Coastal Angler Magazine | January 2023 | Sarasota/Bradenton/Venice Edition

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SPACE COAST

By Nick Carter

CHASING BAITBALLS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fishing shrimp boats can be short-lived, but

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

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

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

By CAM Sta

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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GO GROCERY SHOPPING IN JANUARY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tim Barefoot

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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FLORIDA BANS HARVEST OF SHORTFIN MAKOS

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

For more information, visit MyFWC.com.

Kayak Fishing

By: Eric Henson

As things start to get colder as winter settles in, the fronts begin to get stronger and stronger. The bite will continue to be strong, but you will need to pick your days wisely. The tarpon bite will be pretty much toast but the snook, redfish, and trout bite will be great! This can be one of the best months for catching some of the largest “inshore slams” for our area. The SW Florida inshore slam consists of catching a snook, redfish, and trout all in the same fishing trip. Although these fish can be caught in many different areas, this time of year they will congregate in generally the same areas.

Generally, this time of year we will have strong NE winds. When you combine that with our negative low tides it means we will have lots of low water to fish. When this happens, it pulls most of the fish out of the mangroves and out onto the flats making it easier to find the fish. (Sometimes... LOL!)

I like to look for them cruising the shallows on the leeward side of the wind or staging up in tidal pools. Once you’ve located the fish and before eagerly pitching a lure at them, watch them and see what they are doing so you can make the right plan of action… where to position yourself, what type lure/ fly to use, etc… I promise it will help you catch more fish and make you a better fisherman/or woman in the end.

Because the water temps are pretty chilly this time of the year, the amount of bait fish will become few and far between, when I will use mostly crustacean pattern lures/ flies. Also, the water clarity is generally at its best but, with the red tide do your best to find the cleanest water possible. And, when you do catch fish, please do your best to get it back in the h20 safe and sound. Be safe out on the waters as this time of the year our snowbirds are also back!

OntheRiver

By:JoeSheaffer

It has been a challenge for our area in SWFL this fall. Hurricane Ian and Red tide have definitely affected fishing and I have had to make some changes in my fishing plans. I’m very blessed to be in an area that has a couple of rivers nearby. Recently I have been spending

time fishing the Myakka River and have focused my efforts along the west wall. It is a huge area and having a game plan can be very helpful in covering and eliminating water. As always, looking at satellite maps has helped formulate a plan for the time on the water. I definitely recommend keeping an eye on the tide charts. The water can be very shallow along the wall. With this information I have been able to put together a few strategies that have been effective. The maps have helped zero in on structures like points, grass flats, oyster bars. Using the tide charts along with the information from the maps, I have been able to catch fish like Snook, Redfish, and qTrout. Fish don’t change their stripes, they use structure and current wherever they live to position themselves to feed. Most of my success is on the down current sides of structure working the lures with the current. Jigs and paddle tails were lures of choice but jerkbaits and wake baits have produced bites. There is definitely some truth to the old saying “90% of the fish are in 10% of the water”. Clearly the structures along this area have been more productive and making a plan has been worth the effort.

I would encourage you to prepare yourself when fishing unfamiliar waters. Your efforts should help you to maximize your time and enjoy your day fishing. Good luck and keep casting.

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The New Year

By: Capt. Bart Marx

Hello fellow anglers. 2023 January can you believe it? Things have been out of control for the last few months. Now that things are getting back to a sensible peace, let’s talk about some inshore fishing. Along the intercoastal there should be plenty of sheepshead around the docks and bridge pilings as they migrate out to the Gulf to spawn. They like to eat crustations, shrimp, fiddler crabs, sand fleas etc. I have been told to use a small hook with just a piece of shrimp and set the hook just before they bite. All joking aside the small hook works but you must be ginger in reeling in the fish, and you cannot horse them in. And this time of the year from November to April, shrimp is the best bait and the reason being is that they are naturally in the harbor. Like in the summer the white bait comes into the harbor. This year with the red tide, I have been fishing up in the north end of Charlotte Harbor

