Suber

Jr Angler Dock Events: Tom Darga

Vice Chairman Technology: Larry Rouse

Tech Support: MaryAnn Rouse

Radio Room: Chuck Hayes

Vice Chairman Site: Elmo Bailey

Signage: Buddy Poe

Liar’s Tent: Barbara Sparks

Site: Jimmy Ford

Exhibitors: Candace Ford

Security & Parking: Gary Callahan

Vice Chairman Water Activities:

Priority Boats: John LaForge & Ron Poland

Weighmaster: Van Evans

Redfish Tournament: Van Evans

Biology: Dr. Daniel McCarthy

Dr. Gerry Pinto

Emeritus, Dr. Quinto White

IT TAKES ONLY ONE SMALL CHANGE TO CATCH MORE FISH.

SO WE ADDED SIX.

WHEN ONLY THE BEST CAN BE TRUSTED

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS IS THE 43RD 121 FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION GREATER JACKSONVILLE KINGFISH TOURNAMENT?!

I invite all of you to compete and build memories in this enduring event. Each season brings a new challenge (or few) into play. However, our long standing goal is to provide a great tournament! In part, we do this by helping to provide access to marine resources and increase education, preservation and research in partnership with our Junior Anglers and Jacksonville University’s Marine Biology Department.

The success of this Tournament allows Jacksonville Marine Charities to support other non-profits throughout the State. Recently, we have been able to help the Child Cancer Fund, the Down Syndrome Association and the Child Guidance Center. You see our support of other charity fishing events in our community too - The Premier Trout, Flounder Pounder, Wounded Heroes on the Water and others.

We enjoy speaking with our Anglers and hearing how much this Tournament means to their families. First memories tend

We are proud to offer over $400K in chances for you to win. The 1st Place boat package is sweet! A 25-T Contender with twin 150hp Yamaha’s, Custom T-Top by Custom Marine and an Ameritrail trailer. Prize payouts go to 20 places each in the large fish and aggregate categories. Register your Lady Angler for even more chances to compete. Remember the Junior Angler 1st prize will be an Ohana 14’ skiff with a 25hp Yamaha and trailer; with awards thru 25 places as well. The Greater Jacksonville Redfish Tournament plays out on Awards Day, July 22nd. Go to our website for all the details: https://kingfishtournament.com/.

Our Awards Day will be about celebrating our Anglers, finding cold beverages under the Liar’s Tent, hot food and fun vendors for you to visit along with Kid Zone activities and a fishing seminar. You can enter in a boatload of drawings for some amazing prizes. Hang around after the award ceremonies for an eye popping fireworks display in partnership with the City of Jacksonville.

to be when they were competing in the Junior Angler Offshore Tournament, others have tremendous pride in their Lady Angler winning it all! Our Grand Champions of the past often share the story when the Big One was safely in the boat and how they celebrated with their family in special ways.

Once again, Thanks to our sponsors, participants and friends for helping to keep this Tournament growing in our community. Good Luck to all and Tightlines, Good Luck to all, Mel Hammock Tournament Chairman 2023

IN LOVING MEMORY - CHUCK DARNER

Reading can impact one’s life in an unexpected direction and so it was with my father. Charles R Darner was born in Zanesville, Ohio where he grew up reading Zane Grey novels. Not the Zane Grey dime store cowboy novels Zane Grey is so famous for but for his other works, Tales of Tahitian Waters and Tales of Swordfish and Tunas. These books sparked a passion in my father which would have him move from Zanesville, Ohio to Miami, Florida to live out his dreams of deep-sea fishing. He remained living his Miami dream until his career relocated to Jacksonville, FL in 1984.

One of his most frequent fishing memories was in the Summer of 1984 shortly after the move to Jacksonville. He loaded his 21 ft Angler and took his family out of Mayport to fish. A summer school of Spanish Mackerel were surrounding the north jetties and we fished them for a few hours by casting jigs. At this time, he thought there was nothing to fishing out of Mayport. This was the last fish we caught for nearly two years until he discovered the Jacksonville Offshore Sports Fishing Club. It was here where he learned to how to fish the waters off of NE Florida. King fishing was exceptionally different from the ballyhoo trolling he was accustomed to in south Florida.

1989 was his first entry into the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament, it was from here that he was hooked. Our first tournament, he took the 21 ft Mako center and fished both rainy days out of the St Maryís inlet. At the time, one could weigh-in three fish per day and fish for either the large fish or aggregate category. Of the 25 places prizes in each category, he finished 26th in aggregate. This led to him joining the SKA or Southern King Fish Tournament trail. He was a member for several years and qualified for SKA Nationals in Biloxi and at Ft. Pierce. During his time on the trail, Chuck and his crew earned a 5th place spot in the Kingbuster, placing 12th at the GJKT on 2 separate occasions and won the single engine division at the Fernandina tournament. However, his proudest win of all was the winning the 2016 Small Boat Division for the GJKT. Chuck retired at the age of 59 Ω. He planned his future adventures well and retired as well as anyone could ever want. He planned to travel around the country and globe. He did not spend his life sleeping and milling about rather, he gave of himself to the fishing community. He was elected in 2 separate occasions for President of the JOSFC for two-year terms as well as serving on their board of directors. Even after he finished with serving with the JOSFC, he began a part of the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament. He was working with several of his fishing peers whom he idealized for their

accomplishments: Rodger Walker, Rick Ryles, Bob Gibson, Jim Suber, and Steve Thompson to name a few. While at the GJKT, Chuck found his niche with marketing and sales just has he did in his professional career. If you have a marine oriented business, you likely meet him as he sold advertisements for the GJKT program. In 2014, he became the GJKTís tournament chairman and a fixture on the board of directors until his passing. Chuck fished the tournament till his end. His last tournament was in 2022 where he fished the beach in hopes... as well all do. He competed in thirty-two Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournaments and loved each and every one of them.

He had other accomplishments which have gone unspoken as he did not seek public recognition. These were fishing stories to tell his friends. Over his lifetime, he rescued and saved eight individuals from a scary and uncertain fate at the hands of the sea. As fishing was such a large part of his life, so was his running. If he wasnít fishing, then he was running. He ran/ raced distances from the 5K t the marathon. He completed so many marathons during his time on the roads. He ran such races as the Orange Bowl, the Disney and Jacksonville marathons.

As a small child, eventually, you will be asked who is your hero? As a small child, I answered Bill Rogers as I wanted to be a renowned marathoner. However, as an adult one has a much keener perspective and years ago, I realized my hero is my father. There is no better man I could ever emulate than him.

Thank you, Dad and Tight Lines Forever, Your son

2023 GENERAL TOURNAMENT PRIZE STRUCTURE $253,500 TOTAL PAYOUTS

1ST PLACE LARGE FISH CONTENDER 25T, Twin 150 Yamaha Outboards, Ameritrail Trailer, Custom T- Top & Electronics box by Custom Marine

LADY ANGLER PRIZES

Sponsored by Logan Diving

Crystal donated by Linda King in honor of Former Senator Jim King Drawing for Lady Angler’s Weigh In

Sponsored by Jonsson Construction $1,500

**MSRP Value

1st PLACE AGGREGATE $12,000 CASH

Sponsored by Custom Tree Surgeons

For every 10 boats over 300, we will add 1 place to Large & 1 place to Aggregate General Tournament TWT’s include Mega Large $250, Large $50, Agg $50, S. Eng Mega Large $200, S. Eng Large $50, Super $500.

