FREE FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE COASTALANGLERMAG.COMVOLUME 27 • ISSUE 330 SEPTEMBER 2022 PHOTO COURTESY OF CHERLYN ARNOLD IG: @SLAYHERLYN @CAMTAMagazine FREAKYFISH Monster Florida THE QUEST FOR ROYALTYGAMEFISH SNOOK GREATER ORLANDO EDITION
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There are a few different styles of baits you can use on the drop shot, depending on what your fish are feeding on. This is what I usually base my bait and color choices off of. I usually throw a small finesse worm like the 13 Fishing Joy Stick Ultra Thin or a baitfish-style bait like the 13 Fishing Vertigo minnow. Both baits are small in size and can really pick up some bites when the fishing is tough.Bait color is important, but I like to keep things fairly simple. I typically throw a green pumpkin or a black-and-blue worm style bait. For the baitfish-style lure, I stick with whites or natural baitfish colors. Remember, you are trying to be as finesse as possible to trick a bass that’s not hungry into biting, so something simple and natural will excel. This technique has worked wonders for me all across the country. From down South in Florida all the way up to New York, bass eat this rig up everywhere. Next time you’re on the lake and the bite is tough, downsize your presentation and drag a drop shot around. It will pick up a few more bites.
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You raise the flags of the fish just caught to show you weren’t skunked.
The water can be a little warm this time of year, and it makes bass finicky. When the bite gets tough, a drop shot flat out gets bit. It catches fish everywhere I go, and every angler should have the technique in their arsenal.There are a few reasons a drop shot can out-perform other techniques this time of year. The first of these is because of how versatile you can be with it. I have thrown a drop shot around rock, wood, grass and even in completely open water. Smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass will all pick up a drop-shot rig, so it’s a great option regardless of what part of the country you fish or what species you target.Another factor that makes this technique excel when other things aren’t working is it’s effective on heavily pressured and sluggish fish. Sometimes getting these fish to bite calls for light line and a smaller profile bait. The dropshot rig consists of a fluorocarbon leader leading to a hook of your choosing then, below the hook, about 12 inches of line tied to a drop shot weight on the end. This creates a rig that keeps your bait up off the bottom and drives finicky bass crazy.
Drop Shot Gear: Picking the right setup for a drop shot doesn’t have to be too difficult. I like a rod around 7 foot with a medium or a medium heavy action like the 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’1M. Pair up a 3,000 sized reel with some 10lb. Seaguar Smackdown braid and a 10-lb. fluorocarbon leader. Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.at
TYLER WOOLCOTT DROP SHOT FOR FINICKY FISH
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Before the Transition
Throughout the summer, snook are catch-and-release-only to protect spawning fish. On the Atlantic side, snook harvest opens Sept. 1, with a 28- to 32-inch slot limit. Capt. Smith said the spawning pattern lasts well into September most years, but the big females are over the slot and must be released, anyway. He is more concerned with the beatings these fish take all summer long. His solution is to limit the number of fish he targets and to gear up heavy. Smith fishes 10,000 size reels on 50- to 100-lb. rods. He runs 80-lb. braid to a 60-lb. fluorocarbon leader and locks down the drag. The weakest link is an 8/0 thin wire circle hook, which is easier on the fish but must be changed out Heavyfrequently.gear combats a big snook’s propensity for bulldogging into structure. It also shortens the length of the fight to lessen the likelihood of fish succumbing to exhaustion or sharks. Smith said these large spawners can be 25 years and older. He urged anglers to handle them carefully for release and never to hold them vertically by their mouths.Ifyou’re looking for a snook to eat, there’s plenty of opportunity for that also. Between the moons some of the snook spread out to the bridges, docks and deep holes. The smaller, slot-sized males become more interested in feeding. Also, the mullet run will kick in toward the end of September. When mullet schools show up, everything from the fish to the anglers switch over to chasing bait. Contact Capt. Patrick Smith through his website www.swamptosea.com.
“They’re not smart fish. If they’re turned on, they’re going to eat. If they’re not, it may be five hours before they do,” he said. “But there’s going to be 30 to 40 minutes on the tide when those snook are eating. There’s not a lot of thought that goes into it. If one is interested, they all are.”
Agiant snook should be on every angler’s bucket list. They’re big, they’re strong and they’re aggressive. Southern Florida boasts the most prolific snook fisheries in the world, and Capt. Patrick Smith, of Swamp to Sea Guide Service, operates in the heart of one of the best. Swamp to Sea fishes throughout Palm Beach County up to Stuart, Fla. At times, the snook fishing can be so good that the prospect is almost mundane for Capt. Smith. “If I’ve got clients who want to catch the snook of a lifetime, we’ll go out to the inlet and let them catch one or two. Then we’ll go do something else,” he said. “It’s cool to check a big snook off the list, but light tackle is moreCapt.fun.”Smith’s nonchalance about catching snook 35 to 43 inches long and up to 25 pounds is an attitude geared toward conservation of a species he loves. When big females congregate in the inlets to spawn around the full moons of summer, they are easy targets for anglers armed with big live baits like perch and croakers.
As always, the jetties are a favorite. The high current and cooler Gulf water attract every fish species that swims in our bays and nearshore waters. It’s not uncommon to catch some offshore fish there as well; it happens every year.
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The Texas heat and drought are one for the record books and can make a day on the water unpleasant if you plan to stay much past noon, but there are some methods to help you be productive until things start to cool off. Many of the estuaries that were impacted by the floods are some of our deeper bay systems, and that is a good thing this time of year. Heading out early will greatly increase your odds and give you more time on the water while it is cool, relatively speaking. I have found these bays have been forgotten by some, and they’ve never been fished by those new to our sport, which makes for less crowds on the water. I target the deeper reefs in the upper stretches of the bay near the rivers. Locating new washouts can also pay off, and those are not on the maps or public knowledge, so doing a little recon before you head out on each trip can make for a more productive day.
By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
Although I prefer lures over bait, success rates lean toward live shrimp or finfish this time of year. Depending on conditions, these can be free-lined, Carolina rigged, or fished under a loud popping cork. A free-lined shrimp tossed near a granite jetty is a good bet on any day. Stepping away from the live version, cut mullet or shad can be winners for a big pull from a red, black drum or shark. A circle hook Carolina rigged on the bottom can entice those large predators to strike. This is a great method if you have kids aboard.
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Work with what Mother Nature gives you. Here on the upper Texas coast, we’ve had about seven years of excessive rainfall which, in general terms, made some of our bays unfishable for most of that time. Due to excessive fresh water, those of us who like to fish where the tributaries enter into the bays had to seek new areas where the salinity levels were suitable for speckled trout. This year, things are back to normal, and we need to relearn old patterns and work with what Mother Nature is giving us.
Although the temps are still high, you can have a successful day on the water if you modify your techniques. Remember to apply sunblock before you leave the dock, wear appropriate protective clothing and drink plenty of water. Stay safe and have fun!
Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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The IGFA world record redfish weighed in at 94 lbs. 2 oz. It was caught off the North Carolina Outer Banks in 1984.
Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 51 IGFA world records in various categories. She hails from West Palm Beach, where she has a part time Bowfin Guide Service as well as fishing classes for Jr. Anglers. Find her on Social Media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.
n September, with the famed mullet run in full swing, big bull redfish will be following schools of mullet and feeding heavily. It’s one of the best times of year to hook up with a bull red, and my favorite place to target them is in the Sebastian Inlet. Red drum, more commonly known as redfish, are a familiar species to most saltwater anglers. With beautiful coppercolored scales fading into a white belly, their distinctive mark is an eye spot at the base of the tail. Catching a red with multiple black spots is a true honor for many inshore and nearshore anglers. This eye spot is not merely a decoration, it also serves as a defense mechanism to confuse predators into thinking a redfish’s tail is its Reds can be found on the coasts of Mexico all the way to Cape Cod, Mass. Their habitats can vary widely due to redfish being euryhaline, which means they tolerate a wide range of salinity. Redfish are typically a nearshore species, meaning they can be found in estuaries, bays, mudflats, oyster beds and off of beaches. Young redfish prefer estuaries, where there is an abundance of prey as well as protection from larger predators. Once they reach about three years old, they tend to move off of the beaches into coastal areas. Once redfish reach maturity, at three or four years, they begin spawning. Their spawning season usually takes place from mid-August to mid-November; however, this may vary due to temperatures and other factors. Redfish usually congregate to spawn near or inside tidal inlets or fast-flowing water to ensure as many eggs as possible are fertilized. Males produce a drumming sound to attract females by contracting their muscles to vibrate their swim bladders. Females produce one-half to two million eggs per season. Most eggs do not make it to the safety of bay areas. During the mullet run, large schools of redfish follow migrating mullet. The easiest way to target these fish is to drop a live mullet below the main school of mullet. If you’re specifically targeting bull reds, you’ll want to give it a go at night. Drifting large chunks of ladyfish on an outgoing current will almost always produce a large fish. Occasionally, you will come across large schools of redfish feeding on the surface at the mouth of the inlet on an outgoing tide. When this occurs, use topwater plugs, swimbaits and large jigs. In the backcountry around the mangroves, gold spoons, live shrimp and small crabs work best.
By Emily Rose Hanzlik
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4 FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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T hose looking for some new numbers to fish off Mexico Beach now have them thanks to CCA Florida, Duke Energy and the Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association. In May, the organizations teamed up to deploy four 38,000-pound and four 5,000-pound artificial reef modules off Mexico Beach. They are calling the new honeyhole “The Duke Energy/CCA Florida Reef.” The eight reef modules were deployed by Walter Marine at the prepermitted Sherman Site, an area known for attracting red and gray snappers, amberjack, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, gag grouper and cobia. These specific reef structures, ranging in height from 8 to 25 feet, provide greater habit diversity while attracting fish and appealing to recreational anglers. The reef site is located offshore 11 miles west of Mexico Beach at approximately 29º 55.384, -85º 40.765.
Since 2018, CCA Florida and Duke Energy have released more than 110,000 redfish along Florida’s Gulf Coast in effort to relieve the declining population. The Duke Energy/CCA Florida Reef deployment is an expansion of its collaboration and symbolizes its continued dedication to enhancing Florida’s marine habitat and expanding fishing opportunities for local anglers.
Artificial reefs initiate the development of natural, thriving habitats for various species of fish, invertebrates, and other marine life, such as smaller organisms that are vital food sources for other marine species, with the overall goal to create an ever-evolving ecosystem while enhancing fisheries and improving water quality.
New Artificial Reef Deployed Off Mexico Beach
“Duke Energy Florida recognizes the importance of environmental stewardship and the economic benefit it provides to the communities we serve,” Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president said. “We are proud to invest in CCA Florida’s work with the Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association to bring this new artificial reef to Mexico Beach, a win for marine life, local anglers and outdoor enthusiasts along Florida’s West Coast.”
“Improving and creating sustainable fisheries, coastal habitats and waterways is CCA Florida’s purpose,” CCA Florida Executive Director Brian Gorski said. “Today’s reef deployment is an extension of that commitment and also of our partnership with Duke Energy – signifying our mutual dedication to protecting Florida’s marine habitat for today and generations to come.”
6 FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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The only problem is the kings are there too. You may like to catch kings, and I apologize for that last sentence, but if I catch a king, it’s accidental. A lot of folks don’t even consider fishing at night, and certainly not fishing the light line at night, but it can be extremely effective for wahoo and kings. The first wahoo I ever caught from an anchored boat was at night, and it was a heck of an experience. We saw the fish swim under the lights, and I quickly put out a live beeliner. The beeliner swam away from the boat, and just as he got to the dark water, we saw the bite. I was instantly addicted to this style of bottom fishing and light lining versus just trolling for wahoo, tuna and dolphin. Dolphin will not eat at night, normally, but the night bite for tuna can be good. The stack of beeliners is the main thing I’m looking for as a good starting point for a place to fish. Gags and scamps will definitely go with the food (beeliners) until the beginning or middle of October. Then the gags will leave the beeliners to migrate inshore in search of cigs and sardines and to spawn. For more information, see www.barefootcatsandtackle.com.
