Coastal Angler Magazine | January 2024 | Northeast Florida Edition by Coastal Angler Magazine

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SEATROUT VOLUME 29 • ISSUE 346

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By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

Tuna Town TO

had only been fishing a few years when I wound up taking a job in Venice, Louisiana. I had gotten the lead on a first mate position through a mutual friend of a captain who I had never met before. When I called the captain, I asked when he needed me. He told me, “yesterday.” So I went to the tackle shop, bought my first pair of slickers, and hit the road. The only thing I knew about Venice was that there was no cell phone service and no women. As I drove down the road south of New Orleans, I began to notice ships on both sides of the road simultaneously. I realized I had better call someone to let them know I was heading to a deadzone in the middle of nowhere, filled with lonely, salty men. I arrived at night and located my captain’s houseboat, where I would be staying. I made the jump across to the boat and opened the door without knocking—as I was instructed to do. A dozen men, drinking beer, went silent as they stared at me. I looked around the room at the welcoming party, and the walls that were lined with shelves of alcohol bottles and a deer head decorated with Mardi Gras beads and bras. They offered me a beer and I declined. After the 14-hour drive, I most definitely wanted a beer, however, this did not seem like the time and place to let my guard down. The captain showed me the boat docked out back, my bunk where I would be staying, and told me what time to set my alarm for the charter the following morning. I had no idea what to expect or what I had gotten myself into, but I quickly fell in love with the fishery and a week-long trip turned into a year and a half. The fishermen there were nothing but respectful and treated me like one of the guys. I had only been fishing for two years at the time and had a lot to learn. I spent evenings teaching myself how to tie snell knots and throw a cast net. When the locals would go out fun fishing and bring back coolers with hundreds of trout, they were more than happy to teach me how to fillet fish. The fishermen didn’t cut me any slack for being a woman, which I was grateful for. I worked just as hard as they did, earned respect, and learned everything I needed to become a competent fisherman. I was openly doubted every step of the way, until I was able to learn and prove myself, which I did. But I was told that if I made it to the fall, there was no way that a woman could handle shrimp-boat season. Shrimp-boat season involves pulling behind shrimp boats and then boarding them by jumping from the bow of your boat onto the tires that hang from the stern of the shrimp boat. Then you promptly scurry up before your bow has a chance to crush your feet. You then shovel bycatch into a bag or basket, get it back to your boat, and hopefully get yourself back on the boat before your crew hooks up to a big tuna and abandons you there for the fight. The goal is to not die, break your ankles or get murdered by the shrimp-boat crew in the process. I did make it to the fall, and I did survive shrimp-boat season, and it was some of my favorite fishing I’ve done, to this day. It wasn’t until I left that the ball-busting ceased and I received positive feedback, when a captain called to tell me I did a really great job and that I’d earned a place and should come back for the following season. I am so grateful Tuna Town was a stop on my journey to where I am now. I am indebted to the fishermen there who helped teach me things the right way, without mercy. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon, with Sweet e’nuf charters out of Marathon, Florida Keys, can be reached at (504) 920-6342. See CaptainQuinlyn.com and @captainquinlyn.

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THROW UMBRELLA RIGS FOR WINTER BASS

When the bass are feeding up on baitfish in the winter, the natural bait ball presentation with multiple baits swimming together drives these bass absolutely crazy. It can make for a very fun day on the water. Setting up your “rig” is not complicated. Depending on how deep you are looking to fish, use 1/8-ounce jig heads for shallow water (10 feet or less) and ¼-ounce jig heads for anything deeper than 10 feet. Pick TYLER WOOLCOTT out some small 3- to 4-inch natural shad colored boot-tail swimbaits to attach to your jig heads and that’s all there is to it. inter can be a tricky time of year to go fishing, The winter months is typically the time when bass to feed up before but I want to tell you about a bait that might help you put some more fish in the boat. In fact, this lure is so good that they spawn. Whether you see it going on or not, they are eating a lot of bait somewhere on your some tournaments don’t allow body of water. You can throw anglers to use them anymore. this rig basically anywhere, I’m talking about the Alabama and if there are fish around, rig, which some people call they will bite it! I throw it the umbrella rig. around grass, rocks, docks, This device made its debut open water, points and on the bass fishing scene in ditches. 2011 and absolutely dominated the tournament fishing scene Gear for a few years before it was When throwing an A-rig, eventually outlawed by most it can get pretty heavy once professional fishing series for you add all the jig heads and basically being an unfair way swimbaits onto it. You’ll want to catch fish. The rig consists to use a big heavy rod with of a baitfish-style head where some strong line. A 13 Fishing you tie your line with multiple Muse Black 7’6” rod paired metal-wire arms that extend with a Concept A 6:8:1 reel is out where you attach jig heads a good fit. Spool this up with with a swimbaits. Most come 20-pound Seaguar Abraz-X standard with five metal arms line and you are good to go! and five jig heads. Good luck out there! Even though the Alabama rig is outlawed by most pro fishing leagues, that doesn’t mean you can’t use it when you are out fun Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. fishing or even fishing smaller tournaments. It is a fish-catching machine! Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.

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JANUARY 2024

NATIONAL 7

A GREAT LAKES FORMULA FOR

By Nick Carter

JUST ONE FISH

obi Pellerito’s goal in a day is just one fish, and with the surge in Great Lakes smallmouth fisheries, there’s a good chance he’ll find what he’s looking for: one giant smallie. “Big smallmouth is my jam,” he said. “It’s not like tournament fishing, where you’re looking for a limit. I’m out there looking for one big fish.” Pellerito theorized that three invasive species are responsible for Great Lakes smallmouth achieving grotesque proportions with weights in the 7- to 8-pound range. European round gobies and rusty crayfish from the Ohio River Basin have become important prey species since their invasion. European Zebra mussels are forage for another smallmouth favorite: perch, and these filter-feeders also create clear water, which is great for visual hunters like bass.