BONU$- Additional Cash Prizes for TBD :

Sponsored by North Florida Marine Association, in memory of John Lowe & Pete Lofton

Mystery Weight Kingfish, $1,000 – Sponsored by Gauge Saver

Donate your extra fish & get a ticket for the drawing of 5 $100 bills – Sponsored by Merit Financial

Prize Structure subject to change. Totals i nclude Jr Angler & Redfish prizes

Schedule of Events:

43rd Annual Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament & Festival

July 17 - 22, 2023 Jim King Park & Boat Ramp at Sisters Creek Park

Uncle Nubby’s Kingfish Balls

My Uncle Nubby, who as you may know, pioneered the technique (or at least tried to) of noodlin’ for sheepshead. Needless to say it was a short lived venture, which earned him the nickname “Nubby”. However, when he turned his attention to kingfishing, he came up with some pretty cool recipes. One of which was “kingfish balls”. Which is really ingenious in its simplicity. All you do is make several slits down the side of your kingfish, like you were going to do steaks, only you don’t cut all the way through. Once the slits are made, you

When The Stars Align...

There is an old saying that goes “When the stars align something good will happen”. Well on July 22,2022 the stars aligned! The weather was nice, we had a group of lifelong friends on the boat, and determination! Although not everyone on the boat had always fished together, we had a great group of friends on the boat and we were ready to win!

One week earlier we won the Ancient City Kingfish Challenge in St.Augustine. We knew if there wasn’t a lot of boats on “the

just reach in with your fingers and pop out the top and bottom loin, and they come out in a perfect little ball. Plus it’s the best part of the fish. No blood line to trim, no guts to stay clear of, just simple kingfish balls. Once out they are perfect for a down home fish fry, or if feeling adventurous, drop ‘em in some boiling water seasoned with your favorite seafood boil, for “poor man’s lobster”. Try it sometime, you’ll be glad you did!!

fishing spot” we intended on fishing at then we might have the chance to catch another good fish! When we pulled up to the spot, to our surprise, there wasn’t anyone there and we were quietly excited. However, as the morning went on and the bites were slow more boats rolled in on us. Shortly before 10 a.m the bite turned on and we hooked up to a BIG kingfish! We were pumped to say the least but knowing there was a lot of other good fisherman, we patiently waited on the weigh in. On the way to weigh in our fish we all agreed that we were going to need a fish at least 50 lbs or more in order to have the chance to win the Greater Jax. We got to the scales to see that our fish weighed in at 49.77lbs which clearly was not 50. But it turns out that weight was good enough for the win!

We have fished this tournament for 20 plus years and to finally win, for us, we were on top of the world! The stars truly did align that day and it is a day that we will never forget! Thank you Greater Jax for putting on such a great event.

Sea Snake

-Captain Joe Shugart Team One Time

Down at the Dock Fishing Derby

Jacksonville Marine Charities and The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament are proud to announce our continued partnership with the Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville, Inc. Together we have created an event for their members to participate in-the “Down at The Dock Fishing Derby”. This fishing derby gives individuals the opportunity to experience the excitement of fishing and the chance to enjoy the wonderful outdoor environment that we have in N. Fla. The derby includes lunch, then fishing on the docks at Sisters Creek Park. The GJKT and JMC once again look forward to this event as we continue to serve our community. We support the DSAJ and hope you will too.

The following is a short bio on the DSAJ and some of the services they provide.

The Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville Inc. was established in 1989 as a

management. The DSAJ provides many educational opportunities for families, educators and medical professionals and recently launched an Employment Program which serves those with Down syndrome who are interested in future employment. Monthly socials for each age group are a definite plus for members. It not only offers fun and relationship building but also respite for the caregiver. The DSAJ supports The Arc Village, On-Campus Transition Program at UNF as well as summer camp at North Florida School of Special Education. We are pleased to partner with the GJKT in this event.

To learn more about the DSAJ visit www.dsaj.org or you may contact them @ 904-353-6300 email: sarah.simmons@dsaj.org

non-profit to serve families with individuals who have Down syndrome. Since that time they have grown from meeting at kitchen tables to hosting events and activities on a weekly basis throughout the community. They are committed to helping people with Down syndrome achieve their full potential, while working to create a community that is educated, supportive, and inclusive of individuals with Down syndrome. The DSAJ also serves all ages-from birth through adult. They serve six counties and partner with many agencies that serve families in the way of Speech, Physical and occupational Therapy as well as Computer Tutoring and IEP funding assistance. Outside of services, they offer many programs, including a wellness/fitness program that offers basketball, soccer, dance team and weight

Proud to Support #GJKT

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Jacksonville REDFISH Tournament

Saturday 22, July 2023

Presented by Jacksonville Marine Charities

Sponsored by C & L Landscaping

Jim King Park and Boat Ramp at Sisters Creek

15 Places to be awarded

Largest - Boat Most Spots /Boat & Kayak

1st Place - $2,500 1st Place - $2,500

2nd Place - $1,000 2nd Place - $1,000

3rd Place - $500 3rd Place - $500

4th Place - $300 4th Place - $300

5th Place - $200 5th Place - $200

$75.00 Per Angler, and you qualify for both tournaments!

Kayak Weight

1st Place - $2,500

2nd Place - $500

3rd Place - $250

4th Place - $200

5th Place - $100 WE

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For business inquiries, call our Business Development Manager Johnny at 904 -832-1720

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We specialize in horizontal directional drill, open trench, and auger bore underground utility installation. Our portfolio includes completing projects as prime or sub -contractor, as well as working with project owners through design build initiatives.

T B Landmark Construction, Inc. is proudly sponsoring the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament Junior Anglers. Timothy Beasley has been fishing in the Kingfish Tournament since he was a junior angler himself.

TAKE A KID FISHING!

It’s time once again for the 2023 edition of the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament. And with that comes the annual Junior Angler portion of the tournament. A day dedicated only to the Juniors.

This year the Junior Angler boat tournament will be held on July 23rd…. that’s a Saturday….. the day after the general tournament which will be held on Friday.

The concept of the Junior angler tournament is to get the kids off the couches, away from the video games,

and enjoying a day on the water and wonders of the great outdoors, and especially our magnificent ocean.

Since it’s inception, the Junior angler entry fee has been only $10 for boats that are entered in the general tournament. If you so desire, and are not registered in the general tournament, you can enter your Junior to only fish the Junior angler day for $50.

We generally have upwards of 200 or more juniors fishing with us, as anyone 16 years or younger can fish. Once again, we will be awarding prizes for the top 25 kingfish weighed, with the grand prize package of a boat motor trailer package! Hard to beat that.

So, come on out and be a part of making a special day for your junior angler, and I’m just betting your blessings will be tenfold.

