Coastal Angler Magazine | November 2023 | Volusia County Edition by Coastal Angler Magazine

VOLUSIA COUNTY EDITION

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GATOR TROUT On the Fly

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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/CONTEST VOLUME 28 • ISSUE 344

PHOTO CREDIT: CAPT. GUS BRUGGER WELCOMETOSEBASTIAN.COM

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NOVEMBER 2023

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FOR NOVEMBER’S BOUNTY By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

ith cold fronts rolling in and the slow season phasing out, November is a special month off the Keys. Crowds of sailfish begin to move up onto our reef, and a morning spent loading the cooler with yellowtail snapper transitions easily into a trophy fish hunt. Both can be targeted at the same time. Out on the reef, filling the boat with yellowtail takes care of the grocery hunt, and it’s also an opportunity to scoop some fresh ballyhoo. Once the cooler is full, the anchor is pulled and the sailfish hunt begins in the same area. This can lead to epic trips, with dinner and a show, all on a mere half day charter. Sitting on anchor on the reef should give the captain a reasonable assessment for the next steps to take into sailfishing for the remainder of the trip. Often, you will be able to see sailfish breaking the surface around you during the snapper fishing portion of the trip. You may see them either freejumping and putting on a show or pushing up schools of ballyhoo and spraying bait into the air, indicating their presence and appetite. If this obvious display isn’t present right away, there are two viable options to pursue the sailfish.

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The captain may choose to push out to deeper water and bump troll live bait, or deploy the kite, which can be extremely productive. Alternatively, and easily the more exciting option, is to travel along the reef and look for them. As you cruise the reef looking for a sightcasting opportunity, there are a few indicators to be watchful of. First, it is possible to see the sailfish itself, but this is a little more tricky from deck-level. A sailfish in the water will appear very black and can often look like a trash bag. They can also be spotted free-jumping and cruising the tops of the waves. Looking for the fish directly is actually the least productive way to find them without a tower on the boat to scout from. The best way to find them is running and gunning. Cruising slowly while scouring the surface for bait sprays and diving frigates gives them away almost every time. When the frigates start getting down on the water or large schools of bait are spraying into the air, throttle down because it’s game on. Hauling butt over to

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the action and trying to get your bait out there before the fish eats another ballyhoo is one of the most exciting types of fishing there is. Even if you miss your shot, there’s a great chance you will see the fish. Nothing compares to the adrenaline of this type of hunt. With cooler temperatures pushing in, tourism is more focused on fishing charters. Last minute bookings become more difficult. So, if you’re planning a vacation to the Florida Keys, it is recommended to make a charter reservation beforehand. Happy hunting and Happy Thanksgiving from Sweet E’nuf Charters! Capt. Quinlyn Haddon and Sweet E’nuf Charters fish out of Marathon in the Florida Keys. Contact Capt. Haddon at (504) 920-6342 and follow her social accounts @CaptainQuinlyn.

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EuroNymphing By Nick Carter

ove it or hate it, Euro nymphing is a style of fly fishing that is growing in popularity because it is so darn effective for catching numbers of trout. Naysayers might gripe about the technique having more in common with cane-pole fishing than fly fishing, but Euro nymphers are too busy netting fish to care. It is a combination of styles employed by European tournament anglers. At the most basic level, it is a simple way to fish nymphs without an indicator. The angler remains in constant loose contact with the fly and leads the drift with the rod. Bite detection is instant, hook sets are quick, and the angler has complete control over the depth and trajectory of the drift. Grant Hawse guides out of Fish Tales Outfitters in Franklin, N.C. He honed his nymphing skills as a member of the U.S. team at the World Youth Fly Fishing Championships in Spain and Slovenia in 2016 and 2017. Here are his tips for getting into Euro nymphing.

THE BASICS

Hawse said he visualizes a 3D grid in a run. He uses a series of short flick casts to drift his nymph over every inch of that grid vertically and horizontally. Depth is controlled by the angle of the rod, making it possible to present the fly on the nose of every fish in a run. Angles, posture and smooth line retrieve are important. Rapt attention to the slightest tick of a bite leads to lightning-fast hook sets. The technique might seem tedious to traditional fly fishers, but if the goal is to catch lots of fish, Euro nymphing has proven itself superior in most situations.

