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4 NATIONAL
JULY 2022
’GILLS, ERS ’CRACK
e m i t r e Summ AND
By Nick Carter
E
! N U F
very now and then, it’s good to rediscover what ushered you into fishing in the first place. For many of us, it all began with small ponds and eager bream. The simplicity of just catching fish, without concern for size or species, is a pursuit that brings back a certain child-like joy. It’s even more fun when you take a kid. Witnessing the light of discovery and pride pass over a child’s face turns untangling lines and dodging errant casts into a labor of love. It doesn’t need to be difficult. If you time it right and have a good place to go, it’s easy to load a stringer full of fat bluegills or redear sunfish in a hurry. They are easy to clean, and they are delicious dredged in a seasoned cornmeal-flour mixture and fried crispy. The traditional preparation is to behead them, gut them and scale them, which yields those great crunchy fins. They can also be filleted for folks who don’t like picking through bones, and the resulting bream nuggets make tasty fish sandwiches or tacos. Throughout the spring and summer, bluegills return to the beds to spawn around each full moon. They spawn in groups, so their fanned-out beds look like honeycombs on the shallow bottom. Shallow flats with a sand or gravel bottom are the preferred areas, and they pile up on these beds for three days or so on either side of the full moon. In all but the most dingy water, you can see the beds on the bottom. Once you find them, the same spots will provide fast action year after year. A cricket under a bobber and a long cane pole is probably the way your grandfather yanked ’gills off the beds. If your young angler is competent with an ultralight spinning combo, a 1/32-oz. crappie jig can also be deadly when reeled steadily across the beds. Fly rodders can wear them out with a small popping bug or small streamer. Redear sunfish, also known as shellcrackers, can be more difficult to locate and catch than bluegills, but it’s worth it once you find them. They are the heavyweights of the bream world and regularly grow up to a pound or two. They fight very hard on light tackle. Shellcrackers spawn in early spring and prefer similar areas to bluegills, only deeper. Their beds can be difficult to find because they are usually too deep to see, and they don’t spawn throughout the summer. When they are on the beds they are very aggressive and will hit small jigs, spinners and flies. When they move off the beds, it’s time to switch to live bait. Shellcrackers feed near the bottom on snails and mollusks. After the spawn, they move off the banks to feed around grass or submerged structure like stumps and treetops. A red-wiggler, either slowly dragged across the bottom with some split-shot or a lightweight dropshot rig are both effective for ’crackers. Once you find one, you can usually find several.
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Red Snapper
The Official Fish of Summer Vacation By CAM Staff
R
ed snapper should be the official fish of summer vacation. These hard-fighting and delicious reef fish are the traditional driving force behind the Gulf of Mexico charter fishing industry. The season dates are set to align with the arrival of tourists seeking fun in the sun, and whether you’re pulling your own boat to the Gulf for a week-long fishing expedition or you plan to hire a captain for a day on the water with the kids, here’s a state-by-state look at what you need to know to get in on the action.
Non-stainless steel circle hooks are required when fishing with natural baits. At least one de-hooking device is required and must be used to remove hooks. A descending device or venting tool that is rigged and ready for use is required when fishing for reef fish in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Federal For-Hire Season
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Gulf-wide, most of the recreational catch of Gulf red snapper comes from federal waters, which begin 9 miles offshore for purposes of reef fish management. Charter operations targeting red snapper and other reef fish in federal waters must have a federal for-hire reef fish permit to fish federal waters. The 2022 red snapper season for federally permitted vessels began June 1 and will close on Aug. 19. The bag limit is two fish per person with a 16-inch minimum length limit. Captain and crew may not retain a bag limit. Each state sets its own regulations for private anglers in state and federal waters as well as for charter boats in state waters. FLORIDA: Florida’s season opened June 17 and will run through July 31. Florida has also set aside the following weekends for snapper harvest in fall: Oct. 8-9, Oct. 15-16, Oct. 22-23, Nov. 11-13 and Nov. 25-27. The bag limit is two fish per person, per day with a 16-inch minimum length. The open season includes the These seasons apply to recreational anglers fishing from private vessels Monday of Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. The season in Florida Gulf state and federal waters. For-hire operations that do not have will remain open until recreational landings approach Louisiana’s allocation. a federal reef fish permit may also participate in the season but are limited to Anglers must have a Recreational Offshore Landing Permit (ROLP) to fishing for red snapper in state waters only. All anglers who intend to fish for fish for or possess red snapper and electronically report their catch via the or harvest certain reef fish, including red snapper, from a private vessel are ROLP app or the ROLP website. required to obtain the State Reef Fish Angler designation. MISSISSIPPI: Mississippi’s red snapper season opened for private ALABAMA: The season for private and state-licensed charter vessels recreational anglers and state for-hire vessels on May 27, with a mid-season opened May 27 in Alabama state and federal waters. The season consists of closure date of July 4. The mid-season closure allows for compilation of four-day weekends, Friday through Monday, until the private angler quota landings to examine a potential season extension. is projected to be met. The daily bag limit is two per person, per day with a The season will be open seven days a week in both state and federal waters minimum size limit of 16 inches. and will close if the annual catch target for recreational anglers is reached. One angler per vessel, per trip is required to report through the MDMR Alabama uses Snapper Check to monitor landings during the season and provide weekly updates at outdooralabama.com. Anglers must have an Tails n’ Scales system. The daily bag limit is two fish per person with a 16-inch length limit. Alabama Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement. The owner or operator of each vessel is required to complete one landing TEXAS: The private recreational angler red snapper season in federal report per trip through Snapper Check prior to removing red snapper from waters of Texas opened June 1. Red snapper fishing is open year-round in the boat or the boat from the water. Red snapper caught from non-powered state waters. The bag limit in federal waters is two fish per person daily, with vessels, piers and the shoreline are also required to be reported through a 16-inch minimum size limit. In state waters, the limit is four fish per person Snapper Check. A landing report may be submitted through Snapper Check daily with a 15-inch minimum. Red snapper caught in federal waters count in the Outdoor AL app, which is available at outdooralabama.com. as part of the state bag limit. No more than two red snapper in federal waters LOUISIANA: The season opened May 27 in state and federal waters of and four red snapper in state waters may be in your possession while fishing. Louisiana. It will run weekends only (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) with a For more information, go to gulfcouncil.org. daily bag limit of three per person and a 16-inch minimum size limit. 6 NATIONAL JULYfish 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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LURES
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TYPES OF LONG-DISTANCE LURES
L
ong-casting lures are not limited to one shape or style, and that is a good thing. Distance is sometimes important in reaching fish, and a specific action or type of lure is important in convincing them to bite. Here’s a look at several lure styles and the pros and cons of fishing them. Diamond Jig: The first longdistance lure ever was likely the diamond jig and other elongated metal spoons. Originally designed for handline jigging, it just turned out that this lure’s shape allows it to cut through the air to reach great distances. This one is always worth carrying. It allows you to cover a lot of water and cast in high winds pretty well. This said, the diamond jig being made of metal makes the lure size relatively small compared to its weight. It’s not the best option when fish are looking for larger prey. Topwater: Nothing is more exciting and eye opening than topwater action. When water explodes with snapping mouths as predators gobble prey on top, it gives you an obvious target to cast a lure to. Poppers, pencils, chuggers and walkers all belong to the noble
TEE H
or a fast retrieve. In most situations, I prefer topwaters that sink at rest. They draw those exciting topwater strikes, and they regularly achieve 50 percent or longer cast distance than PATRICK SEBILE floating lures. Swimming Plugs: This category includes race of lures that we all love just about anything with swimming action. I to fish because they are fun, group billed minnows, hard swimbaits, darters, especially when you can cast bottleneck swimplugs and others into this to fish that are feeding actively and visibly. category. I do not, however, consider soft-plastic swimbaits such as a paddletail/jigheads to be distancecasting lures. Like topwaters, floating versions of these plugs are common, but they limit the distance you can cast. Longdistance “rocket” or “bullet” models are typically heavier and sink at rest. They have the ability to reach fish far from the boat or shore, and they will also draw strikes right at your feet. A key point about sinking distance-dedicated lures is they cast much better into wind than floating models, and this matters because the bite is often best—especially for large fish—when the wind is in your face and the water is white. Next issue we’ll dig into the Floating topwater lures are traditional, but appendices and lure designs for long distance. they don’t cast the farthest. Some topwaters Legendary angler Patrick Sebile is a world are designed to be fished at the surface, rather than on top of it. These sinking and/or heavily record holder and an award-winning designer loaded lures significantly improve range, and of innovative lures and fishing gear. Check out his creations at abandofanglers.com. they can be worked on top thanks to design
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NATIONAL 9
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39TH NASSAU SPORT FISHING ASSOCIATION KINGFISH TOURNEY IS AUG. 6
ig-time kingfish tournament action returns to Fernandina Beach, Fla. this August with the 39th Annual Nassau Sport Fishing Association Kingfish Tournament and Fishing Rodeo. This Southern Kingfish Association-sanctioned event is slated for Saturday, Aug. 6 with Fernandina Harbor Marina as headquarters. There’s up to $10,000 on the line for first place in the Kingfish Division, and with eight different species in inshore and offshore divisions of the rodeo, there’s a shot at the leaderboard no matter what style of fishing you prefer. There are also Single Engine Boat,HOURS: Lady Angler and Youth Angler Divisions. FISHING For Division, early bird entry is just $350 6:30the AM Kingfish – 5 PM through July2-5 15. WEIGH-IN: WEIGH 5 PMThe entry fee rises to $400 from July 16 through AWARDS:Aug. 7 PM4. The on-site fee is $450. For the Rodeo Division, early bird entry is just $100 through July 15. Then it’s PUBLIC INVITED/FOOD NVITED/FOOD $125 through Aug. 4 and $150 on-site. Anglers may choose to ENTERTAINMENT fish either division or both, so make your plans and get ready for SILENT AUCTION one of the hottest tournaments of the season. Boat numbers will be issued Friday Aug. 5 from 3 to 7 p.m., and then $ at 7 p.m. at Fernandina Harbor ST will be held INGFISH a mandatory IVISIONcaptains meeting LACE (BASED ON 100 PAID BOATS WITH 80% PAYOUTa.m. ) Marina. Fishing begins at 6:30 on Saturday, Aug. 6, with all boats SINGLE ENGINErequired BOATback , LADY NGLER OUTH ANGLER at theAdocks by AND 5 p.m.YThe public is invited to come take part in THROUGH food, live entertainment and Asilent as boats EARLY BIRD ENTRY IS $350 JULY 15 TH . T HEN $400 THROUGH UGUST 4auctions TH , T HEN $450 ON-SITE.and fish return to the docks for the weigh-in. The scales open at 2 p.m. The awards ceremony will begin after weigh-ins. ODEO IVISION PECIES AID Proceeds from the tournament go to benefit the Nassau Sport Fishing (BASED ON 100 PAID BOATS WITH 80% PAYOUT) Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to developing and ST ND in the Nassau County promoting area while adhering to $ saltwater fishing $ LACE LACE state, federal and local regulations, to encourage compliance with rules of EARLY BIRD ENTRY IS $100 THROUGH JULY 15 . THEN members $125 THROUGHand AUGUST , THEN $150 ON-SITEand . to promote youth water safety byTHclub the4THgeneral public, related community activities. If you or your company are interested in becoming a sponsor for this event, contact NSFA at Info@nsfafish.net. NSFA meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at Kraft Athletic Club on Amelia Island. Anyone interested in joining should visit the website at NSFAFISH.net.
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BAMA BOAT THREE-PEATS AT MGCBC
By Capt. Dave Lear
O
wner/angler Nick Pratt, Capt. Chris Hood and the It Just Takes Time team swept the blue marlin divisions by weighing the only qualifier during the 2022 Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic. The 763.6-pound blue gave the team an unprecedented third consecutive win. That feat has never been accomplished in the 26-year history of the Classic or in any other Gulf Coast big game tournament. It Just Takes Time, a 72 Viking based in Orange Beach, Ala., took home a payout of $630,985 for the marlin tournament award, crew division and all
marlin optional entry categories. The total prize purse this year’s event was $1.36 million. Quantified, a 64 Spencer with Capt. Justin Drummond at the helm, had an impressive showing, too. Angler Cyler Pape wound in the top dolphin at 37 pounds and the team released three sailfish and three white marlin to score 1,500 points in the release division. With tournament and optional entries, the team earned a payout of $140,060. The top release boat with four blue marlin on its ledger (2,400 points) was Ramble On, a 67 Billy Horton run by Capt. Shannon Allman. With an optional dolphin entry (25.9 pounds), the team won $120,170 for the tournament. Shock Wave, a 69 Spencer with Capt. Shelby Johnson on the throttles, scored three blue marlin in the release division, good for a check totaling $47,025 in optional entries. Sunrise, a 53 Guthrie (Capt. Billy Blount) also had three blue marlin releases, along with the third-place dolphin (Chris King/32.8 pounds), a 102.4-pound tuna and a wahoo optional, good for a $42,065 payout. Angler Drew Phillips outlasted a yellowfin tuna weighing 206.9 pounds after a 45-minute fight. Phillips was fishing aboard Second Wind, a 72 F&S run by Capt. Marlin Brown. The team earned $36,695 for that record catch. Rising Sons’ two optional entry tuna (52.1 and 50.9 pounds) paid out $34,650 for angler Evan Crochet and Capt. Toby Berthelot and the team. Rising Sons is a 58 Viking based in Orange Beach. Capt. Dennis Bennett and the Destin team aboard Salt Shaker (58 Viking) capitalized on two blues and a white marlin release in the Catch and Release Division. That score earned the team $32,760. Owner/angler Timothy O’Brien on Panhandler scored the second-place dolphin at 36.1 pounds. Capt. Nick Millsap was at the helm of the 63 Hatteras. With the tournament award and optional entries, that fish was worth $22,864. Iona Louise was the first boat to weigh on Saturday and the 52.5-pound wahoo they hoisted aloft held on to take first place in the division. Capt. Clip Hopkins runs the 58 Hatteras and Christopher Nolan for the angler. A total of 73 boats and 360 anglers competed in the 2022 MGCBC. The fleet caught 56 blue marlin, eight white marlin and three sailfish. In the game fish categories, 29 yellowfin tuna were weighed, along with eight dolphin and five wahoo. For complete results, see mgcbc.com.
