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TARGETING REDFISH During the Mullet Migration
By Skye Burkhardt
Free-lining sounds simple, but where you choose to fish and what you’re targeting will play a role in the set-up and rig you should use.
• BAIT: Obviously, mullet is the bait to use this time of the year. Full-grown mullet are great for shark and tarpon fishing. I prefer freelining finger-sized mullet, because pretty much everything eats them.
In the backcountry, I like a light- to mediumaction 2000 size spinning set-up to fish 10-pound leaders and 3/0 circle hooks. I prefer Mustad hooks and tie them on with a simple loop knot. I use an FG knot to connect my leader to a braided main line. This creates a true free-line, without the added weight of a swivel.
To fish with the mullet, I just follow the pods, cast to the outside of the school and open the bail to let the bait swim. When you hit it right, you can hook-up on nearly every cast, with the species changing from one cast to the next. Big gamefish tend to seek out isolated or injured mullet, which is exactly what your bait is.
This time of year, any artificial that resembles a mullet will do the trick. I like Vudu Mullet Swimbaits, Rapala X-raps, Bomber Lures Mullets,
Handling them with care and releasing them safely is important to the future of our fisheries. The statewide slot limit from 18 and 27 inches is intended to protect the large fish, which are part of the spawning stock.
Landing a bull red this time of the year is easy. With the mullet running, simply free-line a mullet or drop one on a weighted rig to land a trophy! Before you experience the drag-pulling run, you should know how to properly handle and release your fish.
Most of the state now has a one-fishper-person daily limit in the 18- to 27inch slot. Some regions have a two-fishper-vessel possession limit and others have a four-fish-per-vessel possession limit. The Indian River Lagoon region is strictly catch-and-release only for redfish. For complete Florida redfish regulations, go
• REDFISH REGULATIONS: Florida recently adopted new management plan for redfish. There are now varied regulations across nine different zones. Anglers need to understand those regulations because they’re intended to protect one of our iconic species in the face
The rigging is pretty much the same if I need to beef up for larger catches. With a 2500-size setup, I’ll fish 15- to 20-pound leader. I’ll bump that up to 25- to 30-pound test on 3000-size gear for bigger fish.
The mullet run doesn’t have an official start or end date. Large schools of mullet—some the size of three football fields—move south as temperatures cool. Tarpon, sharks, kingfish and redfish are just some of the gamefish that move with these pods. Most years the fishing is on fire in October and November.
Here are some tips for anglers to take advantage of the mullet run.
The
Atlantic Coast of Florida experiences one of the planet’s great migrations each fall. When millions of mullet push south in giant schools toward spawning grounds off the southern end of the state, it presents an exciting prospect for fishing. It’s an event anglers anticipate all year long.
• TACKLE: I mainly fish inshore, so light tackle is the way for me. However, it’s important to be prepared to switch up depending on the size and species of game fish present.
• ARTIFICIALS: This backcountry lady angler enjoys sight fishing and scouting Mosquito Lagoon and the marshes of the Tomoka Basin along Florida’s central Atlantic Coast. I’ll target bull reds in the inlets, but I spend most days targeting snook, tarpon and slot reds in the backcountry. This style of fishing is perfect for throwing artificials on light tackle.
It’s heartbreaking to see breeder fish floating due to carelessness or lack of knowledge. Hauling a big redfish up vertically onto a bridge or pier, dragging it over the rocks on a jetty or tossing it back from up high severely limits its chance of survival. Get a pier net to fish from a bridge or pier, and do everything in your power to ensure the healthy release of your fish.
Keep up with Skye Burkhardt on Facebook Inshore Adventures with Skye and on @brassyangler87.Instagram
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After all, that is why the gags are there. They are eating the same baits that you’re catching. They come inshore to a place that holds bait, so all the smaller females have plenty to eat while they are discussing
Tim Barefoot
love spring and summer fishing, but let me say this loud and clear: I live for fall and winter fisheries!
the possibilities of spawning. The same places will hold large seabass, as well. I love to eat grouper, but the way I grouper fish also produces large seabass, which I think are even better than grouper in texture andScampsflavor.
Once onshore you can take it a step further showing your fellow anglers your catch of the day wearing “slippahs” from Scott Hawaii.
and snappers hold a special place in my heart. Starting right now, they should be going off! It’s time consuming to stop on the way out a jig up bait. However, a 15- or 20-minute bait stop could make the difference between a good day and a great day. When you find bait in numbers, it doesn’t take long to rack up. I like to keep a Sabiki angler on each side of the boat handing me baits to dehook into a bucket in the center of the boat. Once I get 20 or so baits in the bucket, I pour them into the livewell and repeat until there’s enough.
Starting this month, the larger gags will be so close in that it’ll shock you. Don’t run too far, or you’ll run over some of the biggest fish of the year. Go wherever you jig up your cigar minnows and sardines, and the gags will be right there. When you get a few baits in the well, it’s a good idea to have at least one person put a bait right back down.
Ahhhh, yeah! This is the time of plenty. Now is the time of year to have a community-sized fish stew to clear out all the vacuum-sealed stuff in the freezer. You’ve got to make some room for freezer-stuffing grouper, snapper and seabass.
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I also like to take pinfish from the marina as a “bird in hand” for bottom fishing. The beauty of putting a live sardine on a jig and sending it to the bottom is that EVERYTHING down there eats them. The beauty of sending a pinfish, grass grunt or sailors choice to the bottom is that everything down there would love to eat them, but can’t. They can’t get their mouths around the bigger baits, but the ones that can are the fish you want to catch. Go enjoy the bounty of the season!
This is the time of year that can make even me look good. The large male gags have started staging up on nearshore structures, wrecks and traditional bait-holding bottom. The scamps and large snappers have started a transitional move to their deeper wintering grounds. Water temps will soon draw a line in the water that clearly shows you where to fish.
BIG BOTTOM FISH ARE THE BOUNTY OF FALL
‘a - Ahi
You raise the flags of the fish just caught to show you weren’t skunked.
For more information, go to Barefootcatsandtackle.com.
Hanapa Marlin
‘a -
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• SAVE • CALL NOW • SPECIALS
Yahoo: Refers to anyone on the water other than the anglers in the group using the term. “We went to our honeyhole, but there were a bunch of yahoos already in it.”
• STEEL
Easy Release: A sh that shakes the hook right at the boat. Counts as half a sh in informal shing competition. “Oh, well. Easy release. It was a little peckerhead, anyway.”
• SALE
Leroy Jenkins: Derived from an Internet video game meme, this exclamation is used in kayak shing when you race ahead of your shing buddies to be the rst one on the water. “Y’all can keep mucking around on the boat ramp. I’m going shing! Leeeroooy Jenkiiins!”
Reef Donkey: Derogatory term for greater amberjack. “We were dri ing baits for kings, but all we caught were reef donkeys.”
• Bucket Sitter: Sometimes derogatory term for someone who shes bait from the shore. “Look at those bucket sitters over there sitting on their buckets and drowning worms.”
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Pellet Pig: Derogatory term for sh that reach large size because of a feeding program. “ at yahoo thought he caught a trophy, but those pellet pigs are trained to eat hooks.”
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nglers have their own languages. We make up words or phrases to describe situations we frequently encounter on the water. Some of these phrases are quite amusing, and some are too colorful to be used in print. Like regional dialects, they vary from location to location and even from boat to boat. Without further ado, here are some of our favorite angler idioms.
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presumably to stick in the mud on the bottom of the ocean. “Keep hauling sail sh in the boat for photos, and you’re going to keep throwing back mud darts. ”
Share your favorite angler idioms with us on our Facebook page: Coastal Angler & e Angler Magazine.
Dreaded Frustrations: e downward spiral of being so ustered by your poor angling performance that you seemingly can’t do anything correctly. “I was slaying them until I hung my lure on the bottom. en I broke my rod tip trying to get it loose and the dreaded frustrations set in. I couldn’t do anything right the rest of the day.”
• SALE
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• Mud Dart: A bill sh that dies when released and sinks nose down,
• Damn Carp: A sh caught by an angler that is any species other than the intended target. “I thought it was a big largemouth, but it’s just a damn carp.”
THE LANGUAGE OF ANGLERS
A
Dink: Synonymous with peckerhead, a dink is a very small sh. “Look at this dink. It’s smaller than the plug it ate.”
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• Bait Chucker: Always derogatory term used by y shers to describe any other type of angler. “I think that bait chucker was jealous of my tweed cap.”
Bank of Despair: e opposite of honeyhole, this is an area known for not producing sh. “Man, I wasted three hours over there pounding away on the bank of despair.”
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Since these reds aren’t tailing, spotting them means you’re looking for wakes. Mature red sh push wider wakes at a steady pace in a straight line. Mullet make those darting V-shaped wakes.
the Indian River Lagoon for years, G. Loomis ambassador Capt. Willy Le can’t help but reminisce of the days when the Banana River was brimming with seagrass.
“ is at right here was so lush, the grass was thick as could be. But with water quality issues fueling massive seagrass die-o s, miles of underwater vegetation have been reduced to barren sand ats. ere are still giant red sh, though they’ve changed behavior and where they would once tail and search out the sea oor, they now just cruise around looking for bait sh,” re ected Le.
With a blunt snout and downturned mouth, red sh are designed for rooting. ey aren’t wellequipped for attacking prey on the surface, but they certainly display thrilling surface strikes as they
Shimano’s Current Sniper topwater baits o er anglers a lure for every scenario. e Current Sniper Walk 110F Silent is a walking bait that lacks internal rattles and excels in calm conditions. e Current Sniper Walk Hi-Pitch emits a high-pitch rattle for rougher water.
Le shes topwaters with a size 4000 Stradic CI4+ with a 7’6” G. Loomis GCX Inshore spinning rod with medium power and extra fast action. is set-up casts heavy topwater lures well and o ers excellent control for walking the dog.
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Anglers imparting the appropriate snap of the rod tip can mimic distressed bait sh on the surface, but it’s important to choose a lure with proper action for the conditions. When the Banana River becomes moderately choppy, loud topwater lures draw in predators. On calm days, it is better to sh a quieter walking lure.
Throw Topwater BANANA RIVER REDS
track a topwater lure and overtake the o ering a er several failed attempts.
e 31-mile-long Banana River is an isolated lagoon. Here, marsh and mangrove ecosystems ourish in a complex landscape where there is uniquely no tidal ow. ere are no freshwater tributaries, no saltwater inlets, and the only outlet to the Atlantic Ocean is through a lock at Port Canaveral.ACocoa Beach local who has been guiding
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Once a red sh is spotted, it’s important to be patient and accurate. Nothing will spook a red sh faster than an improperly placed bait falling from the sky.
“We can sight during all hours of the day and in all weather conditions, but since red sh are focused on feeding early and late in the day this is when you will encounter the most cooperative topwater bite. With overcast conditions the topwater shing can stay strong throughout the day,” said Le.
