Coastal Angler Magazine | April 2024 | Palm Beach & Ft. Lauderdale Area Edition

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

KAYAK FISHING: RIDE THE AQUATIC SLEIGH

Whether your vessel options are limited or you just want to spice up your inshore fshing experience, fshing from a kayak should not be overlooked as a possibility. When done correctly, it is some of the most exciting fshing. It can also be modifed for the extreme, or an entirely leisure day on the water.

Kayaking is how I fell in love with fshing. Of all the diferent ways I have gone about it, I have enjoyed them all. From packing a lunch and fshing my way to an island for a picnic and a swim, to drifing backcountry mangroves other vessels cannot access, to cruising dock lights at night, or deploying in

1,300 feet of water seeking yellowfn tuna of of the oil rigs, kayak fshing is versatile with endless possibilities.

Tis type of fshing can be dangerous, and its especially important to know your limitations and be overly prepared. Currents and wind change quickly and afect your return trip. Make sure to check tides and weather before venturing or drifing too far. Paddling against the current while battling the extreme heat can put you in a bad situation very quickly. Make sure to have a small anchor onboard as well. Obviously, this will come in handy for fshing, and it can also provide an opportunity to rest if exhaustion is getting the best of you.

Decking out your rig for fshing is an art form, and there are many ways to go about it. Prioritize having a cooler attached to the back over all else. You do not want to get dehydrated out there. Aferall, you are the motor of the vessel, and should be well maintained just like any other motor.

Afx everything to your kayak with the expectation of getting fipped. Of course, do everything to keep yourself from that situation, but things happen. Use dry-storage bags, and clip everything to the kayak itself. Most kayaks are designed to make this a straightforward process.

Fishing artifcials will simplify your set up, but sometimes afer all the paddling, its nice to relax and toss out some live bait. A bait bucket on a rope with shrimp, that can be tossed out between paddles, should be all you need. For more extreme fshing, modify a PVC pipe with holes drilled into it to hold live baitfsh.

Use common sense and check local regulations. Protect yourself from the sun during the day, be properly lit at night, and stay out of high-trafc boating areas and channels. You are also required to carry a PFD and a sound producing device, such as a whistle.

Once you have hit the full safety checklist, go out there and experience the possibilities that kayak fshing has to ofer. Fishing from a kayak will intensify the tug even with smaller fsh you hook up to, so hang on and enjoy the aquatic sleigh ride.

Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Sweet E’Nuf Charters out of Marathon, Fla. See Captainquinlyn.com, @captainquinlyn or call (504) 920-6342.

FR A NKEN-FISH ON THE FLY

Hybrid striped bass are the Franken-fsh of anglers’ dreams. Also known as wipers, sunshine bass and other names, they are hatchery-produced crossbreeds of white bass and striped bass. Tey are stocked into reservoirs across the country for angler enjoyment.

Central Georgia’s Lake Oconee is a hybrid hot spot. Georgia stocks hundreds of thousands of hybrids in the lake, and conventional anglers get afer them with live baits, jigging spoons, bucktails and trolling lures.

Capt. Wayne Moore, of Oconee on the Fly guide service, is probably the only guy you’ll see on Oconee waving a fy rod from his center console. While he admits conventional tactics are more efective, there are three situations when fy fshing is both productive and a boatload of fun.

Oconee is a 19,000-acre impoundment about an hour and a half drive east of Atlanta. Te lake backs up behind a pump-back dam that creates currents that are key to a good hybrid bite. Moore said there is ofen a good afernoon bite when the dam kicks on and hybrids move onto main-lake points to chase threadfn shad. Afer locating bait and fsh with electronics, Moore goes to work on them with 8-weight fy rods and intermediate sinktip lines. He fshes a cadence of fve short strips and a pause with a 2-inch long white/chartreuse Clouser on a 5-foot leader of 12- to 15-pound

fuorocarbon.

When the bite is hot, a good angler might boat 8 to 10 fsh, and 4- to 6-pound hybrids are not uncommon. “A 6-pound hybrid is going to fght like a 10-pound striper,” Moore said.

By Nick Carter

A fy rod is also fun for the mid-lake morning bite. When the water starts moving, hybrids herd shad to the surface and blow up on them in a frenzy. Te action only lasts an hour, but the bite is consistent for two or three weeks during the May shad spawn.

With thousands of newly hatched shad in the water, Cowen’s Somethin’ Else, and Cowen’s Coyote are Moore’s go-to fies. Henry Cowen is a legendary angler and fy tier who developed patterns specifcally for striped bass in Georgia waters. His fies work just as well on hybrids.

Night fshing under the lights is another situation when Moore would rather use a fy rod.

“We don’t have a lot of lit docks here, but the

ones that are lit will be covered with fsh,” he said. Casts must be precise, and the fghts are technical, so Moore reserves night trips for experienced fy fshers.

“You better have that 15-pound leader. A 6-pound hybrid will give you a run for your money,” he said. “Tey’ll run you right back under that dock.”

With the May schooling bite approaching, it’s worth making plans to visit Oconee now…or try these tactics on your local hybrid reservoir.

Contact Wayne Moore at (404) 317-9556 or wmoore1700@outlook.com and check out Oconee on the Fly at www.oconeeonthefy.com.

Cast Lures in a Mitzi Tournament

May 10th & 11th, 2024

Online Registration:

MothersDayDolphinTournament.com

Captain’s Meeting

The Island Fish Co.

Friday May 10th - 6pm to 7pm

Lines In: Saturday, May 11 - 7:30am

Lines Out: Saturday, May 11 - 3:30pm

Weigh-In

Curly’s Cofee

Saturday, May 11th - 3:30pm to 6pm

Awards Banquet

Marathon Yacht Club

Saturday, May 11th - 7pm

Sunday Honor Our Moms

Always in our Hearts JB!

18th Annual Mother’s Day Dolphin Tournament

An Angler TournamentAngler Entry Fee is a Donation

Catagories

Ladies, Junior (16 and under), Weekend Warrior and Pro Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in all categories

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TROPHY BASS REGS IMPLEMENTED ON ORANGE AND LOCHLOOSA LAKES

Trophy bass fshing in Alachua County was already good. With recently approved regulations intended to grow trophy bass, many anglers and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are hoping it will get even better.

Orange Lake and Lochloosa Lake will both be managed under new regulations, which prohibit killing or possessing any black bass that is 20 inches or longer. Also, the new rules require the use of non-ofset circle hooks when fshing with natural baits longer than 3 inches in length. Te regulations are designed to allow trophy bass to remain in the lakes to grow larger and to minimize injury to fsh caught with natural baits. Bass ofen swallow live baits prior to the hook set, and circle hooks are designed so they are more likely than other hook styles to hook fsh in the lip, rather than in the gullet.

“Florida bass need to have the right genetics and waterbody conditions to grow for a long time,” said FWC Commissioner Gary Lester. “Orange Lake is unique, like in its fuctuations in water levels, that makes ideal conditions for bass to reach record sizes.”