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You’ll need new gear to Euro nymph efficiently. Rod: Long, light rods give you reach and sensitivity. Cortland’s Nymph Series rods are 10’ 6” and come in 2- to 4-weight models. THE TECHNIQUE Reel: The reel balances the rig. Hawse said Euro nymphing is an efficient way to cover a reel rated for line one step heavier than the every inch of the water in front of you. With very rod’s rating generally does the trick. Test this by little slack in the system, the angler has complete balancing the rod with two fingers as a fulcrum on the handle. control of the path and depth of the drift.

Line: Hawse suggested spooling up with floating fly line instead of expensive Euro nymphing line. The main line rarely leaves the reel when you’re nymphing, anyway, and if you want to throw dry flies you can switch out the leader. Leader: Here’s a basic leader: 10 feet of 8-lb. mono, 6 feet of 6-lb. mono, 6 feet of 4-lb. mono, 2 feet of 6x sighter, and 4 feet of 6x tippet. Sighter is brightly colored leader material that allows the angler to see where the line is and what it’s doing. Flies: Euro nymph rigs require heavier flies. Fish Tungsten heads or nymphs with lead tied into the body. Contact Fish Tales Outfitters through their website www.fishtaleswnc.com.

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Hunting On the Fly Gator Trout By Nick Carter

atching gator trout heavier than 5 or 6 pounds has more in common with hunting than it does with setting up on a drop and catching schoolie trout hand over fist. Add to that the challenge of hunting them with a fly, and success becomes that much sweeter. Capt. Gus Brugger knows that sweet feeling well. He’s a regular contributor the Treasure Coast edition of Coastal Angler Magazine who has been hounding inshore species with a fly rod for nearly 40 years. He was a full-time inshore guide on Florida’s storied Indian River Lagoon for 23 years and has a lot to share when it comes to catching monster trout on the fly. “It’s got to be all about stealth if you want to get a big seatrout on the fly,” he said. “Whether from a kayak, a boat, or just accessing areas from the bank, I always feel like you’re a lot better off wading.” The primary benefit of wading is stealth, and it also forces you to work areas thoroughly. Outsized trout are notoriously skittish and spook from hull slap, shadows and even fly line on the water. With your feet in the sand, you’re less obtrusive, and while you might not be able to cover water like you would from a boat, you can be meticulous. “Grid out pieces of open water, set up with the wind off your shoulder— so you’re not knocking yourself in the head,” Brugger said. “Cast, take two steps to the side, and then cast again. Wind helps, and a little chop on the water helps keep them from spooking.” Carefully picking apart potholes, ditches and depressions on a flat is the go-to tactic for most of the year, but cooler winter water temps bring exciting opportunities for fly anglers. Winter may be the best time to target giant trout. “In winter, gators act more like snook than trout,” Brugger said. Big trout push into the backwaters in search of deeper holes with more comfortable

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water temperatures. This could be off a canal dock or in a trough of deep water along a mangrove bank. These comfort zones consolidate fish. While wading isn’t an option in several feet of muck on a canal bottom, a kayak or small skiff can get you in quietly. Brugger and his son have had great winter days at backwater holes in no-motor zones. As for gear, a 7- or 8-weight fly rod gives you the ability to throw big streamers and baitfish patterns. Brugger said they’ll eat a shrimp, but you’re better off throwing big mullet or menhaden imitations. Whether it’s a Clouser, Bendback, Polar Fiber Minnow, or some articulated monstrosity, Brugger fishes flies that are 6 inches and longer. Some days they want flashy white and chartreuse patterns. Other days they want something more natural. A clear intermediate sinking fly line is helpful for stealth and to get flies down into the strike zone. For more tips and tactics, visit coastalanglermag.com.

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fall and winter great, but also the fact that there are fewer tourists around. That means when you go fishing in popular areas, you won’t have to fight for the best spots. Plus, lots of resorts and hotels offer off-season rates, so you can save money and get more value for your dollar. A lot of species are in migration patterns during these months, so you can expect a wide variety of fish. Many of the fish that migrate south when ocean temps begin cooling eventually park themselves off the Keys. If you’re trying to go offshore, blackfin tuna and sailfish become more plentiful this time of year. Blackfins are delicious, and sailfish offer a battle you won’t forget when they come up out of the water tailwalking. Various mackerel and snapper species are usually available for the taking around this time, as well, and that’s usually action-packed. In the backcountry, there are jumbo snook, tarpon and permit. These classic backcountry game fish will definitely give you a fight to remember. So, whether you prefer fishing in the backcountry or in open water, you’re guaranteed to have a blast and reel in some great catches. The offseason months are really the best time to visit. The water is calm, there are lots of fish species to catch, the scenery is breathtaking, and you can count on local guides to help you out. Book your trip, take advantage of the offseason rates, and embark on an unforgettable fishing adventure in the stunning Florida Keys!

