The Angler Magazine | May 2025 | Lake Okeechobee / Lake Istokpoga Edition

SIXTY YEARS OF INNOVATION

Smooth Sailing

navigating peace of mind

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Offshore is ON! O N ! .

May is one of my favorite months for o!shore shing, as the shing seasons coincide with good weather. Being spared from the beginning of hurricane season until next month, right now is the most reliable time to get nice weather days to make the trek to deeper waters.

Mahi season has begun to be more consistent, making the trips o!shore more exciting and worthwhile. When making the long drive to the humps for black n tuna, or the sword sh ledges, it’s always a plus to know that you have opportunities to catch mahi on the way there and back. Staying alert for weedlines, diving birds and oating debris makes the trip seem like less of a chore, and keeps that sherman’s optimism alive for more of the venture, knowing you’re still on the hunt nearly the whole way back to the dock.

With the prevalence of mahi, tuna, queen snapper and sword sh in our deepwater shery, May 1st marks the opening of grouper season here in e Florida Keys, providing additional catching opportunities for both nearshore and o!shore adventures. We also welcome the opening of tile sh this month.

For those with an electric reel setup in their arsenal, this is a great month to get out there and scout for new deep-dropping locations. With snowy grouper and yellowedge grouper found peppered throughout the area, test dropping on new found spots can be a fun addition to mahi shing. As you run aimlessly o!shore looking for

signs of dolphin sh, you may notice you run over a ledge or depth variation. Anything that looks shy a%er about 500’ could be your next honeyhole.

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

If this is a new area especially, use a variety of baits on your 5-hook deepdrop rig to ensure your best chances of surveying the location. Squid is always a good choice o!shore, with many species unable to resist its potent aroma, but chunks of sh should be included to entice a grouper bite. With bait sizes matching hook sizes, its a good idea to make your own rigs with di!erent sized hooks if you’re unsure of the species that might be available at a new place. A x larger hooks near the bottom of the rig for grouper baits, and smaller hooks near the top with squid for tile sh.

If o!shore isn’t your thing, there are plenty of grouper on the reef and wrecks nearshore this time of year as well. However, a%er releasing these sandwich providers since their closing January 1st, every local sherman in town will be hitting the wrecks hard for the recaptures now that season is open. Before they face all this pressure from being targeted nearshore, particularly on publicly known wrecks, it’s a good time to put some skin in the nearshore grouper game.

A%er a short closure for the month of April, amberjack has also opened again this month.

ese sh are easy to nd, and add some nice backbreaking action to the grouper hunt.

Whatever your avor of shing is, e Florida Keys has you covered this month. With the anticipated opening of grouper season at the beginning of May, and schools closing for summer break nearing the end, it’s a good idea to get booked for a charter before you arrive on your Keys vacation.

Give us a call at Sweet E’nuf Charters to get tight.

Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Sweet E’Nuf Charters out of Marathon, e Florida Keys. (504) 920-6342. www.captainquinlyn.com; IG: @captainquinlyn

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By Riley Love

PURSUING MONSTERS IN A SEPARATE REALITY...

nly in the dreams of shermen does this occur. A wondrous game sh pursued across ve countries not only awaits but the biggest, baddest, best of them lay for you in a single place.

e Salminus Brasiliensis is certainly not related to salmon, but is of the order Characiformes which includes many species— notably vampire-fanged payara and modern cinema star piranha in South America and tiger sh in Africa. Redundantly named the golden dorado (dorado means “golden” in Spanish), it’s immensely powerful, acrobatic—and magni cently beautiful.

e Rio Uruguay (indigenous Guarani interpretation “bird river”), with the northern border of Argentina and southern of Uruguay, sports a massive hydroelectric dam, the “El Salto Grande.” Stunned eels and bait sh ow through the locks in highly oxygenated water to the waiting predators. Permits are required by the dual operators on the Argentinian and Uruguay sides of the river to sh within 1,000 meters from the dam. Fishing is rigidly structured into slots of three hours quartered per weekdays per group of two or three anglers in two boats in this “Zona.” e Argentinians lost their permits recently and our two cra% had the entire area to ourselves. Downstream, twenty other boats oated outside the zone a kilometer away, prohibited from approaching nearer. My inner voice asked, “How o%en does this happen to me?”

ere are a lot of places to sh for golden dorado in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil. One would note that the world record is a bit cloudy; there is a 70 lb. specimen claimed in 1970 but without a veri cation or a photo. To re ect on the quality of this shery, the current IGFA record is just over 55 lbs. and taken at La Zona. Our group landed numerous sh into the mid-40 lb. range, within 80% of the documented record. In contrast, the renowned, luxurious golden dorado destination, Pira Lodge, gets about one sh over 30 lbs. annually. shermen do well here. Locals target carp-like boga both for live bait and food. Using large topwater poppers, Rapala style diving minnows and handmade jigs, we hit rocky structure and fastmoving torrents. e dorado were exceedingly sensitive to water levels and ow being released from the dam. When it happened and their buttons were pushed, it was double digit trophies in each time slot. Multiple hookups were common.

Fishing teaches us lessons about life. Whether love, war or business, if you want success you need multiple opportunities. Even with shoulder- wrenching, reel-screaming strikes and Hank Aaron grade roundhouse hooksets, over half of what seemed like solid hookups would suddenly vanish from the transaction. It’s very much like trying to land large toothy- jawed payara. e modus operandi of these golden hulks revealed that even extra strong hooks were straightened, sometimes pulled from the lures; 65 lb. braid and wire leaders were broken. But some just “Houdinied” away, still waiting for you to come, instead of only dreaming.

Justi Campa of Fly Fishing Patagonia assisted with our planning. Reach them by emailing jcampa@ y shingpatagonia.com or visit www. y shingpatagonia.com.

Riley Love is a physician and author with homes in Kentucky and Key Largo, Fla. He has penned dozens of articles on international sport shing and a host of screenplays. He is a member of the International Game Fish Association, e Bill sh Foundation and the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Contact him at 270-816-4423, rjhclove@gmail.com or visit his website: rileylove.com.

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ONE MORE CHANCE AT A TROPHY TROUT

By Capt. Michael

If you’re a dedicated trout angler like me, you’re probably eyeing the opportunity to land a personal best speckled trout before the spring spawn.

While most Texas anglers focus on big trout from mid-December to early April, May o!ers a prime window for trophy sh, especially with the full moon on May 12 this year. e warmer weather also makes shing more enjoyable, creating a perfect environment for those seeking action-packed outings.

May sees many anglers shi$ing focus and putting away their waders. However, big speckled trout are still holding onto their eggs, making this an excellent opportunity to catch one before they spawn. e pleasant temperatures in May allow us to use more aggressive lures and speed up our presentations, a welcome change from the slow, careful approach required in

winter. For those who enjoy a faster pace, May is the time to go.

One of my favorite techniques for targeting trophy trout in May is using topwater lures. e explosive strikes on the surface are thrilling, and the warmer waters make sh more eager to strike. But topwater isn’t the only option—slow-sinking and suspending lures also perform well. As a paddletail enthusiast, I recommend experimenting with 3”, 4”, and 5” sizes and adapting to the sh preference. At this time of year, trout are aggressive, so adding rattling sounds to your lures can make a di!erence.

In terms of location, I prefer shing grass %ats in water that is knee- to waist-deep. Flats with small creek drains or depressions are incredibly productive, as these features tend to concentrate sh. Shallow grass areas are ideal, and potholes can increase your chances of nding a big trout. ese areas o!er an excellent opportunity to catch a he$y sh before the season transitions.

However, shing in May can be challenging due to the abundance of small bait sh in the water, like tiny glass minnows. Trout are o$en gorging on these minuscule meals, making it di&cult to grab their attention with larger lures. e key is downsizing your lures to match the size of the bait sh. I’ve found that using the smallest lure you can cast e!ectively is the best approach when you see an abundance of small bait sh. Both hard and so$ lures are e!ective, and colors like white and silver tend to mimic the forage closely.

