Coastal Angler Magazine | July 2023 | Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Area Edition

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FISHING DEEP DROPS AS

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

Sfrequent, and the pelagics are plentiful. is time of year, you can usually point your boat o shore and eventually run into the mecca. However, these sought-a er pelagic species are moving around through their migrations and nding them isn’t always guaranteed. Sometimes you just get unlucky running and gunning all day, on the hunt for birds, debris and weed lines. Whether you are out there with no signs of life or just can’t seem to get away from schools of undersized sh, it’s a good idea to have a backup plan to save the day and make the fuel bill worth it.

Having a deep-drop rig ready to go can save a day of o shore shing. Sword shing can be an epic day saver, but it takes quite a bit of time, gear and involvement to have a good chance. ere are a lot of opportunities for shing the bottom between the reef and the sword grounds.

With a set-up that can handle shing between 500 and 1,000 feet, you will have what you need to quickly pepper in some drops during your day, without spending too much time setting it up and packing it away. ere are a variety of edible aliens that can be targeted, or even snagged as bycatch, when shing in the deep, but pretty much all

onboard, in case you get hung on the bottom, or adjustments need to be made due to the current. Having the right weight is important, and it is pretty easy to tell a er a drop if you have put on too much or too little. I would recommend having 6-, 8- and 10-pound weights to make your adjustments with. ese leads can be extremely pricey, so look into some DIY methods if this is something you plan to get into.

Depending on what you want to target, there are a few variations you will want for your rigs. Utilizing 300-pound mono and sleeve swivels, space out up to ve hooks along the leader, making the drop-down leaders short enough that they won’t tangle with each other. Play around with di erent size hooks and spacing between them. If you aren’t sure what might be living on a newfound bottom spot, drop a rig with varied hook sizes, having the biggest on the bottom. It is also a good idea to a x a 6-inch, 50-pound breakaway leader to the lead to save the rest of your gear when you inevitably get hung up.

Searching for new bottom spots can be one of the most exciting parts about this type of shing. You might see ledges full of life on your machine, or you might see nothing at all, and still nd sh.

You can even look for changes in the waves on the surface that indicate depth uctuations on the bottom. Mark your spots whenever you get a bite, and start your own collection of o shore honey holes.

Sweet E’nuf Charters’ two-boat eet specializes in deep-dropping out of Marathon, Florida Keys. Call them at (504) 920-6342 to book your trip this summer. Follow Capt. Quinlyn on social media @captainquinlyn.

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THREE DESTINATIONS FOR

For many anglers, yellow n tuna settle right into the sweet-spot of the tuna shing world. ey’re bigger and stronger than black ns, while being far more approachable than giant blue ns. ey’re fast and strong, and they school up, sometimes crashing baits on the surface. ere’s so much to like about this tremendous game sh, and it doesn’t hurt that limits are relatively liberal in most places. Did we mention that yellow ns are made of the delicious meat known as ahi in sushi bars?

Here are three of the best destinations where you can test your strength against a few yellow ns. Win the battle, and you’ll eat like a king.

Venice, Louisiana:

One of the most consistent places in the world for catching yellow ns is out of Venice, e “Yellow n Capital of the World.” Tuna are a year-round possibility here in the Northern Gulf, where the Mississippi River produces rich currents and rip lines that roll out to hundreds of oil rigs and undersea mounts known as lumps.

Summertime brings better weather and calmer seas, when getting o shore more quickly and comfortably can reward anglers with mixed bags of mahi, wahoo, snapper and tuna in the 40 to 80-pound range. However, peak season for giant yellow ns is in winter, and triple-digit sh become the norm when the bite is hot. Fish heavier than 200 pounds are a de nite possibility.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico:

On Mexico’s Paci c Coast, where the landmass begins to curve east, Puerto Vallarta is positioned within range of some of the most proli c tuna grounds in the world. Outside of Banderas Bay, a series of islands and deep-sea banks draw in tuna like clockwork at certain times of year. ese are some of

By CAM Sta

yellow ns here, but shing is best from July through October, with a typical peak season of August and September. With runs of 36 to 125 miles to reach the shing grounds, anglers must commit to long days on the water or overnight trips. e rewards can be huge. A low-end average sh weighs 80 pounds out of Puerto Vallarta. Big ones weigh 350 pounds or more.

Outer Banks, North Carolina:

e Outer Banks get a lot of attention for giant blue n tuna that move through in the winter months, but yellow n tuna are around all year. With the Gulf Stream averaging 30 to 45 miles o shore and all the bottom structure on the Continental Shelf, large schools of yellow ns are frequently encountered along with many other pelagic favorites.

Unpredictable weather makes the deep winter months of January and February a crapshoot, which leaves October through December and March through June as prime time for catching yellow ns. ey run a little smaller here, with 25- to 65-pound sh being normal catches, but the action is usually fast once you nd them. Charters ll limits quickly, with doubles and triples coming tight when you troll through a school of them.

For more great destination shing, visit coastalanglermag.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPT. BLAKE RIGBY, TRIPLETAIL CHARTERS

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Muon but a Good Time!

By Astrid DeGruchy

There’s a wide variety of snapper species in the Florida Keys, including mangrove snappers, yellowtails and cuberas. However, the mutton snapper is a distinct and noteworthy member of this group. ey are a ton of fun to catch, delicious to eat, and they become easier to target in summer.

During the summer months, typically from May to September, mutton snappers spawn in large numbers, gathering in groups around reefs and wrecks to reproduce. Since these spawning aggregations are typically found in deeper waters, this makes conditions for ghting them more challenging and more fun. ese sh are renowned for their impressive power, strength and agility, so successfully reeling them up from deeper water requires good angling skills. Muttons make strong runs and sudden dives, so it’s important to have 20- to 30-pound test and a little heavier gear than you’d need for smaller mango or yellowtail snapper.

Landing a big deep-water mutton is a rewarding and exciting experience.

I caught my personal best mutton while shing with Capt. Brandon Storin, aka Capt. Bean. It was a 16.2-pounder on light tackle, and it was such a fun and challenging ght. Muttons will de nitely test your endurance. Even with heavier tackle, they will give you a ght to remember!

In fall and winter, muttons can also be caught in shallow waters, and this is also exceptionally fun. When conditions are right, a good inshore/backcountry guide can put you on a few of these skinny-water brawlers, along with the other species found in the backwaters of the Keys.

Mutton snapper make excellent table fare, but it’s important to remember that you should only keep what you plan to eat out of respect for the shery, especially when they aggregate to spawn. A fully grown mutton snapper could feed ve or six people, so keep that in mind when you’ve got a boat load of people throwing sh in the box.

If you want to experience and immerse yourself in the Mutton shery here in the Florida Keys, I recommend booking an o shore charter with Bud N’ Marys Marina.

Check out Capt. Bean’s inshore charters, visit

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ICAST 2023 HITS ORLANDO JULY 11-14

Planet’s Largest Sportfshing Show is the Can’t Miss Industry Event

ICAST 2023, the planet’s largest sport shing trade show, will invade Orlando July 11-14, lling the giant exhibit halls of the Orange County Convention Center with more than 600 companies showcasing all the latest and greatest in shing from all over the world.

Produced by the American Sport shing Association (ASA), the 66th annual ICAST promises to be bigger and better than ever. It is the epicenter of the sport shing world, where each year the trends in shing tackle, apparel and accessories are launched and countless valuable business connections are made.

“ICAST is the cornerstone of the global sport shing industry,” said ASA President Glenn Hughes. “ICAST is where connections are made that create business opportunities for our industry. It’s also where most new products make their debut into the shing marketplace.”

Each year, this is the one can’t-miss event of the season for everyone in the outdoors industry. From shing guides to retailers, media and exhibitors of shing-related products and services, it’s a one stop shop, where your business might nd its next big money-maker.

Coastal Angler and e Angler will be at ICAST in force. Look for our logo-emblazoned team members perusing the aisles in search of

the next big thing. Stop and ask us about special ICAST free giveaways and deals on advertising.

If you’ve got a message to share, we’ve got the vehicles to spread your story to hundreds of thousands of shing enthusiasts.

At its heart, ICAST is about the New Product Showcase, where the coming year’s hottest new

gear is debuted for the industry. From a eld of hundreds of new tools, tackle, lures, electronics, apparel and more, the following pages contain some of our favorite industry innovators right now.

For more information, go to www.icast shing.org.

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Palm Beach and Fort l auderdale a reaS

KDW Classic

Celebrates 20 Years

Early summertime fishing opportunities had South Florida anglers eager to get on the water and test their luck in pursuit of kingfish, dolphin and wahoo. The 20th annual Palm Beach County KDW Classic took place in June with over 1000 participants fishing aboard 210 registered boats. The KDW Classic is hosted by the venerable West Palm Beach Fishing Club (WPBFC) and is among the largest one-day saltwater tournaments in Florida. The Marine Industries Associations of Palm Beach County is the presenting sponsor of the event.

Trolling deep baits in the heat of June isn’t well known for an incredible wahoo bite. In fact, some years just one wahoo in total is caught in the KDW Classic. The 20th annual tournament was a bit different; it fell right on the full moon which always entices a better bite for the striped ‘hoo. By the time the 2pm “linesout” ruling was called, 8 different teams weighed in a wahoo, all taking home a cash prize. Alysha Larocque of North Palm Beach, fishing aboard the Emily Bliss, weighed in the heaviest wahoo at 29.5 pounds. With this fish Alysha earned the coveted Queen of the Classic title for being the lady angler who landed the heaviest eligible weight fish.