8 NATIONAL

JANUARY 2024

Pellerito bemoaned the destruction these invasives wreak but figures we might as well take advantage. THE FORMULA: The size of the Great Lakes system is incredible. From a home base in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, Pellerito has explored parts of it from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, downstream through lakes Michigan, St. Clair, Huron, Erie and over to the St. Lawrence River. Over this vast expanse, state fisheries reports tell him where the largest smallmouth are. “Once you’ve picked a fishery, there’s no substitute for time on the water,” he said. “Find the most desirable structure in the lake or in the part of the lake you’re fishing.” Smallmouth can be patterned seasonally. From there, Pellerito fishes long days to eliminate water. He looks for big points and transitions in bottom composition. He seeks out subtle structure like boulders or logs on barren flats. Bait presence is important, whether its gobies or crayfish in the rocks, perch in the grass or balls of suspended baitfish. THE FISHING: When he finds an area he likes, Pellerito covers water quickly with a crankbait. He likes a Megabass Deep-X 300, which dives 12 to 15 feet. “Covering water until you find where the fish are is important, then you slow down,” he said. “The biggest fish tend to be a step off from where the rest of them are.” Big smallmouth hold in “wolf packs” of two or three fish, and this can sometimes lead to days of more than “just one fish.” Recently, Pellerito boated an incredible 35-pound, 9-ounce five fish limit. Find one big fish, and it pays to pick that area apart. For this, Pellerito switches to classic drop shots or tubes. A standard tube crawls through the rocks like a goby or a crayfish. With the drop shot, Pellerito fishes a Megabass 3-inch Hazedong, which looks like a goby. It takes light line to draw strikes in clear water. Pellerito uses 15-foot leaders of 5- to 7-pound fluorocarbon with a main line of 8- to 10-pound braid. He’s experienced tremendous success with these tactics. This season, he boated 39 fish heavier than 6 pounds, 19 heavier than 7 pounds and two heavier than 8 pounds. To see more of Cobi Pellerito’s giant fish, see his Instagram @cobi.pellerito.

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CATCH FRENZIED SPANISH MACKEREL

panish mackerel are a year-round target, but this time of year they love following bluefish schools to clean up injured baitfish left behind. During this time, bluefish and mackerel all tend to school together into a feeding frenzy of terror. I definitely wouldn’t want to get my hand in the way of any of those toothy fish. Spanish mackerel are sometimes confused with baby kingfish and cero mackerel, since they can school all together. However, there are a few ways to differentiate these fish, which is important since they all have different regulations. All these mackerel have yellow spots on their sides, but there are a few differences to look for. Cero mackerel have yellow lines along their lateral line that are combined with the yellow spots. King mackerel tend to have smaller spots that are closely grouped along the lateral line. As for the Spanish mackerel, they have large uncontrolled spots. There is simply no rhyme or reason for their pattern. Another way to identify Spanish mackerel is they usually have a wider girth compared to the other mackerel. A large Spanish mackerel is considered to be around 24 inches and over 5 pounds, while kingfish are typically over 20 pounds and ceros tend to be smaller. Spanish mackerel are typically nearshore fish that hang close to shore in order to feed on bait

schools by pushing them into the breakers. In certain locations, you can find Spanish inside the intracoastal. In specific conditions, if the water becomes too warm, mackerel move deeper to find their preferred 70 degrees. Spanish mackerel are found off the Atlantic coast of the United States and in the Gulf of Mexico. They follow a migration pattern of spending the winter off Florida and then move north to North Carolina in early April and all the way up off the coast of New York by June. There are many ways to target Spanish mackerel. Some use live bait such as sardines, baby pilchards and smaller threadfins. A simple freeline with a short wire leader to a live bait hook and one of these smaller baitfish can be deadly. The wire is not absolutely necessary, but mackerel do have extremely sharp teeth. When mackerel are tailing bluefish schools, they are normally frenzied. They’ll slash at everything that comes their way. I like throwing crappie jigs into the frenzy, and I think any kind of small jig will work. A lot of commercial anglers use popping corks with a spoon tied about 4 feet below. The pop gets their attention, and then the shiny fluttering spoon is too much for them to resist.

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By Emily Hanzlik

For larger Spanish mackerel, X-Raps or other diving crankbaits work best since they imitate larger baits. If you’re throwing a lure, don’t use your favorite one. There is a good chance you might lose it. Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 62 IGFA world records in various categories. Find her on social media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.

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FLORIDA 3

By Astrid deGruchy

No Telling What You’ll Catch

ON THE PATCH

atch reef fishing is the epitome of, “You never know what you’re going to catch.” These underwater gems are filled with all sorts of fish, and it makes them fun and exciting places to be an angler. Patch reefs are small coral formations found in the shallower parts of the water. They were named for the patchy appearance when viewed from the surface and form wherever hard bottom exists in 10 to 25 feet of water. The rocky bottom, combined with ledges, coral heads and other growth provides the structure fish love. Many of these areas are well-known here in the Keys, but if you’re up for some exploration you can find less-pressured patch reef especially when the water is clear and visibility is good. Just keep an eye out for rocky or live bottom. These areas are usually not too far from shore, so they’re easy to reach and perfect for angling action. All sorts of fish congregate around these patches. The variety includes mutton snapper, mangrove snapper, yellowtail snapper, lane snapper, hogfish, black grouper, red grouper, gag grouper, porgy, cero mackerel, yellowjack and barracuda. We fish a lighter setup on the patch reefs, and this makes for a blast. Our go-to is a PENN Authority 4500 reel with the PENN Carnage III rod. Live bait like pilchards or shrimp work like a charm. If catching live bait is a problem for you, just stop at a local tackle shop and grab some live shrimp, pinfish, or even some frozen ballyhoo. Keep it simple, and tie on a knocker rig or jig head. Anchoring the boat in the right position to present baits around the reef is an important part of this style of fishing. Dropping bait on the sandy areas near the reef allows you to fish the bottom without getting hung up. Chum can be a good idea, but don’t be so quick to put out the chum as soon as you get lined up. I recommend breaking it out only if the fishing is tough. Chum can attract some of the “trash fish” like blue runners, jacks and sharks. Also, make sure you’re up to date with the rules and regulations. There are so many species you might catch, and some of those species might be out of season. Patch reef fishing is a blast. It’s a mix of stunning views and tons of action. If you want to experience this, the cooler months are the best for this type of fishing. That’s when some better-quality fish move into the shallower reefs.