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Pharmaceuticals Discovered in South Florida Bonefish
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three-year study by Florida International University (FIU) and Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) has discovered pharmaceutical contaminants in the blood and other tissues of bonefish in Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys. “Coastal fisheries face increasing threats associated with human-based contaminants,” said Jim McDuffie, BTT President and CEO. “Pharmaceuticals are an often overlooked dimension of water quality and their presence in South Florida bonefish is cause for concern. These contaminants pose a significant threat to the flats fishery, an important part of Florida’s recreational saltwater fishery, which has an annual economic impact of $9.2 billion and directly support over 88,500 jobs.” Since the study began in 2018, FIU scientists and BTT research associates, in partnership with Sweden’s Umeå Unversity and the University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), have sampled 93 fish in South Florida, finding an average of seven pharmaceuticals per bonefish, and a whopping 17 pharmaceuticals in a single fish. The list includes blood pressure medications, antidepressants, prostate treatment medications, antibiotics, and pain relievers. Researchers also found pharmaceuticals in bonefish prey—crabs, shrimp and fish—suggesting that many of Florida’s valuable
SU
fisheries are exposed, and not only the bonefish fishery. Lead researcher Jennifer Rehage, a coastal and fish ecologist and associate professor at the FIU Institute of Environment, presented the study’s findings at a BTT panel event in Tallahassee. “These findings are truly alarming,” Rehage said. “Pharmaceuticals are an invisible threat, unlike algal blooms or turbid waters. Yet these results tell us that they are a formidable threat to our fisheries, and highlight the pressing need to address our longstanding wastewater infrastructure issues.” Approximately 5 billion prescriptions are filled each year in the U.S., yet there are no environmental regulations for the disposal of pharmaceuticals worldwide. Pharmaceutical contaminants originate most often from human wastewater and are not sufficiently removed by conventional water treatment. They remain active at low doses, can be released constantly, and exposure can affect all aspects of fish behavior, with negative consequences for their reproduction and survival. Pharmaceutical contaminants have been shown to affect all aspects of the life of fish, including their feeding, activity, sociability and migratory behavior. “These troubling findings underscore the urgent need for Florida to expand and modernize wastewater treatment facilities and
TR
The The allow allow
TH TH sewage infrastructure statewide,” said McDuffie. “Governor DeSantis’s leadership and historic funding for water quality improvements, along with legislative support and funding, have set us on the right path. Now we must expedite those efforts, increase investment over the long term, and pursue innovative solutions. We must accelerate septic to sewer conversion, and in those places where sewage is not available, require the use of advanced septic technology. The health of our citizens and the coastal resources that support Florida’s economy depend on it.” For more information, visit www.bonefishtarpontrust.org.
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By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon
T
n e m er
T A H W
sh i F
he fishing industry offers some of the most grueling, labor-intensive and lengthy days of any profession. The pay isn’t always exceptional, and it takes a major toll on the body. So why would anyone choose this career? Why do so many who are in it seem so happy? What are these fishermen made of? As a female, who fell in love with fishing at age 25 with absolutely zero prior experience, I had a difficult time cracking into the industry. The time between being introduced to the sport and having it consume me was very short. I knew with every fiber of my being that fishing professionally is what I wanted to do with my life. I quickly found out what fishermen are made of, and what truly makes them good at what they do. Fishing will always be about a healthy combination of skill and luck, but without heart the aforementioned come with an expiration date. If you are someone with that unique passion for fishing and a curiosity about getting into the industry, here are some very basic tips. First, you must start at the bottom and pay your dues. It doesn’t matter how long you have owned a boat or held a captain’s license, spending time working as a deckhand is highly advised. Second, nobody is going to hire you over the
F O E D A M E R A
phone. Just show up, which is actually the third, fourth and fifth pieces of advice I can offer. The biggest downfall with deckhands is they don’t show up, or they don’t cover the extent of their chores. Just being at the dock to talk to captains about potential work speaks to the type of character they are looking for. Show up at the dock to look for work when boats are coming in from charters. Perhaps their deckhand didn’t show up that day, and they’d be happy to put you to work cleaning fish or the boat. If you get a foot in the door this way, be prepared to say yes if the captain asks you to be at the dock the next morning for a charter. Better yet, show up at the dock before boats head out on charters. When the deckhand, who only thought he had the heart for the job, is a noshow, you’ll be on deck. If you don’t get lucky the first time, keep showing up. Captains will notice. Once you’ve landed a job on a boat, forget everything you know and learn exactly what your captain expects of you. Even if you disagree, or know a better way, you’re wrong. Learn everything you can about the boat and the fishery, and never ever stop learning. Be a robotic, superhuman machine, with your head on a swivel, absorbing every piece of data you can. Be prepared to stay late, making sure everything is done properly and thoroughly, and that everything is prepared for the following day. If you’re on time, you’re late. Find out what time your
captain likes to arrive, and get there before then. Entertaining customers is also extremely important, especially when fishing is slow and your captain is grouchy. Never make your captain look bad in front of clients, even when they rip you a new one for something that might or might not have even been your fault. Accepting all blame publicly is, in fact, part of your job description. Eat the humble pie, and keep the energy positive for the clients. Deckhanding might feel like slavery a lot of the time, but mates also have a lot of control over the atmosphere on deck. Remember your customers’ names, be personable and start collecting jokes and one-liners. When fishing is slow, a good deckhand makes or breaks the experience of a charter. Heart is what makes a good fisherman a great fisherman. It’s what makes this career more than just a job. It’s what makes the crew more excited about catching fish, and more upset about losing one, than the customers. It’s heart that keeps us learning and trying new things every day. If that is something that speaks to you, you probably aren’t happy at your desk job. If you belong on the water, don’t put it off any longer. Somewhere, a deckhand didn’t show up for work this morning. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon fishes for Blue Magic Charters out of Marathon in the Florida Keys. Contact her at (504) 920-6342 or through social @CaptainQuinlyn.
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Beca�se every �sh co�ld be a winner!
CATCH. PHOTO. RELEASE. WIN. May 28 to September 5
CCA Florida STAR is the largest family-friendly saltwater �shing competition in Florida and it�s unli�e traditional �shing tournaments�
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CCA Florida STAR:
State’s Largest Family Friendly Fishing Competition Kicks Off T he 2022 West Marine CCA Florida STAR Tournament presented by Yamaha began with a bang, as three tagged redfish were caught in the first three days of the competition. Tagged Redfish is STAR’s signature division, and since the three fish were caught and released in Wakulla, Brevard and Charlotte counties by anglers ineligible for the competition, there remains plenty of opportunity for registered STAR participants to win new boats, motors, scholarships and more valued at more than $500,000. “The STAR kickoff could not have been more exciting with having three tagged redfish caught along Florida’s coasts,” CCA Florida STAR Director Leiza Fitzgerald said. “But, since these anglers did not comply with rules, they missed their opportunity to win a new Contender, Pathfinder or Spyder boat; however, it means these boats along with other amazing prizes are still up for grabs.” STAR, a 101-day, family friendly fishing competition, invites anglers and non-anglers alike to participate, and registrants who catch
a tagged redfish and follow the rules will win a Contender Boats 22 Sport, Pathfinder Boats 2200 TRS or Spyder Boats FX19 Vapor all powered by Yamaha Outboards. The first two youth anglers who win this division will each be awarded a tiller boat powered with Yamaha Outboard, Minn Kota trolling motor, Humminbird electronics and sitting on a trailer. The best opportunity to catch this year’s tagged redfish will be in Brevard, Citrus and Charlotte Counties, STAR’s 2022 Destination Counties, which each have eight tagged redfish in their coastal waters. There will be on average four STAR tagged redfish in every other coastal county of Florida for a total of nearly 170 released tagged fish. There is one specially tagged fish worth $50,000, sponsored by Alta Equipment Company. In addition to the Tagged Redfish Division, there are 16 other divisions targeting 12 inshore and offshore species, plus the trash cleanup. For offshore anglers, the Tigress Outriggers and Gear Tagged Dolphin Division offers the first STAR registrant and CCA Florida member who lands one of the tagged dolphin $10,000 in cash or
scholarship. The dolphin have been tagged and released in the coastal waters of Florida for STAR by the Dolphin Research program implemented by the Beyond Our Shores foundation. Other divisions include ladies, kayak, conservation, guides and many more. Since most division winners are determined by a random drawing, it is not about catching the biggest fish, any size fish can win prizes. The family-friendly competition runs through Labor Day with registration being open throughout the competition. STAR registration is $40 and participants must be a CCA Florida member to be eligible for prizes. For youth participants (ages 6 to 17), STAR registration is free with CCA Tide membership for $10. To sign up for STAR 2022 or receive additional information on divisions, prizes and more, visit ccaflstar.com or Facebook.
This map shows the number of tagged redfish released in all of Florida’s coastal counties.
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BIG TURNOUT
for TCBA Memorial Weekend Tournament
T
he Treasure Coast Builders Association can rightfully boast a great turnout for the 36th annual TCBA Memorial Weekend Tournament: • 104 offshore boats • 12 inshore teams • More than 80 fish weighed in Here are the results:
LEFT: First place snapper winner Ronnie Kirchman, Team Real Tradition, with his 13.56-pound winning fish. ABOVE: Team Real Tradition reeled in the first and second place snapper.
OFFSHORE
PHOTO COURTESY of TCBA.
Dolphin: 1. Reel Busy, Matthew Brown, 20.28 pounds; 2. Urgent Sea, Natasha Caroselli, 19.35 pounds; 3. Angler Management, Michelle Henderson, 16.8 pounds. King Mackerel: 1. Trimmed Up, Branden Keller, 31.33 pounds; 2. Nick Spagnuolo, 31.26 pounds; PHOTO COURTESY of Ronnie Kirchman. 3. Colossal Catch, Jessie Berry, 30.34 Fishing, Chris Giuffrida, 42.41 pounds. Wahoo: 1. Big Bertha, Kendall pounds; 2. The Floridian, Paul Gogarty, 14.47 pounds. Grouper: 1. Southern Fortune SEE TCBA.................................... PAGE 12
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First place and third place grouper honors went to Team Southern Fortune Fishing. In the photo are Matt Crady (left, third place) and Chris Giuffrida (right, first place).
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JULY 2022
TREASURE COAST 1
JULY FISHING CONDITIONS July 1
POOR
Evening
July 21
July 2 July 3
FAIR
Morning
POOR
Evening
July 22
FAIR
Morning
FAIR
Evening
July 23
POOR
Morning
July 4
FAIR
Evening
July 24
POOR
Morning
July 5
POOR
Evening
July 25
BEST
Morning
July 6
POOR
Morning
July 26
GOOD
Morning
July 7
POOR
Morning
July 27
GOOD
Morning
July 8
GOOD
Morning
July 28
POOR
Evening
July 9
GOOD
Morning
July 29
POOR
Evening
July 10
FAIR
Morning
July 30
POOR
Evening
July 11
FAIR
Morning
July 31
FAIR
Evening
July 12
GOOD
Morning
July 13
GOOD
Evening
July 14
BEST
Evening
July 15
BEST
Evening
July 16
BEST
Evening
July 17
BEST
Evening
July 18
POOR
Evening
July 19
POOR
Evening
July 20
FAIR
Morning
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’ 2022 Almanac
TOWING FROM
THE BAHAMAS!