Tim Barefoot
THE CHANGE WILL BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER
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E verything offshore will start to notice when water temps drop a little at the end of the month, and even more obvious will be shorter daylight hours. All the fish we pursue will start thinking about one of three things: spawning, gorging to fatten up for winter or migrating back south. I’m most concerned with the grouper/snapper complex and the wahoo, so this puts my fishing in overdrive for the next few months. Groupers and snappers will be hot as a firecracker until after Christmas. Wahoo fishing will be at the peak by then as well. Another species I like to stay tuned into are the beeliners (vermillion snapper). When you stay in touch with these guys, you pretty much stay in touch with everything, because everything out there loves to eat a beeliner. The full moon is going to be on Saturday, Sept. 10. This will be a good time to spend the night at the break and have the livewell full to fish just before dawn. Beeliners will chew hard during this full moon, and the bite will shut down as soon as the moon disappears on the western horizon. If you can keep the bright lights going all night, the squid and the biggest, fattest beeliners will be readily available for the taking. When you have these two things gathered up in mass, you definitely have the wahoo and grouper there also. This is a good reason to keep the light line out with a fresh squid or a Boston mackerel just past where the light disappears into the dark water.
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“By requiring the states to calibrate their more accurate—and NMFS certified—catch data to an outdated and fundamentally flawed MRIP, NMFS has failed to find an effective solution and is not making decisions based on the best available science while refusing to appropriately integrate the new data,” reads a letter from legislators. For more information on the continued political wrangling over red snapper, visit coastalanglermag.com.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2022 FLORIDA 9
Here we go again. The hubbub over federal management of red snapper seems never ending. Most recently, Southeastern legislators penned a letter asking NOAA to suspend consideration of area closures in the South Atlantic. Meanwhile, legislators from states on the Gulf of Mexico are pushing back against new proposed federal regulations. Both groups contend the federal government is not using “the best available science” in management decisions.
It’s worth noting that last year’s data from a similar study, the Gulf of Mexico Great Red Snapper Count, indicated there were up to three times as many red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico as the numbers federal managers were using to make management decisions. On that note, Gulf legislators are not pleased with how “more accurate” state data is being calibrated into the “fundamentally flawed” MRIP data that federal managers have used to set regulations for years. The “data calibration framework” included within proposed rule changes would result in reductions of the state annual catch limit for some states and increases for others. State annual catch limits would increase for Florida and Louisiana by 100,000 and 50,000 pounds, respectively. Texas’ limit would remain the same, while Alabama and Mississippi’s limits would decrease by 586,000 and 95,000 pounds, respectively.Theproposal would also increase the overall red snapper overfishing limit from 15.5 million pounds to 25.6 million, while increasing the acceptable biological catch from 15.1 million to 15.4 million. That might sound pretty good for anglers; however, legislators pointed out that this would reduce allowable catch from 97 percent to 60 percent of the sustainable limit.
The South Atlantic fishery seems to be in a situation similar to what the Gulf fishery faced a few years ago. Following years of ridiculously short red snapper seasons to rebuild the stock, anglers on the water report red snapper so thick that it’s the only species they can catch. These fish must be released, despite the high likelihood they will succumb to pressure-related injuries. Ultimately these discards count against fishermen.
“Now, on top of a short red snapper season, it is our understanding that there are discussions about broad area or season closures of all bottom fishing to stop red snapper encounters altogether,” reads the letter. “This decision would be crippling economically for our states that rely heavily on our coastal Legislatorseconomy.”havecalled on NOAA to hold off on area closure consideration until data from the ongoing South Atlantic Great Red Snapper Count can be considered. Results of this study, which began in 2021, are expected by 2025.
10 FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM2 LOCATION JUNE 2020 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
W e’ve talked a lot in this column over the last few months about lures that help achieve long-distance casts. Now, I’d like to cover the rest of the equipment that will help you cast farther and reach more fish.The first key element is the rod. When it comes to casting for distance, you want a fast-action rod. This is true if you are a surf angler, a boat angler targeting fast-moving tuna, or an inshore angler targeting shallow-water reds and trout that are easy to spook. The more flexible your rod is, the less momentum it will impart to the lure. Make sure your blank is stiff. Rod blanks come with a lure weight range. Most of the time the optimal lure weight for casting distance is between 1/2 and 2/3 of the weight the rod is rated for. So, for a 2- to 6-ounce rod rating, the best weight for long casts is typically 3 to 4 ounces. A rod rated for 3/8 to 1 ½ ounces usually casts farthest with a 3/4 to 1 ounce lure. Choose a rod that matches the lures you’ll be throwing. The rod handle is also a big deal when it comes to distance. For a spinning rod, you want the length of a forearm, plus a fist, between the reel seat and the butt of the rod. Length gives you leverage, but you don’t want it to be too long. For surf-casting rods, about 1 ½ times the length of your forearm seemsHigh-qualitybest. guides also make a big difference in how far you can cast. Typically you’re going to have to spend more for quality guides, but consider it an investment that results in consistently longer casts.
Proper guide placement makes a difference, as well. On some rods, the first guide is too close to the reel and/or the legs holding the rod to the blank are too short. This creates an angle at which the line hits the guide and adds drag to the line and lure. This simple detail can reduce casting distance as much as 10 percent. If you find a rod you really like, but the first guide is not seated properly, consider moving the guide. On the reel side, I prefer a slightly conic spool that dumps and winds line evenly. That is pretty much all you need from a reel dedicated to long distance. For line, stick to braid for its smaller diameter. I prefer braid with a smooth finish without coating. When distance is what matters most, do not hesitate to drop 25 to 50 percent lighter line than what you would normally use. For example, 40-lb. braid is common when surf fishing for striped bass. If you need longer casts to reach the fish, it is worth dropping to 30or even 20-lb. test. If you’re using a heavy lure, tie in a shock head 50 to 100 percent stronger to absorb the impact of the cast.
Legendary angler Patrick Sebile is a world record holder and an award-winning designer of innovative lures and fishing gear.Check out his creations at abandofanglers.com.
LURES PATRICK SEBILE ROD, REEL AND LINE FOR DISTANCE
If you’re on the hunt for a knife that combines impeccable craftsmanship with a sense of wonder, the $79 Huntsman Blade is the trophy you’re looking for.
The handle is made from genuine natural bone, and features decorative wood spacers and a hand-carved motif of two overlapping feathers— a reminder for you to respect and connect with the natural world. This fusion of substance and style can garner a high price tag out in the marketplace. In fact, we found full tang, stainless steel blades with bone handles in excess of $2,000. Well, that won’t cut it around here. We have mastered the hunt for the best deal, and in turn pass the spoils on to our customers. But we don’t stop there. While supplies last, we’ll include a pair of $99 8x21 power compact binoculars and a genuine leather sheath FREE when you purchase the Huntsman Blade. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Feel the knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the impeccable craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within
The first key element is the rod. When it comes to casting for distance, you want a fast-action rod. This is true if you are a surf angler, a boat angler targeting fast-moving tuna, or an inshore angler targeting shallow-water reds and trout that are easy to spook. The more flexible your rod is, the less momentum it will impart to the lure. Make sure your blank is stiff. Rod blanks come with a lure weight range. Most of the time the optimal lure weight for casting distance is between 1/2 and 2/3 it to be too long. For surf-casting rods, about 1 ½ times the length of your forearm seems best. High-quality guides also make a big difference in how far you can cast. Typically you’re going to have to spend more for quality guides, but consider it an investment that results in consistently longer casts. Proper guide placement makes a difference, as well. On some rods, the first guide is too close to the reel and/or the legs holding the rod to the blank are too short. This creates an angle at which the line hits the guide and adds drag to the line and lure. This simple detail can reduce casting distance as much as 10 percent. If you find a rod you really like, but the first guide is not seated properly, consider moving the guide. On the reel side, I prefer a slightly conic spool that dumps and winds line evenly. That is pretty much all you need from a reel dedicated to long distance. For line, stick to braid for its smaller diameter. I prefer braid with a smooth finish without coating. When distance is what matters most, do not hesitate to drop 25 to 50 percent lighter line than what you would normally use. For example, 40-lb. braid is common when surf fishing for striped bass. If you need longer casts to reach the fish, it is worth dropping to 30- or even 20-lb. test. If you’re using a heavy lure, tie in a shock head 50 to 100 award-winning designer of innovative lures and fishing gear. Check out his creations at abandofanglers.com. The very best hunting knives possess a perfect balance of form and function. They’re carefully constructed from fine materials, but also have that little something extra to connect the owner with nature.
The blade is full tang, meaning it doesn’t stop at the handle but extends to the length of the grip for the ultimate in strength. The blade is made from 420 surgical steel, famed for its sharpness and its resistance to corrosion.
30 days for a complete refund of the item price. Limited Reserves. A deal like this won’t last long. We have only 1120 Huntsman Blades for this ad only. Don’t let this beauty slip through your fingers. Call today! Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary .® Full tang stainless steel blade with natural bone handle —now ONLY $79! BONUS! Call today and you’ll also receive this genuine leather sheath! Not actualshownsize. 14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. HUK831-01 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.comStauer ® *Discount is only for customers who use the offer code versus the listed original Stauer.com price. California residents please call 1-800-333-2045 regarding Proposition 65 regulations before purchasing this product. Rating of A+ Bad to the Bone -aEXCLUSIVEFREEStauer®8x21CompactBinoculars$99value-withpurchaseofHuntsmanBlade Huntsman Blade $249* Offer Code Price Only $79 + S&P Save $170 1-800-333-2045YourInsiderOfferCode:HUK831-01 You must use the insider offer code to get our special price. •12" overall length; 6 ¹⁄2" stainless steel full tang blade • Genuine bone handle with brass hand guard & bolsters • Includes genuine leather sheath What Stauer Clients Are Saying About Our Knives êêêêê “This knife is beautiful!” — J., La Crescent, MN êêêêê “The feel of this knife is unbelievable...this is an incredibly fine instrument.” — H., Arvada, CO
the last few months about lures that help achieve longdistance casts. Now, I’d like to cover the rest of the equipment that will help you cast farther and reach more fish.
OKUMA
New Okuma ECS Custom rods are designed for the harsh environment east coast fishermen face daily. They are constructed with a hybrid 24ton carbon and e-glass blank that features Okuma’s UFR-II: Ultimate Flex Reinforcement rod tip technology for the ultimate in lifting power. With spinning, casting and trolling rods, the new ECS Custom series will adorn the back of your boat nicely. There are two spinning rods in the lineup with a 6’ Heavy and 6’6” Medium Heavy. Three casting rods for live bait and bottom fishing come in 6’ Heavy, 6’6” X-Heavy and 7’ Medium actions. There are also two trolling configurations. Two rods feature Roller Stripper and Roller Tip. These rods come in a 6’4” Medium Heavy and 6’ Heavy action. The other two trolling rods feature all roller guides and are both 6’ Heavy and X-Heavy actions. With the brute strength and drag-ripping speed anglers see on the east coast, Okuma went with only high-end components on the ECS Custom rods. All spinning and casting rods feature ALPS deep press 316-grade stainless steel guide frames with zirconium inserts. Models with All Roller Guides feature ALPS RX Series Rollers as well as Sea Guide Neptune Adjustable Rod Butts. All ECS Custom rods feature machined aluminum, anodized rod gimbals. For more information on ECS Custom Rods please visit your local retailer.
