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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 3
HUNTING & FISHING IN ALABAMA & THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE
8
12
18
CONTENTS Pro Angler Shaw Grigsby’s Favorite June Bassing Tactics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 by Shaw Grigsby with John E. Phillips Choosing the Best Place to Go Alligator Hunting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 by David Strickland Do I Have to Have Boat Insurance?. . . . . . . . 18 by Ed Mashburn The Great Red Snapper War. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 by Frank Sargeant Selecting the Best Airguns for Hunting. . . . 30 by Joe Baya Affordable Hunting Land Insurance for Outdoorsmen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 by Josh Honeycutt Tides VS Currents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 by Captain Bobby Abruscato Land Loan Interest Rate Update. . . . . . . . . . . . 47 by William Kendy
In Every Issue
22
4 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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Best Bets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 by William Kendy Camphouse Kitchen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 by Hank Shaw New & Cool Gear for Outdoorsmen. . . . . . . . 50 by William Kendy From the Commissioner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 by Chris Blakenship From the Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 by Charles Sykes The Gun Rack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 by Craig Haney Paddle Fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 by Ed Mashburn Coastal Outlook. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 by Chris Vecsey Pier & Shore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 by David Thornton Regional Freshwater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 by Ed Mashburn Prime Feeding Times, Moon, Sun, and Tide Charts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Pensacola Motorsports Trophy Room. . . . . . 72 Great Days Kids Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Classifieds & Fishin‘ Guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Fishing Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 by Ed Mashburn A Great Day Outdoors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 by Jim Mize
Elliotts Creek Recreational Hunting Tract
Divisible Fruitdale Cabins & Lakes Hunting & Timber Retreat
Great deer and turkey hunting located only a few minutes from Moundville. This tract is made up of mostly mature hardwood on rolling terrain, making it an ideal habitat for turkeys. There are several nice food plots already set up with shooting houses. An internal road/trail system throughout the entire property makes it easy to get around to all the great hunting spots. Elliotts Creek and several drains running through the property provide a great water source for the wildlife. There is also a barn to store ATVs, tractors, and equipment.
This turnkey, divisible, waterfront property is a rare find. Tracts this size & quality are rarely available in this area, much less with a fishing lake, duck pond, furnished cabins, & equipment included. Hunting is fantastic, w/wildlife management & feeding programs in place for decades, & the abundant deer, turkey, ducks, & doves present show just how effective it has been. Lg, strategically placed food plots throughout the property, w/mature sawtooth oak and fruit trees adorning each, as well as elevated shooting houses. Timber types include mature longleaf pine, loblolly pine that’s ready to thin, and mature hardwood, the majority of which are red and white oaks, giving you acorns during bow and gun season. Back at the camp, enjoy scenic views of the lake from the main cabin with 2BR, 1BA, roomy open floor plan, utility room, and large screened-in porch. Nearby guest cabin has 2BR, 1BA, and the offset 3rd cabin is ideal for kids or extended family with 1BR &1BA w/a spacious den/kitchen combo that could hold additional bunks. Other improvements include equipment shed, a silo, and a large tractor shed that houses a commercial ice machine, zero turn mower, golf cart, 4 wheeler, Polaris Ranger, 2 tractors, and implements, all of which are included with acceptable offer. Located near Fruitdale, AL, minutes from groceries, fuel, and shopping, & less than an hour from Mobile.
Hale County, Alabama, 800+/-Acres
Washington County, Alabama, 456.8+/-Acres
Alabama Listings COUNTY Autauga Autauga Autauga Autauga Baldwin Baldwin Baldwin Baldwin Baldwin Barbour Barbour Barbour Barbour Barbour Bibb Bibb Bibb Bibb Bibb Blount Blount Blount Blount Blount Bullock Bullock Bullock
ACRES 530 116 110 41 1995 710 223 113 44 342 278 179 77 37 653 416 395 368 284 211 153 81 55 50 4000 2436 167
COUNTY Bullock Bullock Butler Butler Butler Calhoun Calhoun Calhoun Chambers Chambers Cherokee Chilton Chilton Choctaw Choctaw Choctaw Clarke Clarke Clarke Clarke Clarke Cleburne Cleburne Cleburne Cleburne Colbert Colbert
99 92 395 151.05 85.16 337 80 48 103 0.33 938 421 13.64 191 175 122.51 620 176 54 9.2 6.08 856 100 65 56 17.37 10
ACRES
Conecuh Conecuh Coosa Coosa Coosa Coosa Coosa Covington Covington Covington Covington Covington Cullman Dale Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas DeKalb DeKalb DeKalb DeKalb DeKalb Elmore Elmore Elmore
119 0.77 431 430 128.5 100 99 730 360 140 63.04 3 20 63 5960 1260 1204.51 782 510 338 6 4.53 3.09 3.06 194 163 97
COUNTY Elmore Elmore Escambia Escambia Fayette Fayette Fayette Fayette Fayette Franklin Franklin Franklin Franklin Greene Greene Hale Hale Hale Hale Hale Henry Henry Henry Henry Henry Houston Houston
62 36.44 1219 4.75 672 640 484 473 344 244 234 10 8 38 2.78 800 486 420 150 127 199 151 26 18 3 325 155
Houston Houston Houston Jackson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Lamar Lamar Lamar Lamar Lauderdale Lauderdale Lauderdale Lauderdale Lauderdale Lee Lee Lee Lee Limestone Lowndes Lowndes Lowndes Lowndes
ACRES 93 17.5 11 80 256 247 108 23 21 373 202 92 90 75 60 35 14 1.17 4505 53 20 1.59 1.6 1083 1013 783 656
Lowndes Macon Macon Macon Macon Macon Madison Marengo Marengo Marengo Marengo Marengo Marion Marion Mobile Mobile Mobile Mobile Mobile Monroe Monroe Monroe Montgomery Montgomery Montgomery Montgomery Montgomery
583 2370 486 483 289 232 300 6214 3000 1164 558 551 286 60 1800 439 308 260 160 129 106 95.36 3314 788 778 768 591
COUNTY
ACRES
Perry Perry Perry Perry Perry Pickens Pickens Pickens Pickens Pike Russell Saint Clair Saint Clair Saint Clair Saint Clair Shelby Shelby Shelby Shelby Shelby Sumter Sumter Sumter Sumter Sumter Talladega Talladega
610.58 330 270.21 240.75 240 430 121 40 5 9.2 50 1174 304 281 237 200 111.2 90 80 79 2151 842 658 530 400 137 115
COUNTY Talladega Talladega Tallapoosa Tallapoosa Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Walker Walker Walker Walker Walker Washington Washington Washington Washington Washington Wilcox Wilcox
112 96 264 160 817 500 479 341 281 140.27 131.47 95.91 85 68 1320 456.8 240 213 200 2365 522
Wilcox Wilcox Wilcox Winston Winston Winston Winston Winston
ACRES 370.12 205 120 160 105 69 8 2.3
FL Panhandle Listings
COUNTY
Calhoun Holmes Santa Rosa Walton Walton
ACRES 9 127 95 454 52
Over 700 more tracts across 47 states available...
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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 5
BEST BETS
BEST BETS FOR JUNE These are our top targets for hunters and fishermen this month! BY WILLIAM KENDY
AIR POWER
Many hunters and shooters started out with a “bb gun”, then graduated to a .22 caliber rifle and went on from there to centerfire and shotgun firearms. We pretty much forgot about our humble air rifle beginnings. Air rifles are no longer humble. Today’s air rifles are powerful and capable of taking down game animals, ranging from small birds and squirrels up to big game animals such as whitetail deer, hogs or larger. The “Big Bores,” as in a 50 caliber, can deliver velocities and energy that rivals many of the larger caliber handgun rounds and can be deadly up to 5060 yards or more. They are quiet and don’t have the same ATF rules and regulations that firearms have. For more information read Joe Baya’s article “Selecting the Best Air guns for Hunting” in this issue.
HOLY MACKEREL AND MORE
June is very much a transitional month when it comes to Alabama Coastal fishing. The long sunny days will warm up the Gulf water and offer a wide range of catchable saltwater game fish. David Thorton explains in his June Pier and Shore Fishing Forecast that in June, mackerel schools move toward shore at the break of dawn and often this pushes schools of baitfish into dense masses and can provide pier fishermen morning action. Ladyfish, jacks, bluefish and Little Tunny can also be a by-catch. Thorton says that throwing out medium-sized diving plugs, such as the Rapala X-rap or Yozurri Crystal Minnow in the four-to-seven-inch range can provide fast morning action. He advises anglers to use 15-to-20-pound class spinning outfits spooled with 250+ yards of line.
VOLUME 25 ISSUE 6 JUNE 2021
PUBLISHED BY: Great Days Outdoors Media, L.L.C. PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Joe Baya EXECUTIVE EDITOR Butch Thierry MANAGING EDITOR: William Kendy GENERAL MANAGER: Samatha Hester CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Wendy Johannesmann
Great Days Outdoors (USPS 17228; ISSN 1556-0147) is published monthly at P.O. Box 1253 Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 Subscription rate is $30 for one-year, $54 for two-years, and $72 for three-years. Periodicals Postage Paid at Mobile, Ala. and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Great Days Outdoors Media, LLC PO Box 460248 Escondido, CA 92046 SUBSCRIBERS: All subscriptions begin the first issue for the month following receipt of payment, if payment is received by the 15th. Great Days Outdoors assumes no responsibility for delivery after magazines are mailed. All delivery complaints should be addressed to your local postmaster.
PURSUING A GATOR
CONTACT US: EDITORIAL | JoeBaya@greatdaysoutdoors.com ADVERTISING | SamHester@greatdaysoutdoors.com SUBSCRIPTIONS | greatdaysoutdoors@pcspublink.com
David Strictland, in his article, “Alligator Hunting in Alabama-Louisiana- Mississippi-Florida” outlines and details what you need to know in order to apply for an alligator permit and lists some the rules and regulations for those states.
Great Days Outdoors Media LLC PO Box 460248 Escondido, CA 92046 877. 314. 1237 info@greatdaysoutdoors.com www.greatdaysoutdoors.com
Strictland notes that while gators were once listed as “endangered” due to over-hunting and habitat loss, conservation and restocking efforts have resulted in healthy enough gator populations to allow for limiting hunting opportunities.
All rights reserved. Reproduction of contents is strictly prohibited without permission from Great Days Outdoors Media, LLC.
If you’ve always wanted to go alligator hunting, June kicks off your opportunity to do so.
For those of you who want to try your hand at an Alabama gator hunt, Applications for Alligator Possession Tags are applied for on the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website beginning at 8:00 am on the first Tuesday in June through the second Wednesday of July. Happy Gator Hunting 6 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 7
Pro Angler Shaw Grigsby’s Favorite
June Bassing Tactics
BY SHAW GRIGSBY WITH JOHN E. PHILLIPS
You can catch June bass by top-water fishing, flipping, finesse fishing or using a bladed jig. Writers Note: Shaw Grigsby of Gainesville, Florida, has been a tournament and professional bass fisherman for almost four decades and has fished all over the nation, especially in Alabama and Florida, earning millions of dollars in prizes and endorsements.. Grigsby also had a television show, “One More Catch,” for many years and has the expertise you need this summer to catch June Bass. TOP-WATER FISHING I love fishing top water when the spawn’s over, and even into the hot summer months - early, late, on cloudy days and on rainy days. Back years ago when the Bassmaster Classics were held in the summer, many of those Classics were won in shallow water in the hottest time of year. George Cochran won the Lay Lake Classic fishing in two to three foot deep water, David Fritts won a Classic fishing a shallow-water crankbait, and Denny Brauer won a Classic fishing very shallow. The type of cover I’m fishing in June determines the lure I need to fish. If I’ve got a lot of what we call slop (dead grass, hyacinths, alligator weeds and smart weeds or thick cover) where I’m fishing, I like to use a Strike King Sexy Frog. That grass can grow above water even if it’s only three to six feet deep. This slop provides plenty of shade, cover and oxygen for the bass in it. If I’m fishing open water, I prefer to fish a Strike King Sexy Dawg. The Strike King KVD Sexy Dawg Hard Knock looks just like the Sexy Dawg but has one rattle that makes a loud knocking noise that calls bass out of cover too. I’ll generally fish a Strike King 8 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Spit-N-King to get an early-morning reaction strike in June along the edges of the grass and more importantly, over the holes in the grass. Another good spot to get a strike is on grassy points where grass grows out into the lake. Besides the top-water popping baits, I’ll also fish a Strike King buzzbait. Both popping baits and buzzbaits fished in the pockets of grass on grassy points and along edges of grass can produce good numbers of bass early before the weather gets hot on a summer’s day, and late, just before dark. I fish the top-water lures fast across the surface of the water. When I fish a top-water chugger, I’ll move it at the same speed I’ll swim a buzzbait. Always use a trailer hook on your buzzbaits because in hotter weather you’ll have a lot of short-striking bass attack the bubbles a buzzbait makes instead of actually striking the lure. FLIPPING FOR BASS I like to fish shallow during the hottest part of the summer in the back ends of creeks in water that may be only one to two feet deep by flipping. One of my favorite lures for flipping is a Strike King Rage Bug, but I don’t hesitate to pitch a jig in that shallow water, like the Hack Attack jig. I prefer to fish with either a 1-1/2 or a 1-1/4 ounce weight called a penetrator weight that’s made of tungsten. This weight can punch through heavy grass mats or any other form of thick cover. I’ll fish the Wild Thang, Jr., too, on a No. 4/0 hook. I’ve actually used a seine under the grasses before in June to learn what the bass are eating. I’ve caught crawfish, sirens, little eels and
FISHING
Shaw Grigsby loves to fish top water for bass when the spawn’s ended and even into the hot summer months.