Florida Fish and Wildlife
FWC
news updates
TWO-DAY MINI LOBSTER SEASON
Set for July 27-28, 2022 A
Florida coastal tradition, the two-day mini lobster season, kicks off the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. (Regular lobster season opens Aug. 6-March 31.) Here are the regulations. Visit myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/ recreational/lobster/ for more information on spiny lobster, including safety and protecting Florida’s corals when you are lobstering. • In the Florida Keys (Monroe County) the limit per person per day is six (6) as opposed to South Florida, which is twelve (12) per PHOTOS CREDIT: MyFWC. person per day. Two caveats for lobstering in South Florida, (1) reefs are not as crowded as the Keys, and (2) hotels do not raise their rates for “Mini Lobster Season”! • Minimum Size Limit: Carapace must be larger than 3”, measured in the water. Possession and use of a measuring device required at all times. Find out how to measure a spiny lobster. • Night Diving: Prohibited in Monroe County (ONLY during sport season) Diving is defined as swimming at or below the surface of the water. • Harvest of lobster is prohibited in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park during the sport season and in Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, no-take areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, in the Biscayne Bay/Card Sound Lobster Sanctuary, and in the five Coral Reef Protection Areas in Biscayne National Park during both the 2-day sport season and regular season. • Unless exempt, a recreational saltwater license and a lobster permit are required to harvest spiny lobster.
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22
• Lobster must be landed in whole condition. Separating the tail from the body is prohibited in state waters. • The harvest or possession of eggbearing spiny lobster, or any other eggbearing species of lobster belonging to the families Palinuridae (spiny lobsters), Scyllaridae (slipper lobsters) or Synaxidae (furry lobsters) is prohibited • No person shall harvest or attempt to harvest spiny lobster using any device which will or could puncture, penetrate or crush the exoskeleton (shell) or
the flesh of the lobster • Recreational trapping prohibited • Regardless of what species you are fishing for, bag limits are only for properly licensed individuals and those people exempt from license requirements who are actively harvesting. People harvesting may not exceed their individual bag limit and take someone else’s bag limit. That is, people (including children) who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for purposes of bag limits.
TREASURE COAST
COASTAL ANGLER PUBLISHER EMERITUS GARY GUERTIN PUBLISHER & EDITOR MISTI GUERTIN GRAPHIC DESIGN LAURA KELLY CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Capt. Gus Brugger Capt. Rocky Carbia Capt. Jonathan Earhart Capt. Scott Fawcett Capt. Cole Hazellief Capt. Colton Hester Ed Killer Capt. Michael Mauri Jim Moir Brian Nelli Jim Oppenborn Capt. Nate Shellen Capt. Adam White Capt. Terry Wildey Steve Wood
Florida Friendly Angler Course is Now Live! The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), UF/IFAS Extension and Florida Sea Grant have teamed up to develop the Florida Friendly Angler course. This free online course is for both new and experienced anglers looking to educate themselves on fisheries management and up their fishing game by learning skills and practices that help ensure fishing opportunities for the future. The course is comprised of three self-paced modules that cover environmental ethics, best fishing practices and fisheries management. These narrated presentations can be accessed any time after registration. Upon finishing the course, you
will receive an electronic certificate of completion and will be mailed a Florida Friendly Angler decal by providing your contact information. Register for the course at ifas-seagrant. catalog.instructure.com/courses/ florida-friendly-angler. For additional information about the course, contact the course administrator, Savanna Barry, savanna.barry@ufl.edu or Mike Sipos, sipos624@ufl.edu. Are you a for-hire fishing guide? Check out the Florida Friendly Fishing Guide course to gain multiple benefits for your business. Visit flseagrant.org/florida-friendly-fishingguide-certification to register today!
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JULY 2022
TREASURE COAST 3
FISHING FORECASTS
MARTIN COUNTY OFFSHORE
Capt. Scott Fawcett Off the Chain Fishing Charters (772) 285-1055 fishscottyf@bellsouth.net offthechainfishing.com
T
he fireworks don’t stop after Independence Day on the Treasure Coast anymore. Offshore fishing in July has been increasingly incredible the last few years and after this past June, I expect it to blow up again. The summer sail season started off great last month with many double-digit release days sprinkled with mahi, blackfin tuna and kings to provide consistent action and wonderful fishing. Throw in TWO, yes two days, 48 whole hours of red snapper season this year and there’s really something to be excited about. July 8th and 9th we are allowed to harvest one red snapper per angler this year, but it will cost you your first born child, a vaccination
booster and almost $7.00 a gallon of gas to harvest one of these extremely endangered species which the government seized prematurely, and without warning based on inaccurate data collections and greed. They were then reallocated to a few commercial fishermen on the west coast, and I expect the same on our side soon. Either way, it was going to be a three-day season, now only two, and by the time it gets here, probably one. Thank you, Magnuson Stevens Act. All griping aside, July is still a great month to get out on the water and while I may prefer trolling, these summer months definitely seem to yield better action to the live baiter. We’ve been using Tigress kites this year to present our baits over a large area. The ability to steer them so hard to one side or the other in conjunction with their easy launching and stable flight gives us a huge footprint and maximizes our spread over various depths over the course of the day. Focus most of your time from 75 feet to 175 most days, but keep an ear to the radio or take a look offshore every now and then
as the weather is usually pretty nice allowing you to get out and in quickly, see even the slightest bite and capitalize when you hook up because the boat isn’t surging all over the place. While targeting the local pelagics over the summer months, we’re using 6-foot, 6-inch Blackfin rods with 20 pound line, a 50 or 60 pound leader, a 6/0 or 7/0 circle hook and most importantly one or two strip dredge teasers by Fish Razr. July is a good time of year to sight cast to following fish when you’re hooked up, free jumpers and sunning fish when you’re on the move, and teaser fish while you’ve already got your spread out. A good set of Costa Del Mar glasses go a long way out here when the spawn is on. Fred Church with a nice dolphin he I recommend the grey, glass 580 caught on the fly just before releasing lenses on your favorite frames an Atlantic sailfish on fly also. Summer is to see deep into the summer a great time to book a trip for saltwater waters without burning your fly fishing off the Treasure Coast with cheeks from reflective lenses. Off the Chain Fishing. Whichever species you PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Scott Fawcett. decide to target this July, I wish yourself, as July will sometimes offer you a very safe outing and I hope huge weed lines out in the deep your next trip is Off The Chain. which are great for dolphin and the Please give me a call to get in on the action the summer. Capt. Scott occasional wahoo. July also offers good sword fishing Fawcett (772) 285-1056.
T
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Capt. Jonathan Earhart Chaos Fishing Charters (772) 341 – 2274 www.chaosfishigcharters.com jon@chaosfishigncharters.com
T
his month we can expect long hot summer days with some of the season’s largest inshore game fish. Snook, tarpon, redfish, trout, and jack crevalles will readily take a live bait fish or lure mimicking greenies, mullet, croakers, or pilchards. Fishing around our St. Lucie Inlet can be spectacular for giant summer snook. Remember these fish are breeding so treat them with care before releasing them Cubera snappers are a common bycatch this month as well. Fish around structure near the bottom
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
L
ike the solar canopy that covers the Florida peninsula, July’s offshore fishing will have the opportunity to be hot and golden. Near coastal anglers will intersect a wide range of gamefish, as both bottom and surface pelagic species will patrol the sunny water column, east of the Treasure Coast. Mahi (dolphin) and king mackerel will become target species for top water action enthusiasts and will be
772-569-2723 North Location: 1803 90TH AVE VERO BEACH, FL 32966
for a shot at these oversized river snapper. Tarpon are hanging around deep water channel edges on outgoing tide waiting to ambush larger baitfish as they flush out the river systems. Heavy leaders on oversized tackle will bring these giant tarpon boat side. A 60-to-100-pound Tsunami fluorocarbon leader will produce more bites and keep the fish from chaffing you off at the leader. My goto choice for giant tarpon this time of year are BKK 2x 8/0 circle hooks. Nearshore fishing along the beaches will be excellent early morning for rolling tarpon in the surf along with jack crevalle, permit, cobia, sharks, and kingfish. Typically Mark Comber with a large snook caught on a St. Lucie River sea-wall we can find large schools of baitfish using a large live mullet with 60-pound, 4-inch Tsunami along the beach this time of year too. fluorocarbon leader and a 7/0 BKK circle hook. Sabiki a few dozen for the livewell to PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Jonathan Earhart. ensure an action-packed day tossing live baits at schools of fish swimming baits also work well if you prefer to productive on nearshore reefs and along the beach both north and throw artificial lures at schooling fish wrecks using live and or dead bait south of the St. Lucie Inlet. Hogy nearshore this month. while on anchor bottom fishing with lures, T & A jigs, and Tsunami swim Snapper fishing can also be very chicken rigs.
bottom baits around reef sites in depths of 60 to 180 feet of water. Bottom fishermen will be swinging on many flavors of grouper and snapper, which will inhabit common ground structures along the offshore playing field. Gag, black, and red grouper will frequently find themselves on fish box ice, right alongside mutton, mangrove, and vermilion snapper. While anglers are hunting “salty groceries”, summer weather patterns will also be in full swing. These patterns will be dominated by late morning and afternoon thunderstorms. Anglers must continue to keep a wary eye to the Salty groceries, like these taken from aboard the Safari 1, sky and keep abreast of daily local will grace the docks of July. forecasts to maximize safe fishing PHOTO CREDIT: Safari 1. strategies. Fishing crews should start stalked along warm water edges and Bottom fishing strategies will their days early in the morning and color changes that magically appear complement the surface action, as get the fishing job done quick during in our offshore zone. anglers switch gears and deploy the toasty summer days of July.
772-286-0996
For Reservations Call (772) 334-4411 Located at Pirates Cove Resort and Marina
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JULY 2022
TREASURE COAST 5
FISHING FORECASTS
ST. LUCIE COUNTY DEEP SEA
Capt. Cole Hazellief Shock Leader Charters (772) 800-5448 www.shockleaderfishing.com
J
uly is a spectacular time of the year for anglers fishing the Treasure Coast. Not only are the reef dwellers hungry, but also the mahi-mahi, which add a splendid splash of color to our fish boxes and tastes to the dinner plate. Mark your calendars for red snapper fishing! July offers a chance to catch and keep red snapper during two days in July, Friday the 8th and Saturday the 9th. Recreational anglers are allowed to keep one of these tasty treats per person, per day. There are no minimum nor maximum size limits for genuine red snapper. No boat? No problem - the Shock Leader is ready to take you to blue yonder, but reserve early to secure one of the two opportunities. Regular snapper fishing will be on fire! Mutton and the gray
ABOVE: Having fun yet? Six-pack fishing on the Shock Leader. RIGHT: Raising fish from an early age. Be a hero and take a kid fishing! PHOTOS CREDIT: Shock Leader Charters.
snappers are in their prime and will be big— really BIG! The reefs, ledges and deep-sea structures are strongholds for these snappers, so search for bottom structures, sunken ships, artificial or natural reefs, and cast your line and let the current carry your over it. Rig up a pitch rod and drop a chum-bag while drifting. The oily
4903 SE Dixie Hwy. Stuart, FL 34997 (772) 220-3287 (EATS) www.prawnbroker.com
chum-slick is like catnip for pelagic species, primarily mahi and cobia, and both will be feeding in the water column above the reef. Nighttime fishing offers a cool break from the summer sun. If you have not done a nighttime trip, we recommend signing up with the Shock Leader to get a good feel for the action while Capt. Cole takes
care of the navigation. Giddy up’ and let’s go bend some rods! Looking for something to do with the kids or extended family this summer? Book a trip on the Shock Leader, you will be a hero and eating like a king! Check out our Instagram feed for daily catches, call us to book a trip – you won’t regret it! Tight lines and good vibes!
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JULY 2022
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ST. LUCIE COUNTY OFFSHORE
Capt. Colton Hester Sonna Girl Fishing Charters (772) 293-5342 colton@sonnagirlfishing.com www.sonnagirlfishing.com
J
uly brings more calm seas and great opportunities to catch some big fish. Most of the effective fishing in this month will happen when using live bait. There will be plenty of sardines and greenies around the beach and 12A buoy. There are also gentleman who sell live greenies and pilchards in the morning in the Fort Pierce inlet. I recommend fishing anywhere from 60-to-90 foot of water around artificial reefs or the natural rock reef areas. You can either anchor and throw out flat lines or you can slow troll these baits. When anchored, the bottom bite for mangroves and mutton snapper will be on fire in July. The same
Capt. Adam White St. Lucie Flats Fishing Charters (609) 820-6257 www.stlucieflatsfishing.com
I
can’t believe it is July already. Time has been flying by this year! Be sure to have a safe Fourth and spend the day out on the water. Look for hot weather as things heat up for summer and water temperatures will approach 90 degrees. Start watching for the glass minnow schools to flood into the river and you will find lots of action surrounding these small
Novice & Experienced Anglers Of All Ages Welcome
PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Colton Hester.
baitfish! Spanish mackerel, bonito, snook, and tarpon are a few of the fish that love to feast on the glass minnows. Bridges will be holding snapper, along with the occasional drum or sheepshead during July. Live or dead shrimp will be hard for them to resist. Larger snapper will be in the river around structure and along channel edges. Small pilchards or mojarra will generate bites from the larger mangroves. Whiting and croakers will continue to be in the surf with the occasional Spanish mackerel. This is time to start looking for large mutton snapper in shallows off the beach. Anchor just off the first reef in 15-to-30 feet of water. I like using heavy spinning rods with at least 6000 size reels. They will be rigged with 30-to-50-pound braid,
a leader approximately 15- to 30feet long and finished with a 3/05/0 circle hook. Most of the time there will be very little current. Using smaller split shots or even no weight at all has been the best approach for me. Make a good long cast away from the boat and pay out
line as the bait is sinking. Once it comes to rest on the bottom, I let the rod holder do all the work. Cut bait seems to be more effective for these shallow muttons. Fresh cut or frozen sardines, grunts, pinfish, or greenies are all good bait choices for big beach muttons.