SPINNINGSALINAREEL OKUMAFISHINGUSA.COM
Okuma’s new Salina spinning reels are lightweight, ready for battle, and designed for inshore and offshore duty. These reels are constructed of Okuma’s LITECAST body material which is 15 percent lighter than die cast aluminum. They are built for everything from light inshore to heavy offshore, and they’re perfect for high-speed vertical jigging or all-day casting.The Salina features a 6HPB +1RB corrosion-resistant stainless-steel ball bearing system with a full grease pack and waterproof seals. Salina’s Hybrid Carbonite and Japanese felt Dual Force Drag system puts out over 33 pounds of drag. With Okuma’s HDGII: High-Density Main Gear and precision machine cut brass pinion gear, you will get a smooth retrieve cast after cast. Okuma also uses a machined aluminum, screw-in handle arm with a machined aluminum twotone anodized ball handle knob. The three larger size reels feature a manual bail trip Therefunction.aresix models of Salina. The 4,000, 5,000 and 6,000 size reels feature high-speed 5.8:1 gear ratios. The 8,000, 10,000 and 14,000 size reels feature standard gear ratios of 5.4:1. All models have an interchangeable screw-in handle system that can be changed from left to right-hand retrieve. For more information on Salina Spinning reels, visit your local retailer.
12 FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
ECS CUSTOM RODS
1 LOCATION JUNE 2020 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM (407) 322-1610 INTERSTATE 4 EXIT 104 • SANFORD • LAKE MARY (407) 322-1610 • WWW.BOATTREE.COM ✔ Wet Slips Available ✔ Valet Dry Boat Storage ✔ Full Service & Parts Department ✔ Travel Lift ✔ New and Used Boat Sales ✔ Will Consign or Buy Used Boats ✔ Certified Program for Used Boats Purchased / Consigned ✔ Boat Rentals ✔ Non-ethanol Fuel ✔ Ship Store ✔ Bait and Tackle ✔ Beer and Ice ✔ Deli on Site ✔ Restaurant with Pool Bar on Site
AT Trailer Center has just about anything needed for your trailer, even if it is not one they originally built. They will service all makes and models and have a huge inventory of replacement parts, wheels, tires, lights, axles, hubs, hitches, and more. If it is not in stock, they can get it within a few days in most cases.
Whether you own a boat trailer, an open utility trailer, an enclosed trailer, a dump trailer or really any trailer, AT Trailer Center is there to help you at a location not too far from their manufacturing plant right here in Central Florida in St. Cloud. It’s located at the old manufacturing plant many have driven past for years at 4820 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy/SR192.
Both sales of parts and service are now available to existing customers and to others who just need replacement parts for their current trailers.
Providing a place where folks can come and get just what they need or get repairs done right and for a fair price just makes good sense. They are conveniently located within an hour or so from all over Central Florida and either coast. They also sell all types of trailers and have over 150 trailers in stock ready for delivery. So if you need a company you can trust for your trailer needs, give them try. Tell them you read about them in Coastal Angler Magazine for a special discount!
AT Trailer Center is a great place for the DIY guys as well as for folks who’d rather have it done by a professional. Just call them and schedule a time to drop off your trailer for preventive maintenance, re-wiring or maybe a complete rebuild. The knowledgeable and friendly staff will gladly help you out in any way, answering questions or giving solutions to your trailer needs. When speaking with the staff at AT Trailer Center, they said this is the first of many they will be opening all over the state of Florida. Building and selling thousands of trailers over the last 35 plus years has taught them there is a huge market for replacement parts and service for trailers of all types.
2 ORLANDO SEPTEMBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM2 ORLANDO OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM SALES • PARTS • 407-892-1100SERVICE SERVICE Preventative Maintenance • Complete Rebuilds All Trailer Types Serviced PARTS Marine Grade Stainless Steel Parts Custom Axles • Accessories Large Parts Inventory For All Trailer Types. SALES We Have Aluminum Boat, Pontoon, PWC Trailers Available as well as Utility, Equipment, Dump And Enclosed Trailers. Serving Your Trailer Needs For Over 35 Years 150 PLUS TRAILERS IN STOCK READY FOR DELIVERY! TRAILER REPAIRS MADE EASY
If you own a trailer of any type, you have had problems with it at some point. AmeraTrail (AT) is now here to help you with those issues. For more than 35 years AT has manufactured thousands of trailers for hundreds of boat manufacturers and sold thousands of utility-type trailers. They recently opened the first of many new service and repair centers.
By Phil Wolf
All teams that qualify for this seasons’ Classic Event will get a cash pay-out. Over 10,000 bucks will be in the pot for this seasons’ event due to the great turn-out of teams at each of our series events. All of our tournaments are open to the public to see our teams weigh-in their fish, so plan an outing with your family to come and see our top anglers weigh their fish. Weigh-in for our Classic is at 3pm sharp on August 13th. Come join in the fun with your family or friends and see who ends upon top this season.
2nd
Special thanks to our sponsors American Tackle Co. for supplying rods for each of the winners and for the support from Academy Sports + Outdoors. Thanks to Orlando Coastal Angler Magazine, Weighmaster Phil Wolf for his season long efforts and to Jerusha Poore our statistician. All the anglers are looking forward to next season starting in mid-March 2023, look for the “Save the Date Meeting” in the February 2023 issue of Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando. See all the “Classic” result pictures on Facebook CoastalanglermagazineOrlando. Brodgen & Travis Owens 20.50 Mike & Jonthan Winstead 19.74 Anthony Courtney & Sean Cunningham 19.60 Jim (Squirt) Chaudoin & Robert Ownens 19.19 Bo Boyles & Robbie Engel 17.95 Friends of Seminole Junior Anglers, Central Florida lakes are warming up with these hot summer days. With high water levels and temperatures in the nineties, concentrate your efforts early morning and look for some schooling bass for easier targets. With the rains hitting us each day, go find running water into and out of creeks and narrow openings in lakes. The deeper the water depth the better with August higher water temperature. Try docks and hydrilla mats and any area that offers up some shade for these bass. They are like us in the summertime, they want to stay cooler. A twoto-three degree drop in temperature is really big to these fish. They tend to eat more in the summer too. Try to catch numbers in the summertime. If you can find some hard bottom, shell, or attractors, that is another awesome summer pattern. Try a Carolina-rig or lipless crank bait over these areas. Our SJA teams are winding down the season. We had MacKenzie and Dalton Bailey compete in the TBF World Finals on Lake Pickwick, Alabama two weeks ago. This team finished a respectable top 50 out of 426 teams! They were able to catch the Pickwick Slam: a spot, large mouth, and small mouth. They had to be 15” in length and only a three fish limit. This team did a great job the entire 3 days of competition. Next up for SJAis the BASS High School Nationals on Lake Hartwell, SC - August 10-13. Our national tournament will be held in August of this year in South Carolina. Team Florida is represented by more than 20 high school student anglers across the state. We have three SJAteams attending. Wish us luck and let me know if you might help support us? It costs about $2500 per team to lodge, travel, gas, and eat for the week. If you can donate even a little, please contact me: Dave DiMauro, Director, 407-353-4575.
The year before last big bass of the season was caught on the very last Tuesday event of the year to over-take that seasons’ current leader, so anything could happen and is yet to come.
5th
Jolly Gator Bass Series Up-Date August 2022
Special thanks to our sponsors at American Tackle Company, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Jolly Gator Fish Camp Bar and Grill, Orlando Coastal Angler Magazine and Jerusha Poore our photographer/statistician for her hard work and weekly efforts to make this the best bass series in our area. Call Jolly Gator Fish Camp Bar and Grill for more info, 407-349-5554.
Jolly Gator Bass Series –Classic Tournament Results 4 ORLANDO AUGUST 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COMORLANDO AUGUST 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM Hello
At the time this up-date was written in July, there are only 4 Tuesday night events left in this years’ season before our Classic on Saturday August 13th. With less than 45 points separating the top 5 teams this seasons’ “Team of the Year” is going to be too close to call before our final Tuesday evening event. Last seasons’ winners, father and son team of Steve and Hayden Lester hold a small lead going into the final few events. When speaking with the pair they say they are going to fish hard and plan to win backto-back season championships. This is something that hasn’t been done in the 8 years that Orlando CAM has been involved with this tournament series and never with a father and son team, Hayden at just 16 yrs. old has already proved he can catch them as good as the seasoned adult anglers that fish our events. This team series has grown over the last several years to become one of the areas’ best evening tournament series, averaging over 25 fishing teams on Tuesday nights along the St Johns River. These teams can all catch them, week after week. With a 5pm start time and late summer weigh-in time of 8:30, it usually takes 20 pounds or more to win a Tuesday event. Our recent series on July 12th was won with a 5 bass limit at over 26 lbs., including one small keeper at just over 2 lbs. The team of Mike and Jonathan Winstead caught the huge 5 bass limit including the big bass of the evening at 7.35 lbs., in just over 3 hours of fishing time, pretty impressive! The pair had also just won our July 9th Saturday event with 22.48 lbs. Big Bass of the season is currently held by the team of Anthony Courtney and Sean Cunningham at 8.05 lbs., if it holds up it will be worth an additional $500 bucks on Classic Day.
4 ORLANDO SEPTEMBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM4 ORLANDO OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM
The “Team of the Year Points Leader” was won by father and son team of Steve and Hayden Lester, the defending champs from last year were all smiles receiving their trophies and the $850 bucks for the second year in a row and their efforts, stating they will be back to try and 3peat next season. Hayden at only 16 yrs. old catches them like a seasoned pro. The team of C.J. Barbosa and Zach Temperly took “Big Bass of the Year” with an 8.26 monster caught just 2 weeks prior worth $550.
The early morning of Saturday August 13th greeted our 13 qualifying teams with a nearly full moon overhead, light breeze and anticipation of a good bite for this end of season Classic event. With huge smiles, some trash talking and partly cloudy skies our 13 teams departed Jolly Gator Fish camp at 6:30 am sharp. The St. Johns River is at the lowest pool height in some 30 years will surely limit locations where most of the teams will be able to access the fish. We had a large crowd gathered during the day of fishing to watch the teams start pulling into Jolly Gator just before the 3pm cutoff. More than $10,000 was up for grabs in payout and the crowning of “Team of the Year Points Leaders” and “Big Bass of the Year”. All 13 teams brought a 5 bass limit to the scales and the top 4 teams were separated by less than 1 pound - our closest Classic finish in the last 5 years. The team of Jim Brogden and Travis Owens won first place with 20.50 lbs. including the Big Bass of the day at 5.69 lbs., netting them a $2,430 purse.
Lake Hartwell, South Carolina was the chosen fishery for the 2022 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors held August 11-13, 2022. The top 314 teams from 39 states including Canada were represented. The field was stacked with the best of the best! Team Florida had its best 32 teams fishing this event and Seminole Junior Anglers had 3 teams included in team Florida. Your SJA teams finished the best for team Florida and nearly made the top 12. Team Kam and Drew Bradstreet finished in a tie for 12th place out of the 314 national teams. The largest bag on Day 2 would break the tie and Team Bradstreet got bumped to 13th place. Their weight was just over 24 lbs. for two days. Team Lawrence and DiMauro was the 2nd best team for Florida and finished in 21st place overall out of 314 teams. Their two-day total was right at 22 lbs. for both days. The key was to get a big bite each day. A four- or five-pound largemouth bass was a huge help to your bag. Hartwell was stingy for many fishing the lake. Everything about this fishery said you should stay deep. The dropping water and the water temperature being in the high 90’s, said to fish deep brush or main lake points. But the fish seemed to be in the rivers or in pockets of main lake in the shallow areas. Many teams caught their entire bag by 9:00 am and tried to upgrade all day. If you caught 6-7 fish, you did really well. It was a memorable trip for SJA and a terrific learning experience. We can’t wait to go back next year. Our new year starts next month with school back in session. We have a lot of work in front of us to repeat as Florida’s Club of the Year. We’d like to thank all our sponsors who continue to trust and believe in our program. We truly couldn’t not do what we do without all the partnerships and support of our valued friends and corporate sponsors. Seminole Junior Anglers is a 501 3C corporation. We are seeking donations to help us get through this next tournament season. Please contact Dave DiMauro, Director, 407-353-4575, or Phil Wolf, Coastal Angler Magazine, 407-790-9515.
