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TUNA FISHING
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PHOTO BY CAPT. BLAKE RIGBY COURTESY OF TRIPLETAIL CHARTERS WWW.TRIPLETAILCHARTERS.COM VOLUME 25 • ISSUE 302
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F R A N C H I S E
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O P P O R T U N I T I E S
A V A I L A B L E
MAY 2020
W O R L D W I D E
4/20/20 10:57 PM
Time to get to your local Suzuki Marine Dealer for the Ultimate Outboard Motors. Buy Time our to get to your local Suzuki Dealer3-Year for theLimited Ultimate Outboardplus Motors. Buy during Spring Sales Event andMarine get Suzuki’s Warranty 3 years of Time to our get to yourSales local Suzuki Marine Dealer the Ultimate Outboard Motors. during Spring Event get Suzuki’s 3-Year Limited Warranty plus 3models, yearsBuy ofand Extended Protection at no extraand charge. There for are Instant Savings on select during our Spring Sales Event andcharge. get Suzuki’s Limited Warranty plus 3models, years of Extended Protection noavailable. extra There3-Year are Instant Savings on select and Low-Rate Financing is at also Extended Protection no extra charge. There are Instant Savings on select models, and Low-Rate Financing at isSuzuki also available. See your participating Marine Low-Rate Financing is also available. See your participating Suzuki Marine dealer for all the details. See yourfor participating Suzuki Marine dealer all the details. dealer for all the details.
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low as 5.99% on onRates new as Suzuki outboards Rates as low as 5.99% on new Suzuki outboards on approved credit.* [60 Months] on new Suzuki outboards on approved credit.* [60 Months] approved credit.* [60 Months]
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Gimme Six Extended Protection promotion applies to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 04/01/20 and 06/30/20 in accordance with the Gimme promotion a Participating Authorized the continental and customer who and resides in thetocontinental US or04/01/20 Alaska. The SixinPromotion is available Six by Extended Protection promotionSuzuki appliesMarine to newdealer SuzukiinOutboard Motors US from 25Alaska to 350 to HPa inpurchasing inventory which are sold delivered buyer between andGimme 06/30/20 accordance with for pleasure use only, is not redeemable cash. Instant Savings applies to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motorsinmade between 04/01/20 andThe 06/30/20. list of designated models, the promotion by a and Participating Authorized for Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides the continental US or Alaska. Gimme For Six Promotion is available Gimme Six Extended Protection promotion applies to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 04/01/20 and 06/30/20 in accordance with seefor participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Instant Savings musttobe applied purchases against the price of the outboard motor and reflected in theFor billlist of of sale. There are no model pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings applies qualifying of agreed-upon select Suzuki selling Outboard Motors made between 04/01/20 and 06/30/20. designated models, the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. The Gimme Six Promotion is available substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Instant Savings must be applied against the agreed-upon selling price of the outboard motor and reflected in the bill of sale. There are no model for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings applies to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 04/01/20 and 06/30/20. For list of designated models, Synchrony Retail benefit Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 Suzuki monthsreserves on newthe andright unregistered Outboard Motors. Subject credit approval. buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and substitutions, substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. to changeSuzuki or cancel these promotions at anytotime without noticeNot or all obligation. * Financing offers available through see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Instant Savings must be applied against the agreed-upon selling price of the outboard motor and reflected in the bill of sale. There are no model terms provided, are Finance. based onAscreditworthiness. $19.99/month permonths $1,000on financed 60 monthsSuzuki is based on 5.99% APR.Subject Hypothetical figures usedNot in all calculation; actual monthly may Synchrony Retail low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 new andfor unregistered Outboard Motors. to credit approval. buyers willyour qualify. Approval, andpayment any rates anddiffer substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through based on provided, financing are terms, credit tier qualification,$19.99/month accessories orper other factors such for as down payment and fees. OfferAPR. effective on new,figures unregistered Outboard purchased from may a participating terms based on creditworthiness. $1,000 financed 60 months is based on 5.99% Hypothetical used inSuzuki calculation; your Motors actual monthly payment differ Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and authorized dealer between and 06/30/20. “Gimme Six”,factors the Suzuki “S”down and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drinkSuzuki and drive. Always wearpurchased a USCG-approved life jacket and based onSuzuki financing terms, credit04/01/20 tier qualification, accessories or other such as payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Outboard Motors from a participating 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 readauthorized your owner’s manual. 2020 Suzuki Motor America,“Gimme Inc. Suzuki dealer© between 04/01/20 andof06/30/20. Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and 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 read your owner’s manual. © 2020 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. authorized Suzuki dealer between 04/01/20 and 06/30/20. “Gimme Six”, 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. © 2020 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
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Catch
BIG BASS
From The Bank
I
f you grew up fishing, you might remember riding your bicycle to a local pond giddy with anticipation of what the day might bring. With a spinning rod held across the handlebars and a pocket full of plastic worms, the tactics were simple but the potential was huge. Would today be the day a monster largemouth tested the strength of your 8-pound line? For most of us, the joy and simplicity of bass fishing from the bank has
been lost to glitter boats and sophisticated electronics. But the truth is, all you need to catch bass—and some good ones—is a pocket full of tackle and a willingness to explore. Here are a few tips that’ll take you back to the good ol’ days. • Find a Pond: Bigger waters do not always hold bigger fish. Find a farm pond or a subdivision drainage lake with the right forage and habitat, and there’s a good chance it holds some bass pushing double digits. The key is access, so look respectful and be polite when asking, and always leave the place looking better than you found it. Google Maps is a great way to seek out small waters, and state or municipal public fishing areas can also be very good. • Keep it Simple: Only take what you’ll need. A small backpack or tackle pack should hold necessities like an extra spool of line, some needle-nose pliers and a small selection of your confidence lures. A few packs of plastic worms in proven colors and styles allow you to probe all depths depending on the rig. Spinnerbaits, bladed jigs and lipless crankbaits allow long casts to cover open water. Take just one rod. A 7-foot, medium-light action spooled with light line will handle most lures and allow for long casts you might need to reach fish. • Fish The Structure: Fish obvious visible cover like fallen trees and docks, but don’t forget the bottom contours. Depth changes attract ambush predators, and in smaller waters even a drop of couple feet will hold fish. Most ponds are deepest at the dam, and there is usually a wide shallow flat with a channel where a creek comes in. Spillways where water runs from a pipe are hotspots, and so are sunken boulders you can find by searching with a Texas rig or jig. Study the banks. Underwater topography often reflects what is visible above the waterline. Features like steep banks and ditches typically continue into a pond. One of the main considerations when prospecting small waters is that familiarity breeds success just like it does on large rivers and reservoirs. The same cover and structure will hold fish consistently. Also, a willingness to explore areas others won’t leads to unpressured fish. Wear long pants and boots, scramble through the high grass, woods and muck. Wade into the water where bank brush doesn’t allow for a cast. Remember, the world record largemouth bass was caught in 1932 from a small and swampy oxbow lake in south Georgia. Big fish live in small waters. That should be enough to make you giddy on the way to your next bank fishing excursion… even if you’re not riding a bike.
