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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
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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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Robert “Fly” Navarro Named Director of the Stuart Light Tackle Tournament New Changes on Tap for 2021
T
championship trophy. “We are proud to welcome renowned fisherman and tournament director Capt. “Fly” Navarro as director of this year’s Stuart Light Tackle Tournament,” says Caresse Chase, the executive director of the Stuart Sailfish Club Foundation. “For those of you who have fished our tournament before, welcome back! If this is your first time participating, we’re pleased to have you join us,” she adds. “A traditional and historic event, the Stuart Light Tackle Tournament is proud of its commitment to conservation, marine education, and our scholarship program. Monies raised by this tournament have continuously been allocated to support these efforts since our inception. This year we are dedicating proceeds from the tournament to two incredible recipients, Project LIFT of Palm City and the family of Captain Patrick Price, who recently passed away after a severe six-week case of Covid-19.” Project LIFT is a non-profit organization that helps at-risk youth who are struggling with drug and alcohol abuse or other trauma-like circumstances. The group provides counseling, career training, mentorship and volunteer opportunities for the teens to fast track their recovery and set them up for success. Capt. Patrick Price, 42, of Jensen Beach owned Daymaker Charters. He was part of SSCF Board of Advisors and supported the local community for many years.
For more information on the rules or to register to fish the 2021 SLTT, please visit: www.StuartSailfishClub.com or on social media, www.facebook.com/ StuartSailfishClub and www.Instagram.com/ StuartSailfishClub.
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he Stuart Sailfish Club, has announced the appointment of Robert “Fly” Navarro as the tournament director for the 68th annual Stuart Light Tackle Tournament, scheduled for Dec. 9-11, 2021. Navarro’s company, Fly Zone Fishing, will also help market the event. The tournament is open to the public. “I’m very honored and excited to take on this role,” Navarro says. “The Stuart Light Tackle Tournament is one of the gold standards in the sport, plus we’re going to add a few tweaks this year to make it more accessible and competitive.” The most notable changes are a two-day fishing format, with the mandatory captains’ meeting on Thursday, Dec. 9 at the Stuart Sailfish Club, followed by fishing on Friday and Saturday. Boats will be allowed to depart from four regional inlets, including Fort Pierce, St. Lucie, Jupiter and Lake Worth. Teams can submit video catch logs digitally or at drop-offs at designated locations at each inlet. The format will be a boat tournament, with awards to the top three finishers, plus top lady and junior anglers. Only trolled dead baits will be allowed, with a maximum of two teasers and two dredges apiece. This is a 20-pound class tournament with only six lines permitted. The SLLT is geared towards non-professional anglers, but one pro per team is allowed. A new semi-pro division is being added with separate awards, although winners will not be eligible for the coveted perpetual
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TREASURE COAST 1
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Selects Flotilla 59, Stuart, as National Flotilla of the Year By: Hank Cushard / District 7 Auxiliary Public Affairs
U
.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 59, Stuart, has been selected as the National Flotilla of the Year (FOTY). This award annually recognizes the most exemplary auxiliary flotilla in the nation. With over 800 flotillas in all 50 states, Puerto Rico,
American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, this is truly an honor for the 55-plusmembers of Flotilla 59. The award embodies the spirit of the U.S. Coast Guard’s uniformed volunteer component for its service and support
TOP: U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 59, located on the Manatee Pocket in Port Salerno was selected National Flotilla of the year. ABOVE: U.S.C.G. Auxiliary national leadership presents Flotilla 59 the National Flotilla of the Year Award. From left are: District 7 Commodore Patricia McMenamin, Deputy National Commodore Gary Barth, National Commodore Alex Malewski, Flotilla 59 Commander Dawn Muller, and Flotilla 59 Vice Commander Kevin Gilbert. PHOTOS CREDIT: R. Michael Stringer USCG Auxiliary.
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to the local community and in particular the Treasure Coast. In promoting and improving Recreational Boating Safety, offering virtual public education, vessel safety exams, and community outreach, in times of a pandemic did not go unnoticed by the National Auxiliary. These significant accomplishments in addition to providing a diverse array of specialized skills and trained crews, for the U.S. Coast Guard’s many missions on the water and in the air were also seen as even more reasons to present this award to Flotilla 59. Since 1942, their members once patrolled the beaches of Hutchinson Island looking for enemy submarines, the USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 59, has been offering safe boating courses and recreational boating support ever since. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 59, Stuart, is located at 3443 S.E. St. Lucie Blvd. in Sandsprit Park and has been serving the Treasure Coast for over 80 years. They are always looking for shipmates. If you are interested in exploring a role with this dedicated group of volunteers, check out their website, www.cgaux59.org or e-mail flotilla59@gmail.com or call 772-2880509. Semper Paratus!
