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SPRING
TIPS FOR REDS
POOR MAN'S
& TROUT
WANT TO BE A CHARTER CAPTAIN?
GIANT TREVALLY
MAR 21-24 • PBBOATSHOW.COM PHOTO COURTESY OF TOMMY MIANO
VOLUME 29 • ISSUE 348
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM
F R A N C H I S E
O P P O R T U N I T I E S
A V A I L A B L E
W O R L D W I D E
MARCH 2024
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PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®.
KEEN SENSES
ARE ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS
By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
I
t is always important to pay attention to our surroundings as we go through life, and fishing is no exception. How many of you have been fishing without any action and find yourself daydreaming and going through the motions until you feel the tug on your line? Suddenly you are frantically trying to remember the cadence of your retrieve to duplicate the action, but you are dreaming of fish instead of trying to catch them. Well, in this article and the accompanying video for The Angler Video Magazine, I will go over a specific situation when paying attention paid off, and you can see it and hear me talk through it on the video. I will also share some wisdom from two incredible Texas guides whom I was fortunate enough to spend a few hours with on the topic of targeting big trout. While wading in knee-deep water that
4 NATIONAL
MARCH 2024
was about 61 degrees, I could see a few mullet jumping in their casual mullet way. It was enough to keep me interested in the area. The bottom had undulating depth with grass and scattered potholes, or sand pockets for those not familiar with the term. I was throwing a slowsinking soft-plastic jerkbait, letting it slowly sink between twitches where the sand and grass met. With a cast in mid-air, I saw a mullet do an abnormal flip. It was distinct from the norm of the day and not as if it were being chased, but different, nonetheless. I burned my lure back in and made a cast just beyond where the mullet flipped. When my lure paused near the area, a nice redfish slammed my soft plastic. Had I not been paying attention and blew it off as just another mullet jumping, I would not have caught that fish and a few more in the general area. Since we cannot always have a bird’s eye view,
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we need to utilize the birds’ eyes. Here are a few tips I picked up on during a conversation with guides. Birds do not always need to be feeding to point us to fish. There are subtle hints, such as a head turn of a gliding pelican. They don’t turn their head for no reason; they saw something. Maybe they saw a huge trout and kept soaring because it was too big for them to eat. Also, watch the lines birds are relating too. They may not dive, bait may not flee from the shadow, but they are flying that line for a reason, and maybe you should work your way toward the area. Pay attention on the water and in conversation with old salts. You might need to read between the lines, but the answers are there. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures®, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®.
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JACK CREVALLE: BATTLE THE BULLIES OF THE REEF
S
ometimes called the “poor man’s giant trevally,” jack crevalle will strike a surface lure or bait aggressively, and once hooked, engage the angler in a slugfest they won’t soon forget. Jacks are world-class fighters. These fish are perfect for small-boat anglers because they frequent inshore and nearshore waters. They can be caught in bays, inlets, canals and off reefs, where they target schooling baitfish. These fish are perfect for light spinning gear or a fly rod, as they will readily take any fast-retrieved bait imitation. They frequently show up in bays and estuaries following migratory baitfish like mullet. Strong current that concentrates bait is usually best, and you’ll find them at the mouths of the inlets on a strong outgoing tide. Any nearshore reef close to an inlet that has “nervous water” – a sure sign of bait schools—is prime territory for jacks. A 7-foot medium-action spinning rod equipped with a 6000 sized spinning reel and spooled with 40-pound braid is a prime tool for fighting these fish. I like a fluorocarbon leader in the 50-pound range for abrasion resistance. These fish are not leader shy. Jacks school up in large groups of juvenile fish under 10 pounds. The larger 20-plus-pound fish usually hunt in pairs. While a
By Mark Ambert
5000-class rod and reel setup will handle the smaller fish, a larger setup will be better for anything over 20 pounds. Pro-Tip: If you tangle with one of the larger fish, get a second bait or lure in the water for a double hook-up! Live bait and chum will usually find the biggest fish. Any local seasonal bait such as herring, pilchards, sardines or mullet will do the trick. For maximum fun factor, a topwater lure or fly stripped fast can’t be beat. I usually locate a school of feeding fish first then break out the fly or topwater spinning gear for sport. A 9- or 10-weight fly rod setup with an intermediate line is optimal. When fly fishing, a popper, Deceiver, Clouser or any streamer pattern will work. I use flies that cast easily and in colorful patterns to attract the fish. With spinning gear, any noisy or splashy plug such as a 3- to 4-inch Storm Chug Bug is ideal. I also use a 4-inch Heddon Zara Spook in white with a walk-the-dog retrieve. Watching this lure get knocked out of the water and eaten is worth the
price of admission. For sub-surface action, the Rapala X-Rap size 10 in Ghost finish can’t be beat. The initial run of a big jack is spectacular, with ever shortened runs to follow. Using lighter gear, you might have to chase bigger fish down, so be prepared to move. Once a fish is spent, I usually use a net or tail grab the fish boatside for a quick picture and safe release, as these fish have limited food quality. Now head out your local inlet and target these plentiful and eager sluggers. They will not disappoint. Find Mark Ambert on Instagram @marksgonefishing_™; Email: marksgonefishing25@gmail.com.
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MARCH 2024
NATIONAL 7
DO YOU WANT TO BE A CHARTER CAPTAIN? By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon
I
went fishing while on Florida vacation about a decade ago. After returning home to Canada for two months, I drove back to pursue a career in the industry. I had zero experience, no connections, and less than half a clue on where to begin. For those with a similar dream, here’s what I learned. First, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been a weekend warrior. If you want to be a captain, be a deckhand first. You don’t know what you don’t know, and working for someone fishing the waters you plan to guide provides all kinds of information. Every fishery has its own etiquette and unspoken guidelines. Community is crucial, and paying your dues and earning respect goes a long way. Captains communicate about fishing on the water, and often, we are each other’s first responders. This same-team mentality is nearly currency. Beginning as a deckhand is difficult. Nobody wants to train you, yet you must be trainable. On your own time, practice skills like knot tying, bait rigging and net throwing. Veteran fishermen are usually happy to flex knowledge to those who ask for help humbly. No matter what you learn, be ready to have a captain you work for tell you it’s wrong. Adapt, and learn things their way. The expectations of deckhands are high, and everything on board will be their fault. You are expected to arrive early, stay late, come in on days off, anticipate your captain and clients wants, and do it on minimum salary. The biggest issue with new deckhands is they sometimes don’t show up. Finding a replacement at 6 a.m. is nearly impossible, and it affects the productivity of a charter. Being a fisherman takes a special kind of person. If can fish six days a week and still want to go out for fun on your day off, this job
may be for you. If you’re on the boat watching the clock, you won’t last long. Showing up to the dock consistently is a great way to make connections and get work. If you can’t find work, show up an hour before local charters head out. Walk the dock and ask if anyone had a no-show deckhand. If you do this consistently and pass out your number, eventually someone will call you. They will see you have the dedication to show up. Deckhands are also required to be on a drug consortium. Sign up and keep your paper with you. Lastly, if you hold a captain’s license and are working as a deckhand, make sure your “captain” has one too. You do not want to be held liable for someone else’s mistakes. Protect your future in the industry. If this is something you want to do, I highly recommend going for it. In 10 years, I have never regretted it or lost the smile it puts on my face. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Sweet E’Nuf Charters, Marathon, Florida Keys. Captainquinlyn.com; @captainquinlyn; (504) 920-6342.
