Coastal Angler Magazine | October 2023 | Volusia County Edition

VOLUSIA COUNTY EDITION

FREE

JETTY

@CAMTAMagazine

TIPS BE A ROCK JOCKEY

OCTOBER 25-29 • FLIBS.COM

NOAA FLAWS & EMERGENCY RESTRICTIONS PHOTO CREDIT: LAURA TRUETT

VOLUME 28 • ISSUE 343

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

OCTOBER 2023

W O R L D W I D E

F LORIDA K EYS G OLD C UP S ERIES

The Florida Keys ONLY Tournament Series Islamorada Sailfish Tournament Nov. 30 Kick Off Dec. 1-3 Fishing Dec. 3 Awards

Over $90,000 paid to winners last year islamoradasailfishtournament.com

Islamorada Fishing Club Sailfish Tournament Jan. 16 Kick Off Jan. 17 Fishing Up to $25,000 in prize money! theislamoradafishingclub.com

Cheeca Lodge & Spa Presidential Tournament Jan. 19 Kick Off Jan. 20 & 21 Fishing

NEW Up to 6 anglers per boat cheeca.com

Gold Cup Awards Banquet • Jan. 21 www.islamoradasailfishtournament.com Call Dianne Harbaugh for more information at 305-522-4868

Protect your baby (and their toys) with coverage for fishing gear and personal property too.

1- 8 0 0 -PROG RE S S IVE / PROG RE S S IVE .COM

Progressive Casualty Insurance Co. & affiliates. Additional charge may apply. Prices vary based on how you buy.

Shhhhh. No wake zone.

Experience

T

F b

T

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

Watauga Lake Doe River PLAN YOUR TRIP AT TOURCARTERCOUNTY.COM

a I w lo T e b r T d fe n T in w a fo s B la c s H Y F o c c 3 it L la B b

H

O

1

Y

Y

S

* li

C P

Throw Yourself a Bone Full tang stainless steel blade with natural bone handle —now ONLY $79!

T

he very best hunting knives possess a perfect balance of form and function. They’re carefully constructed from fine materials, but also have that little something extra to connect the owner with nature.

If you’re on the hunt for a knife that combines impeccable craftsmanship with a sense of wonder, the $79 Huntsman Blade is the trophy you’re looking for.

The blade is full tang, meaning it doesn’t stop at the handle but extends to the length of the grip for the ultimate in strength. The blade is made from 420 surgical steel, famed for its sharpness and its resistance to corrosion.

The handle is made from genuine natural bone, and features decorative wood spacers and a hand-carved motif of two overlapping feathers— a reminder for you to respect and connect with the natural world.

This fusion of substance and style can garner a high price tag out in the marketplace. In fact, we found full tang, stainless steel blades with bone handles in excess of $2,000. Well, that won’t cut it around here. We have mastered the hunt for the best deal, and in turn pass the spoils on to our customers.

But we don’t stop there. While supplies last, we’ll include a pair of $99 8x21 power compact binoculars and a genuine leather sheath FREE when you purchase the Huntsman Blade.

Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed.

Feel the knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the impeccable craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price.

Limited Reserves. A deal like this won’t last long. We have only 1120 Huntsman Blades for this ad only. Don’t let this BONUS! Call today and beauty slip through your fingers. Call today! you’ll also receive this

Huntsman Blade $249*

genuine leather sheath!

EXCLUSIVE

FREE

Stauer® 8x21 Compact Binoculars -a $99 valuewith purchase of Huntsman Blade

What Stauer Clients Are Saying About Our Knives



“This knife is beautiful!”

— J., La Crescent, MN



“The feel of this knife is unbelievable...this is an incredibly fine instrument.”

— H., Arvada, CO

Offer Code Price Only $79 + S&P Save $170

1-800-333-2045 Your Insider Offer Code: HBK208-01

You must use the insider offer code to get our special price.

Stauer

®

Rating of A+

14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. HBK208-01 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com

*Discount is only for customers who use the offer code versus the listed original Stauer.com price.

California residents please call 1-800-333-2045 regarding Proposition 65 regulations before purchasing this product.

• 12” overall length; 6 ¹⁄2” stainless steel full tang blade • Genuine bone handle with brass hand guard & bolsters • Includes genuine leather sheath

Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

GAME

PLAN

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®

AN OCTOBER

FOR ARTIFICIALS INSHORE

O

ctober is one of my favorite months to fish, and the dwindling traffic on the bays is just a small reason why. September may have been a record hot month for a lot of us, but the transition of the seasons is more than just the temperature for wildlife. The length of the days play a big part in the fish transitions for the season. Although October opens several new opportunities for anglers, I am going to give you an insight as to how I plan to catch them.

The marsh should be full of life and hold an

abundant amount of the big three: trout, redfish and flounder. It will not be uncommon to find all three in the same location gorging themselves on last spring’s hatch of shrimp and finfish. I will predominantly throw smaller soft plastics in the 3.25-inch size. I like a durable lure because the action can be fast and furious, and I don’t want to waste time changing out lures after one or two fish and miss my opportunity for more.

I lean toward paddletails because I can work them faster, cover more water, and the added

vibration will draw strikes since these fish will be aggressive. The cover type and water depth will determine if I rig them weedless or on a jig head. Either method is acceptable, just adapt to the structure.

I prefer to fish outgoing tides in these areas.

Generally, an outgoing tide produces a better bite and concentrates fish in smaller areas where I can target them. These pinch points can be mouths of drains, bayous, pinch points within a bayou or a bend. Those are the more obvious ones, but don’t overlook points extending into a bay or cuts through a reef. The points of islands or reefs can also increase the flow of current congregating the fish in an area.

Here are some retrieves I like to use for each of these three species in October. Keep in mind none of the fish read this article, so you will catch others on these retrieves. In general, reds will hit a lure on a steady retrieve, trout like the erratic twitch-twitch, and flounder react well to my lure darting along the bottom. When darting my lure along the bottom, I hold my rod tip down or sideways to the water and give it firm twitches. I make sure to keep my lure on the bottom and not bouncing it up and down like I would for trout. I want to disturb the bottom to get their attention.

As we all know, all fish will eat any retrieve, but if you are not catching the species you want, try a different action before you change the lure.

Enjoy the cooler weather and take a kid fishing, I know I will do both!

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

TZT

Un

4 NATIONAL

OCTOBER 2023

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

Go on a power trip with

GET BENT. With all this power, you'll find, pinpoint & catch fish like never before.

TZT19F 19" M ulti Touch IPS Display TZT16F 16" Mu lti Touch IPS Dis play

TZT12F 12" Hyb TZT9F 9" Hyb rid Touch IPS rid Touch IPS Display Display

Unleash the power to see fish clearer, deeper & on both sides of your boat, with unprecedented clarity.

Built-in Dual Channel1 1kW TruEcho CHIRP™ 1

2kW/3kW TruEcho CHIRP™ "Deep Impact" Power Booster2

TZT9F is a Single-Channel 1kW TruECHO CHIRPTM

DFF3D Multi Beam Sonar See 120° Port-Starboard 2

Hi-Power Radar3 With Bird Detection Mode

Compatible with TZT12F/16F/19F only

Get the whole story at NavNet.com

3

Premium Fishing & CMOR Charts

Requires external sensor

IT: SH PHOTO CRED

ANE TROT TIE

R

ACOUSTICS, BALLISTICS, HYDRODYNAMICS AND THE

SCIENCE OF SMASH. SALTWATER HARD BAITS

F

Five marvels of engineering that earned their stripes smashing fish in lakes and rivers, supertuned by Berkley® scientists to conquer the salt and its fiercest inhabitants. Action, vibration, casting distance, hook-up ratios – every aspect has been optimized to your advantage.

All built for battle with virtually bombproof bodies and hardware, featuring ultra-sharp, anti-rust Fusion19™ 3X Hooks for ultimate endurance. Over 80 sizes and colors to choose from.

CHOPPO SALTWATER 2 SIZES | 10 COLORS

Capt. Peter Deeks @captpeterdeeks

©2022 Pure Fishing, Inc.

YO U R F I S H . O U R S C I E N C E .™

Berkley-Fishing.com

J-WALKER SALTWATER

HIGHJACKER SALTWATER

CANE WALKER SALTWATER

MAGIC SWIMMER ®

2 SIZES | 10 COLORS

10 COLORS AVAILABLE

2 SIZES | UP TO 10 COLORS

7 SIZES | UP TO 15 COLORS

Berkley_SW_Topwater_CostalAngler_8.125"x10.875"_Final.indd 1

4/7/22 10:19 AM

22 10:19 AM

TIER IT: SHANE TROT

T

he presence of life was obvious long before we reached the jetty. On an outgoing tide, dingy water rushed through the channel cut from the bay to the ocean. It flushed with a brown plume that carried the detritus of marsh decay.

Diving birds were the first sign we were in the right place at the right time. As we got closer, other anglers came into view. There were a couple of boats jockeying for position off the end of the jetty, another trolled the rip farther offshore, and the beach brigade was set up fishing that corner pocket where current flowing down the shore piled up against the rocks.

Pods of pogies flickered and darted, harassed by gulls from above and by redfish, trout, small sharks and who knows what else from below. Blue crabs skittered around doing cleanup duty just outside a light surf.

With all this life, catching fish shouldn’t be a problem, right? Well, if you talk to any veteran of

IT: WAYNE CR PHOTO CRED

TIPS ON BECOMING A ROCK JOCKEY

OSS

PHOTO CRED

Jetty Fishing:

By Nick Carter

the rocks, they’ll tell you putting in the time to learn a particular jetty is the key to success. Every jetty has its own peculiarities, its best times and tides, its hidden holes and mixing currents.

Here are a few tips to help flatten the learning curve at a new jetty.

1) Start in the Rocks: The food chain of a jetty is created by the stuff pushed against the rocks. The rocks also create current breaks and hidey holes where predators lay in ambush for baitfish, shrimp and crabs that feed on the buildup of organic matter. Start your search close to the rocks. Work quickly but meticulously to pick a jetty apart. You can’t see everything that’s going on under the surface, but with experience, the sweet spots will become evident.

2) Make Friends with the Old Guy: In the scenario above, it was our first time to this jetty, and we went straight in with a cast net to scoop up pogies. It seemed obvious to match the hatch, and we caught some fish… mostly stingrays

and catfish. As we clambered all over the jetty in search of the magic combination of factors to produce a more exciting catch, an old man posted up in a beach chair came tight with an enormous bull red. After helping him land the fish and jawing with him a while, he gave up a secret. He’d been fishing the jetty for years, and big reds and tarpon at this spot are suckers for half a fresh blue crab fished on the bottom. Because jetties draw anglers as well as fish, being friendly or just watching can lead to solid local knowledge.

3) Find the Current Seams: Fish where fast and slack current meet. Predators hang in the slack and wait as a conveyer belt of food is swept past them. Conversely, baitfish also seek refuge and stack up where there is current shade. Either situation makes these areas high probability targets for anglers.

For more fishing tips, go to coastalanglermag.com.

PHOTO CREDIT: DON SHETTERLY

WORLD RECORD 283-POUND GAR CAUGHT ON 6-LB. TEST!

A

283-pound alligator gar caught at Sam Rayburn Lake in Texas is set to break a 72-year-old IGFA alltackle world record. Here’s the kicker: It was landed with 6-pound-test line!

Kentucky angler Art Weston teamed up with Texas Capt. Kirk Kirkland on Sept. 2, in search of lineclass records. Weston is an IGFA record breaker who already has numerous lineclass records for alligator gar and other species. It was the first day of a week-long booking aboard Capt.

Kirkland’s The Garfish Enterprise, and they hooked and landed what Kirkland called “the Holy Grail of the fishing world.”

Sam Rayburn Lake is the largest reservoir in Texas at 114,000 acres. It’s an impoundment of the Angelina River near the Louisiana border north of Jasper, Texas.

