Coastal Angler Magazine | September 2023 | Treasure Coast Edition

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This is a hard time of year for most Southern trout anglers. Water temperatures are warm all over, and most of our trout shing has slowed way down or is just plain over for a bit.

Here in East Tennessee, we are currently bringing 5- and 6-weight y rods and dri shing topwater poppers for spotted and smallmouth bass on several local rivers. We are catching some nice sh, and we’re also catching very good numbers, all on top.

It’s like hopper shing, just on the warm-water side of things. e bass are happy and should be looking up for the remainder of the summer through October, depending on water ows and weather.

It’s a nice change of pace for a bit, with many sh being in the 15- to 16-inch range and averaging a pound and a half or two, with shots at larger sh on any given dri . Giant pumpkinseed bream will also come up and hammer a popper on occasion.

If you’re getting into the bassy side of things, I recommend 2x leaders, 5- and 6-weight rods and your favorite color poppers. e occasional pop and twitch is just a way to say hello to let them know it’s there and see who comes up.

If you want to catch some hard- ghting sh and have a fun day on the water, give us a call before it’s over.

Contact Hiawassee River Guides at (423) 208-8602. See their website at http://hiwasseeriverguides.blogspot.com/.

Home of world class fishing on the beautiful Watauga Lake, rugged Doe River and designated trophy trout stream, Watauga River

Fall Snook

AND THE MULLET MIGRATION

By Nick Carter

Fall is a ne time to be an angler on the Florida coast. e summer crowds dwindle as the summer heat begins to taper o , and snook season opens Sept. 1 ahead of the mullet run.

Capt. Adam White, of St. Lucie Flats Fishing on Florida’s Treasure Coast, said this time of year o ers good snook and tarpon shing in his area. Whether he’s shing bridges at night or inshore structure during the day, there are a lot of snook to be caught around Fort Pierce and a lot of places to catch them.

“From the beach to the inlet, the bridges at night and the seawalls during the day, there’s a lot

of di erent places to sh for them,” he said. “You’ll only get four or ve bites per spot, and if you don’t get a bite in 10 minutes or so, leave. I don’t let grass grow under my feet.”

Run-and-gun tactics make for fun shing, with spurts of activity between quick boat rides. Capt. White said he can’t guarantee a one- sh-perperson snook limit because the 28- to 32-inch slot is a small window, but he said anglers can expect consistent action from under-slot snook or a shot at a big over-slot sh.

Inshore, White likes light (up to 15-pound)

spinning rigs for pitching live baits to currentswept structure, such as mangrove islands, spoil bars and docks. Snook are strong, and a decent one will take you for a ride on light tackle.

e best shot at a big snook is out in the inlet, where White will anchor up and drop baits to the bottom in hopes of just three or four bites over the course of a trip. e payo might be a snook in the 35- to 38-inch range with an outside shot at a 40-incher. ese sh might weigh 15 to 20-plus pounds.

Live bait is the best bet, and snook will eat whatever is available at the time. Live mullet or croakers are White’s preferred baits, and he doesn’t shy away from using bigger 5- to 8-inch baits, which even small snook will hammer.

Anglers who prefer arti cials will nd good action at night at the bridges. White suggested lipped-plugs like the Bomber Windcheater, which has a good mullet-like pro le in the 4 ½-inch size. Another great lure is the locally made so -plastic umper Shrimp. Rig one on a jig head with enough weight to get it down and work it slowly across the bottom.

As for the annual mullet run, when predators hound millions of mullet pushing south to spawning grounds o south Florida, White said he likes the front end of the migration. O St. Lucie County, the shing is best around the second week of September, when mullet begin trickling into the shery. Once the migration is full-blown, there are so many bait sh in the water that it’s hard to get sh to notice your bait.

PHOTO CREDIT: WALT LAUREL

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chinook are Running in the Pacific Northwest

By Nick Carter

Right now, there’s a migration gearing up in the Paci c Northwest. Chinook salmon are staged to push up out of the cold Paci c and into the inlets and coastal rivers of Washington, Oregon and Northern California. Just like they do in the famed Alaskan runs, big king salmon are making a nal return to the spawning grounds where they hatched to begin the next generation before they die.

With his father, Trevor Pelland, has shed these runs on the Hoh and Sol Duk rivers of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula since he was 8 or 9 years old. His dad was doing it before him. It’s an annual event with a time window that runs from August through December, depending on the particular drainage along this long stretch of coastline. e allure is large, hard ghting sh that are delicious seared, grilled or smoked. It’s a shing tradition that existed since long before Europeans arrived on the continent.

Fall runs are famous in places like the Columbia, the rivers that feed Tillamook Bay and others. Chinook push into the main stems and larger tributaries of many coastal rivers and as far up them as the water will allow. Pelland said backtrolling plugs tempts these big sh in the rivers. He’s caught 20-, 30- and 40-pound kings,

which proves it works.

In Oregon, District Fish Biologist Robert Bradley has watched these runs dwindle in recent years. He said the sheries are still worthwhile and draw anglers from all over, but that size and numbers of sh have been falling since at least 2015, due to ocean and environmental conditions. He said the projections for this fall are well below average.

“ e draw is the size of the sh,” he said. “Historically, you could see 60- and 70-pounders, but you could still reasonably expect to catch a 20or 30-pound sh. An average is probably 10 to 15 pounds.”

e states have been hatching and releasing chinook salmon smolt for decades to coincide with the natural progression of sh moving out to sea. Bradley said chinook spend one to ve years growing up in the Paci c o British Columbia and Alaska. e hatchery sh and wild sh return with similar survival rates, but not many of the stocked sh spawn with the wild group. He said most hatchery sh return to the hatchery.

e stocking does give anglers something else to sh for. Hatchery reared chinook have clipped adipose ns and don’t count toward a wild sh limit in most sheries. e seasons and regulations can be confusing and vary widely

from place to place and year to year, but one wild chinook per person, per day is the norm. Check the regulations before you go or hire a guide who knows.

e runs ramp up when fall rains spur the sh to push upriver into the current, Bradley said. In some places, the coho salmon and chinook runs coincide. Make plans now, because runs on most rivers peak in mid-October.

For up-to-date information on Oregon’s salmon sheries, go to myodfw.com.

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BOWFIN An Overlooked Adversary:

By Emily Hanzlik

sh to introduce me to shing with light lines in search of line-class records. With bursts of energy and jumps during the ght, landing them takes a bit of skill.

Bow n are similar in appearance to non-native snakeheads; however, they are brown in color. ese sh can also be tinted green or red, depending on their region. Bow n have a long dorsal n that extends more than half the length of their back and a long cylindrical body to burrow in the mud. eir tails are rounded, and just before the tail is a red and black eyespot that serves to confuse predators. An average bow n weighs between 5 and 7 pounds; however, they can grow up to 21 pounds.

Bow n prefer the hottest and muckiest water they can nd. ey thrive in water with dense plant life, which helps them stalk prey and nd hiding spots. e Everglades o er plenty of bow n habitat, and they love swampy backwaters of bayous and canals.

In oxygen-poor, shallow, standing water, bow n can breathe air from the surface. ey have extra blood vessels in their swim bladder, which acts almost like a human lung.

ere are many ways to go about shing for bow n. e most common method is to cast dead bait, like bluegills or sardines, and wait. Usually, no weight is needed since they live where there is little current. Just match the size of your hook to the size of the bait.

