CATCH LATE SUMMER TRIPLETAIL SOAKING IN THE SUN

By Emily Hanzlik

In late summer, the humidity is crazy and the heat wants to take you down. e shing can slow down during this time; however, chilling in the sun is a lifestyle for some sh species.

e tripletail is one of the strangest sh in the ocean. Tripletail are usually dark brown with some lighter shades mixed around, and they can sometimes be yellow, depending on their area. ese sh don’t have a typical body structure. Instead, they have a at almond-shaped body and get their name from the appearance of having three tails, which is an adaptation of enlarged lobes on the posterior ns. ey usually don’t grow any larger than 15 pounds and typically range from 20-30 inches. For their size, they put up a heck of a ght.

Many tagging studies have been done on these sh to track their migrations. However, science has yet to gure it all out. e idea is they move north to south, then back up the coast going no further than Georgia. In the Gulf, they make it as far as Texas. e timing of their movements appears to be random, but it probably depends on currents, since they don’t free swim much.

Sometime during the summer months, tripletail will oat o shore to breed. Like most, they broadcast spawn, with females producing anywhere from 4 to 8 million eggs. ey can spawn every three to ve days. ere are many di erent ways to target tripletail. Since they aren’t big swimmers, you’ll normally nd them oating around with seaweed or next to buoys. You can pitch baits, like live shrimp, to target them. Usually, you’ll want to use a small live bait hook without a weight to get a natural dri in front of them. If live bait isn’t your style, you can also use small jigs or swimbaits to grab their attention. Another great way is y shing. Here, you’ll want a y that mimics a small shrimp or bait sh. When targeting them, make sure to nd which end is their face. en try to dri your o ering in front of their nose. e current IGFA all-tackle world record is

When these sh aren’t o shore spawning, they typically hang near lots of structure. You might spot them oating near crab buoys, mangroves, oating leaves and poles in the water. Tripletail are known for mimicking and blending in with their surroundings. is makes it especially di cult while shing to spot these creatures. However, it gives them amazing bene t, since their prey is also hiding in these places. Tripletail usually prey on shrimp, sh and small crabs.

42 pounds. It was caught in South Africa in 1989.

Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 62 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.

Let’s grow with Florida together.

Destin (Choctawhatchee Bay, East Pass), FL -

Capt. p reston muller

Gulf Angler Charters

• 850-428-0118

August is a brutally hot and sometimes miserable month. To be honest I don't like writing about August because it's my least favorite month out of the year to be a fisherman. There, I said it. Hot, stagnant Gulf water temps make it increasingly difficult to keep live baits spry and frisky. In August there is usually a lull in backyard fishing (anything within a 15 mile radius of the Destin pass) as the fish have become accustomed to bountiful live bait and you will find yourself scratching your head when your once honey hole has turned into the sound of crickets. August marks the end of great summer fishing and we are all looking forward to that crisp fall air just around the corner.

With that being said, that doesn't mean you can't have an epic day out there in August. You'll just need to run outside the pressured fish and you may need to neck down your tackle to draw bite. I usually try and find the cleanest water possible during the late summer months which sometimes means a 20-40 mile run.

Good luck this August. Bring plenty of water and watch out for those wicked afternoon storms that are ever present during this month!

Nolonger are the days of…..if it pees, it is good. The modern four stroke engines need water to cool the exhaust system. Four strokes are, in most cases, miniature car motors. Car motors have their exhaust exiting through steel and cast iron exhaust systems. All four strokes outboard motors do not have the luxury of using steel or cast iron. They are made with aluminum to not only save weight, but to help with corrosion. Your motor has thermostats to keep water in the block for cooling. The excess water encapsulates around the exhaust housing to cool the aluminum. It is very important that you change your water pump every 100 hours or every year. The downside of not changing it is the aluminum gets very hot and starts to corrode. This problem can occur regardless of outboard manufacturer.

Just because the motor is peeing doesn’t mean it has enough water to cool the exhaust. A lot of manufacturers of four strokes bypass the block to the water outlet, just so you know the water pump is working. However, it doesn’t show if it has adequate flow. A good quality OEM part will expand the life of your motor. Regular maintenance on the water system is crucial. Water pumps are softer than older two strokes, so it can generate more pressure. They tend to wear quicker, which causes loss of water pressure.