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he tuna fishing is on fire,” said Capt. Blake Rigby. “This year has been absolutely phenomenal.”
That was the April report from a Venice, Louisiana charter captain who was sitting at home in the midst of a global pandemic. Meanwhile, some of the best yellowfin action in decades was occurring in the Gulf of Mexico. The fish are out there, but no one is travelling to catch them. Charter captains are suffering, despite the fact that fisheries are still open for business. “It sucks,” Rigby said. “I fished 20-something days in March. I haven’t fished any this month.” In March, near the end of what Rigby called “lump season,” the numbers and size of yellowfin tuna being caught at the famous salt domes about 30 miles out of Venice Marina were astounding. Even in decent years, it’s one of the best winter and early spring tuna fisheries in the world. Plankton-rich currents from deep in the Gulf swirl around vertical domes that top out at 200 to 300 feet deep. It consolidates baitfish and the big fish that eat them. “It’s the best I’ve ever seen in my life,” said the young captain. At 26, he’s been running charters for six years, and said the old timers are
Gulf
Yellowfin are
expressing the same enthusiasm. “I think it’s safe to say it’s the best anyone has seen in 20 years.” The silver lining to the situation is there aren’t many people messing with the fish. When the coronavirus frenzy dies down, Rigby predicts the action will continue right through the summer, as the bite transitions to the massive floating oil and gas rigs of the Mississippi Canyon. More than 70 miles long and 5 miles wide, the Mississippi Canyon is a huge cut in the edge of the continental shelf. The rigs, called “floaters,” sit over depths from 2,000 to 7,000 feet. Every living thing gravitates to these floaters. Yellowfin might be the primary target, but blackfin tuna, mahi-mahi, wahoo, the occasional blue marlin and others are in the mix. Rigby said a good summer trip might include five or six tuna, weighing from 35 to more than 100 pounds. The bigger fish, those heavier than 200 pounds,
Photos courtesy of Blake Rigby/ Tripletail Charters. 8 NATIONAL
MAY 2020
By Nick Carter
typically show up in the cooler months. “I don’t want to raise expectations too high, because every day is different. Sometimes you can really get them, sometimes you can’t,” Rigby said. “But typically, when you find them, you’re really going to be in them.” Out of Venice, the floaters are spread 30 to 70 miles out. There’s an hour and a half run aboard Rigby’s 38-foot Empire Boatworks before it’s time put out the trolling spread. Once fish are located, Rigby slows to drift live or cut baits. Night fishing is a great option in the heat of summer. Usually, night trips depart after lunch and return when anglers have caught their fill. “Sometimes the fishing is so good, I come back that night,” Rigby said. “Sometimes we’ll stay through the next morning’s bite.” For more information, visit www.tripletailcharters.com, email Rigby at blake@tripletailcharters.com or call (409) 651-7639.
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he way fish react to live bait is interesting. Predatory fish view struggling or dying prey as an easy meal, right? So why does a half-dead shrimp on the end of the line get ignored? It would seem to represent an easy meal hanging there limp and twitching. Meanwhile, the bait pulling your popping cork across the marsh is going to get absolutely hammered. This runs counter to the theory that fish innately weigh the expenditure versus reward of chasing down prey. Seatrout are always looking for something lively. But what about redfish or any of the other inshore species that are as likely to eat a piece of dead bait as they are a live one? They’ll happily pick up a piece of frozen squid off the bottom, so why would they refuse a sluggish mud minnow on a freeline? It stands to reason that fish, when they are feeding by sight, sound and vibration—rather than smell—don’t even notice a live bait hanging out in the water doing next to nothing. Or maybe it looks unnatural, as if a shrimp that bad off should be bumping along the bottom instead of hanging in the current? Meanwhile, the bait that’s frantically trying to escape the hook it’s impaled on is drawing attention to itself. Active live bait plays on the predatory instincts of fish just like artificial lures. It works for the same reason your dog would rather you throw a tennis ball than hand it to him. The lesson here is to keep your live bait alive. Baitwells that circulate and aerate by pumping water from outside the boat are the best way to keep live bait happy. The water you’re keeping your bait in is the same water you’re fishing. This is important because sudden changes in temperature or water conditions stuns baits. With a baitwell, when you impale and cast that pinfish, it lands in the same water conditions it just came from. It’s likely to freak out when the world suddenly grows a lot bigger and full of predators, and that’s exactly what you want. If you don’t have a baitwell, a bait tank that circulates and aerates water is almost as good. You’ll have to watch the temperature, though. Cooler water makes for livelier bait in the tank, but be careful how much ice you dump in. You don’t want your finger mullet going into shock when it hits the bay. Finally, smaller coolers or 5-gallon buckets benefit from the addition of a bubbler to add oxygen to the water. These systems are very portable and perfect for kayaks and shore anglers. Remember to change the water every few hours, and don’t overload them with bait to begin with. With any of these systems, the idea is to keep the bait fresh long enough to fish it. Because if your shrimp are lethargic, you’re better off peeling and fishing chunks of them on the bottom than you are presenting them to fish as live baits.
