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Bad to the Bone Full tang stainless steel blade with natural bone handle —now ONLY $79!
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4 NATIONAL
SEPTEMBER 2021
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deep waters it was designed to explore and it’s sporty screw-down crown can take the pressure in stride. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If you are not completely convinced you got excellence for less, simply return the Explorer Dive Watch within 30 days for a refund of the item price. At Stauer, we never leave our customers high and dry. Limited Edition. Sure you could give your hard-earned money to those other guys, but why would you? We’ve got the thinking man’s timepiece right here. This watch takes six months to engineer and it’s already making waves, so we can’t guarantee it will be around for long. Call today, and experience how good it feels to get true luxury for less.
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NATIONAL 5
IN THIS BATTLE, YOU NOW HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF SHOCK AND AWE.
The next generation of our workhorse spinning reel, the new PENN ® Battle ® III now features our proprietary CNC Gear ™ Technology for ultimate durability, and the proven HT-100 ™ Carbon Fiber Drag System for ultimate control during the fight. Available in nine different sizes, from 1000 to the new 10,000, and in select high speed models, it can handle any situation. The new Battle® III. Fish won’t know what hit them. PENN. LET THE BATTLE BEGIN.
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CAST 2021 marked a return to normalcy for the fishing industry. In the 64th exhibition of the world’s largest sportfishing trade show, the halls of the Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center bustled with activity July 21-23. As usual, the event kicked off with the ICAST Cup bass tournament at nearby Lake Toho, and the renowned big-bass factory did not disappoint. In a short four-hour tournament, the winning team weighed a tournament-record 25-pound, 7-ounce five-fish limit. But most of the action went on indoors. The annual ICAST New Product Showcase is an event the fishing world eagerly awaits every year. It is the venue where industry heavyweights and innovative newcomers roll out their best new gear for the year to come. This year, 686 new products were entered by 218 companies to compete for Best of Category awards in 30 different categories. From rods, reels and lures to apparel, electronics, gadgets and accessories, the New Product Showcase is gear-head heaven. The Angler Video Mag team was on-hand at ICAST 2021 to cover the show and give you a first-hand look at some of the cool and innovative products that will make you a better angler this year.
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NATIONAL 7
Live Bait Snook on South Florida Beaches
H
ere on Florida’s East Coast, we have access to some of the most exciting shore-based fishing there is. From spring, through summer and into fall, big snook run the beaches of South Florida, and they can be caught from the sand with lures and even sight fished with flies. I am a lure fisherman, and everyone knows it, but fishing with artificials can be difficult during the doldrums of late summer and fall. The Atlantic Ocean is flatter and big snook become wary. The fish are still here; what are we to do? Here’s a pretty simple technique that will catch snook when the fishing gets tough. The hottest bait this time of year is live croakers. Croakers are catching so many snook right now that the local bait shops here in the Stuart, Fla. area sell out as soon as they get a shipment. With the artificial bite kind of drying up, my friend and occasional fishing buddy, Mike Vars, showed me how to catch big snook on live bait. Mike buys a dozen croakers when he can get them. All you need to keep them alive for a couple days is a round bucket with an aerator. Good baitsized croakers are 5 to 8 inches, anything larger might catch a big snook, but they are harder to fish. Mike uses a 3 or 4 size circle hook and hooks his croakers through the nostrils so they can
8 NATIONAL
SEPTEMBER 2021
By Richard L. Matteson
swim freely. Some anglers prefer to hook them through the tail. Since the tactic involves free-lining, with no weight, casts should be just past the trough on a high tide, which is about 20 feet here. Then open the spool and let that croaker run. On low tide, it might be necessary to wade past the trough and cast farther out. Mike uses a 60-lb. leader and 20-lb. braid on a spinning reel. Before the snook takes the bait, the croaker will often wiggle excitedly—this is a signal you are about to get bit. When the line suddenly starts moving fast, it means a snook has your croaker. Let her have the bait for a few seconds, and then begin reeling steadily so the circle hook lodges in the corner of her mouth. Mike Vars with a nice beach snook Mike averages three or four big female snook caught on live bait. each trip with this method. He has caught several over-slot snook, with the biggest measuring about 40 inches. Florida’s Atlantic Coast. You’re allowed one per day If you want to catch your own bait, use a between 28 and 32 inches. sabiki rig and tip hooks with a small piece of Richard Matteson writes for the Stuart Rod & shrimp. Or fish the trough with light tackle and a Reel Club and he is a long-time contributor small piece of shrimp. to Coastal Angler Magazine. Sept. 1 marks open season for snook on
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The Mullet Run Is On! By CAM Staff
I
t’s that time of year again when the lowly mullet becomes a primary target of interest for Florida anglers. Over the next few weeks and months, mullet in untold numbers will migrate out of the estuaries and run down the coast to their spawning grounds off South Florida. The mullet run is on, and it has switched on the predatory drive of almost every fish in the ocean. From the beach, or on a jetty, pier, bridge or boat, anglers who encounter fish feeding in huge schools of mullet are in for a treat. These intrepid little pilgrims have made their way south from as far up as the Carolinas, and it’s a good thing they come in numbers, because a whole lot of them get gobbled up along the way. Snook, tarpon, flounder, redfish, sharks, bluefish, jacks, Spanish mackerel,
2 FLORIDA
SEPTEMBER 2021
ladyfish… they all answer the dinner bell when mullet are balled up. To find the fish, you must find the bait. Young finger mullet make an easy meal when large schools of them are pinned against a jetty or are caught out in the open by predators running the beaches. Live or dead mullet are the obvious baits to fish if you’ve got time to throw a net, but don’t get caught cast-netting when there is a frenzy going on. A plug or soft-plastic will also get hammered when the melee is on. Don’t pass up your window of opportunity when the action is hot. Bait might be heavy in an area one day and gone the next. Anglers with boats can run the beaches in search of diving birds and find fish blowing up on top. Seawalls, rocky shorelines and other obstruction to the southward migration can serve as ambush points or corrals where baitfish are pinned in. Any structure that steers schools of mullet into a predictable path can turn into a killing ground. Shore-bound anglers must rely on good intel or just show up and hope to get lucky. Some prefer to pick a place that has been productive in the past and return frequently to catch it when it’s right. Others have a list of likely locations and eat up the road in search of activity. It’s the time of year when your gear should remain rigged and ready in the back of the truck. A good network of fishing buddies is worth its weight in tarpon during the run. Sharing good information on locations and the southward progression of bait is a two-way street. Take care of someone else, and they will likely take care of you. This time of year is a great time to be on the water. Temperatures are beginning to cool, most of the tourists have gone home, and thick waves of baitfish are there to be found, running the coastline with big predators in hot pursuit. For more information, go to coastalanglermag.com.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES.