By Astrid DeGruchy

f you love fishing, you’ve gotta check out the Florida Keys during the off season. While most people visit from March to June, anglers in the know go during the offseason, from August through December. Not only does the temperature drop comfortably, but the hotels are more affordable and the fishing is amazing. It’s not just the cooler temperatures that makes

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NOVEMBER 2023

NEW SNOOK MANAGEMENT BEGINS JAN. 1

eginning Jan. 1, the way Florida manages its snook fisheries will change dramatically. At its October meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved new management regions and regulations for snook in state waters. These regulations will establish nine new snook management regions and establish open seasons as well as bag and slot limits for each region. This will allow FWC staff to monitor snook fisheries in each region independently and annually to adjust regulations regionally, similar to the way redfish are managed. “Through innovative management strategies like this, which allow us to be agile in our response to concerns, we are ensuring that Florida’s future generations of anglers will have access to this iconic fishery,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto. Here’s a breakdown of the regions and regulations for next year: Panhandle, Big Bend, Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay Open Season: March – April, September – November Bag limit: one fish Slot limit: 28-33 inches Charlotte Harbor, Southwest Open Season: March – April, October – November Bag Limit: one fish Slot Limit: 28-33 inches Southeast, Indian River Lagoon, Northeast Open Season: February – May, September – Dec. 14 Bag Limit: one fish Slot Limit: 28-32 inches For more information, including the October 2023 Commission meeting presentation, visit MyFWC.com/Commission.

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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 caPt. evan sanders Sol Fishing with the Captain & Kids www.SolFishing.com Blake aBBey Kayaking @kayakkingcharters skye Burkhardt Inshore Adventures @BrassyAngler87

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urrent is way too strong to fish, so I pulled in my first two lines on the beach and I noticed a third line which I had cast short. It had a big clump of seaweed on it and was hanging in the water. The next thing I know, the seaweed was up in the air. I grab the pole. It almost jerked out of my hand, and I was in the game. Whatever it was, was taking line and giving me a good licking. I started to gain ground on it. It was making its big run. I finally got it to turn, and shooting out through the waves was a nice slot red. It bounced up on the beach. The Skooly mullet are full in 6 inches of water, but I was fishing on a crab knuckle. Ya, mon! So, starting out today I had high hopes. I set up on the beach. Again, perfect conditions: nice green water and hardly any current. My rod started to bamba and samba. Those three little bangs on the pole that pompano made turned into a whole rhythm section. My biggest problem now is not to lose this zigzagging, angry pompano. I kept the drag loose until I needed to tighten just a little bit, and watched this nice size pompano surf onto the beach. After catching a few more, things slow down quite a bit - it was just time to chill and think about how I was going to cook these pompanos tonight for my wife. Sophie‘s favorite is a whole grilled fish with mumbo sauce, so that’s what it’ll be, and this is the way I do it: Starting with Mumbo sauce, here’s the recipe: • 1/2 jar of Saucy Susan marinade • 2-inch piece of ginger, peeled and finely grated • ground up cayenne pepper (or you can use Frank’s original hot sauce) • a couple of big splashes of Worcestershire sauce • a cup of orange juice Mix this up and use it to baste the fish. The pompano was gutted and whole. I slice three slices to the bone on each side, in order for the fish to poach and is also very good when you marinate, to get it fully tasty. Next, I get a very hot grill - we use charcoal and wood. Make sure you don’t go too far, because these cook pretty fast, I put it on one side and wait till I can see the scores from the grill on the fish, and flip it. I score the other side, turn it, and put on the mumbo sauce - be generous, the sauce is going to caramelize and blacken quite a bit, but it tastes great. I end up cooking each side twice for five minutes and after you hit it again with the mambo sauce, you’re done. Check out the picture, hopefully it looks like that. This is just the beginning of the Pompano run. The ones I caught were big and fat. We called them the scouts. They are always the first to show up. This comes along with the cooler weather. The sea is getting pretty rough, its still hurricane season, but it cools down the water. Since the pompano like it from 65-75° they’ll stay around and eat, as long as you have the right bait. Sand fleas, crab, knuckles, salted, clam, fresh shrimp you should do just fine. I like fresh live bait that’s just my preference. A lot of fishermen are using fish bites. It does matter what kind of equipment you have. I hope, for your sake, you have good lines and made some good strong leaders. But without the good bait, equipment means nothing. I’d also like to mention it’s very important to get sputnik sinkers. I mostly use only 3 ounce, they stick in the sand and release. I use 4 and 5 ounce. When the current is stronger my favorite ones are from the sinker guy up in Jacksonville, who ships everywhere. Ya, mon! So now is my favorite part of the day: putting on the island sounds of The Brothers Within, a great Marco poMpano local reggae band, getting the cooking Surf Fishing Guide vibes going, and me and these pomMarcopompano@gmail.com pano are heading right to the smoker. (386) 212-4838