OCTOBER FISHING CONDITIONS October 1
POOR
Morning
October 21
GOOD
Evening
October 2
POOR
Morning
October 22
GOOD
Evening
October 3
FAIR
Morning
October 23
FAIR
Evening
October 4
POOR
Morning
October 24
POOR
Evening
October 5
POOR
Morning
October 25
BEST
Evening
October 6
POOR
Evening
October 26
BEST
Evening
October 7
FAIR
Evening
October 27
BEST
Evening
October 8
FAIR
Evening
October 28
POOR
Morning
October 9
POOR
Evening
October 29
POOR
Morning
October 10
POOR
Evening
October 30
FAIR
Morning
October 11
FAIR
Evening
October 31
FAIR
Morning
October 12
FAIR
Evening
October 13
GOOD
Morning
October 14
GOOD
Morning
October 15
BEST
Morning
October 16
BEST
Morning
October 17
BEST
Morning
October 18
FAIR
Morning
October 19
FAIR
Morning
October 20
GOOD
Evening
What do the ratings mean? POOR day basically means the fish will either steal all your bait or will not even touch your line. FAIR day means that you catch one or two fish but you will have to work hard to do so. GOOD day means that you will catch enough fish to feel gratified. BEST day means that you will catch something almost every time you cast your line in the water. SOURCE: The Old Farmers’ 2021Almanac
TREASURE COAST
COASTAL ANGLER PUBLISHERS GARY & MISTI GUERTIN SALES GARY GUERTIN EDITOR/DIGITAL CONTENT MISTI GUERTIN GRAPHIC DESIGN LAURA KELLY CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jayson Arman Capt. Gus Brugger Capt. Rocky Carbia Capt. Charlie Conner Michael Conner Capt. Scott Fawcett Capt. Colton Hester Capt. Michael Mauri Capt. Giles Murphy Brian Nelli Jim Oppenborn Capt. Nate Shellen Cammie & Capt. Joe Ward Capt. Terry Wildey Steve Wood
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OCTOBER 2021
TREASURE COAST 3
FISHING FORECASTS
MARTIN COUNTY DEEP SEA
Capt. Rocky Carbia Safari I Deep Sea Fishing Pirates Cove Resort and Marina 4307 SE Bayview St. Port Salerno Reservations: (772) 334-4411 Safari-1.com
T
he local motion of October’s ocean will include the introduction of large schools of mullet into our fishing seascape. These baitfish will take up residence in Martin County`s estuaries, inlets, and surf zones. This seasonal movement of mullet and their arrival in our local waters, heralds the official beginning of fall and the journey that mullet undertake. These schools of mullet and other baitfish have the tendency to attract and tow many species of hungry, traveling fish along with them, including pelagics like king and Spanish mackerel, cobia, dolphin, and sailfish. Resident species are in turn activated by the arrival of
inlet (through the lagoon and river), they will sometimes be seen several miles off the beach. Many other species of migrating fish will arrive in the “deep sea zone” during October, as they are propelled by the same forces of nature that motivate baitfish into their seasonal journey. Wind velocities will noticeably increase this month, making for a choppy offshore playing field. Near shore reefs in 50 to 60 feet of water will become the “go to zone” during these rougher days, allowing fishing crews to take it slow into choppy conditions and make the first offshore stop on a vast array of reef structures that are within three to four nautical miles of our St. Lucie Inlet (for GPS coordinates of these reefs, go to martinreefs.com). Strategies that highlight bottom fishing will continue to be highly desirable, as lane and mutton snapper will solidly populate these near shore bottom structures, along with grouper and other species of edible “ground fish”. Cobia will also be attracted to these same reef sites and October’s fish flavor of the month will be snapper, like these sturdy become a prized “grocery trophy” for mangrove snapper caught by Jimmy Parker aboard the Safari 1. deep sea anglers this month. So, in PHOTO CREDIT: Safari 1. October, explore the many varied vast expanses of these baitfish and While these baitfish typically stay reef sites that are just within a few give local anglers a reference point close in proximity to the surf and miles of the inlet and round your fish for nailing down a good spot to fish. beach zone and points inside of the up, close to home.
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river), everal other rive in ctober, same aitfish
ceably for a Near water during fishing hoppy first of reef ree to Lucie these
ottom highly napper near g with edible so be es and hy” for So, in varied a few ur fish
MARTIN COUNTY INSHORE NEARSHORE
Capt. Giles Murphy Stuart Angler Bait & Tackle (772) 288–1219 Fishing Charters (772) 475-4857 giles@stuartangler.com www.stuartangler.com
O
ctober is typically a big change for the fishing here on the Treasure Coast as water temps slowly start to decrease. The summer pilchards and migrating fish begin to dissipate as they move south to stay warm. However, here in Florida, there are always options to try while
we wait for the winter migratory species to show up. The “mullet run” kicked off midSeptember and should continue through October. These baitfish are superb baits for the snook, tarpon, and big jacks throughout the rivers and along the beaches. Some of our biggest snook are caught using fresh DEAD mullet with the tail cut off or using only the head. The tarpon have been steady rolling back in the St. Lucie Estuary to also be caught using live mullet, but we’ve had some great mornings casting D.O.A. TerrorEyz and BaitBusters. The classic root beer color is great, but the purple sparkle has been very effective. The “near shore” snapper bite has been good at the wrecks and reefs two-to-four miles out for lanes, muttons, mangroves, and some
yellowtails using sardine cut bait and live pinfish. Kingfish are still being caught three miles out on live bait, along with plenty of ‘cudas, bonito, and sharks. The tripletail bite has started to show in the Indian River along docks and crab traps. When cruising the river, keep your eye out for pelicans and terns hovering over small pilchards that can hold jacks and sometimes tarpon. The pompano can start showing up skipping the flats in October and caught surfcasting off the beach using sandfleas, clam strips, and Fish Capt. Giles caught another juvenile Gum flavored bait with incoming tarpon in the St. Lucie Estuary on tide. Mixed in with them are whiting, a D.O.A. Root Beer TerrorEyz. sand perch, and croakers. PHOTO SUPPLIED by Capt. Giles Murphy. The weather can be a big factor in the fall as we see windy, rainy keep checking your weekly forecast conditions often moving through, so when making fishing plans.
the Eight Mile Reef in 135 feet of water create a migratory highway for fish as northerly winds push swells south which they will ride further down the coast with each blow. Focus on weed lines, color changes and areas around the bigger sea mounts and wrecks which are holding bait. The Hill, Rankin, Tree Barge… these places, although they are deep, hold
various depths and bottom spots throughout the day. When you find a productive current edge or color change live baiting can be a good choice, but don’t get stuck in one place if the bite isn’t happening. The main thing this month is, be ready for anything. Patrick would be targeting everything from snapper, grouper, sailfish, mahi, wahoo, blackfin, and kings this month. Then after catching most of those, he’d stop on the way in and catch a cobia or two that he saw on the surface. Desire, preparation and attention to detail are keys to being successful on your outings, a big reason why Patrick did so well. The love Patrick had for family, friends, fishing and helping others was exemplary. While I wish your next trip is Off The Chain, I want us all to do our best to spread the love and continue helping the community like Patrick did. There will always only be one, Capt. Patrick Price, a true DAYMAKER. Love you forever, amigo.
MARTIN COUNTY OFFSHORE
Capt. Scott Fawcett Off the Chain Fishing Charters (772) 285-1055 fishscottyf@bellsouth.net offthechainfishing.com
O
ctober is normally a pretty easy report to write. Cooler water brings the first push of fish migrating back down our reefs and it’s on from there. But this October and from here on out, our waters will be missing something that has been a shining part of them for the last 42 years. Capt. Patrick Price, The Day Maker passed from COVID last month and the hole he left could house every fish off the Treasure Coast. Like any great fisherman, Patrick hasn’t shared the numbers with us yet so until then, we should focus along the reefs and some other places we do know the coordinates to. Our Six Mile Reef in 65 feet and
PHOTO PROVIDED by Capt. Scott Fawcett.
Fundraiser for Capt. Patrick Price
How can you help? Purchase a raffle ticket!
$20 each or Six (6) for $100.
Grand Prize: (2) 30lb Squall Reels with Bill Fisher & 5’6” 20-50 Trolling Rods (2) Penn Spinfisher 6500VI with 50lb Braid 7’ 14-20” Bill Fisher Rods ALL PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO THE FAMILY OF PATRICK PRICE. Drawing Dec. 11, 2021, at the 68th Annual Light Tackle Sailfish Release Tournament.
