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t was a good winter in the Atlantic off south Florida’s Palm Beach County. Capt. Austin Rowe said that bodes well for the spring season, when a convergence of several different bites typically makes for some of the best action of the year. “March, April and May are by far my favorite time of year around here,” he said in mid-February. “We’re already starting to see some blackfin tunas right now, which is kind of uncommon. It was a crazy-good winter for mahi, and it was a good for sailfish, as well. I’ve got my fingers crossed that the fish stick around for spring, and we can really put a hurting on them.” Rowe is a young captain who grew up fishing here, where the Gulf Stream sweeps warm nutrient-rich waters northward just a few miles offshore. He captains “Angler Management,” a 34’ Legend center console with twin 300s. With a crew of up to six clients, it is a perfect ride for making the short runs out of Singer Island’s Sailfish Marina quickly and comfortably.

By Nick Carter

“One of the really beautiful things about fishing around here is you don’t have to go very far to get to the fish,” he said. “A full tank of gas lasts a long time.” Most spring mornings start for clients with a run of just 3 or 4 miles out of the inlet with tanks pre-loaded with live threadfin herring and/or goggle eyes. Kite fishing is the preferred method in this part of the world, and that’s exactly what Rowe does when conditions are right. “I’m looking at water color, temperature and moving water. I’m also looking for bait,” Rowe said. “I’m a big fan of charts, and I study them religiously looking for eddies and things, but keeping your eyes open is the biggest thing when you’re out there. If you see live water, with birds diving, it’s probably time to pick up and go see what’s happening over there.” With kites—or drifting with flatlines when conditions call for them—you’re targeting anything that will eat live baits at the surface. That can produce some pretty exciting mixed bags.

“We see a lot of blackfin tunas. There should still be some sailfish around. The kingfish start to show up pretty thick this time of year, and there are also mahi,” Rowe said. “And don’t forget wahoo. Wahoo can get really good around the full moon in March.” If all else fails, or if his clients just want some more meat, the reef is just a couple miles from the kite-fishing grounds, and it’s usually no problem to load up a cooler full of snappers in short order. Big African Pompano also make regular appearances on the reef. Rowe said that by the end of the day, if his anglers aren’t too worn out, he’ll stop in the inlet and let them test their strength against some hard-pulling jack crevalle. You can pack a whole lot of fishing into a full day when you don’t have to run far to find fish. Check out Austin Rowe and Absolute Action Sportfishing Charters at absoluteactionfishing.com.

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ventilation, you’ll conquer every battle, every day. GILLZ took its Pro Series UV Hoodie to the next level. They went one step further and provided anglers with a built-in mesh mask to go along with the 3-piece hood construction. Now, you’re able to keep your gear organized in one place for when that unexpected pull on the reel turns into a clash of strength. Brand new to this collection is the Pro Series Board Shorts. Made of recycled quickdry polyester, the 9-inch inseam gives you the freedom to move without worry, and the secure cellphone hip pocket keeps your devices safe from any damage. This time, Gillz introduces anglers to a new design feature: a no-sew fabrication. This means no chafing or irritation as you charge headfirst against the waves. The Contenders Series, delivers an amazing fit and feel for each and every angler. With the Contender Series Long-sleeve or Hoodie, you’re guaranteed to have 360-degree cooling and 170 GSM interlocking polyester that gives you perfect performance every single time. Moreover, you’re given an extended range of motion that allows every angler to move freely. When facing the unpredictable outdoors, GILLZ Gear and the new Spring 2022 who want Collection will give you the power to perform to face the at your best, no matter where you and Mother elements head-on. With our GILLZTEC proprietary fabric, Nature meet. With prices starting at $39.99, there’s 4-way stretch, and the ability to modify with something for every angler from the Atlantic to the shoulder shape, the Pro Series Long-Sleeves and Pacific and every waterway in between! Hoodies fit every angler to perfection. Plus, when Check out the Gillz Spring 2022 Collection you add on UPF 50+, ultra cooling, a single seam at gillz-gear.com. underarm mesh gusset, and complete 360-degree

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MONSTER BASS ON

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t piques my interest when “Jurassic” appears in a nickname. So is the case with Jurassic Lake, a 10,000-acre reservoir in Fellsmere, Florida, officially known has Headwaters Lake. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) had a goal to turn Headwaters into a worldclass trophy bass fishery. By all accounts, they succeeded. Just a little over 10 years ago, this bassfishing mecca was farmlands, cattle pastures and orange groves. The St. Johns River Water Management District purchased the lands from Sun-Ag to build a reservoir intended to provide a water supply for surrounding communities and flood control for the St. Johns River. The FWC saw an opportunity and invested $1.35 million in bass fishing “enhancements.” Prior to the reservoir’s flooding in 2015, the FWC constructed fish habitat in the form of winding channels, dredge holes, flats, islands and more, with the goal of providing the optimum combination of structure, depth and spawning habitat. The FWC planted 15,000 bald cypress and red maple trees on the numerous islands, and they stocked over a million bass, bream and crappie. If there is a downside to Headwaters, it’s that there is so much awesome, fishy-looking habitat that it can be a little over whelming trying to figure out where to fish. Since August 2020, when the Headwaters Lake boat ramp opened, 103 trophy bass (bass eight pounds or larger) have been registered into FWC’s Trophy Catch program from Headwaters. Who knows how many other giants were caught that were never entered into Trophy Catch? The biggest registered catch is a 13-pound, 1-ounce monster caught by kayak angler Mary Kelly on January 24, 2022. Those are pretty impressive results for a reservoir that is not even seven years old. Jim Fallon, the Godfather of Headwaters,

10 NATIONAL

MARCH 2022

By Paul MacInnis

has probably fished these waters more than anybody. “I love this lake because of the design of the habitats, the natural beauty and all the great fishing,” said Fallon. You’ll find Fallon on the reservoir three to five times a week. He’s been fishing there since 2018, before the boat ramp opened, when he’d drag a kayak into the reservoir from the bank. Fallon says a competent bass angler should catch 15 to 40 bass on an average day with a decent shot at a trophy fish every trip. Fallon has caught almost 50 bass over eight pounds from Headwaters, including 13 in the double digits, all on artificial baits. The address for the Headwaters Lake boat ramp is 16245 Fellsmere Grade Road, Fellsmere, Fla. Headwaters is an hour and a half drive from Orlando, making it a great diversion on a central Florida vacation. The nearby city of Palm Bay has convenient hotels, many with bass boat friendly parking lots. An internet search will bring up several Headwaters guides who can put you on a bass of a lifetime. For more information, visit MyFWC.com.

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APPROACHING THE

TRANSITION

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

s I type this article in early February, the temperature is 38 and the forecasted lows across the Texas coast will dip into the mid to upper twenties for a few nights. This should place larger seatrout into full-blown winter mode, which is a great thing. It might not be so cold where you fish, but similar patterns should exist wherever there are big trout. Predicting movements and habits is always easier when the seasons are typical. This tells me where I should start in early March versus where I should fish later in the month. In early March, I look for shallow areas with irregular soft mud and grass bottoms. I particularly like these areas adjacent to deeper water, as the night temps will still cool flats to less favorable temps for large trout. The term “deeper” will be different for each area. So, as you plan your trip, you should focus on deeper pockets in relation to the overall area. Early in the month, I will stick to a larger profile lure

like a 5-inch paddletail. The trout will still be feeding on mature mullet, and the 5-inch swimbait is a great imitation. These lures are versatile, and they are ideal due to the finicky nature of trout during the transition from winter to spring. A slow roll can be deadly when trout move onto a flat to warm and feed. Depending on the conditions, a slow roll just under the surface that creates a slight ripple can trigger an aggressive strike. If the bait is down, I will slow roll the lure in the mid to lower water portion of the water column. The versatility of these lures also allows them to be jigged and twitched; however, I prefer to do that in a little deeper water. As the water temps rise later in the month, fish become more difficult to pattern. Although high temps warm the water faster, persistent cool fronts still chill the waters, and the wind shifts can wreak havoc on the pattern. It keeps fish and anglers confused. During this part of the season, I tend to move often, not devoting too much time to a location or pattern. Changing things up often until you find them is more effective than banging it out in a spot like I would do in early March. Lures to choose from are wide open here. Small and large soft plastics in the twitch or paddletail style can all be effective. Topwaters and slow sinking hard baits can also produce. Keep moving and changing lure styles, sizes, colors and action until you find the bite. Don’t forget to take a kid fishing. You will be surprised what they can teach you when they put the electronics down. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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he Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council met virtually in January to make decisions that will affect Gulf anglers. The council is the regional authority charged with managing fisheries in federal waters of the Gulf. Here’s a brief overview of what was decided.

