Coastal Angler Magazine | December 2022 | Tampa Bay Edition

PHOTO

UpSwitzerland

A watch that revolutionized timekeeping at a price equally as radical.

In the history of timepieces, few moments are more important than the creation of the world’s first Piezo timepiece. First released to the public in 1969, the watch turned the entire industry on its head, ushering in a new era of timekeeping. It’s this legacy that we’re honoring with the Timemaster Watch, available only through Stauer at a price only we can offer.

Prior to Piezo watches, gravity-driven Swiss watches were the standard bearer of precision timekeeping. But all that changed when the first commercially available Piezo watch came onto the market.

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“[Piezo timepieces]...it would shake the Swiss watch industry to its very foundations.”

Foundation For Economic Education

With the Timemaster we’ve set one of the world’s most important mechanical advances inside a decidedly masculine case. A handsome prodigy in rich leather and gold-finished stainless steel. The simplicity of the watch’s case belies an ornately detailed dial, which reflects the prestige of this timepiece.

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Editor In Chief

Coastal Angler Magazine

The Angler Magazine

www.CoastalAnglerMag.com

TROUT TIPS FOR Wintertime

By Nick Carter

Trout like cold water, but there’s no denying the slow down that occurs on most wintertime trout fisheries. When water temps fall into the low 40s and below, insect life and other food sources are less prevalent. Trout metabolisms slow and they go into energy-conservation mode. They are content to hover near the bottom out of heavy current and feed only when an easy opportunity arises.

That said, fish still need to eat, and intrepid anglers will find joy in the seclusion of a wintertime trout stream. Here are some tips to raise the odds of a great wintertime trout trip. Dress warmly, wade carefully and savor the taste of the ice you suck from your rod guides.

1) Choose Destinations Wisely: Winter is not the time to explore high-elevation brook trout streams. Instead, float a tailwater, where water temps are consistent year-round, or go to lower elevation streams that are a bit warmer. For a target-rich environment, try out a delayed-harvest fishery. They are stocked heavily through the cooler months.

2) Fish Warm Spells: Two or three days of consistently warmer weather are primetime in terms of winter trout fishing. Everything in the stream, from the trout to the bugs and baitfish they eat, perks up.

By the same logic, the best bite is usually during the warmest part of the day. Sun warms the shallows, bringing out the tiny little midges, black stoneflies and blue-winged olives that are wintertime staples. Even if the action is subsurface, trout will take advantage of easy feeding opportunities.

3) Fish Meticulously: Unless trout are visibly rising, subsurface is the way to go. Turn your attention away from the riffles where rainbows pop dry flies in spring, and look to the deeper, slower runs. Pick them apart with nymph rigs. Keep in mind that most winter food items will be small, but fish a variety of sizes and patterns at the same time and cover every inch of each run vertically and horizontally. The idea is to hit a fish in the nose, and this is best achieved fishing slowly and carefully.

If you want to tempt a giant trout, it’s a good time to dead drift a big streamer with the same meticulous patience. Don’t hesitate to fish a heavy streamer deep under an indicator. Sometimes a big mouthful is enough to convince a lock-jawed bruiser to eat.

4) Fish Safely: Flooding your waders can kill you when it’s frigid. During cold snaps, consider fishing near the truck, where a quick jog can put you in a heated cab if you get wet. If you do go into the backcountry, take a dry-bag with fire-starting equipment, a towel and a change of clothes.

Wherever you fish, wade carefully, avoid stepping on frozen-over rocks, kick any snow off your boots before entering the water and avoid taking chances like wading deep water or heavy flows.

Nick Carter is the author of “Flyfisher’s Guide to North Carolina & Georgia.” Contact him at nsc8957@gmail.com.

Berkeley County, South Carolina

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

Peacock Bass Luxury

Next stop Manaus, Brazil! It all started when my good friend Capt. Johnny Stabile called.

J: I know what you’re going to say before I even ask.

G: What is it?

J: Do you want to go Peacock fishing in Brazil?

G: When?

J: We would leave 13 days after our Alaska trip.

Of course, my response was, “Ok, sounds great!”

That would give me just enough time to get back from Alaska, fulfill orders for my business, and get things ready to head south. We flew out of Miami, and with a layover in Panama City, Panama met up with several other fishermen on the expedition. After a very long night of traveling, we finally landed in Brazil and hopped on a quick seaplane ride to the Rio Matupiri for six and a half days of non-stop fishing!

We stayed aboard the Amazon Legend with a very accommodating crew of 14. We ate like kings and fished hard. Our typical day of fishing consisted of getting up before the sun for a quick breakfast and loading into skiffs to spend the day zipping around to the guide’s best fishing spots. We threw a variety of lures, mostly topwaters like big choppers and walking baits. Johnny’s favorites of the trip were a Rebel Jumping Minnow and a Borboleta Woodstock 10.5 cm. He wore out the peacock bass on that Jumping Minnow. I threw bucktail jigs, and they produced the largest number of fish, but for Johnny it was all about the BIG’UNS!

Johnny loves to fly fish, so one special thing about fishing in Brazil for him was catching several nice fish on the fly rod with easy-to-tie flies that he made myself. These fish are so much more aggressive than the peacock bass you find in south Florida. For a little perspective, we caught more than 350 peacocks and more than 50 piranha along with several other exotic species. The average peacock was 2 to 3 pounds, and Johnny’s biggest weighed more than 8 pounds. One person in our party caught a big peacock that pulled the scales to nearly 14 pounds.

After a long morning of non-stop action, sometimes we would take a quick lunch break and hide in the shade of a tree for a wonderful shore lunch. The guides packed everything for remote meals on land, where they cooked native fare on an open fire. While they cooked, we relaxed in hammocks with

plenty of cold drinks and the opportunity for a quick nap before lunch was served. Many of the fish we caught contributed to these lunches, and there were also steaks and chicken available with all the fixins. Homemade salsa and native seasonings complimented the meals perfectly. After a relaxing lunch, it was back on the skiff and back in the action!

After afternoons of fishing, we indulged in fivestar dining and the most important part of the trip, air conditioning! The crew made up our rooms, did our laundry and prepared dinner every evening. Specialty cocktails were also provided, if that’s your fancy, but Johnny’s favorite was the freshly squeezed juices. He’s already looking forward to the passion fruit juice when we return next year!

Johnny shot some great video of our trip. Check it out in the December edition of The Angler Video Magazine

If you are interested in a Brazilian fishing adventure, e-mail Johnny at captain@ SFLFishingCharters.com or Gary at gary@purgeright.com.

By Capt. Johnny Stabile and Gary Turner

For as long as I can remember, offshore bottom fishing is what we look forward to during the last half of November and the entire month of December. The week of Christmas has always been considered the apex of the bottom-fishing year.

You can see the move of the big snappers marching offshore on the edge of the colder water. This will pile big snapper and other bottomdwelling species up on certain staging areas, along with a clean water temperature line that also stacks up the kings and wahoo. Keep a light line bait out while you’re bottom fishing. There is no telling what you’ll catch and on what baits.

Of course, I love a pinfish, grass grunts or sailors choice for grouper and snapper baits for more than one reason. 1) They get bites from the target species; and 2) they eliminate most of the trash bites from grunts, pinkies and sea bass.

Yes, I love a live bait on a jig, but don’t ever forget that a big grouper also loves a big chunk of cut bait. We have seen a huge uptick in amberjack and almaco jacks in the past few

years for some reason. This is an excellent bait source! I like to keep one of the first, smaller, amberjacks that come up just for this cut-bait option. The big chunks of cut bait do

of my bottom-fishing strategy. This is also the reason I take a couple boxes of squid on every trip. I start every new post-up on a ledge or live bottom area with everyone firing down whole squid every drop. I don’t care what they are catching. It’s usually grunts, pinkies or seabass, but what is really happening on the bottom is the squid are being ripped to shreds and small pieces are swirling around and creating a chum slick. After several volleys of whole squid, I change it up to live pinfish, grass grunts or other live baits on a jig.

Grouper and big snapper see the live bait as a smaller fish that was grabbed by a crab while feeding on small pieces of squid. It’s a winning technique that has been very successful for me and other Decoy Jig users for years now. It is also new to the fish, tackle-wise.

two things. They get bites and they also create a “chum slick” on the bottom right where you are fishing. When the cut bait gets pecked at, all the small pieces of flesh swirl around as it’s being eaten.

