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WELCOME
By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon
Tuna Town TO
I
had only been fishing a few years when I wound up taking a job in Venice, Louisiana. I had gotten the lead on a first mate position through a mutual friend of a captain who I had never met before. When I called the captain, I asked when he needed me. He told me, “yesterday.” So I went to the tackle shop, bought my first pair of slickers, and hit the road. The only thing I knew about Venice was that there was no cell phone service and no women. As I drove down the road south of New Orleans, I began to notice ships on both sides of the road simultaneously. I realized I had better call someone to let them know I was heading to a deadzone in the middle of nowhere, filled with lonely, salty men. I arrived at night and located my captain’s houseboat, where I would be staying. I made the jump across to the boat and opened the door without knocking—as I was instructed to do. A dozen men, drinking beer, went silent as they stared at me. I looked around the room at the welcoming party, and the walls that were lined with shelves of alcohol bottles and a deer head decorated with Mardi Gras beads and bras. They offered me a beer and I declined. After the 14-hour drive, I most definitely wanted a beer, however, this did not seem like the time and place to let my guard down. The captain showed me the boat docked out back, my bunk where I would be staying, and told me what time to set my alarm for the charter the following morning. I had no idea what to expect or what I had gotten myself into, but I quickly fell in love with the fishery and a week-long trip turned into a year and a half. The fishermen there were nothing but respectful and treated me like one of the guys. I had only been fishing for two years at the time and had a lot to learn. I spent evenings teaching myself how to tie snell knots and throw a cast net. When the locals would go out fun fishing and bring back coolers with hundreds of trout, they were more than happy to teach me how to fillet fish. The fishermen didn’t cut me any slack for being a woman, which I was grateful for. I worked just as hard as they did, earned respect, and learned everything I needed to become a competent fisherman. I was openly doubted every step of the way, until I was able to learn and prove myself, which I did. But I was told that if I made it to the fall, there was no way that a woman could handle shrimp-boat season. Shrimp-boat season involves pulling behind shrimp boats and then boarding them by jumping from the bow of your boat onto the tires that hang from the stern of the shrimp boat. Then you promptly scurry up before your bow has a chance to crush your feet. You then shovel bycatch into a bag or basket, get it back to your boat, and hopefully get yourself back on the boat before your crew hooks up to a big tuna and abandons you there for the fight. The goal is to not die, break your ankles or get murdered by the shrimp-boat crew in the process. I did make it to the fall, and I did survive shrimp-boat season, and it was some of my favorite fishing I’ve done, to this day. It wasn’t until I left that the ball-busting ceased and I received positive feedback, when a captain called to tell me I did a really great job and that I’d earned a place and should come back for the following season. I am so grateful Tuna Town was a stop on my journey to where I am now. I am indebted to the fishermen there who helped teach me things the right way, without mercy. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon, with Sweet e’nuf charters out of Marathon, Florida Keys, can be reached at (504) 920-6342. See CaptainQuinlyn.com and @captainquinlyn.
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THROW UMBRELLA RIGS FOR WINTER BASS
When the bass are feeding up on baitfish in the winter, the natural bait ball presentation with multiple baits swimming together drives these bass absolutely crazy. It can make for a very fun day on the water. Setting up your “rig” is not complicated. Depending on how deep you are looking to fish, use 1/8-ounce jig heads for shallow water (10 feet or less) and ¼-ounce jig heads for anything deeper than 10 feet. Pick TYLER WOOLCOTT out some small 3- to 4-inch natural shad colored boot-tail swimbaits to attach to your jig heads and that’s all there is to it. inter can be a tricky time of year to go fishing, The winter months is typically the time when bass to feed up before but I want to tell you about a bait that might help you put some more fish in the boat. In fact, this lure is so good that they spawn. Whether you see it going on or not, they are eating a lot of bait somewhere on your some tournaments don’t allow body of water. You can throw anglers to use them anymore. this rig basically anywhere, I’m talking about the Alabama and if there are fish around, rig, which some people call they will bite it! I throw it the umbrella rig. around grass, rocks, docks, This device made its debut open water, points and on the bass fishing scene in ditches. 2011 and absolutely dominated the tournament fishing scene Gear for a few years before it was When throwing an A-rig, eventually outlawed by most it can get pretty heavy once professional fishing series for you add all the jig heads and basically being an unfair way swimbaits onto it. You’ll want to catch fish. The rig consists to use a big heavy rod with of a baitfish-style head where some strong line. A 13 Fishing you tie your line with multiple Muse Black 7’6” rod paired metal-wire arms that extend with a Concept A 6:8:1 reel is out where you attach jig heads a good fit. Spool this up with with a swimbaits. Most come 20-pound Seaguar Abraz-X standard with five metal arms line and you are good to go! and five jig heads. Good luck out there! Even though the Alabama rig is outlawed by most pro fishing leagues, that doesn’t mean you can’t use it when you are out fun Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. fishing or even fishing smaller tournaments. It is a fish-catching machine! Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.
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JANUARY 2024
NATIONAL 7
A GREAT LAKES FORMULA FOR
By Nick Carter
JUST ONE FISH
C
obi Pellerito’s goal in a day is just one fish, and with the surge in Great Lakes smallmouth fisheries, there’s a good chance he’ll find what he’s looking for: one giant smallie. “Big smallmouth is my jam,” he said. “It’s not like tournament fishing, where you’re looking for a limit. I’m out there looking for one big fish.” Pellerito theorized that three invasive species are responsible for Great Lakes smallmouth achieving grotesque proportions with weights in the 7- to 8-pound range. European round gobies and rusty crayfish from the Ohio River Basin have become important prey species since their invasion. European Zebra mussels are forage for another smallmouth favorite: perch, and these filter-feeders also create clear water, which is great for visual hunters like bass.