Vinnie with a nice mutton caught in 18 feet of water.
All Bait, Rods and Tackle Included! No License Required!
SAILING DAILY AT 7AM Located at Causeway Cove Marina, 601 Seaway Dr., Fort Pierce
For Reservations, Call (772) 766-0191 or Visit: FortPierceFishing.com
PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Adam White.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY INSHORE
Brandon with a nice kingfish, caught on live bait of Fort Pierce in 40 feet of water.
live baits that you use on top or cut frozen sardines are my bait of choice when bottom fishing in the 65-to-90-foot area. There is also the possibility to catch a nice grouper in these areas. Therefore, always have a big rod ready to go. When fishing the live baits on top, you can expect to catch mahi mahi, kingfish, and cobia, as well as a wahoo at times. Last month there was a 102-pound wahoo caught off Fort Pierce using these same techniques! It is also our two days of red snapper season in July! Offshore in the 120-to-180 foot of water range there is a great population of red snapper to be caught around the artificial wrecks and on some rock areas to the north of the Fort Pierce Inlet. A live sardine or pilchard on the bottom is my bait of choice. It is not uncommon for big amberjacks and grouper to be hanging out around these wrecks too. A live blue runner is the best bait to use for these big fish. Good luck and tight lines!
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TREASURE COAST 7
D.O.A. TerrorEyz jigs and small plugs is an exciting way to target these 5-to-50-pound tarpon. Live mullet are also an excellent option once you find the fish. Once the sun is up, fishing the docks and shady shoreline cover with D.O.A. shrimp, jerkbaits or plugs is a good way to target snook in the Sebastian River.
FISHING FORECASTS
SEBASTIAN INSHORE
Capt. Gus Brugger Pattern Setter Charters (772) 360-6787 www.WelcomeToSebastian.com
A
n early start to the fishing day allows the angler to beat the July heat and also guards against being caught on the water during the afternoon thunderstorms, which can be an everyday occurrence this time of year. The early morning is the best time to target some species, in particular trout, reds and Sebastian River tarpon. Fishing snook and reds at Sebastian Inlet is based more on tides, with outgoing being preferred. Nearshore Spanish and king mackerel may be taken advantage of throughout the day, but again the thunderstorms make being in by 1 p.m. advisable.
SEBASTIAN RIVER – Looking for
rolling tarpon in the predawn gray light in either fork of the Sebastian River is a great way to start any day. Sight casting to rolling fish with flies,
NEAR SHORE ATLANTIC – This is the fishing that I
have always looked forward to in July. The consistently calm ocean conditions in the morning allow small boaters to venture out into the open ocean. The warm clear waters and the glass minnows and greenies that normally abound in them draw oceanic predators such INDIAN RIVER LAGOON – Bob Peppe caught this nice redfish while fishing as king mackerel, bonito Finding a shallow water area with his brother Capt. Mike Peppe in the Indian and cobia close to the beach. with a school of mullet milling River Lagoon near Sebastian. Backcountry Full grown tarpon, Spanish around on it in the early redfish have been extremely scarce making macks, big jack crevalle and morning is the key to topwater this flyrod catch even more outstanding. the occasional sailfish are plug fishing for seatrout and PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Mike Peppe. also a possibility. Having a redfish in the Indian River Lagoon in the summer. Super Spook boats and from the jetty have a great livewell full of mid-sized mullet and/ Jr. and other 4-to-6 inch topwater shot at catch and release action if they or greenies is a must. These can be cast plugs fished around and through these are using live croakers or pigfish. Big to rolling tarpon or any other species milling mullet will get the attention redfish will stack up at the mouth of that show themselves. If nothing is of predators shadowing the mullet Sebastian Inlet on outgoing tides showing, slow trolling a live mullet or schools. Later in the morning, fish throughout the summer. They will greenie, especially on a downrigger set drop-offs and deeper cuts with jigs hit live baits of all types fished on the at mid-depth, can be a very productive for trout and ladyfish or hit the shady bottom. These bull reds will move way to get some kings for the smoker shoreline cover and docks for snook inside the inlet and pick off small crabs or any of the other mentioned species. floating out with the tide especially It’s a big ocean and slow trolling is and reds. around new and full moon periods. not the best way to cover ground, so SEBASTIAN INLET – The first Topwater plugs, live crabs and flies look for bait pods, bottom structure, few hours of an outgoing tide are will take these brutes. With snook out current edges or even weed lines to historically the best time to find snook of season, this is a great time to try narrow your search. stacked up at the end of Sebastian fishing some new areas of the inlet or Early to bed, early to rise, is a good Inlet’s north jetty. Anglers fishing from testing some new methods or lures. rule of thumb for fishing in July.
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SEBASTIAN AREA OFFSHORE
Capt. Terry Wildey Big Easy Fishing Charters (772) 538 - 1072 captwildey@bellsouth.net www.bigeasyfishingcharters.com
R
ed snapper season for our south Atlantic federal waters will open on Friday, July 9 and end Sunday, July 10 at midnight. The bag limit will be 1 per person, unless you’re a shark. They will be eating more than their share. With that in mind, it might be a good idea to up your leader size to 80- or 100-pound test. You may get fewer bites, but you’ll be able to get the bigger fish up fast and lose fewer to the sharks. July should bring some good catches of cobia on the larger pieces of bottom in the 85-to-90-foot reefs. So have a rod rigged with a cobia jig ready to throw when one pops up behind the boat while your bottom fishing, or when you spot a manta ray on your ride out or in. Too often I hear of someone that just missed a shot at a big cobia because they didn’t have a rod ready.
Scott Colgan, Phil Wessel, Doug Wasser and John Wells enjoying some Big Easy Charters snapper fun. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Terry Wildey.
Look for big amberjack to move into the 85- and 90-foot reefs as well, especially if we get a cold water thermocline move in. Expect kingfish to be consistent up and down the reefs, as well as around bait pods within a few miles of the beach. Live threadfins, pilchards or blue runners for the bigger kings
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work the best but even trolling a drone spool or ballyhoo will work. The dolphin bite offshore was weak this May and I don’t expect it to improve much, but I’m hoping to see some schoolie dolphin to come through on weed lines and color changes from 90 feet to 240 feet. If you’re fishing during the two-
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day red snapper season, be aware of rules about descending devices. Also, the use of circle hooks north of the 28-degree north line. You’ll find all the regulations on the FISH RULES app on your phone, or iPad. FWC will be out there protecting our resource so expect to be checked. “Fish on, gotta go!”
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JULY 2022
TREASURE COAST 9
KAYAK FISHING FORECAST
Brian Nelli Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters (772) 201-5899 Brian@tckayakfishing.com www.tckayakfishing.com
INSHORE: Snook are still our main targets this month. Fishing dock lights and bridge shadow lines at night is a great way to catch a linesider. When the sun comes up, switch to fishing seawalls and docks with good current. Topwater plugs like Super Spooks are a great alternative it you can’t find any live bait. Chasing snook and tarpon along the beach is also great during this month. Get out early and launch at places like the south side of Jupiter Inlet. Run the beach south looking for rolling fish and snook in the surf line. OFFSHORE: Fishing off Palm Beach
will produce the larger kings this month. Using goggle eyes and blue runners will be top choices. Sailfish will of course still be in the mix. For
ABOVE & RIGHT: Kyle with a stud snook (top), and nice knifefish. LEFT: Brian with a good kingfish.
mahi look to run out four-to-eight miles to search for some weed mats and lines. Trolling a daisy chain or Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow will help put a fish in the kayak. Most will be small, but there are chances for a big bull. Wahoo bites should become more regular around the summer full moons. Most of our wahoo bites come on the downrigger with a live goggle eye. Try to target 60-to-80 foot below the surface to hopefully pick off
one in that deeper water column.
FRESHWATER: Peacock bass and
clown knifefish have been steady. Look to fish shallow around docks and deeper holes with shiners or shad. Check us out at Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube for all the latest adventures my clients and I get into. See you on the water!
PHOTOS CREDIT: Brian Nelli.
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261 A-1-A Alt 4271 SE Federal Hwy. 1106 U.S. Hwy. 1 3006 Cardinal Dr. Jupiter, FL 33477 Stuart, FL 34997 Ft. Pierce, FL 34950 Vero Beach, FL 32963 (561) 316-4088 (772) 266-4010 (772) 461-6909 (772) 492-6203
JULY 2022
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MON-FRI 8AM - 6PM SATURDAY 8AM - 5PM
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ng, o g
FRI 6PM DAY 5PM
COASTAL ANGLER TREASURE COAST JULY DAY
TIME
1F
2SA
3SU
4M
5TU
6W
7TH
8F
9SA
10SU
11M
4:28 AM 10:49 AM 4:36 PM 11:24 PM 5:06 AM 11:29 AM 5:14 PM 12:02 AM 5:45 AM 12:12 PM 5:53 PM 12:41 AM 6:26 AM 12:56 PM 6:37 PM 1:20 AM 7:10 AM 1:45 PM 7:27 PM 2:03 AM 8:00 AM 2:38 PM 8:22 PM 2:49 AM 8:54 AM 3:36 PM 9:23 PM 3:42 AM 9:52 AM 4:39 PM 10:26 PM 4:41 AM 10:51 AM 5:43 PM 11:27 PM 5:44 AM 11:50 AM 6:45 PM 12:25 AM 6:46 AM 12:47 PM 7:44 PM
HEIGHT 0.31 2.09 -0.02 2.29 0.31 2.07 0.04 2.26 0.3 2.04 0.11 2.21 0.28 2.03 0.19 2.17 0.23 2.04 0.27 2.12 0.16 2.07 0.33 2.1 0.06 2.13 0.36 2.1 -0.06 2.21 0.34 2.13 -0.19 2.33 0.28 2.2 -0.34 2.47 0.2 2.31 -0.48 2.6
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
12TU 1:22 AM 7:47 AM 1:44 PM 8:40 PM 13W 2:17 AM 8:45 AM 2:39 PM 9:33 PM 14TH 3:11 AM 9:41 AM 3:33 PM 10:24 PM 15F 4:05 AM 10:36 AM 4:27 PM 11:14 PM 16SA 4:59 AM 11:30 AM 5:21 PM 17SU 12:03 AM 5:54 AM 12:24 PM 6:16 PM 18M 12:51 AM 6:48 AM 1:19 PM 7:12 PM 19TU 1:40 AM 7:43 AM 2:14 PM 8:09 PM 20W 2:29 AM 8:39 AM 3:11 PM 9:07 PM 21TH 3:20 AM 9:34 AM 4:09 PM 10:04 PM
0.09 2.44 -0.58 2.73 -0.01 2.56 -0.64 2.81 -0.1 2.65 -0.63 2.84 -0.17 2.69 -0.55 2.83 -0.2 2.67 -0.41 2.76 -0.19 2.6 -0.23 2.64 -0.16 2.5 -0.02 2.49 -0.1 2.39 0.17 2.34 -0.04 2.29 0.33 2.2 0.03 2.2 0.45
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
22F
23SA
24SU
25M
26TU
27W
28TH
29F
30SA
31SU
4:14 AM 10:28 AM 5:08 PM 10:59 PM 5:08 AM 11:20 AM 6:04 PM 11:51 PM 6:02 AM 12:09 PM 6:55 PM 12:40 AM 6:53 AM 12:56 PM 7:42 PM 1:25 AM 7:40 AM 1:39 PM 8:24 PM 2:08 AM 8:24 AM 2:20 PM 9:05 PM 2:48 AM 9:06 AM 2:59 PM 9:43 PM 3:26 AM 9:47 AM 3:36 PM 10:21 PM 4:03 AM 10:28 AM 4:12 PM 10:57 PM 4:39 AM 11:08 AM 4:49 PM 11:34 PM
2.09 0.08 2.16 0.51 2.03 0.1 2.16 0.54 2.02 0.1 2.19 0.52 2.05 0.08 2.24 0.49 2.11 0.05 2.3 0.44 2.17 0.02 2.37 0.39 2.22 0.01 2.42 0.35 2.26 0.02 2.45 0.3 2.29 0.05 2.46 0.27 2.3 0.1 2.44
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
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
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JULY 2022
TREASURE COAST 11
Ho Sp
FISHING FORECASTS
LAKE OKEECHOBEE
Capt. Nate Shellen Shellen Guide Service Okeechobee Bass Fishing Guides/Charters (863) 357-0892 sjmike7@aol.com OkeechobeeBassFishing.com FellsmereResevoirBassFishing.com
D
uring these summer months, the early morning bite can be exceptional. Top water baits fished over the top of the underwater cover and around thick grass lines can draw explosive strikes from bass. A walking style or a popper style bait will draw vicious reaction strikes from even the wariest fish. There are mornings when the fish are really on, and an angler may catch 15 to 25 bass in the first hour of the morning, then there are days the fish may completely ignore your topwater offerings. There are huge schools (pods) of shad that have hatched in the
Elton Cleveland and his grandson Jack from Iowa caught these beauties in June on live wild shiners, Jack’s fish weighing in as a Florida Trophy at 8-lbs 1-oz. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Nate Shellen.
lake that attempt to hide in the Kissimmee grass lines that line the periphery of the lake. During the very early morning, bass can be seen chasing and eating shad, violently crashing the surface. Casting a Double Willow Leaf Spinnerbait deep into the Kissimmee grass and slowly retrieving it can get explosive reaction bites. The variety of spinnerbaits available in both
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size and color is staggering. A ½- to ¾-ounce bait with silver blades and a white or white/chartreuse skirt is a good place to start. Many times in the past, we have had great success with copper blades or gold blades, there is a time and situation for each blade and skirt color, watercolor and light conditions will dictate what color works best. At times, schools of baitfish will get chased out of the grass and the bass will follow. Watching anglers will see the fish schooling well out into the open water. When you see this occurring, a rattling lipless crankbait can produce bites as fast as you can cast, hook, and land a bass, and then quickly cast it back into the schooling chaos. A chrome
body (rattle trap) with a black or blue back is our go-to color. Size variations from ¼- to 1-ounce are available. Normally when the bass get keyed in on one particular size of bait, matching that size as close as possible can be essential to your success. The entire northern sector of the lake is yielding good catches of fish. An angler could start fishing at J&S Fish Camp on the east side and work around the lake counterclockwise and catch fish all the way. Points of interest are Grassy Island, Kings Bar, Second Point, Tin House Cove, Indian Prairie, Horse Island, and the North Shore all the way West to Harney Pond, Fisheating Bay, and Point of the Reef.