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SLIP CORKS AREN’T JUST FOR LIVE BAIT

Tim Barefoot

here was time in my life when I was fanatical about live bait, and a lot of the fishing I did was under a sliding cork. Well, that ship has sailed, at least the live bait part. I still fish under a sliding cork, but I now fish artificial lures under the cork for several reasons, only one of which is the evolution of soft plastic baits. Here are a few arguments for fishing artificial: 1) There’s no need to catch and store live bait. 2) My entire tackle box is now small and light enough to fit in a backpack for travel. 3) Soft Plastics are versatile in terms of presentation, and they’re effective. 4) Artificials can be cast farther and more accurately. 5) You can be ready to fish at a moment’s notice anywhere, under almost any conditions. These advantages add up to the sum of my new fishing style under a sliding or popping cork. I cherish my two- or three-hour mini vacations after work, wherever I am while traveling. I travel quite a bit and can bail out of the truck and fish for whatever is there. I’ve grown fond of fishing under and around bridges for several species, and the ease and effectiveness of this style of fishing is easy to love. In addition to fishing just a single lure under a cork—or without a cork in deeper, faster water—I’ve started fishing a tandem tackle. The bottom bait is the jig head for the weight, and the second bait has no weight and just trails out behind the jig. Some days, it’s all bites on the jig; other days, it’s a third or more of the bites on the weightless trailer. This suspended bait and trailer under a cork is not only effective, but it keeps you from staying hung up. Once I figure out how deep the water is, it’s easy to adjust the depth. I typically keep one rod set up for 6 feet deep as a starting point. If I see the cork laying over, it means the jig is sitting on the bottom. I’ll shallow it up a bit to where the jig is just off the bottom and makes a clean drift. If the water is deeper, I’ll adjust it deeper. The end goal is to keep the jig a foot or two off the bottom and allow a natural drift. I like to fish a pair of DOA Shrimp on this tackle in saltwater, and this same tactic is deadly in freshwater with Zoom Flukes or Super Flukes for smallmouth, largemouth and striped bass. The other bait I love for this style of fishing is Gulp! baits. For more detailed videos of the tandem tackle and how to tie it, and the construction of my sliding cork set up, visit my Youtube channel and/or the website. For more from Tim Barefoot, visit barefootcatsandtackle.com.

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

his is such a fun time of year to be on the water! Yes, it can be chilly but on days when the weather is nice the fishing can be fantastic! Cooler air temps mean cooler water temps and the colder it gets the clearer the water will be. A few nights of cold can turn our area into a sight-fishing winter wonderland. I can’t wait! Redfish are starting to school up on the flats and the edges of the ICW… they’ll also be up super shallow in the back of the creeks chasing small shrimps and minnows. My favorite setup to target those redfish is a 3000 size Shimano spinning reel with a 7’6” G Loomis GCX medium fast action rod. I like to use 10lb Power Pro Super Slick with a 20lb floro

leader. With that setup you can cast a mile… and a long cast can make all the difference when sight-fishing allowing you to get your lure well in front of the fish. This is important because with clearer water the fish will become spooky so a soft presentation that lands some distance from the fish will work best. My lure of choice will be a Saltwater Assassin paddle tail rigged on a weighted weedless hook (weight varies depending on conditions). Something in a bright color is nice this time of year because you can see it in the water and more importantly you can see where your lure is compared to where the target fish is sitting. Another very important piece of equipment for this time of year and sight-fishing in general is a good pair of polarized sunglasses. I prefer Bajio Sunglasses with a copper or amber colored lens. You’ll be surprised how much of difference a good lens can make, and Bajio make the best for sight-fishing. The quicker you can spot the fish the easier it is to catch them. Black drum should be a good bet this month in the deeper creek and ICW holes. Fresh dead shrimp or sometimes even better, a fiddler crab fished on the bottom will do the trick. Speaking of fiddler crabs, the sheepshead bite should continue to be good through the next few months. Target area bridges and pilings with fiddlers, oyster crabs, or small shrimp. If you’re feeling a little more sporty look for sheepies on the flats feeding on oyster bars. It seems like sometimes every oyster bar you pass by this time of year will have a few munching away just waiting to be caught. Have a safe and Happy New Year! Capt. Tommy Derringer 904-377-3734 • www.InshoreAdventures.net

2 NORTHEAST FLORIDA

JANUARY 2024

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Then, on Saturday and Sunday at 2pm, Captain Kevin Faver and Captain Kirk Waltz of The Outdoors Show on 1010XL will offer seminar presentations sponsored by Shimano and Strike Zone on fishing tips, tricks, and tactics. Captain Kevin Faver is a fourth generation native Floridian, a resident of St. Augustine who has been a licensed charter Captain since the age of 18. He started hunting and fishing with his father and grandfather at the age of five and learned from one of the best captains around, Captain Mike Scanlan. In the late 90’s, Captain Kevin launched The Outdoors Show with Jeff Lageman and Captain Kirk Waltz, and he still hosts that program along with Fishing Forecast. Captain Kirk Waltz is a U.S. Coast Guard Charter Captain with over 20 years’ experience. His intimate inshore and offshore knowledge of the Jacksonville area’s waters stretching from St. Augustine to Amelia Island makes him a regional go-to for fishing education. 4 NORTHEAST FLORIDA

JANUARY 2024

“Manufacturers often unveil their latest boat models, whether small recreational boats or luxury yachts, at the Jacksonville Boat Show, and we are very excited to offer our community a firsthand look at the newest designs and innovations in marine technology,” said Erin Johnson, North Florida Marine Association Administrative Director. “This event has a special legacy in Jacksonville, and it has been a beloved tradition for the boating community for nearly eight decades.” Jacksonville Boat Show sponsors include VyStar Credit Union, Continental Battery Systems, Strike Zone, Shimano, and AgPro. Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center is located at 1000 Water Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204. Boat Show hours are 11am to 6pm

Friday, January 26; 10am to 6pm Saturday, January 27; and 10am to 4pm Sunday, January 28. Admission is $15 for adults; $5 for children 12 and under; and $12 for seniors, military, and first responders with ID. Parking for the general public is $10.00 per automobile per day. Food is available from vendors and is not included with admission. For more information, visit www.boatjax.com