Fishing aboard the Golden Croaker, angler Mark Prazak became the King of the Classic catching the heaviest kingfish, which was also the single the biggest eligible fish of the tournament. Mark’s kingfish hit the scale at Riviera Beach Marina and weighed in at 33.6 pounds. Serious bragging rights go with being named the King and Queen of the Classic when fishing against other seasoned crews and anglers. Mark and Alysha’s names are now engraved on the KDW Classic perpetual trophy which is featured in the NPB Brass Ring Pub year-round.

Christopher Perrone of team Heavy Hitters landed the heaviest dolphin, weighing 14.5 pounds. The sea conditions were calm and ideal for “run and gun” dolphin fishing. With solid weed mats well offshore, many boats went out to depths of 1000 ft. in search of mahi mahi. Heavy Hitters wouldn’t catch the winning dolphin way-out; their fish was caught in just 85 ft. of water.

The Top Junior Angler was Noah Kleiser who landed a 12 lb. kingfish aboard the Sublime. Recognizing junior anglers and promoting family fishing has always been an exciting aspect of the tournament.

The Palm Beach County KDW Classic raises money for scholarships, youth fishing programs and marine conservation initiatives conducted by the WPBFC and its charitable affiliate, the Palm Beach County Fishing Foundation. “The support we receive from our dedicated team of volunteers and sponsors is what makes all this possible. We are so very grateful to have them on board.”, concluded WPBFC Chairman of the board, Pete Schulz.

Tom ‘Buzz’ Bzura Managing Director West Palm Beach Fishing Club

Alysha Larocque with 29.5 pound Top Wahoo with team Emily Bliss.

^ Christopher Perrone with 14.5 pound 1st Place Dolphin with team Heavy Hitters.

^ Noah Kleiser, Top Junior Angler weighing in at Riviera Beach Marina.

< Mark Prazak and team Golden Croaker with the heaviest kingfish of the KDW Classic.

PHOTOS BY: Leonard Bryant Photography

fishing the Palm Beaches

Summertime fishing is in full swing here in sunny South Florida! Prevailing southeast winds, typically light in July, and water temps in the 80’s will be the norm for the next couple months. Dolphin aka mahi mahi, have been seen in good numbers, but expect their size and numbers to dwindle during the summer. Your best bet to catch some delicious mahi will be to run out looking for those weedlines and other debris. I have had the most success lately just drifting with the flotsam, tossing out dead bait chunks, and sending a live bait down deep. July also means a lot of bonito, kingfish, and sharks should be in our waters. You can find sails, kingfish, bonito, sharks, and maybe some mahi anywhere in depths from 80’ to 300’ all along our coast. If it’s one of those typical

Fishing Forecast

with

Dar C izzle

Please be sure to check out my YouTube Channel “Darcizzle Offshore” for fishing videos every week!

www.youtube.com/DarcizzleOffshore

hot & flat days, try trolling to cover more ground and excite the fish to bite. When you are bottom fishing, try using live bait to eliminate a lot of the “by-catch.” The blackfin tuna bite has been especially good the last couple months, especially on the kite or if you can live chum, with

bigger than average fish for this area being caught regularly. Try fishing for tuna in the early morning and before sunset, they love to feed in low-light conditions.

Inshore and at the inlets, pilchards and sardines should be showing up more and it’s time for the snook spawn and tarpon to start showing up. Tarpon have been seen and landed at the Palm Beach Inlet and I know that snook are being landed at the Jupiter Inlet, especially if you can get your hands on some live croakers. Snook spawn in areas where high current flow will carry their eggs during the new and full moons this time of the year through September. You will find snook and tarpon congregating at the passes, bridges, and major sloughs with a fast-moving current. These fish like small live baits such as pilchards,

shrimp, pinfish, croakers, and live crabs. Remember, snook season is closed and it’s only catch and release. Keep in mind, these fish like conserving their energy. They only eat when eating is ‘easy’- often at night or on strong tide flows. Plan your trip accordingly! Good luck and safe travels out on the water this month and be sure to shout or say “hello” if you see me fishing… follow your dream!

south county

inshore & Freshwater Fishing Forecast with

Ca PT. PaT ri C k S M i T h

the surface just as fast as you can and watch the fish fight over it. Sometimes, just before the day is over, we take the hooks off just so that we can watch them hit it and not have to fight any more fish.

Tarpon will be cruising the beach and will include both fish that are hanging out for the summer and fish that are headed northbound from The Keys. They are notoriously finicky, but if you take your time and approach slowly with a healthy live bait there is a chance of hooking up. As usual for this time of the year, the school of snook will be in every inlet up and down the coast, eating croakers and perch.

Casey and his father lost count of the mahi; they make awesome fly rod targets.

e’ve made it to July and it’s more than a little hot out there. The fishing can be incredible, but I believe the key is to fish at dawn and/or dusk and nap or hide from the sun for most of the day. Out on the ledge all the bonita, false albies, tunny, or whatever you feel like calling them will be thick and ready to eat. I throw a handful of chum between 80 and 140 feet, and it usually doesn’t take long for the surface to be boiling with fish. There will also be plenty of bar jacks, blue runners, rainbow runners, and kingfish mixed in. There is probably not a better time of the year to test out your drag. A topwater lure with both treble hooks removed and the back hook replaced with a single J hook is an awesome way to spend the day. Long cast and crank it back across

A surprise tarpon while we were targeting snook. You never know what might show up!

On the Lake Ida, Osborne, and Lake Clark chain, peacock fishing will be pretty amazing for the first few hours of the day until the water warms up and then it’s usually best to wait a couple hours before dark. The clown knife bite will be good around the full moon, and they are a great fish to target around bridges at nighttime. Small live baits, such as shiners or shad, drifted back into the shadows is your best bet.

When it comes to the Everglades, the water levels are up so the fishing can be a little tougher. If you do happen to find a congregation of peacocks, they are normally very willing to eat artificials and flies. You will just have to put your work in to find them.

Good luck out there!

unior Angler Team

By Christopher Sprague

Hello anglers, Summertime has finally arrived!! What’s even better is the mahi have been chewing. Lately, there have been some weed lines offshore that are absolutely massive. I don’t think that I have ever seen this many weed lines in all honesty, and even better, I don’t think I have seen as many dolphin as there are right now. My Dad and I went out on the boat multiple times to go for some dolphin this month and every time we went, the small dolphin were almost a nuisance to us. Everywhere we went, they would follow us and destroy our bait. The good thing is that if you can get away from the small dolphin, then there is likely a bigger one in the area that you can catch. The biggest one we got this month was a nice gaff-able 15-pounder that my friend and I got. This wasn’t a huge dolphin by any means, but it was still more than enough to provide us with a good dinner! Unfortunately, the majority of dolphin being caught are pretty small and undersized. However, mahi mahi are one of the fastest growing species of fish out there, hence why they are such a sustainable fishery. These fish can grow around 2 inches per week, meaning all these 15-to-20-inch dolphin that we are seeing could grow to be nice 10-to-15-pound fish within the next few months. Overall, I believe these next few months will bring some of the greatest dolphin fishing that we have had in a while.

Walker & Christopher with a nice mahi off

Beach.

Boynton

WJetty the boat dog supervising a day of clown knifefishing.

ROADTRIPFISHING

Buddy Banana Kibosh

By Keith Lozott Contributing Writer

Typically, I don’t believe in superstitions, but a er a recent shing trip with my buddy Neil, I may be a believer!!! e morning started slow; I caught a small snapper and small snook. Neil was in skunk mode, so we decided to try a spoil island where I’ve caught some trout, snook, and a gag grouper on a prior trip. To our dismay it was dead as well. Just as we were about to exit stage le , Neil was working a topwater lure back to the boat when what appeared to be a large bull shark came up from the bottom and tried to hammer the lure. Unbelievably it totally missed the lure and disappeared. It was impressive to witness such a big specimen of a sh take a swipe at the lure.

A er the “Shark Week” experience, we continued to struggle so I decided to implement Plan C and move from the east side of the Indian River to the west side. I’ve had some nice shing on the west side with trout, reds, and snook. We made our way across the river stopping at another spoil island only to be greeted with a jack attack. I landed several jacks and Neil hooked one that got o . His skunk was still intact but with jacks around I gured that would change. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

We used the trolling motor to quietly make our way towards the mangroves hoping to get a glimpse of a red, snook, trout, ounder, or any inshore species willing to bite. As we approached the shore, we noticed another bull shark working the shore and of course I had to make a cast or two at him, but he had no interest in my o ering. We kept working the shore and nally it happened for Neil!!! He made a long cast and almost as soon as the lure hit the water, he was on with a nice sh, but we couldn’t see what it was. He started gaining ground getting it closer; enjoying the ght and then it happened! e sh came unbuttoned and at this point I was like dude, what did you do in a previous life to deserve this??? We made our way toward a dock that I know holds snook. I made a long cast and right then I was hooked up with a huge sh. It was a big snook; I got her to the boat, revived her, and released her to ght another day. Success! I said, “let’s go to lunch and call it a day”. I asked Neil if he was hungry and then he disclosed to me that he ate a banana for breakfast! Neil knows not to bring bananas on the boat (it’s bad luck), but it didn’t occur to him that the curse would remain in e ect with it digesting in his stomach. Myth con rmed or was it bad luck? He should’ve brought his lucky rabbit foot!!!

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AnAngler’sJournal

By Mark ambert

Deep dropping for yellow eyed snapper.

West End Bahamas

West End is a magical place and just a stone’s throw from either Palm Beach or Jupiter Inlets. In fact – it’s the closest Bahamian destination from southeast Florida. At just 70 miles from Jupiter and 66 miles from Palm Beach, in a fast boat on a calm day, the one way is easily doable in an hour and a half. And with pre-customs now available online, it’s a breeze to check in and fish for the weekend. June and July are the transition months to try your luck fishing the Bahamas as the weather settles into predictable summer patterns. We just completed such a trip combining a bit of everything. Fishing and snorkeling in some of the most bountiful and pristine waters within reach of our coastline. Here is my journal of the trip.

