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FISH OF A LIFETIME IN SOUTHWEST ALASKA By Tom Schlichter
N
o one has to tell you a halibut has taken your bait. As you set the hook with all your might, the heavy rod takes on a full bend, tip pumping rapidly as the beast powers down and away in a series of short, explosive bursts. Within minutes, beads of sweat begin to roll down your brow, and soon your back and arms begin to tire. The battle continues for another five to 10 minutes—or longer— and the enormity of the fish at the end of your line becomes apparent. This is the fish of a lifetime. This is why you came to Alaska! What saltwater angler hasn’t fantasized about taking such a trip? Yet there’s more to the beautiful, chilly waters in the far Northwest than outlandish flatfish. Ferocious-looking lingcod, giant, bright orange shortrakers, yelloweyes and other rockfish are also on the menu, as are king, coho and chum salmon, whether jigged or trolled in open water or tempted with the long rod in a river so full of fish you could walk across the dorsal fins. From breaching whales and soaring bald eagles to grizzly bears, sea lions, otters and endless miles of wild, unspoiled vistas, nature abounds in the forty-ninth state. Of course, where to start is a major questions you’ll need to tackle when planning your first Alaska fishing adventure. By and large, Southeast Alaska is the first choice if you are seeking major-league halibut. From the town of Ketchikan northwest up the coast to Chichagof Island, there are fishing lodges to accommodate your needs in such towns as Sitka, Juneau, Elfin Cove and Gustavus, plus places from which the most adventurous can set out on their own. One of the most popular spots is Tanaku Lodge. At the northwest corner of the famed Inside Passage, it’s tucked inside Elfin Cove, about 25 miles west of Glacier Bay National Park. From here you can get a terrific sampling of Alaska’s great coastal fishery, while seeing astounding amounts of wildlife and enjoying your stay in comfort. “The fishing is always great around here,” said Dennis Meier, co-owner of Tanaku Lodge with Jim Benton. “That’s a given, but we pride ourselves on making the entire experience the best it can be. Our skippers and mates are tops in the business, our lodge staff is helpful and courteous, and you’ll find the accommodations here to be first class all the way around. We may be off the beaten track, but that doesn’t mean we compromise on quality.” Tanaku is a full-service lodge with all-wood interior, vaulted ceilings, and wood burning stoves to keep you warm. Bedroom suites feature two full-sized beds and either a shared or private bath. Huge, wrap-around windows and outdoor decks offer fabulous views of the harbor. You don’t even have to bring foul-weather gear, as slicks and boots are provided for each angler. Leave your tackle home, too; the lodge offerings are in excellent shape and a perfect match to fishing you’ll encounter.
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As for the fishing, there are so many possibilities it can make your head spin. Halibut is the perfect first choice, since big ones can be found just a short ride away. Prepare to fish heavy and in water depths of 130 to 150 feet, though. Expect rods and reels suited for tuna and cannonball weights up to 2 pounds with a herring, pink salmon strip or side of pink salmon for bait. Even with all that heavy gear, a big halibut can still kick your butt. If you want to make things even more exciting (read: strenuous) try tempting these beasties with 1-pound jigs. It took me only 10 minutes of jigging in the Inside Passage to set the point to a 90-pound brute that beat the heck out of me before coming aboard. Over the next two days, I managed four more on jigs as we rotated between fishing for halibut, salmon and rockfish, depending on the most favorable tides. What a blast! As previously mentioned, salmon fishing is the other big draw here. While stocks of kings and cohos have slipped somewhat over the past few years, the number of king (Chinook), coho (silver) and pink (humpy) salmon is substantial. Anglers can troll for salmon, jig them, or set up a trip to wade a nearby river and catch them on the fly. Wherever you decide to stay on your Alaskan adventure, it’s wise to clearly state your wishes when booking a trip—especially if you hope to sample river salmon fishing or want to try for additional species like lingcod, shortrakers and various other rockfish. Not all are available from every lodge. While there are occasional off days even in this remarkable fishing wilderness—weather can be a serious issue late in the season—the odds are you’ll experience some of the best fishing of your life.
For information on Tanaku Lodge in Elfin Cove, AK, visit www.tanakulodge. com, or phone: 800-482-6258.
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Photo courtesy of Controlled Descent Lures By Nick Carter
S
pearfishers seeking a little variety in their bottom time should take a close look at the waters off New England. You won’t find warm tropical waters off the Northeast coast, but you will find a freediving experience unlike any other. Destinations like Montauk, N.Y. and Block Island, R.I. have long been recognized for some of the best striped bass fishing on the planet. The bass blitzes around Long Island Sound are legendary, and huge schools of stripers in these rocky waters offer conventional anglers and spearos the opportunity of a lifetime. Matt Belanger, of Newburyport, Mass., is one of a growing contingent of divers hooked on what New England has to offer. He’s a member of TriState Skindivers, and a big 54.2-pound striped bass he speared off
Block Island in July topped the club’s season-long TriState Leaderboard Spearfishing Tournament. “The striper is sort of our signature inshore species,” Belanger said. “It’s a very skittish fish. A lot of guys say they can hear your heartbeat. You’ve got to be really stealth when you go after a big striper.” Belanger’s description of a typical dive was intriguing. With a 50- to 60-foot bottom littered with Volkswagen-sized boulders, strong currents and visibility averaging 10 feet, it’s a different environment from Caribbean reef dives. The veil of dingy water actually makes hunting stripers easier. On the drop, you fin down through a school of striped bass to the bottom. “You’re in the middle of a giant school of hundreds of fish,” Belanger said. “Then, when you hit the bottom, they always spook… all at once. It’s crazy. It makes this big noise, almost a boom.” The secret to sticking a big bass is bottom time. After about 25 seconds, Belanger said the school begins to reconvene. Then you must spend precious seconds selecting a target from hundreds of circling fish, while minimizing movement and sound that might spook them. The goal is to take the largest fish in the school. You’re allowed only one fish per day with a 28-inch minimum size limit. A 28-inch striped bass weighs 10 to 15 pounds. They get much bigger. The IGFA all-tackle world record weighed 81-pounds, 14-ounces. It was caught from Long Island Sound off Connecticut. The speargun world record weighed 68.4 pounds. Dave Hochman, who guides Block Island Sound, stuck that fish in 2008. Hochman is the guide who put Belanger on the big striper he killed in this year’s tournament. If one fish per day seems scant to travel for, there’s a lot of excellent eating on a big striper. Also, when you get your limit—with speargun or rod and reel—there are other interesting and tasty species like tautog, black sea bass, fluke and others. A word of warning: Area waters can get sharky, with great whites a concern. A good captain will know where shark encounters are least likely. For information, contact Dave Hochman of Spear-it Charters through his website at www.spearfishcharters.com.
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SHRINK WRAPPING
By Justin Witt
T
he Rio Pico region of Chubut province, Argentina is known to a select and adventurous few as the best big-trout country in all of Patagonia. Comprised of an immense network of lakes and drainages flowing through the Andes of southwestern Argentina, these waters are spectacular, and they’re as far off the beaten path as it gets. The diversity of the fishery is astounding. The area hosts an almost unbelievable quantity of waters in all shapes and sizes, and the region is known for trout that reach “unusual size” in pristine water with very little fishing pressure. “It was incredible. I was fishing dry flies up a little spring creek for trout as long as my leg,” said Greg Baugus, who visited the remote
area with Hemispheres Unlimited, an agency specializing in fishing trips of a lifetime. But spring creeks are not all Rio Pico has to offer. Rainbows, brookies and browns were introduced over a century ago and can be pursued with a wide variety of tackle and techniques. From large lakes and rivers to high-elevation trickles, anglers have the option to throw dry flies on delicate tippets, chuck 6-inch streamers on a heavy sink-tip line, or nymph any day of the week. It all boils down to personal preferences, and it’s all done within the gorgeous expanses and dramatic backdrop of the Andes. Some spots are numbers games, with consistent action for what in Patagonia amounts to smallish fish—fish that would be considered large almost anywhere else in the world. Most folks come down hunting bruisers, though, the photo fish, the monsters that stand out in truly amazing adventures. Hemispheres Unlimited offers perfect trips for those seeking adventure. Their Rio Pico Trout Bum program pairs anglers with local guides who grew up on these drainages and know them like the backs of their hands. It’s a unique, low-cost option for anglers more interested in fishing than luxury lodging. There’s no mint on the pillow, for sure. Instead, the Hemispheres Unlimited team makes certain preparations are in place so you can make the most of your time pursuing the fish that brought you to Argentina in the first place. Accommodations for the Trout Bum program are best described as authentic, in true, local, Patagonia style. Unless there is a specific need for backcountry camping, groups usually lodge at local hospedajes, either in town or out on one of the waters. Each spot has its own characteristics, advantages and style, and Hemispheres helps each group choose the best option for their desires. The program can be set up in a wide variety of styles, ranging from boat fishing every day of the trip to mixed trips with easier wading, all the way to more extreme hike-in and camp expeditions. For more information on the Rio Pico Trout Bum program and everything else Hemispheres Unlimited offers, go to hemispheresunlimited. com/blog/diving-mizpah.
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Photo courtesy of www.sfctravel.com
By CAM Staff
A
nglers seeking stellar offshore fishing, including the best Atlantic blue marlin fishing on the planet should book passage to Cape Verde. This island nation about 350 miles off northwest Africa is a horseshoe cluster of 10 islands and eight islets that are a popular tourist destination for Europeans. The fishery is renowned for the consistency of big blue marlin. Billfish Report ranked it best in the world for 500-plus-pound blues, edging out venerable Kona, Hawaii by the numbers in its annual rankings based on 2018 statistics. Last years numbers were 110 blue marlin heavier than 500 pounds, including a 900-plus-pounder and one grander, which stretched the scales to 1,037 pounds. It’s the kind of place where releasing three marlin heavier than 500 pounds in a day is considered possible… because it happens. With big-game fishing this good, the marlin fishing is obviously the headliner. It’s best from April through July, with March and August usually being good as well. It’s a happy coincidence that this time frame coincides with the best seasons for yellowfin tuna, sailfish, wahoo and dorado. Four islands, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vincente, Santo Antao and Maio, harbor most of the medium-sized recreational fleet. The channel between Sao Vincente and Santo Antao is the epicenter of this international hot-spot for blues. For more information, go to www.capeverdeislands.org.
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ve he R ! e Old Florida Waterfront Charm Re-Discovered N t s e O R R fO eas The Perfect Vacation Getaway for Fishing, Boating and Outdoor Enthusiasts NOWteR s N Wi Accommodations are nestled on 6 lush tropical acres of pristine waterfront directly on the Indian River Lagoon. As you make your way down the one lane road you will truly be stepping back in time. Your hosts Kim and Robert Pruitt have re-captured the very best of Old Florida charm with modern conveniences and services to make your stay truly memorable and unforgettable.
