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VOLUME 26 • ISSUE 314

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM

F R A N C H I S E

O P P O R T U N I T I E S

A V A I L A B L E

W O R L D W I D E

MAY 2021

Secrets of a Billionaire Revealed “Price is what you pay; value is what you get. Whether we’re talking about socks or stocks, I like buying quality merchandise when it is marked down.” — wisdom from the most successful investor of all time

e’re going to let you in on a secret. Billionaires have billions because they know value is not increased by an inflated price. They avoid big name markups, and aren’t swayed by flashy advertising. When you look on their wrist you’ll find a classic timepiece, not a cry for attention–– because they know true value comes from keeping more money in their pocket. We agree with this thinking wholeheartedly. And, so do our two-and-a-half million clients. It’s time you got in on the secret too. The Jet-Setter Chronograph can go up against the best chronographs in the market, deliver more accuracy and style than the “luxury” brands, and all for far, far less. $1,150 is what the Jet-Setter Chronograph would cost you with nothing more than a different name on the face. With over two million timepieces sold (and counting), we know a thing or two about creating watches people love. The Jet-Setter Chronograph gives you what you need to master time and keeps the superfluous stuff out of the equation. A classic in the looks department and a stainless steel power tool of construction, this is all the watch you need. And, then some. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Experience the Jet-Setter Chronograph for 30 days. If you’re not convinced you got excellence for less, send it back for a refund of the item price. Time is running out. Now CLIENTS LOVE that the secret’s out, we STAUER WATCHES… can’t guarantee this $29 chronograph will stick around long. Don’t overpay to be “The quality of their underwhelmed. Put a precision watches is equal to many chronograph on your wrist for that can go for ten times just $29 and laugh all the way the price or more.” to the bank. Call today! — Jeff from McKinney, TX

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Jackpot! Hoard of 1881-S Morgan Silver Dollars Found & Secured Mintage accounts for only 1.94% of all Morgan Silver Dollars Struck!

In 1859, Nevada’s Comstock Lode was discovered, and soon its rich silver ore made its way across the nation, including to the respected San Francisco Mint—the U.S. Mint branch known by collectors as the source of some of the finest U.S. coins ever struck. That includes the 1881 Morgan Silver Dollar, which exhibits crisp details, blazing luster, and the iconic “S” mint mark of the San Francisco Mint. Now you have the chance to add these historic, 90% pure U.S. silver coins to your collection!

Here’s the breakdown: in 1881, just 4.25% of the total Morgan series was struck. Less than half of those coins came from San Francisco. In the end, the 1881-S Morgan Silver Dollar accounts for just 1.94% of the entire series—and that’s before the mass meltings that have left so few coins for collectors to secure. And we can expect that even fewer of the survivors are of collector grade...

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(MS63) condition by NGC/PCGS

 Sealed in protective holder  1881-S accounts for just 1.94% of all Morgans Struck

Actual size is 38.1 mm

Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS)! Grading service varies. The condition of these coins are as though they were struck yesterday, despite being minted 140 years ago to circulate in commerce! And yet they have survived with a quality level of eye appeal that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

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The Morgan Silver Dollar was struck from 1878 to 1904, and again in 1921. In the 100 years since, most of these beautiful U.S. Silver Dollars have been worn out or melted down for their silver. It’s estimated that as little as 15% of all Morgans struck exist today in any condition. Even fewer come from this particular mintage.

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The Morgan Silver Dollar is the most popular and iconic vintage U.S. coin. They were the Silver Dollars of the Wild West, going on countless untold adventures in dusty saddlebags across the nation. Finding a hoard of Morgans doesn’t happen often—and when it does, it’s a big deal. So when we came across a recent hoard of 549 Morgan Silver Dollars—all struck at the San Francisco Mint in 1881—it was like hitting the jackpot!

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OFFER DETAILS: Activate a new subscription to SiriusXM Marine Fish Mapping and receive your first month free (a $99.99 savings), plus get free activation (an additional $25 savings), for a combined savings of $124.99. Add SiriusXM Select radio package at the discount rate of $11.99/mo. Fees and taxes apply. A credit card is required on this offer. You must cancel during your free month to avoid being charged. At the beginning of your second month service will automatically renew thereafter every month and you will be charged at the then-current rates. Fees and taxes apply. Please see our Customer Agreement at siriusxm.com for complete terms and how to cancel, which includes calling us at 1-800-985-9200. All fees, content, and features are subject to change. This offer may not be combined with any other trial offers and may be modified or terminated at any time. Subscription and hardware sold separately. $100 Rebate from SiriusXM available through Dec 31, 2021 with hardware and subscription purchase, see Rebate Offer Details at siriusxm.com/fishmapping. © 2021 Sirius XM Radio Inc. SiriusXM and all related logos are trademarks of Sirius XM Radio Inc. and its respective subsidiaries. All rights reserved.

THE BASICS

By Michelle Dalton

Flying OF

Kites T

here’s something about kite fishing for big pelagic gamefish that gets me going. Flying kites presents baits with a natural appearance and allows you to cover lots of water for higher catch rates. Also, the technique provides the ultimate adrenaline rush, as you get to watch the strike happen. For those unfamiliar with kite fishing, let’s go over the basics. Captains consider everything from water color and clarity to baitfish and birds to determine where to start fishing. I like fishing edges, where water color turns green to a deep blue, usually somewhere in 100 to 300 feet of water. There are different kite designs for different wind velocities. Kites are typically launched and retrieved with electric reels. Launching kites is not a piece of cake, but with the right equipment, patience and steady winds, a beginner can practice and perfect the skill. Attached to your kite line are three release clips.

Each clip is assigned to a rod. An experienced crew will fish three live baits off one kite, with each reel’s line clipped to the main kite line. Although it seems like a potential tangled mess, it’s rather organized. For the bait lines, I use high-capacity baitcasting reels spooled with 20- or 30-pound monofilament. Attached to the mono, above the leader, there are a few terminal tackle items that make up your rigs.

First, a ceramic ring is attached to the kite line using release clips. Next, a neon float dangles in the sky above each bait to help track them from a distance. From there, a small egg sinker maintains the vertical drop that keeps baits at the surface. Finally, a bead separates the sinker from your leader. Your leader depends on the targeted species. For the toothy critters, I use an 18-inch wire leader connected to fluorocarbon with an Albright knot and a 7/0 live bait hook. For sailfish, I use 10 to 12 feet of 60-pound fluorocarbon leader with a 7/0 circle hook. By paying attention and adjusting the lines, the angler keeps the baits on the surface where they make the slight commotion predators find irresistible. The rigs suspend in air above the baits, completely out of sight of the fish. I prefer fishing goggle-eyes, threadfin herring and sardines. Healthy bait is far more likely to be eaten. Ahead of tournaments, my team and I spend weeks feeding and nurturing bait to keep it healthy. If you’re fortunate enough to hook a sailfish, don’t immediately clear the other lines. Sailfish often travel in groups. Leave those other baits in the water for a chance at additional bites. Traditionally, when winds start to die at the end of spring, the number of boats trolling offshore grows. However, kite fishing goes on year-round in South Florida. Even with very little wind, a kite will fly with the help of a helium balloon. Next time your friends want to troll around offshore, tell them to “go fly a kite!” Michelle Dalton books charters through her social media pages: @Bombchelle_fishing.

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on ply. ce mer ect ely. ng. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

MAY 2021

NATIONAL 7

Humbled

ON THE DAVIDSON By Nick Carter

he Davidson River in Brevard, N.C. is one of the most widely publicized trout streams in the Southeast. It’s a challenging fishery with beautiful water that holds some very nice fish. Part of the Davidson’s appeal, or its main drawback, is easy access. The river flows roadside through most its publicly accessible length. There is small water in the headwaters accessible only by foot, but for the most part it is a park-and-fish kind of place. On a gorgeous summer weekend, a buddy and I heeded advice from the guys at Davidson River Outfitters to join the dawn patrol. We arrived on

the river at first light to find a pod of big fish, maybe four or five in the 16- to 20-inch range, hovering near the bottom of a bellybutton-deep run. They were clearly visible in low summer flows. For the next hour, we worked the run together, one or the other of us making the same drift repeatedly as the other man tied on a new fly. It was a challenge that bordered on infuriating to see those trout, an occasional belly flash belying the fact that they were eating… just not what we offered. We tried everything, right down to a size 22 red midge pupa recommended at the fly shop. Finally, because we had tried everything else, I

tied on a white Woolly Bugger—another Davidson River staple. Just twitching it through the hole, a fish we had not previously seen streaked from the periphery to slam the streamer. Those big fish didn’t even flinch as I stripped in a pretty 11-inch brown. As I released the fish, an older gentleman waded down the side of the run. He glanced out at the pod of big fish still sitting on the bottom. “Wasn’t the one you were after, was it?” he asked. My response was to offer him a shot at the run. He declined. “Don’t want any part of it,” he grumbled. “Spent all afternoon yesterday standing right where you are.” That’s a snapshot of what fishing the catch-andrelease, fly fishing only section of the Davidson is like. The river is full of fish—and some big ones. It is also frequently full of anglers. The steady pressure makes trout wise. Of course, there’s always a guy who lights up Internet message boards with a photo of a big old bruiser. He’ll give advice like, “Use a little split-shot to get it down,” but I suspect there’s more to it. Pressured fish are on guard. Catching them requires perfect presentation of the perfect fly and also being in the right place at that right time. Arriving early, staying late and fishing hard makes it more likely you’ll be there when a 2-foot-long trout makes a mistake. This story is an abbreviated excerpt from the book “Flyfisher’s Guide to North Carolina & Georgia,” which includes maps and GPS coordinates to access points for all the region’s best trout fisheries. Purchase the book on Amazon or by contacting the author at nsc8957@gmail.com.

LET US SHOW YOU HOW TO

BUILD YOUR OWN RODS

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“Rooted” GET

he Everglades is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. This jungle-like paradise provides crucial habitat for numerous rare and endangered species like manatees, American crocodiles and Florida panthers. It is a truly amazing land and seascape, and it’s home to an awesome angling experience like no other: an encounter with the “Silver King,” one of Nature’s most acrobatic and striking underwater wonders. Tarpon (Megalops), in brief, are like an enormous silver bullet. They are powerful, explosive and acrobatic fighters, with the stamina of an Energizer bunny. Due to their tolerance of a wide range of water salinity, tarpon swim the canals and ponds of south Florida. I’ve caught juveniles in freshwater ponds, so I’ve sampled the pure power of the species. But catching a true behemoth has long been on my bucket list. To achieve this, I traveled to Flamingo, the southernmost headquarters of Everglades National Park, in Monroe County, Fla. There I met Sam Root, an exceptionally knowledgeable Miami-based

By Rosemary J. White

IN THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES

fisherman and media personality who has traveled the world to test his fishing skills. I’ve admired Root’s media work, and have been fortunate to collaborate with him through companies like Mustad, Savage Gear and many TV platforms. On this trip, we set out to test the Savage Gear Pulse Tail Mullet and Pulse Tail Ballyhoo. These swimbaits are engineered to look and move like the baitfish they resemble, and are molded with Savage Gear’s pulse tail. The tail has a patent-pending split rear kicker that allows realistic swimming action fast or slow. The bait also features “line-through” rigging that allows the soft-plastic bait to slide up the line during the fight, giving the fish less leverage to throw the hook. With the aerial tendencies of tarpon, this is a pretty good feature to have. We launched out of Everglades National Park quickly to avoid being air lifted from the ramp by mosquitoes. The scenery was breathtaking. Winding through the narrow canals was like trekking through the Amazon. We arrived at our spot with the moon to the west and the sunrise to the east, both simultaneously visible. That was unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

The action began immediately! We hooked multiple tarpon and got a first-hand perspective of why the line-through technology is helpful. An unobstructed fight, both from the lack of structure and the lack of a lure in the fish’s mouth makes for a pure battle of strength and endurance, on both sides of the rod. The acrobatics and sheer power of these fish as they launched into the air was mind blowing. At one point, it was all I could do to hold on as Root engaged the motor in pursuit of a monster tarpon with the reel screaming in my hands. After we exhausted ourselves—and several fish—we headed into the preserve canals to sightsee. We were ecstatic to get a glimpse of the American crocodile. The Everglades is the only place on Earth where both alligators and crocodiles coexist. When Root said it was time to “call it,” I cringed. I could have gotten lost for days fishing in the unparalleled landscape. The Everglades is a mix of different habitats including freshwater, brackish and salt, an angler’s paradise. I longed for more time to explore.

For more information on Savage Gear and their products, Sam does instructional “how to” videos on his Instagram @scssam. Follow Rosemary White @roasty194 for her fishing adventures that feature destinations throughout Florida and @daryn.white.fishing for photography.

Bow and pray.

Tarpon season in The Florida Keys is all about timing, skill and luck of the draw. Hook up and be ready to bow to the king. Stay tight and pray all those hours in the gym weren’t for naught. Whether you come just for thrills or to top your personal best, don’t miss the opportunity to experience true piscatorial bliss. fla-keys.com 1.800.fla.keys For the latest protocols on health & safety in The Florida Keys, please visit our website.