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Water conditions are another factor worth consideration. Big waves, whitewater and strong currents limit your control. ese conditions are also o en the best conditions for sh to bite. When you cast, engage the reel before the lure hits the water and reel up slack. is gives you a straighter line for better control of the lure, better swimming action and more direct contact with the lure. When you can feel the lure, you can feel the bite and ultimately increase your hook-setting ratio.
Legendary angler Patrick Sebile is a world record holder and an award-winning designer of innovative lures and shing gear. Check out his creations at abandofanglers.com.
LURES
LURESLONG-CASTINGINTHEWIND
When you’re casting into the wind, you should also adjust the way you cast. In long-casting lingo, I use the term “banner” to refer to the section of line between the rod tip and the lure. You should limit the banner when you’re shing in wind. Instead of using an overhand cast, try a sidearm cast, which limits the lure’s exposure to the wind.
If the wind is full force into your face, this adds drag on the lure and line during a cast. A high-density lure cuts through wind more e ciently than a oating lure. Everyone loves shing topwaters, but in windy conditions they are not the best choice. A denser lure always casts farther than a oating lure.
the past few months, we’ve discussed almost everything concerning long-distance lures. We’ve touched on elements an angler can control such as lure choice and the proper rod, reel and line con guration. Now I want to discuss the uncontrollable elements of weather and water conditions. ey play a big role in how far you are able to cast and how e ectively you can sh a lure.
Typically, a long-distance model weighs 30 to 100 percent more than a oating one of similar dimensions. If a oating lure weighs 2 ounces, a similar sized distance-dedicated lure will weigh 3 to 4 ounces. at’s really a big deal, especially in wind.
A long banner also reduces your control of the lure once it hits the water. A line belly in the water pulls your lure sideways on retrieve. You also won’t be in direct contact with the lure. is a ects the lure’s action, and you might also miss bites.
Again, we all love to sh topwater, but distance-dedicated lures are in many cases the better option. In windy conditions with breaking waves and ripping currents, I de nitely prefer a 3-ounce plug or a 4-ounce darter over a topwater, which weighs half as much.
Over
On a beach, with the lure on the sand, allow a banner of 50 to 70 percent of the rod’s length. is shorter banner limits the size of the belly in the line when you cast. e larger the line belly is, the more casting energy is taken from the lure’s ight, resulting in reduced distance.
Give it an honest try. I’m sure you’ll be convinced that distance lures are superior to lighter models of similar dimensions in many situations.
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uring the mullet run on Florida’s east coast, plenty of blacktip sharks cruise past our beaches with huge schools of bait. Even if you plan to sh for blacktips outside of mullet-run season, you are still in luck. Finding a blacktip shark de nitely isn’t an issue due to a large and growing population of these big sharks.
Photo courtesy of Je Tomalo
ese sharks are viviparous, meaning the pups develop inside the female’s body, unlike other sharks that lay egg sacks. Most pups will be le in shallow nurseries due to the high amount of prey and few predators, which increases their chances of survival.Fishing for blacktip sharks is fairly easy; however, there are days when they can be nicky. Paying attention to speci cs can increase your number of bites. On clear-water days, sharks tend to stay just on the backside of the last sandbar. On milky water days, they can literally be at your feet as they patrol up and down the rst drop.eyde nitely will eat dead bait, but will hit live and fresh-dead bait without hesitation.
Before blacktips begin migrating for the mating season, they will actually be in gendersegregated schools that come together only for mating. Blacktips tend to be separated due to the male’s highly aggressive drive towards the females, which could result in serious injury.
Blacktip sharks can be found year-round in the Atlantic from Virginia through Florida. ey have been known to migrate up to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. ough they do prefer more tropical temperatures, a little cold won’t deter them from their mission. Blacktips are de nitely not picky when it comes to hunting grounds. ey can be found in bays, estuaries, coral reefs and mouths of rivers.
Normally, blacktips leave Florida in the
e most productive way to catch blacktips is to use a 6- to 8-inch chunk of whatever fresh sh you have. Toss it out without a weight. If you are
By Emily Rose Hanzlik
I personally use a 5/0 extra strong circle hook with 2 feet of wire leader attached to 5 feet of 80-lb. test. e largest IGFA recorded blacktip shark weighed in at 270 pounds, 9 ounces. It was caught out of Malindi Bay, Kenya in 1984.
shing in strong current, simply walk down the beach as the bait dri s. On days when they are hanging out too far for casting, swim a live bait out. Blue runners, jack crevalle and palometa work well for this.
On slow days when the bite is dead and you’re catching nothing but cat sh, swim one out or cut into chunks. If there are any blacktips around, they will eat it. A lot of anglers use huge hooks and long wire leaders, which will require you to get a shore-based shark shing permit to legally sh for sharks in Florida.
BLACKTIPSCATCHING fromBeachthe
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spring to travel up the coast to Georgia and the Carolinas to mate in summer. Blacktips participate in internal fertilization, meaning that each female is separately impregnated, which will then result in 4 to 11 pups every two years.
Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 51 IGFA world records in various categories. She hails from West Palm Beach, where she has a part time Bow n Guide Service as well as shing classes for Jr. Anglers. Find her on Social Media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM OCTOBER 2022 FLORIDA 11
Perhaps a lesser-known draw to the Sunshine State are the exotic species that have taken hold here. ese are the non-native, sometimes invasive species that would otherwise require expensive travel for anglers to target. ey are here, so we might as well sh for them.
F
Tilapia… blue tilapia, to be exact, are one of more than a hundred species of cichlid native to the Middle East and Africa that are all called tilapia. is is similar to the way U.S. anglers refer to multiple species of sun sh as bream.
Exotic Species in Your Backyard:
It’s 8:17 p.m. Been out on the lake for hours. But there are more fsh in the water. And my LBP batteries are still going strong. Maybe One More Cast . . . the offcial battery of “One More Cast...” Visit lithiumbatterypower.com Or call us at 727-233-9831
I’m sure everyone reading this can target blue tilapia within a short distance of home. ey are great ghters that stand toe-to-toe with any species of similar size.
Rex Hannon is a regular contributor to Coastal Angler Magazine. See more from Rex at coastalanglermag.com.
e blue tilapia (Oreochromis aureus) is the most popular of the tilapia and the species most commonly found here in Florida. It is also a very important species in the sh-farming world due to its fast growth, salinity tolerance and the fact that it can be stocked densely. Tilapia have a long history. Farming of Nile tilapia goes back to ancient Egypt, and its importance is noted by the ancients using the sh as a symbol of rebirth.
ere is no minimum size or bag limit for tilapia. e FWC encourages anglers to catch and eat them like any other invasive species. e white akey meat is mild, and wild-caught tilapia are superior to the farm-raised tilapia sold in grocery stores.
e Blue Tilapia is considered invasive to the United States. It was introduced to Florida in the 1960s by stocking and experimental studies by both private and state entities. Tilapia are here to stay and can be found in a wide variety of locations, from lakes and ponds scattered around the state to many freshwater and brackish rivers and streams. For anglers, canals found in almost every neighborhood can be shing paradise.
is species is very fast growing for the rst few months, and then they settle in and grow to the 5-pound class by three to ve years of age. e Florida state record was caught by Pamela Henry, of Stuart, from of a dock on the St. Lucie River in 2011. e 9-pound, 6-ounce beast is also recognized by the IGFA as the all-tackle world record.
By Rex Hannon
waters o Key West to the many famous bass shermen that made Lake Okeechobee a destination for anglers from around the world, Florida has a rich angling history and amazing shing for everyone.
Blue Tilapia
Tilapia can be nicky eaters, which poses a puzzle for anglers. eir diet consists mainly of green algae, diatoms and small invertebrates. I have witnessed other anglers catching this species on corn, dog food, hot dogs and bread balls. I have caught good numbers and some very large examples with a y rod. I caught most of these sh on Clouser Minnows and other similar small bait sh patterns.
LakeCelebratingIstokpoga
40 The Angler Brag Board
PG
Local tackle store owner and bass fishing guide Capt. Joe Gruny is our Angler of the Month, and Joe Medlock’s Jig is our Bait of the Month. ThecopyLakebait,LakeIstokpogaBiologistSaraMenendeztacklesatoughquestionaboutliveandJimReedandIbothwriteaboutLakeIstokpogaandwhyweloveher.Andfinally,Icouldn’tresistretellingoneofmyfavoritestoriesaboutIstokpogacalled‘TheOldMan’.Ourlocalsectionisoneofthelargestever,with40pagesofarticles,reportsandadvertising.Ihopeyouenjoythemagazineandpassalongatoafriend.Andplease,letouradvertisersknowthatyousawtheiradinAnglerMagazine!DonNortonPublisher
Don Norton Publisher Tamara Kopp Graphics Tangie Neff Sales Terri Lee Sales Robert Fromhartz Senior Writer Carolyn Olson Distribution Mallory McNally Distribution Chris Norton Technical Director FEATUREDSTAFF IN THIS ISSUE CONTACT US (863)Don273-4998Norton don@theanglermagazine.comdonorton13@gmail.com We want to hear from our readers! Reach out to us with your feedback, fishing adventures, and pictures! opportunitiesAdvertisingavailable! Contact us today for information and pricing. SERVING HARDEE, HIGHLANDS, OKEECHOBEE, DESOTO, GLADES AND HENDRY COUNTIES LAKE ISTOKPOGA & LAKE OKEECHOBEE EDITION PG 2 Boca Granda Pass, Charlotte Harbor, Flats –Capt. Dave Stephens PG 4 Lake Okeechobee Report – Capt Angie Douthit PG 6 Big O Boats – Don Norton PG 8 Ask Sara – Sara Menendez PG 10 The Angler of the Month – Capt. Joe Gruny PG 12 The Angler Boat of the Month PG 14 Things People Thought They Knew About Lake Istokpoga – Jim Reed PG 18 Celebrating Lake Istokpoga – Don Norton PG 22 Girls on the Water – Paige Person PG 23 The Angler Bait of the Month – Medlock Jig PG 24 Does Color Really Matter – Capt. Steve Daniel PG 26 The Old Man – Don Norton PG 28 The BIG SHOW BASS TOURNAMENT 2022-2023 Schedule
to the October issue of the Angler Magazine – Lake Istokpoga/Lake Okeechobee Edition. This may well become a collector item as we take the opportunity to celebrate Lake Istokpoga being named the second-best bass fishing lake in the State of Florida by BASSMASTER Magazine.
Welcome
And make sure you check out our featured story on Big O Boats, manufactured right here in Sebring, Florida.