Mike & Jonathan Winstead won honors for 2nd Big bass of the day at 5.56 lbs. and 2nd place with 19.74 lbs. and $1,630 purse. All 13 teams received a cash pay-out and a plaque or trophy for their season long efforts!
Classic Results 1st Jim
4th
As always, thank you to all our great sponsors who continueto help support our team. Without the support of our friends and partners, we could not do what we do.
3rd
Presenting Sponsor Associate SponsorORLANDO Hosted by: Classic and Big Bass winners, Jim & Travis Steve and Hayden, repeat winners of“Team of the Year Points Leaders” Classic Trophies Mike and Jonathan 2nd Place and 2nd Big Bass
6 ORLANDO SEPTEMBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COMAUGUST 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COMAUGUST 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM 35TH ANNUAL35TH BANQUETBANQUETORLANDOORLANDOANNUALCHAPTERCHAPTER&AUCTION&AUCTION10.06.10.06.2222 Venue!Venue!NewNew WINTER PARK EVENTS CENTER CENTER 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM6:00 PM - 10:00 PM SCAN QR CODESCAN QR CODE TO RESERVETOYOURYOURRESERVESPOTSPOTEARLY!EARLY! An evening to celebrate & support Florida's marineAn evening to celebrate & support Florida's marine resources!resources! Get your tickets today byGet your tickets today by www.ccaflorida.org/chapter/orlandowww.ccaflorida.org/chapter/orlandovisiting:visiting: Join us for drinks, catered dinner, raffles, auctions & MORE!Join us for drinks, catered dinner, raffles, auctions & MORE! 6:00 - 7:30: Cocktails and Silent Auction6:00 - 7:30: Cocktails and Silent Auction 7:30 - 8:30: Dinner and Announcements7:30 - 8:30: Dinner and Announcements 8:30 - 9:30:8:30 - 9:30: Live AuctionLive Auction 9:30 - 10:00: Announce Raffle Winners9:30 - 10:00: Announce Raffle Winners For tickets and other event-related inquiries,For tickets and other event-related inquiries, please visit www.ccaflorida.org/chapters/orlandoplease visit www.ccaflorida.org/chapters/orlando or contact Mandy Tuckus at mtuckus@ccaflorida.orgor contact Mandy Tuckus at mtuckus@ccaflorida.org
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14 - Boat Tree Marina (407) 322-1610 Carraway Pl, Sanford, FL 32771 - Bitters Bait & Tackle (407) 699-6619 N US Hwy 17 92, Longwood, FL 32750 - Academy Sports + Outdoors Colonial 11955 E. Colonial Dr Orlando, FL Lee Vista 6640 Eagle Watch Drive Orlando, FL Millenia 3557 Ridge Way Orlando, FL Lake Mary 3641 Lake Emaa Road Lake Mary FL - Wojo’s Bait 891-1003 13th 896-8220 (407) 293-3717 678-2107 (407) 286-6802 FL S White Cedar S. Palmetto Ave., Sanford FL 32771 (407) 322-7475 Sanford Ave, FL Cabinets (407) 947-8499 Fairvilla Road, FL - Lumber Company (407) 841-1250 W Gore St, FL 32806, - Martin Tree Service, Inc. (407) 359-1119 White
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1 4 25 24 46 14 36 35 29 32 23 20 19 6 5 7 11 21 43 9 10 45 26 2827 413134 47 39 40 17 37 2213 48 49 50 52 53 51 56 57 2 We Support Our Community Businesses!! 30 59 3 15 60 51 54 5655 51 43 43 6 6 6
Old Fashion Lumber Yard – Lumber – Trim Orlando Painting Service
Panfish - Kissimmee Chain: The shell cracker and blue gill are pretty much done spawning and have moved to open water shell beds. Live red worms or crickets are your best bets to catch them over the shell beds. For Crappie, fish the open water. Use jigs tipped with minnows and vary the depth until you start catching fish. Lake Marion seems to be the hot spot this time of year. The Alligator Chain of lakes have not been bad for crappie. Fish in the mornings in open water deep holes, trolling jigs tipped with a minnow. Crappie usually will be found suspended, just off the Catfishingbottom.– red worms with split shot weights and 12-pound test and a medium action fishing pole should do the trick. Fish deeper water near the mouth of creeks or in the bends of the creeks and rivers.
lows around bream beds. The Tin House area has been good for the bream bite as well about 20 yards in from the outside grass edges. I prefer using live crickets vs. small red worms only because I don’t want Mayan cichlids or catfish. Areas to try for bass and bream are Buckhead Ridge pole; 1st-3rd point in scattered but grouped up areas; Tin House; around Indian Prairie canal and some scattered areas towards Horse Island. To book your fun-filled and productive time fishing the lake and/ or River call me at 863-228- 7263 or log onto my website www.southfloridabassfishing. com. I customize each trip to my customers fishing skills/level, and what’s biting best. I give fishing lessons; share some history of Lake Okeechobee and we get to see some awesome things out on the water such as Manatee’s; Eagles; Ducks and some beautiful lake scenery. A big Thank You to all my Sponsors: Toho Marine, St. Cloud, Fl., Mercury Marine; Real Magic; Tru-Turn hooks; Lews; G-Loomis; Gill; Maui Jim; BnM Poles; Gene Larew; Pradco Brands; Mega Strike; MidSouth Tackle; Big Bite; Buff USA and Bullet Weights.
1Th 12:18 AM 2.6 6:07 AM 0.2 12:57 PM 2.7 6:34 PM 0.6 2F 1:01 AM 2.5 6:57 AM 0.2 1:50 PM 2.6 7:30 PM 0.7 3Sa 1:52 AM 2.5 7:57 AM 0.3 2:52 PM 2.6 8:34 PM 0.8 4Su 2:54 AM 2.5 9:04 AM 0.3 4:00 PM 2.6 9:44 PM 0.8 5M 4:04 AM 2.5 10:15 AM 0.3 5:10 PM 2.6 10:53 PM 0.7 6Tu 5:18 AM 2.6 11:22 AM 0.2 6:15 PM 2.8 11:57 PM 0.6 7W 6:26 AM 2.7 12:23 PM 0.1 7:13 PM 2.9 8Th 12:55 AM 0.4 7:27 AM 2.9 1:20 PM 0.0 8:05 PM 3.0 9F 1:47 AM 0.2 8:22 AM 3.1 2:12 PM 0.0 8:53 PM 3.1 10Sa 2:37 AM 0.1 9:13 AM 3.2 3:01 PM 0.0 9:38 PM 3.2 11Su 3:24 AM 0.0 10:01 AM 3.2 3:48 PM 0.1 10:21 PM 3.1 12M 4:09 AM 0.0 10:47 AM 3.2 4:34 PM 0.2 11:02 PM 3.0 13Tu 4:54 AM 0.1 11:32 AM 3.1 5:20 PM 0.4 11:43 PM 2.9 14W 5:39 AM 0.2 12:17 PM 2.9 6:06 PM 0.6 15Th 12:25 AM 2.7 6:25 AM 0.4 1:02 PM 2.8 6:54 PM 0.8 16F 1:08 AM 2.6 7:14 AM 0.5 1:51 PM 2.6 7:46 PM 0.9 17Sa 1:54 AM 2.4 8:09 AM 0.7 2:44 PM 2.5 8:44 PM 1.1 18Su 2:47 AM 2.3 9:09 AM 0.8 3:43 PM 2.4 9:46 PM 1.1 19M 3:47 AM 2.3 10:11 AM 0.8 4:45 PM 2.4 10:47 PM 1.1 20Tu 4:51 AM 2.3 11:08 AM 0.8 5:43 PM 2.5 11:41 PM 1.0 21W 5:51 AM 2.4 11:59 AM 0.7 6:34 PM 2.6 22Th 12:28 AM 0.9 6:44 AM 2.5 12:44 PM 0.6 7:18 PM 2.7 23F 1:09 AM 0.8 7:32 AM 2.7 1:25 PM 0.6 7:59 PM 2.8 24Sa 1:47 AM 0.6 8:15 AM 2.8 2:04 PM 0.5 8:37 PM 2.9 25Su 2:23 AM 0.5 8:57 AM 2.9 2:42 PM 0.5 9:15 PM 2.9 26M 2:59 AM 0.4 9:39 AM 3.0 3:20 PM 0.4 9:53 PM 3.0 27Tu 3:36 AM 0.3 10:20 AM 3.1 3:59 PM 0.5 10:31 PM 2.9 28W 4:14 AM 0.2 11:03 AM 3.1 4:41 PM 0.5 11:11 PM 2.9 29Th 4:57 AM 0.2 11:49 AM 3.1 5:26 PM 0.6 11:54 PM 2.8 30F 5:44 AM 0.3 12:39 PM 3.0 6:16 PM 0.8 1Sa 12:43 AM 2.8 6:38 AM 0.4 1:36 PM 2.9 7:15 PM 0.9 2Su 1:40 AM 2.7 7:42 AM 0.5 2:39 PM 2.8 8:23 PM 1.0 3M 2:47 AM 2.6 8:53 AM 0.5 3:48 PM 2.8 9:36 PM 0.9 4Tu 4:01 AM 2.7 10:06 AM 0.5 4:56 PM 2.8 10:45 PM 0.8 5W 5:13 AM 2.8 11:13 AM 0.5 5:58 PM 2.9 11:46 PM 0.6 East Coast Tide Charts Tide Charts brought to you by these businesses September 2022 Miami, Government Cut (Approximate Times) Time Height Time Height Time Height Time Height Ponce de Leon Inlet High Tide -11 minutes Low Tide +19 minutes Ft. Pierce Inlet, S. Jetty High Tide -31 minutes Low Tide -18 minutes Ponce Inlet, Halifax River High Tide +5 minutes Low Tide +33 minutes Jensen Beach High Tide +2 hours, 17 minutes Low Tide +3 hours, 4 minutes Port Canaveral (Trident Pier) Daily Predictions Sewell Pt High Tide +1 hours, 13 minutes Low Tide +2 hours, 9 minutes Patrick Air Force Base High Tide -1 hour, 4 minute Low Tide -38 minutes Jupiter Inlet, S.Jetty High Tide -10 minutes Low Tide -9 minutes Sebastian Inlet Bridge High Tide -48 minutes Low Tide -24 minutes Port Everglades - Turning Basin High Tide -31 minutes Low Tide -13 minutes The water quality is clear.