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SHRIMP: THE BAIT OF ALL BAITS

4) Shrimp (weedless, or as it comes out of the package) without a jig head I can go anywhere there are shrimp and catch trout, drum, snook and more with a very small tackle box. It’s the universal bait. My favorite is just the shrimp on the Barefoot Jig without a cork, but under the fixed and sliding cork is sometimes just the ticket. You can use the sliding cork Tim Barefoot around docks and snags at an irresistibly slow speed. The reason it works ears ago, I was obsessed with live bait of all kinds. I kept livewells so well is the jig head is balanced and will maintain a perfect horizontal with mullet, shrimp, pinfish and cigar minnows. I spent a lot of position with or without a cork. time tending to bait and battling the otters at the marina. My inshore bait of choice was the live shrimp… hands down. Live mullets will get the bite, no question, but the shrimp is simply irresistible. I would spend hours and hours catching, housing and feeding bait. I was just about at the end of my inshore live bait road when along came the DOA shrimp. I love everything about that soft plastic shrimp body. It’s pretty tough, looks just like a real shrimp and can be made to work in every single situation including depth, grass/roots and current when used with the correct hardware. I have to admit there are times when I may catch a few more fish with live shrimp, but I can carry my entire inshore tackle The key is to make the shrimp look like a real shrimp. box now in just a few small trays of jig heads, DOA shrimp A live shrimp does not move around stern- or bow-heavy. colors and a bottle of Pro Cure shrimp scent. It’s extremely A live shrimp moves thru the water slowly in a perfectly easy to just plug a DOA body on the jig, apply a liberal horizontal position. Just look at them in the livewell or at a amount of Pro Cure shrimp scent on the legs and underside, tackle shop that sells live shrimp. That’s the reason the DOA and start fishing. I have so much faith in this combination. catches so many fish: it swims horizontally. It’s just a given; they will eat it when properly presented. The weedless version of this shrimp can be extremely I could write several pages of this article regarding the effective for fish tailing in the grass or around mangrove different applications, but I’ll be brief. roots. This is one reason to keep one rigged and ready and I keep four rods rigged with shrimp: always moving around quietly. For videos of these variations, 1) Shrimp body on a 3/8-ounce Barefoot Jig. visit my website and click on “videos” 2) Shrimp under a fixed cork about 20 inches deep on a 3/8 oz. Barefoot Jig. For more from Capt. Tim Barefoot, visit 3) Shrimp under a sliding cork on a 3/8-ounce barefootcatsandtackle.com. Barefoot Jig (to suspend over shell beds).

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Summer-Long, Statewide Fishing Competition Launches May 29 C CA Florida, the state’s leading marine fisheries conservation, education and advocacy organization, will begin the seventh-annual CCA Florida STAR competition May 29. The summer-long event invites anglers and non-anglers to participate and win prizes valued at $500,000, including boats, motors, scholarships and more. Launched in 2015, Florida STAR focuses on conservation with its catch, photo and release format, conservation division and unique garbage division. Additionally, STAR is driven by its smartphone app, which allows participants to upload competition photos, eliminating the requirement to harvest or transport fish. “In the past six years, it’s been amazing to see STAR participants catch more fish, practice catch and release and support recovery efforts—all to conserve and enhance our state’s coastal waters and marine resources.” CCA Florida STAR Director Leiza Fitzgerald said. “But, what’s been just as exciting, is awarding more than $1.2 million in prizes, including $600,000 in youth scholarships, to the thousands of STAR registrants.” 2021 STAR features 17 divisions targeting 12 inshore and offshore species. STAR’s signature divisions include the West Marine STAR Tagged redfish, and prizes in this division are a Contender Boats 22 Sport, Pathfinder Boats 2200 TRS and Spyder 19FX Vapor all powered by Yamaha Outboards. For the first two youth anglers who win this division, prizes include two Salt Marsh Skiff 1656 tiller boats powered with Yamaha Outboards, trailers, Minn Kota trolling motors and Humminbird electronics. The other signature division, the Tigress Outrigger & Gear Tagged Dolphin Division, offers one winner a $10,000 cash prize or scholarship to the STAR registrant and CCA Florida member who catches the first

tagged dolphin. Dolphin are captured, tagged and released off the Florida Keys by the Dolphin Research program implemented by the Beyond Our Shores foundation. With a focus on inclusion of anglers of all skill levels, every fish an angler catches counts in STAR’s Power Pole Conservation Division. This division makes each participant a citizen biologist by documenting catches in the app with data to be utilized in research. Engagement of youth is another priority of STAR, and CCA Florida youth members (ages 6 to 17) can participate in the competition for free. Kids are encouraged to submit entries in the Youth Scholarship Division presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors for an opportunity to win one of 12 scholarships with a total value of $100,000. Youth may also garner community service hours by gathering trash and disposing of it properly in the Costa Kick Plastic Trash Division or even win a new boat, motor and trailer by catching a West Marine tagged redfish. Other divisions include ladies, kayak, guides and more. Since most division winners are determined by a random drawing, it is about submitting qualifying entries for an opportunity to be drawn as a winner. Registration is open throughout the competition and ends Sept. 6. To register for STAR 2021 or receive additional information on divisions, prizes and more, visit ccaflstar.com or Facebook.

Because every ﬁsh could be a winner!

CATCH. PHOTO. RELEASE. WIN. MAY 29 TO SEPTEMBER 6 CCA Florida STAR is the largest family-friendly saltwater ﬁshing competition in Florida, and it’s unlike traditional ﬁshing tournaments.

• $500,000 in Prizes & Scholarships

• West Marine Tagged Redﬁsh Prizes Include Boat, Motor & Trailer Packages • 1st Tagged Tigress Dolphin/Mahi Mahi Wins $10,000 cash • 101 days of ﬁshing $40 entry for current CCA members. All others add $35 for one year membership.

• Prizes for Additional Non-Tagged Non Species Snook, Trout, Redfish, Grouper, Kingfish, Dolphin, Tarpon & Lionfish

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BISCAYNE LEGENDS TOURNEY SLATED

or the first time in decades, there’s an old-school inshore grand slam tournament slated for South Florida. The first Herman Lucerne Biscayne Legends Classic, presented by Hell’s Bay Boatworks, will launch on Biscayne Bay July 7-8 thanks to The Herman Lucerne Memorial Foundation and Bonefish & Tarpon Trust. Twenty-five teams will compete in an exciting one-day contest, chasing bonefish, permit and tarpon in what is perhaps the greatest urban inshore fishery on earth. Registration is open now, and space is limited.

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27th Annual Sebastian Blue Water Open Set for June 5 T

board and bonus board fish categories are: dolphin, kingfish, wahoo and grouper. Additional awards include: $1,000 for biggest cobia and $1,000 for biggest amber jack caught; $2,500 for top boat; the $1,000 Capt. William Charles Memorial Award for the largest board grouper; and prizes for top lady anger and top junior angler. All boats must register in person on Friday night between 5-7 p.m. The captain’s meeting will begin 6 p.m. Boats can leave out of any inlet, but no lines in the water before 6 a.m. Weigh-in is between 2-5 p.m. Boats must check-in with the committee boat by 5 p.m. to weigh fish. More details are available at www.bluewateropen.com. The Sebastian Exchange Club is actively seeking sponsors for

PHOTO COURTESY of Sebastian Bluewater Open.

LOCAL OFFICE

he 27th annual Sebastian Exchange Club Foundation Blue Water Open Charity Offshore Fishing Tournament is just around the corner! The tournament is scheduled for June 5. Tournament headquarters will be at Capt. Hiram’s Resort on Indian River Drive in Sebastian, and organizers promise it will be the best one yet. Over the years, the Exchange Club of Sebastian has raised over $750,000 through the tournament. All the proceeds go to non-profit organizations whose goals are to prevent child abuse, support youth, and make a difference in the community. Some of the organizations who have benefitted from this event are Youth Guidance, Boys and Girls Club, Nana’s House, Bikers Against Child Abuse, Guardians for New Futures, Shiloh Youth Ranch, Roseland Ecumenical Food Pantry, as well as many others. Festivities begin on Friday, June 4, 5 p.m. at Capt. Hiram’s with registration, the captain’s meeting, raffles, 50/50, and more. There will also be a special raffle to win a trip “From the Rockies to the Red Rocks”. $20,000 is up for grabs in the tournament, with 30 opportunities to win prize money. The main

Participants in the 26th annual Sebastian Exchange Club Blue Water Open enjoyed fantastic fishing.

® © © _

SEE OPEN.................................... PAGE 16 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

MAY 2021

TREASURE COAST 1

Florida Fish and Wildlife

FWC

news updates

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You can now submit your vermilion snapper and saltwater catfish catches to earn a Reel Big Fish achievement! The qualifying length for vermilion snapper is 17 inches for adults and 13 inches for youth, while the qualifying length for saltwater catfish (gafftopsail or hardhead) is 22 inches for adults and 16 inches for youth. All Reel Big Fish catches must be photographed over a qualifying measuring device clearly showing the exact full length of the fish. A photo of the fish with the angler submitting the catch is also required. from Have you caught a Florida memory? Submit photos of your saltwater WeldinG & catches to earn rewards for various achievements while targeting a diversity machininG... of species and reducing fishing pressure on the most commonly sought-after catches. ...to hiGhprecision, • Saltwater Fish Life List (https://bit.ly/3wWl5A3): Can you catch all 70 dynamic species? balancinG Since 1980 • Saltwater Reel Big Fish (https://bit.ly/3gaxqup) : Recognition for extraordinary-sized catches. Got a badly • Saltwater Grand Slams (https://bit.ly/3wUDeOB): Earn rewards for damaGed catching three specific fish in 24 hours. propeller? Join the Triple Threat Club (https://bit.ly/3wW45dq) and earn even more prizes (including a long sleeve performance fishing shirt and more) by participating in all three programs. Anglers must qualify for each of the three programs to be eligible. 3009 S.E. Monroe St. FWC also manages the Florida Saltwater Fishing Records (https://bit. Stuart, Florida 34997 ly/2Q68Ss3) program. 3009 S.E. Monroe St. Note: Prize package mailings have resumed but will continue to be slower We‚ll fix it than normal over the next few months as we continue to work through delays Stuart, Florida 34997 up like neW! resulting from COVID-19. Anglers are still encouraged to submit catches and 3009 S.E. Monroe St. enjoy getting out on the water! Stuart, Florida 34997 Service from Melbourne to West Palm Beach Link for more information: CatchaFloridaMemory.com

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TREASURE COAST

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COASTAL ANGLER PUBLISHERS GARY & MISTI GUERTIN SALES GARY GUERTIN EDITOR/DIGITAL CONTENT MISTI GUERTIN GRAPHIC DESIGN LAURA KELLY CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jayson Arman Capt. Gus Brugger Capt. Rocky Carbia Capt. Charlie Conner Michael Conner Capt. Scott Fawcett Capt. Cole Hazelief Capt. Colton Hester Capt. Michael Mauri Capt. Giles Murphy Brian Nelli Jim Oppenborn Capt. Nate Shellen Cammie & Capt. Joe Ward Capt. Terry Wildey Steve Wood

CONSERVATION TIP OF THE MONTH

Bringing an exhausted fish out of the water is like asking a triathlon winner to jump back in the water and hold their breath---they both need oxygen to recover! Tarpon over 40 inches should always remain in the water.

2021 LIONFISH CHALLENGE Turn In Your Lionfish for Rewards!

The 2021 Lionfish Challenge starts May 21 and rewards lionfish harvesters with prizes for submitting lionfish. Participants who remove the most lionfish in the recreational and commercial categories by Labor Day (Sept. 7) will be crowned the 2021 Recreational Lionfish King/Queen and the Commercial Champion. Register today or learn more about the program at https://fwcreefrangers.com/.

MAY OPENINGS & CLOSURES

OPEN: Hogfish (Atlantic); Grouper (Atlantic – Gag, Black, Red, Scamp, Yellowfin, Yellowmouth, Rock Hind/ Red Hind, Coney/Graysby, Yellowedge/Misty, Warsaw/ Speckled Hind, Snowy). Visit myfwc/fishing/saltwater/ recreational/groupers for bag limits, gear rules, and size limits. CLOSED: Stone Crab.

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TREASURE COAST 3

FISHING FORECASTS

MARTIN COUNTY DEEP SEA

Capt. Rocky Carbia Safari I Deep Sea Fishing Pirates Cove Resort and Marina 4307 SE Bayview St. Port Salerno Reservations: (772) 334-4411 Safari-1.com

ffshore anglers of the Treasure Coast will focus on the lower levels of the water column this month. The catch and keep season for grouper will open on the first day of May, ending a four-month closed season on these tasty bottom brawlers. Near-coastal anglers will break out their heavy tackle and target the many species of grouper that inhabit the wrecks and reefs, east of Stuart. Gag, red, black, and scamp groupers are some of the most prevalent species of the family that will be found just offshore of the St. Lucie Inlet. The naturally occurring coral reef line in depths of 110 to 160 feet of water, generally known to locals as the “8 Mile Reef ”, will be the go-to-zone for dialing in successful

Bottom fishing will be the “go to” strategy for Treasure Coast anglers to catch jumbo mutton snapper (left) and giant grouper like this gag grouper (right) caught aboard the Safari 1 in May. PHOTOS CREDIT: Safari 1.

grouper fishing. Deploying live baits from an anchored or drifting boat will produce the best results for “Grouper Digging.” The velocity of the horizontal flow or current and bottom temperatures are the main variables for strategy decision making when positioning one`s boat over top of a grouper honey hole. Heavy tackle will be a necessity for steering a big grouper to one`s floating platform—4/0 to 6/0 reels

spooled with heavy braid of 100- to 200-pound test and terminal tackle to match the main line will yield the most successful end results. Grouper species can also be found and targeted in shallower depths, especially on reef structures in 70 to 80 feet of water that comprise the natural reef line known as the “6 Mile Reef.” Natural coral ledges east and north of Jensen Beach in these depths, historically are home

to large gag and red grouper, and will be hot spots for grouper grocery getters. While bottom fishing at these depths, anglers will also be pleasantly surprised to get attached to jumbo mutton and mangrove snapper, reef mates that live right alongside the grouper family. May will provide a toasty background of exciting bottom fishing for the offshore anglers of the Treasure Coast.

