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BOOST YOUR CATCH w/RezBoostTM Technology
Interested in getting the most out of your own trusted transducer, or not sure you’re ready for the expense of installing a new CHIRP transducer? Furuno has a solution that will get the very best performance from your traditional narrowband transducer. Our RezBoostTM Fish Finders deliver clearer images than ever before, we’re talking up to 8x sharper. Whether it’s NavNet TZtouch2 or the FCV588/FCV628 stand-alone Fish Finders, RezBoostTM will boost your catch!
Get up to 8x sharper resolution, using a standard narrow band transducer, to more clearly define fish targets.
Assess individual fish size and depth based on echo strength for fish from 4 inches to over 6 feet.
Identify the sea floor composition from four types (Rocks/Sand/Gravel/Mud).
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Electronics GARMIN INREACH EXPLORER+ Going where the fish are often means exploring places where communication becomes very difficult. Whether you’re far offshore, deep in a marshy backwater or high up a remote mountain stream, wouldn’t it be reassuring to know you can connect with someone in the event of an emergency? Or you might just need to let someone know where the fish are biting? The Garmin inReach Explorer+ is a handheld GPS navigator and satellite communicator that allows you to explore anywhere and communicate everywhere. It is a rugged, compact unit that uses 100 percent global Iridium coverage for two-way text messaging and tracking anywhere in the world. Navigate with detailed, preloaded TOPO maps, follow routes, mark waypoints and find your way back with a high-detail bread-crumb trail. Using GPS tracking, you can easily share your location with family, friends, social media or emergency responders. In case of emergency, the interactive SOS allows you to communicate back and forth and receive confirmation that help is on the way. For added capability, use the free Earthmate app to pair your inReach Explorer+ with mobile devices and access unlimited maps, aerial imagery, NOAA charts, weather and more.
WWW.GARMIN.COM FURUNO DFF3D Turn your NavNet TZtouch or TZtouch2 MFD into a multi-beam sonar that can see 120 degrees port to starboard, allowing you to see the depth and direction fish schools are moving, while displaying the seabed condition in real time. Furuno’s DFF3D gives you real-time 120-degree port-starboard view of the water column and seabed in deeper than 650 feet of water, allowing you to find fish in deep water faster than conventional
single-beam sounders. Cross-Section displays the real-time sea column echo in 120 degrees port and starboard. This mode aids in understanding the distribution of baitfish and water column conditions. The 3D Sounder History provides an intuitive and easyto-understand 3D image of the seafloor, along with fish school icons. A single or triple-direction fishfinder image can be displayed. The triple beam display helps you understand the depth of fish and seabed condition in each direction, as well as the direction target fish are moving. Side scan clearly displays the shape of structure to port and starboard as a high definition image.
WWW.FURUNO.COM STANDARD HORIZON EXPLORER GX1700 GPS VHF RADIO The GX1700 makes DSC easy. With an internal 12 Channel GPS built into the front panel, there is no need to hassle with wiring the radio to a GPS for DSC. Out of the box and ready to go, DSC calling, position sharing, waypoint navigation and navigation to DSC distress calls can all be performed with just a few simple steps. The Explorer GPS VHF radio has a compact rear case of only 3.5 inches. The Built-In WAAS GPS receiver and antenna give flexibility to flush mount the radio in tight areas. The GX1700 is capable of entering and saving up to 100 waypoints, which may be navigated to by using a unique navigation compass display that shows bearing and distance to the waypoint. GX1700 is an ITU-R M493 Class D class VHF with a separate Channel 70 receiver, which allows DSC calls to be received even when listening to communications. The DSC DISTRESS function transmits a digital MAYDAY including vessel identification, latitude/longitude and time, to facilitate prompt response. Other features include a big, bold display; RAM3+ remote mic capability, easy position sharing, Clearvoice noise reduction technology, programmable channel names, NOAA Weather channels and Weather Alert. And it’s all backed by a 3-year waterproof warranty.
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Product Review ACR ELECTRONICS RESQLINK PLB
At 4.6 ounces, the ResQLink distress beacon weighs less than a couple of energy bars, and it’s smaller than the cell phone in your pocket. Small and mighty, the ResQLink PLB is a full-powered, GPS-enabled rescue beacon designed for anglers, pilots and backcountry sportsmen. With three levels of integrated signal technology—GPS positioning, a powerful 406 MHz signal, and 121.5 MHz homing capability—the ResQLink PLB quickly and accurately relays your position to a worldwide network of search and rescue satellites. A built-in strobe light provides visibility during night rescues. Even in extreme conditions and situations, the ResQLink activates easily. With its powerful 66-channel GPS, the ResQLink guides rescuers to within 100 meters of your position. And, in the continental U.S., search and rescue personnel are typically alerted in as little as five minutes. Other features include: no subscription fees, self-test and GPS-test features and typical performance 30 hours. If you have to use your ResQLink PLB, ACR will replace it free of charge.
WWW.ACRARTEX.COM
JL AUDIO MEDIAMASTER 100S BLACK EDITION The MM100s-BE is hitting the market just in time for summer. This latest Black Edition of JL Audio’s MediaMaster was introduced with an updated user interface that offers enhanced volume control flexibility and four fully variable zones, each with independent feature/control options; Volume, Tone, and Naming. NMEA 2000 interconnectivity is built into it and equipped with a NMEA2K Connector to integrate into existing networks, enabling MFD control functionality with Lowrance, Simrad and Garmin. Designed for today’s modern media environment, the MM100s-BE features a Digital AM/FM/Weather Band Tuner, Bluetooth connectivity, separate line level AUX and USB/iPhone inputs, and it’s SiriusXM-Ready. Available with an optional MMR-20BE Wired Remote. The MM100s-BE is a premium, single-chassis source unit with superb audio performance, excellent ergonomics and advanced audio features, specifically designed for marine applications. Check it out at http://www.jlaudio.com/. Available at HIGH TECH MARINE in Hialeah, Fla. 305-883-9700.
WWW.HIGHTECHMARINE.COM ANGLER’S PAL ELECTRONICS MOUNTS AND TROLLING MOTOR STABILIZERS
Boaters and anglers invest a small fortune in their equipment. Fishermen, for example, know that quality sonar, GPS, chart plotters and electric motors are vital tools that enhance their experience. For that reason, MarineTech Products, manufactures the Angler’s Pal line of electronics mounts and trolling motor stabilizers. Angler’s Pal mounts are designed to withstand the harsh marine environment and provide rock solid stability with minimal space requirements. The patented universal Ball Locking Device provides 360-degree adjustability and the strength to support the heaviest equipment without “drift.” The Angler’s Pal Trolling Motor Mounts feature a unique rubber lock-down strap that protects your trolling motor from accidental deployment or excessive vibration that can damage the shaft. Overall length: 10” and now THE NEW 14” model for longer shafts and deeper gunnels. They are made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel and hardanodized aluminum for fresh and saltwater use. They are available in a variety of lengths, and all Angler’s Pal mounts can be easily removed for storage. Angler’s Pal also manufactures 700 and 800 Series Rod Holders. For information, contact Marine Tech Products at 1 651-4862010.
WWW.ANGLERSPAL.COM
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BIG BEND : Mike McNamara • (850) 510-7919 • captmike@coastalanglermagazine.com BREVARD : David String • (321) 684-5888 • dstring@coastalanglermagazine.com DAYTONA/NEW SMYRNA BEACH : Don Meadows • (321) 436-5895 • donm@coastalanglermagazine.com FLORIDA KEYS : Cliff Lumpkin • (305) 849-9093 • cliff@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT LAUDERDALE : Gene Dyer • (954) 680-3900 • gene@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT MYERS : Nadeen Welch • (239) 595-8265 • nwelch@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER MIAMI : Scott Deal • (561) 945-6999 • scott@coastalanglermagazine.com Monica Isaza-Deal • (561) 945-8899 • monica@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER ORLANDO : Phillip & Giselle Wolf • (407) 790-9515 • phillip@coastalanglermagazine.com LAKELAND & SUMTER : Mary Brasher • (352) 598-4219 • maryf@coastalanglermagazine.com NAPLES : Mike Weber • (414) 531-4172 • mikew@coastalanglermagazine.com NC FLORIDA/NATURE COAST : Cary & Lynn Crutchfield • (352) 372-4237 • crutch@coastalanglermagazine.com NE FLORIDA : Danny Patrick • (904) 742-4696 • danny@coastalanglermagazine.com PANAMA CITY/FORGOTTEN COAST : Randy Cnota • (229) 834-7880 • randyc@coastalanglermagazine.com PALM BEACH COUNTY : Barbara Ryan • (561) 373-8040 • barbara@coastalanglermagazine.com SARASOTA : Phil Prevoir • (239) 257-4684 • pprevoir@coastalanglermagazine.com TAMPA BAY : Chuck Atkins • (239) 464-5153 • chuck@coastalanglermagazine.com TREASURE COAST : Misti & Gary Guertin • (772) 285-6850 • treasurecoast@coastalanglermagazine.com flahama@coastalanglermagazine.com
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Garmin Introduces
W
hether it’s by land, air or sea, Garmin has made a name for itself as the industry leader in navigational electronics. Its popular and varied GPSMAP product line offers the perfect tool for anyone who needs to know where they’re going. In November, Garmin brought powerful new tools to the realm of marine electronics with the introduction of several new networking chartplotters and combination models to the GPSMAP line. Unveiled at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, these units lured in boaters and anglers with high-end features at a more than reasonable price point. “These new GPSMAPs are designed for the budget-conscious customer who desires premium features typically found only in a higher-end product,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales. “We’ve packed these plotters with industry-leading features, builtin conveniences, and we’ve added two new screen sizes to our lineup—a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12-inch keyed—to offer something for every boater.” Ranging in size from 7- to 12-inches, these new plotters are available with and without built-in sonar.
gration, and a 10Hz GPS/GLONASS receiver for smooth on-screen navigation. These compact plotters offer full-network compatibility for the Garmin Marine Network, which allows support for sharing sonar, maps, user data, radar, IP cameras and Panoptix all-seeing sonar among multiple units. Plus, there’s NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183 support for autopilots, digital switching, weather, VHF, AIS and other sensors. Anglers, cruisers and sailors alike will benefit from the xs series that comes equipped with built-in 1kW traditional CHIRP sonar and CHIRP ClearVü scanning sonar capability for a near-picture quality view of what’s beneath the boat. Preloaded premium mapping features can be found on the GPSMAP 742/742xs and the GPSMAP 942/942xs, including both BlueChart g2 HD charts for the U.S., Canada and Bahamas and LakeVü HD maps. The GPSMAP 722/722xs and GPSMAP 922/922xs come preloaded with a worldwide basemap for general reference with support for optional mapping available at garmin.com.