Vermilion Snapper After hearing a summary of public comments and recommendations from its Reef Fish Advisory Panel, the Gulf Council took final action to South Atlantic Council is expected to take final action in March meeting. increase the vermilion snapper overfishing limit, acceptable biological The Gulf Council is expected to take final action in April. catch, and annual catch limit. The most recent stock assessment determined Greater Amberjack the stock is not overfished nor experiencing overfishing. This change will The most recent assessment shows that greater amberjack is both increase the total annual catch limit, but it will not change the daily catch overfished and experiencing overfishing, and that recent average recruitment limit of 10 fish. is lower than it has ever been. The Council’s Scientific and Statistical King Mackerel Committee recommended new overfishing limit and acceptable biological A recent update stock assessment for king mackerel determined that catch recommendations for greater amberjack. These recommendations king mackerel is not overfished or experiencing overfishing. However, the require a significant decrease in harvest. spawning stock biomass was found to be below the biomass necessary to Gag Grouper achieve maximum sustainable yield. The most recent gag grouper stock assessment determined that the stock The Gulf Council must work with the South Atlantic Council on actions for this highly migratory fish, and both are still considering options. They is overfished and experiencing overfishing. Additionally, the assessment have both removed alternatives that would reduce the recreational and identified there is a low proportion of males in the gag grouper population commercial minimum size limit for Atlantic king mackerel and will retain (less than 2%), which impacts the stock’s ability to reproduce. The Council is obligated to end overfishing and develop a rebuilding plan the 24-inch minimum size limit. Also, they both opted to allow for the retention of cut-off/damaged Atlantic migratory group king mackerel caught for gag grouper, and initiated the development of a plan amendment to revise under the recreational bag limit that comply with minimum size limits. The catch limits, accountability measures, and other management measures. • STEEL BUILDING • SALE • PRE-ENGINEERED BUILDINGS • SAVE • STEEL BUILDING • SALE • CARPORTS • SAVE • CALL NOW • SPECIALS • SALE • STEEL BUILDING • SALE •

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f a big blue marlin is on your bucket list, there’s no better time to visit The Bahamas than over the next few months, when high season for billfish brings giant pelagics to the deep blue waters off the islands. Bahamian waters are the birthplace of big-game sportfishing. Back in the 1930s, the world was introduced to adventure like no other when anglers like Ernest Hemingway and Michael Lerner did battle with giant marlin and big bluefin tuna off Bimini. The fishing is still ridiculously good. Marlin season in the Bahamas begins in March or April, when the white marlin arrive, and by June or July things get into full swing when big blue marlin show up. They come in numbers to feed off the islands, and PHOTO COURTESY OF The Out Islands Bahamas throughout summer it is not unusual to have days with multiple bites on the same trip. In recent years, far-flung destinations like Africa and Australia might have come to the forefront as the best places to tie into granders (blue marlin that weigh in excess of 1,000 pounds). Yet, The Bahamas remain one of, if not the best place, in the world to actually catch blue marlin. It’s worth noting that the Out Islands of The Bahamas are a quick and easy trip for anglers in the eastern U.S. White and blue marlin are the marquee species when trolling off The Bahamas, and there’s also a good chance other highly sought after gamefish will crash into the spread. When the outrigger snaps, you might be reeling in wahoo, tuna or mahi for dinner. Check out all the action the Out Islands of The Bahamas have to offer at www.myoutislands.com.

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FLORIDA 9

Largemouth Bass: Florida’s Gift to the World

lorida is the land of sunshine and hurricanes. If you stopped random people on the street in any other location in the world and asked them what first comes to mind about Florida, most would offer something about places like Daytona Beach, Disney World or the beaches of Miami. Florida is also the second largest producer of beef in the U.S., and of course Florida oranges and Indian River grapefruit. If that person you stopped fishes, they would likely talk about the Florida Keys, tarpon, or any of the other sought-after saltwater fish. But, for the freshwater angler, Lake Okeechobee largemouth bass are what dreams are made of. “Lake O” needs no introduction for those familiar with the bass fishing world. Black bass in Florida have a long and storied history. Bass anglers across the country can thank Florida and those early fishery managers who had the foresight to protect largemouth bass. The early years of the 20th century saw bass population depleted due to their importance as a food source and no regulations. As a result, the 1926 Black Bass Act was passed to restrict interstate commerce of bass and allowed states to designate them as a gamefish. These restrictions and future

By Rex Hannon

regulations limited commercial harvest and sale and increased their value as a sport fish. By mid-century, large reservoirs across the U.S. were built to accommodate the growing need for electric power. These were prime locations for bass stocking and management programs. Today, largemouth bass have been successfully exported worldwide. The economic impact is impressive; bass fishing is a $60 billion industry. Today’s Florida offers the best bass fishing on the planet. Lake Okeechobee is considered the pinnacle here, but trophy fish can be found in the countless lakes, ponds and canals that are readily available to any angler almost everywhere in the state. There is no need to travel to exotic locations or plan a vacation around fishing for monster largemouths. With a little research and some scouting, you can find them in your hometown, and often in your own neighborhood. Florida largemouth bass are a hardy species, and you can target them in a wide range of habitat and water qualities. I have caught largemouths and snook in the same canals and ponds. This speaks to the adaptability of both species. There has never been a better time to be an angler. Anglers today have access to many species

that in the past would have required a trip to far away and exotic locations. Native Florida bass have not only become a sought-after species for sport, they are an economic generator for future generations. There are anglers worldwide who dream of fishing Florida for a trophy bass of a lifetime. Whether you’re an avid angler or just someone who wets a line when time permits, today’s Florida offers something for everyone.

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Serving Hardee, Highlands, Okeechobee, Desoto, Glades and Hendry Counties

Lake Istokpoga & Lake Okeechobee Edition

Welcome

to the march issue of the Angler Magazine

Featured in this issue

PG 2 Angler Profile Austin Springer PG 4 Why a Hard Jerkbait Capt. Steve Daniel PG 8 Lake Okeechobee Report & Forecast Capt. Angie Douthit PG 10 Boca Granda, Pass, Charlotte Harbor and the Flats Report and Forecast Capt. Dave Stephens PG 13 Marine & Tackle Warehouse Coupons - A Magazine First! PG 14 A Game Winning Decision Capt. Norman Lee PG 15 Winter Time Punching on Lake Okeechobee Capt. DJ Timms PG 16 Kayak Report & Forecast Capt. Brian Nelli PG 17 The Florida Trail West Staff Writer Robert Fromhartz PG 18 Brandon Medlock Staff Writer Don Norton PG 20 Gerry Brousseau Staff Writer Don Norton PG 22 March Tournament Schedule

staff

Don Norton Natalie Lopez Tangie Neff David Scott Amy Norton Robert Fromhartz Carolyn Olsen Chris Norton

Publisher Graphics Sales Sales Distribution Distribution Distribution Technical Director

elcome to the March 2022 issue of the Angler Magazine - Lake Istokpoga and Lake Okeechobee Edition. This month we're proud to support the 5th Annual Highlands County Sheriffs Office Bass Tournament. This is a great tournament with proceeds going to the Florida Sheriff's Youth Summer Camp. Inside, you'll also find a great article on local professional bass fisherman, Brandon Medlock as he attempted to make Don Norton it win number four on Lake Okeechobee in the 3-day, Toyota Publisher Series Bass Tournament. You'll also read about Gerry Brousseau, a well-known bass fisherman, who spends much of his time teaching children to fish and enjoy the great outdoors. He'll also be the MC for the Sheriff's Bass Tournament. Come on out and meet him in person. And my buddy, Capt. Norman Lee, who re-traces one of his tournaments on Lake Istokpoga years ago in his article, "A Game Winning Decision." I too fished the tournament and I remember his great catch. And a tip of the old fishing cap to Pete Ruiz, FWC Creel Checker on Lake Istokpoga and Lake June who is always looking out for something newsworthy for the Angler Magazine.

We want to hear from our readers! Reach out to us with your feedback, fishing adventures, and pictures!