8 NATIONAL
JANUARY 2024
Pellerito bemoaned the destruction these invasives wreak but figures we might as well take advantage. THE FORMULA: The size of the Great Lakes system is incredible. From a home base in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, Pellerito has explored parts of it from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, downstream through lakes Michigan, St. Clair, Huron, Erie and over to the St. Lawrence River. Over this vast expanse, state fisheries reports tell him where the largest smallmouth are. “Once you’ve picked a fishery, there’s no substitute for time on the water,” he said. “Find the most desirable structure in the lake or in the part of the lake you’re fishing.” Smallmouth can be patterned seasonally. From there, Pellerito fishes long days to eliminate water. He looks for big points and transitions in bottom composition. He seeks out subtle structure like boulders or logs on barren flats. Bait presence is important, whether its gobies or crayfish in the rocks, perch in the grass or balls of suspended baitfish. THE FISHING: When he finds an area he likes, Pellerito covers water quickly with a crankbait. He likes a Megabass Deep-X 300, which dives 12 to 15 feet. “Covering water until you find where the fish are is important, then you slow down,” he said. “The biggest fish tend to be a step off from where the rest of them are.” Big smallmouth hold in “wolf packs” of two or three fish, and this can sometimes lead to days of more than “just one fish.” Recently, Pellerito boated an incredible 35-pound, 9-ounce five fish limit. Find one big fish, and it pays to pick that area apart. For this, Pellerito switches to classic drop shots or tubes. A standard tube crawls through the rocks like a goby or a crayfish. With the drop shot, Pellerito fishes a Megabass 3-inch Hazedong, which looks like a goby. It takes light line to draw strikes in clear water. Pellerito uses 15-foot leaders of 5- to 7-pound fluorocarbon with a main line of 8- to 10-pound braid. He’s experienced tremendous success with these tactics. This season, he boated 39 fish heavier than 6 pounds, 19 heavier than 7 pounds and two heavier than 8 pounds. To see more of Cobi Pellerito’s giant fish, see his Instagram @cobi.pellerito.
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CATCH FRENZIED SPANISH MACKEREL
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panish mackerel are a year-round target, but this time of year they love following bluefish schools to clean up injured baitfish left behind. During this time, bluefish and mackerel all tend to school together into a feeding frenzy of terror. I definitely wouldn’t want to get my hand in the way of any of those toothy fish. Spanish mackerel are sometimes confused with baby kingfish and cero mackerel, since they can school all together. However, there are a few ways to differentiate these fish, which is important since they all have different regulations. All these mackerel have yellow spots on their sides, but there are a few differences to look for. Cero mackerel have yellow lines along their lateral line that are combined with the yellow spots. King mackerel tend to have smaller spots that are closely grouped along the lateral line. As for the Spanish mackerel, they have large uncontrolled spots. There is simply no rhyme or reason for their pattern. Another way to identify Spanish mackerel is they usually have a wider girth compared to the other mackerel. A large Spanish mackerel is considered to be around 24 inches and over 5 pounds, while kingfish are typically over 20 pounds and ceros tend to be smaller. Spanish mackerel are typically nearshore fish that hang close to shore in order to feed on bait
schools by pushing them into the breakers. In certain locations, you can find Spanish inside the intracoastal. In specific conditions, if the water becomes too warm, mackerel move deeper to find their preferred 70 degrees. Spanish mackerel are found off the Atlantic coast of the United States and in the Gulf of Mexico. They follow a migration pattern of spending the winter off Florida and then move north to North Carolina in early April and all the way up off the coast of New York by June. There are many ways to target Spanish mackerel. Some use live bait such as sardines, baby pilchards and smaller threadfins. A simple freeline with a short wire leader to a live bait hook and one of these smaller baitfish can be deadly. The wire is not absolutely necessary, but mackerel do have extremely sharp teeth. When mackerel are tailing bluefish schools, they are normally frenzied. They’ll slash at everything that comes their way. I like throwing crappie jigs into the frenzy, and I think any kind of small jig will work. A lot of commercial anglers use popping corks with a spoon tied about 4 feet below. The pop gets their attention, and then the shiny fluttering spoon is too much for them to resist.
FWC PHOTO
By Emily Hanzlik
For larger Spanish mackerel, X-Raps or other diving crankbaits work best since they imitate larger baits. If you’re throwing a lure, don’t use your favorite one. There is a good chance you might lose it. Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 62 IGFA world records in various categories. Find her on social media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.
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By Astrid deGruchy
No Telling What You’ll Catch
ON THE PATCH
P
atch reef fishing is the epitome of, “You never know what you’re going to catch.” These underwater gems are filled with all sorts of fish, and it makes them fun and exciting places to be an angler. Patch reefs are small coral formations found in the shallower parts of the water. They were named for the patchy appearance when viewed from the surface and form wherever hard bottom exists in 10 to 25 feet of water. The rocky bottom, combined with ledges, coral heads and other growth provides the structure fish love. Many of these areas are well-known here in the Keys, but if you’re up for some exploration you can find less-pressured patch reef especially when the water is clear and visibility is good. Just keep an eye out for rocky or live bottom. These areas are usually not too far from shore, so they’re easy to reach and perfect for angling action. All sorts of fish congregate around these patches. The variety includes mutton snapper, mangrove snapper, yellowtail snapper, lane snapper, hogfish, black grouper, red grouper, gag grouper, porgy, cero mackerel, yellowjack and barracuda. We fish a lighter setup on the patch reefs, and this makes for a blast. Our go-to is a PENN Authority 4500 reel with the PENN Carnage III rod. Live bait like pilchards or shrimp work like a charm. If catching live bait is a problem for you, just stop at a local tackle shop and grab some live shrimp, pinfish, or even some frozen ballyhoo. Keep it simple, and tie on a knocker rig or jig head. Anchoring the boat in the right position to present baits around the reef is an important part of this style of fishing. Dropping bait on the sandy areas near the reef allows you to fish the bottom without getting hung up. Chum can be a good idea, but don’t be so quick to put out the chum as soon as you get lined up. I recommend breaking it out only if the fishing is tough. Chum can attract some of the “trash fish” like blue runners, jacks and sharks. Also, make sure you’re up to date with the rules and regulations. There are so many species you might catch, and some of those species might be out of season. Patch reef fishing is a blast. It’s a mix of stunning views and tons of action. If you want to experience this, the cooler months are the best for this type of fishing. That’s when some better-quality fish move into the shallower reefs.