This is one of the most important aspects

The beauty of this cold water line moving farther offshore with every cold front creates opportunity for a variety of species. You never know; keep firing down cut bait and setting the hook on “strange feeling bites,” and you might even catch a big deep-water lobster like the one in the video below.

Check out some awesome bottom fishing videos at https://youtu.be/w1YmT6M0ObQ.

Tim Barefoot

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LIMITED GOLIATH GROUPER HARVEST OPENS MARCH 1

grouper for the table.

e harvest will be very limited and tightly regulated, and permits will be issued by random drawing of applicants who applied during the Oct. 15-30 deadline. e cost to apply was $10 plus fees and permit at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.

Details for this limited, highly regulated harvest include:

• Total recreational harvest of up to 200 goliath per year, with a maximum of 50 from Everglades National Park.

• A goliath harvest permit and tag, issued via a random-draw lottery ($150 for residents, $500 for non-residents, plus fees) are required to participate. Permits and tags are non-transferable and no exemptions apply.

• A limit of one sh per person per open season with permit and tag.

• An open season from March 1 through May 31.

• Hook-and-line as the only allowable gear.

• A slot limit of 24-36 inches total length.

• Post-harvest requirements including proper application of the tag, reporting harvest data and submitting a n clip for genetic analysis.

• Harvest will be permitted in all state waters except those of Martin County south through the Atlantic coast of the Keys, all of the St. Lucie River and its tributaries, and Dry Tortugas National Park.

• Harvest will continue to be prohibited in federal waters.

“ e highly regulated, limited take of goliath grouper is an exciting and unique opportunity to provide access to this resource a er decades of closure, and we believe limited access is sustainable,” said FWC Commissioner Robert Spottswood. “We also look forward to collecting the post-harvest data to help guide future management decisions for this species.”

In October, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission opened the application process for recreational harvest of goliath grouper in Florida state waters. Harvest of the species was banned when the shery collapsed, and the 2023 spring season will be the rst time since 1990 that recreational anglers will have an opportunity to keep a goliath

is opportunity is intended to provide additional access to this shery while balancing the values of various stakeholder groups. Adult goliath grouper will continue to be prohibited from harvest statewide as well as goliath in heavy dive ecotourism areas. is limited harvest is not intended to address shing depredation concerns.

For more information about the goliath grouper harvest permit and details on the permit lottery and eligibility requirements, visit FWC’s Goliath Grouper Harvest Permit webpage.

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’Tis e Season for Gulf Coast Hogfish

With their oddly shaped mouths and a diet made up of crustaceans and mollusks, hog sh were once thought to be a species too di cult to target with rod and reel. All that changed over the last decade or so, as captains gured out how to speci cally target these delicious and beautiful bottom-feeders.

Wintertime is the best time to target hog sh on the Gulf Coast. From late November into March, they congregate on nearshore reefs and ledges to spawn, which makes them a great option in a season when rough weather can prohibit long runs to deep water.

Hog sh are protogynous hermaphrodites, which means they are all born female and change into males as they age. A single male will tend a harem of numerous females, which means nding good hog sh bottom can result in quick limits of ve sh per angler, but few of them will be large mature males. ere is a 14-inch minimum size limit in Florida, and hog sh of 18 or 20 inches are considered very good sh.

is time of year, dozens of hog sh can be found congregating together on reefs, rockpiles, and hardbottom in 50 to 75 feet of water. In most places, this can be found inside of 20 miles o shore. A prominent ledge with lots of growth is prime hog sh habitat. ey like to hover around reefs and use their long snouts to

probe cracks or root in the sand for critters like sand eas, crabs and snails.

Once you nd them, the secret to catching hog sh is pretty simple. Like just about anything else that swims, they are suckers for shrimp. Big live shrimp, fresh dead shrimp and even stinky thawed shrimp are irresistible. Just leave it right on the bottom, where a hog sh is likely to nd it while rummaging around in the sand. e rigs used to catch hog sh are also pretty simple. A knocker rig with a 1- or 2-ounce slip-sinker right up against a 1/0 circle hook will keep that shrimp right on the bottom. A half or 1-ounce circle-hook jig head will do the same thing. Some successful captains swear by hogballs, which are painted weights tethered to a hook by a small chain.

Regardless of the rig, you don’t need to go too light because hog sh aren’t particularly leader shy. A 5000 series reel with a comparable rod and 25-pound braid to a 30-pound leader is enough to haul even the largest hog sh up from depth. e trickiest part of catching hog sh is getting a good hook-set. You’ll want a little bit of slack in the line, which allows them

to pull that shrimp into their snout. Typically, you might feel or see a subtle rst bump, which will be followed by a second bump as they actually take the bait. Allow the sh to pull the line tight before reeling down and swinging the rod to drive the hook home.

For more information, go to coastalanglermag.com.

PhotoS courtesy of Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

Surf Expo is gearing up for its upcoming in-person trade show to be held Jan. 4-6, 2023 in Orlando, Fla. at the West Hall of the Orange County Convention Center.

Surf Expo’s January show has become known as a one-stop shop to preview and get a rst-hand look at the latest and greatest apparel and accessories that will lead the industry in 2023.

A few of the brands featured in the Bluewater section are AFTCO, HUK, Toad sh, Marsh Wear, Bajio, Dark Seas, Salty Crew, i-Sea, XTRATUF, CHUMS, Hey Dude, KEEN, Guy Harvey, Saltwater Born, Kangaroo Coolers, Reel Legends, Bimini Bay Out tters, Lake Time Supply Co, Coyote Eyewear USA, Skinny Water Culture, Croakies, Preston 1947 by Ebinger Bros, Tormenter Ocean and many more.

ere are quite a few new brands you’ll nd in Bluewater making their Surf Expo debut, including Grateful Diver, Red n, Palmetto Chair & Umbrella, Push to Star, Boat Bitch Apparel, Burnside, Columbia SPG and more.

e Bluewater section was designed with the buyer in mind—so they can see all the key inshore and o shore apparel and accessory brands in one

location. ey’ll nd products ranging from lifestyle and technical apparel to footwear, outerwear, sportswear, t-shirts, sunglasses, gear and lots more.

Steven “Fish” Fisher, Surf Expo’s senior buyer relations manager works directly with buyers from marinas, out tters, boat dealers and bait & tackle shops, “ ere’s a de nite need for product, people from Florida and across the U.S. as well as the Caribbean, Puerto Rico and all over the globe are registering and excited to come,” he said.

“We work hard to listen to and take care of all our customers, including brand exhibitors and retail buyers,” said Emerald SVP and Surf Expo Show Director Roy Turner. “We are thrilled that the winter show continues to grow post pandemic and are excited to welcome an impressive list of brands to Orlando.”

Features of the show will include the Bluewater Lounge, the 2023 Florida Shape O , educational sessions led by e Underswell’s Derek Sabori and Retail Smart Guys’ own Dan Jablons, plus fashion shows, happy hours and networking events. Surf Expo will be announcing its full line up of special events in the coming weeks.

Registration is free for quali ed buyers. For more information, contact steven. sher@surfexpo.com. For more information on the upcoming show, visit www.surfexpo.com.

By Will Schimdt

A mackerel’s ability to slice through line as if they were wielding a set of Ginsu knives leaves many anglers frustrated a er losing tackle. But if you target these speedsters with the right equipment, they can make for a fun day of action packed shing.

I like light spinning like a GLoomis GLX PR844 with a 2500 Stradic or an 8-weight NRX y rod with a Nautilus NVG 8/9 with Scienti c Angler sinking line. Chances are anything less than 30-lb. mono will be shredded immediately, so it is imperative to use wire leader when mackerel are around. Even then, they are known for hitting the line at the swivel connection from wire to mono, so it’s best to have several rigs ready. Also, make sure your swivels are black and not silver, these guys like shiny things. All that said, a spoon or a small jig rigged on wire will usually last a while.

Best of all, once mackerel move in, they are typically found right in the passes to within a few miles of the beach. I nd the sh o shore tend to be larger, so I like to target them. A 3-pound mack will make a blistering rst run that is reminiscent of a bone sh, and they are much less spooky than bones. e easiest way to nd them is to look for birds working. at’s a tell-tale sign. Reefs and good hard bottoms that hold bait are great places to search, as well. ese types of spots can be trolled or chummed to keep the action close to the boat. A standard chum bag will bring the school well within casting range for both conventional and y shermen. Just throw out something shiny, move it fast and you’ll hook up quickly.

