Coastal Angler Magazine | October 2022 | Panhandle Edition

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TARGETING REDFISH During the Mullet Migration

TheAtlantic Coast of Florida experiences one of the planet’s great migrations each fall. When millions of mullet push south in giant schools toward spawning grounds off the southern end of the state, it presents an exciting prospect for fishing. It’s an event anglers anticipate all year long.

The mullet run doesn’t have an official start or end date. Large schools of mullet—some the size of three football fields—move south as temperatures cool. Tarpon, sharks, kingfish and redfish are just some of the gamefish that move with these pods. Most years the fishing is on fire in October and November.

Here are some tips for anglers to take advantage of the mullet run.

• BAIT: Obviously, mullet is the bait to use this time of the year. Full-grown mullet are great for shark and tarpon fishing. I prefer freelining finger-sized mullet, because pretty much everything eats them.

Free-lining sounds simple, but where you choose to fish and what you’re targeting will play a role in the set-up and rig you should use.

• TACKLE: I mainly fish inshore, so light tackle is the way for me. However, it’s important to be prepared to switch up depending on the size and species of game fish present.

In the backcountry, I like a light- to mediumaction 2000 size spinning set-up to fish 10-pound leaders and 3/0 circle hooks. I prefer Mustad hooks and tie them on with a simple loop knot. I use an FG knot to connect my leader to a braided main line. This creates a true free-line, without the added weight of a swivel.

The rigging is pretty much the same if I need to beef up for larger catches. With a 2500-size setup, I’ll fish 15- to 20-pound leader. I’ll bump that up to 25- to 30-pound test on 3000-size gear for bigger fish.

By Skye Burkhardt

To fish with the mullet, I just follow the pods, cast to the outside of the school and open the bail to let the bait swim. When you hit it right, you can hook-up on nearly every cast, with the species changing from one cast to the next. Big gamefish tend to seek out isolated or injured mullet, which is exactly what your bait is.

• ARTIFICIALS: This backcountry lady angler enjoys sight fishing and scouting Mosquito Lagoon and the marshes of the Tomoka Basin along Florida’s central Atlantic Coast. I’ll target bull reds in the inlets, but I spend most days targeting snook, tarpon and slot reds in the backcountry. This style of fishing is perfect for throwing artificials on light tackle.

This time of year, any artificial that resembles a mullet will do the trick. I like Vudu Mullet Swimbaits, Rapala X-raps, Bomber Lures Mullets,

Handling them with care and releasing them safely is important to the future of our fisheries. The statewide slot limit from 18 and 27 inches is intended to protect the large fish, which are part of the spawning stock.

Landing a bull red this time of the year is easy. With the mullet running, simply free-line a mullet or drop one on a weighted rig to land a trophy! Before you experience the drag-pulling run, you should know how to properly handle and release your fish.

It’s heartbreaking to see breeder fish floating due to carelessness or lack of knowledge. Hauling a big redfish up vertically onto a bridge or pier, dragging it over the rocks on a jetty or tossing it back from up high severely limits its chance of survival. Get a pier net to fish from a bridge or pier, and do everything in your power to ensure the healthy release of your fish.

• REDFISH REGULATIONS: Florida recently adopted new management plan for redfish. There are now varied regulations across nine different zones. Anglers need to understand those regulations because they’re intended to protect one of our iconic species in the face

Most of the state now has a one-fishper-person daily limit in the 18- to 27inch slot. Some regions have a two-fishper-vessel possession limit and others have a four-fish-per-vessel possession limit. The Indian River Lagoon region is strictly catch-and-release only for redfish. For complete Florida redfish regulations, go

Keep up with Skye Burkhardt on Facebook Inshore Adventures with Skye and on Instagram @brassyangler87.

BIG BOTTOM FISH ARE THE BOUNTY OF FALL

Ilove spring and summer fishing, but let me say this loud and clear: I live for fall and winter fisheries!

This is the time of year that can make even me look good. The large male gags have started staging up on nearshore structures, wrecks and traditional bait-holding bottom. The scamps and large snappers have started a transitional move to their deeper wintering grounds. Water temps will soon draw a line in the water that clearly shows you where to fish.

Ahhhh, yeah! This is the time of plenty. Now is the time of year to have a community-sized fish stew to clear out all the vacuum-sealed stuff in the freezer. You’ve got to make some room for freezer-stuffing grouper, snapper and seabass.

Starting this month, the larger gags will be so close in that it’ll shock you. Don’t run too far, or you’ll run over some of the biggest fish of the year. Go wherever you jig up your cigar minnows and sardines, and the gags will be right there. When you get a few baits in the well, it’s a good idea to have at least one person put a bait right back down.

After all, that is why the gags are there. They are eating the same baits that you’re catching. They come inshore to a place that holds bait, so all the smaller females have plenty to eat while they are discussing

the possibilities of spawning. The same places will hold large seabass, as well. I love to eat grouper, but the way I grouper fish also produces large seabass, which I think are even better than grouper in texture and flavor.

Scamps and snappers hold a special place in my heart. Starting right now, they should be going off! It’s time consuming to stop on the way out a jig up bait. However, a 15- or 20-minute bait stop could make the difference between a good day and a great day. When you find bait in numbers, it doesn’t take long to rack up. I like to keep a Sabiki angler on each side of the boat handing me baits to dehook into a bucket in the center of the boat. Once I get 20 or so baits in the bucket, I pour them into the livewell and repeat until there’s enough.

I also like to take pinfish from the marina as a “bird in hand” for bottom fishing. The beauty of putting a live sardine on a jig and sending it to the bottom is that EVERYTHING down there eats them. The beauty of sending a pinfish, grass grunt or sailors choice to the bottom is that everything down there would love to eat them, but can’t. They can’t get their mouths around the bigger baits, but the ones that can are the fish you want to catch. Go enjoy the bounty of the season!

For more information, go to Barefootcatsandtackle.com.

You raise the flags of the fish just caught to show you weren’t skunked.

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Tim Barefoot

THE LANGUAGE OF ANGLERS

By Nick Carter

Anglers have their own languages. We make up words or phrases to describe situations we frequently encounter on the water. Some of these phrases are quite amusing, and some are too colorful to be used in print. Like regional dialects, they vary from location to location and even from boat to boat. Without further ado, here are some of our favorite angler idioms.

• Bucket Sitter: Sometimes derogatory term for someone who shes bait from the shore. “Look at those bucket sitters over there sitting on their buckets and drowning worms.”

• Bait Chucker: Always derogatory term used by y shers to describe any other type of angler. “I think that bait chucker was jealous of my tweed cap.”

• Mud Dart: A bill sh that dies when released and sinks nose down,

presumably to stick in the mud on the bottom of the ocean. “Keep hauling sail sh in the boat for photos, and you’re going to keep throwing back mud darts. ”

• Damn Carp: A sh caught by an angler that is any species other than the intended target. “I thought it was a big largemouth, but it’s just a damn carp.”

Reef Donkey: Derogatory term for greater amberjack. “We were dri ing baits for kings, but all we caught were reef donkeys.”

Dink: Synonymous with peckerhead, a dink is a very small sh. “Look at this dink. It’s smaller than the plug it ate.”

Yahoo: Refers to anyone on the water other than the anglers in the group using the term. “We went to our honeyhole, but there were a bunch of yahoos already in it.”

Pellet Pig: Derogatory term for sh that reach large size because of a feeding program. “ at yahoo thought he caught a trophy, but those pellet pigs are trained to eat hooks.”

Dreaded Frustrations: e downward spiral of being so ustered by your poor angling performance that you seemingly can’t do anything correctly. “I was slaying them until I hung my lure on the bottom. en I broke my rod tip trying to get it loose and the dreaded frustrations set in. I couldn’t do anything right the rest of the day.”