Don Norton (863) 273-4998

Advertising opportunities available!

don@theanglermagazine.com

The Angler Profile

“I

think I was around 3 or 4 years old, the first time I went fishing,” Austin Springer recalled. “My grandfather lived on Lake Lotela and that’s probably where I got my start.” “Growing up in the Avon Park, Sebring area, attending Sun & Lake Grade School, and then graduating from Sebring High School, I had the opportunity to fish a lot of the lakes in Highlands County, but my grandfather lived right on Lake Lotela, so I really spent a lot of time there.” I’ve known Austin for quite a few years and although I’ve never fished with him, I’ve fished against him many times in different club and regional bass fishing tournaments. He’s a fierce competitor, someone who has not only won his share of tournaments, but also taken the big bass honors, catching giants all the way to 11 pounds. Austin’s first tournaments were years ago when he fished with his partner and dad, Bill Springer, when he was only 13 years old with the Ridge Anglers Bass Club. They won their first tournament in the second season in 2009. But he was quick to point out that that first year was a disaster. “We had never really fished the bigger lakes and all of a sudden we’re fishing Lake Istokpoga, Okeechobee and the Kissimmee chain.” It was a really humbling experience, but over the next few years we started doing much better,” he said.

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Austin Springer

By Don Norton

Through his high school years, Austin fished in as many as 4 or 5 clubs at once, competing against many of the top anglers in the area. “It wasn’t until I started attending school at the local community college that I had to slow down and concentrate on my education,” he said. Eventually he got back into tournaments with his dad, and did extremely well fishing the Lake Placid Team Trail out of Lake Placid. They won the first tournament they fished on Lake Okeechobee, with 15 pounds of bass, and finished the year as one of the top teams in the club. Years later, and most recently, he fished with the Highlands Bass Anglers Club, where I remember him making the news again when he caught his personal best bass in their Walk-in-Water tournament that weighed in at 11.4 ounces. He caught the giant on one of his favorite lures, a topwater frog. The first boat they fished out of was a 14’ Jon boat with a 15hp motor called “The Tadpole”. From there, in 2003, they graduated to a 17’ Nitro with a 125hp Mercury and began fishing the larger lakes. Finally, in 2015, they got their current rig, a Nitro Z8 with a 250hp Mercury motor. I asked Austin if he could recall a funny story or something that happened to him while fishing and he relayed the following incident. “We were fishing Lake Okeechobee, eight or nine years ago in the Monkey Box and my dad was throwing a cheap, shiny, firetiger popper that he’d bought somewhere, when it snagged up on a patch or reeds.” “My dad had bought a left-handed reel by mistake and was having trouble getting used to it and he gave a strong pull and the popper came flying back at us, snagging on his shorts. He un-snagged the hooks from his shorts and dropped the bait over the side of the boat, and as I watched it hit the surface, a big old bass came straight up and just inhales it! We couldn’t believe it.” In addition to his passion for fishing, Austin is also a lure-maker, designer and painter. He started making his own lures back in 2011, and five-or six years ago, started his own company, A&B Tackle. His specialty is soft plastics, jigs and hard-bait paintings. A number of local anglers swear by his baits and if you’ve ever seen one of his painted Zara Spooks, you’d have to have one. (I have two in my office). If you’d like to learn more about Austin’s line of products, give him a call at 863-214-4494, or email him at austinspringer89@gmail.com.

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WHY A HARD JERKBAIT

his is a question I get all the time and I always like answering a question with a question. I usually come back with why not a jerk bait. One thing a lot of anglers is that hard jerk bait is only good in the winter months when the water is cold. Ive won two FLW events on Lake Okeechobee when the water was very cold but I will use then all summer long. The reason bass hit the jerk bait is that it acts very injured and it is the nature of a predator to clean up anything that is injured even if they aren’t feeding. A lot of times I will find a school of bass in open water that will hit a lipless lure really good but they will hit the hard jerk bait even better and the ones that hit the jerk bait usually make it to the boat unlike some of the ones that hit the lipless lures. Most of the bass that hit a jerk bait stay hooked, one tip is change the hooks to the EWG style the same size hooks that you remove from the lure. My favorite right now on the Big O is the bomber long A in the silver flash color, this is a floating bait and it is fishing really good right now at the current water levels. Suspending jerk baits will not be as efficient at these levels. Even if you are catching bass on the lipless lures and the bite slows down, if you pick up the jerk bait it might just get you a few more bites.

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Pete Ruiz, FWC Creel Checker got a picture of this Wisconsin Angler showing off his Lake June, 27" bass. Pete said the angler claims he fishes every day and catches over 500 bass every season.

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Capt. Angie Douthit ’s

Lake Okeechobee Report & Forecast Capt. Angie Douthit 863-228-7263 www.southfloridabassfishing.com

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pitching creature-style lures such as Beaver’s and Crawdads. For the Crappie bite, both live-minnows and jigging with plastics in the grass have been producing. Days where you get your limit quick and other times, you really have to slow down the presentation and they make you work hard for the bites.. but that’s fish’n. Areas for Crappie to try have been around where you’ll find bass as well. The month of March is a good time to start targeting the Shell crackers (red ears) that will be moving in the shallows for their spawn time of year to begin. When fishing for the bream, crickets/red wigglers (small worms) rigged on light spinning rod/reel and tackle works best. Typically, the Shell crackers will start to move in first before the Bluegill but lots of times you’ll catch both if you’re targeting one or the other. Give me a call to get out on the water! I have some open dates for March and April still available for bass, crappie and the bream.

ake Okeechobee bass and crappie fishing has been on fire and will continue to bite well through March and April…yes, still spawn time for both. Areas of the lake that have been attracting lots of boats are the Shoal area; around Dyess Ditch and some spotty areas around Dupree Bar; around the point of Horse Island and both sides of Indian Prairie Canal and on up to the Tin House area; 2nd point and Buckhead Ridge; some spots around Kings Bar; Grassy; the Kissimmee River around the mouth of the river area; out front of the Pier; Government Cut itself; Hendry Creek and J & S areas over on the east side. That pretty much covers the entire lake except for on the southend around Clewiston. Some lures to use for bass have been the chatter bait tipped with a white skirt; some soft-plastic jerk baits rigged weedless; worms/senkos; some hard top-water lures such as a Devil Horse; Zara Spook (smaller sized one); flipping/

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march 2022

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5th Annual Bass Tournament

Saturday, March 12, 2022 Safe light until 1:00 pm

Istokpoga Park Boat Ramp, Lake Istokpoga $125 Per Boat Entry Fee. Includes Big Bass Entries & Lunch

Each boat is allowed only two anglers, with at least one being an adult. No Live Bait / 5 fish bag limit

Two fishing shirts will be given to The first 45 boats preregistered

Bass Tournament Prizes

1st Place: $1500 2nd Place: $750 3rd Place: $600 4th Place: $500 5th Place: $400 6th Place: $300 7th Place:$200 8th Place:$150

Tournament proceeds send local children to the FL Sheriff’s Youth Summer Camp! Register at the Highlands County S. O.

1st Big Bass: $500 / 2nd B.B.: $250 13yoa & under Top Finisher: $150 Lady Angler Top Finisher: $150

Captain Dave Stephens

february Report Mistakenly omitted last month

Boca Granda Pass, Charlotte Harbor, and the Flats Report & Forecast Capt. Dave Stephens www.backbayxtremes.com 941-916-5769

ell fellow anglers if you're looking for a perfect winter in beautiful South West Florida?, this just happens to be your year. It has been quite sometime since I can remember us having this great weather this far into winter. I hope by bragging about it, I'm not dooming us for cold fronts that are going to make there way to us. Our fishery can be very tricky this time of year. This is largely due to our water temps. I know it is hard to believe that a small difference, such as 3-4 degrees can make a big difference but it makes a huge difference. This year we have been targeting snook, and doing very well. Over the past few weeks on my charters we have been putting some fish to the boat that we normally don't catch till spring. Not only are we