Mackerel get a bad rap as table fare, as they are oily and can be strong tasting. at oiliness makes them perfect for smoking, and that, too, could not be easier. Simply llet the sh, leaving the skin on. Salt them liberally and let them rest in the refrigerator for about an hour. Rinse the salt o and add some Cajun seasoning to the sh and smoke over indirect heat at 250 degrees for about two hours. It is done when it akes easily o the skin. Smoked mackerel tastes great on its own in a salad or rice bowl, and it’s fantastic when made into sh spread.

As the water temperatures drop this time of year, bait sh shows up in force. Pods of bait sh are followed closely by schools Spanish mackerel. is o en-overlooked speedster is viewed as nuisance by some anglers, but mackerel are a blast on light tackle and y rods if you gear up correctly.

If you are looking for some hot action with minimal work, grab some wire and enjoy the return of the mack.

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

TIPS FROM A PRO

JERKBAITS AND BAITFISH

TYLER WOOLCOTT

Ajerkbait is a good idea whenever bait sh are plentiful. A jerkbait’s natural movement, size and resemblance to what the sh are already eating make this bait deadly.

ere are many scenarios I would consider good times to throw a jerkbait. One of the best situations you can encounter is when sh are actively feeding on bait sh and schooling. When bass are doing this, throwing a natural-bait sh-colored, shallowdiving jerkbait is an awesome way to replicate a dying bait sh. It at out gets bit, even when you can’t nd anything else they will touch.

Another awesome way to use a jerkbait is to blind cast in areas where bass are staged up and feeding. If you can identify bait sh already in an area, this makes the scenario even better. A lot of times this pattern sets up along grass lines, rip-rap banks and in pockets close to areas bass use to spawn. Depending on water clarity, I like a naturalcolored jerkbait or one with a little bit of chartreuse. Use a shallow or deep-diving jarkbait to match the depth you’re targeting.

Jerkbaits are also a great option for bass that are suspended with bait. Typically these sh are less pressured because they are harder to nd. You’ll need to spend some time searching with your electronics, but nding

this scenario and knowing how to target the bass can line up as some of the most fun shing you can imagine.

is can happen anywhere, but typically it occurs on points and pockets where sh can ambush the bait easier.

I use forward sonar a er I locate an active area and use the jerkbait to imitate the bait these sh are chasing in the water column. Typically, a shallow-diving jerkbait like a 13 Fishing Loco Special will work absolute wonders if you can get a sh to see it amongst the other bait sh.

Picking colors can get a bit confusing, as there are so many di erent options. I keep this decision as simple as possible and use only two di erent colors… ever. 13 Fishing makes a lot of natural colors as well as colors that stand out in dirty water. My go-to color is Casper Shad; it’s one of the most natural shad patterns you can get. Another color they make that is awesome in stained water is Neon Disco Shad.

With jerkbaits, I like a shorter rod, something between a 6’10” and a 7’. Actionwise, I like a medium-fast, which allows the sh to get the bait when you feel them hit it. e 13 Fishing Omen Black 6’10” MF is absolutely perfect. Reel selection doesn’t need to be too complicated. A 7:0:1 ratio allows you to work the bait and pick up line at the perfect pace. For line, I like 10- to 12-poundtest, and Seaguar Invizx uorocarbon is a very good line for the job.

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

lorida is a great place to live, especially in the Winter. Long sleeve shirts make for comfortable fishing days. For the most part, the bite’s been intense, slow ing for the occasional passing front. For some reason, when the weather becomes unset tled, it usually means a front is approaching, bringing either cooler or warmer temperatures. One of the best times to catch saltwater fish is just before a front goes through and the barometric pressure drops. Winter is coming! So, shortly, the water will be cooler and the fish will eat. Get ready, get set and let’s go fishing. Keep your eyes open, as many Winter species begin showing up. Kingfish, mackerel, permit, sheepshead and mangrove snapper start heading our way looking for easy meals.

The snook bite should get slower, as the water cools. It seems like the magic number is around 70 degrees. Deep passes early in the mornings, spread out to the shallower waters as the day warms. Greenbacks, pinfish and grunts are the best live bait for those looking for live bait action. Sup pose you like artificial topwater lures. If you’re an artificial angler, try any with the walk-the-dog action like the MirrOlure Top Dog Jr., Heddon Zara Spook or Spit’n Image. Soft plastics are always producers, especially when rigged on a 1/16th or 1/8th ounce jig-head. Try tossing these close to the mangroves and working them away slowly using a walk-the-dog action.

BY: CAPT. WOODY GORE

FRedfish will cruise the outer flats, then travel into the mangroves as the tide gets higher. Large mullet schools are good places to find redfish mixed with other species. Live greenbacks can sometimes start them eating when you toss several baits around the flats or near the mangroves. Try keeping the baits within casting distance to draw the fish to you. Expect excitement, when pitching artificial hard lures and soft plastics around the mangroves during an incoming tide.

Cool weather and water should produce good trout action on incom ing or outgoing tides, especially when using topwater popping plugs on a calm early morning grass flat. Try popping the lure several times and letting it float. Repeat until you get a strike. On the other hand, live shrimp or artificial DOA shrimp suspended under a popping cork should also produce nice trout.

The cold fronts are coming to the west coast of Florida. That means more than dressing warm. It means changing gears completely in the days fol lowing the fronts.

The flats that were just loaded with gamefish are now almost barren of fish. The deeper, warmer water of the canals, channels and bigger holes that are all over the Bay will hold fish, trout especially. There is still a hot bite, if you adjust your fishing style. First thing is to slow it down. The fish still have to eat, but they will be conserving energy and will be lethargic at times. Working artificial baits at a snail’s pace will usually provide solid hookups while fishing deeper water.

Soft plastics are a proven producer as are sinking hard baits. The trick is to get down deep and stay deep. Just cast it out and let it sink, give it a twitch and wait. Repeat until you’re fighting a big trout. Top colors for the Bay are whatever makes you feel confident. In general, dark colors work best in muddy waters from a North wind. When the water clears up, switch to one of the live bait patterns. Now is a great time to use a fish attractant like Pro-Cure. Inshore Blend and Shrimp are top choices for a Winter bite. Apply some every 20 casts or so.

Another thing to remember about Winter fishing is to lighten up the gear. A 2500 to 3000 size reel on a 7-foot 6-inch med action rod loaded with 10-pound braid and a 15-pound fluorocarbon leader will get the trick done in most cases. Bigger fish can be landed on lighter gear this time of year.

If fishing the residential docks, bump up to 15-pound braid and 20-pound leader.

For the bait fishing crowd, this is the time to use shrimp. Go with hand picks or bigger for big trout. Regular size shrimp will add sheepshead, mangrove snapper and flounder to the mix. Pinch the tip of the tail off and use a 1/0 hook with a current appropriate split shot or barrel weight 1/8 or 1/4-ounce jighead and you’ll be cranking them in.

If you would like to learn how to fish the Winter bite in the Bay, book a trip with Pockets Change.

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BY: CAPT. ANTHONY CORCELLA

RIVERS TO BAY REPORT

BY: CAPT. JOHN RIVERS

December in Tampa Bay is known for great trout fish ing, fun sheepshead fish ing and even fair-weather snook, which have moved up into the rivers. Redfish are still milling through the flats, docks and ledges along drop offs. We get a lot of cold fronts this time of year, and you have to pick your days to fish in between the fronts or you’re going to be fishing on a windy day. However, the advantage to fishing Tampa Bay is that, even when it’s blowing out, you have many areas to hide behind the mangroves, or just go up in the rivers to have a very productive day on the water. Just make sure you’re bundled up but, then again, you never know what the temperature is go ing to be in December. I’ve worn shorts on Christmas day on Tampa Bay, so each year is different. When we get a strong cold front, it usually takes the fish a day or two to adjust if the water temps drop more than a few degrees.

The bait should still be around on the flats or on the markers, which is a plus, but sometimes when it gets really cold it can be hard to find. I always have a backup plan, and wintertime is when I may have to change the strategy for how I’m going to catch these fish.

I will typically have a live-well full of frisky shrimp for the sheepshead and other species, if I’ve been having trouble finding the bait. But, since I really enjoy tossing artificials, December is a great time to do that. The nice thing about wintertime fishing is that you don’t have to start out at day light and, sometimes, it’s actually better to let the sun heat things up, which is when the fish become more active.

