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VOLUME 29 • ISSUE 347
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM
F R A N C H I S E
O P P O R T U N I T I E S
A V A I L A B L E
FEBRUARY 2024
W O R L D W I D E
S P E N D YO U R T I M E W H E R E I T S TA N D S S T I L L R U N T H E WAT E R ™
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else, here are a few tips to help you hook and land more tripletail. • Cruise Carefully: Floating at the surface and doing its best to imitate a garbage bag, a tripletail is easy to spot once you develop an eye for it. Run a trap line on plane with a dedicated spotter and you can cover water quickly to locate “trips.” However, you’ll put fish down if you wake them too hard. Stay at least 30 feet off a trap line or channel markers while prospecting. When you spot a fish, give it a few minutes to settle and come back to the surface while you bring the boat around to approach with the trolling motor. A tripletail at ease on the surface is an easy fish to target. • Consider Your Eyewear: Obviously, polarized glasses are a must when sight fishing anything. The color of your lenses matters, too. It’s worth investing in a couple of good pairs so you can switch out according to conditions. Gray or blue works best in clear water. In dingy water, go with copper or rose lenses. • Stay Rigged and Ready: If you’re targeting trout, redfish or whatever, keep a tripletail rig on hand and keep an eye out for them when you’re running to a new spot. A good basic rig is a popping cork with a short 20-pound fluorocarbon leader of a foot or less and a 2/0 circle hook. Live shrimp is best, but if you’re fishing artificials, a DOA shrimp or a Gulp! shrimp or crab will also work. • On Approach: Come at your quarry from down-current and cast well past it so that your bait drifts back in front of its nose. If that cork starts to dance, give it a few seconds before coming tight. Tripletail have small, hard mouths and you want to be sure the fish has taken the bait. • Fish Small Baits: The reason a tripletail is hanging out on that marker is to eat the small crabs and shrimp that live there. They’re used to small food and have small mouths, which is why they’ll sometimes reject big shrimp. Pitch small or medium shrimp to them or small baitfish and lures no longer than about 2.5 inches. • Stick With Them: If a tripletail spooks or goes down, it usually isn’t going far. Try drifting an unweighted bait on a longer 4- or 5-foot leader that will get down deeper on a long drift past your structure. If that doesn’t work, t will soon be the time of year when everyone’s favorite oddball, the go hit your next mark and come back later. There’s a good chance the fish will tripletail, starts moving in closer to shore to hang out on structure or free- be sunbathing happily on the surface when you return. floating debris. Whether you actively sight fish them by running a line of traps and markers or if you just happen to see one while pursuing something For more tips and tricks, visit coastalanglermag.com.
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your veins. Then, bam! The tarpon puts on a show, soaring into the air with moves like no other. It’s a show that leaves even the most seasoned anglers wide-eyed. Those silver kings? They’re not just strong; they’re the rockstars of Islamorada. Now, let’s talk strategy. These tarpon are known for their spontaneity, so patience is your best friend. When it comes to bait, think live mullet or crabs–the kind of irresistible treats that tarpon just can’t resist. Toss your bait in front of where you think they could be, let it drift back in the current, and patiently watch the magic unfold. When your line starts to load, get ready for a ride. Keep that tension steady, brace yourself for some serious speed, and be prepared for tarpon acrobatics. It’s like a rollercoaster on water, and trust me, you’ll want to savor every twist and turn. When they jump, it’s important to bow your rod toward them to give them the slack so the hook doesn’t pull out. As you get closer to that leader touch or face grab, remember, gentle is the name of the game. Tarpon have delicate mouths, and going all WWE on them might end in heartbreak. If you’re going out with a guide, I recommend booking more than one day to give yourself better odds of landing a tarpon. So come late February through March, and the stage will be set for a front-row seat to Islamorada’s Silver King show. To book a charter, visit www.beansportfishing.com
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FLORIDA 3
By Emily Hanzlik
Catch South Florida’s
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own in South Florida, the influx of exotic species is crazy. Most people know about peacock bass and snakeheads, but clown knifefish are a lesser-known exotic that are a blast to catch. You might see these fish rolling on the surface, but they’re tough to catch due to their intelligence. Clown knifefish are silver in color with black spots along their tail. These fish have a very unique shape that almost resembles the blade of a knife. Their faces are similar to snook or a tarpon, but they have a huge shoulder right behind their eyes.
4 FLORIDA
FEBRUARY 2024
These fish have a similar texture to freshwater trout, as they have micro scales and a slime coating that makes them smooth to the touch. A fun fact, since their anal fin and tail fin are conjoined, it allows them to undulate and actually swim backward. If you get one boat-side, watch as they back away from the net. Clown knives are native to southeast Asia. Their popularity as aquarium fish has led to their spread because they quickly outgrow most home aquariums and are released. These fish like warm water, and they are bimodal air-breathers, which means they surface to gulp air if the water is too stagnant. This makes them well-suited to the swamps, lakes, canals and backwater rivers of South Florida. Juveniles school together and hide in roots of plants. When they grow larger, they become solitary but still hunt from the cover of aquatic vegetation. Clown knifefish spawn in the spring. Research suggests they prefer three straight days of rain before laying and fertilizing eggs. When the time is right, the female lays eggs on a root or some other secure surface. The male then tends the eggs. Even after the eggs hatch, the male will guard the fry until they are large enough to be on their own. These fish are nocturnal. The best time to catch them is at night, or at dusk or dawn. When the sun is up, they seek refuge under structure or in thick mats of vegetation. Clown knifefish are aggressive ambush predators. If you walk canal banks at night, you can see their eyes glowing in the beam of a flashlight. I’ve found the fishing is always best after a rain, as it gets them frenzied. I use live bait like shiners or shad and freeline them near flowing pipes or in fast-moving canals. If knifefish are there, you’ll see them rolling on the surface. I use a small live bait hook on a 20-pound leader, since they do have sharp teeth. For artificials, a 2- to 3-inch white swimbait or a jig will work. An exciting option is to fish a white topwater frogs at night. Remember, when they get to the bank the fight isn’t over. They always come up to say hi, and then quickly back away into the darkness. The current IGFA all-tackle world record is 14-pound, 8-ounce fish caught from Florida’s Lake Ida in 2018 by Michael Donvito.
Whe Cen and rem add sing
Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 62 IGFA world records in various categories. Find her on social media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.
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2024 february
Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale AreaS
Native Son Gets It Done in Derby with 11 Releases
11 release flags flown from the rigger of the Native Son.
The Mrs. Henry R. Rea Trophy
I
t takes more than just an appreciation for the fishery off the Palm Beaches to successfully catch and release the esteemed sailfish. This angling spectacle continues to challenge some of the finest captains and crews during the Silver Sailfish Derby at the height of sailfish season in early January. A sold out 50 boat fleet celebrated this crown jewel of sportfishing once again fishing just four lines, a rule rooted in the history of the tournament. With limited baits in the water there’s only so much ground to gain on fellow Derby participants. Every bite counts. Landing multiple fish hooked up at the same time is a true test of angling skill and teamwork, but one necessary to climb the competitive leaderboard. Captain Art Sapp and the Native Son capitalized on each fish in the spread to come back on the final day of fishing and win the 87th running of The World’s Oldest Sailfish Tournament. A total of 149 Atlantic sailfish were released over the duration of the 2024 Derby and 13 sails were tagged. Calm conditions offshore and light rain showers on the first day weren’t ideally suited for flying kites and presenting live baits. Participants and spectators alike who follow the tournament each year have a great perspective on the fleet’s sailfishing prowess. It seems Derby boats have always managed to catch sailfish despite the conditions. The tournament was headquartered out of Sailfish Marina on Palm Beach Shores where the 48’ Viking, Priceless, has docked seasonally for some time. The Priceless won the Derby in 2023. This naturally had other tournament boats anxious after seeing them get off to another hot start. Capt. Jorge Sanchez and crew had 7 sailfish releases after Day 1 of fishing and took CONTinued on page 8 >>
Capt Art Sapp and Native Son at Derby Dinner.
Myla Alligood, Top Lady & Junior Angler.
Kris Meola, Rea Trophy Winner with team Catch N Reese.
