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YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY
5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY applies to qualifying purchases of Suzuki outboard motors sold and delivered to the retail purchaser, for pleasure (non-commercial) use only, from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. See Suzuki Limited Warranty for additional details. Suzuki, the “S” logo, and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki Trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2021 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC. All rights reserved.
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6940A HIGHWAY 59 | GULF SHORES, AL 36542 HWY 59 @ COASTAL GATEWAY BLVD. 2 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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HUNTING & FISHING IN ALABAMA & THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE
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CONTENTS
Bull Redfish Fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 by Frank Sargeant How Oyster Farms are Bringing Back Gulf Oysters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 by Stephanie Mallory Choosing the Best Crappie Rods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 by Ed Mashburn How to Keep People Off Your Property. . . . . . . . . . . 22 by Joe Baya How to Use a Buzzbait for Bass. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 by John E. Phillips Lessons on How to Call Turkeys in the Spring . . . . 30 by John E. Phillips How to Choose a Boat Mechanic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 by Stephanie Mallory 41 Turkey Hunting Tactics to Use this Season. . . . . 42 by Josh Honeycutt Choosing the Best Pond Weed Killer . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 by Great Days Outdoors Building a Cabin Step 2 - Selecting a Site. . . . . . . . . 48 by Joe Baya Saltwater Wade Fishing Tips for Catching Speckled Trout in the Gulf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 by Captain Richard Rutland Must Have Boat Accessories & Essentials. . . . . . . . 54 by David Strickland Selecting the Best Firearm Insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . 58 by Joe Baya How to Hook a Sandflea. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 by Weldon Hall
In Every Issue
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Best Bets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 by William Kendy Camphouse Kitchen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 by Hank Shaw New & Cool Gear for Outdoorsmen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 by William Kendy From the Commissioner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 by Chris Blakenship From the Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 by Charles Sykes Paddle Fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 by Ed Mashburn Coastal Outlook. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 by Chris Vecsey Pier & Shore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 by David Thornton Regional Freshwater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 by Ed Mashburn Prime Feeding Times, Moon, Sun, and Tide Charts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Pensacola Motorsports Trophy Room. . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Great Days Kids Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Fishing Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 by William Kendy A Great Day Outdoors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 by Jim Mize
Starling Road Family Recreation Tract
Divisible Waterfront Patsaliga Creek Timber & Hunting Investment
Hale County, Alabama, 140+/-Acres
If you are looking for a family getaway tract for hunting, riding ATVs, or just relaxing, this tract is hard to beat. It would also be a great game day tract for football weekends. It is located less than an hour from Tuscaloosa and less than an hour and a half from Birmingham, with gated access off of Starling Road. A nice camphouse with a very private setting is located in the middle of the property. Most of the property consists of a mix of mature pine and hardwood timber, and Sparks Creek runs through the property, providing a year-round water source for the wildlife. This tract offers great hunting with several wildlife food plots already in place, and a very good internal road system makes it easy to get to all your favorite hunting spots, or to just enjoy family ATV rides. There is also a shed to keep your tractor, ATV, and other equipment out of the weather. This property is shown by appointment only.
Crenshaw County, Alabama, 276+/-Acres
This waterfront timber and hunting investment near Luverne brings a lot to the table. It has 2.7+/- miles of frontage on Patsaliga Creek, a wide year round creek, 1.7+/- miles of county road frontage, utilities nearby, multiple food plots, several natural duck ponds, and diverse & mature timber that includes 162+/acres of 23-25+/- year old pine plantation and 86+/- acres of mature hardwood. This area is known for fantastic deer, turkey, duck, and dove hunting, and this property has it all and more. Feasible divisions may be considered.