Easy Release: A sh that shakes the hook right at the boat. Counts as half a sh in informal shing competition. “Oh, well. Easy release. It was a little peckerhead, anyway.”

Leroy Jenkins: Derived from an Internet video game meme, this exclamation is used in kayak shing when you race ahead of your shing buddies to be the rst one on the water. “Y’all can keep mucking around on the boat ramp. I’m going shing! Leeeroooy Jenkiiins!”

Bank of Despair: e opposite of honeyhole, this is an area known for not producing sh. “Man, I wasted three hours over there pounding away on the bank of despair.”

Share your favorite angler idioms with us on our Facebook page: Coastal Angler & e Angler Magazine.

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Throw Topwater

BANANA RIVER REDS

IMAGE COURTESY OF STEPHEN DOUGHERTY

track a topwater lure and overtake the o ering a er several failed attempts.

Anglers imparting the appropriate snap of the rod tip can mimic distressed bait sh on the surface, but it’s important to choose a lure with proper action for the conditions. When the Banana River becomes moderately choppy, loud topwater lures draw in predators. On calm days, it is better to sh a quieter walking lure.

“We can sight during all hours of the day and in all weather conditions, but since red sh are focused on feeding early and late in the day this is when you will encounter the most cooperative topwater bite. With overcast conditions the topwater shing can stay strong throughout the day,” said Le.

Over

a lifetime, red sh might feed along shallow estuarine waters, brackish creeks, grass ats, mangroves, oyster beds, bridges, inlet jetties and beaches from Texas to the Chesapeake Bay. ey know no boundaries and are not particular about water depth or clarity if forage is present. Yet, red drum in Florida’s Banana River don’t ever leave.

e 31-mile-long Banana River is an isolated lagoon. Here, marsh and mangrove ecosystems ourish in a complex landscape where there is uniquely no tidal ow. ere are no freshwater tributaries, no saltwater inlets, and the only outlet to the Atlantic Ocean is through a lock at Port Canaveral.

A Cocoa Beach local who has been guiding

the Indian River Lagoon for years, G. Loomis ambassador Capt. Willy Le can’t help but reminisce of the days when the Banana River was brimming with seagrass.

“ is at right here was so lush, the grass was thick as could be. But with water quality issues fueling massive seagrass die-o s, miles of underwater vegetation have been reduced to barren sand ats. ere are still giant red sh, though they’ve changed behavior and where they would once tail and search out the sea oor, they now just cruise around looking for bait sh,” re ected Le.

With a blunt snout and downturned mouth, red sh are designed for rooting. ey aren’t wellequipped for attacking prey on the surface, but they certainly display thrilling surface strikes as they

Shimano’s Current Sniper topwater baits o er anglers a lure for every scenario. e Current Sniper Walk 110F Silent is a walking bait that lacks internal rattles and excels in calm conditions. e Current Sniper Walk Hi-Pitch emits a high-pitch rattle for rougher water.

Le shes topwaters with a size 4000 Stradic CI4+ with a 7’6” G. Loomis GCX Inshore spinning rod with medium power and extra fast action. is set-up casts heavy topwater lures well and o ers excellent control for walking the dog.

Since these reds aren’t tailing, spotting them means you’re looking for wakes. Mature red sh push wider wakes at a steady pace in a straight line. Mullet make those darting V-shaped wakes.

Once a red sh is spotted, it’s important to be patient and accurate. Nothing will spook a red sh faster than an improperly placed bait falling from the sky.

Visit coastalanglermag.com for more.

Tommy

Nolan W. chose the surgical

LURES

LONG-CASTING LURES IN THE WIND

Overthe past few months, we’ve discussed almost everything concerning long-distance lures. We’ve touched on elements an angler can control such as lure choice and the proper rod, reel and line con guration. Now I want to discuss the uncontrollable elements of weather and water conditions. ey play a big role in how far you are able to cast and how e ectively you can sh a lure.

If the wind is full force into your face, this adds drag on the lure and line during a cast. A high-density lure cuts through wind more e ciently than a oating lure. Everyone loves shing topwaters, but in windy conditions they are not the best choice. A denser lure always casts farther than a oating lure.

Typically, a long-distance model weighs 30 to 100 percent more than a oating one of similar dimensions. If a oating lure weighs 2 ounces, a similar sized distance-dedicated lure will weigh 3 to 4 ounces. at’s really a big deal, especially in wind.

When you’re casting into the wind, you should also adjust the way you cast. In long-casting lingo, I use the term “banner” to refer to the section of line between the rod tip and the lure. You should limit the banner when you’re shing in wind. Instead of using an overhand cast, try a sidearm cast, which limits the lure’s exposure to the wind.

On a beach, with the lure on the sand, allow a banner of 50 to 70 percent of the rod’s length. is shorter banner limits the size of the belly in the line when you cast. e larger the line belly is, the more casting energy is taken from the lure’s ight, resulting in reduced distance.

A long banner also reduces your control of the lure once it hits the water. A line belly in the water pulls your lure sideways on retrieve. You also won’t be in direct contact with the lure. is a ects the

lure’s action, and you might also miss bites.

Water conditions are another factor worth consideration. Big waves, whitewater and strong currents limit your control. ese conditions are also o en the best conditions for sh to bite. When you cast, engage the reel before the lure hits the water and reel up slack. is gives you a straighter line for better control of the lure, better swimming action and more direct contact with the lure. When you can feel the lure, you can feel the bite and ultimately increase your hook-setting ratio.

Again, we all love to sh topwater, but distance-dedicated lures are in many cases the better option. In windy conditions with breaking waves and ripping currents, I de nitely prefer a 3-ounce plug or a 4-ounce darter over a topwater, which weighs half as much. Give it an honest try. I’m sure you’ll be convinced that distance lures are superior to lighter models of similar dimensions in many situations.

Legendary angler Patrick Sebile is a world record holder and an award-winning designer of innovative lures and shing gear. Check out his creations at abandofanglers.com.

PATRICK SEBILE

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CATCHING BLACKTIPS from the Beach

By Emily Rose Hanzlik

During the mullet run on Florida’s east coast, plenty of blacktip sharks cruise past our beaches with huge schools of bait. Even if you plan to sh for blacktips outside of mullet-run season, you are still in luck. Finding a blacktip shark de nitely isn’t an issue due to a large and growing population of these big sharks.

Blacktip sharks can be found year-round in the Atlantic from Virginia through Florida. ey have been known to migrate up to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. ough they do prefer more tropical temperatures, a little cold won’t deter them from their mission. Blacktips are de nitely not picky when it comes to hunting grounds. ey can be found in bays, estuaries, coral reefs and mouths of rivers.

Before blacktips begin migrating for the mating season, they will actually be in gendersegregated schools that come together only for mating. Blacktips tend to be separated due to the male’s highly aggressive drive towards the females, which could result in serious injury.

Normally, blacktips leave Florida in the

spring to travel up the coast to Georgia and the Carolinas to mate in summer. Blacktips participate in internal fertilization, meaning that each female is separately impregnated, which will then result in 4 to 11 pups every two years.

ese sharks are viviparous, meaning the pups develop inside the female’s body, unlike other sharks that lay egg sacks. Most pups will be le in shallow nurseries due to the high amount of prey and few predators, which increases their chances of survival.