where there has been no red tide. Also fishing around the pilings with quartered blue crabs you may find some of those black drum. Those are some fun fish to target inshore. Moving out into the Gulf, check your regulations if you make it to Federal waters some of the regulations are different. Like mangrove/gray snapper State waters 10" 5 fish, in Federal waters being past 9 miles from the beach 12" 10 fish, so make sure that you are in compliance. And starting around 9 miles 30-50 feet of water you may encounter a hogfish using shrimp and small crabs. Most anglers think you have to go to the Florida Keys to find these great eating fish, however, a lighter line and small hook like a 1/0 circle with a 20 lb. leader will get the job done. Small ledges where you can find snapper too and if the water is around 68 to 72 degrease you may encounter some toothy critter like king mackerel. You do need some wire to harvest one of these smokers as they have lots of sharp teeth. You can use 30 lb. single strand wire and build your own leader. I like to anchor over a nice ledge and get the snapper and grunts biting and a bonus rod out behind the boat with a bobber about 6' from the hook with a light drag and when the drag goes off you will understand the term smoker. They will get some line off the spool in a hurry. While waiting for that singing drag target those grunts and snapper. When reeling them to the surface, they are purging trying to spit the hook out. This creates an underwater chum slick that will attract the kings. If you have visitors coming in, call me and set up a trip, or a training session on your boat, or gift certificates for those that like to fish. And always remember singing drags and tight lines make me smile. <*(((((>{

Alpha Omega Charters | alphaomegacharters.com captbart@alphaomegacharters.com | 941-979-6517

Water Temp and Color

By: Capt. Dave Stephens

Well fellow anglers we made it through another year! It seems like the years are going by a lot faster these days. January can be a tricky month when it comes to fishing. The biggest factor is the type of weather Mother Nature is giving us. There is always something to fish for, we just have to adjust our approach. If we're having some cold fronts that are keeping our water temps in the mid to low 60's, then we will be fishing with shrimp and sea trout will be one of the main targets. Normally, these guys are located in deeper water, areas such as residential canals and deeper creeks. Also, deeper potholes on the flats. Shrimp fished on a jig head do really well. Color seems to be the angler's choice. If I'm fishing in clear water, I prefer lighter colors. Colors such as white and chartreuse work very well. If you are fishing in darker water, then darker colors are preferred. If you like to try your luck at tossing some artificial around, this is a great time to get your confidence up. Trout are normally very willing to take soft plastics fished on the bottom this time of year. Small paddle tails

and DOA shrimp work very well and remember the same goes for water clarity with your soft plastics. Another fish that will be biting very well this month is sheephead. Not to be confused with the freshwater northern species, these guys are actually in the porgy family. This time of the year, sheepshead are spawning and can be found in large groups. Since they are crustacean eaters, shrimp is a top bait for them. If you're lucky enough to get your hands on some fiddler crabs they work very well. These guys are not aggressive eaters, so you need to put your bait in their line of sight, which is normally on the bottom. A small hook such as a 1/0 circle hook and a split shot work great. When Mother Nature cools our waters down you just have to adjust your technique.

If you would like to experience some of Southwest Florida's finest fishing give us a call or send an email. Our trips are private and customized to fit you and your party's needs.

Sea Trout Fishing

By: Caitlyn Gatrell

With seasonal changes bringing in cooler temperatures within the air and water, it can be a change of pace for the fishing production in Southwest Florida. We start to see less of some species but others may become more prevalent. One species that produces higher numbers during this time of year is the spotted sea trout. Florida is a perfect spot for spotted seat trout, as although they like the cooler temperatures they don’t like it too cold, and Florida definitely isn’t know for freezing temperatures in the winter season. I have absolutely noticed higher numbers of sea trout during the fall/ winter months. During the winter season, we typically will spend a good amount of time at those island points, flats, and oyster beds to find fish. We almost always find sea trout at these spots, especially on the flats and near the oyster beds. They seem to like al-