Email Sailfish@Stuartsailfishclub.com for tickets.
bait and in turn pelagic fish from top to bottom at times. With better than normal water quality this year, the bait is still here from the summer and as the fish push back to the south they should stall out right in front of us with plenty to eat. Trolling becomes more productive this time of year as it lets you cover more ground and hit
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OCTOBER 2021
TREASURE COAST 5
FISHING FORECASTS
SOUTH INDIAN RIVER LAGOON
Don caught and released this over-sized redfish while fishing along the mangroves in Fort Pierce.
Capt. Charlie Conner Capt. Charlie’s Fish Tales Charters (772) 284-3852 captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com www.fishtalescharter.com
F
all has arrived on the Treasure Coast. As we transition this month, the water will begin slowly cooling down for winter. It has been a hot summer, so don’t expect a huge temperature difference. October provides great weather and hungry fish. Plan on enjoying this month. It’s a fantastic month to be fishing! There will still be lots of hungry predators out there chasing them around the river and along the beaches. Live finger mullet, croakers and pigfish will be the best live baits to use. D.O.A. TerrorEyz and Bait Busters will be good artificial lures to use for snook. Try around the docks, jetties, turning basin and bridges docks around the river. Lighted docks are especially productive
PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Charlie Connor.
Cove are all great areas to fish for trout around the Treasure Coast. Look for some sheepshead, black drum and snapper to be moving in around the bridges, docks and channel edges. The surf will be alive with jacks, snook, bluefish and other predators, which will all be chasing the bait schools along the beach. Croakers and whiting will also be hanging along the beaches. It's another great month to fish along the Treasure Coast! Have fun and get out fishing soon! Remember, fishing is not just another hobby, it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe.
when fishing at night. Redfish has continued to be a of a mahi, or the raised sail of a freegood bite for us again this year. There FORT PIERCE jumper might catch your eye. And, will be some good action for anglers DEEP SEA when the chance presents, pitch the around Fort Pierce. October will bait and work the line. Make sure the continue to be a productive month Capt. Cole Hazellief gaff-man is ready – because a bull for those who seek redfish on the Shock Leader Charters mahi or angry cobia can put a hurtin’ flats. The D.O.A. 2 ¾-inch shrimp on deck. or C.A.L. grub tails are two of the (772) 800-5448 Overall, with the ocean-inbest choices for redfish along with a www.shockleaderfishing.com motion, king tides, shorter days, and variety of live and cut baits. The trout the Atlantic hurricane season still in bite will be good this month. Get out early with a top water lure for some ctober marks a month of full effect, stay ship-shape and focus exciting action on the river. Switch changes in Florida. Fall will on safety. Keep an eye on weather to a D.O.A. shrimp or C.A.L. jerk bring cooler temperatures from the reports a few days ahead, heed bait later in the mornings. Harbor northeast, and along with the fronts advisories, check running lights Branch, Queen's Cove and Middle the pelagic fish will be riding toward and life-vests, and take advantage of warmer winter waters. As the temperatures drop, we predict that the cooler weather, king 4903 SE Dixie Hwy. tides, and fall migration Stuart, FL 34997 in motion, fishing along (772) 220-3287 (EATS) the Treasure Coast will produce delicious table www.prawnbroker.com fare. The pelagic predators and prey will be on the move, with snapper still hiding on the reefs, mahi-mahi’s all grown up swimming along with the cobia, kingfish and sailfish. The fittest mutton snapper will be all grown up by now, so the local reefs will be a great place to entice muttons or a grumpy grouper to Lady angler Angela scored her personal a game of tug-of-war. best mutton snapper and she is looking Amberjack will be hot forward to the opportunities October on the bite deeper and will provide for more big catches. further offshore, and PHOTO CREDIT: Shock Leader Charters. while bait is plentiful make sure to send a “livey” down weather windows. If you are looking for a ride out to the reef donkey corral and find out how they got such a strong to the great blue yonder for some fall fishing, the Shock Leader will nickname. Check out weather buoys and get you there in style, comfort, and markers, cruise along the shallows great company. Call your friends and “On the Water at the Manatee Pocket” and look for bottom structure and bring your lucky hat, we’ll promise flotsam. Have a pitch-rod within you’ll be howlin’ at the moon over Open Daily for Lunch & Dinner • Happy Hour: Mon - Fri 3-7pm arm’s reach and the live-well filled our fall-time favorites! Sun-Thurs 11:30am-10pm • Fri & Sat 11:30am-11pm Tight lines and good vibes. as the casual cobia, the golden flash
6 TREASURE COAST
OCTOBER 2021
O
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ST. LUCIE COUNTY be showing up and they will take anything shiny. INSHORE Look for the trout and redfish
Capt. Joe Ward Capt. Joe’s River Charters (772) 201-5770 or (772) 461-1335 CWard11605@aol.com
A
s the weather starts to cool off some, you can look for the fishing to get better. The schools of bait fish should be coming in the Fort Pierce Inlet with plenty of action not far behind. The snook bite in the Fort Pierce Inlet should be good for anglers using live baits, like greenies and mullet, and fishing them on the bottom at places like Judy Rock or the cleaning station and fish on the out-going tides. Also, in the Fort Pierce Inlet, the Spanish mackerel and bluefish will
in the deeper holes and channels around the flats. They will be taking a live shrimp fished under a popping cork and fish in 5 to 7 feet of water when the water starts to cool down. The local bridges should be holding some nice snapper, sheepshead and black drum. Try fishing a live shrimp on a #2 hook and a ½- to 1-ounce weight. Around the south jetty there should be some flounder on the beach side. A large live shrimp or mud minnows fished on a ⅛ or ¼ ounce Troll Rite hook. In the surf, the whiting and pompano bite should improve later in the month. Shrimp, clams or sandfleas will all be a good choice.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY also been some sailfish caught in this depth range using ballyhoo as OFFSHORE
Capt. Colton Hester Sonna Girl Fishing Charters (772) 293-5342 colton@sonnagirlfishing.com www.sonnagirlfishing.com
well. We are still a little early for a wahoo bite but be ready to get after those wahoo speed trolling within the next month! Good luck and tight lines!
T
he October fishing is red hot. The top bite in the 60-to-80foot range has been producing very nice kingfish and cobia. The best baits have been live greenies and live sardines on a wire rig. There has also been some mahi-mahi around the 80-to-100-foot range. On another note, bottom fishing is staring to heat up. As we fish the 80-to-100-foot area from Fort Pierce to Sebastian, we are seeing very nice mutton snapper and mangrove snapper. These fish are being caught on live sardines and cut frozen sardines. Using a 50 pound 8-foot fluorocarbon leader has been found to be the best approach for landing these muttons and mangroves. There has also been some dolphin caught in 100-to-500 feet of water out of Fort Pierce. The bait of choice has been trolling ballyhoo at the speed of 5-to-7 miles per hour. This has proven the best results for those tasty green fish. There have
Ziad with a nice mutton snapper (above) and mangrove snapper (below) caught recently aboard Sonna Girl Fishing Charters.