Fishing for blacktip sharks is fairly easy; however, there are days when they can be nicky. Paying attention to speci cs can increase your number of bites. On clear-water days, sharks tend to stay just on the backside of the last sandbar. On milky water days, they can literally be at your feet as they patrol up and down the rst drop.

ey de nitely will eat dead bait, but will hit live and fresh-dead bait without hesitation.

e most productive way to catch blacktips is to use a 6- to 8-inch chunk of whatever fresh sh you have. Toss it out without a weight. If you are

shing in strong current, simply walk down the beach as the bait dri s. On days when they are hanging out too far for casting, swim a live bait out. Blue runners, jack crevalle and palometa work well for this.

On slow days when the bite is dead and you’re catching nothing but cat sh, swim one out or cut into chunks. If there are any blacktips around, they will eat it. A lot of anglers use huge hooks and long wire leaders, which will require you to get a shore-based shark shing permit to legally sh for sharks in Florida.

I personally use a 5/0 extra strong circle hook with 2 feet of wire leader attached to 5 feet of 80-lb. test. e largest IGFA recorded blacktip shark weighed in at 270 pounds, 9 ounces. It was caught out of Malindi Bay, Kenya in 1984.

Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 51 IGFA world records in various categories. She hails from West Palm Beach, where she has a part time Bow n Guide Service as well as shing classes for Jr. Anglers. Find her on Social Media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.

Photo courtesy of Je Tomalo

Exotic Species in Your Backyard:

Blue Tilapia

By Rex Hannon

Tilapia… blue tilapia, to be exact, are one of more than a hundred species of cichlid native to the Middle East and Africa that are all called tilapia. is is similar to the way U.S. anglers refer to multiple species of sun sh as bream.

e blue tilapia (Oreochromis aureus) is the most popular of the tilapia and the species most commonly found here in Florida. It is also a very important species in the sh-farming world due to its fast growth, salinity tolerance and the fact that it can be stocked densely. Tilapia have a long history. Farming of Nile tilapia goes back to ancient Egypt, and its importance is noted by the ancients using the sh as a symbol of rebirth.

e Blue Tilapia is considered invasive to the United States. It was introduced to Florida in the 1960s by stocking and experimental studies by both private and state entities. Tilapia are here to stay and can be found in a wide variety of locations, from lakes and ponds scattered around the state to many freshwater and brackish rivers and streams. For anglers, canals found in almost every neighborhood can be shing paradise.

is species is very fast growing for the rst few months, and then they settle in and grow to the 5-pound class by three to ve years of age. e Florida state record was caught by Pamela Henry, of Stuart, from of a dock on the St. Lucie River in 2011. e 9-pound, 6-ounce beast is also recognized by the IGFA as the all-tackle world record.

Tilapia can be nicky eaters, which poses a puzzle for anglers. eir diet consists mainly of green algae, diatoms and small invertebrates. I have witnessed other anglers catching this species on corn, dog food, hot dogs and bread balls. I have caught good numbers and some very large examples with a y rod. I caught most of these sh on Clouser Minnows and other similar small bait sh patterns.

I’m sure everyone reading this can target blue tilapia within a short distance of home. ey are great ghters that stand toe-to-toe with any species of similar size.

Fwaters o Key West to the many famous bass shermen that made Lake Okeechobee a destination for anglers from around the world, Florida has a rich angling history and amazing shing for everyone.

Perhaps a lesser-known draw to the Sunshine State are the exotic species that have taken hold here. ese are the non-native, sometimes invasive species that would otherwise require expensive travel for anglers to target.

ey are here, so we might as well sh for them.

ere is no minimum size or bag limit for tilapia. e FWC encourages anglers to catch and eat them like any other invasive species. e white akey meat is mild, and wild-caught tilapia are superior to the farm-raised tilapia sold in grocery stores.

Rex Hannon is a regular contributor to Coastal Angler Magazine. See more from Rex at coastalanglermag.com.

Surf fiShing with Smitty

Fishing Forecast

mike smith with

Smitty's Surf Fishing • www.smittyssurffishing.com

FB: @SmittysSurfFishing • IN: @smittys_surf_fishing

craze yet, I highly recommend you pick up a super ultra-light rod and reel combo to target these fish. Trust me, there is nothing more exciting than drag-screaming action on one of these combos. Try it once, and you’ll be hooked (pun intended).

October

has to be, hands down, my favorite month for fishing the panhandle. Water temps are coming down, days are getting cooler, and the fish are becoming more active. Not to mention the beaches are becoming less crowded now that the summer rush is winding down. October also brings several fishing tournaments to our area. Probably the two most popular are the Destin Fishing Rodeo, which runs the whole month of October, and the Navarre Beach Fishing Rodeo, which will be held on October 1st - 2nd this year. We will also see the return of the Goodbye Pompano Fall Blast, October 13th - 15th, with weigh-in being held at Lost Key Bait and Tackle in Perdido Key, Florida. This surf fishing tournament spans from Panama City, Florida to Orange Beach, Alabama.

As I mentioned, fish are becoming more active in the surf. Whiting will be an easy target if you downsize your rigs. I like to tie up 10-lb single drop rigs using a size four circle hook or even small sabiki hooks. Small round floats work best; when I say small, I’m talking size 0; the smallest you can find, the better. Using small pieces of shrimp will do the ticket and look no more than 10 yards from the shore. These tasty fish will hang out in deep pockets beyond the breaking waves. If you haven’t jumped on the “runt” rod

There will also be a good number of pompano in the area. The start of the fall run should coincide with the first full moon in October. These migrating fish should be easier to catch than our residential fish that have seen every bait imaginable throughout the summer. Tie up your favorite double drop rig and bait up with any synthetic bait on the market, and you’re sure to get a limit in no time. Don’t forget about our tip from last month. Using a shock leader will increase your chances of catching a monster fish.

October is also an excellent month for shark fishing along the beach. However, ensure you take the FREE shark fishing course required by the Florida Wildlife Commission if you target sharks from the beach. It covers harvestable and prohibited species, specific gear needed, and ethical practices when targeting sharks. Those whiting you’ll be catching up close make GREAT bait for those four-six-foot sharks hanging in the trough between the sandbars. We’ll discuss this next month, along with bull redfish showing up in November.

October is my favorite month for fishing along the Gulf Coast, lots of fishing and tournament action in the area to explore. As I always say, get out there and explore, don’t be afraid to stray from your standard tactics; you never know what you may catch! Until next month folks, may your lines be tight and coolers be full.

Add Water

Capt. Conner Cline

Santa Rosa Beach, Fl

850-533-9463

Facebook: @get.hooked.charters01

is pumpkin season! Look for the busting bull reds chasing bait on the surface. We like to throw Casting spoons, plugs and gotcha jigs. Early in the morning and late afternoons you can find reds and specks in the grass flats. Hog Town Bayou is a good spot for AM and PM fishing. Hit deep docks and bridges in the middle of the day. You can find plenty of bait on the surface throughout the bay. The menhaden works great for all kinds of fish in the bay. Quarter blue crabs work best for black drums, mostly found around deep docks and bridges. Jack crevalle will be hanging around the bait balls with the bull reds. Flounder will start moving their way into the bay soon, the harbor is a great spot to target them. They like to feed on Gulp and DOA shrimp.