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 9
Pro Angler Shaw Grigsby’s Favorite June Bassing Tactics
other tiny critters under these grasses, which is part of the reason I’m convinced that this lure is so effective in regions like this. Once the bass see this bait, they just crush it. When I’m flipping, I like Lew’s Magnum Heavy Cover rod because I can set the hook hard and drag those bass out of the heavy cover right into the boat. I like the Lews Custom Pro reel and 30-pound test Seaguar flipping line. I can go as light as 25-pound test, but I also like 55-65 pound Smackdown line, depending on the cover I’m fishing. In light cover, I only may use 50-pound test line, but if I’m fishing in north Florida, punching the bass with a one-ounce sinker and using the Rage Bug, I’ll fish 65-pound line. FINESSE FISHING FOR JUNE BASS The opposite type of much summertime fishing, especially in deep, clear lakes, is finesse fishing. The Ned Rig - One of the hottest new finesse tactics is fishing the Ned Rig. I’ve found the Ned Rig especially deadly when fishing for spotted or smallmouth bass during the summer months. I’ve caught some giant spotted bass on this tiny worm-type lure. When I first heard about the Ned Rig and saw it, I asked the question, “What’s going on with this itty-bitty chunk of plastic with a weight in front of it? The jig head looks like a baby aspirin on its flat side, and the light wire hook makes the lure stand-up on the bottom.” Fishing that little Ned Rig on a four to eight pound test line resulted in it falling slowly, and I caught bass. But instead of using that little-bitty piece of plastic on that small hook and lead, I like to take a Strike King five-inch Ocho (stick bait), cut it in half to have two, 2-1/2-inch fat worms that will stand-up on the bottom. I thought that cutting it would catch bigger bass on the Ned Rig than the smaller worms would because it’s fat. Since I was successful with the two and one half inch worm on the Ned Rig, I fished it on the drop shot rig and the shaky head rig and enjoyed unbelievable success with this tiny weight and a fat worm that’s not really a worm, but rather a chunk of plastic. The Ned Bug is probably my favorite Ned Rig bait, because it looks like a crawfish. Most of the colors I use when fishing the Ned Rig are green pumpkin, Moon Juice and natural. I’ve learned that the Ned Rig produces the best as an early-morning and a late-afternoon bait. When I fish the Ocho that I’ve cut in half, I’ll fish either end of that worm on the Ned Head Rig. To me, the Ned Rig seems to work best when I put that tiny jig head – 1/6– to 1/10-ounce - in one or the other end of the worm, cast it out, let it make a slow vertical fall to the bottom and watch my line for a twitch, signifying a bass is taking the bait. I’ve found that most of the bites I get occur as it falls to catch suspended summertime bass holding off the bottom in that mid-water range. If the rig makes its descent to the bottom, I’ll let it sit still on the bottom for maybe a 5 or a 10 count, and then slowly drag the bait on the bottom, allow it to sit still again, just use my rod tip to jiggle the bait a little, let it sit still and drag it again. Often, I won’t feel a strike, I’ll just see my line start moving off when the bass sucks it in off the bottom. The small and sharp hooks on the Ned Rig mean I don’t have to set the hook. I just pull the bait into the bass because I’m fishing with a six or eight pound-test Seaguar InvizX fluorocarbon line. I like my Lew’s Custom Pro Spinning Reel Size 30 medium- action on a seven foot six inch spinning rod that allows me to cast further than I can with a shorter rod.
10 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
The bladed jig is a productive lure to fish at almost any time of the year, and June is one of Shaw Grigsby’s favorite months to fish it.
Pro Angler Shaw Grigsby’s Favorite June Bassing Tactics
Another finesse tactic that I’ve learned to fish this past year is the Neko Rig, a weighted version of the wacky rig with a weight inserted in one end of the soft plastic, giving the bait a unique action as it falls and allowing it to stand-up straight on the bottom. When I bait my worm in the middle, and it shimmies down wacky style, that’s one technique I use while fishing a Neko Rig. Another way to fish it is to put a weight in one end of the worm to make the lure sink really quickly. I keep one of my rods on my casting deck with one on it.
Shaw Grigsby generally has 30 rods in his boat with different lures tied on them and allows the bass to tell him what they want to bite.
BLADED JIG BASSING Another lure I’ve learned to fish for June bass is the Strike King Thunder Cricket, a bladed jig. By using a wide variety of retrieves, I can give it many-different actions. I can cast it out and retrieve it, cast it out and pump as I retrieve it, swim it close to the surface or down near the bottom. By switching the sizes and colors I’ve whacked a lot of bass using this lure this year. I think it’s one of the most-fun baits to fish. I’ll always have two rods on my boat with Thunder Crickets – one in chartreuse/white and the other blue/chartreuse. I keep 30 rods in my boat, so when I have two rods dedicated to the same lure, you know I believe in it for June bassing.
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Hunting the more remote areas can result in largersized specimens
12 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
HUNTING
Choosing the best place to go
r o t a g i l Al ting n u H BY DAVID STRICKLAND
The terms small, compact, and utility are used to describe a smaller framed tractor introduced a few decades ago and has evolved into something similar to a “Swiss Army Knife.” Although once considered a miniature tractor with limited use, it has transformed into a multipurpose machine with an impressive array of attachments. Because of their smaller size, versatility, and ease of use, more businesses, homeowners, and farmers are taking advantage of this agile class of machinery.
Alabama- Louisiana- Mississippi- Florida
The term “Compact or Utility” loosely refers to smaller tractors having less than 40 horsepower at the Power-Take-Off (PTO) and a gross weight not exceeding 4,000 pounds.
After speaking with Rusty Walters at SunSouth Tractor, he informed me that John species and even allow for nuisance trapping. I first heard the word gator used in 1962 in a Deere has around 20 models in the compact category and that A bonus to successfully harvesting a gator is cartoon series named “Wally Gator.” some models push the boundaries of that definition.
BY DAVID STRICKLAND
that a large specimen can fill a freezer with meat and provide enough leather for a set of A newer television series has sparked increas“We have so many models in the small tractor category that luggage. ing interest in everything alligator, and many helping a landowner or small business make the right choice is hunting enthusiasts are looking for one more usually just a matter of asking a few key questions,” Walters said. The opportunities for the average hunter to excuse to spend time outdoors. line up a DIY or guided alligator hunt locally Walters has worked in agricultural sales for nearly a decade and or in an adjacent state are steadily increasing. Today hunters can use baited hooks, snares, has learned what it takes to match the right tractor to his customEach state sets a harvest quota and uses a lotharpoons, bow & arrow, snatch hooks (handers’ needs. He said their 2021 lineup added a few tweaks and held or rod/reel), or firearms, depending on tery-type system to issue permits from among upgrades to last year’s models, so I asked him what would be a what state you are hunting. applications. All states also have a mandatory good model for someone who didn’t have a lot of experience with course that hunters must complete before tractors or just needed a new one. Florida was once considered the alligator receiving their permits. Capital of the world during the early part of “For someone looking to purchase their first tractor, I would recthe twentieth century, till market hunting and ALABAMA ommend a John Deere 3025E,” Walters said. “It can fit into tight habitat loss nearly decimated the population. Restoration of the American alligator is a places, has a small footprint with a three-cylinder diesel engine Gators were listed as endangered in 1967 by national conservation success story in which and a hydrostatic transmission. It’s a smaller mid-sized compact a law that preceded the “Endangered Species Alabama played a lead role. In 1938, Alabama with four-wheel drive and plenty of power for the homeowner or Act’’ of 1973. Conservation and restocking became the first state to enact laws to protect small landowner with 2-5 acres.” efforts were so successful that 20 years later, the dwindling population. Alligator hunts are they’re considered “Fully Recovered,” although special permit only, and registration for an Compact tractors can mow grass or weeds, auger holes, dig they are still classified as “threatened due alligator permit can be completed online. Only trenches, and move piles of dirt, gravel, and mulch. to similarity of appearance.” The harvest of residents and lifetime license holders of the alligators and legal trade in the animals, their State of Alabama who are 16 years of age or “They have smaller footprints that enable their use in yards, near skins and the products made from them are older may apply for an Alligator Possession homes, shops, and on job sites,” Walters noted. “Their versatility still regulated due to this classification. Tag. Non-residents may only participate as is due in part to the large variety of attachments available for the alligator hunting assistants. All persons in the front, back and under the belly of these tractors.” Today, alligators are found throughout the boat must have a hunting license. Southeast, from the Carolinas to Texas and USED TRACTORS north to Arkansas. The increase in the gator All hunting is nighttime (sunset to sunrise) population and expanded range has allowed except for the Lake Eufaula Zone. states to regulate their harvest as a game 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 13
Waves lapping. Warm coastal breezes. Pelicans and herons soar overhead. Steam rising off a plate of fresh shrimp. A big fish pulls on your line. When you’re ready, come experience the sights, sounds and scents of the Alabama Gulf Coast. We’ve missed you.
877-341-2400 14 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Gulf Shores.com
OrangeBeach.com
Alligator Hunting
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Season- Sunset August 8 to sunrise October 5 and the season start dates and hunting times vary in each of Alabama’s five zones. Applications- Applications for Alligator Possession Tags are applied for on the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website beginning at 8:00 am on the first Tuesday in June through the second Wednesday of July. Hunting hours- Sunset to sunrise except for the Lake Eufaula Zone, where daytime hunting is allowed. Limits- One gator with no size restrictions except the Lake Eufaula zone with an 8-foot minimum. Harvest methods- Alligators must be captured and brought adjacent to the boat, bank, or dock before dispatching the animal. Capture methods are restricted to handheld snares, snatch hooks (handheld or rod/reel), harpoons, and bow-fishing equipment with attached lines. No use of bait is allowed. Firearms used for dispatching an alligator are restricted to shotguns or bang-sticks. Shotgun shells are limited to #4 or smaller, while bang-sticks can use .38 caliber or larger bullets. Best Area- Lake Eufaula has an eight-foot minimum length for a reason; there are some trophy gators hiding out there.
Non Residents must be 16 years or older and possess a valid Alabama hunting license to participate during a hunt and are considered “Hunting Assistants”. Visit www.outdooralabama.com and click on “Alligator season” for more information. LOUISIANA Through the Lottery Alligator Harvest Program, LDWF provides more than 400 resident alligator hunters the opportunity to harvest approximately 1,245 alligators on over 40 wildlife management areas and public lakes throughout the state. Lottery applications are available mid-May of each year. •
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Season Dates-Louisiana is divided into east and west alligator hunting zones. The east zone opens the last Wednesday of August; the west zone opens the first Wednesday of September. Each area remains open for 60 days from the opening date. Baited hooks and lines may be set no more than 24 hours before the opening day and must be removed no later than sunset of the last day of the open season. Hunting Hours-Official sunrise and sunset only. Nighttime harvest is prohibited. Limits-The daily and season quotas are equal to the number of alligator harvest tags that a licensed alligator hunter possesses with no size limits on wild gators. Harvest Methods-Hunters may use hook and line, bow and arrow, and firearms (except shotguns) to harvest alligators. Possession of shotguns is prohibited while hunting or taking wild alligators. The fishing (hook and line) method is the most common and is the only method for public areas. Best Area- The Atchafalaya River’s basin offers hunters some of the most remote and large gator potential in the state.
* Non-residents- who do not own land may only harvest alligators for sport as a licensed “Alligator Sport Hunter” while accompanied by a guide (a licensed “alligator hunter”, or his or her helper, who possesses alligator harvest tags).
Alligator sightings are becoming more common as their population increases.
Visit www.wlf.louisiana.gov and under the hunting category, click on alligators. MISSISSIPPI Mississippi allowed limited public alligator sport hunting in 2005. In 2013 hunting on public waters was opened statewide. The state established seven geographical zones with nearly 1,000 permits available in a web-based application/drawing process. An alligator hunting training course is provided by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks. The 10-day season allows permit holders to harvest two alligators over 4-feet long, only one of which may exceed 7-feet in length. • • • • • • •
Season Dates- Opening day will be August 27, beginning at noon. Public land hunting ends September 6, and hunting on private lands extends to September 20. Applications- The permit process begins at 10:00 am. June 1-June 8, for a chance in one of seven hunting zones. Permits- The first drawing for each hunting zone will be completed on June 14, and a second drawing on June 22 will be for any unclaimed permits. Eligibility- Must be 16 years old and possess a valid Mississippi resident hunting license to be eligible. Limits- Each permit allows the harvest of 2 alligators over 4-feet long, only one of which may exceed 7-feet long. Winners- will be notified via email and will have until 12:00 pm on June 16 to complete their online permit purchase for $200.00. Best Area- The southwest region of the state around Bayou Pierre has produced some record sized gators in recent years.
Non-residents- Private land hunting only-16 years of age or older and must purchase and have on their person a “NR-All Game Hunting License” and “Alligator Hunting License.” Visit www.mdwfp.com and click on the gator hunting link for more information. FLORIDA There are more than 7,000 permits available for hunting gators in 67 designated harvest areas. Non-residents may also apply to hunt for a trophy among the population of over 1,000,000 gators. • •
Season Dates- The recreational alligator hunting season runs August 15 – November 1; depending on what harvest period you draw, you will be allowed to hunt for one of the first four weeks and up to November 1. Applications- Applications for Alligator Possession Tags are applied for on the Florida Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website beginning at 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 15
Alligator Hunting
• • •
•
8:00 am on the first Tuesday in June through the second Wednesday of July. Eligibility- Applicants must be at least 18-years-old by August 15. Limit- Each license comes with tags for two gators that measure a minimum of 18 inches from nose to tail tip. Methods- Bows and crossbows, gigs, harpoons, spears, and spearguns. Also, fishing poles using a weighted treble hook, artificial lures, or baited wooden pegs. (less than 2 inches long) Handheld lines with snatch hooks or catch poles and snares. Bang sticks are the only firearm allowed while hunting alligators. Best Area- The St. John’s River area issues nearly 500 permits yearly and the remote marshes south of Orlando offer trophy potential.
Non-residents- May participate as “Assistants” on a hunt with the purchase of the appropriate license. Visit www.MyFWC.com/Alligator and click on “Statewide Alligator Harvest Program” for more details. FINAL THOUGHTS If you are lucky enough to draw a gator tag in Alabama this year, be sure and bring along some strong helpers. Several animals went over 600 pounds from last year, and putting a big gator in the boat or truck is no easy task. Remember that the Safari Club International world record is an Alabama River specimen nearly 16 feet long and weighing 1,011.5 pounds caught in 2014. Several Louisiana outfitters offer guided hunts at reasonable rates, and some Florida outfitters offer year-round hunts. Be sure and ask for references. Good luck and be safe!
BY ROBERT
Recipe and Image courtesy of allrecipes.com
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Alligator in Garlic-Wine Sauce Alligator sauteed with garlic flavored oil comes together with white wine sauce - excellent served over a bed of rice or pasta. Prep: 20 mins • Marinate 1 hour Cook: 10 mins • Total: 1 hour 30 mins
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16 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Ingredients • 2 pounds alligator meat, cut into cubes • 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice • salt and pepper to taste • all-purpose flour for dusting • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 1 tablespoon minced garlic • ½ cup white wine Instructions 1.
Toss alligator cubes with lime juice, cover and refrigerate for one hour to marinate. 2. Squeeze any excess liquid from the alligator and place into a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper, then toss with enough flour to coat. Remove alligator, shake off excess flour, and set aside. 3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add alligator, and cook until firm and opaque, 5 to 6 minutes. Place alligator into serving dish, then pour wine into skillet and simmer until thickened, about 2 minutes. Pour sauce over alligator to serve.
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 17
Do I HAVE to Have
Boat Insurance? BY GREG MCCAIN
BY ED MASHBURN
18 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
LIFESTYLE
When boats are close on the water, bad things can happen, but insurance can help boaters recover from accidents.
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 19
Do I HAVE to Have Boat Insurance?
My wife’s favorite all time saying is simple. She says, “Boats is TROUBLE!” Perhaps she’s right from time to time, but of course, for us who love to go to the water and enjoy our time in boats, there’s nothing quite like being on the water fishing, hunting, or just messing about in them. If nothing bad ever happened to us boaters, life would be just about perfect. Unfortunately, accidents happen. People get careless, storms come down on us and a wide range of things can occur to the best boaters in the world. When bad things happen to good boaters, there’s nothing that will help the hurt get better and the boater get back on the water like an insurance policy which helps us recover.
There’s nothing quite like being on the water, and boat insurance can help keep us there.