NE W

catching some quality snook, we are also putting good numbers to the boat. Lets get back to water temps and what this warmer weather does to our fishery. The magic number for our snook fishery to stay active is 68-70 degrees. Most people do not realize these guys are a tropical fish, and need warm water to stay active. If we have major cold fronts that push down into our area and cool our waters snook will go dormant. They move into deep areas, and wait for the water temps to rise to feed again. However if we do get some late cold fronts that push there way to South West Florida it's not the end of our fishery. We actually have several species here that thrive in the cooler weather. The main one is Sheepshead, these striped bait bandits love the cooler water. Actually it is important for them to have a healthy spawning season. As our waters cool down these guys begin to school up to spawn they look for areas with large structure. For the anglers that are not familiar with these black and white bait bandits. They are a member of the porgy family, and are great table fare. Catching them can be a little tricky, well I guess any fish that feeds on small crustaceans can be tricky. Areas with structure that has old growth

march Report

ell as we push into March, this means some of our greatest game fish will wake from their slumbers. The anticipation without a doubt for me is snook. We have had some major cold fronts in February that completely shut our snook down. Water temps play a major role in how they feed. When our water temps drop below the mid 60's for several days, snook descend into a slumber. Kind of like a bear that is hibernating for the winter and has spent the past couple months hibernating, they wake up hungry. The last couple weeks our local snook schools have found their homes in deep waters like residential canals, and the two main rivers that flow into the north side of Charlotte Harbor. As waters begin to warm these guys come out looking for food. Springtime is the best to target trophy Snook on Charlotte Harbor. We are considered one of the top destinations in the world. I'm often asked what is a trophy Snook? Well unlike most fish we do not use weight to measure, instead we use length. A true once in a lifetime fish is over 40”, however it's not uncommon to catch one over 43”. It gets tricky targeting fish in this range and takes alot of dedication. A person that is willing to be patient, willing to wait for that one bite. Then when that happens you have just hooked one of the smartest fish in South West Florida. That fish is going to do everything in its power to break you off. 10 OKEECHOBEE

march 2022

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like barnacles, oysters and rocks will hold fish. I highly recommend using a small hook, such as a #1 or even a #2, with enough weight to make contact with the bottom. Since sheepheads feed primarily on crustaceans shrimp is a great go to bait. However, if you can get some fiddler crabs its game on. I recommend to bring three times the bait you think your gonna need. These guys got their black and white stripes for a reason. As we push down the home stretch of winter we will see what Mother Nature throws at us. Luckily for us we have fish that we can target on a outing tide on our beautiful harbor. If you would like to experience some of South West Florida's finest fishing? Give us a call or send an email. All of our charters are private and customized to fit you and your party's needs.

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march 2022

OKEECHOBEE 13

A GAMe WINNING Capt. Norman Lee

DECISION

et's go back to the early to mid 2000’s. Lake Istokpoga was one of the premier tournament lakes in the State of Florida. Just like its much larger counterpart, Lake Okeechobee, better known to the locals as the Big O, Istokpoga was a bucket list lake because of its giant bass that roamed the edges of this 27,000-acre bass factory. A fun fact, the word Istokpoga means, in Seminole language “people have died here”. It's been said that in the early 1800’s, the lake claimed the lives of several Native Americans who were attempting to cross and fell victim to whirlpools of alligators. There was 2 major South Florida Tournament Trails on the lake that drew some of the biggest sticks in the State. The Extreme Tournament Trail (Istokpoga Div.) and the Istokpoga Team Trail. If you were to fish those two series, you had to have the mindset to be at your best at each and every event. See, back in those days fishing tournaments on Lake Istokpoga against that level of competition, you always had a number in the back of your head of what you would need to win. That number just happened to be 30 pounds. Anything less wouldn’t even give you Bragging rights. I had high hopes of finishing the 2003 season off strong, going into the 2-day Championship at the end of the 2003 - 2004 Istokpoga Team Trail season. I had one day of practice, Thursday prior to the event in which I was able to dial in a pattern, finding 2 different areas, off shore, fishing submerged isolated hydrilla pods. The bait I was throwing was my go-to Spinner Bait back then, a 3/8 oz Hilderbrant Spinner Bait with a Chartreuse Skirt and Gold Blades (golden Shiner Pattern). My game plan was simple. Go to my first spot and sit on it all day, not having to touch my other area, which I felt had more numbers of bigger fish. Ok, the morning of the tournament, with very little sleep the night before, my adrenalin was starting to flow as I hammered down for the nine-mile boat ride with a feeling of what was about to go down. As I came off pad, hopped up on the front deck, dropped the trolling motor and started casting to specific targets of submerged vegetation. For almost 45 minutes, cast after cast, I kept coming up empty. I knew something wasn’t quite right. I was still watching fish dart in and out of the grass, something was different and I had to figure it out fairly quick. It was at that time that I noticed a 3-inch white shad floating belly up along the side of my boat. Well, I’ll be a son-of-a-gun, looking back at my partner who was fishing from the back deck. Cut your bait off, I said, as I dug in to my spinner bait box pulling out two baits with white skirts and silver blades. My very next cast after making the bait change, I put our first fish of the day over the side, a 6 pounder. At the end of the day, we had a 5 fish limit that weighed in at

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25.94 pound and sitting in 3rd place, a mere 6 pounds off the lead going in to the second day of competition. When I arrived at the boat ramp the next day, I couldn’t help but think about my game plan that I had set after my Thursday Practice and how it was all coming together. As my boat number was call and I set out for a fairly long run to the South-East side of the lake, I could visualize my second area, knowing what's about to happen. It’s Hammer time boys! After my crucial bait change, early Saturday morning, I pulled out my white spinner bait and started chunking & winding and what happened next was one of the most epic days that you could ever experience as a tournament angler. We had put together a 5 fish limit that weight in at 36.14 pounds, anchored by a 9.28 kicker that ended up being big bass for the day. We ended up winning the Championship that season with a 2-day total of 62.08 pounds. Looking back at some of the key factors that took place during this event, like noticing a shad floating by and then acting on an instinct. You see, when I found them fish on Thursday, they were feeding on wild shiners but two days later a new group of bait moved in to the areas that they were eating in the form of shad. Tournaments are won and lost on decision making. Being able to make adjustments on then fly such as a simple color change can be a big contributing factor in your success as a tournament angler. Take time to notice the little things around you as your fishing. Fishing is like a puzzle. Sometimes the pieces don’t always fit like they're supposed to. There's no better feeling as an angler then to be faced with a difficult situation and then making that one adjustment that ends up being A Game Winning Decision.

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oing in e next er my umber of the en. It’s ning, I d what rience ht in at ass for 2-day t took ing on eeding e areas nd lost uch as ss as a s your fit like faced nds up

Capt. DJ Timms DJ Timms Fishing Youtube: DJ Timms Fishing Area: Lake Okeechobee, Lake Ida, Lake Osbourne, Florida Everglades Ph: 910-546-2688 www.djtimmsfishing.com

Winter time punching on Okeechobee

ey all, Captain DJ here, last month we talked about my go to mat punching set up. This month we are going to talk about the key areas I look for mats, type of mats and how I fish them. I just finished fishing the Major League Fishing Toyota Series on Lake Okeechobee where I ended up 39th out of 271 boats. All but one of my fish weighed in during that tournament was caught under a mat! This time of year when I am searching for mats, I have one thing in mind! The spawn!! I want to search for areas where the fish will be moving in and out to spawn because they will position themselves under the mat to wait until the time is right to move onto a bed. After the females lay their eggs they will position back under the mats until they recover enough to head back out towards the main lake. Don’t get me wrong, this is not the only way to catch both pre-spawn and post spawn fish. It’s just one of my favorite techniques and the way I prefer to catch them if the conditions allow it. When I practiced for the Toyota Series I was fishing the very back hard line around some of the spawning areas. I felt that if the fish weren’t there in practice, they would definitely be there during the tournament due to boat pressure. It paid of for me on day one and had me sitting in 3rd place during a very tough tournament. I watched as other boats fished the same areas I was fishing but throwing moving baits and fishing isolated reeds (which

is common this time of year on Okeechobee for spawning fish). I would go to the back hard line behind these boats where nobody was fishing and I had bites when others weren’t. I felt that the pressure from all of these boats running their trolling motors around these fish would make them move underneath those thick mats nearby. The vegetation I’m looking for that make up this matted vegetation is called pennywort. They are the bright green mats with round leaves. I seem to catch more fish underneath this type of vegetation than anything else. What makes these mats even better is if they are blown up next to the reed lines or other types of vertical vegetation. When I’m breaking down a mat I’m looking for the high percentage areas. That would consist of points, pockets, hard edges where the pennywort meets another type of matted vegetation like hyacinth, and where is meets that vertical cover. I tell my clients if it sticks out to you and you believe there’s a fish there than you better fish it! Please check out my social media and subscribe to my YouTube. My handle is DJ Timms Fishing on all platforms. Thanks for reading!