GPSMAP 7x2/9x2 and GPSMAP 7x2xs/9x2xs Touchscreen Series
GPSMAP 10x2xsv/12x2xsv and GPSMAP 10x2/12x2 and Keyed Series
The GPSMAP 7x2/9x2 series plotters are 7- and 9-inch sunlight-readable touchscreen chartplotters perfect for any boater. The xs series offers the perfect solution for anglers with chartplotter/sonar combination units. These compact and powerful units are exactly what’s needed when functionality is essential and cockpit or deck space is at a premium. Building on the popularity of the 7-inch touchscreen Garmin pioneered in 2010, this series introduces a 9-inch touchscreen to the Garmin line. Both serve customers who value screen size as a compelling option. They feature builtin wireless connectivity for Garmin mobile apps and VIRB action camera inte10
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For those who prefer using a keypad, the all-in-one solutions offered by the new 10-inch GPSMAP 10x2xsv and the 12-inch GPSMAP 12xsv can’t be beat. With an all-new industrial design, these combos feature a large, sunlight-readable screen coupled with a keypad interface and new multifunction rotary control knob that offers precise, simple control for easy menu navigation and setting control, even in rough water. These units also offer four user-programmable hot keys for one-touch access to favorite features and functions. In addition to GPS and connectivity features also found in the GPSMAP 7x2/9x2xs series, the GPSMAP 10x2xsv and GPSMAP 12x2xsv also offer impressive sonar capabilities with built-in
CHIRP sonar, CHIRP ClearVü and CHIRP SideVü as well as support for Panoptix all-seeing sonar. Other premium Garmin sonar modules are also available, including two new CHIRP transducer options–the GT8HW-IH and GT15MTM. The GPSMAP 1042xs/1242xs come preloaded with BlueChart g2 coastal charts and U.S. LakeVü HD, while the GPSMAP 1022xs/1222xs offer a worldwide basemap. Two non-sonar versions, the GPSMAP 1022 and GPSMAP 1222 are also available with a preloaded worldwide basemap.
Advanced Features For Sailors
Premium sailing features have also been integrated into both new series, offering laylines, tidal information, enhanced wind rose, a current slider and other elements that prove beneficial to sailors. All new models also offer integrated ANT support for use with the quatix 3 marine smartwatch, the Garmin Nautix in-view display, gWind Wireless 2 transducer, GNX Wind marine instrument and wireless remote controls. Additionally, all sonar-enabled models feature built-in Quickdraw Contours software, a free, easy-to-use tool that lets mariners instantly create personalized HD maps with 1-foot contours on any body of water.
An Attractive Price Point
The GPSMAP 7x2/9x2 and xs series will range from $799.99 to $1299.99, while the GPSMAP 10x2/12x2xsv and non-xsv series will be priced from $1699.99 to $2999.99. This is exceptionally affordable pricing for top-quality electronics with so many sophisticated yet easy-to-use features. What more could you expect from Garmin, the company that was recently named Manufacturer of the Year for the second year in a row by the National Marine Electronics Association. For a full list of features and more information, visit garmin.com/newmarine.
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Adjustable cap with brim UV-blocking polarized sunglasses
F
Photo courtesy of Controlled Descent Lures
or nearly a century, Eagle Claw has provided premium hooks for all kinds of anglers using American steel and designing and manufacturing them right here in the U.S.A. Founded in 1925 in Denver, Colo., Eagle Claw is extremely proud of its long history of American-made fish hooks. And it is also proud of the high-quality product it produces. Trokar Eagle Claw’s Trokar hooks offer a competitive advantage for serious saltwater competitors. These premium quality hooks offer a faster, deeper, surer point penetration that requires half the pressure of the competition. Manufactured using cold forged high-carbon American-Made steel, they offer better durability and stronger holds for hard-fighting, big-game species. Trokar hooks are surgically sharpened, and their triple-sided points are regarded as the most innovative, sharpest, and most durable on the market today. The Platinum Black finish is designed to withstand repeated use in saltwater and harsh marine conditions. There are more than 20 models of Trokar hooks available for fresh and saltwater. A highlight of the Trokar saltwater line is the TK197 Primal Circle Hook, which is an awesome all-purpose bait hook with an offset, light-wire design. Made of high-carbon steel wire for strength and durability, this hook has a highly durable point and a salt-resistant coating. It offers stronger hold for battling fast and hard-fighting big game fish, and it is a dream come true for serious competition anglers who fish for serious saltwater species. Lazer Sharp Eagle Claw’s Lazer Sharp hooks are designed to be “Sharper, Stronger, Longer,” which means the patented Lazer Sharp needlepoint and forged technology ensures a sharper, stronger, longer hold than the leading competition. Lazer Sharp hooks feature uniquely blended coatings—Sea Guard, Platinum Black and Nickel— which are designed to be more durable and abrasion resistant after repeated use in saltwater. There are more than 30 Lazer Sharp saltwater models available. The L2004EL has become a staple on the boats of big-time billfish anglers. They are approved by the Billfish Foundation for tournament use, and were the original and once the only tournament-approved circle sea hook. The design of this non-offset, circle sea, with a wide gap, light wire and a forged point, results in more solid hook-ups and a much higher rate of fish hooked in the corner of the mouth, which equates to fewer escaping fish as well as less-stressful releases. To this day, the L2004EL is still the single best option for pro and amateur billfish tournament anglers looking for proven performance stemming from a decade of making champions out of competitors. Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle, Co. is an American-based company that has been designing and manufacturing innovative, high-quality fishhooks and fishing equipment for more than 90 years. Its family of brands includes Eagle Claw, Lazer Sharp, TroKar, Wright & McGill and Shappell. For more information about Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle Co. and its family of brands, visit www.eagleclaw.com, find them on Facebook at facebook. com/eagleclaw/, facebook.com/TroKarHooks/ and facebook. com/shappellcorp/ or call 720-941-8700.
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ON THE COVER Editor’s Note:
Each month, Coastal Angler Magazine and The Angler Magazine staff search our vast coverage area for photos that will grace our covers. With well over a million readers in diverse coastal and inland markets, our magazines strive for broad national appeal as well as local-level intelligence to put anglers on fish. The cover is different depending on which edition you, the reader, are holding. The following is a little information about this month’s covers.
COASTAL ANGLER MAGAZINE Costa Rica Sailfish
FREE
The great shot of a Pacific sailfish that graces Pacific Sails the covers of this month’s Coastal Angler In Costa Rica Electronics Edition editions comes from Costa Rica Pro Staff member Francisco Mejias. Francisco is one of the great captains who provide monthly Striped Bass forecasts for our local Costa Rica edition, Are Running Local and he captures some stunning photography as well. Knowing one’s way around a camera is important for getting cover-worthy shots. And it definitely doesn’t hurt to have a target-rich environment like Costa Rica’s beautiful Pacific coast to snap photos of trophy fish. Inside this month’s magazine, Francisco and several other Costa Rica Pro Staff members came together to share the Pacific sailfish experience with our readers. From smaller boats, they pull spreads for sails that can top 200 pounds. The techniques and tools for catching and releasing them safely are laid out in the article, and they are techniques honed by the knowledge that can be gathered during 50-sailfish days. No kidding. The fishing down there can be that good. Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events
PHOTO COURTESY OF FRANCISCO MEJIAS, VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 267
COSTA RICA PROSTAFF
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THE ANGLER MAGAZINE Hudson River Striped Bass
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All over the country, wherever striped bass Striped Bass live, spring incites migrations of these bruisers Are Running up the rivers to spawn. This is the time of year when very large fish can be caught in skinny water. In the Southeast, runs of landlocked Electronics stripes can be roughly timed by the blooming Edition Local of the dogwoods. In the Northeast, anglers Picky-Trout Tactics await the arrival of the Alewives. Dave Maneri, of Tivoli, N.Y., caught the big striper on the covers of this month’s The Angler editions. His buddy Paul Hughes Jr. snapped the photo while they were fishing the striped bass run on the Hudson River, which feeds the Atlantic Ocean at New York City. It was an epic day for the two anglers. They caught multiple fish, including the cover fish and another one about the same size, which Paul is holding in the photo that appears with the article. In that article, Dave tells us all about the Hudson River striped bass run and how he goes about catching big stripers from the shore as well as from a boat. The uninformed might assume there’s no fishing to be done in such close proximity to one of the biggest and busiest cities in the world. But striped bass and baitfish still run up the Hudson each year to spawn, just like they have since time immemorial. Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events
PHOTO COURTESY OF PAUL HUGHES JR. VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 267
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Ric a, Pa
By Pro Staff Costa Rica • Photos by Francisco Mejias
T
he Pacific sailfish is one of the most sought after offshore game fish in Costa Rica. Growing larger than their Atlantic
counterpart, sailfish in Costa Rica average 60 to 80 pounds, but big ones can surpass 200 pounds! They are migratory, with the main concentration of fish arriving in our area of the Central Pacific as the dry season sets in the end of December. They move away as the wet season kicks in during early May. Even though this is the main migration, there are always sailfish present in our waters year round. We fish from smaller boats, so we use the traditional five-rod setup. A combination of natural baits and lures are used, and our main baits are ballyhoo. Our lures of choice are the Magna series from Santos. Variations of pink, lumo and blue combined with a Trokar hook are deadly combinations. If the bite is slow, we often sew a belly flap or strip bait into the lures for a more enticing bait. On the outriggers, we use teasers. A squid chain in pink on one side and a bigger lure like a Santos Carolina Seastalker on the other is a good start. The shotgun gets a Santos lure as well as the long rigger. The short rigger and the two corners are set up with naked swimming ballyhoos on Trokar 7/0 circle hooks. It is also handy to have a mullet, horse ballyhoo or tuna
rigged and ready to go as a pitch bait in case a marlin decides to crash the party. Once the fish is caught it is time for a few photos. This is a critical part of the process, as it involves fish handling. Even though some boats still bring up a sailfish for a photo, it is highly recommended to not do so, as it can be extremely harmful to the fish. It is the process of pulling the fish over the rail of the boat that causes problems. The protective mucus covering is scraped off, leaving an area of skin exposed to bacterial and fungal attack. This can result in death of the fish at a later time. Leave the fish in the water, and with a good pair of AFTCO gloves, grab the outer part of the bill and push the fish as far out from the boat as possible. Keep the head of the fish in the water as much as possible, and lift it briefly for a good photo. Take the shot from the tail end of the fish looking forward or from above if possible. Alternatively, grab the front part of the sail, pull it up and hold the bill with your other hand. Make sure the bill is always pointing away from you and not at you. Take the photo from the front of the fish. If you have never been to Costa Rica fishing, it is definitely worth it and you will be hooked! Pro Staff Costa Rica provides monthly reports for Coastal Angler Magazine’s Costa Rica edition. Search out Pro Staff Costa Rica on Facebook for more great photography, videos and fishing content.
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Spring Striped Bass Run The Hudson River By Nick Carter
E
ach spring, through the Hudson River’s mouth at bustling New York Harbor, a massive spawning migration of Atlantic stripers pushes some 150 miles upstream to the Federal Dam at Troy, N.Y. In this long stretch of tidally influenced river, striped bass show up when water temps reach the 60s. Dave Maneri, of Tivoli, N.Y., said the trick is to keep up with the migration and put yourself in the right place at the right time to intercept pods of transient stripers. “They move in big schools,” Maneri said. “Some days they’re there and you can catch them; other days they’re not. You gotta stay on the reports. They’re running the whole river, so you could travel to where the fish are or wait until they’re where you are.” Smaller schoolie striped bass show up first. They come with the spawning alewives, which are baitfish commonly called herring. Schoolies remain in the river for a couple months some years, and there’s also a year-round resident population. But Maneri said the big cows remain only for a week or two each season. They are always on the move, and connecting with them can lead to unbelievable action with big fish measuring past the 40-inch mark with weights heavier than 30 pounds. Fishing bait is generally the most productive tactic. The best bait is herring pulled right out of the river, either live or chunked. Most locals use a scap net to catch herring. A scap net is essentially a 4’x4’ dip net. The schooling herring will follow a swimbait right up to the net where they are captured. Maneri fishes his herring off the bottom using medium and medium-heavy rods with baitrunner-style reels that allow fish to run with the bait on free spool before the angler strikes to set the hook and engage the drag. He employs a main line of 30-pound braid with a 1 ½-foot leader of 15- to 20-pound fluorocarbon. A 7/0 Gamakatsu Octopus should be hooked through the bait’s mouth, and the whole rig is kept down with a 2- or 3-ounce slide swivel teardrop sinker. Maneri said stripers don’t relate to any kind of structure on their spawning run, so the good spots are the drop offs, channels and shallows where baitfish might be funneled. Obviously, a boat gives anglers the ability to move and seek out fish. But fishing from shore is also productive. When he fishes from the shore, Maneri uses rod holders made from PVC pipe and rebar. They can be wedged into rip-rap to free up the angler while waiting on a bite. And the bite can be a tricky thing. Maneri said these stripers have a knack for spitting the bait. One thing is for sure, though; when the hook sets solid and the drag is engaged, a big striped bass in heavy current is a formidable opponent. Dave Maneri is a team member of Catskill Outdoors. Look them up on Facebook.