Alabama Listings COUNTY Autauga Autauga Baldwin Baldwin Baldwin Baldwin Baldwin Barbour Barbour Bibb Bibb Bibb Bibb Bibb Blount Blount Blount Blount Butler Butler Butler Butler Butler Calhoun Cherokee Cherokee Cherokee
ACRES 114 110 688 518 113 39 27 1331 5 653 573 395 368 284 211 67 37 36.9 406 394.47 151.05 32 2 1.4 16.33 2 0.3
COUNTY Chilton Chilton Chilton Chilton Chilton Choctaw Clarke Clarke Clarke Clarke Clarke Cleburne Coffee Coffee Coffee Colbert Colbert Colbert Colbert Conecuh Conecuh Conecuh Conecuh Covington Covington Covington Covington
34 16 4.16 2.88 2.42 175 1450 620 176 80 66.42 65 169 117 112 18.84 18 0.28 0 119 74 31 1 730 360 0.86 0.84
ACRES
Covington Crenshaw Crenshaw Crenshaw Cullman Dale Dale Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Elmore Elmore Elmore Escambia Fayette Fayette Fayette Fayette Fayette Franklin Geneva Greene Greene Hale Hale
0.79 276 81.66 75.44 117 115 104 740 270 179 130 94 163 36.44 16.12 50 484 344 260 235 142 88 228 37 8 350.2 297
Hale Hale Hale Henry Henry Henry Henry Henry Houston Houston Houston Houston Houston Jackson Jackson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Lamar Lamar Lamar Lauderdale Lauderdale Lauderdale Lauderdale
150 140 96 115 76.3 57 15 6 295 261 93 54 38 80 60 256 202 202 128 122 373 202 92 102.69 75 55.35 25
COUNTY
ACRES
Lauderdale Lawrence Limestone Limestone Limestone Limestone Limestone Lowndes Lowndes Lowndes Lowndes Lowndes Macon Macon Marengo Marengo Marion Mobile Mobile Mobile Mobile Mobile Monroe Montgomery Montgomery Montgomery Montgomery
24.63 97 60 53 30.31 1.4 1.4 783 656 50 40 4 483 289 451.21 25 40 1800 399 260 200 192 191 640 250 150 116
COUNTY Montgomery Perry Perry Perry Perry Perry Pickens Pickens Pickens Pickens Pickens Pike Pike Russell Saint Clair Saint Clair Saint Clair Saint Clair Saint Clair Shelby Shelby Shelby Shelby Shelby Sumter Sumter Sumter
91 610.57 398.31 240.75 240 212.26 356 260 180 121 80 44 9.2 218.44 585 304 281 128 67 133 87 75 74 64 2151 1282 908
Sumter Sumter Talladega Talladega Talladega Talladega Talladega Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Walker Walker Walker Walker Washington Washington Washington Washington Washington Wilcox Winston Winston Winston
ACRES 640 630 250 125 112 93 15 800 600 525 500 393 275 140.27 115 95.91 1320 640 430 280 213 522 213 81 2.3
FL Panhandle Listings
COUNTY
Calhoun Washington
ACRES 30 133
Over 700 more tracts across 47 states available...
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BEST BETS
BEST BETS FOR MARCH These are our top targets for hunters and fishermen this month! BY WILLIAM KENDY
MARCH TURKEY MADNESS
Hunting in March in Alabama is pretty much all about turkeys. Hunters want to know (and are sometimes obsessed) about how to call turkeys, ambush turkeys, stalk turkeys, expert tips for taking turkeys, the kill zone for turkey, the full nine yards. To meet that reader demand we are running two turkey hunting articles in this issue. In “Turkey Hunting Tactics” Josh Honeycutt shares 41 tips that you may not have thought about to help fill your tag. John Phillips in his piece on “Lessons on How to Call Turkeys in the Spring” talks turkey about when to use soft clucks, loud clucks, yelps, gobbles, locator calls or even nothing at all.
OH WHERE OH WHERE HAVE OUR OYSTERS GONE?
VOLUME 26 ISSUE 3 MARCH 2022
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
At one time Gulf Coast Oysters were plentiful and Inexpensive. Unfortunately, a number of factors contributed to decline in the oyster population. Environmental mishaps like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, natural events like hurricane Katrina and other tropical mishaps, the heavy rains in the Midwest resulting in a high volume of water flowing down the Mississippi flooding the coastal bays and marshes with freshwater and even dredging. The result was millions of dead oysters and the destruction of Gulf Coast oyster beds.
DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MARKETING Jarod Bosarge
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
Still, all is not lost. In “How Oyster Farms are Bringing Back Gulf Oysters” Stephanie Mallory goes into detail about how Admiral Shellfish Company in Gulf Shores Alabama is working to help bring oysters back to your favorite seafood house and your table.
RIGHT UNDER YOUR FEET
Without a doubt sand fleas (mole crabs) are right up there, if not above, shrimp as the best Gulf Coast bait for pompano, redfish, whiting, mullet, flounder, sheepshead and more. If you add to your sand fleas a small piece of Fishbites you are in the fast lane. While you can buy sand fleas at most Gulf Coast bait shops you can easily catch them even in the sand of coastal beaches. For about $20 bucks you can buy a sand flea rake and pretty easily catch all the bait you’ll need.