According to a report on FoxWeather.com, Kirkland told Weston of an area on the lake with a sandy, snag-free bottom that would suit light line tactics well. The guide also told Weston there might not be many fish in the area, but they were obviously going for quality over quantity.

Before the pending world record showed up on the scene, the pair caught two other monster alligator gar, including a 169-pounder. When they came tight with the

largest alligator gar caught in nearly three-quarters of a century, it took about three hours, remarkable skill and more than a little bit of luck to land the fish on such light line.

“Lots of blood, sweat and tears (and broken line) went into this achievement,” Kirkland wrote on Facebook. “Angler and world record Chaser Art Weston and I did what no other alligator gar angler has been able to accomplish in 72 years.... catch a fish bigger than the all-tackle world record set so many years ago on the bank of the Rio Grande River.”

The existing all-tackle world record weighed 279 pounds. It was caught by Bill Valverde from the Rio Grande in 1951.

“We both had a look of shock when the scale just kept going higher and higher,” Kirkland said. The gar weighed 283 pounds on camera. It measured 100 inches long, with a 48-inch girth. After taking measurements, the giant fish was released alive.

To read the entire FoxWeather report, go to https://www.foxweather.com/lifestyle/world-recordalligator-gar-texas-sam-rayburn-lake

DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO GET OUT ON THE WATER...

Visit Us Online To Find Your Nearest Dealer

www.MitziSkiffs.com www.CHawkBoats.net 8 NATIONAL

OCTOBER 2023

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

THE ALTERNATIVE TO BUYING A NEW BOAT

Performance Bulletin Available 59 YEARS OF REPOWER EXPERIENCE!

Suzuki RePower Centers are stationed around the southeast to help with your Suzuki service and repower needs.

Mastry Engine Center has received the Suzuki Marine Super Service Award and has been ranked #1 in Suzuki Marine US Sales!

Repower packages designed to best fit your needs and not stretch your budget.

Financing available.

All Suzuki repowers come with the new Suzuki 5-year factory warranty.

Many of our Suzuki RePower Centers feature Water Accessible Drop Travel Lifts.

Request a quote! • suzukirepower.com • 1-800-545-4574

By Emily Hanzlik

area? Living in Florida, I knew bowfin were available to me, so that’s where I started. On the IGFA website, you can search specific species and see the current records for different categories. Here you’ll see the all-tackle, allEmily Hanzlik tackle length, conventional female and male, fly male and female, junior shows one of her more male and female, and smallfry categories. recent records, For the junior category, you must be 16 or younger. However, if you are a 23-pound a junior you can submit a record for the adult category. All-tackle length is longnose gar a newer division that requires a special measuring device from the IGFA, so caught on keep that in mind if you want to try for a length record.

8-pound test.

Read the rules regarding the category you are fishing for. I cannot stress this enough. Many simple mistakes happen, and it is not worth having a record rejected. The rules are in the record book and on the website. IGFA rules can be complicated and include restrictions on things like the lengths of leaders. Your record quest will be much less frustrating if you know the rules and fish accordingly.

Let’s discuss tools you’ll need to record records. I prefer the Rapala Mini 50-lb. scale, which needs to be certified. The easiest way to certify your scale is to ship it to IGFA. They will certify it for you.

Most IGFA records are line-class records, which means you’ll often be fishing light lines, and the line must be approved by IGFA, meaning it breaks at the specific pound test. I like Ande tournament line because it breaks at the correct poundage.

Once all your ducks are in a row, you can target the fish you’ve planned for. This is going to take a lot of time and patience, but eventually putting in time pays off. When you eventually catch a fish that looks big enough to break the current record, there are steps you must take. For the all-tackle length record, you need a photo of the fish on the IGFA measuring device and a photo of the angler with the fish and rod. For the other records, you need photos of the girth, length, weight, and the fish and angler.

The main thing to remember is to have patience and enjoy the process. ome people fish for the meat, in tournaments, or simply for fun. I take Breaking records isn’t easy, so just keep trying! a different approach. I seek out world records.

The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) keeps track of Emily Rose Hanzlik holds over 60 IGFA world records in various categories. every record ever caught on rod and reel. I’ve been tracking down these She hails from West Palm Beach, where she has a part time records for more than six years, and here’s a little insight into the process.

Bowfin Guide Service as well as fishing classes for Jr. Anglers.

First, you need a starting place. What species can you target in your Find her @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.

reak B RECORDS S LEARNING TO

• END OF SEASON SALE • SAVE • STEEL BUILDING • SALE • CARPORTS • EXCELLENT FINANCING OPTIONS • CALL NOW • SPECIALS • TOP RATED INSTALL CREWS • STEEL BUILDING •

IT’S TIME TO FALL INTO SAVINGS.

SAVE THOUSANDS ON YOUR NEXT METAL BUILDING. $92.94

$0

• DOWN FINANCING • NO CREDIT CHECK • EVERYONE GETS APPROVED $81.78 • GREAT FINANCING OPTIONS /Month + Tax • RENT-TO-OWN FINANCING • FREE DELIVERY AND FREE SETUP 12X12 SmartSiding w/ Roll-up Door • DESIGN YOUR OWN BUILDING. AS-LOW-AS $98.95/MO +TAX With Approved Credit. Restrictions May Apply.

WITH OUR 3D DESIGNER.

/Month + Tax

$158.05 /Month + Tax

12X20 ONE SLOPE STORAGE BUILDING AS-LOW-AS $135.18/MO +TAX With Approved Credit. Restrictions May Apply.

12X30 PORTABLE 2 BAY GARAGE AS-LOW-AS $186.55/MO +TAX With Approved Credit. Restrictions May Apply.

SAVE OVER

$2,000.00 $48.00

CALL

/Month + Tax

30X40X12 CUSTOM STEEL GARAGE

(2) 12X10 ROLLUP DOORS, (1) WALK-IN DOOR, AND (3) WINDOWS

7 Locations

SERVING ALL OF FLORIDA AND SOUTH GEORGIA

FOR PRICING

20X20 BOAT-PORT TOP SELLER AS-LOW-AS $55.44/MO +TAX With Approved Credit. Restrictions May Apply.

LIVE OAK (Corporate Office) P: 386-364-7995

CHIEFLAND P: 352-490-5028

PERRY

LIVE OAK SUPER CENTER P: 386-364-1548

DADE CITY P: 352-583-2410

MASARYKTOWN P: 352-797-2291

620 W. Howard St. (Hwy 90 W.)

211 72nd Trace

2561 N. Young Blvd.

20229 US 301

Subject to credit approval. Fixed APR of 3.99% for 84 months. For each $1,000 financed, 5 payments of $3.33 followed by 79 amortized payments of $14.41.

Financing Disclaimer: Subject to credit approval. Fixed APR of 11.99% for 84 months. For each $1,000 financed, 5 payments of $9.99 followed by 79 amortized payments of $18.36.

P: 850-223-1939 2444 South Byron Butler Pwky

24X36X12 METAL BUILDING W/

$175.00 /Month + Tax

10X20 ROBIN - The Mix Use Shed

(2) 12X36X10 LEAN-TO’S + UTILITY STORAGE HARDI PANEL SIDING, 36X36 WINDOWS, Built on site. Choose your colors from the Valspar paint collection.

AND A RESIDENTIAL DOOR WAYCROSS

P: 850-223-1939 2203 Memorial Drive Waycross, GA 31501

SCAN THE QR CODE TO VIEW OUR PRODUCTS

KEENSBUILDINGS.COM View our inventory online.

568 S. Broad St.

Subject to qualifying credit approval. Interest is billed during the promotional period but all interest is waived if the purchase amount is paid in full within 12 months.

Financing for GreenSky® consumer loan programs is provided by federally insured, federal and state chartered financial institutions without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin, gender or familial status.

• END OF SEASON SALE • SAVE • TINY HOMES FOR SALE • SALE • CARPORTS • EXCELLENT FINANCING OPTIONS • STORAGE SHEDS • ADU HOMES FOR SALE • STEEL BUILDING •

2 FLORIDA

OCTOBER 2023

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

Seawall Erosion Control

SIGNS OF SEAWALL EROSION Competitive Pricing Serving All of Florida Family Owned Guaranteed Work Free Estimates Free 2nd Opinions Experienced and Reputable Fully Licensed

1. Cracks in the seawall vertical panels or seawall cap 2. Depressions in your yard 3. Water bubbling up from the ground 4. Small sinkholes along the wall 5. Leaning or bowing of a seawall

SCHEDULE YOUR FREE EVALUATION NOW

888.426.1002 www.FloridaSeawallSolutions.com

#CBC1255391

Team Forever Young, led by Capt. Tony Young, of Forever Young Spearfishing, really put in the work and won the “Most Lionfish” division of the tourney. With team members Jason Vogan, Billy Moscatello and Luke Rankin, this is the third time Forever Young has set a new tournament record for total catch.

Overall, 22 teams of divers competed at the event, and $7,000 in cash and prizes were awarded to teams that brought in the most, largest and smallest lionfish. The “Most Lionfish” category included the competitive Apex Predators division and the Reef Defenders division for casual lionfish hunters.

Forever Young obviously won the Apex Predators division. Volitans finished second with 291 lionfish, and Team Trash placed third with 101 lionfish.

In the Reef Defenders division, Men of Science won first place with 156 lionfish. Sea Venom Creations brought in 128 lionfish for second place, Barnacles won third place with 121 lionfish.

Competition was close in the largest and smallest lionfish categories.

Barnacles won first place in the “Largest Lionfish” category with a 16.85inch lionfish. Men of Science’s second place fish measured 16.57 inches, and Forever Young took third with a 16.34-inch fish.

The smallest fish of the derby was 2.36 inches and was collected live by ZooKeeper. Team Will 2 Spear won second place with a 2.83-incher, and Tequila Little Time brought in a 2.99-inch fish, also live, to take third. The two live lionfish will be part of an educational exhibit at the REEF Campus.

In case you been under a rock, lionfish are native to the Indo-Pacific and are highly invasive and detrimental to native marine life on our coasts. Events like REEF’s derbies are held all along the Florida coast to both raise awareness of the problem and to cut down on lionfish numbers.

“Lionfish derbies show how a community can come together to support ocean conservation while combating invasive species. It’s so exciting that our teams set a new Florida Keys record of 1,898 invasive lionfish removed.

We are very thankful to all of the derby participants, event volunteers, and everyone who attended and helped make the Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival such a great success,” said Alli Candelmo, Ph.D., REEF Conservation ivers put a hurting on invasive lionfish on Sept. 8 and 9 at the 14th Science Manager. annual REEF Florida Keys Lionfish Derby. A record 1,898 lionfish For more information about REEF Lionfish Derbies, were collected, and a single team set another tournament record by visit www.REEF.org/lionfish-derbies. bringing 648 of the nasty critters back to the docks.

W

A SINGLE TEAM STICKS 648 LIONFISH AT TWO-DAY DERBY

D

Clea

Be

GO

Trad resp

For a Cente This is improv closes

4 FLORIDA

OCTOBER 2023

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW A 2-STROKE BMW

Clean 4-Stroke Technology is All We Do

Be Socially Responsible

GO GREEN - Suzuki Repower

Trade-in your dirty, uncivilized, oil-burner for an environmentally responsible, clean, quiet, efficient Suzuki 4-stroke!

For a limited time, when you purchase a new Suzuki outboard from an authorized Mastry RePower Center you will receive a Special Trade Allowance for your dirty and outdated 2-stroke outboard.

This is Mastry’ s commitment to help keep our waterways clean as well as making it easier for you to improve your boating experience with an up-to-date quiet, efficient 4-stroke outboard. Contact your closest Mastry RePower Center for the details of this Exclusive Mastry RePower Center Offer.

suzukirepower.com

1-800-545-4574

Get civilized with a new Suzuki 4-stroke outboard!

g n i Fish

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

AUSE C A R FO

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

F

ishing for charitable causes has become a growing venue for bringing together our love of the sport and helping those in need.