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FLORIDA
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erious saltwater anglers know how important trim tabs are to optimizing any boat’s ride, performance and fuel efficiency. The ability to fine-tune a boat’s ride is even more important with today’s high-performance center console offshore, bay and flats boats. Adjusting a boat’s running attitude with trim tabs can also compensate for how a boat is loaded, ensuring a dry, safe and comfortable ride. While modern boats have become much “smarter” and more technologically advanced in recent years, operating trim tabs was still largely trial-and-error for the boater. That has changed with the recent unveiling of Dometic Marine’s new Smart Trim Tab System, designed to give owners of inboard/outboard and outboard powered boats precision control never before possible. This new system is a “smart” reinvention of the trim tab—offering robust construction, user programmability, quick, accurate response and intuitive operation. “Today’s modern vessels are becoming smarter and more connected,” said Eric Fetchko, President of Dometic Marine Americas. “With this new introduction, we’ve taken trim tab technology and performance to a new level for boat builders and boaters alike. This will be a true game changer for the industry.” Dometic Marine has engineered the Smart Trim Tab System for inboard/outboard vessels, as well as today’s popular high-performance boats powered by single, twin, triple or quad outboards. It has the ability to connect with the Optimus Electric Steering System, joystick control and shift-throttle controls. Dometic Marine’s CAN-based smart actuator can also be used as a
standalone component to integrate with a boat’s control system. For instance, using this connected technology, wake boarders and wake surfers will be able to precisely control the shape/size of their wake by commanding an exact actuator position. This system uses a Smart Dial controller for intuitive operation and a customizable user experience. User programmable settings (Home and Favorite) make it easy to get the boat into optimum running attitude, whether the goal is to smooth the ride, maximize fuel efficiency or fine-tune the perfect wake. The easy-to-use smart dial can also be turned manually to level the boat quickly as conditions change, with built-in LED lights that indicate trim tab position. This system’s smart actuator provides unparalleled positional accuracy and repeatability. Dometic Marine’s sophisticated all-electric design reduces complexity and increases reliability. The robust actuator shaft and housing design provides strong performance in both the push and pull direction. The design also features superior actuator sealing to prevent leaks, even with extended use in the harsh marine environment. Additionally, the installer has the ability to control the speed at which the tabs deploy and retract. When synchronized with Dometic Marine’s Optimus 360 electric steering, joystick control and shift/throttle controls, the Smart Trim Tab System can respond to RPM and gear position inputs for even greater control. The tabs auto retract when the key is turned off, when the vessel is put in reverse, or any time the vessel is put into joystick mode. This exciting new Smart Trim Tab System will be available to OEM installers beginning in December 2019. For more information, visit www. seastarsolutions.com.
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56th
Islamorada Sailfish TOURNAMENT
DECEMBER 5th Thru DECEMBER 8th
Dec. 5th - Kickoff • Dec. 6-8th - Fishing • Dec. 8 - Awards $60,000.00 in prize money paid to winners in 2018
Hosted by Whale Harbor Restaurant & Marina Islamorada / MM83 / Oceanside The Islamorada Sailfish Tournament is the primary fundraiser for the Islamorada Charter Boat Association, a 501-C-3 corporation. For more information, please visit us on the web or call Dianne Harbaugh 305.522.4868
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THANKSGIVING
IN THE KEYS
By Nick Carter
T
he year-round mahi bite is legendary in Atlantic waters off the Florida Keys. This time of the year the sailfish bite is phenomenal as well. Winter is a relative term when you’re talking about Monroe County, Fla. Wintertime lows average in the high 60s at night and highs run in the mid-70s. It’s downright comfortable. Apparently it’s the same with water temperatures. Just past the reef line, which runs the length of the Keys, big pelagic species show up in numbers to overwinter and feed on abundant schools of baitfish. Chief among them are sailfish. Capt. Chris Johnson, with SeaSquared Charters out of Marathon, looks forward to Thanksgiving every year, but not because of turkey. Late November is the beginning of sailfish season. It’s a time of diving frigatebirds and showering ballyhoo, when sight-fishing sailfish is the biggest thrill on the water. Mornings begin early. Low-light is key to finding sails and other pelagics as they push schools of baitfish up to the surface and into the air. Diving birds are the dead giveaway. From a tower, the activity is visible, as birds circle progressively lower and then plummet from the sky to take part in the massacre. “When you show up on the reef and you’re seeing spraying bait and birds, it’s game on,” said Johnson. “It’s usually an early morning thing, but it can go on into the day when there’s good cloud cover.” Depending on where in the Keys you set out from, the reef is just a 3 to 7 mile run from the docks. The sharp outer reef edge, which drops steeply into the 100-foot depths, is the topography that holds fish. Unlike most fisheries, where anglers attempt to intersect roving sailfish, fish actually congregate to feed off the Keys. Plentiful bait schools on the reef in close proximity to deep water create a unique situation where sailfish move into the shallows to corral and crash balls of baitfish. “This is what we’ve got that’s unique from anywhere else. It’s exciting, with lots of visual activity,” said Capt. Johnson. “We get sailfish spraying ballyhoos in 20 feet of water.” When it’s on, it really is sight fishing. Anglers must be able to cast
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live bait with accuracy that puts it on the edge of a spraying school or directly on the nose of a visible sailfish. The action can be hit or miss, but there’s nothing like it when a sailfish picks up the bait, feels the steel and starts tailwalking across the surface. Johnson said a good day sees double-digit release flags flying. When the bait showers die down, the fish remain in the area. Johnson said he’ll move off the reef edge in search of color breaks, weed lines and current breaks where baitfish are easy targets. “You want that blue water from the Gulf Stream up on that powdery water from the reef,” he said. “Sailfish love to hunt and chase bait up into that powdery water.” And where there are sailfish chasing bait, other species gather to feed as well. “If you’re into sailfish, you’re going to catch the other stuff, too,” Johnson said. “We see a lot of kingfish, blackfin tuna, dolphin, cobia, and even the occasional white marlin.” Sight fishing becomes power drifting, as Johnson deploys a spread of live baits and bumps the engine in and out of gear to cover water while presenting lively baits. Pilchards, cigar minnows and sardines are all on the menu. But when fish are keyed on ballyhoo, they won’t eat anything but ballyhoo, and a ballyhoo in open water out off the reef is bound to get hammered. In the right conditions, Johnson deploys kites with bridled goggle eyes. This tactic is particularly useful for skittish sailfish, as most of the tackle is suspended above the water where it’s not as visible to the fish. With the bait dancing near the surface, anglers might notice a fin or bill circling the bait. Then anticipation gives way to adrenaline, as the bait is inhaled and the speed and aerobatics of a fighting sailfish take over. The action is enough to make an angler forget everything but sailfish… until it’s time to unload a cooler full of blackfin and dolphin at the docks. Contact Capt. Chris Johnson and SeaSquared Charters through their website at www.seasquaredcharters.com.
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It’s a boy!
Troll, cast or fly a kite in the warm waters of The Florida Keys, and you could be rewarded with a real bundle of joy. Then again, if a rambunctious bull dolphin isn’t what you were hoping for, you could be blessed with a behemoth blue marlin – truly the mother of all gamefish. fla-keys.com 1.800.fla.keys COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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MCTG-4078 Coastal Angler LO1 • November 2019
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Photo by Andrea Whitaker A diver awaits pickup at the surface after a drift dive off of Palm Beach.
By John Lidington
D
rift diving is a major part of the Palm Beach County dive scene, so a lot of divers are introduced to this discipline in our waters. Any open-water diver should have skills to handle diving in currents. But developing and applying some special habits makes such dives smoother, safer and more fun. On the ideal drift dive, divers let the current carry them over long stretches of bottom. The boat drifts overhead tracking the “float ball,” a buoy connected by reel from the surface to an underwater dive guide. The most comfortable dives are those where a diver “goes with the flow” of the current. That means limiting the need to swim against current and facilitating easy pickup back on the surface.
The dive briefing is about more than where to find the goliath groupers or turtles. Listen carefully. Is the dive guide running a continuous drift or planning to tie off for a while? Are there bottom features that alter the current? How strong is the current and how good is the visibility? This information will help refine your dive plan. When the captain shouts “Dive, dive, dive!” you should be ready to jump in quickly. That means having your equipment ready early. One tip in addition to what you know by heart: After testing its power inflator, suck all the air from your BC. You’re then ready for a “negative entry,” where you hop in and immediately begin your descent. As you descend, note the strength and direction of the current with your compass. The stronger the current and the lower the visibility, the more you need to focus on staying near your buddy and the group. A one-knot current carries you about 100 feet per minute. If visibility is 70 feet and you’re poking around in a hole for a minute, your buddy will be gone when you look up. If you’re in a strong current, do your best to maintain neutral buoyancy and dive at a safe distance from the bottom to prevent bumping the reef. At the end of the dive, use your Surface Marker Buoy (SMB). Sure, the well-trained eyes of the pros running the charter boats are great at picking out bobbing divers. But, while it’s a pain to deflate and re-roll “safety sausages,” they can make retrieval of the group faster and smoother. If released when you reach your safety stop, they give the captain a two-minute warning on where divers will be surfacing. There’s a lot more to drift diving than the few tips I can offer here. PADI offers a Drift Diver specialty course that efficiently bundles theory and training into a few hours work coupled with two dives. If you want to jump-start your skills, give Pura Vida Divers a call at 561-840-8750 or visit www.puravidadivers.com.
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FISH & FISHING
CAT TRAILER
A
MARK SOSIN
sk me my favorite fishing spot, and the answer might surprise you. With a career that spanned more than 50 years as a journalist and educator focusing on fishing (both freshwater and salt), my travels took me to all 50 states and more than 60 countries. I’m not a professional angler or tournament fisherman, nor am I a licensed captain or guide. My father loved to fish, and he started me when I was 3 years old by letting me hold a rod with a freshwater critter wiggling on the end of the line. That hooked me for life.
Photo by Mike Fineguerra
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Over the years, my travels took me to some of the hottest spots in the world for particular species. Usually, accommodations were marginal and the facilities questionable. As an example, before they brought peacock bass to the southern United States, I caught them in the Amazon jungles of Brazil. There are spots in the nearshore Pacific where it’s not uncommon to raise a couple dozen sailfish almost every day. There are tigerfish in central Africa, bonefish in the Bahamas and other hotspots. If you asked me to reveal my favorite fishing spot, my answer would be South Florida. Let me tell you why. You can get there from any part of the U.S. by car, train or plane, stay in a five-star hotel and eat in the best restaurants. Everywhere you want to fish, there are some of the best guides to put you on the species you seek. Biscayne Bay lies at Miami’s doorstep with Miami Beach on the eastern shore. In the Bay, you can catch bonefish, permit, snook and tarpon along with countless other species including sharks, which are a great challenge in shallow water on casting tackle. A short boat ride through Government Cut puts you in the Atlantic a few miles from the shoreward edge of the Gulf Stream. These waters hold a plethora of species that include sailfish, swordfish, dolphin, king mackerel, wahoo, tuna, an occasional marlin, and a wide variety of bottom species. At certain times of the year, snook feed in the coastal inlets and along the beaches. An hour’s drive to Flamingo in Everglades National Park puts you are in prime territory for redfish as well as several other species that are challenging and fun to catch. Many of the canals around Miami and south toward Key Largo hold peacock bass. Canals leading from Lake Okeechobee also host largemouth bass for the freshwater aficionado. And, there are even guides available for the land-based angler. You would be hard pressed to find another major city in the world that offers spectacular fishing for a host of species right at its doorstep. If there is such a place, I haven’t found it. That’s why South Florida is my favorite fishing spot.
