Coastal Angler Magazine | January 2023 | Panhandle Edition Edition

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SPACE COAST

By Nick Carter

CHASING BAITBALLS

Winter is the best time to sh,” said Capt. Chris Cameron, “the only problem is the weather.”

Capt. Cameron is owner/operator of Fired Up Fishing Charters out of Cocoa Beach, Fla. He said it was tough to nd good weather windows this November and early December, but that o shore shing is primed to re o like a Space Coast rocket whenever conditions stabilize.

Winter on Florida’s Atlantic Coast can be spectacular because of all the migratory species that push down to overwinter in milder temperatures. King sh, cobia, black n tuna, sail sh and others are all hunting the reefs about 18 miles o Port Canaveral. e key to the shery is menhaden.

“ is time of year, you get these huge baitballs,” said Capt. Cameron, “and there are all these sh following the bait around. You nd sh where you nd ‘bunka’ congregating on the reefs.”

Cameron is a transplant from Long Island, New York, and even a er more than two decades living and shing Florida’s east coast, he still refers to menhaden as “bunka,” which is Yankee dialect for bunker, which is what they call pogies up where boats are winterized this time of year.

“On good days, when you can get o shore and the water is clean, we might catch a limit of kings, a couple cobia, a couple black ns and hopefully a sail sh,” Cameron said. Even with 2022’s tightening of cobia regs, that’s a fun and delicious mixed bag to ll the freezer.

At places like Pelican Reef and 8A Reef, where depths range from 75 to 85 feet, Cameron nds the bait and then goes to work slow trolling live baits on double-hook stinger rigs and 20-pound line and tackle. He said he pulls baits at about 1 knot, which allows them to swim along naturally.

“ e thing with slow trolling is you never know what you’re going to get,” said Cameron. “It could be a big king, a sail sh, a cobia or a shark.”

Pitch rods are kept ready in case a cobia shows up on the surface. Cameron said he’s learned from experience not to over-stimulate cruising cobia by throwing multiple lines at once. Usually, clients can convince cobia to bite with a one-two punch. ey keep a squid-tipped bucktail ready for a quick cast. If that doesn’t draw a strike, it allows time to slap a live bait on the second rig, which is a simple 5/0 circle hook.

Shrimp boats are another option Cameron seeks out this time of year. Although chasing them can be a bit of a time gamble, since they are usually 25 miles o shore over 200 feet of water, they can be extremely productive.

“If you see a shrimp boat o in the distance or spot one on the radar, it’s almost always worth a shot,” Cameron said. “When they dump their bycatch in the morning, it pulls everything up.”

Fishing shrimp boats can be short-lived, but

it can also provide fast action for the same species that come o the reef. For this bite, Cameron beefs up to 6500 spinning gear and 50-pound braid and 50-pound mono leaders. He keeps four pitch rods ready, two with bucktails and two with live baits, because the bite can turn into sight shing

in a hurry. Meanwhile, he’ll search with freelined pogies on a knocker rig.

Contact Capt. Chris Cameron and Fired Up Fishing Charters through their website at redupcharters.com.

By CAM Sta

Winter’s cold fronts consolidate wahoo to their preferred temperature ranges across their range. is makes them easier to target than at any other time of year. e following is a short list of very good destinations for wintertime wahoo.

San Salvador, Bahamas: Way out in the Atlantic in the southern Bahamas, the waters o San Salvador hold one of the best wahoo sheries in the world. Peak wahoo season is December through April, when hordes of ’hoos migrate to the area’s warm waters. e island might just be the

best place on the planet for a shot at a triple-digit wahoo, and the right conditions can yield fast action for 50-pounders, as well.

Within a short 10-mile run o the island, a seamount rises to 180 feet from 4,000 feet of water. is hump is a well-known feature, where wahoo congregate to feed on schools of small tuna. e remoteness of San Salvador keeps shing pressure in check, but it also makes this one of those bucketlist trips you plan ahead for.