For advertising or other inquiries, call 917.612.8275 or email us at ilene@coastalanglermagazine.com
f i s h i n g the h e s c a e B m l Pa
A
Fishing
s we near the end of Florida’s so called ‘winter’ months, fishing for sailfish is still in the spotlight throughout the month of February. As the month progresses the action should remain steady but will begin to fizzle out in Palm Beach as the sailfish continue their southerly migration. If you haven’t already, try to get out and kite fish for sails after a passing cold front. It’s not uncommon to hook two or more sailfish in a single fishing trip when kite fishing. Besides sailfish, there will also be a variety of pelagic fish visiting our waters that will gladly eat your kite baits. Be on the lookout for kingfish, dolphin, and wahoo swimming in your kite spread. I recommend using a small trace of wire on your leaders, so you increase your chances of catching toothy critters like kingfish and wahoo. Anglers that like to fish from the
Forecast
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Darcizzle Please be sure to check out my YouTube Channel “Darcizzle Offshore” for fishing videos every week!
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beach and the waters near shore, the annual migration of spinner sharks should be commencing by the end of the month. These swift, fast-growing sharks are exhilarating to catch. Spinner sharks are named for the spinning leaps they make when they rocket out of the water.
High
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(depending on wind conditions of course). I suggest using a long leader at least 15ft long, a 3/0-6/0 circle hook based on the size of your bait, and with just enough weight to hold bottom. Bottom fishing should yield muttons, kingfish, cobia, Spanish mackerel, bonito, trigger fish, etc. You will catch yellowtails, muttons, and mangroves closer to the reef itself. Say HELLO if you see me out on the water. Good luck & keep on catching!
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Boca Raton, Lake Boca Raton, FL - Feb 2024 Date
When spinners are feeding on schools of fish, they will swim vertically through the school while spinning on their axis, erupting from the surface of the water. By boat, target spinner sharks by anchoring ahead of the school and use chum to lure them in. Live bait will work best; try mullet, blue runners, and goggle eyes. When you hook one, they jump quite a bit and the adrenaline rush you feel is like no other! Bottom fishing should produce a good bite a couple days after a passing cold front. The deeper wrecks like Skycliffe out of Boynton Inlet and the Ande out of Palm Beach Inlet should be holding almaco jacks, amberjacks, and grouper. If you are drift fishing; I suggest starting your drift on the outside of the second reef in 75ft of water and drift in shallow to 40ft
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6:49
6:18
23
Fri
8:43
2.4
8:51
2.2
2:30
0.2
3:03
0.3
6:48
6:18
24
Sat
9:19
2.4
9:31
2.2
3:10
0.2
3:40
0.3
6:47
6:19
25
Sun
9:52
2.4
10:09
2.3
3:47
0.2
4:13
0.2
6:46
6:20
26
Mon
10:23
2.3
10:46
2.3
4:22
0.2
4:45
0.2
6:45
6:20
27
Tue
10:53
2.3
11:21
2.3
4:57
0.3
5:17
0.2
6:44
6:21
28
Wed
11:24
2.2
11:59
2.3
5:33
0.3
5:50
0.2
6:43
6:21
29
Thu
11:58
2.2
6:11
0.4
6:25
0.2
6:42
6:22
2 Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Areas
Moon
february 2024
BA
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Fishing Forecast with Capt. Patrick Smith
www.swamptosea.com • 561-503-0848
Barry caught his biggest tarpon down in Miami.
Bill with a beautiful tarpon.
Kayak
Fishing Forecast with
Capt. brian nelli
772-201-5899 • Brian@tckayakfishing.com • tckayakfishing.com
Braden with a big pompano.
e’ve made it to the middle Sarah was surprised of winter and if the by this awesome trend of December’s and rabbit fish. January’s cold weather continues, just remember, spring is getting closer. Almost all my fishing this month will be inshore targeting jacks, pompano, sheepshead, and other migratory species. White bucktail jigs are a staple for me this time of the year as I fish them by setting up and making long drifts through turning basins, inlets, and deep channels, sometimes tipped with shrimp, but most times bare. Goofy jigs are the next tool in my arsenal as I tend to fish a lot shallower on flats and any open water 10 feet or less, mostly targeting pompano. This month look out for spinner sharks as they make their migration through our area. I use 300-pound mono crimped with a circle hook, and it really seems to help when they jump and spin up the leader to Watch your hands when dealing not break you off, like wire would. with these toothy critters. A As for bait, a fist size chunk of about good de-hooker is worth its anything that you catch should work weight in gold. perfectly; ladyfish chunks are almost a sure thing. I tend to avoid fishing the freshwater when it’s this cold, as it takes quite a while for the lakes to warm back up. The main focus in the freshwater would be sunshine bass early in the morning and largemouth bass after that, with the occasional exotic mixed in. Typical of most wintertime months, I would focus on fishing deep. Good luck out there!
Inshore
In February you should still have pompano, Spanish mackerel, sheepshead, and bluefish on your mind. As the water temps get colder the pompano fishing in the Intracoastal will pick up. Try fishing for pompano along channel edges near your favorite inlet. I like launching the kayak at Sawfish Park in Jupiter. Pompano jigs, D.O.A. Lures 2.75” Shrimp, and a good ole bucktail jig are a few of my favorite lures. Spanish mackerel can give you some nonstop action on the beach and on the inside of the Intracoastal. Finding the schools and throwing spoons and bucktail jigs will entice a bite.
Offshore
Winter time can be tough to just get off the beach with it being our most windy months. When you are able to launch, sailfish and kingfish will be the most common catches with a random mahi and wahoo in the mix. Days with some winds are going to increase your chances of a bite. Brian with a Slow trolling goggle nice sailfish. eyes and blue runners in 90-250 feet of water will be your best bet to get a bite. Don’t forget to grab a few Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows to troll as 4 Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Areas
february 2024
Becca with her first clown knifefish. well if bait is hard to come by. I like to run a Yo-Zuri Deep Diver and Shallow Runner to cover more of the water column too.
Freshwater
Peacock bass and clown knifefish will be chewing this month. The launch at Lake Ida West Park is a good place to launch your kayak. Try 15-to-20-pound Yo-Zuri Topknot Fluorocarbon Leader and a 2/0 circle hook casting in and around structure and weed lines to get onto a few clowns with finger mullet and shiners. Look to fish the mid-water column and below by adding a pinch weight to your leader and get that bait in their face. Check out Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for all the latest adventures my clients and I get into.
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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 effect with it digesting in his stomach. Myth confirmed or was it bad luck? He should’ve brought his lucky rabbit foot!!! Keith Lozott The Fishing Realtor
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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, FL - Feb 2024
! e r e H s i r e h t a e W The
High
Date
Low
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
Thu
1:34
2.0
1:38
2.0
8:17
PM
ft
Rise
Set
0.3
8:42
0.0
7:03
6:05
2
Fri
2:22
1.9
2:21
1.9
9:06
3
Sat
3:17
1.9
3:13
1.8
10:04
0.4
9:32
0.0
7:02
6:05
0.5
10:31
0.0
7:02
4
Sun
4:21
1.9
4:15
1.8
11:08
6:06
0.5
11:34
-0.1
7:01
5
Mon
5:28
2.0
5:24
1.9
6:07
12:13
0.4
7:00
6
Tue
6:32
2.1
6:31
2.0
12:37
6:07
-0.2
1:13
0.3
7:00
7
Wed
7:30
2.3
7:32
2.2
1:35
6:08
-0.4
2:09
0.1
6:59
8
Thu
8:22
2.5
8:29
2.4
2:30
6:09
-0.6
3:01
-0.1
6:59
9
Fri
9:10
2.7
9:22
2.6
6:10
3:22
-0.7
3:52
-0.4
6:58
10
Sat
9:56
2.8
10:13
6:10
2.8
4:13
-0.8
4:41
-0.5
6:57
11
Sun
10:42
2.8
6:11
11:04
2.8
5:03
-0.8
5:30
-0.7
6:57
12
Mon
11:27
2.8
6:12
11:56
2.8
5:53
-0.7
6:19
-0.7
6:56
13
Tue
6:12
12:13
2.7
6:44
-0.5
7:10
-0.7
6:55
14
Wed
12:48
6:13
2.7
1:01
2.5
7:37
-0.3
8:03
-0.6
6:55
15
Thu
6:14
1:43
2.5
1:52
2.3
8:33
-0.1
9:00
-0.5
6:54
16
6:14
Fri
2:41
2.3
2:48
2.2
9:33
0.1
10:02
-0.3
6:53
6:15
17
Sat
3:46
2.2
3:51
2.0
10:38
0.3
11:08
-0.2
6:52
6:16
18
Sun
4:55
2.1
5:00
1.9
11:45
0.4
6:52
6:16
19
Mon
6:03
2.1
6:07
2.0
12:12
-0.1
12:48
0.4
6:51
6:17
20
Tue
7:02
2.1
7:05
2.0
1:12
-0.1
1:44
0.3
6:50
6:17
21
Wed
7:51
2.2
7:55
2.1
2:05
-0.2
2:34
0.2
6:49
6:18
22
Thu
8:32
2.3
8:38
2.2
2:51
-0.2
3:17
0.1
6:48
6:19
23
Fri
9:09
2.3
9:18
2.3
3:33
-0.2
3:56
0.0
6:48
6:19
24
Sat
9:43
2.4
9:55
2.3
4:11
-0.2
4:32
-0.1
6:47
6:20
25
Sun
10:15
2.4
10:31
2.3
4:47
-0.2
5:06
-0.1
6:46
6:20
26
Mon
10:47
2.3
11:07
2.3
5:21
-0.1
5:38
-0.2
6:45
6:21
27
Tue
11:19
2.3
11:43
2.3
5:54
-0.1
6:10
-0.2
6:44
6:21
28
Wed
11:51
2.2
6:26
0.0
6:41
-0.1
6:43
6:22
29
Thu
12:20
2.2
7:00
0.2
7:16
-0.1
6:42
6:23
1
Moon
Sailngat50%pasengercap citysopleasecal for es rvations. Indivdualuseonly.Subject omin. Limtedseatingfordistancing.Boatserilzedbefore verytrip.