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Fishing Report Pier and Surf By: Noel Kuhn

anuary is looking better than previous years because of a major weather pattern called El Nino. This pattern will bring Florida a milder wetter winter. This will result in warmer water temperatures in our surf. That equates to good fishing this month as long as the water temp stays at 60 degrees or above. Another good sign is that quality Pompano were still being caught in North Carolina the second week of December. With these cooler water temps, I find that the bite is softer and not as aggressive. So, I down size everything. Starting with the bait nothing longer than one inch. This includes Fishbites, shrimp, clams, sand fleas, crab and cut bait. Hook size matters too, so I drop down from a 2/0 circle hook to a #1. Also no large floats and minimal small beads as attractants. I have recently seen some under water videos of fish biting 6 NORTHEAST FLORIDA

JANUARY 2024

the float instead of the bait. Ever since then, I have been down sizing especially the floats. Keeping track of the water temperature is my key to success this time of year. To view my favorite website for this, just google SST charts Rutgers. The color graph is so easy to read. Just look for the baby blue color. That is where you should start if you want to fill the cooler. Keep in mind that if our water temp drops below 60 degrees, drive south. There is no need to stay in the Jacksonville area and not catch fish when you could drive one hour south and have a blast. One January morning, the water was 58 degrees here. The water temp in Ormond was 64. I got to Ormond 20 minutes before day break. With my headlight, I checked the water and it was crystal clear 10 of 10! Within two hours, I had my limit of Pompano, 20 nice Whiting and a bonus slot Redfish! My mentor, Larry Finch, showed up about 8AM and took over my spot after I limted out. He proceeded to catch FIFTY FIVE more Pompano that morning. Here is the kicker, I was so cold because it drizzled rain all morning and it was FIFTY FIVE degrees. However the water was 64 and clean! Moral of the story, do not fish in water that is too dirty, too weedy and never in water that is too cold! I hope this tip helps everyone catch more fish this winter.

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

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Fishing Report & Forecast Mayport By Capt. Kirk Waltz

he dead of winter has dropped onto the First Coast and most of you reading this are doing it from the comfort of a warm spot. Contrary to popular belief the fishing can be really awesome this month. Look for the cold weather to fire off some great opportunities to catch some nice fish. Try to fish the warm weather high pressure bubbles after a front passes. The big rocks will be holding some good numbers of slots and oversized reds, black drum, sheepshead, ring-tailed porgies, black Margate, and trout. I really prefer the high out going tides for best results. Try shrimp, fiddler crabs, or small pieces of cut blue crabs for the good opportunities. A 7ft Shimano GLF with a Stradic 3000 and some 20lb PowerPro braid works well. Try a 1/4oz to 3/8oz jig or drop a Carolina rig along the edges and remember to fish slowly. The water is cold and these guys aren’t going to crush the bait. Try working the shallow drops first and if this proves unsuccessful go deeper. The little Jetties inshore are another great spot using the same techniques. This spot

tends to be better at low tide so wait for the river to slow and give it a shot. The ICW north and south will be great for fishing the small feeder creeks and the flats.Chicopit Bay, Hannah Mills, Broward, Ft George Inlet are a few that are good spots to check. Reds, trout, and drum can be caught working the last of the falling tides. Again fish slow and be patient. The water is cold and the fish will bite if given the chance. Shrimp, mud minnows, fiddlers and cut blue crab are great bait choices. On high clear water try throwing a Gulp in new penny or white on a slow jerk retrieve. Trout love these and they can produce some good quality fish. A float rig also is a good tackle choice if the fish are deep and allows you the chance to cover a broader range of the water column. The offshore scene should start to produce good numbers of sea bass as the water continues to cool off and pushes the fish into near shore waters. Red snapper will move in close with a few gags thrown in. Work the local party grounds at 6 miles and fan deeper out if this proves to be unproductive. Cut squid, cigar minnows, sardines, and even shrimp will produce well. Remember to always check the regs for what you can keep! Though it’s cold remember you can’t catch them from the couch! For more fishing tips listen to the Outdoorshow radio program on 1010am or 92.5fm every Saturday from 7am to 10am. He can be reached at 904.241.7560 or 904.626.1128 or go to www. enterprisefishingcharters.com

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Fishing Report & Forecast Nassau Sound By Capt. Tony Bozzella

anuary is a month that I mainly focus on backcountry Reds and true Flats fishing. By this time the microorganisms have died off in the water and with less boat traffic, rain and runoff the water tends to get very clean and clear and you can actually see a fish in the shallows. Often times in January, weather has been stable enough with afternoons that are bright and sunny with low wind, making for a perfect time to pole your skiff for a tailing red. Don’t forget to use a 30 inch piece of flora carbon connected to your braid or monofilament. Remember, Flora carbon uses resins that do not refract light and are also abrasion resistant and help protect you from oysters, dock poles, etc. The other advantages it does not refract light, so it gives your Bait the best presentation because it’s hard to see the line hooked up to it in the Clearwater. Connect your leader with a unity Uni nuts, so it’ll pass through the eyes of your rod and you can make a forecast often times. I like to have my boat from the fish I plan to catch so they do not know you were there. If the school knows you’re there, they could get nervous and not tend to eat Very important in the shallow water water to be very stealthy and not make a lot of commotion on the boat as those waves are felt across the flat by the reds. 1/8-1/4 oz TBS jig baited with a shrimp or mudminnow, is a great choice. Cast, 3 to 4 feet in front of the fishes path, keep the slack out of your line so you can feel the take, and set the hook when he eats it!! For the regular fisherman, casting next to oysters in the backcountry, a good rule of thumb is Fish, the last three hours of the outgoing and put that Bait in the rip Current coming around the oyster and dead stick that until you get a pick up. Dead sticking is casting the bat out and leaving it and just keeping in tune with it well it moves with

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the tide waiting for a bite. Many times they’ll be a depression next to those oysters about 2 to 3 foot wide very close to the shells made from the weather. Often, redfish will lay in this slightly deeper water, waiting for a tasty crust or mudminnow to come by in that Current, remember fish face into the Current so don’t cast behind where you think the fish will be pull the bait up through their tails that will result in spooked fish, and no bite, if possible, throw up Current past your target and work the Bait into the fishes face. Many times when you get a bite and they’ll be other fish there as well and it can turn the bite on. If you were there a solid, 15 to 20 minutes with no bite and you are in tune with your bates, I would suggest moving. There will also be many trout around. Most trout this time of year will be smaller in the 13 to 14 inch range, making them illegal to take. But you can get a few legal ones as you fish through the small ones. Remember one over 19 inch per vessel is the rules now. if you are fishing in a hole and catching redfish trout, keep in mind using a shrimp might be a better idea than mudminnow because it will be very very possible to pick up a black drum or sheep head and it is not normal for them to take a mud minnow or mullet. Also flounder could be in the mix with your bag. Also, remember they have to be 14 inches now and you can only keep five fish. Also keep in mind cold temperatures do not shut the bite down however, drastically fluctuating temperature can affect Fishing but most of the time mid day with a high sun, when things are stable wintertime Fishing can be very very good. Next time get out and enjoy the outdoors.!