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march 2022

OKEECHOBEE 15

Brian Nelli’s Kayak Report & Forecast

Brian Nelli with a tournament winning sailfish. Photo credit Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament

Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters 772-201-5899 www.tckayakfishing.com Brian@tckayakfishing.com

a cruising cobia. Bigger concentrations of cobia can be found bouncing the bottom of the live reef in 60-80 feet. Try using a D.O.A. Swimmin’ Mullet or a 3oz bucktail jig tipped with a sardine.

Inshore Look for the glass minnow schools to get on some seatrout and snook. The spring mullet run should push more bait into the river this month and really get the bite going. The pompano fishing is getting even better when fishing channel edges in the Intracoastal. Live shrimp and Goofy Jigs are the ticket to putting these guys on ice. Water temps have cooled so fishing later in the day will be good around mangrove shore lines. These areas will hold fish trying to warm up. Right now, using a D.O.A. Shad Tail or MirrOlure MirrOdine are best bets. Sharks are on the flats near the inlets, so grab your favorite cut bait and wire rig for some blacktips and spinners.

Freshwater

Offshore Offshore is about to heat up in the next month. Right now, the dolphin bite has been good as well as some spotty cobia reports down the coast. As usual, using live baits such as goggle eyes and pilchards will be your best bet for dolphin and

Cold fronts have pushed the water temps down quite a bit the last month. Peacocks will be a little sluggish but still biting. Focus on deeper holes during the cold days, and docks and bridges when the sun is high and warm. Clown knifefish don’t seem to mind the cold as much and can be found in the deeper areas as well using live shiners or shad. Check us out Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for all the latest adventures my clients and I get into. See you on the water!

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The

Florida Trail

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Florida trail region 4 W Western Corridor Three Lakes east-west jct. to Ocala east-west junction By Bob Fromhartz Beginning again where the trail meets CR-523 and Prairie Lakes Rd. This month we will take the trail east of Orlando where it will meet the 4-East trail section near Ocala. At mile 14 the trail crosses the Florida Turnpike on CR-523. You’ll cross over the turnpike again at mile 27.2 and at mile 47.6 you will cross over interstate 4 on CR-54.There are many road walks along commercial stretches of this section. Lodging, restaurants and resupply opportunities will be available. The Florida Trail Assn. has more information in the “FTA Data Book”, that will make your hike easier. Mott hammock campsite is at mile 73.9. You’ll cross the Withlacoochee River on the CR-471 bridge at mile 82.2. Mile 111.6 crosses the Withlacoochee River again on us 98. Mile 119.2 crosses under interstate I-75. There are several camping zones in this section leading to a primitive campsite at mile 131.2. Cross State Road 44 at Forest Drive at mile 156.4.Ross Prairie campground at mile 186.4. Several camping opportunities are available in the next 10 miles. Cross us 441/27/301 near the town of Belleview at mile 203. At mile 213 you will enter Silver Springs State Park.This section ends at mile 240.2 at “Store 88”, a friendly to hikers stop with showers and BBQ.

Again, I would strongly recommend ordering the Florida Trail Data book from the Florida Trail Assn before trying to navigate this section.

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OKEECHOBEE 17

Brandon Medlock – Local Bass Fishing Pro By Don “Red” Norton

you’re a bass fishing tournament angler in this area, and even beyond, you’ve probably heard the name Brandon Medlock. Well-known for his ability to catch bass, particularly when it counts, Brandon is considered by many to be one of the top bass fishermen in Florida. Brandon Medlock on Lake Okeechobee

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Medlock Eyes Win No 4 at Okeechobee

Lake Okeechobee is the destination of many of the biggest tournaments in the state, and in all the years of FLW and MLF tournaments held on the second largest lake in the country, the only angler to win multiple Toyota Series Bass Tournaments, presented by A.R.E. is Brandon Medlock of Lake Placid, Florida. He has done what no-one else has even come to close, he has won this event an amazing three times in the past, 2011, 2012 and 2020. The 2022 Toyota Series Bass Tournament was held this past week and after the first day, Brandon let everyone know he was there with his first day weight of 18.5, followed by 17.5 on day two. Heading into the final day with a two-day total of 35.10 pounds, he led the pack by a narrow margin of only one ounce, separating him from Lee Stalvey in second place. When he was asked if he was doing anything special to catch his bass he said he’s just fishing like he would normally, flipping a Medlock Jig in areas with clean water where he hoped bass would be moving up into to spawn. After the results of the second day, he said, “I don’t know if I’ll even catch a bass tomorrow, but I’m fishing on my home lake against 25 guys.” “It’s awesome. All the cuts have been made, I just go out the last day and fish like I’m practicing.” An article on the internet wrote “Though that’s a common platitude among tournament anglers, it’s especially true for Medlock. Almost all of his Day 2 weight came from an area he

hadn’t fished yet – striking out at his best spot from yesterday – and his final 4-pounder of the day came from a quick-hit spot when he needed a late-day upgrade. He’ll start one of those places tomorrow, but Medlock expects to be making moves on the final day.” “I’m definitely going to start there (his best spot) tomorrow, but I’m going to run more new stuff,” he added. “It doesn’t change my mindset at all. It takes the pressure off because all the rest of the guys are gone and now I’m fishing a 25-boat tournament.” “The areas are way tougher than they should be for the weather we’ve had,” Medlock said. Three weeks ago, we were catching them like fire. I really don’t know why it’s not better now, but they don’t seem to be moving up in large numbers for me.” DAY 3. In Brandon’s own words, he posted the results of his final day on Facebook: “I love this sport!! The highs and lows that an angler experiences in the course of an 8-hour period are insane. Today in the final day of the Toyota Series on Okeechobee was no exception. After boating 9 lbs. with two fish on my first stop, I was feeling great! With confidence high, I decided to check a couple places I hadn’t tried in over a month. The water looked good but after a quick pass, no bites. Next stop was a spot I had been getting bit.” “Get to the spot and the trolling motor (Ultrex) quit working. (I can’t wait for a Power Pole trolling motor to hit the market). Even

then, Still felt I still had a chance. I pull up the big motor, pole down, flip a few times, pull up and repeat. After missing a couple bites the wind started to blow and I decided to drift a grass flat and cast. Caught three little ones to fill a limit and hoped for something bigger.” “With an hour before check in I move to another flat and cast. No bites till I drifted up to a reed head. On my last flip, I told myself, I was going to win the tournament on that flip. I lifted the rod; the reed shook and she bit. Had her on for a second and she was gone. Then only had 30 minutes to make it back 25+ miles in 20 mph winds on the Big O.” “When the dust settled, I ended up 5th. This one is going to sting for a while.” A real champion, even faced with the challenge of trying to fish in high winds without the use of his trolling motor, he continued to persevere. There will be more wins in the future for him, but it will be tournaments like this one that he’ll always remember. For those of you who may not know, Brandon lives in Lake Placid and is the son of Joe Medlock, a well-known bass fisherman and tournament angler who lives whose name has become synonymous with the jig he created, appropriately named the Medlock Jig. If you were to look in most, if not all bass fishermen tackle boxes, you’d probably find at least one of the double-weed guard jigs that Joe has been hand-pouring for the last 20 years or more.

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march 2022

OKEECHOBEE 19

Gerry Brousseau By Don Norton

n all my years of fishing, I’ve met thousands of fishermen. Some, like Bill Dance, Roland Martin and Ricky Clunn, I met years ago and they are well-known, professional fishing celebrities today, that everyone’s heard of. But I didn’t think I’d ever met Gerry Brousseau. One of my fishing partners, Joe Kozic, who runs the BIG SHOW BASS TOURNAMENTS on Lake Istokpoga mentioned him one day, and how involved he is with kids, and I asked him to introduce us. After I spoke with Gerry on the phone, I realized I’d probably met him a number of times in the past. I just didn’t know it was him.

For example, a few months back I was delivering the Angler Magazine to the Performance Marine tackle shop in Lake Placid, Florida when I ran into him and Roland Martin. They had stopped by to pick up some new plastic baits on their way to fishing Lake June. I managed to get a picture of Roland holding up one of my magazines and didn’t even realize Gerry was there with him.

So, who is Gerry Brousseau?