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The new Sea Eagle® inflatable FishSUP™ FS126 was designed specifically for anglers. A full 12’6” x 40” for incredible stability, EVA foam pad for secure stand up footing when needed, heavy duty two layer drop stitch construction for a solid, super tough, super rigid SUP board and multiple d-rings and elastic cord for gear. Motor mount holds up to a 55 lb. thrust electric motor. Paddle standing up or sitting on the Sea Eagle® Swivel Seat Fishing Rig. 800-748-8066 M-F 9-5 EST Dept CS057B 19 N. Columbia St., Suite 1, Port Jefferson, NY 11777
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Tips For Catching Picky Trout
By Charlie Warfield • Photo by John Winkler, redhouseflyfishing.com
T
he upper end of the Delaware River, and more specifically the West Branch of the Delaware in the Catskill Mountains, is a favorite of many fly anglers in Pennsylvania and Upstate New York. It can also be frustrating place, as it holds some very picky trout. The river has a reputation for crystal clear water, and because it is a bottom-release tailwater, it has a very consistent temperature, which makes for great hatches and healthy fish year round. It is known for being very technical, and this is just a nice way of saying it will sometimes make you want to pull your hair out. The first time I fished it, I was tested, even frustrated by this beautiful waterway. But besides the beautiful mountain setting and endless hatches, it is in part the challenge that drove me to go back time after time. I persisted and figured out ways of tricking the beautiful native fish. I learned lessons there that have made me a better angler. The following are some insights that will give you a leg up when you go fish the Delaware or any other technical stream. Downstream Presentation: Many anglers learned to cast upstream and let the fly drift down. But when fishing for spooky or educated fish, this method can sometimes leave you frustrated. It’s harder to get a good, long drift with a downstream presentation, but many times it is your best bet. Next time you’re having a hard time getting a take, cast out at about 90 degrees to the bank, and quickly give an upstream mend, this will help you keep a drag free drift for as long as possible. Keep mending as often as needed, letting the fly swing to its full downstream position. Sweep-Style Hook Set: The downstream presentation should be matched with a sweep-style hook set. To use this technique, swing the rod downstream and strip the line at the same time, this will pull the line through the water, creating tension and giving a good hook set. By swinging the rod downstream, you are also pulling the hook into the corner of the fish’s mouth rather than pulling it up and away from the fish. Slow Down Your Hook Set: Ok, we have all done it before. It’s a tough day on the water and all of the sudden you get a strike, BAM you set the hook… and nothing. I have heard people say things like, “Next time, set the hook faster.” But most of the time the opposite is true. A good technique is to wait one second and then give the rod a gentle lift or sweep. Match the Hatch: Picky fish know what they want to eat. There can be significant variation in color, size and body shape in the same species of fly from region to region, and there are many subspecies for each type of fly we fish. So do your homework. I suggest hiring a local guide or at least stopping in at the local fly shop. It is good to support the community, and you can never beat local knowledge.
For more tips on trout fishing, go to
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NORTH CAROLINA
N
ew size and bag limits for the recreational cobia fishery in North Carolina waters went into effect May 1. The minimum size limit increased to 36 inches fork length (measured from the tip of snout to the fork in the tail). The possession limit decreased to one fish per-person per-day, with a maximum of four fish per-vessel perday, if four or more people are onboard a vessel. The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission voted in February to tighten recreational cobia regulations after the federal government closed federal waters (ocean waters beyond 3 miles from shore) north of the Georgia-Florida line to recreational cobia harvest. The federal closure took effect on Jan. 24 and will remain for the rest of the year. The federal action was taken to account for overages in the recreational annual catch limit and total annual catch limit of Atlantic migratory group cobia in 2016. In addition to the regulatory changes, the commission asked anglers to report the length and weight of all cobia harvested in state waters on a catch card, which can be found at official North Carolina Citation Weigh Stations or online. The recreational cobia season will close in state waters at 12:01 a.m. Sept. 1. For more information on the cobia season in state waters or the 2017 Cobia Catch Reporting Program, contact Steve Poland, cobia staff lead with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, at 252-808-8159 or Steve.Poland@ncdenr.gov. Photo courtesy of Capt. Cephus McRae
By Will Robinson
F
ishing from a standup paddleboard is a blast. They are stealthy, agile and give you access to places otherwise inaccessible due to lack of water or no-motor regulations. Compared to fishing kayaks, SUPs are affordable and a great deal lighter, making transportation easier. Bare-boned they are good to go, but add some accessories and you have an incredible fishing machine. Likely the first addition to your new SUP is a simple milk crate. For less then 10 bucks you can strap one of these on to keep your gear in check. Add a PVC rod holder, and you are well on your way. But there is a lot more you can do to design the ultimate fishing platform. Most fishing SUPs are equipped with a number of leash plugs for connecting a variety of items. These range from rod holders to paddle clips. The two I find most useful are the camera mount and the Zooka Tube rod holder. There is nothing better than a picture of your trophy catch and the Ram camera mount works great, is
Huge Black Crappie Caught
H
ow do you catch a 4-pound state record crappie? On a bass lure, of course. On March 28, Kinkaid Lake in Murphysboro, Ill. produced a more than 4 ½-pound crappie that should narrowly eclipse the existing 41-year-old state record, according to The Southern Illinoisan. The angler, Ryan Povolish, of Carbondale, Ill., and his buddy Josh Jackson, of Cobden, Ill., headed out on the lake with both crappie and bass fishing gear. After working a weed bed unsuccessfully for crappie, they moved a short distance and Povolish picked up a bass rod armed with a Strike King Pure Poison Swim Jig and a Rage Craw. A big chatterbait-style lure proved too much for the massive crappie to resist. Throughout much of the fight, Povolish thought he was tied into a good-sized bass. With a length of almost 19 inches, a girth of 16 inches and an official weight of 4 pounds, 8.8 ounces, the slab will be the new state record once the paperwork is sorted out. The previous record of 4 pounds, 8 ounces was caught by John Hampton from Rend Lake on May 15, 1976. The world record black crappie, according to IGFA, weighed 5 pounds, even. It was caught from a Missouri private lake in 2006. Kinkaid Lake is a 2,750-acre reservoir that has become known for excellent crappie fishing. It produces crappie heavier than 2 pounds pretty regularly, and at least two other 4-pound crappie have been caught there in the last four years.
inexpensive and secure. The Yak Attack Zooka Tube is a rod holder for both spinning and baitcasting rods. Equally useful, swinging it to the side allows it to double as a stake-out pole holder to keep you on the fish. To take it to the next level, add a cooler. Coolers are awesome and the right one can provide additional storage and enhance your comfort and safety. One of the best features of fishing on an SUP is the vantage point you gain by standing. That said it is nice to have a place to sit and rest or to lower your center of gravity. This makes your board more stable in rough conditions or while fighting a big fish. Almost any cooler can be strapped to your board, but to get the most out of it you need to consider a few things like lash points, lid latches and the ability to accessorize. The Orion 35 is an extremely versatile cooler. This roto-molded beauty is virtually indestructible and has unique features that make it perfect for an SUP. Multiple latch points and cam latches keep all your stuff on the board and in the cooler in case of an inadvertent plunge. The lid comes with a traction pad that helps to keep gear from sliding into the oblivion and makes for a softer seat. Best of all, it has built-in Yak Attack rails on each side that allow you to attach any Ram-style accessory to the cooler. This gives you gear options like electronics holders, rod holders and even a mini bar. And here’s a bonus, genius, paddle-holder hack. To make a basically free paddle holder, take a length of rope roughly 18 inches longer than your waist. Tie 6-inch loops on both ends. Wrap it around your waist, putting one loop through the other. The hanging loop holds your paddle handle near your waist, which makes it easy to stow the paddle quickly and quietly, and allows some one-handed control while fishing. Souped-up and ready for a full day on the water, a well-equipped SUP is a versatile and fun fishing machine. Will Robinson is a seasoned tournament angler and has been writing about fishing for nearly two decades. Check out Orion coolers at Orioncoolers.com.
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Wilmington/Morehead City edition
southport-ocean isle With the winds subsiding and the temperatures warming, May brings excitement to the fishing community in the Southport/Oak Island area! The fish are active now and in search of the bait schools that are moving closer to the beach due to the water temperatures rising. No matter what you like to fish for, there is a good chance you will find the opportunity in May. Bottom fishing is in full-force now, and with the grouper season opening back up on May 1, the thought of heading offshore and dropping a cigar minnow to the bottom becomes even more alluring. Mixed in with the grouper, one should be able to find a slurry of gray snapper, vermillion snapper, triggerfish, and all other types of bottom species. On your way offshore to the ledges, make a stop at a few of the rocks and reefs in the 30-mile range to put a limit of black sea bass in the cooler. We love to prepare fish many ways; however, frying fillets of black sea bass and vermillion snapper coated in House-Autry Seafood Breader is by far one of our favorites. Add in some hushpuppies made from House-Autry Hushpuppy and Onion mix and a side of slaw and you have a top-of-the-line fish feast! While heading offshore on the days that the winds subside and will allow you to be out, be sure to pay close attention to the seagulls and terns working the schools of glass minnows, as this will aid you in knowing where the Spanish mackerel schools are located as they begin their migration following the bait to the shore. Be sure to stop by Dutchman Creek Bait & Tackle to stock up on #0 and #00 Clarkspoons. It’s good to have a few colors –gold, green, pink, and silver— on hand, due to the Spanish wanting to be finicky some days and feeding only on a certain color. I have found that running both #1 and #2 planers at the same time will usually increase the number of fish caught by the end of the day. As the month progresses the Spanish mackerel and bluefish should move closabove: On an offshore trip aboard the er to shore and, by Yeah Right II, Marty and Joshua Caviness of early June, places Fuquay-Varina and Lauren and Daniel Watkins such as AR-425 and of Angier loaded the boat with black bass, a mile or so off the silver snappers, grey snappers, vermilion snapbeach of Bald Head
Island should produce good catches, if you can find the bait. Just remember to follow the birds. King mackerel are always a hot topic in the spring and a spread of Pirate Plugs from South Chatham Tackle rigged with dead cigar minnows trolled over bait holding areas such as the Horseshoe, Cabbage Patch, Navy Wreck, and other such locations will create the opportunity to hear the reels “scream!” Be sure to put a bait or two down deep on a downrigger, as this will often times lead to many bites. The mahi mahi will also begin to move in from the Gulf Stream as the water warms. Running across a “live” weed line can create a lot of excitement in short above: Thomas Blanton, Rocky Mount holds order if the fish are up a mahi-mahi he caught on a light line under it. Have a pitch while fishing on an offshore trip with Capt. rod or two with an Butch Foster of Yeah Right Charters. IRT reel at the ready... one rigged simply with just a circle hook, and the other with a jig of some sort (a butterbean jig is a good option.) When approaching the weed line, take a squid head and put it on the circle hook and toss it under the bigger patches of weeds. If there is a big bull mahi there, the reel drag will let you know it! Another deadly tactic is to utilize a “live bait rig” with a dead cigar minnow pitched behind the boat while anchored for bottom fishing –a.k.a. the light line. This will put a few pelagic species in the box while you are harvesting a good catch of bottom fish at the same time. Perhaps the most exciting place to be in May is the Gulf Stream! Blackfin yuna, wahoo, big mahi-mahi, the occasional yellowfin tuna, and the potential for a billfish are all in sight this time of the year. This entire report could be on various strategies and what to look for in the Gulf Stream. A few pointers, though: go prepared to cover ground using a Cedar Plug spread with a chugger–a Laceration Lures Hot Hole— on a long line, while looking for bait schools and water temperature changes. Have a set of ballyhoo rigged and ready to change out your spread once you’ve located the fish and then work the area thoroughly. Pro-Cure scents has a product called Brine & Bite that will make your ballyhoo last the entire day without wash-out issues and will increase your catch at the end of the day. There simply is nothing like the sensation of hearing the drag on a Penn 50 screaming, while watching the rod bent double and wondering what is on the other end of the battle line, a tuna, a wahoo or something else! No matter what your quarry is off the NC/SC coast, spring is the time of year if you are a fisherman!
pers, trigger fish, mahi and amberjacks.