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY TOURISM TCBA...................................FROM PAGE 1 Gagliardi, 16.03 pounds; 3. Southern Fortune Fishing, Matt Crady, 14.8 pounds. Snapper: 1. Real Tradition, Ronnie Kirchman, 13.56 pounds; 2. Real Tradition, Steve Hill, 12.79 pounds; 3. Goldline, Zach Hazelief, 11.29 pounds. Blackfin Tuna: 1. Tom Foolery, Tanner Schlapkohl, 22.96 pounds. Grand Slam: 1. Colossial Catch, Jessie Berry, 39.84 pounds. Junior Angler: Kingfish—Sugar Daddy, Mike Cristoforo, Jr., 22.73 pounds; Dolphin—Regulator, Drake Daly, 5.57 pounds. Lady Angler: Regulator, Katie Hughey, 30 pounds, kingfish.
INSHORE www.visitokeechobeecounty.com (863) 763-3959 12 TREASURE COAST
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1. Sean Tillett, 73 inches 2. Andrew Syler, 41 inches 3. Kaitlyn Svopa, 37 inches Junior Angler, Sam Carrabino.
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Inshore division winner Sean Tillett (center) and his fishing partner Jeff March (left). PHOTO PROVIDED by Jeff March.
e Shellen.
How To Pick The Right Speargun Length By Jerry Guerra
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here is no simple answer for the right speargun length you need. There are several factors to consider for the type of diving you are doing. By answering these questions, you can narrow down the right length speargun you will need for the diving you will be doing. Here are some of the important considerations when picking your speargun length. The biggest factor in picking your speargun should be normal visibility in your dive location. Visibility is so important, because it will impact fish behavior dramatically. The further away the fish can see a diver the longer the shot that diver may have to take. That means in clean water you will likely need a longer speargun to get the longer ranges. The opposite side of the spectrum is still important to consider. In bad visibility, you will want a short, maneuverable speargun to get the spear pointed at the fish
quickly. Even in bad visibility it is important to be able to see the end of your speargun, the fish and what is beyond the fish. Make sure you are practicing safe spearfishing and always know what is beyond your target. After normal visibility conditions, you need to consider the speargun’s maneuverability. Other than the physical design of the speargun, the length is going to impact how well the speargun tracks through the water. If you are hunting reef fish that dart into holes, ledges or caves, that could mean the right length speargun for you is going to be a short gun. You may not need to take a long shot, but you will need to get your speargun pointed at a fish in a hole quickly, before it hides even deeper in the rocks. Pelagic species, that stay in the water column, may give you a longer opportunity to get the speargun pointed at the fish, so maneuverability may be less important. The last big consideration comes
down to the type of fish you are targeting. Some species just stay far away from divers, so you need a long, powerful speargun to get the range needed to hunt them. Wahoo, tuna, and billfish are all great examples of fish that usually require longer shots. There are always stories about divers who were lucky enough to get point blank shots but, overall, these fish keep their distance. That means long, powerful spearguns with four to six bands are needed. That size gun loses maneuverability and really can’t be used in limited visibility, but it is a specialized speargun for a specific purpose. Most reef species don’t need as much speargun, but it can come down to your hunting technique. You should get a speargun that
has a similar effective range to the visibility where you dive. The effective range of a speargun is, generally, about two to three times the length of the speargun’s band stretch distance. Notable exceptions come into play if you are targeting reef species in holes– then you just want a speargun that has enough power to put the spear shaft through the fish. The challenge of picking the right speargun comes down to the problem that there is no single speargun that meets all of a diver’s needs. As time goes by you will collect all the spearguns you need for the types of diving you do. Jerry can be contacted at Neptonics Spearfishing, (813) 867-3250, https://neptonics.com.
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Fly Fishing Corner Capt. Mauri’s favorite fly-fishing arsenal.
By Capt. Michael Mauri
Lines, Leaders & Hooks..Oh My!
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his time I want to take a chance and talk about how important it is to trust in your tackle, especially hooks and lines. In my world, trust comes with a lot of testing over a long period of time (must be my German heritage). I tested a lot of different hook brands and types, but I always come back to the OWNER AKI and AKI TWIST. These are the best hooks for flies when it comes to strength and hook up qualities, at least in my book. The intermediate and fast sinking fly lines I use for my offshore and beach fishing are the BWT fly lines from SCIENTIFIC ANGLERS. These are the strongest fly lines in the market with a 100-pound core!
And yes, we do use a lot of pressure on these fish to land them quick. It all depends on the tackle and rod angle we fish, trust me. For the leader I use a lot the ANDE PINK Monofilament, SEAGUAR BLUE LABEL Fluorocarbon and SCIENTIFIC ANGLERS Fluorocarbon. Believing in your tackle and knowing how to use it can make a huge difference between success and failing. If you have any questions, please email me at michael@ mauriflyfishing.com. Capt. Michael Mauri www.mauriflyfishing.com michael@mauriflyfishing.com (772) 485-3321 PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Michael Mauri.
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JULY UPDATE By Jim Moir, Executive Director
Setting a Course I
am deeply honored to have been named as the most recent Indian RiverKeeper. I will be the fifth Indian RiverKeeper following Kevin Stinette, George Jones, Marty Baum and most recently, the retiring Mike Connor. Each of these RiverKeepers had unique style and Jim Moir, Indian initiated magnificent RiverKeeper. ripples with their PHOTO COURTESY of Jim Moir work to protect the Indian River Lagoon. I am excited, yet somewhat daunted by the prospect of following in the wake of these men. I shall have to set my own course. I intend to do my best to communicate to the public how policy and human impacts affect the
Indian River Lagoon ecosystem. I hope to increase collaboration and information sharing among the various municipalities, agencies and environmental oriented organizations along the 156 miles of Indian River Lagoon and its tributaries. I hope to strengthen the Indian RiverKeeper’s organization and its affiliation to the International WaterKeepers Alliance. While I’m not a trained scientist, I have spent the last 20-plus years facilitating ocean science projects. I may have developed some ability to communicate scientific method and jargon, while advocating for a place that I love. I have lived in a home at the crossroads of the Indian River Lagoon and the St. Lucie River for the last 30 years. I’ve also been married to my best friend Kimberly for 30 years. We have a son named Colton who has just graduated from Eckerd College. He was one of the early RiverKidz. I grew up in Miami, studied Anthropology and Archaeology. I came to Stuart as a newly-wed yacht surveyor and became a boatbuilder. I built Benchmark Boats. In 2001, I began to contract out to Ocean Works Group tagging whales and other ocean science projects, with a focus on marine mammals. I believe in citizen science and volunteerism. I am a volunteer with several organizations working with marine mammals and stranding networks. I have been Sarah Heard’s appointee to the Martin County Local Planning Agency for 20 years. I have been on the Board of Directors of the Marine Resources Council for 18 years. I’ve been a member of the Board of Directors of the Indian RiverKeeper for 9 years. I proudly serve on the Board of Directors of the Rivers Coalition.
Setting the Stage In early June, USACE officers, Merritt Matheson (Mayor of Stuart), Martin County staff, Everglades Foundation representatives, and local environmental leaders---Mark Perry, Gill Smart, and Mike Holiday---toured the South Fork of the St. Lucie River with me on my boat. We gained some personal “face time” and got to know some of the personalities and intention behind the Army Corps rule making and project deployments. This was a good week (June 6-10). The Governor vetoed SB 2508 against odds (perhaps the worst water related environmental bill of the year). And U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL18) submitted the Northern Estuary Restoration Plan, NERP, as part of the Water Resources Development Act, WRDA. And it was the week of World Ocean Day, and the week that the International WaterKeepers Alliance met in Washington D.C. for its annual convention. Details from the International WaterKeepers Alliance convention as they relate to the Indian River Lagoon will be shared in August. If you are a business owner and would like to learn more about the benefits of supporting Indian Riverkeeper, email Executive Director Jim Moir at keeper@ theindianriverkeeper.org or call (772) 341-4953. Contact us if you are interested in volunteering at future events, which we will announce on our Facebook page, “Indian Riverkeeper.”
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St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Update:
PATRICK PRICE REEFS DEPLOYED
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he St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program finally deployed the Patrick Price Reefs on the Fort Pierce Sportfishing Club Artificial Reef Site. The reefs are a memorial to the late, respected captain and a tribute to what the community can accomplish when it comes together. The 98-foot Last One and the 65-foot Spirit of Palm Beach were both prepared by David Powell of the Martin County Anglers Club Artificial Reef Fund (MCAC), stored at Willis Custom Yachts in Stuart, and deployed by McCulley Marine Services May 15 and 16. Providing diverse habitats over a wide range of locations and depths supports fish species over a wide range of their life history and may have implications for other ecological functions such as spawning, larval settlement, and growth to maturity. The Last One was deployed in 180 feet of water and will become the Capt. Patrick Price Reef while the Spirit of Palm Beach was deployed in 85 feet of water and will be known as the Daymaker Charters Reef. The Capt. Patrick Price Reef should promote deepwater fish species such as gag (Mycteroperca microlepis), scamp (M. phenax), Warsaw grouper (Epinephelus nigritus), and tiger grouper (M. tigris) that have been found on St. Lucie County’s mesophotic (deepwater) artificial reefs. Because of the great depth of the Capt. Patrick Price Reef, it is possible that ivory tree coral (Oculina varicosa) larvae will settle and grow on the hull of this reef. It is hoped that the relatively high profile of the Capt. Patrick Price Reef will also be conducive towards the formation of spawning aggregations of gag and scamp which had been found on the Oculina Banks decades ago. In a video from May 2010, large numbers of gag were found on several reefs on the Fort Pierce Sportfishing Club Site (FPSC) (https:// vimeo.com/13011548). This supports other anecdotal observations of schools of grouper on the County’s deep water artificial reef site. In 2018, researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute campus, using Baited Remote Underwater Video,
saw potential pre-spawning coloration and behavior in fishes on the FPSC. The Daymaker Charters Reef should recruit many of the fish found on deeper reefs but also provide additional recreational opportunities for anglers and divers, something that people who knew Capt. Price say he would have favored. Schools of amberjack (Seriola dumerili) can be found on artificial reefs at these depths, providing great sport for smaller boats. Interest in the deployments was great as MCAC arranged for several boats to view the deployments. Boats (captains or owners) included the Fifth Day (Dr. Paul Schoppi), Hope (donated by the late Margaret and Tom Dyer), Wrapped Up (Capt. David Dalfo), Can Do Too (Sid Gold, Capt. Skip), and 2 Daz Off (Capt. Scotty Fawcett). These boats were important as they allowed the Price family and many donors to the project to view these deployments which had been postponed since January while waiting for weather to improve.
Tentative coordinates for the Capt. Patrick Price Reef are N 27˚ 23.814’, W 80˚ 00.662’. Tentative numbers for the Daymaker Charters Reef are N 27˚ 22.951, W 80˚ 03.516’, subject to post-deployment dives to confirm their final locations. Anyone finding these reefs is encouraged to report their experiences with the St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program. The 126-foot motor vessel Time will be brought from Willis Custom Yachts to the Causeway Cove Marina on June 21. McCulley Marine Services will deliver, clean, and deploy this vessel under contract with the local 501(c)3, Marine Cleanup Initiative, Inc.. The resulting reef will be named the A.A. Hendry Reef, after the 19th century St. Lucie County pioneer, subject to approval by the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners. For more information on the St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program, contact Jim Oppenborn, St. Lucie County Coastal Resources Coordinator, at oppenbornj@stlucieco.org or (772) 462-1713.