- Chuck Darner

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Junior Angler Offshore Tournament

Wednesday July 19th– Jim King Park and Boat Ramp at Sisters Creek

Presented by TB Landmark Construction, Summit Contracting, Palms Fish Camp, Fish Florida, Atlantic Coast Marine

The Jr. Angler Offshore Tournament, established in 1991, promotes the participation of youthful fishing in a sporting event which encourages conservation of marine life and awareness of the necessity to protect our natural resources.

25 PRIZE PLACES!! First place, largest fish will be a custom boat, 25 HP Yamaha motor and Magic Tilt trailer. All juniors who weigh a fish (excluding First Place winner), will be entered in a random drawing for a $500 Cruises & Tours gift Certificate (Must be present to win. Drawing to be held Saturday on ‘Awards Day’).

The GJKT, in association with Fish Florida and Sponsored by Salt Life Food Shack are continuing the Junior Angler seminar program in 2023. The seminar will be held on Saturday of Tournament Week.

The seminar is approximately 45 minutes in length. The first 100 Junior Anglers participating in the seminar will receive a complimentary rod and reel, courtesy of Fish Florida.

JU N IOR ANGLER KINGFISH TOURNAMENT

Jr. Angler Captain’s Meeting: Tues da y, July 1 8 , 6:30PM

Jr. Angler Offshore Tournament: Wednesday July 19th 7:30 – 3:30

Jr. Angler Awards Ceremony: Saturda y, July 2 2 , 6:00 PM

REGISTR ATION:

Re gistration Fee $10.00 / $50 per child, without a GT entry! Registration ends at 6:30 PM on July 18 th

Kids Dock Fishing Tournament

Wednesday, July 19th from 9:30 am. to 11:30 a.m.

Located right at Sisters Creek Marina, on our 14’ wide floating docks and pier

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION:

• Registration fee is $ 10 per child. A parent or guardian must register each child.

• Registration form must be received at the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament registration area no later than 18 July 2023

• The winner will be determined by measuring the total length of all fish caught. All fish will be measured nose to a pinched tail.

• All participants are required to provide their own equipment and bait.

• The Fishing Tournament will run from 9:30am to 11:30am July 19, 2023

• Hot dog lunch immediately following the Tournament.

TOURNAMENT RULES:

• FWCC Catch and Release rules apply. All fish caught will be eligible for weigh in with the exception of stingrays and invertebrates such as crabs & jellyfish. In case of a tie the earliest recorded measurement time will be declared the winner.

• Only one rod per angler will be allowed.

• Participants must be 15 years or younger as of Kids Dock Tournament date.

• Only one parent or adult guardian will be allowed to accompany a child on the dock.

• The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament recommends that ALL children wear unapproved personal flotation device while on the dock.

• Shoes or sandals must be worn at all times while on the dock.

• Wrist bands will be provided to all registered participants and must be worn to gain access to the dock.

• Due to the size of the dock the tournament is limited to 100 participants.

THE SANDOLLAR RESTAURANT IS PROUD TO HELP SPONSOR

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LEARN boating skills

ENGAGE with boating friends

CONNECT with the boating community

Learn

America’s Boating Club in Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Sail & Power Squadron (JSPS), is part of the world’s largest recreational boating organization. For more than 60 years, we have worked to make the waters around Jacksonville a safer place through boating education, civic service and fellowship.

Through JSPS, you can improve your boating skills and knowledge with certified instructors. Since we offer a wide range of courses, you have lots of choices. You can take advantage of any course. Need help? We can help you decide where to start. If you are a beginning boater, you might want to start with America's Boating Course (ABC) or Boat Handling. ABC will also fulfil Florida’s requirement for an approved boating course so you can legally operate a boat. Boat Handling goes further, and gives you a fuller understanding of boating knowledge and techniques. If you are interested in getting around on longer trips, then you'll want to take our in -depth Marine Navigation courses. These will help you make way in charted waters like large lakes, bays, and near shore gulf and ocean boating. You may be interested in electronic navigation tools with our Electronic Navigation course. If you want even more, we teach Offshore and Celestial Navigation courses, aimed at offshore long -distance boating.

If you have a boat, or if you are thinking of getting one, you may want one of our operations and maintenance courses: Engine Maintenance, Marine Electrical Systems, or Marine Communication Systems . Want to know more about Weather, Sail boating, or Cruise Planning? We have those, too.

If you have a boat and want to make sure it is US Coast Guard compliant, contact us and schedule a free vessel safety inspection.

If you just want to get involved with an organization that serves its community and has a great time together doing it, consider JSPS. We support many events in the area including the Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament, the Mug Race, Poker Run, and the annual Blessing of the Fleet. By joining America’s premier boating organization, you can have fun with other boaters on the water and on land!

GREATER JACKSONVILLE KINGFISH TOURNAMENT SPONSORS

Give thanks and support to the companies that help support the 43rd annual Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament.

TITLE SPONSOR PRESENTING SPONSORS

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER LEVEL SPONSORS:

ABYSS BATTERY

AMERITRAIL

ANCIENT CITY CONTRACTING

ATLANTIC COAST MARINE

BAE

DANDEE FOODS

FARM BUREAU INSURANCE

FISHBITES

FOUNDATION BUILDING MATERIALS

GAUGE SAVER

JAX COASTAL CONSULTING

JONSSON CONSTRUCTION

LAT 30 COATINGS

MERIT FINANCIAL

MOUSA’S AUTO & MARINE INTERIORS

NOONEY ROBERTS HEWETT & NOWICKI

NORTH FLORIDA MARINE ASSOCIATION

NORTH FLORIDA SALES

SANDOLLAR RESTAURANT

TECNICO CORP

BRONZE LEVEL SPONSORS:

ALL OUT RODS

BLOSSMAN GAS

CHAMPION CYCLING

CRUISES & TOURS

FOLSOM CORP/MAXEL

GEMLUX

JACKSONVILLE OFFSHORE

MATTRESS FIT

AT&T PIONEERS

REEL THIRSTY ICE

RIDENOW POWERSPORTS

RIVER CITY SCREENS

SAFE HARBOR SEAFOOD

SALT LIFE FOOD SHACK

SUNCHILL

THERMO KING & TRAILER LEASING

TOW BOAT US

TROLLING MOTOR SERVICES

WEST MARINE

FRIENDS OF THE TOURNAMENT:

ANTIQUE & MODERN CABINETS

BIG BOYS TOYS

CCA

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GREATER JAX YOUTH ATHLETIC COUNCIL

HANSEN YACHTS

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LANA’S SKIN REJUVENATION

L’OREAL DERM

MURPHY COMMUNICATIONS

NORTHERN TOOL

OCEAN-TAMER

PEPSICO

SEATOW

ST JOHNS BAR PILOT

ST JOHNS BOAT COMPANY/MARINE GROUP

TURNER ACE HARDWARE

UNITED RENTAL

XTREME WINGS

PAUL FERBER

SEA TOW

TROLLING MOTOR SERVICE

UNITED RENTALS

THE FRIENDSHIPS AREN’T THE ONLY THINGS BUILT TO LAST.

Your time on the water is precious. You return, season after season to make unforgettable memories, fight a few fish, reconnect with friends and re-center yourself. If you count on having this time, you need an outboard you can count on to power it. That’s why boaters choose Yamaha for the long run. For life. Because reliability starts here.