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FORECAST BY: Capt. Chris Foster Yeah Right Charters www.yeahrightcharters.com boat: 336-239-5429 • office: 910-845-2004 may 2017
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Surf city/ Topsail Island The month of May around Topsail Island is a great time to hit the water. The inshore bite is heating up and the redfish, speckled trout, bluefish and flounder are all on the feed. Look for the redfish to begin to spread out along the marsh and many of the mid to upper-slot fish that have spent the last four months on the beach fronts are now inside taking advantage of the more abundant food source. Look for the reds to begin to patrol shallow flats, oyster beds, grass shorelines and creek mouths. This is the time of year that topwater baits are an effective tool to catch these fish. Mirrolure Poppa Mullet and Top Dog Jr.’s are among my favorites to cast to these fish. I find that the redfish in the clear water around Topsail Island take more of an interest in natural baitfish colors. Redfish can also be found schooled up around docks up and down the waterway. Z-Man MinnowZ, PaddlerZ and Swimmin’ Trout Tricks fished on Fathom Inshore jigheads will produce strikes from these fish. If the bite is slow, the addition of Pro-Cure bait scents can be the difference in catching fish and not. Cut bait and live minnows on Carolina rigs are very effective for catching redfish on those days when they aren’t responding to artificial baits. Bluefish can be found all throughout the marsh and they will strike the offerings used for redfish and trout. If your targeting redfish then it’s always a good idea to keep a blue to use for cut bait. Fish small chunks using 4/0 Eagle Claw Circle Sea hooks on Carolina rigs up current from where the redfish are likely holding. Flounder fishing can be very rewarding this time of year both inshore and around nearshore structure. Live minnows on Carolina rigs and Z-Man plastics fished on jigheads are both very effective in bringing these fish to the boat. Drift fishing around the area inlets can be very effective for locating flounder. Once a fish is caught take note of the area where is was caught and fish it more thoroughly, as there will likely be multiple fish in the same area. The nearshore fishing around Topsail really gets going this month. Cobia will arrive this month and look for them following schools of menhaden, buoys and around area inlets. Always keep a rod rigged with a Blue Water Candy cobia jig or Z-Man HeroZ on a HeadlockZ jighead to sight cast to fish. Cobia can appear “out of no where” while fishing for other species. Live and cut menhaden fishing throughout the water column is a very effective tactic for catching cobia. Focus your efforts around structure and areas around the inlet while bait fishing cobia. Chumming can increase your odds of bringing fish to the boat as well, keep in mind that this will also increase the amount of shark and stingray activity. Spanish mackerel fishing during the early season can be exceptional. Some of the largest fish of the season can be caught trolling spoons and deep diving plugs. #1 planers and size “0” Clarkspoons are the tried and true method for loading the fish box with Spanish. Experiment with a #2 planer on days when the fish are holding deeper. Be sure and support your local tackle shops and charter captains, they are your ticket to a great day on the water. Give us a call at South End Anglers for advice on inshore and nearshore fishing or to book a charter. Mention Coastal Angler Magazine and take advantage of special pricing. Follow South End Anglers on Facebook at www.facebook.com/southendangersnc/ and Instagram at southendanglersnc. FORECAST BY: Capt. Chadwick Crawford South End Anglers 540.460.3432 capt.chadwickcrawford@gmail.com • www.southendanglers.com
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above: Brian and Eddy with a pair of cobia caught just offshore of Topsail Island. They were fishing with Capt. Chadwick of South End Anglers.
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Swansboro/ emerald Isle
a steady bite, set up a standard bottom rig baited with shrimp and anchor down along the Swansboro waterfront or Emerald Isle bridge area and expect a bite almost every drop. Throughout May, these deeper hard bottom areas will have plenty of sea mullet, bluefish, grey trout, blowfish, croakers and even a possible flounder or black drum, feeding well on the falling tide. NEARSHORE The inlets and surf zone will be very active with plenty of bluefish, Spanish mackerel and a variety of bottom fish above: Tom Cronk, from Atlanta, put including redfish, flounder, this beautiful 17-inch southern flounder sea mullet, blowfish, black in the boat while fishing the Neuse River drum, grey trout and more. with Capt. Jeff Cronk this April. Trolling these areas with Clarkspoons or hard baits such as Yozuri Crystal Minnows will keep a rod bending with either bluefish or Spanish. Anglers willing to move a little farther off the surf will find bonito around our nearshore hard bottoms early in the month. These great eating little tunas can be caught by trolling the same baits, or anglers can cast most one to twoounce metal baits such as diamond jigs and Stingsilvers to surfacing fish. While on these nearshore hard bottoms, jigging a Bett’s Flounder Fanatic Bucktail tipped with a four-inch Berkley Gulp Shrimp will definitely produce hook-ups with big seabass, flounder and other desired bottom fish. But, of all the fish to target nearshore in May, cobia will be the prize! By mid-may cobia averaging from 20 to 60 pounds will be cruising up our coast in search of food as they get ready to spawn. Options for targeting these fish include anchoring near the inlets or cruising within a mile of the beach and looking for schools of menhaden to fish around. Three rigs are important to have ready when looking for cobia. I prefer a three-ounce bucktail rigged with a 10-inch Berkley Gulp Eel, ready for jigging through schools of bait, a 12-inch pre-rigged Power Bait Eel, ready for casting to surfacing fish and a live bait rig consisting of a 6/0 hook and four feet of 50-pound test fluorocarbon with a live menhaden, ready to cast to any fish not willing to hit an artificial bait. This is an amazing fishery that can produce a trophy fish!
May is always an incredible time to fish along NC’s Crystal Coast. Both our backwaters and our popular nearshore ocean areas will be teaming with a variety of fish. Species like our redfish, southern flounder and speckled trout that have wintered in the backwaters have really turned on and will be feeding aggressively while many other species like bluefish, summer flounder, sheepshead, black drum, sea-mullet and other bottom fish have already migrated into our backwaters from offshore or southern wintering grounds. Anglers venturing out our inlets this month will have plenty of options to choose from to stretch a string. The surface will be alive with bonito, bluefish, Spanish and king mackerel, barracuda, amberjack and the very popular cobia. Meanwhile, there will be plenty of sea bass, summer flounder, sea mullet, grey trout and other bottom fish around nearshore structure like our hard-bottoms, wrecks and artificial reefs. Anglers knowing what’s available both inshore and nearshore, the prime conditions to target these species and the most effective baits for each species will be very successful throughout May. INSHORE Anglers looking to hook-up with redfish and flounder this May will find plenty of fish working the shallow bays behind our beaches. These areas have many secondary channels that connect to our three inlets, which provide a direct path for fish migrating in from the ocean. Schools of redfish will be moving throughout the backwaters feeding on blue crabs, fiddlers, mullet minnows and mud minnows. Anglers wanting to target both the redfish and flounder with the same bait should use 1/8- to 1/4-ounce jig heads or a spinner bait rigged with a scented FORECAST BY: Capt. Jeff Cronk soft bait like Berkley above: Capt. Jeff Cronk landed this 22-inch Fish’n4life Charters Gulp Shrimp, Pogys, striper in the lower Neuse river this April www.nccharterfishing.com Ranger/Yamaha/PENN/Berkley Pro-Staff or Swimming Mullet. while fishing a Berkley Gulp Pogy. Cell 336-558-5697 • Home 910-325-8194 • jcronk@ec.rr.com Switching over to a topwater bait will produce some insane strikes from redfish but anglers will miss out on those flounder. A general rule to follow is to fish against the grass or shorelines during the higher part of the tides and then off the shorelines, along the points, around creek mouths and around oyster beds on the lower part of the tides. Fish will tend to recede to these locations as the tide falls. If the tide is extremely low, moving into the ICW and fishing around and under boat docks will often produce both flounder and redfish. Area bridge and dock pylons will also be stacked up with one- to five-pound sheepshead with some fish pushing 10 pounds or more. A live fiddler crab fished on a 1/0 to 3/0 wide gap, short shank hook, using a one- to three-ounce egg weight will be a deadly rig when suspended along the downcurrent side of a pylon. Start near the bottom, holding your bait still for one to two minutes, then repeating this at different depths until you find a pylon or a depth where they are feeding. above: Ron, from Atlanta, battled this 15-pound bluefish near Cape If you’re wanting to take the family out for some laid-back fun and Lookout recently while fishing with Capt. Jeff Cronkof Fish’nlife Charters. 4 wilmington/Morehead city
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kayak Fishing The Game Changer
I know...last month I wrote a review of a Native Watercraft, the Slayer Light Propel, and I know you all want some fishing info, but I am doing it again, another review. I did not think the new Native WatercraftTitan would be out this soon, but they hit its release date with flying colors. Here is what I hope will be my last review for this year. I got mine just this week and, as you expect, it hit the water on Sunday. It took longer than I wanted, but they showed up at the shop during demo day prep week so it had to wait a few days before I wet her hull. Like the title says, it’s a game changer in kayak fishing. So, here is a rundown of the tech specs on the kayak. Of course, it is a propel from Native with the forward and reverse built into the drive system. It is 44 inches wide and has a fitted weight of 150 pounds (yes, that is heavy for a kayak!) They teamed up with Boonedox USA, and with a 27inch extension bar, their landing gear fits perfectly into the track system. So, yes, you can move the Titan around. The Titan has lots of track on the kayak, making it easy to attach rod holders where you need them. They put storage for four rods with tip protection in the bow hatch. This was requested by bass fishermen who often fish close to the bank and get their rod tips caught in tree limbs. For the salt water fisherman