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Snook fishing during this transition is very much dependent on the weather. A warming spell pushes snook out faster toward the passes and bays, while a cooling trend will slow them down. A cold snap will absolutely shut the bite down. If it breaks cold and clear the morning of your planned fishing trip, you’re better off targeting trout and reds. While snook are moving out, big schools of scaled sardines and threadfin herring start to show up close to shore. These baitfish, also known as whitebait or pilchard and greenbacks, respectively, become the favorite food source for snook as well as many other gamefish. When water temps reach the mid-70s, a snook’s metabolism ramps up and they’ll eat anything from crabs and shrimp to mullet, but a lively sardine or herring freelined on a 2/0 circle hook is as close to a sure thing as you’re going to get. Generally, these baitfish are also pretty easy to find this time of year. Where you find the bait is where you’ll find snook. Look at a map and draw a line between a known wintering hole and the passes where snook spawn in summer. In spring, they will be somewhere along this line, staged up and feeding on structure. Snook are ambush predators and prefer to hang in the slack water while the tide sweeps food in front of them. By CAM Staff On the beginning of an incoming or outgoing tide, look to the docks, bridges, points, channel swings, mangroves, oyster bars and anything else that provides a little current shade adjacent to faster water. River mouths are a good place to start your search. If there are greenies or whitebait present, there’s a very good chance a school of snook will be there feeding on them. Want to know for sure? Use a chum bat to sling a double handful of disoriented greenies where you think snook might be. If they’re there, you’ll know it in a hurry. Fresh live bait is the easiest way to catch fish, but the spring feed-up also provides lots of opportunity for anglers throwing artificials. If you’re someone who prefers to skip the hassle of catching and keeping bait, you can absolutely get the job done with a baitfish or shrimp imitation. Topwaters, soft-plastic paddletails, soft-plastic shrimp, twitchbaits, plugs and bucktails nook are hungry when they break out of the winter doldrums and go will all get bit. A couple benefits to artificials is you can use them to cover lots on the move this time of year. As spring temperatures begin to stabilize, of water quickly to find fish and they can be skipped up under mangroves they push progressively farther out of their backwater holes, and their and docks. migration intersects with the arrival of spring baitfish schools. It’s a recipe For more tips and tactics, go to coastalanglermag.com. for an aggressive feed-up ahead of the summer spawn.
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Every year, just after the New Year, American shad move from the northern states south. This year, my dad and I went to central Florida to see if we could find some shad making their way up a river. Unfortunately, after hours of constant jigging with light tackle and tiny jigs and a couple miles of paddling a tandem kayak, the shad were a bust. We decided to take a lunch break with lines out for a catfish or bowfin. We soaked baits for about an hour without even a nibble. At this point, I was more than a little disappointed after driving three hours without even a bite to show for it. Don’t get me wrong, the scenery was beautiful, but I was determined to catch something! I started jigging again as my dad slowly paddled us back to the truck. About a quarter of the way back, I got a bite, a cute little 10-inch largemouth. Despite the size, I was satisfied; I had beaten the skunk. I continued jigging until we were about halfway back, where this narrow part of the river opened wider. I made a “last cast” and had decided to call it quits. As I cranked my jig straight in, I was surprised when it got thumped! I laughed and told my dad we had been doing it wrong all day. To test the theory, I tossed my jig out and again just cranked it in. About two feet from the kayak, a huge swirl appeared where my jig was, and 4-pound line started By Emily Hanzlik ripping off my ultralight. My dad paddled to keep the fish a manageable distance from the kayak while also maneuvering defensively to place the kayak between the fish and the vegetation. After an extremely stressful nearly 20-minute fight, we netted a beautiful, 7-pound-plus Florida sunshine bass. I frantically checked the FWC website for the state record, which weighed 16 pounds, 3 ounces. However, I knew I had one more hope for a record. I checked IGFA and was more than pleased to find the women’s 4-pound-test record was a 5-pound fish. If approved, this will be my first record that was not targeted. When you’re hunting records, it’s key to be prepared. No matter where we go, I keep my certified Rapala scale and my tape measure in a glasses container in whatever bag we have that day. The other key is to make sure you always have accurate line on your reel. I use tournament Ande line so I don’t have to worry about my line over-testing. Other than that, it’s just the f you’ve read my column, you know that catching IGFA record fish is what luck of getting that big one. I love to do. I’ve caught more than 60 of them, and people frequently ask Emily Rose Hanzlik has caught more than 60 IGFA world records which is my favorite. It’s tough to pick, but the following recent record in various categories. Find her on social media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors. is at the top.
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Lo Cay Outlasts Lo Que Sea to Win 44th Annual Pelican Yacht Club Invitational By Ed Killer for CAM
F
our hours is a long time. But when you’re tournament sailfishing, four hours can be an eternity. The fishing team aboard Lo Cay of Vero Beach outlasted a challenging run on what seemed like an insurmountable final day lead to win the 44th annual Pelican Yacht Club Billfish Invitational in January. Capt. Hansy Kraaz, mate Watson Davis, and anglers Hunter Kraaz, Tyler Beckford, Sebastian Blackmon and Chad Vachon, all of Fort Pierce or Vero Beach, finished
the week with a fleet high 16 sailfish releases. For two years, the Billfish Invitational has featured a format where teams fish three out of five possible days. The two lay days give competitors a choice to decide how they want to manage fishing during a week which often includes a severe weather front that can make seas sporty, even for large sportfishing boats. This year’s tournament was fished by 23 boats. For the team aboard Lo Cay, the tournament’s final day was anything but boring. The team had recorded its 13th release at about 10:38 a.m. and recorded what became a
tournament-winning triple-header at 11:04 a.m.. Little did Kraaz and crew know, however, that would be their 16th and last sailfish of the week. With a 7-sailfish lead, they felt good, but knew any boat in the fleet could catch fire and catch up. Lo Que Sea, with Capt. Garrett Yarbrough and mates Aaron Frattin and Corey Brogan, and anglers Tony Huerta, Taylor Beckford (Tyler’s twin), Paul from the Netherlands, Sutton Paul and Mike Standing, added their 8th sailfish of the week
at 9:20 a.m. They then proceeded to wreck the nerves of the guys on Lo Cay but steadily stringing together sailfish catches through the day. A fish for Beckford at 2:36 p.m. suddenly put them only three behind Lo Cay. One turn and the lead could change. A double-header at 3:20 p.m. for Beckford and Huerta suddenly put them at 15, just one fish behind Lo Cay with 10 minutes to fish. But the
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PHOTO CREDIT: Ed Killer.
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MARCH 2024
TREASURE COAST 1
March 1
GOOD
Evening
March 21
POOR
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March 2 March 3
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Evening
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GOOD
Morning
POOR
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FAIR
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FAIR
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March 25
FAIR
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GOOD
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March 26
FAIR
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March 7
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March 27
BEST
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March 28
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March 10
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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’ 2024 Almanac
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MARCH FISHING CONDITIONS
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MARCH UPDATE
How Do Shorelines Keep Up With Change? By Jim Moir, Executive Director
C
oastlines are dynamic places. They are constantly being either eroded or having sediments deposited upon them. Beaches come and go. Even cliffs tumble to the sea. Everything changes, but shorelines by nature are particularly impermanent, the natural forces that shape them are constantly at work. Many magnificent engineering projects have attempted to permanently sculpt the landscape and protect property and infrastructure only to survive for a brief effective time. East Central Florida is geologically young. People often have difficulty relating to the difference between geological time, historical time, and lifetimes. We tend to think or relate to a thing or place as; how is it useful to ourselves in the here and now or very near future. Our planning horizon is fairly short sighted. We can hardly imagine that our dams will eventually be waterfalls and our seawalls artificial reefs, but because they serve our needs, we build them and hope that we can tame mother nature for a while. The natural forces and quirks of geography that formed East Central Florida are interesting and often overlooked when we engineer for the short term. Much of our coastline and interior is ancient corals and seashell sediment with limestone rocks. But a large part is quartzite sand from
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the erosion of the Appalachian Mountains transported south by an oceanic current that runs inshore and counter to the Gulf Stream. This sand transport system is often cutoff by manmade inlets and dredging operations. Beach renourishment projects are very short term “bandaid” attempts to manage erosion and most Inlet design is designed around transportation expediency. They are expensive projects that are often at odds with each other. The coastal ridges and boarders of the Indian River Lagoon are often old sand dunes that have been vegetated and have flatlands and marsh on the interior of them much of Florida’s geography is a series of somewhat parallel ridges and flatlands created as sea levels have fluctuated by hundreds of feet over the eons. The coastline of the Indian River Lagoon had for several thousand years been protected from erosion by living things, mangroves oyster reefs and worm rock. These living shorelines are naturally resilient, as they tend to increase sediment accretion and resist erosion by being self-regenerative and good at attenuating wave energy. They also provided critical habitat for many species of wildlife. It is impossible to understate the importance of the little things that live in the sand whose complex interactions help support entire food webs. Seawalls
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are the enemy of beaches; they accelerate their erosion, and we lose the services of the critters that live in the sediment. Mangroves are shoreline builders and in this age of sea level rise we need much more of them. Our coastlines are in real jeopardy, and I strongly feel that we must follow nature’s example by mimicking self-regenerative living shorelines to protect our property, and infrastructure. Simply hardening shorelines hasn’t worked in the past and is unlikely to be any more permanent or effective. Let’s protect what we love and value the nature that still surrounds us. The wild places will mitigate some of the most extreme consequences of climate change. We must give nature some space and nurture its capacity to provide protective services. Having a national park between the urbanized coast and the Atlantic Ocean will provide some much-needed buffer. Let’s make the Indian River Lagoon and near shore reef a national park and give it the protections and deference that we deserve.