The water conditions for Lake Okeechobee have been 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. If you’re fishing the lake for bass, the Tin House area and Whidden’s Pass to Brice Fine on the shoal has been the hotter areas to fish lately. I keep a worm/ senko rod handy along with a swim bait/swim jig and top water rods on the deck and a rattle trap/ spinner bait rod rigged for windier mornings and possible schooling activity. About 3-4 rods on the deck pretty much covers it and by keeping it simple and fishing slow can make the difference between a good day/morning and a great day/morning of fishing the big O. Keep your eyes and ears alert for schooling up in the shal-
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2022 ORLANDO 11 1M 5:15 AM 0.2 11:50 AM 2.3 5:28 PM 0.2 2Tu 12:10 AM 2.4 5:54 AM 0.2 12:33 PM 2.3 6:10 PM 0.3 3W 12:48 AM 2.3 6:36 AM 0.2 1:19 PM 2.3 6:58 PM 0.4 4Th 1:29 AM 2.3 7:25 AM 0.1 2:11 PM 2.3 7:52 PM 0.5 5F 2:15 AM 2.3 8:21 AM 0.1 3:10 PM 2.3 8:54 PM 0.5 6Sa 3:11 AM 2.2 9:23 AM 0.0 4:15 PM 2.4 10:00 PM 0.5 7Su 4:15 AM 2.3 10:28 AM 0.0 5:23 PM 2.4 11:06 PM 0.5 8M 5:25 AM 2.3 11:32 AM -0.1 6:29 PM 2.6 9Tu 12:08 AM 0.4 6:33 AM 2.5 12:33 PM -0.3 7:29 PM 2.7 10W 1:07 AM 0.2 7:36 AM 2.6 1:31 PM -0.4 8:24 PM 2.8 11Th 2:02 AM 0.1 8:34 AM 2.8 2:26 PM -0.4 9:15 PM 2.9 12F 2:55 AM 0.0 9:28 AM 2.9 3:18 PM -0.4 10:03 PM 3.0 3Sa 3:47 AM -0.1 10:20 AM 2.9 4:09 PM -0.3 10:49 PM 3.0 14Su 4:37 AM -0.2 11:11 AM 2.9 5:00 PM -0.2 11:34 PM 2.9 15M 5:26 AM -0.1 12:00 PM 2.8 5:50 PM 0.0 16Tu 12:18 AM 2.8 6:15 AM -0.1 12:50 PM 2.7 6:40 PM 0.2 17W 1:03 AM 2.6 7:06 AM 0.1 1:40 PM 2.6 7:33 PM 0.5 18Th 1:49 AM 2.4 7:58 AM 0.2 2:32 PM 2.4 8:28 PM 0.6 19F 2:37 AM 2.3 8:53 AM 0.3 3:27 PM 2.3 9:26 PM 0.8 20Sa 3:30 AM 2.2 9:50 AM 0.4 4:27 PM 2.2 10:24 PM 0.8 21Su 4:28 AM 2.1 10:47 AM 0.5 5:26 PM 2.2 11:20 PM 0.8 22M 5:27 AM 2.1 11:40 AM 0.4 6:22 PM 2.3 23Tu 12:12 AM 0.8 6:23 AM 2.2 12:30 PM 0.4 7:11 PM 2.4 24W 12:59 AM 0.7 7:13 AM 2.3 1:14 PM 0.3 7:55 PM 2.5 25Th 1:41 AM 0.6 7:59 AM 2.4 1:55 PM 0.3 8:35 PM 2.6 26F 2:20 AM 0.5 8:43 AM 2.5 2:33 PM 0.2 9:13 PM 2.7 27Sa 2:57 AM 0.4 9:24 AM 2.6 3:10 PM 0.2 9:50 PM 2.7 28Su 3:32 AM 0.4 10:04 AM 2.7 3:47 PM 0.2 10:26 PM 2.7 29M 4:07 AM 0.3 10:45 AM 2.7 4:24 PM 0.3 11:02 PM 2.7 30Tu 4:44 AM 0.2 11:26 AM 2.7 5:03 PM 0.4 11:39 PM 2.7 31W 5:23 AM 0.2 12:10 PM 2.7 5:46 PM 0.5 1Th 12:18 AM 2.6 6:07 AM 0.2 12:57 PM 2.7 6:34 PM 0.6 2F 1:01 AM 2.5 6:57 AM 0.2 1:50 PM 2.6 7:30 PM 0.7 3Sa 1:52 AM 2.5 7:57 AM 0.3 2:52 PM 2.6 8:34 PM 0.8 4Su 2:54 AM 2.5 9:04 AM 0.3 4:00 PM 2.6 9:44 PM 0.8 5M 4:04 AM 2.5 10:15 AM 0.3 5:10 PM 2.6 10:53 PM 0.7 Miami, Government Cut (Approximate Times) Time Height Time Height Time Height Time Height Ponce de Leon Inlet High Tide -11 minutes Low Tide +19 minutes Ft. Pierce Inlet, S.Jetty High Tide -31 minutes Low Tide -18 minutes Ponce Inlet, Halifax River High Tide +5 minutes Low Tide +33 minutes Jensen Beach High Tide +2 hours, 17 minutes Low Tide +3 hours, 4 minutes Port Canaveral (Trident Pier) Daily Predictions Sewell Pt High Tide +1 hours, 13 minutes Low Tide +2 hours, 9 minutes Patrick Air Force Base High Tide -1 hour, 4 minute Low Tide -38 minutes Jupiter Inlet, S.Jetty High Tide -10 minutes Low Tide -9 minutes Sebastian Inlet Bridge High Tide -48 minutes Low Tide -24 minutes Port Everglades - Turning Basin High Tide -31 minutes Low Tide -13 minutes COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM AUGUST 2022 ORLANDO 11 bass trips which are typical for this time of year. The month of September is when to start thinking of booking your bass fishing trip, as the females start to feed up while they make their way into the shallows for the early spawn time. It’s also the time to book your fall crappie trip too. Good fishing areas: parts of the shoal; Dupree Bar; Dyess ditch and Horse Island and Indian Prairie. Tin house has been solid throughout the season for crappie, bass and bream, work your way up towards 3rd and 2nd point where you’ll find some bass feeding on the bedding bream. A few areas on Kings Bar have been good and To book you’re next fun-filled, productive and educational fishing trip call me at 863-228-7263 or log onto my website to check out the customers and their catches; hotel recommendations; guide rates and etc. Capt Angie’s sponsors are: Caymas boats and Toho Marine; South Tackle; Maui Jim; Gill; Bullet Weights; Road Runner; Real Magic; Tru Turn hooks; Mega Strike; Gene Larew; Pradco Brands and BUFF popping bug. I have thoroughly enjoyed hearing the popping bug get hit. Daytime anglers are catching good numbers fishing the shallow bedding areas. Bait of choice is crickets fished under a float.Another good area to fish is canals when the water is flowing, trolling will only trigger more bites. Crappie - Anglers are fishing open water for crappie using jigs tipped Anglers trolling jigs are catching good limits of crappie. The key is to find them East Lake Toho - Bass fishing on East Lake has been good using artificial baits early morning. The best place to fish will be at the edges of the cattails. Then move to open water as the morning progresses. Most anglers are flipping open water pepper grass matts with good success. Fish the deeper edges of the grasswatermelon seed, Junebug, and Panfish - Fish open water shell beds with red wigglers. If you are looking to fill the cooler for dinner, the open water shell beds are COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM OCTOBER 2022 ORLANDO 11
Kissimmee Chain of Lakes and West Lake Toho: With most of the hydrilla topped out this time of year, your best bet is to fish the edges of the hydrilla patches. Plastic baits are a good choice - Zoom trick worm, Flukes, and the Vibe are the most popular. The summer showers are produc ing flow out of shingle creek. Best bet is right at daylight. Goblins Cove has been producing very good quality fish. Most fish are hanging deep in the hydrilla patches. Another good area to fish is around the Mackinson and Paradise Island in the open water and look for schooling shad. Another good area to fish this month is shallow water shell beds. A lot of large bass will hang around the shell beds ambushing smaller bait fish.
Saturday October 1&2 - Safe daylight until 3pm, Toho Marine Outdoors will be hosting their Elite One-Man Bass Tour Classic Event on Lake Okeechobee launching at Scott Driver Park boat ramp on the Kissimmee River in Okeechobee City. 100% payback, 1 place for each 5 entries, $100 entry fee. For more info or to register call Jimmie Murphy at 352-7895351 or Charlie Harrelson or visit Tohomarineoutdoors. com.
Crappie season is almost here. The largest specks are usually caught in November, in the Shad andCrappieDerbybutduring September and October the word begins to slip out that slabs are coming in. Black Crappie are usually found jigging structure all along the river and near bridge and dock pilings in the early part of the season. Deep water in the bends and overhanging or fallen trees is a great combo for slabs. Try a white curly tail on a 1/8th ounce jighead, then drop to the bottom and jig it 3 times every 2 feet on the way up. Patience is key, run and gun fills the frying pan. Catfish up to 20 lbs. and sunshine bass up to seven pounds round out the late summer tar gets. Fish for cats with peeled fresh shrimp or red worms, and use just enough weight to hold the bottom. Look for sunshine bass (stripers) to bite hard plastic lures at the mouth of the Wekiva River and both the south and north mouths of Lake Monroe at sunrise.
• THEANGLERMAG.COM Saturday July 1 thru September 5 - CCA Star Tourney, Catch, Photo, Release, Win!
August 7, 15, 17, 23, 28 - “Happy Birthday” to Orlando Editor Charlie McCullough and his son Andrew McCullough, to our son Josh Wolf turning 37, son Jason Wolf turning 39 and Grandson Gunner Wolf turning the big 10 years old!
• THEANGLERMAG.COMORLANDO
Bitter’s Bait & Tackle in Longwood, 1 block north of SR 434 on US 17/92 is packed with Tackle. Bitter’s friendly staff is always willing to help you find you’re looking for and share local fishing info. Bitter’s own brand of soft- plastics are better than most name brands and are half of the cost saving you lots of bucks. Down to the south in St. Cloud is WoJo’s Bait & Tackle at the corner of SR 192 & Kissimmee Park Rd. This small store is loaded with inventory as well as lots of saltwater tackle and frozen baits, lots of live bait for freshwater fishing. Just to the west at down town Kissimmee Lake Front Park is Big Toho Marina, with new owner they server the best breakfast sandwiches & burgers in the area, with lots of live bait and large freshwater inventory and right next to the launch ramp.
The staff of Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando, friends and family all hope you each have a special day and enjoy many more trips around the sun! If you have an event or meeting you would like included in the “What’s Hitting Around Town” column, send your details to: Phil Wolf month.iscom.coastalanglermagazine.phillip@Deadlineforinclusionthe10thofthepreceding
To the north in Lake County is Owens Fishing and Marine located in Eustis on SR19, they have lots of inventory of the hard to find tackle and baits. In Tavares on the east side of US 441 is Lakeside Bait and Tackle. You have passed this for years on your way to the Harris Chain and Buzzard Beach launch ramp. Stop and visit with the owners Mark or Heidi Bass for the latest info on what is biting on the Chain. Back to the east in Debary and right on the St. John’s River is Highbanks Resort & Marina, boat rentals, live bait, gas, cold beer and freshwater inventory. A must stop in the fall and winter months as this area is one of Florida’s best crappie catching areas!
Thursday October 6 –Orlando CCA 35th Annual Fall Banquet & Auction hosted at a new venue, Winter Park Events Center located at 1050 W. Morse Blvd., Winter Park, FL 32789. Join us for an evening to celebrate and support Florida’s Marine resources. Event starts at 6pm with open bar, catered dinner by Arthur’s Catering to follow at 730, Live Auction at 830 – 930pm, then all raffle prize winners’ postings. Ticket includes annual CCA membership, corporate tables available, for tickets or more info for contact Mandy Tuckus Mtuckus@CCAFlorida.orgat
closesunandareaswithoffshorehydrillainBigandLittleLakeHarris.Oncethegetsuptryfindingshell-barstodeepwater.LakeDora
AUGUST 2022
$500,000 in prizes.
Florida will soon begin to cool down. St Johns River water levels are up. Fish are still behaving in their summertime patterns. Water temperature will be the key to catching bass – they love cooler water during the daytime hours. The ‘bite’ doesn’t last long - daybreak, moon over, moon under, and right before a storm are when they feed aggressively. Downsize your lures and mimic fish fry that are schooling. Rattletraps, crank baits, Senkos, and flukes will find fish. High water means the bass have lots of places to hide – look for small creek runoffs that have water flowing out. Start outside on each side of the runoff and work your baits with the current. Soft plastic colors for the river: 1) black with blue flakes, 2) black with light blue accent, 3) dark colors. Watch the afternoon storms, lightning is not forgiving!