But do we HAVE to have boat insurance? Actually, the only two states which require boat owners to carry insurance on their watercraft are Utah and Arkansas. For the rest of us, boat insurance is an option,but, if truth be told, it’s a very, very good option. Going on the water uninsured is taking a big chance and it could lead to serious financial problems in case of an accident. REVIEW OF NEEDED BOAT INSURANCE Insurance of any kind can be confusing, but this is especially true of boat insurance. There are several kinds of insurance and each boater will need to speak with an agent to determine just what kind of coverage will be best. Working through a local, knowledgeable agent when choosing boat insurance is the best way to get enough coverage and the right kind of coverage to meet each boater’s needs. We spoke with Ron Davis, agent for Geico Insurance in Mobile, and he provided us with specific descriptions of insurance that boaters should consider. Here are the most commonly needed coverages for Gulf Coast boaters. Liability- Davis tells us that boat owner’s liability covers the named insured boater if they are responsible for injuring another person or persons and their property. All boat owners should carry this coverage regardless of where they boat. Comprehensive- This insurance covers such things as fire, theft, vandalism, falling objects, and weather related claims. Uninsured/underinsured boater- Davis says that this covers the policyholder for bodily injury in the event they are injured by an uninsured or underinsured boater. Medical payments- this policy covers immediate medical expenses such as ambulance, emergency care, dental care for the insured and covered passengers up to coverage limits regardless of fault. There are also many other forms of boater’s insurance which will have application for specific boaters. For instance, there is towing insurance which covers all manner of incidents on the water which require assistance to return safely to port. There is even trailer trip insurance which covers expenses for food, lodging, and transportation if the trailer or tow vehicle breaks down more than 100 miles away. Replacement for personal items such as fishing gear and other property lost or stolen from the boat can be covered in additional boat insurance policies. AND WHO MUST HAVE BOAT INSURANCE? Even though we may not be legally required to have boat insurance by the government agencies, there are some of us on the Gulf Coast who probably are required to have boat insurance. If we carry a lien on our boat, the bank which loaned us money to purchase our boat will almost always demand that the boat loan borrower carry at 20 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
least enough insurance to cover the entire cost of the boat in case of loss. The other boaters who probably will have to carry insurance on their boats are those who dock their boats at a marina or other boat storage facility. The marinas very often require boat owners who leave their boats at the facility to have at least liability coverage and often full insurance coverage. And by the way, lots of boat accidents including collision from other boats, damage from boats docked nearby and even vandalism happen at marinas. Insurance is a really good idea for boats which spend a lot of time tied up at a marina dock. Another mistake some boaters make when it comes to boat insurance is recognizing that a boater’s home insurance does not cover the boat when it’s not on the insured property. When the boat is not at home, it is uncovered by the homeowner’s insurance, so for protection, another policy needs to be in place. While Gulf Coast boaters are not required by state law to have boat insurance, not having insurance in the case of an accident or other bad thing happening to the boat and boater could turn a bad thing into a disastrous thing. It just makes sense to insure that boat so bad things which happen can get to be better things fast. Contact Information Geico Insurance Ron Davis, agent 251-445-0053 rdavis@geico.com
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© 2021 Alabama Power Company
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 21
A just-released study indicates there may be more than three times as many red snapper in the Gulf as previously estimated, but so far federal fishery managers have not taken the new findings into account. (Photo Credit ADCNR)
22 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
The Great Red Snapper
FISHING
War BY FRANK SARGEANT
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 23
For Those That Do, The Seasons Never End
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SUNSOUTH.COM 24 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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The Great Red Snapper War
Some anglers and fishery managers may have thought that the “Great Red Snapper Count (GRSC)”, a $10 million study of red snapper populations on the entire shelf of the Gulf of Mexico by more than 20 top marine scientists extending over two years, would bring an end to the bickering over red snapper seasons.
cooperate.
The study indicated that there are about 110 million red snapper over two years old on the continental shelf from Texas to the Florida Key, which is more than three times the 36 million that had previously been estimated by federal fishery managers.
The bad news is what the quota will be in the future. The Council voted to recommend NOAA Fisheries accept the states’ data to manage recreational harvest but the agency could refuse the recommendation in the coming weeks or months and require the states to calibrate their data beginning this year.
So naturally, anglers are going to see three times longer red snapper seasons this year, right?
Here’s what Scott Bannon, Director of Marine Resources for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, says on the matter:
NOT SO FAST, MY FRIEND. While the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has recommended to NOAA Fisheries to basically hold the line on red snapper harvests for the 2021 and 2022 fishing year, there’s trouble ahead, particularly for Alabama and Mississippi, if a process known as “calibration” goes forward. Calibration will equalize the valuation of the new study with the old,and much maligned, federal method of estimating snapper abundance.
“The Gulf Council Scientific and Statistical Committee in early April set an overfishing limit of 25.6 million pounds. The Magnuson-Stevens Act states that you cannot exceed that overfishing limit or immediate changes will have to be implemented to prevent overfishing.”
BUT FIRST, THE GOOD NEWS. According to Scott Bannon, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Director of Marine Resources, Alabama private fleet anglers and charter boats without federal permits can expect about the same season they had last year. The season will begin May 28 and continue Fridays through Mondays until the quota, expected to be about the same as last year, is reached. Anglers will be allowed two fish per day over 16 inches long, as last year. And everybody who knows the water is likely to catch plenty of keepers if wind and weather
Anglers fishing from federally permitted “for hire” vessels have their own 63day season beginning June 1, 2021, at 12:01 a.m. local time through August 3, 2021, at 12:01 a.m. local time.
Bannon said the previous overfishing limit was set at 15.5 million pounds, so the new recommended overfishing limit is a 10.1 million-pound increase. Great so far. But the committee then recommended that the acceptable biological catch (ABC) be set at 15.4 million pounds, which Bannon vigorously questioned, because the latter figure controls the allowable total harvest. “That’s a 10 million pound difference from the overfishing limit,” he said. “That’s a 44 percent buffer, which I’m disappointed in. That is relatively unheard of in fisheries management. I am pleased with the recommended increase in the overfishing limit. I’m not pleased with the ABC.”
TM
Wherever fishing takes you, B’n’M has been there.
WWW.BNMPOLES.COM 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 25
The Great Red Snapper War
Alabama’s Marine Resources Division was among a number of state agencies assisting the the Great Red Snapper Count, which indicated a much larger snapper population in the Gulf than previously thought. (Photo Credit ADCNR)
Discussions will continue, but ultimately the federal agency has the final say on the catch, and that could mean fewer fish for Gulf Coast anglers as well as lots less money for beachfront hotels, motels, restaurants and marinas, already staggered but starting to recover after a year of the pandemic. Commercial harvesters are allocated 51 percent of the 15.4 million pounds total, recreational harvesters 49 percent. Catch limits are allocated by states based on historical landings, so Florida gets 1.95 million pounds, Alabama 1.14 million pounds, even though Alabama has much better red snapper fishing than most parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast due to the massive presence of artificial reefs placed by government, conservation groups and private anglers Alabama however, offered a plan using abundance information from its own fishery- independent surveys. The surveys, begun in 2011, incorporate survey methods very similar to those used in the GRSC study. Using the removal rate identified in latest federal red snapper stock assessments, Alabama calculated the number of pounds available for harvest from the abundance estimate. NOAA Fisheries and representatives from each of the states’ fisheries agencies discussed methods to calculate the calibration of the two data sources and a simple ratio to convert state survey data to federal data was settled. The ratios are in the following table.
This would mean that while Florida, Louisiana and Texas see virtually no change in their allowable catch, Alabama and Mississippi anglers would get dramatically fewer fish via shorter seasons, at a time when not only the GRSC says there are lots of fish, but also angler experience confirms it. “Our goal is to avoid calibration,” Bannon said. “With calibration, Alabama and Mississippi allocations would be cut in half.” Alabama’s managers have argued that the federal assessment has significantly underestimated the amount of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico, particularly off Alabama. The GRSC and nearly a decade of fisheries independent survey work off Alabama confirms this is the case. Under calibration alternatives, Alabama’s quota for red snapper could go from 1.12 million pounds in 2020 to 547,298 pounds in 2021. The cut is based on The Marine Recreational Program (MRIP), which indicated vast overharvest by both Alabama and Mississippi in 2019. However, both states have been using a smartphone app to register fish caught immediately on the day they are landed, which they say is much more accurate than the archaic MRIP phone interview and mail system. “Naturally we didn’t agree with their number,” Bannon said. “NOAA Fisheries said that calibration was going to be required because the fishery may have met the overfishing limit in 2019. The catch for 2019 barely exceeded the 15.5 million-pound limit by 150,000 pounds. That is Gulf-wide in all sectors, including private anglers, for-hire and commercial, but with the new Great Red Snapper Count data, whether there was overfishing at all in 2019 is in 26 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
The Great Red Snapper War
And, modern fish-finding technology, including live imaging, side scan and forward scan sonar along with pinpoint GPS has made it much easier to find productive terrain than ever before. Further, there are a lot more of us today who own offshore capable boats and have the gear and the know-how to get out there, find the fish and load them up. It’s entirely conceivable that a too-liberal season could crash the snapper numbers on known structure, which includes just about all of it these days. It has to be noted that the majority of the “new” fish uncovered by the Great Red Snapper Count were not on the ledges, reefs, oil rigs and artificial reefs where snapper anglers fish, but on flat sand and mud bottom scattered over hundreds of square miles. The huge schools seen on some reefs were not there.
question.”
So, even though there might still remain millions of snapper on the featureless mud and sand bottom of the gulf, anglers would see few on the spots where they concentrate and where fishing is highly productive. If the harvest goes too high the effect would be the same as if the population had crashed, and the finger would be pointed at the fishery managers for failing in their mission. The remaining fish would eventually repopulate the reefs but it might take a while and it would probably require scaling back harvest, so there’s reason to manage with care.
To be sure, there’s reason to be conservative in management of a fishery so heavily subscribed as Gulf red snapper. There’s no question that fishing pressure can wipe out the fish in a given location in short order when a hot spot becomes widely-known. That’s why charter skippers guard their “numbers” so carefully.
BUT ALSO WITH BALANCE Bottom line is, let’s hope for further confirming evidence that there are a whole lot more red snapper in the Gulf than the feds have so far been willing to believe, that the state methods of counting harvest are accepted, and that they’ll take that into account before Jan. 1 of 2023 rolls around.
Snappers are easy to catch, even for young fishermen, and they’re one of the best table fish in saltwater. (Frank Sargeant)
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The Great Red Snapper War
HOG RUSH “THERE WILL BE BLOOD”
BY SHELBY LAW RUTTAN
Recipe and image courtesy of www.grumpyshoneybunch.com
Baked Red Snapper with Garlic Topping Prep: 5 mins • Cook: 15 mins • Total: 20 mins
Ingredients • 8 ounces red snapper fillets about 2-3 fillets • 4 tbsp butter • 1 clove garlic minced • 4 drops Worcestershire sauce • ½ tsp Creole or Cajun Seasoning • ⅛ tsp fresh ground black pepper • 2 tsp minced fresh parsley • 1 tsp snipped fresh chives optional • 4 tbsp plain or seasoned breadcrumbs • 2 tbsp Parmesan Cheese freshly grated optional
THERMAL NIGHT
HUNTS
IN ALABAMA
Instructions 1.
Place snapper fillets in a baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray. In a skillet, melt butter with garlic, Worcestershire sauce, Creole/Cajun seasoning, pepper, parsley and chives, if using. 2. Cook on low for 2 minutes to blend flavors. Brush both sides of fish fillets with the butter and herb mixture. Toss bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese in the remaining butter mixture; sprinkle over the fillets. 3. Bake at 400 degrees for about 12 minutes, depending on thickness of fillets, until the fish flakes easily and is no longer translucent. 28 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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1-800-I’M-READY (467-3239) www.bucksisland.com 4500 Hwy. 77 • Southside, AL 35907 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 29
Selecting the Best Airguns for Hunting BY JOE BAYA
30 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
HUNTING Air gun shooting and hunting has been growing in popularity but it isn’t the world of the simple bb gun. Today’s air guns are sophisticated and efficient tools. To get the inside track on what people need to know when getting involved in the sport, I interviewed Tyler Patner, product manager for Pyramyd Air, one of the largest air gun retailers in the world. “When a lot of people think about air guns, they think of guns like the Daisy Red Ryder BB gun which is actually a spring piston air rifle,” Patner said. “Most people are familiar with brake barrel air guns and they range from the low power models all the way up to small game hunting air guns that provide velocities of 1,100-1,200 feet per second.” “CO2 cartridge guns aren’t used a whole lot for hunting because CO2 is a temperature sensitive gas and if you take it out in cold weather, you’re going to get very diminished performance and we typically don’t recommend them for hunting,’ Patner added. The next step up the air-gun food chain is the single or multi pump guns which can shoot either bbs or pellets. The higher-powered models are adequate for small birds or game-like chipmunks at 12-20 yards. Then comes the pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air guns which are charged from a separate source of air. These guns can range from low powered .177 calibers all the way up to .50 caliber “big bores” that are powerful enough to down big game. This category is where the industry has seen significant growth and they are becoming more popular for hunting. Patner says that the increasing popularity for airguns for hunting is due to the fact that they are relatively inexpensive, quiet, allowing for backyard fun while not disturbing neighbors, a person doesn’t have to go through a government background check and the requisite paperwork to own one, the air gun can be delivered right to your door with no hassle, ammunition is cheap and it is accurate. What’s not to like? “They are great tools for taking small game and teaching the fundamentals of shooting to young people and they are safe,” Patner said. “A .22 long rifle cartridge has about 100-foot pounds of energy and that bullet is going straight through a squirrel and who knows where it will end up. A .22 caliber break barrel rifle produces about 20-foot pounds of energy and that is good enough to take a squirrel out to 50 yards.” An additional benefit of using an air gun is that if the projectile, that is traveling between 800 and 1,000 feet per second passes though the game animal, it won’t travel very far because it is dumping most of its energy in the animal it hits. From a fundamental shooting perspective there is a difference between shooting an air rifle and a rimfire or centerfire firearm and it has to do with recoil and the realization that it takes a little bit longer to get the projectile out of the barrel of an air rifle. That means the shooter has to stay on target longer than one would with a more powerful cartridge to make sure they actually hit what they aimed at. Patner points out that spring and gas piston break barrel air guns are not the easiest to shoot. They have a “weird” recoil in that it recoils back into a person’s shoulder but also forward as the piston hits home. That means shooters have to hold their shot after they pull the trigger, albeit just milliseconds, but it is different than a normal firearm. It is similar to the ignition delay on a black powder flintlock or percussion cap rifle. What about air rifles for hunting medium and even big game? According to Patner when it comes to whitetail size deer or larger game animals, while there are some .357 and .40 caliber air rifles being used effectively, the trend is towards the .45 and .50 caliber air rifles that produce upwards of 700-foot pounds of energy. “That is more power than most pistol caliber rounds offer and a number of companies produce big bore air rifles, including the Air Force Texan line of guns, the Hatzan Pile Driver platform and the Umearex Boomer X Hammer,” Patner said. “That is a ton of 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 31
Selecting the Best Airguns for Hunting
The Benjamin Marauder .22 PCP air rifle is a popular choice for small game.
power and there’s not a whole lot they can’t do within reasonable distances. What is a “reasonable distance”? “Part of the education process for folks is that they’re not going to be taking 200-yard shots with a .50 caliber air gun and they need to try to keep shots in the 30 to maybe 60- or 70-yard distances, basically a little further than a normal archery distance,” Patner said. “That is the distance where these guns are going to shine and can do just as good a job as most of your firearms are.” While some air rifles in .25, .30 and .35 caliber, such as the FX Airguns Impact in .35 caliber and the Benjamin Bulldog in .35 caliber have magazines, for the most part, the larger calibers are pretty much single shot rifles.