Deployment of the Patrick Price Reefs took place May 15 and 16, 2022. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
JULY PHOTOS2022 CREDIT: St. LucieTREASURE County ArtificialCOAST Reef Program.17
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specie pound redfish Th “beard barbel the dr Bla covers be spo Since be di inform imagin differe found Bla inhabi flats, r feed p a set o jaws, t Bla my lit in the years o Bla late fa
BLACK DRUM: THE LARGEST OF THE DRUM SPECIES
Black Drum, Pogonias cromis Florida Record: 96 pounds, Caught in Fernandina Beach International Game Fish Association World Record: 113 pounds, 1 ounce, caught in Delaware
By Michael Sipos, UF IFAS Sea Grant Agent
times during this period and can produce anywhere from 11to 60 million eggs during a season. Black drum develop their characteristic chin barbels at the size of ¾- to 1 inch long. These barbels and can be used as an identification tool when comparing species with a similar-striped appearance like the sheepshead or Atlantic spadefish or even their popular cousin, the red drum. As the black drum ages, the four to six vertical black bars along the side of the juvenile begin to fade as the fish reaches adult size.
T
he King of the Drum, black drum are called a variety of names from “puppy drum” to “big uglies,” but I prefer to call them “Kings,” as they are the largest of the drum species, reaching over 50 inches long and weighing over 100 pounds. These neat fish are related to the famous red drum, aka redfish, but belong in a genus of their own. The scientific name of black drum, Pogonias cromis, means “bearded” and “to croak,” which describes their telltale chin barbels, which are used to detect prey, while croak refers to the drumming noise they use for communication. Black drum have a large geographic range, which covers most of the Western Atlantic. These fish can be spotted from Nova Scotia down to Argentina. Since this species is so widespread, there may be differences in age, growth and spawning information, depending on latitude. As you can imagine, the Chesapeake Bay drum encounter different environmental conditions than ones found in Texas. Black drum are a largely estuarine species, inhabiting coastal sandy bottom, oyster reefs, mud flats, river mouths and bridge pilings. These fish feed primarily on mollusks and crustaceans, using a set of powerful jaws in their throats, called pharyngeal jaws, to crush up the shells of their prey. Black drum live long with lifespans of over 35 years. During my literature review, I came across a paper that aged one drum in the Chesapeake Bay at 59 years old. This species matures at 4-5 years of age, which corresponds to 24-26 inches in length. Black drum breed at night in passes and channels during the late fall to early spring. A female black drum can spawn multiple
Did someone say spaghetti (worms)? Black drums can be the intermediate hosts of cestodes (tapeworms) that can be found in the fillets of primarily larger individuals. These worms are harmless to humans as their final desired host is inside of the intestinal walls of sharks which very physiologically different than us. The worms can be trimmed out of the fillet (that’s still delicious) and aren’t too hard to spot. I tend to release drum larger than about 15 pounds to avoid carving up the fillet too much and prefer to eat small black drum over red drum due to their great flavor, which may be a result their invertebrate diet. Drum are listed as both “best” and “good” seafood choices when considering sustainability of the species from the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch. Michael Sipos is the Florida Sea Grant agent for UF/IFAS Extension. Contact him at sipos624@ufl.edu. For more fishy content and updates on upcoming educational programs, please check out the Sea Grant Facebook page, YouTube Channel, Instagram listing or Michael Sipos’ UF/IFAS blog.
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TREASURE COAST 19
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Stuart Sailfish Club Foundation Annual Shootout Results
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wenty-three boats participated in the Stuart Sailfish Club Foundation’s fifth annual KDW Fishing Shootout on May 14. Weather was perfect, anglers weighed in 30 dolphin, 4 kingfish, 2 wahoo and several blackfin tuna. This year’s tournament benefitted the Stuart Sailfish Club Foundation’s scholarship fund, which provides financial scholarships to graduates in Martin County pursing higher education in marine-related industries. For more details on the tournament or for information on the Stuart Sailfish Club Foundation, visit www.stuartsailfishclub.com.
RESULTS WAHOO: First Place - Melissa Fox, Foxy Lady, 15.2-pounds, $1000; Second Place - Bryan Spearu, DayMaker, 13.2-pounds, $500.
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DOLPHIN: First Place - Justin Perrion, Plum Krazy, 24-pounds, $1000; Second Place - Zach Baille, Tighten Up, 23.8-pounds, $500. KINGFISH: First Place - Chris Cook, Lost Boys Fishing, 27-pounds, $1000; Second Place - Jack Chalfant, Reel Noles, 15.6-pounds, $500.
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PHOTO CREDIT: Leonard Fox.
TOP: First place wahoo brought in by Melissa Fox fishing aboard Foxy Lady with her mom Rosa and her dad, Leonard Fox. ABOVE: Team Freestyle’s angler Alex Chapman took Top Junior Angler for the heaviest meat fish, a 12.6-pound kingfish.
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TREASURE COAST WATERWAY CLEANUP REASONS TO ADVERTISE IN
GET INVOLVED! T
he Marine Industries Association of Treasure Coast has a simple goal for its annual waterway cleanup: to demonstrate personal responsibility for our most precious resource — our waterways. Participation is easy and there are many ways to get involved. Work alone; work as a group. Here’s how you can help:
t h e
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Cleanup Week (self-reporting) Sat., July 16 – Sun., July 24 • Register online at www. TCWaterwayCleanup.com, click “Register Here.” Select “Virtual Cleanup.” • Cleanup anywhere and anytime. This is a great way to collect community service hours. You will need to provide your own clean supplies and know where you will dispose of the trash collected. Event trash containers will not be in place prior to July 23. • Enter your trash totals by July 30, using the digital, “Data Collection” form at www.TCWaterwayCleanup.com. Cleanup Day – Sat., July 23 • Register online www.TCWaterwayCleanup.com, click “Register Here.” Select “Virtual Cleanup.” • Choose your site. Find site locations for all regions by clicking, “2022 Cleanup Sites.” • Report to the site you registered for between 8-10 a.m. on Sat. July 23. You will receive your t-shirt, burgee (if going out on watercraft), and cleanup supplies. • Go to an area you are familiar with, either by boat or on foot. When you’re finished, return the trash and grabbers to the site you reported to. • Enter your trash totals by July 30, using the digital, “Data Collection” form at www.TCWaterwayCleanup.com. Peck Lake Reef Dive Cleanup – Sat., July 23 • Register online www.TCWaterwayCleanup.com, click, “Register Here.” Select, “Register Here” and choose, “Peck Lake Reef Dive” for your site. • Participate in the “Diver Briefing Meetings” via Zoom on July 21, either 4 p.m. or 6 p.m. • Report to Manatee Park (4358 SE Bayview St., Stuart, FL 34997) on Sat., July 23. Here you will receive any loaner equipment, t-shirts, burgee, and complimentary air refill from Stuart Scuba. • Go to a familiar dive site. When you’ve completed your dive, return the trash and any loaner equipment. • Enter your trash totals by July 30, using the digital, “Data Collection” form at www.TCWaterwayCleanup.com. Be part of the solution to pollution! For more information contact April Price, (772) 285-1646 or go to www.tcwaterwaycleanup.com.
8 7
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Contact Coastal Angler Magazine - Treasure Coast Publisher Misti Guertin for More Information:
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Email your information ality and high-qu rger) (500KB or la @ easurecoast photos to tr e.com. lerMagazin CoastalAng
Steven Strong of Fort Pierce caught these pompanos using jigs at the Fort Pierce Jetty. PHOTO CREDIT: Sarah Martel.
Emery from Illinois caught her first sheepshead, a 12-incher at Mud Creek on the Indian River. We don’t know who is more excited, Emery or her Uncle Erik, who helped her display the fish for a photo! PHOTO CREDIT: Laurie Kruse.
Alan George hooked this sailfish on a live threadfin herring while fishing offshore Stuart. Fish walked a few times, was approximately 5.5 feet and was safely released. PHOTO CREDIT: Christina George.
Darrin Young, from Illinois, caught his first snook, 22-inches, at the St. Lucie Inlet. PHOTO CREDIT: Laurie Kruse.
Kyle Barbre’s personal best 30-inch spotted sea trout caught in the Indian River Lagoon, Fort Pierce. Awesome fish Kyle!
This 44-inch, 22.5-pound mahi was a personal best for BJ Rogers caught while fishing with her husband on “Second Home.” This was the second of two mahi caught back-to-back. The first was similar size, but was lost at the boat.
PHOTO CREDIT: A friend of Kyle’s.
PHOTO CREDIT: Steve Roquemore.
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Don Hawley Invitational Produces
119 TARPON RELEASES
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he 48th Annual Don Hawley Invitational Fly Fishing Tarpon Tournament, one of the “Big Three” tarpon fly tournaments, pulled in a total of 119 releases for the week. Angler L. Mark Weeks, of Tokyo, Japan and Nampa, Idaho, and his guide, Capt. Andy Thompson, won the Grand Championship with 18 releases. Aside from two afternoons of dodging storms, the tournament lucked out and had a great week after some major tropical winds threatened the area days beforehand. The best fishing took place on the first and last days of tournament, which saw 36 and 30 fish, respectively. Afternoon lightning lowered the releases to 14 on Day 2, then 18 fish on Day 3, and 21 releases on Day 4. Ocean tarpon fishing proved more difficult than backcountry during the week. Locating fish is one of the biggest talents that guides bring to the team. The Don Hawley attracts some of the best fly anglers from around the world. It was the first tarpon tournament to stop the killing of tarpon in 1987. Anglers receive 1,000 points for each fish measuring 4 feet or longer caught and released on 12-lb. tippet, in accordance with International Game Fish Association rules. The Grand Champion title is awarded to the angler and guide with the most fish caught and released during the fiveday competition. In addition to other awards, Grand Champion names are added to the Perpetual Trophy, which showcases all past champion anglers and guides. The trophy resides at Florida Keys Outfitters in Islamorada, Fla. This year was the second time Weeks and Thompson had their names added to the trophy. “Five days feels like a lifetime in these tournaments, particularly when you’re getting chased off the water by thunderstorms and are neck-and-neck with several of the best teams to the bitter end,” said Weeks. “Lucky for us, Andy knows how to find fish and is a wonderful coach when it comes to catching them.” Coming in second place was angler Evan Carruthers, of Maple Plain, Minn., and his guide, Capt. Greg Dini with 16 releases. Third place was won by Angler Rich Garcia, of Islamorada, and his guide, Luis Cortes with 15 releases. Scott Christian and his guide, Chad Huff, earned the High Point Day award with a whopping eight releases on the first day. The Annual Don Hawley Invitational Tarpon Fly Fishing Tournament began in 1974. Proceeds benefit the Guides Trust Foundation, which assists Florida Keys Guides in times of hardship and provides scholarships to Florida Keys students interested in the marine sciences. Next year’s tournament will take place June 5-9. For more information, visit www.guidestrustfoundation.org.
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Bay Scallop Season Is Here! Y (including Cedar Key, Crystal River, Homosassa): July 1-Sept. 24. This region includes all state waters south of Alligator Pass day beacon #4 near the mouth of the Suwannee River in Levy County and north of the Hernando – Pasco county line. Pasco County: July 15-24. This region includes all state waters south of the Hernando – Pasco county line and north of the Anclote Key SEASONS St. Joseph Bay and Gulf County: Aug. 16- Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, and Sept. 24. This region includes all state waters from includes all waters of the Anclote River. BAG LIMITS the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County to the Daily vessel limits do not allow individuals to westernmost point of St. Vincent Island in Franklin County. The area marked with FWC buoys south of retain more than the per-person limit. There is no Black’s Island is a Bay Scallop Restoration Area and size limit on bay scallops. Fenholloway through Suwannee River Zone: no scalloping or anchoring are allowed. • June 15-30: Daily bag limit per person is 1 Franklin County through NW Taylor County (including Carrabelle, Lanark, St. Marks): July gallon in-shell or 1 cup shucked. Daily vessel limit 1-Sept. 24. This region includes all state waters is 5 gallons in-shell or 2 pints shucked. • July 1-Labor Day: Daily bag limit per person from the westernmost point of St. Vincent Island in Franklin County to Rock Island near the mouth of is 2 gallons in-shell or 1 pint shucked. Daily vessel limit is 10 gallons in-shell or ½ gallon shucked. the Fenholloway River in Taylor County. All Other Zones: Fenholloway through Suwannee Rivers Daily bag limit per person is 2 gallons in-shell Zone (including Keaton Beach, Steinhatchee): June 15-Labor Day. This region includes all state or 1 pint shucked. Daily vessel limit is 10 gallons waters east of Rock Island near the mouth of the in-shell or ½ gallon shucked. Fenholloway River in Taylor County and north of OTHER INFO Alligator Pass day beacon #4 near the mouth of • Legal methods of harvest include by hand or the Suwannee River in Levy County. This area has with a landing or dip net. Recreational harvesters a lowered bag limit June 15-30. See bag limits for are required to have a Florida saltwater fishing more. license unless they are 1) exempt from needing a Levy, Citrus, Hernando Counties Zone license or 2) have a no-cost shoreline fishing license ou’d be hard pressed to find better Florida family fun than kicking around in the shallows to pick up scallops. Bay scallop seasons open across most of Florida’s west coast this month, so grab your mask, fins and snorkel, load up the kids and hit the water. Here’s what you need to know to get in on the action.