TIDE CHART - June

Fishing Report & Forecast St. Augustine Inshore

By Capt. Tommy Derringer

Schools out for summer… So get to the beach! This time of year, the pogy pods start to show up along the beaches and some really big fish will also be showing up to give chase to those giant pods of baitfish. Locate the pods from a few hundred yards off the beach out to about 50 feet of water. Look for crashing on the surface, as there will be predatory fish in hot pursuit of the baitfish pushing them to the surface. Sharks, cobia, bull reds, spanish and king macs, giant jacks, bluefish, and one of my favorites the silver king, a.k.a. tarpon, will be crashing the pogy pods in an exciting free-for-all that you have to see to believe. My favorite way to fish the pods is to rig a live pogy on a medium to large circle hook (5/010/0). Use about 5 feet of 40-60lb fluorocarbon leader then add a split shot or two a few feet above the hook. This will keep your pogy slightly under the pod and make for an easy meal for lurking predators. Bring some heavy tackle because you never know what may lie underneath. Inshore, some of the best redfish and trout catches will come at

daybreak and at sunset. A top-water plug, like the Berkley J-Walker, will be the lure of choice at these times when worked around mullet schools. If the fish seem to be short striking try to vary your retrieval rate. Sometimes they like it fast and sometimes a little slower. If they just don’t seem to want to inhale the top-water, switch to a sub-surface plug like the Berkley Cutter or Juke. Those lures perfectly imitate a wounded mullet or small pogy and will stay just under the surface (24ft) when worked correctly. It can be just the right look for those fish that seem to be “sniffing” your top-waters. During the heat of the day switch up your presentation. Again, locate the mullet schools and jig a little deeper with a Saltwater Assassin paddle tail paired with a 1/81/4oz jighead. A live mud minnow or shrimp on a jighead will also be a great all-around setup for our summertime fish (trout, jacks, ladyfish, flounder, and reds, just to name a few). These will all be hiding around the schools of mullet and pogys waiting for one of the baitfish, or better yet your presentation, to get out of line for an easy snack.

With the water turning towards that summer “yoohoo” color a gold spoon tossed along grass edges and oyster bars during the higher tide stages is sure to get the attention of a few reds and flounder. Another option for our murky summer water is a lure that has gained a huge amount of popularity with pro tournament anglers and many hardcore inshore fishermen, the spinnerbait. Sometimes spoons and spinners will have just enough vibration to call out those hard to find fish! Tight Lines!

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CCA Florida and NEFAR Donate $27000 for new Oyster Bar Habitat Project - “Clean

CCA Florida and the Northeast Florida Association of REALTORS (NEFAR) partnered with the University of North Florida Coastal and Marine Biology program to develop an experimental “Living Shoreline - Oyster Reef” project in northeast Florida. CCA Florida donated $10,000 and NEFAR donated $17,568 to this project designed to rebuild historic oyster populations, provide and increase habitat for oyster spat, reduce wave energy and shoreline

Up Florida Waters” July 8, 2023

erosion, improve water quality and increase local opportunities for fishing. This project was able to be completed by the participation and donations from our local Clean Up Florida Waters initiative. Every year REALTORS from around the state join forces to remove trash and debris from Florida waterways. This year our Northeast Florida event will be held July 8, 2023. We will have over 10 sites around our area that need your help. The goal is to get out and clean up local boat ramps, retention ponds, barrier islands in the St. Johns and local beaches. We ask the community to join us for a fun, FREE event centered around conservation and improving the quality of our waterways. Our goal is to remove 10 tons of trash in one day locally, and 50 tons statewide in the month of July. See EventBrite. com for locations and registration. Search “Clean Up Florida Waters”. For more information, please reach out to Mark Feagle by text or Facebook. Tight Lines! Mark

Feagle CCA NEFL Chapter President and REALTOR

904.607.1139

Fishing Report & Forecast Nassau Sound

By Capt. Tony Bozzella

My recommendations are fish early or the in the evenings.Plan your tides so you can fish accordingly to the species you are after. If you are fishing Redfish in the backcountry, and want a shot at a backing fish, I would be out early on a low tide, once the wind and sun are up, your chances diminish. Standard jig and bait combos, weedless soft plastics, and bucktail jigs are all great choices. If the water is high work topwaters, poping corks / shrimp or spoons and spinners in and along the grasslines and over structure/ shell bars. All these methods are affective, but, time of the day is important. The river and Intercoastal waterway will give up their fair share of fish. Again, get out early with topwaters, diving plugs or jigs. Float rigs and bait combos will take their share as well. Focus on points, structure, and shell bars.

Any of these type areas with moving water, bait and especially next to deeper water is a potential hot spot. My clients have produced some nice trophy trout & other great species!!  Stay confident and attentive & pay attention reading the water,  tide direction, looking at birds behavior, height of tides, it all plays a part. Plenty of other species will be lurking these areas also. Ladyfish, jacks and blues will continue to keep a bend in fisherman rods. All of these species are not picky when it comes to lures or bait, they are fun to catch and will put up a great fight. Also an awesome time to get out and introduce our youngest anglers to fishing. The wait is not long when they are there!! A bobber and a piece of 20lb leader and a shrimp. It is a fun time! Dock light fishing will  be on the rise as water temps continue to heat up. All species mentioned can be caught. A free lined live shrimp is a sure way to get a hook up. However, a DOA shrimp, can be very effective. The Flounder bite is continuing to pick up with average size fish hitting jigs with finger mullet, shrimp, and mud minnow combo’s. Standard dock and structure fishing and grass lines with current prove best. As the heat of the sun gets hot and overhead, fish deeper. Many species get a little lethargic and often times will retreat to the deeper cooler water to elude the mid day sun. Get out and enjoy the fishing, there is something going on all the time!! Take advantage!! s.

WHY GRADY?

Fishing Report Pier and Surf

By: Noel Kuhn

TheMay Pompano run was one of the best on record! The good news is there are more coming up from south Florida as you read this! So when you finish reading this issue make plans to go now before the dog days of summer run these Pompano all the way north to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

In June, July and August I start my beach days very early. I get to the beach by 5:30 and have lines in the water no later than 6:00AM. The summer bite is best at day break through about 9:00AM. When the water gets hot the fish move out deeper, go into the inlets or just pack their bags and go north to find that water temperature below 75 degrees. I have also had great success at night on

the full moon. This month it is the first week. Moon rise is right after dark. So if you want to beat the heat give it a try.

Throwing lures at daybreak can be a blast for Trout, Spanish and Redfish. They all come into the shallows to feed on a wide variety of fry and other bait fish. Top waters and suspending crank baits work great in the shallow surf zone. You do not have to cast long distance especially for Seatrout. Thigh deep water is plenty for these fish that cruse the shallows looking for breakfast. Remember to fan cast diagonally to better imitate the bait fish swimming north and south.

If you want to really get your string stretched this is a great month for Blacktips. They have been following the Pompano migration northward. Fresh dead bait works really well. They are not real picky so Whiting, Jacks, Ladyfish of even catfish will do just find. You do not need a huge bait either. Just a piece about the size of a cell phone. A heavy duty surf rod with a reel that will hold at least 250 yards of 30lb test. Remember to set your drag light when you put it in the sand spike. There has been many a angler watch their combo disappear into the waves because the drag was to tight.