The Hatsan PileDriver is currently the world’s most powerful production air rifle delivering a .50 caliber projectile at 850 feet per second with over 800 pounds of energy.
“The Umarex Hammer rifle does have a two round magazine so there is no lag time with a follow up shot but most of the larger caliber rifles are single shots,” Patner noted. “It is really just a matter of pulling the bolt back and cycling the next round into the chamber and you can shoot as fast as you can reload.” Since air guns are not classified as “firearms” by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) they are not subject to significant government regulations. You do not have to go through a background check to purchase one and it can even be shipped directly to your front door. An additional benefit of air guns, from .17 up to .50 caliber, is that they are relatively quiet when they are shot compared to traditional firearms. One of the reasons for this is that suppressor laws for firearms don’t equally apply to air guns and manufacturers are able to build in moderators or shrouds on many of the guns to keep the nose level fairly low. That means you can play around in your backyard with the smaller calibers without really bothering
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32 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Managing Wild Turkeys Through Teamwork
Selecting the Best Airguns for Hunting
the neighbors and hone up your shooting skills without calling a lot of attention to yourself. It also means if you want to do some “pre-deer hunting season” hunting or shooting on your hunting property, you can do it without overly spooking your whitetails.
the money spent which is partalong of thewith licensfor a gun and, depending on on the turkey model,permits, maybe even a scope ammo. If you to jump totohigher quality, in a gun will run $300 $500fund. and, ingwant requirement hunt turkeys Florida, goes intotothat
The big bores are louder than the smaller calibers, clocking in at somewhere around 100-116 decibels (dBs), depending on the model. By comparison, a .30-.06 registers at around 166 dBs, a .308 is at 155 dBs, a .22 long rifle is about 140 dBs and a 12-gauge shotgun produces about 150 dBs of sound.
“With PCPs the problem that most folks have with pre charge guns is that in NWTF hunting heritage banquets, whereby a portion of there’s ancillary equipment necessary. You need a tank, a compressor or a those funds raised goes into the cost-share program,” Nicholhand pump and when I talk about a hand pump, I’m talking about a bicycle son said. “Hunters’ purchases hunting equipment pump on crack,” Patner said. “For example,ofyou can spend $300 also for a helps gun, support wildlife conservation through the Wildlife and anywhere from $150 -$250 for a hand pump, then invest in a scopeSport and the Fish Program, which brings federal grant funding package can beRestoration around 600-$700 or higher.”
As a comparison, a lawn mower operates at around 90 dBs, a doorbell is about 70 dBs and a washing machine is about 75 dBs. Patner pointed out that in terms of the regulation of hunting with air guns, it is very much a “state by state” deal so you need to do your homework to make sure you are following the rules. “To help with that, we created kind of an air gun map, which is a resource we have on our pyramyd air website (www.pyramydair.com) where you can actually select your state and it’ll give you a list of basically all the game animals that are legal to take and what the restrictions are or what the specifics are on what you have to use for those animals,” Patner said. So, what does it cost to break into the air gun game? The retailer Sears is credited with coining the “good, better, best” analogy. You could buy a “good” shirt, a “better” shirt or the “best” shirt. This holds true for air rifles and accessories and you can easily rack up a big ticket depending on the quality of the equipment you purchase. Patner said that if you are just looking at small game hunting with an entry level break barrel rifle you can probably get away with spending about $200
42 APRIL 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
with good optics, easily end up in the $600 to $700+ range. For PCP’s it is a bit pricier simply more stuff. are heavily involved in “Manybecause hunters you andneed NWTF members
raising funds for the wild turkey and its habitat by participating
to state wildlife management agencies such as the FWC.”
Once you jump to the major leagues and get into the big bores, the power goes up and so doesthis thecombined investmenteffort and you talkingFWC, aboutFFS someand Through fromcan thebeNWTF, “significantFlorida coin”. turkey hunters, the wild turkey population is healthy
and flourishing in Florida. And, if you’re a turkey hunter, then
“The least you expensive guns, whichexcited put outbecause around 200 footturkey poundsseason of energy, must be getting spring are going to be around $600-$700 and the guns that produce 700-800 foot and the youth turkey hunt weekends are just around the pounds are going to be more expensive,” Panter explained. “Then you are corner. going to need something to fill it with and optics and you can easily get up into the $1,500-$1,600 range or more.”
Contact Information Turkey Cost-Share Program ContactWild Information
Florida State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Tyler Patner Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Pyramyd Florida Air Forest Service (FFS) 5135 Naiman GreenParkway Swamp Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Coastal Plain Ecosystem Partnership Solon, OHGulf 44139 Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (888) 262-4867
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 33
Selecting the Best Airguns for Hunting
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Rabbit or Hare Curry Prep: 15 mins • Cook: 45 mins • Total: 1 hour
Ingredients • 1/4 cup ghee, clarified butter, or vegetable oil • 2 pounds hare or rabbit meat, cut off the bone and into chunks • Salt • 2 cups yellow or white onion, sliced root to tip • 2 tablespoons minced ginger • 2 tablespoons minced garlic • A 14-ounce can of tomato puree • 1 cup plain yogurt, Greek style is best • 2 cups water • 2 bay leaves • 1 heaping teaspoon turmeric • 1/4 cup Madras curry paste, or 2 tablespoons Madras curry powder • 1 tablespoon Garam Masala • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro for garnish
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Instructions 1.
Heat the clarified butter in a wide pot (like a sauce pot or high-sided frying pan with a lid) over medium-high heat. Pat the hare pieces dry with paper towels and brown them well. Salt the meat as it cooks. Remove to a bowl once browned. 2. Add the onion and sauté until it begins to brown at the edges, about 5 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic and cook for another minute. 3. Return the meat to the pot and add the tomato puree, water, bay leaves, turmeric and Madras curry paste. Stir in the yogurt and bring to a gentle simmer. Add salt to taste and simmer for 30 minutes. 4. Finish by stirring in the Garam Masala and the cilantro. Serve over rice. 34 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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2100 Halls Mill Road • Mobile, Alabama 36606
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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 35
Peace of Mind:
Affordable Hunting Land Insurance for Outdoorsmen BY JOSH HONEYCUTT
Those who’ve always wanted peace of mind can now get hunting liability protection.
36 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
HUNTING
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 37
Peace of Mind: Affordable Hunting Land Insurance for Outdoorsmen
Hunting land liability insurance is a thing of the future, and the present Things have changed in the past few decades. Today, hunting land sales and leases are going at a premium. Even getting permission sees fierce competition. Hunters are having a hard time finding places to lease and gain access to. Part of that is due to high demand, but it’s also a product of reluctant landowners who fear liabilities. A NEED FOR PROTECTION While this insurance policy certainly isn’t limited to hunt clubs and leases, decades ago, these helped serve as the original inspiration for the program. And hunt clubs and leases were born in the South. “It kind of comes from the history of the forest industry in the South,” said Lindsay Thomas, National Deer Hunting Association (NDA) chief communications officer. “Leases kind of got started in the South because we had large tracts of forest land owned by timber companies. Eventually, these large companies and firms started looking for additional ways to get income from their land, as any landowner would. They realized they could lease out the hunting rights.” While hunt clubs (leases) date back to the late 60s and 70s in the South, leases were not as common in the Northeast and Midwest. It’s definitely a newer thing there because there weren’t large tracts of land owned by timber companies, but things have changed in the past two decades. Competition is almost as fierce now in northern and midwestern states.
38 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
INSURANCE FOR HUNTERS While leases might have sparked initial interest, this offering is open to those who own hunting land, lease it or hunt by permission. Fortunately, even landowners can take out policies on their own land. Still, it’s important to create outlines on who can hunt and participate in activities on the property. (Everyone covered by the policy does not have to be a member of the NDA to be included.) “It is for any hunting land,” Thomas said. “It doesn’t have to be a lease. It can be land you own or have permission to hunt. You can get a policy that covers you and the landowner. You’re just talking a few hundred dollars for a big piece of land.” Thomas said not every policy is designed with hunting in mind, but this one is. Things that are inherent with hunting are covered by this liability protection and it protects hunters and landowners. “Right now, it’s $52 in addition to your basic charge to cover the landowner,” said Linda Walls, NDA senior customer service representative. According to Walls, the policy has $1 million per occurrence of general liability coverage, a $2 million general aggregate (which is the one-year life of the policy), $100,000 fire legal liability coverage, member-to-member coverage and guest liability coverage.”
Peace of Mind: Affordable Hunting Land Insurance for Outdoorsmen
It also touts no hidden exclusions for claims involving firearms, treestands, ATVs, limited watercraft, and more, which is common among general policies that aren’t “hunting-centric”. Furthermore, there is no deductible on general liability. That said, it’s important to know that some things aren’t covered. Some of those things include bodily injury or property damage arising from the use of aircraft, assault and battery, commercial hunting operations, intentional or expected acts, pollution, vehicles, and worker’s compensation. As noted, commercial hunting operations, including guide services, outfitters and subleased properties are not eligible. According to Outdoor Underwriters, other examples of things being covered or not covered is “a situation that would be covered is a campfire that gets out of control and burns valuable timber. This coverage does not cover structures such as hunting cabins and houses.” Landowners and hunters alike have some legal risks when using a property, even for recreational purposes. All parties involved can benefit from having a liability insurance plan in place. Don’t risk personal assets.
Those who’ve always wanted peace of mind can now get hunting liability protection.
Each year, this master policy runs from August 1 to August 1. It can be taken out at any time of the year, but it isn’t prorated. You must renew on August 1.
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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 39
Peace of Mind: Affordable Hunting Land Insurance for Outdoorsmen
LEVERAGE FOR HUNTERS A lot of hunters knocking on doors for leases and permission properties alike don’t use all of the tools at their disposal. Hunting land insurance is a major tactic to convince a hesitant landowner.
Accidents can happen when weapons are involved. Best have an insurance policy in place in case it does.
“If you’re knocking on someone’s door, and saying you’d love to have permission to hunt their land, they might say they’re worried about liability,” Thomas said. “You can say, well, I’m getting liability coverage that will cover myself and you as well. Show them the details and that it was designed for hunting. It’s a great selling point to a hesitant landowner.” It won’t always work, but oftentimes, it’ll help close the distance. That’s good news for those who are working hard to find a place to hunt for family, friends and themselves. APPLYING FOR COVERAGE For those who decide to move forward, the application process is very simple. Just go to NDA’s website (https://www.deerassociation.com/hunt/ hunting-liability-insurance/) and fill out the required forms. “The application is very simple,” Walls said. “You just need your club name, representative name, mailing address for the representative (to send correspondence to), the landowner’s name, their mailing address, land location (city, county and state), acreage, etc. It’s nothing complicated.” Plus, you get a free NDA membership by signing up, which is a $35 value. What’s not to love about that? CHEAP PIECE OF MIND “We are currently waiting to hear from Outdoor Underwriters what the new rates for this year will be,” Thomas said. “They usually change very little.” 2020-21 Rates Less Than 250 Acres: $232 251-499 Acres: $242 500-749 Acres: $257 750-999 Acres: $275 1,000-1,249 Acres: $293 1,250-1,499 Acres: $314 1,500-1,749 Acres: $334 1,750-1,999 Acres: $353 2,000-3,499 Acres: $0.19 per acre 3,500-4,999 Acres: $0.18 per acre 5,000-Plus Acres: $0.16 per acre Contact the National Deer Association (NDA) with questions. Policies are underwritten by Outdoor Underwriters, Inc. ABOUT OUTDOOR UNDERWRITERS INC. Founded by Ed Wilson, Ph.D., he wanted to offer affordable insurance to the outdoor industry that covered common hunting occurrences. He built relationships, and Outdoor Underwriters Inc. has continued doing that ever since, and they insure more than 50,000 properties nationwide. ABOUT THE NATIONAL DEER ASSOCIATION Once known as the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA), it combined with the National Deer Alliance to become the National Deer Association (NDA) (https://www. deerassociation.com/) on November 10, 2020. As one organization, it strives to conserve deer and deer hunters. 40 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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Peace of Mind: Affordable Hunting Land Insurance for Outdoorsmen
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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 41
Taking advantage of tides and current can result in catches like this trophy bull redfish
42 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
TIDES
FISHING
VS
Currents BY CAPTAIN BOBBY ABRUSCATO
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 43
Wind of Change Adventure’s calling. Answer it with something completely different.
If you’re looking for a decidedly different way to answer adventure’s call, the Seneca Dragon Claw 500cc precharged pneumatic (PCP) air rifle might just become your favorite hunting firearm’s heir apparent. Capable of handling not only conventional, metallic projectiles, the Seneca Dragon Claw can also hurl specialized air bolts downrange at velocities up to 500 FPS, with muzzle energies as high as 230 FPE. This effectively turns it into a powerful, deadly accurate air-powered crossbow. Whether you’re a seasoned, veteran hunter or new to the sport entirely, the experts at Pyramyd Air are eager to guide you through the process of assembling the tools necessary to pursue your next lifelong passion. Call or visit us online today to embark upon the adventure.
big bore air guns have “ Using taken my big game hunting to a new level by increasing the challenge and the quality of the experience. Plus, they are deadly accurate and FUN! Keith Warren, Host of High Road Hunting on big bore hunting with the Dragon Claw Air Rifle Item # PY-2500-4995 and .50 cal Air Bolt Item # PY-P-1357
AVAILABLE ONLINE AT: PYRAMYDAIR.COM 44 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
OR CALL US AT: (888)-262-4867
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Tides vs. Currents
Nearing the Sand Island Lighthouse, I eased the Skeeter bay boat off plane. Only then did I realize that my game plan of fishing the area was going to need some tweaking. Because the water around the lighthouse flows so hard at peak tides, the plan was to fish slack water and the beginning of an incoming tide. That is what I had thought the water was going to be doing as the tide charts showed low tide occurring at daybreak. Not only was the water not slack, it was flowing hard out- so hard in fact that there was no way I was going to be able to troll around the rocks while working the GULP swimming mullet jigs down the drop offs. It’d be at least a few more hours until we’d be able to be effective doing this. Luckily for us, the wind was down and we were able to take advantage of the hard falling water by throwing said GULP while drifting nearby Dixey Bar, which fishes very well on blasting water. The drifts on Dixey bar proved successful and after a couple of hours of doing battle with the bulls, we headed back to the lighthouse and were able to land some more very nice upper slot reds using the original plan. In a perfect world, the water would be slack at tide change and be flowing strongest at exactly mid way through the tide, but that is rarely the case. How often has this phenomenon occurred to you? Often as on my trip we find that there is a big difference in what we expected the water to be doing and what it was doing. So, what difference does it make? Most importantly, how can you come up with a game plan based on varying tidal conditions? The word “tide’ is thrown around very often when discussing a fishing trip. “When is the best “tide”?’, “What was the “tide” doing when you caught them?” What’s your favorite “tide”? Tide refers to the vertical movement of water; so the tide is either rising or falling. Often that is used in place of the word “current”. Current is the horizontal movement of water and is either ebbing (outgoing), flowing (incoming) or slack. Both tide and current play an important role in the behavior of saltwater fish, but in different ways.