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Well, for starters, he lives in Naples with his wife and four children, having moved there in 2001 from New Hampshire to start up a drywall business. His family also calls Lake Placid home since purchasing a home on Lake June. But in order to tell the story of Gerry Brousseau, you have to go back to the beginning, back to his hometown roots, fishing farm ponds with his grandfather. By the time he was in high school, he was already making a name for himself, winning bass tournaments. Like so many other bass fishermen of the day, he bought an old aluminum boat and built it into a bass boat for tournaments. Eventually, he realized in order to compete with the bigger, faster boats, he needed to find a new boat. He found an old Ranger 1600V, with a 55 hp Johnson motor. As his reputation for catching fish grew, sponsors would come to the weigh-ins of the tournaments and it wasn’t long before Ray Scott, President of Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) wanted to meet him. About that time, he was invited to be on the Ranger/Mercury Team and had the opportunity to fish with Ray and David Precht.

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For those of you who read the BassMaster Magazine, Gerry was featured in an article back in 1984, entitled, “On Golden Pond”. Ray wanted him to join the Bassmasters and fish the Invitational, offering him a free ride, with plenty of sponsors. But Gerry declined. He had a business to build and a family to raise. As is often the case, time moved on and Gerry’s business and family grew, while he continued fishing in many of the BFL, FLW and other regional tournaments, but never fishing the B.A.S.S. circuit. Eventually, he decided to move to Naples, where he established his drywall company, American Drywall & Stucco. His sons help run the company today which allows Gerry to be active in the sport. But it was in Naples, in 2005, where he met Roland Martin, and the two became good friends, often sharing their passion for both hunting and fishing. Together, they can be seen on You Tube in a number of fishing videos and Gerry appears on various TV shows. Gerry always knew the future of fishing was with the kids, and it wasn’t long before he was involved in running tournaments for kids in Ft. Myers. Initially, the tournaments were held behind the Miramar Outlet housing project, where he had met the owner and received permission to allow the kids to fish from shore. Eventually, he began working with Big Brothers and Big Sisters, as well as The Cancer Alliance of Naples, donating his time and energy to teach kids how to fish. Eventually, he would spend one day a month at the Bass Pro Shops talking to kids and giving out autographs along with Roland. Gerry’s fishing accomplishments are almost too many to mention, but his passion for helping kids is what he is all about. Just recently, Gerry was in Highlands County giving a couple of tenyear-old boys, fishing rods & tackle and adding them to his growing list of future anglers. Gerry has been able to bring some of our local young anglers onto Pro Staff teams such as Favorite rods & reels, Spearpoint Hooks and Yolo Tek. One such team, Bowen & Corbin, both 10 years old just won their first Bass tournament of 2022. Gerry’s grandson Hunter Brousseau, also 10 years old, has too many sponsors to list and can carry his own out on the water. Gerry has set a goal to open as many doors as he can for our young anglers.

Gerry will be the MC at the 5th Annual Highlands County Sheriff’s Bass Tournament to be held on Lake Istokpoga, March 12th, 2022. If you haven’t already signed up for this event, there’s still time. If not, stop by anytime during the event and meet Gerry and see one or two of his tournament boats which will be on display.

 

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march 2022

OKEECHOBEE 21

Bass Tournament Schedule Lake Istokpoga ■ Tuesday, March 1, 2022 Windy Point Boat Ramp 3:00 PM FLORIDA FIRE/RESCUE BASS TOUR weigh-in, with 40 Anglers ■ Sunday, March 6, 2022 Istokpoga Park 3:00 PM Xtreme bass series weigh-in, with 60 Anglers ■ Saturday, March 12, 2022 Istokpoga Park 12:00 PM Highlands County Sheriff's Office 5th Annual Bass Tournament weigh-in, with 150 Anglers Istokpoga Park 2:00 PM AMERICAN BASS ANGLERS weigh-in, with 30 Anglers ■ Sunday, March 13, 2022 Istokpoga Park 3:00 PM Highlander Tournament Trail weigh-in, with 100 Anglers

march 2022 ■ Saturday, March 19, 2022 Istokpoga Park 2:00 PM The Big Show Bass Tournaments weigh-in, with 160 Anglers Istokpoga Park 3:00 PM SOUTH PASCO BASSMASTER weigh-in, with 50 Anglers ■ Saturday, March 26, 2022 Istokpoga Park 3:00 PM SMC Bass Club weigh-in, with 70 Anglers

Lake Josephine ■ Sunday, March 13, 2022 Oak Beach Rd. Public Boat Ramp 3:15 PM South florida Elite Team Series weigh-in, with 60 Anglers Kissimmee River Saturday, March 19, 2022 C. Scott Driver Park 3:00 PM Dixie Country Bass Club weigh-in, with 60 Anglers

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■ Sunday, March 20, 2022 C. Scott Driver Park 1:00 PM Dixie Country Bass Club weigh-in, with 60 Anglers

Lake Okeechobee ■ Saturday, March 5, 2022 Clewiston City Park 3:00 PM South Florida Bass Club weigh-in, with 25 Anglers Roland & Mary Ann Martin's Marina 3:00 PM BASS BUSTERS weigh-in, with 200 Anglers ■ Sunday, March 6, 2022 Roland & Mary Ann Martin's Marina 3:00 PM BASS BUSTERS weigh-in, with 100 Anglers ■ Saturday, March 12, 2022 Scott Driver Park 3:00 PM Bay area Bassmasters weigh-in, with 90 Anglers ■ Sunday, March 13, 2022 Scott Driver Park 3:00 PM THE VENICE BASS CLUB weigh-in, with 60 Anglers

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■ Saturday, March 19, 2022 Harney Pond Canal Boat Ramp 2:15 PM Indian River Bass Anglers weigh-in, with 60 Anglers ■ Saturday, March 26, 2022 Harney Pond Canal Boat Ramp 3:00 PM Space Coast Bass Finatics weigh-in, with 60 Anglers Roland & Mary Ann Martin's Marina 5:00 PM American Bass Anglers - Open Series weigh-in, with 400 Anglers ■ Sunday, March 27, 2022 Harney Pond Canal Boat Ramp 3:00 PM Space Coast Bass Finatics weigh-in, with 60 Anglers

Peace River ■ Saturday, March 5, 2022 Lettuce Lake Park 3:00 PM POOR BOYS BASS FISHING TOURNAMENT weigh-in, with 45 Anglers Placid, Lake ■ Saturday, March 5, 2022 Public Ramp / Placid View Drive 3:00 PM SMC Bass Club weigh-in, with 70 Anglers Sunday, March 6, 2022 Public Ramp / Placid View Drive 3:00 PM usabassin weigh-in, with 20 Anglers Tournament directors have until the day before their tournament to schedule or make changes to their tournament exemption. This exemption allows the tournament participants to have an exemption from fish length limits, but not bag limits, while participating in the tournament. All fish are required to be handled as stipulated in the permit, while doing everything possible to ensure a live release. Any dead fish are normally provided to a charity, such as a homeless shelter. More information about black (largemouth) bass fishing tournament exemptions can be found here: https://myfwc.com/license/freshwater/bass-tournament/ Many of the bass tournaments are coordinated through local fishing clubs. Reach out to the group specified for additional information. Weigh-ins are typically open to the public.

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march 2022

OKEECHOBEE 23

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’d heard good things, so on a recent Sunday morning I drove to Pompano to see all the work the city has done to improve the pier and the surrounding area. I was pleasantly surprised by how tasteful and inviting the results are so far. Originally constructed in the early 1960s, the newly titled Fisher Family Pier now sports an up-to-date entrance comfortably showcased between two attractive oceanfront restaurants. The whole waterfront area has been rebranded as the Pompano Beach Fishing Village. There’s a new visitor center and a six-story parking garage a short walk away on Pier Street (NE 2nd Avenue). Streetscape improvements along

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Pompano Beach Boulevard include a bricked boardwalk, contemporary streetlights, and other eye-catching design elements. The centerpiece continues to be the pier, revamped to resemble a fish: a pompano, of course. At the pier’s eastern end, the rounded shape of the fish’s head features a mouth and an eye gazing southeast. In addition to new wood decking and railings, there are fish prep areas and built-in metal fishing rod holders. Blue sail awnings fly overhead. Artists’ renderings of tropical fish— kingfish, bluefin tuna, false albacore, pinfish, bottlenose dolphin, hammerhead sharks—pop up between the railings. As I wandered the pier, a fisherman adjusting

his lure told me, “I usually get here around seven in the morning and leave around nine. I got here late today. If I catch anything, I’ll be lucky.” As all anglers know, good fishing depends on a variety of fickle factors in addition to the time of day… or night. These include weather (cold fronts, prevailing winds), tides and currents, species’ particular habits and migration patterns. Clear or murky water plays a role, as do reef features and ocean floor contours. Ocean health depends on a delicate balance: an adequate supply of nutrients, minimal pollution and species diversity—including the presence of apex predators like sharks. Another angler had a line in near a small school of needlefish. Hoping to attract Spanish mackerel, he used a Got-Cha lure. He confided, “They like clear water when the air temperature is a little bit chilly.” Over the many years he’s fished the Pompano pier, he’s caught a lot of snapper and hooked three types of sharks: blacktip, reef and nurse. But he hasn’t seen too many pompano around lately. “They don’t like a city named after them,” he joked. In a more serious tone, he wondered about the effects of all the recent construction. To help address this type of environmental concern, contractors added structures to the ocean floor to augment the existing reef. Still, the fisherman said many popular South Florida fishing spots, including the Pompano Beach pier, are getting “fished out.” The challenge of maintaining adequate stocks of fish is an ongoing concern the world over. Along with millions of dollars spent on physical upgrades to the pier itself, habitat work will hopefully ensure the fish keep showing up.