When shing around bait balls, I recommend positioning your lure on the edge or beneath the school. is strategy attracts sh to a single target, rather than competing with a large mass of bait sh. Slow-sinking lures are ideal, as they give the appearance of wounded prey, which trout nd irresistible.

Tandem rigs are another excellent option for spring shing. By rigging two smaller lures, you can cast farther while still maintaining the proper lure size. A combination of small silver spoons and white bucktails works well when shing around glass minnows. A small %oater diver with a spoon trailer also adds an extra level of action.

In the spring, downsizing your lure presentation can make a signi cant di!erence in your success, potentially leading to the big trout you’ve been waiting for.

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

Okruhlik

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®.

Tripletail Fis hing In The Keys

Late spring through summer marks the prime season for tripletail !shing in the Florida Keys. Known for their unique appearance and strong !ght, these !sh are a favorite for anglers looking to challenge their skills. Tripletail are opportunistic feeders, o en lurking around oating structures like buoys, weed lines, or even debris in the water, so learning how to spot them and presenting the right bait are key to a successful catch.

By A. deGruchy

When targeting tripletail, it’s important to have the right gear for the job. A 7’ to 7’6” medium rod with a fast action will provide the strength and responsiveness needed to manage their powerful runs. Pair this with a 3000–4000 size reel. We rely on the PENN Battalion paired with the 3500 PENN Authority as our personal set up. For leaders, a 20 lb. uorocarbon leader is good, along with a 3/0 circle hook. We trust the Mustad UltraPoint hooks for their sharpness and strength. For bait, shrimp or small white bait are both top choices.

Finding tripletail requires enough daylight and minimal clouds for visibility. $ey prefer oating structures such as buoys or patches of oating seaweed, so keep an eye out for these areas while cruising the waters. A key factor in casting is to land as light as possible near the !sh, allowing the bait

naturally with the current. Tripletail are o en slow movers, so be swi and avoid sudden movements that might scare them o%. A light and steady retrieve will give your bait the best chance of getting tight.

Tripletail !shing in the Florida Keys can be incredibly rewarding, especially when you hook into one of these feisty !ghters. $ey also make excellent table fare if you wanted to catch and cook, getting the full sea-totable experience.

Book your adventure now at www.beansport!shing.com as our trips !ll up fast!

Follow deGruchy’s adventures at @bean_sport shing on Instagram and YouTube.

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LASS AND BASS! ALIE ABRELL LANDS A MONSTER IN MARION COUNTY

Florida’s bass !shing scene just got a serious jolt of excitement, thanks to an unforgettable day on the water for angler Alie Abrell. Back in February, in the heart of Marion County, Alie landed what many dream of but few achieve—a jaw-dropping 10-pound largemouth bass that has quickly become the talk of the !shing community.

Fishing with the renowned Trophy Bass Expeditions and under the seasoned eye of Captain Sean Rush, Alie hooked into the massive bass during what turned out to be a picture-perfect outing. As the !ght unfolded, it became clear this was no ordinary catch. When the !sh !nally surfaced, it was con!rmed: Alie had o&cially entered the elite double-digit club—a milestone that every serious bass angler aspires to reach.

$e catch is more than just a personal triumph for Alie—it’s a sign that Florida’s peak bass season is o% to an electrifying start. Known for its trophy-sized bass and scenic waters, Marion County is already delivering on its reputation, and this monster catch sets a high bar for the rest of the season.

“Moments like this are what we live for,” said Captain Rush. “To see an angler connect with a !sh of that caliber—it’s unforgettable.”

As word of the catch spreads, anglers across the Sunshine State are gearing up for what promises to be a record-setting year. With warming waters and peak season just ramping up, it’s a prime time to get out there and chase giants.

Huge kudos to Alie for reeling in the bass of a lifetime—and a big shoutout to Captain Rush for once again guiding an angler to glory. If this epic moment is any indication of what’s to come, Florida’s bass !shing faithful have every reason to be !red up.

So, gear up and cast out—because the big ones are biting!

For more info visit https://license.gooutdoors orida.com/Angler/Home

PHOTO COURTESY

Capt. Reno Alley

REPORT & FORECAST

Finding fish in May in the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes

The water temperature is in the high 70s or 80s in May, which means many fish are chasing bait, most of which is shad.

The big groups or balls of bait will be all over your depth finder. Most of the time, they stay off the shore, in or around deep water.

I like clearer lakes with deep grass. I stay offshore, idle around, and look for fish breaking or schooling on the bait. The depth finder is a big part of this process. Big balls of shad will show up well in May. Fish wherever you see the bass schooling, or if you see bait balls on the depth finder. The fish are there, so try using lures that resemble shad.

Baits to use:

• Zoom flukes – albino shad color

• Small crank baits that are chrome and blue or chrome and black backs

• Small Zara Spooks for top water

• ½ oz. Rattle Traps

• Umbrella rigs

Play around with the colors to get the best bite. And live bait will work as well.

Using 10-pound test line will get you more bites.

I also use a Carolina rig. The rig uses a 1/8 oz worm weight above the swivel, a 2-foot leader with a size 1 Gamatsu Octopus Hook, and keeps everything very small. I also use small 4-inch wild shiner.

You’re not looking for 10-pound bass in May. You’re looking to catch a lot of fish. So, as you can see, in May, you need to downsize everything. For now, put the big rods, braided line, and 6/0 hooks away. No big stuff: it won’t work.

This is a fun time to catch a lot of fish. My four-hour guided trips are producing 30 to 40 bass per trip! I had a pontoon trip the other day and my customers caught 59 bass in 4 hours! What a day!

The big fish are hard to find now, but you can get some nice bass; at this time of year, bass weigh between 4 and 6 pounds.

So, chase the bait in May! Use your depth finder or live scope to find many fish now. It’s a fun time to go fishing!

Make some memories and keep a tight line for now.

— Captain Reno Alley, USCG, Memory Makin’ Guides, 1-800-749-2278

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S K ULL HILL ARCHERY

Skull Hill Archery started with a heavy interest into Bowfishing. Once Brandon Baughman conquered the waters with a bow his uncle introduced him to hunting. He then learned of tournaments he could compete in and the archery trinity came to a full circle. “They were very humble beginnings. My friends encouraged me a lot with working on their rigs and learning to perfect mine.”

He started in a small corner of his motorcycle shop and grew to the entire storefront. “I was passionate about motorcycles because I got to spend time with my dad. We spent hours together building these choppers.” Learning to be patient and meticulous while working with his dad has made him a bow technician that is heavily sought out in south Florida. Brandon takes his time with his customers and their equipment to help them be at their best. That way when the pressure is on whether they are hunting or shooting targets they can have confidence in their shots. Brandon always says archery is 80 percent mental and 20 percent equipment. His goal with each customer is for them to leave feeling confident in their shot placement.

The shop is always a learning environment. His passion for the sport is why his customers keep coming back. “He will spend half a day with someone just to make sure they have no question left unanswered. Says his wife Cynthia. “He isn’t the only one either. Tom, Shane, and Fred have the same zeal for archery.” Tom

Lockton is the in-house coach. He excels when it comes to coaching kids and beginners. He is a seasoned shooter and has devoted his life to helping others in their archery careers. Shane O’Neal has been a lifelong friend of Brandon. When Doc passed away unexpectedly a year and a half ago Shane stepped in to build arrows. He has brought a lot of expertise to the hunting aspect of the shop. Fred Hill helps out when he finishes his job with the gas company. Not only did he win the Deep South Bow Classic in Georgia but the man can cook!

It's this kind of wisdom that makes this shop stand out from the rest. “I have always wanted this shop to honor God in every way. By being our best and helping others we want to show them the love of Christ. He is the One that gives me the ability to do what I love.” Brandon says.