Indeed, Orange Lake has established itself as one of the top trophy bass lakes in the state. It produces numerous 10-plus-pound largemouth bass every year, as documented by the Florida TrophyCatch program. Already in 2024, anglers have caught, released and reported eight 10-pluspounders to the program, and this fgure doesn’t include all the fsh caught by anglers who don’t participate in TrophyCatch. Te largest Orange Lake bass this year, so far, was a monster 13-pound, 4-ounce fsh caught by Luke Bolling on Feb. 15.

Lochloosa is not as much of a trophy bass factory as its sister lake, but it does pump out several 8- to 11-pounders for the Trophy Catch program each year. Both lakes are in Alachua County southwest of Gainesville.

Tese regulations changes support FWC’s eforts to grow larger trophy

bass across the state and allow bass in these lakes to reach their maximum growth potential.

12-year-old Luke Bolling caught this 13-plus-pound Orange Lake bass in February.

FOR THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON

In my years of fshing the Indian River Lagoon, some of my best fshing has been wading.

Tere’s nothing like being in the water with the fsh. It provides advantages you don’t have in a boat. Wading is the most silent and efective way to fsh shallow water. Tere are lots of places you can access the lagoon, and all of them have fsh.

WADERS : You need a pair of chest waders because of the changing water quality, and you can get a good pair for less than $100. Waders protect you from underwater obstacles as well as cold or dirty water. In Florida, neoprene waders are too hot for most of the year. I prefer vinyl waders. If it’s cold, you can wear jogging pants under them.

Waders come with boots attached or sof shoe, which require rubber boots to wear over them. Make sure you don’t get the boot size too small. Wading boots can be very uncomfortable if they are too tight. Wear socks and get a larger boot.

GEAR: I recommend a good spinning reel with a 9- or 10-foot rod for longer casting. I use braided line because it’s strong and the smaller diameter of the line is better for casting. I use 6to 10-pound braid most of the time with 2-foot fuorocarbon leader. I use a 25-pound leader but have used 20- to 40-pound leaders in diferent situations. Carry extra leaders and lures in case your line breaks.

My main lures are search lures for making lots of casts and covering wide areas of water quickly. My favorite lure is a ¼-ounce jig with a sof-plastic body. I use D.O.A. jigs with a chartreuse head rigged with a pearl white paddletail (D.O.A. Shad Tail). It swims but is not erratic, and it’s easy for fsh to locate by sight and vibration. Te other search lures I use are shallow-running crankbaits (Yo-Zuri Inshore in pearl white), topwater lures (Skitterwalk/Zara Spook or Chug Plug), and spoons (Johnson silver or gold). Te jig covers shallow and deep water and can be skipped under piers and mangroves.

WIND: Too much wind, and it’s too hard to fsh. Not enough wind, and the fsh are hard to catch. It’s easier to fsh with the wind at your back because you can cast farther. To get the right wind, you can fsh either the east side or the west side of the lagoon. Most of the time there is an easterly wind. If it’s too windy, fsh around the Stuart bridges, which almost completely block the wind.

LOCATIONS: I wade the southern Indian River Lagoon from Sebastian to Jupiter, mostly between Fort Pierce and Stuart. Here are my favorite spots:

West Side—Walton Road (intersection with Indian River Rd) and Walton Scrub; Midway Road and Old Fort Park in Fort Pierce; and both Stuart Bridges.

April Fishing Forecast:

There’s still a pompano bite on the beaches and in the lagoon. Jig from the bridges or wade while fan casting with jigs. Look for birds and bait to fnd bluefsh, jacks and ladyfsh. Snook will still be deep, but on warm days they will run the beach from the inlets and be around the deeper piers in the lagoon. Redfsh are around the deeper piers.

East Side—Bear Point then Blind Creek in Fort Pierce; North and South Herman’s Bay in St. Lucie; and both Stuart Bridges.

Richard L. Matteson is a long-time contributor to Coastal Angler Magazine who reports for the Stuart Rod and Reel Club.

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the Big Kings are Here!

By Mark ambert

this monster king was caught on a 200g Rapala kensaki Jig using the Piscifun kRaken electric reel loaded with fins 40G Braid.

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Ma R k aMB e R t, i G @ marksgonefishing_™ marksgonefishing25@gmail.com

When properly prepared, nothing beats fresh smoked kingfish.

My favorite time of the year is here in Southeast Florida. You can feel the change in the air. The weather pattern has shifted, and the fish feel it too. The warmer temperatures and southeast winds begin to stack bait up on the edge of the reefs bringing smoker kings, bigger mahi, tuna, and the occasional wahoo! It’s that time of year when monster kings prowl the reefs –they are here to spawn. While these early oversized fish appear in reduced numbers the quality of the catch is worth the effort to locate them. These big fish really put on some size and girth getting ready for the spawn. The secret to locating them lies in fishing the outlying edges of the inshore reefs. These are the first reef systems encountered when heading out of an inlet. The traditional method of trolling the rips formed by outgoing or incoming tides crossing the reef will help locate bait and feeding fish. Once a potential feeding area is found my favorite way to target these lone wolves is on the jig. When targeting big kings, I start my morning at first light and slightly north of Jupiter Inlet on the ledge that runs north and south from Jupiter down past Juno Pier to Palm Beach Inlet. Target your starting point at 90 – 100’. Look for contour changes that will put you in 120 – 140’ pretty quickly and zig zag the changes. Start by bump trolling one or two live baits, slowly heading out to deeper water then back –north or south. I try to use the biggest bait possible as this minimizes the bonita bite

and will definitely put you on the bigger fish. Once located, I quickly switch to jigging. Your fish finder screen should be lit up with bait in the water column. If not – pick up and move until you find the bait. Drift fishing along the ledge while speed jigging thru the water column can produce some oversized fish even when they are ignoring live bait. You must rip the jig throughout the water column. Let the jig settle three quarters of the way to the bottom, then begin your retrieve. A fast-moving jig will entice an incredibly violent strike. Something about that motion sparks their primal instincts and mimics fleeing bait. I use an electric reel for this style of fishing as it helps keep the lure moving at the right speed throughout the water column. The morning bite can be red hot! Once landed, kingfish should be properly handled at boat side if you are taking them for consumption. This includes bleeding the fish as soon as they are caught, then putting them in a slurry consisting of ice and salt water. When properly prepared they make for a fantastic smoked dip. Now head out of your favorite inlet to your nearest reef and get some!

As warmer weather quickly approaches, the kings of the reef arrive!