TREASURE COAST 4th Annual Indian Riverkeeper Sand Spike COASTAL ANGLER Shootout PUBLISHER EMERITUS GARY GUERTIN
The 4th Annual Indian Riverkeeper Sand Spike Shootout, an on-foot pompano and whiting surf fishing tournament to benefit Indian Riverkeeper, will take place Saturday and Sunday, March 23–24, 2024. Prizes WHEN: MARCH 23-24, 2024 will be awarded for top pompano and top WHAT: Pompano & Whiting whiting. Entry fee of $50 Surf Fishing includes free bag of Fish Tournament Gum, bag of Fishbites, WHERE: Snook Nook Pompano Rich Rig and 3596 NE Indian River Dr. a raffle ticket. Extra raffle Jensen Beach, FL 34957 tickets are $5. An additional free ENTRY: $50 raffle ticket will be given to registered anglers that collect beach trash and bring If you are a business owner and For rules and registration, visit: it to headquarters. There will be would like to learn more about www.theindianriverkeeper.org/ a special prize for the top 2 beach the benefits of supporting Indian sand-spike-shootout. Riverkeeper, email Exec. Director Jim trash collectors—to be decided by For inquiries, contact Troy Brown Moir at IndianRiverKeeperFL@gmail. judges—not decided by weight! at (786) 838-5296 or email #PLASTIC com or call (772) 341-4953. IndianRiverkeeperFL@gmail.com.
PUBLISHER & EDITOR MISTI GUERTIN GRAPHIC DESIGN LAURA KELLY
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Capt. Gus Brugger Capt. Rocky Carbia Capt. Jonathan Earhart Capt. Scott Fawcett Capt. Scotty Gold Ed Killer Capt. Michael Mauri Brian Nelli Jim Oppenborn Capt. Bo Samuel Chris Beachwalker Sharp Capt. Nate Shellen Capt. Adam White Capt. Terry Wildey
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MARCH 2024
TREASURE COAST 3
FISHING FORECASTS
COASTAL ANGLER TREASURE COAST
MARTIN COUNTY DEEP SEA
Capt. Rocky Carbia
MARCH DAY 1F
TIME
5:31 AM 11:54 AM 5:50 PM 2SA 12:40 AM 6:17 AM 12:36 PM 6:41 PM 3SU 1:35 AM 7:14 AM 1:29 PM 7:43 PM 4M 2:41 AM 8:23 AM 2:37 PM 8:54 PM 5TU 3:52 AM 9:35 AM 3:54 PM 10:04 PM 6W 5:00 AM 10:41 AM 5:07 PM 11:07 PM 7TH 5:59 AM 11:40 AM 6:11 PM 8F 12:04 AM 6:51 AM 12:33 PM 7:08 PM 9SA 12:58 AM 7:40 AM 1:23 PM 8:01 PM 10SU 1:48 AM 9:26 AM 3:12 PM 9:52 PM
HEIGHT 0.26 1.91 -0.04 1.96 0.37 1.83 0.01 1.89 0.46 1.78 0.03 1.87 0.49 1.78 -0.01 1.93 0.43 1.86 -0.12 2.07 0.27 2.03 -0.27 2.26 0.04 2.26 -0.42 2.45 -0.22 2.5 -0.53 2.62 -0.46 2.7 -0.59 2.72 -0.65 2.83
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
11M
3:38 AM 10:11 AM 4:00 PM 10:41 PM 12TU 4:27 AM 10:56 AM 4:48 PM 11:31 PM 13W 5:16 AM 11:42 AM 5:38 PM 14TH 12:21 AM 6:07 AM 12:30 PM 6:30 PM 15F 1:13 AM 7:01 AM 1:21 PM 7:26 PM 16SA 2:10 AM 8:00 AM 2:17 PM 8:28 PM 17SU 3:12 AM 9:06 AM 3:20 PM 9:36 PM 18M 4:21 AM 10:14 AM 4:30 PM 10:42 PM 19TU 5:29 AM 11:19 AM 5:39 PM 11:43 PM 20W 6:28 AM 12:15 PM 6:38 PM 21TH 12:35 AM 7:15 AM 1:02 PM 7:27 PM
-0.58 2.75 -0.75 2.87 -0.49 2.71 -0.75 2.81 -0.34 2.6 -0.65 2.67 -0.14 2.44 -0.48 2.47 0.07 2.25 -0.27 2.26 0.27 2.07 -0.07 2.07 0.42 1.93 0.07 1.96 0.49 1.86 0.14 1.95 0.47 1.88 0.15 2 0.39 1.96 0.12 2.08 0.28 2.06
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 L H L H
22F
1:20 AM 7:55 AM 1:43 PM 8:09 PM 23SA 2:01 AM 8:30 AM 2:20 PM 8:48 PM 24SU 2:38 AM 9:04 AM 2:54 PM 9:24 PM 25M 3:13 AM 9:37 AM 3:26 PM 10:00 PM 26TU 3:46 AM 10:09 AM 3:57 PM 10:36 PM 27W 4:18 AM 10:42 AM 4:28 PM 11:12 PM 28TH 4:51 AM 11:15 AM 5:01 PM 11:50 PM 29F 5:25 AM 11:50 AM 5:38 PM 30SA 12:31 AM 6:04 AM 12:28 PM 6:21 PM 31SU 1:17 AM 6:51 AM 1:13 PM 7:14 PM
0.07 2.16 0.15 2.17 0.04 2.23 0.04 2.27 0.02 2.28 -0.05 2.35 0.02 2.3 -0.11 2.4 0.05 2.29 -0.13 2.41 0.1 2.24 -0.13 2.38 0.18 2.18 -0.1 2.32 0.27 2.11 -0.06 2.24 0.36 2.04 0 2.15 0.46 1.98 0.06
SEBASTIAN (INLET)
VERO (OCEAN)
FORT PIERCE
TIME OFFSET High Tide -48 min Low Tide -24 min HEIGHT OFFSET High Tide .93 feet Low Tide 1.0 foot
TIME OFFSET High Tide -55 min Low Tide -35 min HEIGHT OFFSET High Tide 1.45 feet Low Tide 1.36 feet
TIME OFFSET High Tide -31 min Low Tide -18 min HEIGHT OFFSET High Tide 1.14 feet Low Tide 1.50 feet
JENSEN BEACH (INDIAN RIVER)
ST. LUCIE INLET
JUPITER INLET
TIME OFFSET High Tide +55 Low Tide +1 hr; 42 min HEIGHT OFFSET High Tide 1 foot Low Tide .50 feet
TIME OFFSET High Tide -10 min Low Tide -9 min HEIGHT OFFSET High Tide 1.08 feet Low Tide 1.42 feet
TIME OFFSET High Tide +2 hrs; 17 min Low Tide +3 hrs; 4 min HEIGHT OFFSET High Tide .48 feet Low Tide .92 feet
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 L
Safari I Deep Sea Fishing Pirates Cove Resort and Marina 4307 SE Bayview St. Port Salerno Reservations: (772) 334-4411 www.safari1deepseafishing.com
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lively “Snapper Bite” will continue through the days of March and will highlight the diversity of bottom dwelling fish that can be caught among the many reefs, wrecks, and snags that lay beneath the offshore waters of Martin County. Lane snapper will still be found in big numbers, posted up on near shore reefs and artificial structures in 50 to 60 feet of water and will land on fish box ice, again this month. Sturdy mangrove snapper will also be representing in a similar zone and on structures out to 90 feet of water. Mutton snapper will make a solid showing in the March ocean, with medium to larger representatives of the species (10- to 20-pound fish) making their presence known along the naturally occurring reef line in 70 to 80 feet of salty liquid. The anchored boat will encompass the best strategy for getting attached to these salty snapper groceries, as precision positioning will be crucial in cycling for “snapper slams” and will allow anglers to settle in overtop of favorite fishing spots to conduct a surgical strike against their scaly opponents.