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CA Florida STAR presented by Yamaha will have anglers across the state in hot pursuit of valuable orange tags! The new launch date for the 2020 STAR competition is Wednesday, July 1, when anglers of all ages and skill levels will chase tagged fish and also catch and log non-tagged species in 17 inshore and offshore divisions for a shot at their share of $500,000 in prizes and scholarships. Winning anglers have a choice in the signature Tagged Redfish Division of Yamaha-powered boat packages including a Contender Boats 22 Sport, Pathfinder Boats 2200TRS, Hewes Redfisher 16 and Carolina Skiffs 21 LS. “The last five years of competition are proof that tagged fish can be caught, and you would get to pick from the prizes available,” said STAR Director Leiza Fitzgerald. “But remember, any fish you catch can be entered to win something, you just need to be a member and registered for STAR when you go fishing.” Both the east and west coast of Florida have had their share of STAR-tagged redfish recaptured during the competition by unregistered anglers. Since 2015, 102 tagged redfish have been recaptured, but only six of them by CCA members registered for STAR competition. Three of those winners took home new GMC trucks. The others opted for Pathfinder or Contender boat, motor and trailer packages, each powered by Yamaha. To date there have been more than a million dollars in prizes awarded, with $500,000 in college scholarships. On average, four STAR-tagged redfish are released per Florida’s coastal counties with Brevard, Charlotte and Citrus counties being destination counties with each having a total of eight tagged fish released in their waters. In 2019, two of the winning fish were from Charlotte County. In 2017, Citrus County had a winner. Tagged redfish have been caught in Brevard County each year, but the anglers were not registered. You might want to plan your next 8 FLORIDA
MAY 2020
fishing weekend in one of the three destination counties. There are plenty of opportunities for anglers to catch a winning fish, but they better be STAR-registered CCA members, or it will just be another very sad fish tale. STAR has other great opportunities for anglers who catch non-tagged fish, too. Terrific prizes are lined up for those who catch any non-tagged redfish, snook, trout, tarpon, kingfish, dolphin or grouper. Just submit a photo of your legal catch in the Open, Ladies, Kayak or Fly divisions. Even better, any fish can be entered in the Power Pole Conservation Division for a shot at some really cool Power Pole equipment. If fishing is not your thing, the Costa Kick Plastic Trash Division presented by Papa’s Pilar encourages people to collect plastic and trash from coastal waters and shorelines. Submit a photo of every full 5-gallon bucket collected and include The 2020 Official STAR Measuring Device in the photo for a shot at a three-day trip to Key West to visit the Hemingway Rum Distillery or $500 cash from Thrash Can Bucket toppers or gift certificates from AFTCO or West Marine. Kids can also enter their catches. Youth anglers (ages 6-17) can register for free with their current ($10) CCA Florida New Tide membership and are eligible for prizes in the tagged fish divisions as well as the Youth Scholarship Division, Conservation Division and the Trash Division. Prizes for the first two youth anglers in the STAR tagged redfish division include a Yamaha-powered Salt Marsh Skiff, sporting Humminbird electronics and a Minn Kota trolling motor all sitting on a trailer. The registered youth angler who catches the first STAR-tagged dolphin is eligible to win a $10,000 scholarship. The Youth Scholarship Division presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors offers $100,000 in scholarships, two $25,000 scholarships from Realtree Fishing and Academy Sports + Outdoors and ten $5,000 scholarships from Bealls Department Stores, Southeast Environmental Solutions, Talk of
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the Town Restaurant Group, Florida’s Sports Coast, Flagler Sportfishing Club, Plantation Inn Crystal River, Tailin Toads and Carolina Skiff. Other scholarship donors are Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Jacksonville Offshore Sportfishing Club and Ryals Offshore Productions. Unlike traditional fishing tournaments, STAR is a competition that focuses on conservation. Recognized as a ‘catch, photo and release’ competition, STAR’s smart phone app promotes the proper handling of all species and eliminates the requirement for anglers to harvest or capture and transport fish. “Our state’s fisheries are here for everyone’s enjoyment, and CCA Florida is constantly trying to improve them while promoting conservation. We understand that smart fishing will preserve these resources for the future,” said Brian Gorski, CCA Florida Executive Director. There are 17 divisions and 12 species included in the event, and most winners are determined by a random drawing of catch entries made. Registration is $40 for current CCA Florida members or $75 for non-members, which includes CCA Florida membership. With the start of the competition being July 1, plus incentives offered by Engel Coolers to register early and so many amazing prizes, now is the time to get registered and make your fishing more rewarding. For information visit www.ccaflstar.com or call (844) 387-7827.
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fficiency is the hallmark of successful predators, and dominant gamefish are no exception. Their savvy as hunters rivals that of any terrestrial predator. But hunting in the sea is very different from hunting on land. The physical contrast between the two mediums produces the distinction. No predatory creature, be they of land or of water, can afford to spend more energy capturing their prey than they obtain from its consumption. A recurrent net loss in energy would bring about the hunter’s downfall. On land, predatory animals— even those considered the most accomplished of hunters—often must work very hard to procure each meal. But, even if they put significant effort into a hunt, they are likely to derive more energy from the meal than they expended to get it. This is because the terrestrial atmosphere offers relatively
little in the way of physical resistance, and therefore requires relatively little energy to negotiate. Most terrestrial predators, accordingly, find the act of chasing their prey to be a bit more forgiving than do the denizens of the sea. While the density of seawater is very high, the compressibility of seawater is very low. Think of compressibility as the amount of “give” in an object or medium. For example, if you were to lay your head on a pillow, it would compress noticeably. If you were to lay your head on a brick, it would not. These factors combine to make the sea extremely challenging to maneuver through. Predatory fish can ill afford to pursue an escaping prey item any distance without earning a suitable caloric reward for so doing. Powerful anatomical propulsion systems are inherent in gamefish, but they require a lot of energy to operate,
Photo by Clark Anderson/Aquaimages
and fish cannot exert themselves in this manner every time they feed. They must feed cost-effectively, when odds of a successful hunt are most favorable. Predatory opportunities in the sea are largely dependent on the presence of swift, predictable water currents, such as those produced by the ocean’s tides. A dense, incompressible wall of moving water can overpower and transport weaker prey items, which are pushed around like dead leaves caught in a strong breeze. This makes an easy meal for any well-positioned gamefish that anticipates the event, allowing the predator to feed without squandering precious calories that would have been depleted by chasing prey.
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Intimately familiar with the world around them, gamefish know how to use the environment to their advantage and can readily identify when and where they will be able to capture prey with the lowest possible expenditure of energy. Experienced predatory fish have mapped out the areas they frequent and will repeatedly profit on underwater topographic features that serve as both ambush points and safe places to rest. They are calculated in their tactics, and well understand how to navigate currents at the expense of their overmatched prey. John Saporito is a lifelong fisherman and student of the seas. Visit him online at www guerillaangling.com.
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By Capt. Cefus McRae
he other day, Buck the Wonder Dog and I loaded the boat and headed out to the lake. I knew the general area where I wanted to start trolling, so I really didn’t pay a lot of attention to my chartplotter on the way there. Instead, we just enjoyed the sunrise and the brisk ride about 4 miles up the lake. My Simrad was set to display DownScan full screen, and when we arrived in the vicinity, I switched over to my multi-window view which shows DownScan, SideScan and the chart. Oops! No chart chip! I had removed it a few days earlier to download some screen captures and forgot to put it back. I still had all my waypoints, but I was just looking at the ‘base map’ on the screen with no contours, no 4 NORTH FLORIDA
MAY 2020
creek channels, navigation aids, etc. Nevertheless, we fished over several of my favorite marks. I name most of my good waypoints so I can easily see which ones are the ‘go-to’ spots. We caught some nice fish. When I got back home, I dropped in my chart chip to note exactly where we had been catching fish. Interestingly, those spots were very close to creek channels and the convergence of creek channels. I’ve known those places are usually likely spots for fish, but it became even clearer to me just how important understanding bottom features are to a productive day on the water. I’m convinced gamefish, both fresh and salt, use underwater channels, ledges and other distinctive features as highways and
travel routes, much the same way offshore pelagics use currents and water temperature to guide them on their migratory paths each season. Once I saw the overlay of my waypoints on the chart, it was eyeopening. I even scrolled around to other fishy spots on the lake, and the vast majority were either right on top, or very close to, these kinds of features. I know this may seem quite elementary to a lot of anglers out there, but for me, it was a reminder of the significance of underwater highways.
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It also lends some insight on how to fish a body of water for the first time. Get the chart, either digitally on your electronics, or a paper chart of the area. Plan your stops for the day, and make your initial stops at the aforementioned types of places. You’ll be pleasantly surprised, just like me, how helpful an underwater roadmap can be to catching more fish. Capt. Cefus McRae is host of the Nuts & Bolts of Fishing Series. For more, go to nutsandboltsfishing.com.