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

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

ome of Amelia Island’s best offshore bottom fishing is had during the month of January where a variety of hard fighting species are holding on hard bottoms, wrecks, and rock ledges. Black sea bass are willing to take a variety of live and dead baits including cut baits. Deep jigging with four-ounce bucktail jigs tipped with a small piece is a deadly winter bottom fishing tactic. Sea bass must measure at least 13-inches with a five fish bag limit while fishing in federal waters, three miles offshore. Keep an eye for cobia following hooked fish to the surface! Have handy a spinning rod and brightly colored bucktail jig when cobia are present. Cobia must measure at least 36-inches from the tip of the nose to the fork of the tail. There is a one fish bag limit per angler for cobia. Also include triggerfish, red snapper, vermillion snapper, grouper, and more. Be sure and check with NOAA’S recreational fishing regulations at www.fisheries.noaa.gov for current recreational bag limits, size, and bag limits. Most of the offshore fish havens are identified on your sonar, chart recorder including “Whittaker’s Snapper Grounds” which is a vast hard bottom with numerous small rock ledges and out cropping’s. Located some 12-nautical miles from the St. Mary’s inlet. Striped bass fishing in the St. Mary’s River is excellent during the month of January as well. Look for some of the best striped bass fishing here to come under and close to the I-95 Bridge and where a tidal creek is located at a deep turn of the St. Mary’s River. Keep a close watch on your fish finder for both large fish and clouds of baitfish. Winter fishermen will also find excellent striper fishing in some of the many creek mouths that are located just above “Roses Bluff ”. Roses Bluff is easy to identify as it is a high bluff on located on the Southside of the St. Mary’s River and within a five-minute boat ride from the St. Mary’s boat ramp. A long-time successful winter striped bass technique includes fishing dead on the bottom with a chunk of cut mullet where a creek mouth empties into the main river.

Other winter striper fishing tactics include trolling one or more Bomber saltwater “Long-A minnows” in the shad color pattern just under the surface and during a high falling tide. The best locations include feeder creek mouths, deep sides of sandbars, bridge pilings and deep turns in the river. Backwater fishermen will find sea trout schooling during an afternoon in-coming tide when water temperatures are warmest. Drift a large live shrimp in water depths from five to fifteen feet of water close to a wide variety of structures including dock pilings, jetty rocks, and oyster bars. The month of January is also a great time for redfish schooling during the last of the falling tide where boat docks are located close to deep river channels. Fish dead on the bottom with a ¼-ounce led head jig and Berkley Gulp shrimp in the white and chartreuse color pattern. Excellent eating whiting will be schooling from American Beach to the very southern portion of Amelia Island during the month of January. Fish with a double fish finder rig with both hooks barbed with local fresh shrimp. Blues will also be running along the St. Mary’s rock jetties and beaches of Amelia Island as well. Look for diving birds while casting a silver spoon. Freshwater bass fishing in the many small lakes and ponds located on Amelia Island should be excellent as well during warm spells. Cast a ½ ounce Rattle Trap in the Blue/Chartreuse/Green color pattern. Be sure and practice catch and release!

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

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The Ripper Reef

Press Release new artificial reef is currently being planned for deployment off the coast of Jacksonville in the spring of 2024. It will be the largest artificial reef deployed in the Jacksonville area in the last 23 years. Efforts to deploy such a reef are time consuming, costly and often involve partnerships, and this reef is no different. The Coastal Conservation Association Florida (CCA Florida) was contacted by Kistel Media in July 2023 to participate in the deployment. CCA Florida was able to secure $50,000 in funding for the deployment by none other than the world famous LIV golfer Cameron Smith, a Jacksonville resident and avid fisherman. The donation secured the naming rights to the artificial reef, appropriately named “The Ripper Reef ” after Cameron’s LIV golf team name, Ripper GC. The artificial reef will consist of a large rotary crane barge with the crane removed. In its deployment configuration, it is approximately 175-feet long by 60-feet wide by 10 feet high. Once the barge is cleaned and prepped for deployment, it will need to pass a final agency inspection before being towed offshore. The barge will be deployed at a pre-permitted site known as Harm’s Ledge, which is about 28 miles east of the Jacksonville Inlet and 90-100 feet deep. CCA Florida has deployed 45 artificial reefs around the state of Florida in the last 16 years, including the Starship Reef off of Jacksonville on October 20, 2018. That project included the deployment of 1,500 tons of high-quality secondary concrete

materials in 70 feet of water within the boundaries of the Floyds Folly pre-permitted area. The deployment site was just over 20 miles southeast of the mouth of the St. Johns River and just under 20 miles northeast of the mouth of the St. Augustine Inlet. Fish encountered on nearby reefs include Tomtates, Flounder, Snapper, Gag Grouper

and Black Sea Bass. Other observations on nearby reefs indicated encrusting growth including anemones, sponges, tunicates, corals and bivalves. These artificial reefs are providing much needed habitat in this transitional area, increased recreational fishing and diving, and are helping relieve pressure on other natural and artificial reef sites. Artificial reefs create sustainable live-bottom habitat where none currently exists and attract and sustain a wide range of fish, shrimp and crab species for decades. Additional funding is needed to offset the deployment costs for The Ripper Reef. Tax free donations can be made to the Coastal Conservation Association Florida, P.O. Box 568886, Orlando, Florida 32856, or contact Frank Gidus, fgidus@ccaflorida.org for more information.