I also enjoy throwing lures for bow n, and frogs and swimbaits will grab their attention. Savage Gear makes great bluegill and frog imitations. Fish lures around and on top of vegetation to draw bow n out. O en, you’ll be surprised by other species like bass, gar and cat sh.

Bow n, also known as mud an overlooked native species that freshwater anglers owe it to themselves to take a closer look at. From sight to just leaving out a dead bait, bow game and will always put up a fun, strong Bow n were the seeking out IGFA records at the age of 12, and I have 10 current bow n records in the book. ey were an amazing

My personal favorite method for bow n is sight casting with a y rod. ey prefer slow-sinking white ies that you can drop right on their faces. I like to kayak into extremely shallow areas. Most of the time, they sit in the silt or in the weeds. ey don’t spook easily, so you can mess around with them and convince them to bite.

e IGFA all-tackle world record bow n weighed 21 pounds, 8 ounces. It was caught in South Carolina in 1980.

Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 62 IGFA world records in various categories. She hails from West Palm Beach, where she has a part time Bow n Guide Service as well as shing classes for Jr. Anglers. Find her on social media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.

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Snappin’ SupperUp

By Astrid DeGruchy

The Florida Keys attract anglers from around the world. While there are many species exciting sport sh, a variety of snappers are particularly popular because of their abundance, striking colors, thrilling ghts and delectable taste. Here’s a quick look at some Keys favorites.

1) Yellowtail Snapper: At the top the list is the iconic yellowtail snapper. Renowned for their vibrant yellow tails, these snappers live on reefs and wrecks. Catching one can be exhilarating on lighter tackle, as they are speedy and tenacious ghters. When grilled or fried, their delicate, aky meat is a culinary delight that perfectly embodies the taste of the Keys.

2) Mangrove Snapper: e well-loved mangrove snapper is a prized

catch in the Keys. With cool colorings and a distinctive dark stripe across their eyes, these snappers are known for a willingness to strike various baits. Anglers who venture into the shallower water in pursuit of mangs are rewarded with erce battles and the satisfaction of landing a delectable dinner. ese can be found in the backcountry and o shore areas.

3) Mutton Snapper: Mutton snapper hold a special place in the hearts of anglers. Residing around deeper wrecks and reefs, these snappers are highly sought a er for remarkable size and avorful meat. eir pink-like coloration, coupled with a distinct black spot they use as a false eye, adds to their allure. Anglers o en recount tales of adrenaline-pumping battles while trying to reel in a trophy-sized mutton.

4) Lane Snapper: Lane snapper are lively and energetic. With brilliant reddish hues and striking yellow lines along their bodies, these snappers captivate the eyes as well as the shing rod. Lane snapper are voracious eaters, making them eager participants for anglers. ey might be small, but their sweet and tender meat brings joy to every sh lover’s palate.

5) Cubera Snapper: e cubera snapper aka, “El Diablo,” awaits in deeper waters surrounding the Keys. Occasionally caught in excess of 100 pounds, they are the largest snapper species in this part of the world. Anglers targeting cubera snapper should employ heavy tackle and stout gear to overcome the intense ghts these brutes o er. Landing a trophy-sized cubera is a feat that will test your strength and your gear.

Whether you’re shing for the acrobatic yellowtail, maneuvering through the backcountry for cra y mangrove snapper, or testing your strength and skill against the mighty cubera, the opportunities for unforgettable shing experiences are endless in the Keys.

Tune in to the latest episode of Bean Sport shing TV on YouTube.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BEAN SPORTFISHING

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Three Florida Bass Fisheries Named Top 10 in the Nation

Each year, Bassmaster Magazine releases its list of the Top-100 bass lakes in the nation. For 2023, Florida landed three lakes in the top-10 of this prestigious list. For anyone who bass shes, it comes as no surprise that the Sunshine State annually ranks as one of the top largemouth states in the entire country.

Bassmaster is the o cial publication of B.A.S.S., which is an enormous tournament organization with branches that hold bass tournaments and tournament series all over the nation. To compile the Top-100 list, editors scour tournament data from the last 12 months and mine data from state wildlife agency programs like Florida’s TrophyCatch.

O.H. Ivie Lake in Texas was named the best bass lake of the year for the second year in a row thanks to an almost unbelievable string of giant bass that have come from this Colorado River impoundment. An incredible 15 bass heavier than 13 pounds came from O.H. Ivie and were registered with the Texas Sharelunker program over the last year. e largest was a 17.03-pound monster.

Texas grows big bass, and so does Florida. Coming in at No. 5 on the list, Fellsmere (Headwaters), Stick Marsh and Kenansville Lake, were grouped into a single shery. Fellsmere led the

way with an awesome 73 largemouths heavier than 8 pounds reported to TrophyCatch over the last year. Fellsmere’s largest was an 11-pound, 8-ounce sh. Stick Marsh, which has been drawn down for habitat enhancements and is kayak only, produced two TrophyCatch sh, including a 9-pound, 6-ounce sh. Kenansville pitched in with seven 8-plus pounders, including a 13-pound, 10-ouncer.

Orange Lake weighed in at No. 8 in the top-10 list. is should come as no surprise if you are a regular Coastal Angler/ e Angler reader. Orange Lake has been in the headlines a lot recently, with four 13-plus-pounders including a giant 14-pound, 1-ounce sh that to-date is the largest Florida bass of the year. Orange Lake produced 50 TrophyCatch sh heavier than 8 pounds over the last 12 months. Seventeen of those were heavier than 10 pounds.

e “Big O” slid into the No. 10 spot of the best bass lakes in the nation. is historic heavyweight has solidly rebounded as one of the country’s best bass sheries. Okeechobee’s Roland Martin Marine Center Series events have produced some astounding sacks for tournament anglers. In June, Coastal Angler/ e Angler reported on a singleday event that produced 20 30-pound ve- sh limits. It took 36.82 to win, and a 29-pound sack

didn’t even crack the top 25. ose are some of, if not the best, tournament numbers we’ve ever heard of.

To see the entire list, visit www.bassmaster.com.

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MORE DAYS ADDED TO FALL GULF SNAPPER SEASON

Adding to the previously announced fall season, Florida anglers will get an additional 17 days to harvest red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico this fall. e additional harvest dates will be every Friday through Sunday in September, Labor Day and anksgiving Day. is is on top of the previously announced season, and brings the 2023 season to a total of 87 days, the longest combined season since the state assumed management of Gulf red snapper.

“

e Gulf red snapper season brings anglers from across the country to enjoy this recreational opportunity,” said FWC Executive Director Roger Young. “Being able to extend the season 17 days will allow additional access and opportunities to all who want to experience the Fishing Capital of the World.”

ose shing from private recreational vessels in state and federal waters of the Gulf and charter

vessels without a federal reef sh permit that are limited to shing in state waters, will be able to participate in the 2023 Gulf red snapper season. e fall season now includes every Friday–Sunday throughout the months of September, October and November as well as Labor Day and anksgiving Day. See the updated fall season dates below:

• September 1–4 (Friday–Monday of Labor Day Weekend)

• September 8–10

• September 15–17

• September 22–24

• September 29–October 1

• October 6–8

• October 13–15

• October 20–22

• October 27–29

• November 3–5

• November 10–12

( Veterans Day Weekend)

• November 17–19

• November 23–26

( Thanksgiving Weekend)

For more information, go to MyFWC.com.