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THE

’HOOS

ARE STILL OUT THERE By CAM Staff

16 FLORIDA

MARCH 2022

ahoo are a favorite fish of any angler who has ever been hooked up to one. They are incredibly fast, sleek and powerful. The initial blistering run is enough to hook anyone. With line pouring off the reel, instinct begs you to stanch the flow. Just hold on. The fight is predictable. After that run, the fish will most likely turn back to the boat, shaking its head to throw the hook. Then it’s a sprint to pick up line. In the boat, the beauty of the fish will amaze you. Perfectly camouflaged in blue water, a wahoo’s silvery belly gives way to a dark blue back with undulating cobalt blue bars falling vertically down its sides. If you can look past that weird toothy beak, it is a gorgeous fish. Photos never do it justice, as the color fades as soon as you take them from the water. What doesn’t fade is the excitement this species brings to the table. They are mackerel, but they don’t taste like it. Wahoo meat is snow white, firm and has a mild taste sometimes compared to albacore. It’s a tremendous sportfish that travels in loose schools and sometimes feeds in packs. Find one and you’ll likely find several hanging and feeding near blue water structure. They move and feed with the bait, migrating to stay in the water temps they prefer, 70 degrees and higher. Wahoo are notoriously unpredictable. They are streaky feeders, and might not eat unless time of day, tides and moon phases align just right. Late winter is the best time to catch them off northeast Florida, when they will be feeding on the ledges with a bite that sometimes lasts into April. Expect decent numbers of fish from 35 to 60 pounds, and every year a few fish show up heavier than 80 pounds. Down in South Florida, wahoo can be found on the edge of the Gulf Stream, with peak fishing occurring late spring through summer. During that same time period, anglers in the Keys will be targeting smaller wahoo, averaging 25 pounds, on floating debris. But arguably the best wahoo fishing in this part of the world is the Bahamas. Here there is a shot at triple-digit fish, and good numbers of fish in the 40-pound range are the norm. Winter is best from the northern Bahamas around the Abacos and farther south, around the San Salvador humps. In the Gulf, wahoo season is also in winter, but winter brings with it foul weather. Early spring is a favorite time of many captains because the fish are still around and you can actually get to them. They’ll be hunting in packs and following baitfish. There’s a good chance at some 30- to 50-pounders this time of year, and 80- or 90-pound fish are not unheard of.

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FLORIDA 17

OKEECHOBEE SHORTCUT CLOSED FOR REPAIRS

oaters making the trip between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico via the shortcut through Lake Okeechobee will be forced to take the long way around for the next couple months. The St. Lucie Lock and Dam was closed and dewatered for maintenance Jan. 4. The “Okeechobee shortcut” is expected to re-open by April. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District also announced temporary closure of some recreational facilities at the St. Lucie Lock and Dam. The St. Lucie Visitor Center, lock observation decks and the St. Lucie North Recreation Area will be closed until the project is complete. The St. Lucie South Campground will remain open. “The safety of our employees, volunteers and visitors remains our top priority. Equipment and materials are currently being staged at the St. Lucie Lock and Dam in preparation for the upcoming dewatering operation and lock repairs,” said Tammy Cleveland, deputy chief of the South Florida Operations. “We know that the St. Lucie Lock and Dam is a very popular recreational area for the local community and visitors. This the first major maintenance to be performed on this lock in 26 years, and we apologize for any inconvenience during this temporary closure.” According to Ed Killer, with Treasure Coast Newspapers, closure of the Okeechobee shortcut creates a roughly 320-mile detour around Florida’s southern tip for mariners travelling between the Atlantic and the Gulf. Last year, more than 3,000 boats passed through the St. Lucie Lock. For more information, visit: www.saj.usace.army.mil/VisitorCenters/.

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ere’s a reminder, special regulations are in effect for inshore fisheries in a chunk of Florida’s west coast due to red tides. The following regulations apply for all state waters south of State Road 64 in Manatee County, including Palma Sola Bay through Gordon Pass in Collier County, but not including the Braden River or any tributaries of the Manatee River. Snook: Catch and release only through May 31, 2022. Redfish: Catch and release only through May 31, 2022. Spotted Seatrout: Six-fish recreational vessel limit. Commercial harvesters will also be held to the recreational three-fish bag and six-fish vessel limits. For more information, go to MyFWC.com.

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To Introduce You to Spring in the Keys

he transition into spring can be unpredictable, as it brings dramatic changes to the fishery and obeys no written calendar. Migration, water temperatures and spawning create unique variables this time of year. As the exchange of targeted species swings from winter to spring, each day can be an opportunity to pioneer the new season. The fishery can change overnight in the coming weeks, and you never know when you will stumble across an abundance of fish that haven’t been seen in months. The Florida Keys, this month, will see more permit, cobia and pompano, while also welcoming the start of our world-class tarpon fishery. During the seasonal transition, there will be an overlap, when iconic spring species, such as permit and tarpon, will be chewing along with the sailfish that favor the shallow reefs in winter. Permit harvest season closes in the Keys at the end of March. Although the permit is respected as a game fish, and socially encouraged to be released, it does yield fillets of decent size and of excellent tablefare. Targeting permit can be a little more of a challenge than your average “send-out-the-shrimp” fishing. Whether you are sight casting to a school of them or floating a crab over a wreck, their bite is a

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little bit different than most fish. For a drag-screaming, hard-fighting fish, such as the mighty permit, one might expect them to crush the bait with force. However, permit can suck a hook clean, like a ninja cowfish, without drawing much attention. Learning their bite, especially when freelining in heavy current, can take a bit of practice, but it is absolutely worth the investment. Targeting this species offers a little extra for the angler who has it all. They definitely aren’t top of the beginner’s list, but they absolutely should be top of the bucket list. Crabs are king for permit fishing. Hook a crab on the edge of its shell, avoiding any interference with its back two legs, the swimmerets, so that it can move naturally in the water. Sight casting can be productive with a crab on a jighead, but if you just want to soak a crab over a wreck while fishing for other species, skip the jighead and affix a float up the leader. Put the float as far up the leader as you can stand to have it for casting, and I mean the standing-on-the-bow, swinging-the-momentum-like-you’re-fly fishing kind of casting. Combat different current scenarios by adding split-shot to the leader.

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No matter what time of year, the Florida Keys always have an incredible fishery. Each day can produce once-in-a-lifetime sightings of epic species. It is worth noting that regardless of weather, season, time of day, bananas on the boat, or a small zombie apocalypse, the snapper are always snapping! Quinlyn Haddon captains boats with Blue Magic Charters, in Marathon, Florida. Call her at (504) 920-6342 and check her out on social media @captainquinlyn.