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SLIP CORKS AREN’T JUST FOR LIVE BAIT
T
Tim Barefoot
here was time in my life when I was fanatical about live bait, and a lot of the fishing I did was under a sliding cork. Well, that ship has sailed, at least the live bait part. I still fish under a sliding cork, but I now fish artificial lures under the cork for several reasons, only one of which is the evolution of soft plastic baits. Here are a few arguments for fishing artificial: 1) There’s no need to catch and store live bait. 2) My entire tackle box is now small and light enough to fit in a backpack for travel. 3) Soft Plastics are versatile in terms of presentation, and they’re effective. 4) Artificials can be cast farther and more accurately. 5) You can be ready to fish at a moment’s notice anywhere, under almost any conditions. These advantages add up to the sum of my new fishing style under a sliding or popping cork. I cherish my two- or three-hour mini vacations after work, wherever I am while traveling. I travel quite a bit and can bail out of the truck and fish for whatever is there. I’ve grown fond of fishing under and around bridges for several species, and the ease and effectiveness of this style of fishing is easy to love. In addition to fishing just a single lure under a cork—or without a cork in deeper, faster water—I’ve started fishing a tandem tackle. The bottom bait is the jig head for the weight, and the second bait has no weight and just trails out behind the jig. Some days, it’s all bites on the jig; other days, it’s a third or more of the bites on the weightless trailer. This suspended bait and trailer under a cork is not only effective, but it keeps you from staying hung up. Once I figure out how deep the water is, it’s easy to adjust the depth. I typically keep one rod set up for 6 feet deep as a starting point. If I see the cork laying over, it means the jig is sitting on the bottom. I’ll shallow it up a bit to where the jig is just off the bottom and makes a clean drift. If the water is deeper, I’ll adjust it deeper. The end goal is to keep the jig a foot or two off the bottom and allow a natural drift. I like to fish a pair of DOA Shrimp on this tackle in saltwater, and this same tactic is deadly in freshwater with Zoom Flukes or Super Flukes for smallmouth, largemouth and striped bass. The other bait I love for this style of fishing is Gulp! baits. For more detailed videos of the tandem tackle and how to tie it, and the construction of my sliding cork set up, visit my Youtube channel and/or the website. For more from Tim Barefoot, visit barefootcatsandtackle.com.
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11:24
9:51
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5:42 0.4 10:28 4:12 -0.1 -0.3
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14
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7
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1:49
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3:05
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23
Wed Wed Tue
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25
Thu
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2:53
7:16A
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6:13
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4:40
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11:24 0.6 9:51 -0.3 11:56 0.3 9:50 -0.1
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5:12
5:13 6:42 5:03 6:40 5:14 6:40
9:37 0.6 8:16 -0.3 9:42 0.5 8:23 -0.2
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5:11
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0.5 5:36 -0.2 8:40 0.6 7:17 -0.3 8:02 0.5 6:35 -0.2
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6:42 5:10 5:02 6:41 6:41
7:45 0.4 0.6 3:47 6:15 -0.2 -0.2 5:22
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5:07
6:42 5:06 6:37 5:19
12:22
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3:27
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31
Wed
12:36
0.1
3:01
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15
Mon 1:00 0.4
11:06 -0.1
6:42 5:08
16
Tue 1:49 0.2 5:07 0.1 10:16 0.0
6:41 5:09
17
Wed 3:05 0.0 4:18 0.2 12:54 0.0 7:16A 0.0
6:41 5:10
18
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4:41 0.3 2:53 -0.1
6:41 5:11
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5:22 0.4 3:47 -0.2
6:41 5:12
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Sat
6:13 0.5 4:40 -0.2
6:41 5:12
21
Sun
7:07 0.5 5:36 -0.2
6:40 5:13
22
Mon
8:02 0.5 6:35 -0.2
6:40 5:14
23
Tue
8:54 0.5 7:33 -0.3
6:40 5:15
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Wed
9:42 0.5 8:23 -0.2
6:39 5:16
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10:22 0.5 9:01 -0.2
6:39 5:17
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Fri
10:57 0.4 9:29 -0.2
6:38 5:18
27
Sat
11:28 0.3 9:47 -0.2
6:38 5:19
28
Sun
11:56 0.3 9:50 -0.1
6:37 5:19
29
Mon
9:20 -0.1
6:37 5:20
30
Tue 12:22 0.2 3:27 0.1 8:37 0.0 9:29 0.0
6:36 5:21
31
Wed 12:36 0.1 3:01 0.2 7:19 0.0
6:36 5:22
Sun 12:13 0.5
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
7:19
9:29
6:36 5:21 6:42 5:06
Tue
14
Moon
6:41 4:59 4:57
Tue 12:23 0.3 7:58 0.2 10:11 0.0 6:54 0.5 5:20 -0.2
Sun
Wed
18
330 Hwy 98 • Eastpoint, FL 32328 • (850) 670-8808
0.3
AM
ft
0.2
10
17
Conveniently located within minutes of St. George Island & Apalachicola
12:23
AM
0.2
Wed Tue
16
FISHInG LICEnSE • boAtInG & HuntInG SuppLIES CoAStAL CHArtS • ICE, drInkS, SnACkS
0.4
ft
PM
39 5
We have everything you might need for a great day of fishing.