The sheepshead love the cooler temps, but just make sure you have moving water. I like the first two hours of either the outgoing or incoming tides. Trout will definitely be on as well. I recommend either live shrimp or soft plastics (4-inch paddle tails on a 1/4 ounce jig). Again, pursue snook up in the rivers and, if you bring a live well of pilchards, you’ll keep the rod bent all day. Lastly, stop off at a few docks for the reds. They may be looking for a free meal to get them through the holidays.

Before the year ends, take a few days off from the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping and go splash the boat. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas. Bent rods and tight lines

Captain John Rivers | www.tampabayinshoreguides.com captjohnrivers@gmail.com

BY: CAPT. SERGIO ATANES

Fall Fishing Tackle Tips

The old myth that snook shut down during cold weather holds true when the water temperature drops down below 65 degrees. Capt. George, a good friend and part of the Fishing Adven tures Florida TV show, has a technique on how to catch them during the cold months. Capt. George invited me along to go after some big Winter snook using his technique, and before he could finish his invitation, I asked him when and where. We set a time and place agreeing not to show any of his favorite fishing spots.

Wednesday morning arrived and the winds were blowing from the northwest with temperatures in the mid 60’s and dropping, as the cold front approached. Capt. George explained that his technique works best with a falling tide and the water temperature no lower than 60 degrees.

His method is to troll channels using one of his favorite snook lure MirrOlure M30MR-18, medium runner. We picked a black back and gold sided one, tied to 30-pound test leader about 36 inches long using a 7-foot medium action spinning rod and reel combination.

A short trip from the boat ramp and we were ready to fish. As we en tered the first channel, we cast the lures about 25 feet behind the boat and held the rod outward and down as if they were outriggers. The secret is to keep the tip of the rods down and away from the boat and watch the tips of the rods for movement from the lure. Lures have a wobbly movement and,

in some cases, the lure can pick up some bottom trash and will stop the wobbling or come to the surface.

By trolling slowly through the edge of the channel, the chance of catching snook will increase for two reasons. The bottom of the channel is muddy and hold water tem perature higher than surrounding waters, causing the snook to move into deeper wa ter. Also, as the tide drops, they are forced away from the shallows and rocks and down toward the edge of the channels.

After a few minutes of trolling, our first hit was a small 8- pound snook and, as we made our turn into the other side of the channel, I had a hard tug. For a minute, I thought I had struck rock, but the rock moved. I then realized this was a very large snook. Capt. George popped the motor out of gear and suggested I put a little more pull into catching this large snook or, take the chance of losing him as he made a dash for the nearest rock or dock. Shortly afterward, I had him at the side of the boat, ready to give up the fight.

We were back at the dock by midday not only with the largest snook weighing in at 12 pounds. That day, Capt. George made me a believer in trolling for snook.

WHERE TO TROLL:

• Residential channels that are at least five feet deep at low tide.

Tarpon Springs

Tarpon Springs, Anclote River, FL - Dec 2022 Date High Low

ft PM ft AM ft PM ft Rise Set Moon 1 Thu 6:04 2.2 7:35 2.2 12:28 1.1 1:15 0.6 7:04 5:36 2 Fri 7:53 2.1 8:25 2.3 1:58 0.8 2:22 0.8 7:05 5:36 3 Sat 9:24 2.1 9:09 2.5 3:15 0.4 3:20 1.0 7:05 5:36 4 Sun 10:34 2.2 9:48 2.7 4:17 0.0 4:10 1.0 7:06 5:36 5 Mon 11:28 2.3 10:25 2.8 5:08 -0.3 4:54 1.1 7:07 5:36 6 Tue 12:12P 2.3 10:59 2.9 5:51 -0.5 5:34 1.1 7:07 5:36 7 Wed 12:51P 2.3 11:32 2.9 6:29 -0.6 6:11 1.2 7:08 5:36 8 Thu 1:26 2.3 7:04 -0.7 6:46 1.2 7:09 5:36 9 Fri 12:04 2.9 2:01 2.3 7:37 -0.6 7:21 1.2 7:10 5:36 10 Sat 12:37 2.9 2:35 2.3 8:09 -0.6 7:55 1.2 7:10 5:37 11 Sun 1:10 2.8 3:09 2.2 8:41 -0.5 8:31 1.1 7:11 5:37 12 Mon 1:46 2.7 3:42 2.2 9:14 -0.3 9:10 1.1 7:12 5:37 13 Tue 2:26 2.6 4:16 2.1 9:49 -0.2 9:53 1.1 7:12 5:37 14 Wed 3:11 2.4 4:53 2.1 10:28 0.0 10:44 1.0 7:13 5:38 15 Thu 4:05 2.2 5:35 2.1 11:11 0.2 11:47 1.0 7:13 5:38 16 Fri 5:13 2.0 6:25 2.2 12:04 0.4 7:14 5:38 17 Sat 6:43 1.9 7:19 2.3 1:04 0.8 1:08 0.7 7:15 5:39 18 Sun 8:20 1.9 8:10 2.4 2:21 0.5 2:14 0.8 7:15 5:39 19 Mon 9:42 2.0 8:57 2.6 3:26 0.1 3:15 1.0 7:16 5:40

1:47 2.5 8:30 -0.6 8:12 1.2 7:11 5:35

12:28 3.1 2:22 2.5 9:05 -0.7 8:47 1.2 7:12 5:35

1:00 3.1 2:57 2.5 9:38 -0.6 9:22 1.2 7:13 5:35

1:33 3.1 3:31 2.4 10:10 -0.6 9:56 1.2 7:13 5:36

2:06 3.0 4:05 2.4 10:42 -0.5 10:32 1.1 7:14 5:36

2:42 2.9 4:38 2.3 11:15 -0.3 11:11 1.1 7:15 5:36

3:22 2.8 5:12 2.3 11:50 -0.2 11:54 1.1 7:15 5:36

4:07 2.6 5:49 2.3 12:29 0.0 7:16 5:37

5:01 2.4 6:31 2.3 12:45 1.0 1:12 0.2 7:17 5:37

6:09 2.2 7:21 2.3 1:48 1.0 2:05 0.4 7:17 5:37

7:39 2.0 8:15 2.4 3:05 0.8 3:09 0.7 7:18 5:38

9:16 2.0 9:06 2.6 4:22 0.5 4:15 0.8 7:18 5:38

10:38 2.1 9:53 2.8 5:27 0.1 5:16 1.0 7:19 5:39

11:46 2.3 10:38 3.0 6:25 -0.3 6:13 1.1 7:20 5:39

12:44P 2.4 11:22 3.2 7:18 -0.7 7:06 1.1 7:20 5:40

1:35 2.5 8:07 -1.0 7:55 1.1 7:21 5:40

12:07 3.3 2:23 2.5 8:54 -1.2 8:41 1.1 7:21 5:41

12:53 3.4 3:09 2.4 9:40 -1.2 9:26 1.1 7:21 5:41

1:41 3.4 3:53 2.4 10:27 -1.1 10:13 1.0 7:22 5:42

Mon 2:30 3.3 4:34 2.3 11:12 -0.9 11:02 0.9 7:22 5:42

3:24 3.1 5:12 2.2 11:58 -0.6 11:57 0.8 7:23 5:43

4:23 2.8 5:51 2.2 12:43 -0.2 7:23 5:43

5:28 2.4 6:32 2.3 12:57 0.7 1:28 0.2 7:23 5:44

6:47 2.1 7:20 2.3 2:08 0.6 2:19 0.6 7:24 5:45

8:31 1.8 8:07 2.5 3:32 0.4 3:19 0.9 7:24 5:45

Photo courtesy of Greene Marine Construction

ow! The tourna ment weigh-in line stretches more than 100 yards. Each team waits their turn with fish bags in hand. The first tournament I covered has set the bar high. The 2022 Fall King of the Beach host ed 378 teams and paid out 64 places. Lots of cash, a Su zuki outboard motor, jewel ry, fish rubbings and three days of a whole lot of people having a whole lot of fun! Team 99 Problems, Captain Brain Hasson & Co-Captains Mike Layton & Jason Schaub won the Grand Prize, collecting a check for over $86k and were crowned the Kings. His significant other Cory Maumenee, also won the Ladies Divi sion and their son, Wyatt Hasson, won the Youth division. If that isn’t an incredible feat in itself, Brian is the reigning champ, as he was crowned the King last year and back in 2015--that’s just incredible. Congratulations to all of you.