Galveston, Texas: O shore humps out of Galveston, Texas also lay claim to some of the best wahoo shing in the world, and every winter anglers connect with giants. is shery, however, is reserved for anglers with the gumption to make 100-mile overnight runs to features like East and West Flower Gardens to catch the morning bite.

Windows of good weather and big, fast boats are a requirement to reach the shing grounds at the edge of the Continental shelf, where wahoo pile up with bait sh on steep depth changes of rock structure.

Murrell’s Inlet, South Carolina: O the South Carolina coast, cooling water temperatures con ne wahoo to the warm water at the edge of the Gulf Stream. is makes them much easier to target than when they are spread out in summer.

Depth changes and structure at the edge of the Continental Shelf, combined with warm 70 to 80 degree waters of the Gulf Stream can be found 50 or 60 miles o the coast. ese structures hold bait sh in the temperature range where wahoo are comfortable. Covering lots of water with high-speed spreads trolls up the best wahoo of the year, every year.

Venice, Lousiana: It seems everything o shore of Louisiana is about the oil rigs, and in wintertime the oil rigs are all about wahoo. e key to nding wahoo on the rigs is nding the right temperature range, and the magic number is 60 degrees. Wahoo congregate and feed around the rigs where there is bait and water temperatures of at least 60 degrees.

One of the great things about Venice is there are deep-water rigs relatively close to shore at just 15 or 20 miles, which means it’s possible to nd a good weather window and go. e Louisiana coast also boasts some of the best catch rates for wahoo in the world, and 50- to 60-pound sh are the norm.

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GO GROCERY SHOPPING IN JANUARY

With grouper season over, it’s time to switch gears and concentrate on other species. is is the time of year to size down and go for the snappers. Depending on water temps, it’s also a good idea to keep a light line out for any pelagics that swim by.

I love yellowtail and a mangrove snappers, but I really like jolt heads, trigger sh, pinkies, black seabass and hog snapper. I treat bottom shing like I’m going (organic) grocery shopping. First and foremost, I don’t shop on every aisle of the grocery store. I go down the aisles that contain the items I really want. e best groceries come from di erent places on the bottom and from di erent depths.

Farther north up the Atlantic coast there are a lot of beeliners (vermilion snapper) taking the place of yellowtails. In this mix will be trigger sh, which I absolutely love! Beeliners and trigger sh have one thing in common: the largest ones of the school stay higher in the water column. is is why I like to sh a level-wind reel versus a spinning reel with small circle hooks for this style of snapper shing. I start dropping one “strip” of the reel

at a time until I get down to the sh. A “strip” is the distance of raising the rod up with your thumb o the spool, and putting your thumb back on the spool. Simply let your thumb o the spool and let it fall in 10-foot “strips” while raising the rod tip upwards. Count the strips it takes to get down to the bites. Four strips will be approximately 40 feet deep. Note where you feel the rst bite. is will usually be the largest triggers and beeliners in the school. If you stop getting bites or you’re only catching smaller sh, let this same tackle go deeper or all the way to the bottom. is is where you’ll catch the jolt heads, black sea bass, mangroves and hogs.

I use a two-hook “chicken rig” made of 50-pound uoro with small circle hooks and a 3-ounce bank sinker. I bait it with small pieces of squid. A small 2- or 3-ounce jig works with the same tackle as the weight instead of a bank sinker. is is especially e ective on large triggers. Just replace the treble hooks or single

J hooks on the back of the jig with small circle hooks and tip with a small piece of squid.

I could go on and on about this style of shing. e limits are pretty good and the reward comes at the table. It is a good time of year to take youngsters out, because this style of shing produces lots of action, and it’s not heavy-duty grouper shing. Little ones love a trip to the “organic grocery store.”

See more from Tim Barefoot at www.barefootcatsandtackle.com and check out a video explaining this style of shing at https://bit.ly/3YcVzV1.

Tim Barefoot

Suzuki RePower Centers are stationed around the southeast to help with your Suzuki service and repower needs.

GIANTS CATCH HEADWATERS

Wprivileged to guide clients there. We have broken many personal bests, and I get goosebumps every morning I launch the boat because I know the quality of sh.