Jumbo mutton snapper caught aboard the Safari 1. PHOTOS CREDIT: Safari 1.
As the winter days of March slowly and subtlety transition to the spring equinox (March 19), fishing captains and their crews will continue to monitor dynamic weather fronts and the winds that are associated with them. March is typically another windy and rough month in general, especially initially, and historically can taper to more fishing friendly conditions during the latter half of the month. However, since weather forecasting is not an exact science, it`s not uncommon to see late arriving cold fronts that wipe out the offshore playing field at any time during the month. So, with this in mind, keep a mindful eye on the weather and be prepared for when a user-friendly window does open. Using forecast savvy web pages like Windy.com and Windfinder.com can help with planning for an offshore fishing trip for a particular day. Open, weather friendly windows will lead to a colorful bounty of snapper during this offshore calendar month and will also have the potential to host a flurry of cobia activity, as hungry cobes glide through our zone during the fishy days of March.
Safari 1 snapper happiness will fill the days (and filet tables) of March. 4 TREASURE COAST
MARCH 2024
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I
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MARTIN COUNTY INSHORE NEARSHORE
Capt. Jonathan Earhart Chaos Fishing Charters (772) 341 – 2274 www.chaosfishigcharters.com jon@chaosfishigncharters.com
I
n March, we can expect some great live bait fishing inshore along the Treasure Coast in the Indian and St. Lucie River systems. Fishing white bait around the structure will produce plenty of snook, jacks, snapper, bluefish, trout, redfish, and the occasional flounder. Typically, we use a 40-pound braided line with a 40-pound leader with a 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook for medium size white baits. Free lining these baits works best, but sometimes adding a weight to get it deeper in the water column will produce larger sized gamefish and the occasional
juvenile goliath grouper. Jeff Huser with a Shrimp fishing on the bottom has nearshore cobia, been okay for sheepshead, snapper, using a large live black drum, pompano, croaker, throat hooked and medium sized jack crevalle. threadfin for bait. Pompano fishing is good around the Sailfish flats and near the St. Lucie inlet. Drifting or anchoring will work best near the inlet. Cast Goofy jigs and or pompano rigs on the bottom with sand fleas. Nearshore fishing has been excellent for cobia, snapper, mackerel, tarpon, permit, and jack crevalle. Cobia fishing is a personal favorite nearshore experience for me during the month of March. Large schools of cobia congregate nearshore this month around sharks and rays, find either and chances are you will find hungry cobia. Live baits on heavy tackle and or cobia jigs will get the bites. Remember to reel them PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Jonathan Earhart. in fast as the sharks will gladly cut them in half if you allow. Cobia now bag limit. If you are not sure they are meet the minimum size limit for must measure 36-inches fork length legal size, use a large landing net to daily harvest. and 1 per person or 2 per boat daily ensure a safe release if they do not Tight lines!
MARTIN COUNTY OFFSHORE
closely and avoid the afternoon storms. Whatever species you decide to target on your next outing I hope
Capt. Scott Fawcett
your trip is Off The Chain! Please give me a call to set up your Florida fishing adventure off the Treasure Coast.
Off the Chain Fishing Charters (772) 285-1055 offthechainfishing.com fishscottyf@bellsouth.net
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s spring creeps around the corner and the flowers start to bloom, the Treasure Coast comes to life. Threadfin herring, sardines, and cigar minnows are back in town and the sails, mahi, blackfin, kings and wahoo are on them, or at least, close by. This is the time of year that we slowly switch over from trolling our local waters to live baiting and kite fishing a little more often. We also do more bottom fishing and jigging too. And, we start running further offshore and making Bahamas trips looking for tuna, mahi, wahoo and marlin while also looking forward to an incredible mutton snapper bite. This is one of my favorite times of year. Focus from 65 feet out to 1600, in early spring the edges and color changes can be anywhere and potentially coming across a piece of float out in the middle of nowhere can be a gold mine. Whether you’re trolling or live baiting, you still want to use a dredge as a teaser on one side, and either a second one or a squid chain on the other side. Four small ballyhoo rigged on circle hooks for
Mark with a ‘hoo caught back in January.
Monday-Saturday Sunday TRIP 8:30AM-1:30PM 8:30AM-3:00PM TIMES Adults $70; Children $60 Adults $80; Children $70
PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Scott Fawcett.
your flat lines and long riggers and a down bait on a planner or on a down rigger with a bait rigged on wire. If conditions allow, place a bigger bait on wire in the short rigger for big dolphin and wahoo, and as a teaser for sails and smaller fish. This time of year, you really need to be ready for anything. Keep an eye out for pieces of float, birds, schools of bait and anything else that may hold fish. I also recommend a subscription to Sirius XM weather. That, water temp and fish mapping will save you tons of time, fuel, and frustration. Over the last 15 years I have used these features to help get on and stay on the fish daily, also giving me a huge piece of mind being able to monitor the weather
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For Reservations Call (772) 334-4411 Located at Pirates Cove Resort and Marina Find Us! 4307 SE Bayview St. Port Salerno/Stuart, FL
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MARCH 2024
TREASURE COAST 5
FISHING FORECASTS
ST. LUCIE COUNTY OFFSHORE
Capt. Bo Samuel Pullin Drag Charters (772) 971-6661 facebook.com/Pullin-Drag-Charters catainbofishing@gmail.com
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arch typically brings the wind, but we’ve gotten used to it here on the Treasure Coast as January and February produced plenty of windy days to work around. I expect March to continue the trend so keep a good check on your weather reports and have everything prepared to go when conditions are most favorable. You don’t need to wish for the luck of St. Patrick’s Day because our local waters are an angler’s paradise and this month, we’ll see big migratory fish moving closer to shore as they follow schools of bait fish. Personal bests and trophy catches will be made with fish like cobia, kingfish, mutton, and tripletail. Excellent snapper fishing will
Congratulations to Mike and Anne Wagner! Catching big bluefish and a monster mutton aboard Pullin Drag! PHOTO CREDIT: Pullin Drag Charters.
continue this month and validate the effective strategy of bottom fishing the local reefs. Lanes, mangroves, and mutton are consistently being reported by local captains and avid
anglers. A colorful snapper bounty can be caught on the 50–90-foot reefs with great opportunities for monster mutton in the 10-to-20pound range. Triggerfish have also
become more abundant as well as pompano and porgies. Cobia can still be found from just off the beach all the way out to the offshore wrecks. These powerful, aggressive feeders are highly attracted to buoys, wrecks, and floating objects. I always keep an eye out for gliding manta rays since some big cobia like swimming along with them. It pays to have a pitch rod ready for just this reason. Snook fishing will be heating up around the inlets, bridges, and docks. plus,tiful keepers plus some huge over slots have been caught recently drifting our great Fort Pierce Inlet. My best bait choices are live pilchards, pinfish, croakers, and select shrimp. Keeping a tight drag is essential since these fish are smart enough to run and try to break the line on any nearby structure. Slot size is 28 inches to 32 inches. If you’re looking for that famous pot o’ gold, it’s here in our Treasure Coast waters! Join me on the fishiest boat in the Fort where we are ready to fish each and every day, weather permitting. I’m based out of Little Jim Bait & Tackle so come on over North Causeway Bridge and let’s talk fishing. Here’s hoping your St. Patrick’s Day includes a bit of luck Pullin Drag!