A
Fall
Transition Pay Attention to Detail By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
s fall approaches, fish patterns change. By understanding the habits of fish, you can target them with confidence. Spring fry have matured in the marsh and are ready to move into open water. Knowing the timing, tides and location of this migration can lead to great action. I recently tried a new area. It’s a place I really hadn’t heard anything about. I planned to target reds, since satellite imagery suggested it should be favorable. This area had a long meandering bayou that emptied into a small lake, which ranged in depth from 1 to 3 feet. I was at the top of a chain of lakes and marsh, so this particular drain would see the first of the baitfish and shrimp exiting their summer home. Targeting the inland-most marshes and bayous early in the season will be the most productive. Follow the bait and schools of fish out as the season advances. Although the reds were there, they were only 12 inches long, and the trout were smaller. They were gorging on shad and shrimp as tide poured out of the bayou into the lake. Once I noticed flounder busting completely out of the water attacking the schools of shad, I quickly changed my retrieve. I had been working my soft-plastic swimbait high in the water column to keep it in the bait balls. When I saw those flounder, I immediately lowered my rod tip and began vigorously twitching my rod down and to the side to make the jig head hit the mud bottom hard. Kicking up clouds of silt attracts flatfish. I started landing flounder immediately with the new retrieve. It was obvious they were aggressive since they were going airborne to feed on shad. This is why I worked the lure hard and fast, unlike a traditional flounder retrieve. I’m not sure how many I caught, released and lost, but it was well into double digits. The most productive color was white or pearl to mimic shad. Since they were attacking schools of bait, I tied on a tandem rig using the same lures. I think the presentation looked more like the schools of baitfish they were targeting. I rigged my second lure so it would look more natural floating above the first jig-head swimbait, which was bouncing on the bottom. This increased my strikes. Paying attention to the details of the location, season and tide, as well as how the fish were feeding all played a huge part in my success. These concepts can be applied in any situation at any time of year. It was not what I expected, but I will take a limit of flounder any day. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures and Controlled Descent Lures. He owns www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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SEPTEMBER 2021
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Fishing Report & Forecast Mayport By Capt. Kirk Waltz
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hope everyone had a great summer boating and enjoying the quality fishing we are well known for. The conditions for last month were at times brutally hot but, so was the fishing. I really don’t see this changing at all but, actually getting better in some areas. Looking into the crystal ball I see the heat and the slight cooling of the water temps to drive the tarpon into and around the mouth of the St. John’s River. Look for some mullet schools to move out of the river if we get some good rains and wind. This will most likely occur if a small tropical weather pattern shows itself. The bull reds, tarpon, and sharks will make small work of these schools if it does happen. If you can get a net on a hand full peg some on the bottom on the high outgoing tide alive with a stout rod. I like a 7’6” Shimano spinning rod with a Shimano 10000 Sarugusa spooled with Power Pro 65lb Braid. I use a 3-way swivel rig and a 4 to 5ft leader in 80lb fluorocarbon coupled to a 7/0 Owner Circle hook. This braided line cuts the water with minimum drag and the extra long leader allows the bait to swim freely. Bull reds, tarpon and the occasional shark will grab this rig with a vengeance. Also this month look for our pogie/ menhaden schools to stay out on the areas beaches from the Red Tops to Amelia Island. These are excellent baits for trolling and 2 NORTHEAST FLORIDA
SEPTEMBER 2021
bottom fishing offshore on the local party grounds from Ponte Vedra to Rabbits Lair. Grab a net full and check the pods for action from reds, sharks, and tarpon as they will feed in this moving buffet and offer many opportunities to bag a few. If the pods are quiet pop offshore and drag a few around on 30lb wire king rigs for kings, sharks, cudas, cobia, tunny, aj’s and sailfish. If the troll bite is slow drop some whole or cut into plugs for snapper, sea bass, sharks, cobia, aj’s, and grouper. The local party ground numbers can be found at the FWC website by going to MYFWC. com and searching for reef spots. It’s fairly easy and it’s separated by county for easy access. This month the big bull reds will start their annual migration into the river to spawn. They can be caught from the big rocks up past the fuel docks west of Blount Island. Crabs, pogies whole and cut, mullet, and fresh cut ladyfish can all be deadly baits. Work the high outgoing tides for best results but, they can be caught on any tide if you know where to look. Just remember these big fish are our breeding stock. Handle them gently and carefully with the knowledge that most of them must be vented to survive. Use heavy tackle to reduce any unnecessary stress and try to get them back into the water quickly. Like us they can’t hold their breath much longer than us. Enjoy the fishery and remember you can’t catch them on the couch.. For info on charters from 4 to 50 call Capt. Kirk at 904-241-7560 or 904-626-1128 or visit us on Facebook …Enterprise Fishing Charters or www.Enterprisefishingcharters.com . Listen every Saturday morning on fishing tips from Capt. Kevin, Capt. Kirk, and Jeff Lageman on 1010am or 92.5fm on The Outdoors Show from 7-10am
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he water temp has been hot and the bite is having its good days and bad days. Kings have still been all over the reefs and wrecks as I’m also finding descent numbers on the beach. The tarpon have definitely had some better year’s but we still may be a little early. We have neem finding a few here and there on bait pods. The offshore bite has been pretty good. The Vermillion (100-150’) have been fairly easy to limit out on. I’ve been seeing some mangroves coming back into the dock. Last weekend (8/7-8/8) a few cobia were pulled off of closer reefs within 20 miles. The sharks have been on everything I have caught and seem to be everywhere. Be ready to make a race to the surface with your catch. Afternoon thunderstorms, as usual, have been making afternoons tough for a lot of us but if you can get out after those storms the beach fishing and slow trolling has been beautiful and once the seas lay down a bit these blazing hot afternoons have
been a little more tolerable. School has started back but we still hope the kids make it to the meetings. We are always looking for guests and speakers so if you have anything you’d like to come and talk to the club about that is fishing or boat related send us an email or Facebook message. Upcoming Events: September 2nd Meeting- Speaker TBD September 4th- JOSFC Club Member Bottom tournament Back up date will be Sept 11th. September 16th-Club Meeting. Fishing Boards END! Banquet plans are happening so be prepared for us to announce a date. Check out our website to keep up with upcoming events, schedules, or any changes. www.JaxFish.com Our meetings are on the first and third Thursday of each month. We are open to the public so we would love to have you..
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Fishing Report & Forecast Flagler Inshore By Captain Chris Herrera
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eptember marks the autumn bait movement that will eventually turn into the fall “mullet run” by months end. Starting your mornings off with topwater lures that resemble a mullet like the Rapala skitter walk or Spook Jr. will produce redfish,trout and snook. Cast topwaters parallel to ICW banks, over flooded oyster beds or docks that are holding mullet to find the “trophies”. September’s full and new moons brings the tidal waters up into the Spartina grass where Redfish and Sheephead will be found tailing and gorging themselves on all sorts of crustaceans. Bailing from the skiff and wading with the fly rod and a rattle crab pattern is one way to hook up or a live shrimp hooked through the tail with a Daiichi Octopus wide bait hook. Snook and Tarpon will be in the canals feeding during low light
conditions, a live select shrimp will trigger a bite from both species. Lead a rolling Tarpon with a live select shrimp on a Daiichi 3/0 circle hook and a loose drag to help your chances of landing the Silver King. Pitching the docks with live shrimp will get the attention of most linesiders (Snook) especially when encountering a school and the competition factor kicks in. Remember to handle snook with care as they have had a few rough winters and snook numbers are still low. Area inlets will host Flounder and Bull Reds during the change of tides, a live 6-inch mullet on a fish finder rig will get the doormats to the boat. The fish finder rig consists of a 1/0-3/0 DaiichiD18Z hook with a 10-inch piece of 30lb fluorocarbon leader, a good swivel, glass bead and ¾-1 ounce egg sinker. Once you cast this rig, slowly drag and pump it back to the boat keeping contact with the bottom. For creek flounder a mud minnow or finger mullet on a ¼ ounce Slayer inc. Destroyer jig head fished around creek bends. A knocker rig with a 6-ounce weight a Daiichi 5/0 circle hook and cut or live mullet/ pogie will be the choice set up for Bull Reds at the inlet. Just remember take time to revive these breeder reds and get them back in the water as quickly as possible. Trout catches can still be expected to be best at night fishing the dock lights, a live free lined shrimp or non weighted artificial tossed up current and drifted through the lights will produce Trout and Snook. Remember to wet hands before handling fish if you plan on doing some catch and release. . Capt. Chris Herrera Serving Flagler Beach, Palm Coast, St. Augustine www.palmcoastfishing.com
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SEPTEMBER 2021
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he Nassau Sport Fishing Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to develop and promote saltwater fishing in the Nassau County area while adhering to state, federal and local regulations, to encourage compliance with rules of water safety by club members and the general public, and to promote youth related community activities. On July 31, NSFA Hosted the 38th annual Fernandina Beach Kingfish Tournament and Fishing Rodeo. Over 100 boats fished this SKA Division V event. Due to a curve ball from mother nature, this year’s tournament was held in conjunction with the Jacksonville Kingbuster Tournament. Fishermen entering both tournaments could weighin at either Fernandina Beach or Mayport. Kingfish Winners: 1 360 Hayden Englert Four Reel 45.25 $ 11,500 2 436 Nathan Stuart Gamechanger 44.35 $ 4,000 3 417 Logan Stover Lo-Joe 38.43
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$ 2,900 Lady Angler was won by Jimmy Garza on Sailors Choice. Youth Angler was won by Josh Russel. Rodeo winners were: Dolphin Devin Durance #7.8 Sea Bass Allen Mills #1.2 Cobia John Adams #16.05 Redfish Jacob Poulsen#4.59 Sea Trout Lee Green #3.04 Flounder Austin Brychta #3.1 Sheepshead Matthew Johnson #4.08 Congratulations to all our fishermen and many thanks to all our great sponsors. To see the full leaderboard, go to WWW.NSFAFISH.NET/RODEO We look forward to hosting this event again next summer. NSFA meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at Kraft Athletic Club on Amelia Island. Join us on 25-August for our next monthly social gathering. If interested in joining, please visit our website at NSFAFISH.NET or stop by one of our meetings. As always, Stay Safe, healthy, and we will see you on the water!