As an inshore saltwater guide, I have found that determining when to be where and how to present baits are crucial to the success of my trips. Tide plays an especially important role when I am fishing in a very shallow area. As little as six inches of difference in water levels can determine whether the fish will be in an area or whether they are going to bite. Some of the bays on the north side of the Mississippi Sound are favorites of mine and I use water level gauges when planning a trip. Some are available electronically (we’ll touch on this shortly) and some are just simple landmarks. For example, when I launch at the city ramp in Bayou la Batre, I check the water level where the cement ramp meets the rocks. If the water is on the cement, I know that certain areas are going to be good. On the other hand, if there is rock showing, I know that I need to focus on deeper areas. The same applies to currents. There are areas throughout the Mobile Bay system that fish very well on big current days and others that are simply not even fishable when the current is running at its strongest, Obviously, the more water that has to flow in and out of the Bay during a certain time period, the stronger the current. On those days I avoid fishing places like the Sand Island Lighthouse and the Pass aux Herons (Dauphin Island Bridge and shoals) areas. On the other hand, these places fish very well on neap tides or at the tide change. On big current days, areas that are not as affected by current really come to life. The open waters on the north side of Dauphin Island and the gulf beaches are some of those areas. Alabama’s legendary Dixey Bar is another place that I prefer smoking current velocities. The big water movement sweeps weak bait like small finfish, crabs and shrimp out of the deep water and onto the bar making them easy prey for the powerful bull reds. Further on the subject of current, it’s very important to understand that ambush feeders like speckled trout and flounder, rely on current to bring forage to them. Knowing the direction of the current in certain areas will let you present your bait in the most natural and effective manner.
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251-433-3696 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 45
Tides vs. Currents
Working the tides and currents resulted harvesting this respectable flounder.
Understanding the ebb and flow of tides and currents can increase your success rate with speckled trout
One good indicator of current direction in a place where current is non-detectable to the eye, or may be being influenced by the wind, is to look at the direction in which the mullet are jumping. Unless being chased, they generally jump into the current, so that’s a good indicator of bait presentation to use when first arriving in an area. The current direction and tide levels can also be influenced by wind and pressures. Learning what role that the wind can have is of great importance when planning a trip. West winds change the direction of the current on the shoals area 180 degrees for example. Winds with a northerly component drop tide levels to below forecasted ranges and high barometric pressure adds to this effect. So planning on fishing a shallow flat the day after a bull winter front just doesn’t work. On the other hand, southerly winds raise water levels, so that same flat could be killer on a pre-front fishing trip. The best source of tide information in a printed form that I have found is the Alabama Marine Information Calendar which is published by the Marine Resources Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. It has tide ranges for every day as well as moon phases and other very useful information. You can pick it up just about anywhere sporting goods are sold and the price is right in my range- free! Most GPS/DF units nowadays have both tide and current data on them for the area that you are located. Lastly, there is a wealth of information that can be used to determine tide and current on the internet as well as apps that can be downloaded to a smartphone. I use one called “Tides” and it allows even technically incompetent people like me to get the tide and current information that I need in just a few seconds. Paying attention to water levels, directions and velocities are probably second only to weather in terms of the success of a fishing trip. If you don’t already, start studying them and I am sure you’ll improve the quality of your fishing trips. 46 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Sam’s has everything you need while on vacation. We offer fishing supplies, marine supplies, sportswear, deli and groceries to make your stay pleasant.
SAMS BAIT & TACKLE
27222 Canal Rd. Orange Beach, AL 36561
Land Loan Interest Rate Update BY WILLIAM KENDY
Farm Credit of Northwest Florida is headquartered in Mariana, Fl with offices in Milton, Monticello, Jay and Tallahassee with a mission of “Helping Rural America Grow”.
When it comes to the type of loans available, Chappell said he typically does long term fixed rate loans and tries to stay away from balloon loans.
As a cooperative lender, excess profits (above capitalization and operating needs) earned by Farm Credit of Northwest Florida are refunded to the members. This profit sharing provides members the opportunity to lower the cost of borrowing below already competitive interest rates. This unique structure may also save members money on closing costs.
“In a low-rate environment like we are in, you are going to get a better deal going with long terms,” Chappell said. “We can go up to 20 years on land and we require 20% down but you are also able to use additional collateral. So, if you are buying 100 acres if you own 20 or 30 acres free and clear you can use that to put up for the 20% instead of coming out of pocket for the down payment. We’ve got a lot of options.”
Farm Credit realizes that “one size lending doesn’t fit all” so they offer options for interest rates, terms and repayment, including no prepayment penalties and no acreage limitations. For most loans, if interest rates fall, your lender can work with you to lower your rate with no hassle and no costly refinance.
Chappell pointed out that the “patronage” refund that Farm Credit of Northwest Florida offers lowers the overall cost of the loan in terms of interest.
Logan Chappell is a loan officer at Farm Credit of Northwest Florida and works out of the Marianna office. He specializes in all types of properties, including agricultural, recreational, timberland, row crop land and cattle. Chappell says that demand has been strong in 2020 and believes that it will stay strong through the first quarter of 2021 and property values have remained constant. When it comes to what type of property buyers are inquiring about, Chappell said that recreational land is “hot”. “There definitely is a focus on timberland and timberland that has a little bit of pasture or cropland on it and most of it is going to be used as recreational property,” Chappell said. “Specifically, undamaged timberland is a big thing. We’ve had several hurricanes come though so timber properties with minimal damage are really getting a lot of interest right now.”
“In 2020, Farm Credit of Northwest Florida distributed $3.5 million back to our borrowers. So effectively, that’s reducing your cost of borrowing,” Chappell said. “It’s lowering your interest rate, because you’re getting back money that you paid in an interest.”
Current Interest Rates from Farm Credit of Northwest Florida (As of 5/14/21) 5 year – 3.85 7 year – 4.00 10 year – 4.35 15 year – 4.80 20 year – 5.20
Contact: Logan Chappell CP (850)-209-0250 lchappell@farmcredit-fl.com www.farmcredit-Fl.com 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 47
BY HANK SHAW Photos by Holly A. Heyser
Cream of Crab Soup What makes this soup a classic is how smooth and silky it is. To eat it is to sip spoonful’s of luxury. Cream, butter, crabmeat and a touch of sherry. Any crabmeat will do, although blue crabs are traditional; Different recipes use different types of sherry, but my preference is an amontillado, or a “rainwater” Madeira, or even a dry Marsala. Can you skip the alcohol? I suppose, but it won’t be quite as nice. Because this is a Charleston version of cream of crab soup, it relies on rice grits to thicken it, not a flour roux or you can roughly crack a bunch of long-grain rice in a spice grinder. So, all you gluten-free people out there, this one’s for you. Prep: 20 mins • Cook: 30 mins • Total: 50 mins Ingredients
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
4 tablespoons butter 1 white onion, minced 1/2 cup rice grits or broken up long-grain rice (see above) 1 sprig fresh thyme 2 bay leaves 1 cup clam juice or crab stock 1/2 cup sherry (see above) 3 cups whole milk 1 cup cream 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning (optional) 1/2 teaspoon white pepper 1/4 teaspoon ground mace or nutmeg 1/2-pound lump crabmeat Chopped parsley and paprika, for garnish
Instructions 1. In a large pot, heat the butter over medium-high heat, and when it’s hot, cook the onion until soft and translucent, but not brown, about 5 minutes. Add the rice grits and stir to combine. 2. Pour in the clam juice or crab stock, sherry, milk, cream and then the Old Bay, white pepper and mace. Bring this to a gentle simmer and let it cook for 15 minutes. You want the rice grits to be soft. 3. When the rice is soft, puree this mixture in a blender, adding milk or clam juice or stock to thin it if it’s too thick: You want it to be the consistency of house paint or melted ice cream. 4. Wipe out the pot and return the puree to it, keeping it warm over low heat. To serve, put some crabmeat in shallow bowls then pour the soup over it, garnishing with parsley and paprika. 48 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
CAMPHOUSE KITCHEN
Chinese Red Braised Pork Mostly you make this with pork belly, but any fatty cut will work; shoulder is my other favorite here. And while there are many renditions of red cooked foods, this particular one requires something fatty and luscious. Prep: 15 mins • Cook: 2 hours • Total: 12 hours 15 mins Ingredients
• • • • • • • • • •
2 pounds pork, or bear belly 2 tablespoons sugar 3 tablespoons soy sauce 1/4 cup Chinese Shaoxing cooking wine (or sherry) 2 cups Chinese stock, chicken stock or water A 1-inch piece of ginger, sliced thin 3 stars anise pods (optional) 4 dried hot chiles 5 scallions, sliced into 1-inch pieces 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Optional Garlic Addition • 1 to 2 heads garlic, peeled but whole • 2 tablespoons lard or peanut oil Instructions 1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Boil the whole slab of belly
2.
3.
4. 5.
6.
for 5 minutes. Remove from the water and set on a cutting board to cool. Save the cooking water if you are not using stock later for this recipe. Cut the meat into largish cubes of about 2 inches across. Mix the sugar with 3 tablespoons of water until the sugar has dissolved. In a wok, heat the syrup over medium heat until it begins to turn yellow, about 5 minutes or so. Add the parcooked pork belly and turn to coat with the syrup mixture. Stirfry until nicely browned. Pour in the Shaoxing wine, soy and enough stock or cooking water to cover the meat, and add the star anise, ginger, and chiles. Cover and simmer gently over medium-to-low heat. How long? Until the meat is tender. Typically about 90 minutes, but for a wild hog or bear this could take up to 3 hours. Check after 90 minutes. Taste the stock and if it is getting too strong, remove some of the spices. If you are adding the garlic to this dish, fry the garlic cloves in lard or peanut oil until they are nicely golden, then remove and set aside. Once the meat is getting tender – but not quite ready – add a little sugar if you want. The stock should be a bit sweet. Recover and cook until the pork is practically falling apart. Remove the meat and set aside. Turn the heat up on the sauce to reduce it. When the stock has reduced to a sauce consistency, return the meat to the pot and add the garlic, if using. Add the scallions and cilantro and serve at once. I prefer to eat this with simple steamed jasmine rice.
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 49
NEW & COOL GEAR BY WILLIAM KENDY
Newport Vessels Launches NK-180S Kayak Motor
This new Kayak motor incorporates a prop design that delivers smooth, powerful acceleration with a 24-volt brushless motor and top speeds of more than five knots on kayaks. The NK180S features integrated steering with a variable speed throttle controller. Steering cables can be set up to turn the motor like a rudder using the kayak’s OEM mounted foot-pedal systems. The motor package can be easily installed on most fishing kayaks Suggested Retail Price: $799.00 www. NewportVessels.com
SPRO Power Bucktail Jig HD
The unique head shape and eyelet placement give the Power Bucktail a natural gliding action on the drop and keeps the body parallel for a natural presentation. It sports Gamakatsu O’Shaugnessy hooks that are designed to hold on to big tough fish. The hooks are wrapped in a generous amount of bucktail hair for a larger profle to attract big fish. Available in 6- and 8-ounce weights. Suggested Retail Price: $16.99-$18.99 www.spro.com
Frabill Floating Net are Not Just for Trout
These wide-opened designed wide hoop nets won’t spook fish and offers durability for long-lasting use. A comfortable rubber grip provides plenty of grip for wet hands ensuring that the net won’t slip at landing time. Since the hoop is buoyant the net will stay on the surface should it end up in the drink and makes it the perfect choice for kayak or wade anglers. Suggested Retail Price: starting at $17.99 www.frabill.com
Ameristep® Pro Series™ Extreme View” Blind
The Extreme View blind utilizes a one-way, see-through mesh for the perfect view without silhouetting the hunter. With 12 mesh windows and a full 270 degrees of visibility this spacious blind allows you to move and shoot without noise and in comfort. It is rated for up to three hunters plus room to store gear. Mossy Oak’s brand-new Country DNA camouflage makes it disappears into the landscape. Suggested Retail Price: $219.00 www.ameristep.com
Barnett Hyperflite EVO 420™ Crossbow
The Barnett Hyperflite EVO 420™ design creates increased limb action and whip while reducing recoil and vibration. This hi-tech crossbow, when paired with Barnett 204 smalldiameter HyperFlite arrows makes for a deadly, accurate combination of blistering 420 fps speed and up to 25 percent greater penetration. It features a full integrated Crank Cocking Device (CCD) with quick-attach/detach handle and includes a side-mount quiver, three 22inch HyperFlite arrows and optics. Suggested Retail Price: $1,599.99 www.barnettcrossbows.com 50 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
NEW AND COOL GEAR FOR OUTDOORSMEN
Stay on the Go with the Paxis Backpack.