12:29
Low
HighPM 5:44
8
4
ft
7:58
4
1
AM
ft
Tue
Wed
11
124 Benning Dr. Suite 4 Destin, FL 32541
DateMon
3
27
Julia McPherson (cell & text) 850-974-6090 juliathecanvaslady@gmail.com
High
Date
6
Anchored in Quality
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Jan 2024
5
• Bridge Enclosures • Biminis or T-tops • Upholstery/Cushions • Protective Covers • Sun Fly Shades • Sunbrella Fabrics • Patio Cushions
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0.0
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10:56 -0.2
JANUARY 2024
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the panhandle 1
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Port Saint Joe, FL - Jan 2024
www.USHarbors.com
Port Saint Joe, FL - Jan 2024 High
Date
ft
1:48 2:34
0.8
ft
11:28
PM
0.6
ft
9:35
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Mon
10:29
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11:27
17
7
Wed
5:32
18
Thu
4:48
8
Sat Mon
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6:00
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1.4
7:55
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-0.6 9:04 1.4 1.8 8:32 7:56 -0.9 9:42 1.4 9:31 -0.5
7:33 6:12 7:36 6:00 7:33 6:13
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9:07
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We have it all!
7:36
9:25 1.1 1.8 6:56 8:55 -0.9 7:36 6:01 -0.3 11:17A -0.3 7:32 6:15
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7:35
-0.8 8:30 1.4 1.7 7:18 7:09 -0.8
7:02
Tue
9:10
6:06
7:35 6:09 7:36 5:59
Mon
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7:35
-0.6 7:35 1.4 1.6 5:53 6:23 -0.7
23
Wed Thu
-0.2
7:36 5:57 7:35 6:05 7:35 6:07 7:36 5:58
5:15
Tue
12:30
-0.1 6:46 1.0 1.4 4:22 5:37 -0.5
22
Thu
0.4
6:14 0.5 1.3 8:38 4:53 -0.3 -0.1
6:02
27
7:36
7:36 6:03 5:46 1.5 1.1 11:14 7:01 -0.7 0.0 7:36 5:56 10:38 1.2 7:45 -0.4 11:57A -0.5 7:36 6:04
Sun
26
5:59
10:12
Sat
21
10 25
7:36
7:36
9:47
13
9
5:57
6:01 7:35 5:56 7:36 6:02
8:30
20
7:36
5:19 1.7 0.9 10:14 7:17 -0.8 0.1
7:35
Tue
19
5:56
7:36 6:00 7:35 5:55
Mon
9
6
7:35
Moon
7:35 5:54 7:36 5:56
7:09 -0.8 4:55 1.7 0.7 10:07 0.2
8
4
5:54
7:36 5:58 7:35 5:54
Sun
12
7:35
6:46 1.4 Tue 2:34 0.8 11:28 0.6 5:37 9:35 -0.5 0.1
7
3
1.3
10:49
-0.4
1.0
7:18
-0.2
7:33
6:14
7:32
6:16
7:31
6:17
10:24
28
Sun
29
Mon
4:53P
0.3
10:37
30
13
Tue
3:36P
0.5
10:47
31
Wed
14
Sun 9:40 -0.3 10:38 1.2 7:45 -0.4 11:57A -0.5 7:36 6:04
15
Mon 10:29 0.0 5:17 0.4 11:04 0.8 8:11 -0.2 12:30 -0.2 7:36
16
Tue 5:37P 0.6 11:27 0.5 8:38 -0.1 8:59 0.3
17
Wed
5:32 0.8 9:01 0.1
7:35 6:06
18
Thu
4:48 1.0 4:22 -0.1
7:35 6:07
19
Fri
4:45 1.2 5:07 -0.4
7:35 6:08
20
Sat
5:15 1.4 5:53 -0.6
7:35 6:09
21
Sun
6:02 1.4 6:37 -0.7
7:34 6:10
22
Mon
7:02 1.4 7:18 -0.8
7:34 6:10
23
Tue
8:16 1.4 7:55 -0.7
7:34 6:11
24
Wed
9:07 1.4 8:32 -0.6
7:33 6:12
25
Thu
9:42 1.4 9:31 -0.5
7:33 6:13
26
Fri
10:08 1.3 10:49 -0.4
7:33 6:14
27
Sat 9:10 -0.2 10:24 1.1 6:56 -0.3 11:17A -0.3 7:32 6:15
28
Sun
29
Mon 4:53P 0.3 10:37 0.8 7:39 -0.1 6:55 0.3
7:31 6:17
30
Tue 3:36P 0.5 10:47 0.6 7:57 0.0 7:45 0.3
7:31 6:17
31
Wed
12
Fri
Sat
10:29
2 THE panhandle
The Only Liquor Store in Cape San Blas!
9:47 0.8 1.7 10:14 -0.8 7:39 -0.1 0.6
7:57
0.0
3:40 0.6 8:01 0.1 10:12 1.5 11:14 -0.7
6:55
0.3
7:45
0.3
10:29 1.0 7:18 -0.2
3:40 0.6 8:01 0.1
JANUARY 2024
7:36 6:02 7:31 6:17 7:30 6:18 7:36 6:03
The Cape Tradin’ Post is your connection to civilization while staying on Cape San Blas, at Indian Pass or in St. Joseph Peninsula State Park.