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ST. LUCIE COUNTY INSHORE
Capt. Adam White St. Lucie Flats Fishing Charters (609) 820-6257 www.stlucieflatsfishing.com
T
ypically, I start off talking about how March is very windy, so much so, that it’s the month that usually has the most small craft advisory’s each year. Winter 2023 leading into 2024 has been brutal. Hopefully we see some reprieve leading into the spring. March will bring some great fishing when the weather cooperates. Snook are very active through the month of March. The inlet,
jetties, and spoil island points are all great areas to look for these hard fighting fish. Drifting free lined live baits back to the structure is a good way to entice a bite from a laid up snook looking for a quick meal. Work the spoil islands slowly and methodically. When using artificials, I like slow rolling soft plastics through early and midspring. A 4-inch D.O.A. C.A.L. in Pearl (330) or Melon Back (318) rigged weedless is a good bait that you can work slow and really pick an area apart. On the days when the ocean is calm enough, take the opportunity to pop out on the beach and target some of our region’s apex predators. The schools of big jacks will be about patrolling the beach and they
are blast to catch on lighter tackle. My go to rig is a Crowder ESS715 paired with a Slammer 4500. The rod is light enough to pitch smaller baits, but has enough back bone to really put the heat on them if a shark starts to pursue. Live mullet, croakers, pinfish, pilchard, or greenie will typically always generate a strike. Top water lures can also be very effective when the schools are acting spooky and won’t let you get in to casting range. A Yo-Zuri Hydro Pencil is by far my most favorite top water. Casts like a rocket and has quality hooks right out of the package. It has been a tough winter. I’m sure everyone is ready for a warming trend and some warmer weather.
Chris with a stud jack that ate a hydro pencil.
PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Adam White.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY DEEP SEA
Capt. Scotty Gold Miss Fort Pierce Fishing (772) 766-0191 www.fortpiercefishing.com
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s we get into March, hopefully we will see better weather than we did in January and February. The winds have been terrible, but the fish have started their springtime migration. We have seen more mango snappers in the 80-to-110-foot range and mutton snappers in the 70-to-80-foot range. You can continue to fish for both with live cut or frozen baits. Grunt plugs are always a perfect standby bait fished on 30- or 40-pound test for the mango snappers and 40-to80-pound test for the muttons. This time of the year, the fish move around a lot and tend to mess around with bait before they commit, especially if it’s following a wind blow.
Always a great day of catching aboard the Miss Fort Pierce. PHOTOS CREDIT: Miss Fort Pierce Fishing.
Lane snappers, triggerfish and porgies will continue to bite in 50to 90-foot depths. Fish with the two-hook chicken rig type with small squid strips, grunt strips, or variety of your favorite cut bait. When you anchor, you want to fish on the highest points of the reef structures. As in January, February, and
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more likely in March, you will see cobia start to make their migration and they will be caught on the bottom while you’re fishing for muttons and mangroves. With all the wintertime wind, look for weather opportunities and take advantage of it. The second half of the month always provides a better window as April draws near.
Novice & Experienced Anglers Of All Ages Welcome
The Miss Fort Pierce continues to sail daily, weather permitting, on our all-day trips at 7 a.m. aboard our 65-foot boat. Never any crowding, all our trips are limited load head boat the fishes like a charter. For reservations and information, go to www.fortpiercefishing.com. Tight lines and we look forward to welcoming you on board.
All Bait, Rods and Tackle Included! No License Required!
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SAILING DAILY AT 7AM Located at Causeway Cove Marina, 601 Seaway Dr., Fort Pierce
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MARCH 2024
TREASURE COAST 7
channel make them excellent places for all types of fish to lay in wait for the migrating shrimp that use the channel and its current as a highway this time of year. A live shrimp fished with a natural drift while wade fishing can be amazingly effective in this situation.
FISHING FORECASTS
SEBASTIAN INSHORE
Capt. Gus Brugger Pattern Setter Charters (772) 360-6787 www.WelcomeToSebastian.com
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arch, especially after the cool winter we have had this year, is a transitional month for the Sebastian inshore fishery. Warming waters improve snook fishing at Sebastian Inlet and kick start tarpon and snook fishing in the Sebastian River while an increase in shrimp and baitfish activity turns on the bite for all species throughout the lagoon.
SEBASTIAN RIVER – March is a fine month for tarpon and snook in the Sebastian River and an excellent option if the wind is howling on the open waters of the lagoon. Once water temps are in the 70s the Sebastian River and its juvenile tarpon become active. D.O.A. TerrorEyz jigs, MirrOlure MirrOdine plugs and YoZuri 3D minnows and flies are my go-to lures for the Sebastian River.
SEBASTIAN INLET – Sebastian
Inlet snook fishing should pick up as water temps rise. Bucktails at night and live pinfish, pilchards and shrimp both day and night are effective. In addition to the snook, Sebastian Inlet will play host to big jack Early spring wading can get you out crevalle, redfish, bluefish, pompano, of the wind and into some big fish. Spanish mackerel, black drum and PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Gus Brugger. sheepshead are also available to inlet The upper south fork seems to be the and small baitfish. Redfish and snook anglers in March. first area that juvenile tarpon begin are also available and will generally to show themselves and is a great be found close to shoreline cover NEARSHORE ATLANTIC – The place to spend some time, whether but stay alert as pods of reds and big waters from the beach to a few miles the fish bite or not. Snook of all sizes snook are often laid up sunning on offshore can be very productive in are spread throughout the entire the flats. A 4” D.O.A. C.A.L. jerk- March if the wind allows boaters river system, but backwater bays and bait on an ⅛-ounce head is a great and surf fishermen the opportunity shallow areas that warm quickly with all around lure for everything that to fish them. Surf fishermen target the sun seem to be the best places to swims in the lagoon in March. Wade pompano, bluefish and mackerel get them to bite in the early spring. fishing will give anglers an edge, and on both bait and artificials with March is probably the best month to a preference for incoming tides. INDIAN RIVER LAGOON – Trout, employ this tactic. Spoil islands are Boaters keep an eye open for cobia, snook and redfish are the main targets excellent areas to wade and often hold cruising schools of big jack crevalle as of lagoon anglers in March. From the good numbers of trout in March. The well as bonito and Spanish mackerel backwaters to the spoil islands trout of close proximity of the islands to the chasing minnows. Tight lines! all sizes are on the lookout for shrimp deeper waters of the Intracoastal
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MARCH 2024
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Capt. Terry Wildey Big Easy Fishing Charters (772) 538 - 1072 captwildey@bellsouth.net www.bigeasyfishingcharters.com
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ld saying goes, “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb”. However sometimes it’s the last week in March and we’re still looking for that lamb. The fishing should be worth the wait. Due to the terrible weather we’ve seen in January and February, I’m counting on a good weather March to make up for it. Look for good catches of mangroves, triggerfish and hopefully still some cobia lingering. Last year in the 85-to-90-foot range, fishing was great when we could find clean water. The winds of March can sometimes leave us with a decent ocean but dirty water conditions. Good to be prepared to run to 160 feet or deeper to find clean water. Chicken rigs with squid will produce catches of vermilion snapper, trigger fish and porgies. It’s a great way to salvage the day and put some dinner on the table. Offshore trolling should be slow but there’s always a
chance of a black fin tuna occasional dolphin or wahoo. I like to troll some ballyhoo from spot to spot while I’m looking for a mark of fish on the bottom. There’s the chance of picking up a fish as well as giving the rest of the crew something to do other than stare at you, staring at the bottom machine. I’ve found the water to be stirred up after long periods of March winds to where fish don’t mark or bite right away when you get to a spot. If that’s the case, you might give it some time. Stay to make it pay. If the water is dirty the fish will be back in the ledges and take some coaching to come out and bite. The fishing near shore is usually tough due to lack of calmer water keeping it stirred up. With the crazy changing weather patterns though you never know will we get a couple weeks of decent March weather or just a couple days. If it’s the latter, I take advantage of this time to prepare for April fishing. I go through everything from safety equipment, bilge pumps, engine maintenance, tackle, also a good time to respool reels and restock your spare parts inventory. Sometimes having an extra fuel filter or set of spark plugs can salvage your fishing day as well as your reputation. If there’s a calm day in March I’ll be out there on the Big Easy. “Fish On Gotta Go!”