The Angler Magazine is a is a proud member of Sebring Chamber of Commerce Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce Okeechobee Chamber of Commerce Clewiston Chamber of commerce
—Capt. Dave Stephens www.backbayxtremes.com | 941-916-5769
has to be one of my favorite times of the year to fish for big line siders. Snook will be making migratory runs to their winter haunts, moving from shallow points and shallow grass flats to deeper creeks and rivers. While making this migration a ferocious appetite will help put on their winter fat reserves. Large sardines and pin fish are my baits of choice. When fishing for fish in heavy cover a 40# leader with a stout circle hook is recommended. The trout bite has been very good on area grass flats, the deeper flats remain your best bet for consistent action. While water and air temperatures begin to cool, the fishing will remain hot.
signs are obvious, fall is upon us. The days are becoming shorter, and the cooler night temperatures will help cool our waters. The migratory fish will start to show up in area waters as they make their push south for the winter. Red fish is possibly one of our most targeted species of the fall and will be forming big schools on area bars and grass flats. Also, the receding rains will allow our summerstained waters to once again return to clarity suitable for sight fishing. Our number one inshore migratory fish has to be the Spanish mackerel. Signs of these fish showing up are evident in the deeper areas of the harbor. On recent charters I have seen mackerel jumping out of the water chasing glass minnows and herring. As our water temperatures cool to the mid 70’s larger schools will appear throughout Charlotte Harbor. A thin wire leader with a 1/0 circle hook is recommended. Snook, by far are my favorite fish to target and fall
Signs of Fall
If you would like to experience some of Charlotte Harbor finest fishing! Give us a call. All of our charters are customized to fit your needs.
2 OKEECHOBEE OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM Turning 65 or new to Medicare? Are you new to the area? Don’t wait. If you’re new to Medicare, call me today. I’m happy to meet with you to answer questions you may have about Medicare Health Plans. Colleen McNally Licensed Sales Representative THE OAK CENTER 126 Dal Hall Blvd. Lake Placid, FL 33852 786-213-3948 I offer Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Supplement Plans, and Prescription Drug Plans Boca Granda Pass, Charlotte Harbor, and the Flats REPORT & FORECAST Capt. Dave Stephens' The
October is typically a transitional month where you’ll find bass in the shallows, open water and deeper water areas where they are feeding on small hatchling minnows and bream and in open water they’ll feed on shad. If you’re fishing the lake still use extreme caution running and coming off plane as the water level is still low and lots of areas of the lake have coral rock bottom.
The month of September brought some rain, high temperatures and lower water levels. All in all, the fishing was slow for bass but great fishing for the remainder of the bream that were on the beds.
Lures for bass that I’m getting bites on are: worms; jigs; swim bait and swim jigs; some top water; flipping creature-style lures; some rattle trap and spinner baits and some bites on shallow crank baits. Colors are: Junebug; redbug; white; crawdad for jig trailers and skirts; watermelon red depending on water clarity; green pumpkin and bream colors for crank baits.
Just down the street from Istokpoga Park 1807 US Hwy 98, Lorida, Florida 863-655-1084 Tue - Sat, 11am - 6pm Closed Sun & Mon Stop in and see us! Jimmy G’s BBQ RotisserieChickenBBQBBQChickenRibsPorkSaladPulledporkChickenSlicedporkBakedBeansColeSlaw
Areas to fish for bass are; spots along the shoal and Whidden’s Pass; a
Lake REPORTOkeechobee&FORECAST
As October nears the month of November that will be a good time to start looking for crappie and bass in the shallows as they will be getting into position for the upcoming first main spawn for the season. I like to focus on the NorthEnd of the lake in areas where you have a hard-sandy bottom along with some good vegetation cover or nearby. Every year with a new spawn something always changes just a little whether it’s a certain cover you’ll find them in/ nearby or perhaps they’ll be out in more open water, it’s definitely going to take some time to narrow down their patterns and expound thereafter. As the season kicks in, the fishing guides on this lake work hard to not only put customers on fish but share this beautiful lake and all its nature for those who travel far and wide to see its beauty so be respectful when you approach someone who is guiding, it’s the right thing to do.
The
water conditions for Lake Okeechobee have been really good. I’m seeing quite a few areas that have eel grass, hydrilla and am hopeful that the shrimp grass comes back which is much needed to help keep the bottom from coming apart creating mucky looking water when storms hit.
4 OKEECHOBEE OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM PARADISE REAL ESTATE INTERNATIONAL
spot or two at Dupree Bar; open water area out from Dyess Ditch; some spots along Horse Island and Indian Prairie; some areas in Tin House; 3rd and 2nd point; a few spots along Kings Bar.
To book your next fun-filled and productive day fishing Lake Okeechobee calls me at 863-228-7263 or check out my website at www. southfloridabassfishing.com where you’ll find past fishing reports, customers and their catches; hotel accommodations; pricing and etc.
Thank you to all my sponsors:
Toho Marine & Outdoors located in St. Cloud, Fl., BnM Poles; Real Magic; Tru-Turn hooks; Bullet Weights; Maui Jim; Gill; Mercury; G-Loomis; Lews; Mega Strike; Navionics; Rapala; Mid-South Tackle; Gene Larew and Pradco Brands.
I checked out J & S area and the water looks beautiful and is full of just reeds, hardly any grass or other vegetation which was very disheartening to see. My puppy Max and I drove on down towards the Hendry Creek area and the same result as far as vegetation was the same. Once there for about 20 minutes, there were no signs of fish movement or swallows diving on baby mosquitoes like I’ve seen on the north/west side of the lake. I will check back again very soon.
Capt. Angie Douthit’s
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM OCTOBER 2022 OKEECHOBEE 5
6 OKEECHOBEE OCTOBER 2022
One of the features that make the Big O unique is the fact that each boat is equipped with trim tabs to allow the driver complete control over the stabilization of the craft.
“Our customers tend to be very experienced anglers who have owned a wide variety of boats in the past, but they’re not looking for a cookie-cutter model,” Terry said in our interview. “There are a number of guides and professional anglers who know exactly what they want, and we’re able to build that for them”.
“I’ve never understood why other boat " BIGBOATS
freshwater fishing or a “flats-style” boat for fishing in saltwater. The beauty of each boat is in the attention to detail and the customization based on what each and every customer wants.
Often referred to as a “cross-over boat,” Terry and his crew of four, very talented employees, hand-build every custom-designed boat. Together, they build 18-20 boats a year.The team can build a bass boat for
“Our boats have an 8–10-inch draft and are often 800 to 1000 pounds lighter than our competition. One of the outstanding features is the Big O’s ability to handle rough water,” he went on to say. “Anyone who’s fished Lake Okeechobee knows what it like when the lake gets rough.”
Interested in owning one of the best cross-over boats money can buy?
"
You might want to check out Big “O’ Boats, built right here in Sebring,TerryFlorida.McKay, the owner of Big “O” Boats was born and raised in South Florida and he has spent a lifetime fishing both Lake Okeechobee and the Treasure Coast.
O
Continued on page 11
Terry actually worked for the company for about a year and then bought it in 2013. The original Founder of the company, Mac Simpson started the company in the mid -1980’s and built it from the ground floor up. He retired in 2013.
The Big O Boats offer a larger front and rear deck space than most 21 and 22 foot boats.
Let us help you find that backyard! Serving Highlands County 863-414-6570 cm rport@bhhsflpg.com Buying or Selling Your Home? Consider it SOLD! 5 Star Reviews A Little Bit of Tranquility in Your Own Backyard FIND YOUR PERFECT BOAT HOUSE AND LAKESusanLIFESTYLE!Farley Realtor® Berkshire Hathaway Home Services 863-381-7158 sfarley@bhhsflpg.com susanfarleyproperties.com homesforsaleinhighlandscounty.com DAWN DELL - 863-381-0400 Paradise Real Estate International Located on Red Beach Lake in Sebring, Fl. Right down the road from the racetrack. Close to everything. 3 bed 1 bath solid concrete block home. $299,900 Broker Associate Terri Lee The Angler Magazine Okeechobee/Lake Istokpoga Edition 863-414-8759 tlee1.pmtinc@gmail.com Call or email me for all your advertising needs!! LET ME HELP YOU GROWBUSINESSYOUR
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Family-owned and operated for over 20 years. We expanded our business to sell residential and commercial outdoor equipment. From mowers to blowers, tractors to UTV’s, and even customized golf carts; we have everything you need from purchasing to servicing. ALL ABOUT LAWNS, INC. Outdoor Power Equipment AALawnsInc.com | 863-386-5111 Visit our Showroom 605 State Road 66, Sebring, Florida We service all brands, makes, and models of Servic.ewithEquipmenthandheldmowers,2-cyclealongWarranty&Sharpening of Blades & Chains & More!
10 OKEECHOBEE OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
In 2009, Joe started guiding around the state, specializing in the Everglades and catching Peacock Bass, and more recently, the hottest lake in Florida, Headwaters. Like most
He is very active with sponsorships of local kids, acting as captain for many of their tournaments, as well as providing specialized workshops for children six and up.
Joe spent most of his time fishing Lake Okeechobee and the Florida Everglades, although he’s fished almost every notable lake in Florida at one time or another.
B
By Don Norton
The Continued on page 13
Joe grew up fishing all the lakes in Long Island, winning at least three or four annual big bass contests sponsored by a local tackle store by the time he was 16 years old.
His biggest bass, a whopping 12.4 pounder was caught 20 plus years ago in a new lake called the Stick Marsh. Joe still remembers launching and loading his boat on the old dirt ramp leading into the Marsh.
In 2004, he took a break from fishing and decided to coach football with his three sons, Mathew, Jonathan and Evan, who are now grown 25, 23 and 17 respectively. Joe is single ladies…..you might want to take note of that.
Joe Gruny
In 1991 he started fishing local and regional bass tournaments out of Ft. Lauderdale. Back then, he met one of BassSouthfounderyearsBaloganglers,County’sHighlandstopGeoffalmost30ago.HewastheoftheFloridaClub,basedout
orn in Queens, New York, Joe Gruny moved to Florida in 1987. In fact, he actually met a girl whose family was relocating to south Florida and he decided to follow her down to Pembroke Pines.
of the Bass Pro Shops in Ft. Lauderdale, and won many Angler of the Year Awards as a member. He also competed in the newly formed BFL, fishing tournaments throughout the Southeastern United States.
Angler Profile
Terry indicated that they work closely with Mercury Motors, but said it is up to the customer to decide which brand of motor they wanted for their boat. The boats are rated for 150-300 hp., although most are equipped with a Most250.of the boats are built with a single console, consoles.asaredouble-consolesbutalsoavailable,wellascenterAlthoughnot
Continued from page 6 SaturdayS beginning dec 4th and Moving Forward coMe Shop organic produce FroM Fresh from the Farm Organic Produce! Tables will be setup outside the store front Saturdays from 10am to 2pm OPEN
Each boat also comes with two livewells, one in the front and one in the back, plus two insulated coolers with an option for a third.
manufacturers don’t include them on their boats,” Terry said, “plus we offer our boats with or without carpeting.”