So if you have ever had an interest in archery come see Brandon and his crew at Skull Hill Archery in Okeechobee. They are there Tuesday to Friday from 10 am-7 pm and Saturdays 1 pm-7 pm. They are dealers for most bow companies and archery accessories. Whether you shoot a crossbow, compound, or traditional they have you covered. They also have 2 ranges to choose from. A 20-yard indoor and a 50-yard 3D course. Every Thursday they host a tournament night. All archers are welcome to come out at 7 pm to test their shooting skills in a laid-back environment. During the year they host other events as well. Follow them on Facebook or their website for the latest news.

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Fred Arbogast JITTERBUG &

THE

By Don Norton

couldn’t have been older than 8 or 9 when my dad took me night fishing at Rice Lake, a popular vacation destination in Ontario, Canada. He often fished all day and then again at night for a few hours with my older brother Bob or Mom. It was a big deal for me to go out on my first trip at night.

After dinner, we got the rods ready that evening, and I noticed he tied a small black jitterbug on my spinning outfit. I’d been fishing with a Johnson spoon earlier in the day, and as he cut it off and tied on the jitterbug, I remember him saying, “We only fish with jitterbugs at night, 'cause the bass just love 'em.”

I was amazed at the beauty of the lure. It was a bright, shiny black color with the name JITTERBUG stenciled on the back in silver. The eyes were painted yellow with a big black dot in the middle. It looked like a big, fat beetle. I figured out quickly that it was not designed to be thrown into the pads or other types of vegetation. With two treble hooks, it would likely snag onto everything, so it was an open-water lure. When we arrived at one of his favorite spots that night, there was still enough light to see. As he shut the motor off, I made my first cast. The jitterbug landed with a small splash, and I started to reel when my dad said, “Let it sit for a minute, son. Wait for the rings to disappear. Then begin a stop

Continued on page 14

LAKE ISTOKPOGA

Capt. Dave Stephens

REPORT & FORECAST

May is likely one of the most diverse months for fishing on Charlotte Harbor. There are numerous options for an angler to target, and one day of fishing is often not enough. The snook will be moving

to the outer islands and open bars, feeding heavily for the summer spawn. Areas with strong tidal flow will attract numerous hungry fish.

Live bait is often the bait of choice, but artificial bait can also catch fish. Soft jerk baits rigged weedless are a great choice. Another fish that will be present in good numbers is sea trout; look for them on the bars and open flats. I prefer areas with a mix of sand and a grassy bottom.

It's hard to talk about May without mentioning Tarpon. The warming waters will attract these species to the harbor in great numbers. The best advice I can offer is to get an early start looking for rolling fish. Deeper holes, river mouths, and around schools of bait are great places to look. Bring out the big rods; I recommend using 50-60lb braid with a 60-80lb fluorocarbon leader. Other great species will still be around, like Spanish mackerel and cobia.

So, plan your day or two and have a great time on the water.

Updates from

Ihope everyone has been enjoying the wild catches from our spawning season. We have seen many large bags and big fish caught this spring, despite battling numerous strong fronts.

I have been traveling out of state for tournaments, and as I write this article, I have already attended two of those events. The first was on Lake Pickwick in TN/AL, and I cashed checks each of those two days using FFS on ledges. The second was held on Dale Hollow Lake in TN, where I was only able to get a check on day two by flipping laydown tree piles in the many backwater drains that exist.

Through these events, I have expanded my knowledge of bass fishing in numerous ways. The first challenge has been to learn and adjust locations and techniques in catching smallmouth and spotted bass. The second was to recognize that once we leave Florida, rocks and wood play a crucial role in the success of our events. The third and very important lesson was to ensure I had completed my planning and was prepared to deal with these tournaments. It has been a challenge to leave school on Friday and rush to the airport - fish the event, on Sunday's weigh-in, and rush to the airport and fly home to make school on Mondays.

The greatest challenge and area that I have improved upon the most is being mentally prepared to face new waters, adverse weather, and fishing against the local anglers who know the waters way better than I do.

I want to express my gratitude to my family support team and the world's greatest sponsors for helping me travel and fish at these exceptional events. My next lakes will be Lake Douglas, Kentucky Lake, and Chickamauga Lake.

The

LIVE BAIT vs ARTIFICIALS for Bass

TheNomadVideluresnotonlylooksright andsinksatanaturalrate,butscientifically speaking,thevibrationsitemitsupon retrievalcanliterallycallinfish.

By Don Norton

If you’re a bass fisherman, you’ve probably had this conversation. Which is better, live bait or artificial baits for bass?

I’ve been a bass fishing guide for the last thirty years, and with a few exceptions, I’ve always fished with artificial baits; i.e., plastic worms, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and topwaters. My reason was not altruistic, just practical. There was no additional cost to the client. Wild shiners can run $20 to $25 a dozen, and they’re not always available, plus they’re messy, and lots of other predatory fish also feed on them. Fishing with artificials wasn’t as messy, and I had an unending supply of lures.

But are artificial lures the best choice? Probably not! Although anglers often catch largemouth bass and other fish species on artificial lures, nothing is as effective as live bait. Particularly for big bass!

For years, scientists in the lab have tried to imitate the sound, shape, smell, and color of live baitfish, worms, and crawfish. They have yet to duplicate Mother Nature's creation, but they have come close.

rods manufactured from carbon fibers and space-aged nano resins, titanium reels, synthetic braided lines designed for diverse applications, and even “intelligent” artificial lures that appeal to all of a fish’s senses. Not to mention electronics that can figuratively pinpoint a sea lice on the snout of a striped bass swimming in 100 feet of water.

Merriam-Webster states, “sciencerepresents knowledge about, or study of the natural world based on facts learned through experiments and observation.” In a literal sense, science is a knowledge-based discipline, part skill, and part art. And you could say the same about fishing, especially since the paths of science and fishing often cross.

While we may feel a sense of nostalgia for the ‘good old days’ of a cane pole and a can of worms, there is no escaping the fact that today’s anglers depend as much on science and technology as they do on their own acquired fishing skills. We encounter science at every phase of the game:

The Science Behind Fishing Lures: Understanding Fish Behavior

Fish primarily rely on their sensory systems—vision, lateral line system, and chemoreception—to detect potential prey. Vision plays a key role in how a fish discerns different baits and lures. The colors and patterns on lures can stand out or combine depending on the light dynamics and water conditions.

For instance, in clear waters with ample sunlight, brightly colored lures such as gold or silver can mimic the flashing scales of frantic baitfish. On

the contrary, darker or more luminous lures in murky waters become more effective because fish rely on contrast to detect movement.

Successful lures align with the prevailing light and color visibility conditions, thereby mimicking the prey that fish are naturally inclined to chase. Think about the popular crankbait – its bright colors and reflective elements appeal to a fish's visual cues, triggering a predatory response.

Besides vision, a fish's lateral line system is another important factor in the science of fishing lures. This sensory system allows fish to detect vibrations and pressure changes in the water.

Lures that create specific types of vibrations can effectively tap into this sensory mechanism, making fish believe there's prey in distress nearby. Spinnerbaits, for instance, spin and shift water in unique ways, causing vibrations that a predator fish interprets as signs of injured baitfish.

Similarly, lipless crankbaits are often designed to produce rattling sounds and vibrations that travel long distances underwater, drawing the attention of fish hunting by their lateral line. Hence, understanding this aspect of fish behavior and incorporating it into lure design is incredibly important for anglers looking to maximize their catch, whether you're a leisurely angler or serious about your haul.

Water conditions, including temperature, clarity, and movement, heavily influence fish. Fish are cold-blooded animals, making them sensitive to changes in temperature, which affect their metabolism and activity levels.

Therefore, the efficiency of specific lures may vary with the seasons or even during different times of day. Additionally, the clarity of the water influences how light behaves and how far vibrations travel, shifting what lures will be most visible and effective.

But does any of this matter when fishing for bass? The answer is yes, all of this is important to understand how and why a bass strikes an artificial lure.