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Capt. Giles Murphy Stuart Angler Bait & Tackle (772) 288–1219 Fishing Charters (772) 475 - 4857 www.stuartangler.com giles@stuartangler.com

he spring-time fishing has been great as we see more bait showing up along the Treasure Coast with warmer waters, and it should only get better. During May, permit can be found spawning along structures and humps in 20 to 40 feet of water. They mostly like crabs and jumbo shrimp. Cobia are also a big target in May at the reefs and wrecks while on the lookout for big rays and chumming sharks. We also use two- to three-ounce jigs tipped with squid. It’s a great time to target mutton snapper outside Peck Reef, the Loran Ledge, and some shallow

wrecks 30 to 70 feet. We mostly use live baitfish with long 20-foot 40-pound fluorocarbon leaders with a 5/0 Mustad Demon Circle hook. Hold position away from the wrecks to draw the muttons away from the other fish. Lots of baitfish are showing up inshore, and this pulls the juvenile tarpon out of their hiding spots to start rolling in the St. Lucie River. Live finger mullet and pilchards are the best live baits for them. My favorite lures for these tarpon are D.O.A. TerrorEyz, Hogy shads, and Yo-Zuri twitch minnows. Sunrise and sunset are the best hours to look for them rolling near docks, bridges, and oyster beds. There are also some good options in the Indian River throughout May. Drifting the flats between the causeway bridges on the west side of the river can be fun for snook, trout, and snapper in two-tofive-foot depths using Gulp Shrimp and ¼-ounce bucktail jigs tipped with a piece of fresh shrimp. We use that same tackle later in the morning while drifting under the causeways near the fenders and abutments.

MARTIN COUNTY OFFSHORE

Joey Keyes caught a nice snook on an Arctic Fox fly with Capt. Giles. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Giles Murphy.

Grouper season opens back up May 1. Dave Fawcett, Jr. with a nice red he caught while fishing aboard Off The Chain.

Capt. Scott Fawcett Off the Chain Fishing Charters (772) 285-1055 fishscottyf@bellsouth.net offthechainfishing.com

rolling, live baiting or bottom fishing, late spring has always been one of my favorite times of year fishing off the Treasure Coast. Aside from grouper season kicking off May 1, this month is historically the best one for big dolphin, one of the best for marlin fishing around schools of small blackfin tuna, one of the best to catch a big swordfish or yellowfin tuna—I could go on and on. Plain and simple, May has it all and nice weather to boot. Try for grouper from 60-to-225 feet. Use chicken rigs with dropper loops tied out of 80 pound, with a heavy-duty hook baited with squid or bonito for red grouper and scamp. Use a 5-to-10 foot shot of 100-to-125 pound leader with a single 3x circle hook with either a live bait or big cut bait down on the bottom for gag and black grouper. Heavy drag and reeling is key to get them away from the reef so you better eat your Wheaties. When we’re not grouper fishing this month, I really enjoy either live baiting over the reef or running

PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Scott Fawcett.

out to the deep and swordfishing. Target species would be king mackerel, dolphin, sailfish, blackfin and the occasional wahoo while live baiting. For this I spend most of my time between 75 and 275 feet, there are times when I slide out a little deeper if there’s nice conditions, but usually I’m over the reef. May is also a great time of year to fish around The Hill or any other big seamounts out here. Schools of small blackfin tuna congregate there feeding on glass minnows and small squid and when the stars align, it’s a great opportunity to catch blue marlin, big wahoo, big dolphin and everything else. While

you can definitely catch big dolphin on live bait out here, I recommend trolling if you’re looking for the 30plus pounders that migrate through in May. Big baits and a faster than average trolling speeds seem to work well for them. Last, but definitely not least, May is a great month to try some daytime swording. Initially I was a hard sell on it, but it didn’t take long to make me realize how exciting it can be. Now daytime swordfishing is one of my favorite ways to spend May. Whichever style of fishing you decide to do this May, I hope your next trip is Off the Chain. Please call me to book your next fishing adventure. Capt. Scott, (772) 285-1055.

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TREASURE COAST 5

MAY FISHING CONDITIONS May 1

FAIR

Evening

May 21

POOR

Capt. Charlie Conner Capt. Charlie’s Fish Tales Charters (772) 284-3852 captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com www.fishtalescharter.com

May 2

GOOD

Evening

May 22

POOR

Morning

GOOD

Morning

May 23

BEST

Morning

May 4

BEST

Morning

May 24

BEST

Morning

May 5

BEST

Morning

May 25

FAIR

Morning

May 6

BEST

Morning

May 26

FAIR

Evening

May 7

POOR

Morning

May 27

GOOD

Evening

May 8

POOR

Morning

May 28

GOOD

Evening

May 9

POOR

Morning

May 29

GOOD

Evening

May 10

POOR

Morning

May 30

GOOD

Evening

May 11

POOR

Evening

May 31

GOOD

Evening

May 12

POOR

Evening

May 13

POOR

Evening

BEST

Evening

May 15

BEST

Evening

May 16

BEST

Evening

May 17

POOR

Evening

May 18

POOR

Evening

May 19

FAIR

Morning

May 20

FAIR

Morning

SOUTH INDIAN RIVER LAGOON

Morning

May 3

May 14

FISHING FORECASTS

What do the ratings mean? POOR day basically means the fish will either steal all your bait or will not even touch your line. FAIR day means that you catch one or two fish but you will have to work hard to do so. GOOD day means that you will catch enough fish to feel gratified. BEST day means that you will catch something almost every time you cast your line in the water. SOURCE: The Old Farmers’ 2021Almanac

FORT PIERCE’S PREMIER INSHORE FISHING TOURNAMENT SERIES

ummer is almost upon us. People are traveling this year. I think they are exhausted from last year’s COVID closures and restrictions. It’s good to see so many friends and new friends out in the boat. The heat of summer will be here soon. Water temperatures are on the rise. We actually enjoyed some spring weather in April! Look for May to provide lots of fishing action around the Treasure Coast! Snook fishing will be good this month with night or early morning the best times to fish. The season will close May 31. Inlets, bridges,

seawalls and docks are all great places to target snook I like to target redfish in May. Some good choices for lures will be gold spoons and the D.O.A. 2 ¾-inch Shrimp. Redfish will be active on the grass flats, mangroves and docks around the river. Look for trout to hit top water lures at first light. As the sun rises move to deeper water in the two- to four-foot range. I have had great success with C.A.L. jerk baits and Deadly Combos this year in place of live shrimp. Look for clean water and good grass to have your best results. Mackerel have been coming in with the tides. Fish bridges and docks for sheepshead, snapper and drum. Jacks and ladyfish will be just about everywhere creating havoc all over the river. Beaches will produce whiting with catches of Spanish mackerel and bluefish along with some pompano. Tarpon will begin their trek into the river. May is a great month to fish the Treasure Coast! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it’s an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe.

Domenic, 5, caught his first snook with the family while fishing in Fort Pierce.

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Capt. Colton Hester Sonna Girl Fishing Charters (772) 293-5342 colton@sonnagirlfishing.com www.sonnagirlfishing.com

ay is here and this is a very exciting time for us mahi-mahi and grouper fisherman! May first is the opening of grouper season here on the Treasure Coast which means it is time to bust out the bottom rods and get to work. When targeting grouper, it is vital to have the right bait. I prefer live blue runners, grunts, or sardines. Live pilchards and threadfins will work as well, I just have a hard time keeping the red snapper from eating those baits on the way down. Depths from 80-to-200 feet of water are where you can find these creatures cruising the bottom or under their favorite rock. When it comes to terminal tackle, 65-pound braid mainline and 80-pound fluorocarbon leader are my weapons of choice. I connect the rig with a 3-way swivel and use anywhere from 12 ounces of lead when I am in shallow water (80-to-

100 feet) to 24-to-48 ounces of lead depending on current in the deeper water (120-to-200 feet). They are one of the tastiest treats the ocean has to offer so go get after them! The mangrove and mutton snapper bite will also continue to get better throughout May. Look for those fish in 65-to-90 feet of water on the bottom. Use the smallest sinker possible to hold bottom with the current. This will improve your bite ratio tremendously. I like to use about 8 foot of 40-pound fluorocarbon leader and a 4/0 live bait hook. Cut cigar minnows are my bait of choice and also a cut grunt. If you are catching grunts on the bottom, there are snapper around. If grouper fishing is not your style there is nothing to fear, the trolling bite is normally very good throughout May. Kingfish and cobia can be found on the reef in 60-to-90 feet of water with live bait or trolling spoons and plugs. If you are marking baitfish on the bottom on the reef, you are around predatory fish. The mahi-mahi are also around anywhere from 90-to-300 feet trolling lures or ballyhoo. Look for temperature breaks and weed lines for these fish to congregate around. Also, make sure to have a spinning rod rigged up and ready to pitch bait at any mahi-mahi

ST. LUCIE COUNTY INSHORE

This mahi-mahi was caught off of Fort Pierce trolling ballyhoo in 120 feet of water. The family crew, Theresa, Brandon and Steve Goldstein, were trolling ballyhoo down a weed line when this fish smashed the port side outrigger bait. PHOTO COURTESY of Steve Goldstein.

the water and do not forget about Florida’s new kill switch law that went into effect April 1. Anytime the boat engine is running those kill switch lanyards must be attached to the driver. Good luck out there and tight lines!

that may be hanging out underneath the weed lines as you troll by. When they will not hit a trolling lure a piece of cut bait will work well. Book a trip with us on the spacious 32ST Contender and let’s get after them! Remember to always be safe on

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ook for the inshore fishing to improve this month as the water temps warm up. The snook action around the Fort Pierce Inlet and at area bridges should be red hot for anglers using live baits fished on a 5/0 live bait hook and enough lead to hold the bottom. The redfish bite should also be good at places like Jack Island, Round Island and around Harbor Branch. Try a live shrimp or a small crab fished under a popping cork on a 20-pound fluorocarbon leader and a #2 circle hook. Look for plenty of big trout on the flats during the early morning and late afternoon. Your bait of choice will be a live pilchard either free-lined or fished under a popping cork. Around the full moon don’t forget the snapper bite should be on. Try the channel edges both to the north and south in the Intracoastal.

Our Knowledgeable, Experienced Staff Take Pride In Helping Make Your Fishing Trip A Great One! Michael Napier caught his 24-inch black drum fishing from the catwalk at the South Bridge in Fort Pierce. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Joe Ward.

Fish a live shrimp or small white baits on the bottom. I like a #2 hook, a ½-to-1-ounce weight and about 2-feet of fluorocarbon leader. Don’t forget the red bead between the weight and the swivel. On the beach try your luck on the pompano and whiting with shrimp, clams or sand fleas.

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Sebastian River for juvenile tarpon since February with limited success. The cool weather this spring has been great for fishermen, but the tarpon want water temps into the 70s before they begin to actively feed. May will certainly provide the needed warmth and success will replace frustration. Casting D.O.A. TerrorEyz, small plugs and flies to rolling fish is my most productive method. Live finger mullet can also produce exciting surface strikes throughout the river. Plenty of big snook live in the Sebastian River and if you put some effort into working the docks and shorelines with a jig, plug or a D.O.A. Shrimp you have a good chance for a picture worthy snook any day or night.

FISHING FORECASTS

SEBASTIAN INSHORE

Capt. Gus Brugger Pattern Setter Charters (772) 360-6787 www.WelcomeToSebastian.com

SEBASTIAN INLET – Daytime anglers using live croakers, pinfish and greenies around the tips of the jetties had an inconsistent snook bite over the last several months. Numerous cold fronts and the resulting low water temps are likely to blame. As things warm up, the snook should start to stack up at Sebastian Inlet and be more cooperative both day and night. May 31 marks the end of the snook season. Keep an eye out for small crabs drifting out with the tide as the bull reds won’t be far away. INDIAN

RIVER

LAGOON

–

Seatrout and redfish did not make a strong appearance in the Sebastian area this winter, but snook of all sizes filled the vacuum left by the trout and

Light tackle makes little tarpon fun and 50-plus pounders a test of an angler’s skill, the Sebastian River offers both in May. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Gus Brugger.

reds. The inshore snook bite should get even better as waters warm, but many snook will seek heavier cover to get out of the sun making them more difficult to hook and land. Work topwater plugs and jerkbaits around schools of bait on the flats in the early morning to find the larger trout and occasional redfish. The spoil island drop-offs will be good

areas to look for schools of trout and are excellent spots to fish live shrimp below a float. Snook and redfish will be available along mangrove shorelines and around docks where accurate casting with jerkbaits and small plugs can be productive.

SEBASTIAN RIVER – Many

local anglers have been fishing the

NEAR SHORE ATLANTIC – Glass minnows and the predators that feed on them generally make an appearance in the late spring and early summer. It can be a true blitz with Spanish mackerel and bonito open to taking flies, plugs and spoons up top while tarpon, kingfish, jacks and sharks lurk underneath. This is a great opportunity to catch everything from one-pound Spanish mackerel to tarpon and sharks weighing into the triple digits. Stay safe, stay healthy.