St. Lucie County Artificial Reef

MY TIME DEPLOYED

The long-awaited deployment of the motor yacht Time occurred on July 15, 2023. McCulley Marine Services deployed the 127foot Palmer Johnson motor yacht for Marine Cleanup Initiative in depths of 162-feet on St. Lucie County’s Fort Pierce Sportfishing Club artificial reef site. The vessel will be donated to St. Lucie County and, pending Board of County Commission approval, named the A.A. Hendry Reef, after the patriarch of the 19th century pioneering Hendry Family.

In acknowledgement of the effects that artificial reefs have on the local economy, two waterdependent businesses made inkind contributions towards the success of this project. Willis

Custom Yachts held the M/Y Time in drydock in Stuart for three years while the engines and outdrives were being removed. In September 2022, Causeway Cove Marina in Fort Pierce hosted the Time where she was cleaned of any remaining pollutants and thoroughly prepared for deployment. David Powell of the MCAC Artificial Reef Fund (MCAC) also negotiated with the owners of the vessel to secure funding for the Time cleanup and deployment.

This was the third vessel that the St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program sank in conjunction with MCAC and the 12th vessel that has been deployed by the Program since 2005 (including one barge and three barge-concrete reefs). There are another four recorded vessels (Beverly M. Tug, Ken M. Tug, Deep Tug, and USS Amazone), and at least three barges that were deployed by the Fort Pierce Sportfishing Club in the 1970s and 80s, making the waters offshore St. Lucie County a great place for anglers and divers.

Fish that have been monitored on St. Lucie County’s deepwater vessel reefs include gag (Mycteroperca microlepis), scamp (Mycteroperca phenax), Warsaw grouper (Hyporthodus nigritus), and gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus). The ability of vessel reefs to attract and hold groupers has made the Treasure Coast very popular for anglers and divers across the State and throughout the United States. In an informal survey taken for Bass Pro Shops from 2010 through 2012, boats were trailered to St. Lucie County from 29 different counties in Florida and 26 different States and provinces in North America.

In addition to providing areas for the recreational harvest of adult fishes, the St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program is also looking at

ways to perpetuate fish stocks using artificial reefs. The County’s artificial

PHOTOS CREDIT: St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program.

There she goes!

Vessel aerial on deployment day.

COASTAL ANGLER TREASURE COAST

SEPTEMBER

APRIL UPDATE

By Jim Moir, Executive Director

The Dark Side of Starlight

One of my favorite pastimes that rarely fails to enchant me is paddling through the mangrove passages of the Jupiter Narrows in the nighttime. I am fond of using the glow of the full moon to navigate my way and sometimes I am treated to seeing mother sea turtles nesting on the beachside as a halftime reward. It’s a beautiful and soul enriching exercise. Of course, not every of my nocturnal excursions is dramatic or entirely fulfilling but they are all different and fun.

Sometimes while paddling on the night of a new moon when the sky is clear and the sea is calm, I can see the reflection of the stars in the stillwater. There are times when bioluminescent phytoplankton are present, and I get a wonderous display in the smooth black water of reflected starlight and flashes of greenish light from below. These are times I feel humbled and graced to witness such things and to live in such a wonderous place.

There are many bioluminescent life forms in the sea. In the deep sea it may be more common than not for creatures to emit light released from chemical reactions occurring inside

for my spectacular light shows are Pyrodinium bahamense. These phytoplankton also have the ability to produce a potent neurotoxin called saxitoxin. This toxin can induce paralytic shellfish poisoning. Sometimes when nutrients are abundant these phytoplankton can bloom and wreak havoc on an ecosystem, or economies dependent on harvesting food that can make people sick.

Cyanobacteria that have toxins, harmful algaes and phytoplanktons have been on earth for a very long time and when they live in a balanced ecosystem they provide vital services to the whole system, we likely wouldn’t be alive without them. We unfortunately do not live in an age that is predictable or in equilibrium. Many human behaviors have put some of the places we love and live near in real peril of becoming dangerous to us and the creatures that live in those places. The toxins that these organisms evolved to possess have protective qualities, but when over abundant they are terribly destabilizing and lethal.

I recently visited a region of the Indian River Lagoon that was undergoing a serious fish kill.

reefs have been home to juveniles of many species of fish, including black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci) and snowy grouper (Hyporthodus niveatus).

Perpetuation of grouper stocks involves not only providing habitat for juveniles to grow to maturity, but also locations for these fishes to spawn. This will remain important as human populations continue to expand on the Treasure Coast. There is evidence that suggests that deepwater groupers once used the Oculina Banks coral reefs for spawning. There also is evidence that suggests these same species may be

using other high profile, mesophotic (deepwater) vessel reefs to spawn. Scientific evidence suggests that living hardbottoms can influence the decision of fish larvae to settle even as currents are carrying the larvae past the hardbottom. Because of this, the St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program has implemented a policy of attaching coral recruitment modules to mesophotic vessel deployments.

Volunteer technical divers, Derek Ferguson and Dani Claeyssens, have dived the A.A. Hendry Reef to get valuable data for the Program. The reef is sitting upright on the seafloor; coral recruitment modules placed near the stern are upright and

intact. The reef is already home to adult grey snapper and amberjack (Seriola dumerili). Videos taken by these divers is on YouTube and the County’s website (https://www. stlucieco.gov/departments-andservices/public-works/artificialreef-program).

To learn more about the St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program efforts to create additional recreational destinations, conserve groupers or to learn about the program’s need to create a volunteer fishing and diving programs to collect additional data for grant applications, contact Jim Oppenborn at (772) 462-1713 or oppenbornj@stlucieco.org.

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

Gag grouper on Beverly MTug.

Warsaw grouper on the DeepTug

PHOTOS CREDIT: St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program.

MARTIN COUNTY OFFSHORE

Capt. Scott Fawcett

Off the Chain Fishing Charters

(772) 285-1055

offthechainfishing.com

fishscottyf@bellsouth.net

Thekids may be back at school, but the summer sails haven’t ended. Sailfish, blackfin tuna, kings and mahi are still firing off this September and even though the water is pushing 90° the bite continues. September is a great time of year to mix it up a little, especially with the heat.

Lobster season started last month and what better way to cool off than taking a quick dip in the middle of the day? Bait can still be found along the beach and over small reefs and wrecks in the 30–60-foot range in the mornings. Kingfish will be hanging around these schools and sending live baits right back out after catching them, drifting dead sardines, or even jigging will work well for these fish. Little tunny, the occasional cobia, even sailfish and an occasional

blackfin will show up on the near shore bait schools too. Along our six and eight mile reefs the tail end of the summer sailfish season will be taking place, and while you may have to wait a while to get your sail bite, when you get it alongside the boat ready for the release, look around with a good set of polarized glasses, chances are,

there are more with it. We use Costa Del Mar 580 lenses in various tints depending on the conditions to help cut the glare and see deeper into the water. Have a spinning rod with a live bait on it ready to pitch to followers because they’re there.

Speaking of having a spinning rod ready. Make sure you always have a

spare one with wire on it, especially this time of year. It is not uncommon for decent size wahoos to start showing up off our coast and being able to make the most of a short encounter will turn your day into a great one.

Venturing a little further out, the swordfish bite is still good this time of year and there is always chance of finding a piece of float with some life on it. When you come across this make sure you fish a deep bait. The Cannon 10TS is the perfect downrigger for this. It offers an auto deploy setting along with a cycle mode that triggers lazy fish to bite when it’s engaged.

With calm weather, lobster season starting and yellowfin tuna still on the east side of the Gulf Stream, September is the perfect month for a Bahamas trip. Blue Marlin Cove is just a couple to a few hours away and puts you in a centralized location where you can fish the corner or the channel equally, not to mention the exceptional deep dropping for grouper and snapper right in front of it.