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february 2024
12:23
2.1
Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Areas 5
2024 is here
Do something different! By Mark Ambert
By utilizing different methods, your fishing options multiply. Successful trips are made. Challenge yourself in 2024 by learning some new techniques!
A
nother year has come and gone so ask yourself – what can I do different in the new year? Challenge yourself with that one thought every time you fish, and I guarantee good things will follow.
A banner day using a mix of techniques.
Case in point. As luck and the fish gods would have it, January first, 2024, was a glorious day to be on the water. With months of stormy weather and high seas, it was a welcome sight to see a calm inlet. So off I went with high expectations, the wife’s blessings, and two good friends on board. Can you say, “Yahoo and hell yeah”?! On this trip I decided to not be just a jigging snob (my new favorite fishing technique), but to bring enough alternate gear to insure we put some fish in the boat. And boy did we! We limited out on tuna and vermillion snapper and by mid-day we were headed for home at 42mph on calm seas – what a day! This wasn’t done by using any one method, but by combining multiple fishing techniques that required specialized gear. The extra effort
paid off and we had three happy and exhausted anglers heading for port. Each method yielded fish and it was a steady pickup that filled the cooler. We started the morning jigging and live lining goggles at multiple depth ranges. First fish on the deck – a beautiful blackfin tuna on the jig! Next up – two supersized blackfin’s on live bait. One hit the surface bait, the other at the mid-column. We were on the boards and on our way to a successful trip.
6 Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Areas
february 2024
Pro-Tip – it’s critical to cover the water column
to be consistently successful. We always put out a flatline on top, then one mid-column, and finally, one deep. All three yielded one fish each, with the largest tuna on the bottom bait. After five jumbo tuna we decided to break
out the electric deep drop gear and test out the bottom bite. Fourteen vermillion later, we were done and headed for home. No need for any more fish and we left them biting for the next crew to find. I always try to stop fishing just short of the limits. This is the kind of day anglers dream of and only by switching methods and gear was it accomplished. The jig bite went cold so we focused on live bait. Slack tide slowed the live bait tuna bite but was ideal for reaching and holding bottom. The vermillion was more than willing to cooperate. The ability to roll with the day as it unfolds is absolutely critical to success in today’s stressed marine environment. So next time promise yourself to make the effort to rig up and bring that specialty gear for when a particular bite goes cold, and you will have much more success in the year ahead. See you on the water in what should be a fabulous year of fishing doing it different!
Note – make sure you know and follow all federal and local regulations and have the necessary gear on board to safely release juvenile, out of season, or undersized fish. Mark Ambert, IG @marksgonefishing_™ marksgonefishing25@gmail.com
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
Capt Art Sapp and the 39’ SeaVee, Native Son, showcasing all 11 releases flags inside Palm Beach Inlet after winning the 87th Annual Silver Sailfish Derby.
CONTinued FROM page 1 oldest sailfish derby >> Top Daily Boat honors. They would ultimately finish 3rd Place Overall recording 1 additional release on Day 2, bringing their tournament total to 8 releases. Captain Bryan Boyle and the ADHD/Deadicated, a 62’ Viking, finished with 6 releases for a 4th Place Overall finish, similarly having a big first day with not much to show Day 2. Captain Jamie Barnett and the Catch N Reese, a 45’ Hatteras, made a splash this year among their sailfishing colleagues finishing 2nd Place Overall. This was their best finish to date. While the captain certainly deserves credit running the boat, having exceptional anglers is a must to successfully hook sailfish and wind the 15-foot leader within grasp of the Top Small Boat winners, Reel Lucky, at the Derby Awards Dinner. mate. Kris Meola of Marblehead, Massachusetts caught 6 of Catch N Reese’s 9 fish. Kris would earn the title of Top The Top Lady Angler trophy is sponsored by the Angler Overall in the 2024 Derby for his accomplishment Hampp Family of New Jersey in memory of Rose Hampp, tangling with sailfish on 20-pound test line. This honor is who won the honor in the 1957 Derby along with many awarded with the Mrs. Henry R. Rea trophy, a magnificent other awards throughout her accomplished angling silver sailfish sculpture that dates back to the event’s origin career. This year’s winner has pieced together quite in 1935 and is sponsored by Elizabeth Richebourg Rea of the accomplished Derby resume herself. Fifteen-yearConnecticut. old Myla Alligood of North Palm Beach was awarded The second and final day of the Derby would produce the trophy releasing 4 sails aboard the 90’ Viking, Just 9 more fish than the previous day. A persistent south Chillin. This award is always highly sought after by wind built throughout the night and would continue to many lady anglers participating. Not only was Myla the grow throughout the day of fishing. It especially picked Top Lady, but she was also the Top Junior Angler, an up in the final few hours of the tournament. When the honor she’s now earned three years in a row. All things weather makes drastic changes from one day to the next, there’s opportunity for teams to go from zero to hero 4th Place Overall, Team ADHD_ considered, her 4 releases were good enough to also walk away as the 4th Place Angler Overall across the adapting to the new conditions offshore. Captain Art Sapp Deadicated a 62’ Viking, entire Derby fleet. These awards are extra special once and the Native Son, a 39’ SeaVee, had just 2 fish the first after Day 1 of the Derby. again because Myla’s father, Matt, was captaining the day. Their goal for Day 2 was to close the gap and make a boat. comeback; they would do just that. Captain Tore Turney and the Reel Lucky took Top Their first fish on Day 2 would not come until 11:24 am, nearly 3 and a Small Boat honors with 4 releases aboard the 29’ Contender center console. So half hours after the 8 am “Lines-in” call sounded over the VHF radio. That fish was quickly followed by two more. Native Son successfully released this much has changed in the world of fishing since the Derby’s inception. Bigger “double” before noon, and the best was yet to come. Their afternoon would faster boats create more accessibility to where teams can fish and how many consist of 6 more fish, bringing their daily total to 9 sailfish releases. With crew members can ride along to provide a helping hand. This makes the top 11 releases overall, Native Son got it done and made their mark as the small boat achievement only more impressive each year. The largest vessel winners of the 87th annual Silver Sailfish Derby. Captain Art Sapp and in the 2024 fleet measured 92 feet in length. The Top Tag Team trophy was awarded to the Off Course, a 43’ Freeman. other crew members on the boat had won the Derby previously in 2016 as team Liquid. Art said they had not lost faith after the first day this year Captain Luke Davis and crew tagged 3 sailfish. The Silver Sailfish Derby has been hosted by the West Palm Beach noting, “that’s exactly what happened last time, 2 fish the first day, 9 the second day.” Sapp was awarded the Top Captain Trophy presented in Fishing Club since 1935 and continues to be the organization’s marquee memory of the late Jack Morrow, a legendary sportfishing captain from the event. The WPBFC is proud to continue this tradition that represents an important part of its region’s unique identity. Palm Beaches. 8 Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Areas