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SEBASTIAN AREA OFFSHORE

Capt. Terry Wildey Big Easy Fishing Charters (772) 538 - 1072 Email: captwildey@bellsouth.net www.bigeasyfishingcharters.com

ur grouper season opens May 1. With the current shark problem as bad as it is, (in case you weren’t aware), there is a massive abundance of bull sharks and sandbar sharks along with other species due to closures of shark commercial harvesting, which have taken over most areas we fish. Specifically, they congregate around the larger bottom structure. They are gathering in these areas just waiting for you to hook a fish and get an easy meal. They take advantage of anglers that do not reel fast enough making it extremely hard to get a whole fish in the boat. Sometimes we are losing nearly 90% of our larger keeper fish to these predators. We then end up boating mostly the smaller undersized fish because you can reel them in faster…only to be eaten shortly after you release them. If the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council doesn’t move fast before the opening of red snapper season and do something about the shark problem, imagine how many reds will be eaten! Big Easy has taken a couple of steps to combat this problem. First, we have upped our leader size. For grouper fishing, we went from an 80-pound leader to 100-pound and 120-pound leaders. We also use a big reel (Shimano Tiagra 50w’s) and

very heavy rods. We sometimes let the weaker anglers reel right out of the rod holder. The theory being “Stop Em’ or Pop Em.” Second, we are fishing smaller bottom. Whether it’s 90 feet, 160 feet or 240 feet, there seems to be fewer sharks congregating on the smaller bottom. I have almost given up trying to get a mangrove snapper off the bottom at the 90 foot High Bar unless its small fish. Please take the time to report any problems you are having with the overwhelming abundance of shark activity to the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council as well as the governor and anyone else that might make a difference. May fishing should produce some awesome dolphin fishing in the 120 foot to 300 foot range. The best part of dolphin fishing is that the sharks won’t be a problem since dolphin are following edges, color changes and rips and not near larger bottom structure. Look for kingfish in close as well. As the clean water moves in, so do the fish. We’ve already seen some good catches of big kings a couple miles off. Also caught two gag grouper 25 inches to 28 inches in 60 feet recently. When the weather is calm and the water is clear live bait will be well worth the time to collect. If the water is dirty, the smell of the dead bait (menhaden/pogies) will work great. Always take the time to check fishing regulations before your trip because they change frequently. I use the Fish Rules App on my phone. Be sure you set it to federal water if your fish more than three miles offshore. That’s it for now, good luck and tight lines. Fish on, gotta go!

OFFSHORE CHARITY FISHING TOURNAMENT Schedule of Events Friday, June 4th, 2021

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A couple of recent charter guests are pretty happy with their catch of kings, triggerfish, snapper and a cobia. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Terry Wildey.

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TREASURE COAST 9

FISHING FORECASTS

Catching big jacks on topwater lures is a great way to start your day. “Click...Click...BOOM! Fish on!”

FROM THE SHORE

Jayson Arman That's R-Man Land Based Fishing Services (772) 530-8080 thatsrman4677@gmail.com

Fishing in May can consist of some jumbo jacks cruising the beaches and busting bait in the river. Early morning and late evenings will be the best time to look for these fish. Jacks are not called tackle busters for no reason! When you hook one on light tackle, they will give you the fight of your life. Having these giant predators busting all around you while wade fishing can be very intimidating. Having the fish explode on a topwater is so fun. Also in May, you will start seeing more and more snook showing up on the flats and beaches. May can be a very interesting month for snook. They can be all the way up by the spillways and all the way out by the beaches. So, when targeting linesiders, have a variety of lures. At the spillway, think of things that are coming over the spillway…

INSHO

PHOTO CREDIT: Jayson Arman.

bass, bluegill, shiners, tilapia… this would be something to think of when choosing the right lures. Fishing the beaches, it will be different baits. Mullet, greenies, croakers and shrimp will be the baits you want to imitate. Keeper snook will be 28-inches to 32-inches with a pinched tail. Some days will be easier than others but always try to learn something when

you are on the water. If the sky is very blue and the water is very clear, you might have to resort to live bait. This is a great time of year to get out and do some fishing, You may even consider going at night! Looking for and finding a good moving tide at some of your local bridges will produce good snook action on swim baits and plugs. Having the sun

going down later in the evening will also allow you to walk some of the freshwater canals and ponds and search for a giant bass throwing frogs and big top water plugs. Good luck on your next adventure always remember it is called fishing and not catching so always have fun. That’s R-Man Land Based Fishing over and out.

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into th with p and re pattern large school to use in the a Sup If you use a Mangr be the will b areas. MacA give yo target

OFFS

n Arman.

John with a gator seatrout.

KAYAK FISHING FORECAST

Brian Nelli Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters (772) 201-5899 Brian@tckayakfishing.com www.tckayakfishing.com

in their bed to annoy them will get them to bite. Clown knifefish should be easy to catch using a live shiner or rattletrap. Target deeper water near grass lines. Check us out Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for all the latest adventures my clients and I get into. See you on the water!

INSHORE: May will bring more bait into the river to supply our gamefish with plenty to eat. Snook, trout, jacks and reds will be looking for mullet pattern baits like Super Spooks and large swimbaits. Glass minnow schools and mullet will be the bait to use or imitate. If you find mullet in the area you are fishing, whip out a Super Spook or large swim bait. If you are finding glass minnows use a D.O.A. jerk bait or shad tail. Mangroves, docks and seawalls will be the places to target as the fish will be looking for easy ambush areas. Try launching the kayak near MacArthur State Park. The area will give you access to some great areas to target snook, tarpon and jacks. OFFSHORE:

pick up closer to shore this month. Big kingfish will be making their way to their spring/summer areas off of our coast. Trolling live goggle eyes and runners will put a few fish in the bag. Cover a wide range of water depth is key this time of year. Bite could be 60-foot one day and 250 the next.

FRESHWATER: Peacock bass and

largemouth will be heading towards their beds to spawn if they have not already. Look to sight fish the bass The mahi bite should along the banks. Throwing a small jig

Chris with a stud peacock. PHOTOS CREDIT: Brian Nelli.

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TREASURE COAST 11

FISHING FORECASTS

LAKE OKEECHOBEE

Capt. Nate Shellen Shellen Guide Service (863) 357-0892 OkeechobeeBassFishing.com sjmike7@aol.com

f you are an avid angler, May could well be one of your favorite months on the calendar. Although every month offers fishing opportunities, May is one of those months that every species in the lake can be taken, whether it’s for eating or to be released. Bass fishing is at a peak. Most of the bass have spawned and are now eagerly seeking an easy meal, and newly hatched shad fill that bill quite nicely. The full moon in spring is a time when shell cracker and bluegill, two of the most heavily sought fish for table fare, can be Brent Stepp and his son Jasper came down from North Georgia to catch some giant bass like these! found in shallow water. These two PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Nate Shellen. panfish can be caught in a variety of ways. Light spinning tackle will anglers still use the same basic (cane only these days the pole is made but sheer numbers of fish may well work just fine, but most old-school pole) that has been used for years, of graphite instead of cane. Several fall prey to artificial bait. Topwater, kinds of bait can be used to catch swimbaits, swim jigs, spinnerbaits, panfish. Grass shrimp, which can and all sorts of plastics will draw be found in the vegetative growth strikes from aggressive bass. Once around the lake, are highly prized the bass have spawned, they tend to for their ability to trigger a bite from move toward the outside edges of every species of fish in the lake. Red the cover, many times they will hold worms and crickets will both draw in the Kissimmee grass that borders bites as well from panfish and are the lake. The grass is growing now and emitting oxygen that feeds the much easier to acquire. Warm water is the key to great entire ecosystem. Bass fishing should be productive spring fishing, and when put in conjunction with a full moon throughout the rest of the summer phase it is all the better. Bass are but will tend to be more of an early aggressively prowling the shallow morning bite as the days, and water water looking for their next meal. continues to warm. Panfish will stay Shad, shiners, and small panfish around and be catchable until fall, all make a tasty snack for hungry although very warm weather may bass. A live wild shiner will still drive some of them toward deeper draw strikes from the larger bass, water.

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Hogfish season opens May 1.

DIVING FORECAST

Steve Wood Deep Six Watersports - Stuart (772) 288-3999 Stuart (772) 562-2883 Vero Steve.wood@deepsix.com www.deepsixintl.com

ummer diving season begins in May! Water temps are warming up, grouper season opens again and many divers will make their first dive of the year this month. Hunters know grouper and hogfish seasons open this month and many will be out opening day for the first crack at a big one. May 1 is quickly becoming a tradition similar to July’s lobster mini season. Many divers organize special trips to take advantage of the start of the season to including some sites usually picked over later in the year like the David-T or the Cement Barge out of Stuart. These areas can hold some big fish at the beginning of the season. Since sea conditions have been so poor this winter, many divers have may be surprised to realize how

PHOTO CREDIT: Drew McArthur/Shutterstock.

much time has passed since their last dive. Speargun bands in storage may have become dry-rotted and should be inspected and replaced before a trip comes up. Now is a great time to review tank inspection stickers and check hydro dates to ensure both are current; this will help avoid any surprises when having tanks refilled the night before a trip. Gear in storage should be tested for function to ensure a safe dive

and any safety concern should be dealt with before heading offshore. Regulator service at the dive shop may take longer this time of year so plan accordingly. A quick pool session is also a great way to brush up on skills and shake down any issues before heading out on the next dive. With calmer conditions and better visibility this month, consider exploring some nearshore reefs

just off area beaches. After such a rough winter, sand shifts should be expected to both cover and uncover sections of reef in Peck Lake and the shallow reefs off the beach between Fort Pierce and Vero. These dives are “easy”, shallow and are a great way to cool off when the mid-day sun gets cranking. Keep an eye out for mating sea turtles on the surface while running between spots.

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MAY 2021

TREASURE COAST 13

Fly Fishing Corner By Capt. Michael Mauri

How Long Does It Take to Become a Fly Fisherman?

uys (and gals), I have to share this story. It’s too good not to share and I think it is a big motivation to everyone who is scared to start or become more serious about fly fishing. A while back I fished two days with John from New Jersey. What I didn’t know was that John just decided to take on fly fishing, actually two weeks before we fished together. He took a fly-casting lesson and that’s it. The first day we fished together we did some casting practice and fishing technique, which I do with a lot of my guests. John caught his first snook that day in daylight sight fishing. The weather was great on the second day and it was an easy decision

to run the beaches and look for jacks, albies, sharks and whatever we could find. A few miles in and I found a few fast-moving false albacore. To target these fast-moving silver bullets is not easy but John nails it! Wow was I impressed and excited…one down, more to go! Next on the list (my list of course) was a big jack crevalle on a popper and after just 20 minutes cruising along the beach, I found a good size school of these brutal predators. Since I’m not using a teaser rod it took John a few tries but again, he did it. I was blown away and super excited! What a great day so far! That day didn’t give us an abundance more albies or jacks so I decided, let’s set him up with the

o to Treasu 35th fishing Coast to Mem Ca second both divisio Off dolphi and g which fees an (1) a g offsho combi jackpo and ( entry includ fee inc deadli

John from New Jersey, a novice fly fishing enthusiast, steps up and catches a blacktip – as well as an albie and jack. He is “hooked” for life! PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Michael Mauri.

ultimate monster on the fly, a spinner or blacktip shark. Both sharks tend to jump and make most tarpon look “old” and I love hunting them. When we arrived and set up for these sharks it took less than five minutes and John was hooked up. The first jump was 30 feet behind the boat and close to 10 feet high! What a spectacle. John fought this shark like a pro and soon we landed this brute. I love these sharks and I put a lot of pride the way I fish for them (clean fly

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and sight fishing)! On the way home John told me that it will probably take a while to let it sink in for what happened today, but he also told me he will be ready for next time and he wants go for a big tarpon. I love my life and my job. Enjoy yours and go fly fishing! Capt. Michael Mauri www.mauriflyfishing.com michael@mauriflyfishing.com (772) 485-3321

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TCBA Annual Fishing Tournament Returns May 28-29

ozens of anglers are gearing up to reel in the big one during the Treasure Coast Builders Associations 35th annual offshore and inshore fishing tournament. This Treasure Coast fishing tradition has returned to Memorial Weekend. Cash prizes will be given to first, second and third place winners in both the offshore and the inshore divisions. Offshore categories include dolphin, kingfish, wahoo, snapper and grouper. Additional divisions, which come with additional entry fees and separate prize purses include, (1) a grand slam division (3 of the 5 offshore species), with the heaviest combined weight winning the jackpot, (2) heaviest black fin tuna, and (3) a VIP tournament. Early entry fee is $295 until May 24 and includes up to 4 anglers. The entry fee increases to $325 after the May 24 deadline.

In the inshore catch and release division anglers will submit digital images of their largest snook, trout and/or redfish. The highest combined total inches will determine the winners. The event rules have been updated to include fishing from a boat, kayak, S.U.P, wading or from shore. The inshore division early entry fee is $150 per team of up to 3 anglers or $75 for a single angler until May 24. Late entry fee (after May 24) will be $175 per boat. Tournament activities will take place at Pirate’s Cove Resort and Marina in Port Salerno. On Friday, May 28, beginning at 4 p.m., preregistered boats will sign in and collect their boat numbers, captain’s gifts and possible door prizes. Late boat entries will be accepted from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a mandatory captains’ meeting

Jake Borgerding and his team from Jensen Beach Fishing Charters caught kingfish, snapper and grouper totaling 28.03-lbs. to win the Grand Slam Division. His 10.93-lb. grouper also took first place for total winnings of $2,360. PHOTO CREDIT: Wibada Photo.

at 6:30 p.m. The tournament’s popular t- shirts, designed by local artist Jason Mathias and sponsored by Port St. Lucie Properties and Mari Huff CPA PA, will be available for purchase during this time as well. The captains’ party will feature a silent auction with donations received from this year’s sponsors including Sovereign Yacht Sales, Florida Coast Equipment and Rocket Cooling. On Saturday, May 29, the weigh station will be open from noon to 4:00 p.m.; the public is welcome to join in for the weigh-in festivities.

An awards banquet will begin at 5:30 p.m. Partial tournament proceeds benefit the TCBA Charitable Fund, which provides scholarships to local students for college or technical training programs in the construction industry. For tournament or sponsorship information, call TCBA at (772) 336-8222, (772) 562-8222 or (863) 467-2007. Boat entry forms can be downloaded at www.treasurecoastba.com.

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the event. Organizers promise lots of exposure for business sponsors during the tournament, boat entry, and a VIP Party on Friday night, exclusively for tournament sponsors. Drinks and appetizers are included. For sponsorship information, contact Eva Chapman at (772) 300-2156 or visit www.bluewateropen.com.