Your one stop shop for summer fun! Full line oF grocery • Top QualiTy MeaTs cuT on The preMises • Fresh FruiTs • VegeTables • eggs • Dairy proDucTs • soFT Drinks • Juices • cold Beer • greaT Wine selecTion • chaMpagne • baggeD ice • T-shirTs • AppArel haTs • sunglasses • Toys • gaMes • sun care • scalloping & snorkel gear • FloaTs • BreAkFAst • bisQuiTs • DonuTs coFFee • Hot luncH & dinner • sTeakburgers hoT Dogs • subs • Wings • hunT broThers pizza hanD-DippeD ice creaM & Frozen TreaTs • BAit And tAckle
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|
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7:35 6:05 NATIO N WARR WIDE ANTY!
— COMPLETE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR — CUSTOM WHEELS AND TIRES — CUSTOM EXHAUST WORK
Sit back and catch more buSineSS.
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7:32 6:16
7:30 6:18
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contact elizabeth
(850) 499-5685 capt.elizabeth@ coastalanglermagazine.com
n
The
Panh andle
Pull
Fishing Forecast with Capt. Preston muller Gulf Angler Charters • 850-428-0118
B
aby it’s cold outside! All fishermen are weather enthusiasts but not all weather enthusiasts are fishermen. Fishermen know that the weather often decides if your day offshore is unsuccessful or unforgettable. So, as we idle into the coldest month of the year, it’s important to keep a close eye on wind, seas, and temperatures. Any Florida native will tell you 60 and below is jacket and long jon weather. The average high temperature in January around the panhandle is 61 degrees and the average low is 41 degrees. Yikes that’s cold! And on the water, it always feels colder. For this reason, I like to pick and choose my days offshore in January and focus more on the fishing close to home. The water in the Gulf of Mexico stays relatively warm year-round but drops to its coldest temperature in January. Temperatures in the Gulf can be as low as low 50’s in January which causes most of the migratory surface feeders to start heading for greener pastures. This doesn’t mean that great fishing can’t be had though! Flats fishing the bay is a ball in January especially with a light northern wind. The nearshore fishing can also be fun on a winter day. There are plenty of small spinner sharks and drum to sight fish for right along the beach that will make any angler happy. Bring your jacket, find a nice day and get out there this month! Happy January fishing!
Paul’s Marine service, inc
th
e.com
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JANUARY 2024
the panhandle 3
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Bowfishing! Inshore Fishing! Dock Lights! Catfish Lines! www.reelnockoutfitters.org Find us on social media!
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Capt. OG'S
Insight Fishing Forecast
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Capt. Brett Tennant
Bout Time Charters • (850)512-3334 www.bouttimecharters.net www.facebook.com/www.bouttimecharters.net IG is @groupertrooperfishing
Pensacola, FL - Jan 2024 Pensacola, FL - Jan 2024 1 2 3
145 267
DateMon Tue
Wed
ft
8:31 6:17
PM
6:01
0.6
6:15
0.7
ft
1:02
0.7
12:56
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AM
Low
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AM
ft
Thu Mon 1:02 0.7 Fri
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11:23
-0.2
0.4
10:45
-0.1
0.4
10:04
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ft
AM
ft
Low PM
ft
PM
ft
7:20 0.0 11:23 -0.2 4:46 -0.2
Rise
Set
6:44
5:00
Rise 5:01 Set Moon 5:01
6:44
6:44 5:02 5:00 5:03
6:44 6:44
Sat 6:45 0.9 5:10 -0.4 Tue 12:56 0.5 8:31 0.4 10:45 -0.1 Sun 7:27 1.0 5:54 -0.5
6:44 5:04 5:01 5:04
6:45 6:45
Wed Tue
6:17 0.4 10:04 0.0 9:13 1.2 7:51 -0.8
6:45
10
Wed
Thu Thu
10:10
6:45
Fri
6:15 0.7 11:02 4:46 -0.8 -0.2
8
4
11 12
5
8:18
Mon
Fri
1.1 1.3
6:49 8:50
11:57
1.2
10:25
-0.9
Sun
12:46
1.0
1:33
0.8
7
Wed Sun
Tue
2:22
0.4
3:38
0.1
8
Fri Mon
5:55 0.9 4:21 -0.5 8:18 1.1 6:49 -0.7
9
Sun Tue
7:40 1.0 6:10 -0.7 9:13 1.2 7:51 -0.8
Tue 1023 Wed 24 Wed
9:27 1.0 8:07 -0.8 10:10 1.3 8:50 -0.9 10:15 1.0 8:57 -0.8
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
1126 25 27
Sat
11:30
5:40 5:14
Thu
6:46
Sat
8:35
Mon
0.2 0.7 1.0 1.0
10:55
Thu
1.0
Fri
12:01
0.7
29
Mon
12:29
0.5
12:55
0.3
4:00
0.2
1:09
0.1
3:34
0.4
Sat
14
31
Sun 12:46 1.0
15
Mon 1:33 0.8
Wed
3:27 5:14 7:09
9:35
10:21
Sun
Sat Tue
10:50
-0.6
6:45 6:44 7:50A
0.0
-0.2
7:53
5:12
6:45 5:13 5:04
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5:13
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6:44
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6:43
5:15
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6:41
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11:05 1.3 9:41 -0.6 -1.0 11:30 0.8 10:03
Thu Fri
1228 1330
6:45