february 2024
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Palm Beach In & Offshore Fishing Forecast with Capt. Weston Russell
Capt. Weston Russell • www.reelintensefishing.com •561-310-2690
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Palm Beach, FL - Feb 2024 High
Date
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Thu
12:47
2.1
12:51
2.0
6:50
0.3
7:15
0.0
7:04
6:03
2
Fri
1:35
2.0
1:34
1.9
7:39
0.4
8:05
0.0
7:03
6:04
3
Sat
2:30
2.0
2:26
1.9
8:37
0.5
9:04
0.0
7:03
6:04
4
Sun
3:34
2.0
3:28
1.9
9:41
0.5
10:07
-0.1
7:02
6:05
5
Mon
4:41
2.1
4:37
2.0
10:46
0.4
11:10
-0.2
7:01
6:06
6
Tue
5:45
2.2
5:44
2.1
11:46
0.3
7:01
6:07
7
Wed
6:43
2.4
6:45
2.3
12:08
-0.4
12:42
0.1
7:00
6:07
8
Thu
7:35
2.6
7:42
2.5
1:03
-0.6
1:34
-0.1
7:00
6:08
9
Fri
8:23
2.8
8:35
2.7
1:55
-0.7
2:25
-0.4
6:59
6:09
10
Sat
9:09
2.9
9:26
2.9
2:46
-0.8
3:14
-0.5
6:58
6:09
11
Sun
9:55
2.9
10:17
2.9
3:36
-0.8
4:03
-0.7
6:58
6:10
12
Mon
10:40
2.9
11:09
2.9
4:26
-0.7
4:52
-0.7
6:57
6:11
13
Tue
11:26
2.8
5:17
-0.5
5:43
-0.7
6:56
6:12
14
Wed
12:01
2.8
12:14
2.6
6:10
-0.3
6:36
-0.6
6:55
6:12
15
Thu
12:56
2.6
1:05
2.4
7:06
-0.1
7:33
-0.5
6:55
6:13
16
Fri
1:54
2.4
2:01
2.2
8:06
0.1
8:35
-0.3
6:54
6:14
17
Sat
2:59
2.3
3:04
2.1
9:11
0.3
9:41
-0.2
6:53
6:14
18
Sun
4:08
2.2
4:13
2.0
10:18
0.4
10:45
-0.1
6:52
6:15
19
Mon
5:16
2.1
5:20
2.0
11:21
0.4
11:45
-0.1
6:51
6:16
20
Tue
6:15
2.2
6:18
2.1
12:17
0.3
6:51
6:16
21
Wed
7:04
2.3
7:08
2.2
12:38
-0.2
1:07
0.2
6:50
6:17
22
Thu
7:45
2.3
7:51
2.3
1:24
-0.2
1:50
0.1
6:49
6:17
23
Fri
8:22
2.4
8:31
2.3
2:06
-0.2
2:29
0.0
6:48
6:18
24
Sat
8:56
2.4
9:08
2.4
2:44
-0.2
3:05
-0.1
6:47
6:19
25
Sun
9:28
2.5
9:44
2.4
3:20
-0.2
3:39
-0.1
6:46
6:19
26
Mon
10:00
2.4
10:20
2.4
3:54
-0.1
4:11
-0.2
6:45
6:20
27
Tue
10:32
2.4
10:56
2.4
4:27
-0.1
4:43
-0.2
6:44
6:20
28
Wed
11:04
2.3
11:33
2.3
4:59
0.0
5:14
-0.1
6:43
6:21
29
Thu
11:36
2.2
5:33
0.2
5:49
-0.1
6:42
6:22
1
Kite fishing can produce monsters. This dolphin ate a goggle eye fished from the kite.
W
elcome to the Coastal Angler Magazine fishing report for the waters off Palm Beach. With colder weather upon us, the winter fishing should be hot. Big players in the offshore game this month are sailfish, wahoo, and dolphin. Kite fishing is a great way to catch sailfish and dolphin. When kite fishing, send a deep bait down on the wind side of the vessel; it is a great way to catch a king or wahoo. Although, you have a much better chance trolling for wahoo. Planer trolling is the way we do it, where 8mph speed works best. Our planers are pulling pink and white strip bait lures tied on to 80lb. leader. This tactic can get you a bite from all species. Fishing for bottom eaters, like snapper, is decent in February. Small live pilchards work wonders on a 40lb. long leader. Try the deep wrecks in 200’ depth as big fish love deep water. For the inshore anglers, the beaches and inlet will be going off. You will find jacks, sheepshead, permit, and sharks to keep you busy. The North End Bay will hold fish and bait; it’s the Bay and Old Port Cove. Give the place a try, you will not be sorry. The weather can play a huge role in your day. If you get a calm day, head out to the swordfish grounds. I remember a 476lb. sword being caught last year in February, wow! Well, good luck out there and remember you can’t catch them from the couch!
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Low
AM
february 2024
Moon
Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Areas 9
jupiter inlet inshore FISHINGFORECAST with Fishing Forecast JUPITER INLET INSHORE Capt. Craig
Mason making friends with a shark.
Capt. Craig Korczynski By Craig Korczynski Contributing Writer
PhlatsInshoreFishing.com • (561) 644-4371 • Visit us on Facebook & Instagram Happy Thanksgiving to all anglers! Cool fronts start to bring comfortable weather. Water temperatures will start to cool down and predator fish begin to push into back bays, canals, and coves. Jake doubled up with snook. Snook fishing in Jupiter and Palm Beach will offer anglers steady action along seawalls, mangroves shorelines, and channel edges. Sight fishing on the flats is another option for those who enjoy watching the bite. A D.O.A. C.A.L. 3” Shad or D.O.A. 3” Shrimp presented in the right spot gets the drag screaming. Romeo with Night fishing is a great alternative for snook fanatics; target dock lights with a D.O.A. a shark. ebruary fishing can be very plentiful with rod bending action. Shrimp, Deceiver Flies, live shrimp, crank baits, and top water plugs. Fall weather drives tarpon into back bays and canals offering excellent fishing forCool the fronts provide anglers with cool days and moderate winds while targeting their favorite species or bucket list species. silver king. Tarpon are prevalent inside the ICW, mangrove shorelines, docks, and deep Snook seasonCharles re-opens and anglers should target deeper holes, bridges, with passes. Live shrimp drifted with the tide is the best bait, other baits like mullet, pinfish, channels, and sea walls. The snook will be holding near the bottom and a tarpon. and greenies work as well. Artificial enthusiasts, the deeper passes offer plenty of shots on on structure. At high noon on sunny days, look for snook laying up D.O.A. Bait Busters or D.O.A. C.A.L. 3” Shad in Arkansas glow or alewife with tight a jig head. on sand bars basking in the sun. The snook will strike live bait or D.O.A. Tarpon this time of year range from 10 to 60 pounds. C.A.L. 3” Shad Tail in Arkansas glow. November offers great action for big jack crevalle on the ICW water ways. Jacks will Tarpon fishing in the back canals and bays offer great action with the fly pounce on Rapala Skitter Walks or live bait in the vicinity of seawalls, docks, or open rod and artificial lures. Keep an eye out for rolling fish on the surface and water flats. The jacks are schooling fish averaging 5 to 25 pounds. Battling jacks on light work the area thoroughly. Deeper passes hold bigger fish up to 60 pounds. tackle or fly is something an angler will never forget, come experience the tussleAnglers yourself. using live baits will have plenty of action but artificial lures like Well, that is the fishing report for the Palm Beach and Jupiter area. I hope you all a D.O.A. TerrorEyz and D.O.A. Bait Buster in pearl/green back provoke enjoyed, so get out there and get hooked up. Tight Lines! strikes from the silver king.