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this feature will work great for launching the kayak in the surf. On the stern they added mounting plates on both corners so you can mount two Micro Powerpoles. The deck is huge on the Titan. Its full track system allows you to push the seat all the way to the stern and have a walk-around fishing deck. And, because it is 44 inches wide, you really can walk around in it. It is that stable. You will still get Native’s hand-sewn breathable seat but the new mounting platform for this seat contains a tackle storage compartment for all your Plano boxes. The new massive storage hatch in the front of the kayak can carry almost anything you could think of. Inside the hatch is a removable tub to increase the storage in the hull. The deck also boasts a hard hatch near the stern for even more storage. Now if you just read this sentence and thought to yourself how can they have all those open hatches on a sit on top? What about water getting in the hull that would start to sink it? Well, they have incorporated a product called plastafoam in the molding process. It is made up of half polyethylene and half foam that coats the inside of the hull. This adds a huge amount of flotation to the hull, and makes the Titan stiff, which equals better performance on the water. Out of all the kayaks in the Propel family (which now has seven models), this is the fastest turning, most responsive one to date. I have already touched on how stable it is and it is fast in the water! I would not recommend anyone do this, but when I took her out for the first time, it was 15 mph winds gusting to 20 mph and the Titan took them in stride. Her speed comes from the sharp bow entry and that also translates into a straight-tracking hull. So, now let’s talk about some of the other things done to the Titan that makes it a front runner in the new class of fishing kayaks. There is a mounting area in the hull just in front of the Propel drive to mount your transducer for your fish finder. There is so much track on this kayak you can put the screen just about anywhere. The anti-slip deck pads are standard, so you are comfortable while standing. There’s even a deck bungee behind the seat to secure all your gear. There is so much more I could talk about the Titan but I am running out of space on this page. Like the title says, this is a game changer in large foot propelled kayaks. She is big and a little heavy, but worth her weight in gold. .article BY: Chris Tryon Hook Line and Paddle Canoe and Kayak Outfitters, Wilmington, NC Phone 910-330-6999 email: hooklineandpaddle@yahoo.com
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Wrightsville Beach As the weather stabilizes and the temps go up in May we see a
lot more days where we can get out in the ocean and look for those high speed, and good-eating bonita in earlier May (even late April this year) and Spanish mackerel all May long. These fish are a lot of fun to see busting the surface of the water and even more fun to see on the end of your line! Casting small spoons or using fly gear in six to eight weights can make for a great challenge because of the light tackle. Look for these fish to be hanging around nearshore artificial reefs, ledges and inlets. Trolling Clark spoons and small deep-diving lures can be the key to success some days for the bonita and Spanish mackerel. When using the Clark spoons, I would recommend the pink flash spoon in sizes #00, #0 and #1; the pink flash series has really helped me put more fish in the boat. You might come over a few false albacore and bluefish mixed in with the bonita and Spanish from time to time; sometimes there will be too many bluefish mixed in! Redfish and May go hand in hand. This month is a favorite for casting artificial lures to them. Reds really start to settle down in their summer spots by early May. Casting three-inch Berkley Gulp Shrimp on light jig heads is one of my “go-to” baits for May redfish. My “goto” colors are Sugar Spice Glow, New Penny, Rootbeer Gold/Chart Tail and Natural. Saltwater Assassin Sea Shad lures in Copperhead and 10W40 Chart Tail colors work well, too. Another fun way to catch redfish is by casting topwater plugs like MirrOlure’s Top Pup or the new Poppa Mullet. You can also cast popping or rattling corks in these shallow areas with a three inch Berkley Gulp which will catch the redfish, too. If you would rather go the bait route; try some fresh cut mullet or menhaden on a light Carolina rig. Try fishing fresh cut bait around docks in the ICW or along creek mouths when the tide is moving. May is a great month for gator (bigger) speckled trout; some of my personal largest specks have come in May! Most of the bigger trout I see in May are caught on topwater plugs. My favorites are the MirrOlure Top Dog, She Dog and Poppa Mullet; these noisy baits really make the trout come right out of the water after them! Another great bait for bigger trout is a five or six inch Berkley Gulp Jerkshad in Pearl White and New Penny colors, rigged on light swimbait hooks. Live shrimp, small mullets and menhaden on float rigs or very light Carolina rigs will also catch those gators. By mid-May, the cobia start to show up around Wr i g h t s ville...they are one of my favorites! I predict the cobia will be here a little early this season. I above: Capt. Jot and Don of West Virginia with a 60look for cobia and 52- pound cobia caught off Wrightsville Beach on around inlets, live bait. 6 wilmington/Morehead city
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shoals and bait schools.Nearshore/offshore reefs and ledges are also a good place to look. With the water being so clear it has been easier to see those “brown logs” in the water. We are throwing big Bluewater Candy jigs, swim baits and live bait to the cobia. Color really does not seem to matter, but “go bright!” When I’m not sightcasting for them, we are fishing around inlets, shoals and nearshore artificial reefs. I float fish, bottom fish and kite fish in these areas with live menhaden, blues, pinfish and mullet as bait. Sometimes when fishing for cobia a great bonus fish will be a nice bull redfish. You can chum if you like, but the sharks and rays will come and they will come in numbers! With the warmer weather the flounder will finally start showing up in better numbers. There are still a lot of smaller ones inshore, but the bigger ones will really start showing up in May. Most of the flounder fishing I’m doing is just off the beach and around the inlets. I’ve caught flounder on both live and artificial baits in May...what I have observed is there are more numbers on live bait, but more keepers on artificial baits. Mud minnows on light Carolina rigs with one L42 Eagle Claw hook will catch the numbers of flounder. Five- and sixinch Berkley Gulp Jerkshad will produce the most keeper flounders. I rig these Jerkshads on 1/4-, 3/8-,1/2- and 3/4-ounce (ocean) jig heads with longer hook shanks in red or gray color. Tackle run down: Reels: PENN Battle II & Clash spinning reels 2000, 2500, 3000 sizes. Rods: PENN Battalions 6’6” and 7’ med-light and medium rods. Line: Spiderwire Ultra-Cast in 10- and 15-pound test. For, cobia, I like PENN Fathom 20LW or 25LW casting or Slammer III spinning 5500, 6000 or 6500 spinning reels, with a PENN Rampage Jigging Rod in 50 to 100-pound class. Thanks for reading Coastal Angler Magazine. Good early summer fishing and weather to you! Forecast by: Capt. Jot Owens Penn Tackle Elite Staff •Ranger Boats Pro Staff www.captainjot.com • 910-233-4139
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News from NC Marine Fisheries
Cobia Size and Bag Regs Changed Effective May 1; 12 Anglers Receive $100 Awards in Tag Drawing New Cobia Regs
New size and bag limits will go into effect May 1 for the recreational cobia fishery in North Carolina waters. The minimum size limit will increase to 36 inches fork length (measured from the tip of snout to the fork in the tail). The possession limit will decrease to one fish per-person per-day, with a maximum of four fish per-vessel per-day, if four or more people are on board a vessel. The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission voted in February to tighten recreational cobia regulations after the federal government closed federal waters (ocean waters beyond 3 miles from shore) north of the Georgia-Florida line to recreational cobia harvest. The federal closure took effect on January 24 and will remain for the rest of the year. The federal action was taken to account for overages in the recreational annual catch limit and total annual catch limit of Atlantic migratory group cobia in 2016. Go to their website for more information on the closure in federal waters. In addition to the regulatory changes, the commission asked anglers to report the length and weight of all cobia harvested in state waters on a catch card, which can be found at official North Carolina Citation Weigh Stations or online. A list of participating weigh stations can be found on the NCDMF website. The recreational cobia season will close in state waters at 12:01 a.m. September 1.
Anglers Win in Tags Drawing
Twelve lucky fishermen won $100 each in a recent N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Multi-Species Tagging Program yearly drawing. The tagging program randomly selected tag numbers from more than 930 fish tags that were turned in by fishermen in 2016. Three tag numbers were drawn from each of the four species that are tagged by the program. The $100 winners who turned in tags from red drum were: Bryan Murphrey of Greenville, Jason Shannon of Wilmington and Sam England of Weston, W.Va. The $100 winners who turned in tags for striped bass were: Brian Brosenne of Goldsboro, Andy Kirkland of Hobgood and Helen Browning of Wilmington. The $100 winners above: Goldsboro resident Brian Brosenne who turned in tags and his wife Darlene enjoy fishing together for southern flounder in the Neuse River. In 2016, they caught this were: Glenda Bright of 19.5 inch tagged striped bass in Slocum Jacksonville, Michael Creek. The fish was originally tagged by Gooden of Morehead City Division of MarineFisheries staff in nearby and William Whichard of Hancock Creek 246 days before it was Chocowinity. caught.
The $100 winners who turned in tags for spotted seatrout were: Keith Bruno of Oriental, Milton Miller of Pink Hill and Virginia Moser of Hillsborough.
above: Sam England, chief of the West Virginia Parks and Recreation Section, travels to North Carolina each year to go fishing. England is pictured with his 2016 tagged red drum, caught in Holden Beach. The fish was originally tagged 43 miles away in the Cape Fear River 360 days prior to being caught.
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offshore/Pelagics OK, folks, the time has come, no more excuses – it’s May and it’s time to catch some fish! Spring has finally got everyone out and feverishly working to finish all their pre-season boat projects. Waxing the boat, new line on the reels, buckets full of rigs and all the myriad of things we all do to get ourselves ready for May to truly start off the season. Hopefully, by now you are about done, because this is the time we all have been impatiently waiting for. The wahoo and blackfin hung around most all year to provide some action for anyone who wanted to get offshore this winter and spring. A few mahi have begun to show up as well to whet your appetite. May traditionally marks the arrival of the largest schools of the larger, “gaffer” size mahi along our coast. There is no better time to fish that can allow for non-stop action from lines in until lines out. Huge packs of ravenous fish are here and are reasonably easy to find. Normally your largest challenge will be to try and keep a bait in the water! The bonus side of May is that there will still be some w a h o o and blackfin tuna around, some yellowfin tuna
offshore/bottom FINALLY, We Can Harvest Some Brown Fish!