The duality of empowerment and peace that fishing brings helps people who have struggled. From easing post-traumatic stress disorder, recovering from physical trauma, mental and social disorders, to helping troubled youths find redirection, fishing can easily be classified as therapeutic. No matter what cause is important to you, there is likely a fishing tournament dedicated to it.

Fishing tournaments have been put together by donations solely to get certain groups on the water to participate, such as events for veterans and

pediatric cancer patients. These events create incredible opportunities for people who truly need them, and they are a great way to donate and help share the therapeutic power of fishing.

The other style of charitable fishing tournaments are ones you can participate in yourself, and proudly take a minor hit on your winning payout, knowing you are donating to a good cause. While the first type is extremely selfless and noble, let’s face it, everybody needs a little fishing therapy in their life. Often, the fishing tournaments where you participate provide opportunities to people affected by the cause, and you will be joined by the people you are there helping, as well. This is easily one of the best excuses to fish, and way more fun than simply signing a check.

In honor of breast cancer awareness month, the ladies of the world would like to officially turn your attention to the boobies. That’s right, you’re invited to look.

Breast cancer affects one in eight women. Although this type of cancer is rare in men, it has a higher mortality rate due to late detection, and that is a part of the awareness this month is dedicated to.

Thankfully, with advancements in awareness and detection, survivability of this diagnosis has increased exponentially. Many survivors turn to fishing for recovery, both physically and emotionally.

If you find yourself in Pompano Beach Oct. 5-7, The Pink Ladies Breast Cancer Foundation invites you to fish their multi-species, 2nd Annual Cureament fishing tournament. Founder, and cancer survivor, Carolyn Stash, has put together a non-profit tournament for breast cancer awareness and fundraising for a cure. She has worked her ta-tas off to attract sponsors and has put together exciting prizes and raffle items for this year’s tournament.

Among the list is a one-of-a-kind, pink, 9-foot Reef Runner, with a trailer and a 9hp motor, and fishing charters, including one from yours truly, at Sweet E’nuf Charters out of Marathon, Florida Keys.

Fish alongside fierce breast cancer survivors and their dedicated supporters. If you miss this year, mark your calendars for next year.

Contact Carolyn Stash at (954) 465-3743 and visit their website at www.pinkladiesbreastcancerfoundation.org to get involved.

Call Capt. Quinlyn Haddon, of Sweet E’nuf Charters, Marathon, Florida Keys at (504) 920-6342.

Repower Center ✓ Large Inventory Cal lU ✓ Financing Available s ✓ Guide & Gov't Discounts ✓ Factory Trained Technicians ✓ Custom Fabrica�on Solu�ons ✓ Service and Maintenance RELIABILITY IS A FAMILTY TRADITION MEET THE NEXT GENERATION

advanced marine 6 FLORIDA

OCTOBER 2023

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

•A

Advanced Marine Services 1322 Carolina Ave Saint Cloud, FL 34769

407-498-5142 866-768-2628

•SUP •ENH •99%

advancedmarine.com

*LIF 16 BREVARD

JA

BOATHOUSE Discount Marine Supplies

Marine Supplies

OEM Marine Parts

Jacksonville

Locations Same Low Prices

Melbourne

Certified Service Department

Authorized OEM Marine Engine & Parts Dealer Trailer Parts

Trailer Sales

• AUTOMOTIVE • COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL

CTX NANO-CERAMIC TINT •SUPERIOR HEAT REJECTION MELBOURNE •ENHANCED STYLE 557 N. HARBOR CITY BLVD •99% UV PROTECTION MELBOURNE, FL 32935

(321) 254-2535

JACKSONVILLE

5615 BLANDING BLVD. JACKSONVILLE, FL 32244

904 7787775

BoathouseDiscountMarine.com

*LIFETIME WARRANTY 16 BREVARD

JANUARY 2019

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM

BOAT INSURANCE SINKING YOU?

SAVE

50%Insurance

up to

on Boat

GET THE

LOWEST RATES!

BOATS & $37,000 $75,000 JETSKI From: $264/yr $474/yr

$100,000 $250,000 $500,000 $586/yr $2,975/yr $5,985/yr

GET A QUOTE! (888) 977-4500 (954) 785-5000

BoatInsuranceFlorida.com Bradley Insurance Group

Covering Boaters throughout the South Since 1988

Your #1 Source for Boat Insurance

GATOR HUNTERS BAG 900-POUNDER

A

900-pound, 13-foot-long alligator caught on Aug. 25 might be the second largest gator in Florida history, and it’s by far the largest gator we’ve heard about so far this alligator season.

Capt. Kevin Brotz, of Get Bit Outdoors, guided clients Carson Gore and Darren Field to the giant gator on an Orlando area lake, according to Outdoor Life. It took close to four hours to subdue the beast.

“Honestly, my first concern was safety, because we were in a smaller boat, and then you add a gator whose head is this big,” Brotz said as he spread his arms wide in a CNN video interview. “All he has to do is turn, and we’re in trouble.”

“I laid down in the front of the boat and said I have to lay down until we get back,” Gore told CNN. “I thought I was going to die. That thing was huge.”

At one point during the battle, the gator leapt 3 or 4 feet out of the water right next to the boat. Brotz told Outdoor Life it was like being eye-to-eye with a T-Rex. The statewide alligator season runs Aug. 15- Nov. 1. Hunters are required to apply for and obtain a limited entry permits each season. For information go to MyFWC.com.

Watch video of the team fighting the gator on Field & Stream’s YouTube channel.

8 FLORIDA

OCTOBER 2023

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

HOOKED ON™ SUZUKI TECHNOLOGY HOOKED ON™ SUZUKI TECHNOLOGY

RELIABILITY TO FISH ALL DAY WITH CONFIDENCE YOU’RE GONNA NEED Among the many advantages of Suzuki ’s proven technologies are simplified YOU’RE GONNA NEED rigging and installation, silky smooth shifting, instant throttle response, enhanced performance, and superior fuel economy. With Suzuki Marine’s reputation for performance and reliability, you can rest assured your fishing day is going makeALL memories that willCONFIDENCE last for years to come.

RELIABILITY TO toFISH DAY WITH HOOKED ON™ SUZUKI TECHNOLOGY

A BIGGER COOLER A BIGGER COOLER Among the many advantages of Suzuki’s proven technologies are simplified RELIABILITY TO FISH ALL DAYshifting, WITH instant CONFIDENCE rigging and installation, silky smooth throttle response, enhanced performance, and superior fuel economy. With Suzuki Marine’s Among the many advantages of Suzuki’s proven technologies are simplified reputation for performance and reliability, you can rest assured your rigging and installation, silky smooth shifting, instant throttle response, fishing day is going to make memories that will last for years to come. enhanced performance, and superior fuel economy. With Suzuki Marine’s reputation for performance and reliability, you can rest assured your fishing day is going to make memories that will last for years to come.

YOU’RE GONNA NEED

A BIGGER COOLER RELIABILITY TO FISH ALL DAY WITH CONFIDENCE Among the many advantages of Suzuki’s proven technologies are simplified rigging and installation, silky smooth shifting, instant throttle response, enhanced performance, and superior fuel economy. With Suzuki Marine’s YEAR reputation for performance and reliability, you can rest assured your LIMITED WARRANTY fishing day is going to make memories that will last for years to come.

YEAR LIMITED 5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY applies to qualifying purchases of Suzuki outboard motors sold and delivered to WARRANTY the retail purchaser, for pleasure (non-commercial) use only, from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. See Suzuki Limited Warranty for additional details. Suzuki, the “S” logo, and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki Trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2021 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC. All rights reserved.

5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY applies to qualifying purchases of Suzuki outboard motors sold and delivered to the retail purchaser, for pleasure (non-commercial) use only, from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. See

Your Florida Authorized Suzuki Repower Center

Suzuki Limited Warranty for additional details. Suzuki, the “S” logo, and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki Trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2021 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC. All rights reserved.

Repower Financing Available

FULL MARINE SERVICE, PARTS, REPAIR, SALES CENTER 386-424-9000 | 911 N Dixie Freeway • New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168

diamondmotorsandmarine.com YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

CHECK OUT OUR GREAT DEALS ON USED VEHICLES AT: YEAR https://www.diamondmotorsandmarine.com/search/inventory/type/Used%20Vehicles LIMITED WARRANTY

5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY applies to qualifying purchases of Suzuki outboard motors sold and delivered to the retail purchaser, for pleasure (non-commercial) use only, from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. See SZ Q4 CSTL FSHNG BOXWarranty 1 PG 9-13-21.indd Suzuki WLimited for additional1 details. Suzuki, the “S” logo, and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki Trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and 9/13/2021 read your 2:46:43 PM owner’s manual. © 2021 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC.All rights reserved.

5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY applies to qualifying purchases of Suzuki outboard motors sold and delivered to the retail purchaser, for pleasure (non-commercial) use only, from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. See Suzuki Limited Warranty for additional details. Suzuki, the “S” logo, and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki Trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2021 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC. All rights reserved.

SZ Q4 CSTL FSHNG W BOX 1 PG 9-13-21.indd 1

9/13/2021 2:46:43 PM

VOLUSIA COUNTY

COASTAL ANGLER franchise Owners Jamie & Deidra Thrappas

Contributing Writers : Marco Pompano Freak on the Beach 386-212-4838 Capt. Jamie Thrappas Ponce Inlet and Backwaters www.YellowDawgFishing.com Capt. Michael Savedow Edgewater Backcountry www.EdgewaterRiverGuide.com Capt. Barry Englehardt Tomoka www.FishingGuideDaytonaBeach.com Capt. Bryn Adams Central St. Johns River www.highlandparkfishcamp.com Capt. Matt Graves Offshore www.LimitlessFishing.com Blake Abbey Kayaking @kayakkingcharters

For advertising inquiries, Call Jamie at 386.366.3424 or email volusia@CoastalAnglerMagazine.com

Are you reAding this?

So are all your cuStomerS!

Call Jamie and reserve your advertising space!

(386) 366 - 3424

volusia@coastalanglermagazine.com 2 VOLUSIA COUNTY

october 2023

F

reak ‘on the road’ has just returned from trout fishing in Quebec at his brother-inlaw‘s house. The fishing is just like you think: really good.

We were trolling with an electric motor in a glacial lake and we pulled in some really nice rainbow trout and some brownies. You have to go as slow as you can, and put out a lot of line with a spoon and a 3-foot leader and a worm on the end.

Then you’re in the game! Ya, mon! We cook them up real nice.

On my return to Wilbur by the Sea (home), I started off with a bang, catching some redfish and a few pompano the first day back.

The fish are starting their way back and I’m here, happy to greet them, in good old Wilbur by the Sea. I’d like to give you a little history about Wilbur by the Sea, since we’ve actually gotten national attention after hurricanes Ian and Nicole.

Wilbur by the Sea is an unincorporated town in Volusia County that does not allow hotels or condominiums. Hallelujah!

It’s an unwritten law that, in order to live here, you would have to have at least a surfboard, skateboard, fishing boat, paddle board, or lots of surf fishing equipment.

It’s preferred you use most of these things.

Wilbur dates back to 1889 when it was sold for six dollars (back taxes) to a woman name Sarah. What a bargain!

It was bought in 1912 by Jacob Wilbur, whose plan was to bring his friends down from the Northeast on the Flagler Railroad to settle along the river and the ocean.

It’s about a mile long, and was divided into lots, then they made beautiful shell roads and flowerbeds, and built the boat house, which has been re-created and still remains in the same location. A big hotel, 50 rooms, was built on Toronita Avenue (it has been gone for years), and the town square was a grass triangle, which remains to this day.