For more from Mark Sosin, visit
CAMFISHING.COM
COASTAL ANGLER Panama City, DESTIN & The Forgotten Coast PUBLISHER Capt. Randy Cnota
NOVEMBER 2019 | www.coastalanglermag.com/panama-city
CO-PUBLISHER Dawna Cnota GRAPHIC ARTS & DESIGN Laura Kelly PHOTOGRAPHY Capt. Randy Cnota CONTRIBUTING WRITERS J.R. Mundinger Capt. Chester Reese Capt. Jason Shingler Capt. Daryl Shumate Evan Soroka Capt. James Tew
Large gag ca ught by Jeff Pollock with Natural Wor ld Charters in Carabelle.
per on fine red grou Glenn with a apper day of fall sn the opening oat. b e C-note season on th
Capt. Jordan Todd
Butch g utted it out all day a nd haule d his snapper home. He ’s one tough ho mbre!
Paul Tyre Capt. Peter Wright, Jr.
(229) 834-7880 CoastalAnglerMag.com/Panama-City
Check out our Facebook Page for fishing videos, pictures, tips and more!
up sh doubled Mike and A ers pp a sn ck ce bla with some ni t. C-note boa aboard the
8 year old Dev on Johsnston with a nice Des tin red. His mission acco mplished!
rald, ott Fitzge Capt. Sc , is rs Charte Madfish e om s nts on putting clie ! action epic mahi
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THE
See this section for forecasts and guide info to put you in the action!
BITEIS THIS
HOTFALL! TREASURE COAST
409_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 1
10/17/19 8:17 AM
Panama City Tides
www.USHarbors.com
Panama City, FL - Nov 2019 High
Date
AM
ft
Low
PM
ft
AM
ft
11:41
0.0
PM
Rise
Set
6:55
5:57
0.1
6:56
5:56
12:30
0.2
5:57
4:55
1:11
0.3
5:57
4:54
1.4
1:28
0.4
5:58
4:54
2:38
1.2
1:27
0.5
5:59
4:53
Thu
3:47
1.0
8:30
1.0
1:30
0.6
6:00
4:52
8
Fri
7:41
0.9
8:26
1.1
2:06
0.8
1:25
0.7
6:01
4:51
9
Sat
9:19
0.8
8:27
1.2
3:19
0.6
12:00
0.8
6:01
4:51
10
Sun
8:18
1.3
4:17
0.5
6:02
4:50
11
Mon
8:16
1.4
5:11
0.3
6:03
4:50
12
Tue
8:37
1.6
6:05
0.2
6:04
4:49
13
Wed
9:10
1.6
7:03
0.0
6:05
4:48
14
Thu
9:50
1.7
8:01
-0.1
6:06
4:48
15
Fri
10:34
1.7
8:57
-0.1
6:06
4:47
16
Sat
11:21
1.7
9:51
-0.2
6:07
4:47
17
Sun
10:42
-0.2
6:08
4:47
18
Mon
12:09
1.7
11:30
-0.2
6:09
4:46
19
Tue
12:57
1.5
12:12
-0.1
6:10
4:46
20
Wed
1:46
1.3
12:42
0.1
6:10
4:45
21
Thu
2:38
1.1
8:26
0.8
12:58
0.3
6:11
4:45
22
Fri
6:57
0.8
8:00
1.0
1:31
0.7
12:52
0.5
6:12
4:45
23
Sat
9:07
0.6
7:58
1.1
3:45
0.4
11:18 AM
0.6
6:13
4:44
24
Sun
7:56
1.3
4:52
0.2
6:14
4:44
25
Mon
8:00
1.5
5:53
-0.1
6:15
4:44
26
Tue
8:25
1.6
6:54
-0.3
6:15
4:44
27
Wed
9:02
1.6
7:52
-0.4
6:16
4:44
28
Thu
9:44
1.6
8:44
-0.4
6:17
4:43
29
Fri
10:28
1.6
9:32
-0.4
6:18
4:43
30
Sat
11:10
1.5
10:13
-0.3
6:19
4:43
1
Fri
2
Sat
12:31
1.8
12:38
3
Sun
1:16
1.7
4
Mon
1:01
1.5
5
Tue
1:47
6
Wed
7
ft
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PANAMA CITY / WEst Bay Backcountry / Bay / Inshore:
This month the trout, redfish, and flounder bite will be incredible! Trout are aggressively feeding to put on weight ahead of the more inactive winter months. Casting a top-water lures at daylight and dusk will provide plenty of action. Live bait will do great anytime especially free lined with no weight. Hook them in the tail to stay on top, or in the head or nose to make them swim down. Pitching your lure/bait of choice around the docks in the bay will produce some nice redfish and where there is one, there are usually several, so be patient and work each dock well. Around the Hathaway Bridge some big bull reds are being caught on live bait and jigs, on and near the bottom. The pass, on the outgoing tide, is a good place as well. Mangrove snapper and a few sheepshead are being found near rocks and other shallow structure. Use a light weight bottom rig with live shrimp suspended just off the bottom for best results. Flounder are staging around the pass and in the deep holes and drop offs in the bay making their way toward the gulf. Soft plastic jigs fished on the bottom in those holes and ledges will provoke founder to strike and a live bull minnow or finger mullet is hard for them to resist.
offshore:
Capt. Daryl Shumate Liquid Native Charters 850-624-6968 Liquidnativecharters.com
Redfish on the flats too!
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409_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 2
Slaying kings in PCB!
Red snapper is closed again but gag grouper is open and there are plenty to be had. Also be prepared to deal with a few amberjack which is also closed for harvest, but don’t forget about the mangrove and other species of snapper that can be kept. Remember to have a rod rigged up with a leader and a live bait for king mackerel that are around and the occasional cobia. Be sure to check the regulations before heading out.
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10/17/19 8:17 AM
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Panama City / East Bay Hello anglers! November is here already and we should start seeing some changes out there as we move through the month. I recorded water temperatures in the 80’s late into October, so it seems things are a little behind schedule. Expect temps to drop very soon as cold fronts begin to arrive. This means migratory fish will be on the move.
yield snappers, triggers, amberjacks, and grouper. If I have a few people on the boat, I like to mix up dropping big and small baits for a variety of species. I would keep at least one big bait down around structure for those grouper. Live squirrel fish are my favorite for gags but many other larger live baits will produce. Keep your hook and leader sizes in accordance to bait size.
Backcountry / Bay / Inshore:
SURF:
It should be a great month for trout, redfish and flounder! I’ve been seeing a lot of bait activity throughout our bay system. Live shrimp, pilchards, or menhaden would be my go-to baits on the flats and around structure. For flounder, you can’t beat a bull minnow on a slip sinker rig or soft plastics on a jig head bumped slowly on hard sand bottom. Keep a lookout for those birds bombing. Spanish mackerel will be making that last big run. Spoons, gotcha plugs and trolled tree rigs will be the ticket.
GULF:
There will still be some big kings and mahi mahi hanging around so keep some trolling and free-line rigs tied up. Bottom fishing will
Spoons and gotchas will get a lot of tugs this month as the Spanish mackerel, blue fish, lady fish, and many more make their run down the beaches. Shrimp, crabs and fresh cut baits will produce some red fish, whiting and a few others fished on the bottom. A free-lined blue runner or cigar minnow on a larger surf rod won’t be a bad idea because there will still be a few big kings cruising the beach as well. Thanks for reading and fish on! Capt. Jason Shingler Adrenaline On H20 Panama City, FL (850) 348-2282
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
409_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 3
NOVEMBER 2019
Andi Holmes had a time with this big black drum fishing with Capt. Jason. panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast 3
10/17/19 8:17 AM
APALACHICOLA RIVER
ds OutbOar
in stOck
nOW!