The Paxis backpack allows you to access gear while keeping your backpack on so you can stay on the move. Using the patented ARC Swing technology, with one quick, easy maneuver, the swing arm brings the things you need right in front of you without having to reach around, fumble, and dig in your pack. It is available in Long Range Grass Camo pattern as well as three different colors. Suggested Retail Price: $199.00 www.paxispax.com
Dock Shock Mooring Kit
The Dock Shock kit contains two shocks to attach to your boat or pontoon to make docking a breeze! The heavy-duty shock cord eliminates damaging jolts to your boat and dock caused by the wind and other boats. The hook end doubles as a loop to slide through a cleat, slide over a dock post, or clip to your boat. Available in 24”, 40”, and 60” lengths. Suggested Retail Price: $49.99-$59.99 www.anchorshok.com
Moultrie Delta Cellular Game Camera
The Moultrie Delta cellular game camera features industry-first High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging combined with best-in-class 32MP resolution. HDR imaging allows the Delta to capture enhanced detail in highlights and shadows even in the most difficult lighting conditions. The camera’s 32MP ILLUMI-NIGHT 3 Sensor delivers images and video with vivid colors by day and crisp, bright clarity at night with invisible infrared flash. Suggested Retail Price: $99.99 www.moultriefeeders.com
Find Buried Treasure
For all of treasure hunter want-a-bee’s the Go-Find 22 is the perfect choice. Innovative, smart and easy to use the lightweight and portable Go-Find 22 weighs only 2.2 pounds. It features two find modes, three sensitivity levels, five volume levels and is powered by four AA batteries. It’s 51.4 full length packs down to only 21.9 inches and it is designed to be used by people of all ages. Suggested Retail Price: $139.00 www.go-find.minelab.com
Federal Premium® Personal Defense Punch™ Rimfire 22 LR
Self-defense isn’t one size fits all. Punch™ 22 LR from Federal Premium® uses a first-ofits-kind nickel-plated lead-core bullet pushed at maximum velocity to achieve the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns. The 29-grain bullet delivers a velocity of 1,070 fps through a 2-inch handgun barrel giving optimum penetration. The Punch™ makes the .22 long rifle cartridge a viable self-defense choice. Available in a 50 cartridge count. Suggested Retail Price: $ 9.99 www.federalpremium.com 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 51
Shrimp Trawl Catch
Can Be Eye-Opening
Shrimping season opens on June 1
With apologies to Forrest Gump, one of the best things about hauling in a shrimp net on the Alabama Gulf Coast is you never know what you’re gonna get. When the recreational shrimping season opens on June 1, the time-honored tradition of dragging a shrimp trawl in Alabama’s fertile bayous, bays and estuaries can result not only in a haul of succulent shrimp but also in bringing up a variety of creatures that inhabit the lower realms of the water column. BY CHRIS BLANKENSHIP Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
After a nice, long drag, don’t be surprised if you haul in the net and find bay anchovy, Atlantic croakers, spots, sand seatrout, pinfish, pigfish, southern kingfish (ground mullet), hardhead and gafftopsail catfish, hogchokers, bay whiffs (a flounder look-alike), squid, blue crabs, menhaden (pogeys), threadfin shad, gizzard shad, Atlantic cutlassfish, inshore lizardfish, Atlantic stingray, smooth butterfly ray, cownose ray and juvenile Spanish mackerel. And that’s not an exhaustive list. When I
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was the Director of the Alabama Marine Resources Division (MRD), one of our MRD employees hauled in a 6-foot American alligator. That’s just how diverse and complex Alabama’s coastal waters are with their brackish water, mixing the salty water of the Gulf with the output from the freshwater rivers at the head of Mobile Bay. By the way, if you do catch blue crabs in your shrimp net, you can retain only a certain amount. According to the regulation, licensed recreational shrimp boats taking crabs in waters open to commercial shrimping are limited to no more than one five-gallon container of legal-size crabs (5 inches across the carapace from spine tip to spine tip) in possession per boat. Growing up on the Alabama Gulf Coast, my friends and I had the opening date of shrimp season foremost on our minds. Everyone with a boat and a shrimp trawl waited to get word from MRD on when shrimp season would open. Back then, Alabama law required that shrimp reach the size of 68 shrimp per pound to open the season. That meant Marine Resources had
FROM THE COMMISSIONER to constantly trawl state waters to sample the fast-growing shrimp to determine the opening date, which could range from late May to the middle of June. Legislation in 2015 removed the requirement that shrimp be a certain size and instead, set season dates. This makes it much easier for recreational shrimpers to get ready for the opening day of the season. The legislation sets specific dates for shrimp closures and openings. State waters are closed to shrimping at 6 a.m. on May 1 and reopen at 6 a.m. on June 1. I know many families who take vacation to take advantage of hauling in enough shrimp to fill their freezers. The certainty for that June 1 opening takes the guesswork out of when to take time off. Unfortunately, participation in this traditional fishery has waned since its heyday in the late 20th century. A few decades ago, the opening day of shrimp season rivaled that of the opening day of red snapper season. Boat ramps were packed with boats and trailers as everybody headed out on opening day to try to catch a five-gallon bucket (per person) of shrimp. In 1989, more than 3,000 recreational shrimping licenses were sold. In 2011, that number was down to 1,200. For the 2020 license season, 757 resident and 63 non-resident recreational shrimping licenses were sold.
are designed to protect the seagrass beds along Mobile Bay’s Eastern Shore. Those seagrass beds provide essential habitat for a variety of aquatic life. From 6 a.m. August 15 until 6 a.m. October 1 each year, the area in Mobile Bay from the center of May Day Pier (Daphne) out to ½ nautical mile, then south to the northern edge of Point Clear Channel will be open only to the use of a cast net to catch shrimp for non-commercial purposes not to exceed 1 gallon per person. Be sure to avoid oyster reefs when you make a drag. It is unlawful for any person to drag a net, seine, or trawl over public or private oyster reefs. It is also unlawful to retain gamefish, which includes red drum, spotted seatrout, tarpon, and striped bass caught with a trawl. The law prohibits the discard of dead fish or other dead seafood within 500 feet of any shoreline or into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico within three miles of the Gulf beaches (includes Pelican Bay). I hope this year there will be an uptick in the number of recreational licenses sold and more people will enjoy this great Alabama Gulf Coast tradition. For families, it’s a great opportunity to spend time together outdoors and to teach your kids and grandkids about the abundance and diversity of all the wild creatures that live in or near the Gulf. And if you have a successful haul, the whole family can enjoy a fabulous seafood dinner with the freshest of Alabama wild shrimp. Enjoy!
One of my jobs as the Conservation Commissioner is to lead the marketing effort for Alabama seafood through the Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission. I love to help promote our great seafood, and the abundance of delicious shrimp makes it available to a wide variety of people. Plus, you can’t beat Alabama shrimp for taste and quality. Wild-caught seafood definitely has a better taste and texture, so I make sure when I eat out that the restaurant is serving locally caught seafood. Visit www.eatalabamaseafood.com and check out the numerous delicious shrimp recipes. If you plan to participate in this great fishery, you need to know the rules and regulations. Recreational shrimpers are limited to a 16-foot trawl, which must be deployed and retrieved by hand. Shrimpers are able to fill their five-gallon per person limit on most outings. Recreational shrimpers are required to have a boat license that costs $19 for Alabama residents. Non-residents pay the same amount charged Alabama residents to conduct the same activity in the applicant’s state, not to exceed double the cost of the resident license. Visit www.outdooralabama.com/regulations-andenforcement for a complete list of recreational shrimping regulations. A bounty of fresh seafood comes from Alabama’s waters each year, and shrimp tops the list. The recreational harvest of shrimp in Alabama is estimated at around 200,000 pounds annually. According to landings data, the commercial shrimping fleet landed about 25.3 million pounds of shrimp in Alabama in 2020. Brown shrimp make up the majority of shrimp caught in Alabama waters in the summer. In the fall and sometimes late summer, shrimpers may find white shrimp in the trawl. White shrimp tend to be considerably larger. If you’re lucky, you’ll have a bucket full of jumbo white shrimp. If you are shrimping later in the year, be aware of regulations that 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 53
Apparently, We Are Almost There!
As with most topics, everyone has an opinion on the solution to the turkey population decline. Arthur Schopenhauer once said, “All truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” If this is truly the case, we are almost to the finish line with the turkey population discussions! One month out from the first Conservation Advisory Board meeting of the year where the results of the Auburn Turkey Project were presented, I’m confident we’ve already made it into stage two.
BY CHARLES “CHUCK” SYKES Director of the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF)
It didn’t take long for the ridicule stage to turn into the violently opposed stage. Let me tell you, we’ve definitely seen plenty of opposition. I’m not saying that we don’t have our share of support, but the opposition is very loud and proud. Even if the opponents slightly agree that our turkey numbers are down, they are shifting the blame to anything that will take the focus off any changes to the season dates.
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We have received a plethora of reasons why turkey numbers are down, but two have risen to the top of the heap. Too many predators and the ineffectiveness of Game Check are the two topics that our critics seem to grasp onto the most to deflect the attention away from adjusting the season dates. Their solutions to the turkey decline are a predator bounty program and a physical tagging system. I’d like to shed a little light on the flaws in these two proposed courses of action. Most hunters and land managers agree that predator numbers (coyotes, raccoons, and opossums) have risen over the past two decades. So, the opposition is using this to demand that we, WFF, place a bounty on those predators to incentivize their removal. First let me say, all three of these animals may be
FROM THE DIRECTOR hunted or trapped 365 days a year with no bag limit. If the legislature passes a bill we drafted, anyone will be able to hunt them at night as well for roughly nine months out of the year. Call me crazy, but that seems like ample opportunity to remove these predators for anyone who claims to be passionate about turkeys and turkey hunting. Why should the department incentivize an action that conservation-minded individuals should be doing anyway? Bounties have been placed on a variety of critters since the days of westward expansion, and the only time they have been successful is when targeting large predators like bears or wolves. The slow reproduction rate of these two apex predators lends to their populations being overharvested easily. Any other bounties have proven to be unproductive. A recent example of an ineffective bounty system is one that was instituted on feral pigs in Georgia. In June of 2007, Fort Benning Army Infantry Training Center near Columbus, Georgia, began offering a bounty on pigs in hopes of reducing the population and eventually eradicating them from the base. Dr. Stephen Ditchkoff of Auburn University conducted a study on the pig population to gauge the effectiveness of the bounty program. That study indicated that pig density and occupancy rates increased and so did sounder size and number of juveniles per adult female during the bounty program. So, not only was a bounty not effective in eradicating the pigs, but the population was actually larger after the program was implemented. If anyone would like to see that published study, it can be found in the Wildlife Society Bulletin 41(3):548–555; 2017; DOI: 10.1002/wsb.787. The ineffectiveness of Game Check is the next scapegoat for the turkey decline. Opponents are suggesting that physical tags would be a much more appropriate way to gather harvest information and, in turn, prevent unscrupulous hunters from taking more than the season limit. I don’t quite understand how affixing a piece of paper to the leg of a turkey will force anyone to adhere to the seasons and bag limits. It took five years to get people to half-way report their harvests into the Game Check system. The incessant cries of government overreach were deafening. What makes some people think a tag system won’t garner the same opposition when it is much more onerous on the hunter than simply pushing a couple of buttons on a smartphone?
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If someone wants to harvest a turkey and hide it under the seat of their truck until they get it home, they can do that with a tag just as easily as with our Game Check system. An officer can easily check a hunter with a harvested bird now to see if the hunter has Game Checked his bird. There is no sense in making the hunter do one more step in the process by affixing a tag. States that still have a tag system in place also make their hunters check in their game online. So, you aren’t making the process easier or more effective. A tag will make the process more difficult and more expensive for hunters. Much like the bounty system, if we thought a tagging system would make a positive impact on the turkey population, we would consider it. The one thing I would like for everyone to understand is that the majority of my staff are hunters and fishermen. Anything we recommend positively or negatively impacts most of us just as it does other hunters. However, it is our job to recommend what is best for our natural resources based on the most accurate scientific information at our disposal even if that means having a negative impact on us personally. So, before criticizing, please take into account the words of Friedrich Schiller when he said, “It’s easy to give advice from a port of safety.” Broken down into Alabama lingo it means, “It’s easy to give advice from the comfort of your home computer when you have nothing to lose.”
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Choosing a Varmint Caliber
You may already have a varmint rifle such as this Henry in .243, Remington Model 7 in .22-250 or MSR in .223.
It was a fairly long shot, probably 150 yards but I had been practicing at that distance and longer before my trip west. I held the crosshairs where I wanted, drew a breath, squeezed the trigger and saw the target vaporize through my scope. The Remington 50 grain Accu-Tip left the muzzle at 3799 fps and was moving at 3127 fps when it hit the prairie dog. Around 25 years ago I was invited to a prairie dog hunt in Colorado which was three days of serious fun taking shots at the small critters from ranges of 50 yards to over 300 yards. Why prairie dogs? Prairie dogs dig holes and burrows into fields and pastures causing valuable cattle and horses to break a leg if they step into their holes. The rancher then has to destroy the injured animal which is a large economic loss so prairie dog hunters are usually welcomed by ranchers.
BY CRAIG HANEY Photo submitted by Craig Haney
Traveling back home from the hunt, I thought about starting a varmint hunt in Alabama since we have coyotes, foxes, beaver, bobcats and other varmints covering the state and groundhogs providing sporty shooting in North Alabama. Coyotes may be the most popular quarry in Alabama due their ever-expanding population and destructive habits. Varmint hunting is gaining in popularity in Alabama as more hunters wish to extend their hunting season past deer and turkey seasons. Here is an overview of some popular calibers that under normal conditions you would find at any shop
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selling rifle ammunition in the state. There are a lot of newer varmint calibers that are excellent but still would not be as easy to find as these three. VARMINT CALIBERS The list of varmint calibers, their history and use could be a book in itself so we’ll look at only 3 popular calibers, of which many hunters own at least one, with everything from groundhogs to coyotes in mind. .22-250 Remington The .22-250 started life as a necked down .250-3000 Savage cartridge in the 1930’s and was later brought into the Remington fold where it was renamed the .22-250 Varminter. The caliber really took off when Remington standardized the cartridge in 1965 in the Model 700 rifle and it has become a perennial top ten seller in cartridge and reloading die sales. The .22-250 is no slow poke pushing a 53-grain bullet to 3650 fps and it beats the .223 when comparing velocity and trajectory. The caliber is equally at home in a lightweight sporter style rifle that you use for multiple set-ups during the course of a day when you cover a lot of ground or in a bull-barrel, long-range rifle weighing maybe 10 pounds with a high-magnification scope. One thing I have noticed over the years is that you rarely see a used .22-250 of any style for sale which indicates, to me, the value their owners place on owning one.
THE GUN RACK
When a pastime becomes a passion.
Some don’t get it, but we do. Looking for your own place to hunt, fish, enjoy Three popular varmint calibers are the .243 Winchester, .22-250 Remington and .223 Remington.
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.223 Remington The last few years it has seemed like everyone I know and their granny has bought an AR rifle chambered in .223 which may be the best predator round in terms of versatility. It will propel a 53-grain bullet to 3250 fps and a trajectory flat enough with a 60-grain bullet to take coyotes out to 400 yards. There are a myriad of ammo choices in .223, all with little recoil plus a large selection of rifles.
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There are so many bullet options available you can determine precisely the kind of performance you desire. Some varmint hunters who sell the hides prefer the FMJ ammunition since it causes less damage to the hide while hunters preferring the shock factor prefer frangible hollow point bullets. The 30/06 has been the number one all-purpose big game cartridge for years and now the .223 has become the same for varmint hunting. .243 Winchester The .243 Winchester was introduced in 1955 and was based on the .308 Winchester case necked down to .24 caliber. The .243 Winchester is probably chambered in more rifles than any cartridge except the 30/06 Springfield. The .243 was developed to be a deer and antelope caliber and to use for small game and pests and has done the job well. For varmints, it will drive a 55-grain bullet over 3800 fps and provide enough hydraulic or hydrostatic shock to drop a coyote where he stands. With 95 or 100 grain loads, the same thing can happen to a deer or antelope when hit properly. While great on coyotes, the .243 would not be my first choice for a day spent on prairie dog towns. PASSING THOUGHT Rimfire calibers .22LR, .22 Mag and .17HMR have killed a lot of varmints over the years including coyotes. Most every farmer in the state has at least one of those calibers which do a good job on smaller varmints and they will kill a coyote with a properly placed shot at ranges under 100 yards but are not ideal if coyote hunting is your primary goal. For ‘yotes you need a centerfire cartridge such as the .22-250, .223 Remington or .243 Winchester. LAST THOUGHTS For sportsmen that aren’t fishermen, varmint hunting provides an excellent reason to stay in the woods and fields after deer season. It’s a great way to teach youngsters and other novice hunters firearm safety, distance, marksmanship and spotting game. Making memories with our family and friends during a beautiful day afield can’t be beat as part of our journey as hunters.
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Simplify, simplify, simplify
This kayak angler’s boat is loaded with all of the modern tools, and he sure seems to make it all work.
BY ED MASHBURN Photos by Ed Mashburn
Improving Kayak fishing with Less? As kayak fishing has boomed in popularity over the past decade, the gear, equipment and kayak features have expanded to an incredible degree. There are more attachments and improvements for kayak anglers to consider, it can be almost overwhelming. And to be honest, some fishing kayaks today look like military craft with all of the electronic, propulsion systems and other stuff which anglers stick on their paddle boats.
works for an angler, then that’s fine. However, there’s a tendency for fishing kayaks today to be larger, more complicated, and more difficult to transport and launch, not to mention, quite a bit more expensive.