The surrounding area was made into a bird environmental sanctuary, way back then, by the US government (thank you, Teddy Roosevelt).

The grounds of the Wilbur boathouse are still a bird sanctuary. Paradise for egrets and other species.

There were huge docks down on the river for boat traffic between New Smyrna Beach and Daytona.

I know some people would rather I never talked about Wilbur to keep it unspoiled, but I love this place and find it hard not to write about.

The water temperature is getting cooler. It’s a green-blue ocean. Hopefully these hurricanes turning out there won’t come here. It’s definitely time for the pompano to show up again.

So the rods are starting to bend. Ya, mon!

We just put on some reggae and are heading to the fillet table. Collie Buddz is singing his new song, ‘Ooh La La’, which just so happens to be my dog’s name: Ula. It’s time to taste the ceviche marinating since last night and me and the rest of these fillets, redfish,and pompano are heading to the smoker.

Marco pompano

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

Surf Fishing Guide Marcopompano@gmail.com (386) 212-4838

LawyerDude.com

@ Vasilaros Wagner Injury Lawyers sia

lu Vo

r

gle

Fla

car wr

ecks ar

e a bea

ch

Car Crash

$154,369,200

Motorcycle Crash

Car Crash

$2,250,000 Motorcycle Crash

$2,300,000

$2,150,000

Pedestrian Crash

$1,300,000

Premises Liability

$1,000,000

It’s more than luck to consistently land whales.

We get it.

833-333-3333

Vasilaros & Wagner the Lawyer Dude

Fishing Captain Directory

Hire these professionals for a guaranteed good fishin’ time!

Reel Harmony Fishing Charters

Dancer Pole dancer Charters Fishin’ charters fishin’

Call for a 5 star Fishing Experience Inshore • Snook • Redfish Tarpon • Flounder

Inshore & Nearshore Fishing Daytona Beach Redfish • Snook • Triple Tail • Trout

Capt Marty Goldys

Patterson Capt Jeff patterson

386-679-0317

386-451-4992

New Legacy Fishing Charters

Racing charters Charters Knot racing

www.reelharmonyfishing.com reelharmonyfishingcharters@gmail.com

Capt Marshal Wallot Nearshore and Inshore Fishing Trophy Redfish & Black Drum Tarpon • Snook & More

386-214-9595

www.newlegacyfishing.com marshalwallot007@gmail.com

No Pressure Charters Capt Austin Pons

Offshore/Inshore Fishing Year round Mahi • Sailfish • Grouper

386-566-0659

www.nopressurefishingcharters.com nopressurecharters@gmail.com

Strippin Lips Fishing Charters Capt Dave Caruthers Offshore and Nearshore Fishing Trips Year Round Wahoo • Snapper • Grouper Tuna • Snook • Redfish

386-383-9881

www.strippinlipscharters.com dcaruthers50@gmail.com

coastline Charters

www.smallboatbigfish.com captainpatterson@yahoo.com

Michael ChapMan Chapman Capt MiChael Offshore & Near Shore Charters Grouper • Snapper • Triggerfish Flounder • Redfish

386-576-6889

www.knotracing.com Knotracingcharters@gmail.com

Caught uP Up Fishing caught fishing Charters charters

Capt Bruno Imbrunone iMBrunone Inshore and Offshore Fishing New Smyrna Beach Snook • Redfish • Tarpon • Cobia Snapper • Flounder

386-689-7409

www.caughtupfishingcharters.com caughtupfishingcharters@yahoo.com

Reef wrecKer Wrecker charters Charters reef Capt John “JJ” Ellis ellis

Offshore and Near Shore Fishing Charters “ Year Round” Snapper • Grouper • Shark Trips Redfish • Snook • Cobia

386-402-3957

www.reefwrecker.com johnjellis1996@gmail.com

Charters driftwood charters

Capt kevin gill

Capt Jarrod Tuttle tuttle

386-222-2805

386-295-7908

Ponce Inlet Snook • Redfish Flounder • Triple Tail

www.fishponce.com Instagram @fishponce Facebook @Coastline Charters

Inshore/Nearshore/Offshore Seasonal Wahoo, Swordfish, Tuna, Deepdrop trips Capttutt@gmail.com www.Gofishponce.com

out

ters

an

s h

agner

Dr. W

ne

ew

ia

om .com

rters

g

s

rs

na,

DOCTOR WAGNER IS A CHIROPRACTIC PHYSICIAN AT UNTANGLING CAR CRASH KNOTS & SNAGS (386) 888-8888

Local Business Highlight

All Coast Canvas 321-351-1014 info@allcoastcanvas.com Fletch@allcoastcanvas.com Jackson@allcoastcanvas.com website - allcoastcanvas.com @AllCoastCanvas

Meet All Coast Canvas!

H

ello, I’m Dan “Fletch” Fletcher and we started All Coast Canvas about 3 years ago. Started in Titusville on Garden Street, and quickly outgrew that location. Now we have our main shop in Sharpes, 3935 North US Highway 1, Cocoa FL 32926. We have a small Satellite office in Rockledge at Boaters Exchange.

2145 US Highway 1 Rockledge FL 32955. We are exploring another location, either in Melbourne of New Smyrma. We try and cover all of the space coast and have customers who come from all over central FL. I don’t know what I did to deserve the team I have here at All Coast Canvas. It absolutely blows my mind the quality of craftsmanship that we turn out. We have some of the absolute best upholstery and cushion people in the state, our enclosure and glass manufacturing are top nothc. From Polycarbonate, to strataglass, we do sunbrella canvas and Stamoid enclosures.

Biminis, Ratcheting custom boat covers. We also do Dekit nonskid boat flooring & T-tops!

We have really tried to put relationships above all else. I repeatedly tell the guys that the job isn’t done until the customer is happy. I want our customers to proudly say “ I have a canvas guy. Or I have an upholstery shop that does great work and is dependable”. We are all locals that work here, we’re not going anywhere, our reputation is everything!”

TOMOKA FORECAST

M

ost fishermen will agree that in our area October is the best month to fish. It’s an culmination of fishing the inlet for the bull reds, snook,

and tarpon. Fishing the beach for the same fish plus blues and jacks. In addition, we have the Tomoka basin and river. The mullet run which generates the action at the inlet also filters into the Tomoka.

First daylight produces great top water action, with artificial bait such as lures that have the walk the dog action and Z-man’s ChatterBait Junior that allows you to make a long cast. I use an artificial for as long as the fish are interested, then I switch to live bait.

At high tide look in the canals for schooled mullet and if they are there, the reds and snook will be nearby. That is why I like the Chatter Bait because I can cast it far up the canal.

Look for moving water around the islands and free line live bait or use a popping cork with shrimp or mullet. I also drift the intracoastal with a popping cork with live bait and I attach some split shot to keep the bait down.

Fly fishing is very productive at high tide in Strickland and the Tomoka River. My choice of fly is an Orvis Crazy Charlie in white.

Capt. Barry Englehardt

Fish With Captain Barry fishwithcaptainbarry.com (386) 871-8500

6 VOLUSIA COUNTY

october 2023

www.fiberglasssuppliesdaytona.com located at the daytona beach flea market

1425 tomoka farms rd, daytona beach, fl 32124

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

PONCE INLET & BACKWATERS FORECAST

O

ctober is by far my favorite month to fish; things just feel different and the inlet comes to life. The weather will be changing, humidity and rain dropping off, shorter days, and then eventually cooler weather!

The fall mullet run is the kick off to this crazy time of year, it’s not uncommon to get multiple days of slams when the conditions and tides align. The redfish will be the thickest this time of the year especially around the inlet and the causeways, but these aren’t your average redfish. We are talking about upper slot and overslot fish along with those big ol bulls. I like to use a variety of baits this time of year including blue crab, mullet (live and cut), select shrimp, large pinfish, mud minnows, pig fish, and croakers. Every day is a little different and on the weekends when everyone is trying to get hooked up its best to have something different in my opinion then what everyone else is using. I focus my efforts on tide changes and my favorite is the high switch to outgoing. I also do pretty well on the low to high switch but that bite window seems to be much smaller. I also will use artificials for these fish when they are schooled up and don’t want to eat live bait. Large 5” paddle tails like NLBN, along with bucktails like flair hawks seem to produce those reaction strikes when the fish don’t seem to want to eat. Don’t forget about snook this time of year either. While we catch a good number of snook almost all year,

the best bite for them always seems to be the fall in my opinion. I will typically get most of my fish on select shrimp, mullet, and croakers when I am fishing during the day at the inlet or bridge but I will also throw artificials when they are being stubborn. Fish similar tides as I mentioned for redfish and don’t be afraid to drift through school of fish for a hookup when they won’t eat what you drop right on their head. Remember when targeting snook and redfish this time of the year most of your catches will not be slot fish. It is so important to treat these fish with care. Being excited and getting a photo is expected but also be conscious that this fish is exhausted and you have to make your photo op quick. Handle this fish with care and also take time to revive the fish with its mouth into the current and a firm grip on its lips with a fish grip tool or even your fingers if need be. Most of these fish are our breeder fish and it’s important they do their job this season to ensure more fish for next year! As always swing by our Bait and Tackle Shop at High Bridge in Ormond Beach for some free advice and if you see us on the water please say hello!

CAPT. Jamie Thrappas Yellow Dawg Fishing www.yellowdawgfishing.com (386) 366-3424

EDGEWATER BACKCOUNTRY FORECAST

O

ctober brings fall weather patterns with the first cool fronts of the season pushing south through Central Florida bringing breezes off the ocean after a summer of calm mornings, East winds will raise water levels in the Intracoastal Waterway and Mosquito Lagoon.

Early morning topwater lures with a louder rattle can be best with breezy choppy water. With higher water on the flats in Edgewater Backcountry and on the lagoon, try very close to shorelines where you can find skinny water fish prowling for food.

Fish tail hooked finger mullet or mud minnows up tight to oyster bars, mangrove shorelines, and shallow flats with a favorable water depth of 12 to 18 inches. Reds, trout, and snook cruise and feed tight to the shore in high water searching for minnows, shrimp, small crabs. On lower tides fish the edges of oysters and mangrove shorelines.

The fall mullet run should be in full swing on the beach, inlet, and ICW with easy bait catching.

Watch for game fish busting mullet schools. Jack crevalle and bluefish can account for most of this surface action. A live mullet or topwater lure can be best for a quick hookup here. Ponce Inlet can be the center of attention for spawning redfish, averaging 20 to 40 lbs. where they are feeding heavy on drifting blue crabs, mullet, and baitfish being pulled through the inlet on the outgoing tide. Boats can drift or anchor in the western inlet entrance, inner channel edges, and the jetty tip area. These big fish are catch and release only as most all are over the 27” maximum size. Use

fishing can be really good in fall. Oak Hill and Edgewater lights hold mostly trout and snook.

Outgoing tides usually best bet, but moving water a must. Free line live shrimp are an easy go to bait.

Closer to the inlet, New Smyrna Beach, and Ponce Inlet lights can have more blues, jacks, and snook are always a possibility at any light. Ladyfish are big night feeders, mostly outside the lights. All along the ICW channel using shrimp, lures, or fly casting makes fun catching on big fall ladys.

Dropping water temperatures and clearing water makes for good variety catching in the backwaters.

All the resident fish like seatrout, snook, redfish, mangrove snapper, and black drum are joined by the migratory fish heading south along with the mullet, schooling bluefish, jack crevalle, oversized ladyfish, spanish mackerel, tarpon, and pompano.