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Apalachicola Tides
www.USHarbors.com
Apalachicola, FL - Nov 2019 High
Date
Low
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Fri
5:39
1.9
10:00
1.6
12:54
1.5
2:10
0.0
7:52
6:54
2
Sat
6:18
1.8
10:53
1.6
1:30
1.5
3:03
0.1
7:52
6:54
3
Sun
6:02
1.7
10:39
1.5
1:19
1.4
3:06
0.2
6:53
5:53
4
Mon
7:01
1.5
11:25
1.5
2:50
1.3
4:13
0.3
6:54
5:52
5
Tue
8:50
1.3
4:48
1.2
5:20
0.4
6:55
5:51
1
6
Wed
12:10
1.5
10:36 AM
1.3
6:21
1.0
6:20
0.5
6:56
5:51
7
Thu
12:47
1.5
12:28
1.3
7:11
0.8
7:06
0.6
6:56
5:50
8
Fri
1:14
1.5
1:44
1.4
7:48
0.6
7:41
0.7
6:57
5:49
9
Sat
1:32
1.5
2:39
1.4
8:22
0.5
8:10
0.8
6:58
5:49
10
Sun
1:44
1.6
3:29
1.5
8:53
0.3
8:35
1.0
6:59
5:48
11
Mon
1:56
1.7
4:19
1.5
9:25
0.2
9:02
1.1
6:59
5:47
12
Tue
2:13
1.7
5:07
1.6
9:59
0.1
9:35
1.2
7:00
5:47
13
Wed
2:35
1.8
5:54
1.6
10:34
0.0
10:15
1.3
7:01
5:46
14
Thu
3:04
1.8
6:45
1.6
11:11
-0.1
10:59
1.3
7:02
5:46
15
Fri
3:39
1.9
7:46
1.5
11:50
-0.2
11:42
1.3
7:03
5:45
16
Sat
4:21
1.8
8:52
1.5
12:33
-0.2
7:04
5:45
17
Sun
5:07
1.8
9:44
1.5
12:25
1.3
1:23
-0.2
7:04
5:44
18
Mon
5:59
1.7
10:28
1.4
1:19
1.3
2:24
-0.1
7:05
5:44
19
Tue
7:05
1.5
11:09
1.4
2:38
1.2
3:33
0.0
7:06
5:44
20
Wed
8:43
1.3
11:46
1.3
4:12
1.0
4:44
0.1
7:07
5:43
21
Thu
10:23
1.3
5:42
0.8
5:54
0.2
7:08
5:43
22
Fri
12:16
1.4
12:14
1.3
6:48
0.5
6:54
0.4
7:08
5:43
23
Sat
12:41
1.4
1:51
1.3
7:39
0.2
7:41
0.6
7:09
5:42
24
Sun
1:03
1.5
3:03
1.4
8:24
-0.1
8:22
0.9
7:10
5:42
25
Mon
1:27
1.6
4:10
1.5
9:10
-0.3
8:59
1.1
7:11
5:42
26
Tue
1:53
1.7
5:09
1.5
9:57
-0.4
9:37
1.2
7:12
5:42
27
Wed
2:22
1.7
6:00
1.5
10:45
-0.5
10:20
1.3
7:13
5:42
28
Thu
2:55
1.7
6:48
1.5
11:29
-0.5
11:03
1.3
7:13
5:41
29
Fri
3:34
1.7
7:36
1.4
12:09 PM
-0.4
11:43
1.2
7:14
5:41
30
Sat
4:17
1.6
8:22
1.4
12:48
-0.3
7:15
5:41
4 panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast
409_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 4
Moon
I wish I had better results to report for this forecast, but at the time of this writing the river remains very low and big fish seem to be rare. While I and some others have had limited success bagging sizeable bass, for the most part small ones are most prevalent. The good news is that given the huge numbers of small bass and the incredible abundance of forage in shad and crawfish, the future of this river is bright. This is not to say that there are no big fish, I know of two bass over 9 pounds that have been caught this year and I’ve caught two over five pounds myself. This month the top-water bite should continue just as good as in October, if not better! Try working a walking bait like a Zara Spook or a Vixen over large submerged tree tops out in the main river run. A buzzbait and a Bang-O-Lure will also continue to produce well, but never overlook tossing a Spro Frog under willow trees for a bigger bite. Pitching and flipping C-note with a 5 pounder that to heavy cover with ate a Spro Frog. a jig or Texas-rigged creature bait will produce when the top-water bite is off. If you’re not going to pitch and flip, I’d suggest a crankbait. I really prefer to use the Bagley Rattlin Kill’r B in Brown Crawdad color. I really think this bait gets to the feeding instinct of bass that are chasing shad or crawfish. It works through heavy cover better than most any cranks I’ve used and they always run true right out of the box. Keep hunting those big ones because I believe they’re still out there somewhere! Good fishing and God bless. Capt. Randy “C-note” Cnota C-note Charters Panama City, FL cnotecharters.com (229) 834-7880
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Indoor Shooting Range • Valparaiso, FL
A
s we move into the fall and winter hunts, I thought many of our readers would be interested in knowing about this place. The Emerald Coast Indoor Shooting & Sport in Valparaiso, Florida is the only range of its kind that I know of, in this area. It’s a one-stop shop for all things guns! They have a range, weapons sales & rentals, ammo, training, transfers…you name it. The indoor range is clean, State of the Art, and staffed with a bunch of really helpful, knowledgeable and friendly folks. They offer a firearm test drive program so you can try before you buy. To me, firearms aren’t just about hunting. They’re about our constitutional rights as well. Like many of us that hunt and fish, I like to stay proficient in firearm training; even if it’s just simply practicing at drawing my weapon and firing. I can’t do this where I live, so I have to go somewhere…so why not go to an awesome air conditioned range like this one? My wife will definitely be going here with me to shoot because she won’t have to sweat or swat bugs and every Friday is “Date Night!” Treat your date to a night of range time instead of some cheesy movie. Whether you’re a seasoned shooter or if you’ve never owned a gun and were looking for a place to go get help in becoming a responsible and trained gun owner, this is the place for you…go check it out. For more info call ECISS at (850) 502-2354 or go to www.theshootersrange. com. ~ Capt. Randy Cnota
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panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast 5
10/17/19 8:17 AM
DESTIN / Choctawhatchee BAY Just because the Destin Fishing Rodeo has wrapped up, it doesn’t mean that the fishing is over; in a lot of ways, it’s actually getting better. Fall brings out the best of fishing in our area. Temps are cool, but the water is still warm. There’s a lot of bait in the area and that will hold lots of fish. Most tourists have gone home so locals can get out without all the crowds. All of the inshore, nearshore, and offshore bites will continue to be good, so don’t put your rods up yet. November is one of the best months out of the year for inshore fishing. Both trout and redfish will continue to be good and continue to get better, but it’s flounder time! Every fall we have a flounder spawning migration where they leave the bays and estuaries and head to the gulf. Usually, the most active part of the migration is after the moon in October, but I believe November will be when most
Rob Combs with a fine king.
of the migration happens this year. When this happens you can really catch a nice mess for the dinner table. Once the fish start heading into the gulf, they’ll stack up on all the nearshore wrecks, usually within 3- to 4-miles from the passes. You can
Destin/Choctawhatchee Bay
www.USHarbors.com
Destin (Choctawhatchee Bay, East Pass), FL Nov 2019 High
Date
Low
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Fri
12:29
0.9
12:11
0.0
6:59
6:00
2
Sat
1:18
0.9
1:18
0.0
6:59
5:59
3
Sun
1:10
0.8
1:12
0.0
6:00
4:58
4
Mon
2:03
0.7
1:51
0.0
6:01
4:57
5
Tue
2:55
0.7
2:16
0.1
6:02
4:56
6
Wed
3:50
0.6
2:27
0.1
6:03
4:56
7
Thu
5:10
0.5
10:09
0.5
2:23
0.2
6:03
4:55
8
Fri
7:22
0.4
9:18
0.5
4:07
0.3
1:59
0.2
6:04
4:54
9
Sat
10:09
0.3
8:56
0.6
4:56
0.2
12:47
0.2
6:05
4:54
10
Sun
8:52
0.6
5:34
0.1
6:06
4:53
11
Mon
9:01
0.7
6:11
0.1
6:07
4:52
12
Tue
9:21
0.8
6:51
0.0
6:08
4:52
13
Wed
9:51
0.8
7:39
0.0
6:08
4:51
14
Thu
10:30
0.8
8:36
0.0
6:09
4:51
15
Fri
11:15
0.8
9:42
-0.1
6:10
4:50
16
Sat
10:50
-0.1
6:11
4:50
17
Sun
12:06
0.8
11:52
-0.1
6:12
4:49
18
Mon
1:00
0.8
12:43
-0.1
6:13
4:49
19
Tue
1:58
0.7
1:24
-0.1
6:13
4:48
20
Wed
3:02
0.6
1:54
0.0
6:14
4:48
21
Thu
4:33
0.5
10:00
0.4
2:06
0.1
6:15
4:48
22
Fri
7:06
0.4
8:33
0.4
2:29
0.2
1:46
0.2
6:16
4:47
23
Sat
8:08
0.5
4:07
0.1
6:17
4:47
24
Sun
8:12
0.7
5:10
0.0
6:18
4:47
25
Mon
8:35
0.7
6:06
-0.1
6:18
4:47
26
Tue
9:08
0.8
7:02
-0.1
6:19
4:46
27
Wed
9:48
0.8
8:01
-0.1
6:20
4:46
28
Thu
10:31
0.8
9:02
-0.2
6:21
4:46
29
Fri
11:16
0.8
10:02
-0.1
6:22
4:46
30
Sat
11:58
0.7
10:55
-0.1
6:22
4:46
1
PM
ft
AM
ft
6 panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast
409_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 6
Moon
also find them on their way out around the bridges and jetties. The best rig for these fish is a 1/0 circle hook, an 18” leader of 20 lb test, and a slip lead. Lead sizes will vary depending on current and depth. Use bull minnows, if you can find them, or finger mullet; small cigar minnows can be effective too. This is one of the best runs of fish we have all year, so get ready! We still have large schools of mullet around this time of year and if you find them, trout and redfish should be there. Cast soft plastics in and around the schools. Blood minnows and greenies should be good this month, which will keep the redfish, trout, bluefish, and skipjacks happy. If you find the birds diving in the bay, you’ll find fish, so keep working plastic baits, both hard and soft, and you’ll get some bites. Most guys fishing the inshore wrecks for flounder almost always end up with a nice catch of black snapper, mingos, triggers, and even a few grouper. There’s still plenty of bait piled up on all the wrecks so the fish aren’t going anywhere. As usual, you’ll have to dig through the red snappers to catch any of these fish, but that’s a fun problem. You can use the same type of tackle for the bottom fish as you would for flounder. If you start getting broken off you can go up a few
NOVEMBER 2019
sizes on your leader material; flounder don’t seem to mind and you’ll catch more fish of other species. The offshore bite will again be great this month! November has mostly good weather, but it can get rough. If possible, take advantage of the pretty days and plan your days around the weather, not just when you have a day off from work. Bottom fishing will continue to be good for grouper, amberjack, triggerfish, snapper and more. Bait should be relatively easy to find, but if it starts to get cold, move into the harbors and bayous to find your bait. Have a pinfish trap ready for when the bait on the beach starts to scatter. Try something many others do not…start keeping your white snapper, mingos, mullet, bluefish, skipjacks, lizard fish, squirrel fish and more, to use for bait. You’ll get a lot of bites using these and sometimes bigger fish too. The offshore trolling bite will start to slow down this month but will still be pretty good. There’s always a few tuna and bonito stacked up on the edge which will keep the wahoo around. The yellowfin tuna bite has been real good and should continue to get better off of the mouth of the Mississippi around the offshore rigs. November, especially the early part, can be really good for billfish. White marlin are still around and a few blues, we’ve caught them all the way out to Thanksgiving. Fall fishing on the Emerald Coast will continue to be good, so don’t miss out! For more info on fishing or to get setup with the right tackle, feel free to call or stop by the shop.
Capt. Peter Wright Jr. The Ships Chandler 646 E. Hwy 98 Destin, FL 32541 850-837-9306 www.theshipschandler.com
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10/17/19 8:17 AM
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409_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 7
in g
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ow about a little good news for Mexico Beach? Highway 98 is now back open with no detours and more importantly, the boat launch is open for business! For reef fishing, Mexico Beach is hard to beat. I always enjoy launching here because fish covered reefs are just a short boat ride away. The fee to launch is $10 and well worth it. This is a very good launch with plenty of room for multiple boats and plenty of dock to tie up. Four restaurants are open and a few other businesses are as well. Mexico Beach Marina is back up and running, offering fuel for both your boat and your body. Fuel up and gear up right there and hit the reefs! Limited short term slip rentals are available, but contact the harbor master first at (850) 527-7147. Road work and countless construction projects continue, so please be careful while driving through. All of the businesses here would appreciate your patronage. Mexico Beach is bouncing back, so come out and enjoy this beautiful area and some world-class fishing! For more info contact the Mexico Beach Visitors Center (850) 6488196 or see www.mexicobeach.com.