Headwaters Lake is a 10,000-acre manmade lake in Indian River County adjacent to the well-known Stick Marsh and Farm 13. Prior to ooding the land, the FWC and the St. Johns River Management District created habitat with numerous underwater structures, ooded timber, vegetation and 30-foot-deep pits. ere were already existing ponds and pits on the property that contained resident bass, and nearly a million Florida strain bass were stocked along with bluegill, redear sun sh and crappie. ere are thousands of acres of submerged vegetation, mostly hydrilla, along with acres of cattails, spatterdock pads and hyacinth mats that are super fun to sh.

In central Florida, January and February are primetime, when bass are in full prespawn mode and waves of females move up to the ats to spawn. Air and water temperatures drop considerably a er cold fronts. Severe cold fronts a ect the ckle Florida strain bass, but not for long. Usually two days post front, conditions warm up and sh eat well again. ese weather changes transition bass and bait sh from summer patterns into fall and winter staging areas. ey feed heavily on shad and other forage and stage near the spawning ats.

When full moons and 60-degree water temps coincide, bass move onto the ats. ey spawn in waves. Spawning sh select isolated hydrilla clumps, reeds and the bases of pad stems to fan out beds. Hard sand bottom is key. Use sonar to locate hard bottom or stick your rod tip into the water to feel the bottom. If your rod tip pushes into mud, keep moving until you nd sand and then search for isolated cover.

My other primary focus is staging areas. Staging sh eat well and are plump as they congregate to wait for prime conditions to move up and spawn. New sh constantly come and go using the same areas, so they are extremely productive this time of year.

Ditches and canals on Headwaters are highways that bass and bait sh utilize to stage. e intersections and mouths of these canals are high percentage areas to locate schools of sh. Find a canal with nearby ats as well as pits or deeper water for bass to retreat to, and you will nd sh. ey stage on tapering drop o s, mouths of intersections, deep ditches and on main-lake points to ambush bait. I target staging sh with 6- to 8-inch paddletails, glidebaits, Rat-L-Traps, jerkbaits, chatterbaits, prop baits, Whopper Ploppers, spinnerbaits, stick worms and speed worms.

Contact Capt. Ricky Congero through his website at www.blackcloud shing.com or call him at (407) 693-6153.

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Technical schools charge tens-of-thousands in tuition. With the Mastry Suzuki RePower TTP (Technician Training Program), you will work with and learn from factory certified technicians and participating in the Suzuki on-line training course all while earning an hourly wage. After completing the Suzuki on-line training course and earning your Suzuki Certification you will be eligible for the Mastry Suzuki RePower Tenured Technicians Bonus Program.

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At every Mastry Suzuki RePower Center, Certified Technicians are held in the highest regard. Join a passionate team of professionals with the common goal of excellence through constant improvement. With 12 locations across Florida there is a Mastry Suzuki RePower Center near you that wants to appreciate you and your abilities.

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Twin Screws Marine Fort Myers, Florida 239-330-3387

Innovation Marine Corp. Sarasota, Florida 941-355-7852

Marina One Deerfield Beach, Florida 954-421-2500

Bayfront Yacht Works Sarasota, Florida 941-349-9449

On Site Marine Ruskin, Florida 813-727-5403

Boat Services Group Key West, Florida 305-320-0555

McKenzie Marine St. Augustine, FL 32084 904-770-2488

Lou’s Marine, Inc. Gulf Breeze, Florida 850-932-0701

Atlantic Marine Store Hialeah, Florida 305-826-2202

Custom Marine Service Panama City, FL 850-872-9191

Oyster City Suzuki Apalachicola, Florida 850-653-8030

FLORIDA BANS HARVEST OF SHORTFIN MAKOS

The FWC banned recreational harvest of Atlantic short n mako sharks by setting the recreational bag limit at zero during its Nov. 30-Dec. 1 commission meeting. e previous bag limit for recreational anglers was one mako per angler per day, with a limit of two sharks per boat. In a press release, FWC indicated the rule would make regulations in Florida waters consistent with federal regulations and address over shing of short n makos in support of U.S. and international e orts to manage the species. Commercial harvest of short n mako is already prohibited in state and federal waters.