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he Northeast Florida Marlin Association’s 48th Annual Bluewater Tournament has been rescheduled to Memorial Day Weekend this year because of the virus. This tournament is one of the oldest continuing tournaments in the state, organized by one of Florida’s oldest sport-fishing clubs so we’re not going to let a pandemic get in the way of a 48-year tradition. We will however be eliminating most of the gatherings and allowing online registration, distanced captains meetings and various other measures to keep everyone feeling safe. The three-day tournament allows captains to fish any two out of three days and offers a wide variety of species and payouts for captains and anglers. This is a photograph and release tournament for billfish and a catch tournament for gamefish including Wahoo, Tuna and Dolphin, which have all arrived this year and are ready and available for catching.
Club NEFMA typically registers 50 to 75 boats in its tournaments and pays out 90 percent of entry fees in prize money, plus it offers trophies for ladies, juniors and top three places in each category. Entry Fees of $500 for Gamefish and $750 for Billfish make this a tournament affordable for anyone. Calcutta’s are offered at seven levels Captains Meeting May 21st, fishing days May 22, 23 or 24. See www.NEFMA.com for entry info and leaderboard updates. Call Tournament Director: Scott Stanley 904-234-7182 or Club President: Paul Raudenbush 904-838-0421 for information.
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Fishing Report & Forecast St. Augustine Inshore By Capt. Tommy Derringer
M
ay is an awesome month for fishing in Northeast Florida. The inshore fish (redfish, trout, flounder, drum, bluefish, ladyfish, jacks, etc.) will be on the feed with the influx of baitfish (finger mullet and pogies). With warming air and water temps the nearshore fishing should be firing up as well with huge jacks, cobia, and maybe even a tarpon or two... all waiting to put up that fight of a lifetime. Inshore the redfish will be crushing the finger mullet and that means a top-water plug, especially at first and last light, will be the go-to lure of choice. Look for large concentrations of mullet and toss your plugs around them. There’s sure to be a redfish lurking around looking for an easy snack. Once the sun gets higher in the sky I like to switch to a search bait this time of year. The water will become fairly murky and a lure that makes some noise will be a good way to get the redfish’s attention. Some of my favorites are spoons, twitchbaits, and one of
my favorites, the spinner bait. My clients and I have caught a ton of big redfish on spinner baits. You can pair them up with a scented soft plastic like a Fishbites paddle tail for a deadly combination. Of course a popping cork with a shrimp or mud minnow will catch its fair share of reds this month as well. May has always been a “gator” trout month for me. A top-water plug will account for some of the bigger trout catches this month. The outgoing tide along the ICW banks should be loaded with trout, especially if the baitfish are around. Once the day heats up a bit I like to fish a 1/4-ounce jighead paired with a Bass Assassin soft plastic paddle tail for the trout. Use a twitch, twitch, pause method and most of the time they’ll hit it on the pause. A free-lined live shrimp with a small pinch weight a few inches above it is a great was to catch some trout too. The inlets will come alive with all kinds of fast hitting fish this month. Look for jacks, blues, ladyfish, and spanish macs to be on the feed around all the area inlets. Crankbaits, spoons, and just about anything that’s moving fast through the water will catch these fish. The flounder bite has been consistent all year and will be a good bet this month. Some of the bigger springtime flatties will start to show in the inlets. Use a finger mullet or big mud minnow pinned to a jighead or fish-finder rig. Bounce the minnow (or mullet) along the rocks at the area inlets to find some of the big “doormats”. Capt. Tommy Derringer Be sure to check out my Daily Fishing Reports online @ www InshoreAdventures.net
6 NE FLORIDA
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MAY 2020
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Fishing Report & Forecast St. Augustine Offshore By Capt. Robert Johnson
May is for Mahi May is unquestionably the best month for all around blue water fishing in NE FL. You name it and it is available. Dolphin season usually peaks around the full moon in May. We look for temperature breaks or anything floating with Sargasso weed in a current edge being the most productive. I like to pull medium ballyhoo rigged on 125# monofilament. You can pull them behind a sea witch or any small lure head. Mahi are not picky and will eat just about anything. If there are not any current edges, then work structure. I have had some big days on Mahi open water trolling. Tuna, Wahoo, Sailfish and Blue Marlin will be in the same area. Find
water 75 + degrees and you should be in business. If trolling isn’t your thing May is also the best month for Large Gag Grouper. These fish are coming off their winter spawn and are Hangry (Hungry and Angry). This isn’t a task for the weak or timid. Full contact fishing. We use 100-125# leader rigged on a stout rod usually paired with a Penn senator 6/0 114H.The key to success is to get the fish coming to you before he realizes he is hooked. This is easier said than done. I tell people to reel like there is a million-dollar bill on the end of the line. I like 140 to 160 ft this time of year for grouper. There will be plenty of Fat vermilion snapper, triggerfish and Red Porgy if you prefer not to get beat up by your dinner. The traditional double hook rig baited with squid or cut bait will get plenty of bites along the shelf edge. Whatever you’re after its available in May.
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-Captain Robert Johnson, Jodie Lynn Charters wwwJodieLynnCharters.com (904)540-2628 jlfishing@bellsouth.net
MAY 2020
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Fishing Report Pier and Surf By: Noel Kuhn
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ast month was crazy with the beach and pier closures. For those of us that were able to get our toes in the sand we experienced some great surf fishing. May should be even better. Hopefully you are reading this between your fishing trips. Pompano , Whiting, and Black Drum have been plentiful and eager to take a fresh bait. My favorite go to baits are live shrimp cut up into thumb nail size pieces, fresh clams, and live sand fleas. Almost always I use a double dropper rig with 2/0 Eagle Claw L197 circle hooks. My most effective rigs include a white float on the top hook and a clear orange bead on the bottom. Nothing will shy away from this set up. Last month I scored a double Sheepshead on this rig! Flea on the top hook and clam strapped on the bottom hook with Miracle Thread. This
thread is now available at Strike Zone Fishing. Whether you are in the surf or on the pier the boys in the grey suits will be in full force this month. To get your string stretched just soak a whiting head in a deep trough along the beach. The Blacktip sharks will be actively feeding on them and the pompano. I like using a foot of 480lb cable tipped with a 10/0 L2022 by Eagle Claw. Above that, six feet of 300lb mono to avoid being tail whipped. This fish will run 70 to 160 pounds. So make sure you have enough line, 300 yds of 30lb, to soak up the first run. Blacktips are a blast because in shallow water they almost always go airborne when hooked up. My personal best happened on Crescent Beach. The tide had dropped out leaving a deep eighty yard wide trough about 4 foot deep. It put on a big show. Twenty one jumps total including flips, spirals, and tail walking! This is why I have nicknamed them “Beach Marlin”! I am pleased to announce that the Florida Surf Casters Club will be holding their 16th Annual Surf Fishing Tournament on Saturday May 16th. This tourney is for pompano and whiting only. The weigh in will be hosted by the Strike Zone in Jacksonville, Fl. For more information go to www.surffishingflorida.com or call Steve Austin 904-386-4565. As a founding member of the club, I want to thank Dave Workman and his team at Strike Zone Fishing for making this tourney an ongoing success! Noel Kuhn Surf fishing guide and long distance casting coach. 904-945-0660 www.TheSurfAngler.com
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ACGFA - May
Florida Surf Casters 16th Annual
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Surf Fishing Tournament Saturday May 16, 2020 AT
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Surf Fishing Tournament & Raffle $2,600 TOTAL in Cash & PRIZES Divisions/Prize: Largest Pompano Largest Whiting Juniors Division