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panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast 7
10/17/19 8:17 AM
lake SEMINOLE
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The bass fishing has been good in October despite the record high temperatures at the beginning of the month. We expect the bass fishing in November to be excellent. Bass are feeding on shad and bream, and top-water lures like buzzbaits and frogs have been very productive. As we move into November, crankbaits, jerkbaits and swim jigs will be great options for covering water and getting bites from big bass! The Stripers and Hybrids have been schooling on the main lake and are being caught on Alabama-rigs and crankbaits. As we go into the fall, striper and hybrid fishing will continue to get better. This is a great time for an ECO Tour on Lake Seminole. It’s still warm enough to see the ospreys and alligators along with other native species in their natural setting. Lake Seminole Fishing Adventures is booking ECO Tours now! For a Lake Seminole Fishing Adventure or ECO Tour this fall, give us a call at 850-264-7534 or follow us on Instagram @ lakeseminolefishingadventures and Facebook @ paultyrefishing! Paul Tyre PaulTyreFishing@yahoo.com 850-264-7534
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Caleb Straight with a nice bass caught while on a Lake Seminole Fishing Adventure!
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8 panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast
409_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 8
NOVEMBER 2019
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10/17/19 8:17 AM
Pro's Corner with capt. randy cnota
KINGS OF FALL And Leader Choices
A
s we move into the fall, the king mackerel bite really picks up… especially for the bigger ones. During the height of the season when we’re catching big numbers, I seem to get fewer big ones, but as the temps start to drop, I get more big king action. In October, while on a guide trip, my clients and I were roughly 10 miles to the west of the pass hovering over a reef, bottom fishing. As always, I free line a live bait behind the boat in the current. I had the bait rigged on a light wire leader out for quite some time…nothing. I put the steel away and floated another like bait out, but this time on a 50 pound fluorocarbon leader with a 5/0 circle hook. No sooner had I put the rod down and set the baitrunner feature, off it went. After some time of a screaming drag and some boat jockeying I gaffed this 58½ inch king for Glenn Hoflund. While this is the biggest king to ever hit my deck, it’s not the first time this same “presentation” scenario has played out. Steel leaders have caught me many
kings, but fluorocarbon leaders have caught all of my biggest kings and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten instant results, like I just described, by switching from steel to fluoro. There’s a down side. If you didn’t already know, kings have teeth…lots of very sharp ones. Given this fact, you know you will lose many fish using a fluoro leader. I’ve lost more circle hooks than I can count, but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make in order to get the bite in the first place. When you’re lucky and tighten up on a fish at the right moment, the circle hook will lodge right in the corner of the mouth, with the eye of the hook firmly planted on the outside of the jaw. I don’t suggest using any other hook. During the fight, especially near the boat when the fish changes direction, a regular “J” hook can swing around and take a hit from a tooth…done! I think kings have really good vision and when they find themselves in areas abundant in forage along with lots of fishing pressure, they can afford to be cautious. A cautious fish
Glenn Hoflund with his 58½ inch kingfish.
will decide not to bite for many reasons, so there will be times when your presentation has to eliminate at least one element of a fish’s ability to detect fraud…his vision. Fluorocarbon is virtually invisible in water. There’s pro’s and con’s to this
and I’m not giving up my steel leaders, but give fluoro a try this fall while those really big kings are patrolling our area and see if it doesn’t at least get you more bites. Capt. Randy “C-Note” Cnota www.cnotecharters.com
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panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast 9
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November bass fishing on Lake Jackson is usually one of the best months of the year. Water temps are finally cooling and this will invigorate the top-water action that can last all day. In open water, walking baits like a Zara Spook Jr. can be deadly. A Rapala Floating Minnow, size F11 or F13, is easy to use and effective. I nearly always give these to my clients this time of year. Find some scattered grass (it isn’t hard right now) near other forms of vegetation or cover like lily pads or trees. Cast your Rapala horizontal with the grass line using 12# test monofilament. After the bait hits the water, wait until the rings it creates are about 3’ away before making a turn of the reel. With a semi slack line “pop” your rod tip and make the bait look like an injured shiner; then just hold on! This method works well throughout most of the day. I’ve caught plenty of double digit bass this time of year using this technique. Another great thing is that the grass will begin to die back. Shallow areas across the lake will be affected first. Floating grass clumps hold lots of bait and that attracts the bass. Work in and around the clumps with a flipping stick, soft plastic jerk bait or a Rapala. Not long ago, we were super excited about the amount of rain during the first half of the year. Water levels were stable at a foot above normal allowing access to places that were inaccessible for the last 2 years. That excitement is over and now we’re hoping for rain each day to keep from losing Lake Jackson to one of it’s sink holes again. Winter months are usually absent of quality rainfall needed to sustain falling water levels. Bass boats and other rigs up to 22’ can still launch safely at Sunset Landing. Other boat ramps are functional with john boats, kayaks and canoes better suited for a safe and happy launch. If you’re looking to spend some quality time on the water November is the month for you! JR Mundinger (850) 296-4071 fishtallahassee@yahoo.com
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409_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 10
NOVEMBER 2019
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lake TALQUIN Lake Talquin doesn’t have the same drought worries as Lake Jackson. Talquin is fueled by the Ochlockonee River and water levels are controlled at the dam. November bass fishing, and fishing in general, can be one of the best months for catching. Past years have had fall temperatures averaging a little warmer. That has slowed the whole feeding process and moves lots of fish shallow, making it pretty easy to target bass, crappie and stripers. By shallow, I mean fish migrate to creeks and cove with vegetation or structure. Try spinner baits, crank baits, jerk baits and plastic worms to locate bass holding near or around docks because these will be prime spots. Vegetation in creeks will also hold some nice bass and one of my favorite fall techniques is top-water or waking a swimbait. I keep my colors simple: watermelon/red or green pumpkin; a big hook, beefy equipment and heavy line are also needed when using this style of fishing. Spinner baits are an absolute must around these areas Barron Cox and son TJ with with some too. Waking a spinner nice Talquin bass, with one over 8 lbs. that bait is another favorite qualified for the Florida Trophy Program. of mine. Use one in a ½ oz. white & chartruse color and cast between lily pads and just hold on! Crappie fishermen will have success trolling in front of creeks like Blount and Harvey. During low light hours, move into the creeks, trolling with the current at about 1 mph. If you’re looking to chase stripers, overcast days are best. Stripers can be found easiest if they’re feeding on large pods of bait near the surface…watch for the seagulls diving! They know right where everything that feeds on shad is located. Until next month, be safe have fun and ALWAYS wear a life jacket while boating. JR Mundinger (850) 296-4071 fishtallahassee@yahoo.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
409_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 11
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St. George Tides
www.USHarbors.com
St. George Island, Sikes Cut, FL - Nov 2019 High
Date
Low
AM
ft
Fri
4:37
1.9
2
Sat
5:03
1.9
3
Sun
4:26
1.8
4
Mon
5
Tue
8:04
1.5
6
Wed
12:00
1.6
9:29 AM
1
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
1:06
0.1
7:51
6:54
2:02
0.2
7:52
6:54
11:11
1.7
2:01
0.4
6:53
5:53
11:40
1.6
3:07
0.5
6:54
5:52
5:39
1.5
4:23
0.6
6:54
5:51
1.5
6:01
1.3
5:26
0.7
6:55
5:51
7
Thu
12:11
1.6
11:00 AM
1.4
6:28
1.1
6:13
0.8
6:56
5:50
8
Fri
12:15
1.6
12:23
1.5
6:56
0.9
6:53
0.9
6:57
5:49
9
Sat
12:27
1.6
1:37
1.5
7:25
0.7
7:33
1.1
6:58
5:49
10
Sun
12:47
1.6
2:45
1.6
7:55
0.5
8:15
1.2
6:58
5:48
11
Mon
1:09
1.6
3:38
1.7
8:26
0.4
9:01
1.3
6:59
5:48
12
Tue
1:31
1.6
4:26
1.7
8:58
0.2
9:42
1.5
7:00
5:47
13
Wed
1:51
1.7
5:19
1.7
9:31
0.1
9:51
1.6
7:01
5:46
14
Thu
2:07
1.7
6:39
1.7
10:05
0.0
9:44
1.7
7:02
5:46
15
Fri
2:23
1.7
10:44
0.0
7:02
5:45
16
Sat
2:44
1.8
11:27
0.0
7:03
5:45
17
Sun
3:06
1.8
18
Mon
1:45
1.7
19
Tue
20
Wed
7:42
21
Thu
22
12:17
0.0
7:04
5:45
10:41
1.6
1:12
0.1
7:05
5:44
10:53
1.6
2:07
0.3
7:06
5:44
1.4
10:54
1.5
5:32
1.4
3:08
0.4
7:07
5:43
9:34
1.3
11:04
1.5
5:45
1.1
4:34
0.7
7:07
5:43
Fri
11:27
1.3
11:24
1.6
6:13
0.8
5:40
0.9
7:08
5:43
23
Sat
1:16 PM
1.4
11:49
1.6
6:47
0.4
6:25
1.1
7:09
5:42
24
Sun
2:51
1.5
7:24
0.2
7:02
1.3
7:10