Every excursion begins with a trip to Costco. Wednesday evening was spent getting prepped for my Bahamas weekend with these guys — Brian Meade, Brian Nisula and Rob Christoffers. We were heading out Friday with expectations of mutton and yellow tail fishing, deep dropping for yellow eyed snapper and some snorkeling for hogfish. What’s not to LOVE!

I was the “new guy” on the trip and with a very experienced crew. The last new guy got booted for buying and bringing seaweed sandwiches from Costco — lol. I wasn’t about to make the same mistake, so lots of goodies were purchased. Everything bought was divvied up cost wise and four ways.

It’s the night before and I can’t sleep. To say I’m excited is an understatement. Wish I had just slept on the boat. Woohoo and yeehaw!!! Can’t freakin wait!!!

Thursday dawns bright and clear with perfect sea conditions. The tunes are cranking, and we leave Palm Beach Inlet quickly behind us. Our chariot for the trip is a 37’ Intrepid CC with triple Mercs. We are absolutely flying and arrive in a little over an hour and a half. With a quick customs check-in at West End Marina and a fuel top off we are ready for our twentyminute ride to check into the Blue Marlin Resort and secure our slip, unload unneeded gear and head out fishing!

Day One - Our first day which was mostly a travel day is now in the books and we had a blast! Did a bit of everything — snorkeling, spear fishing using a Hawaiian sling, rod and reel fishing and we stayed out on the water until 10pm.

We had a cooler full of good eats and smiles all around. After a quick meal and shower it was off to bed. It’s days like these that make for great friendships and forgetting about things that really don’t matter. The highlight for me was running the reef at 40mph by the light of the moon

and trusting these guys completely. We will be fishing friends forever. And we caught a ton of fish!

nOte – Please read up on and understand all current fishing and diving regulations in place beforehand. For example – the Hawaiian sling is the only approved spearfishing device. Use of scuba gear or an air compressor to harvest fish, conch, crawfish and other marine animals is prohibited. Day twO - Friday dawns and we get an early start. Today was the day the gremlins came. For everything that went right yesterday — it went equally wrong today. From storm fronts chasing us north and off our chosen fishing grounds to engine, steering and anchoring issues — we were tested every step of the way. This is what makes or breaks a team, and you find out a lot about who you’re with. Suffice to say we pulled thru the difficulties because we came together. We ended the day with a full cooler and making the most amazing meal including a BBQ lunch on the boat! Dinner included homemade conch fritters and cero mackerel ceviche — everything fresh cooked and caught!

These guys are like brothers now. Can’t wait for tomorrow! Day three - Sharks are everywhere today and we spend the day on the move. Almost everything caught got eaten. We finally got into a cooler full of fish by deep dropping in a thousand plus feet of water. It was my first time using electric reels.

Glad we figured it out and had our best fishing day of the trip. We caught a bunch of different species including yellow eyed snapper which I’d never caught before. For tonight’s dinner we had battered and fried strawberry grouper — it was delicious!

Heading for home tomorrow and will be sorry to leave but happy to see my home port and my fam.

Day Four - It’s Sunday and our final day. We decided to just head for home port due to continued electrical problems. We passed many promising weed lines on the way, but safety and prudence come first.

I’m home now from the Bahamas and this is what’s for dinner. My first ever yellow eyed snapper! Even though they were caught in the Bahama’s these are a cold-water fish living over a thousand feet under the ocean. It’s 60 degrees down there and the diet? Fresh shrimp and squid all day long. This fish is as tasty as it gets and my wife’s new favorite!

The trip is a resounding success and absolutely amazing. Thank you, Brian, Brian and Rob, for sharing an amazing

First day of snorkeling was a huge success.

Cow mahi on the return was definitely a highlight.

ECO ToURISM

with Chris Thalmann

Summer is a great time to get a better appreciation of our unique environment here in South Florida! Kids are out of school, everything is less crowded and there are lots of opportunities to learn more about our outdoor areas, their ecology and the wildlife living there!

One of my favorite nature-based group programs is called Adventure Awaits! It’s an entire series of outdoor experiences led by the wildlife and nature professionals at the Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management.

The Adventure Awaits program has been in existence for many years. And yet, it still manages to offer up new and different outings that appeal to a broad audience. Want to brush up on your wildlife photography with a workshop? Try freshwater or saltwater fishing at a clinic? Check out a new hiking, biking or paddling trail with a wildlife biologist at your side? You can do all that and much more through the Adventure Awaits series!

Owing to our weather this time of year, many Adventure Awaits programs are geared to early morning and late evenings. For evening events, especially anything west of the ocean beaches, I strongly encourage you to bring along your favorite bug repellent!

You can check out https://discover.pbcgov.org/erm/Pages/ Adventure-Awaits.aspx for upcoming events, including nighttime sea turtle walks and evening wildlife hikes.

The Adventure Awaits series has gotten much more popular in the last few years, so if you visit their page and see everything is “sold out”, don’t panic. Many events offer a wait list. And while it’s not the same as having a ticket, chances are decent you’ll find a spot if you’re patient.

The series also has a definite seasonal flow. For instance, there are usually pop-up turtle walks offered throughout the summer turtle nesting season. So, if you don’t get to go on a turtle walk this week or next, hopefully you can slide into the next one that’s offered.

Adventure Awaits uses Facebook pretty extensively to post upcoming events. But they also have a presence on Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. Whichever platform you prefer, I recommend following the series and Palm Beach County ERM to keep up with upcoming events.

And if group tours just aren’t your thing, feel free to contact us at Aqua Adventure Tours. We’ll be happy to set up an outing for just you, your family or friends and help you learn more about our unique coastal environments and the many amazing creatures who live here with us. Here’s to enjoying some time outdoors this month!

Palm Beach In & OffshOre

Welcome to the Coastal Angler Magazine July fishing report for The Palm Beaches. Get yourself ready for some wahoo trolling action! High speed or planer fishing is the way to go. The black & purple Island Lure is the color of the pros. Work the depths from 300’ to 90’. These fish will be feeding on bullet bonita. If you want to catch a monster wahoo or a blue marlin, you will need to catch a bullet and live rig it to a 50lb. class setup. For the hoo, use wire with a big stinger hook and for the marlin try a 200lb. leader. Good luck!

Bottom fishing will be on fire in July. Muttons and yellowtails will be eating dead & live sardines. Light lead and long leaders are a must. Work the Juno Beach area, 70’ to 200’. In the mix will also be kingfish. Having a flat line out when bottom fishing is a smart idea. You never know what’s swimming around the boat. Tight lines!

July is a calm month to head offshore and make a drop. When heading out, look for floating structure. Anything with bait fish swimming around it will produce. There could be dolphin 50’ down. Dropping a jig or a live bait down may get you a wahoo or dolly. Chunking is a good way to get fish to come up too. Let’s now talk about swordfishing, the humps of Palm Beach hold pumpkins. The 2-rod setup is how we get the bite at reelintensefishing. com, it doubles your chance to win. Don’t forget a couple of gaffs and a harpoon, you never can tell when you may hook a beast.

For the inshore anglers, the snook fishing will heat up in the inlets. This is the time of year they will be releasing eggs in the tide. Along with snook, tarpon will be roaming the beach looking for baits to slurp up. Having a well with live sardines or herring will help to get the most bites. Need live bait? VHF Channel 68 will get you connected to the bait guys. Well, I have to get back to fishing, good luck, and remember “you can’t catch them from the couch”.

Happy July 4th! The Palm Beaches inshore fishing offers a plethora of species to target. Snook, tarpon, sharks, and jacks will provide explosive action.

Snook fishing will be fantastic, as anglers can target them along beaches, in inlets, and inside the ICW. The snook will school up in local inlets, along deep channels, and beach fronts. Live bait schools are prevalent just about everywhere you look. Greenies are my bait of choice for snook, but pinfish and mullet will get the bite as well. D.O.A. lures work great for the snook along the beaches, nothing beats a D.O.A. C.A.L. 3” Shad Tail in bayou tiger or pearl color. Rapala Twitchin’ Mullets are also great to use while fishing the beaches or drop-offs where snook are lurking. The average size of the snook ranges from 5 to 30 pounds.

Silver king action will be explosive. The tarpon can be found lurking along the beaches and near deep channels. Tarpon school up, and early morning risers get the best shots at bigger fish as they are less spooky. The fish on the beach range from 50 to 130 pounds. The silver kings in the inlets and Intracoastal are willing to devour any greenie in their path, but don’t shy away from artificial baits. The D.O.A. Bait Busters and D.O.A.

TerrorEyz in root beer or pearl, will provoke drag screaming action.

The ICW will offer great fishing for big jacks, sharks, bluefish, and even some big triple tail. Docks, seawalls, and mangrove shorelines are great areas to locate these fish. Look for bait fish in the area as a tell-tale sign that predator fish are nearby. Live baits and Rapala Skitter Walks or D.O.A. TerrorEyz will get your drag screaming.

Well, that is the fishing report, hope you all enjoyed. Get out there and get your drag screaming. Tight Lines!

Bailey with her first snook.

< Taming a bull!

Brett with his first tarpon.

Forecast Lake OkeechObee with

Ca PT. N aT e S helle N

Shellen Guide Service • (863) 357-0892 • sjmike7@aol.com

www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com

The bass fishing scene at Lake Okeechobee has been nothing short of exceptional. Anglers from all over have been flocking to this renowned Florida fishing destination, and for good reason. The lake’s water levels have remained stable, providing ideal conditions for bass to thrive and creating a haven for anglers seeking trophy catches.