‘There comes a point where honest kayak anglers have to step back and look at the kayak, and themselves, and question whether all of the improvements added to the basic kayak is really a good thing. After all, most kayak anglers got into the kayak fishing game because kayaks were cheap, easy to move and launch, and less complicated than standard fishing boats.
So, how do we go about “simplifying” our fishing kayaks?
It’s up to individual anglers to determine what gear they need and how much stuff their kayaks can handle and, if a kayak full of gear
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In short, some fishing kayaks today are almost as complicated and as much trouble to transport and launch as an outboard fishing skiff. American philosopher Henry David Thoreau was a good woodsman and his ideas are still of value. One of his primary theories of life was “Simplify, simplify, simplify”. This is not a bad idea at all for kayak anglers to consider.
WHAT DO I NEED? One of the best things about kayak fishing is its flexibility. Kayak anglers, with the proper gear and set-up, can fish situations which range from tiny, shallow backwoods creeks and bayous all the way to fishing huge inland reservoirs and impoundments and even to offshore fishing in the Gulf or other salt water bodies. However, trying to equip a fishing kayak for ALL potential fishing situations is a guarantee for expensive gear being bought which rarely if ever get used. For example, if I spend most of my kayak fishing time chasing redfish in tiny little bayous and creeks, I probably don’t need
PADDLE FISHING a top of the line fish finder unit. I also probably don’t need an expensive electric motor set up. In fact, these involved tools may just serve to get in the way and complicate small water fishing trips. On the other hand, heading offshore in a small, paddle-powered kayak with no electronic gear is not only not going to be very productive, it might be dangerous. We kayak anglers need to be honest in our assessment of our accessory needs and gear choices. It can be frustrating to arrive at a kayak fishing destination to find that our kayak really needs a piece of gear or equipment which it is missing, and I’ve been in this situation. But it is also as frustrating to have a kayak loaded down with every possible piece of gear only to find that all of that gear is just getting in the way and not improving the fishing situation.
It seems that most of my kayak fishing these days is of the “throw it in the bed of the truck and go” type. Most of my kayak fishing trips are on small, protected waters, as in small bayous, ponds, and back bays. So I usually don’t need a lot of navigation gear, electric propulsion gear and other heavy items. And after thinning the gear down to a simple level, I find that it is much easier to get the kayak to the water, and I take the kayak to the water more often when I don’t have to work as hard to get it there. So my kayak these days is less loaded and less complicated. If the truth be told, I seem to catch just as many fish from my simpler, lighter kayak than I did when I had the tricked-out, fully equipped boat. So, I’d advise kayak anglers to realistically look at their kayak and their fishing and keep in mind- “Simplify, simplify, simplify.”
LISTEN TO OTHERS, BUT THINK FOR YOURSELF There’s a lot of advice on the internet and other sources of information about kayak fishing gear, and every year brings a new crop of add-ons and new kayak models for anglers to consider. Talking to other more experienced kayak anglers is a good way to learn a lot about tools and accessories for a new fishing kayak. How other anglers equip their boats can give a good start to a beginner. However, relying too much on the experiences and needs of other anglers can also be a good way for a new kayak angler to get confused about her or his specific fishing needs and through this confusion, obtain a bunch of expensive gear and stuff which doesn’t really improve the fishing. We have to be honest here. Many “experts” will tell starting up kayak anglers that we need “Brand A” fish finder and we need “Brand B” electric motor for our fishing kayaks. But we have to keep in mind that many of these expert kayak anglers are working for the companies whose gear they are pushing, and their advice might just be tempered by that fact. So when it comes to determining what gear and what equipment is really useful, there’s absolutely nothing like spending time on the water in the kayak chasing fish to show what tools are needed and what is not. ANALYZE YOUR NEEDS Not so long ago I found myself huffing and puffing after I got my kayak to the water from the truck for a fishing trip. My kayak was overloaded, and nearly all of the overload was stuff I had purchased and applied to the basic kayak. As I caught my breath, I looked over the kayak and marveled at the amount of gear and “stuff” that I have managed to apply to my kayak. I then began to question just how much of that “stuff” I actually use when I go kayak fishing. It was a very revealing question session. It seems that much of the stuff I have put on my kayak is rarely if ever used. It all seemed to be a good idea when I first got and put the stuff on the kayak, but a lot of the gear was simply extra weight to be transported. So I decided to do a kayak “slim-down” when I got home, I unloaded the kayak from the truck and went over every piece of gear to see how much I actually used each item.
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Gulf Coast Fishing Outlook
Photo courtesy Chris Vecsey
The midway point of the year and the peak of the fishing season along the northern gulf coast. Anything is possible through June.
BY CHRIS VECSEY
Tripletail will be a popular target this month. Danniella Vecsey sight casted this monster under a log!
Throughout Mobile and Pensacola Bay, as well offshore in open water, tripletail will become a very popular target for fishermen eager to sight cast these slabs of pure muscle. Tripletail of all sizes can be found around channel markers, crab pot floats, debris, etc and will take live shrimp, croakers, finger mullet and many lures. The DOA shrimp is particularly effective on these free drifting nomads and bait and lures should be cast close to spotted fish and tackle sturdy enough to horse these powerful fish from crab traps and pilings.
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Along the beach fronts off Mississippi and Alabama, June means hitting the beaches for trophy specks. Trout will begin stacking up within the many deeper pockets and troughs along the beaches and barrier islands. These fish might as well be a different species from their inshore counterparts in that they are often more aggressive and much larger in stature. On calmer days, big trout can offer some excellent sightfishing opportunities, but most days will be spent working these cuts and drops blind with topwater lures, twitch baits and soft plastics. Fly fishing can also be a very effective approach when weather allows.
FISHING OUTLOOK These trout won’t be the only ones frequenting the hot spots in the surf; redfish, pompano, flounder, bluefish and various others will call the breakers home this month. Whereas leaders in the 15-20 lb. range will usually work well, it’s wise to carry some 40 lb. fluorocarbon on hand for the days the mackerel and blues show up in force. a short section tied straight to your main line will help you keep your lures. Trout won’t be as abundant in the surf off of the Florida panhandle, but most other species will be in addition to the arrival of Tarpon. The silver king will be showing up in abundance throughout the area and intercepting these migratory giants involves perseverance and a good game plan. These bruisers will usually run just offshore of the beaches and soaking live baits suspended under floats and balloons is the most widely used technique. Live baits like bumper (crazyfish), threadfin herring and LYs should draw bites from travelling tarpon. Big swim baits and well-placed flies will also take good numbers of fish. Stout tackle is recommended for these fish, which can average over 80 lbs. with many exceeding the triple digit mark. Main lines of 50-65 lb. braided line and 60-100 lb. fluorocarbon leaders get the job done. Just offshore, some great and reliable action can be had with both king and spanish mackerel. The bite can be from within 100 yds of the beach and up to 10 miles or more offshore. Trolling open water, tide lines and around artificial structure with a spread of deep diving plugs, spoons and smaller mackerel trees will keep rods bent. This is particularly fun for larger groups and especially when kids are on board. Once mackerel are located, it’s usually nonstop until the schools move on. Bottom fishing is always a priority.
CCA AL Events Banquet Fundraisers will return Spring 2021 Until then, check our website for our online silent auctions and giveaways this month!
In June. Red Snapper season will open along all gulf coast states and no other species draws such a demand. Both charter and recreational anglers will swarm artificial structures, both private and public, for shots at trophy snapper. Various baits, both live and dead, will produce big bites, but quality live bait will always tip the odds in your favor, especially once the fish grow wary later in the season. Downsizing tackle, both leader and hook size, will keep the bites coming. Jigging is another effective method to get reaction strikes from big snapper. For more variety, hit deeper, natural bottom areas for vermilion and lane snapper, almaco jacks, scamp and others. Single and two hook rigs baited with squid, cigar minnows (both live and dead) and many other natural baits will keep fish coming up. target depths in 160+ft for the best action. Slow pitch jigging and deploying drift lines will add variety and score bonus fish in addition to fishing baits along the bottom. June is an outstanding month to head out to blue water and target pelagics. Water temps will be in optimal ranges for wahoo, marlin, tuna and dolphin. Pulling mixed spreads of surface lures and ballyhoo/ilander combinations is time-tested and mixing in lipless and deep diving plugs like the Rapala X Rap Mag will up the chances for Wahoo. Keep your eyes out for surface debris, rips and bait. It’s also recommended to subscribe to an online satellite imaging service like Hilton’s Realtime Navigator. With these types of subscriptions, you will be able to monitor water conditions offshore and save money and time. Summertime is here and the options are endless! Make sure you carry some tackle with you at all times.
Show Your Support for Alabama’s Coastal Fishing & Marine Resources. All proceeds from your TAX DEDUCTIBLE purchase are used for marine conservation in Coastal Alabama.
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Pier & Shore Fishing Outlook
Larger spanish mackerel show up around the gulf beach piers in June.
Fort Morgan peninsula, Dauphin Island, and Mississippi barrier islands are renowned spots to wade fish for speckled trout this month TRANSITION TO SUMMER... Even though the calendar says most of June is still springtime, more summer-like weather is usually the norm all month long. Expect the long, sunny days to warm the coastal waters into the low to middle 80s, and our semi-tropical climate will prevail. Morning thundershowers are a distinct possibility, as are the late afternoon variety which erupt inland, then move rapidly toward the coast before sunset. This pattern creates a land breeze/sea breeze effect, which can aid anglers by being fairly predictable. They can plan their fishing activities to take advantage of the morning calm or afternoon wind chop, and be in the right place at the right time, and correctly rigged up to catch a wide variety of fish. BY DAVID THORNTON Photos by David Thornton
The daily feeding habits of spanish and king mackerel are fairly dependable and predictable for pier anglers all along the Emerald Coast this month. Mackerel schools in the Gulf move toward shore
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at the break of dawn and corral shoals of whatever baitfish they encounter. Often this presses schools of anchovies, herring, sardines, or scad into dense masses around the beach piers, providing a morning full of action especially around the deep end of the piers. Other gamefish such as ladyfish, jacks, bluefish, and even Little Tunny often join in the fray, lending more variety of species anglers may wish to target, or catch incidentally. Later in the day, heating of the land usually causes the breeze to pick up from the Gulf as the relatively cooler air rushes inland to replace rapidly rising air over land. Thus, a seabreeze is born. The afternoon chop on the water’s surface often stimulates fish to feed around the pier once again for an ‘afternoon run’. PICK YOUR PACE… Many pier anglers like the fast action of throwing lures. Medium-sized diving plugs in the four to seven inch range like Rapala’
FISHING OUTLOOK X-rap or Yozurri Crystal Minnow are proven catchers of king and large spanish mackerel, ladyfish and bluefish. The tackle employed is usually in the 15 to 20 pound class spinning reels that hold 250+ yards of line. Other anglers like the surface action a Bubble Rig provides to target schoolie-sized spanish mackerel, bluefish, and blue runners (“hardtails”). Their tackle can be a bit lighter, with 4000 series spinning reels and 200 yards of 12 pound mono or 15 pound braid being up to the task. Another school of thought, to target the larger species (like king mackerel) employs live or fresh dead baitfish caught from the pier to free line away from the pier. These “wounded baits”, separated from the main school are easy targets for marauding gamefish intent on an easy meal. Most anglers use medium heavy 20 pound class spinning tackle, on eight or nine foot rods with 6000 series reels capable of holding 250 to 300 yards of line for this. The method is most effective when there is a wind-driven current running parallel to the shoreline which helps carry the bait away from the pier. When little or no current is present, or the wind is from the south, the cast and slow-retrieve method referred to as “snobbling” is easier and usually most effective. Snobbling is almost an art form in itself, to make a dead bait look like one that is in the process of dying. And that slow fall, followed by quick fluttering action usually triggers a strike from a watching gamefish. OTHER CHOICES… Pelagic and near-shore species aren’t the only options available for pier and shore anglers this month. Pompano are still around in numbers suitable to target, as well as Gulf kingfish (“whiting”), bluefish, slot-sized redfish and even flounder. Live natural baits (like shrimp, sandfleas and small sardines) produce most often. Though double drop pompano rigs continue to be successful for pompano, especially when a slight swell is running in the Gulf. All these species can also be caught on artificials. Seven to nine foot medium, or even medium light spinning tackle in the 4 to 10 pound class is well suited for this type of fishing. And jigs like the Goofy jig or Silly Willy are effective on all these species (plus more), especially when tipped with a live sandflea or piece of fresh dead shrimp. Usually a slow retrieve along the bottom is sufficient to elicit strikes from hungry gamefish in clear, calm water. But some action may need to be placed on the rig by ‘hopping’ it off the bottom to get the attention of fish if the water is slightly discolored. WESTWARD HO.. Speckled trout are most prevalent in the surfzone mainly from Gulf Shores to the west. And the Fort Morgan peninsula, Dauphin Island, and Mississippi barrier islands are renowned spots to wade fish for speckled trout this month. Recent springs have been quite wet inland. And the abundant fresh water runoff tends to push the trout to the gulf beaches to find suitable water salinity to spawn. Specks prefer water salinity in the double digits, with around 15 to 20 ppm (parts per million) to be their “ideal” comfort range, especially for spawning which occurs all through the month of June and beyond. Wading trout anglers generally do best in fairly calm, clear water, and early or late in the day when sun angles are low. Lures work best to cover more water, but differences of opinion as to which work best will vary greatly. Top waters, suspending twitch baits, shallow diving plugs, jerk baits, jigs, and spoons (even flies) all work for speckled trout. Though preferences and results may vary, especially with
whatever food sources are available, water clarity, waves and current, or sky conditions. It gets to be complicated to make the right decisions, but on a good day the rewards can be hours of memorable fish catching and some good meals if you are inclined to keep them. Seatrout are a long time favorite of inshore anglers everywhere, and overall the most popular inshore target species. These fish often average two to three pounds, but a trophy trout of six or seven plus pounds is not uncommon. Just keep in mind the limits wherever you are fishing, and that these larger specks are egg-laden females carrying over a quarter million eggs. Most trout anglers like seven to eight foot medium action rods for throwing plugs and spoons. Though that choice of action may be nudged up or down depending on what type lures they are using. Lighter twitch baits like four to five inch Zoom Fluke, Fin-S, and Slick Lures are very popular with beach front trout fishermen. But these may get better action and casting distance with a medium light rod and lighter lines. Though an angler using a popping cork rig with a Vudu Shrimp or other artificial shrimp may prefer a medium heavy rod and 15 or 20 pound braid. Especially if jack crevalle or bull redfish are a possibility. There are a lot of species, options and venues available to shorebound anglers this month. And they just never know what might pop up to eat their bait or lure in June while enjoying these great days outdoors!
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REGIONAL FRESHWATER Fishing Outlook BY ED MASHBURN Photos by Ed Mashburn
Late spring bass will find soft plastics fished near structure hard to resist.