5:42
25
Mon
12:16
1.7
3:55
1.6
8:06
-0.1
7:31
1.4
7:11
5:42
26
Tue
12:45
1.8
4:48
1.6
8:50
-0.2
7:51
1.5
7:11
5:42
27
Wed
1:17
1.8
5:46
1.6
9:35
-0.3
8:23
1.6
7:12
5:42
28
Thu
1:53
1.8
6:58
1.6
10:17
-0.3
9:09
1.6
7:13
5:42
29
Fri
2:32
1.8
10:59
-0.2
7:14
5:41
30
Sat
3:10
1.7
11:43
-0.1
7:15
5:41
NOVEMBER 2019
Moon
panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast 11
10/17/19 8:17 AM
• Full Line of Groceries • Fresh Produce • Fresh Cut Meats • Fresh Made Pizza • Hot Wings • Full Service Deli- Sandwiches, Subs & Wraps • Liquor | Beer | Wine • Twice The Ice Vending Open 24/7 • Beachwear • Beach Supplies • Clothing • Souvenirs • Gifts • Fishing Gear & Tackle
At Cape San Blas Coffee & Ice Cream
At Weber’s Little Donut Shop
St. Joe Bay Tides
www.USHarbors.com
Port Saint Joe, FL - Nov 2019 High
Date 1
AM
ft
Low
PM
ft
AM
ft
Fri
PM
ft
Rise
Set
1:28
0.2
7:53
6:56
2
Sat
12:15
2.0
1:56
0.2
7:54
6:55
3
Sun
1:17
1.8
1:21
0.3
6:55
5:54
4
Mon
2:32
1.7
1:32
0.4
6:55
5:53
5
Tue
3:29
1.6
1:00
0.5
6:56
5:52
6
Wed
4:28
1.4
10:26
1.2
1:15
0.6
6:57
5:52
7
Thu
5:28
1.3
10:47
1.2
12:50
1.0
1:42
0.7
6:58
5:51
8
Fri
6:36
1.1
10:52 AM
1.1
10:58
1.2
1:51
0.9
8:45 AM
1.0
1.0
8:48
1.3
3:02
0.7
2:47
0.9
6:59
5:50
1.0
9:13
1.5
4:02
0.6
3:19
0.9
7:00
5:49
9
Sat
12:01 PM
10
Sun
1:17 PM
11
Mon
9:26
1.6
4:48
0.4
7:01
5:49
12
Tue
9:07
1.8
5:30
0.2
7:02
5:48
13
Wed
9:16
1.9
6:09
0.1
7:03
5:47
14
Thu
9:42
2.0
6:48
0.0
7:03
5:47
15
Fri
9:33
0.1
10:15
2.0
7:28
0.0
11:36 AM
0.0
7:04
5:46
16
Sat
10:00
0.1
10:53
2.0
8:12
0.0
12:15
-0.1
7:05
5:46
17
Sun
11:41
1.9
12:52
-0.1
7:06
5:46
18
Mon
1:30
0.0
7:07
5:45
19
Tue
12:46
1.7
20
Wed
1:53
1.5
9:37
1.1
21
Thu
2:44
1.3
9:52
1.2
22
Fri
3:30
1.0
9:47 AM
1.0
12:07 PM 10:10
0.2
1.2
7:07
5:45
1.0
7:08
5:44
12:37
0.3
7:09
5:44
12:54
0.8
7:05 AM
0.9
1:10
0.6
1:47
Sat
4:20
0.7
0.9
10:22
1.3
2:05
0.5
24
Sun
12:18 PM
0.9
7:31
1.5
7:23
0.3
2:27
0.7
7:12
5:43
25
Mon
8:04
1.7
7:53
0.1
7:12
5:43
26
Tue
8:41
1.9
5:12
-0.1
7:13
5:43
27
Wed
9:15 High
1.9
5:59
-0.2Low
7:14
5:43
Date
Thu
AM
ft
9:48 PM
1.9 ft
6:42 AM
29
Fri
9:28
-0.1
10:21
1.9
7:24
30
Sat
10:56
1.7
-0.2 ft
PM
ft
7:15 Rise
5:43 Set
-0.2
11:38 AM
-0.2
7:16
5:42
12:08
-0.1
7:16
5:42
12 panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast
409_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 12
For LocaL, regionaL & nationaL MagaZine advertising
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23
Capt. JAMES TEW Kitchen Pass Dive & Fishing Charters 850-896-6476
SALES HELP WANTED
2:07
6:59 AM
With fall upon us and winter just around the corner, the water is cooling down. There are not many people on the water this time of year so you won’t need to search too much for an open dive site. The water temperature is still in the upper 70s. Most of the popular fish like red snapper, trigger, and amberjacks are all out of season. Now is the time to sharpen your spearfishing skills by working on controlling your breathing, moving and making turns without using your hands so you are as stealthy as possible. You may also want to target practice using porgies (white snapper,) they don’t move much and they are smaller and very tasty! The best thing about them there isn’t a size limit in the Gulf and the bag limit is 100 lbs. per person. JT Thomas and crew aboard the Kitchen Pass. Grouper are still in the area so while you target practice, keep an eye out for them. Remember to look up from time to time because you never know what may be lurking just above you like wahoo and tuna. Safety Tip: By now you should be wearing a wetsuit. This typically adds about 4 lbs. of buoyancy, depending on the thickness. The thicker the suit the more buoyant you will be, so you will need to add weight to compensate for this added buoyancy. Also remember if you don’t dive in cooler waters much, it may be a good idea to add 10 feet to your actual depth calculation that you are going to dive. This will keep you safer as your body is working harder than you realize just to keep you warm. Use this time to read all the notes on your decompression tables. As always, PLAN YOUR DIVE AND DIVE YOUR PLAN. Thanks for reading...
2:14
11:44
10:57 AM
28
Moon
spearfishing forecast
Coastal Angler Magazine - Panama City/ Destin/Forgotten Coast is looking for personable, reliable, self motivated Sales Professionals. Previous outside sales experience and reliable transportation are required. If you can open doors and close deals, we would like to talk with you.
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112 Reid Ave. Port St. Joe, FL Mon-Fri 32456 11am-3pm 850.899.9060
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Weather plays a huge role in November and cold fronts drive everything, but it can be an epic month for fishing. When temps drop drastically, it will cause fish like trout and redfish, to bunch up in certain areas. Typically, they move to an area that’s deeper and has some sort of freshwater inflow like a river mouth or inter coastal waterway. The fresh water will keep the water temperatures slightly warmer so bait and predator fish tend to congregate Live shrimp on a bottom rig with 1 ounce egg sinker, 20 lb. mono leader and 2/0 VMC circle hook, works great. However, artificial lures like soft plastic shrimp on 1/2-1 ounce jig heads can have great success as well for trout and redfish. in these areas to feed right after a cold front. After cold fronts have passed and temperatures rise a little on those bluebird sunny days, fish tend to move out and back up on the flats during the middle of the day to feed. They will move up very shallow and sight fishing with artificial lures can be a lot of fun for redfish. Soft plastics liked the Slayer Inc. stick baits and paddle tails rigged weedless, work best. Capt. Jordan Todd Saltwater Obsessions 850-227-6550 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
409_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 13
opeland’s ~ Since 1982 ~
17290 U.S. Hwy. 331 S Freeport, FL 32439
NOVEMBER 2019
Mon–Fri: 6AM–5PM Sat: 6 AM–4PM • Sun: Closed
(850) 835-4277
panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast 13
10/17/19 8:17 AM
Carrabelle, Dog Island & St. George Sound
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Who • Ship’S Store - Fresh & Saltwater We are • Full Service Marina - 67 Boats Slips
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Bait & tackle
c-Quarters Marina is home to the tranSit BoatS WelcoMe Free Youth Fishing $1.00 ft. per night + tax tournament and the famous c-Quarters Monthly Slip rentals - $9.75 per ft. + tax Kingfish Shootout held each year Free WiFi & pump out with Slip in July & august. Diesel & Mid-grade non-ethonol gas the Shootout benefits the leukemia laundry Facility research Foundation with 100% of the clean Showers on Site proceeds raised. to date, money access to public Boat ramp raised for this great charter Boats & Fishing Guide cause exceeds Services at Marina $1,043,645.
501 Saint James avenue / highway 98 • carrabelle, Fl (850) 697-8400 • WWW.c-QuarterSMarina.coM
The fall weather has finally arrived and with that fishing gets better and better. One of the best fisheries in November is flounder, both Gulf flounder and its bigger cousin the southern flounder. The Gulf flounder is easy to identify by the three predominant dark spots on the body, whereas the southern is darker and gets bigger. The southern is often referred to as a “doormat” because they can reach lengths of 24 inches or better. Both species are great table fare and can be cooked in a number of ways. Most fish are easy to identify because their eyes are located in what most consider a normal position; not so with flounders in our area. When they hatch from egg, the eyes are in the standard place on the head, but migrate to the left side when young. Oddly enough, there are flounder in the world that have their eyes move to the right side, like some halibut. All flounders are masters of camouflage and can bury themselves in whatever bottom they are hiding in. Being top predators, they are ambush hunters and strike hard when feeding. Fishing for these great fish can be done in a number of ways. In the fall, spawning takes place offshore and flounder of both species congregate to move to deeper water. Fishing around Souther flounder caught by Robin Squires. any structure in 30 to 60 feet depths, with jigs or live bait, can produce some really nice fish. Bull minnows on a dropper rig is a sure thing, but jigs tipped with bait will also work. One of the interesting ways to catch them is to gig the fish when they are in shallow water. This is a special way to fish and it pays to talk to someone who knows the ropes before you decide to take this on. Gag grouper are big and biting offshore, so don’t give up on them. The cooler weather brings the bigger fish into shallow waters and the season is open till the end of December. Inshore, the trout will be huddling up to move into the inner bays and rivers. When you locate one, there is sure to be others around. Redfish start to appear around Dog Island with the offshore breed schooling up along the beaches. It is finally getting comfortable to be on the water so take advantage of it! The fish are also getting spunkier so fall can be great. Good luck out there and be safe. Capt. Chester Reese Natural World Charters www.naturalworldcharters.com (850) 228-9060
Book Your Fishing Adventure Today!
219 hwy 98 • carrabelle, Fl 850-697-4041 Boat slips are available behind the building 14 panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast
409_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 14
Kings
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ST O R E HO U R S :
Sunday through thursday 12:00 noon-8:00pm Friday & Saturday 9am-10pm
Grouper
Cobia
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NOVEMBER 2019
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Largemouth Bass!