October

Mon

6:40 6:29

5 Wed 6:57 0.9 5:51 0.0 6:40 6:27

6 Thu 8:15 0.9 6:20 0.1 6:41 6:26

0.0 6:32

8:19 0.0 6:32

Tue 7:05

7 Fri 9:33 0.8 6:30 0.2 6:42 6:25

9:30 0.0 6:33

Wed 8:29

8 Sat 1:45 0.4 11:03A 0.6 11:25 0.5 3:03 0.3 6:05 0.3 6:42

Thu 9:55

Fri 11:11

10:28 0.0 6:33

9 Sun 1:21P 0.5 10:54 0.6 6:02 0.2 4:28 0.3 6:43 6:23

11:12 0.0 6:34

Sat 12:17 1.0 11:42 0.1 6:34

10 Mon 10:57 0.8 7:28 0.1 6:43 6:22

Sun 1:16

0.0 6:27 7:09 6:27 7:08 6:28 7:07 6:28 7:06 6:29 7:05

Mon 2:15

11:55 0.2 6:35

11:41 0.2 6:35

11 Tue 11:17 0.9 8:34 0.1 6:44 6:20

10:56

Tue

11:50A 0.2 11:10 0.3 6:29

Wed

12 Wed 11:45 0.9 9:32 0.1 6:45 6:19

12:58

Thu

1:45 0.2 6:30 7:02

6:36

6:37

6:37

Fri

Sat

3:29 0.1 6:31 7:01

2:03

Thu 10:34 0.0 6:45 6:18

3:07

Fri 12:21 0.9 11:46 0.0 6:46 6:17

Sun

5:13 0.1 6:31 7:00 6:52 0.0 6:32 6:58

Sat 1:06 0.9 1:08 0.0 6:47 6:16

Sun 2:00 0.9 2:22 0.0 6:47 6:15

6:38

6:38

6:39

Mon 3:02

Tue 4:08

3:19 0.0 6:48 6:14

3:59 0.0 6:49 6:13

Wed 5:14 0.8 4:27 0.1 6:49 6:12

Thu 6:20 0.7 4:43 0.1 6:50 6:11

Fri 7:36

8:19 0.0 6:32 6:57 9:30 0.0 6:33 6:56 10:28 0.0 6:33 6:54 11:12 0.0 6:34 6:53 11:42 0.1 6:34 6:52

Sat 1:11

11:55 0.2 6:35 6:51 11:41 0.2 6:35 6:49

10:56 0.3 6:36 6:48

9:18 0.3 6:37 6:47

12:58 0.2 6:37 6:46

2:03 0.2 6:38 6:44

3:07 0.1 6:38 6:43

4:19 0.1 6:39 6:42 5:43 0.1 6:39 6:41 7:04 0.1 6:40 6:39 Provided

4:49 0.2 6:51 6:09

Formany, October means cooler weather, hayrides, pumpkin patches, and trick-or-treating. However, for the Destin charter boat industry and all who make their living along the Harbor; October means the Destin Fishing Rodeo, jacks season is in full swing, and a bright light emerging at the end of a hot and humid tunnel. This “light” is a beam of hope for a season of rest that is upon the horizon after a long, grueling summer.

With that being said, as the wife of a full-time charter boat captain, I don’t believe there is anyone happier that October is upon us than a captain’s wife. Why, may you ask? For starters, most charter boat wives answer all the calls, emails, and texts for the business. We oversee payroll and constantly striving for impeccable customer service on the phone (even with a screaming toddler in the background). Most husbands are offshore from sunup to sundown with limited cell phone service so it is up to the wife to keep the business and household running without a hitch. It is also tough and extremely stressful to make your living for the year in 8 months. This small window of “money making time” causes captains to miss ball games, date nights, dance recitals, first steps, family dinners, and bedtime prayers.

Don’t get me wrong, being a charter boat wife is awesome! It is so nice to have your husband home during the off season, and it is a pretty glamorous life to be able to hop on a boat in Destin, FL just about any time you want. Taking the kids down to the docks at sunset and watching the weigh-ins at AJ’s is something we will never take for granted. Looking at all the fish boards and trying to find “daddy’s boat” as the fleet comes through the Pass are memories that we will hold onto for a lifetime.

So, yes, bring on October! Not only for the always wonderful Destin Fishing Rodeo, less crowds, beautiful weather, and variety of species open to target, but also for the “second wind” that occurs for everyone working on the water. And when you call to book a charter this month, if the girl on the other end of the line seems extra “perky,” you’ll know why!

www.USHarbors.com

Pensacola, FL

Oct 2022

Date High Low AM ft PM ft AM ft PM ft Rise Set Moon

1 Sat 2:09 1.9 2:02 0.1 6:41 6:35

2 Sun 3:18 2.0 3:34 0.0 6:41 6:34

3 Mon 4:40 2.0 4:46 -0.1 6:42 6:33

4 Tue 6:06 2.0 5:42 -0.1 6:43 6:31

5 Wed 7:30 1.9 6:25 0.0 6:43 6:30

6 Thu 8:48 1.8 6:54 0.3 6:44 6:29

7 Fri 10:06 1.5 7:04 0.5 6:44 6:28

8 Sat 11:36 1.3 11:58 1.0 6:39 0.8 6:45 6:27

9 Sun 1:54P 1.1 11:27 1.3 6:36 0.7 5:02 1.0 6:46 6:25

6:28

6:28

6:29 7:05

11:10 0.3 6:29

6:30 7:02

Sat 4:18 0.9 3:29 0.1 6:31 7:01

Sun 4:57 1.0 5:13 0.1 6:31 7:00

10 Mon 11:30 1.6 8:02 0.4 6:46 6:24

Mon 5:53 1.0 6:52 0.0 6:32 6:58

11 Tue 11:50 1.7 9:08 0.3 6:47 6:23

14 Tue 7:05 1.1 8:19 0.0 6:32 6:57

12 Wed 10:06 0.2 6:48 6:22

Wed 8:29 1.1 9:30 0.0 6:33 6:56

13 Thu 12:18 1.8 11:08 0.1 6:48 6:21

Thu 9:55 1.1 10:28 0.0 6:33 6:54

Fri 11:11

14 Fri 12:54 1.8 12:20 0.1 6:49 6:20

Sat 12:17

11:12 0.0 6:34 6:53

11:42 0.1 6:34 6:52

15 Sat 1:39 1.8 1:42 0.1 6:50 6:19

Sun 1:16

11:55 0.2 6:35 6:51

16 Sun 2:33 1.8 2:56 0.1 6:50 6:18

Mon 2:15

11:41 0.2 6:35 6:49

17 Mon 3:35 1.7 3:53 0.1 6:51 6:16

Tue 4:27

Wed 3:26

3:26

5:21

9:30 0.3 10:56 0.3 6:36 6:48

18 Tue 4:41 1.7 4:33 0.1 6:52 6:15

Thu

6:37 6:47

6:37 6:46

19 Wed 5:47 1.6 5:01 0.2 6:52 6:14

Fri

3:29

7:02

Thu 6:53 1.5 5:17 0.3 6:53 6:13

Sat

6:31

Fri 8:09 1.3 5:23 0.5 6:54 6:12

Sun

Sat 9:44 1.1 11:38 1.0 5:11 0.7 6:54 6:11

Mon

Tue

Sun 11:51 1.0 10:53 1.2 5:48

Mon 10:41 1.4 6:54

Tue

0.1 6:38 6:43

4:19 0.1 6:39 6:42

0.1 6:39 6:41

7:04 0.1 6:40 6:39

4:26 0.9 6:55 6:10

6:56 6:09

6:38 6:44

6:38 6:43

6:39 6:42

Hello

fellow anglers!  This is Capt. Brett Tennant from Bout Time Charters here to give you the low down on what’s biting in October!  October is straight fire when it comes to fishing!  The inshore bite is as good as it can get!  Around and above 3-mile bridge the Sheepshead will start showing up and the bite will get better as it gets cooler.  They can be caught with small hooks using shrimp or fiddler crabs. The Trout and Redfish will be biting good on flats or near any structure because the water will be cooling down. Spanish Mackerel and King Mackerel will still be around the bay as well.  Offshore the bite is usually really good this time of year. Scamp Grouper should be good this month with live cigar minnows or small hardtails.  Triggerfish and Vermillion Snapper will be on live bottom and wrecks and squid should get the job done.  Amberjack is open and they can be found on most wrecks using big live baits and heavy line!  As of now Red Snapper will be open on the weekends in Gulf State Water!  Hopefully this gives you guys the input you need to get some extra fish in the box this month!  Tight Lines my friends!