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
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400** 400**
300* 300*
200* 200*
175* 175*
125* 125*
100* 100*
Trophy
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**1st PRIZE IN BOTH DIVISIONS PAY $300 CASH AND $100 GIFT CARD = 400 For more informaCon and details visit: www.surfishingflorida.com and go to FSC Tournament tab Entry Fee: $30 adults, $10 JR. angler RegistraCon: Online at www.surfishingflorida.com & go to Online Store Pay directly thru PayPal: PayPal@surfishingflorida.com Strike Zone Store - cash or check only RegistraCon deadline: Friday May 1 5th, 2020 at 11:59pm Weigh-in at Stri ke Zone from 1:00pm to 3:30pm Contact: floridasurfcasters@gmail.com
14 NE FLORIDA
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oy have things been rough! In light of the mandatory “safer-at-home” order and social distancing guidelines, the ACGFA hasn’t had a club meeting since February, but our fingers are crossed that we are able to meet in May. Whenever we do get to meet again, we can’t wait to socialize and catch up with our members and tell fish stories again! Since fishing was deemed as an “essential activity” and we were blessed that our boat ramps in St. Johns County never closed, we have all been able to enjoy our waterways which gave us the opprotunity to kept our monthly in-club tournaments running. In February, Zach Timmons was named the winner of our Inshore Slam Tournament. In March, we targeted black drum and Kaley Nelson came out on top with her 65.10 lb. catch. April is our trolling tournament and since fishing is about the only thing many can do right now, there have been a lot of fish caught and weighed in. We are excited to see who tops the leaderboard at the end of the month! We are still planning for our Challenge Tournaments in July, however we are taking it day by day at
this point. We finally see some light at the end of the tunnel and feel as though we are going to be able to keep our dates and hold the biggest and longest running fishing tournament in St. Augustine. The schedule of events and other details can be found at acgfa.com/ challenge-tournaments. To learn more about our club and how to get your family involved, please visit our website at www.acgfa.com or find us on FaceBook.
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By CAM Staff
Veteran’s Program
Photo courtesy of J&H Surf Fishing the Space Coast.
onsider the lowly whiting. Small in size, it’s not a species most anglers get excited about. Big “bull” whiting might weigh a couple pounds, but most weigh less than a pound. And unless you’re geared down to some super-light tackle, fighting them is akin to reeling in a live bait. But if your mission is to collect meat, there’s no better target than whiting. The tactics are simple, the action is fast, and they are absolutely delicious when dredged in cornmeal and fried up crisp. Whiting are the saviors of countless busted inshore fishing trips; they are the rice to surf fishing’s seatrout gravy; they are bucket fillers on piers from Texas to Chesapeake Bay. Whiting are the fish you can count on when times are tough. Most states have very liberal limits for whiting harvest, so even though they are small, you can fill a cooler and feed the masses. Their soft bodies make for quick work at the cleaning table. Also known regionally as kingfish, croaker and sea mullet, whiting is the name for a group of species that look and act similarly. They school up thick, which makes them easy to catch when you find them, and their downturned mouths make them suckers for small cut baits fished on the bottom. In The Surf Whiting are a staple species for surf anglers. They run the troughs between sandbars and and feed on morsels uncovered by wave action. Many anglers prefer a double-drop rig in the surf, and small pieces of frozen or fresh shrimp and sand fleas are the best baits. Whiting have small mouths, so pinch off a piece of bait about the size of the end of a pinky finger and thread it on a #1 J hook. If whiting are in the area, the action should begin quickly. If they haven’t bitten within 15 minutes, move. From A Boat Hordes of whiting move inshore in spring to feed up on sand or mud bottoms near channel drops. They prefer 15- to 20-foot depths near deeper water, and with electronics it’s not hard to find these conditions in any tidal river, inlet or bay. A Carolina rig with an egg sinker heavy enough to keep the bait on the bottom is the rig of choice. Use that same #1 J hook, and bait the first one with a small piece of peeled shrimp. Once you catch your first whiting, you can cut it into chunks and use it for bait. From The Pier Depending on the water clarity, it’s possible to spot whiting feeding on the bottom from the elevated position of a pier. Even if you can’t see them, they’re probably down there. Once you catch one, throw back to the same spot. There will likely be another one waiting for an easy meal. That same Carolina rig and the same baits are good for pier fishing, but you might want to beef up your line strength in case a big black drum or redfish takes the bait instead.
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lenn Hughes, president of the American Sportfishing Association, issued a letter in April announcing the cancellation of ICAST 2020. It reads as follows: For more than 80 years, the American Sportfishing Association has created a legacy of working hard to ensure our industry's future. Nowhere is this more evident than at ICAST, our industry's trade show, where lasting friendships and business partnerships have been forged and fostered. However, given the ongoing stay-at-home orders and the desire to keep the health and safety of everyone in our recreational fishing family first in the decision-making process, ASA's board of directors made the decision to cancel the physical ICAST Show that was scheduled for July 14-17, 2020, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Two weeks ago, we asked for your patience as we strived to make the best business decisions we could on behalf of our exhibitors, members, staff and all our show attendees. Cancelling this year's show was the only decision that could be made when considering everyone's well-being and the impact the pandemic is having on the sportfishing industry and our economy. Despite cancelling our in-person show, we are committed to keeping all of us connected as a global community this July. As the largest sportfishing industry trade show in the world, we look forward to producing ICAST 2020 Online, our version of a "virtual trade show," that will provide a wide variety of tools and a wealth of information that you've come to expect from us. We will share more with you very soon! We ask for a little more patience as we shift gears. Please allow us to reach out to each of our exhibitors to discuss their options, including a full refund if desired. There is no doubt that we are in uncharted waters, but we are confident that we will get through this together and stronger than ever! As we always have. From all of us at the ASA, please stay safe and stay healthy. Glenn Hughes, president
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t seems this coronavirus has pushed everything online. We grocery shop online, the kids go to school online, and now bass tournaments are being conducted online, also. In mid-April, the Association of Collegiate Anglers completed its first-ever online tournament. Over six days, numerous college anglers fished public lakes, streams, rivers and private ponds from upstate New York to the delta in California in search of the longest bass they could catch. Approximately 100 fish were submitted, with dozens of fish measuring over 20 inches. Cole Sands, from Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee, won the Online Tournament with a largemouth bass measuring 24.6 inches. When he set out on Tennessee’s Lake Chickamauga, Sands knew he needed a fish over 20 inches to have a shot of finishing in the top 5. By the end of that day, he had managed to sack up 30 pounds of bass for his best five. The longest of those fish measured a little over 22 inches. “I knew that wouldn’t hold up against the guys in this competition,” said Sands. “So I went out on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday just trying to catch one true giant.” Knowing what he needed to do to claim the lead, Sands armed himself with a large swimbait and went in search of a bass that would best the 23.5inch leading mark. “I picked up that big swimbait, and about my tenth cast that one bit and it jumped,” Sands said. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is the fish to win this tournament.’ I horsed it in.” For more information about the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, visit www.CollegiateBassChampionship.com.