PHOTOS CREDIT: Capt. Colton Hester.
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Carmin Grimes caught this nice 36-incher using a glass minnow. The fish was released.
Our Knowledgeable, Experienced Staff Take Pride In Helping Make Your Fishing Trip A Great One!
PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Joe Ward.
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around baitfish schools, but most of the inshore snook will be setting up ambushes along mangrove shorelines and around docks. D.O.A. Shrimp and jerk baits fished tight to cover will draw strikes from snook of all sizes.
FISHING FORECASTS
SEBASTIAN INSHORE
SEBASTIAN INLET – Sebastian
Capt. Gus Brugger
Inlet snook fishing will be at its best in October. Redfish from slot size to 40 pounds will also take advantage of the food funneling effect of Sebastian Inlet’s swift current. Croakers, pigfish, shrimp, pinfish and mullet will all draw strikes from both species at the right time and tide. Nighttime will find live baiters floating the channel under A1A with live bait, while plug and jig anglers will be on their favorite rocks east and west of A1A.
Pattern Setter Charters (772) 360-6787 www.WelcomeToSebastian.com
I
t has been a tough summer for inshore anglers in the Sebastian area. Lagoon fishermen should see the bite begin to pick up with the welcome changes in the weather that October brings.
SEBASTIAN
RIVER
– The
Sebastian River will come back to life when schools of finger mullet make their way into the estuary. Casting live finger mullet in front of rolling tarpon is a surefire way to get tarpon hook ups in the fall. If you prefer artificials, suspending plugs like the MirrOdine and Catch 2000 Jr. will do the trick. Fly rodders should also throw finger mullet imitations on floating and intermediate lines.
INDIAN RIVER LAGOON –
Capt. Mike Peppe holds a slot sized snook prior to release. The snook hit a Yo-Zuri plug fished around a Sebastian area dock. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Gus Brugger.
flats and backwaters of the central lagoon should be at their best in October. Find the bait and find the fish is a general rule that is especially true in October. Hopefully trout and redfish numbers will rebound with the cooling waters, in which case The topwater plugs will reign supreme.
Super Spook Jr. and Top Dog Jr. plugs in mullet or bone colors are great choices to throw around mullet schools milling on the shallow flats. Jack crevalle, ladyfish and bluefish will keep anglers busy between trout and redfish bites. The occasional snook will surprise anglers on the open flats
NEAR SHORE ATLANTIC – The fishing along the beaches can be explosive in October if the weather allows. Find tarpon and Spanish mackerel schools by running along the beaches keeping your eye on the water for surface action or on your electronics for suspended schools. Live baits of just about any kind will get work for tarpon, while spoons, jigs and flies are all you need to fill the cooler with Spanish in the one-tofive-pound range. Tight lines!
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Last year, we had some good catches of cobia, some mangrove snapper as well as lane and vermilion snapper. For those fishing close to shore 30 feet to 50 feet, we should start seeing Capt. Terry Wildey some early season Spanish mackerel Big Easy Fishing Charters and bluefish migrating south down (772) 538 - 1072 the beach. There’s always fun action captwildey@bellsouth.net when they show up and they are easy www.bigeasyfishingcharters.com to catch trolling small spoons, jigs, or medium running lures like Yo-Zuri or as long as I can remember minnows. I recommend a light wire we’ve called October Sharktober like a #3 to keep from getting bitten because of the September and off. A 40-pound fluorocarbon leader October storms that tend to stir the ocean up, also bringing with it copious amounts of the Atlantic sharp nose sharks. They often will be so abundant that you can’t keep a line in the water. Surprisingly though, they are almost like eating a pork chop if taken care of properly. My son loves them and calls them “Shark McNuggets”. You are allowed two per boat with no minimum size limit. The secret is to cut the tail off as soon as you catch one to bleed it out. I fillet and cut them into small nuggets and batter fry them. There’s still some great fishing in October, it’s just a matter of finding clean water to fish. Mostly you are will produce more bites, but you can going to be fishing the 85 feet to 90 expect to lose a few of those pricey feet depths. This will be your best little lures to the toothy fish. So, look chance to find clean shark free water. for cobia on the bigger 10-to-15-foot
SEBASTIAN AREA OFFSHORE
F
FRESHEST LIVE BAIT IN SEBASTIAN AREA LARGE SELECTION OF FROZEN BAIT FRESH SHRIMP, FISH, WORMS, CLAMS, FIDDLER CRABS, SAND FLEAS & MORE
Y
Expect Atlantic sharp nose sharks to be plentiful everywhere. I find it’s a good time to use some of those hooks that got a little rusty sitting in the box. You won’t mind losing 40 or 50 of them like you will a box of good ultra-points, LOL! If you’ve never eaten shark, try one it might PHOTOS CREDIT: Capt. Terry Wildey. surprise you. As always be courteous to your ledges in 85-to-95-feet. And look for the birds diving on bait from the fellow boater. You never know when beach out to 50 feet to attract Spanish you might need a tow. “Fish On Gotta Go!” mackerel and blue fish. LEFT: Jim Pipp (left) and friends had a great day aboard Big Easy Charters. ABOVE: Timothy Stout, Adam Line, Shannon Marie Spradling, Matt Budzko and Shannon Petit with a great cobia catch last October.
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TREASURE COAST 9
FISHING FORECASTS
FROM THE SHORE
Jayson Arman That's R-Man Land Based Fishing Services (772) 530-8080 thatsrman4677@gmail.com
O
ctober means mullet run. This will be some of the most exciting fishing of the year. How do you make your bait stand out during this time? Here are a couple tricks of mine during this annual event: 1. Use bigger mullet when smaller mullet are around and use smaller mullet when bigger ones are around. This will make it easier for the fish to target their meal. 2. Focus on using artificial lures such as topwater plugs swimbaits and diving plugs. This will help you fish the whole water column. Remember snook season is open and you are allowed one fish per day per person. The fish must measure between 28- and
32-inches with a pinched tail. If the fish are being picky, don't forget about a D.O.A. Shrimp or a live shrimp. Everything and anything will eat a shrimp. Try rigging the live shrimp on a A&S Jig head ¼-ouce and slow reel it in or try to focus on bumping the bottom. Don't be surprised if the "Silver King" (a.k.a. tarpon) shows up to the party. Always be prepared for anything during the mullet run. I try to bring a couple different rods for this time of year. My 7-foot 9-inch Okuma Silver Slayer rod is perfect for bigger snook and tarpon. For a reel, I have an Okuma Cedros CJ 8000 with 40-pound braid and 60-to-100pound leader. In the river, the action will be hot. Look for broken up schools of bait. This will tell you that some predators have been feeding on them. Get out early, the bait will be on the move, and you will be too. Don't get frustrated out there because there will be 1,000,000's of mullet and yours has a hook in it so try to think of how to make yours stand out. Good luck on your next adventure That's R-Man Land Based fishing over and out.