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FISHING FORECASTS
LAKE OKEECHOBEE
Capt. Nate Shellen Shellen Guide Service Okeechobee Bass Fishing Guides/Charters (863) 357-0892 sjmike7@aol.com OkeechobeeBassFishing.com Headwatersfishingguide.com
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emergent vegetation. As the day progresses, transitioning to soft plastics like Senkos and creature baits in natural hues can yield results in and around submerged structures. The shiner fishing on the lake has been steadily producing 20 to 40 bass per day on a morning half-day charter. The rim canal and Kissimmee River entrances are productive areas to explore, especially during the warmer afternoons when bass may be more active. Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits can be effective choices in these locations, mimicking the local forage and triggering aggressive strikes. In summary, March on Lake Okeechobee offers promising bass fishing opportunities. Adapting your approach based on changing weather conditions and utilizing a versatile selection of baits
s March unfolds on Lake Okeechobee, anglers can anticipate an exciting mix of bass fishing opportunities. The water temperature is gradually warming, ranging from 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, enticing largemouth bass to become more active and move into shallower waters. Water levels on Lake Okeechobee remain relatively stable, hovering around 12.5 feet. This consistent level provides ample room for bass to navigate the expansive grass beds and seek out prime feeding spots. Anglers should keep a close eye on weather patterns, as Cindy Wheeler and her husband Steve seasonal fluctuations caught a ton of big bass including can impact water this 9-pound stud! conditions. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Nate Shellen. For successful fishing ventures this month, will increase your chances of a consider using a variety of baits to rewarding angling experience. entice bass in different scenarios. Keep an eye on water levels and be Early mornings are ideal for prepared to explore various areas of topwater action, with buzzbaits the lake to maximize your success and frogs proving effective around this month.
INVITATIONAL..................... FROM PAGE 1 Cheatham, Kip Edwards Sr., Mike sailfish bite never came. Weather wasn’t too bad, but the sailfish remained mostly elusive. Rumor on the coconut telegraph was that there is still a body of sailfish off Melbourne, but the boundary for the event was just north of Sebastian Inlet. Most of the fish were caught in 120 to 180 feet of water. Most of the bites anglers had during the week were from 15-20 pound blackfin tuna, which was nice. Fish Camp with Capt. Dave Dalfo, mates Marshall Busha and Kip Edwards, and anglers Lace
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Gozzo, Christian Lazzarra and Geoff Mayfield wound up third with 14 sailfish. The fleet of 23 boats finished with 170 total sailfish, well off the Pelican Yacht Club’s record catches - 969 sailfish for 30 boats in 2019, including 712 in one day, and 736 sailfish for 29 boats in 2012. All the fish caught and released at the Billfish Invitational during its 44 years have been caught on trolled dead ballyhoo. For next year’s dates or more information, visit PelicanYachtClub.com.
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land. from. of cho and ea cut ba Po Hobe fleas is Big anythi huge— Sn inlets. are the Fla will h under Herm east si Walto Bri with b Do near in
Anthony with a nice sailfish.
KAYAK FISHING FORECAST
Brian Nelli Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters (772) 201-5899 Brian@tckayakfishing.com www.tckayakfishing.com
INSHORE: March will continue
to be good for pompano and will kick off looking for tripletail for us. Pompano as usual will be along channel edges near your favorite inlets. I like to fish for pompano in the morning and then head to look for tripletail. Using the sun to your advantage you can see tripletail hanging around crab buoys and channel markers. Both pompano and triple tail can be caught using a D.O.A. Lures 2.75-inch shrimp. Switch to the 3-inch D.O.A. shrimp if you need the bait to stay in the strike zone a little longer.
Rich with a handful of peacock bass. PHOTOS CREDIT: Brian Nelli.
get the first run of them. Springtime mahi usually are on the bigger side compared to the fall run. Mullet, pilchards, and goggle eyes are great live bait options. It is also a really good idea to have a pitch bait rigged with your favorite article lure. I like a OFFSHORE: We are starting to see D.O.A. Bait Buster or TerrorEyz. Try some good mahi mahi caught and slow trolling baits 80 to 300 feet of March is typically a good time to water. Look for any current edge of
weeds to up your chances for a bite. A always don’t count put hooking into a sailfish or kingfish trolling the same depths.
FRESHWATER: Peacock bass and
clown knifefish will be chewing this month. Prop baits will work well for peacock along shallow edges. Try 20-pound leader and a 2/0 circle
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hook casting in and around structure and weed lines to get onto a few clowns with shiners or shad. Look to fish mid-water column and below by adding a pinch weight to your leader and get that bait in their face. Check out Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for all the latest adventures my clients and I get into.
arch is a great time to get out and enjoy fishing from land. So many options to choose from. Beach anglers will have a lot of choices, bluefish will be plentiful and easy to catch. Spoons, plugs or cut bait will get these fish to eat. Beach anglers will have lots Pompano will still be around of choices in March. Hobe Sound Beach. Throwing sand fleas is the number one choice. Big jack crevalle will be eating anything in sight and some will be huge—over 20 pounds. Snook are on the move near inlets. Early morning or nighttime are the best times for catching. Flats fishing up near power plant will hold trout and redfish. Shrimp under a popping cork can’t beat. Herman’s Bay area is good on the east side but west side wading from Walton Road up is best. Bridges will hold some pompano PHOTOS CREDIT: Chris Sharp. with big drum. Use crabs. Don’t overlook tarpon fishing Have a great month. Get out and near inlets; these fish will be huge. enjoy the outdoors. Tight lines.
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MARCH 2024
TREASURE COAST 11
Fly Fishing Corner By Capt. Michael Mauri
Windy and Cold Equals
SLOW & DEEP! T aking out newcomers to warm saltwater fishing is a blast, especially when they successfully land impressive catches. Despite challenging weather in Stuart lately, the joy of fly fishing persists. Even during adverse conditions, like strong winds and cold temps, the Treasure Coast offers a resilient fishing experience. Last week, fishing with Swiss guests Urs and Evelyn, we navigated cold temperatures, targeting laid-up snook on an outgoing tide. Despite the chill, their skillful casting led to hooking 22-inch to 32-inch snook, proving that even in less-than-ideal conditions, the thrill of fly fishing here is incomparable. How to fish tidal waters for snook in colder temperature: • Use slightly down current
angles and use very short but consistent strips. • If you want to fish a deeper fly apply the same technique but with a weighted fly (clousers, etc.). • If that is not enough fish an intermediate (slow sinking) fly line and if you want to fish very deep areas use a fast-sinking fly line. • To ensure an efficient sinking of your fly you can use casts like a parachute reach cast to stack slack line in your presentation. The most important detail is that you want to fish your fly deep and slow keeping it in the “hot zone” as long as possible. Enjoy and have fun! Capt. Michael Mauri www.mauriflyfishing.com michael@mauriflyfishing.com (772) 485-3321
Swiss guests Urs and Evelyn, we navigated cold temperatures, targeting laid-up snook on an outgoing tide. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Michael Mauri.
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H
ook Kids on Fishing returns 9, 2024, 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to the Hobe Sound Nature Co-sponsored by Anglers for Center on Saturday, March Conservation, Hook Kids on Fishing (HKOF) is a FREE experience for kids between ages 5-15 and taught by professional guides, knowledgeable anglers and scientists. This handson, conservation-minded and educational fishing program teaches children casting, knot tying, fishing safety, catch and release, fish habitats, conservation and more. What to expect: • Interactive fishing lessons for kids such as learning proper casting techniques and how to tie knots. • Hands-on demonstrations of sustainable fishing practices like how to handle fish and catch and release practices. • Engaging talks on coastal conservation Receive a rod, reel and tackle box. Participants learn skills before
trying their luck fishin in the lagoon. Don’t miss this chance to bond with your family, embrace nature, and empower our future generations to become responsible stewards of our oceans. Admission is FREE. Register on Eventbrite at https://www. eventbrite.com/e/2024-hook-kidson-fishing-at-hobe-sound-naturecenter-tickets-819246296727 to reserve your spot. Seats are limited. NOTE: All children must be accompanied by an adult. Reserved
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tickets are for participating kids between ages 5-15. Adults do not require a ticket. The Hobe Sound Nature Center is located 16 13640 S.E. Federal Highway, Hobe Sound, FL 33455. Anglers for Conservation is a 501 c(3) non-profit whose mission is to inspire new generations of marine stewards through education, conservation, and fishing. For questions or for more information, email: anglersforconservation@gmail.com.