Saturday October 8th –Noon till 6pm, 11th Annual “Gumbo Wars”, Join the 2021 defending champions Orlando Coastal Angler Magazine and friends for this great event! Hosted at Fish on Fire Restaurant - 7937 Daetwyler Dr., Orlando. Twenty-five plus cooking teams will be there to compete for 2022 bragging rights awarded to the “Best Gumbo”. Cost is $10 for entry and all the Gumbo you can eat! Lots of family fun, vendors, raffle items and special “Live Auction” for guided fishing trips, vacation stays, fishing accessories, artwork, jewelry and lots of other goodies. Gates open at Noon and tasting starts at 2pm till 5pm, awards to follow, live music from Gypsy Elise all day long. Proceeds from this event go to local Youth Fishing Organizations, College Scholarships, and Water Conservation efforts. In 2021 we raised and awarded $25,000+! This years’ event will surely be one you don’t want to miss! For more info visit Gumbowars.com If you have an event or meeting you would like included in the “What’s Hitting Around Town” column, send your details to: Phil Wolf phillip@ com.coastalanglermagazine.Deadlineforinclusion is the 10th of the preceding month.
packages,
Small Tackle Shops Big on Service
Tuesday August 2, 95pm till dusk, Jolly Gator Bass Tournament Series, every Tuesday evening plus 1 Saturday per month until the Classic on August 13th. Cost is $40 per event, 2 anglers per team. Teams that finish in the Top 10 in points or win an event and fish at least 20 events will qualify for the end of year Classic. Some of the best river anglers in the area fish this Bass Series. The staff of Orlando Coastal Angler Magazine is the official weigh-masters for this fun tournament series, come out and join us for the weekly weigh-ins. All Tuesday events start at 5pm till dusk, Saturday events (1 per month) are safe-light till 2pm. Launch ramp at CS Lee Park next to Jolly Gator Fish Camp on SR 46 east of Sanford at St. Johns River Bridge. For questions or more info contact Jim “Squirt” Chaudoin at 407432-2822 or Phil Wolf from Coastal Angler Magazine at 407-790-9515.
Most of all visit the big box stores. You know the ones, Bass Pro Shops, Academy Sports, Dick’s Sporting Goods, just to name a few. Yes some of them carry most major brands, but what about personal service? To get local info that you can trust as well as personal service it is the small and almost extinct tackle shops where you should spend your hard earned dollars. The small shops would love to share some local info for the exchange of some of those bucks. Yes it is much harder to compete with the Big Box Stores who buy at prices cheaper than the little guys. Most small shops tell us that those big guys can sell their products with a small margin cheaper than we can even buy them from their distributors. Personal service is where the small shops shine! We visit these shops each and every month to drop our monthly new issue and to get updated on how the local bite is going. In most cases the owners are always there to greet us! They all need new clients and repeat business, what you will get is honest local info, a decent price for what you are buying and most times the convenience of not having to deal with parking, traffic, other shoppers and most times the small stores will have what you are looking for in stock. Oh, did I mention most open several hours prior to those Big-Box stores and are close to where you will be fishing. Several of these small shops still exist. Some you drive right bye and don’t even know they are there. Several of these shops within our 4 county foot-print are very close to some of Florida’s best fishing hot spots. All within an hour or less of where you live and most very close to where fish are biting.
Do yourself and the small shop owners a favor, stop buy and spend a few bucks at one of these shops. Tell them you read about them in the Orlando Coastal Angler Magazine local section.
Thursday September 8 - 5pm to 8pm, “Alive After 5” in Sanford - The staff of Orlando Coastal Angler Magazine would like you to join us for an evening of fun in downtown Sanford. This event is the second Thursday of each month downtown. Block Party on First Street! Don’t miss the chance for a fun night on the town.
12 ORLANDO SEPTEMBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM12 ORLANDO OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM
Thursday August 115pm to 8pm, “Alive After 5” in Sanford - The staff of Orlando Coastal Angler Magazine would like you to join us for an evening of fun in downtown Sanford. This event is the second Thursday of each month downtown. Block Party on First Street! Don’t miss the chance for a fun night on the town.
Monday September 5 – Labor Day, The staff of Orlando Coastal Angler Magazine hope our loyal readers have a happy and fun-filled day off from the grind at your normal Monday workday! Enjoy the day with friends and family out on the water fishing, boating or whatever makes your day enjoyable - have fun and be safe!
COM to register or more info.
Thursday August 4th – 2nd Annual Swordfish Shootout –Strike Zone Fishing Melbourne sponsored with $10,000 first place up for grabs! August 4th Captain’s Party at 6pm at Sebastian Saltwater Marina, Friday August 5th Lines in at 9pm, Saturday August 6th Lines out at 9pm, Sunday August 7th Weigh-in: Sebastian Saltwater Marina from 11am-3pm Awards: Following Weigh-in
On the Harris Chain September arrives with hot days and hot bites! We will also see breezy days and the beginning of fall as the days grow shorter. Look for areas with any current from the wind or running / moving water from the afternoon rains. This is when the fish have been grouping up and feeding on schools of bait. The low light conditions of early morning is best until about 9:30 am. Get out on the water before the suns rises and in most days it will be worth it. Try top water baits like the trusted Devils Horse, pencil poppers, and hard or soft bodied frogs – these have been producing explosive strikes from above average size bass. Try the mouths of canals, both ends of the Dead River
Saturday August 13 –Safe-light till 3pm, Jolly Gator Bass Tournament Series Classic end of this year’s season, Launch ramp at CS Lee Park next to Jolly Gator Fish Camp on SR 46 east of Sanford at St. Johns River Bridge. This event is for those teams who finish in the Top-10 in points or have won an event and fished a least 20 of our events this season. Our “Team of the Year” and “Big Bass of the Year” will also be awarded along with pay-outs for all teams that qualify after final weigh-in is complete. More than $10,000 will be paid out this season to our qualifying teams. Come join us for the weigh-in and see the huge bags that will be brought to our weigh-master from the area’s best bass fishing teams! For info or questions contact, Phil Wolf from Coastal Angler Magazine at 407-790-9515.
has several and they have been producing good numbers of bass and they are good-sized. As the sun gets high, switch to deep running crankbaits, swimbaits or Carolina rigs with a large worm. Fish them slow, once you catch one there are usually more in the area. Flipping the heavy grass and mats with black-blue creature baits or June-bug colored plastic worms have also been producing. The larger deeper docks lo cated all around the chain have been producing keeper bites later in the day as well, target docks with largest shaded areas with breeze blowing in on them. The crappie bite will pick up to wards the end of the months near Dead River, around the mouth of Haines Creek at both ends and around the northwest corner of Lake Eustis. Use jigs tipped with a minnow for crappie. Vary the depth of your baits until you find where they want it! The deeper holes in big Lake Harris have been producing the best bites for crappie. Take a kid with you - crappie are great fun with light tackle and great on the dinner table. COASTALANGLERMAG.COMAUGUST 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM Over Catch a Tagged Redfish and Win Boat/Motor/ Trailer lots of prizes non-tagged species as well, $40 per angler to register, prizes for Trash Pick-up as well, visit CCAFLSTAR.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2022 ORLANDO 13COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM OCTOBER 2022 ORLANDO 13COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM AUGUSTCOASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM AUGUST 2022 \ seatow.com ® membership and all the benefits that come with it. 25% of our service calls are resolved without towing and Sea Tow members are always served first. americantackle.us SEE THE FULL LINE OF MICROWAVE GUIDES PERFORMANCEAT INCREASE YOUR FISHING 9700 E. Colonial Dr. / SR 50 We Need Boats Now! Any Size, Any Age Always Looking Good Contact Us Today 321-866-0306 Pioneer - Glasstream - Aquasport - Stottcraft New Boats Sales - Authorized Yamaha and Suzuki Dealer Parts and Service
Run mullet run! One of the best parts of being a kayak angler in Central Florida is the sheer abondance of opportunities to get your fishy fix. There is never an “off” season and you can target many different species throughout the year. The highlights of our year-round fishing are almost too numerous for a list. There is one “season” that gets me super excited every year and it is a spectacle to behold. Every year from the end of August until roughly November the beaches and lagoons of East Central Florida play host to a mass migration of bait fish called the Mullet Run. Typically peaking in the mid to later weeks in September this influx of bait to the surf zone and lagoons makes every predator take notice and feed as though it is their last meal. As cold fronts slide into the Southeast state’s, mullet evacuate the backwaters and bays headed for the ocean. They push south in waves heading to warmer waters to spend the winter. When these thick waves of forage fish slide by us the amount of predation that takes place is almost bewildering. Fish like snook, tarpon, jacks, bluefish, mackerels, and many others can be caught by utilizing both artificial lures and live baits. The Lagoons, Port Canaveral and all our beaches can produce outstanding catches and a kayak is perfect to capitalize on the action.
14 ORLANDO AUGUST 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COMAUGUST 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
Utilizing mullet caught on site is also a great way to get hooked up and with bait being so easy to acquire it’s a perfect time to get used to live bait fishing if that is something you do not typically do. There is a feel of awe that can overtake you when witnessing a display of wildlife like the mullet run. It is equivalent to watching the Discovery Channel in real life.
DOA Bait Buster with a single hook instead of trebles. I like the shallow runner in natural mullet colors when the school is near the water’s surface and the deep runner when fishing the deeper water of the inlets and near-shore.
What a great month for fishing!
One of my favorite ways to fish the mullet run is to kayak the beach with lures and have fun with all the different species. Larger lipped plugs, swim baits, and even a topwater bait is a perfect choices for this fishing.
Look for snook, tarpon, jack crevalle, sharks, and large kingfish crushing bait pods along the beach. The pods are easily located by watching for fish and birds busting the bait. Once you’ve determined the direction of fish movement, usually south, simply set up in front and let them come to you. This is my preferred time of year for targeting snook and tarpon along the beach. The beach snook run started last month with a few fish already showing up, and it will begin to pick up substantially, just in time for the opening of snook season on September 1st.
August can be considered a tough time to fish in East Central Florida for several reasons, but that does not mean you can’t find plenty of opportunities to bend the rod and do battle with some awesome fish. The most notable factor that effects our lagoon fishing is the sweltering summer heat and how it plays into the day for most of our desired gamefish targets.
There is only one way to beat the heat and stay catching regardless of how hot it gets. Fishing in the cooler times of the day is a sure way to keep yourself a bit more comfortable and achieve your goal of some solid catches. Hitting the water very early or late in the afternoon and even exploring your local night fishing is a spectacular work around keeping you off the water in those times of high sun and maximum Withheat. little tidal current until you get to the Ponce Inlet area in the north or Sebastian Inlet to the south, we do not have the relief of cooler ocean water flooding the shallows multiple times a day regardless of where the sun is. In those nontidal areas, the water temperatures climb as the sun does and by midday it is uncomfortably hot. Just like ourselves the fish also react to the oppressive heat and look to find some refuge. For us some cold drinks and a little shade with some breeze is exactly what we look for to cool down and relax, maybe a little time in the AC even. Typically, the last thing we look for is a giant meal. Fish do the same and look to find cooler deeper water or some shade to ride out the heat. Much like colder weather the heat also causes fish to become lethargic and many time unwilling to feed or do anything but sulk. If you do find yourself looking to catch in the heat, baits like live shrimp are a good choice as they fit the bill of a lite snack and not a full meal. In the cooler times like early morning, late evening, and even nighttime you can look to utilize more substantial offerings and the topwater plug excels at this. With the summer waters heavy bait presence those topwater plugs will get a look and can even be fished at night with great success. Also, live baits like mullet will get plenty of looks and are a great choice in the dark. Don’t let the dog days of summer get your fishing in a slump! Beat the heat and keep catching. Sea trout and redfish are the primary targets for anglers on the Lagoon flats. Anglers should focus their efforts in areas of mullet schools, throwing top water plugs in the early morning and late afternoon hours, or at night. Once the day gets hot and the top water bite slows, switch your tactics to live bait (pigfish) or DOACAL Jigs fished on the deeper edges of the flats, and don’t overlook the large ladyfish schools shadowing glass minnows out in the deeper Ifwater.the ocean water stays warm (above 80 degrees) along the near-shore coast, look for pods of baitfish to move in close. Pods of Atlantic menhaden (pogies), thread fin herring (greenies), and bay anchovies (glass minnows) will all be shadowed by predator species like large tarpon, smoker kings, blacktip and spinner sharks, jack crevalle, bonitoand redfish. Focus your attention on bait pods where there are visible predators, feeding activity and active bird feeding. As we approach the end of the month and the beginning of the fall mullet run, look for snook fishing in the surf to improve as they move into the surf break to feed. Remember snook season is closed in August, so please handle, and release them with extreme care. The snook populations in our area are elevated this year due to the warmer than usual winter we experienced. August fishing can be a challenge sometimes, but it’s always a fun time. The cold-water upwelling is still around and causing issues for bottom fishing and finding bait. By cold water, I’m talking about the yearly thermocline. Just because you can’t get a bottom bite going doesn’t mean the bottom fish don’t come up in the water column a little. Get on the wrecks and chum. You will find the cold pushes the fish up. They try to get to the warm water level. It’s not uncommon at all to see amberjack, snapper, cobia, mangroves, and many other species not far from the surface. Picking out the biggest fish can be fun especially for your charters.