SEPTEMBER 2021
NORTHEAST FLORIDA 7
Fishing Report St. Johns River
Fis
By: Richard Hamilton
By Ca
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eptember is a great month. Fishing, Shrimping and football In that order. First up,, Croakers are biting and you'll have a great time catching them. Fish the ledges and holes from Marker 16 to 26 and you should do okay. Baits of choice--bait shrimp or nightcrawlers. Remember if you catch a small one, cut him up and you should catch a trout or perhaps a redfish. Weakfish or Yellowmouth trout as we know them around here are on the move and biting in the same spots as the croakers. You'll catch them on cut croakers or bait shrimp. Frozen does work, but is not as good as fresh. Redfish are active tailing in the shallow grassline. Crabs are fish choice, but shrimp is coming on strong. You can probably catch them on shrimp, crabs or cut croakers but remember your bass lures will work also It's not a requirement that you purchase species-specific lures. A 1/8oz jig head with a fishbites tail will work great if you work it very slow. And a gold redfish magic worked slow works swell. Next are the mullet. Getting bigger by the day and are biting pretty well. All you need is bait and your usual tackle: Number two or number four hooks, splitshot and some bobbers and you've got the makings of a good mullet set-up. Remember chum always helps. Shrimping, shrimping, shrimping. They're here and they're from bait to
eating size. You'll be able to net them in deep water or off the docks and piers. You'll need is a webbed net for the deep water and some chum and a regular net off the piers. Anywhere near the channel in the Mandarin area. Find the edge of the drop-off on the channel edge in the middle of the day and look for the shrimp to show on your fish finder. They kind of look like fuzz on your display screen. Bream fishing under docks and in the creeks near pads should be great. Baits of choice are fly rod poppers and either a fly rod or a bream pole. Or you can use a tasty cricket, or two, on your regular gear. I like to chum an area with crabs. Take the shell off the crab and discard it where you are set up to fish and use the joint muscles to put on your hook for bait. I have caught boat loads of Bream in 6 mile creek and Pacettis chum fishing with crabs Largemouth are willing to take a bait from under any shady area. You can use live shrimp floated under a bobber and hold on. You can use shallow diving crankbaits, usually zero to three feet. And, of course, shiners still work. But as the shrimp run increases, the bass will eat more and more shrimp and less and less of anything else. Striper fishing at the Shands bridge is mighty good this time of year. All you need are some live finger mullet, smallish shiners or live shrimp. You can also use lipless crankbaits and Rapala type plugs. The best time of day is almost dark through sunrise. They're active and wanting a meal. Well, 'til next time, Keep your line wet and your lure moving. -CAM staff R & J Tackle 501 S Orange Ave, Green Cove Springs (904)284-5081
FLAGLER SPORTFISHING CLUB By Chris Christian
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SEPTEMBER 2021
he Flagler Sportfishing Club will be having its monthly meeting at the VFW on Tuesday, September 7th; The meeting will consist of Quick Tips and a featured speaker. Fish of the Month Winners will be announced. Also, on September 11th the Club will be having its Annual Free Pier Tournament, see the link below for details. This month’s The Club will also be having the Members Classic which has higher payouts so check this out below. The Club teams up with the Litter Gitter each month and they have Trips on the 1st Tuesday of every month at 10am until 12 noon sign up if interested. Upcoming Events: Monthly Club Meeting – Sept. 7th, VFW, Old Kings Road, Palm Coast Free Club Pier Tournament – Sept. 11th – Weigh-in at the Pier, Sign-up online
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Members Classic – Sept. 25th – Weigh-in at Herschel King Park, Sign-up online. Club Litter Gitter Trips – 1st Tuesday of every month – July 6th – Sign Up on the web Join the Flagler Sportfishing Club www.flaglersportfishing.com Join now and get 3 free months. flaglersportfishing.com/become-anew-member/ . Contact: Chris Christian @ chris@flaglersportfishing.com YouTube: Also, check out our new YouTube Channel for Fishing Quick Tips – search Flagler Sportfishing Club and subscribe
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Fishing Report & Forecast Sisters Creek By Capt. Tony Bozzella
S
ept. Is time for the flood tide fishing. Tides with a height of 5.5 and higher will flood the spartina grass. Redfish will be able to forage crustaceans in new locations. Tails can be seen from a distance, and anglers can quietly & subtle make a stalk & presentation. Weedless crab & shrimp flys are best. Notice which way the fish is heading and lead the fish with your lure and move or strip the lure as the fish crosses path. Fall mullet run will be starting. Many species will be around all the bait as it migrates south. This is a good time for lure or bait anglers. Many different methods of fishing will be successful. Great time to hook up a tarpon. They will be crashing the
mullet. Drift a mullet on a Fluorocarbon leader. I like a 30-40lb test with 3 ft long with a 6 inch bite tippet. Fun time to work top water lures for big jacks, & very exciting!! Area inlets will be anglers best bet as bait empties out of the river & surrounding marshes. Mullet and pogie imitations will be the ticket. Anglers fishing around the bait pods will have the best chance of hooking up. I like to use lures in morning or evening low light conditions. As the sun climbs, go deeper. The Bull redfish will be cruising the channel edges. Heavier tackle using a fish finder rig with crab, ladyfish, or mullet will be best. Tides can often be strong. Use enough weight to hold bottom in the areas you choose to fish. Again, areas around the bait should prove most successful. Also Bow hunting season opens for archery enthusiasts. Hopefully your bow is ready & tuned, shooting broad heads, hitting the mark. Remember, the best bow is the one that shoots quiet, and accurate! You owe it to the animal. Good luck! A lot of angling & hunting options, get out and enjoy.
Capt. Tony Bozzella / TBS JIGS www.tonybozzella.com 904 651 0182
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SEPTEMBER 2021
NORTHEAST FLORIDA 9
ARE YOU PREPARED?? By Roger Beal - Beal Marine and casualty Inc
F
or individuals who find their enjoyment and recreation on the water, there is no better feeling than being out on your boat enjoying the sun, wind and water. As well as the freedom away from the everyday grind. We are all blessed to be living in the South East US, where you find yourself living within an hour of any coastline, river or lake which puts us in the eye of the tiger. The cost of boats are now sometimes more expensive than your first home, in other words it is a major asset which is at risk of catastrophic damage.
(curtains) coolers, electronics that are not mounted into the console, life jackets etc.
As you wake up one morning in August and September the news blurts out a Hurricane is forming and has its sights set on the US. You immediately stop and listen to the weather report, which invokes images of sunken boats and upside down vessels strewn across a parking lot like a used water bottle that didn’t make it into the trash. This scenario brings to the fore front of your mind, what do I do. With boat ownership, you have responsibility of upkeep and to protect and pay for this major purchase. Most boat owners purchase insurance, even though the law does not mandate they do so. This all leads to “What should a boat owner do in the event of a hurricane”. Most insurance companies require a Hurricane or storm plan. In the past this has not been a mandatory endorsement whereby you have to follow it, but that has changed. Now the weather reports are blaring we now are under a storm warning, soon to be a storm watch, you find yourself thinking what am I going to do? Now is the time to invoke your storm plan, remember that most boat policies have a 5 to 10 percent of the insured value, storm deductible. Don’t wait until the last minute to try to figure out how you are going to handle your boat with the impending storm. 1. Find your insurance policy and keep it handy in the event you need to make a claim. • Review the storm plan you filed and see if you may need to make changes due to the direction of the storm, then implement the changes. If your boat is in the water or trailer these steps should be followed:
• Make sure your fuel tanks are filled and your trailer is road worthy this allows you to move your boat after the storm passes. • If in the water double your lines, (spider tie your boat), make sure to leave some way the surveyor or adjuster can find you. • If the storm should hit and you have damage, do whatever you have to do to secure and make sure the boat is protected from further damage from the elements. (these costs are normally reimbursed under your insurance policy, better known as sue and labor) • Follow the “Prudent Person rule” which is proceed as if you didn’t have insurance.