The King of the Beach is a tournament put on by the Old Salt Foun dation for the heaviest kingfish & Spanish mackerel. There are several divisions you can enter, and they also offer TWTs (Tournament within a Tournament) you can buy into. These tournaments are held twice a year-Spring and Fall. They have several other family friendly tournaments each year and, also, a few amazing kids’ seawall tourneys.

BY: TANYA MICHELLE

WBrian and his team used 7-foot Dogfish Sticks from Dogfish Tackle & Shimano reels for their big catch. Their winning kingfish weighed in at a huge 39.0 pounds, making their sponsor County Judge Della Cope super proud.

The proceeds from the King of the Beach are being donated to the Hur ricane Ian relief fund, partnered with the Marine Industries Association. Special thanks to everyone who entered and fished the tourney.

Old Salt Fishing Foundation is a 49-year-old not-for-profit fishing or ganization headquartered in Madeira Beach, FL. The Foundation serves anglers with a variety of youth and family programs, competitive fishing tournaments and angler advocacy efforts. The Foundation operates with an all-volunteer staff and board of directors. Over the past 10 years, Old Salt has delivered fishing tournaments, conservation education programs and opportunities for tens of thousands of anglers all while donating in ex cess of one million dollars to deserving regional charities. President and board mem bers Tom & Amy Verdensky work their tails off, and have done so for 17 years. The mission of the Foundation is “To create, protect and promote recreational fish ing opportunities for Florida anglers and their families.” Old Salt supports the development of sound fisheries science and conservation policies, youth & family outreach and angler education. Check out their website and come join in on the fun. https://oldsaltfishing.org/

Figure C

By: Capt. Don Stansell

As Floridians, we pride ourselves on the treasured natural resources our State has to offer for the outdoor en thusiast. We have beautiful beaches, numerous freshwater springs, rivers, boating, great fishing and all types of wildlife from manatees and dolphins to panthers and bears!

It is sad to see so much news coverage on environmental degradation in many areas of the State. Just in the past couple of years, we have had a red tide event all the way up to Anclote Key that spoiled the 2021 Pasco scallop season and was detrimental to many types of marine life. This past Winter, manatees were starving to death due to lack of seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon area. Down in the Keys, there are native corals dying off. Giant stands of Elkhorn and Staghorn coral I snorkeled over in decades past are having major die offs. We can choose to focus on any given species conservation, but should not lose sight that, not only does the individual species need protected, but so does their habitat and food source.

Some of the major issues facing our ecosystems stem from them being over loaded with too many nutrients like nitrogen and phosphate. These excess nu trients can help ignite algae blooms that can starve seagrasses of sunlight, cause low dissolved oxygen in our waterways, release toxins and cause blue green algae blooms that flow from Lake Okeechobee to both Florida coasts.

It is very easy to point fingers on who is to blame. In years past, it has always been the sugar cane growers, but even municipalities have allowed raw sewage by the millions of gallons to spill into Tampa Bay on occasion. Most recently, the Piney Point spill in the Tampa Bay area has received a lot of coverage. While these are certainly contributors, we have to look at other important factors as well. Florida has seen a population explosion that has fueled development and filled in coastal areas with asphalt and concrete. These coastal areas with marsh, rivers and creeks act as natural water filters. While our population continues to increase so does our export of nutrients from waste water treatment plants to our waterways. We are all tied to our natural environment. Each one of us might consider what small steps we might take to help improve the water quality of our environment. If you maintain your own yard or lawn, maybe you could fertilize less often and find a low nitrogen fertilizer. If you have a lawn ser vice, request a low nitrogen and slow-re lease type of fertilizer. Simple little steps can collectively have a larger impact.

Scallops

Join or support groups like the Coastal Conservation Association that help con serve and restore our marine resources and coastal habitats. The Coral Resto ration Foundation is another noteworthy non- profit helping to restore the Unit ed State’s only coral reef chain in the Florida Keys. If we all work together, we can help preserve our great Florida natural resources for generations to come.

Tight Lines

— Capt. Don Stansell is a local marine biologist who is an avid outdoors man, fisherman and conservationist. He enjoys educating people on our coastal and marine environments. His passion for the water and outdoors grew from being raised on the bayous of Slidell, LA and in the Chesapeake Bay area of Annapolis, MD. He has been in sunny Florida for just over 20 years and really enjoys the outdoors year around.

Hogfish

Blue Crabs

Manatee

Karenia Brevis Red Tide

Seahorse

hat did you use to catch that monster, and will it work for me? These are the two most frequently asked ques tions posed by clients and dock bystanders alike, and neither get the same answer twice based on my experience. Some one fishing on the port side boats a hefty 25-pound grouper and the starboard fisherman wants to know what’s on the hook. Sometimes it’s about the bait, other times it’s about the presentation.  Either way, one thing I have learned is that there is no magic formula, and nothing beats being prepared when your go-to bait is not working as planned.

Fish are finicky creatures, they feed no differently than us. Some days you want a big juicy steak and others all you want is a salad. We have caught some of the biggest grouper on just a tiny piece of shrimp or squid, standing next to a person fishing with a choice, hand size live bait.  By expecting the unexpected, having different options will always give you the best shot at a productive day.  When we first drop lines on a spot, we give a variety of baits from which to choose. We typically bottom fish with five or six people on our trips, so we will have at least two or three different baits going down. If one seems to be working better than the others, you can switch them all over.  If the bite is slow, drop the pound test of your leader.  Water clarity comes into

Wplay and it’s hard to know what it looks like on the bottom.  Before you leave a spot that you know normally holds quality fish, change some things up to see if you can get them chewing.  If the fish are there and hungry, you will likely know in the first 10 minutes.  Remember, small fish often lead to big fish.  It’s great to box a few quality keepers right away, but big fish aren’t big because they are dumb.  Sometimes they need a little motivation before joining in on the action.  If 20 minutes or so passes and we have a good bite but no quality fish show, we will up the size of the baits.  If that doesn’t work, then it’s time to move on to the next spot.

Surprisingly, live bait is not always the key to keepers. When visibility is poor, we rarely even get bites on even the liveliest of live baits, so we save our money. Cut bait takes center stage--the oilier the better.  Sardines are our go to and, if the price is right, cigar minnows or mackerel also work very well.  We always leave the dock with two staple--sardines and shrimp.  A bonus bait is cut squid wing which is a nice bonus to have in our bait freezer.  Sardines are very oily and stay on the hook long enough for a few good bites. And shrimp, well, everything eats shrimp. If I’m lucky enough to be reincarnated, I most definitely do not want to come back as a shrimp!

In my humble opinion, when asked what is the best bait to land a prize catch, here’s my answer. When fish are hungry, you can catch them on pretty much any bait. It’s on the days when you have to work for it that variety and preparation make all the difference.

— Capt. TJ Shea. Owner/Operator 2 Shea Fishing and Diving Charters. TJ has been exploring above and below the Gulf of Mexico since he was 8 years old. Contact us at 813-385-2169 and at info@fishanddivetampa.com

CAPT. T J SHEA

Continued from page 5

• Main channels leading to marinas.

• The channels that run along the docks are best if they are away from boat traffic.

• Edges of Little Manatee River.

• Channel leading into Bishop Harbor.

When:

• I find this method works best ahead of a cold front or anytime the water temperature holds below 68 degrees. Like I said falling tide is best a

falling tide or midway through an incoming tide.

Where:

• Residential channels.

What to look for:

• Clean water.

• Water depth of at least eight feet.

• Structurer. This means from rocky bottoms to concrete blocks left from old construction.

Tackle suggested for best results:

• 7-foot medium action rod.

• Medium size spinning reel.

• 30-pound test braided line.

• 30-pound test fluorocarbon leader.

• Silver and black diving lure.

• MirrOlure model M30MR-18.

Please feel free to contact me for further information. I love to educate other anglers and want to learn from them.