CnoTeChArTers.Com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
10/17/19 8:17 AM
Carrabelle Tides
www.USHarbors.com
Carrabelle, FL - Nov 2019 High
Date
Low
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Fri
4:14
3.1
8:35
2.6
11:57
0.0
11:17
2.3
7:51
6:53
2
Sat
4:53
2.9
9:28
2.5
12:50
0.1
7:51
6:52
3
Sun
4:37
2.7
9:14
2.4
12:06
2.3
12:53
0.3
6:52
5:51
4
Mon
5:36
2.4
10:00
2.4
12:37
2.1
2:00
0.5
6:53
5:51
5
Tue
7:25
2.1
10:45
2.4
2:35
1.9
3:07
0.6
6:54
5:50
6
Wed
9:11
2.0
11:22
2.4
4:08
1.6
4:07
0.7
6:54
5:49
7
Thu
11:03
2.0
11:49
2.4
4:58
1.3
4:53
0.9
6:55
5:48
8
Fri
12:19
2.2
5:35
1.0
5:28
1.1
6:56
5:48
9
Sat
12:07
2.5
1:14
2.3
6:09
0.7
5:57
1.3
6:57
5:47
10
Sun
12:19
2.5
2:04
2.4
6:40
0.5
6:22
1.5
6:58
5:47
11
Mon
12:31
2.6
2:54
2.5
7:12
0.3
6:49
1.8
6:58
5:46
12
Tue
12:48
2.8
3:42
2.5
7:46
0.1
7:22
1.9
6:59
5:45
13
Wed
1:10
2.9
4:29
2.5
8:21
0.0
8:02
2.1
7:00
5:45
14
Thu
1:39
2.9
5:20
2.5
8:58
-0.2
8:46
2.1
7:01
5:44
15
Fri
2:14
3.0
6:21
2.5
9:37
-0.3
9:29
2.2
7:02
5:44
16
Sat
2:56
2.9
7:27
2.4
10:20
-0.4
10:12
2.1
7:02
5:43
17
Sun
3:42
2.8
8:19
2.3
11:10
-0.3
11:06
2.0
7:03
5:43
18
Mon
4:34
2.7
9:03
2.3
12:11
-0.2
7:04
5:42
19
Tue
5:40
2.4
9:44
2.2
12:25
1.9
1:20
-0.1
7:05
5:42
20
Wed
7:18
2.1
10:21
2.1
1:59
1.7
2:31
0.1
7:06
5:42
21
Thu
8:58
2.0
10:51
2.2
3:29
1.3
3:41
0.4
7:07
5:41
22
Fri
10:49
2.0
11:16
2.2
4:35
0.8
4:41
0.7
7:07
5:41
23
Sat
12:26 PM
2.1
11:38
2.4
5:26
0.3
5:28
1.0
7:08
5:41
24
Sun
1:38
2.3
6:11
-0.1
6:09
1.4
7:09
5:41
25
Mon
12:02
2.5
2:45
2.4
6:57
-0.4
6:46
1.7
7:10
5:40
26
Tue
12:28
2.6
3:44
2.5
7:44
-0.7
7:24
1.9
7:11
5:40
27
Wed
12:57
2.7
4:35
2.5
8:32
-0.8
8:07
2.0
7:12
5:40
28
Thu
1:30
2.8
5:23
2.4
9:16
-0.8
8:50
2.0
7:12
5:40
29
Fri
2:09
2.7
6:11
2.3
9:56
-0.7
9:30
1.9
7:13
5:40
30
Sat
2:52
2.6
6:57
2.2
10:35
-0.6
10:12
1.8
7:14
5:40
1
Moon
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NOVEMBER 2019
panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast 15
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Your Outfitters Super Store On The Forgotten Coast
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10/17/19 8:17 AM
MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING TO ACQUIRE FISHING LEAGUE WORLDWIDE
I
n a move that’s sure to again shake up the tournament bass fishing landscape, Major League Fishing (MLF) announced last month that it will acquire Fishing League Worldwide (FLW). MLF is the entity that FLW Photo last year lured many of the sport’s top professional anglers away from B.A.S.S., its Elite Series and the venerable Bassmaster Classic. It offers a made-for-television series, the new Bass Pro Tour and claims its format is more advantageous to anglers than 50-year-old B.A.S.S., which was started by Ray Scott in 1967 and made superstars out of so many anglers. FLW is the world’s largest grassroots bass tournament organization, which hosts tournaments for tens of thousands of competitive anglers, from weekend warriors to high schoolers, collegiate anglers and tour pros. FLW has already released preliminary plans for what this merger means for the thousands of anglers who fish its tournaments. The biggest changes will occur at the top, where the new FLW Pro Circuit will replace the 24-year-old FLW Tour. On the FLW Pro Circuit, events will span six days, with the first three days following the traditional five-fish format and the last three days using MLF’s catch-weigh-release format. The Costa FLW Series will expand geographically and feature lower entry fees. The BFL events so popular with non-professional competitive anglers will also reduce entry fees. There have been no changes announced for FLW’s high school and college tournaments.
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OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, WHERE OUTDOOR ADVENTURES ABOUND
Photo by Peter Dutton/flickr.com
O
keechobee County is your paradise outdoors. This beautifully serene rural community still values the old Florida lifestyle, with down-home Southern hospitality and scenic land undisturbed by towering growth. Okeechobee County is at the northern shore of the awe-inspiring Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee is 730 square miles of fishing nirvana. Lake Okeechobee, named by the Seminoles as “big water,” is host to a number of guides that will take you to treasured “fishing spots” that will give any angler stories to take home. Largemouth bass dominate the fishermen’s attention throughout the year, while the well-known speckled perch (crappie) take front position during the peak of tourism season which runs from October through March. Lake Okeechobee also offers scenic trails that are excellent for
walking, jogging, biking and bird watching. The trail that surrounds this massive lake is the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (L.O.S.T). This trail just about surrounds the entire lake and leaves no nature lover disappointed. Okeechobee is a well-loved area for rare and hard to find birds aplenty, the snail kite and caracara just to name a couple. Don’t be concerned by the loud cry of the sandhill crane, as these beauties are in every corner of our community and have no issue stopping traffic or wandering neighborhoods. Okeechobee County is not just about the lake, though locals are extremely proud of their greatest natural asset. Okeechobee is home to a number of other sporting activities that definitely make the location a sportsman’s paradise. Hunting is popular with not only seasonal visitors but residents as well. Deer, hog, duck and even gator hunting keep the hunting guides busy and the hunter’s hauling trophies home for bragging rights. Looking to improve or develop some great shooting skills? Okeechobee has a number of gun ranges that offer shooting sports of all kinds. Most of these facilities are outdoors and offer lodging, shopping and the greatest ranges and instructors around. There is also an indoor archery range conveniently off our main street and a new state-of-the-art gun range just on your way into town. Although Okeechobee offers fantastic outdoor adventures such as air boating, horseback riding and other entertainment, there always comes a time when the day draws to a close and the day’s activities bring on a fierce appetite. Okeechobee offers wonderful food options to the most spectacular steaks to the tastiest seafood! With dinner served and memories made, it’s now time to dream of what Okeechobee may bring the next day at any of our hotels, motels, campgrounds or RV resorts. Looking for your paradise outdoors? Welcome to Okeechobee, Florida. For information on any of these great getaways, visit www.visitokeechobeecounty.com or call 863-763-3959. Introducing Okeechobee’s Inaugural Visitor’s Guide. This beautiful guide will be your destination must have. You may request your free guide via phone or the Contact Us section of the website listed above.
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By Ed Killer
S
tuart, Fla.– The thump on the end of the line nearly pulls the rod out of your hand. It’s the kind of thump delivered by an apex predator confident in its choice to devour the offering. The line peels off the reel at a blistering pace. You can feel the trophy at the opposite end of this tug of war begin making its way to the surface. You prepare yourself for one of those mental memories you swear will stay with you forever. When this fish goes airborne, you know it’s going to be so cool. Backlit by the golden rising sun, the shower of spray from the head shakes will be glorious. You know your followers on social media are going to love it. The beauty of this encounter, for anyone who visits Martin County to fish, is that literally a half-dozen species of game fish can be plugged into the scenario. Is the soon-to-be leaping fish a tarpon, snook, sailfish or bass? Could it be a mako shark or perhaps a blue marlin? This area is known for incredible sport fishing. It developed that reputation more than a century ago, and continues to build upon it with every catch. And as fishing techniques and targets evolved, so did Martin County’s reputation as a world-class fishing destination. INSHORE Presidents once traveled to Stuart to fish for giant tarpon. Grover Cleveland, Chester A. Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt, Howard Taft and Warren G. Harding all plied the waters of the St. Lucie River in search of the “silver king.” In 1905, Cleveland purchased land in Stuart and was planning to build a home here, but never did. However, he was credited with catching one of the largest tarpon ever caught in the river’s North Fork. At the time, 200-pounders were common in the river system each spring. As popular as tarpon are, snook may be Martin County’s staple fish. The waters surrounding downtown Stuart are one of the only in the world where four species of snook can be caught – common snook, tarpon snook, fat snook and swordspine snook. Only the common snook typically reaches the legal size for harvest of 28 to 32 inches in length. Huge common snook, upwards of 30 pounds are caught lurking around bridges, marinas, rocky shorelines and spillways in the winter and spring. By summer, these fish stage closer to the St. Lucie Inlet, where spawning occurs. Live baits like sardines, herring, menhaden, mullet and shrimp are all irresistible, but artificial lures and flies work well, too. On the shallow grassflats and around the spoil islands in the Indian River Lagoon, anglers catch spotted seatrout, redfish, black drum, jack crevalles, ladyfish and sheepshead. During the winter, spring and summer incoming tides, anglers can sight cast these targets in 3 to 5 feet of water. Like the Florida Keys and Biscayne Bay, Martin County is one of
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those rare places where an angler can pursue a bonefish, tarpon, permit slam. During winter, some of the tastiest fish that swim, pompano—swarm the inshore waters. OFFSHORE Ironically, it was a poor year of tarpon fishing in the early 1930s that generated exploration of Martin County’s offshore fisheries. Early in the century, the county produced a lucrative fishing business each winter as commercial fishermen pursued bluefish and Spanish mackerel off the beaches. They would ship their catches, salted and iced, on rail cars to markets in the north. The first winter visitors to Martin County were fishermen from northern coastal towns. But when the tarpon fishing went flat for a couple of years, recreational fishermen started heading into deeper water offshore to find action. What they found would change the area forever. Sailfish are a majestic species of pelagic fish, meaning they travel great distances on open ocean. After exploring the best methods and bait-rigging techniques to catch these fish, which can measure 6 to 8 feet long and swim up to 40 mph, a charter fishing fleet developed. In January of 1938, editor of the Stuart News Ernie Lyons invited outdoor writers from all over the country to come to Stuart and catch sailfish. In a week, nearly 1,000 sailfish were caught. One writer reported to his readers back home, “You may as well call Stuart the capital of sailfish.” Lyons jumped on it. Soon the City of Stuart applied for a charter naming it “Sailfish Capital of the World.” Today, the iconic image of the leaping sailfish can be seen on signage for public and private entities and even on the city’s garbage trucks. A tournament last winter produced over 700 sailfish releases in a single day. But a bluewater angler will have a chance to catch excellent game and table fare, too. Kingfish up to 50 pounds roam the reefs in 40 to 60 feet of water every spring. Cobia up to 70 pounds can be caught when the manta rays come into shallow waters each winter. Dolphinfish are caught offshore year round. Fishing for mutton snapper, mangrove snapper, yellowtail snapper and lane snapper is very good in 40 to 70 feet of water throughout much of the year. Fishing for gag, red and black grouper, scamp and amberjacks is best on the deepwater artificial reefs, of which the county has placed dozens offshore over the past 50 years. Tilefish and snowy grouper are on the deep flats in 700 feet. Wahoo are best during the summer for high speed trollers. In recent years, expert charter captains have developed a fishery for daytime swordfish where they also occasionally catch a mako shark. Each summer, the diving for spiny lobsters creates an offshore armada along the county’s healthy coral reefs. Suffice to say, the fishing along Martin County’s shores is about as good as it can get. The hard part is picking what to fish for.