Each boat can come fully equipped with Power Poles, 36-volt electric motor and two 12” graphs, jack plate and tilt-steering. Of course, clients can select their choice of manufacturers for each of the products.
Bass Boats have for the most part, always included carpeting, while saltwater boats usually do not. But for anyone who fishes freshwater for not only bass,
Boat ofthe Month
If you'd like your boat featured in the Angler Magazine's "Boat of the Month" please submit your pictures and information to The Angler Magazine at donorton13@gmail.com or don@theanglermagazine.com. This month's Boat of the Month is a 2016 Aluminum Ranger RT188, with a 115 h.p. Suzuki outboard motor, Minn-Kota Maxxon trolling motor with recessed foot pedal, new batteries, 2 Lowrance Elite - 5 HDI, two fishing seats, Ranger Trail trailer with 2new tires. Asking $24,000.00. Call Tangie Neff 937-217-8076 or Corky Neff 606-584-0144
12 OKEECHOBEE OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM Owned by Tangie & Corky NeffFOR SALE - 2016 Aluminum Ranger RT188 ANGLER
Joe is also very concerned about the future of bass fishing in this country. He is very active with sponsorships of local kids, acting as captain for many of their tournaments, as well as providing specialized workshops for children six and up.
Marine Tackle and Warehouse will also be starting their annual Crappiethon – a contest for the biggest crappie caught over a period of a couple months, weighed in at the store. Last year’s winner, 11-year-old Korbin Brinkman won $1400.00 cash with his 2.03-pound Crappie.
Continued from page 10
bass fishing guides, he’s comfortable and knowledgeable taking his clients to any of the best-known waters in Florida.His boat is a Ranger Z521, a 21’ bass boat with a 250 Mercury Pro XS, power poles and stateof-the-art electronics.
In October, he will be promoting the First Annual Marine and Tackle Warehouse Zombie Nation Youth Angler Bass Fishing Tournament to be held on October 30th, 2022. The tournament will be held on Lake Istokpoga from safe light to 2pm. The Youth Division will be 5–10-year old’s and the Junior Division will be 11–17-year old’s. If you’re interested in getting more information, or if you’d be interested in some of the sponsorship opportunities, give Joe a call at 863-304-8222.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM OCTOBER 2022 OKEECHOBEE 13
Last year on November 20th, he opened Marine, Tackle & Warehouse at 4601 Southside Blvd. in Sebring, Florida. The store has been quite successful this past year and offers anglers a great selection of fishing tackle.
Bassmaster
Magazine has named Lake Istokpoga as the third best bass lake in the entire Southeast USA, recognizing tournament and fishing results and the amount of work that Florida and Highlands County puts into keeping the lake healthy. I was disappointed, therefore, when some of the first Facebook comments were sarcastic and dismissive of the lake’s status. This was a disservice to the folks who fish the lake and who depend on the lake for their livelihood. In that group I’d include bass tournament directors, boat rental operators, fishing guides, commercial fishermen and others who enjoy their time on the lake, from sun-up to sundown.
Here I found a different attitude more in tune with my own – minimize herbicide use but recognize herbicides are a tool which, if used properly, can have positive effects. Trying to synchronize minimal herbicide use with effective management, the Lake Istokpoga Habitat Management Plan is experimenting with phased vegetation actions under controlled circumstances, leaving most lake zones untreated for 9 months at a time. Interestingly, I’m now getting the occasional comment from anglers (who earlier had complained about too much spraying) now complaining: “They’re waiting too long. Someone should be out there EVERY WEEK, finding the invasive plants and killing them with an herbicide.” Surely there’s a middle ground, but it may depend more on a better understanding of the problem rather than just the solutions.
There are several items of “conventional knowledge” that in some cases
I thought back to my time managing a Homeowners’ Association lake in Palm Beach County, where some opinionated residents thought the lake should have NO vegetation in it, and a specific quote: “My lake in New Jersey doesn’t have any weeds in it, and I don’t want any here.” For my own knowledge, and to try and “save” the lake I spent time reviewing lake management and biology, worked with the Extension Service managing an environmental program, and even took the commercial herbicide applicator course to fully understand the issues. But eventually the “no plants” attitude drove the HOA to aggressively remove native plants, turning a small lake with a thriving bass population into something less than ideal, and it was at that point I moved to Highlands County.
THINGS PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY KNEW ABOUT LAKE ISTOKPOGA (but might be wrong)
14 OKEECHOBEE OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
BY JAMES REED
Continued on page 20
Saturday, October 22, 2022
Highlander Tournament Trail weigh-in 50 Anglers
Okee-Tantie Campground & Marina 11:00 AM
Cracker Boys weigh-in 150 Anglers
Okee-Tantie Campground & Marina 11:00 AM
Veterans Park Ramp 3:00 PM
Dixie Country Bass Club weigh-in 50 Anglers
BASS BUSTERS weigh-in 150 Anglers
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Saturday, October 15, 2022
THE VENICE BASS CLUB weigh-in 60 Anglers
Scott Driver Park 3:00 PM
Okee-Tantie Campground & Marina 2:00 PM
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Clewiston City Park 3:00 PM
Istokpoga Park 2:00 PM
16 OKEECHOBEE OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
Highlands Bass Anglers Tournament Trail weigh-in 30 Anglers
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Cracker Boys weigh-in 150 Anglers
Scott Driver Park 3:00 PM
LAKE OKEECHOBEE
Dixie Country Bass Club weigh-in 50 Anglers
LEE COUNTY BASS ANGLERS weigh-in, 60 Anglers
Okee-Tantie Campground & Marina 1:00 PM
SOUTH PASCO BASSMASTER weigh-in 50 Anglers
Thursday, October 13, 2022
Roland & Mary Ann Martin's Marina 3:00 PM
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.
LAKE JACKSON
Istokpoga Park 2:00 PM
Toho Marine Fishing weigh-in 40 Anglers
October 2022
H.L. Bishop Ramp 3:00 PM
Roland & Mary Ann Martin's Marina 3:00 PM
Toho Marine Fishing weigh-in 150 Anglers
Saturday, October 8, 2022
Okee-Tantie Campground & Marina 3:00 PM
Roland & Mary Ann Martin's Marina 3:00 PM
Old Farts Tournament weigh-in 20 Anglers
Saturday, October 15, 2022
Sunday, October 30, 2022
LAKE ISTOKPOGA
Sunday, October 2, 2022
Okee-Tantie Campground & Marina 2:00 PM
Harney Pond Canal Boat Ramp 2:00 PM, Beeline Bass Busters weigh-in 28 Anglers
Thursday, October 6, 2022
Prepared Wednesday, September 7, 2022
Toho Marine Fishing weigh-in 40 Anglers
Roland Martin Marine Center Series weigh-in 400 Anglers
BASS
Public Ramp / Placid, View Drive 3:00 PM
Saturday, October 8, 2022
BASS BUSTERS weigh-in 150 Anglers
Scott Driver Park 3:00 PM
THE VENICE BASS CLUB weigh-in 60 Anglers
Old Farts Tournament weigh-in 20 Anglers
Sunday, October 23, 2022
Sunday, October 16, 2022
South Florida Bass Club weigh-in 25 Anglers
Veterans Park Ramp 2:00 PM
Toho Marine Fishing weigh-in 150 Anglers
LAKE PLACID
The Big Show Bass Tournaments weigh-in 160 Anglers
Saturday, October 22, 2022
Windy Point Boat Ramp 2:30 PM
Scott Driver Park 3:00 PM
LAKE JUNE
Sunday, October 16, 2022
Sunday, October 9, 2022
OKEECHOBEE 17
The bass fishing, however, was outstanding! Middle of the lake areas that are now seemingly void of fish were teeming with baitfish, as well as “young-of-the-year,” and largemouth bass, as well as other predators were always close by.
fishing Lake Istokpoga almost 30 years ago, way back in the 90’s. The lake was much different then. Acre’s and acre’s of vegetation, mostly invasive hydrilla covered much of the surface area and moving around the lake in a small craft was often difficult if not impossible.
by Don Norton
18 OKEECHOBEE OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
This years selection by BASSMASTER Magazine as the Number Two, “Best Bass Fishing Lake in the State of Florida,” just behind one of the hottest lakes, Headwaters,
LakeCelebratingIstokpoga
WE LOVE YA!
Istarted
Fat, healthy bass were easily caught using shiners or artificial baits, and although there weren’t nearly as many bass tournaments on the lake back then as there are today, winning weights of five bass often exceeded 30 pounds.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM OCTOBER 2022 OKEECHOBEE 19
I’ve seen the lake go from poor to average, good to great, and back down again. All lakes go through cycles, and Lake Istokpoga is no different. One of the most significant changes to the lake occurred in 2017 with Hurricane Irene. But it’s always been my “home lake”.
But the lake isn’t just for guides and tournaments anglers. This lake is for everybody who enjoys a day on the water. Whether you’re fishing for bass, crappie, bluegills or catfish, there’s something for everybody here. Even folks who don’t fish can enjoy the beautiful birds and animals that call the lake home.
Special thanks to the FWC and their team of experts in managing the lake over the past 30 years. I know it hasn’t been easy, and I know there are still critics out there today. But there are many of us who appreciate your tireless efforts and thank you for the job you do.
Is the lake as good as it was 25-30 years ago? Probably not. Looking back, I think we all may remember our best days on the water, and not those days when the fishing was tough. But it was also a different time in our lives.
As a bass fishing guide, I have probably spent more time than most on this beautiful, 27,692-acre natural lake, but I’m not alone. Most of the guides, as well as the tournament bass fishermen have put in their time as well. The picture on the front cover is me and my buddy, bass fishing guide, Corky Neff, who lives on the lake and is out there almost every day. We had the opportunity earlier this year to fish one of the Big Show Bass Tournaments, where Corky proved once again to be one of the top “sticks” on the tournament circuit.
2356 sq ft | 4 Bd/2 Bth
Panoramic view of the 27,000+ acre Lake Istokpoga Upgrades include keypad entry, tankless water heater, crown molding, custom paint, and brand-new luxury vinyl plank flooring. More Added Bonuses include, a Utility Shed with electric, professional full size pool table, chairs, New bedroom furniture, Pre-paid Lake Vegetation Control & Lawn Maintenance for ALL of 2022. Over $15K of extras!! Owner will also give an additional $5K credit at closing for dock modifications. Highlands County Lake Placid’s Lake Istokpoga Windy Point 1.25 ACRE PRIVATE LAKEFRONT with only one visible neighbor This property boasts towering cypress trees and is abundant with wildlife. No other lake front property even comes close! Lake and Land Realty of Highlands, Inc. Jeanne Butler Wheeler 124 E. Interlake Blvd. | Lake Placid, FL 33852 Office: 863-659-4777 | Mobile: 863-202-4444 Lake27,000+viewPanoramicoftheacreIstokpoga
is no real surprise for many of us who fish the lake regularly.