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and are wading from shore to collect scallops (feet do not leave bottom to swim, snorkel or SCUBA and harvesters do not use a vessel to reach or return from the harvest location). • Direct transit of legally-harvested bay scallops is allowed through closed areas.
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18 FLORIDA
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FLORIDA ANGLER LANDS 100TH IGFA WORLD RECORD
NNUAL A H T re Coast N TE asu e Tr
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r. Jan Forszpaniak, a retired Florida surgeon, caught and released a 67-centimeter (more than 26-inch) asp from Italy’s Po River in February. The fish, a type of carp, was caught on fly tackle and set a new IGFA all-tackle length fly world record for the species. With that fish, Forszpaniak tallied his 100th IGFA world record. It’s the second time he’s broken his own record for the species. Forszpaniak is an IGFA representative who, since retiring in 2018, travels the world to fish and seek out records. He is an avid saltwater fly fisherman who has visited many of the world’s top fly fishing destinations, including Russia, South Africa, Zambia, New Guinea, Gilbert’s Archipelago, Christmas Island, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Turks and Caicos, according to an Outdoor Life article. “I am very proud, privileged, and honored to represent IGFA as a lifetime member, ambassador, and international representative,” he told Outdoor Life. “I understand the importance of IGFA conservation efforts. “Whichever country I visit, I always spread the IGFA message and encourage people to join.” According to the IGFA database, some of Forszpaniak’s more notable records include the all-tackle length fly record for Pacific bonefish at 73 centimeters (almost 29 inches) as well as the 16-pound tippet record for Pacific bonefish for a fish that weighed 13 pounds. Both were caught at New Caledonia. He also holds the all-tackle length record for giant trevally for a 126 centimeter (nearly 50-inch) fish he caught in the Cook Islands. For more information, go to igfa.org.
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FLORIDA 21
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Angler Catches Pink-Tagged Bass and $6,000
O
n May 22, Florida angler Dale Dew caught the first of 10 pink-tagged largemouth bass released by FWC into lakes across the state this year. As a part of the TrophyCatch 10Tag Celebration, Dew received a $5,000 gift card to Bass Pro Shops and $1,000 to shop at AFTCO. The catch also qualifies Dew for a chance at an additional $10,000, which will be awarded at a ceremony this fall. FWC biologists tagged this specific bass in February on Lake Griffin. Dew caught the fish near the same spot it was tagged, using a plastic worm. He successfully submitted his catch according to TrophyCatch rules. Dew is originally from Antiqua and he and his family now live in central Florida. While he was not originally going fishing for the pink tag, he saw a sign about the promotion that day. “It was the first time we heard about it, and we were like, ‘Whoa what’s this? We aren’t going to catch it. We’re two guys who can’t fish!’” said Dew, the first lucky angler to catch a pink-tagged largemouth bass. “We don’t have all the nice equipment or a nice bass boat but we got lucky and caught it! So, it could be any ordinary person who catches it. You never know, it’s crazy.” Nine more pink-tagged bass are swimming in other waterbodies across the state: Newnans Lake; Lake George; Lake Talquin; Lake Walk-in-Water; Tenoroc Fish Management Area; Lake Trafford; Lake Istokpoga; Lake Rousseau; and Johns Lake. Anglers 22 FLORIDA
JULY 2022
have until the end of September to fish for these special, prized fish. To celebrate Season 10 of the TrophyCatch program, biologists with the FWC tagged and released 10 largemouth bass with bright pink tags in 10 different locations across the state. Anglers should check the TrophyCatch website for rules and updates. The TrophyCatch program rewards anglers who provide documentation of their catch and release of largemouth bass weighing 8 pounds or heavier in Florida. To be eligible for prizes, anglers are required to submit photos or videos of their catch to TrophyCatch.com, showing the entire fish and its weight on a scale, before releasing it back into the water. Participants are also automatically entered in a free boat drawing just for registering. FWC biologists use TrophyCatch data for bass research to make informed decisions about the management of Florida bass fisheries and to promote the catch and release of trophy bass. The associated TrophyCare program promotes best handling practices for trophy bass to ensure that each TrophyCatch bass is released alive. For more information, go to trophycatchflorida.com.
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CATCH HARD-FIGHTING
JACKS
On Top or On Bottom
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID JUNQUERA (IG: DAVID_ROCCA_)
are widespread in the Atlantic. They inhabit the western Atlantic from Nova Scotia to Uruguay and throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Juvenile jack crevalle live inshore, where they prefer moving water of upstream currents. They thrive in a wide range of salinity and are often found in brackish waters and sometimes freshwater canals. Adults, on the other hand, usually move out of the estuaries and occupy currents, reefs and other nearshore and offshore structure, generally within the bounds of the continental shelf. Large individuals can absolutely be caught in shallow inshore areas, but deep-water jacks are usually larger. The largest IGFA-recorded jack crevalle weighed 66 pounds, 2 ounces and was caught out of Angola off the western coast of Africa. When food, such as mullet, is abundant, jacks get excited and will chase prey right up on the sand, against seawalls or into a boat. In open water, they herd baitfish into a mass before plowing through it from all sides. I target monster jacks from the beach or an inlet. Fishing with live bait on the bottom is the easiest method. I drop baits in the deep trough, just on the backside of a sandbar. Baits in the 10- to 12-inch range work best for bigger fish, and I prefer using whatever baitfish is around. My favorite for jacks is needlefish. If you’re looking for more of a challenge as well as heart-stopping explosions, try fishing topwater plugs. David Junquera is a dedicated plugchucker from West Palm Beach. Using topwater lures, he has landed 23 jack crevalle heavier than 40 pounds. His heaviest to-date weighed 46.3 pounds. Junquera said time of day, winds, tides, migrations and location of bait are all crucial factors for successfully targeting jacks with topwater plugs. Anglers should get out and explore to determine the best patterns for the areas they fish. At a minimum, Junquera recommends a 6500-size spinning reel with By Emily Rose Hanzlik 50-pound braid and an 80-pound leader. Junquera prefers to throw lures that outh Florida boasts some of the best surf fishing in the world. High are 6.5 to 8 inches long. The faster you work the plug, the more strikes you’ll profile species are regular catches from the beaches of the sunshine state’s earn, he said. A whip retrieve is ideal. southern Atlantic coast. The jack crevalle is one of my favorites. It is a Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 51 IGFA world records in various categories. fierce, stubborn and dynamic gamefish that can be caught bottom fishing with She hails from West Palm Beach, where she has a part time Bowfin live bait or by casting plugs. Whichever method you choose, you’re sure to Guide Service as well as fishing classes for Jr. Anglers. Find her have a battle on your hands once you hook up. on Social Media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors. Shore-based fishing for jack crevalle is not limited to Florida. These fish
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LESTER WINS ELITE TOURNEY WITH SNEAKY PATTERN AT PICKWICK By TAM Staff
O
ver the years, Brandon Lester has become known as one of the most consistent anglers in tournament bass fishing. Yet, in nine seasons on tour, an Elite Series win has eluded him… until now. The Tennessee pro and former The Angler Magazine columnist won his first Elite Series tournament on Lake Pickwick in early June. He did it in spectacular fashion, weighing a four-day total of 20 bass for 86 pounds, 1 ounce. He beat out the next closest competitor by almost 6 pounds. Pickwick is a long 43,000-acre Tennessee River impoundment that runs north from Alabama into Tennessee along the Alabama/Mississippi border. It is renowned for excellent largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing, and in summer dam-driven river currents combine with the lake’s many offshore humps and ledges to produce some pretty consistent patterns. Threadfin and gizzard shad make up the majority of the forage base, so big flutter spoons, large deep-diving crankbaits and swimbaits are summertime staples. Lester said he knows the Pickwick ledge bite well and that doing something just a little different from everyone else put him on a sneaky pattern with some less-pressured fish. “It was shellbed, and where the current rolled up on that bar, from 8 feet to 4 feet, there was a hard spot,” he said. “The fish were sitting up on that spot. It was small, maybe three times the size of my boat. It was a typical Tennessee River feeding spot, right off the main river. There was a ton of bait in there — gizzard shad, threadfin shad. It was the perfect combination.” Most of Lester’s fish came on a Strike King 4.0 crankbait in chartreuse shad. He also fished a Berkley MaxScent Magnum Hit Worm in plum apple
Neko rigged with a 1/8-ounce nail weight. His sacks topped 20 pounds each day of the tournament, and the morning bite was key for him. A 6-pound, 13-ounce largemouth caught with a football jig anchored his sack on Day 3, and he entered Championship Sunday with a 3.5-pound lead. On Sunday, he poured on the gas, catching 22 pounds, 14 ounces, which earned him the VMC Monster Bag of the tournament. In the morning, he caught 17 pounds within the first half hour of fishing. He culled a few fish and then shut the door on the competition with 6-pounder caught at about 1 p.m. from a main-river ledge that dropped from 14 to 21 feet. He caught that fish on a Scrounger head with a 5-inch Castaic Jerky J, which is a bait that hadn’t produced all week. “This is unreal,” he said. “That Open win, I was super proud of it. It’s a stacked field in the Opens. But an Elite Series win is next level. I guess it’s between an Opens win and a Classic win. That’s the only thing that can top it. These are the greatest bass fishermen in the world.” The $100,000 first-place prize at Pickwick pushed Lester’s career Bassmaster earnings past $1 million. For more information, visit www.bassmaster.com.
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JULY 2022
NATIONAL 15
Enter To Win!
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PHOTO COURTESY OF ecreational SHOW ME THE FISH CHARTERS harvest of red snapper in federal waters of the South Atlantic will be two days long this year. The July 8-9 season opens at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 8, 2022, and closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 10, 2022. The season is for Atlantic waters off North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The recreational bag limit is one red snapper per person per day. Captain and crew on for-hire vessels may retain the recreational bag limit. There are no minimum or maximum size limits. Allowable gear includes vertical hook-and-line, including hand line and bandit gear, and spearfishing gear without rebreathers. When fishing for or possessing snapper/grouper species in federal waters of the South Atlantic, the following regulations apply: • Use of a dehooking tool is required. • The use of non-stainless steel hooks is required when using hookand-line gear with natural baits. In waters North of 28-degrees N. latitude, the use of non-offset, non-stainless steel circle hooks is required when fishing for snapper grouper species using hook-and-line gear with natural baits. • A descending device is required on board all vessels and must be readily available for use (attached to at least 16 ounces of weight and at least 60 feet of line).
For more information, go to safmc.net.
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FIND A NET FOR EVERY LIVE BAIT NEED AT
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ICAST 2022 ROLLS INTO ORLANDO JULY 19-22
I
t first glance, this fish might look like a deformed dolphinfish (mahi-mahi), but it’s not. It’s a pompano dolphinfish, and it’s a new North Carolina state record and a potential world record. Charles Kenneth Noonan, of Sumter, S.C., caught the 11-pound, 5.4-ounce fish at an abandoned raft, about 42 miles off Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina on June 8. Noonan said he is applying to the IGFA for certification of the fish as the all-tackle world record. The current certified world record pompano dolphinfish weighed 8-pounds, 8-ounces, and was caught off Maryland in 2008. Noonan’s fish measured 30.5 inches fork length and had a 17.25-inch girth. He was fishing with Capt. Tyler Hailey and First Mate Bailey Auten of Salt Fever Guide Service in Ocean Isle Beach. They were aboard the Glory Daze, a 37-foot Freeman Boatworks Catamaran.
CAST, the world’s largest sportfishing trade show, will spread out across the expansive floor of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. July 19-22, showcasing the latest innovations in gear, tackle, accessories and apparel. From Super Tuesday on July 19 to the final bell on Friday, July 22, it’s almost a full week of events that have become a cornerstone of the sportfishing industry. From seminars and “learning lunches” to a show floor jam packed with quality exhibitors displaying the products that will drive the industry in the coming year, ICAST is the place to make valuable connections and stay on top of the trends in fishing. Many companies choose to roll out their latest innovations at ICAST each year, and the New Product Showcase is a chance for them to shine a spotlight on their latest and greatest. These new products are the hottest new lures, tackle, clothing, electronics and gear that anglers will be purchasing in the coming year. ICAST is the one-stop shop for retailers and manufacturers to connect in-person and make valuable business relationships. Orlando’s world-class dining, lodging and entertainment will be bustling with the movers-and-shakers and the up-and-comers of the industry, as the sportfishing world convenes to determine what drives the next year in fishing.
For more information North Carolina state records fish, visit ncwildlife.org.
For more information, go to www.ICASTfishing.org.