2 VOLUSIA COUNTY

NOVember 2023

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Captain KIDS

aptain & The Kids strives to always promote youth anglers both at the local level as well as nationally through our “Youth Angler Program.” If it was not for passing down techniques, traditions, and the love for the water, it would slowly fade away. It is our mission to always instill conservation and ethical fishing to our youth! This month’s youth angler is NSB local Ryder Williams, who got to enjoy a morning fishing with Capt. Evan in the backcountry waters targeting redfish and trout! Ryder did an amazing job skipping and casting the bait in front of fish all day! Ryder also talked about how his Uncle Jc Krall got him into fishing as well as his dad. Ryder said “I love fishing any chance that I can go, and I always love to fish inshore tournaments with my Dad.” Besides being an awesome fisherman, Ryder is also heavily involved with his local FFA youth chapter at New Smyrna Beach Middle School. Be sure to look out for this awesome young man while on the water or at the farm! Capt. Evan & and Capt. Adam started the Youth Angler Program after finding out how many kids in the New Smyrna Beach area had never been fishing, never been on a boat, and was born and raised in the area. Since that day Capt. Evan & Capt. Adam strive to getting more and more youth anglers on the water each and every year! Sol Fishing will do everything possible to make every young man or ladies fishing dreams come true. It does not matter if the kids want to go offshore or inshore, Sol Fishing will target whichever species they want to catch. Some of the most recent species that the youth anglers have been wanting to target are red snapper, lane snapper, cobia, amberjack, sharks, barracuda, redfish, and snook. The Youth Angler Program is made possible by all our retailers who stock Sol Fishing’s gear such as our Hats, Decals, and Performance shirts and many more products. Stop by New Smyrna Beach Outfitters Outriggers, Donald’s Bait &amp; Tackle, 38 Live Bait &amp; Tackle, E & J Bait & Tackle Sunglass Cabana, Shades of New Smyrna Beach, Boaters Exchange, and Pedago of NSB to get your Sol Fishing gear to help support the Youth Angler Program! Sol Fishing’s amazing sponsors such as Sportsman Boats, Simrad, Seadek Marine, Custom Marine Volusia, and Castaway Customs also play a huge roll in the program!

CAPT. EVAN SANDERs

Sol Fishing Charters & Gear www.solfishing.com 407-796-2088

TOMOKA FORECAST

e as fisherman are fortunate to live where we can fish 12 months of the year. If you are a serious fisherman or woman it pays to learn how the weather effects the fish such as tides (high, low, and flood) temperature, barometric pressure, salinity, clarity of the water and such. Redfish like water 70-90 at 27-32 salinity, Tarpon 75-90 fresh or salt, Snook 70-82 fresh or salt, and Sea Trout 69-80 at 15-34 salinity. Rather than writing a book on barometric pressure I will share three levels of pressure for fishing. One level when the pressure is steady the fish we are talking about will be shallow under cover, two when the pressure begins to fall the fish will be moving around looking food to store up in their belly, and three the fish will then go deeper under cover and you want to fish slow and deep. Due to the factors above is the reason we have a steady population of Tarpon. When you see Tarpon breaking the water, float a popping cork with a live mullet down river or if you prefer artificial try Yozuri 3D Minnow Prism. November is also good for Pompano in the basin so have a rig ready. Good fishing! Capt. Barry Englehardt Fish With Captain Barry fishwithcaptainbarry.com (386) 871-8500