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Keeping Your Catch In A Kayak By Mark Armstrong
F
rom affordability to portability and the ability to access narrow, shallow waters, there’s plenty to say about the advantages of kayak fishing. A big fish box where you can toss your catch and keep it fresh is not one of those advantages. If you hope to bring home dinner next time you go kayaking, it’s worth considering how you’ll deal with your catch. Plan Ahead And Come Prepared: You can only store so many fish when you’re out on a kayak. You’ll need to plan ahead and make sure you have a plan to keep your catch while you’re out paddling. Investing in a high-quality fishing cooler is your best bet. They’re designed specifically to maximize storage capacity while easily securing to your kayak. They’ll keep your fish and your drinks and snacks cool. Keep Them Alive: Live fish don’t spoil. If you don’t plan to be out long and if you’ve got space, stringers and livewells are two common methods for storing live fish.
Stringing fish on a line and putting them back in the water will certainly keep them alive, but it has limitations. Some say the stress and damage caused by the process is inhumane and results in lower quality meat. Also, stringers are not a great idea where there are large predators. Sharks, turtles, larger fish and even sea lions have been known to steal a stringer. If you’re targeting smaller species, a bucket with an aerator can serve as
a livewell. Obviously available space is an issue with this method. Kill ’Em Quick: In most situations, killing fish quickly and packing them on ice is the best way to keep fish in a kayak. Aside from the fact that it’s cruel to allow any creature to suffer unnecessarily, allowing fish to die on their own creates several problems. For one, the stress of slowly being starved of oxygen can have a negative impact on the meat. Additionally,
dying fish thrash, which causes the flesh to bruise. A best practice is to quickly kill your prey with a swift blow to the head, bleed the fish, remove the guts, and then pack it in ice. Let’s Talk Ice: Ice is just ice, right? Well, not really. You might think large blocks of ice are preferable because they melt slowly. While this is true, not as much ice makes contact with the fish. This allows heat and air to start the decomposition process. Try crushed ice. It’s ideal for storing your catch because it has more surface area than a large block. This allows direct contact with your fish, and it gets into all the nooks and crannies, keeping it thoroughly cooled. Layer ice below, between, and on top of your catch to keep it uniformly chilled and fresh. Mark is a full-time, globe-trotting, kayaking junkie. When he’s not paddling, he’s chief editor for Kayak Guru, where he writes about anything and everything kayak-, fishing-, and SUP-related.
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Puller’s direct drive and free-fall units. Capt. Phillip Ridge operated Blue Runner Charters out of Marco Island, Fla. for more than 25 years and was one of the first charter fishermen to utilize an E-Z Anchor Puller drum anchor winch in his area. In an interview with company founder George Towns, Ridge said the E-Z Anchor Puller saved him a lot of work, employees and even helped him catch more fish. “I have had a unit on the bow of three different boats,” Capt. Ridge said. “I was one of the very first captains in the area to install one… [they are] the best by far.”
Another Marco Island charter fisherman, Capt. Shaun Chute, decided he couldn’t settle for fewer than four units for his fleet. “The oldest one is 20 years old and still works perfect,” Capt. Chute said. “They just last and always work. I use them every day on our charter boats at Six Chuter Charters.” When time is money, the E-Z Anchor Puller unit is a must-have for quicker drop and retrieval times with less hassle and manpower. The freedom to spend more time with customers and even fish alongside them is time best spent. Let the E-Z Anchor Puller drum anchor winch do the rest!
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David Delph caught this red grouper off Key West.
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Reel in the memories. Sitting on the most biodiverse estuary in the Northern Hemisphere, Martin County is a fisherman’s paradise. Ocean, lake and river ecosystems are home to more than 800 species of fish, from the ever-popular sailfish and snook to largemouth bass and perch. Forget your gear? Visit one of Martin’s many bait and tackle shops or outdoor retailers. Inshore, offshore, saltwater or fresh, head out for an adventure and reel in the memories.
DiscoverMartin.com 14 NATIONAL
MAY 2020
By CAM Staff
ith grouper seasons opening in federal waters and Gulf red snapper fishing not too far away, now is a good time to start tinkering with a jigging technique that’s created a bit of a buzz in the charter industry. Slow pitch jigging has been around for well over a decade, but its effectiveness in U.S. waters is only now being realized. As more captains adopt and adapt the technique to different species and conditions, it has gained traction as a proven fish-catcher. In the Gulf of Mexico as well as in the Atlantic from South Florida, through the Carolinas and up into the Northeast, it’s being used to catch anything that eats crippled baitfish. Groupers and snappers, amberjack, mackerel and tuna, they’ll all take jigs slow pitched over hard bottom, and so will rockfish and cod. The technique evolved in Japan and was popularized in a series of Japanese-language videos by Norihiro Sato. Sato promoted it as a way to catch fish even when they’re not actively feeding. With conventional jigging techniques, the idea is to rip a lure off the bottom and let it flutter down, enticing reaction strikes from aggressive gamefish. Slow pitch is slower, more seductive, a finesse tactic to present what looks like an easy meal. Anyone who has ever fished a jig knows the bite almost always comes on the fall. The idea behind slow pitch is to maximize the time a jig spends in freefall. With specialized gear and a cadenced technique, the jig remains in the strike zone and presents both vertical and horizontal action. A slow pitch jig is supposed to dance like an injured baitfish struggling to stay off the bottom. The technique requires a specialized rod. Slow pitch rods look like buggy whips when compared to conventional short and beefy jigging rods. They are 6 to 7 feet long with a slow action. With a quarter or half turn of the reel, the weight of the jig loads the rod, and as the rod straightens the jig accelerates smoothly upward before hesitating and kicking to the side. The angler then begins the process again, with a rhythm that keeps the jig moving. By varying rod action and cadence, the angler can impart varied presentations. All of them are physically easier than the grueling labor of conventional deep jigging with heavy tackle. The drawback to the technique—which might be attractive to folks who love shopping for new gear— is you’ll need a whole new arsenal. The rods are thin and designed to bend evenly from handle to tip. The reels are small but geared-up to take the brunt of the fight off that bendy rod. The jigs are specially shaped and weighted to impart the right action. You’ll even need new spools of braid and new terminal tackle. Like any new technique, slow pitch jigging requires some research and practice to execute effectively. Take some time to figure it out, and you’ll be showing wary fish something they’ve likely never seen before.