During the early morning and late afternoon hours, topwater action has been explosive. Anglers using buzzbaits, poppers, and frog imitations have seen tremendous success in enticing big bass to strike. The fish have been particularly active near vegetation and submerged structures, where they have been ambushing baitfish and other prey. Anglers should focus their efforts on targeting these areas for the best chance at landing a trophy-sized bass.

As the day progresses and the sun climbs higher, switching to soft plastic lures such as worms, creature baits, and swimbaits has proven effective. Fishing along the edges of lily pads, reeds, and submerged grass beds has yielded consistent results. Texas and Carolina rigs have been the go-to setups for targeting bass in deeper water.

Anglers should keep an eye out for any signs of schooling activity, as bass have been congregating in large numbers to feed on schools of shad and other baitfish. Casting crankbaits and swimbaits into these feeding frenzies has resulted in multiple hookups and adrenaline-pumping battles.

It’s worth noting that water temperatures have been steadily rising, so

on the range with

adjusting techniques and depths may be necessary as the day progresses. Paying attention to subtle changes in water temperature and fish behavior will be key to adapting and staying successful throughout the day.

Overall, Lake Okeechobee continues to live up to its reputation as a topnotch bass fishing destination. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a novice looking to test your skills, now is the time to hit the water and experience the thrill of reeling in some truly impressive bass.

It’s been a long time since there was a sale sign at your local gun shop.

If you have been thinking about buying a new firearm, this is the time to do it. The industry has transformed from a seller’s market into a buyer’s market. What does that mean?

As with just about every industry, there are high times and low times. The gun market is no different. When the times are good, they are good, but when the times go bad, they are bad.

There are a lot of factors that determine this industry. Politics plays a huge factor. In some states where state governments want to enact more laws, that market will be on fire until those new proposals become new laws. Then the door closes, and it goes quiet.

Crime is also a factor. In areas where crime is more prevalent, then people have that want or need to protect themselves, where as a state that takes a proactive approach to crime, people may not be in such a hurry to buy a firearm.

Normally a pandemic would not be a factor, but Covid brought about one of if not the biggest rushes to buy weapons and ammunition this country has ever seen.

When times are slow in the industry, the industry becomes its worst enemy. Online retailers and even large stores will virtually sell their firearms at their wholesale cost just to turn the inventory over and recover the lost funding they used to buy the excessive amount of inventory they ordered thinking that the run would last. Unfortunately, it all comes to a screaming halt at some point, it always does.

As dealers we just have to hang in and wait it out. Something will come down the line at some point to boost things back up, but for now it may be a long summer and fall.

So now is the time to go and buy. There are deals to be had. Don’t pass this time up, because when the deals are gone, they are gone.

C hu C k Pa PP

South Florida Shooting Supply/Gun Shop, Boca

Sportfishing is a lot of fun in the summer. Trolling the reefs is pretty much non-stop action on bonitos and kingfish, they are really thick out there. On some days, you can literally catch over forty 20-pound bonitos in a half day trip; they are just everywhere. Mixed right in with the schools of bonitos are kingfish, wahoo, and even sailfish. They all feed on the same baitfish, so it makes sense they would be patrolling the same territory. Blackfin tuna are also a great summertime fish we catch a lot of this month. Blackfins tend to travel solo this time of year and they are much larger than the football sized ones we’ve been catching the past couple months. The July blackfins we catch are full grown and well-fed 35 pounders. I catch a lot of blackfins trolling near the Pompano and Hollywood sewer outfalls. Fishing around the shipwrecks can be good for some big fish too. Barracuda, jacks, and sharks like to hang around the shallow wrecks during this time of year, while grouper and cobia fishing is good on the wrecks over 200’ deep.

Offshore fishing is picking up too. The mahi-mahi have finally shown up for us and are forming up into some pretty large schools. This is a good season to head offshore and troll along the weedlines, looking for birds and floating debris. If you’ve got a long trip, you can go out there and keep trolling around until you find a school of fish. Then, just keep at least one in the water and pull out the light tackle bailing rods; you can sit on top of a school of dolphin and bail them all day, it’s a blast! The dolphin are small ones, most of them schoolie-sized at 3-5 pounds. Recently, we were live baiting with the kites in only 150’ of water and caught a 64-pound mahi-mahi, our biggest one all year. Usually for those monster dolphin, you have to go way offshore to find them, but this one came right into the reef. There’s a lot of activity a mile and half off our coast which attracts some of the biggest gamefish around. It’s shaping up to be an excellent July fishing season. Tight lines!

Fishing Forecast with Freshwater

This is turning out to be one hot summer! Fishing for exotics this time of the year is great, and they cooperate early on, which means you don’t have to fish all day in the heat. I will start my days earlier in the summer and usually be off the water by 11A. There are also a special few hours at the end of the day, between 5:30-8:00P, that also can be very productive with minimal sun exposure.

This time of the year is perfect for skipping baits under docks and really getting to enjoy fishing that shallow structure. Peacock bass are just about the opposite of largemouth bass in their seasonal hangout zones. Peacocks love the warmer water and will sit up in the shallows, whereas LMB typically prefer to sit lower in the water column where the cooler water is. If you find yourself skipping docks and sight fishing for peacocks, I recommend a suspending lure that you can do long pauses without it floating up to the top of the water and out of the strike zone. If you find yourself fishing more lowlight situations or overcast days along sea walls and shallow banks, you can’t go wrong with a topwater Zara Spook Jr. or any other walking-style bait.

One thing I don’t talk about a lot is fishing small ponds. If you regularly

fish a pond, you probably know most of the regularities of the pond and can usually catch fish. If you are new to pond fishing, I have always found it to be imperative to find ponds that have clean or sandy banks. Ones that are all covered up are tough to fish and makes sight fishing next to impossible. Most communities will drain their ponds to kill off the grass right at the bank, which is a perfect scenario to have a clean bank to fish from. When I fish a new pond, I usually bring three search baits to see if anyones home. A jerkbait is one of my all-time favorite lures, so I typically throw that first. Next, I’ll usually pick up a topwater or a deep diving crankbait, depending on how deep I think the pond is. My last bait, if the previous two didn’t get any bites, will be a micro finesse soft plastic bait imitating a grass shrimp or a minnow to see what smaller fish are in the pond and what they may be keyed in on.

Snakeheads have been very active with all the afternoon thunderstorms. They are all spawned out, so you can catch them on almost everything. My favorite method for catching snakeheads is on top water; however, anything from a chatter bait, spinner bait, or even live bait work well for snakeheads. If you can see a snakehead, you can catch it. Presentation is going to be the key to getting the bite. If I spot a snakehead, I cast way away from the fish and bring the bait to the fish in a regular manner. Slowing the bait down when the lure is right over that fish’s head may be why they don’t bite. Just try to keep everything consistent. Snakeheads also have eyes on the top of their heads, so they will usually see you before you see them.

Tight lines!

Pompano Beach (Hillsboro Inlet), FL - Jul 2023

comfortable weather. push into back bays, action along seawalls, another option for Shrimp presented lights with a D.O.A.

excellent shing for the docks, and deep mullet, pin sh, plenty of shots on alewife with a jig head.

ways. Jacks will docks, or open Battling jacks on light the tussle yourself. hope you all

Captain Craig Korczynski 561-644-4371•phlatsinshorefishing.com Instagram, Twitter & YouTube

adventure. Can’t wait for our next West End adventure! Post trip and it’s Tuesday. Only back two days and already missing the action so I went fishing. Caught this cow straight out-front Jupiter inlet and my biggest of the season! We truly live in fishing paradise.

Mark ambert, ig @marksgonefishing_™

Tom with a big jack.

author – avid outdoorsman, sportswriter and photographer. Contact marksgonefishing25@gmail.com

West end harbor https://marinas.com/view/harbor/ 92tjg_West_end_harbor_West_end_gB_Bahamas

Bahamas Pleasure Vessel Clearance https://www.bahamascustoms.gov.bs/visitor-info/ marine-vessel-declarations-cruising-permits/

Blue Marlin Cove – resort and Marina https://bluemarlincove.com/contact.shtml

To see pictures of tournaments and events email 57LDBryant@gmail.com for link

The vibrant colors abound in Bahamian waters.

Everglades national park fishing with

FloridaFlatsFishingAdventures@gmail.com

One of my recent adventures was fishing Flamingo Everglades National Park. We started out with a topwater bite in Shark River and blowups on the first few casts. The guys weren’t exactly ready for it to happen so quickly, and a few strikes and misses occurred. The action happens fast and ends fast sometimes after the fish seem to know something just isn’t right, so moving on to the next area which we seemed to like the most as the outgoing tide was at its perfect time. Jackson seemed to be the lucky one or the one that just casted in the areas where the fish were. He hooked multiple, nice snook and brought the one pictured to the boat followed by numerous bull sharks on its tail.

One question I remember from this trip was, “Hey Steve, why do you like artificial lures so much and what else would you recommend?”. My quick response was, “Snook are very aggressive, and you can use multiple lures and jigs to catch

Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing Screamin’ Reels Tournament

them, they are very smart but can be outsmarted often. Lures can cover at least 1,000 square feet more than live bait can per hour or two, while trolling around and casting the shorelines. There are advantages and disadvantages to both but to me the action and accomplishment of catching fish on artificials is far more satisfying. “

I believe there are areas and times to use live bait, but you have to commit to what you’re going to do that day and stick to it. This was an amazing day with a great group of guys and once again, one terrific fishing memory.

Winners:

Ladies came from as far away as Shalimar, FL to learn fishing and compete at the non-intimidating Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing Screamin’ Reels Tournament in Islamorada, FL, presented by Plantation Boat Mart & Marina, and hosted by the nonprofit Ladies Let’s Go Fishing Foundation (LLGF). The tournament kicked off on Friday at the Tavernier Elks Club, followed by a friendly fishing competition on Saturday and Sunday out of Islamorada. The women fished from private and charter boats on flat calm seas, where they caught a total of 220 fish.