There was no BASSMASTER Magazine rating our lakes back in the 90’s. Had there been, it’s anyone’s guess whether Lake Istokpoga would have even gotten the recognition it deserved.
It’s a fun-story that took me 25 years to write.
I’ve written many newspaper and magazine articles about Lake Istokpoga, and just this year, I wrote my first book exclusively about this incredible fishery. “Queenie –The Legend of Lake Istokpoga”.
2 fully screened porches | Private well
Capt. Joe Gruny
20 OKEECHOBEE OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
Capt. Don Norton
Corky & Tangies Bass
Back Bay Extreme Fishing Snook, Tarpon, 941-916-5769Redfish
Data: The Lake Istokpoga Habitat Advisory Committee (LIHAC) took on this question and took bottom samples from nine different Istokpoga lake locations. These samples were sent to commercial laboratories for analysis and ALL samples came back “non-detect” for the herbicides which have been used on Lake Istokpoga. The same samples were then used to grow plants in a nursery, without difficulty. It’s not legacy herbicides which block new plant growth.
don’t hold true. Here are a few:
Largemouth Bass - Peacock 561-827-5668Bass
Largemouth BassPeacock 606-584-0144Bass
Largemouth 863-273-4998Bass
Marine & Tackle Warehouse
Opinion: The poor visibility in lake water is caused by muck that is stirred up from the lake bottom.
The Voice of Lake Okeechobee Fishing Largemouth 239-560-2704Bass
Capt. Tangie Neff Poga Boats
Data: In my opinion, it’s true that at least one commercial company had junior applicators who created a bad impression. They are no longer being used for routine work on Lake Istokpoga. However, there is a requirement that applicators “triple-rinse” their equipment once their tank is empty. This means they must refill their tank with clean water three times and then run the clean water through their system to ensure that not even a single molecule of herbicide remains. Most of the comments about misuse of which I’m aware appear to have been made by folks who observed the applicator going through the triple-rinse procedure, running clean water through the equipment while in areas where there were no invasives to treat.
Bottom Line:
Continued from page 14
REDS Bass Fishing Guide Service
Opinion: The lake is lowered too much and prevents homeowners from using their boats during the summer.
Data: Water discoloration is largely the result of algae blooms, which can come in a variety of colors. The algae grow well in warm water with high amounts of nutrients such as come from agriculture and septic systems on properties adjacent to the lake. Lakewatch monitors the water quality, and their data is available to help explain the process. Lakewatch data is available at https://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu/datareports/. The discoloration is largely algae growth responding to water parameters.
Largemouth978-877-1231Bass
Data: This is a yearly concern, made worse by the results from Hurricane Irma. This season the lake level has remained within the normal range. There are good reasons for the lake variations, which try to help rid the lake of sediment, while providing flood protection during the hurricane season and water for irrigation (for agriculture downstream and for lakeshore residents). There is also a requirement to provide irrigation for use by the Seminole nation. But Hurricane Irma changed the bottom contours of the lake, so in many cases it was not a matter of the water level going down, it was the lake bottom rising, leaving less water to float boats from boathouses. In my case, the hurricane raised the level under my boathouse by about two feet. In my opinion there is likely to be a revised lake regulation schedule now that the Kissimmee River project is complete, but homeowners may want to look at ways to move out some of the sand blown in by the hurricane.
Fishing Tours
Phoenix Bass Fishing Guide Service
South Florida Bass Fishing Bass, Crappie, Bream, Fingerling Catfish 863-655-0820
Capt. Steve Daniel
Capt. Corky Neff
Capt. Don Hatcher
863.633.7335 floridatrophybassguide.com | vmorrellfishing@gmail.com@morrellfishing
Capt. Jay Madden
Capt. Dave Stephens
Opinion: The sediment on the lake bottom is caused by spraying aquatic plants and killing them with herbicide.
Lake Istokpoga is an artificial body of water with a dedicated team of biologists from FWC and a good team from Highlands County who are working hard to keep it as an important county asset.
Data: Before the S-68 structure was built in 1963, sediment was flushed from the lake on a yearly basis by the variation in lake levels. The S-68 blocked the flushing and retained the sediment within the lake. The sediment is largely a result of plant growth, with plants shedding leaves and roots. The worst offenders are invasives such as water hyacinth. In one experiment, 10 water hyacinth plants grew to cover over one acre of water in a year, while also dropping over 5 tons (dry weight) of debris into the lake. It’s the detritus from plant growth that creates most of the muck layer.
Don Hatcher Fishing Largemouth863-655-0265Bass
GUIDEFISHINGLOCALSERVICES
Capt. Valery Morrell Morrell Fishing Adventures Largemouth863-633-7335Bass
Capt. Remo Beaver Remo and Mark Beaver Fishing Largemouth863-655-0820Bass
Opinion: Herbicides remain in the lake, contaminate the bottom of the lake, and prevent native plants from growing.
Crappie, Bluegill & Bass 937-217-8076
Capt. Angie Douthit
Opinion: Applicators are careless with herbicides and even use their equipment to wash their boats.
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This month JP and I had our first FL BASS Nation tournament of the season. We went out on the Winter Haven chain of lakes and man it was rough. Safe light was 6:45 and we were boat 7 so were got a head start. We began by running across several of the lakes and went through the locks to the spot we pre-fished the previous weekend. With a couple of casts in, we managed to get 1 fish in the boat. We
The next day I had to fish alone which can only happen once so me and our captain went back out to the same spot we caught all our fish yesterday. First cast BOOM fish in the boat. We rotated around that spot a couple of times but didn’t have any luck after that so with hopes of catching more fish we went to the creek opening across the lake and threw some topwater baits and worms.
stayed there until about 9:30 then headed to a different spot the next lake over. We fished there for about an hour with no luck so we ran back to the first spot and caught 2 more fish, we trolled along the cattails on the bank but no luck there either and before we knew it was time to head in for weigh-in. We were a little disappointed by the turnout but that's why it's called fishing and not catching. We got to the scale and weighed in three fish alive thankfully. The scale read 4.49lbs which was good considering a lot of people came in with 1-3 fish.
girlsonthewater
Unfortunately, I lost a nice 4 pounder but after that bite, I didn't have any more luck so we tried some big tree piles about 11 feet deep but nothing there either so I went back to the spot where I had the most luck and sure enough I put one more fish in the boat and by that time it was time for weigh in once more so we flew across the lakes and weighed in at 3.99lbs.Itwas a tough tournament but JP and I did our best and had fun which is all that matters. Stay tuned for the next article, JP and I are fishing locally on Lake Jackson with the Highlands County Anglers Club.
DeanJP
&PaigePerson
fishing the waters of Lake Istokpoga and Lake Okeechobee would not be complete without the Medlock Jig.
The jig, available in 4 sizes and seven colors is exactly what it sounds like; a jig with two weed guards specifically made for flipping in heavy cover. The head of the jig features a design that is a combination swim jig and heavy grass jig. The head is a little wider than a standard jig because
Joe recommends rigging the jig on 65–80-pound braided line with a black or blue Zoom Big Salty plastic pork chunk, but with the huge number of plastic trailer options available, it really comes down to each fishermen’s favorite. He prefers the 1-ounce size in black. Personally, I prefer flipping the jig with a blue-black, Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver or a Strike King Rage Craw.
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Joe’s meticulous final inspection of each jig insures only the highest quality jig for his customers. You can find them at many tackle shops all over Florida. In Sebring, check out Marine & Tackle Warehouse.
Created some 20 years ago by Joe Medlock, a resident of Lake Placid, Florida and skilled tool & die machinist, the jig has been responsible for countless trophy bass and skilled tournament anglers making it to the winners-circle for the past three decades.
Bait ofthe Month
it needs to accommodate two weed guards. Unlike large manufacturing plants, the Medlock Jig is handpoured, one-at-a-time by Joe. Once poured, it must pass a vigorous inspection process even before the paint is applied. Unlike many jigs, the process used by Joe to create the nearperfect paint job won’t crack and peel. The finished product speaks for itself.
Your local agents Ron Courtney & preston tubbs
So, what is it that makes the Medlock Double Guard Flipping Jig such a deadly lure for largemouth bass? Just ask a few of the touring pros like Roland Martin, Davy Hite, Terry Scroggins or Ish Monroe. Or better yet, ask Joe’s son Brandon who has won three FLW Outdoors Tournaments in the past few years and is a well-known tournament angler and guide on Lake Istokpoga and Lake Okeechobee.
Medlock Jig
Joe’s fascination with lures has been a lifetime passion as well as a hobby that eventually became a business. Although best known for his jig, Joe also makes spinnerbaits and other types of jigs for his own use.
Bass
Most of the time the size of the lure and the speed in which you are
24 OKEECHOBEE OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
think color is more important in the confidence of the angler than it is to a bass.
with dark colors. Don’t
Do you really think a bass is saying I’m not going to eat that lure because the tail is not dipped in chartreuse? Some of the best anglers I know use only one color for all their soft baits and that is Junebug.
working it is much more important than the color of the bait. If you’re having trouble choosing a color, do as I do, just stick let color
get in your head. — Steve Daniel | 239.560.2704 • 863.885.2230 Just how important is color in selecting a fishing lure? Steve Daniel DOES COLOR REALLY MATTER? The Voice of Okeechobee Fishing Marine and Tackle Warehouse ZOMBIE FISH Zombie Nation Youth Angler Fishing Tournament October 30th, 2022 LAKE ISTOKPOGA Safe Light to 2:00 PM Youth Division 5 - 10 yrs old Junion Division 11 - 17 yrs old 2 Anglers Maximum per boat 100% of proceeds go to Youth Anglers Call Marine and Tackle Warehouse to sign up! 863-304-8222 ZOMBIE
Ireally
I personally think it is where you are fishing and how you are working the lure that is the most important. The bottom line is, use the color you like! Color is, in my opinion, the last thing you need to be thinking about. There are more important things to be thinking about.
The best example I can give is a day when we were using the old Gambler Flapping Shad. I was using junebug and the other angler in my boat was using a white one. At the end of the day, we each had caught more than 30 bass. The color had nothing to do with our success but color can get in the heads of most anglers.
• 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
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• baby spinach leaves, optional
Directions
• 3 tablespoons of chopped pecans
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• In a medium bowl, combine mayo, yogurt, mustard, onion powder, salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Gently add the cranberries, pecans, apple and chicken.
• Eat as is or place on sliced croissants with spinach or lettuce.