For more information, visit MyFWC.com.

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Fishing Forecast mike

smith

Surf fiShing Smitty with

Smitty's Surf Fishing • www.smittyssurffishing.com FB: @SmittysSurfFishing • IN: @smittys_surf_fishing

Happy New Year anglers, I hope your holidays were filled with family and friends. Reminiscing about the fantastic catches you had throughout the year and the tall tales of the ones that got away. Fishing in January can be slow dare I even say, nonexistent at times. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get out there and wet a line. There are some large residential fish hanging around the shore just waiting to tug on your line.

As a matter of fact, one of our local tackle shops, Gulf Breeze Bait and Tackle starts its annual Pompano Tournament this month. Last year, there were many large fish weighed in during the first week. I’m talking 3.5 to 4.5 lbs fish, caught in the first week of January! If that’s not reason enough to keep you fishing during the cold month, I don’t know what is.

On the other hand, if the cold is keeping you off the beach, now may be the best time to do a little preventative maintenance on your gear. Here are a few tips to make sure your gear is ready for the warmer weather.

First, respool with fresh line, as a guide I usually do this 3 times a year but for the average recreational angler now is the time to refresh those worn spools with some fresh thread. Many of the local tackle shops in our area are more than happy to provide this service. In my opinion, it usually ends up being a wash, meaning it costs just as much as buying a 300-yard spool of braid and doing it yourself. That said, why not have your local shop take care of it for you.

Second, while those spools are off, make sure to freshen up your grease on the springs and gears, check your drag washers for wear and drop a little oil on all the roller bearings even your handle knob. This should help keep your investment operating smoothly for many more trips. There are several great lubricants out there but, in this case, I stick with Penn’s Reel Lube and Grease. If you find breaking down your reels intimidating, this is another service provided by many of our fine local tackle shops with average turnaround times being about a week.

Lastly, and I think this is a very overlooked part of the preventative maintenance process. Pick up some sort of rod and reel cleaner, I prefer Penn’s Rod and Reel Spray cleaner, and wipe down those rods. Making sure you pay particular attention to the guides, especially if using braid. The reason I say this is because you may notice that over the course of the season the color coating of the braid has worn off and built up on your guides. This little bit of friction can reduce your casting distance. Therefore, making sure you’ve cleaned all the gunk off your eyelets will help gain you some distance in your cast. Who knows you may even discover you have a loose or cracked guide insert. Much better to find out now, than when you are fighting that monster fish!

Preventative maintenance is probably the most monotonous but important part of surf fishing. Taking a few minutes now to make sure your gear is ready will save you many headaches later. You don’t want to miss out on the action because you failed to plan ahead. Until next month folks may your lines be tight and coolers be full!

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850-428-0118

Baby 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!

Gulf Angler Charters •

Capt. p reston muller

We are open

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.

Hello 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!

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AndAlusiA

By Capt. Josh Anderson

Yamaha Marine and Siren Marine have formed a strategic alliance that, in my opinion, will blow away the competition when it comes to creating the ultimate “connected” boat.

Through the use of Siren’s Siren 3 Plus or Siren 3 Pro boat owner’s will be able to stay connected to their boat through their cell phone anywhere and anytime. From monitoring battery status to remotely turning on bilge pumps or deck lights; Siren puts total boat control in the palm of your hand!

Partnering with Siren now allows Yamaha outboard owners to have full engine information displayed on the same powerful network as the rest of the aforementioned items. Engine hours,

diagnostic information, service records, and more are viewable on any smartphone or tablet with the Siren app.

Subscriptions to the Siren network are available on a monthly, seasonal, or annual basis. All the necessary hardware for a basic Siren network on a fishing boat can be purchased for less than $2,500 in most cases. Installation costs will vary from dealer to dealer.