Daylight savings time is in full effect this month so be sure to take advantage of the extra sunlight we have in the late afternoons! We should have delightful springtime weather; winds will be blowing out of the E/SE the majority of the time. Offshore, when we have an easterly wind blowing for a few days, the pelagics will be pushed closer to shore. Trolling artificial and dead

fishing the Palm Beaches

Fishing Forecast

with

da R cizzle

Please be sure to check out my YouTube Channel “Darcizzle Offshore” for fishing videos every week! www.youtube.com/DarcizzleOffshore

bait between 175-300’ will produce dolphin, bonito, blackfin tuna, and the occasional wahoo. Bonitos and blackfins show up again in our waters this month. When targeting blackfins, you can troll small feathers and squid pups. TIP: be sure to set your spread as far away

from your boat as possible. Let the line out until you think it’s far enough and then let the line out some more! Blackfins are spooked easily by your boat, don’t run towards the school on plane and slowly troll into the zone. Blackfins are known for feeding in lowlight conditions and love small live bait. Try chumming with cut sardines to bring these fish to your boat. A lot of cobia should be caught this month as well, primarily in 90-150’ of water. Cobia will be hanging around the wrecks and following the sharks. Throw a chum bag out to bring hungry fish to your boat. Drift back dead sardines on a triple hook rig or a cobia jig. Remember, they need to be 36” minimum (fork length) in order to keep the fish. If you do get tight on a cobia using this method, reel as fast as possible to keep your catch away from the sharks. When fishing

the deep-water wrecks, jigging will produce big amberjacks, African pompano, bonito, and mutton snapper. The bottom fish also love to eat live bait such as blue runners and goggle eyes.

Inshore, this is the month to catch yourself a big snook! This time of year, snook will invade the bridges and inlets and will eat just about anything thrown at them. At night, fish the bridges with flair hawk jigs, large swimbaits, or topwater lures. The live bait of choice this month will be mullet. Fish the bridges, inlets, and seawalls at first light or at night during the beginning of the outgoing tide or the last of the incoming tide. Tarpon will be showing up around the Palm Beach Inlet and mangrove areas feeding on crabs and shrimp. The best bait for targeting the silver king will be live shrimp, lip divers, and jerk bait.

south county

inshore & Freshwater Fishing Forecast with www.swamptosea.com

c

a P t. Pat R ick sM ith

Finally, the winter is behind us and here is your April forecast. This is a great time of the year as you can actually feel that the change of season has happened. Water is warm and the fish are biting. Snook fishing should start to get back to normal with fish piling up around docks and in the evenings the shadow lines of bridges should have a lot of activity. Nearshore, blackfin tuna should be consistent early morning and late evening with kingfish and sailfish filling in the rest of the day. If you run the beach and pay close attention, there’s a chance you will run into schools of massive jack crevalle spawning and daisy chaining along the beach. The key to these fish is to keep your distance and make the longest cast possible. Be sure to use

Clay wanted something he could eat, and this sand perch fit the bill.

relatively heavy tackle to shorten the fight and give the fish a chance of getting back to spawning. There should be plenty of mullet around as the spring mullet run will be in full swing. Snook, tarpon, and jacks will all be ready and willing to eat one bump trolled or drifted through the inlet.

Levi caught this awesome black drum in the lagoon.

Felt like we were up north with the size of the chopper bluefish that came through.

Brady wasn’t messing around and landed 18 species in two days including this largemouth.

In the freshwater, peacock bass will be pretty much through with their initial spawn and should be ready to eat. Largemouth, clown knife, and all the usual suspects will be mixed right in with them. A lot of people tend to go straight for fishing live bait, but you can have some pretty awesome days on artificial and

ECO ToURISM

with Chris Thalmann

• 561-635-6899 • www.aquaadventuretours.com

April is still early sea turtle season in South Florida but there’s already been lots of nesting activity on Palm Beach County’s beaches! Loggerhead Marinelife Center and MacArthur Beach State Park both had leatherback turtles nesting well ahead of the traditional March 1st start of season. Although there’s no way to predict how this season will go, here’s hoping it’ll be a positive one!

One of the highlights of my job is seeing sea turtles in the wild. We see fewer now than later on, but from June through August, it’s normal to see 30+ turtles on any given outing. Sharing this experience with clients, as well as sharing sea turtle success stories and how we can help with some of their conservation challenges is just as rewarding too!

If you can’t join us on the water for a charter, another fantastic way

fly as well. This is prime time to start fishing topwater lures like a Zara Spook or a prop bait. Once you notice the baby iguanas swimming across the canals or hanging out in the grass, I would suggest throwing the brightest neon or chartreuse top water that you can find, some days the fish go nuts for it! I know it sounds repetitive and I always say it this time of the year, but you can catch just as many big peacocks without picking them off the beds while they are guarding their eggs or fry; doing so will help future generations. A cool way to catch giants this time of the year is to throw a big glide bait or swim bait that you think is too big for a peacock to hit and a lot of times they will surprise you as they are angry and ready to fight. Good luck out there!

to see and learn about sea turtles is to take part in a guided night-time sea turtle walk. I try to do at least one a year, usually with family or friends who are visiting. If you’ve never been on a guided walk, it’s a great way to safely get up close to a nesting turtle and see first-hand how sea turtles nest on our local beaches.

I guarantee you’ll come away with a new appreciation for how much work goes into digging, egg-laying, and covering a turtle nest, as well as the huge effort it takes for mama turtles to get out of the water, up the beach, and then back into the water after nesting!

In Palm Beach County, I highly recommend three guided turtle walks. This info is direct from the websites of these turtle walk providers.

Gumbo Limbo Nature CeNter iN bo Ca ratoN: City of Boca Raton Residents: registration starts 9am Tuesday April 16th

Non - Boca Raton Residents: registration starts 9am Tuesday April 23rd Register at: https://www.myboca.us/2133/Turtle-Walks-Hatchling-Releases

maCarthur beaCh State Park iN North PaLm beaCh: Reservations by phone only on the day after Memorial Day (Tuesday May 28th) Register by phone: 561-624-6950

Lo GGerhead mariNeLife CeNter iN JuNo beaCh Register at https://marinelife.org/eco-experiences/

Each of these turtle walks require reservations and they usually sell out quickly. If they do sell out before you can register, be sure to ask about a standby list for any date you can attend.

Hope you can enjoy some time outdoors this month!

Photo Credit: Sea Turtle Conservatory

Photo Credit: National Wildlife Federation

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Fishing Forecast with

c a P t. Weston Russell

Capt. Weston Russell • www.reelintensefishing.com

•561-310-2690

Welcome to the Coastal Angler Magazine fishing report. April is here and so are the pelagics. Smoker kings, dancing dolphin, and fat tuna will be on the hot list this month. Let’s talk about the fishing zone you want to be in to land these fish. For kingfish, set up over the Juno Reef from the end of the condos to the pier. Keep yourself in depths of 70’ to 90’. Live bait is the best bet. You will be fishing in shark infested waters, so if you hook a smoker and the sharks are on him hard...open the bail and let it run. Wait for the all clear and then continue the fight. Good luck!

Let’s now talk about dolphin fishing, trolling the edge of the stream would be a start. The crew at reelintensefishing. com run a two planer, three top side spread. We use lots of mylar strip lures to get the attention we desire. If the bite is slow, we run offshore and look for better water. Anything that looks like a rip or current edge will hold fish.