The Sebastian Exchange Club has been an active part of the community since 1982. If you are interested in working to prevent child abuse, foster youth, encourage Americanism or just promote good citizenship in the community, consider attending a noontime luncheon at Capt Hiram’s any Wednesday, except the first Wednesday of each month.

Andy Fa place an Calcutta

PHOTO COURTESY of Sebastian Bluewater Open.

Crow’s Nest

OPEN.................................. FROM PAGE 1

This hefty smoker kingfish put a big smile on this angler’s face during the 26th annual Sebastian Exchange Club Blue Water Open.

16 TREASURE COAST

MAY 2021

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Andy Fantini, first place and snook Calcutta winner.

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FANTINI TAKES FIRST IN BFA APRIL TOURNEY

he fourth tournament of the Backcountry Fishing Association circuit took place on April 3 with 31 boats fishing on a predictable windy and cold day. The action is picking up and a total of 9 redfish, 2 snook, and 16 trout were caught. Andy Fantini took first place with a gator trout weighing in at a whopping 7.21-pounds and a 7.30-pound snook, for a combined weight of 14.51-pounds. He walked away with $628 for first, plus an additional $1,090 in the snook Calcutta, which had increased to this amount due to several tournament roll overs. Brothers, Joe and Matt Canestrari brought to the scale the first slam of the 2021 season. A 1.80-pound trout, 3.55-pound redfish, and a 7.13-pound snook. The team took home $376 with a combined weight of 12.48-pounds, which put them in second place. Husband and wife team, Mike and Shelly Bartus, took third place with a 5.48-pound trout and a 4.14-pound redfish, a combined weight of 9.62-pounds and earned $251. They

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also won the trout Calcutta and earned an additional $220--a great way to spend their anniversary weekend. Father and son team, David and Elijah Young, took fourth place with a 1.72-pound trout and a 4.93-pound redfish, a combined weight of 6.65-pounds, and earned points. The duo also won the redfish Calcutta and earned $210. Lady Angler of the month went to Hanna Lorentz, which earned her a pair of Danco pliers. She carried the team with a 5.16-pound trout, which also put her and her fiancé Sean Tillet

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Dense Cyanobacteria bloom against the S308 gate where Lake Okeechobee water can enter the C44 canal leading to the S80 lock and dam into the St. Lucie River.

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fter a few months of intensive public and water advocacy organization input the Army Corps of Engineers and South Florida Water Management District have a crystalclear idea of what Treasure Coast residents and anglers expect—a new focus on protecting human health and the health of fisheries habitat in the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon. The Corps decided to halt the Lake Okeechobee discharges to the St. Lucie estuary on April 10, citing a rapid recession of the Lake’s elevation since February. If the dry season continues into June, which is always a possibility, the Lake elevation could be at or even under 12 feet, which would be ideal for the Lake ecology and could very well protect the St. Lucie and Lake Worth Lagoon. The “deal killer” would be a tropical storm or hurricane rainfall total that can add as much as three feet in short order. The first outbreak of Cyanobacteria (so-called blue green algae) happened in early April, both on the western side of the Lake and on the eastern shore at Port Mayaca where the S308 structure connects the Lake with the C44 canal and ultimately, the upper St. Lucie River. At this writing on April 12, a heavy rainfall prompted the Army Corps to release nearly 800 million gallons

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of C44 canal water per day to the south fork of the St. Lucie River. That followed a week of zero discharges. On April 12, Indian Riverkeeper went to the S308 structure at Port Myacca on the western shore of Lake Okeechobee to find a substantial Cyanobacteria bloom (see accompanying photos). On that day, the structure’s gates were closed, essentially keeping the bloom from going into the canal, but traces of Cyanobacteria bloom are also on the canal side of the structure. So, it is possible that toxins from the bloom may make it to the St. Lucie River. For now, the Corps does not plan to discharge Lake water to the C44 canal, but that can change with short notice. Check for updates on the Indian Riverkeeper Facebook page. Indian Riverkeeper appreciates the Treasure Coast delegation, Congressman Brian Mast, Senator Gayle Harrell and Congressman Toby Overdorf for sending the Corps a formal latter demanding the stoppage of Lake Okeechobee discharges immediately, citing the presence of Cyanobacteria blooms earlier in April.

LOSOM Update

The Army Corps and the PDT (Project Delivery Team made up of a diversified group of stakeholders)

Young springs of seagrass taking root where Sea & Shoreline LLC has placed caged shoots near Fort Pierce Inlet.

daily. Mostly native shoal grass, the shoots are projected by cages, and the company biologists and volunteers clean the cages on a regular basis of any algal growth that could block sunlight. IRK board member Pete Hinck has been giving us YouTube updates, which are posted on both the Indian Riverkeeper Facebook page, and that of Peter Hinck. The public can kayak or paddleboard to the project for a closer look, but the project team asks that no one touches the cages, or wades in the area near the grass cages because grass was also installed outside the cages.

A Bridge Victory

PHOTOS CREDIT: Mike Conner.

is deep in the process of choosing a “balanced option” for Lake Okeechobee management under the new Lake Okeechobee Systems Operations Manual, which we see as an improvement over the old Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule that tended to stress water supply over health of residents and health of marine life is estuaries routinely damaged by the releases. There are 27,000 models to be plugged into over 1,000 “runs” that seek to balance benefits with possible damages throughout the Everglades system. Indian Riverkeeper is in favor of a selection

that ends the need for Lake discharges altogether, and there are models that provide for that. Unlike the Caloosahatchee River estuary on the Florida Gulf Coast, the St. Lucie River sees no benefit from Lake water inflow, nor does the Lake Worth Lagoon. Over the next six months the selection process will come into clearer view.

The Seagrass Project

The newly planted seagrasses installed by Sea & Shoreline LLC in Fort Pierce Inlet Park waters are showing promise, with new sprigs growing as the water warms and ample sunlight increases

As expected, the reversal of the nofishing closure on the popular Jensen Beach Causeway relief bridges was reversed by Florida Department of Transportation on April 1. Indian Riverkeeper spearheaded the local efforts to bring the County, law enforcement and the DOT to the table to set up a 90-day trial period for anglers to improve the littering and obstruction of pedestrian traffic on the span, and new signage spelling out the rules have been installed. Volunteer anglers have pledged to help police the bridge, and Indian Riverkeeper insists that local law enforcement also patrol the bridge and cite those who violate the laws. For updates, visit the Indian Riverkeeper Facebook page and to support them with a donation or membership, please visit www.theindianriverkeeper.org.

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Month-Long Celebration Planned to Honor Fort Pierce Inlet’s 100 Year Anniversary!

oin the Fort Pierce Historical Society and the City of Fort Pierce May 8-28, 2021 as they host a monthlong series of nature and recreational events for all the Treasure Coast to enjoy! This landmark event is the first of its kind that brings the community together to honor the 100-year milestone and all the achievements the City earned to rebuild and restore it as the largest and oldest man-made inlet in the country since May 8, 1921. From boat parades to art walks to music concerts, the events are free of charge and open to the public. Known for its premier fishing and best places in South Florida to surf, the Fort Pierce Inlet has become a destination for many seeking adventure. The Inlet as it stands today was only possible through the incredible perseverance of the intrepid community of fishermen, business moguls, visionaries and hard-working families to make the Fort Pierce Inlet the international shipping port that it is become today.

PHOTOS PROVIDED by Fort Pierce Historical Society.

But before there was a port, it was a prosperous fishing village faced with the disaster of the natural inlet they had used for half a century to access the fishing grounds closed by sand bars. The fishing interests and community leaders then had to overcome repeated challenges, financial hurdles, and naysayers to

push this feat of engineering through and create a new path to the sea that would bring economic opportunity and the pleasures of deep-water sports for generations more than a century later.

For more information, contact Morgen Reynolds at Beyond The Trend Marketing, (772) 999-6045, or visit www.welovetheinlet.com and find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lovetheinlet.

Full schedule of activities can be found on www.welovetheinlet.com.

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JUNE 19, 2021 Kingfish, Dolphin, Wahoo & NEW Grouper & Snapper Divisions!

CASH $7,500 &INPRIZES!

EARLY CAPTAIN’S MEETING: REGISTRATION Friday, June 18 • 6 PM / Poolside SILENT AUCTION OPENS DISCOUNT! Register by GENTLEMAN’S START/LINES IN 4307 SE BAYVIEW ST June 4th for 7 AM on June 19th from the St. Lucie, STUART, FL 34887 $200 / $250 After Jupiter or Palm Beach Inlets. To register, or for more Information, visit www.ARCMC.org or call 772.283.2525 MAKE IT A VACATION AND STAY AWHILE! Group Rate of $79/night for Pirate’s Cove Resort & Marina hotel rooms! Valid only to registered participants. Rooms must be booked between May 1 – June 1 (taxes/fees not included)

Something Fishy’s Going On in Indiantown!

2nd Annual Kid’s Fishing Tournament

1SA 2SU 3M 4TU 5W 6TH 7F 8SA 9SU 10M

12:42 AM 2.73 H 6:28 AM 0.11 L 12:53 PM 2.47 H 6:52 PM -0.25 L 1:39 AM 2.56 H 7:30 AM 0.23 L 1:53 PM 2.33 H 7:56 PM -0.06 L 2:40 AM 2.41 H 8:37 AM 0.31 L 2:58 PM 2.22 H 9:04 PM 0.09 L 3:43 AM 2.3 H 9:43 AM 0.33 L 4:07 PM 2.17 H 10:10 PM 0.18 L 4:45 AM 2.25 H 10:45 AM 0.28 L 5:13 PM 2.19 H 11:10 PM 0.23 L 5:42 AM 2.24 H 11:39 AM 0.2 L 6:12 PM 2.25 H 12:03 AM 0.24 L 6:32 AM 2.26 H 12:27 PM 0.1 L 7:03 PM 2.32 H 12:51 AM 0.23 L 7:16 AM 2.27 H 1:09 PM 0.01 L 7:47 PM 2.4 H 1:34 AM 0.22 L 7:56 AM 2.29 H 1:48 PM -0.05 L 8:27 PM 2.46 H 2:13 AM 0.21 L 8:33 AM 2.3 H 2:25 PM -0.1 L 9:05 PM 2.49 H

11TU 2:51 AM 0.22 L 9:09 AM 2.29 H 3:01 PM -0.11 L 9:41 PM 2.5 H 12W 3:27 AM 0.24 L 9:44 AM 2.27 H 3:35 PM -0.09 L 10:18 PM 2.48 H 13TH 4:02 AM 0.28 L 10:20 AM 2.23 H 4:09 PM -0.05 L 10:56 PM 2.43 H 14F 4:37 AM 0.34 L 10:57 AM 2.18 H 4:44 PM 0 L 11:34 PM 2.36 H 15SA 5:13 AM 0.4 L 11:35 AM 2.11 H 5:21 PM 0.06 L 16SU 12:15 AM 2.29 H 5:52 AM 0.46 L 12:16 PM 2.05 H 6:03 PM 0.13 L 17M 12:59 AM 2.22 H 6:37 AM 0.5 L 1:02 PM 2 H 6:51 PM 0.19 L 18TU 1:47 AM 2.17 H 7:30 AM 0.51 L 1:55 PM 1.98 H 7:47 PM 0.24 L 19W 2:39 AM 2.14 H 8:30 AM 0.45 L 2:56 PM 2 H 8:51 PM 0.27 L 20TH 3:34 AM 2.15 H 9:32 AM 0.32 L 4:02 PM 2.09 H 9:57 PM 0.24 L

21F 4:32 AM 10:31 AM 5:08 PM 10:59 PM 22SA 5:29 AM 11:27 AM 6:11 PM 11:58 PM 23SU 6:25 AM 12:21 PM 7:09 PM 24M 12:53 AM 7:19 AM 1:13 PM 8:04 PM 25TU 1:46 AM 8:12 AM 2:04 PM 8:57 PM 26W 2:37 AM 9:04 AM 2:56 PM 9:49 PM 27TH 3:29 AM 9:56 AM 3:48 PM 10:40 PM 28F 4:22 AM 10:49 AM 4:42 PM 11:32 PM 29SA 5:16 AM 11:43 AM 5:37 PM 30SU 12:25 AM 6:13 AM 12:38 PM 6:35 PM 31M 1:19 AM 7:13 AM 1:36 PM 7:36 PM

2.21 0.13 2.25 0.17 2.29 -0.1 2.44 0.07 2.4 -0.33 2.64 -0.03 2.51 -0.53 2.81 -0.11 2.6 -0.67 2.92 -0.15 2.67 -0.72 2.96 -0.16 2.68 -0.7 2.92 -0.12 2.64 -0.6 2.83 -0.04 2.56 -0.44 2.69 0.05 2.44 -0.25 2.54 0.13 2.31 -0.06

REEL in the FUN on Saturday, May 22nd! Where: Lake Annie

20680 SW Citrus Blvd., Indiantown

Check-In Time: 7:00am – 7:30am Entry Fee: $5.00 per child & includes lunch Open to boys and girls ages 5–15 with adult supervision Prizes Awarded for Biggest Fish in Each Age Bracket (5-7) (8-10) (11-15)

Bring Your Own Rod, Reel & Tackle Worms allowed as live bait.