However, a bass lives daily, week to month, month to month, and year to year, eating live food, not artificial lures. The better the food source, the healthier the bass becomes and the larger it grows.

So, it stands to reason that a bass is likelier to strike live shiners, worms, and crayfish much more often than a lure resembling live food.

Food truck open for lunch Wednesday through Saturday at 11:00 and stay open till the food runs out!

US 27 South,

Located on 2,000 acres of Florida bays, pines, palmettos, and oaks, outside the small town of Lake Placid, the Lightsey Family Ranch is perfect for the avid hunter and outdoorsman. Owner and lifelong hunter, Lee Lightsey, offers you to a one-of-a-kind hunting experience, including wild hog, quail, pheasant, turkey, deer, and alligator hunts. During your hunt you are welcome to stay at our lodge which features room for up to 28 guests, a large lobby with a true old Florida feel, and a full time Chef ready to prepare your meals.

TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS

Ihave three questions for you:

1. Are you planning a tournament for your club or organization?

2. Are you planning to hold the tournament on Lake Okeechobee?

3. Are you planning to go out of Harney Pond?

I have good news for you if you answered ‘yes’ to any of the questions! Lake Okeechobee is fishing better than it has in years, and no part of the lake is better suited to hold a tournament than Harney Pond. It’s easy to find and easy to get to. Parking isn’t a problem; there are certainly enough boat ramps for a large bass tournament, and the best news is that you’re only four miles away from the New Seminole Brighton Bay Hotel and Casino!

Every year, thousands of anglers travel to Lake Okeechobee, the Bass Capital of the World, the largest freshwater lake in Florida, and the second largest natural freshwater lake contained entirely within the continuous forty-eight states, hoping to catch that trophy bass.

Now, a world-class hotel and casino are within a short distance of the lake.

Hundreds of bass tournaments are held yearly on the Big O. Most anglers drive in from all over the state. Some drive even further. Why not have your tournament on Harney Pond and stay at the New Seminole Brighton Bay Hotel?

Are you holding a meeting the night before the tournament? No problem. There’s plenty of room at the hotel, and after the meeting, your club members can enjoy a few hours in the casino and a good night's sleep.

What a great opportunity to book a room in the hotel, grab a quick breakfast before take-off, and be on the water before first light. When the tournaments over and everybody’s exhausted, come in and have lunch at the EE-TO-LEET-KE grill.

Whether your club or organization is based in Florida or another state, there are many good reasons to launch at Harney Pond and stay at The New Seminole Brighton Bay Hotel and Casino.

“Discounts Available, Contact Aaron Mollura at 863-338-0966 for more details.”

Give him a call today and book your rooms for the next tournament.

Queenie

This book was a labor of love. Ever since I was a little boy. I've been fascinated with fish, particularly large mouth bass. I have read every book I can get my hands on about this fascinating creature, and I've spent my entire life chasing them.

AMAZON REVIEWS — 5 STAR RATING

Mikeybalzz - Great story about one of the best bass fishing areas in Florida - Highlands County. Don knows fishing and it shows in his writing.

Dan Echols. - Great insight into the life and death struggles of a trophy bass.

Fred Hicks - After spending many winter months in the area and fishing on Lake Istopoga, I found the book very interesting. Recognizing many of the landmarks and seeing the lake through Queenies eyes brought me to a greater understanding of the lake. It was a very good read. I highly recommend this book. Mark Manning - Great book for fishermen and non-fishermen alike. I loved the twists and turns along with detailed true information about the lake. It's almost like the author was really a large mouth bass in a past life, lol. It is a beautiful mix between fantasy and fact! Read it, you will be glad you did!!!

on Amazon and locally at Lake Placid Western Wear, Lake Placid Historical Society, Lake Placid Bass Addict and Sebring Gratefull Hearts.

ASK RED

By Don Norton

What’s the Best Time to Flyfish for Bluegill?

Mid-April through May and June are the best times to fly fish for bluegills, coppernose bluegills, and shellcrackers.

Members of the bluegill family migrate to shallow waters during this time of year to spawn, making them relatively easy to catch. At the height of the spawn, hundreds will pack into a small area and compete for food sources.

Typically, the water is shallow, often devoid of vegetation, as the sun’s rays are crucial during the eggs' incubation period. Polarized glasses will help you find the beds.

Most anglers use spinning rods and reels with a hook and bobber to catch bluegills, but this type of fishing is ideally suited for a fly rod and popper.

Unlike conventional rigs featuring a hook with a worm attached, fly fishing generally involves a small popper, size 10-14, with a maggot or waxworm.

My favorite rig is a size 12 yellow popper with a waxworm, accompanied by a small nymph-type bait 12-18 inches below the popper, known as a “dropper” rig. This type of setup is often used for finicky trout in the cold streams up north, but it can be very effective for catching bluegills during the spawn.

Come Outside & Play!

The nymph can be adjusted to the correct depth, and the popper acts as a float, or bobber, providing the angler with a two-fold attack: surface and underwater.

Fishing with a popper is a lot of fun. In many ways, it's similar to fishing for bass with a topwater lure. Obviously, the strike is far less explosive, but it can still happen at any time, indicating that a bluegill has taken the bait.

Florida’s Freshwater Fishes: CoppernoseBluegill

By Don Norton

With bluegill season in full swing through May and June, one of the most popular panfish in the state is the Coppernose Bluegill. Not to be confused with the copperhead snake, the coppernose bluegill is a subspecies of the common bluegill, native to Florida and southeast Georgia. It’s typically known for its copper-colored bar across the head, vertical bars, and a fin with yellow to reddish tints.

Unlike regular bluegills, the Coppernose has a distinct

Capt. Angie Douthit

REPORT & FORECAST

Water levels on Lake Okeechobee have been slowly falling for months, so please exercise extreme caution when out on the water. The bass, bluegill, and shellcracker bite has been “what’s biting” right now. The early morning timeframe has been the most productive, and some late afternoon to dark fishing has yielded fantastic bass schooling activity and aggressive bluegill bites, targeting the bream beds. Live crickets have been the most productive option if you’re looking to catch bluegill and shellcrackers. Red worms will work as well, but often you’ll catch some “sharpies”- small fingerling catfish, which are good eating for those who like catfish filets.

The tackle needed for bream fishing is an ultra-light spinning rod and reel, rigged with 4-pound test mono line, small split shot, hook, and bobber, if that’s what you prefer. Throughout my 21 years of guiding, fishing for bream when kids are aboard offers non-stop, fun action for the kiddos, which makes the parents happy, and they’ll go home with some good-eating fish for dinner.

BThe bass bite has been most active in and around the bream beds, with frogs, cut tailworms, flap’n shad baits, swim jigs, and small buzz baits offering some tremendous top-water action. As the morning progresses, you may want to try fishing along the outside grass edge with senkos, worms, and flipping or pitching creature-style lures. Fishing deeper water when water temperatures start to heat up on the Lake can make fishing the Kissimmee River, J&S Canal, and some areas in Taylor Creek rewarding. Using deep-diving crank baits, Carolina rigs, and topwater lures worked along the edges can yield some heavy weights. Bass lure colors are: June bug, red shad, watermelon/red, black/blue, shad, bream color patterns, and white.

Areas to try include Tin House, Indian Prairie, Observation Shoal, and the several areas around Kings Bar, Grassy, and J&S. I hope this information helps you have a more productive day fishing on Lake Okeechobee. To book a fun-filled and productive day, call me at 863-228-7263. I can accommodate various schedules, multi-species trips, and group trips.

Need more trip info? www.southfloridabassfishing.com I can help with deep hotel discounts at the best hotel in Okeechobee.

BillNormanandtheBigN

ill Norman, a passionate and talented fisherman, is the founder of Big N, often referred to as "Big N Tackle." This renowned fishing tackle company gained prominence for its innovative and high-quality fishing lures. The company, which began operations in the early 1970s, earned a high reputation among fishermen for producing lures that were highly effective in catching various fish species, particularly bass.