A full suite on information on Siren Marine’s products and their application can be viewed on their website at www.sirenmarine.com

By partnering with Siren, Yamaha has jumped headfirst into the connected boat and outboard world and can now offer exciting possibilities to their outboard owners!

Happy New Year …..“What a Winter Season it has been”…lol…the temperatures are have been much warmer this past month giving aid to outstanding fishing inshore on our Forgotten Coast. This month as the water is cooling ‘Government Cut’ is always a good place to start for inshore fishing. The redfish will be eating a variety of baits. Try fishing off the bottom on a slow boat and drift down the rocks. Fresh shrimp and frozen finger mullet always make a good chew with a moving tide. Live Pinfish will be hard to come by as the temps cool but they are considered my best live bait fishing “Cut” & the deeper holes around the bay. Please remember to be respectful of other boats fishing in this waterway and slow down to avoid waking out other anglers. Another reminder to our visitors, not to anchor in the waterway itself- it’s illegal to do so. Be a safe & ethical angler!

‘The Cut’ is typically fished from by boat unless you are staying in the Plantation on St. George Island. All your shoreline anglers that are not staying in the Plantation can focus on the deeper ends of public fishing piers, both on St. George Island & in Eastpoint. Stop by Fisherman’s Choice in Eastpoint for all of tackle, bait, ice, and they will be more than happy to point you in the right direction. First and foremost, understand the winter tides especially form the shoreline & piers. Winter lows are extremely low, so typically the change of the high tides will be better for fishing from shore. Another great spot for shore fishing the beach & bayside is the State Park at St. George Island. One of my favorite wading areas throwing artificial lures & live shrimp under a popping cork.

Now for all of you adventurous anglers that love throwing shallows. First, reading tides are extremely important in our bay area. I will always recommend going out with a Local Fishing Guide to understand the water levels in various areas prior to just winging it. The mouths of creeks flowing into the Apalachicola River are productive when fished correctly. The ambush points will produce some really nice slot Redfish on live & artificial baits with right presentation. An “Old Salt” many moons ago told me…” If you think your retrieving slow enough, Slow Down!”

The winter redfish love to pick up that Gulp Swim bait or an Old School Grub Tail just wiggling off the bottom. Slow and Easy jig your lure in the shallows on spotty mix bottoms.

The Seatrout and Sheepshead will be starting to feed in these same areas closer to next month depending on the water temps. The flounder are back in and can be found behind structure nose up facing the current. In the deeper holes & passes you might find a really good Black Drum tug as well with live or cut baits. The piers & bridges are perfect for this species during the change of tides.

I look forward to seeing all of you on the water this year in 2023. It’s going to be most memorable this fishing season!

THE ABACOS ACKLINS ANDROS BIMINI CAT ISLAND ELEUTHERA THE EXUMAS HARBOUR ISLAND LONG ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

By Emily Rose Hanzlik

Sailfish

IT’S SEASON

inSouthFlorida

their anal n. ese long skinny sh are built for speed and can reach max speeds of about 70 mph.

Atlantic sail sh participate in seasonal migrations along the coast of America. Some sh will stay where they are, but most move northward in spring and south during the winter. is is due to the bait schools following the cold cycles. As soon as it gets hotter up north, they migrate. Once winter sets in, they return to Florida. Sail sh spend most of their time in warm surface waters of the epipelagic zone of the ocean. ey make frequent nearshore forays and congregate where water temperatures are in the 70 to 80 degree range.

ey begin spawning in spring, and this can occur as early as May or all the way into the fall. Like many other pelagic sh, sail sh use a process called external fertilization, or broadcast spawning. Males release sperm and females release eggs into the water current. Each female can produce about 4.5 million eggs. Once the sail sh hatch at around an eighth of an inch, they grow rapidly to about 6 pounds within a month. eir growth slows once they reach about 4 feet in length.

Capt. Charlie Stuve put me on my rst sail sh. He runs Native Guide Fishing Charters out of Jupiter, Fla., and sail sh are a favorite winter target for his clients.