“Screamin’ Reels is a different breed of tournament, where it’s game on for almost every legal offshore or inshore species in the sea. It’s perfect for novice or average anglers and those who have never caught a fish and had never even dreamed of entering a fishing tournament.”, commented Betty Bauman, LLGF Founder.

Cristiane Carvalho, second place offshore winner exclaimed, “This is the first time I have done something for myself, away from my husband and children. I never fished before and won!”

First Place Offshore: Lyn Gremonprez from Tavernier with a 11.95 lb. almaco jack on Plantation Boat Mart.

Second Place Offshore: Cristiane Carvalho from Miami with a 10.8 lb. mahi on First Choice.

Third Place Offshore: Teresa Pinner from Tavernier with a 10.3 lb. skipjack on Plantation Boat Mart.

First, Second and Third Place Inshore: Jessica Holbrook from Fort Myers, took all three awards with 35.5, 34 and 27 inch grouper releases on Blackwater Charters with Capt. Dylan Scoble.

Top Inshore Release: Ann DeStefanis from Palmetto Bay with a bonefish on Blackwater Charters with Capt. Dylan Scoble.

$1,000 in prizes including Penn combos, art prints, shirts and more were presented on Sunday at Whale Harbor Marina.

A great day in Flamingo with Jeremy, Jackson and Campbell.

August 12th, 2023 from 12 - 8 pm as the Sailfish Marina hosts its’ 8th Annual “Singer Island Spiny Lobsterfest.” This fun family friendly event will feature several Lobster Dishes, Live Entertainment, Art and Jewelry Vendors, Kids Activties, Water Slide, Silent Auction, Nautical Artists, Pet Costume Contest and so much more! Being held on our Tiki Lawn.

The Delray Beach Police Department

Fishing Clinic forKidsCity

The Delray Beach Police Department and The KOP Mentoring Network hosted their annual Fishing Clinic for City Kids. This program is a way to expose children of the community to an activity that they may not have otherwise had access to. The children who are selected to participate in the event have succeeded in academics and are being rewarded with a day out on the water. This year, more than 30 children who achieved high marks throughout this school year participated.

With the help from volunteers and sponsors, the kids were able to go out on boats at Lake Ida Park and fish. They had an amazing day on the water! Many volunteers and Officers from The Delray Beach Police Department were there to lend a helping hand with the kids as they identified fish, learned knot tying skills, and of course, reeled in many fish.

KOP is an organization led by Mr. C. Ron Allen. KOP provides mentoring services to children of our

Proceeds Benefit the: West Palm Beach Fishing Club $25 Admission (Includes One Food Ticket) Children 12 & Under are FREE scan qr code to Buy tickets now!

community and exposes them to professions and mentors. KOP is a character-building, mentorship, and gang prevention program designed to foster leadership, academic success, and civic mindedness in youths 7-17. KOP prepares youths to thrive in school, work, and civic life.

Many Delray Beach Police Officers are active mentors with KOP Mentoring Network, and some were child participants of the KOP Mentoring Network.

The DBPD and KOP Mentoring Network would like to thank everyone who helped with this year’s Fishing Clinic for City Kids. Thank you Pizza Rustica Delray, Sandy Hook Bait & Tackle, Reel Fishing Charities, AFTCO, Delray Citizens For Delray Police, Everglades Bassmasters Fishing Club, West Marine, Amazon Hub Delray, West Palm Beach Fishing Club, and Success Over Everything. A special thanks to all the boat owners who brought their boats to make this possible.

Kenan and Murat reeled in this bonita and safely returned it to the sea.

Jax was drift fishing off Palm Beach and caught this juvenile reef shark.

5-year-old Reagan with a spillway jack caught on live bait.

Dave with two P’s caught on live shad.

8-year-old Stirling was visiting Indian Rock s Beach and caught a pair of whiting at the same time on a pompano rig with shrimp.

GET UNDER THE SARGASSUM TO THE FISH

Tim Barefoot

We are seeing a heavy line of sargassum right now. Here’s how to make the best of it.

Along with grass comes sh. We’re having a great dolphin year, with some nice yellow ns and wahoo in the mix. e grass is a wonderful thing if you know how to take advantage of it.

It’s a well-known fact that the surface trolling bite slows as the sun rises to the 10 to 11 a.m. position. is is the reason to get baits down where the sh are, rather than continuing to troll surface baits while the one “meat stick”—the deep planer rod—gets all the bites. Tuna and wahoo don’t wear Maui Jims. When the sun penetrates deeper into the water, they simply go lower in the water column.

And… who says you have to be moving at 6-8 knots to get bites? Why not slow down and put several lines down where the sh are? It can result in steady, sometimes multiple hook ups. ere are several ways to accomplish this. You can use downriggers with release clips, use heavier trolling lures that fall when you occasionally take the boat out of gear, or use planer lures coupled with a slower speed to get baits down.

For example, a beautiful swimming (frozen) squid or ballyhoo on the downrigger is a ringer for the wahoo and tuna bite. An arti cial squid with an attached natural bait on a planer jig head or a deepdiving plug will also get bites. In addition these choices, a spread of slow-trolled live baits down deep is the ultimate o ering. We have several videos detailing the options listed above on our website.

With all the sargassum grass this year, this may be an especially attractive alternative to the standard 7 knots. When you’re constantly “shaggin’ grass,” you’re not as e ective, and it’s not good for moral when

deck hands ght more grass than sh. If you slow troll down a nice weed line with beautiful baits down deep in the strike zone, chances of getting bites are much better than shaggin’ grass at normal speed. Find structure and bait near a weed line and you’ll have the scenario for success. With or without structure or marking bait, the weed line is home to all types of life. We’ve cleaned yellow n tuna with a double handful of le sh in their stomachs the size of a quarter and smaller, along with small bit of grass.

If the weeds are not too scattered, troll as normal to nd the sh. When the sun gets up, slow down and concentrate on the areas you had bites earlier. Remember that the weeds are moving, along with everything that lives and feeds around the mats. Keep an eye out for other items oating in the grass mats to help keep up with your relative location.

For more from Tim Barefoot, go to barefootcatsandtackle.com.

CATCHING PEANUTS In ye Wxds

By Emily Hanzlik

As I write this, the largest mass of sargassum ever recorded is making its way to the Florida coast. For months, forecasters have been bemoaning the mess this 5,000-mile-long weed patch will make on our beaches, but I’m looking forward to what it brings.

Prey species live in the seaweed, and predators congregate around these weed lines. ere are going to be many di erent species of sh moving in closer than we usually get. Many anglers will enjoy chasing the larger predators; however, it’s fun to catch what we call peanuts, which are the small er dolphin sh that school up around the weeds.

e most distinguishing feature of dolphin sh is the bright neon green, yellow and blue coloration throughout their entire body. Dolphin have a long slender body, and the peanuts are typically 2 to 3 feet, with weights from 5 to 15 pounds. Dolphin get much larger than this, but the big ones don’t exhibit the same schooling behavior.

An amazing feature about dolphin sh is their dorsal n, which starts at the skull and continues all the way to the tail. To determine gender, male dolphin will have a more pronounced forehead, which almost becomes vertical with a 90-degree angle. Unlike most species of sh, the males tend to be larger than the females and are known as “bulls.”

Dolphin inhabit subtropical and tropical waters throughout the entire world. ey live o shore in the 70- to 300-foot depths. eir spawning season runs from April until August, as long as the water is warm enough. Dolphin broadcast spawn in current to ensure a higher rate of fertilization. Once the young hatch, they take shelter in sargassum patches or oating debris, which also provides a source of food since other juvenile sh will be hiding there also.

Fish in the big schools hanging around sargassum patches will usually be on the smaller side. So, you’ll want to use smaller baits like pilchards or thread ns and free swim them around the weeds. You might see a school of dolphin swarming your bait and ghting over it. eir bright colors and darting movements make them easy to spot.

Another option is to use small bucktail jigs or even 3-inch swimbaits. You can grab their attention by working lures like injured bait sh, and this is a great way to lure them out from under the debris.

While shing these patches, a great way to target larger sh is to sink a larger bait below the school. Larger dolphin and wahoo o en feed on peanut dolphin. It is illegal to use peanut dolphin as bait, but you could use ballyhoo, blue runner or even large thread ns.

e IGFA all-tackle world record dolphin weighed 87 pounds. It was caught by Manuel Salazar in the Papagayo Gulf in 1976.

Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 62 IGFA world records in various categories. She hails from West Palm Beach, where she has a part time Bow n Guide Service as well as shing classes for Jr. Anglers. Find her on social media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.

Re-Discover Old Florida Waterfront Charm

RED GROUPER TO CLOSE IN GULF FEDERAL WATERS

NOAA Fisheries has announced that a closure to recreational harvest of red grouper in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico will begin on July 21 and continue through the rest of 2023.

The

Perfect Vacation Getaway for Fishing, Boating & Outdoor Enthusiasts

e closure was spurred by landings information, which indicates the 2023 recreational annual catch target of 1,840,000 pounds gutted weight is projected to be met on July 20.

During the recreational closure, the bag and possession limit are zero for red grouper in or from federal waters of the Gulf. e prohibition on possession of Gulf red grouper also applies in Gulf state waters for a vessel issued a valid federal charter vessel/ headboat permit for Gulf reef sh.

If red grouper recreational landings exceed the annual catch limit (ACL) in a given year, the length of that following year’s recreational shing season will be reduced to ensure the recreational ACT is not exceeded in that following year.

For more information, visit www. sheries.noaa.gov.

Nestled on six lush tropical acres of pristine waterfront directly on the Indian River Lagoon, take a step back in time to experience the very best of Old Florida charm with modern conveniences and services to make your stay truly memorable and unforgettable.