We are open

Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The importance of electrical connectors for your time on the water is very important. Having proper heat shrink connectors ensures all of your main components are in working order. Electrical wire and connectors for marine applications is a must….house wiring connectors are not. We see lots of house wiring nuts, which will not seal. Heat shrink connectors in the proper coloring wiring for your components allow easy diagnosis of electrical problems… this will save you time and money. Heat shrink connectors creates a proper seal, which keeps water intrusion out of the electrical system.

Marine electrical wiring systems are color coded to help you keep your console organized and easily identify each components when a problem arises. There are wiring charts on the internet to help you with your selection. For example, bilge pumps are brown and black, lights are gray and black, etc. We have many boats that come with the same colored wire for all components, which costs the customer lots of labor costs due to trying to diagnose the problem. Marine grade wire is tin copper to help prevent corrosion.

Fishing Forecast

t. m At t mi LL e R with EmeraldCoasting

Cat C h withby

C AP t. si N e L s ON

September was a great month for fishing, the weather was beautiful, and it finally stopped raining every day!!! The sea conditions were perfect most of the month. Amberjack and trigger fish were our target fish. We have been catching AJs on jigs, and live bait. Carolina rigs with a 6-10 oz lead (depending on depth and current), with a 50-100lb leader and 7/0-12/0 hook (depending on the size of the live baits). As far as the jigs go, 80g-250g with a windon leader 80-130lb. We like many different types of jigs for jacks, but my favorite is the Nomad Streakers. They are long and slender and for some reason the jacks love any type of long jigs. Nomad jigs are tough, built with a true thru wire so they don’t break or bend like a lot of other jigs do, and they come in all types of cool colors. They are affordable as well, ranging from 9.99$-15.99$. I shop at Outcast Bait and Tackle in Pensacola for them. Another cool technique for jacks we like is live chumming to get them up on the surface. Nomad “Chug Norris” poppers are my next go to. I usually stick with a 3.5” size up to an 8” plug. They come with strong hooks which is a big deal when fishing for these jacks on top over sometimes shallow wrecks. I suggest using your heaviest spinning gear when trying to catch these guys on top water. If they take you down in the wreck you lose your fish, your plug, and most likely a good bit of line! Braid is a must because you want a small diameter line with no stretch so you can cast far when needed. I personally use a 7’6 OTI (Ocean Tackle International) 40lb-60lb class popping rod paired with a Shimano Stella 18k that is spooled with 65-80lb braid, 18-20” of 130lb Yozuri Disappearing Pink leader, with a 150lb Ball bearing swivel. It’s so fun watching them fly out of the water trying to eat your popper! As for the triggers it’s pretty basic. We use 2 hook style rigs, 40-60lb leader with fresh cut squid. We target them over natural bottom and various wrecks. The inshore fishing has gotten a lot better with the water temp cooling off. The bull reds and jack crevalles have been terrorizing the pass. Drifting live baits over the deep spots of the pass and sometimes watching them come up to the surface chasing bait balls can bring success. We’ve gotten them on top water using bucktail jigs as well. Shark fishing continues to be great in the bay, nearshore and offshore. The blue marlin tournament season is ending, but the fishing out at the oil rigs continues to be great, with many sportfish boats tagging and releasing multiple blue/white marlin. They are catching them by trolling plugs & ballyhoos under skirts, and live baiting with small tuna/ bonitos for them as well. Occasionally a “Charlie“ size (150+ lb) yellowfin tuna will come eat your live bait or anything your trolling.

As always, tight lines & fair seas guys.

Thanks for Reading! That's all for this month guys, as always tight lines!

Mygrandfather has lived his whole life of nearly 90 years in the same relative area of the country, the mountains of West Virginia. With the exception of a few months spent in Korea and a couple vacations to Florida and Texas, he really hasn’t strayed far from him home turf. I suspect part of the reason for this is that he has always diligently kept a garden, as it is a celebrated tradition amongst West Virginians. He has long been financially stable and has years’ worth of vegetables canned and preserved. Thus, I’ve often wondered what purpose he has to yearly take on the strenuous task of tending such a colossal garden. Sure, it’s gotten smaller through the years, but nonetheless, he persists without fail. I then turn my thoughts to my own endeavors. I am by no means hard up for groceries, but when I’m not guiding customers, I spend my own time recreationally pursuing fish and game of all sorts. In mulling over these concepts, I stumbled upon an interesting conclusion. I believe that my grandfather and I, while pursuing two seemingly different pastimes are in pursuit of the same sort of thing. You see, perhaps he continues to work the land for nearly a century because he receives an assurance that all is right with the world once more. The same is true for me year after year. Seeing the seasons unfold and the plants run their course instills in him a deep feeling that the things that are beyond our control are still at even keel and all things beyond our purview are being cared for. It’s an eerie feeling for me when I go look for cobia in the Spring and hardly see any. It disturbs me deep inside my soul when turkeys don’t gobble well in the Spring, or ducks don’t migrate in large numbers come Winter. I start to wonder if we’ve gone too far as a species and finally taken too much. Has some secret government program detrimentally altered our environment and changed the landscape forever? The more inconsistent the migration and less frequent the encounters the more I begin to fret. I wonder if this is the trip around the sun where it all falls apart. I breathe a heavy sigh of relief when things finally start to click and perform as expected. So, I sit here counting my blessings as these days are getting shorter, and I’ve spent the past several hours catching scores of bull reds in the passes while listening to Major League Baseball playoffs on the radio. It’s hard to believe in moments like these that all is not right with the world.