“I suggest live baiting,” said Capt. Charlie. “Goggle eyes are the most popular bait, but other baits work, as well. Kite shing is preferable with goggle eyes, but I also do well slow bump-trolling edges. Live thread n herring, Spanish sardines and pilchards are my favorites while dri ing on a color change.

Now that the cold has set in and will be here for a bit, we once again change focus on what we are catching. Most larger sh tend to slow down during winter months since it takes more energy out of them; however, this is not the case for sail sh. As long as you are brave enough to venture into the rough winter seas, you’ll be sure to get on the bite.

Sail sh are the sleek and slender member of the bill sh family. eir name comes from the extremely large dorsal n that extends over almost their entire back. ey also have long pelvic ns, which stretch almost to

“Depths can vary, so don’t use yesterdays information because conditions constantly change. Sometimes when the bite is slow, I like to bottom sh and y a kite downwind. at way you stay busy with the bottom action and when you least expect it you have a sail sh on your kite.”

e IGFA world record for Atlantic sail sh weighed 142 pounds, 6 ounces and was caught in Lobito Angola in 2014.

Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 56 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 Capt. Charlie Stuve, @nativeguidejupiter

The FWC approved rules to help conserve Gulf striped bass in Wakulla County’s lower Ochlockonee River at the Nov. 30-Dec. 1 commission meeting.

FWC research has identi ed high rates of recreational harvest of brood sh (breeding sized) Gulf striped bass, and sta proposed rule language to change the harvest length limit. e bag limit of three sh per day for striped bass will remain in e ect. e proposed change to the length limit would change from 18 inches minimum size to no minimum size with only one sh allowed over 24 inches. Gulf striped bass populations are dependent on stock enhancement via hatchery production and protection of these larger-sized striped bass is necessary for the continued survival of the species.

“ is rule change is a positive step for Gulf striped bass, an important sport sh in Florida,” said FWC Commissioner Gary Lester. “We appreciate sta working with stakeholders on these ongoing conservation e orts for the future of this shery.”

Sta held public meetings with local anglers to discuss research and management options for this shery at Lake Talquin in May 2022 and an additional meeting in November to discuss the rule language. Anglers were supportive of using regulation changes as a management tool. Further stakeholder engagement will occur on this rule.

Email Christopher.Paxton@MyFWC.com with questions, or visit the striped bass pro le on MyFWC.com.

Let’s grow with Florida together.

Berkeley County, South Carolina

Berkeley County is a wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts, sports bu s, 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.

Learn more about Berkeley County at: exploreberkeleycounty.com

NEW HOOK DESIGN ALLOWS FISH TO RELEASE THEMSELVES

Researchers have designed and tested a new style of hook that takes catch-and-release to a whole new level. ese “bite-shortened” hooks are intended to allow sh to “release themselves” without being handled by the angler.

Dr. Holden Harris, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Florida’s Nature Coast Biological Station, was the mastermind behind the study. In his write up on Hook Line & Science, a North Carolina Sea Grant blog, he promoted the bene ts of e cient de-hooking and minimal handling of caught sh to considerably improve chances of survival for released sh. e hook he tested is a modi ed jig, which researchers clipped at the point, so that this “bite” portion of the hook—the business end— was reduced in length from 15 mm to 10 mm. e simple modi cation just clipped the barb and vertical length beyond the bend of the hook before it was re-sharpened. Harris tested it against a standard jighead as well as a jighead with the barb led down on 150 spotted seatrout. ey went shing with all three jigheads, reeled in the sh and then allowed the sh to op around boat-side until they either did or did not come unhooked.

“We found promising results for the bite-

HARRIS

shortened modi ed hook, which enabled anglers to land 91 percent of hooked spotted seatrout and then release 87 percent of those sh without direct handling,” Harris wrote. “In comparison, the self-release success rates were 47 percent using barbless hooks and 20 percent using standard, unmodi ed hooks.”

Additionally, Harris found that smaller seatrout were able to “self-release” at higher rates than larger ones.

Coastal Angler contributor and seatrout-on-

arti cials guru Michael Okruhlik has written on his use of barbless hooks when targeting pods of trout crashing bait. He said the ability to quickly and safely release sh without taking them out of the water allows him to get back in the action faster.