It’s also tuna tango time, so if you are looking for fat blackfin tuna, go deep. Get yourself positioned between 100’ to 300’ of water. You must get that bait down deep! When I say down deep, I mean down to 100’ to 150’. We use a breakaway sinker system held on by a rubber band about 15’ away from the bait. Strip out enough line to the desired depth, set the drag light, and wait for the bite! During the April run the real big ones are down deep during the daytime. We usually run three down deep at different depths. Scale bait

Keep your eye on the ball and you may be able to get a picture just like this.

works the best, but goggle eyes work pretty good too. Live bait is the key! Tight lines...

jupiter inlet inshore Fishing Forecast

with

April fun in the sun!

The inshore fishing in Palm Beach County becomes very exciting as the spring mullet run begins along beaches and inshore waters.

Targeting snook! Docks, seawalls, and mangrove shorelines are great areas for anglers to target linesiders. Sunrise provides great action; a topwater Rapala Skitter Walk will entice explosive strikes. Mid-day; switch to a D.O.A. C.A.L. 3-inch Shad in glow / gold rush belly or a D.O.A. 5-inch Swim Bait in Arkansas glow. The seawalls and grass flats are great areas to find snook laid up ambushing bait schools. Be sure to stay quiet and look for bait schools or snook crashing baits as signs of life.

Tarpon action heats up! Tarpon can be seen rolling on the surface, both sides of the

tides produce great results. D.O.A. Bait Busters in pearl / black back get the silver kings excited. Live bait for tarpon will get the drag screaming too. Free line or slow troll baits along mangrove shorelines and drop-offs for consistent action.

Anglers looking for drag screaming on light tackle, target jacks along seawalls and grass flats. The jacks school together ambushing schools of live bait in their vicinity. Rapala Skitter Walks and D.O.A. PT-7

Weedless Top Waters work great for the jacks. If artificial lures are not your choice, live mullet and greenies will also produce action. Free line baits with the tide or near any structure for best results.

Well, that is the fishing report for April, I hope you all enjoyed. Get out there and get hooked up. Tight lines!

Double snook hook up!

Graham and Jax helped Noah hold the monster bluefish he caught.

Nikko with his first ever bluefish.

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KayaK Fishing Forecast

c a P t. BR ian nelli

with 772-201-5899 • Brian@tckayakfishing.com • tckayakfishing.com

Inshore

Spring is near! April will still be good for pompano and tripletail will be in full swing. Pompano as usual will be along channel edges near your favorite inlets. I like to fish for pompano in the morning and then head to look for tripletail. Using the sun to your advantage you can see tripletail hanging around crab buoys and channel markers. Both pompano and tripletail can be caught using a D.O.A. Lures 2.75” Shrimp. Switch to the 3” D.O.A. Shrimp if you need the bait to stay in the strike zone a little longer. Snook will also be back on the list of

Forecast Lake OkeechObee with

targets as April usually brings a small spring mullet run along with more white bait. A Yo-Zuri Lures TopKnock or a D.O.A. Bait Buster are both great options for artificial lures.

April will really start to push in more bait and along with that comes more species and numbers of pelagic fish. Mahi, tuna, sailfish, wahoo, and kingfish will all be in the normal trolling waters of 60-250 feet of water. April will always bring a good push of sargassum grass as well. Look to focus your spread on weed lines and current edges. The grass will hold baitfish and the fish won’t be far behind. Goggle eyes, pilchards, threadfins, blue runners, and mullet will all work for your live bait presentations. Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows are a great option as well this time of year.

Freshwater

Peacock bass and clown knifefish will be chewing this month. Prop baits will work well for peacock along shallow edges. Try 15-pound Yo-Zuri fluorocarbon leader and a 2/0 circle hook while casting in and around structure and weed lines to get onto a few clowns with 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.

Okeechobee’s fishing conditions are highly promising, with water levels sitting at a moderate level, conducive to successful angling experiences. The current water levels are hovering around 15 feet, providing ample opportunity for anglers to explore various fishing spots across the lake.

For those casting artificial lures, several recommendations can enhance your chances of a successful catch. Spinnerbaits in chartreuse or white colors are proving effective, especially around submerged vegetation and structures where largemouth bass tend to lurk. Topwater lures such as frogs or buzzbaits can also produce thrilling strikes, particularly during low light conditions in the early morning or late evening.

Additionally, soft plastic baits like Senkos or flukes rigged Texas-style are reliable choices, especially when targeting bass in shallower areas or around docks and brush piles. Crankbaits in natural colors can also entice bites from both bass and other species such as crappie and bluegill.

Remember to adjust your techniques based on prevailing conditions and experiment with different lure presentations to maximize your success on the water. With favorable water levels and a diverse range of fishing opportunities, April promises to be an exciting month for anglers on Lake Okeechobee.

Big bass and awesome weather are staples of April fishing. Book your trip today!

Mike with his first peacock bass.

Rocky with his bucket list sailfish.

Ivy with his first wahoo.

Cindy Wheeler and her husband Steve caught a ton of big bass including this 9lb. stud!

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Freshwater

Fishing Forecast with

It’s feeling like spring outside! With what seemed like months of cold, cloudy, and windy weather this year, it’s finally gone, and warmer weather is trending. Fishing has been some of the best I’ve seen in the last few years, with plenty of big, healthy largemouth and peacock bass. Springtime offers a unique opportunity to capitalize on hungry fish and some bedding fish. I always recommend leaving the bedding fish alone so they can protect their fry and leave us with plenty of fish for the future.

Peacock bass this time of the year are extra aggressive. You can throw just about any lure in the box and catch them. I love a good jerk bait bite, and I don’t think there’s anything more fun than power fishing for these fish. Mornings and overcast days are great for some topwater action and prop baits. I love throwing the Yo-Zuri 3D Prop; the prop sound drives the fish crazy! Peacocks on Lake Ida have been showing incredible numbers daily, and the choice of bait for them is live shad or shiners. Lake Ida suffers from “live bait pressure”, making it tough to throw artificial bait. The Everglades peacocks don’t get that live bait pressure, making great artificial and fly action.

The Lake Ida Chain:

The best times to fish are when the weather has been consistent for the prior few days or prefrontal conditions. After a few hours of heavy rains, the lake needs an adjustment period of usually a day for everything to settle. When it rains, it’s best to find moving water, such as a culvert pipe, floodgates, and spillways. Sinking or suspending baits like Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ are perfect for these areas, and don’t be surprised if you get a big old LMB on the line, too!

On rainy days, I find myself chasing snakeheads, as they are the epitome of aggression in fish, and I love it. Topwater is the game, and the blowups are heart-stopping. My frog of choice for these toothy critters is an American Snakehead Custom “Snek Frog.” It’s made of silicone and offers multiple fish on one lure. Snakeheads have sharp teeth, so be careful not to put your fingers in their mouth. Overcast conditions are best for those topwater bites, and all I can say is, “hold on tight”!