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. CONTACT US: EDITORIAL | JoeBaya@greatdaysoutdoors.com ADVERTISING | SamHester@greatdaysoutdoors.com SUBSCRIPTIONS | greatdaysoutdoors@pcspublink.com Great Days Outdoors Media LLC PO Box 460248 Escondido, CA 92046 877. 314. 1237 info@greatdaysoutdoors.com www.greatdaysoutdoors.com All rights reserved. Reproduction of contents is strictly prohibited without permission from Great Days Outdoors Media, LLC.
While the basic surf fishing rig is pretty simple there is a trick in correctly hooking a sand flea so that it actually stays on your hook when you cast.
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Weldon Hall, from Sand Flea Outfitters in Destin Florida walks us through the process in his pictoral “How to Hook a Sand Flea”.
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FERTILIZING
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Captain Richard Rutland has been instrumental in helping Alabama‘s tagging program get off the ground, and also tags over 400 reds per year from his own boat. (Richard Rutland image)
8 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
FISHING
Bull Redfish Fishing Explained BY FRANK SARGEANT Redfish, aka channel bass or red drum, are one of the most pursued inshore gamefish anywhere along the north shore of the Gulf of Mexico, but fisheries scientists and state fishery managers face a continuing need for up-to-date data on fish numbers and migrations to assure the fishery stays healthy and productive. Alabama’s Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), coastal fishing guides and researchers are teaming up to help provide that data through a large-scale tagging program. “TAG Alabama” is a partnership between CCA Alabama, the University of South Alabama Department of Marine Sciences and the Dauphin Island Sealab. It’s the first recreational angler tagging program in Alabama. TAG Alabama gives CCA members in the state the opportunity to participate in user-based data and research on not only redfish but also speckled trout. All active CCA members who fish in Alabama’s coastal waters are eligible to become taggers. According to Blakely Ellis, executive director of CCA-Alabama, tagger orientation sessions take place throughout the year, and after attending the seminar, participants are ready to start tagging. “Once they complete an orientation session, they receive a free tagging kit that includes 25 redfish tags, 25 speckled trout tags, and a tag applicator,” Ellis said. “Anglers who catch a fish with one of the tags are asked to follow the instructions on the tag and report the info to the website http://tags.usouthal.edu.” All anglers who capture and report a tagged fish will receive their choice of a CCA hat or t-shirt. At the end of each year, the program gives a variety of prizes to the top tagging participants who deployed the most tags. The prizes range from COSTA sunglasses to AFTCO gear, and products from other conservation partners. Since its inception, TAG Alabama has tagged 2,615 redfish with 424 recaptures for a recapture rate of 16 percent, Ellis said. For speckled trout, 2,364 fish have been tagged with a recapture of 206 fish for a recapture rate of 8.7 percent. Ellis noted that the high recapture rate is a sign that the tags are staying in, so most taggers are doing a good job. So far, the tagging program indicates most redfish don’t move a whole lot, though a few outliers do make some major migrations. 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 9
Bull Redfish Fishing Explained
Bull reds swarm around the large bars in the lower end of Mobile Bay as well as along the beaches, making easy targets for anglers who know what to look for. (Richard Rutland image)
University of South Alabama graduate student Dylan Kiene, who helps coordinate the program through the Dauphin Island Fisheries Ecology Lab, said one redfish tagged at Dauphin Island went to Pensacola in about a month, and one tagged in the Mobile River, at the head of Mobile Bay, went all the way to Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana in a little over four months. New to the Tag Alabama program is the “bull” redfish tag that was handed out to participants recently. Fish larger than 26 inches are considered bull reds, but Kiene would prefer to see anglers tag fish 30 inches and larger. “With the bull red tags, once we get enough of these out, it’s going to be interesting to see if these fish are going offshore where they’re supposed to be spawning or going up into the Delta,” Kiene said. Ellis said CCA Alabama also recently approved funding for USA Marine Sciences to do a study on offshore bull reds with acoustic and satellite tags. Anglers participating in the TAG Alabama program can report tagging data through the Fishing Chaos app, at www.tags.usouthal.edu, which is best used on a computer, or 1-800-372-5950. Kiene said the Fishing Chaos app blurs the angler’s tag capture location data to keep that information private. Anglers interested in participating in this program or with questions can contact CCA Alabama at info@ccaalabama.org or call the CCA state office at 251-478-3474. Both the seminars and the tagging program itself cost money, and CCA raises funds to cover the costs through fundraising banquets, donations, and through their saltwater fishing CCA Alabama license plate sales. Forty-two dollars of the fifty dollar cost comes back to CCA Alabama to help them with their conservation projects including the TAG Alabama program. WHERE TO FIND BULL REDFISH Captain Richard Rutland of http://coldbloodedfishing.com is not only one of the leading proponents and organizers of the tagging program and largely 10 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