6 VOLUSIA COUNTY

november 2023

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PONCE INLET & BACKWATERS FORECAST

ovember is another one of the best months for fishing this area in my opinion and another one of my favorite months to be on the water. Cooler temps & lower humidity makes being out there on the water more enjoyable. I’ll focus a lot of my time on the hot redfish & snook bite at the inlet in the beginning of the month. It’s not uncommon to have multiple double and triple hook up experiences when these fish are chewing. Early in the month live bait fish like mullet, croaker, or pin fish on 30 lb leader with a 3/0 or 4/0 circle hook will be my go-to. As the month goes on and some cold fronts start to chill the water, I find that cut mullet and halved blue crab will really produce those larger redfish. North of the inlet near our bait shop at High Bridge in Ormond the snook bite will be on fire especially in early November. The bridge itself and the 100 bridge to the north will have snook stacked up. These bridges get crowded especially when the bite is hot. Don’t be afraid to venture away from the bridges and focus on docks and even deep mangrove shorelines as there are plenty of fish in these areas as well. Live baitfish or select shrimp free lined is my typical set up on charters but throwing hard baits and paddle tails in these areas are almost a certain bite if the fish are eating! It’s a great month to be on the water so don’t waste time get out there! As always 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

arly winter fishing patterns can begin during November, if we have chilly weather the seasonal transition will begin. The subtropical coastal migrating species will begin moving south where they spend the winter, including Tarpon, Jack Crevalle, Ladyfish, Pompano, and Spanish Mackerel. The mullet run follows the same south bound route, how soon and low the water temperatures drop will determine the timing. Resident fish such as Redfish, Snook, Seatrout, Snapper, etc remain in our waters through winter. Cold water species will begin to move in, including Sheepshead, Black Drum, and Bluefish. Mosquito Lagoon water levels can remain high after a flooded autumn in the lagoon and backcountry, where shorelines can still be a good bet with high water. Also, shallow grass and the flooded marsh can mean more sight fishing if clearer water. Blind casting soft plastics, and soaking cut or live finger mullet/ mud minnows in cloudy water. Early morning throw top water lures over shallow edges, and over top of submerged drop offs. After the sun is up, switch to sub surface soft plastics with 1/8 or 1/16 jig head for deeper water. Use weedless jerk baits in the shallows. In the backwaters free lined live shrimp or finger mullet are always a go to bait; hard plastics like MirrOdines and twitch baits also good. For Pompano in the surf, look for clean water and fish the sloughs between sand

bars. Sand fleas, cut clam, “fish bites”, and peeled shrimp can be best choices for bait. Some pomps also find their way into the backwaters. Snook season is still open, 28” to 32” slot size limit, 1 per person a day. A Snook permit on your fishing license is needed to keep one. Redfish remain catch & release only south of the New Smyrna SR44 bridge. To target bigger fish, go with bigger baits like mullet, pinfish, and select shrimp. You’ll want to use them free lined for surface action and with small weight for deeper spots. On artificials, use larger swimming lures for surface, jigs and bucktails for deeper. Fish Ponce Inlet jetties,

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the channel, bridge pilings, docks, Spruce Creek, Tomoka areas, and Haulover Canal at nightime or early morning before sunrise. Moving water can be best in the tidal areas. November also continues the bull Redfish spawn. Ponce Inlet is the center of attention but they can also be along the Intracoastal Waterway, NSB bridges, and Haulover Canal. Anchor or drift and soak half or whole Blue Crabs, live Pinfish, or Mullet. Before the chill comes Snook, Tarpon, Big Jacks, and Sharks can also be in the inlet with the big Reds. Some years the first cold spell can come this month. If it’s fast and hard, lagoon fish can get a little shocky after a year of warm water as they get used to the first cold water of the year. The near shore ocean this month can be very good for southward migrating schools of Spanish Mackerel and Bluefish. It is best from near the beach out to about a mile. Watch for surface activity like white water strikes and diving birds. They will be feeding on smaller size baitfish so match the hatch with small long casting shiny spoons, Gotcha plugs, and flies. Capt. Michael Savedow Edgewater River Guide EdgewaterRiverGuide.com (386) 689-3781

november 2023

VOLUSIA COUNTY 7

VOL. 1

Local Legends pays homage to the hardcore fisherman and anglers who have put in the work in their local waters.