Whatever style of fishing or trip you decide to do this month, I hope your next trip is Off The Chain Please give me a call so we can set up your next fishing adventure. See you soon!

Doug Pia and Victor Feratto from Off The Chain hoisting a fat yellowfin tuna up for a quick pic before both had to get back to fighting more tuna.

PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Scott Fawcett.

Capt. Jonathan Earhart

Chaos Fishing Charters (772) 341 – 2274

www.chaosfishigcharters.com

jon@chaosfishigncharters.com

September is here! Mullet run is the highlight of inshore fishing on the Treasure Coast this month. Fishing early in the morning can be some of the season’s best topwater fishing around structure and near mullet schools along mangrove shorelines. Snook season is now open so harvesting a slot snook can ensure fresh dinner for the family. The minimum-maximum size is 28-to-32-inches, one per harvester per day. We can expect plenty of jacks, redfish, tarpon and spotted seatrout in the mix as well.

Big tarpon will be cruising channel edges looking for larger

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

Theheat weary eyes of all Floridians will be focused on the tropics during the fishing days of September. As summer begins to subtlety transition to fall, the potential for tropical low-pressure systems will peak this month and could have many possible impacts for near coastal offshore fishing interests. Barring any weather systems of this nature, offshore fishing can and will be business as usual as favorable weather windows allow fishing crews to fish the many reef structures east of the St. Lucie Inlet.

Reefs and wrecks that form the bottom contour of our fishing zone are the foundation for saltwater ecosystems and will set the food chain in action as larger fish are attracted to the smaller fish and creatures that magically associate themselves with these structures. Many species of fish, including snapper and grouper, will be found around the base of these reef sites and can also patrol to the higher profiles along the reef line and “suspend” atop of a particular

mullet. Soaking a big mullet with heavy leaders will ensure a quick fight and increase catch ratios. I like 7-9/0 BKK circle hooks typically 2x strength when using heavy leaders for these larger inshore game fish. Beach fishing is also heating up this week. Lots of snook, tarpon, sharks, bluefish, jacks, and the occasional permit even! Fishing the beach with artificial around large mullet schools will be key to success. Soft paddle tail artificial baits work well to mimic a live mullet this time of year. I often scout multiple beaches with binoculars to find the most bait fish with active predators chasing these mullet schools. This typically will increase your hook up ratios. Find hungry fish, catch hungry fish. This is why we love beach fishing in September.

Nearshore fishing has been okay with decent snapper action using chicken rigs with cut mullet. Kingfish, sharks, bluefish, cobia, bonito have been plentiful when soaking live mullet on the surface. Add a wire leader if you find

Doug Blanchard with a juvenile tarpon with a healthy release. Caught on a live finger mullet using a 40-pound fluorocarbon leader and a 5/0 Kahle hook.

reef, at mid-level depths in the water column.

Live and dead bait strategies will work in tandem as anglers deploy their spreads at different depths. The key component to bait deployment will be to make sure the baits are deployed very near or directly over top of these reef structures. Fishing around structure is the common thread that runs through all types of successful fishing strategies.

yourself in the midst of a bluefish blitz. Fishing to the south along Peck Lake can be good for an early migration of Spanish mackerel if the water clarity is good. It’s a little early for the annual mackerel migration,

Most species of snapper will continue to be found in good numbers this month and will best be caught using cut bait as mangrove,

but we always see some good size ones show up to Peck Lake early to mid-September each year. Small flashy jigs with a fast retrieve will get the strikes from these ferocious fish! Tight lines!

lane, vermilion, and mutton snapper will avail themselves to salty grocery collectors during the days of September.

For Reservations Call (772) 334-4411

Located at Pirates Cove Resort and Marina 4307 SE Bayview St. Port Salerno/Stuart, FL www.Safari-1.com

PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Jonathan Earhart.

PHOTO CREDIT: Safari 1.

Safari 1 fishing team angler, Ivan Savric, with the first-place snapper in this year’s 2023 Bonita Blast Tournament, caught aboard the Safari 1.

FISHING

FORECASTS

ST. LUCIE COUNTY DEEP SEA

Capt. Scotty Gold

Miss Fort Pierce Fishing (772) 766-0191

fortpiercefishing.com

As we get through the summer months and now into September, we should see some of the daily temperatures start to fluctuate a little cooler and become more manageable to fish during the day. You should see the mangrove snappers continue to bite in 60 to 90 feet, as well as the muttons.

The mutton snappers should become more aggressive to eat towards the middle of the month through December. We must watch out and hopefully have no offshore storms that really stir the bottom up. Continue to fish with live grunt plugs, live pinfish mijares and finger mullet. Fish in 70 to 120 feet of water with a 15-to-25-foot leader of 40- or 50-pound test mono. As we get through the month, the current should become more manageable

as we get out of the summertime patterns.

Grouper continue to bite as well in the ledges and drop off’s in 70 to 160 feet as well. Live pinfish are the key to your greatest success.

Miss Fort Pierce will continue to try and maintain our seven day a week schedule as interest is available. We sell daily on an all-day schedule at 7 a.m. with a fully air-conditioned cabin with our never crowding policy. For more information go to www. fortpiercefishing.com.

Tight lines. We look forward to meeting you on board.

PHOTO CREDIT: Miss Fort Pierce Fishing.

Capt. Adam White

St. Lucie Flats Fishing Charters

(609) 820-6257

www.stlucieflatsfishing.com

September will continue to be warm, but the fishing is always exciting. August was brutal this year. I’m looking forward to the fall patterns knowing some cooler weather is another month away. It’s a great time of year to target tarpon, and snook around the Treasure Coast. Lots of bait has arrived in the area and the predators are chasing it both in the river and on the beach. It is always best to fish early or late in the day. The fall mullet run begins this month and that will bring exciting action to the area.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY OFFSHORE

Capt. Bo Samuel

Pullin Drag Charters

(772) 971-6661

facebook.com/Pullin-Drag-Charters catainbofishing@gmail.com

September is here and that means anglers up and down the Treasure Coast are thinking two things: the mullet run and snook season!

The lowly mullet becomes the star attraction this time of year as over the next couple of months, enormous amounts of mullet will migrate down the coast to their spawning grounds here in south Florida. The mullet run brings in a variety of larger fish and anglers are more than ready to get in on the action. Look for massive schools of bait, working birds, and fish busting on the surface. Find the bait and you will find the fish. As the fall migration progresses into October, the mullet get bigger and so do the fish following them, allowing “dream fish” catches and personal best records for anglers of all ages.

The elusive and aggressive snook are local celebrities highly prized for their superior fight and wellknown delicious taste. September 1 though December 14 is the second open season of the year to catch these very popular trophy fish and the Fort Pierce Inlet is a top snook destination. A distinctive black lateral line that extends on to the tail makes snook easily recognizable and has earned them the nickname of linesiders. My favorite live bait for snook is mullet, threadfins, pilchards,

September is an awesome month to fish the Treasure Coast!

Snook season opens again on September 1st. Live bait, D.O.A. TerrorEyz and assorted other favorites used around jetties, bridges and sea walls can get you hooked up to that slot fish. Make sure you are prepared for the season and check your equipment. It’s always good to check your license and snook permit, too.