IG: GulfCoastCapt • FB:Captain Si Nelson

Mon

St. Andrew Bay, Channel

Date High Low AM

PM

AM

PM

Set

1 Sat 12:30 2.0 12:12 0.1 6:35 6:29

2 Sun 1:39 2.0 1:44 0.0 6:35 6:28

3 Mon 3:01 2.0 2:56 -0.1 6:36 6:27

4 Tue 4:27 2.0 3:52 -0.1 6:37 6:26

5 Wed 5:51 2.0 4:35 0.0 6:37 6:24

6 Thu 7:09 1.8 5:04 0.3 6:38 6:23

7 Fri 8:27 1.6 5:14 0.6 6:38 6:22

8 Sat 9:57 1.3 10:19 1.1 4:49 0.9 6:39 6:21

10:28

11:12

Fri

9 Sun 12:15P 1.1 9:48 1.3 4:46 0.7 3:12 1.0 6:40 6:20

11:42

Sat

6:33 6:54

6:34 6:53

6:34 6:52

Sun

Mon

11:55

10 Mon 9:51 1.6 6:12 0.5 6:40 6:19

11:41

11 Tue 10:11 1.8 7:18 0.3 6:41 6:17

Tue

11:50A

12 Wed 10:39 1.9 8:16

1:45

5:13

Thu 11:15

9:18

Fri 10:30

Sat 12:00

Sun 12:54

Mon 1:56

Tue 3:02

11:52

1:06

2:03

2:43

9:30

10:56

6:41 6:16

6:42 6:15

6:43 6:14

6:43 6:13

6:44 6:12

6:45 6:11

6:45 6:10

6:35 6:51

6:35 6:49

6:36 6:48

Reel

Fishing Forecast

with

Folks

it’s that time of yearfrom fishing to hunting to good ole college football. Fall fishing is notorious for targeting multiple inshore species during the day.  October brings the cooler weather and the perfect water temperatures for stellar inshore fishing. The falling water temperatures mean the Trout & Redfish bite will heat up for certain with good numbers of pinfish back in the shallows. While the majority of the white shrimp have reached the back country waters of North Florida finding grass lines & muddy shorelines. The trout bite will last throughout the day with a little moving water and water temperatures in the 70’s with live bait. Everyone loves a good Trout bite under a popping cork (Monkey Bobber or Cajun Thunder) with a live Shrimp from your local bait store. Be sure to use the correct floro leader length placing the shrimp no farther than the tops of grass growing on the flats. This will allow the trout, redfish, and even flounder to hear the popping cork and see the falling flickering shrimp….and kabamm fish on! There are variations of this rig & bait that work extremely well depending on location…live Pinfish, Porgies, Shrimp, Baby Croakers on a #1 or #2 Circle Hook. Remember, more time on the water exploring different locations and even throwing a cast net will provide vast amounts of local area knowledge aiding a more successful rate of landing fish. Know your area better and hire local guides for new areas for them to share their experience. Now for all of you anglers loving some good ole lure throwing, there is a little more to selecting the right artificial bait. We always go to our faithful selection for Florida’s Gulf Coast…under fair weather conditions of course.  We begin first light with that topwater action near grass lines and oyster bars in 2 - 3 foot of water with mixed bottom. Our lure of choice in a Rapala 4” Skitterwalk with a little orange on throat/belly. Typically, original body colors like silver or gold always work very well in North Florida but occasionally in areas with clearer water try Mr. Pink or Chartreuse…bone crushing action on a good drift across the flats. Our other go to artificial lure is a spinner bait with paddle tails or swimbaits. The jig size will depend on your water depth and height of vegetation under the water. Typically, we range from 1/16oz to 1/4oz jighead with a #2 Hook. Again, color selection should start with the basics…match water color then switch as needed. During this time of the year, we use a watermelon or a translucent red plastic to start. When the bite slows down mid-morning, change up your lures to straight jigs and focus more on very specific tide changes at grass point and creek/river mouths with moving water. These locations will hold trout & reds as well but occasionally you find large numbers of Flounder laid up at these ambush points. Most importantly, when throwing these jigs be sure to retrieve “Slow N Low.” If you think you’re going slow enough-” Slow Down.” Even a nice little drag on sandy bottom with pause can work!

weather and hot fishing can be expected as the fall fishing pattern is in full swing. With a combination of ideal conditions and reduced pressure October can be considered the best fishing month of the year for both inshore and offshore anglers. Inshore, our focus remains trout and reds. The crowd favorite for reds continues to be top water plugs in early morning and late evenings. During the day or when the conditions allow sight fishing, the shallows can be very exciting and rewarding. Our go to tackle for sight fishing is light jigs with shrimp patterns, as well as other soft plastics such as paddle tails. The trout bite this month is red hot and they can be found in small schools along grass flats. We use the same tackle for trout and redfish. It’s always important to remember if you catch one trout in a spot there is most likely another fish to be caught in very close proximity. Offshore our focus turns back to the treasured red snapper for the select dates the season reopens. Amber Jack also are targeted this month and will be sure to test even the fittest of angler and toughest of gear. Once hooked its quickly learned how they earn their nick names “reef donkeys”. Amber jacks are targeted on tall structures in deeper waters. Our favorite tactic is the use of vertical jigs, but they find it hard to resist well-presented lives baits such as hardtails and grunts. Also offshore, the king bite is still consistent and an excellent choice for the smoker for those game day fish dips.

Crisper

BRAGBOARD

Provided by Justin ThomasShane Lees with a 8ft female bull shark tagged & released by Team Dorsal

Provided by Capt. Trevor with Hotspots Charters

Mary Lollie with her Port St. Joe catch

Weins with is Port St. Joe shark

caught on Charter Boat

AndAlusiA MArine’s

Believe it or not…….MAintenAnce MAtters!!

By Capt. Josh Anderson

Today’s four stroke outboard engines are more sophisticated and reliable than ever. With that sophistication comes some responsibility by the owner or operator to ensure that the engine is well serviced and fluids and filters are changed at regular intervals. Modern day, fuel injected four stroke outboards are chock full of sensors and alarms just like a vehicle and are very sensitive to neglect. Luckily, most of the routine maintenance involved with a fuel injected four stroke outboard is fairly simple! Following is a short breakdown of the most crucial maintenance items on today’s fuel injected four stroke outboard engines:

1.Engine Oil and Filter- Just like automobiles, engine oil and oil filters are the star of the show when it comes to routine maintenance. Most modern day outboards use oil weights similar to automobiles but with anti-corrosive and non-foaming additives. It is NOT advisable to simply use car engine oil from the parts store in an outboard. All outboard engine manufacturers have oil requirements that are above what is provided by car engine oil.

2.Spark Plugs - Probably the most overlooked maintenance item on outboard motors are spark plugs. Boat engines spend lots of time at idle speed. That low RPM operation is very rough on spark plugs and is well known to cause excessive carbon build up within the engine, leading to performance loss and mechanical issues. It is also more important on boat engines than vehicles to NOT cross spark plug manufacturers. Seek out the same brand of spark plug listed by the engine manufacturer as the preferred equipment.

3. Lower Unit Gear Oil - The lower unit of an outboard is where “the rubber meets the road” so to speak and maintaining it is critical to the lifespan of the motor. Almost all modern day four stroke outboards use an 80 or 90 weight lubricant. Changing of this gear lubricant should be done at the same interval as the engine oil. In addition, there are several seals at the propeller shaft that should be regularly examined for oil leakage.

4. Fuel Filters - No neglected maintenance item will bring a boating trip to a halt like the fuel system. Most every fuel injected four stroke outboard engine will have a fuel filter under the cowling that needs changing on a regular basis. In addition, many boats will have an external to the engine fuel water separating filter that is ordinarily located in the bilge area of the boat. Look to see if your boat has one of these and change on a routine basis if so.

Most outboard engine manufacturers suggest that the above mentioned items be addressed every 100 hours of engine operation OR once a year; whichever comes first. Resist the temptation to forgo the usual maintenance in years where you don’t use the boat very often. Our time on the water doesn’t come as often or for as long as any of us wish and a little bit of preventative maintenance can ensure that we have an enjoyable time when we do get to go!

The way we spend our time defines who we are.....

Let us help you get the perfect machine for your “ME” time.

Designed to work smarter than the competition, the 1 Series Compact Tractors maximize your yard without breaking the bank. From the comfort of your seat, you’ll appreciate big performance and convenient sizes.

e a ordable 1023E is easy to use and provides plenty of muscle for jobs around the yard.

From mowing and loading to tilling and digging, these compact tractors are built to make a long day of chores feel simple. When you turn the key of a John Deere 1 Series, you’ll quickly see why these tractors are the one.

TWO WORLD RECORD GROUPER Caught on the Same Trip!

oastal Angler Magazine contributor Ryan Izquierdo was on a really hot bite on April 28 while shing out of San Carlos in Sonora, Mexico. e boat he was on landed not one, but two IGFA all-tackle world records for star-studded grouper. With just a fraction of a kilogram separating the weights of the two sh, IGFA recently named them both a tie for the all-tackle world record.

Star-studded grouper are a species that inhabits the eastern Paci c Ocean from Southern California down to e previous all-tackle world record was a 31-pounder caught by Chris Wheaton out of Loreto, Mexico.

Izquierdo’s sh weighed 15.38 kilograms, which is 33 pounds, 14.5 ounces and some change. On the same trip, Robert Navarro boated another star-studded grouper that weighed 15.51 kilograms, or 34 pounds, 3 ounces and some change. Both sh will be recorded as all-tackle world records in the books.