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MAY 2020
NATIONAL 15
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Some Thoughts On
Crappie
C-HAWK 23 CUSTOM
By Dan Saknini
T
he comfort zone for crappie is generally 35 feet or shallower. The depth fish are found is directly related to water temperature. Baitfish location is the best indicator of crappie habitat. Where I do most of my fishing, crappie generally feed on threadfins and blueback herring. The average lifespan of a crappie is five years. An average female will lay 5,500 eggs per season. Less than 5 percent of the eggs will hatch, and only a small number of hatchlings survive predators. That sounds bad, but it is Mother Nature at work. There are two species of crappie, black crappie and white crappie. It’s pretty rare where I fish most, on Georgia’s Lake Lanier, but there is also a group called blacknose crappie. These are black crappie with a naturally occurring genetic variance that gives them unique markings. They look like you took a black Sharpie and drew a line from the tip of the mouth to the dorsal fin. I caught two this year. Black crappie have variations in color. In the winter, when they go deeper to escape the colder surface temps, they become much more pale. However, once you put them in your livewell, they quickly regain much of their color. The same thing happens if you catch them in shallow, muddy water. In spring, when surface temps reach the upper 50s to mid-60s, female crappie begin to spawn. This does not happen all at once, but over about a month, with some spawning earlier than others. Females hit spawning grounds in the backs of the creeks, lay their eggs and pull out. Males fertilize and guard the eggs. That’s when you see fishermen catching dark black-purple crappie on the banks. There’s an old Southern myth that “when the dogwoods bloom, it’s time to go crappie fishing.” I actually have my best luck when the daffodils are blooming, which can precede dogwoods by a month. But like any other species, fish have to eat. If you know where to look, you can catch them all year long. If you’ve ever been to Bass Pro and seen the fish tank, you’ll notice most of the species roam the tank, with the exception of the crappie, which are almost always in the corner hiding by a log. That is the perfect example of how crappie relate to structure. They roam in pursuit of food, but always come back to the brushpile they call home. Many homeowners live on lakes because they enjoy fishing, and many sink Christmas trees under or near their docks. It is important to find those submerged trees or brushpiles that have bait nearby. That is where you will find crappie. In winter, some crappie move from docks to seek shelter in standalone brushpiles. Electronics play a key role in locating those brushpiles. Many fishermen prefer live bait, which is very effective in spring, but I prefer jigs. Bobby Garland soft-body grubs and Jiffy Jig hair jigs are my “go-to” baits. If you are fishing stained water, always go to darker jigs.
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MAY 2020
NATIONAL 17
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MAY 2020
H
ow’s this for the proverbial bad apple? In a time when lawabiding anglers are saddled with strict regulations in attempts to bolster flagging Atlantic striped bass populations, a pair of yahoos were recently caught in New Jersey with 66 undersized rockfish. The two men face a variety of charges after being caught by New Jersey conservation officers when they returned to a private Atlantic City dock on March 30. They had been night fishing, and drew attention to themselves by “running their vessel at high rates of speed from various fishing locations under the cover of darkness and fog without any navigation lights,” according to a press release. The harvest allowance at the time was one fish with a 28- to 43-inch slot limit and one fish longer than 43 inches per person. On the boat, the officers found 66 stripers between 13- and 24-inches. The men face a penalty of $100 per fish, or potentially $12,800 for each angler. They were also charged with unsafe operation of a vessel, operating a power vessel without valid registration and failing to have appropriate vessel safety gear. Authorities seized the anglers’ fishing gear for evidence and will seek forfeiture due to the severity of the violations, the release said. The seized fish were given to the Atlantic City Recuse Mission. The current recreational limit is one fish per day, within the 28- to 38inch slot.
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IT’S DRY FLY TIME On North Carolina’s
TUCKASEGEE
T
By Nick Carter
he delayed harvest sections of the Tuckasegee River, at Sylva and Bryson City, N.C., are some of the most famous trout fisheries in the Southeast. With regular stockings and catch-and-release regulations through the cool months, the Tuck holds incredible numbers of healthy rainbow, brown and brook trout. Because it fishes so well, it sees a ton of fishing pressure, but Shannon Messer, of Tuckaseegee Fly Shop, has noticed an interesting pattern from the anglers. “In April and May, almost every day from about 5 p.m. until dark, fish are rising all over the river. Most people miss the best part of it because they’re off getting a burger and a beer,” he said. “For people who want to experience dry fly fishing and casting to rising fish, that’s the place to be and
the time to be there.” The Tuckasegee is a tailwater, wide and flat, with bedrock ledges and shoals that channel water into obvious holding water. The caddis hatches can be huge, and trout line up in lanes to feed on the surface. Casting to individual rising fish is a challenge dry fly anglers relish on the Tuck. Early spring brings on enormous black caddis hatches, which give way to tan and then olive caddis as the season progresses. Messer likes a beefy Corn Fed Caddis or a simple Elk Hair Caddis in sizes 12 to 16 to match what he sees on the river. There will also be mayflies and midges mixed in, so a double dry fly rig is a good idea. Try trailing a Blue Dun, size 14 or 16, or a size 18 Griffith’s Gnat behind the caddis. One thing about having so many bugs on
the water is fish become finicky. The trick is to make them choose your fly over all the real ones. Good presentation is paramount, and Messer recommends long 9- to 12-foot leaders to cut down on micro drag that leads to refusals. Another trick if you notice your caddis being snubbed is to trim the hackle so it floats lower in the water. For information, see Tuckaseegee Fly Shop’s website at www.tuckflyshop.com, call (828) 4883333 or e-mail info@tuckflyshop.com. For maps, GPS coordinates and tactics for the Tuckasegee and all of the area’s best trout waters, get a copy of Nick Carter’s book “Flyfisher’s Guide to North Carolina & Georgia.” It’s available on Amazon, and autographed copies are available by emailing the author at nsc8957@gmail.com.
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MAY 2020
NATIONAL 19
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MAY 2020
S
everal weeks ago, my 6-year-old son asked me to take him fishing. To say I was excited was an understatement, since he typically doesn’t ask to go. Now the pressure was on for me to make sure this was more of a catching trip than a fishing one. His request piqued my curiosity as to why he had the sudden interest, so I ask him. His response: “I want to catch a redfish and have my picture in a magazine!” Ok, now the pressure just went off the chart! Not only do I need to make this a great catching day, but we have a specific fish and a great photo to capture. The day began at 3 a.m., and we made the three and half-hour drive to one of my favorite redfish spots. We were on the backside of a full moon, so I knew I had my work cut out for me. We made two quick stops to pick up some fresh dead shrimp and some donuts, and then launched the kayak. My son was extremely excited and full of questions, which I was pleased to answer. The 30-minute kayak ride felt like hours for my little man, and he wanted to cast a line. When we finally arrived, the tide was higher than I had anticipated. This area doesn’t generally produce well under these conditions, but we were already there and needed to figure it out. The plan was to bait him up for pan fish, while I get my fish fix with lures. As soon as his cork settled, he was hooked up! He had nonstop action on a variety of fish, but no reds. My rod stayed in the holder because I was busy being the happiest deckhand around. He had his heart set on catching a big red and started to ask where they were. We drifted to a shallow bar where the reds typically hang out. We switched to a larger hook and shrimp while we drifted. We fished the bar from different angles, moved to an area with wind-driven current between two small patches of land, and to the area where his older brother smoked the reds on our previous trip. Nothing! At this point, I was contemplating heading home. However, he was determined to stay until he caught a red, so we fished on! We started to fish our way back to the truck and the wind drifted us to an island that I’ve wanted to try but just never have. Since we already used all of the shrimp, I decided to make long cast with a soft plastic rattling tail swimbait and then hand my reel to my son to work the lure back on a steady retrieve. BAM! Redfish on! The look on his face when that red hit was priceless! He ended up catching two reds before we headed home. Mission accomplished! Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 7/3/20*
COUPON GOOD THRU JULY 3 Customer Rating (4062)
(174)
30" x 18" Hardwood Dolly
2" Extended Anvil
Item 63385 Not available in AZ, OH, OK and VA.