e sat down with two local legends, Randy Oehmke - surfboard builder from Ormond Beach and Harrison Beach aka “HB” - cell phone tower technician from Daytona Beach. Both of these guys are hardcore jetty fisherman who have a passion for snook. If you plan to fish these rocks you can count on the fact that you will be running into them. When and How did you get into fishing? RO - “It was accidental. My dad told me to get the hell out of the house. Gives me a fishing rod with a long Rapala countdown on it. Dumbluck, he gives me a lure that snook eat. Ride my bike to Granada Bridge when it was a drawbridge. Third cast got a snook! That was it. Get that first one, that’s it.” HB - “I’ve been fishing since this jetty was built. I have the scar on my head to prove it. My neighbor took me out at about 5 years old and I stood behind him and he took an atom popper, treble hook about 5/O or bigger and ripped it right through my head. So that was my first experience down here and I’ve been hooked ever since. Literally!” Most memorable fish story? HB - “My tarpon at Port Orange bridge. Had an old school Garcia 3/O in the rod holder with a jig on it. Put it to the bottom, reeled it up, set it in the rod holder, and the boat was swaying, and all of a sudden WAH-POW!! He aired it out and I’m like Oh my God! And we chased him down, I got on an oyster bar, landed him, got a picture of him, took a scale and was so excited, screaming, held up the scale and then dropped it in the water. That’s something I’ll never forget.” RO - “Snapper at Pavones. Yellow wind cheater, of course. Just cause the fact this kid that lived there wanted to have a tournament. It was the best thing in the world. I’ve known the bartender for 20 plus years from surfing the point. I go to the bar, open the tackle box, I look at ‘em shrugged my shoulders. He taps on the yellow wind cheater points at the rock pile, looks at his watch and tells me what time. Couldn’t have been more spot on! Literally to the second. First cast, 20lb snapper. Back to the bar, guy I had the tournament with brought back a mackerel and a jack. Saw my fish, his jaw hits the ground. Guy didn’t know what to say. I’m like yea dude, talk shit ya catch no fish, I didn’t talk shit I just went fishing. Plus, that fish fed a lot of people. I gave a lot of it away. It was Epic dude!” As far as gear and technology, from then to now, how have things changed? HB - “The lures are the same, but they just don’t make them the same. Quality has gone down and it gets expensive when you’re a lure fisherman. The bombers, the wind cheaters, the big cobia jigs (bucktails) are all the same lures 20 years ago that caught fish, they all still catch fish today. Today, you hit it on the rocks one time, it’s cracked, its busted. Back then you could hit it

8 VOLUSIA COUNTY

november 2023

a thousand times cause they were made better.” RO - “Reels have gotten better, smoother, more graceful, but more money. But some of the longest running lure companies in the world, their original lures still are the best I’ve ever used to snook fish. Both agree - “Braid is the new technology.” What do you love most about our area? RO - “Something about this rock pile, that’s where you make friends. It’s the right of passage. It’s the surfing and snook fishing. It just goes hand in hand. There’s just something about it. When you see the “true bite”…when it just lights up, when it’s truly lit, we’re lucky we get it once a year, two nights a year or even three, it’s spectacular. But to see something like that, you wanna just put your rod down and film it. That’s how impressive it is. When tourists who don’t fish are walking out on the jetty and they see it, I look at them and go “You just saw something you’ll never see again.” We live for those one to three nights a year, that true bite and if you miss it, there are many sleepless nights.” HB - “Florida’s home. There’s no place like this. When you get to see all the states, you’re just dying to get home. It’s hard to describe. There’s no place like this in the world. We are the sport fishing capitol of the world. I can’t leave it. I target snook. One of the hardest fish to catch. It’s challenging here at the jetty and not a lot of people can do it. I fish, I family, and I work. That’s it. That’s my life.” How do you plan to pass along all of your experience and knowledge? HB - “For me, it would be children. It would be any little kid coming out here, my own kids, anyone that has an interest in it, and is eventually gonna be hooked like us. It’s a lifestyle. Believe in the children, because that’s what’s next.” RO - “I mean, how many kids have been around my household with my kids, sharing what we do, what we enjoy. Our passion for it goes hand in hand with surfing. I was lucky to share two passions with a lot of kids in multiple generations. This is what we have. Enjoy it. This is our playground. It’s ours. You see that spark. You see that fire in their eyes. And not every kid has it.. You know who, when you meet the kids, you know which kids are worthy of that knowledge. And it’s fun to pass it off and seeing them catch.” Any messages to other fisherman, even the youth? HB - “Respect. Keep it clean. Don’t poach. Put the fish back, cause if ya don’t you’re not gonna catch ‘em. Easy as that.” RO - “Like he says, respect. Preserve what we have. Enjoy it, don’t deplete it. Practice catch and release. Play the game right man, measure your fish. If its over size take the time to handle it right, put her back. And that’s for any fish. Have that respect and teach that respect to everyone around you.”