The photo is of my friend Mark Burford owner of FSA and OTB surf rods. Recently he doubled up on Spotted Seatrout!

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

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Fishing Report & Forecast Fernandina / Amelia Island

By Terry D. Lacoss

Saltwaterfishermen will be targeting high speed kingfish during the month of June along the beaches, inlets, and offshore fish havens during the month of June. Many both seasoned and beginning saltwater fishermen will also be preparing for the “43rd Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament”. Which at one time drew over one thousand seasoned kingfish teams!

Schooling size king mackerel will be holding at offshore fish havens from eight to fifteen miles offshore of the St. Mary’s inlet. Here, the big attraction includes large schools of Spanish sardines and cigar minnows.

Some of Amelia Island’s very best offshore king mackerel waters are located at FA and HH fish havens. Both are marked on the local offshore fishing chart.

June is also an excellent month when targeting king mackerel along the beaches and at both inlets of Amelia Island, the St. Mary’s, and Nassau Sound. Once again live bait trolling is key for “Smoker” size kingfish that could tip your fishing scales to fifty-pounds!

Two fifty-pound kingfish were caught while live bait trolling at the St. Mary’s inlet by Steve Pickett’s 4/0 fishing team and Joe Bruce’s “Angling Pursuits” fishing team.

Beach and inlet fishermen will be live baiting with menhaden that are cast netted along the beaches of both Cumberland and Amelia Island. Other popular live baits include mullet, bluefish, ladyfish, blue runners, and goggle-eyes.

Tides are also key when king fishing along the beaches and inlets of Amelia Island with the last few hours of the in-coming tide offering some of the best kingfish action.

During the month of June tarpon, cobia, and shark will also be holding at both of Amelia Island’s inlets and along the beaches as well. Fishing dead on the bottom with live, or chunks of fish will harbor excellent action for tarpon, shark, redfish, and cobia.

Local working shrimp boats are a big attraction for shark fishermen! When a shrimp boat hauls in their nets and discards their bi-catch overboard, literally hundreds of sharks will be attracted to the easy meal. Be sure and keep clear of the shrimp boat nets and down current of the floating chum slick. Simply net some of the larger fish discarded by the shrimp boat, barb to a large 8/0 circle hook, rigged with a strong wire leader and hang on!

Bottom fishing for gag grouper, sheepshead, flounder, black sea bass, and red snapper when a season is announced will also be excellent during the month of June. Be sure and check with www.myfwc.com for local fishing regulations, particularly with red snapper.

Inshore fishing for redfish, flounder, seatrout, black drum, shark, and more is excellent during the month of June as well. Some of the best action comes during the last few hours of the flood tide while casting a 52-M Mirror lure in the red and white color pattern for seatrout and redfish. Particularly where large schools of mullet are holding on a large bay with a shell bottom, and during all the in-coming tide.

Barbing a live shrimp, or bullhead minnow to a ¼ ounce led head jig and retrieving along the bottom close to oysterbars, creek mouths, boat docks, or shell flats will produce excellent action for flounder, redfish, and puppy drum.

Beach fishing is tops during an early morning in-coming tide while fishing with sand fleas, or ultra fresh local shrimp. Pompano are plentiful along with whiting, blues, flounder, puppy drum, and red drum.

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

Mackerel fishermen will begin their morning of offshore king fishing by jigging up a live well full of live minnows with sabiki bait catchers. Next, live minnows are slow-trolled both on the surface and down deep with the aid of downriggers. Many of the offshore king mackerel are caught while deep live bait trolling with downriggers by adjusting the depth of the downrigger live baits as to where kingfish are marked with their boat’s electronics.

During mid-day when the sun is high and seas typically become flat as a pancake, offshore king mackerel will often feed right on the surface as bait fish schools also move to the surface as well. Some of the largest offshore king mackerel are caught during the early afternoon hours.

Let’s grow with Florida together.

Confessions of a Fishaholic, by Thatch Maguire, is a hilarious and irreverent look at one man’s quest to catch fish in spite of life’s annoying interferences. You’ll travel with this awkward adventurer as he risks home and health to pursue his passion for fishing...regardless of the consequences. Anglers of all expertise levels will immediately identify with why his addiction is incurable. This book defines the blurred line between passion and obsession.

20 Sacks Weighed Heavier than 30 Pounds at One Tourney

Catch a 30-pound ve- sh sack of bass, and you’re pretty much a lock to win whatever tournament you’re shing, right?

Imagine that glorious moment when you’ve been culling 5-pounders and pull into the docks to unload your livewell. With a grin on your face, you haul that huge bag of sh up to the scales…only to nd out your 30-pound sack barely put you in the top 20! at was the reality at a May 6 Roland Martin Marine Center Bass Series event on Lake Okeechobee. e shing was so good that anglers weighed 20 ve-bass limits that were heavier than 30 pounds. It took 36.82 pounds to win. We’re not sure who keeps track of such things, but that’s more 30-pound sacks in one tournament than we’ve ever heard of.

A father-son team of Preston and 11-year-old Tavyn Heisler won the 177-team tournament and a $6,500 big check.

“It was an amazing day,” Preston told a RMMCBS reporter a er the tournament. “I’m still shaking and I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

Tavyn said he was the net man early in the tournament, but he caught his own 8-pounder late in the day. His favorite lure was a black and blue charterbait.

To read a full report on the event, visit: rolandmartinmarinecenterseries.com.

Maguire’s frst work is a compelling, fast read. His style is like a mix of Hemingway with a sardonic blend of Hunter S. Thompson. I couldn’t put it down...

Ben Martin

Editor in Chief Coastal Angler Magazine

FLORIDA SNAPPER SEASONS ANNOUNCED

Florida’s red snapper season will be 70 days long in 2023 and include both summer and fall dates. In early May, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced what he called the longest combined season since the state took control of red snapper management. e summer season will be 46 days, followed by a 24-day falls snapper season.

“Florida is the Fishing Capital of the World, and the Gulf red snapper season brings anglers from across the country to enjoy our waters,” said Gov. DeSantis. “It is a generational tradition for so many who call Florida home. I am happy that 2023 will be by far the longest combined season since the state assumed management of red snapper.”

e 46-day summer season will begin on June 16 and run through July 31. e 24-day fall season will include all weekends in October and November, Friday–Sunday.

If you plan to sh for red snapper in state or federal waters from a private recreational vessel, even if you are exempt from shing license requirements, you must sign up as a State Reef Fish Angler (annual renewal required). For more information, see GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.

UPGRADE YOUR CART

BONEFISH SPAWNING AGGREGATION DISCOVERED OFF THE KEYS

For all science knows about our sheries, there is plenty le to discover. Bone sh & Tarpon Trust scientists recently located a bone sh prespawning aggregation (PSA) in the Florida Keys. e discovery is the rst of its kind in Florida waters and the culmination of a years-long search that utilized acoustic telemetry and the historical knowledge of veteran shing guides.

“ is is a major discovery for the Florida Keys shery,” said BTT President and CEO Jim McDu e. “BTT has previously identi ed PSAs in several other countries, but Florida sites remained elusive—until now. By locating this PSA, our scientists will be able to learn more about where and how bone sh spawn in the Florida Keys, which is information critical to the sustained recovery of the population.”