22 TREASURE COAST

MAY 2021

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

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ARC of Martin County KDW-Plus Returns June 18-19

resh air, the outdoors, fishing, and fun are the main ingredients of this year’s ARC of Martin County (ARC) seventh annual KDW Fishing tournament in support of over 400 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/ DD) across the Treasure Coast. In addition to kingfish, dolphin and wahoo, newly added categories of grouper and snapper ensure diversity for anglers of all types. A captain’s meeting on Friday, June 18 will kick off the one-day tournament on Saturday, June 19, with all activities based out of Pirate’s Cove Resort and Marina, in Port Salerno, Fla. No boat? No problem! Limited fishing spots will be available on Safari 1 Deep Sea Fishing for only $100 per angler that includes rod, reel, bait, tackle and one dinner ticket for the awards ceremony. Make it a vacation and stay awhile! In addition to being a proud sponsor of this year’s tournament, Pirate’s Cove Resort and Marina is offering a discounted room rate of only $79 per night to registered participants if booked between May 1 – June 1 (taxes/fees not included). Team entry fees are $200 if registered by June 4, or $250 after that date, which includes a bucket full of goodies per team and four tickets to a gourmet BBQ dinner at Saturday evening’s awards ceremony. Additional anglers can join in the fun for $50 each and family/friends are welcome to purchase additional awards dinner tickets for only $25 each. $7500 in total cash prizes for first, second and third will be awarded to the teams with the heaviest of each species, as well as a cash prize for top Junior Angler, and top Lady Angler. Well supported by many area businesses, even nonparticipants are encouraged to check out the silent

Conner Grout, 2019 KDW Top Jr. Angler

ARRIVING SOON!

FREEDOM 215

PHOTOS PROVIDED by ARC of Martin County.

auction and raffle opportunities. Online bidding makes it easy to shop from the comfort of home! The ARC of Martin County, (Advocates for the Rights of the Challenged) is a 501(c)(3) non-forprofit organization dedicated to empowering children and adults with I/DD through residential, vocational, educational, behavioral, and other healthcare services. “Our goal”, said ARC President and CEO Keith Muniz, “is to provide support, assistance and training that will enhance the abilities for children and adults with disabilities to thrive each day and achieve their fullest potential.” “Without the support from our many partners, such as Publix Super Markets, PepsiCo-Frito Lay, Boars Head, US Sugar, H.E. Hill Foundation, and many other area businesses. we would not be able to provide many of the supports that we currently do that empower individuals with I/ DD challenges to achieve their full potential,” Muniz said. For more information contact Tish Gelineau at (772) 283-2525, tgelineau@arcmc.org. or visit www.arcmc.org/events.

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MAY 2021

TREASURE COAST 23

Indiantown Chamber of Commerce Presents 2nd Annual Kids Fishing Tournament May 22 (Okay, the adults love it as well). Lake Annie, located at 20680 SW Citrus Blvd., Indiantown, is a beautiful lake on pristine private property, so the fish are just waiting to be caught (it is the only time each year that the lake is fished!). The children’s faces when they arrive, are beaming with smiles from inside the cars, as they can’t wait to get out and start fishing, it is not just about the competition, although there are some great prizes and much fame, that is part of it… but you can see it’s the joy of doing something that they love, and love the people they are doing it with, the people who taught them the simple joy of being in the moment. ABOVE: Reed from Anglers For Lake Okeechobee (left) gave fantastic Entry fee is $5 per child and includes lunch. support on the day with Jr. Anglers Misael Bautista (center) and Open to boys and girls 5 to 15 (with adult James Garcia (right). LEFT: Look what I caught! supervision). Prizes will be awarded for the biggest PHOTOS PROVIDED by Indiantown Chamber of Commerce. fish in each age bracket (5-7, 8-10, and 11-15). Anglers should bring their own rod, reel and tackle. ast year was so much fun, so we decided to do at 7:30 a.m. Bring your chairs and blankets and come join The Indiantown Chamber has many events, the it again, no, not the whole year, (which was in the fun! not a good one by anyone’s estimation) the Kids Rodeo (our biggest event, we are back in the saddle Oct. 16 and 17) the Airboat, Buggy, Side-by-Side To register, visit www.indiantownchamber.com Fishing Tournament! or call (772) 587-2184. It was not long after the lockdown that the Show, affectionally known as the ‘Buggy’ show; and Indiantown Chamber of Commerce had its we just had the BBQ Cook-off, Craft Beer, Music inaugural Kids Fishing Tournament, and it is Fest. However, we must admit, our favorite is the coming up again on Sat., May 22, 2021 beginning fishing tournament, because its for the children

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E R A S E E T MANA ! E V O M E H ON T Go Slow, Look Out Below T

he Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reminds anyone on the water to slow down and look out for manatees while boating in Florida this spring. As water temperatures warm, manatees naturally disperse from their winter habitats, traveling to other areas of the state and beyond. Manatees are leaving their winter refuges and are more likely to be in rivers, canals and nearshore waters. Florida boaters are also enjoying the

PHOTO CREDIT: FWC / Karen Parker.

season, so it is crucial to stay alert and avoid manatees while traveling through Florida’s waterways. “This year, especially along the east coast, it is critical that people watch for manatees when on the water,” said Ron Mezich, Imperiled Species Management section leader. “With warmer weather, manatees will begin to disperse into open water, heading to a variety of coastal and freshwater habitats containing more ample food sources.”

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From April 1 through Nov. 15, seasonal manatee zones require boaters to slow down in certain areas to prevent manatees in their summer habitats from being injured or killed by motorboats or personal watercrafts. Boat strikes continue to be a major threat to Florida manatees. In 2020, FWC and partners rescued 29 manatees injured from watercraft collisions, and more died because of watercraft impacts. FWC law enforcement officers are on patrol in state waters to inform boaters of the seasonal manatee speed zones and take appropriate enforcement actions. Boaters are reminded to abide by the regulatory signs they see on the water. Manatees can be difficult to detect when they are underwater, so it is important for operators of boats and personal watercrafts to be vigilant. You can help protect manatees by following these simple guidelines: • Wear polarized sunglasses to help spot manatees. • Avoid boating in shallow areas to prevent damaging seagrass and to avoid resting and grazing manatees. • Look for large circles on the water, also known as manatee footprints, indicating the presence of a manatee below. • Look for a snout sticking up out of the water.

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• Follow posted manatee zones while boating. • Physically helping a stranded manatee may cause it more harm. Instead, report injured, distressed, sick or dead manatees to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404FWCC (3922) or by dialing #FWC or *FWC on a cellphone so trained responders can assist. Resources for boaters, educators and other interested members of the public are available at MyFWC. com/Manatee. What should you do if you see a manatee? The Viewing Guidelines page provides helpful tips on respectfully viewing manatees, additional guidelines for boat and personal watercraft operators, and information on what you can do to help these amazing aquatic mammals. Are you interested in supporting the FWC’s manatee research, rescue and management efforts? You can purchase a Florida manatee license plate, or donate $5 to receive a collectable FWC manatee decal. Both are available from your local Tax Collector’s office. Spring is an active time for many of Florida’s wildlife species. For more information on wildlife in Spring, visit MyFWC.com/News and click on “Spring Wildlife News”.

MAY 2021

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he tenth annual, two-day Treasure Coast Lionfish Safari takes place June 11-13 at Causeway Cove Marina, 601 Seaway Drive, in Fort Pierce. Festival organizers promise “fun for the whole family,” which will include live music, a pig roast on both days, live lionfish, educational booths, exhibits, kids arts and crafts, vendors, and cornhole. The goal of the Treasure Coast Lionfish Safari is to eradicate as many lionfish as possible from area reefs, and to educate the public on this beautiful, but non-native species, taking over coastal waterways. Lionfish are highly invasive and reproduces at rate of 30,000-40,000 eggs every 4 days. They literally eat anything in their path; from juvenile fish to crustaceans, other organisms on the ocean floor, killing everything. Incredibly, it was discovered a few years back when lionfish arrived on the scene, that they can be eaten by humans and they are delicious. With the impending possibility of fisheries collapsing, lionfish are a major threat, and in turn Florida’s economy. If this threat is not controlled, the fishing industry could be lost. Because of the lionfish’s’ venomous spine, humans are its only predator. Creating a demand for lionfish on restaurant menus and making the meat available at seafood markets and grocery stores fuels the initiative to remove the fish from reefs. The late Capt. Don Voss was the founder of the Treasure Coast Lionfish Safari. Capt. Don’s knowledge of aquatic life around the Fort Pierce area was important to

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him, which is why he founded the Marine Cleanup Initiative Inc. and One Florida Foundation. “Always presenting himself professionally, Don maintained a happy light-hearted outlook on life. Any project he pursued relating to aquatic life, was approached with the intention that it would be a solution for the livelihood of the community,” said Arnie Stirzinger, newly named president of Marine Cleanup Initiative Inc., and longtime friend of Capt. Don. During the lionfish safari, registered teams may spear lionfish without a permit in any waters within Indian River, St. Lucie or Martin counties. Boat captains throughout Florida and beyond, are welcome to register and compete for cash prizes up to $2,000. All proceeds from the event are awarded to the first, second, and third place dive teams in three categories; most lionfish, the largest lionfish and the smallest lionfish. For more information, including sponsorship opportunities, vendor space, tournament schedule, entry fees, and/or rules, visit TreasureCoastLionfishSafari.com.

he re where can jo nightt turtles logger Re are req http:// event_ up fas note a will be a week

Thur May June July 1

Hobe Sound Nature Center Offering Turtle Walks TURTLE WALK FAQ

PHOTO CREDIT: FWC/Trish Randall.

he Hobe Sound Nature Center has released its Sea Turtle Walks calendar where the public, with reservations, can join them on specially permitted nighttime walks to learn about the sea turtles that nest on our coast and watch a loggerhead sea turtle lay her eggs. Reservations for the following evenings are required and may be made online at http://www.hobesoundnaturecenter.com/ PHOTO CREDIT: FWC/Tonya Long. event_calendar/book_event. Walks fill up fast and numbers are limited; you are asked to A $5 donation per person is requested. Checks note a second date choice. Confirmation emails and cash are accepted. All walks meet at the will be sent within 24 hours. Requests made over Hobe Sound Publix Beach at 9 p.m. for a short a weekend may be delayed. presentation, followed by the turtle walk. Wearing of masks is strongly encouraged and Thursday Evenings Friday Evenings maintaining social distancing. May 27 May 28 Learn more at hobesoundnaturecenter.com, June 3, 10, 17, 24 June 4, 11, 18, 25 or call (772) 546-2067. July 1, 8, 15, 22 July 2, 9, 16, 23

What kinds of sea turtle will I see? The Loggerhead Sea Turtle is only one available for public viewing. How many sea turtle will I get to see nest? One. As group each walk will be able to witness one nesting turtle. How should I dress? Long pants & shirts, covered shoes. Do I need to bring anything? Recommend Bugs Spray (Apply at beach, if needed). No flashlights! Can I take pictures?

There is no flash photography allowed.

What if it rains or is lighting? Walks will go rain or shine. Walks will be canceled if there is bad lighting. What if we don’t see a sea turtle? There is NO GUARANTEE that you will be able to witness a nesting sea turtle on your walk. What age range is recommended? This is late evening activity that could take a few hours; possible lasting past midnight. Take this into considerations when making reservations. Will restrooms be available the beach? Yes, restrooms SHOULD BE AVAILABLE and drinking fountains but the Public beach determines closing time and should be open but will be closed by the end of the activity.

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he St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce will host its 25th annual Fishing Frenzy presented by Geico Treasure Coast, on May 14-15, 2021 at Causeway Cove Marina in Fort Pierce. This offshore dolphin fishing tournament offers $16,000 in cash and prizes with a $10,000 grand prize for the heaviest dolphin. A captain’s party will take place Fri., May 14, 4-7 p.m., with a mandatory captain briefing at 7 p.m. Boats may fish out of the Fort Pierce or St. Lucie inlets. Checkout on Sat. May 12 is 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Tournament weigh-in begins at 2 p.m. on Sat. and runs until 4 p.m. As of May 1, tournament boat entry fee is $275. For trailer parking, dock space and recreational vehicle sites during the tournament, contact Causeway Cove Marina at (772) 242-3552. For sponsorship information, call the Chamber at (772) 595-9999; to register for the tournament, visit www.StLucieChamber.org/event/fishing-frenzy/.

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he Stuart Sailfish Club will host its fourth annual KDW tournament May 7-8, 2021. Tournament proceeds will benefit Project Lift, a non-profit organization that helps youth struggling with drug and alcohol abuse or other trauma-like circumstances. Project Lift provides counseling, career training, mentorship, and volunteer opportunities to help the teens fast track their recovery. Tournament registration fee is $225; unlimited anglers per boat; however, there must be at least two persons on board. Final registration for the tournament is Fri., May 7, 4-6 p.m.. A mandatory captain’s meeting will take place Fri., May 7, 6-8 p.m. Dead, live bait or artificial lures may be used. Line class is unrestricted. Boats of any size may fish. Tournament fishing boundaries are unlimited north and south, however, limited to 35 miles east of the Florida coast. Boats may fish out of Fort Pierce, Stuart or Jupiter inlets. Weigh-in will take place at Sailfish Marina, Stuart, Fla, 2-5 p.m. on Sat., May 8. Cash prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place kingfish, dolphin and wahoo, as well as top lady angler. An awards ceremony will take place at the Sailfish Club’s Tiki Pavilion, located at 3867 SE Evans Terrace, Stuart, on Saturday, May 8. To register or for more information, call 772-286-9373 or email sailfish@stuartsailfishclub.com.

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BFA...........................................................FROM PAGE 17 in fifth place, which earned them tournament points. The Backcountry Fishing Association tournament is a nine-month circuit which runs from January through September, with a twoday Classic held in October. The artificial lure only tournament gives two-person teams and solo anglers the opportunity to win cash and gain points. Redfish, trout and snook (seasonal) are the qualified species. Anglers attempt to bring one legal fish of each species to the scales for weigh in and live release. Teams must participate in at least five tournaments to be eligible to fish the Classic which is a two-day event. The top five eligible teams with the highest accumulated points from the season are given a bye from day one. The remaining eligible teams compete on an elimination basis the first day, where only the top five teams of day one progress to day two to compete against the season point leaders for the grand prize and cash for the top four teams. Membership fees are $25 for the year. To enter the tournament each month, the fee is $60 per team. The next tournament is Sat., May 1, with a captain’s meeting on Fri., April 30, at Little Jim Bait and Tackle, 601 North Causeway, Fort Pierce, Fla. For more information, call (772) 342-0039, email backcountryfishingassociation@gmail.com or visit Backcountry Fishing Association on Facebook.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP, LEFT: Second place team, Joe and Matt Canestrari; Shelly and Mike Bartus took second place and the trout Calcutta; David and Elijah Young, fourth place team and redfish Calcutta winners; Hanna Lorentz and Sean Tillet, fifth place team. Hanna was also the tournament’s Lady Angler. PHOTOS CREDIT: Backcountry Fishing Association.