TEEN ANGLER CATCHES PENDING WORLD RECORD
A
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JULY 2022
NATIONAL 17
SLOW DOWN AND COVER THE ENTIRE WATER COLUMN
Tim Barefoot
I
’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: wahoo and tuna don’t wear Maui Jims. They use depth to regulate the amount of sunlight they are exposed to. So, while normal trolling at 6 to 8 knots and high-speed trolling at 15 to 20 knots are good things at first light and up to 10:30 or 11 a.m., it’s time to slow down once the sun gets directly overhead. I slow it to a crawl and even fish some baits down deep under a sliding cork on the drift. Spreading baits across the water column is the best way to continue that morning bite when the midday doldrums arrive. Darker colored baits like red-and-black or purple-andblack work well when fish are looking up to feed. The dark silhouettes of darker colored baits show up well against the bright surface. Yet, it doesn’t make sense to continue trying to convince fish to come to the surface to eat a bait 50 or 75 feet above them. When pelagics drop down in the water column, it’s better to put a bait right in the
“strike zone” where they are. There are several baits that provide a natural presentation down deep, but a big
beautiful squid checks all the boxes on this one. Squid rise to the surface at night and descend to the depths as the sun gets higher… just like the fish. This is the natural choice, as you are trying to match the hatch, so to speak. There is nothing in all the seven oceans of the
SUMMERTIME FISHING...
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world that is more common than the squid. Squid could, and should be called the “rice of the oceans.” Frozen squid are readily available for bait, and everything in the ocean eats them. I have the ultimate example of this as one day we were on anchor grouper fishing when a couple of nice dolphin swam under the boat 20 to 30 feet below. I could tell they were nice ones and started throwing out cigar minnows and sardines to get them fired up. They didn’t want any part of the free minnows. So, I pulled out a whole frozen squid and hooked it up on light tackle and threw it out about 50 feet. I just let it start sinking. After all the minnows they let go by and sink out of sight, the biggest one of the pair saw that sinking squid and inhaled it! It just goes to show, they will eat a squid when all else fails. The other good news is a squid is so easy to rig to swim perfectly. Whether you are fishing a natural frozen squid, a live one or an artificial one, just slow down a little to allow the bait to get down to the level where the fish are staged during the middle of the day for some serious bites. See more from Tim Barefoot at barefootctasandtackle.com.
www.
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n the blockbuster film, when a strapping Australian crocodile hunter and a lovely American journalist were getting robbed at knife point by a couple of young thugs in New York, the tough Aussie pulls out his dagger and says “That’s not a knife, THIS is a knife!” Of course, the thugs scattered and he continued on to win the reporter’s heart. Our Aussie friend would approve of our rendition of his “knife.” Forged of high grade 420 surgical stainless steel, this knife is an impressive 16" from pommel to point. And, the blade is full tang, meaning it runs the entirety of the knife, even though part of it is under wraps in the natural bone and wood handle. Secured in a tooled leather sheath, this is one impressive knife, with an equally impressive price. This fusion of substance and style can garner a high price tag out in the marketplace. In fact, we found full tang, stainless steel blades with bone handles in excess of $2,000. Well, that won’t cut it around here. We have mastered the hunt for the best deal, and in turn pass the spoils on to our customers. But we don’t stop there. While supplies last, we’ll include a pair of $99, 8x21 power compact binoculars, and a genuine leather sheath FREE when you purchase the Down Under Bowie Knife. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Feel the knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the impeccable craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price. Limited Reserves. A deal like this won’t last long. We have only 1120 Down Under Bowie Knifes for this ad only. Don’t let this beauty slip BONUS! Call today and through your fingers at a price that won’t drag you’ll also receive this you under. Call today! genuine leather sheath!
Stauer® 8x21 Compact Binoculars -a $99 value-
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What Stauer Clients Are Saying About Our Knives
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“This knife is beautiful!” — J., La Crescent, MN
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“The feel of this knife is unbelievable...this is an incredibly fine instrument.” — H., Arvada, CO
Down Under Bowie Knife $249*
Offer Code Price Only $99 + S&P Save $150
1-800-333-2045
Your Insider Offer Code: DUK313-01 You must use the insider offer code to get our special price. Rating of A+
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14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. DUK313-01 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com
*Discount is only for customers who useNot the offer code versus the shown listed original Stauer.com price. actual size.
California residents please call 1-800-333-2045 regarding Proposition 65 regulations before purchasing this product.
• Etched stainless steel full tang blade ; 16” overall • Painted natural bone and wood handle • Brass hand guards, spacers & end cap • Includes genuine tooled leather sheath
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JULY 2022
NATIONAL 19
COLUMBIA
BANS SPORTFISHING By CAM Staff
C
olumbia recently banned sportfishing. That should serve as an eye opener even for anglers who have never considered travelling to fish. A potential destination fishery, with rivers famous for exotic species like peacock bass and a coastline that boasts excellent fisheries for roosterfish, tuna, marlin, sailfish and cubera snapper, has decided that catch-and-release fishing is cruelty to animals and has deemed the practice unconstitutional. With an 8-1 vote in favor, the ruling came down from the Columbia Congressional
20 NATIONAL
JULY 2022
Court in May with a plan to begin enforcement next year. The court, which is roughly equivalent to the U.S. Supreme Court, decided that while commercial, artisanal and subsistence fishing remain constitutional, catching fish and returning them to the water should be banned. If you catch a fish, you must kill it in order for the catch to be legal. It’s enough to scramble the brains of anglers and conservationists. Anyone who has paid a lick of attention has watched the rise of catch-and-release lead to the rebound of coastal and inland fisheries around the world. At presstime, Columbians were voting to elect their president, with Gustavo Petro, an extreme leftwing candidate by U.S. standards, leading in a runoff election against Rodolfo Hernandez, a businessman and former city mayor running on an anticorruption platform. Columbian attorneys are already contesting the sportfishing ban, but if Petro wins the election there’s a good chance parts of the ruling will be enacted. Columbian lawyer Luis Guillermo Valez Cabrera lambasted the ruling in op-ed for the website La Republica, saying the ruling “may be the stupidest decision a constitutional court has made in recent history. It’s really laughable.” “What the court wants to tell us is that, since we do not know if the fish can suffer, to protect the environment, we must prohibit sportfishing,” Cabrera wrote. “The possible impact on the environment is due to commercial fishing and artisanal fishing, practices that were not constitutionally prohibited. Think of the meshes, the dynamite and the dragnets that kill anything, sentient or not.” While this court’s ruling might be easy to write off as nonsense from a nation more well-known for corruption and cocaine than anything else, it’s a reminder that hunters and anglers must remain vigilant. Germany banned catch-and-release fishing in the 1990s, and the animal rights movement has successfully restricted hunting in many places around the globe, including in Columbia. As with most political debates, money is the key. Politicians who’ve never held a fishing rod need to realize that fish in the water can be far more valuable economically than they are served up at restaurants. Just ask Costa Rica, which boasts of a recreational fishery that generates hundreds of millions of dollars annually. For more information, see the July issue of The Angler Video Magazine at VidMag.com.
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By Nick Carter
EPA MOVES TO PROTECT THE WORLD’S LARGEST SOCKEYE RUN
P
ebble Mine, a proposed mining development in the headwaters feeding Bristol Bay, Alaska, is in the news again. The latest development in this two-decade struggle is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to veto the project under authority of the Clean Water Act. It is a next step toward establishing lasting protections for the largest remaining salmon fishery in the world. The Pebble deposit is an enormous accumulation of gold, copper and molybdenum in the headwaters of the Kvichak and Nushgak rivers, which feed Bristol Bay and the Bering Sea about 300 miles southwest of Anchorage. In 2001, the first steps toward mining the deposit began, and ever since it has been a source of controversy as mining rights have changed hands through several multi-national corporations and actual development of a massive
open-pit mine has been tied up in red tape. At stake is one of the few remaining truly pristine areas on the planet. Back in 2005, my wife and I spent a glorious week with Alaska Sportman’s Lodge fishing the Kvichak, Nushgak and several other rivers in the Bristol Bay drainage. It was a once-in-a-lifetime type experience in the most beautiful and unspoiled place I’ve ever been. The fishing was phenomenal and featured 40-plus-pound king salmon, a sockeye salmon run so thick you could have walked across their backs, 30-inch rainbow trout in their native waters, as well as grayling and Dolly Varden in places where anglers share water with brown bears, moose and bald eagles. Getting there is difficult and expensive, but the experience is highly recommended for anyone interested in arguably the best fly fishing destination in the world. But there’s more to it than a recreational fishery so good it will spoil you. Bristol Bay is also the most important salmon fishery on earth. It provides half of the world’s wild sockeye salmon. If your local grocery store carries “wildcaught sockeye salmon,” there’s a good chance it was caught by Bristol Bay’s commercial anglers. According to Bristol Bay Defense Fund, the unspoiled natural resources of the region support a $2.2 billion economy that employs tens of thousands of people in commercial fishing, hunting, sportfishing, outdoor recreation and tourism. Earlier this year, Alaska Department of Fish and Game projected 2022 will be the second record-breaking year in a row for Bristol Bay’s sockeye salmon run. The estimate calls for 73.4 million fish to swim up area rivers to spawn. This annual run supports an amazing ecosystem that has for time immemorial thrived on the transfer of nutrients far inland from the ocean. And while proponents of the Pebble Mine likely speak the truth in their assertion that a mine would bring added wealth and jobs to the region, it would come at the potential expense of a natural phenomenon that perpetually and sustainably supports humans as well as the native flora and fauna. EPA’s public comment period on the proposed veto is open until July 5. To get involved, go to www.epa.gov/bristolbay.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
JULY 2022
NATIONAL 21
THE GULF’S PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES
BOUNTIES
W
hen the surf is on, it can be some of the best and easiest fishing around. For those in the know, we keep a keen eye on the beachfront starting in May and when the conditions are right, we make sure not to miss it! During July, the shrimp migration hits the beachfront and many hungry predators are following on their tails. Trout in the 5- to 8-pound range are not uncommon while trout shorter than 20 inches are found in large schools. There are many productive tactics that can land you a hefty stringer of these speckled beauties from live shrimp and finfish to an array of artificial lures. I prefer the latter, and here are some of my favorites. Topwater! There is no beating a topwater eruption as the sun is peeking over the horizon. I use a wide range of plug sizes and let the size of the seas determine what I throw. I like a larger heavier lure when the surf is rough. When it is flat, a small or large can be effective. Switching out the standard trebles to single circle hooks is a good approach to lessen the chance of injuring yourself. Bouncing around in the surf trying to land a stout surf trout can lead to an accidental hook in you. Singles also save time unhooking, which leads to more time fishing and catching. Slow-sinking hard baits with rattles also make it into my box when heading into the suds. I like to cast these lures out and let them sink for a few seconds. Most of them have a relatively slow sink rate, so I give them a little time to get lower in the water column. A series of fast twitches followed by a pause usually draws their attention. Many solid trout have fallen for the old faithful ¾- to 1-ounce silver spoon. The presentation is as simple as it gets. Cast and reel; that’s it. This inexpensive lure is an attention getter for sure and casts like a bullet. I typically start my day before sunrise. During the course of my wade, I will hit all structure from a foot deep to eight feet deep. I give equal attention to the depth of the guts to the top of the bars. I see a lot of fishermen go straight out to the second or third gut and stay there the entire time. You will miss many opportunities if you choose to do this. The fish are not always in that gut. At times, I only catch them on top of the bar. Start early, broaden your target area, be safe and catch fish! Surf ’s Down!
The Return of a FROM THE BEACH By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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ripletail have long been a prized target for anglers in the Southern Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, and they are gaining popularity farther north. A big 16-pound, 12-ounce tripletail caught from Chesapeake Bay last summer was recently certified as a Virginia state record. A press release from Virginia’s Marine Resources Commission suggested the rise in popularity of sight fishing for cobia is also pushing tripletail into the spotlight. Richard H. Stuart Jr., of King George, Va., and his father, Richard Sr., were sight fishing for cobia in southern Chesapeake Bay last July 23 when they spotted a flash in the water and decided to pursue it. On approach, they identified the fish as a tripletail on the surface. Richard Jr. convinced it to eat on the second cast of a 2-ounce cobia jig. Tripletail are not a new arrival to Chesapeake Bay, but with the rise in the popularity of sight fishing for cobia, encounters are increasing. Along the Atlantic Coast tripletail have been collected as far north as Massachusetts but are rarely found north of the Chesapeake Bay. Their flesh has been compared to other mild-tasting white-fleshed fish like snapper and grouper. The IGFA all-tackle world record for tripletail was caught off Zululand, South Africa in 1989. It weighed 42 pounds, 5 ounces. For more information, go to mrc.virginia.gov. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
JULY 2022
NATIONAL 23
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Explore the “Great Lakes” of South Carolina! Explore many attractions, splash on the lakes, 40+ waterfront campgrounds and fish camps. Explore the “Great Lakes” of South Carolina! It’s time to make memories in Santee Cooper Country. Explore many attractions, splash on the lakes, 40+ waterfront campgrounds and fish camps. It’s time to make memories in Santee Cooper Country.
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Queen City Kayak Bass Fishing – Nov 19th, 2022
Queen City Kayak – Nov 19th, Duckfest Open Bass TeamFishing Tournament – Oct 1, 2022 2022 Duckfest Open Team Trophy Tournament – Oct 1, Trail 2022– Dec 9-10 Striped Bass Challenge-2022 Championship Striped Bass Challenge-2022 Trophy Championship Trail – Dec 9-10
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