— Capt. Sergio Atanes is host of Florida West Coast Fishing Report on Facebook and YouTube every Monday night 7-8 p.m. live. He is also host to Aventuras De Pesca USA on national TV and Radio Show. reelfishing.com | Email: atanes@msn.com | Phone: 813-973-7132

Sea Worthy

RECIPES

MEDITERRANEAN GROUPER

Ingredients:

• 1-1/4lb. fresh grouper fillet about 1 inch thick, cut into 2 individual serving size pieces

• 1 lemon juiced

• ¾ cup large green olives rinsed, and coarsely chopped

Directions:

• 2 Tbsp. capers drained and rinsed

• 4 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

• 2 Tbsp. butter

• ½ cup parsley leaves loosely packed, coarsely chopped

•  Salt and pepper to taste

• In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the lemon zest and juice, olives, capers and 3 Tbsp. of olive oil.  Mix and keep warm. Do not boil.

• Lightly season fillets with salt and pepper.

• Add the remaining Tbsp. of olive oil to a large nonstick sauté pan over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, place the fillets top-side down in the pan and cook about 3-4 minutes on each side. The fillets should be golden brown on both sides and flake easily when tested with a fork. Do not overcook!

• Pour the olive and caper sauce over the fish fillets, garnish with parsley and serve immediately. Enjoy!

By: Wes Tallyn

Bald eagles range throughout all of North America. Some bald eagles migrate, much like other birds, to Florida for the Winter months. They can be found pretty regularly throughout the state from October through May. Bald eagles typically nest in mature pine trees near a water source, but also have a habit of nesting in cell phone towers. They make large nests out of sticks they find or grasses they pick up off of the ground.

Eagles are very opportunistic feeders eating everything from small mammals to fish. Eagles often will wait for os preys to catch fish and then harass the ospreys until they drop their meal. This is a strategy to conserve energy and assert its dominance. They can also be scavengers eating dead marine animals or even just sitting down at a landfill and picking through garbage.

Bald eagles are well known for their characteristic white head and tail feathers. Juvenile bald eagles actually don’t develop the white feathers that make them so well known until about their fourth year. The juveniles are mostly all black with yellow feet and yellow bills.

This time of year is a great time to look up for eagles!  If you see them circling above, you will no tice the all-dark chest which distinguishes it from an osprey with a white chest. The white head and tail are also very visible in flight. If you’re looking for them in the trees, look for them in a tall tree with a good view over the landscape. So, grab a camera or pair of binoculars and see if you can see one soon!

— 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 Outdoors. You can find him on Instagram @ snookjam or call 727-410-5853.

What Did We Name Our Boats in 2022?

With recreational boating season coming to a close across much of the country, BoatUS compiled a list of the top-10 boat names ordered this season through its online boat graphics service. Here are the rankings.

1) Andiamo: Meaning “let’s go/we go /come on” in Italian, Andiamo remains in the No. 1 spot from last year’s list. It’s also a happy refrain heard from the person behind the helm as they put the throttle down and head to open waters.

2) Osprey: is year was the rst time Osprey has made the top10. In a unique twist, Osprey bumped last year’s No. 2 boat name, Social Distancing, completely o the list. ’Nu said, right?

3) Serenity: is No. 3 name is so popular it has made the top 10 seven times since 2010, tying the record with Second Wind. Yep, you guessed it – both are popular with sailboat owners.

4) Encore: Also a newcomer to the top-10 this year, Encore may be the boat name of choice for an entertainer. Or, it could indicate the “next” boat – either satisfying the three-foot-itis or scaling down, or maybe even coming back to boat owning a er a hiatus.

5) Zephyr: Last appearing on the top-10 in 2010, sailors will welcome this reference to a gentle breeze back to the list.

6) Second Wind: Is this boat named for a new chapter in life or achievement? A comeback? A new strength? We’ll never know for sure, but gosh is it perennially popular.

7) Adventure: A boat with this name is usually out of the slip every weekend putting miles of water under the keel.

8) Knot on Call: is boat name serves as a notice that on-the-water time can’t be tampered with. Of unique importance, the owner of this boat can silence their cellphone ring in just under two seconds.

9) Shenanigans: Quit fooling around. Shenanigans are a part of every boating culture.

10) Grace: In its fourth appearance on the top-10 boat names list since 2010, Grace likely holds deep meaning for vessels with beautiful lines or for those that navigate with nesse. is is the one boat in the marina that also makes docking look easy.

For a look at all of the BoatUS Top-10 Boat Names lists over the years, visit BoatUS.com/BoatNames.

This Isn’t the PANFISH of Your Youth

By Rex Hannon

More o en than not, pan sh were the sh that introduced most anglers to the sport. e term “pan sh” is used to describe any of the commonly found species that usually never grow bigger than the size a frying pan. Most of them are legal to keep, regardless of size.

ese are species known as sun sh, bluegills, red eyes, rock bass, pumpkinseeds and countless other names, o en depending on the region. But this article is about a di erent kind of pan sh, and one that was naturally found only in other countries.

e Mayan cichlid is native to southeastern Mexico and the waters of Central America’s Honduras, Belize, Nicaragua and Guatemala. e rst reported non-indigenous population was recorded here in Florida Bay in 1983. Due to their adaptability and south Florida’s favorable climate and water conditions, they now can be found in great numbers from the canals in Miami to the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, and almost all inland waters between.

Mayan cichlids are a freshwater species, but are known to thrive under a variety of environmental conditions, from a wide range of salinity to low oxygen conditions, and therefore can inhabit most waters in this region.

is oval-shaped sh has spiny anal and dorsal ns, and it ranges in color from olive green to a light brown, with darker vertical bars. During breeding season, their colors become vibrant, and their throats and n edges glow bright red to orange, which earned them the nickname “atomic sun sh” or “orange tiger.” Similar to their cousins the peacock bass and the oscar, they sport a black spot and ring on the tail to confuse predators. e Mayan’s spot is black with a turquoise ring.

Mayan cichlids are a very attractive sporting species that o ers strong ghts on light and y shing tackle. Mayans readily take a variety of natural baits as well as small arti cial lures and ies. e countless canals, lakes and neighborhood ponds of south Florida are full of these amazing little ghters and many other species. I am a y sherman, and Clouser’s Minnow or any small bait sh pattern, along with a Gurgler work well for this aggressive feeder.

I would recommend an out t in the 7/8 weight range, because cichlids share these waters with much larger species. It’s common to catch snook, juvenile tarpon, tilapia and largemouth bass in these locations.

Mayan cichlids are not considered invasive, although they are nonnative. ey have no season or bag limit, and harvest is encouraged. ey have white aky meat with a mild avor and are considered very good table fare.

I will not o er an opinion on just how this species found its way to this region, but I believe they’re here to stay. We might as well sh for them.

COLD FRONTS BRING BLACK DRUM TO THE INLETS

By Emily Hanzlik

With the mullet run over and the cold setting in, our target species begin to change. Most of the high-energy sh like jacks and tarpon slow down during winter. So we turn our attention to already slow bottom-feeding sh that aren’t as a ected by cooler water. Black drum are a highly praised bottom-feeder. Not only do they taste delicious, they grow to amazing trophy size.

Black drum are in the drum family with red sh, but they are di erent in appearance and their way of living. Black drum have a high arched back compared to most sh that levels out toward the tail. ese sh are a darkish gray or black with some tones of brown that fade to a lighter belly. Normally, juveniles have four to six vertical bars on their side, similar to sheepshead. e bars fade with age.

Black drum have barbels or whiskers on their lower jaw like cat sh. ese barbels are used to smell mollusks and other prey in the sand, which the drum digs out. ey then use rows of molar-like pharyngeal teeth to crush mussels, crabs and other hard-shelled creatures. ese teeth line the top and bottom of their mouths and can extend to the back of their throat.

Black drum live from Texas all the way up past New Jersey. ey congregate around structures like bridges and docks. However, they also can be found in bays, river mouths, oyster beds and along beaches. Juveniles are mostly found in estuaries.

As these sh begin to spawn in the colder months, they move toward owing inlets. Just like red drum, they participate in mass free-spawning, where they release sperm and eggs while grouped together in owing water. e pre-spawn move to the inlets gives anglers plenty of time to target them in groups.

Jalon Tomlinson enjoys targeting black drum during peak season. He said shing is best during cold fronts on an outgoing tide. He uses a chicken rig with a 3- to 4-ounce pyramid sinker or a Carolina rig with a 3-ounce egg sinker and a 2/0 hook. He recommends a 40-pound leader because powerful sh heavier than 30-pounds are a real possibility. Ideal baits are fresh dead shrimp or old stinky shrimp. However, Tomlinson has also caught them on crabs and sand eas.