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SAWFISH NEWS By Tonya Wiley, Havenworth Coastal Conservation

Treasure Coast Anglers and Divers Asked to Help with Sawfish Research

ne of the best ways to track the effectiveness of ongoing management and conservation efforts is to collect information about interactions with endangered sawfish by fishers, divers, and others. Details of public sightings and captures of sawfish can substantially increase the data we have about the species, allowing us to make management and policy decisions that are reflective of the realities in the water. Because of their countless hours on and in the water, we are seeking to partner with the angling and diving community to collect information about sawfish in the United States. For anglers to safely and legally release any sawfish accidentally caught: • Release sawfish immediately • Leave the sawfish, especially the gills, in the water at all times • Never lift a sawfish from the water or drag it ashore • Do not use gaffs or ropes to secure any captured sawfish • Cut the line as close to the hook as safely possible • Share the details of your sawfish catch with scientists

• Never chase, feed or touch them • Share information about your sawfish encounters with scientists

PHOTO CREDIT: Tonya Wiley.

dive. Tax-deductible donations to help us continue our mission to promote the sustainable use and conservation of marine CREDIT: NOAA Fisheries. resources through research, SawfishRecovery.org, calling outreach, and education can be made 1-844-4SAWFISH, or emailing at https://havenworth.wedid.it/ sawfish@myfwc.com. Your encounter reports will be used to Tonya Wiley is President of track recovery of the population Havenworth Coastal Conservation Anglers and divers should and steer research efforts, which and may be contacted be emailing note that advertising fishing trips, will ultimately benefit the species Tonya@havenworth.org or charters or expeditions aimed and the areas in which you fish and calling (941) 201-2685. at catching or encountering endangered smalltooth sawfish can be considered “targeting,” which is a violation of the ESA. Therefore, I strongly urge that the following Become a conservation messaging be included Crew Card in all social media posts regarding Member sawfish: Sawfish are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Help protect this critically endangered species by following NOAA Fisheries viewing guidelines available at www. SawfishRecovery.org. You can promote sawfish protection by following these For divers to enjoy encounters interaction guidelines and educating with sawfish safely and legally: others about them. Please share the Now you don’t have to with information about your sawfish • Keep your distance MIATC’s new Crew Card! encounters by visiting www. • Avoid disturbing sawfish The MIATC Crew Card is now available to Treasure Coast boating enthusiasts. Crew Card members will be eligible for discounts and other benefits provided by participating Treasure Coast boating industry retailers, service providers, marinas and more…

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TREASURE COAST 31

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This four-foot barracuda was caught by Patrick Darner in 40 feet of water outside the Fort Pierce inlet by the second buoy. PHOTO CREDIT: First mate Rhonda DuBond.

Elizabeth Wolfe’s first pompano, 15-inches, caught surf fishing with a sand flea on Jensen Beach. “The rod went BANG, and I knew something was up!”

Kevin Kelly caught this 43-inch, approximately 35-plus pound snook in the South Fork of the St. Lucie River. PHOTO CREDIT: Kevin Kelly.

PHOTO CREDIT: Ed Wolfe.

These two junior anglers are proud of the red snapper catch!

Rhonda caught this pretty 17-pound permit on a medium Shakespeare rod in 40 feet of water out front of the Fort Pierce Inlet. Capt. Patrick Darner netted the fish while Pete Knoll drove the boat to chase the fish.

Terri Kindley caught this 30-inch snook in the marina basin at Dockside Resort and Marina in Fort Pierce.

PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Terry Wildey.

PHOTO CREDIT: Peter Knoll.

PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Joe Ward.

ISLAMORADA LLGF

SCREAMIN’ REELS TOURNAMENT SLATED FOR JUNE 11-13

omen, men and teens are invited to a non-intimidating Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing Screamin’ Reels tournament with education June 11-13 in Islamorada. Hosted by the nonprofit Ladies Let’s Go Fishing Foundation, the tournament kicks off on Friday with a presentation on offshore fishing and conservation, plus a meet and greet from 6-8 p.m. at The Tavernier Elks Club. Saturday and Sunday is fishing, learning on the water and friendly angler competition for inshore and offshore species, departing from Whale Harbor Marina, Islamorada. Participants can fish from their own boats or

charters supplied by the organization. Prizes will be awarded to individual anglers, including Penn combos, art prints and other fishing items, presented on Sunday upon the return of boats at Whale Harbor. Prizes for inshore and offshore species and releases include Heaviest Fish Overall, Offshore Billfish Release, Party Boat award, Junior Angler, Longest Inshore Fish, Wild Card prizes and more. This tournament offers easy rules and is perfect for novice anglers. Charter boats fill quickly, so early registration is encouraged. Registration is $89 early entry, $99 regular per adult angler, $45 for teens and includes about $20 in gifts. Featured on national network television and more, the series is supported by major partners including Recreational Fishing and Boating Foundation, Take Me Fishing, Vamos a Pescar, Mercury, Magic Tilt trailers, Shearwater Boats, Power-Pole, Penn, TACO Metals, Lowrance and Fish Florida. Largest Annual Sponsors are Freedom Boat Club, ICOM, CCA Florida STAR, Bob’s Machine Shop, AFTCO, Costa, Smith Optics, Frogg Toggs, Hubbards Marina, Star Brite and Future Angler Foundation. Local sponsors are Breezy Palms, Jeanne Towne of Fidelity Real Estate and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. Annual and class-specific contributors are listed on the website. 2021 LLGF event plans with fishing offered schedule includes: • May 15-16: Gulf Coast Inshore Saltwater Weekend Seminar • June 11-13: Keys Fishing Learning on the Water Inshore/ Offshore • Oct. 15-17: Keys Saltwater Weekend Seminar Inshore/Offshore • Nov. 20-21: St. Augustine Surf Fishing Academy Bimini Bahamas boat trip, Virtual meetings and more TBA For more information, go to www.ladiesletsgofishing.com and www.facebook.com/ladiesletsgofishing.

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Screamin’ Reels Tournament June 11-13 • Islamorada, FL Go fishing & win in the Florida Keys! Ladies, fish Saturday & Sunday, inshore or offshore, on charter boats or your own boat! Win prizes! Perfect for beginners or those who don’t fish a lot. Kickoff is Friday, June 11th. We will team you with others. No experience or boat necessary!

Only $89 per person to enter. Charter fishing additional for Saturday & Sunday. Can't make it? Check out the LLGF’s Fishing Fever Tournament on October 15-17, with full-day instructional & hands-on seminar on Saturday! Fishing Friday & Sunday.

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he clown knifefish looks like guide, of Swamp to Sea Guide Service, in south it escaped from a mad scientist’s Florida to talk about his history with this amazing laboratory. Originally from tropical species. Here’s what he wrote: “I remember over 25 years ago when my mom Asia, it is one of the non-native species that have taken hold in Florida waters. With its would drive me around to the local tackle shops long knife-shaped body and black spots, it is a so I could speak with shop hands and check for beautiful species that anglers from all over the new pictures on the wall. On occasion, we would see a Polaroid tacked up with a giant silver alien world travel to target in south Florida. Clown knifefish are powerful and agile. fish with black dots all over it. When you asked They offer explosive thrashing jumps similar the guy at the counter what they caught it on, to tarpon, and are nearly impossible for most the response was always the same: a Gambler anglers to land without a net. I caught my first red shad worm, because that’s all you fished if clown knifefish when I moved to Palm Beach you weren’t using live bluegill. County 10 years ago. My biggest clown knifefish weighed more than 12 pounds. I caught it while fishing with my buddy Capt. Bill Lepree. It ate the last shad in the livewell as we were eating Publix subs. After some drag screaming runs, it got wrapped around bridge pilings and broke the line as it swam backward into the net. I once made a “Catch & Cook “Everything has made a Clown Knifefish” Youtube video. complete rebound since then. We’ve Let’s just say they’re not as tasty as learned to catch them consistently they are fun to catch. on bait, artificials and even a few on Any of the ponds and canals fly. I’ve managed to build a successful connected to Lake Ida in Palm guide business with clients calling Beach County are good places to from around the world to target target clown knifefish. I use light clown knife fish. fluorocarbon line, a small octopus Capt. Patrick Smith holds the world-record 14.5-pound clown “In 2018, I was lucky to have a hook and live shiners, shad or knife fish for Michael Donvito, the client who caught it. client catch the current IGFA record bluegill. They can also be caught PHOTO COURTESY OF SWAMP TO SEA GUIDE SERVICE. at 14.5 pounds. I’m sure that record on artificials and fly. Small white “It took another 15 years or so before I will fall any day, as we are seeing some absolute swimbaits, bladed baits and small hair jigs all work, and you’ll likely catch peacock and finally got my hands on a real clown myself. giants out there.” largemouth bass, along with many other exotic Unfortunately, it was during the freeze of 2010, Follow Ryan Izquierdo on Youtube when the canals were full of dead ones, along species when targeting clown knife fish. (RyanIzFishing) and Instagram @ryan_izquierdo I reached out to my buddy Capt. Patrick with dead peacock bass, shad and just about to check out his fishing adventures. Smith, a world-record holding clown knifefish everything else.

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GET SET FOR A

Summer Diving OF

By John Lidington

ummer is just around the corner. As temperature and humidity climb and seas calm, the best place to be is underwater! Now is the time to prepare, so your diving plans can proceed smoothly when the season gets hot. When do your tanks’ VIPs expire? If it’s during the busy summer season, schedule a VIP now. What about their hydro dates? Again, if the date is near, do it now. Hydrostatic testing will usually take them out of commission for several days. Don’t be without them when you really want to be diving. While you’re checking them, put fresh o-ring in the regulator seats, too. When was your regulator last overhauled? If it has been more than a year or 100 dives, it’s time for an annual service. But even with regular maintenance, problems can still occur when salt crystals, corrosion or plain old grit get where they shouldn’t be. If your regulator is still within a year from the last service, some simple checks will help catch developing problems now, before they impact your summer diving. Mount your regulator onto a tank, turn the air on, then off. Tank pressure should read constant for at least an hour. If it falls, air is leaking from the system and you need to do a careful bubble check of the regulator and all hoses to locate the problem. With air still off, gently inhale through each second stage mouthpiece. If they don’t hold vacuum, there’s an exhaust valve problem. Don’t forget your BCD. Exhaust valves and dump valves can get stuck when sitting idle for a while and may sometimes tear when used. After checking all those valves, inflate your BCD fully. Will it stay fully inflated overnight? If not, more thorough servicing is needed. Okay, your gear is set. But are you ready to dive? Summer is the best time for visiting Palm Beach County’s wrecks, reefs, turtles and Goliath groupers. That means drift diving. If you are new to drift diving, or want to refresh your skills, join Pura Vida Divers for a one-day PADI Drift Diver course. This class is scheduled every Saturday in May. Students will complete an independent online e-learning component, then do a classroom review before heading out for a two-tank dive to put skills into practice. On Sundays, follow up with the PADI Delayed Surface Marker Buoy Diver course. This one-day course covers the advantages and techniques to deploy your surface marker buoy (or “safety sausage”) on a line from depth. During busy summer boat traffic, a surface indicator is essential as divers begin their ascent. Both courses can be completed in one weekend. Contact Pura Vida Divers at (561) 840-8750, or visit www.puravidadivers.com.

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OYSTER REEF DEPLOYED IN CHARLOTTE HARBOR

ater quality, marine fisheries and recreational angling are set to get a boost after two dump truck loads of oyster shells were deployed in Turtle Bay in Charlotte Harbor last month. CCA Florida partnered with Ingman Marine, Abbott Construction, Lee Reefs, SanibelCaptiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF), Capt. Jay Withers, Placida Point LLC, Clermont Oyster Bar and Lake County Solid Waste Division to make the project a reality. Abbott Construction hauled dried-out oyster shells from CCA Florida’s Oyster Recycling Program in Astatula to a staging area in Placida. The materials were loaded on a barge and deployed in Turtle Bay at a pre-permitted location. “This is a unique partnership involving a huge amount of support from the community as well as our sponsors and members,” CCA Florida COO Adam Miller said. “With all the water quality issues Charlotte Harbor is facing, it is important to partner together and do what we can to help restore the water quality, seagrasses and marine life.” The oyster shells, donated by Clermont Oyster Bar, are dried for six months to kill potential pathogens and will, over time, form a new oyster reef. “With an estimated 85 percent loss of oyster reefs worldwide, efforts for restoration must be made a priority all around the state, ” said CCA Florida Director of Habitat and Environmental Restoration Frank Gidus. In the near future, SCCF and Lee Reefs plan to deploy fossilized shell at the same site to serve as a host structure for new oyster growth. Oyster reefs filter pollutants, reduce turbidity and create habitat for a variety of marine species.