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PAVER SIDEWALKS THROUGHOUT!

CHIPOLA STOCKED WITH NATIVE SHOAL BASS

In 2018, when Hurricane Michael bowled over the Florida Panhandle, it decimated the shoal bass population in the Chipola River. e Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission estimates the population was depleted by 90 percent.

FWC is raising and stocking shoal bass to replenish stocks of this rare and native black bass. In May, 7,800 hatchery-raised shoal bass ngerlings were released into the river. is is the second consecutive year shoal bass were raised at the Blackwater Fisheries Research and Development Center near Holt, Fla. and then released into the Chipola River to enhance the wild population.

Shoal bass are one of four of Florida’s native black bass species, and this e ort marks the second time genetically pure shoal bass have been successfully raised at an FWC sh hatchery. Shoal bass are also a Florida Species of Greatest Conservation Need, which refers to native animals whose populations are of concern and are at risk or declining. e goal of raising and releasing these sh is to enhance the wild population to help maintain genetic purity and aid in the long-term conservation of this unique species of Florida black bass.

e Chipola River originates just north of Marianna, owing south for 95 miles through Jackson, Calhoun and Gulf counties where it joins the Apalachicola River. Currently, a catch-and-release-only regulation is in e ect for shoal bass on the Chipola River and its tributaries. Any shoal bass that are caught must be released alive immediately and possession is prohibited.

For more information, visit MyFWC/Freshwater.

25K LIONFISH REMOVED

During the 2023 Emerald Coast Open, 144 competing divers removed 24,699 invasive lion sh from the Gulf of Mexico. With support from Yamaha Rightwaters as well as many local, national and international conservation-minded organizations, the annual event set records for largest lion sh ( ve times) as well as the number of lion sh caught in both the pre-tournament and main tournament.

e mitigation of aquatic invasive species is one of the four pillars of the Yamaha Rightwaters mission,” said Martin Peters, Director, External A airs, Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit. “ e Emerald Coast Open helps foster healthy marine environments in the Gulf while educating the public about the damage a large lion sh population can cause. Yamaha Rightwaters will continue to support this tournament and applauds the e ort to help the Gulf of Mexico thrive as a strong shery.” sh prey on more than 167 di erent native sh species and can reduce some reef sh populations by up to 90 percent. ey are capable of eating sh two-thirds their size, and one lion sh can consume roughly 20 sh in a half hour.

“Since its inception in 2019, the Emerald Coast Open helped remove more than 72,000 total lion sh from Gulf waters,” said Alex Fogg, Coastal Resource Manager, Destin – Fort Walton Beach and Emerald Coast Open Organizer. “ e tournament not only yields immediate results and improvement within our sheries, it also demonstrates that catching lion sh is fun – and they are tasty! We’re glad to have the support of Yamaha Rightwaters and look forward to developing our relationship as we begin to plan for the 2024 tournament.”

To learn more about the Emerald Coast Open, visit emeraldcoastopen.com.

MAKE THE MOST OF

ATLANTIC SNAPPER DATES

By CAM Sta

On the Gulf side, Florida anglers are looking at a pretty solid red snapper season this year, with summer dates from June 16 through July 31 and additional fall dates to pursue one of the South’s favorite game sh.

It’s a di erent story over on the East Coast. With the way the federal government has regulated snapper shing in the Atlantic over the years, anglers have come to count themselves lucky if there’s any Atlantic snapper season at all. is year’s allowance of two days—July 14-15— for recreational snapper harvest in the South Atlantic has anglers looking for ways to make the most of it.

From all reports, there are scads of red snapper out there. Catching the per-person limit of one sh should not be a problem. e key to a productive day that’s worth the gas is planning. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of the red snapper rally.

Load the Boat: With a limit of one sh per person, it’s time to load the boat with as many people as it will comfortably and safely hold so that you can ll the sh box with as many snapper as you are allowed. is is your two-day opportunity to ll the freezer with delicious sh. So, the more people you bring, the more sh you get to bring home. is is a great time to take kids. Kids love to sh, and they also take up less room in the boat.

Go With a Plan and a Backup Plan: For two days, it’ll seem like everyone with a boat is parked over every wreck and reef in the Atlantic. Get to the ramp early, and plan to be patient, because there will be a bunch of anglers with the same idea. Know where you hope to start the morning, but have several back-ups in case your honey hole doesn’t pan out. When you get there, if your graph doesn’t light up with life, don’t waste your time. Keep moving until you nd bait and sh.

Fish Big: With a one- sh limit, and no size limit, it pays to target the biggest sh down there. Fish live baits that are big enough to get past the smaller snapper down to 20-pounders. It wouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings if a big grouper took the bait, either. is also limits the number of small sh you’ll give a case of barotrauma, which is a good thing.

Remember, use of a dehooking tool is required. ere is also a requirement for the use of non-stainless steel hooks. In waters North of 28-degrees N. latitude, the use of non-o set, non-stainless steel circle hooks is required when shing for snapper grouper species. A descending device is also required on board all vessels and must be readily available for use (attached to at least 16 ounces of weight and at least 60 feet of line).

For more tips, go to coastalanglermag.com.

CONNECT LINE TO LINE WITH THE DOUBLE UNI KNOT

With excellent strength for line-to-line connections, the double uni is a go-to knot for connecting main lines to leaders. It is a quick and easy knot to tie, unlike some of the other line-to-line knots, so it’s a great option for on-thewater applications. Furthermore, it is very good for connecting di erent line types and diameters securely, which makes it the best knot for mono-to-mono or mono-to- uoro connections.

It’s also a good option to secure braid to uoro, and while it might not have the strength of the FG knot for this application, the double uni is much easier to tie and will save you some headache in real-world situations.

A disadvantage to the double uni knot is it’s a little bulky. Although it is an inline knot that keeps everything running in the right direction, the bump it creates at the connection and the two tag ends pointing in either direction can interfere with casting performance. e knot can cause some friction going through the guides. e double uni, however, is perfect for rigs where your leader will remain outside your rod tip. It’s also the right choice when casting distance and accuracy are not primary concerns. In most real-world scenarios, it will not inhibit casting ability enough that you’ll even notice.

For more tips, tricks and knots, visit usangler.com.

FISHING CLUB WINS MUD HOLE CUSTOM ROD CLASS

By completing conservation projects, the Chambers High School shing team recently earned a private, in-person custom rod building class with Mud Hole Custom Tackle. ey were the winning team in FWC’s School Fishing Club Conservation Project Competition and completed six projects including cleaning up and building mono lament recycling bins for their local waterbodies to win the grand prize.

All student anglers participating in the FWC’s 2022-23 School Fishing Club Program were required to complete at least one conservation project to qualify for funding associated with the program. Prizes were o ered by Mud Hole, Toad sh and Pure Fishing to encourage teams to complete multiple conservation initiatives. e competition awarded points per club participation in a variety of conservation-minded activities aimed at reducing the impacts of plastic pollution.

“Congratulations to these young anglers for their dedication to conservation,” said Tom Graef, FWC’s Freshwater Fisheries director. “ ey are making a di erence by leading the way for the next generation of anglers with these creative conservation projects.”

Punta Gorda Middle School won the second-place prize, and A. Crawford Mosley High School won the third-place prize.

“Supporting youth education is so important to our mission at Mud Hole Custom Tackle,” said Anthony Youmans, Mud Hole’s Education Program Director. “We’re honored to contribute the grand prize in this year’s competition and are always supportive of FWC’s e orts to lead conservation projects here in Florida, our home state.”

Mud Hole Custom Tackle, based in Oviedo, is the world’s largest supplier of rod building and tackle cra ing goods and instruction. From rod building

and repairing, to y tying and lure building, Mud Hole is the leading e-retailer and mail order supplier to hobbyists, small manufacturers and large OEMs, worldwide. O ering a superior shopping experience at mudhole.com, rapid ful llment, stellar customer service, and world class online content and instruction, Mud Hole Custom Tackle is the trusted source for the rod building and tackle cra ing community.

FWC’s School Fishing Club Program welcomed 38 new and 14 returning student angling clubs in Florida to the program last year, supported by the Division of Marine Fisheries Management, the Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management, and the Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network. e clubs committed to complete the provided FWC curriculum and at least one conservation project. Club mentors provided support and hands-on training in knot tying and shing gear assembly, as well as assistance with the clubs’ local events to increase student anglers’ con dence in the sport of shing. Information about the 2023-24 School Fishing Club Program will be announced later this summer.

For more information, visit MyFWC.com/SFC.

CCA FLORIDA STAR:

THERE’S STILL TIME TO REGISTER AND WIN!

The 2023 CCA Florida STAR competition presented by Yamaha kicked o Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Four STAR tagged red sh have already been recaptured, but what you won’t believe is that none of the anglers were CCA members and registered in the competition. ose four anglers missed out on their chance at some awesome boats and packages, and that means all the boats and packages are still available.

Registration for the summer-long competition is open until Sept. 4 and invites CCA members, non-members, anglers and non-anglers to take a shot at winning their share of prizes valued at more than $500,000 including boats, motors, electronics, tackle, scholarships and more. is event is about the shery winning, too. Participants become citizen biologists and citizen garbologists by submitting photos of their catch or garbage collected during the competition in the STAR app. In order to win, participants must take their entry photo on the 2023 CCA Florida STAR o cial measuring device, which can be picked up for free in any West Marine store or one of the many other STAR distribution locations throughout Florida. Find them listed on the STAR website.