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FISHING OUTLOOK
FLORIDA WATERS
LAKE WEISS “After a great springtime top water bite, bass will still be found in shallow water. The first wave of bass, both largemouths and spots, will be moving off the shorelines and out into deeper water. Weiss is known for open water bass fishing. Anglers should use their electronics to locate old house foundations and other hard material structures in deeper open water,” said long-time guide Lee Pitts
In June, anglers on the Apalachicola system should be able to find some great bream fishing for both bluegills and big shell crackers. These fish will still be bedding, and places on the main river and the smaller streams will work. Look for lily pads, and the bream on beds will be close.
For crappie fishing, anglers will want to work docks. There will still be few late spawners holding under docks, and anglers will have good luck shooting docks with jigs. Crappie will be breaking up from their spawning schools and going into a less concentrated pattern. The big crappie are still there, but they’re not found in big schools now.
APALACHICOLA RIVER SYSTEM Tony Poloronis from Outcasters Bait and Tackle in Apalachicola said that down toward the mouth of the river, anglers should not be surprised if several kinds of saltwater game fish show up on any fishing trip. Reds, specks, and flounder are commonly found in the same waters that bass and bream inhabit.
Anglers who fish the fingers of the river where it meets the bay will have good luck on bass in June. Soft plastics, crank baits, and spinner baits, especially Snagless Sallies, worked around reed beds will find plenty of bass in June. For some serious hard pulling, anglers might want to run up the river to the point where the Pinhook River enters the Apalachicola. Both hybrid bass and the big saltwater stripers often hold here, and they can get very big. Live bait including shrimp and flashy artificial lures will attract the attention of the big striped bass. LAKE TALQUIN In June, anglers can do very well on catfish using cut bait and stink bait in the creeks and ledges of the main lake said Jeff DuBree of Whippoorwill Lodge on Lake Talquin.
LAKE GUNTERSVILLE “The bass should be on shell beds in June. There will be a good top water bite along the grasslines,” said Captain Jake Davis from Mid-South Bass Guide Service. “Anglers can use jigs, crank baits, and swim baits on these shell bed bass.” Spinnerbaits will be good early in the morning on Guntersville. A very good bite for anglers on Guntersville in June will be shellcracker bream. They’ll be spawning in two to four feet of water. These extra-large bream will respond well to worms fished close to the bottom. White bass, stripers and hybrids will be busting on shad in open water in June. Anglers can throw shad-look top water plugs to attract these hard-pullers.
Bream anglers will find lots of bedding bream in shallow water all over the lake, and throwing a dark colored Beetlespin is a good way to find the hungry bream. For best luck, fish the full moon.
“The whole lake should be really good in June- there’s no bad spots to look for fish,” Davis added.
Bass at Lake Talquin will be moving from shallow spawning waters to deeper points and ledges in the main lake. Depending on how hot the weather gets, there can be a very good early and late top water bite.
LAKE EUFAULA According to Hawks Guide Service’s Captain Sam Williams, in June bass will be in and around cover.
As the month goes along, DuBree tells us that anglers fishing at night can have very good results for bass around lighted boat docks using lipless crank baits.
“Hydrilla patches will be very good. After winter, the water is back up to full pool level, and the grass is holding bait. Look for grass and you’ll find the bass,” Williams said.
Crappie anglers do well fishing at night using lights attached to their boats and letting bait congregate below the lights.
Anglers can find fish on early morning top water lures and then use shallow running jerk baits. Frogs and buzz baits will be good in June.
LAKE SEMINOLE “It’s going to be good in deep water in June on soft plastics, and early and late throwing top water frogs. Fish over hydrilla, lily pads, anything you can throw over will hold fish,” said veteran guide Jody Wells.
The Eufaula crappie will be on ledges around brush piles and they pretty much don’t leave.
Bass at Seminole in June will average four pounds, with both larger and smaller fish. The bream will be on the beds in June and all through the summer. Crappie, known as “speckled perch” at Seminole, will be very good all through the summer. June anglers can use live minnows or other minnow-look artificials to catch plenty of crappie. Anglers can find some good hybrid and striper fishing in June, but visiting anglers need to be aware that certain areas of the lake are marked and set off limits for fishing because these are spring areas where the big stripers congregate for water temperature protection. Hefty fines will occur for anglers trying to catch stripers out of these areas.
ALABAMA WATERS
Trolling for crappie in open water around the deep brush piles can be very good for big crappie in June. Catfish will be red-hot in June. “I like jug fishing using cut bait for big catfish in June,” Williams said. Anglers need to be aware that in June in case of stormy, heavy-rainfall weather, the south end of the lake clears faster because of its sandy bottom, but the whole lake should be quite good. “Shellcracker bream will be bedding, so get some pink worms, and find the big shell cracker bream. You’ll stop fishing when you’re too tired to pull them off the hooks,” Williams concluded. MILLER’S FERRY Joe Dunn of Dunn’s Sports in Thomasville, told us that in the month of June, water movement is crucial for fishing success on the lake. The water is 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 65
Regional Freshwater Fishing Outlook
going to be clearing up from spring heavy flows, and when the dam is pulling water and making current in the lake, anglers can do some real good. ”Bass anglers will want to work major creeks and out in the main lake in June. Crankbaits, Carolina rig soft plastics, and shaky head worms will work well.,” Dunn said. “There will be a good top water bite early in the mornings around grass and on the points. Look for green trees down in the water on the main lake- bass will always be around these.” For crappie, angler will want to look out in the main lake in deeper water. Most anglers troll for crappie using jigs, Road-runners and other weighted jig type lures tipped with live minnows in June. Jigs can be a bit larger in June than were used in early spring. Bream anglers should have great luck on Miller’s Ferry in June. They’ll be bedding, and they will be eating the huge willow fly hatches that will start in June. In fact, anglers won’t go far wrong on Miller’s Ferry in June by using bream pattern crank baits when the willow flies start their hatches. The big bass love to eat the bream that are too busy eating willow flies to pay attention to the big bass coming up below them. WILSON LAKE “I like big chunks of cut skipjack or shad. Worms, chicken livers and even shrimp will work well for smaller catfish,” advised veteran Wilson Lake guide Captain Brian Barton. “My most memorable fishing trip was in early June about ten years ago,” Wilson recounted. “I pulled to the wall of Wilson Dam, and the catfish were schooling on the surface along the dam feeding on newly hatched shad minnows. We filled a 120 quart cooler with cats and were home by 9:00. That was a day that every cat angler dreams of.” There will be lots of white bass, stripers and hybrids gathering below the dams when water is being pulled through, and anglers can use live shad or large minnows in the live water below the dams to have a ball catching these hard-pullers. Smallmouth bass will be holding along steep rocky shores and along the sheer rock bluffs. Soft plastics in crawfish patterns can be deadly on these north Alabama brown bass. Panfish anglers who work any of the major feeder creeks which empty into Wilson and Pickwick can fill up an ice chest in short order by working worms and crickets close to the bottom where the bream will be holding on their beds. SIPSEY FORK According to Brandon Jackson over at Riverside Fly Shop hoppers are beetle flies will be showing up in force. “We’re going to see more hoppers by then. and when they’re flying around, hopper flies are really good. Also, beetle flies are good, even the big Japanese beetles will be eaten by the trout,” Jackson said. Another good point of planning trout fishing trip to the Sipsey in June is that by then, the generation schedule of pumping water through the dam will have usually settled down and will be in the normal pattern. This means that during the week, water will be running hard in the afternoons, but water won’t be pumped hard on the weekends. Spinning gear anglers should be able to catch all of the trout they want in June by using small single-hook Roostertails in small sizes as well as Trout 66 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Magnet lures in 1/16 oz sizes. MOBILE DELTA The water should be down to normal levels, and that means all of the rivers will be tidal-influenced in June. The tide affects the river waters far up on the Alabama River and all of the other rivers which feed into the Delta said Captain Wayne Miller Mobile-Tensaw Delta Bass Guide Service. Miller advises bass anglers to look at the main rivers since the lakes off the rivers will be getting quite shallow with the lower water levels in June. Most bass tournaments on the Delta are won by anglers fishing the middle and upper areas of the Delta, and the lower Delta is just not as productive now. In June, anglers can expect a good early morning top water bite on big Spooks and big buzzbaits. As the day moves on, heavy spinnerbaits worked deep on wood cover in the main rivers will be best. Big soft plastic and crank baits worked near wood cover will be good, too. Bass anglers need to find deep treetops and work the entire sunken tree structure carefully. These “tops” will require lots of casts to cover correctly to find the fish.
Important Contact Information Joe Dunn Dunn’s Sports 334-636-0850 33356 Hwy 43, Thomasville, AL Captain Sam Williams Hawks Guide Service 334-687-0400 Brandon Jackson/ Randy Jackson Riverside Fly Shop 17027 Hwy 69N, Jasper, AL 256-287-9582 Riversideflyshop.com Captain Lee Pitts 256-390-4145 www.leepittsoutdoors.com Captain Brian Barton 256-412-0960 brianbartonoutdoors.com Captain Jake Davis Mid-South Bass Guide Service 615-613-2382 msbassguide@comcast.net Jeff DuBree Whippoorwill Sportsman’s Lodge Lake Talquin 850-875-2605 fishtalquin@gmail.com Jody Wells 850-209-2420 Tony Poloronis Outcasters Bait and Tackle 631 Hwy 98, Apalachicola, Florida 850-653-4665
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FISHING TIP
Go Lightweight Flyrod for Heavyweight Bream
BY ED MASHBURN
In June, if we can find some four to six-foot deep water near shoreside structure, we are likely to find big bream.
Cast the fly out, let it sink, and watch the line. When the line twitches, set the hook.
Overhanging trees are always good places to start a fly rod expedition for big bream and if the trees are willow trees, then big bream are almost certain to be nearby. Willows just seem to attract big bream.
FOR A FIGHT, GO LIGHT If we downsize our gear as much as possible, we can maximize the excitement of catching big bream. My most recent rod build, a two-weight, is just more fun than the law should allow when a big bream takes off with the fly.
Blowdown trees of any species in the water are always worth some casts, and boat docks which cast a deep shadow on the water can also be great places. BE PATIENT No matter what structure is being fished, the most important rule for fly-fishing for big bream is to do nothing. Bream don’t get big by attacking everything that falls in their vicinity. Just let the bug sit and wait that big bream out. Big bream will often take a sinking fly sooner than a popping bug. I catch them on ugly flies with rubber legs that don’t really look like any kind of natural bug.
The biggest problem with fishing a two-weight fly rod for big bream is simply to find a two-weight fly rod. These rods aren’t readily available at tackle or big box stores, and if they are found in a specialty fishing shop, they will be quite expensive. However, building a two-weight fly rod is not that difficult, and most anglers who seriously work at it can make a fly rod that is as good or better than what can be purchased in a store. The raw materials and equipment needed for fly rod building are not terribly expensive, and once purchased, the tools can be used over and over to make more fly rods. Editor’s note: For those who want to enjoy catching big little fish on little fly rods Ed can be contacted at edmashburn@aol.com 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // JUNE 2021 77
A GREAT DAY OUTDOORS
Fishing When Aliens Attack level. Beanpole began to fidget in the back of the boat. I could hear him starting to shuffle his feet on the carpet. “Eat? Why would they want to eat us?” “I don’t know. I’ve heard they sometimes get parts of cows. Maybe they want to try something different”
BY JIM MIZE The soft hum of a Coleman lantern blended with the night noises on the lake. Bats occasionally swept through the edge of our lantern light, bluegill sipped mayflies on the surface and a lone owl reminded us he was nearby. The crappie fishing had slowed as the night went on and our conversation had fallen into silence until Beanpole spoke from the back of the boat. “Jim, do you think there are aliens out there?”
I could almost hear the wheels turning as Beanpole thought about all the alien stories he had heard over the years. Aliens cut designs in corn fields. Cows found without organs. Man abducted and returned after experiments. Beanpole poured a cup of coffee and took a slow sip. Then, he reeled in and replaced his minnow. He adjusted his cap and zipped his jacket up just a notch. Anything he could think to do besides think about aliens. “Do they ever see them around here?” asked Beanpole.
“You mean right now?”
“Sure. I heard of one UFO over on Highway 72 that just sat and hovered for a couple minutes stopping traffic. Over near the Air Force base they say they’ve seen mysterious lights outrun our jets and then stop on a dime in mid-air.”
“No, out in space.”
“That doesn’t sound like anything from around here.”
I reeled in and checked my minnow. He was almost as lethargic as I was, but I lowered him back anyway. I decided it might liven the evening up some if I played along with Beanpole.
“No, it doesn’t,” I said.
Sometimes with Beanpole’s questions I had to figure out what prompted them. On this one, I had no clue.
“Sure, it makes sense. Why would we be the only living creatures in the universe?” Beanpole pondered that one a bit. “Do you think they ever come here?” “You mean the lake?” “No, the planet.” “Could be. They probably get as curious about us as we would about them.” “What do you think they do when they come?” asked Beanpole. “I don’t know. Probably just watch us.” “What for?” “Maybe to see if we’re good to eat.” My last answer ratcheted the conversation up a
At that moment, a light streaked across the sky, growing in intensity as it traveled. Clearly, this was no jet or commercial plane. The object appeared to have a flame behind it almost as if powered. The lower it fell, the brighter it got. After it passed overhead, the object continued to glow as it fell and landed just over the ridge. Beanpole could hardly contain himself or the boat him. Standing, rocking the boat, then sitting to keep from falling out, he finally stammered, “What was that?” I didn’t know either but the timing was perfect. “Looked like a UFO,” I said. For all I knew, it could have been a plane going down or swamp gas, but I wasn’t going to waste the moment. “Do you think they’ll come over here?” asked Beanpole. “Maybe,” I said. “If you can fly across space you can probably fly over that ridge.” “I think we should go now,” said Beanpole. He kept looking around the boat as if aliens could be sneaking up.
78 JUNE 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
“Oh, the fish will probably start biting again in a minute,” I said. “All that energy from the aliens likely gets them stirred up.” “Well, it sure gets me stirred up,” said Beanpole. Without any more discussion, he pulled in his lines and cranked up the anchor. I could see we were leaving, which was fine with me as we had plenty of fish to clean. The next morning, I slept in and went for a late breakfast at my cousin’s diner. On the way in, I picked up a morning paper and read the headline on the front page, “Giant Meteor Lights Up Ten States.” I was reading it when Ronnie came over and filled my coffee cup. “Weren’t you guys on the lake last night?” asked Ronnie. “Yep. Saw this meteor, too. Lit up the sky. Beanpole was going on about aliens so I had him convinced it was a spaceship that landed. He made me reel in and go home.” We had a good laugh and were still chuckling when Beanpole came in. He was considerably more relaxed than when I left him last night. “Sleep well?” I asked. “Not at first. I kept thinking about aliens.” I reached out and turned the newspaper over to hide the headlines. I guessed right that Beanpole hadn’t heard about the meteor. “Anybody missing?” he asked. “Not anybody I’ve heard about.” “That’s good,” said Beanpole. “Maybe they were just looking around.” I let Beanpole go on thinking about aliens. Ronnie came over to get Beanpole’s order and I could tell by his smirk he had something in mind. “Hey, Ronnie. What’s the special today?” asked Beanpole. “Unidentified frying objects,” said Ronnie. Beanpole took a look at both of us and we all began to laugh. JIM MIZE has eaten a lot of unidentified frying objects and lived to tell about it. You can find his new book, Hunting With Beanpole, at www.acreektricklesthroughit.com.
Ron Davis
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