INSH
Max Lhm was visiting Florida for the first time and was greeted by a beautiful Indian River redfish. Topwater water fishing is a great way to start your day! PHOTO CREDIT: Jayson Arman.
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upon trout month the h your b this spook Bait anythi the mullet go to kayak the p much the t goes t my lur gets h to go the pa to get group the ed and yo
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om
KAYAK FISHING FORECAST
Brian Nelli Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters (772) 201-5899 Brian@tckayakfishing.com www.tckayakfishing.com
250-to-100 foot of water. Another thing to get excited about is the snapper bite. Look to target mutton snapper and yellowtail snapper in 60-to-100 feet of water. I love using mullet this time of year for both bottom fishing and trolling. It is readily available and a great hardy bait to keep alive while kayak fishing.
FRESHWATER: The peacock bass
and clown knifefish fishing will really be taking off in the coming months. Look to fish structure like INSHORE: The mullet bait run is bridges to find the bite. Live shiners upon us. Snook, tarpon, redfish and are always the go to bait, but during trout will all be cooperating this this time don’t overlook a finger month. Matching the hatch will be your best bet during this time. Super spooks, D.O.A. Bait Buster’s and anything that has the shape of a mullet will be the go to baits while kayak fishing. With the presence of so much mullet bait, the thought then Nicole with a goes to how do I get nice mahi. my lure the one that PHOTOS CREDIT: Brian Nelli. gets hit. I like trying to go with colors that stand out in mullet as well. Mullet will survive in the pack. Try dark or bright colors the freshwater long enough for them to get the attention away from the to be crushed by a hungry peacock group of bait. Focus your cast on bass or largemouth bass. Finally, as the edges of the mullet bait schools an artificial option, try using D.O.A. and you will do well. jerk baits or rattle traps to entice a bite. Check us out Pushin’ Water OFFSHORE: The shallow fall dolphin run should start to take Kayak Charters on Facebook, effect this month, giving anglers Instagram and YouTube for all the kayak fishing a better shot at them latest adventures my clients and I Look for them to start to move into get into. See you on the water! the more attainable depths from
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OCTOBER 2021
TREASURE COAST 11
FISHING FORECASTS
LAKE OKEECHOBEE
Capt. Nate Shellen Shellen Guide Service Okeechobee Bass Fishing Guides/Charters (863) 357-0892 sjmike7@aol.com OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
A
s we move into cooler weather, the bass fishing will only heat up on Lake Okeechobee! The summer rains have brought the lake levels up to almost 15 feet. The higher water levels will let the fish get into the newly grown eelgrass and into the marsh areas. You can still find fish gorging themselves on shad in the early morning on the outside grass lines. Bigger fish are starting to show up more and more over the last month in tournament anglers bags. Techniques being used are topwater baits in the early morning as well as swim jigs, spinnerbaits, and white flukes. When the sun begins to rise, we switch over to a
Bill Hayes from Ohio caught these two giants last month, one weighing eight pounds, and one weighing ten pounds, respectively. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Nate Shellen.
slower presentation such as flipping creature baits, Netbait Flex Worm, or craw style bait. The hot spots around the lake currently are many. The outside edges of grassy island are producing bass on Senkos and chatter baits. Tin House Cove is holding fish both inside the grass line and on the outside edges and a topwater bait worked slowly around the
cover edges will draw strikes early. Horse Island is holding fish in and around the trails that cut through the Kissimmee Grass making it a productive area to fish when the wind is too strong to fish the outside edge. The Harney Pond area is holding loads of bass in the thick cover areas, eelgrass and peppergrass abound in this area. Look for spots where several kinds
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of native cover merge often, it will create a bass hot spot. During this time of year, a black 10-inch worm or a black/blue Senko worked slowly through the cover will get you all the bites you can stand, patience and determination are key. Anglers using live wild shiners are finding good numbers of bass. Anglers unfamiliar with shiner fishing are sometimes convinced that using live bait other than live wild golden shiners is effective. It is true that pit shiners or domestic shiners will catch fish, but nowhere near as successfully as wild shiners. If you are going to spend your time and money shiner fishing, make sure that your shiners are wild shiners. They have an innate sense of fear when around bass, which trigger reactionary strikes from fish like nothing you have seen before, whereas domestic or pit shiners do not possess that fear factor and are not nearly as hearty or lively. Live wild shiners can be purchased from numerous places around the north end of the lake for $18 to $22 per dozen. October and November can be some of the best days of the year to fish since the traffic is down and the fish are on FIRE! Book your trip NOW!
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hiners bass. shiner vinced n live ive. It mestic where hiners. r time make wild sense which m fish before, ers do nd are y. Live d from north 22 per
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DIVING FORECAST
Steve Wood Deep Six Watersports - Stuart (772) 288-3999 Stuart (772) 562-2883 Vero Steve.wood@deepsix.com www.deepsixintl.com
A
s the year winds down and fall approaches, divers on the Treasure Coast can expect great diving provided the weather cooperates. Autumn brings with it cold fronts and shorter weather windows, so divers are wise to stay prepared to take advantage of calm seas when the opportunity arises. After a period of inclement weather, a little scouting will help determine conditions beneath the surface and make for a more enjoyable day Diving is great in our area yearround. Unfortunately, strong winds associated with cold fronts could make area inlets challenging or even treacherous. However, even after summertime has passed, sea conditions below the surface are consistently favorable due to the
proximity of local waters to the Gulf Stream. A strong east wind may push this warm-water current closer to shore resulting in good visibility and warm temperature even if seas are rough. Weather windows this time of year may be short and calm seas may only last for a day or two. Divers should stay prepared by having tanks filled in advance, dive sites selected, and gear packed so when conditions cooperate on short notice, they can take advantage. If equipment has not been used for a while, it would be smart to assemble the scuba kit and check for proper function. Any issues should be dealt with prior to the next trip. During October visibility reports could be scarce and divers may have to do some reconnaissance when planning the next trip. The Titan
X
PHOTOS CREDIT: Steve Wood.