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

Choices What will the New Year bring? Typically January is Tuna and Wahoo time. I love to troll a cedar plug on a shotgun line far back behind the boat on near the big ledge in 170 ft for some tasty Blacken Tuna. For Wahoo Speed trollers are scoring well on some large fish. Up to over 100lbs. Use the cigar weights some as heavy as 32ozs in front with heavy wire leaders with large skirted trolling lures with double hooks. Look for bait showing on your sonar in 135ft to 160 ft. Grouper are closed for spawning until May and for the past several years Red Snapper is closed. But species available for bottom fishing is good. 2024 hopefully is the sign of things to come. In addition to Vermillion and Sea Bass; Cobia, Amberjack, Red Porgy and Trigger fish are open and available. Anglers will not have to make the 50 mile trip to the shelf edge to enjoy some great fishing. Some of the inshore wrecks from 80 ft to 125 ft will hold some nice Cobia. Just pull up to the wreck and drop some heavy jigs to the bottom and start jigging. One of my favorite is a 6oz blue and white Alien jig. It will not take long of you jigging on a wreck to see if any Cobia are home. And many times when you hook up, several will follow your fish up to the surface. So be ready. The big question is what about Red Snapper? The latest SAFMC assessment has Red Snapper population offshore our coast in the best shape since records have been kept. On a recent tagging trip we tagged dozens and dozens of Red Snapper. If you catch a tagged fish please wright down the tag number and if possible get a length measurement. This information is vital to the next assessment. Discard mortality of released fish was estimated at over 40% on the last assessment. Hopefully these tag returns will show otherwise. Having been involved

in several assessments I know that even a slight change can result in a significant amount of fish being available for anglers. Unfortunately the people in charge of managing our fisheries are not using good science to make decisions and it is depressing to know that our Red Snapper population is in such great shape and not be able to catch and keep a few. Hopefully with accurate science we can get this fishery reopened for more than just a couple of days per year, in the future. On a brighter note Mutton Snapper are also doing pretty darn good in our waters with more and more good catches reported more frequently. The catch limit for Muttons is 5 per person. And good fishermen are catching some limits. So take your pick, run offshore for Tuna and Wahoo. Or stay closer to home, burn a little less fuel, target some bottom fish and load up on some tasty fillets. Either choice is a great one.

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Captain Robert Johnson (904)540-2628 Jodielynncharters.com Jlfishing@bellsouth.net JANUARY 2024

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TIDE CHART - January

Mayport Degaussing Structure 30.3967° N, 81.3950° W Date Day Time Hgt 01 Mon 05:28 AM 0.63 L 02 Tue 12:09 AM 4.09 H 03 Wed 12:53 AM 4.12 H 04 Thu 01:42 AM 4.18 H 05 Fri 02:35 AM 4.28 H 06 Sat 03:32 AM 4.42 H 07 Sun 04:30 AM 4.62 H 08 Mon 05:24 AM 4.87 H 09 Tue 06:17 AM 5.13 H 10 Wed 12:32 AM -0.53 L 11 Thu 01:21 AM -0.86 L 12 Fri 02:10 AM -1.07 L 13 Sat 02:59 AM -1.12 L 14 Sun 03:51 AM -1.01 L 15 Mon 04:45 AM -0.78 L 16 Tue 05:45 AM -0.49 L 17 Wed 12:31 AM 4.96 H 18 Thu 01:30 AM 4.91 H 19 Fri 02:33 AM 4.83 H 20 Sat 03:39 AM 4.79 H 21 Sun 04:43 AM 4.78 H 22 Mon 05:41 AM 4.82 H 23 Tue 06:33 AM 4.86 H 24 Wed 12:50 AM -0.40 L 25 Thu 01:35 AM -0.49 L 26 Fri 02:17 AM -0.50 L 27 Sat 02:57 AM -0.41 L 28 Sun 03:35 AM -0.22 L 29 Mon 04:14 AM 0.02 L 30 Tue 04:54 AM 0.28 L 31 Wed 05:37 AM 0.52 L

Time Hgt 1:43 AM 4.52 H 06:17 AM 0.88 L 07:10 AM 1.05 L 08:05 AM 1.12 L 09:02 AM 1.07 L 09:58 AM 0.91 L 10:53 AM 0.64 L 11:45 AM 0.31 L 12:34 PM -0.06 L 07:07 AM 5.38 H 07:56 AM 5.58 H 08:44 AM 5.69 H 09:33 AM 5.69 H 10:22 AM 5.57 H 11:12 AM 5.33 H 12:04 PM 5.00 H 06:47 AM -0.20 L 07:52 AM 0.04 L 08:57 AM 0.19 L 10:01 AM 0.24 L 11:02 AM 0.20 L 11:58 AM 0.09 L 12:48 PM -0.04 L 07:20 AM 4.89 H 08:03 AM 4.89 H 08:42 AM 4.86 H 09:19 AM 4.78 H 09:56 AM 4.65 H 10:32 AM 4.48 H 11:08 AM 4.28 H 11:46 AM 4.06 H

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

Time Hgt 05:58 PM 0.60 L 12:24 PM 4.31 H 01:09 PM 4.09 H 01:58 PM 3.89 H 02:55 PM 3.75 H 03:54 PM 3.72 H 04:51 PM 3.80 H 05:45 PM 3.97 H 06:35 PM 4.19 H 01:21 PM -0.40 L 02:07 PM -0.67 L 02:54 PM -0.85 L 03:41 PM -0.93 L 04:30 PM -0.89 L 05:21 PM -0.78 L 06:14 PM -0.60 L 12:59 PM 4.62 H 02:00 PM 4.26 H 03:06 PM 3.99 H 04:13 PM 3.86 H 05:15 PM 3.86 H 06:10 PM 3.92 H 06:58 PM 4.01 H 01:32 PM -0.17 L 02:12 PM -0.26 L 02:50 PM -0.27 L 03:26 PM -0.22 L 04:01 PM -0.10 L 04:36 PM 0.07 L 05:10 PM 0.26 L 05:46 PM 0.43 L