Over the course of the 2022-2023 bone sh spawning season, which spans from October to April, BTT Florida Keys Initiative Manager Dr. Ross Boucek and his team tracked 67 sh and logged more than 94,000 detections. Many of these detections were in the area where BTT research during the 2021-2022 season and reports from shing guides indicated a likely PSA. Fourteen bone sh detected at the suspected PSA site had been tagged at distant ats, including two sh tagged 55 miles away.

e newly discovered PSA is comprised of approximately 2,000 to 5,000 sh and located three to four miles o shore along a reef. Previously documented PSAs in the Bahamas and Belize are located in nearshore waters.

At the site, BTT scientists also observed bone sh gulping air at the surface. Previous research shows that bone sh engage in this behavior before spawning to ll their swim bladders. At night, the sh dive hundreds of feet and rapidly ascend to the surface. e sudden change in pressure during the ascent makes their swim bladders expand, enabling the bone sh to release eggs and sperm. A er fertilization, hatched larvae dri in ocean currents before settling in shallow sand- or mud-bottom bays, where they develop into juvenile bone sh.

“As a Keys shing guide for 53 years, with a science background, I took bone sh for granted—they were what I shed for every day,” said Capt. Rick Ruo , member of the BTT Board of Directors. “I thought that I knew all about the resource, until the population crashed. I discovered neither I, nor anyone else, knew where or how bone sh spawned—a major gap in our knowledge. BTT has come up with the amazing science to determine the dynamics of bone sh spawning. It has been a great lesson to me that we have located this missing piece of the puzzle. To have a healthy population and management goals, you have to understand all aspects of your resource. I am so proud to be part of the BTT science e ort that has unraveled these bone sh mysteries and will witness their rebound.”

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THE KREH KNOT: BEST LOOP KNOT FOR LURES

Re-Discover Old Florida Waterfront Charm

The

Loop knots leave a small loop of line rather than a knot snug against the hook eye. ey are important to have in your repertoire for shing arti cials because that loop allows a little more movement when you’re working lures like jigs, topwaters and plugs.

e Kreh knot, developed by legendary y sherman Le y Kreh, was originally intended to be used for streamers and bait sh ies. It is also a great choice for conventional anglers throwing any lure that needs a touch of freedom to strut its stu Also known as the non-slip loop knot, it is strong and easy to tie, and it works well with both mono lament and uorocarbon lines.

With the Kreh knot, you give up a bit of strength in comparison to snug Palomar or uni knots, but you’re trading it for lifelike lure action. e

venerable Rapala knot is another great loop knot that might be a little stronger than the Kreh. However, the Kreh is a tad easier to tie, making it our go-to loop knot for lures in freshwater or salt.

For more shing tips and tricks, visit usangler.com.

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ANOTHER GIANT BASS

Timothy Crowley was shing Kenansville Lake with Capt. Morris Campbell on March 23 when he caught this 13.10-pound lunker.

Orange Lake keeps pumping out giant largemouth bass. e latest leader in Florida’s TrophyCatch program is a 14-pound, 1-ounce monster from Orange Lake. Chad Dorland caught the sh on April 23 to claim the top spot in FWC’s big-bass recognition program.

Dorland’s sh is the third 13-plus-pounder to come from the 12,550acre Alachua County lake since February. On Feb. 3, Luke Matthews caught a 13-pound, 8-ounce bass at Orange Lake. Anthony Holland caught a 13-pound, 3-ounce beast at Orange Lake on Feb. 25.

Fish weighing more than 13 pounds are awarded Hall of Fame status in the TrophyCatch program. Five Hall of Fame sh have been caught since TrophyCatch season 11 began on Oct. 1, 2022. ree of the ve were caught at Orange Lake, which has also seen 13 other bass weighing more than 10 pounds submitted to the program in that same time period. ose statistics don’t even include all the other lunkers anglers have likely caught and not entered into the program. It’s safe to say Orange Lake is a big-bass factory at the moment.

e other two 13-plus-pound TrophyCatch entries this year were both caught in March. On March 4, Russell Bauknight caught a 13-pound, 8-ounce hawg at Holden’s Pond, which is just up the road from Orange Lake in the same sprawling system of shallow, vegetation- lled waters southeast of Gainesville. On March 23, Timothy Crowley caught a 13-pound, 10-ounce sh that gave him the top spot in TrophyCatch before Dorland caught his 14-pounder. Crowley’s sh came from Kenansville Reservoir down in Indian River County.

For more information, visit www.trophycatch orida.com.

Hand closes Aug. 6, allowing harvest to begin during the weekend in advance of the Fourth of July holiday.

“Extending the season will increase the economic bene ts from this popular recreational shery to local communities in the region,” said Jessica McCawley, Division of Marine Fisheries Management Director. We will continue these e orts by exploring long-term season options for future years via the formal rulemaking process.”

Between 2017 and 2020, FWC took a pilot approach to establish regionally speci c bay scallop regulations while also maintaining the sustainability of local scallop populations. As part of this e ort, the allowable harvest area for scallops was extended to include Pasco County waters starting in 2018. e Pasco Zone for bay scallop management includes all Florida waters south of the Pasco-Hernando county line and north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse, approximately 0.37 miles south of the Pasco-Pinellas county line.

e daily bag limit in this area is 2 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1 pint of shucked bay scallop meat per person, with no more than a total of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1/2 gallon (4 pints) shucked bay scallop meat per vessel.

For more information, go to MyFWC.com.

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OKUMA CAVALLA OFFSHORE REELS

For anglers looking to conquer the toughest offshore conditions, Okuma’s Cavalla 2-Speed Lever Drag reels are the ultimate weapon of choice. Over the past decade, Okuma has cemented its position as a leader in the saltwater market, starting with the groundbreaking Makaira line of reels. Today, the Cavalla 2-Speed Lever Drag is yet another example of Okuma’s unwavering commitment to providing top-tier, reliable products for saltwater anglers.

With its compact, machined aluminum frame and side plates, the Cavalla is a reel that can withstand the toughest conditions Mother Nature can throw at it. The rigid one-piece frame ensures stability and durability, while the cold-forged, type-II anodized machined aluminum spool adds to the reel’s sleek, rugged design. Whether you’re targeting monster grouper, sailfish, giant snapper or other offshore saltwater species, the Cavalla is the reel you want in your offshore arsenal.

The Cavalla reels feature a battle-proven carbonite drag system with Cal’s drag grease that can put out an impressive 24 to 34 pounds of drag at full. The 17.4 grade stainless steel main and pinion gear, along with the CRC coating process, make this reel virtually corrosion resistant. With four corrosion-resistant stainless-steel bearings and a silent retrieve system, the Cavalla operates

smoothly and efficiently, ensuring that you never miss a catch.

Okuma’s Cavalla

2-speed reels feature a 6.4:1 and 3.8:1 gear ratio on the 5 size reels and a 4.7:1 and 2.1:1 gear ratio on the 12 size, allowing for versatile performance across a range of fishing styles. The 5 and 12 size reels come in both left- and right-hand retrieve and feature an on/off bait clicker. The reel’s compact size and comfortable Ergo Grip handle knob and anodized aluminum handle arm make it easy to handle and use for extended periods of time.