SECURE YOUR VESSEL • Remove all items that are not affixed to the boat. i.e. isinglass 10 NORTHEAST FLORIDA
SEPTEMBER 2021
• If on a lift take it off the lift and either put it on the trailer or see if you can be hauled out and put in dry storage or outside rack storage. (reserve a dry storage spot in January before hurricane season) • If on a trailer or dry storage make sure plug is out of the boat, to avoid the vessel filling up with rain water and batteries run low from bilge pumps running.
If damage occurs call your agent of record (contact information located on your policy), as soon as you ascertain the damage and file a claim. When assigned a claim number do not lose or forget it, as all correspondence will require the claim #. Keep in mind the insurance companies get flooded with claims so if you are not the first one, be patient. Make sure you have all the receipts for any and all items including the vessel or engines to give the claims adjuster. Filling a claim is a stressful event, you feel like you are coming in an inlet that you have never encountered, if your storm plan is solid and your paper work is in order it will ease the stress. If you purchased your insurance through and Independent agent, and your claim is not being handled properly, call a MAYDAY or your agent so they can help. If your coverage is placed directly with an insurance company (not through an agent) – then you are at their mercy. Invoke the 3 P’s, preparation, perseverance, patience.
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Fishing Report & Forecast St. Augustine Inshore By Capt. Tommy Derringer
I
t’s still hot out there… the fishing and the air temps, but Fall is coming… How do you still beat the lingering heat… Get out at first light or wait for the last few hours of daylight, right around dusk. Those are typically the best times to catch the fish feeding this time of year. It’s a great time of year to toss top-water plugs inshore during those lower light conditions and along the beach the tarpon will be feeding early and late as well. One very important ingredient for catching fish this time of year is to look for the bait. Whether it’s finger mullet, shrimp, or pogys, if you find the bait, you’ll find the fish. The bait can be easily located by looking for nervous water (small disruptions on the surface, similar to a very small boat wake). You can be sure that redfish, trout, and flounder will be hanging around the schools of bait looking for an easy meal. Don’t overlook the banks along the ICW on the lower tide stages this month. A lot of the baitfish will come out of the creeks and hang along those ICW banks, especially the ones that have oysters scattered on them. Again the bigger fish will be in close pursuit. September brings 12 NORTHEAST FLORIDA
SEPTEMBER 2021
one of the most unique and exciting ways to catch redfish on the First Coast. We will have some great “flood” tides this month and the reds will be up in the grass tailing away. You can use a trolling motor to scout out the best grass flats but wading or poling your boat is usually the most effective way to catch the tailing reds. Start looking for the fish before the tide gets too high (usually at least an hour or two before the high tide depending on how high it will get). Small plastic baits like those made by Saltwater Assassin will work great in the grass. Rig your lure on a weedless hook and try to present it well in front of or past the fish and then slowly drag it towards him. A direct hit to a tailing red will usually send him darting off the flat like an out of control torpedo. Sometimes they are so focused on finding food that they seem to never look up to find your lure. That’s when a small glass rattle inserted into your soft plastic or tied to your favorite fly will do wonders to get their attention. This will still be a good month to look for the silver kings to be feeding early in the morning on the bait pods just off the beach and on the mullet in the inlets. Free-line a pogy or mullet around the bait pods and hold on. You’ll also find some big tarpon behind the shrimp boats in the by-catch slicks. If the tarpon don’t want to play, do some trolling along the beach for some line-screaming kingfish action (there will be plenty of them out there). There will also be plenty of smaller tarpon inshore in the canals and deeper creeks and flats. A back hooked freelined finger mullet, a free lined select shrimp, or medium sized pogy, will all make for a great tarpon snack. . Capt. Tommy Derringer 904-377-3734 • www.InshoreAdventures.net
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NEFMA - September
T
he Northeast Florida Marlin Association is excited to announce that it has joined the Sport Fishing Championship series beginning with the 50th annual Bluewater Tournament on May 5th to 7th ,2022. The NEFMA Bluewater is our regions most historic and important bill fish tournament and beginning next year it will join a group of 10 of the other most important tournaments in the hemisphere to create a championship tour like none other. The Sport Fishing Championship will include Atlantic tournaments including the Charleston Offshore Classic, Pirates Cove Billfish, San Juan international and Oak Bluff Bluewater in Martha’s Vineyard. The Gulf Coast division includes the Gulf Coast Classics in Venice, LA and Biloxi, MS as well as the Emerald Isle Blue Marlin, Texas International and the CNSC White Marlin tournament in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. This tournament series encourages teams to fish multiple tournaments to qualify for the championship 16 NORTHEAST FLORIDA
so we’re expecting more touring boats to enter and compete in the NEFMA Bluewater. The Sport Fishing Championship is also going to increase tournament exposure with both social media and television campaigns. It an honor to be included in the inaugural group of eleven tournaments and its validation of the importance of the Northeast Florida Marlin Associations historic Bluewater tournament. If you need a tournament to get you motivated we are getting closer to the El Pescado tournament on November 3rd to 6th , 2021. We brought back the El Pescado in 2020 and we’re going to make it even better in 2021. See the website for information about tournaments, memberships and sponsorships and download the NEFMA APP from Reel Time Apps to follow the tournaments and the feeds
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SEPTEMBER 2021
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ACGFA - September by Erin Johnson
T
he end of the Summer is near and our club kids have headed back to school. In July, we celebrated our amazing Young Anglers Club members by making our July in-club tournament all about them! All of our young anglers fished all month long, both inshore and offshore and logged all the fish they caught in a race to see who came out on the top of the leaderboard. The winners were Colin Nelson (1st Place) and Queston Nevins (2nd Place) for the Small Fry Division. For Junior Division, - Colton Shugart (1st Place) and Reiley Miller, Chase Farquhar, Kaylee Brown all tied for 2nd Place. Congratulations to all our kids! We are so proud of all of you! Our next club meeting will be held on August 17, 2021 at St. Augustine Shrine Club located at 250 Brainard Dr. in St. Augustine. Social begins at 6pm, with dinner at 6:30pm followed by the meeting at 7pm with guest speaker, Kirk Harris, from FWC. Our Young Anglers Club will meet during our August meeting and will be practicing with cast nets. New members and guests are always welcome! ACGFA was founded in
1958 and the purpose is to promote the sport of fishing in our area, to be a leading force in improving fishing grounds and facilities, and to continue to promote conservation of our local waters. We are a family oriented group who enjoy fishing and good fellowship. Our dues are $65 per year per family, we meet on the third Tuesday of every month, usually at the St. Augustine Shrine Club. We have a social gathering starting at 6:00 pm which typically includes dinner and our meeting starts at 7:00. We have speakers on some aspect of fishing, boating, or water safety every month. We have in-club tournaments on a monthly basis, and boat of the year competitions for both inshore and offshore anglers. We also have Women’s, Junior and Men’s Angler of the Year contests. For more information find us on FaceBook or go to www.acgfa.com. Club President Jacksonville Marine Association 904.669.5153 www.boatjax.com
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SEPTEMBER 2021
NORTHEAST FLORIDA 17
Fishing Report & Forecast Fernandina / Amelia Island By Terry D. Lacoss
F
lounder fishing is excellent during the month of September, with the last of the out-going and the first of the in-coming tides producing the best action. Bumping a finger mullet, or bullhead minnow barbed to a ¼ ounce led head jig is key. One the angler feels that sharp thud at the business end of his rod tip, slowly lower the rod tip then set the jig firmly. Flounder will typically kill their prey, then come back and claim their catch.
excellent catches of sea trout, whiting, pompano, flounder, bluefish and redfish during the early morning and late evening tides. Casting a ¼-ounce led head jig rigged with a clear curly plastic tail with blue glitter is key for big catches of sea trout measuring to over twentyinches. Fishing dead on the bottom with live finger mullet is also a great surf fishing tactic, so be sure and bring along a six-foot cast net and live bait bucket.