Time

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

Hgt

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CHIPOLA SHOAL BASS

hen it comes to warm-water fly fishing, shoal bass are about as fun as it gets. These pugnacious river bass are native to only one river system: The Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin, and their preferred swift-water habitat was years ago reduced to tributaries and stretches between dams in Georgia, Alabama and Florida. While Georgia claims the healthiest native, reproducing populations of the species in the Flint River and in pockets of the Chattahoochee River, the situation is a little more tenuous for Florida’s shoal bass. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), The 95-mile-long Chipola River is the last remaining waterbody in the state with a known naturally reproducing shoal bass population. The species was dealt a massive blow in 2018, when Hurricane Michael ripped over the Panhandle and depleted more than 90 percent of the Chipola’s shoal bass population. FWC stepped in to suspend harvest and possession of shoal bass in the Chipola River and its tributaries. Then they began hatching and releasing genetically pure shoal bass into the river. It appears to be working. Over the last two years, 11,000 fingerling shoal bass have been stocked into the Chipola. In subsequent samplings, DNA analysis showed more than 60 percent of yearling fish sampled came from these stockings.

“The stockings over these past two years have certainly made an impact on the population; shoal bass that were stocked last year are already within the 9-10 inch range,” said FWC biologist Andy Strickland. This is the first time genetically pure shoal bass have been successfully raised in an FWC hatchery, which is a big deal because genetic impurity is one of the largest threats shoal bass face. Across their native range, interbreeding with introduced non-native black bass species like Alabama bass and spotted bass has muddied the gene pool except in small pockets where genetically pure populations are isolated from interlopers. “It is extremely encouraging not only to successfully spawn this species in a hatchery setting but also to document the significant contribution the hatcheryreared fingerlings have made to the existing shoal bass population in the Chipola River to date,” said Bob DeMauro, Hatchery Manager at FWC’s Blackwater Research and Development Center. Biologists will continue to monitor Chipola River shoal bass and evaluate these stocking efforts in years to come. To learn more about a great shoal bass fishery, visit flyfishga.com.

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Cruising Into Adventure: Your Ultimate Guide to the 2024 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show

et ready to set sail into an ocean of excitement at the 2024 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show, where innovation meets Miami’s vibrancy and electric culture. This year promises an experience like no other, and we’ve got the scoop for navigating you through the show’s must-see experiences. Taking place throughout President’s Day weekend, Feb. 14-18, the show has historically welcomed over 100,000 visitors and featured more than a thousand highly sought-after boating and marine products, generating major economic revenue for the recreational boating industry and over a billion dollars to the state of Florida.

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key to unlock all that the show has to offer. Whether you’re eyeing the latest in fishing or charting the course to explore the docks and enjoy over 100 food concessions and satellite bars sprinkled throughout the show, the 2-Day pass is your ticket to an extended celebration. Make sure to stop by the Stella Artois Beer Garden and Goslings Island Bar for a refreshing pause between the vessels up for exhibition. Looking to indulge in the luxury of the show’s Windward VIP experience? This year, the VIP passes are available at two exclusive locations – Herald Plaza and MBCC. Elevate your journey by securing tickets for one or both and enjoy premium perks that come with VIP status. Exclusive access to areas like Superyacht Miami is provided to Windward passholders. VIP ticket holders will also receive a complimentary one-day admission to Art Wynwood, Miami’s premier winter art fair, taking place Feb. 16-18. A Seamless Experience: From Water Taxis, Shuttles, Brightline Skip the traffic headaches by using the water taxi or the show’s bus shuttle network. Visiting from Orlando, Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Aventura? Hop on the Brightline and enjoy a complimentary shuttle to the show at Herald Plaza. Water taxi tickets require a separate purchase. As the excitement builds, the 2024 Miami International Boat Show invites you to embark on an unforgettable adventure. Celebrate the maritime lifestyle, cutting-edge technology, and the latest in personal boating and yachting. Secure your tickets by visiting miamiboatshow.com.

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common principle anglers abide by during winter months is to slow down their retrieve or presentation. Although this is a good default option, it may fail to entice strikes of those big, cold, winter trout. Let’s discuss. Some of my favorite lures for targeting trophy trout in the winter are those that suspend, slow sink, and have an erratic movement. When I

define a slow presentation, I am referencing the speed at which the lure moves toward the angler, the retrieve speed, not the motion. As a young angler, I was always told to slow down when it’s cold and then slow it down a little more. Although this has its place, it should not be set in stone, or ice if it’s really cold. OK, enough of the bad jokes. When trout are cold and may not be feeding

as aggressively as we would like, an extremely erratic motion can entice the strike. This erratic motion makes the lure dance in place with little to no forward movement. I use a rod with a whippy action for this. This allows me to point my rod tip at the lure and shake it up and down aggressively causing the lure to almost dance in place. I then let it pause, suspending or slow-sinking as I reel up the slack. I then repeat this practice, modifying according to the conditions. Fishing braided line is imperative for this method. The stretch in mono will not allow your slow-sinking lure to dance in place at the end of a long cast, but the zero stretch of braid makes it move like it is on a wire. I learned this the hard way 20 years ago. I was fishing with four friends, and I was the only one using mono and the only one not catching. I mimicked every move my buddy made to no avail. I then ask him to cast his lure and retrieve it near me. I watched it dance past with great action. I then cast my lure near him. Although I moved my rod more vigorously, he said my lure was moving in a straight line as if I was just reeling it in. I switched to braid on the next trip and never went back, and of course this dancing method started to produce fish! If you pay attention to the strike, this method will let you know if you should modify your retrieve. If they bite on the pause, you may want to slow it down a bit. If they bite on the shake, you may want to speed it up. I hope this helps you land more big trout this season. Good Luck! Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures®, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com