The Everglades water is still at a record high level, and there’s no sign of lowering. I see this as both good and bad. Two years ago, the Everglades suffered a massive fish die-off due to cold temperatures multiple days in a row. Even though the Everglades has made a rather good recovery from a year of high water and not many people fishing, it will be even better next year. If you want a change of scenery from the urban canals and go out to the glades, there are still opportunities to catch peacocks and lots of cichlids. They’re fun on ultralight spinning or BFS setups and a blast on a fly rod. If you want to get into fly fishing, going to Alligator Alley is a great place to catch lots of fish and practice.

the floRida outdooR exPo

Returns to The South Florida Fairgrounds

The excitement is building as the Florida Outdoor Expo, the largest sportsman show in Florida, prepares to return for its highly anticipated 4th annual event. Scheduled to take place from May 3rd to May 5th, 2024, at the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach, this year’s expo promises to be an unparalleled celebration of outdoor adventure and conservation. If you are a fan of archery, backyard living, biking, boating, camping, fishing, hunting, motorsports, or watersports; this is the event for you. Guaranteed to be a fantastic day with something for everyone, including a petting zoo, Dock Dogs jumping competition, 3D archery tournament, People’s Choice BBQ contest, and swine races.

Building on the success of previous years, which saw a 41% increase in attendance and a 25% surge in exhibitors, the 2024 Florida Outdoor Expo is poised to surpass all expectations. With over 200 exhibitors and the outdoor industry buzzing about this year’s event, the team is looking to break last year’s attendance record of 17,000 individuals.

Conservation Initiatives and Youth Workshops:

At the heart of the Florida Outdoor Expo lies a commitment to conservation. Through interactive workshops and hands-on activities, we aim to instill a love for nature and inspire the next generation of conservationists. Children will have the opportunity to learn about wildlife, habitat preservation, and sustainable outdoor practices in a fun and engaging environment.

Our expo will provide a platform for experts to share their knowledge and passion for conservation with attendees. We believe that by empowering today’s youth with the skills and knowledge to protect our natural resources, we can ensure a brighter and more sustainable future for generations to come.

Ticket Information:

General Admission: $14

Veterans and First Responders: $12

Children 12 & Under: Free

For more information and to register, visit https://FloridaOutdoorExpo.com

Forecast fishing with

G ulfst R ea M custo M R ods

Timothy Schmitz • www.GulfstreamCustoms.com • (561) 308-5308

Spring fishing is upon us, and it appears to be a promising season for mahi-mahi fishing in South Florida. This activity is an excellent choice for novice and intermediate anglers, providing fun for the entire family. Mahi-mahi, often referred to as dolphin, have a colorful appearance in yellow, green, and blue. They must be 20” long to keep but can grow up to 80lbs. and above. The world record mahi-mahi weighed 87lbs. and was caught in Costa Rica in 1976, so we encourage the safe release of smaller ones. Mahi-mahi can be caught using small, feathered lures or plugs while trolling. The Gulfstream Custom Rods 20-40lbs. 7’ Live Bait Conventional Rod is recommended for light trolling, but the preferred method is called ‘run and gun’ using cut bait. The aim is to catch these fish during a feeding frenzy on the surface, a common occurrence this time of year. For this technique, any cut bait with a 6/0 circle hook and a few feet of 30lb. leader on the Gulfstream Custom Rods light tackle Pilchard Picker 10-20lbs. 7’ spinning rod is suggested. Always abide by local laws and regulations, ensuring you have the correct license to avoid any complications. Tight lines!

Everglades national park fishing with

Snook fishing in Everglades National Park during the spring might be the best place to go if you want to catch a lot of fish and have the best chance for a fantastic day. It’s hard not to catch fish in Flamingo Everglades National Park, as this place is full of life as spring just is what it says. Spring into action as temperatures rise and the fish are really active moving through mangrove channels just looking for their next meal. Guided trips this time of year can’t be beat. Some days we can catch 30 plus snook, some days 80 snook. Usually the 80 are schooling, smaller snook, but exciting as well. I can say we always have a blast! Usually, the weather is still good as hotter temperatures are around the corner, although April can be hot, but chances are better not to get caught in those late afternoon thunderstorms like you would in late summer. I say if you can cast and reel, you can catch some fish, as we cover 40-70 miles of waterway, this place is abundant with life, and you won’t regret it.

Freshwater peacock bass fishing will be outstanding in Dade and Broward County canals and lakes. I also guide along Alligator Alley and Holiday Park where freshwater fishing will be outstanding, as also alligators and birds will be throughout the canals, so come with great expectations. If you fly fish and don’t have gear with you, no worries, we supply everything needed to catch your next trophy fish.

Captain Steve Purser with a nice snook.

Daniel Chessler and another linesider.

One of These!

The sportfishing boats of South Florida are having one helluva month. The bigger game fish are moving through, and the bite has been excellent. Kite fishing on the edge of the Gulfstream has been highly productive for sailfish, along with big game sharks, bull dolphin, and tuna. We’re smack dab in the middle of shark fishing season here in South Florida, and the more soughtafter sharks are snapping. Hammerheads, makos, threshers, bulls, and duskys are the sharks we are catching now. Fishing around the shipwrecks we find giant amberjack, grouper, and cobia, which don’t leave a bait untouched for very long. Wreck fishing this time of year is fun because of the quick action on big fish. Trolling the reef is great this season too for kingfish, bonito, and some pretty big wahoo. This is the time of year when all the biggest fish are caught!

The offshore dolphin fishing is phenomenal right now. Big, and I mean BIG, mahi-mahi are being caught trolling the weed lines that form up offshore. Anywhere from 5-20 miles offshore can be good grounds for finding mahi-mahi, you just need to find something good to fish around. When fishing offshore, keep constant lookout for weed lines, floating debris, current edges, and frigate birds to fish near. Expect to see some solid dolphin fishing during the next few months. Along with dolphin, when trolling offshore, you also have good chances of finding tuna, wahoo, and sailfish. If you’re exceptionally lucky, you may even catch a blue or white marlin. I always look forward to April-May fishing every year because you can catch just about anything and everything. It should be great fishing for the next couple of months for us here in South Florida. Good luck and tight lines!

Bob, Patrick, and Nate caught this wahoo trolling out of Port Everglades.

Murat with a beautiful, big mutton snapper.

Ian Paguaga and his uncle Bob with a nice snook caught in the Intracoastal.

Barracuda Bob (Robert Waite) caught this 25 lb. golden tilefish right before the season closure in 800’ of water near the Hillsboro Lighthouse on a Seaborg Electric Reel rigged with squid.

Kenan and Murat reeled in 3 solid sheepsheads.

Chris & Mike had a killer day trolling for wahoo off Boca, going 3 for 3.

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WIN A LOADED ’YAK IN FWC’S TRIPLE THREAT THROWDOWN

The second season of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Triple Treat Trowdown runs from March 1 to Sept. 29, and Triple Treat Club members have a chance to win an awesome fshing kayak bundle valued at more than $4,500.

779.770.2100

Te Trowdown is a part of FWC’s Catch a Florida Memory, which is intended to enhance and increase participation in saltwater fshing. Te Triple Treat Club is for anglers who have achieved all three of Catch a Florida Memory’s recognition programs: Saltwater Grand Slam, Saltwater Reel Big Fish and Saltwater Life List 10 Fish Club. Anglers who reach Triple Treat Club status will be entered into a drawing for the kayak bundle afer the Trowdown season ends on Sept. 29. Anglers who are already in the Triple Treat Club will receive a drawing entry for each new recognition they earn during the challenge period.