FU
Load
Lim
Fort Clinch historically produces heavyweight flounder weighing to 15-pounds with an average flounder weighing from 2-5 pounds. Beach and small boat fishermen who understand the feeding habits of Fort Clinch flounder have scored well with near record “Southern Flounder” weighing to 20-pounds. However, the Florida State world record southern flounder was caught by Larenza Mungin on December 23, 1983 weighing 20.9-pounds. Mungin was fishing with live mullet from the Nassau Sound Bridge. Casting a “Redfish Magic” spinner rigged with a white/chartreuse color pattern plastic shrimp in some of the smaller tidal creeks is a surefire fishing tactic for redfish. Look for the last of the in-coming and the first of the falling tides to produce excellent redfish action while using a white/chartreuse colored plastic shrimp tail. Wade fishing in the flooded spartina marshes should also be excellent during the month of September. Look for the last hour of the flood and the first 30-minutes of the falling tide to harbor excellent wade fishing for reds. A 1/8th ounce led head jig rigged to a plastic crab works well. Fly fishermen will also do well while casting a molten crab pattern fly. Surf fishing at Amelia Island and Nassau Sound should produce 18 NORTHEAST FLORIDA
SEPTEMBER 2021
As the water temperatures begin to cool over night during the month of September, many of the freshwater ponds and lakes located on Amelia Island will offer excellent early morning topwater fishing action. The Storm “chug Bug” in the Baby Bass color pattern remains would be my first choice. Offshore fishermen will be targeting gag grouper at FA, HH and FC fish havens while targeting rock ledges. Fish dead on the bottom with live pinfish, mullet, Spanish sardines or menhaden. Black sea bass fishing should also improve with cooling water temperatures while fishing with cut baits, or fresh local squid. Trolling species including kingfish, barracuda, cobia and Spanish mackerel will take a trolled “Popsicle” more commonly known as a dead cigar minnow. Bull reds and a few tarpon will hang around the mouths of the Nassau and St. Mary’s inlets and along the beaches while chum fishing with freshly netted menhaden. The middle of the in-coming tide is key when arriving at mid morning .. For more information and charters, call Amelia Angler Outfitters (904) 261-2870, or visit www.ameliaangler.com.
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Wahoo Junkies - Summertime Fishing By Captain Tim Altman
W
e North Florida Wahoo Junkies are looking for that first morning with a little chill in the air to induce “Wahoo Fever”. September is the month most likely to bring us a hurricane, but for most outdoorsman it is the month they tend their food plots and deer stands as Bow-Season for deer begins. Because I’m a Wahoo Junkie it’s the month that I rehab all my gear. Let’s examine some of what I do in September to be prepared on a moment’s notice to go Hi-Speed trolling for Wahoo when the bite gets hot.
Reel maintenance... I fish Shimano Tiagras. Although it costs a little more I send all my reels to the Shimano Service Center in Landon, South Carolina. It’s as simple as typing in “Shimano Warranty and Service” in your favorite search engine, click on the link that has “Reel Support Services” in it and scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says “US Download Reel Repair Forms” and then click on “Reel Repair- US”. Fill out the form by following the instructions and it will give you an address to send it to. Box it up, insure it and send it off. It usually takes less than 2 weeks to have your reel professionally serviced to ensure your Shimano reel maintains it warranty and remains in optimum condition to fight your monster Wahoo this winter. If you don’t have Shimano or just don’t feel like mailing them out, you can always take them to your local Tackle Center to have them serviced. Rods…You have to make sure your rod guides are immaculate. If you have the standard “ring style” rod guides with the standard ceramic inserts rod they must be pristine! Any chip or crack in any of these guides will slice through you line like butter. Don’t go fishing until they are repaired! If you have roller guides like I do, take the time to ensure each roller is working and especially if they have any age on them check the wrap that holds it to the rod. These guides get old and the part that attaches to the rod blank gets fatigued and fails. Don’t ask me how I know…but you will find this out at the most inopportune time. Check them every trip!
Line. Because I’m a knuckle-dragging mindless hi-speed Wahoo fisherman I use 130# braided line on all my reels. Good quality line such as Diamond or the new Power-Pro Depth Hunter should be replaced every 3 seasons. Because the people at Power-Pro donated their new metered line to the Wahoo Junkies Livestream giveaways and I got a look at it…I had to have some. The Power Pro Depth Hunter is metered line which means it changes color at specific distances. With this particular line it changes every 100ft with a black dash in between the transitions. I’m kinda hung up on it, I like it a lot. It allows me to do several obvious things starting with ensuring the correct distance in my spread. If you’ve read this column over the last year you know in my spread I troll 5 lines. Each reel/line is measured and marked with rigging floss tied into the mainline to ensure the proper length for each position in the spread. Precise distance in the deployment of your spread helps to reduce tangles when making tight turns over submerged bait. This means my reels are labeled for each position and with the marked distance. I use a dyno-labeler to identify where each one goes in my spread and the distance that it is marked with the rigging floss. With the Power Pro Depth Hunter you don’t have to use the rigging floss because the line is metered and if you are inclined and have an expert crew all the reels become interchangeable between positions in the spread. Because I’m a dinosaur and can only accept change in small doses I still follow the same protocol of marking the precise distance with rigging floss. But what specifically do I love about the metered line? I love that when reeling in a fish you have an almost precise idea of how much line is left out on retrieval. This for me is comforting, it helps me prepare for the endgame of boating the fish more efficiently.
My short line. You can buy the Power Pro Depth Hunter metered line at Strike Zone Fishing Jacksonville. If you want to have your line marked for specific distances like I do, they do that too. Just ask Dalton or Archie they will take care of it for you. I most likely will start making scout trips in September while my Wahoo Junkies Live co-host and last year’s winner of the Northeast Florida Wahoo Shootout…Casey Smith will be chasing Bambi (the deer, not the exotic dancer) with his bow. We are planning our first livestream of the season in the Facebook Group “Wahoo Junkies” during late September and most likely will begin a series of Wahoo Junkie podcasts this fall. If you’re not part of the Wahoo Junkies Facebook Group go to www.facebook.com/groups/wahoojunkies and request to join. Until next month remember that great things happen when you take a kid fishing!
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Captain Tim Altman HooDoo Sportfishing Charters www.saltwaterchallenge.com tim@saltwaterchallenge.com SEPTEMBER 2021
NORTHEAST FLORIDA 21
Fishing Report Pier and Surf By: Noel Kuhn
T
he mullet run is now in full swing. Everything that likes mullet will be chomping on them in the surf. That includes Redfish, Bluefish, Flounder, Spanish, Jacks, Trout, Tarpon, and Sharks. Don’t forget the cast net! The size of the mullet you use often dictates what you’ll catch. If you want to catch a flounder use a small finger mullet. If a tarpon or shark is in range, throw a big mullet. Whatever size you use, get in on the action. The mullet run only happens once a year and will last approximately two months. My favorite way to fish live mullet is on a fish finder rig. They lightest leader and smallest hook will get you more bites. My biggest
rigs are 7/0 circle hook with 100lb mono leader. Where my lightest is a 1/0 circle and 25lb mono leader. When hooking mullet I prefer to put the hook in the mouth and up just deep enough thru the head to keep them on the hook. Keeping your mullet frisky is tough when the air temp is near 90! I use a round igloo cooler to keep the water cool. Then keep plenty of bubbles flowing in with a good aerator. Lastly, I change the water about every half hour. You can not beat lively bait when the predators move inside the bar! September is a transition month. If you’re longing for the schools of Pompano to return, keep your eye on the surf temperature. It’s go time when you see the surf temp drop every week. The Pomps have spent the summer on the coast of North Carolina. When cold water comes around the Outer Banks, it will push the Pomps our way. When it reaches 75 degrees, the Pompano will be here is mass. October will be the peak month of the year for surf fishing, so get your gear ready. Tie some new rigs. Re-spool with new line. Then hit the beach when the temps start to drop. Until then, enjoy the mullet run and all the action that it brings.