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t was a chilly winter morning, and my crew—a good friend Zach and his two sons—all knew it was going to be either a tough day or a great one. It was a typical morning for winter here in the Daytona, Fla. area, with overcast skies, highs in the low 60s and a dominant wind and swell headed from the northeast. The inshore bite is typically pretty good this time of year, with a variety of different species usually willing to cooperate. Red drum are a favorite backcountry target during the colder months. When they move up on the flats to feed, it can lead to good action on spoons and paddletails. On the end of the outgoing tide, we hoped to bag a few redfish before the switch, but the bite never happened. We kept busy with some small permit, pompano, mangrove snapper and even a flounder. By the time the tide switched mid-morning, the bite had slowed down with just a few small sheepshead taking our bait. Sheepshead are delicious, and around here the causeways of the Intracoastal along with barnacle- or oyster-encrusted docks, bridges and jetties are a pretty good bet for picking up a few for the cooler. They love sand fleas and fiddler crabs but will also eat shrimp on a jig head or Carolina rig. Something I like to do while targeting other species is to leave baits out for red or black drum. I had two dead stick bottom rods out the back soaking halved blue crabs in the hopes that a drum would be hungry enough to pick it up. With the action pretty slow, and while we still had some time left in the trip, I decided we should make a move. I told Zach’s younger son Gavin, who is an employee of mine at Yellow Dawg Bait & Tackle in Ormond Beach, to reel in the back rods that had been soaking. At first it looked like he had a snag as the rod bent when he picked it up, but then the drag took off. Big black drum are tanks! It’s almost like they have shoulders and they’ve been working out all week waiting for you. The big ugly that highlighted that trip was somewhere in the 50-plus-pound range, a trophy for sure! Gavin, who is the younger guy in the photo, will be in U.S. Coast Guard boot camp when this edition hits the racks. His dad, Zach, is a veteran, along with his other two sons Logan and Cameron. A big thanks to all the men and women out there who serve our country! Capt. Jamie Thrappas is Co-Publisher of Coastal Angler - Volusia County and owner of Yellow Dawg Fishing. Check out yellowdawgfishing.com. To win a free half-day inshore or offshore charter with Capt. Thrappas, enter the Fish with Coastal Angler drawing at coastalanglermag.com/contest.

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Delayed Harvest Trout By Nick Carter

AT FIRES CREEK, N.C.

delayed harvest trout stream is a better place than most to spend a winter afternoon, and if you can find a two- or three-day warming trend, there’s a good chance you’ll get into some pretty good fishing. North Carolina’s Fires Creek has a 2-mile stretch of delayed harvest water on U.S. Forest Service land off U.S. 64 between Murphy and Hayesville. Rainbow, brown and brook trout are stocked in the creek and protected under catch-and-release, single-hook, artificial only regulations during the October into June delayed

harvest season. It’s a small-stream setting with more and bigger trout than one would find in most creeks this size. The creek is gorgeous, with clear plunge pools and deep bend runs sliding into skinny pocket water that twists for miles through the bottom of a rhododendron-choked valley. Even the rounded river rocks are notable for their beauty, with striking dark gray and tan bands that’ll make you want to stash a few flat stones in your vest to take home. The fishing is about like any other delayed

harvest in terms of fish size and the density of stockings, but it is a small stream, so you’ll be tempted to—and you should—explore your way upstream instead of settling in on the big holes. Small streams are just more fun when you fish them that way. Around each bend lies a new challenge, another series of pools and runs. Tightlining nymphs is probably the most effective way to fool fish this time of year. They might fall for the standard “junk flies,” but a few months into the DH season, the fish might also be looking for something more natural. In winter, the aquatic insects will be small. Little black stoneflies, midges and blue-winged olives might hatch off on a warm afternoon and lead to some dry fly action, but unless you see bugs in the air, you’re better off fishing subsurface imitations of these insects. A double-nymph rig with a big attractor nymph below a smaller more natural looking nymph is always a good option. The foot bridge at the Fires Creek Picnic Area is the lower boundary of the DH water. Access above the foot bridge is easy on a streamside trail and also along Fires Creek Wildlife Road. This gravel track parallels the creek way up into its headwaters. The delayed harvest ends at the Forest Service 340A bridge. Upstream of this point, the trout population trends toward stream-born rainbows that top out at 10 or 11 inches. For GPS coordinates to access points and detailed maps of North Carolina and Georgia’s best trout water, check out “Flyfishers Guide to North Carolina & Georgia.” It is available at fly shops, on Amazon, and signed copies are available from the author by e-mailing nsc8957@gmail.com.

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A FEW THOUGHTS ON

SHEEPSHEAD By CAM Staff

heepshead have become a wintertime staple when water temps drop and the regular cast of inshore characters become more difficult to target. If you’re a cold-weather inshore angler, you’re probably already familiar with sheepshead, so here are a few tips you might not have heard yet. Finding Fish: Convict fish travel and feed in packs. Once you locate them, the action can be fast, but you have to find them first. Obviously, they like structure like bridges, docks and jetties, where they can happily gnaw on barnacles. When considering structure, older, rambling docks with lots of pilings provide more surface area for established colonies of crustaceans. These can be honeyholes, but keep moving if you’re not catching fish. You might run a dozen different structures in a day and catch 90 percent of your fish on one. In the clear water of winter, sheepshead can often be sight fished, and they don’t really spook, so look for them before casting. If the water is too dingy to see them, you can sometimes hear them crunching shells if you listen quietly. Chum ’Em Up: This might sound silly, but sheepshead get excited about free food just like any other species of fish. Keep a shovel on the boat and scrape barnacles off the structure you’re fishing. This rings the dinner bell, and it’ll also help you spot them as they dart around to pick off the falling morsels. Looking for scraped pilings is also a good way to identify where other anglers have chummed sheepies before. Play the Tides: Pretty much every fish feeds best on a moving tide, but a ripping flow can be detrimental when fishing for such a structure oriented fish. Fast moving water tends to pin sheepshead right up against structure. This, and the tide itself, can make presenting baits more difficult. Find a moderate tide, and

sheepshead will spread out and move around a little more, which makes them easier to catch. Position yourself up-current and allow your baits to drift down into the fish. The Business End: Although they are not skittish, sheepshead can be selective. Whether you’re fishing fiddler crabs, shrimp tails, sand fleas, oysters or clams, use a small, short-shank hook and hide it inside your bait. Also, fish braided line. Braid has less stretch, so those little bumps when a sheepshead taps your bait translate better to the rod tip. Braid also has better abrasion resistance for when they pull you around a piling, but the increased sensitivity is key. With their black and white bars, convicts are notorious bait thieves. You need to know it the instant they suck in your bait.

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