Kingfish should continue to do well, many fish in the 40/50lb class have been caught recently. Captain Joe of the FireFight had a 48-pound kingfish last week. Stud of a king. Nice work Joey Lee! Nearshore beach fishing is going to really be picking up. Tarpons are there and rolling every day. You can slow troll them or just drift in the mornings with live bait. We have caught them on everything. Chunk baits, live baits and artificial. There is not much they won’t eat. Beach fishing in 20-30 feet is a blast. You’d be amazed how shallow all these fish come in. Kings, bonito, jack crevalle and many other extreme fighting fish. Look for the schools of bunker. If you find them, you will find the fish. Shark fishing is about as good as it gets right now. If you’re looking for some fun with the kids, anchor up in 20 feet off the beach and hold on. Bonita and king are an excellent bait for the toothy critters. rigging all the monster sea bass
14 ORLANDO SEPTEMBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM14 ORLANDO OCTOBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM
I’m often asked the question, what is the best time of year to catch trophy redfish. Well, the answer is right now. Sep tember is the month breeder redfish school up for the spawn in the Indian River Lagoons as well as inlet passes of Ponce and Sebastian, so it’s a good time to target these schools. September also marks the beginning of the fall bait migration, primarily silver mullet, which increase as we progress into October and November. It is hard to predict precisely when and how strong the run will be, but along with the arrival of the bait, come the predatory species we love so much. My lure selection for these breeder schools this time of year is a
Gotta love it. The bunker have been easier by the day to get. They have been in the port and along the beach. The earlier you can get out there the easier it is to net, or you can find the pelicans diving and or boats netting by the Cocoa pier will give them away. Just because you have the live bait now doesn’t mean they want it so try cigar minnows as well if there not chewing the bunker (menha den). Kings have been hit or miss but the larger ones are starting to show up again. Capt Joe has had some good days. Hint, you don’t always need to go to the reef - try the nearshore and the wrecks. You will start to see more blackfins and sails in September too. Cobia - they are everywhere. Get out there with your bucktails and look around. Tip your bucktail with some squid or your favorite soft plastics. No place specific but the reefs are a good start. Late in the day they have been surfacing on rays, turtles and free swimming. They love some live bait too. This is a great month for wreck fishing. Use all your normal tactics from three ways to knocker rigs. Live bait definitely works the best. Use lighter tackle for more fun. Amberjack and every other species have been sitting right above the wrecks and it’s been great. The cold water pushes them to the surface. You can also try anchoring and chumming. Use some lighter fluorocarbon for the mangos. They have been plentiful! Even the muttons have been surfacing. Don’t forget about chicken rigging all the monster sea bass and triggerfish! Man, we have had some studs lately. It’s a lot of fun for the kids. Get out there and enjoy the water. Good Luck.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2022 ORLANDO 15COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM AUGUST 2022 ORLANDO 15COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COMCOASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM OCTOBER 2022 ORLANDO 15 Oveido | UCF | Weikiva-Hunt Club | Winter Springs www.hueymagoos.com
The last few weeks of scallop season, fun for the whole family! Giant Snowy Grouper are biting on theWest Coast, book your trip now! Lauren and Colton winners of the last Tuesday evening Jolly Gator Bass SeriesEvent of this season..... including Big Bass! King fishing is hot out of Port Canaveral aboard Fired-Up Charters
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With a deadline of Sept. 30, eight tagged largemouths worth thousands of dollars are still swimming in Florida waters.In celebration of Season 10 of FWC’s TrophyCatch big bass program, FWC tagged 10 largemouth bass with bright pink tags in Florida lakes. Just two of those pink-tagged largemouths had been caught as of presstime, so eight are still out there waiting for anglers to catch them and collect thousands of dollars worth of gift cards.
14 FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
The first pink-tagged bass was caught by Florida angler Dale Dew from Lake Griffin on May 22. Florida angler RJ Crawford caught the second pink-tagged bass from Newnans Lake on June 11. Both anglers were awarded $5,000 Bass Pro gift cards and $1,000 AFTCO gift cards. They will also be entered in a drawing for an additional $10,000, which will be awarded at a ceremony this fall.
The eight remaining pink-tagged bass are still swimming in the following Florida waterbodies: Lake George, Lake Talquin, Lake Walk-in-Water, Tenoroc Fish Management Area, Lake Trafford, Lake Istokpoga, Lake Rousseau and Johns Lake. With the 10-Tag promotion ending Sept. 30, FWC is dropping hints by way of online maps showing the area where each of the remaining bass were tagged. These new tagging maps of the remaining lakes could lead lucky anglers to the pink-taggedThroughbass.Florida bass telemetry and tagging studies, FWC biologists have found that where a largemouth bass is tagged and released can frequently coincide with where an angler catches the same bass weeks, months or even yearsDewlater.caught his 10-Tag bass within yards of where the fish was released with its pink tag in Lake Griffin. Of course, these hints come with a caveat: while bass can be predictable, there are many exceptions to their typical home range patterns and some bass are not homebodies at all. In contrast to Dew’s catch, the second reported 10-Tag bass caught by RJ Crawford in Newnans Lake was more than 3 miles from where it was tagged. These hints don’t eliminate water in which a 10-Tag bass might be found but should be treated as higher-probability areas. View each of the ranges on the maps located on the 10-Tag Celebration web page. For more information, go www.trophycatchflorida.com.to Bass Worth Thousands in Lakes
Eight Tagged
Still Swim
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2022 FLORIDA 15
Apply for a Grant to Support School Fishing Clubs
The Florida Sport Fish Restoration R3 Fishing Grant will award up to 40 high school fishing clubs or teams $500 to assist with club expenses and the purchase of fishing licenses or gear for participants. Participating clubs and teams will receive an updated educational curriculum comprised of lessons and activities on fisheries conservation and resource management, plus a chance to win prizes by completing the program’s Conservation Project.“The School Fishing Club program is an important program for teaching the next generation of anglers about ethical angling and conservation in Florida,” said Director of Marine Fisheries Management Jessica McCawley. “I look forward to seeing the hard work and creativity each club puts into their conservation project activities each year to help preserve the health and quality of aquatic habitats.”
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The grant program is open to new or existing freshwater and/or saltwater fishing clubs or teams at public, private and charter schools throughout Florida. To be considered for the grant, school fishing clubs or teams must have a minimum of five members and be represented by a school faculty member or parent who will follow the provided instructor’s manual.Thedeadline for submitting applications is Sept. 16, 2022 at 5 p.m. The application can be found online at MyFWC.com/SFC by scrolling down to “Florida’s R3 Fishing Grant Program.” Applicants can complete the form online or download the application to submit by mail or e-mail. Submit the downloaded applications to R3Fishing@MyFWC.com or mail them to: FWC’s Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management Attn: School Fishing Club Program Grant 620 S. Meridian St., Tallahassee, FL 32399. The 2022-23 School Fishing Club Program is supported by partners including Mud Hole Custom Tackle, Pure Fishing, Coastal Conservation Association and Baitstick Fishing. For more information, contact Brandon Stys at Brandon.Stys@MyFWC.com.
B ack-to-school season is underway and Florida parents, teachers and school staff can apply for funding to support school fishing clubs for students. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) 2022-23 School Fishing Club Program, previously named the High School Fishing Program, offers school fishing clubs or teams the opportunity to apply for the Florida R3 Fishing Grant. The application period is open until Sept. 16. This grant program is focused on engaging youth anglers to ensure the future of fishing in Florida.
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• Slow Down: If you find one scallop, slow down and search the area thoroughly. There’s usually another one nearby.
• Find Your Spot: The most common advice on finding a good scalloping area is to look for the boats. It’s good advice. The flotilla bearing diver-down flags is hard to miss when you find it. Be courteous, give everyone plenty of room and drive the boat slowly, keeping an eye out for swimmers.
For more information, including complete rules and regulations, go to MyFWC.com.
TIPS FOR BETTER SCALLOPING By CAM Staff Charters.FishingGrassRockofcourtesyPhoto
• Clean Them Quickly: An alternative to keeping scallops alive is to just clean them right away. There should be at least one person in the boat at all times, and this person can clean the scallops while the rest of the team is searching. Scallops open up when they are put on ice, so chunk them in a cooler and clean them while you’re on the water. You can discard the shells into the bay.
• Be Sure to Hydrate and keep yourself greased up with sunscreen. Also, know the seasons, limits and safety regulations for the area you’re scallop hunting.
• Hunt the Slack Tides: Finding scallops is generally easiest on a slack tide during calm days when currents are minimal. When the water is still, seagrass stands up straight, and it’s easier to spot scallops at the base of the grass.•Look in the Sand: Pay attention to those sandy potholes on the grass flats. Scallops like grass, but they are easier to see against a sandy bottom. Many times, if you spot one on the sand, there will be several in the grass around it.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2022 FLORIDA 19
One trick to finding productive bottom is to pull a keen-eyed diver on a rope at idle speed. This will help cover water quickly, and once old eagle eye spots a few, you can put out the anchor.
• Keep Them Alive: Storing scallops in a livewell is a great idea if you’ve got one. They can also be kept in a cooler of ice, but be careful to drain the freshwater out of the cooler as the ice melts because it will kill your scallops. You want them to be living right up until you clean them.
Bay scallop season is winding down along the west coast of Florida. In most zones it will continue well into September, so here are some tips to help you have fun on the water and maybe pick up a last-minute limit.
• Search in a Pattern: Some divers search in a grid by swimming a straight line out from the boat and then moving sideways 5 or 10 yards before returning to the boat in a straight line. This way you’ll always be looking at fresh bottom.
Find the Bait: Giant schools of bait pull all of the gamefish out of their summer patterns. Tarpon, redfish, snook, jacks, flounder, sharks, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and more transition from whatever they were doing and begin tailing and herding mullet pods. The predatory fish move with their food source. As an angler, you’re wasting your time if you’re not on top of the action.From a boat or from the beach, keep moving until you see fishy looking water. It’s unmistakable when you witness mullet fleeing from leaping jacks and tarpon, but the action can sometimes be harder to spot. Wear your polarized shades, keep the sun at your back and look for diving birds and the ripples of nervous water. There will be gamefish wherever there are huge schools of bait. Also, stay current with mullet activity in your area by sharing information with other anglers and being a regular at the local bait shops.
schools of mullet as they move down the coast. These are perfect feeding areas for gamefish because they provide ambush points as well structure to herd mullet against. Loud and Proud: When it comes to fishing artificials, anything that resembles a mullet is likely to get slammed around actively feeding fish. The hard part is getting marauding fish to notice your lure among thousands of real mullet. This is the time to make a commotion. Early in the mornings, loud topwater plugs that pop, walk-the-dog and throw a lot of water around will get noticed. When the topwater bite slows, it’s time to break out sub-surface plugs, spoons or paddletails on jigheads. Cast around the edges of the bait pods, because gamefish often target baitfish that stray from the pod.