For live bait try shrimp, mullet, pigfish, pinfish, mud minnows; you can free line them or add a heavier tackle to land them quicker for a healthy small weight to drop them in to holes or channels. release. Always hold them horizontal for your Lure anglers can throw top waters early morning, pictures, never hang by the jaw with fish grippers then switch to sub surface like twitch baits, which can damage the fish. Expect the chance of spoons, and 1/8 or 1/16 oz swim tail jigs after the snook, tarpon, and sharks as well around the inlet sun is up. fishing live bait. Try for the year’s biggest mangrove snapper which have grown in the backwaters all season long and are getting ready to move to the ocean for the adult stage of their life. The inlet Capt. Michael Savedow Edgewater River Guide area, jetties, ICW, Edgewater backcountry, and EdgewaterRiverGuide.com New Smyrna docks and/or bridges can be the (386) 689-3781 best for bigger mangos. Minimum size 10” with bag limit 5 per person on mangroves. Dock light

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

october 2023

VOLUSIA COUNTY 7

YOU BELONG AT DAYTONA STATE

• Named by U.S. News & World Report a top Online Bachelor Program / Ranked #1 in the Florida College System.

• Daytona State is your gateway to Florida’s public & private universities including UCF, UF, FAMU, Stetson, Bethune-Cookman and more.

• Get done faster with accelerated options & flexible class schedules.

• Earn certificates, associates and bachelors degrees in Business, Accounting, Healthcare, Education, Engineering Technology, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Criminal Justice and more.

DaytonaState.edu/Degrees

E

Under NEW Ownership by Cody Moore, Third Generation Fisherman NSB Outfitters specializes in offshore bait and tackle, as well as inshore, flats, and fly fishing gear, with extensive options in apparel and accessories. New Smyrna Outfitters has the knowledge and experience to guide through whatever type of fishing you’re looking to do.

SAME STREET, NEW LOCATION! 223a Canal St. | NewSmyrnaOutfitters.com (386) 402-8853 Mon-Sat 9am-6pm | Sunday Closed

Winter Caught Bally Hoo

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

october 2023

VOLUSIA COUNTY 9

kayaking FORECAST

T

he mullet run is here! I love kayaking around the Ponce Inlet jetty for giant bull reds and big girl snook! This time of year is always amazing paddling through sheets of mullet and catching bull reds on the kayak. I like to launch at the boat launch located between Hidden Treasures and the Critter Fleet. It’s always “match the hatch for me” this time of year so I always have mullet profile baits rigged up. Live bait and cut bait always works for bull reds. As I navigate my way around disappearing island, I like to work a spook around the mangroves, docks and rock wall located very close to the dog beach. I’ve also pulled up on schools of reds inside the mouth of Braddock Creek which is located straight across the channel from the boat launch. The layout on the inlet side of the jetty has changed a lot ever since the hurricane last year. There is a lot more white sand beach which has more people bank fishing as of recently, but in a kayak you can get a little farther out of casting distance and fish the middle of the channel drifting mullet on the bottom. I like drifting live baits with a 1oz weight and a 4/0 owner circle hook. The fishing is hot right now and there’s nothing quite like being pulled around by a giant red fish or snook on a kayak. I always recommend partnering up with someone when fishing the jetty as it can get very sporty and there is lots of boat traffic through the inlet. Snook season is open and the slots are here. The regulations are 1 fish per day and must be from 28-32 inches. Tight lines out there! When kayaking the inlet always have a PFD with you.

ith A enu

Locally Owned With A Locally OwnedMenu With A Chef Inspired Chef Inspired Menu Millie’s offers fresh LOCALoffers seafood, Millie’s meatLOCAL and produce. fresh seafood, meat and produce.

Millie’s south

S.Ave, Atlantic Avenue 3218 S. 3218 Atlantic Daytona Beach Shores Daytona Beach Shores, FL 32118 386-275-1492 3218 S. Atlantic Avenue Daytona Beach Shores, FL 32118

s food,

386-275-1492 Millie’s North 386-275-1492

330 S. AtlanticHours: Ave, Ormond Beach

Monday 11am-9pm • Tuesday closed 386-238-9756 Hours: 11am-9pm Wednesday - Saturday • Tuesday closed MondayMonday: 11am-9pm Sunday11am 9am-9pm - 9pm Wednesday - Saturday tuesday: Closed 11am-9pm Wednesday - sat: 11am - 9pm Sunday 9am-9pm sunday: 8am - 9pm

10 VOLUSIA COUNTY

october 2023

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

Blake Abbey

Kayak King Charters 916-476-1403 @kayakkingcharters

FOLLOW Us To Stay Updated! @boondocksrestaurantfl

29.132880 -80.961620

Central St. Johns River FORECAST

O

ctober is a month we’ve all been waiting for. We have started to turn the corner of the long hot summer days as we transition into some of the best fishing of the year. The north winds begin to cool the water down and it excites the fish and the fisherman. With cooler water temperatures the Bass and Speckled Perch begin their feeding and fattening in preparation for the spawning periods that occur several times throughout the season.

With lots of Speckled Perch already being caught in August and September, along with high water levels, we are expecting a record season.

Early in the season you can use a variety of different fishing methods. Open water fishing usually is the best. Drifting live minnows or slow trolling 1/32 oz hard head plastic body jigs are a local favorite here at Highland Park and on Lake Woodruff. Last year’s best colors were yellow, chartreuse, blue and silver. The use of light line, 10 pound or less is essential. Once the fish move shallow in preparation for the spawn, vertical jigging will be most productive.

We hope Bass will be more active this month, and wild river shiners are a great live bait that will almost always produce this time of year. We’ve had a hard year Bass fishing due to the aftermath of past storms and the high-water levels they brought. We are starting to see some real improvements on the Bass front, and I think it could really pick up this month.

October usually provides excellent top water action. The Devils Horse is a proven bait in the dark tannic stained water of the great St. Johns River and connecting Lakes. Another fall favorite is the Buzz Bait, it is one of the easiest lures to use, and you can’t go wrong. Just cast and retrieve over many types of vegetation.

Call Highland Park Fish Camp any day of the week for an upto-date report. 1-800-525-3477

Pete Moon of Orange City, FL with a speckled perch fishing on Lake Woodruff out of Highland Park Fish Camp in Deland

Capt. Bryn Adams

Highland Park Fish Camp 1-800-525-3477

www.highlandparkfishcamp.com

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

october 2023

VOLUSIA COUNTY 11

N

offshore FORECAST

Th

I Li

AN

O

ctober is always a grind when it comes to offshore fishing in the central Florida region. The tuna fishing slows down as the birds start to disappear and head south. This time of the year you’re hammering the bottom for your Jacks, groupers, snappers and so on. You also can be dealing with some heavy currents as well with the moon phases we get during August and September.

With fall coming we do have the chance of some Mahi showing up near the end of the month and into the month of November. But for now, always keep your bottom rods ready to go as the troll bite can be very slow during October. The peak hurricane season is here and we’re already seeing some big swells and less days to get offshore.

12 VOLUSIA COUNTY

october 2023

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

SA

Capt. Matt Graves

Limitless Fishing Charters www.limitlessfishing.com 407-222-4408

th

Dow

3

New locatioNs to eNjoy poke bowls!

P o rt o r a n g e , F L 209 Dunlawton Ave. #7 386-846-2657 Day to n a B e ac h , F L 260 Daytona Blvd. D-440, 386-871-9319 n e w S m y r n a B e ac h , F L 394 N Causeway, 386-295-3203 F L ag L e r B e ac h Now! ! 701 N Ocean Shore Blvd. opeN 386-481-0593

Order Online Sto k e D - P o k e . co m

we cater as well!

Come Experience

The Fishin’ Hole Difference Off Shore & In Shore Tackle Live & Frozen Bait Expert Rod & Reel Repair ANGLERS CLOTHING

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

Fly & light tackle Fishing

Mosquito lagoon

in Redfish • snook • TRouT • TaRpon

CapT RiCk hilliaRd

386-871-0656 rickhilliardjr@gMail.coM darkwaterFishingcharters.coM @darkwatercharters

SALTWATER PRO SHOP

thefishinholeinc@gmail.com

450 N. Beach Street Downtown Daytona Beach

386-252-9804

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

october 2023

VOLUSIA COUNTY 13

rd Paddle Boeantals & Kayak R ee tours t a n a M & in Dolph ls Boat Renta s Parasail ride rs t Ski Tou e J d e id u G ters Fishing Char

Ponce Inlet WatersPorts

, R e t a

W Fun, & un!