• 10 ounces (1 can) chicken breast, drained, cut into pieces
Mom's Favorite Recipes CHICKENSALAD Recipe ofthe Month
• 2 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 teaspoon of onion powder
• 4 croissants or soft rolls, optional
• 1/4 cup diced Granny Smith apple
• 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise
26 OKEECHOBEE OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM THE OLD MAN
By Don Norton
The
Thar ain’t no fish in this here lake, young fella, you mights as well go on home or try your luck somewhere else, he said, as he cranked up his old Johnson 9 1/2 outboard motor and ran his boat up on a home-made trailer.
Once you’ve fished with a jitterbug in the silence of a night fishing trip, you never forget that sound.
Continued on page 28
I’m not sure if he wanted a response from me. If he did, he didn’t wait for it, as he grinded the gears looking for first.
From time to time, I’d see him on the water, or at the ramp, but he never seemed to remember me.
When I was a kid, back in the sixties and seventies, we used Jitterbugs for bass fishin’ and caught lots of bass on them. I’ll always remember, my dad always told me to use the black one at night. But I haven’t used a jitterbug
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM OCTOBER 2022 OKEECHOBEE 27
Now many of you may not know this about me, but I worked in the senior housing industry for over 20 years. I worked for a number of the bigger firms like Marriott Senior Living Services, buying land, building retirement communities, and ultimately hiring and training the sales people to lease or sell the units.
I waved to him as he drove away, feeling a bit sorry for him and wondering why he thought the fishing was so poor. That summer was some of the best fishing I’d ever had on the lake.
Two old casting rods lay on the bottom of his boat, resting in about 4 inches of lake water, with an old rusted Kennedy tacklebox crammed so full of lures that the top wouldn’t close.
Back then, I was overseeing new sales at a retirement community in
I had seen the inside of his boat a couple of times, always amazed at the antiquity of his tackle. Both of the rods were short, Garcia Five-Star rodsone obviously broken and repaired, the other with a broken tip. Both rods had Pfleuger Supreme reels that looked like they were from the 50’s, with black nylon line. Tied on to each of the rods were black Jitterbugs.
in 30 years, and I doubt many other bass fishermen today ever give the lure a toss, or even keep one in their tacklebox.
first time I met him was at Windy Point, on Lake Istokpoga, almost 25 years ago.
Not so anymore. You gotta really hunt for the bass, and when you do find ‘em, they’re skinny little fish not much bigger’n my hand, he continued, stumbling as he stepped into the cab of his old beat-up truck.
He was a heavy-set old man, blinded in one eye from shrapnel in one of the wars, kind of humped over with a slight limp in his left leg. He had a short white beard and he held a cane, but he didn’t seem to use it much.
Makes me madder in hell when I think about how beautiful this lake used to be. And the fishin’, why it was some of the best fishin’ in the country. You could come out here most any day and catch bass till your arms were ready to fall off, he muttered to himself, not even looking my way.
Seeing the jitterbugs tied to his rods I couldn’t help but remember the thrill of a big bass ‘busting’ the lure as it made its way across an open stretch of water. Plop, plop, plop, plop, plop…….
from page 27 Continued on page 30
Janet, the admissions specialist had called me one morning to ask for my help. She had a new admittance into assisted living, and he was not happy. The gentleman was almost blind, and he had a stroke, and he did not want to be there.
Bradenton, Florida. It was a great community, offering continuing care, with 500 independent living apartments, 200 assisted living apartments and about 120 skilled care nursing beds.
Oh, that’d be Queenie, he said, without batting an eye. I’d guess her to be 26 or 27 pounds by now.
Do I know you? he muttered, almost to himself. I replied that we had never met, although he did look familiar.
Everything was fine until Gladys had to leave for Connecticut last week
A short time later I had him settled in his room. Janet left and I spent an hour or so with him while he cooled off. I learned that his name was Bo and he explained to me that he was doing just fine, but at 89, and almost blind, his son worried about him and felt he needed help so he arranged to have him moved here.
Once he realized I liked to fish, he seemed a bit friendlier. I’d drop by to see him almost daily and listen as he’d spin one yarn after another about all the big bass he’d caught out of his secret honey-holes.
With all the bass fishing pressure some of our lakes get, fishermen who find a good spot can become pretty tight-lipped.
Continued
28 OKEECHOBEE OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
That’s when I remembered him. He was the same, crusty old man I’d seen many times on Lake Istokpoga. He hadn’t changed much since the last time I saw him.
In my position, I oversaw sales, but occasionally I would help out with new admissions in assisted living and skilled care.
Where you from boy, he asked, not really waiting for an answer. I have a place in Lorida, he said, not offering any other information.
I attempted to reassure him that everything would be okay and he seemed to calm down a bit at the sound of my voice.
to take care of her pop. She’s been helpin’ me round the house, cookin’ and cleanin’ for the last couple a years. My son got wind of her leavin’ and made arrangements for me to move here for a little while, he said.
I won’t be here very long, he whispered to no-one in particular, as if he knew something no-one else knew.
I recognized the old fishing rods leaning up against the wall, and the old tacklebox next to his bed. I asked about his fishing rods and he seemed to warm up a bit. I told him I loved to fish for bass too, and that I’d seen him a couple times at the lake.
After a couple of months, we’d become pretty good friends and I looked forward to spending time with him. Eventually, I told him that I’d met him before, in fact several times at the boat ramp, and that he was always quick to complain about the spraying or the poor fishing conditions.
He gave a big belly laugh as I recounted the many times we’d met and how he’d always said the same thing to me.
I started doing that about 10 years ago hopin’ it would discourage guys like you in your fancy bass boats with all them there fancy electronic gadgets, from fishin’ the lake and maybe discoverin’ my honey-holes.
Don’t know if it ever worked, but you know how it is when you discover a good fishin’ hole. You wanna do everything you can do to protect it, he chuckled.Iunderstood.
Git your damn hands off a me, he bellowed, loud enough for everyone in the admitting area to hear, this place is for old folks and sick people, and I ain’t either!
What’s the biggest fish you ever caught, I asked, as I passed him a jelly donut, and tried in vain to clean up the jelly on my tie.
Choking on my response, I said are you kiddin’ me? I was shocked
are considered
the
other
diverse
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I let her go, like I always do. I’ve caught her 6 or 7 times. You’d think she’d wise up but she just can’t pass up those jitterbugs. Especially the black ones. I don’t know if she attacks it because she’s hungry or just that she’s that mean. But she always gives me a run for my money. I’ve probably lost her as many times as I’ve caught her, but I always take special care not to hurt her and I git her back in the water as quickly as I can.
30 OKEECHOBEE OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM The he Legend of Lake Istokpoga Queenie The odds were more than a million to one - but she beat the odds to become a legend. — Dedicated to my brother Bill who inspired me to write the story, but didn’t live long enough to read it. YOURORDERCOPYTODAY! $19.99, plus $3.95 postage Check, Money Order or Credit Cards Accepted Contact Don Norton 863-273-4998 | donorton13@gmail.com You can pick up a copy of Queenie at the following locations: Marine & Tackle Warehouse, 4601 Southside Blvd, Sebring Lake Placid Feed & Western Wear, 417 US 27S, Lake Placid The Grateful Hearts Boutique, 113 Circle Park Drive, Sebring A Bass Fishing Guide and Tournament Angler, Don Norton’s knowledge and passion for Lake Istokpoga rings true in this story.
to hear him refer to such a monster bass even existing, let alone actually catching it.
A fish that size would be a new world record, I said, much louder than I expected. What did you do with her?
How come you never took Queenie in to have her weighed and registered, I asked.
I understand, I said, but in truth, I wasn’t really believin’ his story. He wasn’t the first guy that claimed to have caught a big bass and let it go. Most fishermen I knew were prone to exaggerate, and I was pretty sure he wasn’t any different from the rest of us. But I wasn’t going to argue with him. He was a real character, but far be it from me to bust his bubble.
I took a week off during Thanksgiving that year, and when I returned to work I learned that he had passed away in his sleep. The funeral was held a few days later and I was one of only 4 people that showed up. I called his son to break the news. He sent flowers.
Well, I don’t need the money. Got all I need in my mobile home, boat and fishin’ rods. What would I do with all that money? IRS would probably take most of it anyway, and my son’s the only family I got, and he don’t need it. Plus, I wouldn’t want to hurt Queenie, and you know once word got out, my secret honey-hole would be gone forever, he muttered, thinking through what he’d just said.
Continued on page 34
You know if she’s really that big, she’d be a new world record, I said, as I thought about just how big that would be. In fact, they say whoever catches the next world record largemouth bass over 22 pounds and 5 ounces, could easily parlay the fish into 10 million dollars in endorsements and such.
Continued from page 28
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In Memory of myAmydaughter
leaf. So
32 OKEECHOBEE OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
10/14/1975Amy.-8/29/2022
So dawn
gold, Her
hold. Her early leaf's
stay.
hour. Then leaf
Her favorite movie was called the Outsiders. Probably made in the 1980's. Kind of a "coming of age movie'" starring all the young actors of the day. Patrick Swazey, Emilio Estavez, etc.
~ Robert Frost
flower; But
LakeCelebratingIstokpoga
day. Nothing
Nature's first green is hardest hue to a only so an susides to Eden sank to grief, goes down to gold can
After she passed, I got a tattoo on my forearm, Stay Gold
Nothing Gold Can Stay
Austin Young
She must have watched that movie 100's of times. She, and the 3 girls she raised all had the tattoo, STAY GOLD.
Brenda Wynn
Chris Norton
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I dropped the scale off the next day at the biologists office and that evening I got an excited call from him. Where’d you say that scale came from, he asked, almost out of breath.
I don’t know which lake he caught the bass in, but it was in one of the lakes here in Highlands County, Florida. That much I’m sure of.
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Well, his son was just here to pick up his belongings and he dropped off something he said the old man wanted you to have. Can you stop by my office? she said with a certain amount of curiosity.
I thank you for your kindness towards him. We had a very strained relationship. But I’ll still miss him.
34 OKEECHOBEE OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
I’ll be right over, I said, as I laid down a Christmas wreath on the counter and headed over to assisted living. Wonder what he left me, I thought. Probably one of those old fishin’ rods or lures. That’d be cool. They were probably antiques.
Some old man gave it to me,
Well, I examined the scale, and then I called in a couple of other biologists and we all agreed. That scale came from a bass at least 10 years old that weighed in the neighborhood of 23 pounds or more, he said excitedly. Where’d you say the scale came from, he asked again in earnest.
The scale was huge. I didn’t know if it was real or not. It kind of looked like a fish scale, but it was old and somewhat shriveled up, darkened with age and discolored. I doubted that it was from a big bass though, more likely than not it probably came from a big old carp or saltwater fish, but I knew a biologist that could examine it for me and tell me for sure.
Well, I’ve got about a half dozen people that’d like to talk to you about it, he shouted into the phone over the obvious crowd that was gathering around him.