Look for tarpon around the north and south jetty. As the mullet start to fill in, the jetties will have some explosive action throughout September. Live lining a mullet on an outgoing tide is a great way to get into some land-based action from these giants throughout the day. The night bite can be just as good if not better when targeting tarpon. Feathers and lipped plugs like a YoZuri Mag Darter are both great lures

for fishing for tarpon where there is a hard current.

Find the bait schools and you’ll find the action! It’s easy to spot the bait this time of year. The fall mullet run is going on strong in September. If you do not find bait around your favorite fishing spot, you will most

likely not find many fish there. Move around if you need to find active bait. Fish love this time of year, and they are out there gorging themselves on the bait in anticipation of the coming winter months. Water temperatures will begin to mellow out and will get back to normal.

The sailfish bite has actually been very good lately with hook-ups being reported every week by local captains. Cobia will be in the mix also so stay ready to reel and keep the gaff handy. I always keep a pitch rod on board for any suspicious shadow that just might be a cobia.

Bottom fishing is consistently on fire with snapper, grouper, and amberjack being caught around 90to-150 feet. Mangroves and muttons are reported almost daily at the 70-to-100-foot reefs and wrecks. Chumming with live and cut bait will help bring the big ones closer to the boat.

or mojarra but they are aggressive enough to hit artificials as well. Keep a tight drag as these wily fish will run and try to break the line on any nearby structure. Slot limit is 28-to32 inches total length. Practicing good catch-and-release techniques for those outside the slot is very important.

I expect September to continue the great king mackerel bite from August. Smoker kings can be found just off the beach around bait pods and out to about 90 feet. I recommend live pilchards, threadfins, or sardines on a slow troll. Big kingfish are known for a serious fight and are a great trophy fish. With plentiful kings in the area, it’s time to break out the smoker and plan on the freshest smoked fish dip around. If you want to try my famous Captain Bo’s Smoked Fish Dip recipe,

just give me a shout.

Targeting kings will also provide opportunities for mahi-mahi and even some large summer sailfish.

You’re invited to come talk fishing at my home base of Little Jim Bait & Tackle where the music, food, and staff are fantastic. Military and first responders are appreciated and receive a 20-percent off discount every day.

Happy Labor Day! If you’re off work for the holiday, then you should definitely be on the water Pullin Drag!

PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Adam White.

Lauren with a nice snook caught on a live mullet.

Zack Foltz caught this snook beauty on his own designed ZF Custom Rod!

PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Bo Samuel.

Snook are again in season as of September 1 and can be caught from the beaches to the backwaters of the Sebastian area. Atlantic zone rules apply, with on snook overall length between 28-to-32 inches allowed per angler per day. Snook are the major focus in September, but they are not the only gamefish available to Sebastian area anglers. I’ll break down each venue available in the Sebastian area and discuss what to expect during this period of change.

SEBASTIAN RIVER – The tarpon and snook action in the Sebastian River will pick up significantly as the schools of finger mullet make their way into the estuary. Live finger mullet, TerrorEyz jigs, as well as suspending and topwater MirrOlures are excellent ways to target tarpon and snook throughout the day and night. The docks below the railroad bridge offer snook of all sizes day and night.

INDIAN RIVER LAGOON – The arrival of migrating baitfish to the Indian River Lagoon will increase the fishing opportunities and

hopefully the catches for lagoon anglers. All types of artificials and live finger mullet fished wherever pods of mullet are found will draw strikes from a variety of gamefish. Snook will ambush passing finger mullet pods around shoreline structures including docks and mangroves. Anglers fishing around bait schools on open flats will find covering water with topwater plugs to be an exciting and effective strategy.

SEBASTIAN INLET – Schools of snook can be found throughout the inlet when the season opens on September 1. Live croakers, pigfish, shrimp and finger mullet will all get the attention of snook and redfish at the inlet. The tips of the jetties are always good on outgoing tides, but the north and south shorelines west of A1A will hold snook. Daytime snook fishing has historically required live bait for consistent success, but after dark bucktails, swimbaits and diving plugs will do the trick.

NEARSHORE ATLANTIC – When weather conditions are favorable, the waters within two miles of the beach between Melbourne and Fort Pierce can be explosive in September. Tarpon, snook, reds, blues, Spanish, cobia, tripletail, sharks, jacks, and flounder all follow the migrating mullet southward. Fish live mullet, large plugs, spoons, shad tailed jigs, and the like from the beach or from a boat to take advantage of some of the best surf/nearshore fishing of the year.

Tight lines!

PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Gus Brugger.

Vogel of Sebastian with an Indian River Lagoon snook caught and released on

Shrimp.

By September, the tropics usually are heated up and stirring up our water pretty good. Assuming the waters are not too stirred up, the fishing should still be good. We should have some decent kingfish around bait pods in the 40-to 50-foot range as well as the artificial reefs. For those of you new to the area who don’t have any spots in your GPS, these are a good place to start. There’s over a dozen of them listed on the internet in our area. These reefs hold bait (threadfins) as well as snapper, kingfish, cobia and barracuda. Always a fun place to take the kids for some rod bending action. The 80-and 90-foot reefs should also produce a few big mangrove snapper providing your geared to crank them past the sharks. Looks like the shark problem is here to stay until our South Atlantic Fisheries Council does something to control the imbalance in our fishery. The water temps should be pushing

over 85 degrees, so this should make for a picky, almost lethargic bite. Light fluorocarbon leaders and a variety of live baits should help pick up the bite. I like fishing the smaller pieces of bottom when it’s like this. Some of the little 2-to 4-foot pieces that only mark a little fuzz on. Spots that most people wouldn’t wast a drop on. This usually will produce some nice lanes,

vermilions, and triggerfish. Pick your days and weather, even if we don’t get the storm sometimes, we still get a big groundswell that will stir things up and shut down the bite. Take advantage of this time to do that boat maintenance that gets overlooked when you’ve spent all July and August on the water. September’s when I always go through all my

safety gear. Life jackets, flairs, fire extinguishers. Do it all at once. This might save a life, or at very least, save you a $250 ticket.

As always be courteous to your fellow anglers, you never know when you might need a tow. LOL. Take a kid fishing, He might return the favor when you get old.

“Fish on, gotta go!”

PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Terry Wildey.

Capt. Nate Shellen

Shellen Guide Service

Okeechobee Bass Fishing Guides/Charters

(863) 357-0892

sjmike7@aol.com

OkeechobeeBassFishing.com

Headwatersfishingguide.com

AsSeptember rolls in, fishing enthusiasts can expect some exciting opportunities on Lake Okeechobee. The lake’s water levels and weather patterns during this month play a crucial role in determining the fishing conditions.

Water levels in Lake Okeechobee during September can vary depending on rainfall and water management practices. In the early part of the month, water levels might still be relatively high due to the summer rains, but as the month progresses, levels may start to drop gradually. This drop is often part of the natural seasonal fluctuation, and it can expose

more areas of the lakebed, leading to potentially productive fishing spots. September is an excellent time for using a variety of artificial lures to target different species in the lake. Topwater lures like poppers and walking baits can be effective early in the morning and late in the evening when the water is cooler. These lures imitate the movement of injured prey on the water’s surface, enticing

largemouth bass to strike aggressively. During the day, when the sun is high and temperatures rise, anglers can have success with soft plastic baits such as worms, creature baits, and swimbaits. These lures work well when rigged Texas or Carolina style and can be fished around vegetation, structure, and drop-offs where bass tend to seek shade and cooler water. For targeting other species like

crappie, using small jigs or minnow imitations near submerged structures, such as thick cattails near deeper areas or suspended fish on deeper structures, can yield good results. Given the warmer temperatures during September, it’s essential to pay attention to the weather forecast and stay hydrated while out on the water. Early mornings and late afternoons are often the most productive times for fishing during this time of year. Additionally, employing a slow and steady retrieval technique can be advantageous when using soft plastic lures, as it mimics the movement of lethargic prey in warm water.