S

(386) 405 - 3445 PonceinletWaterSports.com 4958 S. Peninsula Dr. Ponce Inlet, FL

Daytona Beach ParasaIl

(386) 547 - 6067 DaytonaParasail.com 4936 S. Peninsula Dr. Ponce Inlet, FL

Ponce Inlet Jet skI tours

(386) 872 - 1157 PonceinletJetSki.com 4936 S. Peninsula Dr. Ponce Inlet, FL

www.USHarbors.com

Ponce De Leon Inlet South, FL - Oct 2023 High

Date

Low

AM

ft

PM

ft

AM

ft

PM

ft

Rise

Set

www.USHarbors.com

Ormond Beach, Halifax River, FL - Oct 2023 High

Date

Moon

Low

AM

ft

PM

ft

AM

ft

PM

ft

Rise

Set

8:58

-0.1

9:33

0.1

7:16

7:11

1

Sun

10:29

4.5

10:49

3.8

3:55

0.2

4:40

0.5

7:15

7:11

1

Sun

1:54

0.8

2:20

0.9

2

Mon

11:18

4.4

11:37

3.5

4:40

0.4

5:35

0.7

7:16

7:09

2

Mon

2:43

0.8

3:10

0.9

9:44

0.0

10:24

0.2

7:16

7:10

3

Tue

12:08

4.2

5:28

0.5

6:34

0.9

7:16

7:08

3

Tue

3:31

0.7

3:59

0.8

10:31

0.2

11:17

0.4

7:17

7:09

4

Wed

12:27

3.3

1:00

4.0

6:21

0.7

7:33

1.0

7:17

7:07

4

Wed

4:19

0.7

4:47

0.8

11:20

0.4

7:17

7:08

5

Thu

1:19

3.2

1:54

3.9

7:18

0.9

8:29

1.2

7:17

7:06

5

Thu

5:07

0.7

5:38

0.8

12:12

0.6

12:12

0.5

7:18

7:06

6

Fri

2:15

3.1

2:51

3.7

8:14

1.0

9:23

1.2

7:18

7:05

6

Fri

5:59

0.6

6:31

0.7

1:11

0.7

1:10

0.7

7:18

7:05

7

Sat

3:15

3.0

3:52

3.6

9:09

1.1

10:17

1.3

7:18

7:04

7

Sat

6:54

0.6

7:27

0.7

2:09

0.8

2:09

0.7

7:19

7:04

8

Sun

4:17

3.0

4:49

3.6

10:05

1.1

11:08

1.2

7:19

7:02

8

Sun

7:51

0.6

8:22

0.7

3:04

0.8

3:06

0.7

7:20

7:03

9

Mon

5:13

3.2

5:39

3.6

11:00

1.1

11:54

1.2

7:20

7:01

9

Mon

8:46

0.6

9:14

0.7

3:53

0.8

4:00

0.7

7:20

7:02

10

Tue

6:02

3.3

6:23

3.7

11:53

1.1

7:20

7:00

10

Tue

9:39

0.7

10:02

0.7

4:40

0.7

4:51

0.7

7:21

7:01

11

Wed

6:47

3.5

7:05

3.7

12:36

1.1

12:42

1.0

7:21

6:59

11

Wed

10:27

0.7

10:46

0.7

5:23

0.6

5:40

0.6

7:21

6:59

12

Thu

7:30

3.6

7:45

3.7

1:15

1.0

1:29

1.0

7:21

6:58

12

Thu

11:11

0.7

11:28

0.7

6:04

0.6

6:26

0.5

7:22

6:58

13

Fri

8:13

3.8

8:25

3.6

1:50

0.9

2:13

0.9

7:22

6:57

13

Fri

11:52

0.7

6:42

0.5

7:08

0.5

7:23

6:57

14

Sat

8:53

3.9

9:04

3.5

2:24

0.8

2:55

0.9

7:23

6:56

14

Sat

12:07

0.7

12:31

0.8

7:18

0.4

7:48

0.4

7:23

6:56

15

Sun

9:32

4.0

9:42

3.4

2:56

0.8

3:35

0.9

7:23

6:55

15

Sun

12:45

0.7

1:09

0.8

7:52

0.4

8:27

0.4

7:24

6:55

16

Mon

10:09

4.0

10:19

3.3

3:28

0.8

4:15

1.0

7:24

6:54

16

Mon

1:23

0.7

1:47

0.8

8:26

0.3

9:06

0.5

7:24

6:54

17

Tue

10:47

4.0

10:58

3.2

4:02

0.8

4:58

1.1

7:24

6:53

17

Tue

2:02

0.7

2:26

0.8

9:02

0.3

9:47

0.5

7:25

6:53

18

Wed

11:29

4.0

11:40

3.1

4:39

0.8

5:48

1.1

7:25

6:52

18

Wed

2:44

0.7

3:08

0.8

9:40

0.4

10:32

0.6

7:26

6:52

19

Thu

12:16

4.0

5:25

0.9

6:46

1.2

7:26

6:51

19

Thu

3:28

0.7

3:55

0.8

10:24

0.4

11:23

0.6

7:26

6:51

20

Fri

12:28

3.1

1:10

4.0

6:22

0.9

7:46

1.2

7:26

6:50

20

Fri

4:16

0.6

4:48

0.8

11:16

0.5

7:27

6:50

21

Sat

1:24

3.1

2:11

4.0

7:27

0.9

8:44

1.2

7:27

6:49

21

Sat

5:11

0.6

5:49

0.7

12:22

0.7

12:17

0.5

7:28

6:49

22

Sun

2:30

3.1

3:18

4.0

8:33

0.8

9:42

1.1

7:28

6:48

22

Sun

6:14

0.6

6:56

0.8

1:27

0.7

1:27

0.5

7:28

6:48

23

Mon

3:43

3.2

4:25

4.0

9:39

0.8

10:39

0.9

7:28

6:47

23

Mon

7:23

0.7

8:04

0.8

2:30

0.6

2:37

0.5

7:29

6:47

24

Tue

4:52

3.5

5:25

4.0

10:46

0.7

11:32

0.7

7:29

6:46

24

Tue

8:31

0.7

9:09

0.8

3:30

0.5

3:44

0.4

7:30

6:46

25

Wed

5:52

3.8

6:19

4.1

11:51

0.6

7:30

6:45

25

Wed

9:35

0.7

10:08

0.8

4:26

0.3

4:47

0.2

7:30

6:45

26

Thu

6:46

4.1

7:10

4.0

12:23

0.6

12:52

0.5

7:30

6:44

26

Thu

10:34

0.8

11:02

0.8

5:20

0.1

5:47

0.1

7:31

6:44

27

Fri

7:38

4.3

8:00

3.9

1:11

0.4

1:50

0.5

7:31

6:43

27

Fri

11:27

0.8

11:52

0.8

6:12

0.0

6:44

0.1

7:32

6:43

28

Sat

8:30

4.5

8:50

3.8

1:57

0.3

2:44

0.4

7:32

6:42

28

Sat

12:18

0.9

7:00

-0.1

7:36

0.0

7:33

6:42

29

Sun

9:19

4.6

9:38

3.7

2:42

0.3

3:34

0.5

7:32

6:41

29

Sun

12:41

0.8

1:07

0.9

7:46

-0.1

8:25

0.0

7:33

6:42

30

Mon

10:06

4.5

10:25

3.5

3:25

0.3

4:23

0.6

7:33

6:41

30

Mon

1:29

0.8

1:55

0.9

8:31

-0.1

9:13

0.1

7:34

6:41

31

Tue

10:52

4.4

11:11

3.4

4:09

0.5

5:12

0.8

7:34

6:40

31

Tue

2:16

0.7

2:42

0.8

9:15

0.1

10:00

0.3

7:35

6:40

Moon

Any style of vinyl fence & railing Thanks for voting Us! Best Fence Company

Your Trusted Fence Provider 801 Orange Ave, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114

(386) 253-4212

Whether its standard or something you made up on a piece of notebook paper, we have you covered!

16 VOLUSIA COUNTY

october 2023

StreSS free ordering at daytonavinyl.com 741 Orange Avenue, Daytona Beach | (386) 999-6300

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

R

be the t gator

re and utdoor

r boat, ad his e’re in

ntil we huge.” water e with

quired mation

Florida together.

Let’s grow with

10 FLORIDA

OCTOBER 2023

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

CRANKBAITS&KAYAKS

By Coty Perry

Tricks You Didn’t Know You Needed to Know

transitioning to fishing a crankbait from a kayak. I now steer my yak while reeling a crankbait instead of picking up a paddle. All I do is point my rod tip in the opposite direction I want to go. When my rod tip points to the left, my kayak drifts to the right and vice versa. To go straight, I point my rod tip straight ahead.

Speaking of the rod, I use a shorter rod, mainly because I fish areas with a lot of overhanging trees, and shorter rods transport easier in my rod box on my trailer and kayak. I also use a higher-speed reel than bank and bass boat anglers because I’m losing speed as the kayak drifts towards my crankbait. So, instead of a 6:1, I use an 8:1 or 7:1 gear ratio.

I spool up with braided line and use a 3- to 5-foot, 12- to 17-pound test fluorocarbon leader. The length and strength depend on water clarity and how deep I fish.

More than likely, I have a squarebill crankbait tied on while fishing shallow, which is a majority of the time. However, I will tie a deep-diving crankbait during the summer.

Where to Fish a Crankbait in a Yak Crankbaits have a lot of benefits, but they also have limitations. A lipless crankbait can be fished in the grass, especially along the edge of the grass, but most of the time, I fish crankbaits along rocky or riprap banks and over the tops of brushpiles.

I want my lure hitting every rock on the retrieve back because this often triggers a bite. The same holds true for fishing around laydowns and brushpiles.

I don’t want to get snagged, but I’ve gotten so many bites after bumping into submerged limbs.

Fishing in these two areas has helped me catch loads of bass on a crankbait, plus a few catfish.

When to Fish a Crankbait in a Kayak

A

lthough kayak anglers use the same lures as bank and boat anglers, I fish a crankbait year-round. However, I change the style. In the cooler we often must adjust our approach. One lure I’ve found myself using months, I tend to break out a lipless crankbait the most. As the water warms, I differently while bass fishing from a kayak is the crankbait. switch to a squarebill, and once I’m sure the fish have moved to deeper water, I love throwing a crankbait, but a challenge to fishing one in a kayak is the I’ll tie on a deep-diving crankbait during the hottest times of the year. drag created by the lure. Fishing kayaks are much lighter than bass boats, so Coty Perry is a third-generation angler, who has a lot of experience your kayak moves toward the lure as you retrieve it. on the water and loves sharing what he knows on anglers.com.

Learning to control the yak was a significant adjustment I made when

Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!®

Fishing Fever Tournament October 13-15 • Islamorada, FL

Ladies, fish Friday & Sunday, inshore or offshore, on charter boats or your own boat! Win prizes!

Perfect for beginners or those who don’t fish a lot.

Go fishing & win in the Florida Keys!

Parties: Fri. at Tavernier Elks • Sat. at Seaside Glassworks.

Full-day seminar on Saturday, inshore & offshore.

We will team you with others.

No experience or boat necessary!

Charter fishing additional to registration.

Register in advance to hold your fishing spot at www.LadiesLetsGoFishing.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

OCTOBER 2023

FLORIDA 11

By Will Schmidt

RELEASING FISH THE RIGHT WAY

W We Specialize in Heavy Duty Beach Wheels, Custom Axle Kits & Pompano Rigs WE SELL 12-INCH AND 16-INCH HEAVY DUTY BEACH WHEELS $149.99/Pair w/Bushing $189.99/Pair w/Bearings • Fits 3/4 Axles • 350 lb. Weight Capacity Per Pair • Stainless Steel Needle Roller Bearings We Sell 3/4 In. Solid Aluminum Axle Kits for $34.99!

779.770.2100 • benjaminsbeachwheels.com

ith so many species closed to harvest, releasing fish properly is more important than ever as we need these fish to thrive and spawn.

There are some very simple rules to follow that will help ensure the vitality of a released fish.

First and foremost, keep them wet. A fish out of water is going through a major amount of stress. This is especially true after a long fight. It’s like running a race and then having to hold your breath. The best-case scenario is to use a dehooker that allows you to release the fish without ever taking it out of the water. Long pliers or dehookers that slide down the line and allow you to flip the fish off work great. If you do need to lift the fish, work fast and get the fish back in the water before it stops dripping water. When taking pictures, keep the fish in the water until you are completely ready. Also consider a more creative angle other than the traditional hero pose so the fish stays in the water.

The way you handle the fish out of water makes a huge difference. Keeping them wet also preserves the vital slime on the fish which is crucial. Make sure your hands are wet. Avoid putting fish on dry surfaces. Rough dry surfaces like boat decks and rocks remove much of the vital slime from a fish. Never use a dry towel to handle a fish; that can be the kiss of death. Using a rubber net versus a nylon net also greatly reduces the amount of slime removed.

Bottom fishing in deep water creates another issue, barotrauma, or the expansion of gas inside a fish as it ascends from the deep. You know the bulging stomach and eyes. Descending devices are easy ways to ensure fish suffering barotrauma make it safely back to the bottom. They are required by law now in many areas for many species. While venting tools work well, most people do not use them properly and often don’t have the proper tool. Ice picks are not proper devices.

Lip clamps and inverted hook style release techniques are simple and work great. Here’s a bonus: if you visit Return ‘Em Right (https://returnemright. org), you can get the equipment you need for free. It’s a $100 value.

Have a rod rigged and ready with your descending device so you get the fish back in the water and down as quickly as possible. I’ve also found that the using a lighter weight than provided by Return ‘Em Right is much easier to retrieve and works on smaller snapper and such. That said, with many grouper out of season, make sure you keep a heavier weight with you for when you get a big one.

Helping fish survive being caught today is the key to having fish to catch tomorrow.

Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler who has been writing about fishing from more than two decades.

12 FLORIDA

OCTOBER 2023

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

Is

N

ISL B

60th Annual

Islamorada Sailfish Tournament Nov. 30, 2023 KICK OFF • Dec. 1-3, 2023 FISHING All proceeds benefit ISLAMORADA CHARTER BOAT ASSOCIATION

Over $90,000 in cash and prizes in 2022!

HOST MARINA

ISLAMORADA • MM 83 OCEANSIDE

islamoradasailfishtournament.com

Call Dianne Harbaugh for more information at 305-522-4868

6913 Norton Ave. West Palm Beach, FL 334054

Hurricane Season (561) 758-8758 Phone orders Can Be shiPPed

Be prepared with extra ropes, chains, anchors, shackles, and more!

Custom Spliced Dock Lines & Anchor Rodes

STICK MARSH FILLS UP FOR FALL FISHING

O

ne of Florida’s premier bass fisheries, known as Stick Marsh or Farm 13, is refilling and should become a better fishery thanks to a large-scale habitat restoration conducted by FWC and the St. Johns River Water Management District.

The reservoir, which straddles Brevard and Indian River counties, was drawn down by 4 feet in February to stimulate submersed plant growth and re-establish native emergent vegetation, which should improve habitat for fish and wildlife. FWC staff planted the southern portion of the reservoir with native aquatic plants, including 131,000 bulrush and 40,000 spatterdock plants at a total cost of $400,000. Plants were installed across the waterbody going east-west to provide a natural wave break for the shallow southern end.