most any bait we throw, whether live or artificial. I caught my personal best sea trout on a small live pilchard, as I threw it right off the edge of an oyster bed flat. When we got there, there was noticeably a lot of activity, lots of swirls on small baitfish, and movement of water from fish swimming around. They were hungry for sure, as we all seemed to catch a fish quickly after throwing our baits in. Once my line goes off and I get to reeling, I can tell it’s a trout once I see those flash of colors and the black dotted back makes the surface. The fight isn’t too long and we bring them in for the up close look, picture, and nice release. We have ate sea trout before, but this one I wanted to release back to its natural habitat. Watching my fish swim off back to their homes makes me feel peaceful, so I usually like to release mine. When we go fishing around this time of year, it seems that some days we catch more sea trout than any other species, and that day was a prime example of that. For me, I prefer a bigger and stronger fight when it comes to fishing, but I don’t mind sea trout, they are still a fun and simple fight, providing the joy of fishing and the beauty of what nature can provide. Although, I do not really care for the sliminess that comes with trout, haha!

Friends of the Pelicans

Even if you take precautionary steps to avoid it, sometimes you might hook a bird by accident. That’s when it’s important to remember—don’t cut the line and let the bird fly away with it attached. This will lead to entanglement, resulting in death of that bird and possibly others as well. Instead, follow these simple steps to unhook the bird: Reel. Remove. Release.

1. Wear safety glasses and enlist a partner for help.

2. Reel the bird in slowly and lift it from the water using a hoop net. Even a large pelican weighs only 4-8 pounds

3. Grasp the bird by the head just behind the eyes and fold the wings against the body. For pelicans, hold the beak, keeping the mouth slightly open so it can breathe. Cover the bird’s head with a cloth to keep it calm.

4. Never pull the hook out but carefully push the end through the skin, cut off the barb and back the hook out using pliers or clippers. If the bird is entangled, remove all line.

5. Release the bird (if healthy) by placing it on the ground near the water and allowing it to take off.

6. If the bird has swallowed the hook or is severely injured, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator from the list at MyFWC.com/unhook.

How else can you help a seabird or wading bird?

1. Don’t feed the birds, which teaches them to approach where they are more likely to be hooked.

2. Dispose of filleted bones where birds can’t get them—in a trash can with lid or at home. Bones of a filleted fish will become lodged in or tear throats, stomachs and intestines leading to the death of that bird .

3. Cover bait buckets and take unused bait home.

4. Dispose of fishing line in a monofilament recycling bin or cut into small pieces and place in the trash.

5. Don’t leave your line unattended.

6. Cast carefully to avoid hooking a bird in flight or being snared on trees, bridge pilings etc.

7. Help others learn what to do when they accidentally hook a bird. It’s pretty easy, once you know how.

8. Sponsored by Friends of the Pelicans, Inc. More detailed information can be found at facebook.com/ friendsofthepelicans.

— Photos by Carol Cassels

SAWFISH NEWS

by Tonya Wiley, Havenworth Coastal Conservation

What Does Recovery Mean for Endangered Smalltooth Sawfish?

Following the population decline of smalltooth sawfish in the United States and the 2003 listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), a team was assembled to recover the population of this endangered species. But what is recovery and how do we achieve it for smalltooth sawfish?

Under the ESA, recovery is defined as the process of restoring endangered and threatened species to the point where they no longer require the safeguards of the Act. To guide managers and researchers in that recovery process, the ESA directs NOAA Fisheries (or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the case of terrestrial animals) to develop recovery plans. Recovery plans outline the paths and tasks required to restore and secure self-sustaining wild populations. They are guidance documents that describe, justify, and schedule the research and management actions necessary to support recovery of a species.