Maybe anglers would use a hook designed to let sh come unbuttoned?

For a video of this hook modi cation, see https://youtu.be/VC23oNikyc8

PHOTO BY DR. HOLDEN

Every year in Basel, Switzerland, the world’s best-known luxury watchmakers gather to display their new timepieces. It’s a great event for spotting timepieces that standout–– in performance and in personality. We saw one impossible to ignore: a precision dive watch with an arresting green dial. But we also saw the five-figure price tag and knew we could bring our customers that exact same precision and stand out appeal for a whole lot less. The Stauer Evergreen Diver is that timepiece.

Built like a submersible battleship with a stainless steel case, caseback, and band, the Evergreen Diver is water-resistant down to 660 feet or 20 atmospheres, a feat facilitated by a hardened crystal and screw-down crown.

Green On Your Wrist AND In Your Pocket. You could pay an awful lot elsewhere for this verdant virtuoso, but the majority of the cost is in the big designer name upcharge. We think those guys are all wet. This is how you own a top-of-the-line dive watch without helping pay for some marketing guy’s yacht.

Satisfaction Guaranteed or Your Money Back. Wear the Evergreen Diver for 30 days. If you’re not completely happy, send it back for

Amonster gold sh aptly named “Carrot” has been making the rounds on social media recently a er the sh was caught from a trophy carp lake in Champagne, France. UK angler Andy Hackett caught the nearly 70-pound bright orange sh from Bluewater Lakes, a heavily managed, privately owned pay-to-play shery that boasts of carp weighing heavier than 90 pounds.

Carrot seems to be somewhat of pet, but not the type you’d keep in a sh bowl. She is a crossbreed between leather carp and koi, and was stocked in the lake 15 years ago to give anglers an interesting sh to pursue.

“I always knew e Carrot was in there but never thought I would catch it,” said Hackett. It took him 25 minutes to reel in pot-bellied carp, which o cially weighed an astounding 67.4 pounds.

Carp caught at Bluewater Lakes are handled very carefully with a strict catch-and-release policy.

For more record sh, visit coastalanglermag.com.

TIPS FROM A PRO

THROW A LIPLESS CRANKBAIT FOR WINTER BASS

TYLER WOOLCOTT

Some cold but very fun shing days are ahead, and a Trapstyle bait is my absolute favorite way to sh this time of year. Typically sh group up in winter, and whether that be bait sh or bass, there are opportunities that make lipless crankbaits absolutely deadly!

rowing a lipless crank around areas where sh are chasing bait or where they are grouped up has caught lots of bass and some big ones. Even casting this bait as a search bait can work wonders. ere are so many options for lipless cranks that it can get confusing. I’ve experimented plenty, so I hope this article helps.

Traps range from ¼ oz. up to 1 oz. in weight, and every size can be used di erently. I pick sizes depending on the depth I’m shing or the depth of the structure, and I also consider the natural bait that is prevalent in the area. If you’re shing shallow or around tiny bait sh, a ¼-oz. size will be the best bet. A ½-oz. is usually my goto. It’s great for the mid-range depths of 5 to 10 feet, and it imitates a range of bait sh sizes.

A ¾-oz. is a bit bigger, and I don’t throw it as much, but it certainly has its place in 10 to 20-foot depths.

Remember, you can always vary your retrieve to get these baits higher or lower in the water column.

Color is another key factor. Ninety percent of the time, I sh a bait sh color. Whether it’s a shad, shiner or bluegill pattern, natural colors always work for me. I also throw orange or red a lot in winter. ese colors imitate craw sh, and they work where craw sh are prevalent. Match your bait color to the forage in the lake.

e last factor for lipless baits is sound related. ey come in silent, multi-rattle or single-knocker versions. I go silent for very clear water and heavily pressured sh, when appearing natural is important. e multi-rattle baits make a lot of noise, and the commotion draws strikes. My go-to, though, is the one-knocker style. is sound is unique and a little deeper pitched. I feel like sh, over the years, have become accustomed to the loud versions. I nd the single-knocker gets a few more bites in most situations.