Noel Kuhn Surf fishing guide and long distance casting coach. 904-945-0660 www.TheSurfAngler.com
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Fishing Report & Forecast St. Augustine Offshore By Capt. Robert Johnson
Is it summer or Fall?? September doesn’t know if its summer or fall. Its a little of both actually. September is normally marked by calm seas without the crowds. And as the days pass we normally get a weak cold front or 2. The arrival of baitfish signal the upcoming cooler months ahead. As the mullet run begins along the beaches so goes the offshore action. In 80 to 120ft depths I prefer lighter tackle this time of year. A 50#
leader with a number 4 circle hook is my go to rig. A live sardine on the bottom will produce a variety of snapper including Vermillion, Mangrove, and the occasional Mutton. Cobia, Amberjack and the occasional Grouper will be in the mix as well. Where ever you see bait is usually as good as anywhere to fish. Position your boat just up current of structure. If you choose to burn more fuel, bottom fishing is excellent in 135 to 180 ft depths if the current is not running hard. You will need to change your tackle to a littler heavier set up. I like 80# leader and maybe a little more weight. I might even go to 100# leader if I think there are Grouper lurking. On the troll, there should be plenty of Kingfish around. Live bait is best. Pogies and sardines work great on light wire on stinger rigs. Whatever you choose enjoy the last of the summer time calm seas but keep an eye out for the tropical storms and or hurricanes that come our way this time of year. Until next Month tight lines and “Let’s go Fishing”
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Capt. Robert Johnson www.Jodielynncharters.com JLFishing@bellsouth.net #jodielynnsportfishingcharters (904)540-2628
West Bank Seminar Series By Mark Feagle
D
ue to the current covid issues going around we have decided for the best interest of people’s health to postpone the seminars for the remainder of 2021. I love hosting the seminars and will do my best in 2022 to bring them back. I appreciate everyone who has attended and hope everyone can use the information obtained to catch more fish. I will continue to do my part and shift my efforts for the remainder of 2021 to water conservation efforts. As the President of the Jacksonville Coastal Conservation Association Chapter, we are working on a few projects to wrap up 2021. I hope everyone will come out and join the fight. Conservation Front In 2021 your Coastal Conservation Association Jacksonville chapter has been hard at work expanding and doing our part to make our local waters cleaner and sustainable for future generations. To date there have been two water clean-up events and we are planning a third one for October. To date with the help of your local REALTORS® and public support we have removed over 2000 pounds of trash from our local river. I encourage everyone to help us solve a problem we create. Along with clean up events the Coastal Conservation Association is working on a project called Release the East which is a Redfish Restock Initiative for the East Coast of Florida. The plan is to release all along the East Coast including in our area. To ensure healthy East Coast populations, phase one of the Release the East initiative pledges to raise and release 100,000 hatchery-reared juvenile Redfish from the Duke Energy Mariculture Center. Not only does this help provide for a balanced and vigorous ecosystem, it also safeguards that sportfishing in the Indian River Lagoon will be enjoyed for decades to come. “Redfish are an essential
species to our state and we must work together to conserve this fishery for the next generation,” CCA Florida Executive Director Brian Gorski said. CCA Jacksonville Chapter Info Everyone Let’s Save the Date for a new and exciting CCA Chapter Banquet. 2021 we are changing venues and it will be amazing. We are planning a unique event set for November 4th 2021 and the venue will be released soon. Check my website mfeagle.watsonrealtycorp.com/ fishing-seminars for updates on current fishing related events around Jacksonville and the banquet venue. Tight Lines.
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SEPTEMBER 2021
NORTHEAST FLORIDA 23
TIDE CHART - SEPTEMBER
Mayport Degaussing Structure 30.3967° N, 81.3950° W Date Day Time Hgt 01 Wed 04:24 AM 4.21 H 02 Thu 05:20 AM 4.30 H 03 Fri 12:06 AM 1.31 L 04 Sat 12:51 AM 1.02 L 05 Sun 01:34 AM 0.70 L 06 Mon 02:14 AM 0.38 L 07 Tue 02:54 AM 0.11 L 08 Wed 03:34 AM -0.05 L 09 Thu 04:16 AM -0.10 L 10 Fri 05:01 AM -0.04 L 11 Sat 05:51 AM 0.11 L 12 Sun 12:45 AM 5.34 H 13 Mon 01:42 AM 5.14 H 14 Tue 02:43 AM 4.99 H 15 Wed 03:49 AM 4.92 H 16 Thu 04:56 AM 4.96 H 17 Fri 05:57 AM 5.08 H 18 Sat 12:40 AM 0.54 L 19 Sun 01:29 AM 0.35 L 20 Mon 02:13 AM 0.21 L 21 Tue 02:54 AM 0.15 L 22 Wed 03:34 AM 0.21 L 23 Thu 04:12 AM 0.37 L 24 Fri 04:51 AM 0.63 L 25 Sat 05:32 AM 0.95 L 26 Sun 12:20 AM 4.76 H 27 Mon 01:04 AM 4.60 H 28 Tue 01:51 AM 4.49 H 29 Wed 02:44 AM 4.43 H 30 Thu 03:41 AM 4.46 H
Time 10:26 11:17 06:10 06:57 07:41 08:25 09:09 09:54 10:41 11:30 12:22 06:46 07:46 08:49 09:53 10:56 11:56 06:52 07:42 08:28 09:12 09:53 10:34 11:14 11:55 06:16 07:04 07:57 08:52 09:48
AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM PM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM
Hgt 1.27 L 1.13 L 4.45 H 4.66 H 4.91 H 5.17 H 5.42 H 5.65 H 5.83 H 5.94 H 5.99 H 0.31 L 0.48 L 0.59 L 0.61 L 0.54 L 0.41 L 5.25 H 5.41 H 5.54 H 5.63 H 5.65 H 5.62 H 5.55 H 5.46 H 1.26 L 1.53 L 1.70 L 1.75 L 1.68 L
Time 04:54 05:47 12:08 12:55 01:41 02:25 03:09 03:55 04:44 05:38 06:36 01:18 02:18 03:23 04:31 05:34 06:32 12:52 01:43 02:31 03:16 03:59 04:42 05:26 06:12 12:38 01:25 02:16 03:13 04:12
Approximate Correction Times Palm Valley ICW: H: +2:20 L: +2:00 +/- for Other regional Locations JAX Beach: H: -:29 L: -:20 Bings Landing: H: +2:57 L: +2:44
Hgt PM 5.09 PM 5.25 PM 0.89 PM 0.62 PM 0.35 PM 0.14 PM 0.03 PM 0.03 PM 0.13 PM 0.30 PM 0.50 PM 5.97 PM 5.91 PM 5.87 PM 5.87 PM 5.92 PM 5.98 PM 0.27 PM 0.17 PM 0.16 PM 0.26 PM 0.45 PM 0.72 PM 1.04 PM 1.35 PM 5.36 PM 5.26 PM 5.21 PM 5.21 PM 5.29
H H L L L L L L L L L H H H H H H L L L L L L L L H H H H H
St. Augustine Beach: H: -:07 L: -:15 St. A City Dock: H: -:04 L: +:09
Time Hgt 11:17 PM 1.53 L 06:36 07:21 08:04 08:47 09:30 10:15 11:03 11:52
PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM
5.45 5.64 5.80 5.90 5.91 5.85 5.72 5.54
H H H H H H H H
07:39 08:43 09:46 10:48 11:46
PM PM PM PM PM
0.69 0.81 0.86 0.83 0.71
L L L L L
07:23 PM 6.00 08:10 PM 5.95 08:54 PM 5.83 09:36 PM 5.64 10:16 PM 5.42 10:57 PM 5.18 :37 PM 4.96 H
H H H H H H
07:02 07:55 08:50 09:44 10:36
L L L L L
PM PM PM PM PM
1.64 1.84 1.96 1.95 1.81
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TOHATSU
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downsize ky fish to shot. My th a hook
them is a Thin 4.5’ gemouth, a little bit orm on a Tungsten
imitator. find fish allmouth Hayabusa as well. nicky fish, ors to the ite colors ng dawn. pkin and
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The Perfect Vacation Getaway for Fishing, Boating & Outdoor Enthusiasts A drop shot is an awesome way to get bites when it gets tough. With the bait suspended off the bottom above your weight, it gives fish a different presentation than the normal Texas rig. Pitch it around hard cover like wood and rock, drag it through grass or throw it around dropoffs or deep spots. I always have a drop shot rigged this time of year, and it puts fish in the boat.
Drop Shot Gear A drop shot is a finesse approach. I use a 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’1” medium fast action rod paired with a 2500 size spinning reel. Spool this combo with Seaguar 10-lb. Smackdown braid leading to an 8- to 12-lb. Abrazx fluorocarbon leader depending on the cover and water clarity you are dealing with.