It’s been a long winter and spring without being able to hunt for grouper. It’s not any easier now than it was years ago when we first heard the phrase “grouper season”, and that we had to go on a four-month “dry spell” regarding grouper. This is my favorite style fishing, bar none, when the conditions are right and they’re “nibbling”. I’ve said it for a long time now, but if you want to consistently come home with a load of grouper, you need to anchor on top of them, and get the “bite going”. Getting the bite going always starts with getting the entire food chain “going”. This is why I always take at least one box of frozen squid to fire down (whole) one at a a time. On every stop, I like to go thru at least a third of a (five-pound) box of squid before switching over to all live baits. Keep at least one person firing down the whole squid, regardless of what is being caught. Let the grunts, pinkies and sea bass chew these whole squid up and send the small pieces swirling around down there on the bottom. This will get the cigar minnows, sardines and grass grunts actively chasing down the small “giblets” of squid, which in turn, will get the grouper and large snapper active. This is the very reason to anchor vs. drifting. If you drift thru the zone a few times, you may catch a few, but if you are stationary on top of them, you stand a good chance to put several of them in your box. Catching grouper is one thing…catching large grouper is yet another thing. The younger/smaller (female) grouper are gullible, from being short in the experience category. This is where you have to get your “A Game” on. Very few baits can compare to the live grass grunt on a Decoy Jig connected by 80- to 100-pound test fluorocarbon when it comes to catching the older, wiser male grouper for a couple reasons… 1) Weeding out all the trash bites from grunts , pinkies and dink sea
will show up occasionally and then our blue marlin seem to show and steadily increase in numbers heading into June. Despite what everyone tells you, there really is no super-secret mahi catching bait...sorry to be the bearer of bad news. All the shiny stuff in the shops and at the boat shows do a much better job of catching fishermen than they do fish. It’s all basically good and it all will catch them on any given day. When it comes to mahi I find that brighter colors seem to do well, and that things with a lot of contrast work well also. To me, there is still no better bait out there than a Sea Witch for everyday fishing. All that being said, drag a bait over the right fish at the right time and he will bite...period. Look for weed lines with lots of bait or other life in them, because mahi thrive in these things. They will generally be found hiding under almost any debris you find floating and often in surprisingly large numbers. Keep your eyes open and check things out. Once you find them, you can fill the box in a hurry. Once you get a few mahi in the box, you can always look to take a lap out a little deeper in search of a marlin. Just toss out a couple of larger baits and see what you can find. Folks, it’s easy to get caught up in the catching and then thinking about the cool picture of a pile of fish back on the dock, but PLEASE remember that there is no excuse to waste a fish. Catch what you can eat and keep some to share with your buddies, but then think about releasing the extras.Take a picture so you can brag about how many you let go. The fishery is in good shape, but we don’t want to change that. Try to save some for your kids and grandkids so they can enjoy the same things we are enjoying now! Lastly, there will be tons of boats out there on nice weekends. Remain calm and remember to be courteous if you expect the same in return. Plan ahead, be prepared and have fun! FORECAST BY: Capt. Troy Pate 252-917-0445 • capttroypate@aol.com
bass, 2) Attracting the dominant grouper with the visual of a crab holding onto a struggling grass grunt or other small snapper,cigar minnows or sardines This visual absolutely drives them NUTS ! There are very few exceptions to the rule. The folks that go “grouper fishing,” are the same folks that come back to the hill with grouper, and the folks that go fishing a bunch of cut squid and other smaller cut baits are the ones that come back to the dock with a bunch of grunts, pinkies and sea bass. Not that I have anything against grunts, pinkies and sea bass, I just want to have them make a good addition to the large brown fish in the box. As always, take your kids, dressed properly, and take plenty of photos and video that everyone will enjoy for years to come!
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FORECAST BY: Capt. Tim Barefoot, Barefoot Fishing www.circlehookjig.com • www.barefootfishing.net
may 2017
wilmington/Morehead city 9
4/16/17 3:24 PM
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5_2017 CAM 12 p.indd 10
May 2017
betsy johnson hospital
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Flying Around with Captain Lee The first thing in May that pops into my mind is stripers spawning on the Roanoke River at Weldon. At any one time, there are a 100,000 to 500,000 stripers in the upper five-mile stretch of the Roanoke River. This is my 17th year guiding up there for them. Keeper season is over the first of May and the river will calm from all the boats that were there during keeper season. The stripers have one thing on their mind, spawning, which means the morning and evening topwater bite is on! You can almost count on having 100 fish days and I have seen two guys have days of over 400 fish. Did I say it can be very good? This year though, the red drum and black drum, along with the speckled trout of nice size, have also been keeping my attention. Red drum abound on the flats, waterway edges and docks, so topwater bites can happen all day long, and bigger fish may be taken on topwater. I prefer the smaller top water plugs like the MirrOlure Pups and Juniors, smaller Rapalas and Zara Spooks, all of which will work well for you. Gold spoons and grubs on worm hooks work well as search baits for the flats and waterways. Around the docks, live baits on lead heads work well for this. Black drum can also be found around the docks and flats. Fresh shrimp is the bait of choice for them. For dock fishing you will need some stiff rods and heavy line as the fish can be large and strong. Flounder are moving into the inlets in good numbers and you can move up in bait size now. Inlets and waterway edges on the rising tides are target areas, as well as creek mouths on the falling tide. If you find one, there should be more in that area. This is also the time to fish the flats (one to two feet of water) along the grass edges with live baits or soft plastics. Purple with a Chartreuse tail is the color of my choice for flounder. Speckled trout are hitting on the topwaters now. I like smaller baits, like those I mentioned above. They will work very well on specks, but you should also have some without a rattle in them. When you have multiple hits on a cast, you will know that you are on a school of fish. Soft plastics and small hard plastic baits like the MR17 MirrOlure will work well for this. Hit marsh edges with moving water, oyster rocks and holes for your trout. Have a great time fishing in May. Fishing is going great! As always, be safe on the water. About the author: Captain Lee Parsons 910-540-2464 www.gottaflyguideservice.com Located In Wrightsville Beach at the Bridge Tender Marina
910 864-9500 11 wilmington/Morehead city
5_2017 CAM 12 p.indd 11
May 2017
above: Dr. Rob Peyton of Raleigh had some fun with Capt. Lee on a recent cool day.
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Morehead City Tides Morehead City, North Carolina 34.7200° N, 76.7283° W
Day
Mon 01 Tue 02 Wed 03 Thu 04 Fri 05 Sat 06 Sun 07 Mon 08 Tue 09 Wed 10 Thu 11 Fri 12 Sat 13 Sun 14 Mon 15 Tue 16 Wed 17 Thu 18 Fri 19 Sat 20 Sun 21 Mon 22 Tue 23 Wed 24 Thu 25 Fri 26 Sat 27 Sun 28 Mon 29 Tue 30 Wed 31
High
12:21 AM 1:22 AM 2:27 AM 3:33 AM 4:36 AM 5:33 AM
Low
6:57 AM 8:00 AM 9:04 AM 10:05 AM 11:01 AM 11:50 AM 12:23 AM 1:13 AM 1:57 AM 2:38 AM 3:17 AM 3:55 AM 4:33 AM 5:11 AM 5:51 AM 6:33 AM 12:39 AM 7:18 AM 1:28 AM 8:06 AM 2:22 AM 8:57 AM 3:20 AM 9:48 AM 4:18 AM 10:39 AM 5:16 AM 11:30 AM 12:15 AM 1:12 AM 2:07 AM 3:01 AM 3:55 AM 4:49 AM 5:44 AM 12:05 AM 6:40 AM 1:03 AM 7:38 AM
High
Low
May 2017
High
Sunrise Sunset
12:54 PM 6:51 PM 6:16 AM 7:52 PM 2:00 PM 7:59 PM 6:15 AM 7:52 PM 3:10 PM 9:12 PM 6:14 AM 7:53 PM 4:17 PM 10:23 PM 6:13 AM 7:54 PM 5:17 PM 11:27 PM 6:12 AM 7:55 PM 6:09 PM 6:11 AM 7:56 PM 6:23 AM 12:34 PM 6:54 PM 6:10 AM 7:56 PM 7:09 AM 1:14 PM 7:35 PM 6:09 AM 7:57 PM 7:50 AM 1:50 PM 8:13 PM 6:08 AM 7:58 PM 8:28 AM 2:25 PM 8:49 PM 6:07 AM 7:59 PM 9:06 AM 2:59 PM 9:24 PM 6:06 AM 8:00 PM 9:42 AM 3:33 PM 10:00 PM 6:06 AM 8:00 PM 10:19 AM 4:08 PM 10:36 PM 6:05 AM 8:01 PM 10:58 AM 4:45 PM 11:14 PM 6:04 AM 8:02 PM 11:38 AM 5:25 PM 11:54 PM 6:03 AM 8:03 PM 12:22 PM 6:10 PM 6:03 AM 8:03 PM 1:12 PM 7:02 PM 6:02 AM 8:04 PM 2:08 PM 8:01 PM 6:01 AM 8:05 PM 3:06 PM 9:06 PM 6:00 AM 8:06 PM 4:04 PM 10:12 PM 6:00 AM 8:06 PM 5:00 PM 11:15 PM 5:59 AM 8:07 PM 5:55 PM 5:59 AM 8:08 PM 6:11 AM 12:20 PM 6:47 PM 5:58 AM 8:09 PM 7:05 AM 1:09 PM 7:38 PM 5:58 AM 8:09 PM 7:58 AM 2:00 PM 8:30 PM 5:57 AM 8:10 PM 8:52 AM 2:51 PM 9:22 PM 5:57 AM 8:11 PM 9:46 AM 3:44 PM 10:15 PM 5:56 AM 8:11 PM 10:41 AM 4:38 PM 11:09 PM 5:56 AM 8:12 PM 11:39 AM 5:36 PM 5:55 AM 8:13 PM 12:40 PM 6:37 PM 5:55 AM 8:13 PM 1:44 PM 7:43 PM 5:55 AM 8:14 PM Tide Tables provided by SaltwaterCentral.Com
Wrightsville Beach Tides Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina 34.2133° N, 77.7867° W
Day
Mon 01 Tue 02 Wed 03 Thu 04 Fri 05 Sat 06 Sun 07 Mon 08 Tue 09 Wed 10 Thu 11 Fri 12 Sat 13 Sun 14 Mon 15 Tue 16 Wed 17 Thu 18 Fri 19 Sat 20 Sun 21 Mon 22 Tue 23 Wed 24 Thu 25 Fri 26 Sat 27 Sun 28 Mon 29 Tue 30 Wed 31
High
Low
6:27 AM 12:51 AM 7:36 AM 1:47 AM 8:39 AM 2:45 AM 9:35 AM 3:48 AM 10:25 AM 4:49 AM 11:10 AM 5:41 AM 11:53 AM 12:23 AM 1:09 AM 1:51 AM 2:30 AM 3:06 AM 3:42 AM 4:19 AM 4:58 AM 5:44 AM 12:22 AM 6:38 AM 1:06 AM 7:37 AM 1:53 AM 8:32 AM 2:45 AM 9:23 AM 3:46 AM 10:12 AM 4:49 AM 11:01 AM 5:46 AM 11:52 AM 12:40 AM 1:36 AM 2:31 AM 3:23 AM 4:14 AM 5:08 AM 6:07 AM 12:32 AM 7:10 AM
High
Low
MAY 2017
High
Sunrise Sunset
12:28 PM 6:32 PM 6:21 AM 7:55 PM 1:25 PM 7:44 PM 6:20 AM 7:56 PM 2:23 PM 8:52 PM 6:19 AM 7:57 PM 3:24 PM 9:52 PM 6:18 AM 7:57 PM 4:26 PM 10:46 PM 6:17 AM 7:58 PM 5:21 PM 11:36 PM 6:16 AM 7:59 PM 6:08 PM 6:15 AM 8:00 PM 6:26 AM 12:34 PM 6:50 PM 6:14 AM 8:00 PM 7:07 AM 1:13 PM 7:29 PM 6:13 AM 8:01 PM 7:46 AM 1:52 PM 8:08 PM 6:12 AM 8:02 PM 8:25 AM 2:29 PM 8:47 PM 6:12 AM 8:03 PM 9:06 AM 3:05 PM 9:28 PM 6:11 AM 8:04 PM 9:48 AM 3:40 PM 10:10 PM 6:10 AM 8:04 PM 10:33 AM 4:15 PM 10:54 PM 6:09 AM 8:05 PM 11:18 AM 4:53 PM 11:38 PM 6:09 AM 8:06 PM 12:04 PM 5:38 PM 6:08 AM 8:07 PM 12:48 PM 6:39 PM 6:07 AM 8:07 PM 1:33 PM 7:49 PM 6:07 AM 8:08 PM 2:23 PM 8:53 PM 6:06 AM 8:09 PM 3:21 PM 9:52 PM 6:05 AM 8:10 PM 4:23 PM 10:48 PM 6:05 AM 8:10 PM 5:21 PM 11:44 PM 6:04 AM 8:11 PM 6:14 PM 6:04 AM 8:12 PM 6:38 AM 12:44 PM 7:04 PM 6:03 AM 8:12 PM 7:29 AM 1:37 PM 7:55 PM 6:03 AM 8:13 PM 8:21 AM 2:30 PM 8:47 PM 6:02 AM 8:14 PM 9:16 AM 3:22 PM 9:42 PM 6:02 AM 8:14 PM 10:14 AM 4:14 PM 10:39 PM 6:01 AM 8:15 PM 11:13 AM 5:09 PM 11:36 PM 6:01 AM 8:16 PM 12:11 PM 6:12 PM 6:00 AM 8:16 PM 1:07 PM 7:22 PM 6:00 AM 8:17 PM Tide Tables provided by SaltwaterCentral.Com
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12 wilmington/Morehead city
5_2017 CAM 12 p.indd 12
May 2017
175 boats in stock!