Both sh were caught slow-pitch jigging with JYG Pro jigs.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RECORD FISH, VISIT IGFA.ORG.

Fis hing Fe v e r

To u r n a m e n t

Islamorada, FL

Ladies, fish Friday & Sunday, inshore or offshore, on charter boats or your own boat! Win prizes!

Perfect for beginners or those who don ’t fish a lot.

Full-day seminar on Saturday, inshore & offshore. We will team you with others. No experience or boat necessary!

Go fishing & win in the Florida Keys!

Charter fishing additional to registration.

FIN-NOR SUNGLASSES

One of the most iconic brands in the shing industry, Fin-Nor has announced that its premium angler-focused sunglasses are now available at premier retail locations throughout Florida.

Fin-Nor sunglasses are sold in 25 Florida-based retailers, spanning 22 di erent cities. Retailers include:

• Aqua East Surf Shop in Neptune Beach

• Strike Zone Fishing in Jacksonville and Melbourne

• Deep Six Dive Shop in Vero Beach and Stuart

• Salty Dog Surf Shop in Ormond Beach

• Captain Harry’s and Crook & Crook in Miami

• Lake and Trail in Okeechobee

• Outcast Bait and Tackle in Pensacola

• Sunglass World in Tallahassee, Destin, Pensacola, Panama City, Panama City Beach, Lutz and Daytona Beach

Earlier this year, Fin-Nor debuted 20 styles which are purpose-built for anglers and life on the water. Fin-Nor sunglasses are equipped with cuttingedge Lateral Line lens technology, which allows for maximum protection from the sun while giving anglers the best visibility into the depths. e lenses feature premium polarization and coatings on both sides that prevent smudges and scratches and provide optimal clarity. e frames are made from lightweight and durable materials.

Styles come in both glass and plastic lenses and feature two lens colors: gray and copper, and three mirror options: blue mirror, green mirror and silver mirror.

WWW.FIN NOR.COM

TEXAS ANGLER CATCHES STRIKING LEOPARD REDFISH

ed sh have black spots. Some of them have several black spots. is red sh caught on the Texas Gulf Coast had so many black spots that it doesn’t even look like a red sh.

e angler, Ryan Hernandez, caught his “leopard” red sh while shing with Capt. Danny Alvarez in the Upper Laguna Madre near Corpus Christi, Texas on Aug. 27. Hernandez said the sh had more than 300 spots per side.

Leopard red sh are rare, but they do show up from time to time. Fisheries biologists believe this rare color pattern is caused by both parents having a recessive pigmentation trait. e wild coloration leaves the o spring particularly susceptible to predation early in its life. Not only is it rare for a leopard red sh to be hatched, it’s rare for them to reach catchable size.

According to SaltWater Sportsman, Hernandez kept his leopard red sh to have it mounted. It’ll make a heck of a conversation piece. For more weird catches, go to coastalanglermag.com.

CATCH BIG SNOOK

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

When it comes to snook shing with lures, I typically see the same color patterns and lure styles displayed in the jaws of caught sh as the angler proudly presents their catch to the camera. I’d like to share some new colors and lures that I have found to be very e ective when targeting solid-lined trophies.

Let’s start with what you might already know. Feather jigs are popular among those who pursue line-siders. Some may tip their jig with a grub of some sort, while others take the simple approach of feathers, lead and a sharp hook. More o en than not, when I see these jigs pinned in the jaws of magni cent sh, the colors are typically white, red, chartreuse or a combination of all three. I don’t typically throw a feather jig, but when I do I prefer to tip it with a paddletail to give it extra vibration. Find one with a rattling tail, and you just increased your odds of hooking up!

Now for methods you may not have tried while targeting snook. Let’s visit our friends in the freshwater aisle and pull out an old favorite: the Rat-L-Trap! Pick up a few of these in chrome and blue, buy some stout saltwater-grade treble hooks, stainless steel split rings, and you’re set. ese noisy, rattling hard baits drive big snook crazy. I sh these on a fast and steady retrieve.

e simplicity, in itself, is enticing. Among the advantages are the castability of these lures, their bullet-proof construction, and best of all there is not much skill required in this tactic. Simply cast and reel at a fast pace and hold on tight. When a hungry, or mad snook nails a Trap as you burn it through salty water, they will try their best to take the lure and the rod from your hands. ere is nothing like a 40-inch snook hammering a fast-moving Rat-L-Trap!

My other tip involves a color I haven’t seen pictured with many, if any, snook other than those anglers in my circle. e color is in the orange family with gold glitter and a chartreuse tail. is little gem has produced numerous snook over the years. I sh this color in a 5-inch paddletail lure, typically on a heavier jighead. I like a heavy head because I burn these swimbaits through the water.

Here’s my disclaimer: I invented Knockin Tail Lures. e paddletail I use for snook is the Knockin Tail Lure in the Halloween is lure, like the Rat-L-Trap, has a built-in rattle. Trust me,

I hope this new look at snook shing helps you catch your next e theme here is sound attracts sh. So, tie on some noisy lures and get hooked up!

Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin’ Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

Photo courtesy of Knockin Tail Lures

STONE CRAB HARVEST

OPENS OCTOBER 15

Recreational

stone crab

season opens Oct. 15 and runs through May 1. e minimum claw size is 2 7/8 inches, and recreational harvesters may take a daily bag limit of 1 gallon of claws per person or 2 gallons of claws per vessel, whichever is less.

Trapping is the most e cient method of collecting the legal limit. Each harvester is allowed ve traps. ey may be baited and placed in the water as early as Oct. 5, but traps may not be pulled and claws may not be harvested until the Oct. 15 season opener.

Recreational harvesters age 16 and older who plan to use traps are required to complete an annual no-cost trap registration at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. rough this process, they will obtain trap registration numbers that must be included on each trap along with the owners name and address.

Diving and snorkeling for stone crabs is also popular. Look for crushed shells in front of holes in the rocks or reef where a stone crab has been feeding. Use a tickle stick with angle of less than 90 degrees to pull them out of the hole and grab them by the claws with gloved hands.

Whether diving or trapping, it is illegal to harvest claws from eggbearing females. It is permitted to take both claws if they are of legal length, but most people choose to take just one so the crab is le with something to feed and defend itself with.

For more information, go to myfwc.com.

Congratulations

to Sam Winton of omasville, Ga. for winning

a Suzuki DF2.5 Portable Outboard Motor from Coastal Angler Magazine and Suzuki Marine. Winton picked up his prize on Labor Day Weekend from Southeastern Marine and Repair in Douglas, Ga. When Winton arrived at the dealership, Kevin Stone presented Winton with a huge winning check and his outboard.

When Sam returned home he used his new outboard right away and was pleasantly surprised by how well it worked with his boat.

ank you to over 10,000 people who entered the contest. We've got some more great prizes every month on CoastalAnglerMag.com, so please keep checking back for more!

To enter in our monthly drawing visit CoastalAnglerMag.com/Contest

Watch the world wake up

Like fishing, hunting is for early risers — those who find contentment and peace in getting out into nature early. But that’s not all you’ll find in wild Florida. From the Panhandle to the Everglades, we have some of the most accessible and affordable public hunting lands in the country. Six million bountiful and beautiful acres are closer than you think. So if you’re already an early riser, rise to the exciting challenge of hunting today.

CONSERVING

If you’re anything like my dad, you give your family everything. Your name, your time, your values — the people in your life know they can depend on you for practically anything. In exchange for imparting all of this energy and experience, you expect nothing in return.