99
94
$ Use Online & In-Store
* 52956371* 52956371
LIMIT 2 - Coupon valid through 7/3/20*
Compare to Aircat 1460-XL-2 $19.97
99 Save $9999 60 Use Online & In-Store $
* 52958143* 52958143
1,000+ Stores Nationwide • HarborFreight.com
Compare to Neocraft 60635 $39.99
Item 62515 66911 shown
Save 50% Use Online & In-Store
* 52949807* 52949807
LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 7/3/20*
COUPON GOOD THRU JULY 3 Customer Rating (2,376)
LIMIT 2 - Coupon valid through 7/3/20*
*Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 7/3/20.
11
$
Compare to Milwaukee 33700 $19.97
99 $1599
Item 38970/92486 39757/60496 62398/61897 shown
4" x 36" Belt/ 6" Disc Sander
647977
$
1/2" Anvil
Item 62835
Save $94
Compare to Briggs & Stratton 20600 $174.44
Save
99 50%
1/2" Composite Pro Air Impact Wrenches
799999 $
$
Item 69623 66983 shown
(4,810)
1750 PSI Electric Pressure Washer
399959
Compare to Highland 1394500 $79.99
COUPON GOOD Customer THRURating JULY 3
*
7/3/20*
Compare to Mibro 426920 $64.99
(4,764)
4 Piece, 1" x 15 ft. Ratcheting Tie Downs
* 52935542* 52935542
7/3/20*
*
10 ft. x 20 ft. Portable Car Canope
Save 69%
Save 69%
Item 64045/64046 63770 shown
(1,129)
3/8" x 14 ft., Grade 43 Towing Chain
COUPON GOOD THRU JULY 3 Customer Rating
(502)
12,000 lb. Truck/SUV Winch with Remote Control and Auto Brake
Compare to Porter-Cable PCFP02003 $98.62
* 52931099* 52931099
COUPON GOODCustomer THRU JULY 3 Rating
7/3/20*
ve %
3999
Pancake
* 52922541* 52922541
Compare to Warn 96820 $720.99
COUPON GOOD THRU JULY 3 Customer Rating
(1,125)
Save 59%
3*
99
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 7/3/20*
5499
Save 74%
$
Use Online & In-Store
* 52919714* 52919714
$
62)
99
900 starting watts and 700 running watts
COUPON GOOD THRU JULY 3 Customer Rating
YOUR CHOICE
$
63cc air-cooled 2 cycle gas engine
Item 63024/63025 shown
(3,650)
$ 99 $1299
Item 64550 63518 shown
Compare to Powersmart PS50 $126.10
COUPON GOOD THRU JULY 3 Customer Rating
(1,189)
Ultra-Light, Crush-Proof, Weather-Resistant Lockable Case
120v grounded receptacle
Save $11
Save 12% Use Online & In-Store
Item 69508 66044 shown
COUPON GOOD THRU JULY 3 Customer Rating
Compare to Pelican 1150 $39.95
11499
$
Save 49%
1799
$
5 hour run time
(1111)
72" x 80" Camouflage Utility Cover
Personal Portable Security Safe
$
COUPON GOOD THRU JULY 3 Customer Rating
(319)
$
Save $84 Save 39% Use Online & In-Store
* 52965945* 52965945 LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 7/3/20*
99
Compare to Ryobi BD4601G $149
Item 5154 64778/97181 shown
Use Online & In-Store
* 54050673* 54050673
LIMIT 2 - Coupon valid through 7/3/20*
At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare to” price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.
4/15/20 5:49 PM
1782-20C Coastal Angler.indd 1
4/2/20 11:10 AM
Flip Flip Hooray! A perfect symbol of fun in the sun for only $79
H
ere’s a memorable beach moment: You’re basking in the warm sun, toes in the sand, letting the gentle turn of the foam-capped waves lull you into a state of complete relaxation. As your eyes scan the endless horizon of blue on blue, you’re rewarded with a school of dolphins making their way across the sea. There’s no denying their signature shape as they leap from the water. If you don’t see anything else extraordinary the rest of day, you can take solace knowing you’ve witnessed one of nature’s most playful and intelligent creatures in their natural habitat. Why not recreate that special toes-in-the-sand moment with our Blue Topaz Dolphin Pendant? The beloved sea mammal has been captured mid-jump in sterling silver. And, tucked into its fins is a full two carats of shimmering blue topaz. Nothing captures the shimmering color of the ocean in the midday sun like blue topaz. With its sparkling clear blue color and high refractive index, blue topaz is one of the top-selling blue gemstones. And with our special price, you have quite the catch. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Enjoy the Blue Topaz Dolphin Pendant for 30 days. If it doesn’t pass the test swimmingly, send it back for a full refund of the item price.
A full two carats of shimmering blue topaz set in sterling silver
Limited Reserves. A full two carats of genuine blue topaz set in sterling silver for this price is as rare as a dolphin sighting. We cannot guarantee availability for long. Call today!
Limited to the first 1900 responders to this ad only! To show exquisite details, pendant shown is not exact size. Chain sold separately.
“Enormously popular, significantly intelligent and scientifically sophisticated, dolphins are amidst the most beloved animals among people.” — Dolphins-World
Blue Topaz Dolphin Pendant non-offer code price $395 † Offer Code Price Only $79 + S&P Save $316!
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You must use the insider offer code to get our special price.
“This sterling silver dolphin is absolutely beautiful and the blue topaz is like the color of the ocean”
— Vivian, Cabool, MO
† Special price only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer.com without your offer code.
Stauer
1-800-333-2045
Your Insider Offer Code: DPP279-01 Please use this code when you order to receive your discount.
® 14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. DPP279-01, Burnsville, Minnesota 55337
www.stauer.com
Rating of A+
• 2 ctw blue topaz; ½ ctw Ultimate Diamond Alternative®, DiamondAura® • .925 sterling silver setting • Sterling silver chain sold separately
Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®
You didn’t see it coming. Neither did the fish. Discover the unique FISH PRO™. The world’s first personal watercraft designed for fishing will bring you closer to the action for an experience like never before.
Discover yours at Sea-Doo.com
®
© 2020 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. , TM and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. In the U.S.A., products are distributed by BRP US Inc. Carefully read the operator’s guide and safety instructions. Observe applicable laws and regulations. Always wear appropriate protective clothing, including a personal flotation device and wetsuit bottoms.
PS17434A-SEA-MY20-Ad-Fish-Pro-CoastalAngler-Print-FP-ENUS-03.indd 1
3/25/20 8:32 AM