Tomlinson catches some monster drum with this technique, but he prefers to keep the 14- to 28-inchers because they’re better to eat. In Florida, there is a daily bag limit of ve per harvester, with a slot size of 14 to 24 inches. One sh is allowed over the 24-inch slot.

e IGFA all-tackle world record black drum weighed an amazing 113 pounds, 1 ounce and was caught out of Lewes, Delaware.

Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 56 IGFA world records in various categories.

She hails from West Palm Beach, where she has a part time Bow n Guide Service as well as shing classes for Jr. Anglers.

Find her on Social Media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.

SNOOK SEASONS CLOSE

Florida seasons for snook harvest close this month in state and federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic.

e Gulf snook season closure date is Dec. 1, and snook harvest will remain closed through the end of February in Gulf state and adjacent federal waters. e Atlantic snook season is closed Dec. 15 through Jan. 31 in state and adjacent federal waters. Special regulations for di erent zones exist for this species, so be sure to check current regulations online at MyFWC.com.

When snook season re-opens, anglers who wish to harvest a snook must have a snook permit in addition to a recreational shing license. ere is a slot limit of not less than 28 inches or more than 33 inches total length. e daily bag limit is 1 per harvester per day with zero captain and crew for-hire limit.

For more information, go to MyFWC.com.

Photo courtesy of Richard Matteson

LURES

FIGHTING FISH AT LONG DISTANCE

It’s on! You made a very long cast, and within a few cranks a sh grabs your lure and you’re engaged in a ght!

Long distance lures allow you to hook-up with sh other anglers can’t reach, but ghting sh with so much line out presents complications, mostly in the form of environmental elements the angler does not control.

If you’re shing from a at sandy beach on a calm day with no waves, little current and no oating sargassum, then nothing is di erent. Just ght the sh and enjoy it. But when ghting a sh at great distance, elements like current or obstacles such as rocks or weeds become magni ed threats to successfully landing the sh. e more line you have in the water, the less direct in uence you have on the sh. e sh has more freedom to swim sideways or even directly at you. ere’s a greater chance your line will snag an encrusted boulder or load up with oating grass. Ripping currents and wave action are more pronounced during the ght, and sh—especially bigger ones— will use this to pull away.

Here are tactics to better ght sh from long distances.

• Keep the rod tip up and hold it high to keep as much line as possible out of the water or high in the water column. is limits the risk of snags and reduces drag on the line. I sometimes put the rod butt against my shoulder and hold the rod almost vertically to gain as much height as possible.

• When a sh swims or is pushed by waves or current into a snag-prone area, it’s o en counter productive to crank down and pull directly against the sh. Pulling hard works OK on small or mediumsized sh, but with larger sh I like to angle the rod horizontally and

sideways in the direction the sh is going. It’s like judo in that you use the sh’s momentum against it. By pulling the sh sideways, instead of directly against it, it will curve toward you. is is unconventional, but it has saved sh for me a number of times.

• When sh use strong currents during the ght, walk with them. Try to walk the same speed the sh is moving with the current and continue picking up line.

• Use a power-pull to put a lot of pressure on big sh. Keep the rod at a 30 to 45 degree angle from horizontal, and walk backward at constant speed. When I was guiding in Africa for tiger sharks and giant tarpon, this was the best way to bring sh closer to shore.

Legendary angler Patrick Sebile is a world record holder and an award-winning designer of innovative lures and shing gear. Check out his creations at abandofanglers.com.

PATRICK SEBILE

A Band of Anglers pro team member Jim Louro, of Vicki Lynn Sport shing, caught this big striped bass with a long cast from the beach.

Perhaps Florida anglers are getting used to the regulations changes that closed fall harvest of ounder for the rst time last year. With a 45-day closure during the peak of the fall spawning movements, keeping ounder is by design illegal when it’s easiest to catch them. e season closure ran Oct. 15 through Nov. 30, and many Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic states enacted similar closures in the face of several years of falling ounder numbers. So, while you likely didn’t get to enjoy stu ed ounder at the anksgiving feast, you should be able to go catch, or gig, a doormat to serve at Christmas.

Starting Dec. 1, ounder harvest is allowed with a 14-inch minimum size limit and a daily bag limit of ve sh per person. ese regulations apply in state and federal waters o Florida. Legal gear includes spears, gigs, hook and line, seine and cast nets.

For more information, go to MyFWC.com.

Photo courtesy of Capt. Tim Cutting

By TAM Sta

Chipola River Shoalies are on the Comeback

If you’re not familiar with shoal bass, they are a distinct species of black bass that evolved to inhabit the riverine shoals of the Apalachicola River Basin in Florida. ey are considered a Species of Greatest Conservation Need by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission because they are native only to one drainage worldwide, and habitat in that drainage was forever altered by dams.

e Chipola River, which roughly bisects the Panhandle to join the Apalachicola River at Sumatra, Fla., is home to Florida’s only known

reproducing population of shoal bass, and it is potentially the species’ most genetically pure population. Farther north, Georgia’s Chattahoochee and Flint rivers are part of the same drainage. ere, shoal bass are considered an excellent sport sh. ey grow to weights heavier than 9-pounds and o er a unique opportunity for anglers, especially y shers, because they inhabit swi -water shoals and will readily slam arti cial lures, topwaters and ies.

Shoal bass are in trouble in Florida, and FWC is on the case. In 2018, the Chipola River population of shoal bass was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Michael. Impacts from the storm resulted in nearly a 90 percent decline in the population. In May, 2022, biologists with the FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and the Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management released 3,300 1- to 2-inch genetically pure, hatchery-spawned shoal bass from the Blackwater Fisheries Research and Development Center into the Chipola River.

Recent sampling discovered the released sh have made a signi cant contribution to the existing population. DNA analysis of n clips taken from shoal bass collected during these sampling events con rmed that 65 percent of the yearlings collected were from sh produced and released by Blackwater Hatchery. ese stocked shoal bass had grown to 4 to 6 in the four months since being stocked. Additionally, data suggests these stocked sh may comprise nearly 20 percent of the entire shoal bass population in the river.

“ e shoal bass population in the Chipola River has become a top priority of sheries biologists within the northwest region of Florida since Hurricane Michael,” said Fisheries Biologist Andy Strickland. “Management actions to suspend harvest and successfully stock shoal bass have yielded positive results for this unique black bass species.”

FWC biologists anticipate stocking additional hatchery reared shoal bass in the Chipola River in the spring of 2023 to increase the number of genetically pure sh in the population and eventually restore population numbers to pre-Hurricane Michael levels.

Currently a catch-and-release-only regulation is in e ect for shoal bass on the Chipola River and its tributaries.

To learn more, visit MyFWC/Freshwater.

Florida Angler Ties Georgia Pompano Record

In November the Georgia Department of Natural Resources certi ed a sh that tied the state record for Florida pompano. e sh, which weighed 1 pound, 7.68 ounces, was caught by a Florida woman who was at St. Simons Island, Ga. volunteering at a youth shing tournament.

Cathy Sanders, of Palm Coast, Fla., landed her record-tying pomp while surf shing on St. Simons Island on Oct. 9. Her catch tied the previous record holder, Laura Cheek, who landed a 1-pound, 7-ounce pompano on Sea Island in 1982. Sanders’ pompano was 12 inches fork length.

Sanders was volunteering with the Kids Can Fish Foundation’s Running of the Bulls youth tournament when she caught the sh. She was surf shing with a 12-foot Okuma Rockaway rod and Okuma Rockaway 6000 reel. As bait, she used Fishbites EZ Crab (Electric Chicken) with Sinker Guys glass beads and salted shrimp on 20-pound high visibility mono lament. Her terminal rig was a 2/0 circle hook on a double drop rig with 3-ounce Guy Sputnik sinker.

Under the rules of the Georgia Saltwater Game Fish Records Program, Sanders’ catch quali ed as a tie because it weighed more than the current record, but did not exceed the record by more than 4 ounces.

e IGFA all-tackle world record Florida Pompano weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces. It was caught by Barry Huston in St. Joe Bay, Fla. in 1999.

See Georgia’s saltwater records at CoastalGaDNR.org/SaltwaterRecords.

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The question of lure size is o en pondered in the shing world. Di erent circumstance requires a di erent mentality, but one thing is for certain, the sh did not read any articles, attend any seminars or watch that YouTube video. ey eat what they want, when they want, but I have an approach that I nd useful in deciphering the riddle.