Always remember to check the local fishing regulations and guidelines before heading out. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission may have specific rules and limits in place to protect the fish populations and their habitats.

In summary, September in Lake Okeechobee offers great fishing opportunities for those willing to adapt their strategies to the changing water levels and temperatures. Utilizing a mix of topwater and soft plastic lures can lead to a successful day on the water, targeting largemouth bass and other prized species in this renowned fishing destination.

Mike Puleio and his boys Dominic and Grayson caught a ton of nice bass including these two studs they landed for a double!

PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Nate Shellen.

name as well as crabs and other sea life. It was the second such kill in 10 days in that region of the lagoon. The diversity and spectrum of the casualties in this fish kill were to me shocking. It is a sad and unhealthy thing to bear witness to such a thing. I am impelled to try to understand what is making the place I love so obviously unwell. The causes are complex interrelated and accumulative. The seas are getting hotter and animals are definitely suffering, water chemistry is also changing because of heat and accumulated CO2. Ocean acidification, and lower dissolved oxygen capacity are just two examples that certainly stress fish and other creatures. We have allowed excessive nutrients from agriculture and urbanization to pollute our waterways, and we have created chemicals that have unknown long-term effects on complex ecosystems that we use without control or enforcement of regulation. We need to reform our attitudes to how we treat the spaces we care about.

Wild places are really important to us. We must start to acknowledge that treating them as resources to

be exploited for human dominion is myopic and self-centered. They provide services that earth needs to be a stable and healthy place for all life to be sustained. There are very few truly pristine places left but there are diversity hot-spots that need us to be extra proactive in providing protection and remediation and enforced regulation over. I don’t actually know whether the phytoplankton that provided my nocturnal underwater fireworks were responsible for the fish kill, yet, but I do know that we have to reduce our nutrient loads into a heat stressed Lagoon or harmful blooms are inevitable.

The State of Florida has not yet demonstrated a capacity to regulate nutrient pollution into our waterbodies or to protect species that live in our wild or semi-wild places. It’s time to protect the Indian River Lagoon and the near shore reef with National Park status. I hope you’ll help protect the place I love. If you see it like I do, I think you would.

If you are a business owner and would like to learn more about the benefits of supporting Indian Riverkeeper, email Exec. Director Jim Moir at IndianRiverKeeperFL@ gmail.com or call (772) 341-4953.

Fly Fishing Corner

By Capt. Michael Mauri

THE SPECTACULAR MULLET RUN: A Fly Fishing Extravaganza in Stuart, Florida

Every year, nature treats fly fishing enthusiasts to an incredible phenomenon known as the mullet run along the east coast. These fish typically arrive by the millions mid of September and will stay in our waters around the end of October. To see and experience this spectacle of nature is something you don’t want to miss out on!

Depending on the weather we are fishing inshore and if it’s calm enough along the beaches. Chasing big schools of mullet and seeing them getting busted up by predators like snook, tarpon, sharks and others will stick with you in your

brain for life. The fishing is not always as easy as you would think due the massive number of baits in the water but on most days or nights it pays off with big fish.

I carry for that specific type of fly fishing anything from 8-weight up to 12-weight sets with all kinds of different lines. The flies I like to fish are easy and fast to tie like Puglisi style patterns in grey, black, purple, and white in sizes 1/0 - 5/0.

Over the years I have made unbelievable memories of not only catching big fish but just to see, hear and be a part of this massive event mother nature entertains to us is just something I never thought

about.

Make sure to get out there and find your first-row seat, buckle up and enjoy this year’s mullet run!

PHOTOS CREDIT: Capt. Michael Mauri.

Mullet run bust up.

John with a nice, healthy mullet-run snook.

A Fishkill in Sebastian: How the Puzzle Pieces Fit Together

By Ed Killer

On Sunday July 30, Peter Hinck heard about the problem.

A few minutes later, the Sebastian angler was walking along the shoreline near the Main Street boat ramp.

What he saw was alarming.

A striped mojarra. Small stingrays. A Florida gar. Sheepshead. Snapper. Pinfish. A 31-inch snook.

All these species were drifting in the gently lapping waves of the Indian River Lagoon. They all looked as if they had run out of air.

It was a sad reminder of where we are in Florida, anglers are constantly affected by changes in the environment.

Sudden heavy rainstorms are common during the summertime. In order to live in a state that receives so much rainfall, we had to dig ditches and canals. Those ditches and canals carry unwanted flooding rainwater to our coasts and estuaries.

That’s where the problem is. For the last 60 years, we have begun to

realize that dumping rainwater into estuaries compromises the estuary - especially when that water is coming from many miles away and a watershed that was never connected to the coast. Nutrients, silt, other pollutants and even the freshwater itself can be detrimental to an estuary and the ecosystem living in it which has adapted to a specific range of salinity - lower than the open ocean but higher than the water entering from the land.

In Sebastian and Indian River County, the St. Johns River Water Management District connected the western lakes and marshes to a mighty canal - the C-54 - which empties into the St. Sebastian River west of town. Then, in an effort to create more water storage for the St. Johns River flowing north to Jacksonville, the district added manmade reservoirs commonly known as Stick Marsh, Garcia and Headwaters Lake. Natural water bodies Blue Cypress Lake and Kenansville Lake historically accepted rainwater from the nearby marsh to its south when rainy

seasons dictated.

On the date of this fishkill, C-54 floodgates remained closed. However, on the south side of Fellsmere Grade runs a deep canal which fills during the rainy season. On July 29, there was 5.5 inches of rain in several hours. The roadside canal drains east into the Sebastian River just beyond the C-54 floodgates. A huge slug of rainwater entered the brackish estuary.

Unbeknownst to many,

op-ed

bioluminescent algae had been in the Indian River Lagon where the Sebastian River meets it. The slug of rainwater dropped the salinity, killing the algae. The dying algae robbed the estuary of oxygen. The lack of oxygen took a toll.

We need to store more water upstream in the future and use fewer aquatic herbicides in those water bodies. That snook should have been someone’s dinner after Sept. 1. It’s sad that no angler gets that opportunity.

The lack of oxygen took a toll.

PHOTO CREDIT: Ed Killer.

Christina George with a 24-inch black drum caught on a live shrimp at the Jensen Causeway.

PHOTO CREDIT: Alan George.

Gary Jones with a 22.26-pound blackfin tuna.

PHOTO CREDIT: LeeAnn Jones.

Riley of “@Inshoreboysfishing” on Instagram plucked out a new personal best at Sebastian inlet.

PHOTO CREDIT: @Inshoreboysfishing

Melissa (Team Salt Life) and Leonard Fox enjoying catching tuna 7 miles out of the St. Lucie Inlet. “It

strange to have such a good tuna bite midsummer so close to shore,” remarked Leonard.

PHOTO CREDIT: Rosa Fox.

Francis Ferguson caught this 22-pound red snapper out of Sebastian Inlet.

PHOTO CREDIT: Robb Ferguson.

Chris Giuffrida with a goliath grouper caught in the Indian River Lagoon.

PHOTO SUBMITTED by Chris.