“Building of of last year’s successful season, we are excited to announce Season 2 of Catch a Florida Memory’s Triple Treat Trowdown with an even bigger prize from our generous sponsors,” said Jessica McCawley, director of Marine Fisheries Management. “We encourage anglers to get out on the water, make Florida memories and help conserve fsheries by targeting a diversity of species.”

One lucky angler will be randomly drawn to win a top-of-the-line kayak fshing bundle valued at over $4,500. Tis bundle includes a Bonafde P127 kayak, a premium Mustad fshing gear bundle and kayak safety kit. Te award is made possible by Bonafde, Mustad and Russ Vorhis Insurance AgencyState Farm.

Find out how to qualify for the drawing at CatchaFloridaMemory.com.

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SPRING fiSHING CLASSIC EVENT SAVE UP TO $4,000

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ENDS MARCH 27TH, 2024

ENDS MARCH 27TH, 2024

FLORIDA LITHIUM: BEST-IN-CLASS BATTERIES AND SERVICE

While working for his father’s transformer company, Deltona Transformers, in the 80s, Mike Prelec Sr. identifed an opportunity to provide a smarter battery charging solution to the bass fshing industry. Subsequently, Mike Sr. and the engineers at Deltran designed and built the global brand Deltran BatteryTender®, a leader in battery chargers and accessories.

Fast forward 40 years, and Mike Sr. parlayed his experience with electronics to test and scrutinize a new generation of high-quality, fast-charging lithium batteries. Mike established a central Florida test lab and began ordering samples from several overseas manufacturers. Even the platinumtier manufacturers provided varying quality in components, cells, boards and overall inconsistent construction. Several years later, with a select group of top-tier vendors, Florida Lithium was launched to provide bestin-class deep cycle-dual purpose (800 cranking amps) LifePO4 batteries that meet or exceed all Mercury requirements for lithium batteries. Today, Florida Lithium’s product line ranges from 12V, 36V and 48V batteries, providing versatile options for cranking, house electronics, or trolling motor applications. Teir DeLand warehouse is available for pickups Monday through Friday (by appointment only), and they ofer shipping nationwide. Florida Lithium also provides batteries and accessories to marine dealers, boat builders and marine service/repair shops throughout the Southeast.

Tere is no doubt you can fnd cheap lithium batteries on Amazon or other marketplaces, but when push comes to shove, some of those poorly constructed batteries will fail, leaving you with a very expensive paperweight and the inability to get anyone (stateside) on the phone. Florida Lithium’s customer support team actually speaks English, and in the event you reach their voicemail, a member of the team will respond in a timely manner.

Florida Lithium is proud to provide Florida-based customer service and technical support, coupled with a no-nonsense fx, repair or replace warranty. Lead-acid batteries are quickly becoming a thing of the past. If you are looking for a powerful, lightweight and reliable battery upgrade, Florida Lithium has you covered. Teir team is made up of Florida-based boaters and fsherman, and they understand what’s required to maximize your on-the-water experience.

By Scott Goodman

Custom Spliced Dock Lines & Anchor Rodes

Jimmy Johnson Dishes on quEst foR tHE RINg

Jimmy Johnson’s Quest for the Ring Championship Fishing Week is an annual South Florida event that is renowned for a guaranteed milliondollar-plus purse. It’s the largest guaranteed prize for fshing in the world, so far as we are aware. Te “real prize” is the chance for one team to win diamond-studded Super Bowl-caliber rings that rival any awarded by the NFL.

Te event’s namesake is, of course, legendary Hall of Fame football coach Jimmy Johnson, who is now a fxture in the South Florida fshing community. I had a chance to sit down with Coach to pick his brain about the tournament.

Johnson grew up on the Gulf Coast of Texas and loved saltwater from the get-go. “Daddy had a little14 foot wooden boat in Galveston,” he recalled. Johnson fshed as a child and developed a passion during his time as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

“I liked to get out in the boat early and fsh by myself,” he said. “I found fshing to be so peaceful as opposed to the stress of coaching pro football. I just love it. I have caught and released fve blue marlin by myself… but my favorite fsh is the wahoo because they just scream. I’ll fast troll with lures or slow troll with a ballyhoo and a cigar weight.”

Coach Johnson’s tournament started as a local Florida Keys event.

“Well, it started as a small tournament in the Keys centered around my restaurant, Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill,” he said. “Since bringing on the crew at Fish Hard Events, it has become the enormous experience it is today.”

Jimmy Johnson’s Quest for the Ring Championship Fishing Week, or JJFISHWEEK, includes the main event, the two-day Catch & Release ‘Quest for the Ring’ Championship, featuring a $1 million guaranteed purse; JJ’s National Sportfsh Tournament, for the meat fsh afcionados; and the inviteonly Hard Rock Invitational.

Tis year’s JJFISHWEEK concluded March 9 with an awards ceremony at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. Coveted championship rings were awarded to Owner Sandra MacMillan, Capt. John Louis Dudas and Team Sandman, aboard a 63-foot Spencer, which earned them a cool $300,000. Tis marks Sandman’s third championship, having clinched the title in 2018 and 2020.

Obviously, the money and fshing are big-time, but Johnson likes how the event engages the fshing community and gives back. Tis year’s event raised more than $100,000 for the CI Foundation, which will be gifed to its charitable benefciaries.

“I love the people that it brings together,” he said. “We also have a number of charities that we support. My son has the Tranquil Shores Foundation, which is a drug and alcohol abuse center. He’s got a foundation for people who can’t aford treatment.”

Te next stop for Jimmy Johnson’s Quest for the Ring is an inaugural Atlantic City, New Jersey tournament July 14-20. Next year’s Florida event is slated for March 4-8, 2025. For more information JJFishWeek.com.

Scott Goodman is Co-publisher of Coastal Angler Magazine/Miami.

WORK THE EDGES FOR

SPRING INSHORE ACTION

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

As the seasons change, so should your fshing locations and tactics. In my quest to target larger trout and reds, I modify my approach slightly versus what I have been doing for the past three or four months. However, depending on the weather, spring can be a tricky time to fnd solid and repeatable patterns. With the water temperature swings, the fsh begin to move from winter to spring areas. But a slight cold front will send them right back to their winter patterns, and it will keep you on your toes.

Te frst major transition is from mud to a frmer sand bottom. In my area, the prominent structure will still be grass, but the base sediment will change. If your area structure is shell or rocks, you will still want to fnd harder sand. According to biologists, the primary reason for this is the winter forage, primarily mullet, fnd their food source in the mud during the colder months. We all know fsh follow the bait, and that is why we target trout and reds on sofer bottoms in the winter. As the water warms, the next generation of perch shrimp and other species hatch and will be found in structure with a frm bottom. In my area, that will be grass.