As winter approaches, it brings changes to our estuaries: cooler water temps, a change in the type and abundance of forage, less pressure from boaters, and in some areas, much better water clarity. ere are two trains of thought on lure size when it comes to winter shing in the bays. Should I go bigger or smaller? I know anglers who immediately upsize for the entire season, while others downsize for its duration.

Both can be e ective, but here is how I typically tackle early winter shing.

Cooling water temps and increasing frequency of cold fronts put the sh on both spectrums of the feeding attitude. Unlike more stable weather patterns, when sh are less a ected and feed more consistently, these fronts can make them, for a lack of a better term, moody.

Late fall and early winter can be some of the best inshore shing of the year. Schools of

bait ushed from the bays with the dropping tides are followed by hungry specks and reds. In these situations, I like to use a smaller lure. Generally, they feed on shrimp or smaller bait sh, and having a lure of similar size is a good idea. When they are following these schools, I like non-natural colors so the sh have something to key in on when bait is abundant. I like my lure’s color to stand out in the fall feeding frenzy.

Now, for the other end of the mood swing, the inactive period caused by post-frontal conditions. is is another situation when I favor smaller lures in early winter. When the bite is o , smaller o erings entice bites from non-aggressive sh. Using myself as an example, if I am not hungry, the chance of me driving to a restaurant for a steak dinner are slim, but I might grab a few peanuts for a quick bite just because they are on the counter.

e nal reason is clearer water. Some bays I sh will have 1 to 2 feet of clear-green water in the summer, but 6 to 7 feet of air-clear water in winter. ese sh are not accustomed to this transitional clarity. When I can see my lure bouncing in the sand in depths of 7 feet, a much smaller lure will produce more bites.

I hope these tips help you catch more sh this winter, and next month I will explain my transition to larger lures as we press deeper into winter’s grip.

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

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

Photo courtesy of Knockin Tail Lures

Centuries

ago, Persians, Tibetans and Mayans considered turquoise a gemstone of the heavens, believing the striking blue stones were sacred pieces of sky. Today, the rarest and most valuable turquoise is found in the American Southwest–– but the future of the blue beauty is unclear.

On a recent trip to Tucson, we spoke with fourth generation turquoise traders who explained that less than five percent of turquoise mined worldwide can be set into jewelry and only about twenty mines in the Southwest supply gem-quality turquoise. Once a thriving industry, many Southwest mines have run dry and are now closed.

We found a limited supply of turquoise from Arizona and purchased it for our Sedona Turquoise Collection . Inspired by the work of those ancient craftsmen and designed to showcase the exceptional blue stone, each stabilized vibrant cabochon features a unique, one-of-a-kind matrix surrounded in Bali metalwork. You could drop over $1,200 on a turquoise pendant, or you could secure 26 carats of genuine Arizona turquoise for just $99

days

don’t

MONSTER SMALLIE IS GREAT LAKES RECORD

Ohio Angler Gregg Gallagher caught a 10.15-pound smallmouth bass on Nov. 3 that once certi ed should be a new Lake Erie record. e 23 ¾-inch sh is also the largest bronzeback ever caught from the Great Lakes.

Gallagher told In-Fisherman his was the result of his son’s extensive time surveying bait and bottom structure. With sonar, they were able to do what some call video-game shing and target individual sh with drop shot rigs. He was shing 8-pound test.

“With an abundance of bait sh and unique bottom composition located a er long days behind the graphs, we dropped down our forward-facing sonar and we were able to individually target these pelagicesque smallmouth,” he told In-Fisherman. “On what turned out to be the most memorable cast of my life, my bait got hit before it even hit the bottom and my rod quickly doubled over. I honestly thought I had hooked into a sheephead and not a smallmouth. We quickly learned we had just caught the smallmouth of a lifetime.”

e monster smallmouth is the only certi ed 10-plus-pounder ever caught from the Great Lakes. It should beat out the Canadian record of 9.84 pounds, which was set 68 years ago. It is also heavier than the Ohio state record, which weighed 9 pounds, 8 ounces and was caught in 1993.

e world record smallmouth bass weighed 11 pounds, 15 ounces. It was caught from Tennessee’s Dale Hollow Lake in 1955.

You raise the flags of the fish just caught to show you weren’t skunked.

Once onshore you can take it a step further showing your fellow anglers your catch of the day wearing “slippahs” from Scott Hawaii.

Hanapa‘a - Marlin

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5 WINTERTIME FISHERIES

Instead of spending the next few months holed up inside, get yourself a good parka, nd a window of decent weather and go shing. Believe it or not, for some sheries winter o ers some of the best action of the year. Here are a few ideas to help you combat cabin fever.

By CAM Sta

1) Wintertime Wahoo:

is time of year, wahoo pile up around the Bahamas. Some of the largest sh of the year will show up over the next couple of months.

High-speed trolling is the technique that allows captains to cover lots of water along rocky ledges, color changes, temperature breaks and dropo s. ’Hoos hunt in packs, so multiple hook-ups and double-digit days are possible. is shery requires some forethought and perhaps some exibility. ey bite best around the full and new moons, but you’ll de nitely want to avoid fronts and those wicked north winds.

2) South Florida Sailfsh: From

December

through February

the Atlantic Coast of South Florida becomes one of the best sail sh destinations in the world. Release ags will be ying along the edge of the Gulf Stream from roughly Fort Pierce down through the Keys.

For this bite, you’ll want to sh when the weather’s a little rough. With strong winds from the north, tailing conditions push sail sh high in the water column to feed. ey surf the swells and it’s possible to sight sh for them, which is about as exciting as shing gets.

3) The Outer Banks: In winter, North Carolina’s Outer Banks are the destination for several migrations which bring excellent shing to the island chain from Oregon Inlet down past Ocracoke.

Out of Hatteras, it’s a short ride out to the edge of the Gulf Stream, and this time of year tuna congregate there to feast on a bounty of bait sh. Big blue n tuna 200 pounds and larger are on the prowl, and anglers can also do battle with black n, yellow n and bigeye tunas.

At the same time, big schools of striped bass will be marauding bait sh on the beaches and in the inlets. Surf anglers can encounter them blitzing menhaden by looking for bait and birds. Charter boats do good business this time of year trolling while keeping eyes peeled for stripers herding and crashing bait balls.

4) South Padre Island, Texas: Way down on the Mexican border, South Padre Island is as far south as you can go in Texas. e winters are mild and the shing is good year-round.

When water temps drop, snook pile into the canals and school up. ese schools of sh can be giant, and they are suckers for arti cials. At the same time, the grass ats experience the clearest water of the year. Red sh, big trout and black drum cruise the ats, where anglers can sight sh them in shin-deep water.

5) Delayed Harvest Trout: On the East Coast from Maryland down to Georgia, most states have developed robust delayed harvest trout sheries which keep y shers on the stream through the winter. ese specially regulated sheries are catch-and-release only through the cooler months and most of them have single-hook, arti cial-only regulations.

Most delayed harvest streams are heavily stocked, usually with some largerthan-normal hatchery sh. Since you can’t keep them, they stay in the creeks and rivers all winter long. Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia are some of the states with excellent delayed harvest programs. See the state wildlife agency websites for information.

TROUBLED ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS STOCKS TREND UPWARD

For the rst time in a while, sheries managers are reporting some good news about striped bass populations on the Atlantic Coast. In early November, e Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) accepted an updated 2022 stock assessment that looks good enough that no additional harvest cuts will be needed.

is stock assessment found that rock sh stocks are still over shed but they are not currently experiencing over shing. e female spawning biomass appears to have been on a modest upward trend for at least the last three years, but at an estimated 143 million pounds is still far below the 235-million-pound target for rebuilding.

Total mortality in 2021 from commercial and recreational shing was estimated at 0.14, which is below the mortality threshold of 0.20 as well as below the mortality target of 0.17.

What does this mean for anglers?

Currently, a reduction in catch is not needed, and the rebuilding program is on schedule to declare the striped bass stock rebuilt by 2029.

“ is 2022 assessment was the rst check-in point for progress toward stock rebuilding by 2029,” said Board Chair Marty Gary with the River Fisheries Commission. “It is extremely important shery removals and conduct regular stock assessments to keep evaluating rebuilding progress and stay on track.”

e next stock assessment update is scheduled for 2024, and the Board will review the 2022 removals as soon as the data are available to evaluate whether catch remains at sustainable levels.

The Return of a

For more information, visit www.asmfc.org.

NOAA Photo

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