Walt Laurel, from Port St. Lucie, did some serious snookin’.

PHOTO SUBMITTED by Walt Laurel.

Summer’s End CAN BE

THE BEST!

With summer tourism starting to slow down, this month can be one of the better times to visit the Florida Keys. As demand for accommodations drop, so do prices around the Keys. Wait times are less, and charters have more availability for last-minute travelers.

Provided that the hurricanes are playing nice, September o ers a nice opportunity to hit the end of mahi season, or to enjoy a reef that’s less crowded than normal.

All the snapper shes are red up this time of year, but the most notable are the mangrove snapper. Mangrove snapper are spawning and there are epic catching days to be had before and a er the full moon. Knocker rigs or jig heads will snipe them o the bottom with just about any bait. Small live pin sh and ballyhoo are very e ective. When using dead ballyhoo, the whole bait can be dropped, or cut in half. Break the beak o and hook through the head side, or cut the tail o ever so slightly, and hook them through that cut, making sure the hook loops around the spine.

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

Sword shing is another great option right now. ere are still mahi to be found on your way to and from the swordgrounds, but not so many that you feel obligated to stop on every cluster of red-up diving birds. Fishing for sword sh can be a large undertaking for time, tackle and fuel, with a high skunk-out risk rate involved, so it’s always nice to have the chance at some other species along the way. Unlike in the middle of summer, when the ocean is alive with feasting mahi, you can actually make it out there without stopping every mile along the way.

Snowy grouper is closed, but deep dropping o shore is still a viable way to ll the cooler with rosies, tile sh, yellowedge grouper and barrel sh.

As we transition into the autumn shing season, many factors are at play for predicting our shery this month. Call a local captain to nd out the latest report, and come visit the Keys during the cheapest travel month of the year!

Capt. Quinlyn Haddon shes with Sweet E’Nuf Charters out of Marathon, Florida Keys. Contact her at (504) 920-6342, check out her website Quinlynhaddon.com and her social @captainquinlyn.

WORLD RECORD TROUT

CAUGHT IN PONTE VEDRA

A10-pound, 10-ounce seatrout caught in Ponte Vedra was recently certi ed as a new IGFA men’s 20-lb. tippet class world record.

e gator trout was caught on the Dr. Jay Wright on March 23.

Wright was shing with guide Matt Chipper eld of Chip’s Coastal Charters when the big girl ate a bait sh pattern. e sh was documented and weighed on IGFA certi ed scales to ll the world record category, which was previously vacant.

In an Instagram post, Chipper eld said he and Wright had been pursuing the record sh for ve years and gave the measurements for the huge ycaught trout. It was 30 inches long with a 17-inch girth. A er documenting, the big breeder female was carefully released.

“Catching a speckled trout of this size is special on any tackle. But doing this on y… it’s HARD,” wrote Chipper eld. “It requires discipline, patience and skill. Guiding “ e Doc” to this sh is a moment that I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

Wright is no stranger to the record books. He holds several IGFA y tackle world records for seatrout. Along with this most recent 20-pound tippet record, he also holds the 12- and 2-pound tippet class world records for seatrout. His 2-pound tippet record was a 9-pound trout caught from Mosquito Lagoon in 2018. His 12-pound tippet record weighed 11 pounds, 8 ounces and was caught o Fort Pierce in 2007.

For more record sh, go to igfa.org.

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By Capt. Michael Okruhlik FLOUNDER

September is a new beginning of sorts when it comes to saltwater shing on the Gulf Coast. First, it is somewhat cooler, although some of our visiting northern neighbors might not agree. Many anglers nd themselves torn between other passions and obligations, some of which include school in session, weekend sporting events, dove and deer hunting, and the list goes on. ese activities thin the herd of boats on the water and opens the bays back up for those of us who focus all of our free time on the water.

is is de nitely noticeable at the boat ramp the rst weekend a er Labor Day, and I can’t wait!

Less boat tra c means shing the mouths of bayou drains is wide open. I avoid these areas for safety reasons when there’s heavy boat tra c. I just don’t like boats driving over my lines or waking me, which is what happens if you sh in a boat lane during peak season. I like drains in back lakes this time of the year, because they hold “the big three”: trout, red sh and ounder.

I will speci cally target ounder in these areas in September and early October. Since the spring migration, these tasty morsels have been working their way as far back in the marsh as they could get. With autumn around the corner, they start to congregate in these drains. Outside of the fall run, many anglers do not target these ground huggers. With the pressure light,

the ounder bite can be lights out for those who know where and how to target them. part is you might not see another boat all day!

An outgoing tide is optimal to stake out one of these drains. e tide carries bait out of the deeper bayou and adjacent marsh grass and sends it on a deadly path with hungry ounder fattening up for their winter spawn. When the bite is on, it is not uncommon to see ounder breaking free of the water’s surface chasing a meal. e time I witnessed this years ago, it took me awhile to gure out what was jumping. I will never forget that day!

Paddletail so plastics are my go-to in this situation. I like bright colors such as white lightning, chartreuse with glitter, or pearl with a chartreuse tail in a 4-inch or 3.25-inch bait. Keep the lure twitching along the bottom. Quick jerks with the rod tip pointing down activates the tail vibration and kicks up clouds of mud, which really grabs their attention. A so plastic with a tail rattle adds an extra attractant.

Get a jump start on your ounder x before the rst cold front and the long lines of anglers targeting them during the fall run.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®

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

Hanapa‘a - Mahi

Hanapa‘a - Ono

Hanapa‘a - Ahi

Hanapa‘a - Marlin

Fish flags inspired by Sun Dot Marine Flags.

@fishflags

why get towing?

THEY KNOW FALL IS COMING

Tim Barefoot

Fish know fall is coming because of the reduction of daylight minutes in a day. e shorter days make a lot of species start a whole new pattern of activities. For example, the grouper complex will start the process of moving into traditional spawning areas. at migration mirrors the cigar minnows, sardines and squid. I’ve always said this and will say it again: Find the bait, nd the sh!

e cigs and sardines form large schools that attract a number of predators including kings and sail sh on the surface, and the big snappers and grouper will be on them as well. e shortened daylight hours become obvious during the middle of this month, when it triggers the “feed” to fatten up for winter and the spawn. Go to the traditional areas you’ve found bait in the past, and that’s a great place to start shing.

Another thing I’ve said in the past is: don’t go to a Chinese restaurant and order a pizza, meaning don’t drop baits that are foreign to sh that are working a school of cigs and sardines. Always have a couple boxes of frozen cigs and/ or sardines just in case you can’t nd the

bait. At least you’ll have bait that “matches the hatch” of what they normally eat.

I try to stay on the sabiki catching baits while everyone else on the boat is shing with grass grunts, sailors choice, cigs/sardines, etc. If you get on a big knot of cigs or sardines, it might be helpful to have two people on the sabiki lling the livewell. e best bait of all is whatever is there. Just put it right back down.

is is also the time of year to nd squid inshore, mixed in with cigs and sardines. If you have a live squid for bait, its life expectancy is under 10 seconds once it touches the bottom on a jig. It’s an instant bite, just like several other baits mentioned above.

e only problem I have with the live or frozen minnows is everything on the bottom will give them a whack, and you wind up catching a lot more snapper and smaller bass than if you use a larger live bait. We almost always have live pin sh from the marina that eliminate most of the trash bites. If you have a larger pin sh, grass grunt or sailor’s choice on the jig, nothing but larger bass, grouper, jacks and big snapper can put it in their mouth. I like to speci cally target grouper by putting the larger live baits down on the jig that eliminate the undesirable bites. Of course, this is a very attractive bait to the sharks, also. Every now and then you have to pay the “tax man” in a grey suit, but that’s just the chance I take. Check out some of the rigging and shing videos on the website or on youtube to see what I’m talking about.