October offers great diving on the Treasure Coast, just watch the weather.
tug out of Stuart is a great dive site to test visibility, temperature and current since it is directly east of the St. Lucie Inlet and just a few dozen feet from the Six Mile Reef. A quick bounce dive to determine conditions could prove beneficial:
if vis is bad, head south towards the Loran Tower ledge or reefs off Hobe Sound. If vis is good, dive sites closer to shore maybe better including the Donaldson Reef area, Guardian Reef, Pipe Barge or the Cement (concrete) Barge. This time of year brings changes to local reefs in the form of more frequent strong winds and cold fronts. When conditions allow though, divers can make great dives if they remain prepared and poised to take advantage of narrow weather windows when they arise.
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OCTOBER 2021
TREASURE COAST 13
Fly Fishing Corner By Capt. Michael Mauri
O
Bill from California with a nice snook.
CANAL ASSASSINS
h boy did we see a lot of wind this year! A lot of rough days of me trying to hide along some lee sides or preferably in small canals. Targeting snook, jacks and tarpon in these spots even in the worst conditions for fly fishing can make the break when others give up. Fishing along structures like mangroves, sea walls, pilings, boats, bridges and drop-offs is as exciting as it gets, especially in clear water and when you can see these fish. One of the critical points is the presentation of your fly. What I mean by this specifically, is you really want to touch the structure with your fly. A few more inches away from your target will cut down your chance of catching the fish by a mile. These fish are using the structure to push the baitfish against the wall where they become an easy prey.
I’m using different kinds of baitfish flies in size 1-4/0, depending on the season. On average I would recommend a finger long pattern. On a side note, always keep a rod with a big popper fly ready to go. On many occasions big jacks can show up quickly and out of nowhere and in most cases, they will be gone in the blink of an eye. You must react fast to get your popper out there and make as much noise as you can. These gangsters will hit it hard! A rule of thumb that works for me on average during the day fishing baitfish patterns is, as bigger the fly as faster the retrieve. In this regard, it’s always about nature and playing the best hand from what Mother Nature is giving us. It is still easy to get spoiled here along the Treasure Coast working as a fly-fishing guide compared to guiding
Crow’s Nest
PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Michael Mauri.
for Atlantic salmon in Norway (my wife wants to go back there really badly!) Enjoy our fall season and let’s hope for a good mullet run!
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he St, Lucie County Artificial Reef Program (ARP) is transitioning away from its from its former stockpiling and staging area at Harbour Pointe Park and is searching for an area to continue its work in creating hardbottom habitats offshore the County. The old stockpiling area is being cleared and prepared for a megayacht industry. Until the park is developed, the ARP is focused on cleaning and preparing for deployments in the coming years. Underwater Engineering Services (UESI) has entered into an agreement with the County. In exchange for using Harbour Pointe to stage a reef for the City of Boca Raton, UESI has agreed to help clear the park. The importance of an aquatic staging area to local business is not lost on this corporation and UESI is trying to keep Harbour Pointe clear for future use. The Artificial Reef Program has been moved to a remote location on the periphery of the park and has received approvals from the County to survey the area and create a small shellrock access road. The road will be constructed using old sediments dredged decades ago, stored on the park, and overgrown with exotic vegetation. The road
St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Update:
ON THE MOVE! Voici Bernadette at the Summerlin dock.
PHOTO CREDIT: St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program.
will be used to access a one-acre area on the perimeter of the park. If the reef material stockpiling area can be developed, then reefs might be staged at the park for another year. After a year the Artificial Reef Program may be required to move again. An additional area for artificial reefing may be the Summerlin dock at Museum Point Park. This dock could accommodate vessels up to 200 feet long. These vessels might include both tourism vessels (tall
ships) and ships being prepared for reefing. A contact with a U.S. government contractor may provide additional ships for the Treasure Coast and areas beyond. Irrespective of where the Artificial Reef Program moves, the new area will need to be checked for sea grasses. Seagrass production is diminished in many parts of the Indian River Lagoon, including Harbour Pointe Park and the Summerlin Dock.
Seagrass production along South Indian River Drive is also greatly reduced but recent inspections have shown that seagrasses (both shoal grass and turtle grass) appear to be regenerating in certain areas waterward of the drive. Bulrushes are also proliferating in certain areas, leading to shoreline stabilization. Growth of both seagrasses and bulrush may lead to techniques that will improve water quality and seagrass growth in other areas of the Indian River Lagoon, including Harbour Pointe Park and the Summerlin Dock. In addition, researchers at the FAU – Harbour Branch Oceanographic Institute have indicated a willingness to donate seagrass growing tanks to the Artificial Reef Program for deployment offshore. If these tanks can be rehabilitated for growing seagrasses, researchers may get another source for seagrass restoration in the Lagoon. Either way, these tanks will produce valuable fish habitat for St. Lucie County waters. For more information on the St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program, contact Jim Oppenborn, St. Lucie County Coastal Resources Coordinator, at oppenbornj@ stlucieco.org or (772) 462-1713.
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TILLETTS TAKE FIRST IN BFA SEPTEMBER TOURNAMENT
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he ninth tournament of the Backcounty Fishing Association’s 2021 series took place out of Little Jim Bait and Tackle on Sat., Sept. 4, with a total of 16 boats checking in and 9 boats checking out. The day started off foggy with a cool morning breeze. By mid-morning, anglers were “enjoying” another hot summer day with light wind. A total of 4 trout, 5 redfish, and 2 snook made it to the scale. The husband-and-wife team of Sean and Hanna Tillett took first place with a 2.21-pound trout and a 6.94-pound redfish, earning a payout of $300. The couple also won the trout Calcutta with a payout of $120 and the redfish Calcutta earning an additional $120. Hanna also won a pair of Danco pliers for taking Lady Angler. Greg McGee and Jason Gillespie took second place, with an 8.72-pound snook and took home $180. This team also took snook Calcutta, which earned them an additional $120.