So, why should you choose the Cavalla lever drag reel for your next offshore fishing trip? Here are five reasons:

• Durable Construction: The Cavalla’s machined aluminum frame and side plates, along with its corrosion-resistant components, ensure that this reel can handle the toughest offshore conditions with ease.

• Versatile Performance: With its 2-speed capabilities and variable gear ratios, the Cavalla is a reel that can adapt to a range of fishing styles and conditions.

• Smooth Operation: Thanks to its silent

the Cavalla operates smoothly and efficiently, ensuring that you never miss a catch.

• Strong Drag System: The Cavalla’s carbonite drag system with Cal’s drag grease can put out up to 34 pounds of drag, making it a reel that can handle the biggest and toughest fish in the ocean.

• Comfortable Handling: With its compact size and Ergo Grip handle knob and anodized aluminum handle arm, the Cavalla is a reel that you can use comfortably for extended periods of time, even during the toughest offshore fishing trips.

The Okuma Cavalla 2-Speed Lever Drag reel is an all-around, top-of-the-line reel that every saltwater angler should have in their arsenal.

For distributors and retailers, Okuma Fishing Tackle Corporation will be available to meet at ICAST 2023 in Orlando, Fla. July 11-13 at Exhibit Hall Booths 1202 and 1308.

FISH THE GREATER JACKSONVILLE KINGFISH TOURNAMENT

JULY 17-22

GrandPrizeValuedat$160K!

It’s Kingfish Time! The 43rd annual 121 Financial Credit Union Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament is slated for July 17-22, 2023. For five days, with four tournaments and $400,000 in prizes, the “Grandaddy of all Kingfish Tournaments” will keep the docks buzzing with fun events for everyone from die-hard anglers to casual spectators.

The cornerstone of this historic and thriving event is the general tournament, which launches Friday, July 21 with a boat package valued at $160,000 going to the team that lands the largest kingfish. The grand prize is a sweet 25-T Contender with twin 150hp Yamahas, a custom T-top by Custom Marine and an Ameritrail trailer. The tournament pays through 20 places for largest fish and aggregate, as well as a Lady Angler division that pays to 10 places, totaling nearly $250,000 in cash and prizes.

All the boats and the fish coming into the docks at Jim King Park and Boat Ramp at Sisters Creek Park in Jacksonville creates a festival atmosphere. Traditionally, the tournament draws thousands of spectators who enjoy cold beverages, hot food and vendors at the Liar’s Tent. Awards Day on Saturday, July 22 is all about celebration, with Kids Zone activities, drawings and a fishing seminar, followed by eye-popping fireworks in partnership with the City of Jacksonville.

Also for the kids, there is a Junior Angler Offshore Tournament on Wednesday, July 19, as well as a Junior Angler Dock Tournament. The grand prize in the Junior Angler Offshore Tournament is an Ohana 14’ skiff with a 25hp Yamaha and trailer, and this tournament pays through 25 places.

popular Redfish Tournament fishes on Saturday, July 22, with weigh-ins at 2 p.m. during the Awards Day activities.

Through its history, the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament has been all about putting on a great tournament and helping to provide access to marine resources and promoting education, preservation and research in partnership with its junior anglers and Jacksonville University’s Marine Biology Department. Jacksonville Marine Charities is the operating arm of the event, and it supports non-profits throughout the state. Recently, Child Cancer Fund, the Down Syndrome Association and the Child Guidance Center have benefitted from the organization, which also supports other local charity fishing events like The Premier Trout, Flounder Pounder, Wounded Heroes on the Water and others.

For complete details, go to https://kingfishtournament.com/.

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Images for illustration purposes only and prize may vary from what is shown. Contest runs May 1st through July 31st 2023. Winner till be announced on Facebook July 31st.

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SWIM JIGS AND SPAWNING BLUEGILLS TIPS FROM A PRO

This is the time of year when bass gorge themselves on bluegill. One of the best ways to catch bluegilleaters is with a swim jig.

The swim jig is a versatile bait. It can be used in different colors and actions that drive bass crazy. All the variety can make jig shopping a bit overwhelming. There are thousands of color options, countless styles, different hooks and line-tie variations. When I’m looking for the perfect swim jig, I keep a few things in mind. I only throw two different color combinations, bluegill duplicators— the greens, browns and oranges—and a black and blue. You want a jig with a slender head style with a vertical line tie that will come through the cover you’re fishing. I also like a jig with a stout hook. Throwing a swim jig around heavy cover calls for heavy line, and you don’t want your hook to bend out or break when you hook into a big one.

Selection of jig trailers can also be overwhelming. Guess what? I only throw two different styles of trailers. I usually put a swimbait-style trailer with a boot tail on the back, but occasionally I’ll use a craw trailer with two kicker legs. At the end of the day, you just want something back there kicking

and giving your jig some action, and these two styles are my go-to. I match the color of the trailers to the color of the jig.

The cover to target with a swim jig can be endless. They are great in vegetation as well as around docks, wood, rocky banks and for covering water over expansive flats with wood and grass. You can cover a lot of water with this bait, and typically covering more water leads to more bites. You should throw it anywhere bass are chasing bluegills or where bass are actively feeding. I always keep one tied on and ready.

A retrieve I find myself using a lot is a yo-yo retrieve. Point the rod tip high and vary the retrieval speed by either cranking fast and slow or moving the rod tip. This gives the bait some erratic movements and drives them crazy. I also use a steady retrieve. Depending on the part of the water column you are trying to target, you can reel the bait fast and keep it up high—even on the surface—or slow it down and creep it deeper, maybe to keep it around some submerged cover.

Swim Jig Gear

Fishing cover requires heavier equipment. I fish a heavy action rod with a length between a 7’3” and 7’6”. The 13 Fishing Defy Black 7’5H is a super affordable rod and is awesome for the job. Pair the rod up with a fast reel like the 13 Fishing Concept A 7:5 spooled up with 50-pound Seaguar Smackdown braid, and you are ready to put some fish in the boat.

Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.

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ORANGE BEACH BOAT LANDS

MASSIVE BLUEFIN

In early May, a 600-plus-pound bluefin tuna was brought to the docks at Alabama’s Orange Beach Marina. It was not a world or state record, but it was a giant fish and a first for Capt. Johnny Greene who has been a charter captain for the last 33 years.

According to the story written by David Rainer for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), Greene and his crew aboard the Intimidator were hosting a group of anglers from Georgia on a three-day trip deep into the Gulf of Mexico. Greene said he has encountered big bluefins before in the April and May timeframe, when they arrive in the Gulf to spawn, but he’s never managed to put one in the boat or even “slow one down.”

“Last year we hooked one about noon and fought that fish four or five hours. We had 10 people on that charter, and they ended up changing the rod between anglers probably 20 or 25 times,” he told ADCNR. “We ended up breaking a rod after fighting him that long. We were so close, so that one was really a heartbreaker.”