Still in shock, I replied, sorry, but I need to stop by the nearest bait and tackle and pick up a black jitterbug. I’m going fishing!
He was always kind of a loner, his son had said. Never had much use for people, and even those he put up with, he’d never take them fishing.
Weeks passed and I all but forgot about the old man. Christmas was coming up and bass fishing had slowed down as it usually does in December, so I was busy helping the community get their Christmas decorations up for the holidays when Janet called me on the phone.
Panel presentation by FWC Biologists to cover the Lake Management Plan the current activities on the lake.
and
Friends of Istokpoga Upcoming Fall Meeting
Thanks for coming down, Janet said. His son said to give you this, she
I thanked her and opened the box, expecting to see one of his old jitterbugs, scarred and rusted from years of use. But inside was a note and a darkly stained fish scale the size of a silver dollar. The note was barely legible, obviously written by the old man.
But he liked you, and I think if he’d of ever gotten back home, he might have actually gone fishing with you.
Thursday - November 17, 2022
Sure. I remember him. Why?
whispered, as she handed me a small wooden box. It doesn’t look like much, but he said you’d know what it was.
I’m going to miss him too, I thought. What a character!
Do you remember that old man that liked to fish? The one that died a few weeks ago, she asked.
Somewhat stunned in disbelief, I remembered the words from the old man’s letter, ‘just don’t tell anybody else.’
This here’s one of Queenie’s scales from the first time I caught her. I noticed it in the net after I released her. She’s a lot bigger now. I marked the different spots I caught her on this little map, I hope you can read it. Just don’t tell anybody else. She’s a sucker for a big black jitterbug. Good luck, and if you do catch her, don’t hurt her. Your friend, Bo.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM OCTOBER 2022 OKEECHOBEE 35 His boat is a 2021 Ranger Z520 L, with a 250 h.p. Mercury outboard motor. He provides state-of-the-art equipment, artificial lures and safety equipment . Don “Red” Norton has been a professional bass fishing guide for the last 25 years on Lake Istokpoga, and other lakes in 863-273-4998BookYourTripTODAY PREVENTIONPREVENTIONTREATMENT•RASHES out LakeCelebratingIstokpoga
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36 OKEECHOBEE OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM TOP 10 REASONS ADVERTISETO YOUR BUSINESS IN � WE DON'T JUST REACH ANGLERS W Our readers enjoy all the outdoors and a variety of recreational activities. 0 EXCLUSIVE DEMOGRAPHIC 90% male, 80% home owners, 35% college degree, $82k annual income. GEO-TARGET YOUR AD l 0,000+ locally, 190,000+ throughout Florida, or over 500,000 nationally. FREE PUBLICATION New readers and "fresh eyes" each month that see your LOCALad. EDITORIALS The area's most experienced fishing guides, charter captains, and writers. LOWEST COST A rate schedule that offers the lowest cost per thousand impressions in the industry. 0 REGIONAL OR NATIONAL For a small business this can be a life-ch anging event. A E-MAGAZINE V Your ad will also appear in our e-magazine, marketing your business on the internet. ft 1 MILLION READERS V We are the largest free outdoor publication in the U.S. and Bahamas with over l Million Readers Every Month! 0 YOU ARE NOT BUYING AN AD, BUT INVESTING IN YOUR BUSINESS WITH COASTAL ANGLER MAGAZINE For more information contact: Don Norton don@theanglermagazine.com863-273-4998 LakeCelebratingIstokpoga
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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM OCTOBER 2022 OKEECHOBEE 37 Brian Sagrella Rod & Reel Repair ~ Marble Paint ~ Siver & Gold Leaf esead_rod_company863-414-7225Military active or retired will receive 15% Off Largemouth & PeacockFishingBass Veteran Owned and Operated 910-546-2688 DJdj_timms_fishingTimmsFishing
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For additional information contact Joe Kozic, Tournament Director 863 381 5794 or joekozic@gmail.com
95% Payout
- Alternate paying locations include Lake Placid Marine and Marine and Tackle Warehouse . Same prepayment instructions apply.
- Fee at ramp on tournament day is $150
You may prepay for as many tournaments* as you choose, or you may prepay for the entire season*. You may prepay for the next scheduled tournament * after the weigh-in of any given tournament. Any and all prepaid entry fees DO NOT include paying for the Classic .
2022
October 22 November 19 December 17 2023
Anglers must fish any 5 tournaments to qualify for participation in the Classic. Winner will be determined by 2-day cumulative weight. See “RULES” regarding substitutes for the Classic.
Launch at 7:00am providing everyone is lined up and ready to go. Please line up in boat order best as you can.
Tournament fee and payment methods:
38 OKEECHOBEE OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
- Prepaid: Prepaid entry fee is $130 per boat which includes $10 toward Big Bass. If paying by check, mail check no later than 10 days prior to tournament date. If paying by check in person, check must be received no later than 8 days prior to tournament date. Prepay with cash at the Wednesday meeting prior to tournament date, or no later than NOON the Friday before a tournament (in person at an alternate paying location [below] or at BSBT [address below]
IMPORTANT INFO
The Big Show Bass Tournaments LLC Schedule
Find us on at bigshowbasstournaments
o Mail check to BSBT c/o Joe Kozic, 1824 Sandra Blvd., Sebring/33870. Make check payable to BSBT LLC. You may also bring your payment(s) to BSBT at same address
Anyone* fishing a BSBT tournament must be a Member. Membership fee $30. (*see Rules regarding age of participant/angler. Also refer to Rules regarding Alternates.)
Weigh-in opens at 1:30 pm: 1st flight boats must be in by 2pm. There will be a pause between 1st and 2nd flight launch. 2nd flight must be in by 2:30 pm. PLEASE!... if you have no fish and /or decide to call it quits early, make sure to turn in your boat chit to ANY BSBT representative.
All tournaments are held on Lake Istokpoga . Launch and Weigh In at same (aka Hwy 98 Ramp)
April 22 & 23 – “Classic”
2022-23
Dates are reserved and confirmed with FWC
January 21 February 18 March 18
Austin Springer
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Submit your pictures to The Angler donorton13@gmail.comMagazine Louie Echols
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FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RECORD FISH, VISIT IGFA.ORG.
Izquierdo’s sh weighed 15.38 kilograms, which is 33 pounds, 14.5 ounces and some change. On the same trip, Robert Navarro boated another star-studded grouper that weighed 15.51 kilograms, or 34 pounds, 3 ounces and some change. Both sh will be recorded as all-tackle world records in the books.
Caught on the Same Trip!
Both sh were caught slow-pitch jigging with JYG Pro jigs.
14 FLORIDA OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
TWO RECORDWORLDGROUPER
oastal Angler Magazine contributor Ryan Izquierdo was on a really hot bite on April 28 while shing out of San Carlos in Sonora, Mexico. e boat he was on landed not one, but two IGFA all-tackle world records for star-studded grouper. With just a fraction of a kilogram separating the weights of the two sh, IGFA recently named them both a tie for the all-tackle world record.
Star-studded grouper are a species that inhabits the eastern Paci c Ocean from Southern California down to e previous all-tackle world record was a 31-pounder caught by Chris Wheaton out of Loreto, Mexico.
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e angler, Ryan Hernandez, caught his “leopard” red sh while shing with Capt. Danny Alvarez in the Upper Laguna Madre near Corpus Christi, Texas on Aug. 27. Hernandez said the sh had more than 300 spots per Leopardside. red sh are rare, but they do show up from time to time. Fisheries biologists believe this rare color pattern is caused by both parents having a recessive pigmentation trait. e wild coloration leaves the o spring particularly susceptible to predation early in its life. Not only is it rare for a leopard red sh to be hatched, it’s rare for them to reach catchable size.According to SaltWater Sportsman, Hernandez kept his leopard red sh to have it mounted. It’ll make a heck of a conversation piece.
ed sh have black spots. Some of them have several black spots. is red sh caught on the Texas Gulf Coast had so many black spots that it doesn’t even look like a red sh.
For more weird catches, go to coastalanglermag.com.
TEXAS CATCHESANGLERSTRIKING LEOPARDREDFISH
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I hope this new look at snook shing helps you catch your next e theme here is sound attracts sh. So, tie on some noisy lures and get hooked up!
Now for methods you may not have tried while targeting snook. Let’s visit our friends in the freshwater aisle and pull out an old favorite: the Rat-L-Trap! Pick up a few of these in chrome and blue, buy some stout saltwater-grade treble hooks, stainless steel split rings, and you’re set. ese noisy, rattling hard baits drive big snook crazy. I sh these on a fast and steady retrieve. e simplicity, in itself, is enticing. Among the advantages are the castability of these lures, their bullet-proof construction, and best of all there is not much skill required in this tactic. Simply cast and reel at a fast pace and hold on tight. When a hungry, or mad snook nails a Trap as you burn it through salty water, they will try their best to take the lure and the rod from your hands. ere is nothing like a 40-inch snook hammering a fast-moving Rat-L-Trap!
Here’s my disclaimer: I invented Knockin Tail Lures. e paddletail I use for snook is the Knockin Tail Lure in the Halloween is lure, like the Rat-L-Trap, has a built-in rattle. Trust me,
By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
hen it comes to snook shing with lures, I typically see the same color patterns and lure styles displayed in the jaws of caught sh as the angler proudly presents their catch to the camera. I’d like to share some new colors and lures that I have found to be very e ective when targeting solid-lined trophies.Let’s start with what you might already know. Feather jigs are popular among those who pursue line-siders. Some may tip their jig with a grub of some sort, while others take the simple approach of feathers, lead and a sharp hook. More o en than not, when I see these jigs pinned in the jaws of magni cent sh, the colors are typically white, red, chartreuse or a combination of all three. I don’t typically throw a feather jig, but when I do I prefer to tip it with a paddletail to give it extra vibration. Find one with a rattling tail, and you just increased your odds of hooking up!
Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin’ Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
W
CATCH BIG SNOOK
My other tip involves a color I haven’t seen pictured with many, if any, snook other than those anglers in my circle. e color is in the orange family with gold glitter and a chartreuse tail. is little gem has produced numerous snook over the years. I sh this color in a 5-inch paddletail lure, typically on a heavier jighead. I like a heavy head because I burn these swimbaits through the water.
Photo courtesy of Knockin Tail Lures
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Trapping is the most e cient method of collecting the legal limit. Each harvester is allowed ve traps. ey may be baited and placed in the water as early as Oct. 5, but traps may not be pulled and claws may not be harvested until the Oct. 15 season opener.
15
Recreational
Recreational harvesters age 16 and older who plan to use traps are required to complete an annual no-cost trap registration at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. rough this process, they will obtain trap registration numbers that must be included on each trap along with the owners name and address.
OPENS OCTOBER
20 FLORIDA OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM STONE CRAB HARVEST
For more information, go to myfwc.com.