F
The ICW will be teaming with life as anglers can target jacks, snook,
Captain Craigtarpon, Korczynski sharks, drum, sheepshead, and pompano. Seawalls and docks 561-644-4371 • phlatsinshorefishing.com are great areas for jacks Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube and snook during the day www.USHarbors.com
Jupiter Inlet, south jetty, FL - Feb 2024 High
Date
Low
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Thu
12:19
2.0
12:23
2.0
6:01
0.4
6:26
0.0
7:04
6:03
2
Fri
1:07
2.0
1:06
1.9
6:50
0.5
7:16
0.0
7:04
6:03
3
Sat
2:02
1.9
1:58
1.9
7:48
0.6
8:15
0.0
7:03
6:04
4
Sun
3:06
2.0
3:00
1.9
8:52
0.6
9:18
-0.1
7:02
6:05
5
Mon
4:13
2.0
4:09
1.9
9:57
0.5
10:21
-0.3
7:02
6:06
6
Tue
5:17
2.2
5:16
2.1
10:57
0.4
11:19
-0.5
7:01
6:06
7
Wed
6:15
2.4
6:17
2.3
11:53
0.1
7:01
6:07
8
Thu
7:07
2.6
7:14
2.5
12:14
-0.8
12:45
-0.2
7:00
6:08
9
Fri
7:55
2.7
8:07
2.7
1:06
-0.9
1:36
-0.5
6:59
6:09
10
Sat
8:41
2.8
8:58
2.8
1:57
-1.0
2:25
-0.7
6:59
6:09
11
Sun
9:27
2.9
9:49
2.9
2:47
-1.0
3:14
-0.9
6:58
6:10
12
Mon
10:12
2.8
10:41
2.8
3:37
-0.9
4:03
-1.0
6:57
6:11
13
Tue
10:58
2.7
11:33
2.7
4:28
-0.7
4:54
-0.9
6:57
6:11
14
Wed
11:46
2.6
5:21
-0.4
5:47
-0.8
6:56
6:12
15
Thu
12:28
2.6
12:37
2.4
6:17
-0.1
6:44
-0.6
6:55
6:13
16
Fri
1:26
2.4
1:33
2.2
7:17
0.2
7:46
-0.4
6:54
6:13
17
Sat
2:31
2.2
2:36
2.1
8:22
0.4
8:52
-0.2
6:53
6:14
18
Sun
3:40
2.1
3:45
2.0
9:29
0.5
9:56
-0.2
6:53
6:15
19
Mon
4:48
2.1
4:52
2.0
10:32
0.5
10:56
-0.2
6:52
6:15
20
Tue
5:47
2.1
5:50
2.1
11:28
0.4
11:49
-0.2
6:51
6:16
21
Wed
6:36
2.2
6:40
2.1
12:18
0.3
6:50
6:17
22
Thu
7:17
2.3
7:23
2.2
12:35
-0.3
1:01
0.1
6:49
6:17
23
Fri
7:54
2.4
8:03
2.3
1:17
-0.3
1:40
0.0
6:48
6:18
24
Sat
8:28
2.4
8:40
2.3
1:55
-0.3
2:16
-0.1
6:47
6:19
25
Sun
9:00
2.4
9:16
2.4
2:31
-0.3
2:50
-0.2
6:46
6:19
26
Mon
9:32
2.4
9:52
2.4
3:05
-0.2
3:22
-0.2
6:46
6:20
27
Tue
10:04
2.3
10:28
2.3
3:38
-0.1
3:54
-0.2
6:45
6:20
28
Wed
10:36
2.2
11:05
2.3
4:10
0.1
4:25
-0.2
6:44
6:21
29
Thu
11:08
2.2
11:45
2.2
4:44
0.2
5:00
-0.1
6:43
6:22
1
Moon
TWO
and at night. Live shrimp, mullet, and D.O.A. C.A.L. 3” Shad Tail will produce many strikes. A top water Rapala Tom with Skitter Walk early morning a big and late in the afternoon will jack. explosive action for provide top water fanatics. The flats are a great spot for anglers to take the kids fishing. The flats will be full of ladyfish, jacks, pompano, bluefish, black drum, Kason with a pompano. sheepshead, snapper, and mackerel. The best method to use on the flats is a bucktail jig tipped with shrimp and D.O.A. TerrorEyz. Well, that is the fishing report for the Palm Beach and Jupiter area. I hope you all enjoyed. So, get out there and get hooked up. Tight lines!
TWO
To see pictures of tournaments and events email 57LDBryant@gmail.com for link
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Freshwaterwith Fishing Forecast Capt. Johnny Stabile
South Florida Fishing Charters • (954) 440-5200 • sflfishingcharters.com
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ThE #1 chOIcE FOR spRAy-ON
F
ishing for tropical fish during the coldest time of the year can be challenging, but if you catch it on the right day, it can be magical. We have had a lot of rain and cold weather since the beginning of the year, which has slowed everything down. Moving into February, it looks promising, and the fish have been much more active, especially our resident clown knifefish and peacock bass. The best way to find peacocks this time of year is to find moving water, such as spillways, culvert pipes, or dams. Peacocks will sit in this moving water foraging on small minnows and anything that passes through. As far as the Everglades goes, the water level is still very high, but there’s a promising number of peacocks that have made a comeback since last year’s die-off. Last January, a little over a year ago, we had four days in a row of under 50° weather, which led to a massive die-off of peacock bass and other various exotic cichlids. The Everglades was almost completely wiped out but has seemed to make a pretty good comeback this year. The fishing is not up to par yet, but as the water level drops over the next month or two, it should be really good fishing. The main thing I like about the Everglades is the ability to use artificial and outfish live bait. Some of my favorite spring choices for peacock bass and cichlids include Maribu Crappie Jigs made by JYG Pro, the Shimano Zumverno, 95mm Jerk-Bait, and Z-Man MinnowZ in the 3” size. Snakehead fishing has been increasing in popularity the last few years and if you haven’t tried throwing a big top water frog for them you are really missing out! It has become one of my favorite fish to target. I find it easy to throw the American Snakehead Custom’s “Snek Frog” on a medium heavy to heavy Shimano Expride with 50lb. power pro braid on a Curado 200 Bait Cast Reel. Snakeheads are mean, aggressive fish that pull hard and are great to eat. I typically release mine back into the same water I caught it, which is completely legal. However, once in a while I prefer to take one home for dinner. They offer a mild flakey yield that goes great with mango salsa! Clown knifefish have been very consistent, I have been catching more and more on artificial. Find them rolling (coming up for a gulp of air) and cast to them with a small paddle tail swim bait like the Z-Man Diesel Minnow and drag it along the bottom. Drifting live bait across the lake also works really well. I add a split shot to my leader and let them soak!
12 Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Areas
february 2024
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Port Everglades, ICWW, FL - Feb 2024 High
Date
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Pompano Beach (Hillsboro Inlet), FL - Feb 2024
Low
High
Date
Low
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Thu
12:06
2.1
12:10
2.1
6:10
0.3
6:35
0.0
7:03
6:04
2
Fri
12:54
2.1
12:53
2.0
6:59
0.4
7:25
0.0
7:03
6:04
3
Sat
1:49
2.0
1:45
1.9
7:57
0.5
8:24
0.0
7:02
6:05
6:06
4
Sun
2:53
2.0
2:47
1.9
9:01
0.5
9:27
-0.1
7:02
6:06
7:01
6:07
5
Mon
4:00
2.1
3:56
2.0
10:06
0.5
10:30
-0.3
7:01
6:07
7:00
6:08
6
Tue
5:04
2.3
5:03
2.2
11:06
0.3
11:28
-0.5
7:00
6:07
7:00
6:08
7
Wed
6:02
2.5
6:04
2.4
12:02
0.1
7:00
6:08
-0.1
6:59
6:09
8
Thu
6:54
2.7
7:01
2.6
12:23
-0.7
12:54
-0.1
6:59
6:09
1:40
-0.3
6:58
6:10
9
Fri
7:42
2.8
7:54
2.8
1:15
-0.8
1:45
-0.4
6:59
6:09
-0.8
2:27
-0.5
6:58
6:10
10
Sat
8:28
3.0
8:45
2.9
2:06
-0.9
2:34
-0.6
6:58
6:10
2:49
-0.8
3:15
-0.7
6:57
6:11
11
Sun
9:14
3.0
9:36
3.0
2:56
-0.9
3:23
-0.8
6:57
6:11
2.9
3:39
-0.7
4:03
-0.7
6:56
6:12
12
Mon
9:59
3.0
10:28
2.9
3:46
-0.8
4:12
-0.8
6:57
6:12
2.8
4:32
-0.5
4:54
-0.6
6:56
6:13
13
Tue
10:45
2.8
11:20
2.8
4:37
-0.6
5:03
-0.8
6:56
6:12
5:27
-0.3
5:47
-0.5
6:55
6:13
14
Wed
11:33
2.7
5:30
-0.3
5:56
-0.7
6:55
6:13
2.4
6:26
0.0
6:45
-0.4
6:54
6:14
15
Thu
12:15
2.7
12:24
2.5
6:26
-0.1
6:53
-0.5
6:54
6:14
1:27
2.2
7:29
0.2
7:46
-0.2
6:54
6:15
16
Fri
1:13
2.5
1:20
2.3
7:26
0.1
7:55
-0.3
6:54
6:14
2.3
2:34
2.0
8:35
0.3
8:50
-0.1
6:53
6:15
17
Sat
2:18
2.3
2:23
2.1
8:31
0.3
9:01
-0.2
6:53
6:15
3:37
2.3
3:45
2.0
9:42
0.4
9:56
0.0
6:52
6:16
18
Sun
3:27
2.2
3:32
2.1
9:38
0.4
10:05
-0.1
6:52
6:15
Mon
4:42
2.2
4:50
2.0
10:47
0.4
10:58
0.0
6:51
6:16
19
Mon
4:35
2.2
4:39
2.1
10:41
0.4
11:05
-0.1
6:51
6:16
20
Tue
5:39
2.3
5:46
2.1
11:45
0.3
11:53
-0.1
6:50
6:17
20
Tue
5:34