MARCH 2024
TREASURE COAST 13
STUART BOAT SHOW TURNS 50 I
By Ed Killer for CAM
n Martin County, there aren’t many things or people - that can say they have been doing business for 50 years. But in January the Stuart Boat Show celebrated their 50th annual expo highlighting the marine businesses of the Treasure Coast and beyond. The three-day show always gives visitors and buyers a comprehensive view of what the boating lifestyle can expect in the coming year. This year, over 200 exhibitors drew more than 20,000 boaters and would-be boaters to spin props on the latest models available, see the latest electronics, compare the latest services and check out the latest accessories. New and pre-owned boats covered the show. The Stuart Boat Show always offers something for everyone, but it’s reputation as a show for the center console, bay boat and flats boat market is wellknown. Some of the best-known manufacturers and dealers for these models are based on the Treasure Coast and boaters know it. They were out in full force to see what builders are doing to move the needle to get more people out on the water where they can enjoy a day of boating fun. AllSports Productions who organizes the show every year for the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast reported another record turnout for the event. Plans are already underway for an improved and better Stuart Boat Show in
14 TREASURE COAST
MARCH 2024
2025 to kick off the next 50 years for the expo. And attendees weren’t just spinning props. Vendors and dealers at the show reported a robust atmosphere for buying. The Stuart Boat Show annually precedes the much larger and overwhelming Miami Boat Show which takes place in mid-February. But vendors who plan to display there always are ready to showcase their product lines at the Stuart Boat Show. What’s in store for the Stuart Boat Show as it looks ahead to another half-century of serving the marine community of the Treasure Coast? Could it grow with more vendors drawing in even more
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attendees? Could it expand to include more for the larger yacht purchaser? Will it move to location where parking is easier, closer and cheaper and where it’s not blocking a secondary roadway in Stuart? Who knows for sure? One thing that is certain, the people who are behind the show like MIATC executive director Justin Beard, outgoing president Tom Whittington and AllSports director Mike Allen will ensure the Stuart Boat Show will be at the forefront of making sure the Stuart Boat Show represents the successful innovation and attention to customer service of the industry behind it.
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Trey Brooks with a hefty snook. PHOTO CREDIT: Hunter Pence.
Andy with a nice gator trout. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Cody Baker.
Said Cherlyn Arnold about catching this bass, “Absolutely no way was I leaving skunked; I worked hard for this guy!” PHOTO COURTESY of Cherlyn.
Capt. Cody Baker with a nice sea trout.
Chris Giuffrida found this 50-pounder in 190’ about 9 miles out of Stuart before mutton fishing.
PHOTO COURTESY of Capt. Cody Baker.
PHOTO COURTESY of Chris Giuffrida. #fishslayer1385.
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MARCH 2024
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CA Florida STAR presented by Yamaha, boasts amazing prizes, is the largest familyfriendly saltwater fishing competition in Florida and it begins May 25. A unique combination of conservation, data collection and education, plus prizes and scholarships valued at over $500,000, makes CCA Florida STAR the state’s not-to-miss-summer-long fishing competition. No other fishing tournament in Florida has the ability to engage participants
of all ages and experience levels, and even nonanglers can win, just by collecting trash and debris. Heading into the tenth year, CCA Florida STAR presented by Yamaha has made it easier than ever to participate. The summer long fishing competition encourages thousands of anglers of all ages to fish with a purpose – conservation and winning. STAR is simplifying the competition to make it easier for participants to enter their catches
and win big. It’s not just about anglers winning but helping the fishery win too. Florida STAR focuses on conservation with its technology-based, CPR format and dedicated smartphone app. This format promotes the proper handling of species and allows participants who, at the time of their catch are members of CCA and registered in STAR to upload photos of their catch for an entry in the competition. STAR has set the bar for other fishing tournaments to follow by implementing conservation friendly alternatives, such as a trash division and conservation division with rewards of some really big prizes. The CCA Florida STAR competition presented by Yamaha has a division for everyone, from the non-angler to the experienced angler and targets inshore and offshore species. For the 2024 competition, CCA Florida STAR will once again offer over $500,000 in prizes and scholarships but has pared down the number of divisions to make participation simpler. STAR will offer a Tagged Redfish Division, Tagged Dolphin Division, an Inshore and Offshore Division, Native Watercraft Kayak Division, Realtree Youth Scholarship Division, Power Pole Conservation Division and Costa Kick Plastic Trash Division. With so many ways to win amazing prizes and help protect our marine resources, now is the time to get registered and make fishing in Florida more rewarding this summer. For more information on STAR, become a member and register, call 844-387-7827 or visit their Facebook page and ccaflstar.com.
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LIFE IS A BEACH
By Richard L. Matteson
COOL WATER SNOOK&THE MARCH FISHING FORECAST
I
t’s not like summer, but there are still snook on the beach here on the Treasure Coast. I caught a 21-incher a few days ago in the surf and released it. My main artificial rig is a 4-inch DOA pearl white paddletail on a chartreuse 3/8-ounce DOA jighead. Snook are looking for warmer water, so they’ll be around inlets and bridges where the water is deeper. Sometimes they run the beach because the ocean is better for them than the shallow water in the lagoon. Some large snook are being caught in deeper water of the St. Lucie, both North and South Forks, Crossroads and around deep piers and bridges as well as around deep water in both the St. Lucie and Ft. Pierce inlets. Large jigs and live or cut bait fished early morning, at dusk or at night work best. Live 6-inch croaker seem to be the preferred live bait. This month, you can harvest one snook in the 28- to 32-inch slot here in the IRL Zone. March is windy and will be the last good month for many of the winter fish like pompano, mackerel and bluefish. Some fish, especially bluefish, will remain, but the numbers are relatively small. Pompano can be caught on the beach with orange fish bites and sand fleas. In the lagoon, try jigging from bridges with pompano jigs on moving tides.