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4Th annuaL BerkeLey

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november 2023

VOLUSIA COUNTY 9

D R A O B G BRA

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ars old. rie, 12 ye Gavin Lab Wilbur by the Caught in n shrimp. Sea o

Gordon, 15 years old. Back to back ca sts on the To moka Rive r Ba NLBN. 29 inches sin. an 27 inches. Way to d go!

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Winter Caught Bally Hoo

Drew White beautiful re dfi w ith this sh the Halifax R caught on iver. NBLN.

w h? kayaking FORECAST

hat’s up fellow kayak fishing community. I want to start off my article by sending out a big thanks to Sandy Point Progressive Sports located at 3090 South Ridgewood Avenue in South Daytona. On my last Tarpon trip, I broke the rudder on my Old Town pdl 120 and was out of commission for a week. I was looking all over for someone to replace it and I was very fortunate to get it fixed at Sandy Point with a 1 day turn around. If you have any issues with your kayak and need someone knowledgeable to repair it, this is the spot. On my most recent fishing trip, I decided to mix it up and hit some freshwater targeting Largemouth Bass. I launched at Central Park which consists of four parks that total 149.1 acres. There are two gazebos and picnic pavilions within the park with several picnic tables and outdoor grills. A large peaceful lake is on the property with fishing and viewing access provided by the Joyce Ebbets fishing pier, as well as a canoe/kayak ramp. A special addition to Central Park II is a labyrinth. This project was organized by the Baliker and Bertrand families of Ormond Beach and was entirely funded by both financial and in-kind donations from individuals, private businesses, and civic groups. The labyrinth, which is located on Hammock Lane, took nine months to complete. I like to launch from the Labyrinth location and I find that the majority of fish I catch are on this lake. My top 3 lures I like to use are lipless crank baits, Chatter-baits, and my favorite go-to bait is a Gary Yamamoto watermelon-red Senko. I’ve fished in bass tournaments in the California Delta and in the Harris Chain of lakes in Florida and always have a Senko rigged up for any time of year. I like to use a presentation called “dead sticking” which is basically letting the soft plastic do the work. I’m always looking for holes in the Hydrilla grass to pull my bait over and just let it naturally sink. Often times you won’t even feel a bite but rather see your line tighten up and start moving in an unnatural direction. 90 percent of the time, that’s when you know it’s time to reel down and set the hook. I use a 5/0 off shank worm hook and I like to

fish it weightless. This style of fishing can seem boring at times but it’s highly productive. On this rainy day in October, the Senko was the ticket for me. I was hooked up in the first 15 minutes with a small, but feisty largemouth that was hanging out in the hydrilla at the mouth of a little canal connecting it to the main lake. I knew I was going to start looking for similar areas to get a pattern going after I caught my second fish only minutes later in the exact same area. As I began making my way around the lake working the bank, I saw a small pod of “fry”. I know the bass aren’t spawning this time of year, but I cast my chatter-bait and ran it through them, immediately hooking up a 5-6 lb mudfish. That wasn’t the bite I was looking for, but it was a short-lived thrill. My chatter-bait was shredded so I switched back to my Senko. I finally got my best bite of the day in the back corner of the lake next to another small creek that was moving run-off rain water into the lake. I always look for stuff like this. The running water often will discombobulate the bait fish making easy prey for larger predator fish. I stuck about a 3lber which was my best fish of this outing. I wasn’t able to fish the golden hour bite on this day because a monsoon lightning storm came in around 6pm. All in all, I had a great time exploring this body of water and you should too. It’s very family-friendly and it has a great kayak launch area that encourages what we do. Another bonus is these lakes do not allow gas motors, so it’s great to know you will have this fishery thriving without any boat pressure. If you want to check out a video I made of this specific trip, check out my instagram for more tips on what I was using and where I launched. Happy kayaking!

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

Blake Abbey

Kayak King Charters 916-476-1403 @kayakkingcharters

november 2023

VOLUSIA COUNTY 11

www.USHarbors.com

Ponce De Leon Inlet South, FL - Nov 2023 High

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www.USHarbors.com

Ormond Beach, Halifax River, FL - Nov 2023

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