2.2
5:37
2.1
11:37
0.3
11:58
-0.2
6:50
6:17
21
Wed
6:26
2.3
6:34
2.1
12:33
0.2
6:50
6:18
21
Wed
6:23
2.3
6:27
2.2
12:27
0.2
6:50
6:17
22
Thu
7:07
2.4
7:17
2.2
12:40
-0.1
1:13
0.1
6:49
6:18
22
Thu
7:04
2.4
7:10
2.3
12:44
-0.2
1:10
0.1
6:49
6:18
23
Fri
7:44
2.4
7:56
2.3
1:21
-0.2
1:49
0.0
6:48
6:19
23
Fri
7:41
2.5
7:50
2.4
1:26
-0.2
1:49
0.0
6:48
6:19
24
Sat
8:19
2.5
8:33
2.4
1:58
-0.2
2:21
-0.1
6:47
6:19
24
Sat
8:15
2.5
8:27
2.4
2:04
-0.3
2:25
-0.1
6:47
6:19
25
Sun
8:51
2.4
9:10
2.4
2:32
-0.2
2:53
-0.1
6:46
6:20
25
Sun
8:47
2.5
9:03
2.5
2:40
-0.2
2:59
-0.2
6:46
6:20
26
Mon
9:23
2.4
9:45
2.4
3:06
-0.1
3:24
-0.1
6:45
6:21
26
Mon
9:19
2.5
9:39
2.5
3:14
-0.2
3:31
-0.2
6:45
6:20
27
Tue
9:54
2.3
10:20
2.4
3:41
0.0
3:55
-0.1
6:44
6:21
27
Tue
9:51
2.4
10:15
2.4
3:47
-0.1
4:03
-0.2
6:44
6:21
28
Wed
10:25
2.2
10:56
2.3
4:16
0.1
4:28
-0.1
6:43
6:22
28
Wed
10:23
2.3
10:52
2.4
4:19
0.1
4:34
-0.1
6:43
6:22
29
Thu
10:56
2.1
11:35
2.3
4:53
0.2
5:05
0.0
6:42
6:22
29
Thu
10:55
2.2
11:32
2.3
4:53
0.2
5:09
-0.1
6:42
6:22
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Thu
12:12
2.1
12:11
2.0
6:12
0.4
6:31
0.1
7:03
6:04
1
2
Fri
12:59
2.1
12:53
1.9
7:02
0.5
7:20
0.1
7:02
6:05
3
Sat
1:54
2.1
1:45
1.9
7:57
0.5
8:15
0.1
7:02
6:06
4
Sun
2:58
2.1
2:49
1.9
8:58
0.5
9:15
0.0
7:01
5
Mon
4:03
2.2
3:58
1.9
10:00
0.5
10:17
-0.1
6
Tue
5:04
2.4
5:03
2.1
11:02
0.3
11:17
-0.3
7
Wed
5:59
2.6
6:02
2.3
11:58
0.1
8
Thu
6:50
2.7
6:58
2.5
12:14
-0.5
12:51
9
Fri
7:39
2.9
7:52
2.7
1:07
-0.7
10
Sat
8:27
3.0
8:45
2.8
1:58
11
Sun
9:13
3.0
9:37
2.9
12
Mon
10:00
2.9
10:30
13
Tue
10:47
2.8
11:23
14
Wed
11:36
2.6
15
Thu
12:19
2.7
12:29
16
Fri
1:20
2.5
17
Sat
2:27
18
Sun
19
1
Moon
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
february 2024
Moon
Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Areas 13
fishing
Everglades
Forecast
national park fishing
Capt. Mutton Mike D (Michael Dumas) • www.GulfstreamCustoms.com (786) 975-9773 • www.MuttonMike.com
Cool Times Ahead in Flamingo
with
gulfstream custom rods
W
ith spring fishing around the corner, many species are available for South Florida anglers to target. The shallow wrecks and reefs are excellent places to start, where you’ll find Spanish and cero mackerel, kingfish, bonita, yellowtail snapper, mutton snapper, mangrove snapper, and black, gag, and red groupers. Although groupers will be closed to harvest, they’re still fun to catch. By anchoring and using chum and fresh bait, you’ll have the opportunity to catch all the species mentioned. As you move into deeper waters off the reef ’s edge, you’ll find sailfish,
wahoo, mahi mahi, blackfin tuna, and occasionally yellowfin tuna. Live bait under kites, flat lines, and subsurface lines are your best bet when targeting these pelagic species. Some of my favorite baits are threadfin herring, goggle eyes, and pilchards. Trolling also works but isn’t as effective as live baiting. Moving further offshore presents opportunities to find vermillion snapper, yelloweye snapper, grey tilefish, and golden tilefish. My favorite way to target these species is on rock piles and mud bottoms using chicken rigs and fresh cut bait such as squid and bonita. Last, but certainly not least, is the broadbill swordfish which can be found near the bottom in 1400’ to 2000’ of water. For more detailed information and techniques, contact me to book a trip at (786) 975-9773 or www. Mu t t o n M i k e . c o m . I can significantly shorten your learning curve by personally showing you what I’ve learned in my 30+ years of experience fishing South Florida waters.
14 Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Areas
february 2024
Capt. steve purser
with
FloridaFlatsFishingAdventures.com • (954) 687-5848 FloridaFlatsFishingAdventures@gmail.com
An underwater release.
W
hen we practice catch and release, not only are we fishing, but we are also learning. With each catch, we learn techniques. How were you retrieving the bait? How fast? Did you jig it from the bottom or jig and reel? Did you jig and reel quick or slow? You want to remember as sometimes the bite continues to how you caught the last fish. The next month or so, you may need smaller baits and slower retrieves because of the water temperatures. Many fish are going slow and running low, so make sure you stick the bait in the zone. There are still plenty of fish running around, whether it’s the flats in A beautiful goliath. Flamingo, Alligator Alley, or even the Fort Lauderdale Intracoastal area at night. South Florida fishing doesn’t slow much as the water temperature usually stays above 55; even though we all hope it’s 65 or higher as we look around different areas to fish. I recommend small baits and 30lb. plus fluorocarbon leader when fishing for snook, redfish, and the occasional smaller tarpon in Flamingo. When snook swallow smaller baits, the line goes deeper in the mouth which is easier to get cut off from the gill plates, 20lb. may work, but I don’t feel the difference is going to keep you from catching the same number of fish. In Flamingo Everglades National Park, you can chum on the southwest side of East Cape during the colder months and catch plenty of mackerel. Look for birds diving, and you may get an occasional kingfish Ted caught this nice jack while night while having some fun with the fishing in Fort Lauderdale. mackerel.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
Come on ... Admit It!
sportfishing
Forecast Capt. Rod Roydhouse
New Lattitude Sportfishing • (954) 707-2147 • www.NewLattitude.com
ng, but . How m the ant to es the w you
or so, r baits ecause atures. w and e sure e zone. plenty round, ts in Alley, erdale as the s 65 or when
ight
h c t a n W t a C t u o Yo One of These! Daily Fishing Trips out of Fort Lauderdale
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W
e’re having an awesome sailfish season in Fort Lauderdale this year. They are snapping! Cooler temperatures this month are getting the sailfish active and hunting all over the reef and edge of the Gulfstream. The blue water gets pushed in pretty close this time of year and generally forms a nice current edge where the green water meets the blue. The blue water side of this current edge is a great area to set up for kite fishing. Live goggle eyes, threadfin, mullet, and tinker mackerel are all great live baits to use kite fishing; they stay lively for a long time on the kite, and they put off great vibrations/fish-in-distress signals. When that sailfish comes up on your kite bait and sticks that hairdo up, it’s the most exciting few seconds in sportfishing. Tuna, dolphin, and wahoo will also all be biting pretty good just outside the reef this month. Trolling is a great way to cover a lot of ground looking for some fish. I like to troll between 120-250’ of water, up and down the coast, until I figure out what depths the fish are biting best on that day. Fish a doublehooked swimming ballyhoo on a deep line and you’ll have a good shot at big wahoo. A lot of big wahoo get caught this time of year. Bluefish also sometimes migrate northward up our coastline this month. Following right behind them are big game sharks like hammerhead and mako, feeding on them at will. This is the beginning of our big shark fishing season which will last through May. There’s a great variety and a lot of action fishing in South Florida this month. Tight lines and good fishing!