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4/16/17 3:24 PM
By Jim Farmer
F
olks, it’s that time of year again and it’s started already. The other day, I received a text from a buddy. The text read, “It’s here” and showed a string of photos of nice spotted bass, lips adorned with a familiar topwater plug, a Chug Bug popper. The Chug Bug has been a favorite in the spring and fall for topwater bass and stripers the past few years. To be honest, it’s worth its weight in gold here on Georgia’s Lake Lanier. I imagine it will find similar success wherever there are spotted bass and stripers. This time of year, I’ll either be popping or walking the dog with a topwater walking bait. Now, the timing varies on different waters, but here the bait starts moving to the top when surface temperatures reach 70 degrees. Some of the bait is seeking warmer water, and some are entering their spawning season, so they are swimming the surface in the shallows looking for structure to spawn on. In May on Lanier, we are catching the tail end of the shad spawn and entering the blueback herring spawn. In both cases there are plenty of opportunities to find surfacing predatory fish looking for a big meal. In calmer early morning hours when the creeks are glassed over, I pull the boat out into the middle of the creek, shut the motor down and watch for fish chasing bait. They usually give themselves away on points and shorelines. I’ll make a mental note of the areas I’ve seen activity, and then I go to work hitting those locations. Generally, the fish stay and feed as long as bait is in the area. I’ll start out throwing a walking bait like the Lucky Craft Sammy. “Walking the dog” with this bait is very effective, and creates a wake on the surface the fish are looking for. This can be a lock very early in the morning on creek points. But if walking the dog doesn’t get their attention, I’ll break out the popper and start making some noise. “Calling them up” with a popper mimics fish feeding on the surface, and it’s sometimes the ticket when the quieter walking bait doesn’t produce.
E
This pattern usually goes on for a while, and fishing is easy. It’s when they quit surfacing that times get tough, and you need to go looking. The next place to look is main-lake humps, where the water comes up shallow out of the depths. The pattern is the same as in the creeks, and at times surfacing action on the main lake can last all day. A lot of times these fish go undetected, and throwing topwater baits around shallow-water markers can produce. Whether it’s the creek points and shallows or mainlake humps, there are two baits and two tactics for me in May. You can find me walking the dog with a walking bait or calling them up with a surface popper for some of the best topwater action in the South. Jim Farmer is an avid fisherman and owner of Cast Away Bait and Tackle, a custom tackle shop located just off the shores of Lake Lanier in north Georgia.
By Capt. Michael Okruhlik Photo Courtesy of Controlled Descent Lures
ach spring, anglers are greeted with big winds, big tides and small baitfish. There is no time when the size of your lure is more important than the spring season. With the abundance of small baitfish in the water, it can be difficult to get the attention of your target species, especially when you are fishing with artificial lures. It is very common to find game fish gorging themselves on tiny glass minnows. This is routinely evident when you land a fish and they spit up these miniature meals. As anglers, we have two obstacles here: the sheer amount of forage in the water competing with your lure and the small size of the lure required. What I have found to be the most successful tactic is to use the smallest lure I can cast and appropriately present to the fish. Both hard and soft lures can be effective. Another key to success is color. I prefer a white-and-silver combination that closely matches the available forage. I like to fish these lures on the edge of large bait balls when possible. I try to keep my lure on the edge or under the school to let the fish focus on a single target rather than a large mass. Using a slow-sinking lure is also an advantage this time of the year. A lure that will suspend or sink slowly is ideal. This allows the predator time to target the lure and also gives the appearance that the lure is a wounded baitfish, which is always a plus. When the bait is this thick, every advantage to stand out is needed, but you still need to match the forage in size and color. The use of tandem rigs can allow a couple of advantages. Casting two smaller lures could equal the weight of one of your typical
offerings. This allows you to cast farther and still have the appropriate size lure. Rigging two small silver spoons with a white bucktail is a great combination when fishing glass minnow schools. I also like to use a small floater diver with a small spoon trailer. The diving action in conjunction with the added weight of the spoon is a unique combination of action to entice a strike. Downsizing your lure presentation in the spring can definitely upsize your catch. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
For more on Controlled Descent Lures, go to
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NORTH CAROLINA 3
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4/17/17 3:03 PM
By Nadeen Welch
G
oing on vacation and trying to decide where your next excursion should be? Fort Myers and Sanibel, Fla. offer something for everyone. Beaches, hiking, kayaking, fishing, camping, birdwatching and shelling abound here. With mild temperatures and low humidity, outside is Photo courtesy of Capt. Terry Fisher/ where you want to be Fish Face Charters after being cooped up through the winter! If fishing is your activity of choice, you have made a great decision. You can take the whole family, only those interested or go it alone. Your best bet for a great day on the water is to hire a professional captain or guide. You can go out on a private charter, where you and your family are the only ones on board, or you may choose a “head boat” where there will be 50 other people fishing with you. Either way, almost everything needed will be provided—boat, license, rod and reel, bait, and a good time. Usually the only things not included are sunscreen and alcoholic beverages. Make sure you ask what is included, just to make sure. Charter guides usually specialize in a certain type of fishing. Inshore fishing trips will have you fishing the flats, mangroves and back-bays. The advantage of inshore fishing is it is usually a more active fishing day, and a windy day won’t ruin your day of fishing. Your guide will move to
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different locations to find the fish, which are not sitting still waiting for you, and provide you with a better experience. This time of year, redfish, snook, mangrove snapper, sea trout and tarpon are what you will catch. These fish will give you a good fight and provide an exciting day on the water. Offshore fishing trips will still provide most required items. The captain will travel anywhere from 20 to 50 miles or more offshore to find fish. While you may not catch as many fish, you Photo courtesy of Capt. Larry McGuire/Show will catch larg- Me the Fish Charters er fish like king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, snapper, grouper and sharks, such as blacktips, spinners, bulls, and possibly hammerheads. This is an entirely different type of fishing from inshore and just as fun. Then you have tarpon fishing. The “silver king” is world famous in these waters, and people come from around the world for the opportunity to land one. The food of choice for a tarpon is a pass crab. Boca Grande is famous for its tarpon fishing history and provides a beautiful environment, if you are here specifically for tarpon fishing and a laidback island environment. If fishing is not up your alley, visiting Sanibel and Captiva will offer you many options. J.N. Ding-Darling National Wildlife Refuge is located on Sanibel Island. It is home to one of the country’s largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystems and is well known for its migratory bird populations. Captiva Cruises operates in two locations on the island and can take you to the private island of Useppa, Cayo Costa State Park, Cabbage Key and Boca Grande, as well as many other options. On the island’s beaches, shelling like you wouldn’t expect is the norm. Whatever you decide to do, relax and enjoy our “IslandOlogy.” Nadeen Welch is co-publisher of the Fort Myers edition of Coastal Angler Magazine.
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FRESHWATER
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4/17/17 3:03 PM
FRESHWATER
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estled in the south Georgia pines just southwest of Adel, Ga. is 3,500 acres of sportsman’s paradise known as Live Oak Plantation. Campbell Roberts and I arrived with Ranger bass boat in tow via a fence-lined, well-manicured slice of green earth that led us to the lodge at Live Oak Plantation. This is where we met our expert bass fishing guide, Max Gresham. Max is a seasoned bass angler and a member of the Valdosta State Blazers bass fishing team. Max perfectly planned our day of bass fishing. With 10 ponds and more than 500 acres of fishable water to choose from, he had his sights
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set on two main bodies of water that had been producing quantity as well as quality bass for the past several days. What a breathtaking sight it was as we traveled the winding road past Jim’s Backyard Pond just as the fog was lifting off the water. We made our way to our first destination, Gator Pond and launched at about 7:45 a.m. Yes, there is a reason they call it Gator Pond and yes, we did see a couple of resident gators. The pond was impeccable, with its splendor of bass cover including grass, dollar pads, lily pads and submerged timber. We had a deck full of rods with an arsenal of big bass lures tied on: buzzbaits, frogs, flukes, trick worms and jigs. Campbell was first to hook up on 3-pound bass swimming a fluke across visible grass structure. Max and I followed with several bass including two massive topwater explosions on frogs that resulted in the big bass of the day. Gator Pond was very good to us that morning, yielding about 25 bass in about four hours. We took a break and headed back to the lodge for a quick lunch and then it was back to fishing. This time we launched the boat in Outback Pond. This pond was heavy in willow trees, laydowns and grass. The bass numbers rose quickly in this pond, one after another. The action was nonstop, cast after cast, bass after bass. We located a ball of baitfish, and the bass were close by. The fluke bite was the strongest around these schoolers, and we managed to bag another 40 bass in about four hours. We all caught our fair share of bass on both of these fine bodies of water. You would need a week or two to thoroughly fish all the beautiful ponds Live Oak Plantation has to offer. When you visit, you must stay and dine at the lodge. The lodge will accommodate up to 12 guests in 10 rooms. There is a conference center that will accommodate groups up to 20. In addition to some of the best bass fishing in the state, Live Oak Plantation offers quail, deer and turkey hunting. They also offer tower pheasant shoots. For additional recreation, there is a well-manicured golf course that has three greens and three tee boxes per hole that allows for nine different holes of golf, and there is also a driving range. For additional Information on Live Oak Plantation, visit their websites www.fishliveoak.com and www.huntliveoak.com or call direct at 800-682-4868. Live Oak Plantation is located at 675 Plantation Road, Adel, GA 31620.
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FRESHWATER
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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
4/17/17 3:04 PM
UR-Cut
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UNDER THE SEA 26
Diving in Tonga with my new PLB
A
fter several years of traveling for work, I had enough frequent flyer miles to take my family to Australia to dive on the Great Barrier Reef. After returning home, we heard on the news that two Americans had accidentally been left at sea by the same dive operator we had chartered. The crew miscounted when tracking divers, and by the time the search began, they most likely suffered a slow, agonizing death. That nightmare incident was portrayed in a Hollywood movie. Unfortunately, these “left-at-sea” stories are not uncommon. Boats can become incapacitated; divers can get caught in a current; the possibilities are endless. According to U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmers, the key to getting rescued is to make yourself visible. A whistle or Dive Alert air horn might be enough to catch the attention of your boat if it is nearby. If lost, it helps if you are wearing a brightly colored wetsuit hood or deploy a brightly colored safety sausage. Even better, you can carry signaling devices such as flares, a mirror (requires sun), or glow sticks (at night). A small LED dive flashlight or strobe can be seen from afar—especially if the USCG is searching with night vision goggles. But what if your boat sank and no one was called? What if you are in a country where there is no coast guard? These thoughts rattled around in my head before a recent trip to a remote island off of Tonga. Fortunately, advances in technology continue to provide new solutions. PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons) on the market today are small, waterproof devices designed to alert search and rescue services of your location anywhere in the world. When activated, it transmits a message on the 406 MHz distress frequency which is monitored by the COSPASSARSAT satellite system. The alert is relayed to the nearest Rescue Coordination Center. Once in the area, rescue services pinpoint your location using the 121.5 MHz homing transmitter. Unlike EPIRBs, which are registered to a specific vessel, a PLB is registered to a person and can be carried wherever you go. Before my trip, I bought an ACR ResQLink PLB from Bass Pro for
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$249. It can be used on land or sea, but divers need to know that taking it deeper than 5 meters could cause the device to activate due to pressure changes, so it should either be secured to a flag float on the surface or stored in a dive canister if taken underwater. The increased peace of mind was well worth the price. There are several similar products on the market. The Ocean Signal rescueME PLB1 operates in a similar manner. Nautilus Lifeline makes a “Marine Rescue GPS” which broadcasts a distress message to all AIS equipped ships up to 34 miles away and to the marine radio on your own vessel. The ultimate survival tool is your ability to keep calm and maintain a positive attitude while taking action to make yourself visible. Prepare ahead of time, and your chances of rescue are very good. Safe diving! Sheri Daye is a world-record holder, host of Speargun Hunter, and producer of “The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo” in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Follow “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram.