Two tree islands form a Critical Wildlife Area within the reservoir, which provides nesting and roosting habitat for imperiled waterbirds, including roseate spoonbills and tricolored herons. The lower water levels created by the drawdown benefited waterbirds by increasing foraging habitat and concentrating prey. Water levels will be allowed to slowly rise with rainfall and by now should be back within the normal range.

Three Forks Conservation Area to the north also underwent a drawdown.

Three Forks Reservoir will be back within normal range before Stick Marsh/ Farm 13.

The St. Johns Water Management Area boat ramp at Stick Marsh/Farm 13 and the Thomas O. Lawton Recreation Area boat ramp at Three Forks Conservation Area remain accessible. Be aware that shallower water continues to create underwater hazards.

For more information, visit MyFWC.com.

14 FLORIDA

OCTOBER 2023

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

SHRIMP: THE KING OF BAITS

I

Tim Barefoot

n the Atlantic, mature white shrimp go on the move in fall and transition to tighter fall and winter homes in the ocean.

There are only a few fish that do not actively seek out white shrimp this time of year. For almost all the fish we seek to catch, it’s the ultimate bait.

At one point in my life, I spent an incredible amount of time cast netting and storing white shrimp (green tails) for trout fishing in October, November and December. The biggest problem with shrimp as bait is all the trash bites from pinfish and all the other little snappers. Snook and tarpon will definitely key on a big pretty shrimp, but keeping the trash off of them is difficult. Everything down there will give a shrimp a whack and at least take a few legs or the tail off. This is the reason I went the artificial route years ago when it comes to shrimp.

There is nothing, I mean NOTHING, more effective on inshore species than a live shrimp with a 6/0 - 8/0 circle hook under a sliding cork or freelined. With that said, I’ve taken the path of least resistance and now fish a DOA Shrimp on a jig head. It gets the bite, and I don’t spend hours messing with live bait or netting it on the morning of the trip.

I’m not saying catching live shrimp is a waste of time… it’s not, but with artificials, I can show up with my entire tackle box in a small backpack full of tricks.

The hour or two at daylight in the morning, I prefer the “measles” color DOA because a shrimp’s legs and underbody are red in the dark and at first light. When the sun gets up, I switch to the “near clear” color when the water is clear, but only if they stop eating the measles color. You can’t fix what ain’t broke.

I mash the barb down on the jig hook. This way, when fish I don’t plan to eat come to the boat, I don’t have to touch the fish. Just grab the jig head and give a quick reverse motion. The hook comes right out. You can get back in the action, and the fish has a better chance of survival.

The same jig and soft plastic shrimp combo is extremely effective fished under a fixed cork at night. Make a long cast up-current around bridge pilings, docks or other structure. This is not the situation for a popping cork with all the beads and rattles. I like a nice quiet, heavy-duty cork that can be fished quietly or with quite a bit of noise. I stay in touch with the cork, and let the current dictate the speed of the retrieve.

Any way you fish it, white shrimp reign supreme for inshore fishing, especially in October and November.

To see more from Tim Barefoot, go to barefootcatsandtackle.com.

s, was th and or fish r with plants going

which luding reated at and all and

down.

Marsh/

/Farm Forks tinues

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

OCTOBER 2023

FLORIDA 15

GO GET SOME GULF SNAPPER! F

lorida’s extended fall Gulf of Mexico red snapper season is still going on. Gulf Anglers are taking advantage of some great fishing, and there are still eight weekends in October and November to get in on the action.

The limit is two per person, per day with a 16-inch minimum size limit. The remaining 2023 dates available for harvest of red snapper in the Gulf are: • October 6–8 • October 13–15 • October 20–22 • October 27–29

• November 3–5 • November 10–12 (Veterans Day Weekend) • November 17–19 • November 23–26 (Thanksgiving Weekend)

Anglers pursuing red snapper in state or federal waters from a private recreational vessel, even those exempt from fishing license requirements, must sign up as a State Reef Fish Angler (annual renewal required) at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.

For more information, go to MyFWC.com.

ATLANTIC BLUELINE HARVEST CLOSED

P

rospects for loading the cooler bottom fishing got a little slimmer when harvest of blueline tilefish closed in Atlantic state waters of Florida on Sept. 1. This closure is consistent with the closure in adjacent federal waters. Harvest will reopen May 1, 2024.

These delicious bottom dwellers are frequently caught by anglers targeting deep-water groupers. They inhabit 250- to 800-foot depths and their popularity as a game fish has risen in the last decade as restrictions on other species has led anglers to target them. They came on the radar for federal fisheries managers in 2014 and 2015, when blueline tilefish were determined to be overfished.

The regular season for blueline tilefish in Atlantic state waters is May 1 through Aug. 31. The daily limit is three fish within the aggregate limit for blueline tilefish and grouper.

For more information, visit MyFWC.com.

16 FLORIDA

OCTOBER 2023

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

Only $29!

You would be hard pressed to find a timepiece of this outstanding quality and precision at this price.



“Are you kidding?

What a great watch at a ridiculous price.

Thank you Stauer!”

— Gitto, Hicksville NY

It’s Enough to MakeYou Blue in the Face

Time to take a stand against overpriced watches with the Stauer Urban Blue, now only $29.

Y

ou need a new watch…the one you are wearing was made revolutionizing the watch industry to bring you more real value, when Nixon was in office, but extravagantly-priced watches you can take your own stand against overpriced watches with the that add zeros just because of a high falootin’ name are an insult Urban Blue. to your logic. Why shell out big money so some foreign company Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Wear the Urban Blue for can sponsor another yacht race? It’s time to put an end to such 30 days. If you’re not convinced that you achieved excellence for madness. It’s absolutely possible to have the highest quality, less, send it back for a refund of the item price. The Urban Blue precision classic timepiece without the high and mighty price tag. is one of our fastest sellers. It takes six months to engineer this Case in point: The Stauer Urban Blue. watch so don’t wait. Take a stand against overpriced watches in Packed with high-end watch performance and style, minus impeccable style. Limited to the first 1900 responders to this ad the high-end price tag. It’s everything a high-end watch should only. Don’t miss out...call today! be: Sturdy stainless steel and genuine leather construction.

Stauer Urban Blue Watch $199† Precision timing that’s accurate to four seconds a day––that’s more precise than a 27-jewel automatic watch priced at over $6,000. Offer Code Price $29 + S&P Save $170 And, good looking–– with simple, clean lines and a striking metallic blue face.

“Blue watches are one of the growing style trends seen in the Your Insider Offer Code: UBW593-02 You must use this insider offer code to get our special price. watch world in the past few years”––WatchTime® 14101 Southcross Drive W., Your great escape from the over-priced watch craze. At Ste 155, Dept. UBW593-02 Stauer, we go directly to the source (cutting out the middleman), Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 Rating of A+ www.stauer.com and engineer our own watch designs. This means we can offer a top quality timepiece that happens to only cost the same as two † Special price only for customers using the offer code versus the price on well-made cocktails at your favorite bar. So, while we’re busy Stauer.com without your offer code.

1-800-333-2045

Precision movement • Stainless steel caseback and crown • Cotswold™ mineral crystal • Date window • Water resistant to 3 ATM • Genuine leather band fits wrists 6 ¾”–8 ¾”

Stauer…Afford the Extraordinary.®

Rinse On, Rinse Off Ceramic Sealant 3

PROTECTION

MONTHS

RINSE-ON CERAMIC www.gtechniq.com

COOK ISLANDS

GRANDER CAUGHT SOLO FROM A 22-FOOT BOAT

C

atching a grander is one of the most sought-after feats in sportfishing.

Boats, crews and anglers enter rare air when they hook and land a 1,000-pound-plus marlin, and untold time and money are spent chasing the dream.

Fishing solo from a 22-foot boat, angler Arnold Pauro achieved his lifelong dream Aug. 25 when he hauled in a 1,128-pound blue marlin that is a new record for the Cook Islands. According to the Cook Island News, Pauro came tight with the huge blue fishing just 3 miles off the southern end of the island Rarotonga.

Rarotonga is the most populated of the Cook Islands, which is an archipelago nation out in the middle of the South Pacific northeast of New Zealand. Rarotonga is renowned for excellent flats fishing, especially for bonefish, and like many volcanic islands, the water drops into thousandfoot depths just a few miles offshore. This creates a situation where bluewater fishing is very accessible, even for anglers in smaller boats.

According to the Cook Island News, Pauro managed to subdue the giant fish solo in his small boat, Haurua, by keeping a short line. He first brought Arnold’s fish topped the Cook Island weight record of 1,045 pounds, the fish boat-side after just 3 minutes, and then all hell broke loose. Arnold which was set by angler Paku Poila in November 2020. The IGFA all-tackle told the news outlet that the fish jumped 40 or 50 times and ran out of steam world record for blue marlin was caught off Brazil in 1992. It weighed 1,402 after about an hour and a half. pounds.

“I kept it to 50 metres of line, kept it short, I don’t like letting my marlin To read the original report, go to www.cookislandsnews.com. go,” he told the Cook Island News.

scotthawaii.com FAMILY RUN IN HAWAII FOR 90 YEARS

Hanapa‘a - Marlin

Fish flags tell the story!

Catch all 4 Hanap‘a “slippahs” from Scott Hawaii Hanapa‘a - Ono

Hanapa‘a - Mahi

Hanapa‘a - Ahi

Fish flags inspired by Sun Dot Marine Flags.

@fishflags

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

OCTOBER 2023

NATIONAL 11

SPECIALIZING IN RESTORATION OF AGED, SUNBURNT, OR FADED LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAYS.

WE SERVICE MORE THAN JUST GAUGES!

If your device has an LCD that has faded over time, or want to inquire about possible repair options for your unit, give us a call or visit our website!

CHART PLOTTERS, VHF’S, RADARS, SOUNDERS, AUTOPILOTS, JET SKI CLUSTERS, AND MUCH MORE.

904-701-9726 • GAUGESAVER.COM 5049 HIGHWAY 17 SOUTH, GREEN COVE SPRINGS, FL 32043

NOAA REVEALS SERIOUS FLAW IN ANGLER DATA

F

or the third time in the last 13 years, serious flaws have been revealed in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) data collection programs for recreational fisheries. A recent pilot study conducted by NOAA itself and published in August found that estimates on angler effort might be overestimated by 30 to 40 percent.

These inflated estimates are important because they are part of the equation used to manage our fisheries. The data is used in stock assessments, and to estimate harvest numbers and recreational discard. By overestimating angler effort, catch data is also inflated, which means the data erroneously reflects a larger harvest by recreational anglers than actually exists.

In a nutshell, the pilot study found that the Marine Recreational Information Program’s Fishing Effort Survey is confusing to respondents, which led to “reporting errors” and “illogical responses.” NOAA said this survey, which is mailed to licensed saltwater anglers, “remains the best and sometimes the only available science for tracking relative year-to-year and long-term effort trends.”

The immediate reaction to this revelation from some outlets was a call to reduce restrictions on recreational anglers. The estimate means fewer fish were actually caught, which means there are more fish still in the water, right?

Not so fast. This catch and effort data also figures into stock assessments. The inflated effort numbers translate to an overestimation in fish populations.

“The news of this significant overestimation has serious implications for all of our fisheries. Since every species is managed differently, the ramifications of this information cannot be quantified under a singular umbrella,” reads a

12 NATIONAL

OCTOBER 2023

By CAM Staff

report from the American Saltwater Guides Association (ASGA). “It does not mean that because fishing effort is less than originally expected, there must be more fish to harvest.

In fact, it will mean there needs to be a major re-calibration because effort is used to help determine stock size. If we have overestimated effort, we also overestimated the stock. We must go species by species to understand the best path for management moving forward. Now more than ever, we need to be precautionary in our management approach.”

NOAA has indicated it will initiate further studies into the findings of its pilot study, according to the ASGA report.