february 2024
Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Areas 15
B O A G A R R D B Electric Dave landed thi s beautiful clown knifefish and peacock doubleheader with live shad on Lake Ida.
this 40lb. wahoo Albert Anticole caught on a 6-inch red, off the Hillsboro Inlet e on a troll. lur hi green, & blue ma
p Chase Vaughan came across a pile of scam grouper in 190’ of water. He ended up hours! limiting the boat with scamp in just 2
Murat and a mutton snapper off Palm Beach Shores.
Janice a
Claudio wi Bob, Ronnie, and
th nice catches!
16 Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Areas
february 2024
nd Sheld
on reele
d in trip
lets.
Bragging is good! Send us your catch photos with details: Who, When, Where, With What, etc. to ilene@CoastalAnglerMagazine.com
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Fish Methodically When the Bite Slows PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®.
By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
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recently had a stretch of tough fishing days that called for a thorough covering of a cove to find what I was looking for. Over the next few paragraphs, I’ll cover what changes I made that saved the day, and I think you will see the logic in my decision and possibly implement this method when you find yourself in a slow-bite situation. Keep in mind, I typically don’t have the patience to utilize this approach, as it is very methodical, leaving no stone unturned, so to speak, but it can and did pay off. During a normal wade, I only target the sweet zones, but when they are not there or not feeding, I map out a deliberate path where I cover every inch of the area, twice. Depending on whether I start from the shore or from offshore via a boat or kayak, I will choose a direction to wade. For this example, let’s say I walked in and started from the bank. I will slowly walk out to the maximum depth I want to fish casting to my right, left and straight ahead. I vary my retrieve speed, depth and action throughout until I find what the fish are looking for. Once I reach the farthest point I want to cover, I make a 90-degree turn and walk about the distance of a long cast as I continue casting right, left, and straight ahead. Once I reach that point, I turn another 90 degrees and head back toward the shore repeating the same casting process. One direction will be covering the same water I just fished but from a different angle. At times, this can make a difference and entice the bite, depending on how they are staged on the structure or the direction they are swimming through the area. Once my cast has reached the shore, I may decide to change lure size or type. Once again, I turn 90 degrees and repeat the process. During a tough bite, you need to pull out all the stops. This is not the time to be stuck in a rut of what typically works or what your favorite fishing style may be. It’s important to change your retrieve style and speed. Don’t let a slow bite convince you that inactive fish will only eat a slowly presented lure. Many times, a faster erratic retrieve is what gets them to strike. Cover the gamut and see what works. I rarely use this method, as it is tedious. However, if I have high confidence in the area and the fish are inactive or possibly deeper or shallower than I anticipated, working methodically has paid off, and I learn something new each time it does. Take a kid, and even a tough day of catching will still be a good day of fishing.
•A
•SUP •ENH •99%
Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures®, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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TIPS FROM A PRO
FISH TOPWATER TO LOCATE SPAWNERS
Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water are preferred spawning grounds, and a topwater is one of my favorite ways to cover water and locate productive areas. Whether it be a frog, walking bait, prop bait or buzzbait doesn’t matter. Pick your confidence lure and chuck it around to see if you can get some bites. Typically, a bass on a bed will show itself TYLER WOOLCOTT to some form of topwater, even if it doesn’t actually eat it. They might eat it, or they might just wake behind it or swirl on it. Curiosity and his time of year, in some parts of the country and especially in the South, bass are about to start transitioning to protectiveness of the area typically gets the best of them this time of year, and a topwater is an awesome way to move up on beds and spawn. cover a lot of water to find productive Whether you’re fishing from shore in areas. a pond or by boat in a big lake, this Once you’ve located some fish, time of year is prime time for making slow down with something like a memories because the biggest fish wacky worm to pick up some of the in the lake become more visible and other fish in the area. Typically, bass more vulnerable to anglers. prefer to spawn next to some sort As the bass spawn rolls northward of cover or structure, so keep this with warming temperatures over the in mind. They will use grass, trees, next few months, keep the following docks, rocks, sand, or pretty much tips in mind. For the most part, I do anything hard to make a bed for their the same things, whether I’m fishing eggs. Find a shallow area with plenty for big Southern largemouths or of objects you can cast to, and there’s smallmouths up north. In a nutshell, a good chance bass will be around it I’ll fish through areas fairly quickly in some stage of the spawn. until I find some aggressive fish and The biggest bass I’ve ever caught then slow down and pick them apart was during the spawn in 2013. It with something slower. This is when weighed 13 pounds, 1 ounce and is I can also look for beds with my eyes pictured here. Get out there and find to sight fish. some big egg-laden females over the The spawn is triggered by a few key factors. Major moon phases, whether it be a full moon or a new next few months, and there’s decent chance you’ll get to take a photo moon, along with a general warming weather trend are the triggers for with your new personal best. bass to move up and start their spawn. Staying on top of these factors will Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. tell you when fish are likely to be moving shallow at your lake. Then you Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com. can go find them and put them in the boat.
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C-Hawk 25 Center Console The C-Hawk 25 Center Console is an infinitely customizable boat with a huge following among hardcore anglers. They are the boat of choice for many charter captains who prefer functionality over flash and want a no-nonsense vessel that’s designed to perform and built to take a beating.
SPECIFICATIONS
One of the great advantages of the C-Hawk 25 is it’s totally customizable, so it can be purpose built to be a better boat for whatever it is you need to do.
LENGTH: 24’11” BEAM: 9’6” DRAFT: 12” DRY WEIGHT: 2,800 lbs. FUEL CAPACITY: 112 Gal. MAXIMUM HP: 300 DEADRISE: 12 degrees TRANSOM: 25”/ 30”
“We have 10-plus guides using them on the west coast of Florida,” said C-Hawk Boats Owner Brad Grubbs. “In Georgia and South Carolina, they’re using it as a small passenger ferry. In Chesapeake Bay, it’s a crab boat.”
to commercial-application standards. They are designed to withstand hard use for years of trouble-free boating, and you can customize your C-Hawk from the factory in any way that suits your purpose.
At its core, the C-Hawk 25cc is a hard-core workhorse with a 300 horsepower maximum that will take you anywhere you need to go. Its 9’6” beam allows it to float in very skinny water with just a 12” draft, and it is also extremely stable, which should appeal for bottomfishing, diving and any other pursuit where a stable platform is preferred.
“We can mix and match consoles, fish boxes, full transoms, cut transoms, bare hulls… you name it,” Grubbs said. “There are some recreational guys adding towers and sight fishing for cobia, and such. Everything we do is built around keep it simple, keep it efficient, keep it easy to maintain, keep it cost effective to own and operate. They are all unique… no cookie cutter trailer queens here. The 25 is a great example of what C-Hawk is.”
Whatever you plan to do with it, all C-Hawk boats are built battleship tough
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NATIONAL 11
BLITZING BASS INVADE
EARLY SEASON ESTUARIES By Nick Carter
S
triped bass are king along the crags and marshes of the Massachusetts North Shore, and each year around the first week of May something very interesting takes place. They call it the early season in this stretch of coastline north of Boston, and it can bring on some of the fastest action of the year. All the baitfish—the herring, the sand eels, the silversides and bunker— push into the estuaries in search of warmer water temperatures. Big schools of striped bass move in with them. It leads to classic bass blitzes, when pods of stripers push bait up to boil on the surface as birds hammer them from above.