responsible for getting the CCA involved, he’s also one of the top redfish guides on Mobile Bay. Rutland on his own tags over 400 redfish per year for the program, and has found thousands more for his clients. Here are some of his tips for finding late winter and early spring redfish, especially some of the “bulls” that are particularly sought in the tagging program. “The bull reds really start schooling up in late February, and by the middle of March the bite is on most years,” Rutland said. “If I had one place to look for them, it would be Dixey Bar at the mouth of Mobile Bay—there will be hundreds of them out there at that time of year.” The fish also sometimes school up at Sand Island Light, and around the gas rigs in lower Mobile Bay as well as along the beaches. He says finding the fish is a matter of easing in on the upwind or uptide side of the bar and looking for slicks, jumping bait or diving birds, then sliding into casting range. “I usually have my clients rigged up with 3/8 ounce jig heads with four to six inch soft plastics or FishBites Brawler or Boxer or Fightin’ Shrimp, and everybody fan-casts until one of them hits a fish, then we all cast in that direction.” He says that at times the fish go into a frenzy and will hit practically anything. “I’ve occasionally caught them on a bare jig head when the plastic pulls off,” he noted.. “They can be a lot of fun on topwaters, too, but it’s best to flatten your barbs so you can get the hooks out of them easily.” He whips the fish on surprisingly light tackle considering that they range from 30 inches up to 46 inches long.
Bull Redfish Fishing Explained
“I like a 7 to 7’6” medium light rod, 2500 size reel and 15 pound test braid, with a fluorocarbon leader of 20 to 30 pound test,” Rutland said. “It’s the same gear we catch trout on, but it does the job if you have the drag set right. We usually have them on the boat in under 10 minutes.” Rutland noted that the abundance of fish sometimes results in everybody aboard hooked up at once, creating what he calls the “Dixey Bar Shuffle” as anglers duck over each other battling the fish. Once a fish is at the boat, he brings out a jumbo landing net to scoop it aboard. “They’re so heavy you have to pick up the net by the hoop, not by the handle otherwise they break it off,” he said. He advises anglers interested in tagging some of these fish to have their tagging kit on deck and ready to go, with the tag number already recorded. “Ideally, I like to get the hook out, get the fish measured, tagged and photographed and then back in the water in around a minute,” said Rutland. “That way, we very rarely lose a fish.” While many tags have been returned on smaller reds and seatrout in the program so far, very few have come back from the bull reds. Rutland is hopeful that will change as more anglers participate and more of the jumbos get tagged. “As the water starts to warm up in May, they disperse and then we’ll only catch one or two here and there. I think most of them go offshore, but it would be great to have tag returns and actually know where they go. Hopefully we can help make that happen with more taggers.”
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How Oyster Farms are Bringing Back
Gulf Oysters BY STEPHANIE MALLORY
12 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
FISHING
Oyster farms offer both economic and environmental benefits through increasing sustainable oyster production and improving the health of the Gulf. Image provided by Oyster South
Do you like your oysters raw, fried, steamed, grilled, baked or all of the above? When it comes to Gulf Coast oysters, you really can’t go wrong. Delicious and tender, Gulf oysters have a mild and delicate taste that people from all over the country drive down to enjoy. A tasty table fare savored by many locals and tourists alike, Gulf Coast oysters contribute significantly to the area’s economy, but their contribution toward maintaining a healthy Gulf ecology is even more vital.
impact, you first need to know what role oysters play in their ocean environment. Quite simply, oyster reefs protect the coast from erosion, protect marshland and estuaries where marine life is born, provide foraging and shelter habitat for fish, shrimp, crabs and other aquatic species, and most importantly, filter extreme amounts of water (50 gallons per day per oyster), making the water cleaner for all the species that live there.
Despite their simple appearance, oysters have a complex role in sustaining a healthy balance in the Gulf ecosystem, which means their rapidly depleting numbers are having a devastating impact on ocean ecology. Approximately 85% of oyster reefs across the world have disappeared, and the Gulf population hasn’t fared much better. In fact, in Mobile Bay it is estimated that approximately 80% of oyster reefs have been lost from historic levels.
THE THREATS ABOUND Anthony Ricciardone and the other owners of Admiral Shellfish Company in Gulf Shores, Alabama, have made oysters their business. Although the aquaculture farm produces delicious, fresh raw oysters for the premium halfshell market, he says he and the other owners advocate for the renewal of wild oyster reefs because they fully understand the important role they play in the health of the Gulf.