“Every year we have lots of tagged red sh recaptured by unregistered anglers who are not members. We hope that this year, with more prizes, we will see more winners,” said CCA Florida STAR Director, Leiza Fitzgerald. “ e youth participation has been heartwarming, and to date STAR has awarded $800,000 in youth scholarships, plus in 2021 two youth anglers won a boat motor and trailer package that consisted of a 16-foot ski , 25hp Yamaha, Minn Kota Trolling motor and trailer. Every year there are over 100 winners In the STAR competition. Get registered and you could be one of them.”

e CCA Florida STAR competition presented by Yamaha has a division for everyone, from the non-angler to the experienced angler. It is comprised of 15 divisions targeting 12 inshore and o shore species, plus the Kick Plastic Trash Division presented by Papa’s Pilar which encourages cleanup of trash from Florida’s coastal waters. STAR’s signature Tagged Red sh Division o ers seven winners, ve adults and two youth, the choice of a Contender Boats 22 Sport, Path nder Boats 2200 TRS and a Carolina Ski 162 JLS. STAR has additional new Tagged Red sh sponsors with Dek Kat Boats o ering a 27 Flatz Kat and Sea Doo and Can-am o ering a fun package of a Trophy Fishing Sea Doo and the Can-am Defender. Each boat will be powered by a Yamaha, the competitions presenting sponsor. Be the rst winning tagged red sh angler for your choice of all these packages as your prize.

Once again in 2023, we have the ALTA SUPER STAR tagged red sh swimming in Florida waters. If it is recaptured, the winner will receive $50,000 cash! For the rst two youth anglers who win in this division, prizes include a tiller boat powered with Yamaha outboard, trailer, Minn Kota trolling motor and Humminbird electronics.

Each of Florida’s coastal counties have on average four tagged red sh for a total of over 160 prize-winning sh. e best opportunity to catch one of this year’s tagged red sh will be in Citrus and Charlotte Counties, STAR’s 2023 Destination Counties, which each have eight tagged red sh in their coastal waters.

For the o shore anglers, the Tigress Outriggers and Gear Tagged Dolphin Division o ers one winner a $10,000 cash prize. e rst STAR registrant and CCA Florida member who catches a tagged dolphin will win. Twenty tagged dolphin (Mahi Mahi) were released for STAR in the lower Florida Keys.

STAR is a family-friendly competition, and CCA Florida youth members (ages 6 to 17) can participate for free. Kids are encouraged to submit entries in the Youth Scholarship Division presented by Realtree Fishing for an opportunity to win one of 12 scholarships totaling $100,000. Other divisions include the Power Pole Conservation Division, Bona de Kayak Division and Ladies Division as well as the Yamaha Guides which allows guides to participate when they are not on a charter for hire. Since most division winners are determined by a random drawing, it is not about catching the biggest sh, any size sh can win. Remember, it is very simple really, every sh you catch between now and Monday, Labor Day o ers the CCA member who is registered in STAR the opportunity to win their share of $500,000 in prizes and scholarships. You can’t win If you are not registered.

STAR is also a tool to gather catch data, it creates awareness for conservation, our sponsors and CCA Florida. Launched in 2015, the competition has set the bar for other shing tournaments to follow by implementing conservation-friendly alternatives such a catch-photorelease format and a trash division. Florida STAR focuses on conservation with its technology-based, CPR format and dedicated smartphone app which promotes the proper handling of species and allows participants who are members of CCA and registered in the competition to upload photos of their catch or trash buckets in the STAR competition and be rewarded for their e orts. CCA Florida also provides access to the data collected to other conservation organizations and universities to help educate the public and for use in their studies on conservation, habitat and stock assessments.

You can still register for STAR 2023. You have all summer and all the boats and packages are still available. To receive additional information on divisions, prizes and more, visit cca star.com or Facebook.

YET ANOTHER... ORANGE LAKE GIANT!

Put Orange Lake on your bass- shing itinerary for next spring. is 12,550-acre lake in Alachua County southeast of Gainesville is a springtime conveyor belt of big bass.

From February through April this year, 19 Orange Lake largemouths heavier than 10 pounds were reported to TrophyCatch, FWC’s big-bass recognition program.

Bass heavier than 13-pounds are given “Hall of Fame” status by TrophyCatch. Five 13-pluspounders have been caught statewide this year. Four of them came from Orange Lake, and three of those were caught in February.

e most recent one we’ve heard of was a sh caught back on Feb. 7 that just popped up on the TrophyCatch Facebook

Kelly

a giant 13-pound, 3-ounce monster swimming a

Man… that sounds like a lot of fun.

For more information, visit www.trophycatch orida.com.

page.

Taunton scored

Senko through the pads.

Score From the Shore in Calm Conditions

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

The surf can be bountiful and as easy as shing can be when the seas are calm. On a recent trip to the Gulf of Mexico’s calm shores, I was certain I was going to catch them at will. To the naked eye, conditions were as good as it gets, but many fellow anglers fell short of their dreams on this beautiful day. Here are some modi cations I made on the y that allowed me to come out ahead of most others.

is day provided us with glass-calm seas, clear water and bait everywhere, but one key ingredient was missing, substantial tide. What most of us focused on, including myself, were the calm conditions. is is always the draw for trout shing on the beachfront in Texas, and it is seldom the norm.

I did research the tide, and it was an early high

heading out, which, once again, seems perfect. However, the slope on the graph was a slow outgoing tide, not one that was going to trigger many bites on its own. Once I realized this and watched others leave empty handed, I decided to search for places that would encourage the slow outgoing current to increase in velocity. I sought out guts in the bars perpendicular to the shore. ese same guts have the potential to cause dangerous riptides, and they can also be the best place to sh. You typically see these guts by studying the waves, but with no waves I had to use my polarized glasses. ankfully, the water clarity made this an easy task. I drove along the beach looking for these, and once I spotted them, I stood on the back of my truck to increase my elevation to identify the best ones.

I’d found my pattern. Now the catching could begin! Keep in mind, as slow as the tide was moving, it did not create a dangerous situation

(always be cautious of rip tides on the beach), but it did speed up the current enough to trigger a good bite. I thoroughly worked all edges of these guts, nding most bites on the back side where the tide pulled bait from the shallow gut to the deeper second gut.

When the tide is slow, I like to try and get a reaction strike by throwing something a little di erent or working my lure erratically. On this day, I was throwing a rattling so -plastic paddletail. I also picked one with a bright green tail to stand out from the millions of bait sh traveling the rst and second guts. All of these tactics combined allowed me to salvage a day when most le with empty stringers.

e beachfront can be a great place to sh, and it’s fun for the kids. My boys enjoy wading beside me, and when the shing is over it’s time to play at the beach!

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®

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

By Capt. Lukas Brickweg

Alaska shing season started o with a bang for anglers visiting Ketchikan, Alaska. Halibut shing charters produced great catches of halibut, paci c cod, lingcod and rock sh. Salmon shing trips resulted in big king salmon while we awaited the arrival of silver salmon and pink salmon.

Early season typically is more inconsistent than the deep summer months of July, August and September. With that being said, our guests enjoyed better than average shing to start o the 2023 Alaska shing summer.

Fishing tours for cruise ship guests and y-in anglers spent the majority of May bottom shing. ese sheries consist of shing near and o shore waters for halibut, cod and rock sh. Deep-water jigging for halibut had guests reeling in keeper-sized halibut as well as oversized halibut ranging from 10 pounds to 120 pounds. ere’s nothing quite like the thrill of hooking into these deep sea dwellers, and the delicious white meat holds up well when frozen and shipped back home to the lower 48.

Halibut weren’t the only species caught during our halibut shing charters. Paci c cod were a staple while bottom shing for halibut. Cod were concentrated in large numbers on the sandy ats eating a variety of bottom rigs. Traditional halibut shing rigs with glow-in-the-dark squid and cut herring caught the majority of Paci c cod. We also found great success jigging for cod with metal jigs and so plastic swimbaits.

Following up halibut shing with rock sh and lingcod jigging made for a combination catch that had everyone smiling. We do this in shallower water with light tackle. While catching pelagic rock sh such as yellowtails and duskies, we also caught big lingcod. With such a phenomenal bottom shing area, you’re never quite sure what will grab the end of the line. Giant lingcod make a trophy catch for anyone visiting Alaskan waters.

King salmon shing opened June 1. Everyone rejoiced at the opportunity to pursue this iconic sh. Big king salmon catches came in throughout the entire southeast Alaska region. Ketchikan is known as the salmon capital of the world, and it didn’t disappoint. Herring Cove and Mountain Point were the rst areas to open up. is resulted in large numbers of anglers trolling for prized king salmon. As we look forward for the entirety of the region to open, these were the rst areas where big catches came in.

Over the next couple months, the shing will continue to heat up! Halibut will continue to show up in larger numbers as the water temperatures increase. In addition, the salmon shing will see a big burst of silver salmon and pink salmon to combine with the larger king salmon. It’s all happening now!

For more information, visit www.ketchikan shingtrips.com or call (907) 617-4717.

Most of the time the saying is true, bigger baits equal bigger sh! Although elephants eat peanuts, a big bait pro le is something big sh sometimes can’t resist whether you’re shing the open ocean or the Great Lakes. I’ve spent a lot of time in the last couple years experimenting with lures that are larger than what my previous comfort zone was for bass. It is pretty special to see what gets curious to come look at or bite these big baits.

ere are many di erent types of swimbaits on the market, but I’ll break them down into two styles to keep it simple. ere are hard, gliding-style swimbaits with treble hooks and there are so -body swimbaits. Each has a time and a place, and both attract some very big sh.

Depending on where you are in the country and the size of the forage in your lake, a normal meal for a bass is usually much bigger than you would think. Bass have huge mouths to accommodate large prey items. A two- or three-pounder has no problem at all swallowing a 6- to 8-inch bluegill whole. I’ve seen 10-plus-pounders eat gizzard shad up to 14 inches long! Trying to exactly duplicate the larger bait sh in your lake with a natural presentation is the key to drawing attention to your arti cial lure.