One of the most iconic products produced by Big N was the Big N, a hard-bodied crankbait designed for targeting bass and other predatory fish. The design and action of the lure were revolutionary at the time, setting a new standard for fishing lures in terms of effectiveness and realism. Other iconic lures designed by Bill Norman include the Shinner Minnow, Little Scooper, Deep Runner, Flasher, and the Cut Throat. Norman’s lures were used by many professional anglers in tournaments, which helped establish the brand’s reputation.

The Big N brand eventually expanded into other fishing tackle products, including soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and various accessories, cementing Bill Norman's place in the fishing tackle industry. Over time, Big N Tackle became part of larger corporations in the fishing industry, but the legacy of Bill Norman’s innovations continues.

Bill Norman’s impact on the fishing world goes beyond his company. His work in developing lures that mimic the natural movements of fish significantly influenced modern fishing tackle designs. Many of his lures remain popular among anglers today, particularly in competitive fishing.

If you would like to learn more about vintage, antique, or collectible fishing tackle, feel free to contact me via text or telephone at 305-926-7526.

and go retrieve.”

I did as he said and watched as the water's surface flattened out. I was sure the rings were gone, so I moved the lure a couple of feet when I heard the water explode. I knew immediately that a bass had struck the lure, and I started to reel it in. That was just the first of many bass that would be fooled by this fantastic topwater lure over the next 65 years.

“This is the best fishing lure ever made for night fishing,” I remember my dad saying. “It would probably work during the day too, but that wobble, combined with the ‘pop, pop’ sound in the water, makes it irresistible to bass at night.”

At the time, we lived in Akron, Ohio, and it just so happened that the guy who invented the lure, Fred Arbogast, was also from Akron. He invented the jitterbug in the late 1930s, before I was born, and by the mid-1950s, it was the favorite lure of thousands of bass fishermen.

Arbogast created many other lures in addition to the Jitterbug. Some were

almost as popular. Lures like the Hawaiian Wiggler, the Hula Popper, and the Tin Liz shared the spotlight as Fred’s reputation grew.

His first lure, the Spin-Tail Kicker, was advertised in the Hunting and Fishing Magazine in June 1926. Fred Arbogast’s early lures were all made in his basement.

Initially, the jitterbug was marketed in a paper box with a cellophane "seethrough” top so the lure could be seen inside. But that changed after the treble hooks pierced the cellophane even before customers bought the lure.

By 1947, Fred Arbogast had designed 11 different lures. Each lure was created to solve a particular fishing problem Fred faced while fishing worldwide. The company was growing fast, and they were selling lots of lures.

Fred felt the need for more space that winter, and he knew it was time to expand his operation. Construction started on a new, twobrick building next door to the existing facility.

Fred felt that with this new building, the company would finally have all the space it would ever need. Lat er that winter, as the factory was nearing completion, Fred Arbogast collapsed while ice-skating at a rink near his home and died at the age of 53.

In early March, volunteers from Ridge Rangers and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) came together for a successful Weed Wrangle event at Tiger Creek

Preserve in Babson Park, FL. Weed Wrangle is part of a nationwide initiative aimed at removing invasive species from public parks and green spaces. This one-day volunteer effort, initially initiated in Tennessee, has expanded to include events in 28 states, aiming to clear designated areas of harmful non-native plants, trees, and vines in a single day.

On March 5th, volunteers worked for four hours, pulling over 300 pounds of invasive Natal grass (Melinis repens) from the preserve. The group worked together to collect the invasive species into large bags and

Custom Built BAMBOO FLYRODS

Jim Haynie was a master craftsman with expertise in gunsmithing as well as bamboo flyrods.

After retiring from the gunsmithing business, Jim taught himself how to not only build split bamboo flyrods, but he also built the equipment he needed to split and exact measurements for each section.

A master who passed away in 2021, he left behind a few of his flyrods and they are once again being offered for sale. If you have any interest in owning a “one-of-a-kind” custom built split bamboo rod, built locally in Avon Park Florida by Jim, please give us a call or text for more information.

863-273-4998

Volunteers find their own space along the trail system to pull invasive species

HIGHLANDS COUNTY

AVON PARK

Avon Park Chamber of Commerce ............28 E Main St

Wild Turkey ................................2751 US Highway 27 S

Palmer ACE Hardware ..........................415 W Main St

Williams Pawn & Gun .............................937 W Main St

Pure Grit .................................................907 W Main St

Hendricks Corner Bait Shop ..............202 East Main ST

Layes Tires 1092 Locke Street

Bill Jarrett Auto ........................1305 US Highway 27 N

Big T Tires .....................................1109 W Main Street

Huston Chevrolet .........................650 US Highway 27 S

Dennys ........................................................4390 US 27

Huston Dodge Jeep ..................................2750 US 27S

The Western Cut .........................................500 W Main

SEBRING

Sebring Chamber of Commerce .. 202 Circle Park Drive, Beach House Books & More ........3210 Physicians Way