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Act quickly! is one-of-a-kind watch has been one of our fastest sellers this year. Of our original run of 2,872, we only have 389 left for this ad! In the last couple of years there’s been a watch shortage, but Stauer has got you covered. If you’re the kind of man who gives everything and expects nothing in return, it’s time to treat yourself.

Here’s a memorable beach moment: You’re basking in the warm sun, toes in the sand, letting the gentle turn of the foam-capped waves lull you into a state of complete relaxation. As your eyes scan the endless horizon of blue on blue, you’re rewarded with a school of dolphins making their way across the sea. There’s no denying their signature shape as they leap from the water. If you don’t see anything else extraordinary the rest of the day, you can take solace knowing you’ve witnessed one of nature’s most playful and intelligent creatures in their natural habitat.

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Catch Amazing Action on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula

laska’s Kenai Peninsula is a world-renowned fishery, known for all of its salmon runs, of which the Kenai River king salmon run is the most famous. The saltwater fishing out of Homer, Deep Creek and Seward are also amazing. I’ve been to Alaska fishing several times, and this year I fished the fresh and the salt with five friends who were all on their first trip. Here’s a quick look at what we did in freshwater. I’ll write about our saltwater adventures in the future.

Second only to the Kenai’s fishing is the scenery. There is a majestic feel to this area. The views are beautiful, there is amazing wildlife and tons of stuff to see. We saw it all as we drove all over the place chasing fish.

Our lodging was in Soldotna, near the mouth of the Kenai River on Cook Inlet. That’s where we fished the Kenai River for red (sockeye) salmon. The famous king salmon season closed before we arrived this year, or we would have been fishing for them. We “flossed” for reds, which is a technique used in rivers to catch salmon that are more interested in their spawning run than they are in feeding. Basically, you use a weighted leader. As pods of fish swim upstream, the line threads an open mouth and you snag the fish when the hook pulls tight. This was combat-style fishing. We stood a rod’s length from other anglers, and it was mayhem when someone hooked up.

We also fished from a boat on the Kenai River, where anchored to deploy small Kwikfish. These lures settle into the current near the bottom and vibrate. Fish swimming upstream see them and attack. Unlike the red salmon, which aren’t interested in eating, the pink (humpback) and silver (coho) salmon jumped all over this setup.

Twice, we traveled northeast by van to Hope, Alaska, where we fished for pinks in Resurrection Creek. They were so thick that we stayed busy catching and releasing them after we all caught our limits. On our second trip to Resurrection, we went in search of silvers but they had not arrived yet, so we caught pinks

By Gary Turner

again. It was so fun!

We also ventured south from Soldotna to the Kasilof River and caught salmon and trout. We crossed the peninsula to Seward and fished the Resurrection River for silvers, pinks and dog (chum) salmon. The river was full of fish, so we fished until it was too dark to see the bears and called it a day at midnight.

Last, but not least, we fished Skilak Lake, which feeds the Kenai River from the center of the peninsula. This was my favorite place to fish. It is as beautiful as it is full of fish. We stayed 18 days in Alaska and spent our 17th on Skilak, where we slayed the fish. We landed and released more than 100 reds, silvers and trout that day! It was a great note to end our trip.

If you ever get the chance to fish the Kenai Peninsula, you will love it. Get a group of friends, do some research and go. Fish with a guide or on your own. There are so many options and so many fish that it’s hard not to have an amazing adventure.

Gary Turner is a long-time contributor to The Angler Magazine. Contact him at gary@purgeright.com.

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Aggressive Tactics

By Nick Carter

advertise their suitability as mates. The big boys spar with each other for the opportunity to fertilize eggs. They become ornery, and are cocked to lash out at anything that catches their eye.

The timing is different on every piece of water, but October is thought to be the peak of pre-spawn behavior for most streams and rivers. Since big browns are more aggressive than they are at any other time of year, anglers who target them should fish aggressively.

Alex McCrickard has a go-big or go-home attitude when it comes to fall browns. He’s a former fly fishing guide and the current aquatic education coordinator for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. As the days grow shorter, McCrickard breaks out his heavy 6- and 7-weight rods to sling big streamers.

On smaller streams, he’ll fish floating line with a 9-foot leader that tapers down to no lighter than 2x tippet. The long leader allows a weighted streamer to get down in the water column, and 2x has a breaking strength of about 10 pounds. It’s more than enough to handle the 14- to 20-inchers you might encounter in a creek or stream.

On a big tailwater, McCrickard gears up with 250-grain sinking line and runs a short 3-foot leader of 0x tippet. If the water is dingy, he’ll fish 3 feet of straight 20-pound monofilament.

FOR AGGRESSIVE FALL BROWN TROUT

Lust and jealousy make males of many species do stupid things they wouldn’t normally do. This is true for humans and whitetail deer, and it’s also true for brown trout, which grow aggressive this time of year as they gear up for the spawn.

Across the East, brown trout spawn in a window that runs from midSeptember into December. Males and females of the species leave their summer lies to strike out upstream in search of spawning habitat. They are on the move and more visible to anglers than at any other time of year.

While the females become preoccupied with cutting nests, called redds, on shallow gravel bars in moving water, the males put on bright colors to

“If I have that fish that’s two feet or larger, I’m feeling really confident having that fish on 20-pound as opposed to having it on 2x,” he said.

On large or small water, pre-spawn browns will hit bigger flies than you’d think they would. This could be a 2- to 3-inch-long Woolly Bugger on a mountain stream or a 6-inch-long articulated pattern on a big river. Either way, it’s a game of covering water persistently and presenting the fly to as many fish as possible.

“A productive day is relative. When you’re throwing a 10-foot 7-weight and a 250-grain full sinking line with 3 feet of 20-lb. monofilament, you’re not really going for numbers anymore,” said McCrickard. “You’re looking for one, maybe two fish. You kind of have to go out there with the mentality of, ‘I might get skunked today, but I might catch my best fish of the year… or the best fish I’ve caught in the last five years.’”

Nick Carter is author of “Flyfisher’s Guide to North Carolina & Georgia.” It is available on Amazon or by contacting the author at nsc8957@gmail.com.

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ANGLER HAND-CRANKS 504 POUND RECORD SWORDFISH

A504-pound,

8-ounce swordfish caught 55 miles off Morehead City, North Carolina was recently certified as a new state record.

The angler, 59-year-old Cary Carney, was fishing aboard the 32-foot Willow B, which was captained by his son Brandon Carney. They were fishing in about 1,300 feet of water on Aug. 21, when the big broadbill ate a strip of albacore belly. They had the fish on an electric Diawa MP3000 reel, but a blown fuse rendered it inoperable. Carney buckled down and cranked the fish in by hand on 65-pound test line.

“He’s one of those old-school guys,” Brandon Carney said of his father for an article in the Raleigh News & Observer. “His arm might be hanging off, but he won’t let you know it. After about 30 minutes, it rose to about 20 feet below the surface and we could see how big it was.”

Two hours later, the big fish was boatside. They roped its tail and used the T-top as a pulley to bring it onboard. It measured 104 inches fork length and had a 53-inch girth.

Carney’s swordfish crushed the previous state record by more than 60 pounds. The old record of 441 pounds had stood since 1979. The thing is, if they had hauled it in with the electric reel, it would not have qualified for the record.

The Return of a

The IGFA all-tackle world record swordfish weighed 1,182 pounds. It was caught off the coast of Chile in 1953 by Louis Marron.

For more information, visit deq.nc.gov.

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Berkeley County, South Carolina

Berkeley County is a wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts, sports buffs, adventure seekers, and water lovers. From exemplary fishing for striped bass, or a trophy largemouth bass, to our hiking trails and water activities, along with scenic outdoors where you can catch a glimpse of white tail deer and gators, Berkeley County has activities to fit all visitors and families.