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FISH SMELL 1000X BETTER THAN WE DO. Underwater. In current. And even in nutrient-dense saltwater, fish can pick up a scent at the parts per billion level. Think that’s impressive? How about a bait with the ability to trick that sense of smell into believing it is even better than real food. In scientific tests, Gulp!® proved so effective on saltwater gamefish, it actually outfished real bait time and time again. Not only does the scent outperform real and artificial bait, it has 400 times the scent dispersion of the best competing soft plastic bait. Now, Gulp! is available in all of the most popular sizes, colors and actions, including the new Firetail options. Berkley® Gulp! We’ve done the science, now you catch the fish. berkley-fishing.com ©2020 Pure Fishing, Inc.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE BITE Berkley Saltwater Gulp! Continues to Outshine Live Bait for Coastal Anglers

ll along the coast, as the highways near the busiest launch ramps, the bait shop signs announcing what’s for sale reinforce what most anglers already know: natural bait does a good job of catching fish. Live baitfish and live shrimp are almost always on the bait shop menu as they present the most natural food source. But even the frozen slabs of baitfish and chunks of cut bait that are also widely sold—baits which have no action to them whatsoever—are eaten by saltwater species if presented the right way. But why? The answer is simple, as it all pertains to one of the most misunderstood senses in fish biology: a fish’s sense of smell. It’s this sense of smell that inspired the development of Berkley Saltwater

Gulp!, the line of baits that has transformed saltwater fishing with their effectiveness, ease of use and value. For as effective as live or cut bait can be in saltwater fishing, it’s far from the perfect solution. Live bait can be very expensive and difficult to keep alive. Unused bait becomes a treat for pushy pelicans or gets dumped into the water. Presented with a problem, the scientists at Berkley set out to find a solution. Fish smell on the parts-per-billion level, the equivalent of a single drop of water in an Olympicsized swimming pool. This powerful sense of smell is extremely important to a fish’s ability to feed. Fish rely upon their sense of smell because they live in an aquatic environment filled with particles

and debris that can look like food. Their noses tell fish the difference between food and other organic compounds. Berkley scientists set out to make the first artificial bait that really appealed to a fish’s sense of smell. The first step was getting scent to disperse from a soft bait. While fish attractants and scents are nothing new, all of the competitive versions were oil-based. And just like the old adage reminds us, oil and water don’t mix. An oil-based scent that is smelly to a human has no effectiveness on fish since it is not soluble in water. That’s why Gulp! scents are water-based. The water-based scent formula, now known as Berkley Gulp! and which has since become synonymous with saltwater fishing across the country, caught more fish than live bait in headto-head tests. This scent, combined with the proprietary material used in Berkley Gulp! baits, disperses scent 400 times more effectively than any other soft bait, meaning it creates a scent field that is easily detected by fish and which continues to expand as the bait is retrieved. “I started really using Gulp! in about 2007, a few years after it came out,” said Capt. Jot Owens, who operates out of Wrightsville Beach, N.C., where he specializes in putting his clients on big redfish, flounder and other species. “And from the first year I started fishing with Gulp!, we were catching more and bigger flounder than we had ever caught before—and we were fishing in the same areas we had always been fishing. I don’t

know what the magic formula is, but it really wakes fish up.” Capt. Owens said he prefers Berkley Saltwater Gulp! for a host of species, but especially for redfish and flounder. His go-to set up for flounder varies slightly depending on whether he’s fishing inshore or farther out. The set up consists of a 6-inch Saltwater Gulp! Jerk Shad (Chartreuse/Pepper/ Neon or Firetiger) on a 3/8-ounce long-shank jig head. Because Gulp! baits are wet inside and out, they can come unrigged, so Capt. Owens relies on a Berkley Fusion19 jig that has lead lips and a wire hook to keep his Jerk Shad rigged properly. When fishing inshore, he uses a medium-fast Fenwick HMG Inshore paired with a Size 2500 or 3000 PENN Battle III DX spinning reel, which is spooled with 15-pound braid and a 30-pound fluorocarbon leader. Farther out, he will increase the line size to a 20-pound braid mainline and a 40-pound fluorocarbon leader spooled onto a Size 3500 PENN Spinfisher. “Just make sure the bait is bouncing on bottom; I’m typically jigging with the rod tip pretty high,” Capt. Owens said. “It’s not that you won’t get bit dragging it on the bottom, but the bait is more effective bouncing up and down.” For redfish, Capt. Owens has his clients using 3- or 4-inch Gulp! Shrimp (Sugar Spice Glow or Chartreuse) on a 1/8- or 1/4-ounce jig head, increasing the weight of the jig based on fishing depth and current. The rest of his redfish set up is similar to that of his inshore rig for flounder:

medium-fast Fenwick HMG Inshore paired with a Size 2500 or 3000 PENN Battle III DX spinning reel, which is spooled with 15-pound braid and a 30-pound fluorocarbon leader. “The best retrieve is a hop-hop; let it sit for a second or two then give it another hop-hop,” Capt. Owens said. “Redfish are really bottom feeders, so they’ll almost always hit it on the drop or while it’s sitting on bottom for the brief pause. The way the Berkley Saltwater Gulp! Shrimp is putting out scent, redfish pick it up with the same excitement as they would a hunk of cut bait even though it’s not moving.”

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t’s a lot more fun to fill fish boxes when the various Gulf and Atlantic grouper seasons open in spring. These days, advances in electronics have made finding good grouper bottom easier than ever. There is, however, a trade-off. In the good old days, captains precisely timed their courses out of the pass in hopes of coming off throttle near a fish-producing rock pile. Before GPS and sonar, the best indicators of productive bottom were boats already there and catching fish. Successful anglers even welcomed new PHOTO COURTESY OF CRYSTAL LAFOSSE boats to the party, reasoning that more baits in the water served to excite fish into feeding. In case you didn’t notice, that’s not the way things work any more. Now any yahoo with a boat can plug coordinates into their navigation system and sleepwalk straight to a ledge or wreck. Community holes and artificial reefs are crowded and sometimes picked clean of fish. To avoid this, a good set of numbers is a jealously guarded secret. Camaraderie on the open sea is officially a thing of the past when picking up and moving off productive bottom is a logical step to avoid being marked in the mapping system of a passing vessel. We’ve traded open sharing of information for technological advancements the old salts couldn’t have dreamed of. With advanced radar, sonar, mapping and GPS, it’s up to the angler to spend time on the water to locate their own magic numbers. With grouper seasons opening in state and federal waters off the southern states, most species have finished with the peak of spawning. They have begun moving to deeper water and are hungry to feed-up and regain what was lost to the rigors of the spawn. However, grouper are also spread out more thinly right now than they are when they group up on deep-water structure in summer. You might not have to run as far to reach productive bottom, but you will likely have to do more spot-hopping to fill the boxes. It’s a good time of year to troll. Some fish will still be shallow enough to target with deep-diving lures. Using planers and downriggers, it’s possible to get lures down to 60 feet or deeper, and some very deep-diving plugs can get down to 40 feet on their own with the right braided line. This allows you to cover ground on and around those ledge coordinates you have marked. It’s a throwback to the olds days, when trolling up a grouper was the method for finding an area to stop and drop baits. If you keep an eye on the bottom machine, you might even spot a small formation you didn’t know was there. These small blips are the honeyholes that produce when the larger reefs and structure succumb to constant fishing pressure. Don’t care for boat rides and watching rods? Traditional bottom fishing may still be the best method. Check your shallower coordinates as you head out this time of year. Many boats ride right over good structure on the way to their deeper summer spots. Reefs or rocks as shallow as 40 feet will hold fish before they head out to their mid-summer haunts. Just be sure to drop some chum down upstream of the structure to bring them out of their hidey-holes. See your state’s saltwater fishing regulations to determine which species of grouper are open for harvest where you fish.

16 NATIONAL

MAY 2021

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NATIONAL 17

On the Swordfish Ledge

off Marathon

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

f you’ve ever been swordfishing out of Marathon, Fla., chances are you were deep dropping the same area I was in April, when the U.S. Coast Guard ticketed us for fishing in Bahamian waters. Dropping for swordfish is exhausting. Staring mindlessly at one single rod tip, it’s easy to lose your mind questioning if every other wave was a bite. It is also possible to spend an entire day doing the crazy-eyed swordfish rod stare and never get a nibble. During a slow drift along the ledge in 1,800 feet of water, our luck finally changed. A flock of diving terns approached and crossed behind the

boat. We opened bails on the flat lines and let pinfish swim toward the commotion. Immediately we hooked up and stole a school of mahi from under the birds. With four mahi hooked up along the port side, we had just begun the assembly line from hook to killbox when we were informed the U.S. Coast Guard was about to board our boat. Approaching from starboard to accommodate our fishing, three “Coasties” boarded to conduct a routine safety check. After about half an hour with our official guests on board, we finished with the school of mahi and decided to reel up the sword line. We activated the electric reel, and— distracted by our visitors—it took a moment to

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MAY 2021

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realize we were hooked up. The Coasties were going to have to put a pin in it. “Hang on fellas; we’re hooked up!” For the next half hour, we didn’t hear a word from our visitors. As the fish began to surface, the line scoped out underneath the Coast Guard cutter raft. We radioed asking them to move. After a lot of chaos and tight boat maneuvering, we landed the 150-pound swordfish with the Coast Guard on board. They even took the catch photos. It was all high fives and celebration until they asked us for our Bahamian fishing licenses and informed us we were illegally fishing in the Bahamian Exclusive Economic Zone. Later on, extensive research by Steve Steenstra, owner of Blue Magic Charters, revealed the Bahamian EEZ line runs about 24 miles from land, straight across the U.S. sword ledge. None of us, not even our GPS mapping knew about this line. A law enacted some 40 years ago had just been enforced for the first time. We were the first vessel cited. As I understand it, after visiting the Coast Guard Station in Key West, the EEZ line was drawn straight down the middle by default. Now that they’re enforcing it, recreational swordfishing from the Keys is threatened, along with the livelihoods it supports. As the situation unfolds, it would be wise to stay up to date before venturing offshore from the Keys. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon and Blue Magic Charters are following this situation closely. Contact her at (504) 920-6342 or through Instagram @CaptainQuinlyn and @BlueMagicCharters.

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ach spring, inshore anglers are greeted with big winds, big tides and small baitfish. There is no time where the size of your lure can make or break your trip more than the spring season. With the abundance of small baitfish in the water, it can be difficult to get the attention of your target species, especially when you are fishing with artificial lures. It is also very common to find gamefish gorging themselves on tiny glass minnows. This is routinely evident when you land a fish and they spit up these miniature meals. As anglers, we have two obstacles here: the sheer amount of forage in the water competing with your lure and the small size of the lure required. What I have found to be the most successful tactic is to use the smallest lure I can cast and appropriately present to the fish. Both hard and soft lures can be effective. Another key to success is color. I prefer a white-and-silver combination that closely matches the natural forage. I like to fish these lures on the edge of large bait balls when possible. I try to keep my lure on the edge or under the school to let the fish focus on a single target rather than a large mass.

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

Using a slow-sinking lure is an advantage at this time of the year. A lure that will suspend or slow-sink is ideal. This allows the predator time to target your lure, and it also gives the appearance of a wounded baitfish, which is always a plus. When the bait is this thick, your lure needs to stand out, but you still need to match the forage in size and color. The use of tandem rigs allows for a couple of advantages. Casting two smaller lures could equal the weight of one of your typical offerings. This allows you to cast farther and still have the appropriate size lure. Rigging two small silver spoons with white bucktails is a great combination when fishing glass minnow schools. I also like to use a small floater/ diver with a small spoon trailer. The diving action in conjunction with the added weight of the spoon is a unique combination of action to entice strikes. Downsizing your lure presentation in spring can definitely up-size your catch. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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NATIONAL 21

“For Me, It’s a Fishing Tool”

The 2021 Must-Have Anchoring System

“T

he easiest way I can explain ‘boat position’: if you’re at the baseball game, you’re either playing—which is fishing—or you’re watching the game, which means you’re not…” Capt. Mickey Brelsford decided he’d rather be in the game than on the sidelines, so installing the Rebel EZ-5 became a no-brainer after researching product information and helpful documents on the company website, then calling the drum anchor winch plate design that allows the drum to free-spool when the manufacturer’s technical support team for additional pointers. clutch plate is disengaged. To get that “ good, solid anchoring In the past, using a windlass yielded poor retrieval results position,” press and hold the “raise/power up” side of the and left no room for customization, like adding special button for about five seconds: this will cause the clutch plate to attachments or splicing rope and chain. Now, Capt. Brelsford once again rotate, but this time clamping down on the drum says his Rebel free-fall unit is the perfect fishing tool, providing and holding the boat at anchor. him a “good, solid anchoring position.” “Once I deploy my anchor and it goes into a free-fall, it’s “I don’t know how many times I’ve been on boats where straight down to the bottom as quick as it can go…” Brelsford [the line is] hanging up, snarling, getting knotted up in the said. “And then, once I set the anchor, I can free-line out as windlass or shredding line.” Brelsford said. much anchor rode as I need: that’s what I call ‘boat position’.” A retired policeman, Capt. Brelsford enjoys his time fishing As an added bonus, the Rebel drum anchor winch is near the coast of St. James City, Fla. on his 37-foot “Nostalgic compatible with an E-Z Anchor Puller wireless long-range Lady”: a 1981 Hatteras Sportfish that carries 300 feet of ⅝-inch remote, which controls your drum anchor winch from rope and 20 feet of heavy-duty chain. After adding a pulpit to anywhere on the boat. Capt. Brelsford purchased his on the his vessel, Capt. Brelsford used to pull up all his rope by hand, wasting time company website, ezanchorpuller.com. and energy on multiple retrieval and deployment attempts as he tried to find “This [unit] here—don’t worry about it—it just rolls right on and keeps on the perfect “boat position.” rollin’. That’s what it is: E-Z!” Unlike E-Z Anchor Puller Mfg. Co’s two direct drive series (the Hero To learn more, call 1-800-800-1640 or visit ezanchorpuller.com. and Patriot series), the Rebel drum anchor winch has a clutch and friction

22 NATIONAL

MAY 2021

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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