Chartreuse or hot pink are good colors. Permit have been caught on the beach on small crabs, fish bites or large sand fleas. Both permit and pompano are 50 to 70 yards offshore. The mackerel bite is good on the beach early in the morning when bait is present. This bite is in the trough around the close breakers. Small spoons like silver 1-ounce Krocodiles or gold Johnson spoons with treble hooks work best, but they will hit any lure retrieved quickly near the surface. There are mackerel still in the Peck’s Lake area where you’ll need a boat. The bluefish bite has been sporadic with fish chasing bait in early morning or when bait is present. Trout are scattered in the lagoon and can be caught on jigs and topwaters like Skitterwalks and Zara Spooks on warm afternoons. The best trout areas are north from the power plant to the Vero Beach flats. The flounder bite is still good on small the 5- to 10-pound range have been taken on jigs jigs and live bait on the flats and around the bridges. and shallow-running crankbaits. Some redfish have been caught on jigs tipped Remember, see the birds, find the bait, catch with live shrimp from the power plant north. the fish! Target mangroves on high tide in the afternoon or Richard L. Matteson Jr. is a long-time Coastal mangroves with deep water. As usual, there are scattered schools of ladyfish Angler contributor and staff writer for Stuart Rod & Reel Club. Contact him at (336) 414-3440. and jacks cruising the beaches. Some nice jacks in
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TYLER WOOLCOTT
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round the country, spring is either here or it is rapidly approaching. There is an amazing tip I want to share to improve your chances for catching big bass this time of year. In spring, bass flood into shallower areas of any lake. Whether that be a bank, pocket or a flat shallow area, they move shallow to start their transition and get ready to do their thing. They use any type of readily available cover to stage up and then eventually spawn. This takes a lot of the guesswork out of the search for where your next bite may come from. What I look for is isolated cover and structure. Types of cover that I look for differentiate from state to state and lake to lake, but the general concept is always the same. The more isolated the better! For instance, here in Florida, anything from a couple lily pads or a very small patch of vertical grass sticking up away from most of the other cover is the ideal spot for a big one to be sitting. In other areas of the country, it could be a single rock, a piece of wood or any kind of debris or cover that looks out of place. Shallow brushpiles near a spawning area that you find with your electronics are also an awesome thing to look for. Some of my biggest spring bass have come from something so obvious that most anglers
go right past it. Fish also often replenish on these places very quickly, so don’t overlook visiting the same piece of structure multiple times in a single day. One of my favorite things to do is cast to isolated lily pads. There could be two tiny little pads out in the middle of a flat on their own, and I might catch multiple fish off the same two pads by revisiting them throughout the day. I often pick apart these objects by dragging something slowly by or through the structure. Typically, a wacky-rigged weightless Senko or a very lightly weighted Texas-rigged stick bait are my go-to lures. When in Southern states that have some stain to the water, I stick with darker colors like blacks and blues or junebug. When the water is clear, I’ll go with more natural colors like a green pumpkin. You can keep your gear pretty simple, but remember you’re fishing around structure fish can wrap you around and break you off. Use heavier line. Try stepping up your leader size to 12- to 15-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon on a spinning rod, and use 15- to 20-pound when throwing a Texas rig on a baitcaster. The 13 have fun and be safe on the water. Fishing Defy series of rods are awesome and Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament affordable. I use the 7’6” MH for baitcasting angler and guide. Check out his website at rods and the 7’1” MH for spinning. www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com. Good luck out there this spring and always
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10 NATIONAL
MARCH 2024
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n December, Coastal Angler and Suzuki teamed up to award one lucky reader with an extra special Christmas gift as part of the magazine’s regular contest drawings. Jeanette Harkin, of Edgewater, Fla., is now the happy owner of small, but feature-rich Suzuki DF2.5 outboard, which she plans to use on the inshore fisheries around Smyrna Beach. “I was super excited when I found out that I won, because we’ve been wanting to get a nice trolling motor for a long time,” Jeanette said. “It was an extra special Christmas present from you guys! Thank you again!!!” The Suzuki DF 2.5 weighs just 30 pounds, and the smooth, quiet and dependable engine is a perfect fit for the 16-foot Gheenoe Jeanette plans to put it on. She goes out frequently after whitefish, redfish and blue crabs on the Intracoastal near her home, and this little rig will be perfect for zipping around on the flats and backwaters. Coastal Angler’s current Giveaway drawing is for two pairs of awesome Wiley X sunglasses. These high-performance and stylish glasses will be just in time for all your springtime outdoor adventures. Go to Coastalanglermag. com, click the “Contest” tab, enter the drawing, and you could be sporting some free new shades on the water this spring. To enter, go to coastalanglermag.com/contest.
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NATIONAL 11
WHERE THE SUWANNEE & STEINHATCHEE RIVERS MEET THE GULF OF MEXICO
PHOTO BY DAVID HAY JONES
GREAT FISHING!
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REDFISH TIP:
THE GARRETT REDFISH DRAG
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ere’s a quick redfish tip from Capt. Garrett Ross, of Miss Judy Charters out of Savannah, Ga. “While using a traditional adjustable style cork, adjust depth to allow the live shrimp to sit directly on the bottom. This means that your cork will be laying completely over on its side. Now, when the cold-water redfish decides to take the bait in its mouth, you will not know until the cork stands up right and starts to make way. It is suggested to reel lightly tight and allow the circle hook to do its job of lip hooking your redfish!” Capt. Garrett’s reasoning for the Ethan Long, 13, with a nice redfish caught effectiveness of his while fishing with Capt. Garrett Ross. technique is that a redfish has plenty of time to eat the shrimp and begin to swim away before the angler holding the rod even knows the fish is there. It might sound counterintuitive, but circle hooks have a way of coming unbuttoned when there’s an over-eager angler holding the rod. For more from Capt. Judy Helmey, visit missjudycharters.com. 12 NATIONAL
MARCH 2024
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very saltwater angler knows the frustration of losing their hardearned catch to sharks. With a hard thump, that big, feisty cobia or snapper stops fighting and all that’s left to haul over the rail is a head. Those delicious fillets were donated to the taxman, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Well, it seems the U.S. Congress is at least willing to take a look at the issue of shark depredation, which is a shark hammering a fish on the line before it can be landed. The SHARKED Act is a piece of legislation working its way through Congress right now with bipartisan support. The bill is just a first step toward mitigating shark interactions with anglers, both recreational and commercial, but it’s one of those rare occasions when legislators might just come together. According to the American Sportfishing Association, shark encounters are increasing on all U.S. coasts. The Magnuson-Stevens Act of 2007—the sweeping legislation that gave us the decades-long red snapper fiasco in the Gulf of Mexico—has been successful, maybe too successful, in rebuilding populations of many shark species that were previously reduced by fishing. In addition to being frustrating to anglers, there is concern that sharks are negatively impacting fisheries, and there is already talk among fisheries managers of stricter regulations on anglers intended to offset or avoid shark interactions. With support from several sportfishing and conservation organizations, the SHARKED Act unanimously passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives, and at presstime it was headed to the Senate and potentially to President Biden to be signed into law. It would direct NOAA Fisheries to develop a task force to study the issue of shark depredation. The task force would be tasked with improving coordination and communication across the fisheries management community to identify research priorities and funding opportunities and make a plan to reduce shark/angler interactions. We can only hope this future plan puts limitations on the taxman and not on anglers.
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GRAND LAKE TO HOST
2024 BASSMASTER CLASSIC T
he field is set, and the grandest spectacle in bass fishing will be renewed for the 54th time from March 22-24. This year’s Bassmaster Classic will be held on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, with weigh-ins and festivities in Tulsa, Okla. Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees has more than lived up to its name. The 46,500-acre fishery provided some of the grandest moments in the history
of the event when Classics were held there in 2013 and 2016. Now the picturesque reservoir in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains will add to that grand lore when it again plays host the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing. As with past Classics held in Tulsa, daily weigh-ins will be held at the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa, with the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo across the street at the Cox Business Convention Center. Daily takeoffs will be held about 90 miles away at the Wolf Creek Park and Boating Facility on Grand Lake. During the first Tulsa Classic in 2013, former Elite Series pro Cliff Pace of Mississippi claimed a wire-to-wire victory during a frigid event when icy precipitation tested the toughness of the 53-angler field. In 2016, local favorite Jason Christie led Days 1 and 2 and seemed poised to earn his first Classic trophy until fellow Oklahoma pro Edwin Evers caught a five-bass limit that weighed 29 pounds, 3 ounces to claim a dramatic come-frombehind win. “The Grand River Dam Authority is excited to see the Bassmaster Classic make its return to Grand Lake in 2024,” said GRDA President and CEO Dan Sullivan. “Not only will the event provide a tremendous economic benefit to the region but it will once again showcase Grand Lake to interested audiences across the country. “GRDA places a high priority on caring for the natural resources under its control, and being a three-time host of the Bassmaster Classic reinforces Grand’s reputation as one of the nation’s top fisheries. GRDA is excited to once again support the Bassmaster Classic, which is known as a premier event and competition for anglers.” On last year’s list of 100 Best Bass Lakes by Bassmaster Magazine, Grand Lake ranked 17th in the Central Division. That marks the 11th straight year that the fishery has ranked in the Top 100. The field will include 56 anglers competing for a $300,000 first-place prize and a total purse of over $1 million. “Since its inception, the Classic has been a tournament that changes lives,” said B.A.S.S. Vice President of Tournaments Chris Bowes. “The payday is great, sure. But the opportunity to refer to yourself as ‘Bassmaster Classic champion’ for the rest of your life — there’s no greater clout in our sport.”
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With more than 60,000 surface acres and 1,300 miles of shoreline, Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees is one of the largest outdoor destinations in Oklahoma. Located on the Grand River, the lake is hugely popular with boaters, fishermen, campers and anyone else who loves spending time in the great outdoors. Anglers are sure to have a blast searching for largemouth bass, white bass, crappie, channel catfish, bluegill and the rare paddlefish on Grand Lake waters. And Grand Lake’s shores are lined with so many unique attractions, shops, restaurants, state parks and casinos that seeing everything in one trip is next to impossible. There’s truly something for everyone to love in the Grand Lake Area!
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