6:45 0.9 11:40 5:10 -0.3 -0.4 4:51 0.5 1:28 0.1 7:27 1.0 5:54 -0.5
5:07
6:44 5:08 5:02
6:45
-0.9
Mon
5:05
6:45
6:01 0.6 7:20 0.0 1.3 9:41 -1.0
6
15
6:44 5:06 5:01
-0.7
11:05
Sat
6:40 10:03
0.0
0.1
5:23
6:45 5:24 5:09
6:39
11:30 -0.6
6:39
11:40 -0.3
6:44 5:11
16
Tue 2:22 0.4 5:40 0.2 10:50 -0.1
6:44 5:12
17
Wed 3:38 0.1 4:51 0.5 1:28 0.1 7:50A 0.0 6:44 5:13
18
Thu
5:14 0.7 3:27 -0.2
6:44 5:13
19
Fri
5:55 0.9 4:21 -0.5
6:44 5:14
20
Sat
6:46 1.0 5:14 -0.6
6:43 5:15
21
Sun
7:40 1.0 6:10 -0.7
6:43 5:16
22
Mon
8:35 1.0 7:09 -0.7
6:43 5:17
23
Tue
9:27 1.0 8:07 -0.8
6:42 5:18
24
Wed
10:15 1.0 8:57 -0.8
6:42 5:19
25
Thu
10:55 1.0 9:35 -0.7
6:42 5:20
26
Fri
11:30 0.8 10:03 -0.6
6:41 5:20
27
Sat
10:21 -0.5
6:41 5:21
28
Sun 12:01 0.7
10:24 -0.4
6:40 5:22
29
Mon 12:29 0.5
9:54 -0.2
6:40 5:23
30
Tue 12:55 0.3 4:00 0.2 9:11 -0.1 10:03 0.1 6:39 5:24
31
Wed 1:09 0.1 3:34 0.4 7:53 0.0
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
Moon
6:44
39
14
H
www.USHarbors.com
High
Date
13
ello Panhandle Anglers! The holidays have come and gone, and I am sure most of y’all are thinking of hunting or are begging for spring time weather and sunshine to come back around! Even though the temperatures are cooling off the fishing will still be hot fire! January is a good month for inshore and offshore fishing! Inshore fishing will be excellent on any type of large structure such as bridges and railroad trussells. The pattern will be much the same as December because there will still be the same species migrating through. Sheepshead will still be biting super light set ups with live shrimp and fiddlers. Bull minnows will work great for Redfish and Flounder. The White Trout will be holding close to structure and will also be found in deep holes around the bay. You can target them using Berkely Gulps and small shiny spoons as well. Hybrid Bass will be caught up above I-10 around docks and bridges and also near the power plant as well. Nearshore Flounder fishing will be excellent! The best way to target them is with a 2-ounce bucktail tipped with a live cigar minnow or a piece of fresh cut bait off the side of any structure such as a wreck or reef ball. If you get too close to the wreck the Snapper will eat up your baits. Offshore is excellent for deep dropping still this time of year! Yellow edge grouper, Snowy Grouper, and Golden Tilefish will still be chewing! Hope you guys enjoyed the report from your favorite OG! Good luck everyone!
www.USHarbors.com
JANUARY 2024
5:25
6:45 5:10
6:39 5:25 the panhandle 5
CheCk us out on FaCebook For more Custom items & giveaways! JoeytheJewelerUSA JoeytheJeweler22
www.JoeytheJewelerusa.com
201 N Main St, Crestview, FL
|
(850) 682-1980
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St. Andrew Bay, Channel entrance, FL - Jan Andrew Bay, Channel entrance, FL - Jan 2024St. 2024 High
Date 1 Mon Date 2 Tue 3
Wed
4
Thu
6
Sat
7
Sun
AM
AM
Low
High 11:17
ft
AM
ft
0.5
9:33
6:52
0.4
8:55
ft
ft
PM
www.USHarbors.com
Low
Rise
Set
-0.2
6:37
4:55
-0.1
6:37
4:55
PM4:38 ft0.4 AM ft PM 8:14 0.0 0.0
5:06
0.9
3:20
-0.4
6:38
5:48
1.0
4:04
-0.5
6:38
6:52 0.41.2 8:55 -0.1 6:39 4:59 -0.7
3 10 WedWed
4:38 8:14 0.0 8:31 0.4 1.3 7:00 -0.9
4 12 ThuFri
10:18 0.6 1.2 8:35 -1.0 4:22 5:30 0.0
Sun 5 1415 FriMon
11:54 9:40 -0.6 4:36 0.80.8 2:56 -0.2 9:50 -0.3
7:34
Thu
13
Sat
6 17 SatWed 16
Tue
18
12:43
0.4
1:59
0.1
6:01
1.3
7:51
-1.0
11:07
1.1
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By Nick Carter
CHIPOLA SHOAL BASS
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hen it comes to warm-water fly fishing, shoal bass are about as fun as it gets. These pugnacious river bass are native to only one river system: The Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin, and their preferred swift-water habitat was years ago reduced to tributaries and stretches between dams in Georgia, Alabama and Florida. While Georgia claims the healthiest native, reproducing populations of the species in the Flint River and in pockets of the Chattahoochee River, the situation is a little more tenuous for Florida’s shoal bass. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), The 95-mile-long Chipola River is the last remaining waterbody in the state with a known naturally reproducing shoal bass population. The species was dealt a massive blow in 2018, when Hurricane Michael ripped over the Panhandle and depleted more than 90 percent of the Chipola’s shoal bass population. FWC stepped in to suspend harvest and possession of shoal bass in the Chipola River and its tributaries. Then they began hatching and releasing genetically pure shoal bass into the river. It appears to be working. Over the last two years, 11,000 fingerling shoal bass have been stocked into the Chipola. In subsequent samplings, DNA analysis showed more than 60 percent of yearling fish sampled came from these stockings.