See more from Tim Barefoot at Barefootcatsandtackle.com.

ALASKA STATE RECORD OUTWEIGHS WORLD RECORD

Alaska’s new state record shortraker rock sh was caught in late July. On uncerti ed scales at a remote shing lodge, it weighed 48 pounds, which would have crushed the existing IGFA world record by about 4 pounds. e angler, charter guide Keith DeGra , however, chose to preserve the meat by bleeding the sh instead of waiting to get an o cial weight on certi ed scales.

Days later, when DeGra nally got a certi ed weight in front of an Alaska Game and Fish representative, the sh weighed 42.4 pounds, which was good enough to set a new Alaska state record.

“It feels like the biggest accomplishment of my shing career,” DeGra said. “ is species takes time and dedication to drop down to such huge depths, and I spent a whole lot of hours and reeled miles of line trying to break this record, and it nally came to fruition.”

DeGra caught the sh from Prince William Sound on July 28 with his ancée and some friends from a rented boat. DeGra was shing 1,000 feet deep with a conventional (non-electric) Avet 2-speed 30/2 reel, a custombuilt Adventurous Custom rod built by Derwood Roberts, 3-pounds of weight, 80-pound braid and a circle hook baited with salmon and herring. e previous Alaska state record shortraker rock sh weighed 39.1 pounds. It was caught by Henry Liebman in 2013. e IGFA all tackle world record weighed 44.1 pounds. It was caught in 2017 by Angelo Sciubba at Cross Sound, Alaska, but it’s not recognized in the Alaska Game and Fish list. For more information, see www.adfg.alaska.gov.

Industry leader Dometic is o ering a “new turn” on steering for a whole new category of cable-steered boats that have o been overlooked when it comes to driving innovation.

Designed to integrate with a boat’s existing SeaStar cable steering system, new Xtreme Power Assist (XPA) steering provides smooth, e ortless electric power steering for a range of boats with single outboard motors from 90 to 200 hp. is makes it ideal for smaller ats boats, center consoles, shallow water open ski s and other coastal shing vessels that currently use mechanical steering.

Dometic’s XPA mounts easily to all outboard brands and works with all types of SeaStar mechanical steering (including rack and rotary,

need to replace the existing steering. Installing XPA requires only simple wiring and can be done by DIY boaters in about 30 minutes.

Once XPA is installed, the steering cable only turns the power assist unit—while an advanced electric steering actuator moves the engine load. is eliminates steering torque through the wheel and provides smooth, nearly e ortless steering at any speed.

While an ideal upgrade, this new system is being adopted by top boat builders as a factory standard feature or optional upgrade on new boats.

MOBILE BAY

ARE EASY PICKINGS

right, shrimp, crabs, ounder and more oat to the surface in the shallows, where people just scoop them up.

In one of his weekly columns, David Rainer, with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources explained these uncommon events: e event starts with an incoming tide with very warm, still water, followed by organic load that creates a situation that depletes the oxygen in the water. O en, jubilees follow an a ernoon rain shower and an easterly or northeasterly wind. e Mobile Bay National Estuary Program explains that phytoplankton also contributes to this phenomenon by consuming oxygen near the surface of the water. When the easterly breeze starts blowing, this creates a water current that causes the oxygen-poor water to migrate toward the shore. is has a corralling e ect, herding the bottom-dwelling species into the shallows. ere those species become so lethargic that people can just pick them up. ese events usually lasts two to three hours.

Because they are short lived and rare, jubilees are a source of excitement for some Mobile Bay families who send word out to friends and loved ones to drop what they’re doing and go collect some seafood. However, Rainer warned in his column that a jubilee is not a free-for-all. Normal size and creel limits remain in e ect during the phenomenon. Alabama Marine Resources Division Director Scott Bannon said most species survive to swim or scuttle away when dissolved oxygen levels return to more normal levels.

or most folks, a jubilee is an anniversary celebration, or maybe it’s a ambe dessert made with cherries. For people in the know on the Eastern Shore of Alabama’s Mobile Bay, a jubilee is a natural phenomenon that leads to ridiculously easy seafood. When weather, water and tidal conditions occasionally align just

In case you were wondering whether Mobile Bay’s jubilees are the result of climate change or pollution, know that they have a very long history going back to a time when bells would ring to sound the jubilee because locals were dependent on seafood to feed their families.

“Nowadays, it’s more of an interesting phenomenon that occurs in only two places in the world, Mobile Bay and Tokyo Bay in Japan,” Bannon said.

August and September are the best months to encounter an Alabama jubilee, but it’s not the kind of thing you can predict. You just have to be there and hope to encounter it… or have friends in the know on social media.

For more information, see Rainer’s detailed article on jubilees at www.outdooralabama.com.

ADCNR PHOTOS BY DAVID RAINER

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TYLER WOOLCOTT

If you aren’t familiar with it, a Carolina rig is when you put a bullet weight and then a bead on your line and then tie a swivel to the end. To the swivel, I use about a 2-foot section of leader and then a worm hook to put a bait on. is rig gets deep, and the leader with a weightless bait provides a more subtle presentation than a traditional Texas rig.

Obviously, you want to drag this rig around some sort of cover that bass are attracted to. I use it everywhere from Southern largemouth in deep grass to deep smallmouth on rock up north. With the weight clicking against the bead and the free action of the bait, this old-school rig still dominates a lot of tournaments to this day.

ere are two presentations I go for when choosing a so plastic to Carolina rig. I like either a bait sh or a craw sh. If the available forage is bait sh, I use a uke-style bait in a natural bait sh color. If the bass are eating craw sh, I like a Zoom Speed Craw or a Strike King Menace grub in green pumpkin or some type of brown or orange color. ese two baits have a lot of action and small bodies to keep the bait streamlined while dragging. My go-to hook is a 4/0 Hayabusa WRM956 wide gap.

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eptember is supposed to be the beginning of fall, but the reality— at least in the South—is the month is just a continuation of summer. Bass can be pretty tricky, but there are ways to target sh in cooler, deeper water. Dragging a Carolina rig is one of my favorites.You can play around with the size of the weight and the diameter of your leader line. In shallower 5- to 10-foot depths, a lighter weight can help your bait look more natural. I’d suggest ¼ to ½ ounce in that depth range. If you’re shing deeper water in 15 to 30 feet, shing a heavier ¾ to 1 ounce weight gets you down more quickly and allows you to cover bottom more e ectively.

I like the leader between my swivel and hook to be lighter than my main line because it’s less visible to the sh and allows better bait action. If I’m shing 15-pound mainline, I’ll use a 10- to 12-pound leader.

Carolina Rig Gear:

When using this rig, making long casts to cover water is a must, and being able to hook a sh at the end of a long cast is critical. For these reasons, I use a pretty long rod. My go to is a 13 Fishing 7’6” MH Omen Black Casting rod.

You’ll also need to pick line up fast with the reel to remove slack on the take. I use a 13 Fishing Concept A 8:3:1 reel, which eats up line quickly. Spool this reel with 15-pound Seaguar uorocarbon, and grab a small spool of 10- or 12-pound line for leaders.

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

S

TIPS FROM A PRO

DRAG A CAROLINA RIG

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