With treble hooks, rod selection is important. You just reel into the sh when you get a bite, and this means your rod needs a solid backbone to drive those hooks and also a good amount of tip for keeping sh on during the ght. My go-to rod is a 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’4 Medium Heavy Moderate. e 13 Fishing Concept A 7:5:1 is a perfect reel for this application. I sh 15- to 20-lb. Seaguar Invizx line, depending on the structure I’m shing.

I hope these Trap tips help you put a few more sh in your boat this winter!

Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcott shing.com.

RECORD LONGFIN TUNA LANDED OFF NEW JERSEY

ANew Jersey angler eked out a new state record for albacore (long n) tuna in October when he boated a 78-pound, 2.4-ounce long n that bested the previous 1984 record by 3.4 ounces.

Matthew Florio, of Brick, N.J., is a commercial scalloper and he was shing with the rest of his scalloping crew aboard the Luna Sea at the east elbow of Hudson Canyon, the largest known underwater canyon o the east coast of the U.S. ey were at least 75 miles o shore and chunking for yellow n tuna, which is a technique that involves cutting up a bunch of butter sh and throwing them overboard before following up with hooked chunks of butter sh. e crew was already having a good day with yellow ns when Matthew hooked into his big albacore. He battled it in with a Kevin Bogan 30 Stand Up rod and a Penn 30 reel loaded with 60-pound mono lament. e sh measured 48 and 3/8 inches long and had a girth of 37 inches. e previous record was a 77-pound, 15-ounce long n caught in 1984 by Dr. S. Scannapiego in Spencer Canyon.

For more record sh, see coastalanglermag.com.

DO BIG LURES = BIG FISH?

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

Now that Jack Frost has bay temperatures thoroughly chilled, only diehard lure chuckers will be found stalking the ats. Most of us have one thing in mind this time of year, catching a trophy trout. Here is how I approach my quest for that dirty 30-incher.

When water temperature stabilizes in the COLD range, all the migratory forage ees for warmer pastures. e bays are le with larger mullet as the primary food source for prized speckled trout. is is the time of year that I pull out my larger lures. is could be a longer length, a wider pro le, or both. is doesn’t have to be a 12-inch lure that is no fun to cast all day, but I do upsize from my typical 3- and 4-inch lures that I use most of the year. We have all seen a 25-inch trout with a 15-inch mullet in its belly, so they will eat something huge, but giant baits aren’t as fun to sh.

My con dence lures this time of the year are typically a 4-inch wide-pro le slow-sinking lure or a 5-inch bulky body paddletail. Since plastisol is buoyant, the bulky lure will have a slower sink rate, which I prefer under most conditions. e

slower sink allows for dual bene ts this time of year. Logically, the slower sink rate matches the slower mood of a cold sh. Also, I spend a lot of time targeting sh over shallow grass in knee-deep water. A slower sink rate keeps my lure in the strike zone longer before it disappears into the grass.

weedless hook. Depending on the conditions, I might go weightless or with a 1/16- or 1/8-ounce jighead. e weedless version keeps me out of the grass, it lessens the opportunity for my cold, less-dexterous hands to be impaled by a hook, and most of all, it does less damage to the trophy sh that I am targeting.

Areas I target will be near deeper water, have so er bottom, have visible forage, structure and hopefully be lowertra c areas. While planning trips, I take into consideration moon phase, current conditions and recent conditions when determining where to sh.

I have never caught a trophy trout by accident. I don’t know if that is lucky or unlucky, but every trout I have landed over 27 inches was on a day when I set out speci cally targeting larger sh. Case in point, if you want to catch trophy trout consistently, you must make the e ort to target them, sh where they live and be attentive to details. I know numerous anglers have caught large trout with no e ort, but most don’t catch two.

The Return of a

I t my 5-inch rattling paddletail with a

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®.

SAVOR THE SEASONS in Upcountry South Carolina

Every season is the best season to explore the many treasures in the Upcountry.