Grateful Hearts ...................................330 US Hwy 27N

McKibbens ............................................ 7820 Tractor Rd

Schooners BBQ ............................... 4908 US Hwy 27 S

Sebring Diner............................. 4040 US Highway 27 S

Truist South (Publix) ................. 3012 US Highway 27 S

Sherwin Williams ...........................1132 Lakeview Drive

Sebring Toyota ............................404 US Highway 27 N

Hibachi Japan ...........................2870 US Highway 27 N

Musselmans ............................4230 US Highway 27 N

Highlands County YMCA 100 YMCA Lane

Allen Jay Chev...................................441 US Hwy 27 N

Allen Jay Nissan ..................................1700 Flare Road

Allen Jay Ford..................................5330 US Hwy 27 S

JRC Guns & Ammo ..................................3033 US 27N

Food for Thought ...............................315 US Hwy 27 N

Caddy Shack .....................................3122 Golfview Rd

Triangle Hardware ...........................3129 US Hwy 27 S

Marathon Bait Shop .........................3641 US Hwy 27 S

Mid Florida CU (South) ....................3686 US Hwy 27 S

Glisson Animal Food Supply............4525 US Hwy 27 S

a copy

Taylor Rental....................................4611 US Hwy 27 S

Mid Florida Truck Parts....................6203 US Hwy 27 S

Watering Hole ..................................6813 US Hwy 27 S

Glades Pawn ...................................7423 US Hwy 27 S

The 301 ........................................301 Circle Park Drive

Gallatis Pizza ...............................607 S Commerce Ave

Gator Shack..................................4651 US Highway 98

Speak Easy / Golf Pro Shop .............100 Clubhouse Ln

Seven Hotel .......................................150 Midway Drive

Regional Airport/runway Café 128 Authority Lane

Spray & Pray ..............................12135 US Highway 98

Sandes 98 Café .........................................12906 US-98

Okeechobee Outfitters.............5260 Bluff Hammock Rd

WAWA 3838.......................................................US 27S

McPhails Auto ..........................................4163 US 27 S

Country Club Golf Pro Shop .........4800 Haw Branch Rd

LAKE PLACID

Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce...............18 Oak St

Lake Placid Western Wear ........................417 US 27 S

Lake Placid Historical Society & Museum .....19 Park St

Carlie Lynns Bar .......................................9119 US 27 S

ButtonWood RV Resort .........................10001 US 27 S

Oasis Pools ..............................................1174 US 27 N

Boaters World ............................................730 US 27 N

Bass Addicts ..................................................490 US-27

Chamber of Commerce ..................................18 Oak St

Hartzels Grocery Market.................350 E Interlake Blvd

Tractor Supply Company .......................... 60 Plaza Ave

Lake Placid Marine ....................................310 US 27 S

Big T Tires LP ................................................624 US-27

Tabbys Bar & Grill ..........................................800 US-27

Hendersons Fish Camp ...................... 35 Henderson Rd

OKEECHOBEE COUNTY

Okeechobee Chamber of Commerce ...55 S Parrott Ave

Fast Break .................................1505 State Road 78 W

Seminole Brighton Bay

Hotel & Casino............................15005 Reservation Rd

Eagle Bay Airboat Rides .........................900 Hwy 78 W

Lake & Trail USA Boat & Bait .....................1253 FL-78

Garrards ....................................................4375 US-441

Lunkers Sports Grill .................4825 US Highway 441 S

Tractor Supply Co (TSC) ........3371 US Highway 441 S

Skull Hill Archery...............................1505 S Parrott Ave

Sundown Fire Arms ............2020 S Parrott Ave Ste 102

Lakeside Grill .....................................1111 S Parrott Ave

Center Mass Gun Shop .......................... 1934 Center St

Okee Airport-Landing strip café .......2800 NW 20th Trail

Lucie Battery & Tire ................198 US Highway 98 N

TRUE VALUE Rental .......523

GLADES COUNTY

LAKEPORT

PALMDALE

HENDRY COUNTY

CLEWISTON

LABELLE

DESOTO COUNTY

ARCADIA

HARDEE COUNTY

May 9th & 10th, 2025

Online Registration: MothersDayDolphinTournament.com

Captain’s Meeting

Liechty Marine

Friday May 9th - 6pm to 7pm

Lines In: Saturday, May 10 - 7:30am

Lines Out: Saturday, May 10 - 3:30pm

Weigh-In

Curly’s Co ee

Saturday, May 10th - 3:30pm to 6pm

Awards Banquet

Marathon Yacht Club

Saturday, May 10th - 7pm

Sunday Honor

RARE LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE LAYS EGGS DURING DAYLIGHT ON FLORIDA BEACH

Brevard County, Florida, proudly holds the title of the loggerhead sea turtle capital of our hemisphere. Here, loggerhead nesting occurs so frequently that nests o!en go unmarked on some beaches. From April through the summer months, during nearly any full moon high tide at night, you might witness this natural phenomenon. However, it’s important to keep ashlights o and avoid ash photography to protect these vulnerable creatures.

Daytime nesting is rare for all turtles, making the sight of an endangered leatherback (the world’s largest sea turtle species) even more exceptional.

$is unique event was captured during the evening twilight hours at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, in Satellite Beach, FL. $e Sea Turtle Preservation Society and UCF were on the scene.

Watch the video in this month's Angler Video Mag at vidmag.com and on coastalanglermag.com.

By Ryan Clapper

THE FELLSMERE RESERVOIR: From Farmland To World Class Fishery!

Headwaters Lake (Fellsmere Reservoir) is a 10,000-acre manmade lake located in Indian River County, adjacent to Stick Marsh/Farm 13. In the early 20th century, this area was drained for agriculture. In 2015, the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) purchased the land and began ooding it to aid in ood control and nutrient removal for the Upper St. Johns River Basin. Before ooding, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and SJRWMD collaborated on extensive habitat and %sheries restoration projects to enhance %sh and wildlife habitats and create a premier %shing destination. Between 2011 and 2014, FWC invested $1.35 million in habitat enhancements at Headwaters, including shaping the lakebed with varied elevations such as holes, trenches, drop-o s, humps, and islands.

Following the ooding in 2016, FWC stocked the lake with 1 million Florida bass %ngerlings, 145,000 black crappie, 374,000 redear sun%sh, and 345,000 bluegill to rapidly establish a thriving sport%sh population.

On August 10, 2020, the Headwaters Lake boat ramp opened for the %rst time and the access facility was built in cooperation between the SJRWMD and FWC’s Boating Improvement Fund, which is supported by Sport%sh Restoration Funding. Since the opening of the boat ramp, the FWC has monitored angling e ort, catch, and angler success.

From 2020-2024, Fellsmere has averaged about 160,000+ angling hours annually and a bass catch rate of 1.40 bass per hour (one of the highest in the state). Furthermore, people from all over the country have traveled to %sh Fellsmere for its worldclass %shing opportunities. Fellsmere started generating TrophyCatch submissions of

bass 8 pounds and larger in 2017/2018 and since then has seen over 400 TrophyCatch submissions including two Hall of Fame catches weighing 13+ pounds.

For more information, visit myfwc.com.

Before (top) and after photos of the bottom contour project conducted by FWC at Fellsmere Reservoir/Headwaters Lake.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FWC.

IT'S TIME TO STOCK UP

By Ben Martin, Editor in Chief

Ikeep asking the question but can’t seem to get a clear answer on why Florida is not dedicating more resources to stocking red!sh and snook into our waters. e technology and infrastructure is there, but no one’s doing anything to bring about a robust restocking program to our state. Why the hell not? I don’t get it. We’re the number one !shing market in the U.S. and tourism fuels a state’s economy. However, according to the !ne folks who issue our !shing limits and restrictions, both species are “so depleted that we need to have severe catch limits and massive closures.”

Come on Florida government, put two plus two together. I think I speak for the majority of the Florida angling community when I say we’re just about disgusted with the ever-evolving limit and closure restrictions that have been coming our way for the past twenty years. It’s like there’s a group of people who just sit around and come up with more ways to infuriate the angling community in the name of conservation and some kind of “sustainability” mantra.

Just raise more !sh, idiots! Raise ’em like crazy. Get jiggy with it. Use my tax dollars the way I want you to use them. Stop spending my tax dollars on massive sta ng of non-anglers in positions of authority when it comes to my rules for !shing. Put enough red!sh and snook in our waters so that any kid can catch one. Yeah, I’m not the smartest person in the world, but I know when something is _______ (you know the rest).

Change your thinking or !nd a new job is what I’m talking about. Your trend over the last twenty years has been nothing short of adversarial, and I’m sick of paying your salaries just to anger our angling community. What !shing contributes to the Florida economy is nothing short of astronomical, but the allocation of resources to support it has been ass backwards for quite a while.

Here’s a good example of the mentality that I think dominates our marine o ces. I was wade !shing recently and as a car drove by on the nearby causeway a person stuck their head out of the window and screamed, “MURDERER!”

Yeah, that who’s been calling the shots for the angling community in Florida for the past twenty years and I, for one, am done with that prevailing mentality in the use of my tax dollars. Agree? Disagree? Fill out the form at protectourwaters.com.

Ben Martin Editor in Chief

Coastal Angler Magazine e Angler Magazine

THE IGFA’S INTRO TO FISHING COURSE: Educating and Inspiring the Next Generation of Ethical Anglers

The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) has long been a global leader in promoting ethical angling practices, game %sh conservation, and angler education. One of its most accessible resources is the Intro to Fishing course, a structured educational program developed by the IGFA to provide a comprehensive introduction to recreational %shing in an online setting. $is engaging and interactive course is accessible to anyone with an internet connection and equips participants with basic skills, fostering a deep appreciation for the sport.

Targeted at youth, families, and beginner anglers, the course covers various aspects of %shing, including:

• The Fish: Understanding what a %sh is and how to identify various game %sh

• The Habitat: Learn where %sh live and di erent aquatic environments

• The Basics: Learning various %shing techniques from basic tackle to casting methods

• The Ethical Angler: Emphasizing responsible %shing practices, catch-and-release techniques, and habitat protection

43 acres (+or-) 1100 feet (+or-) on Suwannee River in Lafayette County at US 27, across river from Branford. Heavily wooded, perfect for residence, camp ground or hunting lodge. Elec. and well.

• The IGFA: Introducing students to the IGFA $e IGFA’s Intro to Fishing course launched in 2019 as a means to o er a comprehensive curriculum covering angling basics and safety, aquatic and marine biology, %sh identi%cation, environmental stewardship and more to audiences around the world. Packed with educational presentations, how-to videos, and interactive quizzes, the course allows anglers to follow along at their own pace. To date, nearly 1,200 students have completed the course, ranging from IGFA smallfry anglers aged up to 10 years old to experienced adult anglers. Most students are from North America, speci%cally from 43 states across the USA, but students from 35 di erent countries on six continents have completed it as well. While most students who have completed the course have caught a %sh before, nearly 15% of students have

43 acres (+or-) 1100 feet (+or-) on Suwannee River in Lafayette County at US 27, across river from Branford. Heavily wooded, perfect for residence, camp ground or hunting lodge. Elec. and well.

Cary A. Crutchfield

Registered Real Estate Broker GRI and CRS Designations

recorded that they have never caught a %sh before taking the course, but it has helped inspire these students to get outside and go %shing.

“Being new to %shing, it sparked my interest to start to %sh the most I can,” said Landon M., an IGFA Junior angler aged 11-16 years old from Hawaii, USA, who %nished the course in 2022.

Many schools from primary to college have utilized IGFA’s Intro to Fishing online resource as part of their course curriculum as well. Evan F., a college student from Kentucky, U.S. back in 2020 when he completed the course, recently had this to say in a post-student survey asking how the Intro to Fishing course has impacted their angling career since taking the course, “I took this class in correspondence with a freshwater %shing class in college. It has helped me have a better understanding and what to do when %shing and given me practices I still use to this day.”

For more information about the course and how to participate, visit igfa.org/learning-modules/.

2025 CCA Star Florida Launches Memorial Day Weekend

The 2025 CCA Florida STAR competition presented by Yamaha continues to be Florida’s the largest family-friendly saltwater %shing competition. Running Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day it boasts prizes & scholarships over $500,000 for anglers of all ages and skill levels.

$is year they’ve added the new Drum Spots “Lots-A-Spots” Division presented by Gulf States Automation. Red%sh with the most spots will win a share of $25,000 in prizes.

STAR’s signature Tagged Red%sh Division presented by TH Marine o ers %ve winners the choice of a Carolina Ski , Sea Born, Spyder Boat or Micro Dra! Ski , all powered by Yamaha. Two youth winners would win Carolina Ski 16-foot tiller boats powered by Yamaha, trailer, Minn Kota trolling motor and Humminbird electronics.

Each Florida coastal counties will have on average 4 green tagged red%sh released in their waters for a total of 167 prize winning tagged red%sh. Citrus and Charlotte Counties are Destination Counties with 8 tagged red%sh in their coastal waters.

$e Tigress Tagged Dolphin Division o ers a $10,000 cash prize for the %rst tagged dolphin landed.

$e Custom Gheenoe Inshore Division presented by Minn Kota and the Engel Coolers O shore Division presented by AFTCO allows 3 catch entries per day of competition and pays out 12 places with $60,000 in prizes in each.

You don’t have to catch a %sh to win a boat! Register before May 24th for one ra&e entry in the Triple Header Boat Ra&e. A Dek Kat 27 Trilogy, Spyder FX19 Vapor and a Carolina Ski 16JLS all powered by Yamaha will be given away on September 4, 2025.

$e Native Watercra! Kayak Division, Realtree Fishing Youth Scholarship Division, Power Pole Conservation Division and Costa Kick Plastic Trash Division o er amazing prizes too! ALL salt water species can be entered and most winners are determined by random drawing. Pick up the STAR Identi%er a!er May 17 at any West Marine store or distribution location.

Registration is $80 which includes CCA Florida membership. Kids ages 6-17 can register for free with current ($10) CCA Florida youth membership.

For more information on STAR, or to register, visit cca star.com

CTim Barefoot

an you say hallelujah? HALLELUJAH!!! $e powers that be say we can %nally catch and retain grouper as the season opens back up May 1. Decades ago, I never thought I would have said “grouper” and “season” in the same sentence, much less enduring this nine- or 10-months out of the year closure we’re experiencing now.

We recently took a recon trip to the edge to catch African pompano, but caught everything but African. $e barracudas and sharks are in numbers never seen before (by myself and a LOT of my friends), along with the American red snapper (ARS) and gag grouper. For anyone doubting the American red snapper and/or gag grouper numbers, please speak up now...or please come %shing with me!

We decided to leave the shark- and barracuda-infested deep water to catch some legal dinner %sh like grunts and seabass. We came inside a good ways and stopped on a pretty piece of bottom and it was nothing but gag, scamps and ARS bites. BAM! BAM! BAM!

Rolled back in another 10 miles knowing we were going to catch some seabass and grunts…and got nothing but gag and ARS bites. A!er that, we decided to go another eight miles inside speci%cally for sea bass, %nding traditional sea bass numbers. Fishing around in that general area, we ran out of all frozen cigar minnows and cut Spanish mackerel chunks before we could catch a good limit of sea bass.

I said all that to say this: %sh the pretty bottom marks of bait and structure using the correct tactics and you will have a heavy box of good %sh at the end of the day.

All the best %shing...

For more info, check out Tim Barefoot’s YouTube channel and website, barefootcatsandtackle.com.

GROUPER SEASON BACK OPEN...FOR NOW

A!er breaking shermen’s hearts by releasing trophy grouper throughout the closed season, May is nally here, opening grouper season for anglers on the Atlantic Coast. I, for one, am thrilled to be able to add these tasty critters to the icebox yet again.

e red grouper is one of the most popular bottom sh found along the southeastern coast of the United States, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. It’s rm, white esh and rich avor make it a favorite for the majority of o%shore anglers. Easily recognizable by its reddish-brown coloration, the red grouper features scattered white blotches and a stocky body that suits its role as an ambush predator in rocky reef environments. Pulling one up from the depts that they exist in is the price you’ll pay to put this meat on your table because they’re also able to aggressively resist your will and challenge your strength. I like targeting them using live or cut bait. Once hooked, they tend to dive back into structure, which makes landing them a rewardingly brutal experience.

THATCH MAGUIRE, EDITOR AT LARGE

those who regularly bottom sh the overabundance seems to be more of a problem than the reduced stock assessments that NOAA has promoted.

e National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has attempted to monitor stock assessments of red grouper, although many cite awed data in their forecasts. e catch limits and season closures that they’ve implemented have substantially reduced the angling communities’ opportunities to catch this highly sought a!er sh. For

FISHING IS BETTER IN A C-HAWK

I could be wrong, but it seems as if NOAA has become antirecreation-fishing oriented. eir policies and choice of data has created a distrust among many (most all) anglers these days. While ASA and numerous other angler organization have attempted to impact NOAA’s trend toward “Don’t Catch,” much remains to be done to correct the adversarial relationship between the American angler and this once highly respected organization. My small home town once had an animal control o cer that hated and abused stray dogs. Once the community brought this to the attention of local government o ce the problem got solved relatively quickly. ey red him. No more problem. Has it come time to re the management team of NOAA?

Disclaimer: e views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the writer and do not necessarily re ect the views or positions of Coastal Angler Magazine or any entities they represent.

TACTICS FOR CHASING CHANNEL CATS

By Paul MacInnis

Catching channel cat sh can be a lot of fun and super rewarding—these guys ght hard! And the nice thing about cat shing is you don’t need fancy baits or tackle. If you want to target bullheads and smaller pan-sized cat sh you can use baits you gather right out of the river like grass shrimp and mussels. You can also use earth worms or small chunks of hotdog. Fish these baits on a 1/0 Aberdeen hook and add just enough split shot to your line to hold bottom.

But I prefer to target bigger channel cat sh, the bigger the better, using peeled shrimp for bait. You don’t need fresh shrimp, a bag of frozen shrimp from your local bait shop works ne. I also like to use cut bait as it holds up well to the bait stealers. Cut mullet or chunks from just about any sh work.

I use a standard sh nder rig. Run the line through a one-quarter to one ounce egg sinker, choosing just enough weight to hold bottom. Tie the line to a swivel and add about one to two feet of twenty pound test mono lament to the other end of the swivel. To the end of this leader I tie a 4/0 Team Cat sh TC84Z circle hook.

Baitcasting gear used for bass shing and 2000 to 3000 sized spinning tackle works ne for channel cats. You can get by with inexpensive mono lament, but I prefer a good quality 10-pound test braid like Platypus Platinum Plus. Braid won’t bow out as much as mono lament due to wind or current so it gives you a straighter connection between rod tip and bait. is kind of tackle can get sporty if a 10-pound-plus cat sh takes your bait, but sporty is exactly what I am looking for!

Popular wisdom says you should sh your baits in the deeper bends and holes. I shed that way for years and caught plenty of one to ve pound cat sh, but bigger sh eluded me. Many rivers (even lakes) are loaded with little coves and basins. I’ve learned if there is three feet or more of water in these basins there’s a decent chance there will be some nice cat sh there. I’ll park my kayak at the edge of the opening and cast a bait towards the center of the mouth of the cove, trying to place my bait in the slack water but close, within 10 feet or so, of the current. If I am feeling ambitious I’ll toss a second bait towards the back of the cove. Most of the time the biggest cat sh go for the bait close to the cove mouth...but that isn’t always the case. I like to let the circle hook do all the work so I’ll leave the rods in the rod holders until a sh puts a good bend in the rod and maybe even takes drag. Keep your ears open for loud splashes as channel cats will o!en thrash at the surface right a!er feeling the hook. Also watch your line. Cat sh don’t always take the bait going away from you. If your line goes slack or your bait changes position reel up tight and see if there is a sh on the line. Finally, if you start catching a lot of bow n you might want to move elsewhere (unless you like catching bow n) because I nd cat sh and bow n seldom share the same locations.

Channel cat sh can be aggressive predators and many a bass angler has been surprised when a big cat grabs their bass lure. Most of the time I wouldn’t advise tossing lures as an e cient way of targeting cat sh, but some years there is an exception that happens in spring into early summer. Winter and spring are typically dry season and water levels drop. Fish congregate in what deeper holes are le! and become aggressive due to high competition for food. is is one time when you can readily catch cat sh on lures and even ies. I like small plastic worms and other so! plastic baits bumped slowly along the bottom. Keep in mind cat sh are primarily scent feeders so dousing your lure with a decent sh scent helps.

During low water you’ll occasionally run across a real treat, a sandy bottom pool where you can spot cat sh and sight cast to them. I highly recommend a quality pair of polarized sunglasses with an amber tint and mirror coating to help you tell cat sh from gar and tilapia.

I suggest you give shing for channel cats a try, especially on those days when “game sh” don’t cooperate. Be patient, stay persistent, and enjoy the process!

FROM A PRO COVERING WATER WITH A BLADED JIG

When you rst drop your boat in the water, o!entimes it can be extremely overwhelming on where to sh and what to throw. One bait I have found in particular seems to catch bass at every lake I go to. is bait is a bladed jig, better known as a chatterbait. e bladed jig is a extremely versatile bait, meaning you can throw it around so many di%erent types of cover and sh it at many varying depths. It allows you to cover a vast amount of water and locate bass that would usually take days to nd with other baits.

As you approach a new lake or even one you have been to a thousand times, it’s always a good idea to throw a con dence bait that you know will get bites. e chatter-bait is mine. I’ve found that no matter the cover, grass, trees, docks, riprap, etc., it gets bit. With the blade on the front vibrating so erratically, it allows this bait to come through cover extremely well and creates a reaction strike no other bait can.

their home. Depending on the time of year and what kind of bait the bass are feeding on where you are shing, there is a color made to match the hatch. If shad is the prevalent forage, I like to stick to a white or a bait sh color like a pearl and silver with a silver colored blade. If it’s bluegill, you can get by with a green pumpkin or anything with some yellow and orange mixed in with a darker blade color. Sometimes water color can play a factor in color choice as well. If the water is very dirty, you will have to use a color that will stick out so that they can see it pass by. Something like a white and chartreuse with a white blade (for bait sh imitation) or even a bright orange with a black blade (for craw sh imitation) can do the trick.

TYLER WOOLCOTT

Buying a bladed jig and tying it directly on your rod usually isn’t too e%ective without putting a trailer on the back of it. I like to try and match the color of the trailer to the color of the skirt on your chatterbait of choice to get the most natural look for the sh. e type of trailer can be a bit more complicated. I use either a swimbait style trailer with a boot tail or a apping style trailer like a craw pattern. e boot tail stands out when sh are very aggressive and aren’t scared of the more aggressive action the boot tail causes behind the bait. e appy trailer is better for highly-pressured sh that want a little more of a subtle approach who might not like the amount of action a swimbait trailer has.

A chatterbait is a very dominant bait all across the country and I rely on this bait at all times of the year to help me put sh in the boat. Next time you hit the lake, give the chatter-baitt a try and cover some water!

Let’s talk about matching the chatterbait to the bait forage. By matching the color of the bladed jig to the forage in the lake, a bass can’t resist it as a nice snack when you reel it through

Sizes and weights of your bladed jig are extremely important. With sizes ranging from 1/4 oz. all the way to 1.25 oz., the depth you are shing will decide what you tie on. I typically start with a 3/8 oz. or a 1/2 oz. which will allow you to cover water depths from 1 to 10 feet depending on your retrieve. If I nd some deeper cover that i want to get down to and sh, I will go a little heavier to a 3/4 oz.

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BLADED JIG GEAR: When throwing a bladed jig its important to have the correct gear. I use a 13 Fishing Myth Rod 7’5 MH-mod paired with a 13 Fishing Concept A 7:5:1 reel. I spool this up with 17 lb. Su x Advance Fluorocarbon line making this the perfect combo for the job.

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

— Gene H.

Tactical Meets Practical

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Precision Takes Time

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Why Pay for a Name?

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TEXAS ANGLER LANDS RECORD 884-POUND BLUEFIN TUNA

APort Arthur, TX angler and his friends recently achieved an extraordinary feat— reeling in an enormous 884-pound blue n tuna.

On April 10, David Esslinger and his friends were shing in the Gulf when the massive sh struck his line with incredible force. He had no idea he was about to embark on the most intense battle of his shing career. ankfully, Esslinger had an eager crew by his side, ready to assist in landing this remarkable sh.

“Let me break down the day and the events for you. First o%, for those who have never landed a sh the size of a car, this is no small feat. No one accomplishes this alone,” Esslinger posted on Facebook.

e group set out early Friday morning. By 9 a.m., a!er a couple of hours of shing, they started noticing signs of a school of tuna breaking the surface of the calm waters. Suddenly, the right rigger snapped down with a forceful bite, signaling the start of Esslinger’s showdown against his monstrous tuna.

Esslinger recalls, “Big tuna started breaking the surface and our team’s spirits began to li! at’s when it happened—the right rigger came down hard. e sh ran about ten seconds and spit the 12/0 mustad hook and the bait. As my heart sank,

I came up on the drag and gave her 10 cranks. As soon as I engaged the clicker again the giant sh piled on again. at’s when the rst 3/4 spool run at 35 pounds of drag started.”

Realizing what was at stake, his team quickly got into position for the ensuing battle, clearing lines and the deck.

“I had to crank it up to 45 pounds of drag on the Tiagra to slow her down. She responded with a rush to the surface. Carson was at the helm with Brad, TC, Je%, and Colby, coordinating everything e ciently from cockpit to helm. We managed to get the sh up to the surface in just over an hour,” stated Esslinger.

A!er an exhausting ve-hour battle of strength and endurance, Esslinger and his crew nally brought the massive blue n alongside the boat. With shaking body and inoperable hands, Esslinger made his way to the side of the boat and screamed with utter shock, “What a giant blue n! We did it!”

is impressive catch is seen as a trophy sh among anglers, celebrated for its enormous size and high-quality meat. And it was indeed enormous. Weighing in at 884 pounds, this blue n tuna has set a new state record for the largest tuna caught in Texas, surpassing the previous record of 876 pounds established by Troy Lancaster in 2021.

WHY BUY NEW WHEN YOU CAN RENEW?!?

By CAM Sta

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