“The stockings over these past two years have certainly made an impact on the population; shoal bass that were stocked last year are already within the 9-10 inch range,” said FWC biologist Andy Strickland. This is the first time genetically pure shoal bass have been successfully raised in an FWC hatchery, which is a big deal because genetic impurity is one of the largest threats shoal bass face. Across their native range, interbreeding with introduced non-native black bass species like Alabama bass and spotted bass has muddied the gene pool except in small pockets where genetically pure populations are isolated from interlopers. “It is extremely encouraging not only to successfully spawn this species in a hatchery setting but also to document the significant contribution the hatcheryreared fingerlings have made to the existing shoal bass population in the Chipola River to date,” said Bob DeMauro, Hatchery Manager at FWC’s Blackwater Research and Development Center. Biologists will continue to monitor Chipola River shoal bass and evaluate these stocking efforts in years to come. To learn more about a great shoal bass fishery, visit flyfishga.com.
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Cruising Into Adventure: Your Ultimate Guide to the 2024 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show
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et ready to set sail into an ocean of excitement at the 2024 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show, where innovation meets Miami’s vibrancy and electric culture. This year promises an experience like no other, and we’ve got the scoop for navigating you through the show’s must-see experiences. Taking place throughout President’s Day weekend, Feb. 14-18, the show has historically welcomed over 100,000 visitors and featured more than a thousand highly sought-after boating and marine products, generating major economic revenue for the recreational boating industry and over a billion dollars to the state of Florida.
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The World’s Largest Boat and Yachting Show: From Miami’s Mainland to the Deep Blue Embark across the City of Miami and Miami Beach, stopping at six iconic show locations, each with its own unique charm. From the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC) to the Venetian Marina to test drive the latest vessels at sea trials, there’s a maritime wonderland waiting for you at every stop. Other show locations include: the Progressive Boat Show Experience at Pride Park, Herald Plaza, Museum Park Marina, and SuperYacht Miami at Yacht Haven Grande Miami. Unleash the Adventure with 2-Day Passes Dive into our exclusive 2-Day passes, the golden
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ENTICE BIG TROUT WITH
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By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
A
common principle anglers abide by during winter months is to slow down their retrieve or presentation. Although this is a good default option, it may fail to entice strikes of those big, cold, winter trout. Let’s discuss. Some of my favorite lures for targeting trophy trout in the winter are those that suspend, slow sink, and have an erratic movement. When I
define a slow presentation, I am referencing the speed at which the lure moves toward the angler, the retrieve speed, not the motion. As a young angler, I was always told to slow down when it’s cold and then slow it down a little more. Although this has its place, it should not be set in stone, or ice if it’s really cold. OK, enough of the bad jokes. When trout are cold and may not be feeding
as aggressively as we would like, an extremely erratic motion can entice the strike. This erratic motion makes the lure dance in place with little to no forward movement. I use a rod with a whippy action for this. This allows me to point my rod tip at the lure and shake it up and down aggressively causing the lure to almost dance in place. I then let it pause, suspending or slow-sinking as I reel up the slack. I then repeat this practice, modifying according to the conditions. Fishing braided line is imperative for this method. The stretch in mono will not allow your slow-sinking lure to dance in place at the end of a long cast, but the zero stretch of braid makes it move like it is on a wire. I learned this the hard way 20 years ago. I was fishing with four friends, and I was the only one using mono and the only one not catching. I mimicked every move my buddy made to no avail. I then ask him to cast his lure and retrieve it near me. I watched it dance past with great action. I then cast my lure near him. Although I moved my rod more vigorously, he said my lure was moving in a straight line as if I was just reeling it in. I switched to braid on the next trip and never went back, and of course this dancing method started to produce fish! If you pay attention to the strike, this method will let you know if you should modify your retrieve. If they bite on the pause, you may want to slow it down a bit. If they bite on the shake, you may want to speed it up. I hope this helps you land more big trout this season. Good Luck! Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures®, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com
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t was a chilly winter morning, and my crew—a good friend Zach and his two sons—all knew it was going to be either a tough day or a great one. It was a typical morning for winter here in the Daytona, Fla. area, with overcast skies, highs in the low 60s and a dominant wind and swell headed from the northeast. The inshore bite is typically pretty good this time of year, with a variety of different species usually willing to cooperate. Red drum are a favorite backcountry target during the colder months. When they move up on the flats to feed, it can lead to good action on spoons and paddletails. On the end of the outgoing tide, we hoped to bag a few redfish before the switch, but the bite never happened. We kept busy with some small permit, pompano, mangrove snapper and even a flounder. By the time the tide switched mid-morning, the bite had slowed down with just a few small sheepshead taking our bait. Sheepshead are delicious, and around here the causeways of the Intracoastal along with barnacle- or oyster-encrusted docks, bridges and jetties are a pretty good bet for picking up a few for the cooler. They love sand fleas and fiddler crabs but will also eat shrimp on a jig head or Carolina rig. Something I like to do while targeting other species is to leave baits out for red or black drum. I had two dead stick bottom rods out the back soaking halved blue crabs in the hopes that a drum would be hungry enough to pick it up. With the action pretty slow, and while we still had some time left in the trip, I decided we should make a move. I told Zach’s younger son Gavin, who is an employee of mine at Yellow Dawg Bait & Tackle in Ormond Beach, to reel in the back rods that had been soaking. At first it looked like he had a snag as the rod bent when he picked it up, but then the drag took off. Big black drum are tanks! It’s almost like they have shoulders and they’ve been working out all week waiting for you. The big ugly that highlighted that trip was somewhere in the 50-plus-pound range, a trophy for sure! Gavin, who is the younger guy in the photo, will be in U.S. Coast Guard boot camp when this edition hits the racks. His dad, Zach, is a veteran, along with his other two sons Logan and Cameron. A big thanks to all the men and women out there who serve our country! Capt. Jamie Thrappas is Co-Publisher of Coastal Angler - Volusia County and owner of Yellow Dawg Fishing. Check out yellowdawgfishing.com. To win a free half-day inshore or offshore charter with Capt. Thrappas, enter the Fish with Coastal Angler drawing at coastalanglermag.com/contest.