Whether diving or trapping, it is illegal to harvest claws from eggbearing females. It is permitted to take both claws if they are of legal length, but most people choose to take just one so the crab is le with something to feed and defend itself with.
Diving and snorkeling for stone crabs is also popular. Look for crushed shells in front of holes in the rocks or reef where a stone crab has been feeding. Use a tickle stick with angle of less than 90 degrees to pull them out of the hole and grab them by the claws with gloved hands.
stone crab season opens Oct. 15 and runs through May 1. e minimum claw size is 2 7/8 inches, and recreational harvesters may take a daily bag limit of 1 gallon of claws per person or 2 gallons of claws per vessel, whichever is less.
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We also ventured south from Soldotna to the Kasilof River and caught salmon and trout. We crossed the peninsula to Seward and fished the Resurrection River for silvers, pinks and dog (chum) salmon. The river was full of fish, so we fished until it was too dark to see the bears and called it a day at midnight.
laska’s Kenai Peninsula is a world-renowned fishery, known for all of its salmon runs, of which the Kenai River king salmon run is the most famous. The saltwater fishing out of Homer, Deep Creek and Seward are also amazing. I’ve been to Alaska fishing several times, and this year I fished the fresh and the salt with five friends who were all on their first trip. Here’s a quick look at what we did in freshwater. I’ll write about our saltwater adventures in the future.
Last, but not least, we fished Skilak Lake, which feeds the Kenai River from the center of the peninsula. This was my favorite place to fish. It is as beautiful as it is full of fish. We stayed 18 days in Alaska and spent our 17th on Skilak, where we slayed the fish. We landed and released more than 100 reds, silvers and trout that day! It was a great note to end our trip.
If you ever get the chance to fish the Kenai Peninsula, you will love it. Get a group of friends, do some research and go. Fish with a guide or on your own. There are so many options and so many fish that it’s hard not to have an amazing adventure.
Catch Amazing Action on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula
By Gary Turner
We also fished from a boat on the Kenai River, where anchored to deploy small Kwikfish. These lures settle into the current near the bottom and vibrate. Fish swimming upstream see them and attack. Unlike the red salmon, which aren’t interested in eating, the pink (humpback) and silver (coho) salmon jumped all over this setup.
Twice, we traveled northeast by van to Hope, Alaska, where we fished for pinks in Resurrection Creek. They were so thick that we stayed busy catching and releasing them after we all caught our limits. On our second trip to Resurrection, we went in search of silvers but they had not arrived yet, so we caught pinks
Gary Turner is a long-time contributor to The Angler Magazine. Contact him at gary@purgeright.com.
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Second only to the Kenai’s fishing is the scenery. There is a majestic feel to this area. The views are beautiful, there is amazing wildlife and tons of stuff to see. We saw it all as we drove all over the place chasing fish.
Our lodging was in Soldotna, near the mouth of the Kenai River on Cook Inlet. That’s where we fished the Kenai River for red (sockeye) salmon. The famous king salmon season closed before we arrived this year, or we would have been fishing for them. We “flossed” for reds, which is a technique used in rivers to catch salmon that are more interested in their spawning run than they are in feeding. Basically, you use a weighted leader. As pods of fish swim upstream, the line threads an open mouth and you snag the fish when the hook pulls tight. This was combat-style fishing. We stood a rod’s length from other anglers, and it was mayhem when someone hooked up.
“A productive day is relative. When you’re throwing a 10-foot 7-weight and a 250-grain full sinking line with 3 feet of 20-lb. monofilament, you’re not really going for numbers anymore,” said McCrickard. “You’re looking for one, maybe two fish. You kind of have to go out there with the mentality of, ‘I might get skunked today, but I might catch my best fish of the year… or the best fish I’ve caught in the last five years.’”
ust and jealousy make males of many species do stupid things they wouldn’t normally do. This is true for humans and whitetail deer, and it’s also true for brown trout, which grow aggressive this time of year as they gear up for the spawn.
By Nick Carter
On large or small water, pre-spawn browns will hit bigger flies than you’d think they would. This could be a 2- to 3-inch-long Woolly Bugger on a mountain stream or a 6-inch-long articulated pattern on a big river. Either way, it’s a game of covering water persistently and presenting the fly to as many fish as possible.
Across the East, brown trout spawn in a window that runs from midSeptember into December. Males and females of the species leave their summer lies to strike out upstream in search of spawning habitat. They are on the move and more visible to anglers than at any other time of year.
The timing is different on every piece of water, but October is thought to be the peak of pre-spawn behavior for most streams and rivers. Since big browns are more aggressive than they are at any other time of year, anglers who target them should fish aggressively.
On a big tailwater, McCrickard gears up with 250-grain sinking line and runs a short 3-foot leader of 0x tippet. If the water is dingy, he’ll fish 3 feet of straight 20-pound monofilament.
“If I have that fish that’s two feet or larger, I’m feeling really confident having that fish on 20-pound as opposed to having it on 2x,” he said.
While the females become preoccupied with cutting nests, called redds, on shallow gravel bars in moving water, the males put on bright colors to
FOR AGGRESSIVE FALL BROWN TROUT
Alex McCrickard has a go-big or go-home attitude when it comes to fall browns. He’s a former fly fishing guide and the current aquatic education coordinator for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. As the days grow shorter, McCrickard breaks out his heavy 6- and 7-weight rods to sling big streamers.Onsmaller streams, he’ll fish floating line with a 9-foot leader that tapers down to no lighter than 2x tippet. The long leader allows a weighted streamer to get down in the water column, and 2x has a breaking strength of about 10 pounds. It’s more than enough to handle the 14- to 20-inchers you might encounter in a creek or stream.
Nick Carter is author of “Flyfisher’s Guide to North Carolina & Georgia.” It is available on Amazon or by contacting the author at nsc8957@gmail.com.
advertise their suitability as mates. The big boys spar with each other for the opportunity to fertilize eggs. They become ornery, and are cocked to lash out at anything that catches their eye.
12 NATIONAL OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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Every vintage Buffalo Nickel you receive will be a coveted collector coin—GUARANTEED! Plus, order a gigantic full Pound bag and you’ll also receive a vintage Liberty Head Nickel (1883-1912), a valuable collector classic!
Millions of these vintage Buffalo Nickels have worn out in circulation or been recalled and destroyed by the government. Today, significant quantities can often only be found in private hoards and estate collections. As a result, these coins are becoming more sought-after each day.
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Supplies of vintage Buffalo Nickels are limited as the availability of these classic American coins continues to shrink each and every year. They make a precious gift for your children, family and friends—a gift that will be appreciated for a lifetime.
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of the most beloved coins in history is a true American Classic: The Buffalo Nickel. Although they have not been issued for over 75 years, GovMint.com is releasing to the public bags of original U.S. government Buffalo Nickels. Now they can be acquired for a limited time only—not as individual collector coins, but by weight—just $49 for a full QuarterPound Bag.
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Every bag will be filled with collectible vintage Buffalos from over 75 years ago, GUARANTEED ONE COIN FROM EACH OF THE FOLLOWING SERIES (dates our choice):
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1-877-566-6468 Offer Code VBB587-07 Please mention this code when you call. Released to the Public: Bags of Vintage Buffalo Nickels Historic 1920-1938 “Buffalos” by the Pound StoneFREEArrowheadwitheverybag LOW AS $49 plus shipping & handling FREE Liberty Head Nickel with One Full Pound GovMint.com® is a retail distributor of coin and currency issues and is not a liated with the U.S. government. e collectible coin market is unregulated, highly speculative and involves risk. GovMint.com reserves the right to decline to consummate any sale, within its discretion, including due to pricing errors. Prices, facts, gures and populations deemed accurate as of the date of publication but may change signi cantly over time. All purchases are expressly conditioned upon your acceptance of GovMint.com’s Terms and Conditions (www.govmint.com/terms-conditions or call 1-800-721-0320); to decline, return your purchase pursuant to GovMint. com’s Return Policy. © 2022 GovMint.com. All rights reserved.
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A504-pound,
ANGLER POUND RECORD SWORDFISH
“He’s one of those old-school guys,” Brandon Carney said of his father for an article in the Raleigh News & Observer. “His arm might be hanging off, but he won’t let you know it. After about 30 minutes, it rose to about 20 feet below the surface and we could see how big it was.”
Two hours later, the big fish was boatside. They roped its tail and used the T-top as a pulley to bring it onboard. It measured 104 inches fork length and had a 53-inch girth.
Carney’s swordfish crushed the previous state record by more than 60 pounds. The old record of 441 pounds had stood since 1979. The thing is, if they had hauled it in with the electric reel, it would not have qualified for the record.The
8-ounce swordfish caught 55 miles off Morehead City, North Carolina was recently certified as a new state record.
For more information, visit deq.nc.gov.
The angler, 59-year-old Cary Carney, was fishing aboard the 32-foot Willow B, which was captained by his son Brandon Carney. They were fishing in about 1,300 feet of water on Aug. 21, when the big broadbill ate a strip of albacore belly. They had the fish on an electric Diawa MP3000 reel, but a blown fuse rendered it inoperable. Carney buckled down and cranked the fish in by hand on 65-pound test line.
14 NATIONAL OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
HAND-CRANKS 504
IGFA all-tackle world record swordfish weighed 1,182 pounds. It was caught off the coast of Chile in 1953 by Louis Marron.
The Return of a
This feline is sitting pretty. Fashioned from sterling silver, plated in 18k yellow gold. Two bright Baltic Amber stones form the body of this purr - fect kitty. Complete with a bow tie collar. A charming design that everyone will love. Beautifully crafted 925 sterling silver, lavishly plated with yellow gold to compliment the oval cognac Baltic Amber that has been precision handset into each piece. Order today as we have limited stock available.
he Baltic region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, dating from 44 million years ago (during the Eocene epoch). Amber is a unique gem; not only is it simply beautiful but also equips mankind with valuable data through its capacity to show us the past. It can preserve organic tissues of life forms, something both valued by scientists and gem collectors alike.
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The beauty of Amber comes from the fossilized resin of trees. 40 million years ago, this resin was exuded by trees to heal damage to a branch or trunk. Endowed with the ability to produce negative ions, amber has been made into a variety of decorative objects; used in jewelry, and as a healing agent in traditional folk medicine. Baltic Amber from around the Baltic Sea also contains a higher percentage of succinite, which acts as an anti-inflammatory and an analgesic when worn against the skin.
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Adventure Like
Learn more about Berkeley County at: exploreberkeleycounty.com
From exemplary fishing for striped bass, or a trophy largemouth bass, to our hiking trails and water activities, along with scenic outdoors where you can catch a glimpse of white tail deer and gators, Berkeley County has activities to fit all visitors and families.
Berkeley County is a wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts, sports buffs, adventure seekers, and water lovers.
Berkeley County, South Carolina & No Other!
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