Meanwhile, a group of marine conservation and recreational fishing organizations has ramped up its call to wrest control of recreational data collection from the federal government and turn it over to state agencies.

“Yet another major revision to the federal recreational data collection system is upon us, and it should bring a realization that NOAA is just not capable of doing this job,” said Ted Venker, conservation director of the Coastal Conservation Association. “At best we are looking at several more years of questionable revisions, recalculations, and recalibrations based on a suspect data system that has never proven it can produce accurate information. This is no way to manage a public resource. It would be irresponsible to continue down this road rather than exploring and supporting state-based options to better manage the recreational sector wherever feasible.”

Read NOAA’s report on its pilot study at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ recreational-fishing-data/fishing-effort-survey-research-and-improvements.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

PHOTO COURTESY OF BIG OL’ FISH GUIDING SERVICE

31-INCH LIMIT ON ATLANTIC STRIPER EXTENDED New Management Plan Delayed Until at Least January

R

ecreational anglers in Chesapeake Bay and along the Atlantic Coast must continue to release all striped bass longer than 31 inches after fisheries managers extended an emergency regulation that was set to expire on Oct. 28. The extension’s new expiration date is Oct. 28, 2024, which gives the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) more than a full year to grapple with a complex management plan intended to rebuild the coastwide striper population by 2029.

The emergency measure was first implemented in May, after estimates showed recreational harvest nearly doubled in 2022 over 2021’s figures. At the time, projections plummeted from a 97 percent chance the stock would be rebuilt by 2029 to just a 15 percent.

NOAA’s Fisheries Effort Survey, which was found recently to have overestimated angler effort by 30 to 40 percent, is an important part of recreational harvest estimates. It also plays into stock assessments for the striped bass fishery.

However, scientists still believe striped bass reproduction has been down since 2015. The 2015 age class was strong, and those fish are now the larger fish in the population that contribute most to reproduction. The emergency measure was implemented to protect the larger breeding fish.

The Chesapeake Bay “Trophy” season, which has historically been an important fishery for bay anglers, is exempt from this emergency regulation.

The short early May season in Maryland has allowed anglers to keep one fish longer than 35 inches per person. A press release from ASMFC warned anglers that this special season might change once the emergency measure is replaced by a management plan that is supposed to come from ASMFC’s Addendum II of the Atlantic Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan.

Addendum II is a complex document with a range of management options intended to rebuild the striped bass stock by the end of the decade. It was hoped Addendum II would be ready for implementation in October. After five hours of back and forth at an August commission meeting, the decision was made to delay action. Now, the earliest a new management plan can be implemented is January 2024.

“Moving the emergency action forward was an important stop-gap measure to balance fishing mortality in the recreational fishery,” said David Sikorski, a Maryland delegate to the ASMFC. “Unfortunately, the delay in advancing draft Addendum II leaves uncertainty in our ability to meet our rebuilding goals and reduce overall fishing mortality ahead of the 2024 fishing year. Between now and the October 2023 meeting, draft Addendum II will be updated and provided to the board and posted online.”

The 31-inch maximum emergency rule will remain in place until Oct. 28, 2024, or until it is replaced by restrictions in Addendum II. For more information, go to http://www.asmfc.org/

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

OCTOBER 2023

NATIONAL 13

PERIOD.

Clean, Waxes & Protects Glass, Lexan, Isinglass, Metal, Gelcoat, Fiberglass, Paint, Plastic & Rubber

Remove & Prevents Oxidation, Scuff Marks, Bird & Spider Poop, Fish Blood, Rust, Water & Exhaust Stains

Restores Gelcoat, Fiberglass, Metal, Plastic Windows & Rubber

USE CODE BOAT10 FOR 10% 0FF

www.koenigpolish.com • 1-877-843-9929

SNELLING A HOOK

S

nelling a hook is an age-old way of attaching it to your line. It is a technique that pre-dates the invention of hook eyes, when hooks only had flattened tops and snelling the hook was required to create a good connection to the line.

Thanks to hook eyes, this is no longer necessary, but a snell knot remains one of the best connections out there for simple line-to-hook connections. The knot’s ability to orient the point of the hook in the right direction for octopus and circle hooks makes it a go-to knot for live and cut bait fishing. You’ll get more solid hook sets when you snell circle hooks.

A snell knot is quick and easy to tie and it provides a strong connection. The only real disadvantage is the knot is on the shank of the hook, where it is vulnerable to the teeth of toothy critters. It’s probably not the best choice if you’re fishing for muskie or barracuda.

For more information, go to usangler.com.

14 NATIONAL

OCTOBER 2023

HAVE YOU CAUGHT A LENGTH-RECORD SMALLIE?

T

his gorgeous Colorado River smallmouth bass is a new IGFA alltackle world length record for the species.

The chunky smallmouth measured 53 centimeters (20 inches) on an official IGFA measuring device, which tied the fish for the length record with two other officially recognized smallies.

Sarah Harris landed her big fish while night fishing on the Colorado River in Arizona. It slammed a topwater lure and was boated after a short fight. After snapping some photos, Harris released it safely.

Harris’s bass tied a smallmouth caught by William Brent Evans from Alabama’s Lake Guntersville in 2014 as well as one caught from Washington’s Osoyoos Lake by Shane Hoelzle in 2020.

The IGFA all-tackle world record smallmouth by weight is a longstanding 11-pound, 15-ounce mark that was set in 1955 by David Hayes at Dale Hollow Lake in Tennessee.

Hayes’s Dale Hollow fish is a record that might stand forever, but those length records can be beaten. While a 20-inch smallmouth is definitely a trophy fish, 20-plus inchers are caught pretty regularly. It’s a matter of time before someone with an official IGFA measuring device puts one in the boat.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

For more, go to IGFA.org.

TIPS FROM A PRO

CLEANS EVERYTHING.

TIPS FROM A PRO

SEARCH WITH A BLADED JIG

T

TYLER WOOLCOTT

his time of year, when bass are feeding up ahead of winter, it’s tough to beat a bladed jig—or Chatterbait—to find hungry fish.

In most cases, the Chatterbait is in my arsenal as a search bait to cover a ton of water. There isn’t a piece of cover that I can think of that I haven’t thrown it around with success. Docks, wood, grass, rocks, anywhere a bass might live and feed is a good place to throw it. Most of the time you can locate fish with this bait and then go back through the same area with something else and pick up some more bites. If there are hungry bass around and you present this bait in the right way, you will get a bite.

A lot of times I am trying to duplicate an injured baitfish with a Chatterbait, whether they be shad, shiners or bluegill. Whites, golds and green pumpkin colors are my go to baitfish imitators and are what I have tied on most of the time. If the water is dirty or when fish are feeding on crayfish, I’ll switch to a black and blue or even an orange or red color. Match a trailer bait of your choice on the back like a swimbait or a craw trailer, and you’ll be good to go.

Re-Discover Old Florida

Waterfront Charm

The Perfect Vacation Getaway for Fishing, Boating & Outdoor Enthusiasts

NEW BRICK PAVER SIDEWALKS THROUGHOUT!

Nestled on six lush tropical acres of pristine waterfront directly on the Indian River Lagoon, take a step back in time to experience the very best of Old Florida charm with modern conveniences and services to make your stay truly memorable and unforgettable.

Chatterbait bites are usually reaction strikes, so I vary the retrieve to create erratic action while keeping the lure in the strike zone. I do this by speeding up my retrieval speed and then pausing for a very short period of time and then resuming a normal retrieval rate.

Believe it or not, there are way more fish that follow your bait and don’t commit than you think. A very small adjustment in the speed can make the difference and convince these fish to eat. A 3/8-oz. and a ½-oz. are pretty much the only two sizes I throw. This covers all different depth ranges from a foot of water down to 10 feet. Cover as much water as possible until you pin point a healthy population of feeding bass then slow down with a different bait that you can work slower.

• FULLY FURNISHED 3 ROOM COTTAGES WITH FULLY EQUIPPED KITCHENS

Kingfish Lodge includes a wide screen TV and bar for small gatherings Sailfish House features a wide covered wrap-around porch for larger groups • Boat Trailer Parking on site w/ Water and Power • 250 Foot Dock w/ Covered Area • FREE Ice / FREE Guest Dockage TRAVEL • Cable TV, Hi-Speed Internet Cover Your Vacation • 2 miles to the Ft. Pierce Inlet with Travel Insurance • 12 miles to the Gulf Stream • Laundry, BBQ Grilles and FREE use of our Kayaks P R O T E C T I O N

Chatterbait Gear

A moderate-action rod makes a huge difference when it comes to keeping fish hooked up. The 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’4mhm is absolutely perfect for fishing a Chatterbait. I pair a 7:5:1 gear ratio Concept A 13 Fishing reel with this and spool it with 17-lb. Seaguar Abraz X. I throw some bigger line with this, as you are usually around some type of cover and are working the bait fairly fast, so they won’t get a chance to see your line anyway.

Hope this fishing tip will give you some confidence to try this technique, if you haven’t already. It flat out catches them. Good luck out there and tight lines!

Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide.

Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.

NIGHTLY • WEEKLY • MONTHLY • SEASONAL RATES

3011 N. Indian River Dr., Ft. Pierce, FL 34946

www.indianriverlagoonwaterfrontcottages.com

Reservations and Information: (772) 349-2206

Your Health and Safety are our utmost concern. COVID-19 CDC Guidelines are in full effect.

All accommodations are completely cleaned and sanitized prior to guest arrival

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

OCTOBER 2023

NATIONAL 15

RECORD MAHI CAUGHT OFF WASHINGTON STATE A 20-pound mahi might not be surprising off the coasts of Florida or Mexico, but this 21-pound, 48-inch-long dolphinfish is a super rare catch off the coast of Washington State.

It’s the largest one anyone’s ever caught there.

Angler Wade La Fontaine caught his state record mahi 42 miles out in the Pacific off the Washington coast on Aug. 25. He was on a charter trip with Capt. Keith Johnson aboard the Tunacious. They were trolling for tuna with plastic squid lures behind a spreader when the mahi hit.

Upon landing at the dock in Westport, Washington, the dolphinfish was checked by a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist, then weighed on a certified scale. After review, the record was certified on Aug. 30.

Dolphinfish are sporadically caught by recreational and commercial fishers targeting albacore tuna and other species off the Washington and Oregon coasts, including a handful recorded last year at the ports of Westport and Ilwaco and at least two this summer.

“Most mahi mahi caught off our coast are smaller fish in the 6- to 12-pound range,” read a WDFW press release. “La Fontaine’s fish — which was 48 inches long and 40 inches to the inside fork of the tail — was more reminiscent of large

dolphinfish caught in warmer waters off southern California, Mexico and Hawaii.”

The previous Washington state record weighed 16.27 pounds. It was caught by Albert DaSilva in 2013.

The charter reported 70-degree water temperature in the area where the fish was caught, which is warm, even for the warmer offshore currents, though not unprecedented especially during El Nino years, explained the release.

“I’m blessed beyond comprehension,” La Fontaine said. “I’ll be getting another tattoo of a mahi!”

Albacore tuna are the primary target for Pacific Northwest offshore anglers, with large schools of these “longfin tuna” abundant off the coast of northern California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia in the summer and early fall.

Albacore are found in the blue water, a mass of warmer Sea Surface Temperature water typically found off the West Coast of North America during summer and fall, and off Southern California yearround.

The Return of a

Custom Built Quality Outdoor BBQ Products Since 1989

Pig Cookers, Patio Grills, Smokers, Customized BBQ Trailers

For More Info 1-252-236-4464 www.BQGRILLS.com 6043 Hwy 301N, Elm City, NC 16 NATIONAL

OCTOBER 2023

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

For more information, go to https://wdfw.wa.gov/

HOOKED ON HARTWELL NAMED A TOP 100 BASS LAKE IN AMERICA.

Find your next catch in Lake Hartwell Country.

LakeHartwellCountry.com