Now that we know where to fsh, let’s cover the how. In spring, staying tight to the cover is important. It is imperative for juvenile forage to stay in tight schools and intermingled in the structure for survival. Keeping your lure near the grass, shell, or wherever you are fshing will be critical to success. I target the borders where sand and grass meet. Each area will vary depending on if it is predominantly sand or grass. If it is mostly grass, I concentrate my eforts casting into the grass and working my lure into the sand, paying attention to the edge and giving the fsh time to fnd my lure at that intersection. On the other hand, if it is mostly sand, I will target the grass patches and once again the edge.

Spring allows us to utilize a wide range of lures. Sof plastics danced along the bottom or topwaters skated across the surface can both be efective, depending on the mood of the fsh. Tis will be determined by water temp and the passing of late-season cool fronts.

Whatever lure you decide to use, concentrate on the edges of the available cover to increase your odds of having a productive day. As always, take a kid fshing; you just might learn something.

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES ®

FISHING THE SECOND SHIFT

Spring is one of my favorite times of year for many species on the inshore menu, including red drum, snook and trout. I usually fsh at night for several reasons including my “day job,” which keeps me occupied for a vast majority of daylight hours. I guess I could become a weekend warrior, but I’ve noticed the best weather typically doesn’t occur on weekends. Tere’s an old saying that goes something like this: “You know what happens afer two days of really crappy weather?”

“MONDAY!”

All joking aside, I believe the best bite for older, wiser, heavily pressured fsh is at night. Tey’re a little more at ease afer the sun goes down and the boat trafc lets up. Tis is when the big girls let their guard down and come back into shallower water to feed. Wherever you fnd shrimp and small mullet along the edges is a good place to take advantage of aggressively feeding redfsh, trout or snook afer dark. Te patterns are similar for all of them.

Just before dark is a good time to get situated to the rising or falling tide and the water clarity, which might be afected by

frequent rains this time of year. Get used to your surroundings and how fast the current is running. Keep the lights low, and allow your night vision to kick in as darkness settles.

Music on the boat is fun, but this is a situation when you’ll want to be quiet. Don’t play the radio loud or stomp around on the deck. Close your coolers and hatches quietly. Try not to talk are laugh too loud. Sound travels extremely well in the water, and when the rest of the world is quiet, the noise you make is even more startling to the fsh.

I don’t even use “spot lock” on the trolling motor at night in shallow water. I think fsh have learned to associate the sound of trolling motors with the presence of a boats and humans… just saying. Make your own choice here.

Color selection is a very important at night. Dark colors, especially with shrimp lures, work better at night, especially when there is a bright moon. It might sound crazy, but dark colors are silhouetted by the moonlight and are easier for fsh to see. Dark brown, purple and black can be extremely hot on nights with a full or nearly full moon.

I’m partial to shrimp imitations, and a lot of times I’ll suspend one under a glowin-the-dark cork for night fshing. Tat cork carries it along perfectly with the current and you can keep your eyes on where your bait is, which is one of the difculties of fshing at night.

If you’re like me and have a job that keeps you occupied during the day, consider fshing the second shif. You might be pleasantly surprised.

See more from Tim Barefoot at barefootcatsandtackle.com.

Tim Barefoot

By A. deGruchy

CHASING BACKCOUNTRY COBIA in the Keys

Cobia are robust, daring, and always up for a challenge. You know you’re in for some fun when you spot them cruising near the surface, sometimes in pairs or groups, hounding baitfsh like a wolfpack or drawn in by curiosity at the action around your boat. If you’re geared up and ready for them, a little fnesse will have you luring them in like a pro.

Location is key. When fshing for cobia in the backcountry here in the Florida Keys, we look for them to be around structures, wrecks and foating debris, ofen roaming the same areas in groups. Tey’re not pickiest eaters. Pitch a live bait out in front of them, and they’ll usually eat it, and we’ve also had great success with a Savage Gear RTF 3D Shrimp.

Te action when using these Savage Gear shrimps is a hard jerking lif, then letting your shrimp fall, mimicking a shrimp’s natural actions. For the battle, the optimal gear is at least a 4500 reel, but you really don’t need more than a 6500, and we always trust our Penn Authority and pair it with a medium/medium-light Carnage III Rod for maximum control and power.

Te most important thing to remember when hooking a cobia is to be ready, as it’s very common to spot “following” cobia. Tey ofen travel together and like to investigate what your hooked cobia is doing and eating. Tese “followers” can lead to an epic double header, but only if you have enough rods rigged and ready on the boat and hands to cast them.

Cobia are known for powerful runs, ofen scoping up and switching directions in a split second. Keep calm, adjust your drag, and let them exhaust themselves. Stay alert as you reel in your cobia, as they are known for sudden maneuvers, and will sometimes dart under the boat in a heartbeat. And the fght doesn’t end even afer you’ve gafed a cobia. Exercise caution when you bring them over the rail and onto the deck because they ofen cause havoc on the boat. It’s best to tire them out completely during the fght to minimize potential damage.

Since regulations frequently change with cobia, staying informed is important. One keeper cobia can feed a lot of people. Teir meat is known for its steak-like texture and delicate favor, perfect for a mouthwatering sear with butter and seasoning.

For the best shot at spotting a cobia, consider booking a full-day charter. Tis helps your chances to see one, and the timing should be pretty solid for in the upcoming weeks.

Book a charter at www.beansportfshing.com and follow their cobia adventures at “Bean Sportfshing TV” on YouTube.

PRE-SPAWN FISH

BREAK STATE RECORDS

Along with blooms on the trees and frogspawn in the ponds, the annual rites of spring include an uptick in anglers reporting heavyweight catches.

A spate of recent record catches marks the transition to longer days, warmer weather and spring-spawning species putting on weight. In Indiana, an angler caught a monster 8-pound, 4-ounce smallmouth bass that crushed the existing state record by a pound. In Kentucky and Georgia, two anglers boated big yellow perch. Te Kentucky perch set a new state record, while the Georgia fsh earned the angler a tie for the heaviest perch ever caught in the Peach State.

In Indiana, angler Rex Remington caught his big pre-spawn smallie on March 3 at Monroe Reservoir. Te fsh was weighed on certifed scales in the presence of Indiana DNR ofcials before being released. Te new record was adopted a couple weeks later and is listed at 8 pounds, 4 ounces, beating a record that had stood since 1992. Te all-tackle world record smallmouth weighed 11 pounds, 15 ounces. It was caught from Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee in 1955.

Smaller, but no-less-impressive, Lynn Bumgardner caught his 1.58-pound Kentuckyrecord yellow perch at Lake Barkley on March 2. It beat the existing 1.44-pound record caught in 2010. He was trolling grubs for crappie and knew

he had a heavy fsh when it hit, but he didn’t realize it was a potential record perch until it surfaced. Te fsh was 14.25 inches long.

Tey must grow perch bigger in Georgia. On Feb. 18, Emerson Mulhall caught a huge 16-inchlong, 2-pound, 9-ounce yellow perch that tied the existing state record set in 2013. Mulhall, who usually bass fshes at north Georgia’s Lake Burton was initially confused, because the fsh he’d hooked didn’t fght like a bass. When he realized it was a perch, his father convinced him to get of the lake and go get it weighed on certifed scales.