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Celebrating the 100th Anniversary with Legal Tender Morgans

Honoring the 100th anniversary of the last year the Morgan Silver Dollar was minted, the U.S. Mint struck five different versions in 2021, paying tribute to each of the mints that struck the coin. The coins here honor the historic New Orleans Mint, a U.S. Mint branch from 1838–1861 and again from 1879–1909. These coins, featuring an “O” privy mark, a small differentiating mark, were struck in Philadelphia since the New Orleans Mint no longer exists. These beautiful coins are differO PRIVY MARK ent than the originals for two reasons. First,

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MARCH IS THE TURN-AROUND MONTH

The early part of the month will feature very cold water temps around the inlets and river mouths, and keep the trout, drum (redfish) and flounder a little on the sluggish side, but that doesn’t seem to bother the shad, rock and cats. As a matter of fact, it kicks them into overdrive. It’s not water temperature so much as it is the length of daylight in the beginning of the month, but water temps do come into play by the end Tim Barefoot of March. The end of March will see the big spawning female speckled trout his has been a winter for the books, with cold temps, constant wind and sometimes too much rain keeping us arriving at the inlets and river mouths, and the drum bite will be on from the offshore grounds weekend after weekend. In light of fire. This is the time of year when you stand to catch an egg-filled gator trout, but for goodness sakes, take some this, let’s talk about some of the things that brought a lot of good photos and dimensions/weight us to the dance, the anadromous fish that are coming home and let her go do her spawn. This can be in the month of March. the time of year for some great topwater/ If you live on the East Coast, white and hickory shad, popping cork trout and drum bites. striped bass and sturgeon are coming back to the place There are bites, then there are topwater they were born to spawn. March is traditionally a very bites. It’s exciting fishing to say the least. windy month, so on the days we can’t get offshore, there is March will also produce tuna, a safe haven up in the river for some entertainment. Truly, dolphin and wahoo when you can get some of the best to them. The wind will keep us inside memories I have a lot during March, but whenever the were made up seas lay down enough to get offshore, the river. While go for it. This can be the time to catch a not the best stud wahoo and numbers of tuna. Find table fare, white a temperature break and/or the bait, and and hickory you’ll find the wahoo and tuna. They are shad are right on the move and chewing. up there at I don’t care what the wind is doing, I the top of the can always find somewhere to get a bite entertainment and grin in this turn-around month we list. Other fish call March. that have always been at the top See more from Capt. Tim Barefoot of my favorite spring entertainment list are striped bass (rock) and blue at barefootcatsandtackle.com catfish. They come back to the upper reaches of the river to spawn in and rigandjig.com. large numbers.

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At Hartwell, Stage is Set for 2022 Bassmaster Classic By TAM Staff

or months the field has been set for the big show. From March 4-6, some of the world’s top professional bass anglers will fish South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell, vying for a championship in the 2022 Bassmaster Classic. Upstate South Carolina will play host to the field of 55 professional anglers as well as hordes of fans, who will attend daily weigh-ins at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville and morning takeoffs at Green Pond Landing & Event Center, near Anderson. The annual Bassmaster

Classic Outdoors Expo will take place each day at the Greenville Convention Center. As for the fishing, Hartwell is familiar to the anglers. The 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk will mark the fourth time the tournament has been held on the 56,000-acre reservoir. The fishery is renowned for excellent spotted and largemouth bass fishing. Early March is typically a transition period on upstate lakes, when bass begin moving up in preparation for the spawn. Weather will have

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everything to do with how successful anglers will fish. The two normal patterns that set up that time of year are either a deeper bite on ditches and points in 30 to 60 feet of water, or a shallower bite when bass move up into the 5- to 20-foot range to stage next to the spawning flats. The prespawn bite can provide excellent numbers of fish as well as some solid size, which could potentially produce fast action and heavy sacks for Classic competitors. Lake Hartwell’s bass eat a lot of blueback herring, and Hartwell tournaments are responsible for the rise of the underspin as popular bass lure. If the fish are deep, it’s likely underspins, shaky heads and football jigs will see a lot of time in the water. If fish are shallow, jerkbaits, jigs and red crankbaits are Hartwell staples. Each of the three previous Classics have provided action-packed finishes. In 2008, Texas pro Alton Jones Sr. went into the final day with little more than a pound lead, but managed to hold off the rest of the field and claim his only Classic trophy. In 2015, when temperatures dipped as low as 9 degrees, hometown favorite Casey Ashley, of South Carolina, came from behind on the final day to win his only title. Then in 2018, young Alabama pro Jordan Lee jumped from sixth place on the final day to win his second-straight Classic. Fans turned out in droves for all three visits, creating an electric atmosphere for the weigh-ins and packing the Expo all three days. For information on fishing Upcountry South Carolina, visit FishUpcountrySC.com.

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n paper, I was in Switzerland to ski the Alps and eat my weight in fondue. According to some, I was actually there to keep an eye out for Karloff, a rival spy who’d been attempting to rip off a Swiss bank. Walking through Bern’s picturesque Old City, passing Einstein’s house,

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rom humble beginnings in a home office five years ago, GaugeSaver has flourished on word-of-mouth and happy customers. The company has found great, hardworking friends to help the business grow, and a year ago expanded into a commercial property at 5049 Hwy 17-S in Green Cove Springs, Fla. They fixed up a 1,500-square-foot building for a main office and technician space, and recently constructed a 2,500-square-foot rigging shop. The plan is to grow into this space and offer electronic installs, repairs, etc. Happy customers are the key to GaugeSaver’s growth. Eric Clayton and his wife Tammy believe in their service so much that they both left 25-plus-year IT careers to grow the brand. They now do more than just gauge restorations. They remanufacture replacement parts for Yamaha, Mercury and Suzuki gauges. They restore LCDs for many devices and most major manufacturers including Garmin, Raymarine, Furuno, Simrad, iCOM, Volvo, Honda, Humminbird, SeaDoo, Kawasaki, and more. They can restore almost anything that has an LCD. This includes VHFS, Chartplotters, AutoPilots, Jet Skis and Side-By-Sides. GaugeSaver can even replace LCD assemblies with aftermarket or OEM parts to keep electronics out of landfills. GaugeSaver was founded to extend the lifespan of electronics and save people money. Every week they are learning new ways to do so. They offer Dealer Discounts for friends in the industry. Check out Gaugesaver.com (or drop by and meet the shop dog, Jeb) to see if WWW.GAUGESAVER.COM GaugeSaver can save you money!

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exter’s complete line of surge actuators are highly engineered, easy to use, and go through rigorous testing to ensure that you get to your destination safely. Available in capacities from 6,600 lbs. to 20,000 lbs. in both disc brake and drum brake varieties, Dexter surge actuators provide smooth and powerful operation. All you need to do is replace the trailer’s standard tongue coupler with a surge actuator and add hydraulic brake end units. The “surge” or “push” of the trailer toward the tow vehicle during deceleration automatically synchronizes the trailer brakes with the tow vehicle brakes. As the trailer pushes against the tow vehicle, the actuator compresses and applies force to its master cylinder, which supplies hydraulic pressure to the trailer’s brakes. As a trusted leader in the Marine Industry, Dexter also outfitted its surge actuators with corrosion-resistant rollers and bushings to create smoother movements and added longevity. Tow with WWW.DEXTERAXLE.COM confidence – Demand Dexter!

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WILD SALMON THREATENED BY INTERBREEDING WITH FARMED FISH

nterbreeding between farmed salmon and wild populations in Norway is changing the lifecycle of wild salmon, according to a report from the website Phys.org. Researchers with the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research and Rådgivende Biologer studied scale growth patterns in thousands of salmon taken from rivers in Norway from 2010 to 2017. They looked at the impact of escaped farmed salmon breeding with wild salmon by collecting scales from 6,900 adult wild Atlantic salmon in 105 Norwegian rivers. The researchers conducted genetic tests on the scales to learn the genetic history of the fish. The researchers found that both farmed salmon and wild salmon with farmed ancestry mature and age at a faster rate and return to rivers earlier to spawn. It was hypothesized this accelerated maturation process puts salmon at a higher risk of predation because they venture into saltwater earlier, when they are less likely to evade capture by sharks and halibut. Prior studies have indicated that salmon with farmed ancestry are less afraid of predators. The study suggests interbreeding of farmed and wild salmon will result in reductions in wild populations, which has already been observed in some areas. To read the entire report, see phys.org

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Hi-tech rods perform like skittish show dogs. This one just puts fish in the boat. Built durable to handle the salt, the Ugly Stik® Bigwater is as mean as it gets. TM

FOR REEL

GOOD FISHING Visit Upcountry South Carolina Stop by the South Carolina Lakes booth at the Bassmaster Classic Expo, March 4-6, 2022 at the Greenville Convention Center.

Perfectly Seasoned FishUpcountrySC.com

864-233-2690

Lake Hartwell, host of the 2008, 2015, 2018, and 2022 Academy Sports & Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk