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STREAMERS FOR
FALL TROPHY
BROWNS
O
By Jacob Milholland
ctober is a special month in the mountains. Autumn colors and cooler weather signal it’s time to head back to trout water. Hunting a trophy brown trout is what fall is all about. These fish can be caught nymphing a big stonefly or drifting an October caddis, but the old adage, “big bait, big fish,” holds true. Streamer fishing is a surefire way to try and target these old brutes. Streamers are flies that imitate forage such as baitfish, crawfish, sculpin, other trout or even mice. While the common way to fish a streamer is to enact action by “stripping” or pulling the fly line, streamers can be dead drifted, jigged or swung. There is no wrong way to fish streamers, but the goal is to make the fly look like the real thing. Equipment: We fish heavier rods, tippets and leaders, as we are targeting larger fish. The flies are more wind resistant or heavily weighted, and the strikes can be more aggressive. Think 5 to 8 weights and 8 to 20-pound fluorocarbon tippet/leader. A misconception of streamer fishing is that it must be done from a boat on a large river. While a boat is nice for covering ground, wading anglers can adapt these tactics to any size body of water. If you have the option to fish from a boat, multiple rods with different rate-of-fall (ROF) sinking fly lines should be in your arsenal to probe different depths: floating, intermediate (falls at one foot per second), and ROF-6 (falls at six inches per second). Fly Selection: Ask anyone what they throw, and you’ll get a different answer. It’s hard to go wrong with Woolly Bugger variations—like Sparkle Minnows or Bow River Buggers—any Kelly Galloup pattern or Clouser minnows to start out. Pick staple colors that allow you to adjust to conditions: white, black, bold (yellow or chartreuse) and flashy. Big fish drop their guard in nasty weather, and these can result in the best days on the water. Tactics: Brown trout ambush their prey, so look for places adjacent to current where fish can sit without expending too much energy. Covering water is paramount to success with a streamer. Likely holding water can produce results immediately, so don’t spend too much time in one spot. You are hunting the largest fish willing to eat the fly, not trying to force inactive fish to feed. Vary your retrieve; sometimes jigging or dead drifting can be better than a strip, or slower or faster retrieves may get a fish to react. Mental fortitude is just as important as the where and how. You can go hours or even days without seeing a fish follow the fly, but the magic of streamer fishing lies in the take of the fly and the caliber of fish. Jacob Milholland fishes with Cohutta Fishing Company in Blue Ridge, Ga. Check them out at www.cohuttafishingco.com or call (706) 946-3044.
4 NATIONAL
OCTOBER 2021
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By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon
I
t seems even the most remote waterways are becoming more crowded every year. More boats can lead to some extremely dangerous situations when boaters exhibit a lack of respect for the water, and it’s pretty easy to identify those who should not be allowed to operate a boat. But there are also people who create frustrating situations, particularly while fishing, who might just be unaware of certain etiquette. It is unique to the Southeastern United States to have access to such vastly diverse fisheries within a relatively small area. It is fortunate boat owners can easily travel to a new and different fishery and bring their own vessel with them. However, just as you don’t have to travel far before the fishery changes, the same applies to local fishing etiquette. Some of the unspoken rules will apply no matter where you are, but it is generally a good idea to check in with local knowledge and identify the local vhf channel before launching your boat somewhere new. While nobody owns the water, commercial and charter fishing captains generally operate with respect for each other to make sharing the fishery feasible and pleasant. When pleasure boaters don’t understand or don’t respect local etiquette, it disrupts fishing enough to affect the people who are trying to make a living on the water. As a general rule, try to stay away from other boats as much as possible. If you have to maneuver around or fish near another boat, be respectful of the type of fishing they are doing. If a vessel is anchored, they will generally be fishing off the back of the boat, often running a chum slick, which means you should avoid driving behind them. If a boat is anchored
offshore, in an area that you are unfamiliar with, they are probably fishing coordinates that took them years of hard work to acquire. You should absolutely not anchor near them,
nor should you drive next to them to mark their location. If you are offshore hunting for fish that appear under flocks of diving birds, look for a flock that isn’t currently being worked by another fisherman. These birds are moving around over fish that are traveling, and moving in can cause the boat that got to the birds first to be cut off from the school of fish. The ocean is vast and birds are plentiful, look for birds on your own, not just an easy-to-spot boat under birds. Overcrowded fishing areas, that don’t operate under anchor, follow certain traffic patterns. These patterned drifts or trolls should be observed and followed just like any roadway. The Marathon Humps, for example, should be trolled east to west, and west to east. Fishing oil rigs in the northern Gulf of Mexico can be made extremely difficult by poor etiquette, as locations are limited and can be made even more limited due to weather. Places like this rely heavily on unspoken rules of the road, and respect. These areas are primarily fished in two different ways: live bait and chum drifts. Charter boats take the time to catch live bait before making it out there, which can be time consuming and difficult. If there are fish on the surface, and someone nearby starts a chum drift, this pushes the surface fish down deep, where the fish will no longer be eating the hard-earned live bait. This is horrible etiquette that rewards lazy and ignorant fishermen. If you show up to a rig without live bait and see other boats using it, with fish clearly on the surface, you should probably just troll lures until other people start a chum drift. Learn and respect the local etiquette anywhere you get your boat wet. There’s no reason we can’t all catch fish, be safe and have fun doing it.
Capt. Quinlyn Haddon fishes with Blue Magic Charters in Marathon, Florida Keys. Check her out at CaptainQuinlyn.com, @captainquinlyn or call (504) 920-6342.
able is cted of e skin.
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OCTOBER 2021
NATIONAL 7
WHEN TEMPS COOL DOWN, THE GROUPER BITE HEATS UP
I
’m going to date myself here, but what is about to happen will come as no surprise to me. This is time of year I live for. You see, I’ve been watching this beautiful cycle happen with grouper for almost four decades now. As soon as the mullet run slows, and the vast schools of cigar minnows (cigs) and sardines drift inshore, so do the larger (male) gag grouper. This generally occurs around the middle of October. The scamp bite will be hard and fast during this same time in deeper water. I started my grouper fishing career with heavy electric and hydraulic commercial reels and eventually switched over to Elec-Tra-Mates and Precision Auto Reels, but now I’ve gone full circle to lighter (heavyduty) level-wind reels with braided line and ultra stealth terminal tackle to stay ahead of the mental evolution of grouper and large snapper. You see, back in the day when there were so many grouper, it was a competitive atmosphere on the bottom. The first bait to the bottom used to catch the biggest red snapper or gag, even using monofilament leader, but
Tim Barefoot
sardines are by far the best choice for instant bites, but the problem with them is everything down there gives them a whack. Fishing a bait that eliminates everything but large black sea bass, large snapper and grouper helps weed through the smaller fish to find the big male grouper you’re looking for. Live pinfish, sailors
now it’s just not that way. I haven’t cleaned hundreds of grouper… I’ve cleaned thousands of them before selling them, and I’m always curious about what they were eating. One common denominator in gags and red grouper, but not as many scamp grouper, are the small red crabs that are obviously plentiful on live bottom.
This is what prompted me to experiment with crab jigs. I made my first batch of Crab Decoy Jigs over a decade ago and quickly realized they out-fish any other bottom rig I’ve ever used. I tie them in with red braided line and a short piece of fluorocarbon leader tied in a loop knot. Then I sweeten the pot with a live bait. Bait selection is important. Live cigs and
choice grunts, grass grunts and tomtate grunts all work. I like to fish big stacks of beeliners, and that makes beeliners one of my alltime favorite baits. I fish them live or butterflied on a Crab Decoy Jig. The older, wiser males are growing increasingly tackle shy, so shed all the useless terminal tackle and scale down to “clean” heavyduty tackle that can fool ole big boy into biting. For video with detailed instructions on fishing Tim Barefoot’s rigs and proof that they work, visit his website at barefootcatsandtackle.com.
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Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-Approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. Suzuki, the Suzuki “S” ECSTAR and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. © 2021 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC.
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ANGLERS SET NEW FLORIDA SALTWATER FISHING RECORDS Scamp
I
t was a monster summer for three anglers who Record on April 7 while fishing at Santa Rosa each landed a Florida Saltwater All-tackle Beach. Sidney’s 2.8-pound catch beat out the previous record of 2.4 pounds. If you feel like Fishing Record. you’re having déjà vu, don’t worry, you’re not Scamp alone. That previous record of 2.4 pounds was set A new Florida Saltwater Fishing Record for earlier this year by angler Joseph Peckham. scamp was set by Mark John Gibner during a Schoolmaster fishing expedition near John’s Pass Marina in Pinellas County on June 11. His 29.6-pound scamp Anthony Mastitski filled the vacant beat the previous record of 28.38 pounds set by schoolmaster category, which was opened Jan. 1, Braden Douglas Pursell in April 2002. 2019. Mastitski’s 2.07-pound schoolmaster was “I think that for the first 20 feet or so, the caught in Broward County on July 27. fish didn’t know that it was hooked,” said Gibner. Claim Your Record “When it did, it started to dig. At first, as he was Want to claim your own state record? There pulling drag, I had to palm my reel to slow him are currently no records listed for white grunt or down. But after a short back and forth, I finally got blueline tilefish in the all-tackle category. There the upper hand and was able to land him with lots are also numerous fly-fishing tackle categories of enthusiasm from my friends.” with vacant records, giving anglers an opportunity Whiting (Gulf kingfish) to hold the record for these species. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Capt. Sidney Little caught the latest Gulf kingfish (whiting) Florida Saltwater Fishing Commission (FWC) maintains state records in 2 FLORIDA
OCTOBER 2021
fish)
Whiting (Gulf king
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all-tackle and fly fishing categories for 81 species caught in Florida state waters and adjacent federal waters. Saltwater record holders receive a certificate of accomplishment, prize pack, recognition in various publications, and a custom ink fish print to memorialize their catch courtesy of Fish Print Shop. To qualify for a record, the catch must be weighed on land with a certified scale, and photographs must be submitted clearly showing the weight displayed on the scale, the scale’s certification, the rod and reel used to make the catch, the angler with their catch, and various views of the fish for identification purposes. The angler’s signature on a completed application form must be witnessed by a notary. For more information and to view current records, visit CatchaFloridaMemory.com and click “Records,” contact AnglerRecognition@ MyFWC.com or call 850-487-0554.
EIGHT MONTHS OF THE KEY WEST FISHING TOURNEY
A
look at the results from the eight-month-long Key West Fishing Tournament is a pretty good glimpse at what’s been going on in one of the world’s best fishing destinations over the last year. The 2021 tournament drew 312 participating anglers who entered 753 releases and 262 weighed catches. A South Dakota woman was named the women’s master angler after scoring multiple divisional wins and tournament records in the long-running challenge. Katelynn Wells, of Miller, S.D., took top honors for overall releases with 59, including six dolphin, as well as tallying 14 division-leading catches including a 28-pound amberjack, a 12-pound barracuda on plug and a 17-pound red snapper on 30-pound-test line that set a divisional record. She also scored three “heaviest fish” wins and two fish that set tournament weight records: a 2.8-pound ladyfish on plug and a 4.8-pound seatrout on 12-pound line. Wells fished on Off the Rock with Capt. Brad Nowicki and on Live Action Sportfishing with Capt. Ryan Carter, both of Key West. The men’s master angler was Rob Ripka, of Pulaski, New York. His achievements included catching two division-leading fish on 12-pound line: a 12-pound bonito and a 4-pound yellowtail snapper—as well as a divisionleading 31.6-pound kingfish. Fishing on Bait Stealer with Capt. Dale Bittner, of Key West, he also set a “heaviest fish” record for catching a 6-pound yellowtail on 30-pound line. Ten-year-old Julia Bernstein, of Miami, fishing in the peewee division, eclipsed her competitors to earn the peewee master angler award for achievements including a remarkable 104 releases. Her catches included a 23.8-pound Jack Crevalle on 30-pound line that earned a tournament weight record, a 24.8-pound barracuda on 20-pound line that earned divisional “heaviest fish” honors, four other “heaviest fish” winners and three division leaders. The young Bernstein fished with Bittner on Bait
Re
bl Stealer and also on a private boat. Capt. Bill Wickers III, of the Linda D V, earned overall guide honors in the general division, tallying 14 winners and a division-topping 36 releases including three marlin. Capt. Brice Barr of the Double Down was named top guide in the light general division, guiding his anglers to a divisional best of 66 releases—64 of them sailfish. Capt. Tim Carlile of the Outcast earned the overall guide achievement award in the flats division. He also guided his anglers to the most flats releases with 213, including 86 tarpon. Celebrating the diverse variety of fish found in Florida Keys waters, the Key West Fishing Tournament provides recognition and awards to anglers posting the heaviest catch in each of 33 species and the most releases of fish in seven other species. The 2022 challenge begins Dec. 1, 2021 and continues until July 31, 2022. For a complete list of winners and catches, visit keywestfishingtournament.com.
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OCTOBER 2021
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USE THE WIND TO FIND FISH
By John Saporito
T
he wind is a great mover of bait, and a mover of bait is a mover of fish. Among the myriad factors that contribute to gamefish location, wind ranks somewhere near the top. Short-term winds influence the whereabouts of baitfish schools in many ways, which in turn influences the location of the gamefish that feed on them. Fish are highly sensitive to water temperature. Even a change of a degree or two can motivate them to seek out water of a more desired temperature. In the northern hemisphere, a cold northerly wind may lower water temperatures enough to force baitfish to move toward areas of more stable temperature, such as deeper water. Conversely, a southerly wind may raise water temperatures beyond a certain bait species’ comfort range, causing them to seek out areas with cooler water. Many migratory baitfish begin their seasonal journeys based on temperature changes initiated by short-term wind events, such as storms. They respond by relocating to areas that better suit their specific needs. When a localized or short-term wind pattern changes the water temperature, you can bet the baitfish will take notice and act accordingly.
6 FLORIDA
OCTOBER 2021
Baitfish of all sizes are always on the lookout for an easy meal. Just like the predators that hunt them, baitfish prefer to feed with the lowest possible expenditure of energy. Suspension feeders, such as many members of the herring family, look for big blows to stir up detritus, plankton and other small organisms and organic matter that they can eat. The wind also creates surface currents, which push plankton and other miniscule prey items. Any significant wind has the potential to concentrate, stir up, or otherwise move the food baitfish feed on. The wind also has the power to enhance or diminish tidal action. A wind moving in the same direction as a tidal current will accelerate the water’s movement, overpowering and transporting both baitfish and their prey. A wind-against-current scenario may form a natural corral that concentrates and traps baitfish in a temporary location. In bays and other inshore waterways, a strong offshore wind can combine with a low tide to render certain areas uninhabitable to baitfish due shallowness. A strong onshore wind, in conjunction with a high tide, can pile up water in areas that before were dry, allowing baitfish to enter feeding grounds that were previously inaccessible.
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It’s important to know where there is deep, stable water for baitfish to take shelter in when the temperature suddenly rises or drops. Also look for “dead ends” in the areas you fish, such as coves and points of land, which act as barriers that trap and hold bait when the wind is howling. If you find baitfish, odds are good that the gamefish are nearby. John Saporito is a lifelong fisherman and student of the seas. Visit him online at guerillaangling.com.
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GIANT SWORDFISH IS A CANAVERAL RECORD By CAM Staff
I
n the early morning hours of Saturday, Sept. 11, three anglers fishing out of Cape Canaveral, Fla., idled the “High Maintenance” into Sunrise Marina towing a swordfish that’s being called a Port Canaveral record. The broadbill bottomed out a set of 500-pound scales after being dead for more than 16 hours, so it’s safe to say it outweighed the unofficial and long-standing port record of 365 pounds. One of the anglers, Steven Sharpe, estimated its weight to be 550 pounds, based on measurements. Records aside, it was a huge fish. Sharpe, his long-time fishing buddy, Jeff Thummel, and George Birkhead, who was on his first swordfish trip, were drifting in 1,500-foot depths about 40 miles out of Port Canaveral. On their first set, they had bite that came unbuttoned. They re-baited with a whole ladyfish and dropped it down to about 1,400 feet. The big fish came tight at about 10:30 a.m. and then rocketed toward the surface. Sharpe said they had no idea of the size of the fish through most of a 5 ½-hour fight.
Their Lindgren-Pitman S2-1200 electric reel and Handler custom rod battled the fish as it surfaced and dove numerous times and dragged the boat 25 miles from where the fish was initially hooked. “About every hour, he’d show,” Sharpe said. “We didn’t realize how big he was until we got him to the boat. “We harpooned it, hauled it in and gaffed it. When we gaffed it, all hell broke loose.” The big fish beat itself against the boat until it finally expired and the crew got a tail rope on it at about 4 p.m. Only then was there a moment for celebration and cigars. They pulled a tape on the fish and got a short length of 101 inches from the fork of the tail to the tip of the lower jaw. Then the hard work began. “There were three people on board, and we couldn’t get that fish in the boat,” Sharpe said. “We tried everything and ended up having to idle it all the way home. We didn’t get to port until about 1 a.m.” They had to wait until 8 a.m. Saturday morning to get the fish up on scales.
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TAMPA BAY FISHING REPORT BY: CAPT. WOODY GORE
I
n October, the water will start cooling down and the fish should start getting comfortable again. The bite has been decent during the last weeks of September, and I expect it to continue right through the fall. You can expect good catches all over Tampa Bay using live bait and artificial lures. There are plenty of redfish and snook hanging around the many lush grass flats and mangrove shorelines. As redfish move back into the Bay, it’s usually easy to find them schooled up on the flats. It’s also the time of year when we see some of the big redfish starting to show up. This time of year, you never know whether you’re going to a catch one in the slot or one of the giants over 30 inches. These big reds often tip the scales at 12 to 14 pounds. Most of the snook we catch are averaging in the 25 to 30-inch range.
Rosemary White
For those who like the night life associated with snook fishing, this is a great time. They’re hanging under residential docks watching the light line for a quick meal. Use a shallow diving artificial lure or free-line big shrimp. Make sure to use a heavy leader, something in the 30 to 40-pound range. As for the others, expect some good-sized mangrove snapper at the bridges with some topping out around three pounds. Cobia are around. Usually, it only takes a chum bag over the side to spark their curiosity. If you hook-up, be ready with another rod and bait as other cobia will be following the action. Mackerel, bluefish, jacks and ladyfish will be feeding on bait schools everywhere. Remember to match the hatch! Never turn your nose up at ladyfish and jacks, especially when kids are involved; they can make or break a trip. Most children aren’t interested in fishing; however, they are interested in catching and they don’t care what it is.
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OCTOBER 2021
TAMPA 1
ST. PETE REPORT BY: CAPT. ANTHONY CORCELLA
NOW IS WHEN FISHING IS ON FIRE!
T
he mackerel have been biting pretty good around the Coffee Pot flats. We have been using cut threadfins and live shrimp with a cork on a 3/0 hook and 30-pound fluorocarbon leader. The size of the fish has been ranging anywhere from 16 to 24 inches. A lot of the cobia have been seen coming in on the flats in the mid-morning hours. We have been using live pinfish in the 4 to 5-inch range with a heavier rod rigged with a big cork and a 4/0 hook drifted out the back of the boat. The cobia we have been catching have been anywhere from 30 to 60 pounds. The strategy we have used is to anchor up on the edge of the grass flats by the channel. The cobia are coming in looking for pinfish on the grass flats. If you’re into catching sharks, there are lots of them biting on the cut threadfins. If you have kids on the boat, they will have a blast fighting sharks on light tackle. The water temperatures are starting to drop a little bit this time of year; so, we like to start fishing some of the docks around Coffee Pot and Snell Islands. This is producing black drum, redfish, sheepshead and snapper. The preferred tackle setup for this is to use a 2/0 hook with 15-pound fluorocarbon leader and a small split shot. I’ve been getting my handpicked shrimp and fiddler crabs from Mitch’s Bait & Tackle since he seems to have shrimp there all of the time! Fishing the Skyway area for mangrove snapper in the evening has produced great results! For best results, find yourself a nice rock pile and drop down a shrimp with a knocker. We like to use a 30-pound fluorocarbon leader and 3/0 hook with a 2-ounce sinker. Check us out on Facebook, Pocket Change Inshore Fishing Charters and check out our new TV show on Waypoint TV. What makes our charter service unique is that we cater to disabled veterans and wheel chair bound clients! Our boat is able to accommodate wheelchairs and is ADA compliant. IF YOU’RE A DISABLED VETERAN, YOUR TRIP IS FREE! This is our way of giving back to our veterans. Capt. Anthony Corcella, Pocket Change Inshore Fishing Charter - 727-432-6446 www.pocketchangefishingcharters.com | Check us out on Facebook
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A BIRDING PARADISE By: Wes Tallyn
I
t’s October, and a brown pelican dives head first into the glistening water. To the east, an orange sun begins to rise over the Skyway Bridge illuminating another beautiful day on East Beach at Fort DeSoto. The Park gates open and the day begins as any other day with the flow of life across the island. Fort DeSoto is one of the greatest birding destinations in the country staking claim to 345-identified and recorded bird species of record according to eBird.org. During the fall months, birds begin their migration stopping at Fort DeSoto to re-fuel. The birds then trek over the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Straights to the Caribbean Islands and Mexico. In the spring the birds stop again to re-fuel before headed north to their eventual breeding grounds anywhere from Georgia to the Arctic. It’s not uncommon to see 70-plus species in a single day at the Fort during migration time. The Park has a range of habitats from beaches for shorebirds, mangrove swamps, open grass areas, and palm hammocks, creating opportunities for many different species.
Birding is a very easy and fun hobby. One way to become involved is by going to one of the many local Audubon chapters’ free walks offered throughout the year. Another way, is to follow some of the birding groups on social media to get involved. The best way in my opinion though, is to just get outside with your camera and/or binoculars and see what you can explore and find for yourself! Photos (L to R): American Avocets on Fort DeSoto North Beach, Great Horned Owl, Owlet on a nest at Fort DeSoto, Whimbrel eating coquina shells whole at the Gulf Pier at Fort DeSoto, Chestnut-sided Warbler at Fort DeSoto North Beach Woods.
Captain Wes Tallyn was raised in Florida and is a fisherman, birder, avid outdoorsman, photographer, and environmental scientist. Wes has a focus on conservation and education in the community and is the owner of Snook Jam Ecotours. You can find him on Instagram @snookjam or call 727-410-5853.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
OCTOBER 2021
TAMPA 3
RIVERS TO BAY REPORT BY: CAPT. JOHN RIVERS
O
ctober is one of my favorite months to fish the Bay. There is so much fishing activity to choose from you almost don’t know where to begin. Should I target redfish, snook or trout? It’s also the start of the kingfish migration along the coast. Bait is plentiful and the tides are still good for fishing with the new and full moon. October is one of the best months to target redfish in the Bay. They come in from the Gulf of Mexico to feed and spawn. So, in addition to our many resident reds, many more show up starting in September and October. Redfish can be targeted a variety of ways, whether with live bait or artificial lures and, when it comes to their fight instinct, redfish do not disappoint. Reds over 30 inches are known as bulls and reds under 18 inches are referred to as rat reds. I like fishing for reds on an outgoing tide or at the end of the low tide, as they are usually in a confined area. Just remember to be very stealthy when it comes to redfish, as they can be very spooky. When using live bait, the two most productive baits I have found are a live pinfish 2 to 3 inches long under a popping cork with the tail trimmed back. Next, would be a small chunk of either cut mullet or a 2 to 3-inch center cut of threadfin on a 2/0 to 3/0 Gamakatsu circle hook with 30-pound leader on a 7-foot medium action Bull Bay rod. Remember that the season is closed on redfish, snook and trout in our region, so take a quick pic and release your fish to be caught another day. Switching gears to snook, these fierce fighting, jumping saltwater bass are chewing like they did back in April; they are staging for their fall/winter homes. Live pilchards, small cut threadfin or cut mullet are great baits to entice a strike. You can also toss a topwater very early in the morning as the sun is peeking over the horizon. Speckled trout fishing will start to fire off over the next three months. Trout will be found on the flats in 3 to 6 feet of water; mixed grass flats and sandy pot holes are their stomping grounds. I like using MirrOlure’s 17MR and a Matrix Shad 4-inch paddle tail on a 1/8 to ¼- ounce jig head. I could write a full page on how good October fishing is but, let me say, just go fishing; you won’t be disappointed. Keep the rods bent and the lines tight. Captain John Rivers | www.tampabayinshoreguides.com captjohnrivers@gmail.com | 727-313-1781 4 TAMPA
OCTOBER 2021
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OCTOBER 2021
TAMPA 5
St. Petersburg
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St. Petersburg, FL - Oct 2021 High
Date
Old Port of Tampa
www.USHarbors.com ezdocktampa.com
Old Port Tampa, FL - Oct 2021
Low
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Set
Fri
1:19
2.2
10:34A
2.6
5:01
1.9
6:51
0.5
7:22
7:17
2
Sat
1:48
2.2
11:53A
2.7
6:10
1.7
7:32
0.4
7:22
7:16
3
Sun
2:11
2.3
12:55
2.8
7:00
1.5
8:06
0.4
7:23
7:15
7:14
4
Mon
2:30
2.3
1:49
2.9
7:44
1.2
8:36
0.5
7:23
7:13
7:24
7:13
5
Tue
2:46
2.3
2:41
2.8
8:25
0.9
9:04
0.7
7:24
7:12
0.9
7:24
7:12
6
Wed
3:01
2.5
3:33
2.8
9:08
0.6
9:31
1.0
7:24
7:11
9:20
1.1
7:25
7:10
7
Thu
3:18
2.6
4:28
2.6
9:52
0.3
9:57
1.2
7:25
7:10
0.1
9:43
1.3
7:25
7:09
8
Fri
3:40
2.8
5:27
2.5
10:39
0.2
10:23
1.5
7:25
7:09
10:57
0.0
10:01
1.5
7:26
7:08
9
Sat
4:07
3.0
6:34
2.3
11:31
0.1
10:49
1.7
7:26
7:08
11:59
0.0
10:06
1.6
7:27
7:07
10
Sun
4:40
3.1
7:57
2.1
12:30P
0.1
11:12
1.8
7:26
7:07
2.8
1:12
0.0
7:27
7:06
11
Mon
5:20
3.2
1:43
0.2
7:27
7:06
5:31
2.7
2:37
0.1
7:28
7:05
12
Tue
6:09
3.1
3:15
0.3
7:27
7:05
Wed
6:41
2.6
4:03
0.2
7:28
7:04
13
Wed
7:15
2.9
4:50
0.3
7:28
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14
Thu
8:32
2.4
5:13
0.2
7:29
7:03
14
Thu
8:56
2.7
6:03
0.3
7:29
7:03
15
Fri
1:08
1.9
10:29A
2.4
4:28
1.7
6:07
0.3
7:29
7:02
15
Fri
1:16
2.1
10:54A
2.6
5:07
1.8
6:56
0.3
7:29
7:02
16
Sat
1:14
1.9
11:52A
2.3
5:51
1.4
6:48
0.4
7:30
7:01
16
Sat
1:36
2.2
12:21
2.6
6:27
1.5
7:34
0.4
7:30
7:01
17
Sun
1:25
2.0
12:54
2.3
6:46
1.1
7:21
0.6
7:30
7:00
17
Sun
1:56
2.3
1:24
2.5
7:22
1.1
8:04
0.6
7:30
7:00
18
Mon
1:38
2.1
1:46
2.3
7:31
0.8
7:47
0.8
7:31
6:59
18
Mon
2:14
2.4
2:16
2.5
8:07
0.8
8:27
0.8
7:31
6:59
19
Tue
1:49
2.2
2:32
2.2
8:09
0.6
8:08
1.0
7:32
6:58
19
Tue
2:30
2.4
3:03
2.4
8:47
0.5
8:46
1.0
7:31
6:58
20
Wed
2:00
2.3
3:15
2.1
8:45
0.4
8:26
1.1
7:32
6:57
20
Wed
2:43
2.6
3:48
2.3
9:23
0.3
9:04
1.2
7:32
6:57
21
Thu
2:13
2.4
3:56
2.0
9:18
0.2
8:43
1.3
7:33
6:56
21
Thu
2:56
2.7
4:32
2.2
9:57
0.2
9:23
1.3
7:33
6:56
22
Fri
2:29
2.5
4:39
1.9
9:52
0.1
8:58
1.4
7:33
6:55
22
Fri
3:11
2.8
5:17
2.1
10:30
0.2
9:45
1.5
7:33
6:55
23
Sat
2:50
2.6
5:25
1.8
10:28
0.1
9:14
1.5
7:34
6:54
23
Sat
3:32
2.9
6:05
2.1
11:03
0.1
10:11
1.6
7:34
6:54
24
Sun
3:16
2.6
6:22
1.7
11:09
0.1
9:28
1.5
7:35
6:54
24
Sun
3:58
2.9
6:59
2.0
11:40
0.2
10:41
1.7
7:35
6:53
25
Mon
3:47
2.6
11:57
0.1
7:35
6:53
25
Mon
4:31
2.9
8:02
2.0
12:22P
0.2
11:16
1.8
7:35
6:52
26
Tue
4:24
2.5
12:56
0.2
7:36
6:52
26
Tue
5:09
2.8
9:21
1.9
1:15
0.3
7:36
6:51
27
Wed
5:10
2.4
2:05
0.3
7:37
6:51
27
Wed
5:56
2.7
10:45
1.9
12:00
1.8
2:22
0.4
7:36
6:51
28
Thu
6:13
2.3
3:16
0.3
7:37
6:50
28
Thu
6:58
2.5
11:42
1.9
1:12
1.8
3:40
0.4
7:37
6:50
29
Fri
7:46
2.1
4:19
0.3
7:38
6:49
29
Fri
8:22
2.3
3:02
1.8
4:52
0.3
7:38
6:49
30
Sat
12:00
1.8
9:33A
2.1
4:04
1.6
5:11
0.3
7:39
6:49
30
Sat
12:18
2.0
10:03A
2.3
4:42
1.6
5:48
0.3
7:39
6:48
31
Sun
12:13
1.9
11:00A
2.1
5:16
1.3
5:55
0.4
7:39
6:48
31
Sun
12:44
2.1
11:31A
2.3
5:53
1.2
6:32
0.3
7:39
6:47
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ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Fri
1:19
1.9
10:05A
2.3
4:10
1.8
6:08
0.3
7:22
7:17
1
2
Sat
1:28
1.9
11:23A
2.4
5:27
1.6
6:51
0.3
7:22
7:16
3
Sun
1:39
1.9
12:24
2.5
6:20
1.4
7:28
0.4
7:23
7:15
4
Mon
1:51
2.0
1:17
2.6
7:04
1.1
8:00
0.5
7:23
5
Tue
2:04
2.1
2:07
2.6
7:47
0.8
8:29
0.7
6
Wed
2:19
2.2
2:57
2.5
8:30
0.5
8:56
7
Thu
2:37
2.4
3:50
2.4
9:15
0.3
8
Fri
3:00
2.6
4:47
2.2
10:03
9
Sat
3:28
2.7
5:55
1.9
10
Sun
4:01
2.8
7:31
1.7
11
Mon
4:41
12
Tue
13
1
Moon
Moon
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OCTOBER 2021
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Fri
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Rocky Creek, LittleFL Pine Island Hernando Beach, - Oct 2021
Low
High
Date
Low
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Fri
9:18
2.9
11:42
2.6
4:49
1.9
6:11
0.7
7:24
7:18
2
Sat
10:41
3.1
6:07
1.7
7:10
0.6
7:24
7:17
3
Sun
12:26
2.7
11:48A
3.2
7:09
1.4
8:00
0.5
7:25
7:16
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Moon
8:22
2.7
10:46
2.4
2:48
1.9
4:10
0.7
7:23
7:18
1
11:30
2.5
4:06
1.7
5:09
0.6
7:23
7:16
5:08
1.4
5:59
0.5
7:24
7:15
2
Sat
9:45
2.8
3
Sun
10:52
3.0
4
Mon
12:05
2.7
11:49A
3.2
6:01
1.1
6:42
0.4
7:24
7:14
4
Mon
1:01
2.9
12:45
3.4
8:02
1.1
8:43
0.4
7:26
7:15
5
Tue
12:35
2.8
12:41
3.3
6:48
0.7
7:22
0.5
7:25
7:13
5
Tue
1:31
3.0
1:37
3.5
8:49
0.7
9:23
0.5
7:26
7:14
6
Wed
1:04
3.0
1:29
3.3
7:32
0.4
7:59
0.6
7:25
7:12
6
Wed
2:00
3.2
2:25
3.6
9:33
0.4
10:00
0.6
7:27
7:13
7
Thu
1:33
3.1
2:18
3.3
8:15
0.1
8:35
0.8
7:26
7:11
7
Thu
2:29
3.3
3:14
3.5
10:16
0.1
10:36
0.8
7:27
7:11
8
Fri
2:03
3.2
3:08
3.1
9:00
-0.1
9:12
1.0
7:26
7:10
8
Fri
2:59
3.5
4:04
3.4
11:01
-0.1
11:13
1.0
7:28
7:10
9
Sat
2:35
3.3
4:00
2.9
9:46
-0.2
9:49
1.3
7:27
7:09
9
Sat
3:31
3.6
4:56
3.2
11:47
-0.2
11:50
1.3
7:28
7:09
10
Sun
3:10
3.4
4:56
2.7
10:35
-0.2
10:28
1.5
7:27
7:08
10
Sun
4:06
3.6
5:52
2.9
12:36
-0.2
7:29
7:08
11
Mon
3:51
3.4
5:57
2.5
11:28
0.0
11:11
1.7
7:28
7:07
11
Mon
4:47
3.6
6:53
2.7
12:29
1.5
1:29
0.0
7:30
7:07
12
Tue
4:38
3.2
7:10
2.3
12:29
0.2
7:28
7:05
12
Tue
5:34
3.5
8:06
2.4
1:12
1.7
2:30
0.2
7:30
7:06
13
Wed
5:36
3.0
8:40
2.2
12:05
1.8
1:43
0.4
7:29
7:04
13
Wed
6:32
3.3
9:36
2.4
2:06
1.8
3:44
0.4
7:31
7:05
14
Thu
6:54
2.8
9:55
2.3
1:23
1.9
3:09
0.6
7:30
7:03
14
Thu
7:50
3.0
10:51
2.4
3:24
1.9
5:10
0.6
7:31
7:04
15
Fri
8:39
2.7
10:46
2.4
2:58
1.7
4:24
0.6
7:30
7:02
15
Fri
9:35
2.9
11:42
2.6
4:59
1.7
6:25
0.6
7:32
7:03
16
Sat
10:11
2.8
11:25
2.6
4:21
1.4
5:22
0.7
7:31
7:01
16
Sat
11:07
3.0
6:22
1.4
7:23
0.7
7:33
7:02
17
Sun
11:20
2.9
11:57
2.7
5:25
1.0
6:08
0.7
7:31
7:00
17
Sun
12:21
2.7
12:16
3.1
7:26
1.0
8:09
0.7
7:33
7:01
18
Mon
12:14
2.9
6:16
0.7
6:44
0.8
7:32
6:59
18
Mon
12:53
2.9
1:10
3.2
8:17
0.7
8:45
0.8
7:34
7:00
19
Tue
12:26
2.8
12:59
3.0
6:59
0.4
7:16
0.9
7:33
6:58
19
Tue
1:22
3.1
1:55
3.2
9:00
0.4
9:17
0.9
7:34
6:59
20
Wed
12:52
3.0
1:38
2.9
7:37
0.2
7:45
1.0
7:33
6:57
20
Wed
1:48
3.2
2:34
3.2
9:38
0.2
9:46
1.0
7:35
6:58
21
Thu
1:16
3.0
2:15
2.9
8:11
0.1
8:14
1.1
7:34
6:56
21
Thu
2:12
3.3
3:11
3.1
10:12
0.1
10:15
1.1
7:36
6:57
22
Fri
1:41
3.1
2:51
2.8
8:44
0.0
8:42
1.2
7:34
6:56
22
Fri
2:37
3.3
3:47
3.0
10:45
0.0
10:43
1.2
7:36
6:56
23
Sat
2:05
3.1
3:29
2.7
9:17
0.0
9:11
1.3
7:35
6:55
23
Sat
3:01
3.3
4:25
2.9
11:18
0.0
11:12
1.3
7:37
6:55
24
Sun
2:32
3.1
4:07
2.6
9:50
0.0
9:41
1.4
7:36
6:54
24
Sun
3:28
3.3
5:03
2.8
11:51
0.0
11:42
1.4
7:38
6:54
25
Mon
3:01
3.1
4:48
2.5
10:25
0.1
10:13
1.5
7:36
6:53
25
Mon
3:57
3.3
5:44
2.7
12:26
0.1
7:38
6:53
26
Tue
3:34
3.0
5:33
2.3
11:03
0.2
10:51
1.6
7:37
6:52
26
Tue
4:30
3.2
6:29
2.5
12:14
1.5
1:04
0.2
7:39
6:52
27
Wed
4:14
2.9
6:27
2.2
11:49
0.4
11:39
1.7
7:38
6:51
27
Wed
5:10
3.1
7:23
2.4
12:52
1.6
1:50
0.4
7:40
6:51
28
Thu
5:04
2.8
7:35
2.2
12:47
0.5
7:38
6:50
28
Thu
6:00
3.0
8:31
2.3
1:40
1.7
2:48
0.5
7:41
6:50
29
Fri
6:12
2.6
8:50
2.2
12:48
1.7
2:02
0.6
7:39
6:49
29
Fri
7:08
2.8
9:46
2.4
2:49
1.7
4:03
0.6
7:41
6:49
30
Sat
7:47
2.5
9:48
2.3
2:19
1.6
3:17
0.7
7:40
6:49
30
Sat
8:43
2.7
10:44
2.5
4:20
1.6
5:18
0.7
7:42
6:49
31
Sun
9:20
2.6
10:33
2.5
3:40
1.4
4:21
0.6
7:40
6:48
31
Sun
10:16
2.8
11:29
2.7
5:41
1.4
6:22
0.6
7:43
6:48
Moon
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OCTOBER 2021
TAMPA 7
CAPT. SERGIO’S CORNER BY: CAPT. SERGIO ATANES
JIGGING FOR GROUPER IN TAMPA BAY
D
eep jigging or vertical jigging is a fishing method that has been practiced around the world. For the best results, find a location with a moderate current and look for rocky areas, wrecks or other structure. A good bottom sounder is important in order to read not only the bottom but the fish. Position or anchor the boat directly over the structure or fish and drop a jig. The weight of the jig is determined by the current and depth of water, so I recommend having a good selection of jigs before starting on your jigging trip. Another method is drifting over the bottom across the rocks, ledges or wreck. Always drift parallel to the rocks or wreck. When you drift beyond the ledge, rocks or wreck area, crank up and start another up-current drift. Drop down to the bottom, crank one turn on the reel and start the drift again. Once the fish are located, it’s time to decide which lures will work best-metal jigs or soft plastic bait. Please note
8 TAMPA
OCTOBER 2021
that your lure should be heavy enough to always touch bottom at all times. Once a fish is hooked, drop a marker over the side, as this will give you a reference point for your next drift or to do a stationary drop. Always stay in touch. By this I mean you must always feel the jig, as this will help in hook setting and also keeping the jig from twisting around your leader or line. In fast currents or deep water, I prefer conventional reels with a fast retrieve medium action rod with 40-pound test braided line and a 36-inch 40-pound test clear mono leader. I find that a good grade of clear monofilament line works well and has a thinner diameter than fluorocarbon. In shallow waters of 15 to 30-feet, I prefer soft baits on spinning tackle, medium action rod spooled with 30-pound test braided line and a 36-inch fluorocarbon leader of 30-pound test. A tight drag is recommended since you are fishing over structure, and these fish will head for the nearest hole or structure when they strike. Good fishing and tight lines.
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OCTOBER 2021
TAMPA 9
BARRACUDA BOB’S CLEARWATER AND DUNEDIN BY: CAPT. JOE LONDOT
FISHING HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER AROUND DUNEDIN!
B
oy, what a year it’s been! FWC’s fish harvest ban kept many of us off the water, since we couldn’t keep any fish. Covid 19 intruded on our otherwise peaceful lives; closing businesses, keeping our kids out of school and tourists away from our state, and the beaches on Honeymoon Island were too rocky for fishing or playing. Then the vaccines came out and eased Covid concerns, the fish harvest ban ended on June 1st, and Honeymoon Island beaches were restored to their former glory. Everything was looking up and people started getting out to enjoy the great outdoors and some fine fishing again, when another Red Tide outbreak started killing fish again in Mid-June. At that same time, Delta variant raised its ugly head in Florida, filling our hospitals with sick people again, and FWC extended the fish harvest ban to October 11th. It seems we just can’t catch a break from all this tragedy. Well, here’s some good news! Hurricane Elsa swept the Red Tide away from the waters around Barracuda Bob’s over the 4th of July weekend, Red Tide in south Pinellas pushed tons of fish up to our area, the fish harvest ban ends October 11th and, if you believe news reports, Delta variant has peaked in Florida and will soon work its way out of our lives.
10 TAMPA
OCTOBER 2021
The beaches on Honeymoon Island are fully restored, offering wide expanses of sugar white sand to play on, and fishing around here has never been better. Our customers are reporting record catches of speckled trout, red fish, snook, flounder and mangrove snapper, and they are landing big tarpon right around the Causeway bridges. One of our regulars caught two nice tarpon off the little bridge the other day and showed us the video to prove it. Outdoor and water temperatures are cooling, the sun is shining, red fish are schooling and there’s never been a better time to get out and beat the “stuck indoors blues.” Gather up your rods and reels, load the family into your car and head on over to Barracuda Bob’s for the best in bait, tackle and beach gear. And, get out there on the water and enjoy yourselves. We’ll even tell you where the fish are biting. We live in paradise. Let’s start acting like it again! See y’all out there, Capt. Joe Photos courtesy of Rosemary White Barracuda Bob’s Clearwater and Dunedin Visit us at 240 Causeway Blvd. Dunedin, FL 34698 | 727-466-1776 Check us out on Facebook or at www.BarracudaBobs.net
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OCTOBER 2021
TAMPA 11
SKINNY WATER REPORT BY: DERICK BURGOS & NATALIE MANRIQUE
F
all is here despite the high 80’s-low 90’s temperatures; T-shirts, sandals and shorts get stored and replaced with waders, boots and jackets soon. Fall also means our flats, bays and beaches begin to come back to life. Fish of all species occupy these areas in search of bait returning from offshore. As the water temp cools down, the bite will improve. Late season pelagics are making a showing again and will be gone by the end of the month. Big black drum will be pushing their way up and down Tampa Bay in huge numbers. Start looking for the first signs of heavy boat traffic near the bridge pylons to join in on the rodeo. This is an awesome ritual that drives anglers from all over and gives them an opportunity to sight cast these over-sized beasts. Tarpon will still show until the end of the month as they make a pit stop in Tampa Bay during their migration toward the Caribbean. Look for snook to be outside river and creek mouths pushing up toward the mangrove shorelines and in the passes, as well as, some slackers still lingering
on the beach. I predict much bigger fish this season, so please practice safe handling. Redfish will be spread out in the bay laying in potholes, grass edges, oyster bars and points. Look for shallow, muddy areas and don’t forget the oyster bars. Keep your eyes peeled for tailers as the tide recedes, and work them with a stealthy approach. Finding trout will be a piece of cake. Schoolies will be just about everywhere with bigger fish nearby. Look for them in shallow potholes in the early morning hours, then go deeper as the sun comes up. Among these species you will also begin to encounter tons of juvenile sharks, ladyfish, permit, pompano, tripletail and much more. October is definitely a great month, but it’s only the beginning of the season. purefloridaws@gmail.com purefloridawatersports.com 813-602-8824
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OCTOBER 2021
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HERNANDO COUNTY BY: CAPT. JOEL GANT
FALL FISHING
F
all is in the air and it’s my favorite time of year. Not only for a break in the humidity, but the fall fishing really gets going this time of year. With the water temperatures slowly dropping, all the offshore and inshore species will be a lot more active. Due to the tropical storms in September, the winds and tides have been stirred up in the Gulf waters. On recent offshore charter trips, I’m looking for water clarity. Once I find clearer water, I look for spots I’ve marked in my GPS and start fishing these areas. The gag grouper and white grunt bite has been getting better every day with the water getting more stable. Look for these fish to be around some type of structure. With the dirtier water, they will want to have security and find their food source near these structures. As the water gets cooler, look for the red grouper to start coming in from deeper water. They can be caught in the same areas as the Gag grouper. Live frozen bait or fresh cut baits will work in getting these fish to bite. I also like to start catching grunts before dropping for grouper. Another little tip, try cutting up some baits and start chumming the area before you drop down. It
14 TAMPA
OCTOBER 2021
never hurts to get a little feeding frenzy going to get the fish curious. The stone crabbers will also be starting to put out their traps this month. These traps are like thousands of chum blocks being spread out over the entire region, which will attract fish into these areas. Inshore fishing should really turn on this month. Look for redfish, snook and trout anywhere from around the spoil islands to the back waters. On calm water days, try using a top water bait with a “walk the dog” presentation. Once you get a handle on this retrieve and an explosive strike, you’ll be hooked on top water baits. My other baits of choice are swim/twitch baits by Rapala, MirrOdines or plastic jerk baits on a 1/4-ounce jig head bounced on the bottom. If you can find the hungry or even better the fish that didn’t go to school that day, I can promise you will catch fish. Here is a treat for Halloween--some numbers from Fishdaddy. Get out there on the water and make some memories!
SHALLOW REEF SITES:
Site A 28 33.231 82 44.277 25 reefballs Site B 28 32.949 82 45.760 58 reefballs Site C 28 32.181 82 45.954 52 reefballs Capt. Joel Gant operates Fishdaddy Charters out of Hernando Beach. Coast guard licensed, insured and Federal permitted. He knows the local waters like the back of his hand, and works both inshore and offshore trips. Check him out on facebook or you can reach him at (352) 279-1615. Visit his website, www.fishdaddycharter.com
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TALES FROM THE BY: CAPT. WOODY GORE TUPPERWARE NAVY BY: BRUCE BUTLER
W
elcome Back Yak fans. To add to your fund of useless information, as close as I can guess, this is the 120th time I’ve opened a story with that greeting. What I’m getting at is that this story marks the beginning of my 13th year with the Coastal Angler Magazine. Where did the time go? I was the first kayak guy to write for them and look at us now. Without a doubt, kayak fishing is the fastest-growing segment of both fresh and saltwater fishing. Well, what can I say? Back in 1980, when I first took up kayak fishing, I thought I was onto something and boy was I right. As a sport, we have really come a long way! Anyway, let’s talk fishing. The bad news is that catfish are everywhere, so artificials are the way to go, unless you just want to catch something. But, of course, that’s still leaves you with getting that slimy barbed thing off your hook! But, as they say, to each their own. Well enough of that, let’s talk about species we actually want to catch. The snook bite on the Nature Coast has been good, though not stellar! Oh, it’s not that they’re not there, it’s that they seem to be in an early-morning pattern. So, if you’re not on the water before the sun comes up, they ain’t biting. But, for those intrepid souls that hit the water early, you will be rewarded. The topwater bite, on of course my trusty Zara Spook Jr in bone, has brought on some major explosions during the magic hour at dawn. The redfish bite, at least on my last trip, was challenging. But, I was fishing after a storm, so that could change. It’s not that I couldn’t find them, I somehow kept paddling on top of them. You know big explosion, boat rocks, fish gone! Not all got away though and this time of year, they look like pumpkins (super bright orange). Pretty cool!
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TAMPA 15
REELING IN THE FUN Veterans’ Day Weekend!
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Gulfport Marina, Clam Bayou Tournament & Festival for the Whole Family! SPECIES Photo Release: Snook Redfish Trout Weigh-In: Mangrove Snapper Sheepshead Flounder
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his Veterans’ Day weekend join us for an event that has something for everyone! Rock the Bay Inshore Fishing Tournament and Festival sponsored by the Treasure Island & Madeira Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Gulfport Merchants Chamber and the Gulfport Marina is bringing our beach and the Bay together! “This event is for our communities conjointly and supports local business and veterans. It also encourages families to get out and enjoy our world class water ways,” said Barry Rubin, TIMB Chamber President. Kicking off the festivities anglers, families and the community will gather for a Captain’s party on Thursday, November 11th at Gulfport Marina, Clam Bayou. There will be food and drinks from O’Maddy’s Bar & Grille, vendors, live music, raffles and tournament registration and check in. Line’s in… Anglers hit the inshore water-ways on Saturday, November 13th, on the hunt for some of the most popular inshore species. Photo release of Snook, Redfish and Trout. Brought back to the scales will be Mangrove Snapper, Sheepshead and Flounder. This assortment of species that are so plentiful to catch encourage anglers of every skill level to come out and participate! With over $6,000 in cash and prizes, and payouts of $500 for first place, $300 for second place and $200 for third place in each species. Winning anglers will also receive a one-of-a-kind trophy from Creative Metals Design. The party continues at the weigh in with all of the fun festivities from the Captain’s meeting plus a community fish fry!
IT’S NOT JUST A FISHING TOURNAMENT… Rock the Bay Benefits Wounded Warriors Abilities Ranch (WWAR), a local veterans’ notfor-profit charity offering a range of activities, workshops, clinics and events for veterans.
VETERAN’S DAY WEEKEND BENEFITING
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EVENT SCHEDULE AND ENTRY FEE:
Captains Party: Thursday, November 11th, from 5:00- 9:00pm Fishing: Saturday, November 13th, from 6:30am-3:00pm Weigh-in, Awards & Festival: November 13th, from 2:00pm-7:00pm Early Bird Registrations by Oct 30th, $75 per angler Tournament Chartered Boat $850
Full details and tournament registration at
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Details & Register TIMBCHAMBER.ORG 16 TAMPA
OCTOBER 2021
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HOT SURF FISHING
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he weather is starting to cool, and days are shorter. Sunrise is a 7 a.m., and it’s getting dark around 7:15 p.m. At the end of October, daylight savings time will begin. Fishing on the beach has been improving, and October is an excellent beach-fishing month. Snook and tarpon have been cruising near the trough, and my friend Larry recently hooked a tarpon that was so big it straightened out the treble hooks on his Krocodile spoon. Snook are being caught on live bait (greenies or croakers) but are also hitting jigs and crankbaits. In October, you may harvest one snook between 28 and 32 inches, except in the catchand-release areas on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The weeds (sargassum) are much better, and the wind has not been that bad. In general, tides are higher and the trough is deep. Croakers and whiting are hitting small jigs tipped with shrimp, and they can also be caught on small jigs. Cast, let the jig hit bottom, and then jerk it near the top of the water and let it sit. The fish are trying to pick it off the sand. Numbers of small jacks have been reported, with an average size of 2 pounds. I usually use 3/8-ounce DOA chartreuse jig with a 4-inch pearl Shad Tail. I’ve had good luck for jacks, ladyfish and snook when there is bait present. Look for birds, and then walk the shoreline looking for bait. Most of the fishing action is in the trough during high incoming or outgoing tides. The best time to fish is morning and evening. I’ve had more luck this year fishing slower and keeping the lure down near the bottom. On low tide, the fish are not in the trough; look for deeper shorelines. I’ve been fishing the bridges in the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie around dusk and at night. There’s some hot night fishing on topwater for snook where overhead lights hit the water. I use Zara Spooks (gold) and Rapala Skitterwalks (trout) and have been getting some great action on preslot snook. If you fish from the bridge, you’ll need a long-handled net. Try fishing around the lights on Jensen Beach Causeway or the 10-cent bridge in Stuart. Crabs are swimming along with the current near the top of the water. Predator fish are looking to the top to grab them. Both bridges are excellent snook spots, and you might just catch a big trout. Richard Matteson is a longtime contributor to Coastal Angler Magazine who writes for Stuart Rod and Reel Club. Contact him at (336) 414-3440.
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OCTOBER 2021
FLORIDA 15
PRESSURE IER
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By Ryan Izquierdo
hen I was 12 years old, I moved to Palm Beach County, and I didn’t know anyone. I found a great way to spend my time when I discovered the Juno Beach Pier. From the first moment I walked out on that beachfront pier, my addiction for pier fishing was born. I have become a better fisherman and a better person because of it. What I find most exciting about pier fishing is the diversity it offers. Seasonal changes bring different species to catch and a variety of techniques to catch them. Bait & Lures: Organization is key. There is usually a limit on how many rods you’re allowed to bring on the pier. I bring a light spinning rod to catch bait, a conventional rod for casting live baits on bottom and a long surf rod to cast lures and freeline live baits. I always have Sabiki rigs. Usually you can find pods of pilchards, sardines, cigar minnows or other baitfish at piers. I use a size 3 Sabiki and a 1-ounce weight. Cast into the school and jig slowly. You will have a bucket of live bait in no time. From tarpon and snapper to snook, pretty much every species will eat a live pilchard. I keep a little bit of everything in my tackle bag to match the conditions: leader from 20 to 80 pounds, pyramid and egg weights, swivels and 1/0 to 6/0 J and circle hooks. Mullet Run: The changing of seasons initiates the mullet run. Millions of baitfish push south along Florida’s east coast. It’s not hard to spot or hear. Mullet are being attacked from every direction by hungry tarpon, snook,
16 FLORIDA
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jacks, Spanish and king mackerel, bluefish and sharks. I recommend buying or cast netting mullet on the beach or in the river. Make sure to have a livewell or bucket and bubbler to keep the bait alive. Hook mullet through the lips or under the dorsal fin. Live-line them around the outside edges of bait schools with 60- to 100-pound leader, a 6/0 to 8/0 circle hook, and nothing smaller than a 5000size reel loaded with 30- to 50-pound braid. I recommend a drop net to help land and release your catch safely. Artificial Lures: I love to throw artificial lures at piers. I find the most success when the wind is blowing and the conditions are rough with white wash in the surf. Large 2- to 4-ounce plugs, swimbaits, Flair Hawks, bucktails and topwater plugs are some of my favorites. If I’m throwing lures, I won’t use anything less than 60-pound leader. Throw lures at first light and sundown because it can be tough hooking up in the middle of the day. Try and match the hatch with whatever live bait is around. Throw lures similar in size and color to what’s actually in the water. For more pier fishing tips from Ryan Izquierdo, check out the videos posted on his YouTube channel: Ryan Iz Fishing.
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OCTOBER 2021
FLORIDA 17
21
From Yam just
STONE CRAB HARVEST OPENS OCTOBER 15TH
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tone crab season opens Oct. 15 and runs through May 1. Remember that regulations changes were made last year that changed requirements for traps as well as the minimum length for legally harvestable claws. The minimum harvestable claw length is 2 7/8 inches. Trapping is the most efficient method of collecting the legal limit of 1-gallon of stone crab claws per-person, per-day. There is a 2-gallon possession limit per vessel, regardless of how many harvesters are on the boat. Requirements for stone crab traps are also very specific, so be sure to check the current regulations at myfwc.com before dropping them. Legal traps can be purchased at most bait and tackle stores. Recreational harvesters are allowed up to five traps. Although it’s not nearly as easy as pulling traps, diving and snorkeling for stone crabs is more adventurous and a lot of fun. In many areas, you can find spiny lobsters and stone crabs on the same reefs or rock piles. Whether diving or trapping, it is illegal to harvest claws from eggbearing females. Although it is permitted to take both claws if they are of legal length, most people choose to take just one. This leaves the crab with something to feed and defend itself with, which also allows it to re-grow its missing claw more quickly. For more information, go to myfwc.com.
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ith students across the country returning to school, Mud Hole Custom Tackle stepped up in its efforts to bring custom fishing rod building and tackle crafting to the youth of America. As the industry’s number one supplier of tools, supplies, components and education content, Mud Hole is uniquely positioned to engage kids and create an educational experience through rod building. “We’ve been working closely with teachers and school organizations throughout the United States for over a decade, teaching students valuable life skills, and in many cases, providing an avenue to earn required academic credits in their science and agriculture programs,” said Brook Oliva, Vice President of Operations at Mud Hole. “Rod building is the core of our business, and we are always excited to bring this craft to kids. Whether they pursue rod building as a pathway to a career in the hunting and fishing industry, or if they simply gain a lifelong passion, Mud Hole is happy to play a small part in their development.” Mud Hole works very closely with educators as well as youth groups and clubs, including Boy Scouts of America and 4-H, to provide discounted pricing for all the equipment and supplies needed to bring rod building and tackle crafting to the classroom. Mud Hole also provides personal online instruction to the teachers, sharing the skills needed to transfer rod building 24 FLORIDA
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expertise to their students. Since its inception over 13 years ago, the Mud Hole Education Program has reached more than 650 institutions and over 30,000 students across America and in Canada and Australia, with hands on activities that promote classroom engagement. “It’s an honor for me to work directly with the teachers who bring this important skill set to students across the country,” said Anthony Youmans, Mud Hole’s Education Program Director. “I lead online rod building workshops each month dedicated to teachers, and I attend state-level teacher conventions throughout the year. We have even set up a Mud Hole Education Program Facebook group as a platform for educators to share their experiences and techniques with each other. It’s an amazing community, and I am so proud to support it.” In 2021, Mud Hole has stepped up efforts to reach new students with new classroom-focused education kits and enhanced price discounts, and adding new online resources to assist teachers through their curriculum— by all with the goal of supporting education. For more information about Mud Hole’s Education Program, contact Anthony Youmans directly at 866-790-7637, ext. 135.
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DRAG: SET IT AND FORGET IT
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By Will Schmidt
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cringe every time I see it, whether it’s a seasoned pro or newbie. A fish makes a blistering run; the angler reaches down to tighten the drag only to part ways with the fish due to too much pressure. There are a variety of reasons why tightening the drag during a fight is a bad idea. First, as the diameter of the spool gets smaller with less line, the drag already actually increases. The spool is spinning at the same rate, but less line is coming off. Physics, who knew? Also, the drag of the line itself in the water adds more strain—the more line, the more pressure. Finally, even if the line doesn’t break, the chances of pulling or straightening the hook increases with the additional load. Worst of all, losing a fish due to applying too much pressure is one of the easiest things to avoid. Set your drag and forget it. Old-school tactics still hold true today when it comes to setting a drag. Set it to 20 to 30 percent of line test strength. For example, if you’re using 10-pound test, you want your drag to be set between 2 and 3 pounds, 4 to 6 pounds for 20-pound test. To do this, you need a scale and a friend to hold it. An inexpensive spring scale will do the trick. Attach the line to the scale and pull against it. When the drag starts slipping, read the scale and that’s your drag setting. There’s some debate as to whether you should pull straight or with a bend in the rod. I use a bend, and it has never failed me. I generally set my drags at 25 percent of the test strength of the line, but there are certain situations that call for going higher and lower. If you are grouper fishing or chasing big snook near structure, you need to be able to turn the fish by applying maximum pressure. In this case, setting your drag more toward 30 percent of the test strength would be advisable. Because this rule was devised before the advent of braid, the type of line should also be
considered. The stretch of mono gives you a bit of forgiveness at the strike and during jumps. When setting the drag for braid, lighter or closer to 20 or 25 percent would be sensible. Many seasoned anglers, myself included, will add extra pressure to turn a wayward fish by thumbing or palming the spool. This can be useful, but it takes practice to get that touch, and all who do it will at some point apply too much pressure. Sometimes it’s a case of turn the fish or lose it, so your only option is to apply more pressure. However, in general, your best bet is to set it and forget it. Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler who has been writing about fishing for more than two decades.
Gulf Cobia Study Underway
T
exas researchers are conducting some pretty cool research with Gulf of Mexico cobia in order to better understand the migratory patterns of this highly mobile species. Each spring and fall, you’ll see tower-bearing cobia boats cruising Gulf Coast beaches sight fishing for cobia as they migrate along the coast from Texas to the west coast of Florida and back again. Research has shown that brownies over-winter off the coast of Mississippi and Alabama as well as off South Florida, where there is mixing of Gulf and Atlantic cobia stocks. Researchers with the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation are tagging Texas cobia with pop-up satellite archival transmitting tags (PSATs) to better understand the species. Many Texas anglers have reported declining cobia landings in recent years. Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and federal agencies have funded additional assessments of Texas’ cobia populations. Areas of interest are post-release survival, habitat use patterns and seasonal movements. Evaluating whether or not cobia stocks mix between U.S. and Mexican waters is of particular interest. It could have Gulf-wide management implications if the stock overlap between the U.S. Gulf and Mexican waters is high. To learn more about the program, and how to claim your reward if you catch a tagged one, check out this video: https://bit.ly/LoneStarLing.
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INSPECT AND MAINTAIN YOUR BOAT’S HYDRAULIC STEERING E
By the Experts at Dometic Marine
xperienced boaters know regular inspection, preventative maintenance and fixing small problems before they become large ones are keys to trouble-free time on the water. Many boaters, however, tend to overlook hydraulic steering systems. This isn’t surprising, given these systems’ reliability and durability. Owners of outboardpowered boats expect smooth, easy steering control and rarely think about steering-system components until they wear out or need repair. According to Brian Dudra, vice president/ general manager for Dometic Marine, boaters can ensure trouble-free steering and extend the life of components through simple inspections and maintenance. “While each of our hydraulic systems are designed for the harsh marine environment, like any critical control system, it requires periodic checks and maintenance,” Dudra explained. “As per your owner’s manual and product labels, hydraulic steering systems should be inspected prior to every use for fluid level, steering response, leaks or worn/ binding components.” In addition, most systems require a small amount of maintenance from a qualified dealer every six months. Here’s how to inspect and care for your hydraulic steering system. Check the Helm: Starting with the steering helm, make sure the steering cylinder and helm hydraulic hose connections are tight. Dudra recommends greasing the helm shaft when installing the steering wheel to facilitate easier future removal. Check hydraulic fluid level inside the helm by unscrewing the fill plug and looking inside. The level should be 1/8- to ¼-inch below the lowest thread in the fill port. If lower than this, fill the helm to the proper level, but avoid over-filling. Check steering response when turning the wheel. It should respond within a quarter turn. If not, the system might need fluid or there might be air in the system, which requires purging. For tilt-and-lock steering helms, make sure the plastic covers are secured. Inspect Hoses & Fittings: When inspecting hoses, run your hand down them to feel for cuts, chafing or cracks. If you discover wear, have a qualified service shop replace suspect hoses. Also, ensure hose fittings are tight. Feel for hydraulic fluid leaks or weeps by running a finger around the fitting. If you find a leak, tighten the fitting. If that fails, have a qualified service shop address the issue.
Check Steering Cylinder & Glands:
Most outboard-powered boats use front-mounted hydraulic steering cylinders. The cylinder should be periodically inspected with focus on the cylinder hose connections and glands on each end of the cylinder to ensure there are no leaks. 12 NATIONAL
OCTOBER 2021
Inspect the glands, which contain seals, on the ends of the steering cylinder by running your finger around the edges. If you discover fluid weeping, it’s time to replace the gland with authentic SeaStar parts. Check the steering cylinder’s shaft and support rod. Inspect the cylinder shaft for salt buildup, corrosion and nicks that might damage the cylinder. Major damage might require replacement of the entire cylinder. Apply a thin film of grease to the visible portions of the support rod. Remove and inspect the rod annually. The support rod and outboard tilt tube must be cleaned of old grease and debris prior to re-applying quality marine grease before re-installing.
Fix Leaks: If the hose fittings are weeping fluid, the hoses might require replacement. The same applies to the glands. SeaStar offers a gland replacement kit and O-ring seals for the bleeders and other fittings. If you follow the provided instructions carefully, fixing leaks is relatively easy for competent DIY boaters. You can also turn the job over to a qualified marine shop. To ensure the steering is secure and tight, check all assembly nuts for proper tightness,
including the adjusting nut on the starboard side of the support rod. Purge Air: Air in the hydraulic steering system causes sloppy unresponsive steering and noisy operation. It can make your boat unsafe. Air finds its way into the hydraulic system through leaks or when replacing key components. It must be purged through a process called “bleeding.” Your owner’s manual explains bleeding. If you lack confidence, tools or manpower to do it yourself, ask a qualified marine shop to handle this.
Check for Water Intrusion. Make sure water hasn’t entered the system. Water can cause damage and internal corrosion. “This is a subjective examination, but can be performed by taking a syringe and sampling the fluid in the helm reservoir,” Dudra advised. “If the fluid looks like ‘chocolate milk,’ then the fluid is likely contaminated with water.” If this occurs, the entire system must be inspected for leaks. Once these are fixed, the system should be flushed with clean oil to remove any contaminated oil. To learn more about marine steering and components from the industry leader, visit www.dometic.com.
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Together. Carrying what matters most. 14 NATIONAL
OCTOBER 2021
By Rex Hannon
S
itting in the Cancun International Airport, I couldn’t help but reflect on the past 15 days on Mexico’s beautiful Caribbean coast. In August, I traveled to the little fishing village Xcalak to compete in the Silver Scales International Fly Fishing Tournament. Xcalak is a quaint little village very near the border of Belize in southern Quintana Roo. It doesn’t make it on most tourist lists. In fact, a large 9:54 AM percentage of Mexican citizens have probably never heard of the place. If it wasn’t for Xcalak’s world-class flats fishery, even fewer would know of it. The Silver Scales International Fly Fishing Tournament is an annual gathering of some of the finest saltwater fly fishers on the planet. The tournament focuses on the “grand slam” of permit, bonefish and tarpon. Combine that with a snook, and you have the “super slam.” Points are assigned for each fish, and there’s an added bonus for anglers who catch a slam. The grand slam is all three species in a 24-hour period, or in this case the day’s allotted fishing hours. Xcalak is an amazing fishery. If your bucket list includes the pursuit of this elusive challenge, there is no better place on the planet. Sighting schools of bonefish is commonplace, but the real prize is the abundance of “black-tailed devils” known as permit. Just because there are great numbers of these highly sought after game fish, they are by no mean easy. It’s much more fishing than catching. Fifteen teams and 30 total anglers fished three days in 2021, and the results were impressive. There were seven grand slams caught and two super slams. Total catch included 27 bonefish, three snook, 13 tarpon and 22 permit. Like I stated earlier, the Silver Scales draws some very talented anglers from around the globe. Brothers Javier and Mauricio Osorio, of Escamas Plateadas dedicated months to ensure the gathering was a success. The success our team “Fly Fish Costa Maya” is due to the passion and dedication of my friend Will Robins and the hard work and intimate knowledge of our guide Moises Cordova. The tournament is a grueling three days of hot sun, little sleep and nothing short of physical torture. It was one of the best times of my life. Preparation, hard work and endurance paid off in a respectable fourth-place finish. But, our success in fishing the tournament was nowhere near the highlight of this trip. Just knowing there are special places and people like this warms the heart and makes you want to return. I was anxious to board the plane for home and see my beautiful wife, but— with God’s blessing—I know I’ll return to this place soon.
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FISH A LIPLESS CRANK
T
TYLER WOOLCOTT
he weather is cooling, and bass are feeding heavily before the spawn. This time of year, baitfish is prevalent in waters across the country, and there is one lure that puts fish in the boat just about everywhere. This bait is a lipless crankbait. A lipless crank can play a huge role in getting baitfish-feeding bass to bite. I use it all over the country. Sometimes it’s as easy as casting it out and retrieving it steadily. But sometimes it’s a bit more complicated. Inside the lure, there are rattles. Sizes vary from ¼-ounce up to an ounce, and it is best to match the size of baitfish bass are feeding on. There are different types of rattles inside different lures. Two I like are a multi-rattle and a one-knock. Multi-rattles make a lot of noise. I throw this style when fish are very active and feeding heavily. The noise draws their attention from real baitfish and gets them to react and eat your bait. I like the one-knocker version and its slower, deeper-pitch knock when fish are feeding on baitfish, but not very actively. Fish tend to scatter out when they aren’t actively feeding, and that deeper pitch can sometimes trigger them to bite. There are many ways to retrieve a lipless crankbait. A steady retrieve can sometimes be the trick, especially if you see bass
feeding. But my absolute favorite way to fish a lipless crank is to yo-yo it. This is a varied retrieve with the reel handle, with an occasional pull and pause with the rod to let the bait flutter up and fall back down. This technique is deadly. When you pull the bait up fast, it makes a loud rattle. Then, when you let it flutter down, it looks like an injured baitfish, and bass can’t resist it. In the fall, bass also feed on crayfish in some parts of the country. A lipless crank can be a massive player in this scenario. When crayfish flee, their tails smack against their bodies and make a clacking noise similar to a rattle. When deciding colors, I match the color of the lure to the color of the baitfish present. 13 Fishing makes an awesome lure called the Magic Man that comes in both multirattle and one-knocker versions. When matching baitfish, I use chromes, whites and sometimes chartreuse. When mimicking crayfish, I use reds and oranges.
Trap Fishing Gear I’ve done a ton of experimenting with setups for lipless cranks, and I’ve got it down to a science. When dealing with treble hooks, you want a rod with a decent amount of backbone and a bit of bend to let the fish get the hooks. I use a 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’4MH Moderate action rod. I pair this with a 7:1 Concept A 13 Fishing reel spooled with 15-pound Seaguar Abrazx line. Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
OCTOBER 2021
NATIONAL 15
PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES
TIPS FOR CATCH-AND-RELEASE FLOUNDER
A MONSTER CANADIAN STURGEON
W
hite Sturgeon can live longer than 100 years, so it’s likely this monster fish has been swimming between the northern Pacific and British Columbia’s Fraser River for the better part of a century. According to the Vancouver Sun, it took a group of Canadian anglers about 25 minutes to land this huge sturgeon in August. It stretched the tape to 11-feet, 6-inches and had a girth of 55 inches. An estimate based on those measurements puts the weight of the fish near 900 pounds. That would make it a Canadian provincial record for the species, according to the Sun. The anglers were fishing the Fraser River east of Vancouver. National Hockey League great Pete Peeters and his buddy Jake Driedger took turns on the rod. White sturgeon are widely protected, which makes them a difficult species in terms of records. In British Columbia, catch-and-release fishing for sturgeon is allowed, but fish longer than 5 feet must remain in the water before release. These protections as well their size makes it nearly impossible to get a certified weight on angler catches. The IGFA all-tackle world record white sturgeon was caught in 1983 and weighed just 468 pounds. There have been several reported but uncertified catches heavier than 1,000 pounds, including a 12-foot, 4-incher caught in 2012 from the Fraser River. It was estimated at 1,100 pounds. However, it’s likely the all-tackle record is permanent because it’s no longer possible to weigh white sturgeon. For more on fishing opportunities in British Columbia, see www.gofishbc.com.
16 NATIONAL
OCTOBER 2021
By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
s the weather changes, so do the fishing patterns. This year, along with the seasonal changes, we also have some regulation changes to keep in mind. Here in Texas and also in Florida there are new closed seasons for flounder in 2021. From Nov. 1-Dec. 14, Texas flounder will be catch and release only. In Florida, the recreational season will be closed Oct. 15-Nov. 30. These closures are part of regulations-tightening trend for Gulf and Atlantic states after a federal study showed southern flounder numbers at historically low levels. I’m happy to report we’re still catching flounder, but be sure to check for updates to your state’s seasons and bag limits before applying the following tips. I enjoy the precise approach to successfully and consistently catch flounder. Although I won’t be able to harvest any during the closed period, I’ll still land some saddle blankets for photos before release. I’ll also modify my tactics to improve my hook-up ratio, which will also increase the odds of flounder survival during this spawning season. While targeting flounder, I generally pause after I feel the initial strike. I do this for a few reasons. Flounder hold their prey in locked jaws for a period of time in order to kill the bait and reposition it before swallowing. I don’t get as many hook-ups when setting the hook on the first thump of a flounder strike. In preparation for the closed season, I’ve practiced downsizing lures. A shorter and smaller profile significantly increased my first-strike hookup ratio. A lure that has proven very effective is the new 3.25-inch Knockin Tail Lure. It has a small profile, which allows for a wider gap between the plastic and the hook tip. With the boney jaw of a flounder, ample hook exposure increases penetration. This lure also has a built-in tail rattle and a ton of action. When targeting flounder, I start each day with a new jighead, and I might even replace it during the day depending on the bottom structure in the area. A sharp hook is crucial to consistently piercing a flounder’s jaw, which is where most of the hooks will be if you’re not waiting for the second or third bite, which is what I do if I plan to retain my catch. I also recommend a jighead with a strong solid hook with little to no flex. My final tip for targeting flounder is to use bright colors. Any color can work, but I catch more flounder on bright patterns. Some of my favorites are, white/limetruese, chartreuse with glitter and a bright green/bright red combo. I hope these tips give you the edge during this year’s flounder runs. Don’t forget to take a kid fishing. Flounder can be an easy target for young anglers, even on lures. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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