With hard swimbaits, my rst choice is a shad imitation. Most of the places I sh are full

of shad, and shad seem to be a favorite food source for bass.

THROW BIG BAITS FOR BIG BASS TIPS FROM A PRO

Crappie are another forage species people sometimes forget about. Lately, when throwing big baits

over deeper water, I’ve caught some big sh with crappie down in their throats.

With so swimbaits, I usually go to a bluegill imitation. I like so baits because they are more weedless, and you can creep them through the grass or along the bottom in places where bluegills live.

Big swimbaits can get mighty expensive. If you are just getting started with them, I would suggest sticking with the more a ordable baits that get good reviews until you get your con dence up. en you can dive into some of the larger, more customized lures.

Learning to sh big baits is best done by getting on the water and doing it. Just get out there and experiment with retrieves until you nd out what works. Of course, throwing giant lures requires special equipment. I like 13 Fishing’s a ordable Defy for a rod. It’s an 8-foot swimbait rod that handles most big lures with ease. I pair this with a 300 sized reel, like the 13 Fishing Concept A3 and some 20- to 25-pound Seaguar Abrazx.

I hope this article sparks someone’s interest to get out there and throw a big bait. Once I stepped out of my comfort zone, I discovered it to be one of the coolest and most fun ways to target big bass all year long. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me on social media if you have questions about these tactics or any others.

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

TYLER WOOLCOTT

RECORD WELS

really realized that I hooked a monster. Adrenaline started pumping hard and the fear of losing it almost sent me into a panic. I was alone, facing the biggest cat sh I ever seen in 23 years.

Italy’s River Po has done it again.

Last week, MADCAT pro sta er Alessandro Biancardi caught a 9-foot-long wels cat sh that will likely replace the IGFA world length record for the species. e monster wels measured 285 centimeters (9 feet, 4.2 inches) in length and stands to beat out the existing record by just 4 centimeters, or about an inch and a half.

Biancardi is a veteran cat sh angler who has targeted wels for more than two decades. He landed his potential new record a er a more than 40-minute battle while shing solo in an aluminum

jonboat.

e giant sh ate a so -plastic paddletail shed on a jighead.

“In silence, I approached the rst spot and a er few casts a powerful bite arrived. e sh stood still some seconds before starting a very complicated ght, between strong currents and a lot of submerged obstacles,” Biancardi wrote in a blog post. “I calmly managed to ght what I felt to be a prehistoric sh. I followed it for 40 endless minutes. When it surfaced for the rst time, I

“I tried gloving its mouth two or three times, but it was still too strong,” he wrote. “I decided to go in shallow water trying to land it from shore, and a er few tries, I managed to land it! I tied the sh to let him recover from the long ght then I suddenly realized that the boat was not anchored, and it was going away in the current. I was forced to have a swim to recover it with all my stu .”

Biancardi then called some friends from a nearby sh camp to come help him get a good measurement on the beast. A er taking measurements, the sh was released. Without a weight, it will not be considered for the all-tackle world record, which stands at 297 pounds, 9 ounces for a sh caught from the Po back in 2010.

For more, go to https://madcat- shing.com.

ENTER TO WIN!

SEA EAGLE FISHSKIFF 16 WITH A SUZUKI DF4 OUTBOARD

Coastal Angler and The Angler Magazine, Suzuki Marine and Sea Eagle have come together to offer readers a shot at this Sea Eagle FishSkiff 16 paired with a Suzuki DF4 outboard that’ll take you wherever the fish are. The FishSkiff 16 is an inflatable fishing boat that is lightweight, sturdy, stable and extremely packable. It rolls up small enough to fit in the trunk of a car and quickly inflates into a fishing machine. Powered by Suzuki’s four-stroke DF4A, you’ll have to hold on to your hat as you scream over the flats. Designed for efficiency and performance and portability, the DF4A provides all the speed and acceleration you can handle. It’s lightweight and can be attached or removed with ease.

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

e point? You deserve to treat yourself once in a while. You do so much for the people you care about. Now it’s time to focus on you for just a few minutes. at’s where the Men’s Due Volta Watch comes in. is astonishing innovation provides a digital readout that’s powered by a precise quartz engine, combining both analog and digital timekeeping.

Out tted with a stopwatch, alarm, a.m./p.m. settings, and day, date and month complications, this timepiece stands out from the crowd. With its large face and handsome, masculine design, this watch is perfect for the back nine and the happy hour afterwards. Water-resistant up to 3 ATM, this timepiece won’t wimp out if you have a run-in with a water hazard.

Other hybrid watches can sell for thousands of dollars, but because we’ve built more than 1 million watches, we know how to create real value. at’s why we can o er this timepiece for just $59! If you’re not completely satis ed with this watch, return it for a full refund.

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

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IN SEARCH OF HAVASU’S WORLD RECORD REDEAR

By Gary Turner

The sun was just cresting the mountains and the moon was low in the west as Capt. Ron Ratlief, of Ron’s Fishing Guide Service, and I began shing for redear sun sh on Arizona’s Lake Havasu. is trip has been on my bucket list for years. I just never made the time, which is ridiculous considering Havasu is pretty much the Holy Land for bream shing.

Havasu is a large Colorado River reservoir on the Arizona/Colorado border. In recent years, the lake has produced a series of world-record redear sun sh, with the current mark standing at 6-pounds, 4-ounces. Havasu’s freakishly large redears are due to a plentiful food source of invasive mussels that have in ltrated the system. e lake also holds some enormous bluegills, which I came to nd out over two days shing with Ron and a third day with my buddy Zac Mickle.

You could feel it was going to be a hot one—over 100 degrees— as the cool morning air evaporated with the sun. A er all, Havasu is an oasis in the middle of a desert. We started the morning sight shing coves. Havasu’s water is as clear as the Keys, and I half expected to see bone sh swimming by. We searched several coves and saw lots of sh, including bluegills, carp, cat sh, giant gizzard shad, tilapia, green sun sh and small stripers, just

to name a few. We also found some redear sun our target species, but they were small, a pound or less, and we were looking for big ones!

We moved to plan B and headed to deeper water. Havasu has the most man-made attractors and brushpiles I’ve ever seen. might be a bunch in South Carolina’s Santee, but you would never see them. e crystal-clear water makes everything visible, and as the sun got higher, we could see even more. We saw structure clearly in 18 feet of water with large redears on it. I dropped a night crawler on a jig head down, and BAM! I had a good bite! We landed a nice redear heavier than two pounds and continued hitting deeper brush, where we saw some big ones and caught a thick 14-incher that was pushing 3 pounds. A er several other sh in the 1 to 1 ½-pound range, Ron suggested we move back to a cove for a few last casts before heading in.

In the cove, I got hammered by a good one, which upon landing was about the same size as the 2-pounder from earlier, but it looked more like a bluegill. I was thinking it might be a hybrid between the two species, which was later con rmed.

If you like bream, you need to check out Havasu. It is a beautiful lake in the desert with some giant redears and bluegills. I might not have

caught a world record this year, but I’ve already booked next year’s trip.

Check out Gary Turner’s shing adventures on his YouTube channel at youtube.com/ @FishingWithGary.

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ELEVATE YOUR CHUM!

By Capt. Judy Helmey

BLOTCHY BASS SYNDROME IS A VIRUS

Check out the crazy markings on this Pennsylvania bass!

Recently the American Fisheries Society Black Bass Conservation Committee (BBCC) posted photos of this striking, black-splotched largemouth bass on its Facebook page.

During the old days of chumming, lots of shermen used glitter in their chum, but we sure didn’t talk about it. Why? It was a serious sh-catching secret, and it works as well now as it ever did.

Of course, back then we hadn’t heard of microplastics. We didn’t equate those tiny ashy akes with pollution. Traditional glitter is made with aluminum and plastic, which is a really bad thing to be throwing in the water. ankfully, today there is biodegradable glitter made of plant cellulose. is more environmentally friendly product enables us to keep using our old tricks without doing harm to the ocean.

When you add biodegradable glitter to your chum, the oils coat

every single small piece of glitter. When it hits the water, each piece of glitter becomes sh attractant. As it slowly spreads through the water column, it catches sunlight and re ects it. e oil onboard each small piece of glitter leaves a trail that only a hungry smart sh would care to follow.

You might ask how do I know that glittering chum works? Well, when you start getting hits and landing sh, open the sh box and take a look. You know how glitter is. It gets everywhere and sticks to everything. Well, your sh box and the sh in it will be coated in glitter. Trust me.

Capt. Judy Helmey runs Miss Judy Charters o the Georgia coast. Check them out at missjudycharters.com.

e photos, by professional bass sherman Grae Buck, show his wife Jessica Buck holding a sh with melanosis. e post goes on to explain that this condition is when something a ects the pigment expression in the skin, turning it black. Termed blotchy bass syndrome, it has been found in black bass species in waterbodies across the United States with increasing frequency.

“While a truly melanistic sh would be all black, we more commonly see parts of the sh black, irregular blotches, spots, or ns,” the post reads. ese crazy colored sh show up from time to time, and previously it has been explained as a genetic mutation. In its explanation of this sh, however, BBCC pointed to research being conducted at the U.S.G.S. Eastern Ecological Science Center in West Virginia.

e research found that this blotchy skin condition is actually caused by a viral infection, an emerging novel adomavirus. Researchers have not pinned down a cause yet, but a U.S.G.S. report suggests higher incidences of blotchy bass syndrome in disturbed-water systems, with a potential link to chemicals. ere is currently broad ongoing research to try and determine the causes and e ects of this infection.

TheReturn of a

Follow the BBCC at www.facebook.com/AFS.Black.Bass.

Home of world class fishing on the beautiful Watauga Lake, rugged Doe River and designated trophy trout stream, Watauga River