TIPS FROM A PRO
to warm h tend to
DROP SHOT WHEN THE BITE IS TOUGH
T
TYLER WOOLCOTT
he end of summer is here, and the fishing is a little tough. From fishing pressure through the summer to warm water temps, this time of year can be a grind at times. Fish tend to get a little lock-jawed, and this can be really frustrating. When this scenario presents itself, I pull out a spinning rod, downsize my line and bait, and slow down my presentation to get finicky fish to eat. One of my favorite techniques this time of year is a drop shot. My drop shot rig consists of a weight tied to the end of the line with a hook and soft plastic tied in about 12 to 18 inches above the weight. There are two styles of baits I like to drop shot. One of them is a finesse-style worm like the 13 Fishing Rabbit Ear Joy Stick Ultra Thin 4.5’ worm. I like a worm on my drop shot when I’m targeting largemouth, especially in Southern states. These fish are usually feeding on a little bit larger forage, and the finesse worm is a perfect fit. Rig this worm on a 1/0 Hayabusa FPP Straight hook with a 1/4or 3/8-oz. WOO Tungsten weight for the perfect presentation. The other soft plastic I like on a drop shot is a small baitfish imitator. The 13 Fishing Vertigo Minnow gets a ton of bites. When you find fish chasing small baitfish or you’re up north where there are smallmouth bass, this style of soft plastic gets the job done. Rig it on a Hayabusa DSR132 #1 hook with a ¼ or 3/8-oz. WOO Tungsten weight, as well.
Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. R E S E RV E Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.Y
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I like to keep things simple when it comes to colors. With finicky fish, you want your bait to look as natural as possible. I match colors to the forage in the lake. When throwing the finesse worm, my favorite colors are the green pumpkins and even pinkish colors like a morning dawn. With the baitfish, I stick to white and pearl or your green pumpkin and brown. A drop shot is an awesome way to get bites when it gets tough. With the bait suspended off the bottom above your weight, it gives fish a different presentation than the normal Texas rig. Pitch it around hard cover like wood and rock, drag it through grass or throw it around dropoffs or deep spots. I always have a drop shot rigged this time of year, and it puts fish in the boat.
P
Drop Shot Gear A drop shot is a finesse approach. I use a 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’1” medium fast action rod paired with a 2500 size spinning reel. Spool this combo with Seaguar 10-lb. Smackdown braid leading to an 8- to 12-lb. Abrazx fluorocarbon leader depending on the cover and water clarity you are dealing with. Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.
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MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TRIP Tim Barefoot
Y
es, everyone wants to catch a grouper, or three, but you should be prepared— tackle-wise—to come home with “the groceries.” One way to accomplish this is to keep a beeliner/triggerfish rig ready on a rod and to have someone willing to use it when you get on the right mark. Not all big stacks of bait on the recorder are beeliners and triggerfish, but get accustomed to it and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what you’re looking at. The bigger species of the reef complex tend hang out under a big stack of bait, like cigar minnows, sardines, beeliners, etc. But the truth of the matter is, what you might be looking for is near the top of the stack. For example, the larger beeliners might sometimes be the first taps you get on your jig as it drops toward the bottom. When I’m grouper fishing, I fish a revolving spool reel rather than a spinning reel for several reasons. The main reason is so I can feel the bait as it drops. If you feel the bait on the jig getting tapped on the way down, understand that you’re in beeliners, triggers and/or American reds. At that point, it’s up to you to capitalize or just continue to grouper fish for grouper only. If you choose to do it, you can load up on some pretty tasty groceries by sizing down your tackle.
T H E
P E R F E C T
I take a 5-lb. box of squid on every trip offshore for a number of reasons, but this is one of the main reasons. Using a small 1/0 circle hook, double tackle and a 2- or 3-oz. bank sinker, you can harvest grouper bait and dinners deluxe. I count the strips it takes to get to the fish. This is also where multi-colored line can come into play. Drop your bait down to the same color where they were hitting, and then start a very slow descent. These fish like to eat bait as it falls. When you feel the tap or the bait just stops falling, click the reel into gear and let the circle hook do its work. When you get them working upward in the water column, keep them going. If you stop catching them, you’ll see the top of the mark start working it’s way back closer to the bottom. The top of the school is typically where the larger fish will be, especially the triggerfish. Triggers are hard to catch on the grouper jigs, but smaller circle hooks are deadly on these crafty bait stealers. I always anchor to grouper/bottom fish. This style of teasing beeliners and triggers up toward the surface only works from a stationary boat, not drifting. Check out videos on rigging and using doublecircle-hook tackle at barefootcatsandtackle.com.
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F L O R I D A
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TRIP
Y
Tim Barefoot
es, everyone wants to catch a grouper, or three, but you should be prepared—tackle-wise—to come home with “the groceries.” One way to accomplish this is to keep a beeliner/triggerfish rig ready on a rod and to have someone willing to use it when you get on the right mark. Not all big stacks of bait on the recorder are beeliners and triggerfish, but get accustomed to it and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what you’re looking at. The bigger species of the reef complex tend hang out under a big stack of bait, like cigar minnows, sardines, beeliners, etc. But the truth of the matter is, what you might be looking for is near the top of the stack. For example, the larger beeliners might sometimes be the first taps you get on your jig as it drops toward the bottom. When I’m grouper fishing, I fish a revolving spool reel rather than a spinning reel for several reasons. The main reason is so I can feel the bait as it drops. If you feel the bait on the jig getting tapped on the way down, understand that you’re in beeliners, triggers and/or American reds. At that point, it’s up to you to capitalize or just continue to grouper fish for grouper only. If you choose to do it, you can load up on some pretty tasty groceries by sizing down your tackle. I take a 5-lb. box of squid on every trip offshore for a number of reasons, but this is one of the main reasons. Using a small 1/0 circle hook, double tackle and a 2- or 3-oz. bank sinker, you can harvest grouper bait and dinners deluxe. I count the strips it takes to get to the fish. This is also where multi-colored line can come into play. Drop your bait down to the same color where they were hitting, and then start a very slow descent. These fish like to eat bait as it falls. When you feel the tap or the bait just stops falling, click the reel into gear and let the circle hook do its work. When you get them working upward in the water column, keep them going. If you stop catching them, you’ll see the top of the mark start working it’s way back closer to the bottom. The top of the school is typically where the larger fish will be, especially the triggerfish. Triggers are hard to catch on the grouper jigs, but smaller circle hooks are deadly on these crafty bait stealers. I always anchor to grouper/bottom fish. This style of teasing beeliners and triggers up toward the surface only works from a stationary boat, not drifting. Check out videos on rigging and using doublecircle-hook tackle at barefootcatsandtackle.com. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COMSEPTEMBER JUNE 2020 2021
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he recreational harvest of greater amberjack and gray triggerfish opened in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters in August. Greater amberjack is scheduled to remain open through Oct. 31 in Gulf state and federal waters. Gray triggerfish is scheduled to remain open through Dec. 31 in Gulf state and federal waters, but an early quota closure is possible for either species. The bag limit for amberjack is one per person, per day, with a minimum length of 34 inches fork length. The bag limit for triggerfish is one per person, per day, with a minimum length of 15 inches fork length. If you plan to fish for amberjack or gray triggerfish anywhere in Florida state or federal waters from a private recreational vessel, you must sign up as a State Reef Fish Angler (annual renewal is required). To learn more, visit MyFWC.com/SRFS. Sign up today at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
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“A
iyeeeeee, yeeee, yeeee, yeee!” The shout sounded Cajun, or perhaps like the intro to a mariachi tune. Either way, it amplified the chaos on deck. Three rods were bent. Two anglers scrambled to uncross lines screaming off reels. A third angler dove to wrap an arm around the 10-year-old who held a death grip on rod number three. It was a tossup as to whether the kid would lose the rod or be yanked overboard into a very active chum slick. The whole scene unraveled when a 10-foot tiger shark rose to the surface. It smashed the boy’s cobia straight through the surface, blowing up close enough to drench us, maybe 15 feet off the stern. There was stunned silence, then... “Ayeeee, yeeee, yeeee, yeeee!” our captain hollered. “I love chaos!” Man, what a trip. It was a lot more than my two brothers and I expected upon reconnecting with a childhood friend in Bluffton, South Carolina. Our captain, Keene Reese, is a successful real estate agent with Ussery Group, Charter One Realty in the Lowcountry. He is also a very fishy dude. In mid-June, he invited us—along with my 10-year-old son— on a 20-mile ride offshore, where cobia were thick on a well-known wreck. With a beautiful chum slick snaking off the stern of Reese’s 25’ Regulator “Copacetic,” it didn’t take 10 minutes for “brownies” to start showing on the surface. There was no need for down-lines that day. All the action was on top, visible and simple. Pitch a live menhaden on a freeline, and a cobia would take it before you reached the rod holder. Over the course of a few hours, we boated well over a dozen cobia,
although the action came in such crazy spurts that no one could keep count. The thing is, we only landed four fish longer than the 36-inch minimum. That’s good news, according to Mel Bell, the director of Fisheries Management with South Carolina DNR. For decades, South Carolina was famous for its inshore cobia runs. May is the peak of a spawning run that once saw scads of cobia pushing into Port Royal Sound, Calibogue Sound, St. Helena Sound and the Broad River. Bell said boats lined up to target big eggbearing females before they could reproduce. The fishery collapsed. “We were in a bad place in 2016,” Bell said. “The numbers were scary. Even the anglers were telling us we had to do something.” While overall Atlantic cobia stocks are in good shape, according to the latest assessment, Bell said sound-spawners in South Carolina are a distinct “sub-population.” The Southern Cobia Management Zone was formed in 2016 to protect these inshore-spawning fish. The zone stretches from Jeremy Inlet on Edisto Island, S.C. south to the Georgia border. It extends three miles offshore, and within this zone there is a one fish per person, three per boat daily limit—except in May, when cobia harvest is closed. The limit in federal waters is one per person, six per boat. The minimum length is 36 inches, which brings us back to all the short fish. Bell said South Carolina DNR isn’t ready to release hard data. However, he’s heard fishermen reporting lots of smaller fish, which are likely the age classes protected since 2016. If anecdotes translate into survey data, it would mean the restrictions are working. Bell said next year might be time to take a close look and see just how well cobia are returning to the sounds. PHOTO BY GILBERT CARTER
By Nick Carter
For more information, go to www.dnr.sc.gov.