Te all-tackle world record yellow perch is reported by IGFA to have weighed 4 pounds, 3 ounces. Tat fsh was caught in New Jersey in 1865.

For more record fsh, go to coastalanglermag.com.

TIPS FROM A PRO

HOW TO FIND AND TARGET THE POST-SPAWN FEED

In some parts of the country, the bass spawn is already coming to an end like it is down here in Florida. In others the post-spawn might not start up for another couple months. Regardless of your phase, this post-spawn fshing tip should help you dial in your fshery when the time is right for you.

One thing is the same for every fshery and every species of bass afer they spawn, they are hungry! Tis can create some awesome and fun fshing opportunities. Post-spawn bass have provided some of my best days on the water.

Typically, afer the largemouth bass spawn, there are other fsh that begin their spawn. I’m not a scientist, but I’m sure this has a lot to do with the specifc timing of why bass do their thing when they do. In most areas of the southern United States, bluegill and ofentimes shad start to spawn very shortly afer the bass fnish up. Afer a long couple weeks or months protecting eggs in the shallows, bass use every advantage they can to feed when these baitfsh group up, and this can make for some fun fshing.

Smallmouth bass and spotted bass in the post-spawn phase are very similar to largemouths when it comes to taking

advantage of bait schools. I have seen them group up and attack shad, perch and alewife schools and any other bait that is readily available. Typically, I do a lot of my searching for these things with my electronics and forward-facing sonar, which is a very helpful tool for learning fsh activity and seeing what’s going on under the surface of the water.

Most of the time you don’t necessarily need electronics. You can use clues visible to the naked eye to help you fnd this “feed” that is going on. Birds feeding on the water is an awesome sign of a feeding frenzy, and it’s one thing I always look for. Also, always keep your eyes peeled for fsh blowing up on the surface or shad fickering under the surface. Sometimes the very smallest clue can lead you to much larger picture. Birds standing on specifc banks, the sound of bluegill popping around vegetation, anything that clues you in to bait in the area usually means the bass aren’t very far away.

Hopefully this tip will help you when the fsh in your area get into the post-spawn feed. Find the bait, and you will fnd the bass!

I try to imitate the prevalent baitfsh with whatever kind of lure I’m throwing. For bluegill eaters, I will throw a frog or a swimjig in bluegill colors. For shad eaters, I will throw white or silver topwaters and crankbaits.

Always match the hatch if possible. Good luck out there this season, and tight lines!

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

TYLER WOOLCOTT

READY FOR

By Will Schmidt

RED GROUPER

With gag grouper closed until late summer for many of us, it is time to be out looking for red grouper to fll our tacos this spring and summer. Fortunately, they are aggressive eaters if you’re willing to make the extra efort to go to their feeding grounds. In general, to get to decentsized reds, you’ll need to head a bit farther out, with the best fshing being found in 80 feet or deeper, especially as the water warms. You are still looking for the same type of environment; Swiss cheese bottom, ledges and artifcial reefs can all hold good numbers of quality fsh.

Te tactics are the same and simple. Tey will eat dead or live bait in most cases. Tat said, I found a combination of the two to be the best bet. I like to start with “stinky bait.” Dropping some frozen squid or menhaden is a great way to get the bite going. Once the bite starts, which is usually quickly if they are around, I like to switch to palm-size live pinfsh to entice the bigger fsh. While dead bait and jigs will certainly get you keepers, the larger fsh are quicker to hit a live bait.

Rigs are simple. Circle hooks must be used with natural bait and 5/0 to 7/0 hooks will do the trick. I prefer to use about 2 feet of leader, then a swivel and my weight, and a knocker rig will also work. A minimum of 50-pound fuorocarbon leader is recommended, as they will run for a hole in the rocks once hooked. Keep a close eye on your leaders, as they tend to get chafed when the fshing is good.

Even though red grouper are typically smaller than gags, I still use my goto big grouper set up, as at these depths you could get a big gag or other sea monster. Fortunately, new lighter combos like the Accurate BV600 reel and 70H rod make a full day of fshing more fun and less fatiguing. Tese two-speed reels have a patented twin drag that will stop the hardiest of fsh, and with that winching power you can use a lighter more parabolic rods to handle the biggest of bottom fsh. Line is important too. Te lack of stretch in braid is a must for landing big grouper. A minimum of 65-pound test, and a metered braid like the Nomad Panderra 8x is great for knowing how close you are to the bottom. Moreover, these rods are sensitive enough to do double duty as trolling rods for kings, sails and mahi.

While they might not be quite as big as some of their cousins, red grouper are great table fare, and it is hard to turn down a grouper taco, no matter what variety it is.

Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler who has been writing about fshing from more than two decades.

The heritage of American Silver Dollars is rich and diverse, marked by stunningly beautiful designs, leading to an enduring desirability in the hearts of collectors around the world. In this iconic U.S. Silver Dollar set, spanning nearly 150 years, you’re getting FIVE American Silver Dollars issued over the last 15 decades that each reflect the history, culture and economic aspects of the United States.

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Each of these U.S. Silver Dollars is sought-after by collectors individually, but this set includes every design of U.S. Silver Dollar in American history, issued from 1878 to 2024!

Morgan Silver Dollar: First struck 146 years ago in 1878, the Morgan has a historic legacy as the coin that helped build the American West. Minted until 1904, then again in 1921, this 90% silver coin with its iconic Lady Liberty design is the most collected vintage Silver Dollar in the world. Extremely Fine (XF) condition coin included in set.

Peace Silver Dollar: With a beautiful design memorializing peace following the end of World War I, the 90% silver Peace Dollar was intended as a one-year only release struck in 1921—but it proved so popular with the American people, it was struck until 1928, then again in 1934-35. Extremely Fine (XF) condition coin included in set.

Eisenhower Dollar: The last circulating U.S. dollar coin, the Eisenhower Dollar, aka the “Ike Dollar,” was prized by Americans, with its design featuring war hero President Dwight D. Eisenhower, backed by an image symbolizing the Apollo II moon landing. First struck with silver 1971-1976, the Eisenhower Dollar in this set was struck in 40% silver for collectors, and you will receive a coin in Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition.

Silver Eagle Type 1: The first-ever U.S. Silver Dollar minted in 99.9% silver, these coins were first minted in 1986 following President Ronald Reagan’s signing of the Liberty Coin Act into law on July 9, 1985, which authorized the U.S. Mint to strike America’s new silver bullion coin. This gorgeous Silver Dollar features the original, revered Type 1 “Heraldic Eagle” reverse design by John Mercanti, 12th Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint. Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition coin included in set.

Silver Eagle Type 2: In honor of the popular 99.9% silver coin’s 35th anniversary in 2021, the Silver Eagle received a new, esteemed Type 2 “Eagle Landing” reverse design. This is the current issued coin by the U.S. Mint. Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition coin included in set.

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Ultimate U.S. Silver Dollars Set — Regular