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The Sea Sea Eagle Eagle®® FishSkiff FishSkiff™™ 16 16 The ® ™ OffSea ersEagle True Quality Quality Alternative TheOff FishSkiff 16 ers AA True Alternative
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for precise steering and superior motoring (U.S. Patent # 8,286,573 B2)
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NO trailer trailer required!! required!! NO 16’ Boat Rolls up up 16’ Boat Rolls NO trailer required!! to fifitt in in aa bag bag in in your your trunk trunk to
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Delayed Harvest Trout By Nick Carter
A
AT FIRES CREEK, N.C.
delayed harvest trout stream is a better place than most to spend a winter afternoon, and if you can find a two- or three-day warming trend, there’s a good chance you’ll get into some pretty good fishing. North Carolina’s Fires Creek has a 2-mile stretch of delayed harvest water on U.S. Forest Service land off U.S. 64 between Murphy and Hayesville. Rainbow, brown and brook trout are stocked in the creek and protected under catch-and-release, single-hook, artificial only regulations during the October into June delayed
harvest season. It’s a small-stream setting with more and bigger trout than one would find in most creeks this size. The creek is gorgeous, with clear plunge pools and deep bend runs sliding into skinny pocket water that twists for miles through the bottom of a rhododendron-choked valley. Even the rounded river rocks are notable for their beauty, with striking dark gray and tan bands that’ll make you want to stash a few flat stones in your vest to take home. The fishing is about like any other delayed
harvest in terms of fish size and the density of stockings, but it is a small stream, so you’ll be tempted to—and you should—explore your way upstream instead of settling in on the big holes. Small streams are just more fun when you fish them that way. Around each bend lies a new challenge, another series of pools and runs. Tightlining nymphs is probably the most effective way to fool fish this time of year. They might fall for the standard “junk flies,” but a few months into the DH season, the fish might also be looking for something more natural. In winter, the aquatic insects will be small. Little black stoneflies, midges and blue-winged olives might hatch off on a warm afternoon and lead to some dry fly action, but unless you see bugs in the air, you’re better off fishing subsurface imitations of these insects. A double-nymph rig with a big attractor nymph below a smaller more natural looking nymph is always a good option. The foot bridge at the Fires Creek Picnic Area is the lower boundary of the DH water. Access above the foot bridge is easy on a streamside trail and also along Fires Creek Wildlife Road. This gravel track parallels the creek way up into its headwaters. The delayed harvest ends at the Forest Service 340A bridge. Upstream of this point, the trout population trends toward stream-born rainbows that top out at 10 or 11 inches. For GPS coordinates to access points and detailed maps of North Carolina and Georgia’s best trout water, check out “Flyfishers Guide to North Carolina & Georgia.” It is available at fly shops, on Amazon, and signed copies are available from the author by e-mailing nsc8957@gmail.com.
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NATIONAL 15
A FEW THOUGHTS ON
SHEEPSHEAD By CAM Staff
S
heepshead have become a wintertime staple when water temps drop and the regular cast of inshore characters become more difficult to target. If you’re a cold-weather inshore angler, you’re probably already familiar with sheepshead, so here are a few tips you might not have heard yet. Finding Fish: Convict fish travel and feed in packs. Once you locate them, the action can be fast, but you have to find them first. Obviously, they like structure like bridges, docks and jetties, where they can happily gnaw on barnacles. When considering structure, older, rambling docks with lots of pilings provide more surface area for established colonies of crustaceans. These can be honeyholes, but keep moving if you’re not catching fish. You might run a dozen different structures in a day and catch 90 percent of your fish on one. In the clear water of winter, sheepshead can often be sight fished, and they don’t really spook, so look for them before casting. If the water is too dingy to see them, you can sometimes hear them crunching shells if you listen quietly. Chum ’Em Up: This might sound silly, but sheepshead get excited about free food just like any other species of fish. Keep a shovel on the boat and scrape barnacles off the structure you’re fishing. This rings the dinner bell, and it’ll also help you spot them as they dart around to pick off the falling morsels. Looking for scraped pilings is also a good way to identify where other anglers have chummed sheepies before. Play the Tides: Pretty much every fish feeds best on a moving tide, but a ripping flow can be detrimental when fishing for such a structure oriented fish. Fast moving water tends to pin sheepshead right up against structure. This, and the tide itself, can make presenting baits more difficult. Find a moderate tide, and
sheepshead will spread out and move around a little more, which makes them easier to catch. Position yourself up-current and allow your baits to drift down into the fish. The Business End: Although they are not skittish, sheepshead can be selective. Whether you’re fishing fiddler crabs, shrimp tails, sand fleas, oysters or clams, use a small, short-shank hook and hide it inside your bait. Also, fish braided line. Braid has less stretch, so those little bumps when a sheepshead taps your bait translate better to the rod tip. Braid also has better abrasion resistance for when they pull you around a piling, but the increased sensitivity is key. With their black and white bars, convicts are notorious bait thieves. You need to know it the instant they suck in your bait.
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