16 TREASURE COAST
Backcountry Fishing Association Fort Pierce, FL Father and son team, Steven and Jeremy Pill, took third place with a 2.10-pound trout and a 5.96-pound redfish. Their fish earned them a payout of $120. Brothers Joe and Matt Canestrari took fourth place with a 7.86-pound snook. And Zach Foltz took fifth place with a 4.47-pound redfish. The Backcountry Fishing Association tournament is a ninemonth circuit which runs from January thru September, with a twoday Classic held in October. The artificial lure only tournament gives two-person teams and solo anglers
OCTOBER 2021
Sean and Hanna Tillett took first place in the BFA September tournament and also won the trout Calcutta and redfish Calcutta. In addition, Hanna took Lady Angler. PHOTO CREDIT: Backcountry Fishing Association.
the opportunity to win cash and gain points. Redfish, trout and snook (seasonal) are the qualified species. Anglers attempt to bring one legal fish of each species to the scales for weigh in and live release. Teams must participate in at least five tournaments to be eligible to fish the Classic which is a two-day event. The top five eligible teams with the highest accumulated points from the season are given a bye from day one. The remaining eligible teams
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compete on an elimination basis the first day, where only the top five teams of day one progress to day two to compete against the season point leaders for the grand prize and cash for the top four teams. The Classic will be held Sat., Oct. 2-3, with a captain’s meeting on Fri., Oct. 1, at Little Jim Bait and Tackle, 601 North Causeway, Fort Pierce, Fla. For more information, visit and follow the Backcounty Fishing Association on Facebook.
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1F 4:47 AM 2.41 H 10:55 AM 0.81 L 5:35 PM 2.59 H 11:29 PM 0.99 L 2SA 5:48 AM 2.55 H 11:48 AM 0.69 L 6:28 PM 2.73 H 3SU 12:17 AM 0.8 L 6:44 AM 2.73 H 12:37 PM 0.55 L 7:15 PM 2.88 H 4M 1:02 AM 0.58 L 7:35 AM 2.94 H 1:23 PM 0.43 L 7:59 PM 3.02 H 5TU 1:44 AM 0.36 L 8:23 AM 3.14 H 2:08 PM 0.33 L 8:42 PM 3.12 H 6W 2:27 AM 0.17 L 9:10 AM 3.29 H 2:53 PM 0.29 L 9:26 PM 3.19 H 7TH 3:11 AM 0.03 L 9:57 AM 3.38 H 3:39 PM 0.3 L 10:10 PM 3.2 H 8F 3:57 AM -0.04 L 10:46 AM 3.4 H 4:26 PM 0.36 L 10:56 PM 3.16 H 9SA 4:45 AM -0.02 L 11:36 AM 3.34 H 5:16 PM 0.48 L 11:45 PM 3.08 H 10SU 5:37 AM 0.07 L 12:29 PM 3.22 H 6:11 PM 0.62 L 11M 12:38 AM 2.96 H 6:34 AM 0.22 L 1:27 PM 3.08 H 7:12 PM 0.76 L
12TU 1:38 AM 7:39 AM 2:30 PM 8:20 PM 13W 2:44 AM 8:50 AM 3:38 PM 9:32 PM 14TH 3:56 AM 10:00 AM 4:45 PM 10:39 PM 15F 5:06 AM 11:05 AM 5:46 PM 11:38 PM 16SA 6:09 AM 12:03 PM 6:40 PM 17SU 12:30 AM 7:04 AM 12:53 PM 7:27 PM 18M 1:15 AM 7:52 AM 1:38 PM 8:08 PM 19TU 1:57 AM 8:34 AM 2:20 PM 8:46 PM 20W 2:35 AM 9:13 AM 2:59 PM 9:22 PM 21TH 3:12 AM 9:51 AM 3:36 PM 9:57 PM
2.85 0.38 2.94 0.86 2.76 0.5 2.86 0.88 2.73 0.56 2.85 0.81 2.77 0.56 2.88 0.7 2.86 0.54 2.94 0.57 2.97 0.51 2.98 0.45 3.05 0.51 3 0.36 3.1 0.52 2.99 0.32 3.12 0.56 2.95 0.32 3.09 0.62 2.89
H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H
22F 3:48 AM 10:27 AM 4:13 PM 10:31 PM 23SA 4:23 AM 11:04 AM 4:49 PM 11:06 PM 24SU 4:59 AM 11:42 AM 5:25 PM 11:43 PM 25M 5:36 AM 12:22 PM 6:05 PM 26TU 12:24 AM 6:17 AM 1:08 PM 6:50 PM 27W 1:10 AM 7:05 AM 1:58 PM 7:46 PM 28TH 2:04 AM 8:04 AM 2:55 PM 8:50 PM 29F 3:07 AM 9:10 AM 3:54 PM 9:53 PM 30SA 4:13 AM 10:14 AM 4:52 PM 10:50 PM 31SU 5:16 AM 11:12 AM 5:45 PM 11:40 PM
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LOSOM Planning Update
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y mid-month October, Treasure Coast anglers and residents can expect the release of the U.S. Army Corps' final version of the LOSOM (Lake Okeechobee Systems Operation Manual) that will dictate the way the big Lake is managed for 10 years starting in February 2022. The final version will be an optimization of the Alternative CC that Indian Riverkeeper supports, along with most stakeholders who prioritize the health of the northern estuaries, and human health that can be impacted by sometimes toxic Algal blooms that originate in the Lake. Several public workshops have been held to take every stakeholder's position and preference into consideration. The Corps heard from municipalities about water supply concerns and flood protection, from sugar and vegetable farmers south of the Lake about irrigation supply and flood relief, and from more water-advocacy organizations, fishing guides, anglers, tourism businesses than ever before. As Plan CC stood in September, the St. Lucie estuary would see a 60 to 70 percent decrease in harmful Lake O discharges, with a wet season max at 3,600 cubic feet per second (2.3 billion gallons per day) but the Caloosahatchee River estuary would see twice that volume under the same wet conditions, with the Lake elevation any higher than 16 feet. That estuary would continue to receive the beneficial dry season regulatory releases need to lower salinity in the upper
on the new LOSOM plan to provide relief to the St. Lucie, Lake Worth and Caloosahatchee estuaries. The existing five Stormwater Treatment areas in the EAA are essentially roadblocks for benefit because the federal government supports the sugar-growers' nearly exclusive right to them for cleaning farm field runoff. That prevents us from sending direct Lake O water to them, as we should be able to because taxpayers footed much the coast to construct them. Indian Riverkeeper is on record with the media, Corps and South Florida Water Management District in our support for a change in capacity rights in the projects. With even a 50 percent share of that capacity, LOSOM would have major bang for the buck. We will have updates on the remaining LOSOM workshops on our Facebook page and member newsletter— released in late September. Visit. https://www. saj.usace.army.mil/LOSOM/
OCTOBER UPDATE By Michael Conner, Executive Director watershed. Gulf Coast stakeholders are pressuring the Corps to essentially send more excess Lake water to the St. Lucie River. So we have a bit of standoff which can be avoided if the Corps unveils the final plan with a directive to send as much water south to the Everglades as possible to further spare both coasts (and our fisheries). Indian Riverkeeper fully realizes that the plan won't be as effective as it should be, due to the lack of above ground storage for Lake O water. The Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) reservoir south of the Lake is under construction but won't be operational until 2028, if it is fully funded as time goes on. That 10,500-acre reservoir and 6,500-acre cleansing marsh will hold, clean and then release about 80 billion gallons of treated water, which must not exceed 10 parts phosphorus before being conveyed to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay. That's 80 billion that is diverted from the estuaries, so it is significant. Until this project is complete, we must depend
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What's on Tap at IRK?