A recovery plan for smalltooth sawfish in the U.S. was published in 2009 and outlines specific criteria for downlisting (a reclassification from endangered to threatened) and delisting (a reclassification from threatened to recovered). Sawfish may be delisted on the basis of recovery only if the best available scientific and commercial data indicate an improvement in the status of the species to the point where it is no longer appropriate to be considered endangered. For smalltooth sawfish that means ensuring the long-term viability of the species through substantial increases in both abundance and range.

Smalltooth sawfish in the U.S. are considered to be, and managed as, one single population. This means that under ESA regulations, all sawfish receive equal and consistent protections regardless of where they are geographically. Sawfish in Everglades National Park are just as protected and equally important to the population as those in Tampa Bay, Indian River Lagoon, Texas, or Georgia. Since the species is managed as a single population, not individual geographic

populations, only the species as a whole can be considered recovered. In other words, smalltooth sawfish cannot be locally or regionally recovered such as in one particular bay system.

W hile we are starting to see some encouraging signs in the population, we are certainly a long way from recovery. Modest increases in sawfish numbers are likely the result of the 1992 protection from harvest in Florida waters, the 1995 Florida gillnet ban, and the 2003 ESA listing which have all aided in reducing mortality, and a substantial increase in important outreach and education efforts over the last two decades. However, until recovery is truly documented, it is critical that local, state, and federal regulations and protections remain in place in all areas of the U.S. to ensure the continued improvement in the smalltooth sawfish population.

You can also help scientists track recovery of the population and steer research efforts by sharing information about your sawfish catches and sightings by visiting www.SawfishRecovery.org, calling 1-844-4SAWFISH, emailing sawfish@myfwc.com, or entering the details in the FWC Reporter App. For more information on protected species recovery visit https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/insight/recoveryendangered-and-threatened-species

A smalltooth sawfish, Pristis pectinata.

Credit: Tonya Wiley

A smalltooth sawfish, Pristis pectinata.

Credit: Beau Yeiser

Joe Keyes w/ a bare-handed catch (C&R) on Anna Maria Island!

Cash Nichols with an exciting catch at Keyes Marina.

@AmyKennelly_ with showing off some offshore fun!

Capt. Cody in Chokoloskee put Ryan Meacham on some nice redfish on their annual Thanksgiving trip!

Justin Guess w/ his 29” snook from the Caloosahatchee River.

Anna Martin

Kevin and Earl Horecky sunrise surface bite near Captiva. Zachary Ryan doing some nighttime fishing (safely caught & released).

Travis Schmahl caught this beauty using Wyzeguys neon minnow in mafia moon.

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

By Emily Rose Hanzlik

Sailfish

IT’S SEASON

inSouthFlorida

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 56 IGFA world records in various categories. She hails from West Palm Beach, where she has a part time Bow n Guide Service as well as shing classes for Jr. Anglers. Find her on Social Media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.

Photo courtesy of Capt. Charlie Stuve, @nativeguidejupiter

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

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

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

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

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

Let’s grow with Florida together.

Berkeley County, South Carolina

Berkeley County is a wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts, sports bu s, adventure seekers, and water lovers. From exemplary fishing for striped bass, or a trophy largemouth bass, to our hiking trails and water activities, along with scenic outdoors where you can catch a glimpse of white tail deer and gators, Berkeley County has activities to fit all visitors and families.

Learn more about Berkeley County at: exploreberkeleycounty.com

NEW HOOK DESIGN ALLOWS FISH TO RELEASE THEMSELVES

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

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

“We found promising results for the bite-

HARRIS

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

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

Coastal Angler contributor and seatrout-on-

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

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

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

PHOTO BY DR. HOLDEN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more record sh, visit coastalanglermag.com.

TIPS FROM A PRO

THROW A LIPLESS CRANKBAIT FOR WINTER BASS

TYLER WOOLCOTT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RECORD LONGFIN TUNA LANDED OFF NEW JERSEY

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

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

For more record sh, see coastalanglermag.com.

DO BIG LURES = BIG FISH?

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Return of a

I t my 5-inch rattling paddletail with a

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®.

SAVOR THE SEASONS in Upcountry South Carolina

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