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D epending on where you fish on Florida’s east coast, the mullet schools have either already arrived or they are on the way. Each fall, mullet flood down the coast in an enormous migration to their spawning grounds off south Florida. Along the way, they are assaulted by everything that eats fish. It’s a special time to be an angler. Here are some of the basics of fishing the mullet run to help you get in on the action.
Check the Pinch Points: Seawalls, rocky shorelines, jetties and any other structure that juts from the shore will consolidate and channel
Bait is Everywhere: Live bait is king when it comes to getting bit. A single good throw of the cast net should provide all the bait you need once you find a good school of mullet. Many anglers prefer fishing 5- to 8-inch mullet, because they’re small enough to cast and they’ll draw strikes from fish of all sizes. However, if big tarpon are pounding a bait school, some anglers swear a foot-long mullet catches bigger fish. Either way, freelined mullet are tough to beat. Gamefish look for isolated and injured baits on the outside of the school. Your mullet, hooked just behind the anal fin, will look like the perfect meal as it struggles to stay near the surface. For more on the mullet run, go to coastalanglermag.com.
THE MULLET ARE COMING!
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BLUEFIN SPAWN STUDIED OFF NORTHEASTERN U.S.
For as much as we do know about the ocean and the species we love to pursue as anglers, it’s amazing the things still left to be discovered. A scientific paper recently published in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences presents evidence that the Slope Sea off the northeastern coast of the United States is a major spawning ground for Atlantic bluefin tuna. The Slope Sea is an area of the Atlantic bounded to the north and west by the northeast United States Continental Shelf and to the south by the Gulf Stream. Science to this point had identified two populations of Atlantic bluefins. One returns to the Gulf of Mexico to spawn and another spawns in the Mediterranean Sea. A 2016 paper established the Slope Sea as a third spawning ground for the species, and this most recent research suggests the Slope Sea is a good place to be a larval bluefin. Researchers used plankton nets to collect larvae in the Slope Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. They compared larval growth in the two regions by studying larval otoliths, which are small bones found in the heads of tuna. Researchers also conducted larval transport simulations to estimate the movement of larvae floating in ocean currents forward and backward in time to evaluate the origin of the larvae. What they found was evidence that Slope Sea tuna larvae grow at a similar rate as those in the Gulf of Mexico. The paper notes that an additional spawning site likely offers resilience for the species in the face of harvest as well as climate change. For more information, read the research at cdnsciencepub.com.
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Florida angler John Kelly seems to have figured out how to catch big snook with a fly rod. According to the International Game Fish Association, Kelly caught this beautiful 88-centimeter (almost 35inch) snook with a crab pattern on the Indian River Lagoon on July 28. Snook longer than 40 inches are caught pretty regularly from Florida waters, so this one isn’t a true monster. However, IGFA said it could potentially set the all-tackle length fly world record for the species, replacing Kelly’s own record for an 86-centimeter snook he caught in early June. On top of that, Kelly submitted another application for a 91-centimeter snook he landed in early August. These potential records are currently pending and under review by IGFA. Records or not, it’s probably safe to say that Kelly has something figured out about targeting slob snook with fly tackle. For more information, go to igfa.org. a
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PHOTO BY RICHARD SIMMS
The Tennessee River’s WHITE BLUE CATS
Scenic City has three captains who specialize in guiding anglers to catfish. They’ve encountered four of these white catfish since 2018. Simms keeps records of his catches, and he estimated Scenic City catches about 5,000 catfish a year. While one white catfish in 5,000 caught is hardly good odds, it’s a lot better than one in a million. This one stretch of river is producing more of these strange fish than anywhere else we’ve heard of.
White catfish are rare anomalies that never fail to set social media abuzz each time an angler catches one. In most instances, biologists attribute the looks of these beautiful pinkishwhite fish to leucism, a genetic trait that results in reduced pigmentation and the pale, sometimes patchy coloration they display.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2022 NATIONAL 9
By TAM
On June 28, 15-year-old Edwards Tarumianz caught a gorgeous, almost pure white blue catfish on the Tennessee River near downtown Chattanooga, Tenn. It was the latest in a string of such fish to come from one small stretch of river. While catching a white catfish has been likened to winning the lottery, it seems the odds are much higher on the Tennessee River below Chickamauga Dam.“It’s become pretty clear to us that we’ve got a little recessive gene floating around in the river right here in the Chattanooga vicinity,” said Richard Simms, owner of Scenic City Fishing Charters. “I actually saw another one just a week or so ago. A guy, just a regular fisherman, caught a piebald. So, yeah, we’ve got a recessive gene floating around.”
Contact Scenic City Fishing Charters via www.sceniccityfishing.com.
CATCHINGKINGSISABUNCHOFFUN
Paylor said a rule of thumb is to troll live baits at around 2 miles per hour. When you get a bite, the rod slams down and the reel starts screaming. Make sure your drag is not set too tightly or it’ll be over.You’ll get a nice long run when the fish is first hooked. The smaller fish of less than 20 pounds will run out of energy pretty soon. Bigger ones, from 30 to 50 pounds, won’t tire as readily, and the real monsters may do it a few times before they tire. Keep your drag set light and let the fish do its thing; follow it with the boat if necessary. A fish (besides sharks) that is the bane of king mackerel anglers is the amberjack. If you troll near any high spot, usually the top of a shipwreck, there may be a school of them there. Their detractors call them “reef donkeys” with disdain. When you are trolling with a carefully prepared trolling rig and putting in hours looking for trophy kings, one of these bad boys can mess you up. Tournament anglers especially dislike them. If you are out trolling for kings and a school of amberjacks show up in your trolling spread, don’t get mad. Have fun! These fish are a blast and hit topwater plugs with abandon. Cast soda-bottlestyle poppers in the 5- to 6-inch-long range such as the Rapala Magnum Xplode or the Yozuri Bull Pop, retrieve them with a big pull and a pause to make a huge splash, and be prepared for an amazing display. Often a group of them will come up together and slash at it with reckless abandon until one finally gets hooked. Be prepared with a heavy casting rod. I’ve caught them on 12-weight fly rods with the biggest popper I could make. They can show up at any time over any wreck or reef. You just have to be ready. If you’re not fishing in a tournament, why not go have fun with them instead of cursing at them. They will come in fast, hit hard and then keep you occupied for about 20 minutes while they try to pull you out of the boat. This article was reprinted from CoastalReview.org.
With their aggressive nature, willingness to hit almost anything, and ability to make drag screaming runs when first hooked, king mackerel are just a bunch of fun. Because of these qualities, there is a king mackerel tournament somewhere almost every weekend. Plenty of boats head out in pursuit of them from every port, and plenty of tackle dedicated to them is sold in coastal shops.
To get an idea of what a day chasing kings is like, I spoke Capt. Matt Paylor, of Sound-N-Sea Charters in Morehead City, N.C. For gear, he likes a 7-foot, live-bait trolling rod with a Shimano TLD reel filled to the brim with 20-pound line. Smaller, school-sized kings eagerly hit trolled spoons and frozen cigar minnows, and you can catch a lot of them.When 10- to 20-pounders are hanging out around a structure, such as artificial reefs, wrecks or ledges, casting to them with swimming plugs and topwaters can lead to fast action. For a challenge, try a 10-weight fly rod rigged with a sinking line and a big streamer fly attached to a wireAleader.20-pound king mackerel can make a fly reel sing, Paylor said, however, if you want to get the big ones, you have to use live bait. His go-to is live menhaden, but he also uses live bluefish in the 2to 3-pound range. For trolling live bait, tie 15 feet of 30-pound fluorocarbon to the end of your main line, and to that attach a double hook live bait rig made with No. 5 single-strand wire and size 4 “quad strong” trebleCapt.hooks.Paylor said kings are very predictable.
He recommends using a sea surface temperature chart and seeing where the water is hovering in the 70-degree range and starting your day at a reef or wreck in that zone. If you see bait working—and especially if you see kings feeding—give it a serious shot. If you have seen kings feeding in open water, you’ll never forget what it looks like; they skyrocket out of the water like a submarine-launched missile.
By Capt. Gordon Churchill
“They are so consistent with their yearly patterns that if you caught them in a spot in previous years, they are probably going to be there again,” he said.
Gamefish Royalty
The Scout is the only nonelectric trailer dolly manufactured by Parkit360°. It is the perfect cost-effective solution for moving lightweight trailers in ways that would be impossible with a vehicle. The Scout weighs just 28 pounds, and it can be wallmounted or easily disassembled to fit into the trunk of any vehicle. It’s capable of moving up to 3,000 pounds, so it’s ideal for maneuvering lighter boats, campers and utility trailers at home or on the go.
Parkit360° was founded with a mission to make maneuvering trailers a breeze, even in tight spaces. They are the worldwide leader in manufacturing trailer dollies, and their dedication to innovative problem solving recently led to the release of two new dollies that are again revolutionizing the industry.
THE CARRIER
For more information onThe Carrier,The Scout or the rest of Parkit360°’s trailer dollies, visit: PARKIT360.CA
THE SCOUT
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The Carrier’s Drop & Go connection is an industry first. There’s no need for tightening or external stabilization with an adapter that’s capable of moving up to 13,0000 pounds. Just lower the trailer hitch onto the adjustable height adapter and go. The Carrier helps you move more trailers faster. It’s also remote controlled, which is super cool, and allows the driver freedom to see exactly where the trailer is at all times, even from a distance. With such precise control and the ability for 360-degree rotation, steering within inches of any obstacle is safe and easy.
PARKIT360° ROLLS
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boats, including pontoons, runabouts, RIBS, aluminum fishing
The Xtreme Power Assist is engineered to bring the smooth, easy control of electric power-assisted steering to a wide of popular boats and
ULTIMATE
Mobile Living Made Easy.
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CONTROL
AUTHENTIC
For over 60 years, customers have trusted the innovation & quality designed into every Dexter product. Thoroughly proven in our world-class testing labs, our products are supported by a diversified & well-developed supply chain, strict manufacturing processes & over 350 distribution facilities nationwide. Our history, highly engineered designs, and authentic Dexter parts allow you to spend time on the water instead of working on your boat trailer.
www.dexteraxle.com
Being original sometimes means others will try to copy you with inferior imitations, but true experience knows it’s never the same.
RECORD CUBERA CAUGHT OFF N.C.
All Dexter actuators are proudly assembled and tested in the USA
An angler from New Jersey caught a North Carolina state record for cubera snapper on Aug. 3. Thomas Madsen caught the 58-pound, 8-ounce fish offshore of Hatteras while fishing with Capt. Tyler Fleetwood and Sea Dream FishingMadsen’sCharters.big fish measured 49.5 inches total length and had a 41-inch girth. He caught it using a Shimano jigging rod, and a Diawa Saltist reel with 80-pound test. It replaces the previous record, which weighed 58 pounds and was caught off Beaufort Inlet in 2016.The IGFA all-tackle world record for Atlantic cubera snapper was caught off Louisiana in June of 2007 by Marion Rose. It weighed 124 pounds 12 ounces. For more information on North Carolina state records, find the State Saltwater Records webpage at deq.nc.gov.
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A lot of good reputations are riding on Dexter, let us carry yours.
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Xanthochromistic fish are orange because the red pigmentation in their skin is replaced by yellow pigmentation.
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“Until I caught this guy, I didn’t even know [xanthic bass] existed,” Chrenko wrote in a Facebook post. “For someone that lives and breathes fishing for smallmouth, this is one I’ll remember my entire life… I can only imagine that this little guy had to overcome crazy odds to survive the first couple of years of his life from predation. Being neon-orange would make for a tough life as a small freshwater fish.” Chrenko released his orange smallie after taking a few photos. For more weird fish, go to coastalanglermag.com.
This is not someone’s escaped goldfish; it’s a bright orange smallmouth bass. Angler Josh Chrenko caught the rare genetic anomaly this summer from the Muskegon River in Michigan. Biologists explained that the fish’s odd coloration is due to a rare genetic condition called xanthochromism, which— like albinism or leucism—is usually caused by a recessive gene.
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