You can bet Matt Zimmerman, owner of Back Eddy Charters out of Beverly, Mass., will be there in the middle of the melee standing in the water waving a stick in the air. “I fly fish pretty much everywhere for everything, but it’s better early season,” he said. “You can use a slower presentation, mimic smaller baits, and cover the water column a lot better with a fly.” Historically, the pattern produced 40-fish days of smaller 14- to 26-inch stripers, known as “schoolies.” However, recent years have seen an uptick in larger 26- to 30-inch fish in the early season. “That’s great for fishing, but it’s not a great sign for the fishery,” Zimmerman said. If you haven’t heard, fisheries managers are scrambling to prop up Atlantic striper populations. Since 2019, striper reproduction on the Eastern Seaboard has been dismal due to weather conditions. Emergency action reduced the recreational limit to one fish in a slot limit from 28 to 31 inches, and more restrictive measures may be on the horizon. “The regs? I’m all catch and release, so it hasn’t impacted me too much,” Zimmerman said. “They’re trying to get the stocks up, but most of what we’re seeing is slot fish and up.” That’s not necessarily the case in the early season, which Zimmerman said is a time when you can just park the truck and wade in. “Most of the time I fish from a boat,” he said. “But early season, when there’s lots of fish in the river, it’s easier and you can catch more fish wading from shore.” Zimmerman fishes 5- to 8-weight rods and leaders of straight 20- or 30-pound monofilament. Intermediate sinking lines allow for good depth control, and a handful of Clousers and Deceivers are all you need. Zimmerman suggested 4- to 6-inch patterns and colors of green/white, yellow/white and gray/white. The fishing is best on the last three hours of an outgoing tide or the first couple hours of an incoming tide, when the bait moves around and incites feeding activity. This river bite is Zimmerman’s go-to pattern for about a month, after which he’ll move out to the beaches and rocky islands, where huge stripers herd bait and slam 6- to 8-inch Hollow Fleyes. Find Matt Zimmerman on Instagram @backeddycharters.
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AT SEA
OFF VENICE By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon
E
arly in my career, I fished out of Venice, Louisiana. On off days, we fished inshore and roadside, which produced incredible catches like bull reds, 100-pound alligator gar and 70-pound blue cats. It was nothing to complain about, but my heart is always offshore. The offshore fishing off Venice is topnotch for yellowfin tuna, wahoo, marlin and swordfish, but the gas bill was too much for me to get out there as anything but crew. One evening, I was invited on an offshore trip and was told I got to plan the route. I ecstatically hit my Hilton’s offshore report to check the salinity chart and decided to hit an overlooked rig called Moxie. We headed out the next morning, caught bait and arrived at the rig. This rig sits in shallower waters and is a bit off the path for rig hopping, so it is often passed by. I was surprised to see another boat when we arrived. The bottom machine lit up with giant marks, and we tossed out our baits. I was running the deck and focused on the back of the boat, but I kept hearing the captain comment on the other boat. It seemed like they were diving, but they didn’t have a dive flag up. I heard him say the boat looked to be sitting
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low in the water. All of a sudden, Capt. Travis Mayeux started screaming, “LINES IN, LINES IN!” I was reeling everything up as quickly as I could when he pushed the boat to full throttle. I wasn’t sure what was going on until I had the lines secured and I turned around. The motors of the other boat had gone under, and the bow reached for the sky before slipping away. The boat sank in seconds. By the time we got to the scene, most of the flotsam had been carried away by the currents. We rescued the spearfishermen, one Pelican case and a fish bag. We ended our trip and took the spearfishers back to the dock. Their wallets and keys sank offshore, so they called Plaquemines Parish Sheriff ’s Office to get into their truck. The deputy ran their names, and one of them had an outstanding warrant. He was taken to jail for the weekend. It was a rough day for those guys, but it could have been much worse. Fishing offshore oil rigs provides a false sense of security. You are still very much offshore even though you are near a structure. The crew on those rigs are not lifeguards and are not paying attention to you. Considering how quickly the debris dispersed and how unfished that rig was, those fellas were very lucky we were there that day. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Sweet E’nuf Charters, out of Marathon, Florida Keys. Contact her at (504) 920-6342, captainquinlyn.com or @captainquinlyn.
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Embrace your Scandinavian side with a 7" blade
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f you looked out your window a thousand years ago and saw a fleet of Viking longships coming your way, you knew you were in trouble. For roughly two centuries, the Vikings voyaged, raided and pillaged wherever they pleased. As expert sailors and navigators, they reached as far from Scandinavia as Iran, Constantinople, North Africa and the New World in their quest to expand their kingdom.
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JOIN MORE THAN , SHARP PEOPLE WHO COLLECT STAUER KNIVES The steel of legend. For centuries, a Damascus steel blade was instantly recognizable and commanded respect. Renowned for its sharp edge, beauty and resistance to shattering, Damascus steel was the stuff of legend. While the original process has been lost to the ages, modern bladesmiths have been able to re-create Damascus steel to create the best blades imaginable. Sure to impress, naturally. Combining natural strength and natural wonder at a price that’s hard to beat, the Viking Blade is a study in Damascus steel that’s sure to impress. And should you ever find yourself facing a Viking horde, a flash of this knife will show that you’re not to be messed with. Don’t delay: Order within the next week and we’ll offer this blade to you for just $99, a savings of $200! That’s the best bang for your buck we can possibly offer: our Stauer® Impossible Price. Get your hands on one of the fastest-selling knives in our company’s history today. Knife Specifications: • 12" overall length. 7" Damascus full-tang blade • Includes genuine leather sheath Viking Blade $299 $99* + S&P Save $200 California residents please call 1-800-333-2045 regarding Proposition 65 regulations before purchasing this product. *Special price only for customers using the offer code.
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IT’S PRIME TIME
ON AMERICA’S HOTTEST BIG BASS LAKE By Nick Carter
I
f a truly giant largemouth bass is on your bucket list, make plans to visit O.H. Ivie Lake in Texas over the next few months. Last year, this 19,000acre impoundment of the Colorado River burst onto the scene as the hottest big bass lake in the nation. A string of 17 monster largemouths from January through April kept O.H. Ivie in the headlines, and 10 of them were caught in February. And when we say monster, we’re not talking about 8- to 10-pounders, we’re talking about 13-plus-pound behemoths. According to data from Toyota ShareLunker, Texas’ trophy bass recognition and breeding program, February is the time to catch a giant at this central Texas reservoir. Bass are at their heaviest and most aggressive ahead of the spawn, when they are fat, feeding and full of eggs. Last February’s incredible streak was highlighted by an enormous 17.03-pounder that is the lake record and the eighth largest bass ever caught in Texas. Jason Conn caught it on Feb. 13, 2023, and he said the fish was even heavier before it started regurgitating shad in his livewell. Moving into March and April last year, the trophy bass statistics were still pretty amazing—with 34 fish heavier than 8 pounds—but the giant fish tapered off. Five 13-plus-pounders were caught during those two months, and then no one registered another one until November, when Shawn Strength caught a 16.65-pound monster. The totals for 2023 were 75 fish heavier than 8 pounds and 18 heavier than 13 pounds. The true total is potentially much more impressive, because these statistics include only the fish anglers bothered to register with ShareLunker. So, why has the productivity of O.H. Ivie largemouth bass fishing exploded
over the last three or four years? According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, intensive stocking of bass with Florida-strain genetics is the secret ingredient. Florida strain genetics produce larger, faster-growing fish than the native-northern strain genetics in the system. Part of the mission of the ShareLunker program is to breed trophy fish, and they do this by using 13-plus-pounders caught by anglers in their breeding program. It is estimated 75 to 85 percent of the bass in O.H. Ivie possess those Florida genetics. On top of that, weather played a role in the lake’s rise. Following a prolonged drought, heavy rain in the fall of 2018 raised water levels by more than 30 feet. “It gave these bass pretty much unlimited food and space to grow,” said a ShareLunker representative, “and they just grew like crazy.” Stay tuned. It’ll be interesting to see what America’s hottest big bass lake produces over the next four months, especially with all the added angler attention that comes with a bright hot spotlight.
The Return of a
See more on last year’s incredible fishing at O.H. Ivie at coastalanglermag.com.
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Your Insider Offer Code: LAN510-05
* This offer is valid in the United States (and Puerto Rico) except in TX, FL, CO, OK, RI, NH, WV, OR, SC, VA, CA and ID. These state residents will be charged one cent ($.01) + shipping & processing for the item. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Offer subject to state and local regulations. Not valid with any other offers and only while supplies last. This offer is limited to one item per shipping address. ** Free is only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer.com without your offer code. † For more information concerning the appraisal, visit www.stauer.com/appraisedvalues.asp.
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