For more Sheri Daye, go to
CAMSPEARFISHING.COM
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4/17/17 3:04 PM
Selected Colors & Lengths
A Full Service Marine Lumber Yard
Specializing In Lumber, Pilings, Decking and Dock Accessories 3 LOCATIONS Showroom: CAPE CORAL 1005 S.E. 10th St. • 239-573-6857 FORT MYERS 10871 Kelly Rd. • 239-267-6857 CHARLOTTE COUNTY 3055 S. McCall Rd. • 941-474-0099
ShorelineLumber.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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CAPTAINS OF FISHER GUIDING 28
A CAPTAIN AND HIS LUCKY LADY, FISHING THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
BY LUKE CAMBELL
R
obert Mitchell hasn’t stopped chasing marlin since childhood, when he would see the species or its larger-finned counterpart, the sailfish, mounted on walls of seafood restaurants. After catching plenty wall-worthy fish in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf of Mexico over the years, Robert chose the Virgin Islands to begin living his dream as a charter captain. Now, he takes guests on his boat, The Lucky Lady, to catch marlin and other trophy fish surrounding St. Thomas and St. John. After visiting St. Thomas frequently over the last 10 years, local mainstays on the island have helped Capt. Mitchell settle in since moving there permanently in January. Mitchell said, “Jimmy Loveland has been great to go over to and get advice. Getting to talk to a legend like Jimmy has been fantastic. Jim on the Black Pearl (a fellow USVI sportfishing charter) came over and welcomed me into town. He is a good guy, and I would do anything for these two people.” The name Jimmy Loveland may be familiar to those who follow sportfishing. Loveland founded Marlin Magazine and the USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament that runs every August in St. Thomas. In addition to advice from fellow anglers, Lady Luck has loyally followed Capt. Mitchell to teach him the nuances of fishing here. Mitchell explained, “Everywhere I have fished, I have been blessed with good luck in finding boils, birds and porpoise. Birds down here are very few. When you see a bird, you better follow it. When you see the porpoise, you might make one or two passes, but that’s it. The lonely bird has been far more successful. The other places I have fished, you looked for a flock of birds and when following the porpoise, you were just about guaranteed a tuna strike.”
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Another key difference anglers find in the Virgin Islands is distance. In contrast to other destinations Mitchell has fished, the boat ride is short. The South Drop is 6 miles from dock, and the North Drop is only 20 miles. These drops are famous. While fishing, Mitchell has watched the bottom drop from 90 to deeper than 3,000 feet in a matter of minutes. Paying close attention, and staying over the intended depth is important. Capt. Mitchell described a recent trip aboard The Lucky Lady when that awareness paid off for anglers. They started the day trolling around a FAD (fish-attracting device) when four out of six lines hit on a school of blackfin tuna. They put their spread out again, started trolling, and then the line popped with a 180-pound blue marlin. The group also caught a wahoo of about 45 pounds and a 25-pound kingfish. “It was a great day on the boat, and everybody got a chance to sit in the (fighting) chair and take a turn,” said the new captain. Luke Cambell is a co-founder of Fisher Guiding, an online marketplace to find and book fishing guides, which is proud to partner with Capt. Mitchell and The Lucky Lady.
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C
ustom rod building has entered an era of resurgence, with new components, fresh design concepts, and, most importantly, a broad base of sophisticated anglers and creative rod builders driving developments on multiple levels. Today’s avid angler understands the importance of the rod with respect to a given approach or technique. Credit this recognition in large part to the broader segmentation of the markets for fishing rods and lines. Anglers have a much broader selection of both to choose from. More importantly, they have learned to discriminate and apply the right variations to the proper settings. With better understanding and experience, a fisherman begins to dial in on the nuances that make a rod better suited to the technique and personal preferences. Custom rod makers can give an angler everything he wants from essential components to bells and whistles. While “personalization,” artistry and uniqueness drove custom rod making in the past, functionality and comfort are driving custom rod projects today. “I used to have three to five rods that I would use for a given technique,” recalls bass tournament angler and rod builder Chris Adams of Mud Hole Custom Tackle and a member of the Winn Grips pro staff. “One had the guides I liked. Another had a more comfortable reel seat that added to the rod’s sensitivity, but it didn’t have the backbone or action I wanted. Another had the right power and action but didn’t have the components I liked. I realized the easiest way for me to get everything I wanted into one rod was to build it myself, the way I wanted it!” Adams notes that rod grips from Winn (www.winngrips.com) factor into
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many rod-making decisions. The comfort and tackiness of these all-weather grips provide sure-handed angler control. Bass fishermen have driven a lot of technique-specific rod customization. But more and more saltwater anglers are tailoring rods to their task. Many saltwater anglers have taken up custom rod building as hobby or a basement business to build their own rod arsenals. Classes in rod building are available across the country. At the Saltwater Fishing Expo in Somerset, New Jersey, in March, the custom rod craze was evident. Fishermen were building rods for everything from flounder fishing to trolling for big game species. Saltwater anglers often have a more complex set of needs, from guides resistant to corrosion to rod handles that provide adequate control and comfort. A lot of attention at the Winn booth centered around the sneak preview of new tapered rod grips for heavy-duty saltwater fishing, available in multiple lengths and diameters, and the new Winn Rod Handle System. Winn also unveiled a durable and versatile extension of its very popular overwrap, Winn Superior Rod Wrap. Like its predecessor, it can be the primary material in an original rod handle or applied over an existing cork or EVA grip. Winn also will expand its Saltwater Straight Cylinder line of 1.25-inch diameter grips this summer with black grips ranging to 18 inches in length. Get to know a rod builder in your area to create the perfect rod for any technique or style of fishing. Or take up the practice yourself!
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4/17/17 3:04 PM
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# 1 SEL
RAP ALU
Multi-Mounts
ITEM 6 62160/ 60569 s
Mount all your vital angling tools and protect your investment. Great for sonar, chart plotters and GPS units.
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B
ack when everyone else was rocking a 3.5-inch grayscale fishfinder, Gary sported a color 7. He always seemed to catch fish. One day I had the nerve to ask him, “Hey Gary, how much did that thing cost?” “More than the kayak,” was the deadpan response. That was years ago. Since then, sonars are more and more capable and feature rich, for less scratch. A Lowrance Hook-7 will run you $449, much less than the kayak. Downscan and side imagining are commonplace. Over time, screen sizes grew until Gary was no longer the exception, he was the rule. So how big is too big? The answer depends on your bank balance and risk tolerance as well as the water you fish and the kayak you captain. Five to 7 inches seems like the sweet spot for kayak use. The screens are wide enough to offer high-resolution readability, yet compact enough to stay out of the way of a cast—or your foot. These days the better question might be, “How big is the transducer?” For peak performance, it’s best to mount a modern transducer in direct contact with the water. Some transducers require adapters such as the Lowrance Ready Total Scan plate to fit properly. Alternatively, kayak anglers can go the MacGyver route and craft their own adapters. Where there’s a will and fish to be caught, there’s a way. Just ask Gary.
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785-621-2646
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LIMIT 9 from origin
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RAPID PUMP® 1.5 TON ALUMINUM RACING JACK ITEM 68053 62160/62496/62516 60569 shown
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ITEM 95275 shown 60637/61615
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99 79$129 .99
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ANY SINGLE ITEM
LIMIT 1 - Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or prior purchase. Coupon good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Offer good while supplies last. Shipping & Handling charges may apply if not picked up in-store. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 9/1/17. Limit one FREE GIFT coupon per customer per day.
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2000 WATT CONTINUOUS/ 4000 WATT PEAK POWER INVERTER
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Limit 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day Parking Lot Sale item, compressors, floor jacks, saw mills, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, trenchers, welders, Admiral, Bauer, CoverPro, Daytona, Earthquake, Hercules, Jupiter, Lynxx, Poulan, Predator, StormCat, Tailgator, Viking, Vulcan, Zurich. Not valid on prior purchases. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 9/1/17.
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4/17/17 3:04 PM PM 4/6/17 4:35
suzuki spring savings Three Limited Time Offers Make A Good Deal Even Better Suzuki Gives You All Three So You Don’t Have To Choose One Or The Other
Buy a new Suzuki outboard from 25 to 300 horsepower and take advantage of not just one, but ALL THREE Suzuki Spring promotional offers.
Add cash rebates on select models and you can get up to $800 cash back. Plus our Repower Financing is available at attractive interest rates (on approved credit.*)
Just say, “Gimme Six!” and you’ll get six years of product protection. That’s right, you’ll get Suzuki’s three-year limited warranty and Suzuki’s 3-Year Extended Protection Plan at no extra charge.
See your participating Suzuki Marine dealer today and find out how you can get the ultimate deal on the Ultimate 4-Stroke Outboard.
Six Years of Protection at no extra charge on all new outboards 25 to 300 HP.
Cash Rebates on select models. See your dealer for details.
REPOWER FINANCE
Rates as low as 5.99% on new Suzuki outboards (OAC).*
For details and the name of your nearest participating Suzuki Marine dealer, visit www.suzukimarine.com
Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 300 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 4/01/17 and 6/30/17 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase. If an acknowledgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Cash Rebates apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 4/01/17 and 6/30/17. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Customer and participating Dealer must fill out the appropriate rebate form at time of sale. Customer will have the choice to either apply the cash rebate against the original dealer invoice (Suzuki will credit Dealer parts account) or have a check sent directly to the customer. There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 4/01/17 and 6/30/17. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2017 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
4/17/17 3:04 PM 3/12/17 5:04 PM
You could get a discount when you combine your auto and boat policies.
for your boat geico.com | 1-800-865-4846 | Local Office Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. Multi-Policy Discount available to auto insureds that have purchased a boat policy through the GEICO Marine Insurance Company. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. Š 2017 GEICO
COMMON CVRS_0517.indd 3
4/17/17 12:07 PM
© 2017 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries
THIS SEEMS TO BE THE PLACE WHERE ALL THE FISH HANG OUT. I THINK I’LL DROP IN.
12”
PROGRAMMABLE
HOT KEYS
PRELOADED
BUILT-IN
BLUECHART® G2 + LAKEVUU¨ HD CHIRP SONAR + CLEARVUU¨ + SIDEVU¨
GPSMAP® 1242xsv
COMMON CVRS_0517.indd 4 Coastal Fishing Ad_US-8.125x10.875-CoatalAngler.indd 1 17-MCJT512 GPSMAP 1224xsv
4/17/17 PM 3/8/17 12:07 9:13 AM