This recent trip did not end in heartbreak. After hooking the fish, the Intimidator chased it for about 2 miles before getting to within 100

feet of the leader. Then the fish dove deep. They managed to stop the dive with a Shimano 50-wide and a stand-up harness, and after battling it for about four hours they could tell the fish had died. They began the laborious process of winching it up on 80-pound-test mono.

“When you have to pull a 600-pound animal up, it’s not the easiest thing to do,” he told ADCNR. “It requires communication between the angler, everybody in the cockpit and the wheelhouse. It’s basically a momentum game. You’ve got to get the fish coming up, and you have to keep him coming. If you take a break, the fish is going to start sinking again. It’s tricky.”

The celebration began when they finally brought the giant fish to the surface and tethered it with a tail rope. They used a come-along to hoist it into the boat.

Knowing their fish was not a record, the crew went ahead and gutted it and iced it down to preserve the meat during the ride home. It weighed 579 pounds gutted, with an estimated total weight of 625 pounds. The Alabama state record, caught in 2006, weighed 829 pounds.

To read David Rainer’s entire account of the catch, go to www.outdooralabama.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF INTIMIDATOR

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

believe the popping cork found its beginnings in the 1930s, and it’s still a mainstay in most saltwater anglers’ tackle boxes. Many versions have been introduced along the way and undoubtedly more will come. One thing is for certain, if they didn’t work, they would not have lasted for nearly a century. In Texas, a popping cork typically finds itself dragging a live shrimp, but there are other options. What makes the popping cork stand out is the cupped top, which creates a popping sound and splashes water forward when twitched. It simulates a fish feeding on the surface.

I was once no different than the masses tossing live shrimp under a cork, but in the early 2000s— when I had already turned my focus to exclusively lure fishing—I found another place for the simple but effective popping cork.

At that time, our famous Baffin Bay was plagued with brown tide, an algae bloom that turns the water, well, brown. The water had nearly zero visibility, which made fishing soft plastics difficult at best. Looking back, I wish I had already invented my Knockin Tail Lures with the built in tail rattle, but better late than never. At the time, I started using lures under a cork instead of live shrimp. I realized a noticeable increase in the number of fish I was able to catch. Depending on the circumstances, I would use a jighead, a weighted weedless hook or an unweighted hook about 24 inches under my cork. Although I heard

a lot of grief from my buddies who would not touch a popping cork, it worked and I continued to out fish them on most trips. I stayed with this technique in Baffin until the brown tide cleared.

A lure under a cork is also a great way to introduce kids to lure fishing. Paddletails, twitch baits and artificial shrimp all work well with this strategy. The method takes a lot of the hand coordination out of the picture for children and lets them realize that you don’t need live bait to catch fish.

Another of the many options this cork gives the angler is a way to effectively fish jetties. At times, trout will suspend 8 to 10 feet deep off the rocks. In this situation, the popping cork’s sound creating ability is still important, but it needs to be modified. Casting a cork with 10 feet of leader to get your lure down to the fish creates a challenge. This is where the slip cork method comes into play. With a slip cork, you can cast a 2- or 3-foot leader or less, but the cork will have a rubber stop that allows your bait to sink to the desired depth where the bite is. Look up slip cork for more on this method.

The weather is warm, don’t forget to take a kid fishing!

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®

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FAT COLORADO LAKER OUTWEIGHS WORLD RECORD

If this potbellied 73.29-pound lake trout isn’t a new world record, it should be.

Scott Enloe and his son Hunter were fishing an undisclosed Colorado lake in early May when Scott hooked into the 47-inch-long monster on a 6-inch tube jig and 10-pound test. According to Free Range American, it took 13 tense minutes to fight the huge laker boat-side, and both men had to haul it over the side because their net was too small to land the fish.

The fish was full of eggs and had an incredible girth of 37 inches. After some photos and measurements, they released it to go lay those eggs and spread the genetics for obesity.

The IGFA all-tackle world record for lake trout weighed 72 pounds, even. It was caught in 1995 by Lloyd Bull at Great Bear Lake in Canada. With the strict procedures required by IGFA for record consideration, it is unlikely Enloe’s fish will break the all-tackle world record, but there is a chance the organization will consider it for a world length record.

The current Colorado state record weighed 50.35 pounds. It was caught by Donald Walker in 2007. We’re not sure about Colorado’s record submission requirements, but most states require a weight taken on certified scales.

Regardless, it is the fish of a lifetime for Enloe, and if it doesn’t qualify for a record… it should.

To read the full report from Free Range American, go to https:// freerangeamerican.us/world-record-lake-trout-enloe/

NORTH CAROLINIAN SMASHES U.S. SURF CASTING RECORD

There’s no doubt these guys can get it out past the breakers. The Carolina Surf Casters Association gets together four times a year to hold distance-casting competitions. In an April contest, North Carolina’s Ryan Lambert set a record for the longest fishing cast in U.S. history. He launched a massive 889-foot, 4-inch cast.

Lambert is a frequent competitor in the sport of surf casting, known in Europe as long distance casting of sea weights, in which participants gather on a large marked field with surf fishing tackle to see who can cast different sizes of large sinkers (3.5 to 8 ounces) the farthest.

Though the sport originated in the U.S., reportedly as far back as the 1890s, it has become more popular in Europe and South America in recent decades. Only three surf casting clubs exist in the U.S. today. They are SurfCast USA (SCUSA), based in Maryland, Surf Fishing & Casting Club International (SFCCI), on Texas’ Gulf Coast, and Carolina Surf Casters Association (CSCA), in eastern North Carolina.

Lambert is the vice president/secretary of the CSCA – a more than 10-year-old organization with members from North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland and Texas. The club organizes four competitions per year in spring and fall. These events are open to surf casters of all skill levels.

Lambert, a sales representative for a large agricultural supplier, lives in Angier, N.C., with his wife Blair and their two daughters. He’s an experienced saltwater fisherman who, like most competitive casters, originally developed long-distance casting skills to improve catch rate from piers and the beach. He learned those skills under the tutelage of fellow North Carolinian and long-time U.S. surf casting champion Tommy Farmer.

Tapping into his athleticism from playing baseball for N.C. State University, Lambert is able to generate huge power using a pendulum cast. This highly specialized technique involves swinging the sinker into an orbit around the tip of a long 12- to 14-foot surf rod, and at a precise moment, rotating the body and rod through a large arc, ending with a powerful punch-pull motion with the right and left arms.

“It’s great that one of our own from North Carolina—someone from our club, no less—was able to set this new benchmark,” said Matt Tuers, president of the CSCA. “One of the main objectives of this organization is to grow a community where U.S. casters can develop and start taking back the international records. Casters like Ryan are in a position to do that, as well as inspire the next batch of elite American competitors.”

The current world record longest cast is held by “Big Danny” Moeskops of Belgium with a 940 foot cast made in the early 2000s. The previous U.S. record was held by Will Nash of Texas, with 873 feet.

Check out CSCA at carolinasurfcasters.org.

Popular on the tournament field, but rarely seen on U.S. beaches, the pendulum cast is Ryan Lambert’s preferred casting style for launching heavy sinkers long distances.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HUNTER ENLOE

Watauga River

Home of world class fishing on the beautiful Watauga Lake, rugged Doe River and designated trophy trout stream, Watauga River PLAN

Watauga Lake

Doe River