Due to the continuing Covid pandemic, Indian Riverkeeper will not be exploring the idea of indoor events/fundraisers. Plans for Lagoon cleanups in November are in the works, and we will continue to explore raffles and Facebook online auctions to raise funds to continue our work. Check the Indian Riverkeeper Facebook page for updates. To support us, please visit www.theindianriverkeeper.org and go to the membership/donate pages. OCTOBER 2021
TREASURE COAST 21
WHY YOU SHOULD DONATE YOUR BOAT TO THE CHAPMAN SCHOOL OF SEAMANSHIP By Chris Norton ABOUT THE CHAPMAN SCHOOL OF SEAMANSHIP Founded by the late Charles F. Chapman and the late Glen D. Castle, the Chapman School has trained over 20,000 students since opening its doors in 1971. Since its inception, the school has grown from a single vessel to a modern campus of classrooms, labs, dormitories, and large training fleet - both power and sail. The Chapman School is a world-renowned boat school that encompasses nine waterfront acres in South Florida, located just minutes by water from both the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and the Atlantic Ocean. The school’s location of less than 90 nautical miles from the Bahamas allowing convenient access to some of the best cruising waters in the Caribbean for our Offshore Training Programs. The Chapman School continues to focus on its mission of providing the highest quality boating education in a “Learn at the Helm” approach for both the novice and experienced, professional and recreational boater.
qualified non-profit organizations has long been encouraged by the federal government. The IRS encourages financial support of these organizations. The Charles F. Chapman School of Seamanship, Inc. qualifies as such an entity, under IRS Code 501 (c)(3) and the IRS has continued our designation of this approval since 1971. Chapman School of Seamanship in Stuart, Fla. is one of the few non-profits that can legitimately use your vessel in our training programs, i.e. boat handling, floating classroom to teach marine surveying, boat maintenance projects, as well as systems, electrical, and engines. The term “significant intervening use” is an important consideration in choosing the right non-profit for your donation. In that regard, according to the IRS: “Section 7.01 (1) of Notice 2005-44, 2005-1 C.B. 1287, states that to constitute a significant intervening use, a donee organization must actually use the qualified vehicle to substantially further the organization’s regularly conducted activities, and the use must be significant. Incidental use by an organization is not a significant intervening use. Whether a use is significant intervening use depends on its nature, extent, frequency, and duration.”
WHY SHOULD YOU DONATE YOUR BOAT? HOW DO YOU BENEFIT? Boat donations are tax deductible. Have the satisfaction of knowing that your In the United States, charitable giving to
tax-deductible donation benefits the students and maritime programs of Chapman School. Eliminate the time, energy, expense and stress involved in trying to sell your boat. End all expenses for dockage, insurance, storage, maintenance, repairs, financial investment and interest. Pay no sale commissions, avoid providing buyer’s marine surveys or dealing with sea trials. Complete the entire transaction in a few days. HOW DOES THE SCHOOL BENEFIT? • Grant scholarships to deserving students. • Expand our training programs to meet maritime needs. • Update our technology for classroom use. • Hire licensed, professional mariners as instructors. • Expand our facilities and training programs. HOW TO DONATE MY BOAT 1. Contact the Chapman School. 2. An inspection is arranged. 3. Paperwork is provided for filing. 4. Delivery is arranged at no cost to you. 5. Your tax-deductible donation is complete. For donations, call (772) 281-1782, or email donations@chapman.org.
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SAVE THE DATE!
HOOK KIDS ON FISHING Saturday, Oct. 16 in Vero Beach
I
n partnership with the Environmental Learning Center, Anglers for Conservation (AFC) is coordinating AFC’s Hook Kids on Fishing (HKOF) program on Saturday, Oct. 16, 9-11 a.m. in Vero Beach. Kids ages 5 to 15 are welcome and registration is $5. This program is limited to 40 kids. All participants will receive a free rod/reel and tackle box thanks to the Fish Florida Tag Foundation. The conservation-minded Hook Kids on Fishing programs teach casting, rod safety, knot tying, tackle box, catch and release tactics, boating and conservation.
Programs are taught by professional guides and knowledgeable anglers from surrounding communities. Parents and kids bring your smiles, positive attitudes, and patience along with you! Additional sponsors include Huk Perfomance Fishing, Fish Florida Foundation, Fishbites, Harry Goode’s Outdoor Shop, Shells of Melbourne and Daiichi Hooks. The Hook Kids on Fishing program is a product of the Anglers for Conservation, a non-profit-501-C3, whose mission is to inspire new generations of marine stewards through education, conservation, and fishing. Volunteers are welcome. To register youth or to volunteer, RSVP on the event page at www.anglersforconservation.org/events.
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OCTOBER 2021
TREASURE COAST 23
Share Yooutor Brag Phere! H
Erin White, visiting from Connecticut, caught this estimated 30-pound jack crevalle on a live croaker of Stuart Beach while fishing with her father. Fish was caught on light tackle (10-pound test) and took over 20 minutes to land. Fish was released unharmed.
Email your information ality and high-qu rger) (500KB or la @ easurecoast photos to tr e.com. lerMagazin CoastalAng
Zisko Apaza from Miami, fishing the St. Lucie River near the St. Lucie Inlet, caught this beauty while seeking (unsuccessfully) the elusive swordspine snook. PHOTO PROVIDED by Zisko Apaza.
Cooper Black, 7, with his first snappers. PHOTO CREDIT: Doug Black.
PHOTO CREDIT: Lori White (aka mom).
DJ Markowski and Clayton, 6, with his first kingfish caught on Lotta Bull. The kingfish was around 15-pounds and was caught in 30 feet of water out of the Fort Pierce Inlet.
Ari Buel with a swordfish caught on Whoo Dat out of Stuart in 1600 foot of water.
Barrett Morrow, 8, from Jensen Beach, with his personal best snook yet, a 38-inch monster, which bit a live menhaden. Snook was released after the quick photo and swam away healthy.
PHOTO CREDIT: Dorothy Markowski.
PHOTO CREDIT: Ryan Buel.
PHOTO CREDIT: Blake Morrow.
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OCTOBER 2021
HOT SURF FISHING
T
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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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
OCTOBER 2021
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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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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OCTOBER 2021
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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
OCTOBER 2021
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
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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.
10 NATIONAL
OCTOBER 2021
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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
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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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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.
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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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