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ALL SEASON LONG! T
he approach of autumn doesn’t mean you should fall back on the game! The seasons are changing, but the action isn’t. Fall is nothing more than a second spring. So, spring into action with the Contender series raglan long sleeve shirt. The raglan sleeve construction allows for increased movement, which you will need since the fair weather will liberate you from the sweltering summer heat. Even though the sun is less intense in the fall months, you still need sun protection, and the raglan long sleeve shirt delivers by blocking UVA and UVB rays for all-day protection. In fall, there’s no better time to be out on the water. With fall breezes blowing in, you’ll need to check out our men’s tournament anorak. Featuring a full storm hood and a center placket that provides critical coverage to protect you, you can count on the jacket to comfortably protect you, rain or shine. As the days get shorter, you will need something sturdy like the men’s pro series storm fleece. Designed with spacer-fabric and engineered with air pockets embedded in the fabric that provides insulation and temperature control to keep the piece lightweight, it is the perfect accessory to make your fall epic. No matter the season, GILLZ has you covered. Check out the website: gillz-gear.com
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THREE WAYS TO TARGET
I
BIG CATS
f you like the feel of really big fish on the end of a line, catfish are a good option. There are several different types, but trophy hunters set their sights on blue and flathead catfish. Both species grow large and can weigh in excess of 100 pounds. For bait, catfish have been caught on just about everything you can think of. But generally, big flatheads are predators and like whole, live, hand-sized bream. Blues like large cut bait like bream, skipjack or carp. Once you’ve got your bait, here are some ideas for how to fish it. Fish a Fan: My favorite technique is to anchor up in a good spot near rocky bottom or structure such as a ledge, river channel or creek bed. I have 14 Driftmaster 255 H Pro Duo rod holders, which I use to put out a fan of baits on Penn Fathom reels and medium to heavy rods. These are spooled with 80-pound PowerPro braid. The terminal end is a weight slide on the main line then a swivel and a 3- to 5-foot leader, with a Gamakatsu 8/0 circle hook on the end. These are the rigs I use to fish Cabela’s King Kat tournaments. They are heavy duty because you never know when a 100-pound monster will show up. Back-Trolling: On big rivers, back-trolling can be very effective. Use your trolling motor in reverse to slow
the boat’s drift in the current and present baits to catfish holding on the bottom. Bottom bouncing is Bill Dance’s preferred method on the Mississippi River. It’s also very popular on the Tennessee River. It allows you to keep your bait about a foot off the bottom and bounce it to fish facing upstream. Tie a three-way swivel to a mainline of 40- to 80-lb. braid. On the bottom eye of the swivel, tie in 12 inches of 20-lb. mono drop line and attach a bank sinker. The drop line should be lighter than your main line so you can save the rest of the rig when your sinker gets caught. On the third eye, use a 2- to 3-foot piece of the same line as your main line and attach a 6/0 to 12/0 circle hook, depending on the size of your bait. Drift Fishing: Drift fishing is very popular on big lakes like Santee Cooper in South Carolina. On windy days, set all your rods on one side of the boat with weights that will slide along the bottom. Pencil, Lindy and slinky sinkers all work well for this. If the wind pushes the boat too fast, deploy driftsocks to slow the boat. If you don’t have driftsocks, 5-gallon buckets work in a pinch. Gary Turner is a long-time contributor to The Angler and Coastal Angler Magazine. Contact him at gary@purgeright.com.
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INSETTA BOATWORKS:
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A LOOK AT THE NEW 35IFC AND ITS ‘RELATIVELY NEW STYLE DRUM WINDLASS’
nsetta Boatworks has always aimed to “continuously challenge the standards of an average catamaran” by setting the bar high for performance, stability and safety. Insetta’s IFC system (Internal Foil Catamaran) not only increases cruising speed and handling and stability, it also provides the boat with better acceleration and better fuel efficiency by 20 to 40 percent, meaning “20 to 40 percent farther cruise range.” Last spring, their commitment to being “the best-performing center console sportfish boat in its class by way of the hull design, cruise speed and best miles per gallon” expanded to the anchoring system on the new 35’ Internal Foil Catamaran. They installed an E-Z Anchor Puller Patriot EZ-3 drum anchor winch. The Georgia-based, fiberglass original equipment manufacturer excitedly announced in an April 23 Facebook post that they were “extremely impressed with the performance and reliability” of the installation, posting the maiden voyage of their demo boat on social media as well as writing about it on their official blog. “We kept it simple on Hull #2 with the Patriot by E-Z Anchor Puller Mfg. Co. and have really enjoyed using it,” they wrote. In another Facebook post from July, they wrote: “[It] takes up [approximately] 3 cubic feet and holds 560’ of chain, rope and dyneema.” Utilizing the Patriot series, Insetta’s boats are equipped with a complete 316 stainless steel unit, much like their commitment to use this corrosionresistant, marine-grade metal wherever applicable during the construction of their own vessels. Insetta has instilled a standard of transparency in their day-to-day processes as well, encouraging factory visits and taking a sales-
team approach to the buying process by giving customers a single point of contact for each buying experience. “The highest quality materials and best workmanship possible are paired to produce the finest boats on the market. From the first drawing to final installation, the Insetta design and construction teams ensure the final boat can withstand the rigors and stripes in adverse conditions.” - Insetta Boats, insetta.com
About the Patriot Series The Patriot series is the perfect shallow coastal saltwater anchoring solution for center consoles and sportfishing boats. With three sizes, the Patriot spools rope capacities from 1/2” nylon down to 1/4” dyneema. Completely 316 stainless steel components make the Patriot the ultimate saltwater anchoring solution. Engineered to evenly spool anchor rope, these units deploy and retrieve at an average 100-feet-per-minute. Call 1.800.800.1640 or visit ezanchorpuller.com for more information.
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*REPOWER FINANCE is available through Synchrony Retail Finance, as low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new, unregistered Suzuki outboard motors, subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on creditworthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories, or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki outboard motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between from July 1, 2021 through September 1, 2021. †5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY applies to qualifying purchases of Suzuki outboard motors sold and delivered to the retail purchaser, for pleasure (non-commercial) use only, from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. See Suzuki Limited Warranty for additional details. The Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2021 Suzuki Marine, USA, LLC.
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