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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
By Mikey Erickson
A
lot of people know Costa Rica is the “Billfish Capital of the World,” but that’s not all it is. Double-digit numbers of tarpon and an abundance of snook can be caught on the Caribbean Coast out of Tortuguero, where rivers like Rio Parismina and Rio Colorado follow the coast and open up into the ocean. Days of 30 or more fish are possible. And the river-locked town of Tortuguero is a true gem.The culture has a lot of Jamaican and Spanish influence. The season here is from February to May. Great spots for freshwater fishing include the beautiful Arenal Volcano, Lake Arenal and the rivers running through northern-inland Costa Rica. Rainbow bass, better known as “guapote,” are the main target of freshwater anglers. They are prized for intelligence, aggression and great tasting meat. The Machaca is another exciting fish that has earned the nickname “mini tarpon.” The town of La Fortuna in Arenal is a very nice place to visit. Everything is green and full of life due to the volcanic soil. There are also hot springs. The best season for this area is from January to May. On the northern Pacific Coast, fishing is great all the way down the coast from Papagayo to El Coco, Flamingo to Tamarindo, Nosara to Samara, and Santa Teresa to Tambor. The sport fishing in this area picks up from May to August with species like mahi, marlin, sailfish, roosterfish, snapper and wahoo. This region is beautiful, and the culture is very European. If you get the chance to explore this region, take it! The best fishing in the central Pacific region is near Jaco, Herradura, Quepos and Manuel Antonio. I’ve lived four years, fishing constantly, and it offers year-round angling. The marlin and sailfish bite is insane from December to June, and from April to November the mahi come in huge numbers to debris pushed out by the rivers. There are also many FAD’s (Fish Attracting Devices) 100 miles off the coast. Overnight trips offer double-digit marlin and sailfish! The southern Pacific Coast offers many great destinations both inshore and offshore. The Sierpe River offers great freshwater fishing, and places like Golfito, Drake Bay and Puerto Jimenez offer killer inshore fishing. These areas known for giant roosterfish year-round, and also feature great marlin and sailfish from August to March, mahi-mahi from May to October and tuna year-round. All in all, Costa Rica is the fishing destination of a lifetime for freshwater, inshore, offshore and spearfishing. Come explore what the land of Pura Vida has to Offer. Mikey Erickson is co-editor of Coastal Angler/Costa Rica and Tres Niñas Tours Manager. Contact him at mikey@coastalanglermagazine.com, info@tresninastours.com, U.S. Cell: +1(561)310-2665, CR Cell: +506-8305-0041. Visit www.coastalanglermag.com/costa-rica/ and www.tresninastours.com.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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NATIONAL
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TIPS FROM A PRO
BIG BASS IN MEXICO
BRANDON LESTER
T
his summer I took my second trip to Mexico’s famed El Salto. It didn’t disappoint, dishing out some of the meanest 7- and 8-pound bass I’ve ever seen. Of course, we caught numbers as well, but this time I slowed down and enjoyed everything Angler’s Inn at El Salto has to offer. On this trip, the lake was down 45 feet. El Salto is an irrigation lake, so water gets used a lot in summer. Low water levels concentrated the fish. We caught a bunch on lipless baits, a few on jigs and a good number on crankbaits. By and large, though, the best pattern was a Texas-rigged Photo by Jon Tatum worm. It’s awesome how the lake is different during different seasons. It makes each trip unique. On the first day, guides feel you out to make your trip as fun as possible. Everyone has a different goal. Some guys want numbers; some want their best shot at a 10-pounder. On Day One, we landed 70 to 80 fish, easily, but I didn’t catch any over 5 pounds. On Day Two, my very experienced guide took me after the big ones. We fished for bass suspended in standing timber. It was a little harder to catch them, but the fish were much bigger. Down
there, you can pretty much catch fish any way you want, but you can’t catch big fish doing whatever you want. The guides at El Salto have the big-fish patterns nailed down through the seasons. Last year, I went in January and we caught big fish deep cranking, so the pattern had changed completely. One thing that didn’t change was how mean the fish are. That brings me to my other takeaway: Big fish require the best gear you can throw. I fished extensively with the new 11-inch X Zone Blitz Worm, in both plum and red bug. They bit the fire out of both colors. The bait has very little salt content, so it floats off the bottom, which gives it much better action. The baits are also very soft and easy to rig. Mustad just came out with a complete line of tungsten, and I put it to the test. We used a 3/8-ounce tungsten bullet weight, and loved it. The Mustad line has Titan X finish on it, which is awesome. Most objects in nature aren’t shiny, so this mattestyle Titan X finish is more natural. The sizes are etched onto each weight. It’s a nice touch that makes selection easier. A 5/0 Grip Pin Big Bite hook is the perfect big-bass hook. There were a few sessions where I caught at least 50 fish on one hook. That’s one of the best things about a Mustad hook. Drag it across rocks and set the hook over and over. The points on their hooks will not roll. Feel free to ask me on social media about the trip and any of the gear mentioned here.
For more Lester visit,
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ake Picachos, Mexico might not warrant the title of the world’s best trophy lake, but it might just be the world’s most fun bass fishery. Picachos is the newest of northwest Mexico’s storied bass fisheries. The dam for this 14,000-acre reservoir on the Presidio River was completed in 2009. It was opened to anglers in 2013. A decade since its formation, the lake is pumping out almost unbelievable numbers of 3- to 5-pound fish. According to Angler’s Inn International, it’s not unusual for a pair of skilled anglers to catch 200 to 300 fish a day. According to Ron Speed Jr.’s daily reports, Picachos regularly produces 150-fish days with big fish each day topping out at 6 to 8 pounds. That’s incredible action for solid fish. The lake record is 12-pounds, 14-ounces, and the bar is expected to rise as the fishery matures. An ample forage base of tilapia, plenty of heavy cover, clean water and catch-and-release regulations point to a bright future. Mornings and evenings generally see an outstanding topwater bite, which is a ton of fun for conventional anglers with walking baits and poppers as well as for fly-rodders throwing bass bugs. Spinnerbaits, lizards, stickbaits, Flukes and shallow-running crankbaits also provide action that leads to bleeding bass thumb. Lake Picachos is about 30 miles inland from the Pacific Coast resort town Mazatlán. Fishing is great year-round, with a peak from February into June. For information, go to www.anglersinn.com or www.ronspeedadventures.com.
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EXPERIENCE THE
M
ore litigation looms in the latest chapter of the three-decade saga to protect the world’s largest salmon run. Bristol Bay, Alaska, home to thriving sport and commercial fishing industries, is under the gun again as the U.S. photo by Nick Carter Environmental Agency recently removed protections that again Julie Carter with a Kvichak River sockeye. open the door for the proposed Pebble mine. Pebble mine is an exploration project investigating enormous deposits of gold, copper and other minerals near the headwaters of the Kvichak River and lakes Clark and Iliamna. These remote and pristine waterways offer some of best rainbow trout fishing in the world and feed Bristol Bay with the clean water that supports massive sockeye and Chinook salmon runs. Trout Unlimited recently joined other groups in filing suit against the EPA, alleging that the EPA ignored science and the potential impacts of developing the mine when it withdrew the Bristol Bay Proposed Determination, which are protections for the region that have been in place since 2014. “Billions of dollars have been spent in attempt to restore salmon runs in the Pacific Northwest. Meanwhile, Bristol Bay sets records for its salmon returns year after year. All we need to do is have the humility and common-sense to leave this landscape alone,” said Chris Wood, CEO of Trout Unlimited. “Sacrificing a place such as Bristol Bay for some gold is a short-sighted fools-errand. We are not a litigious organization, but we and millions of other sportsmen and women will not allow greed to compromise the most important salmon fishery on the planet.”
FIGHT!
For more information on the Save Bristol Bay campaign, go to SaveBristolBay.org.
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The permit is the Holy Grail for many serious saltwater fly anglers. Many, including me, have traveled and spent endless days pursuing these great gamefish with little to show for our efforts. Of course, the challenge is what’s special about permit fishing, not the number of fish brought to hand. However, there is one place where an angler can have great success catching permit on the fly; that place is the Yucatan Peninsula’s Punta Allen. Here, just a few kilometers south of Tulum in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere, is the world’s most fertile and diverse permit saltwater fly fishery. The Unicorn of the Flats Ghostlike, spooky and finicky are three words to describe permit. It is one of the most difficult saltwater fish to catch on the fly and has been the Achilles heel for many saltwater fly angers. But if there is one destination where one can successfully sight cast to large schools of permit consistently, it’s the Sian Ka’an Biosphere. Because of the vast numbers of permit ranging from 2 to 20 pounds, a fly angler will have multiple shots per day. In addition, Yucatan permit are aggressive eaters, making them a great target for the less-experienced or first-time saltwater fly anglers. Flies and Tackle The primary food items for permit are crabs and shrimp. A good selection of these patterns will give the angler the best chance at success. For crab patterns, I like Merkins and Ragheads in sizes 4 and 6. I find the color of the fly should match the color of the habitat you’re fishing. For example, if you’re fishing over light colored sand, then a fly pattern should be tan or even white. If you’re fishing in turtle grass or a darker bottom, then a green or even a dark brown works best. Tackle A 9-foot, 9-weight rod matched with a large arbor reel that holds 250 yards of 30-pound Hi Viz Dacron or micron backing is the perfect combo for Yucatan permit. Since a majority of the fishing is in shallow water, I suggest only using a weight-forward tropical floating line. Keep your leaders long: 10 to 12 feet with 16- to 20-pound tippets. Casting to Permit It’s important to be able to quickly and accurately cast 30 to 60 feet when targeting permit on the flats. Your ability to make longer casts will increase your chances of catching more fish. Of course, you can hook a permit close to the boat, but it’s always to your advantage be able to make the long cast when the opportunity presents itself. The back-hand cast is another to be able to execute. Permit schools will often present themselves on the opposite side of the boat, so being able to make a quick back cast is very important.
For more Bowman, go to
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12/19/18 3:50 PM
êêêêê “The quality of their watches is equal to many that can go for ten times the price or more.” — Jeff from McKinney, TX
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very once in a while a timepiece comes along that’s so incredibly good looking, masterfully equipped and jaw-droppingly priced, that it stops us stone cold. A watch that can take you seamlessly from the 18th hole to the board room. A watch that blurs the line betweens sports watch and dress watch. We’re talking the Blue Stone Chronograph, and it sits at the top of the discerning gentleman’s watch list. Striking in appearance and fully equipped with features, this is a watch of substance. The Blue Stone merges the durability of steel with the precision of crystal movement that’s accurate to 0.2 seconds a day. Both an analog and digital watch, the Blue Stone keeps time with pinpoint accuracy in two time zones. The watch’s handsome steel blue dial seamlessly blends an analog watch face with a stylish digital display. It’s a stopwatch, calendar, and alarm. Plus, the Blue Stone resists water up to 30 meters, making it up for water adventures. A watch with these features would easily cost you thousands if you shopped big names. But overcharging to justify an inflated brand name makes us blue in the face. Which is why we make superior looking and performing timepieces priced to please. Decades of experience in engineering enables Stauer to put quality on your wrist and keep your money in your pocket.
Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Experience the Blue Stone Chronograph for 30 days. If you’re not convinced you got excellence for less, send it back for a refund of the item price. Time is running out. Originally priced at $395, the Blue Stone Chronograph was already generating buzz among watch connoisseurs, but with the price slashed to $79, we can’t guarantee this limited-edition timepiece will last. So, call today!
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When you use your OFFER CODE Stauer Blue Stone Chronograph non-offer code price $395† Offer Code Price
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www.stauer.com
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Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 10/01/19 and 12/31/19 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase. If an acknowledgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 10/01/19 and 12/31/19. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine. com. Instant Savings must be applied against the agreed-upon selling price of the outboard motor and reflected in the bill of sale. (Suzuki will, in turn, credit Dealer’s parts account.) There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 10/01/19 and 12/31/19. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2019 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
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