So, what does that mean for the health of Gulf waters? To understand the
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 13
How Oyster Farms are Bringing Back Gulf Oysters
Topwater oyster aquaculture takes the pressure off the wild oyster population. Image provided by Admiral Shellfish Company
They’ve educated themselves on the perils affecting the wild population so they can protect the farmed crop and help restore the natural oyster reefs.
harvested or taken by natural processes. The impact from years of dredging is devastating.”
Ricciardone says their many reasons the wild oyster reefs have diminished.
STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION According to The Nature Conservancy, steps are being taken in all five Gulf states to restore oyster populations and promote a robust oyster fishery through both statewide and Gulf-wide initiatives.
“There is not one issue; it’s a list. Changes in freshwater flows to the Gulf’s estuaries and bays from development, floods and drought have had an impact. Increases in sedimentation and silting, inconsistent replacement of cultch [the stuff oysters need to grow on], heavy harvesting pressure and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill have all negatively impacted the Gulf’s oyster population,” Ricciardone noted. One historical event in particular had a major impact on the oyster reefs in Mobile Bay, but Ricciardone says very few people know about it. “When I tell people about it, they’re often shocked,” Ricciardone said. “Oyster larvae need somewhere to settle to become young oysters or ‘spat’ and then grow into mature oysters. This can’t happen easily on muddy or sandy bottoms. So, they build on each other’s shells. Over time this accumulation makes a huge foundation. That foundation traps sediment, which helps seagrass further away. It’s also hard for reefs to get established without this hard foundation. Historically there were acres of this stuff all over Mobile Bay - many feet thick supporting the sea floor. From the 1940s through the 1980s, this oyster shell foundation was almost all dredged up to be used as a commodity in road building. They harvested something like eight million dump-truck load equivalents. The concept of sustainability wasn’t in place back then, and now that this base is gone, it’s taking huge efforts to restore individual reefs. There needs to be a lot of oysters to make critical mass, where enough larvae can be put in the water to renew other areas that are 14 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division is executing extensive reef restoration projects, including cultch planting and oyster relaying. The establishment of Oyster Management Stations gives the agency the ability to monitor oyster harvest. There are also efforts underway to restore oyster habitats throughout Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana and Florida, especially in the Apalachicola region, which has been hit extremely hard in recent years. “Historically, 90% of Florida’s commercial oyster production has come from Apalachicola Bay’s natural oyster reefs,” Ricciardone said. “In fact, at one time, it produced the vast majority of what came out of Florida and as high as 10% of the nation’s product. However, their oyster fishery is shut down until 2025 due to issues with water flow from usage and development upstream, and some say, overharvesting. You can’t imagine the impact it’s having on farms and industry families, and I know it would be devastating if it happened here.” OYSTER FARMS TO THE RESCUE Beth Walton, executive director of Oyster South, a non-profit organization that connects communities and provides resources to foster the success of
How Oyster Farms are Bringing Back Gulf Oysters
oyster farming in the southern U.S., says it quite simply, “More oysters in the water means a better environment.” She says oyster farming offers both economic and environmental benefits through increasing sustainable oyster production, improving the health of the Gulf waters and providing delicious farm-raised oysters to the culinary community. According to Walton, as more people learn about oyster aquaculture, the more popular it is becoming. “When I first moved to Alabama at the end of 2008, there wasn’t a single oyster farm in the state,” she said. “Now there’s probably a dozen. Auburn used to hold an oyster-farming fundamental class in 2009/10, and each year they held it, more and more people would sign up for it.” She says there’s a lot of risk when it comes to oyster farming but that hasn’t stopped the industry from growing. “Hurricanes, storms and runoffs can destroy an oyster farm. Buying the gear, attaining the permits and locating the property takes time and a lot of investment. It can take years before the farmer gets a return on that investment. To put it simply, no one is getting super rich as an oyster farmer. But money isn’t why they do it. Many become oyster farmers because the lifestyle appeals to them. They love working outside, being their own boss, working with their hands and spending time with others in the community. Some have even turned their oyster farms into a type of tourist destination.” While many who have made a living harvesting wild oysters have embraced oyster farming, Walton says that they’re continuing their education initiative so even more will embrace the idea of aquaculture.
“There’s a learning curve,” she said. “We’re trying to explain that no one is trying to displace the wild fishery. There’s plenty of room for both. There are different price points and different experiences when it comes to dining on farm-raised and wild oysters. Those who want to have a few ice-cold beers and a sack of oysters on the deck are going to purchase wild oysters. Those dining at a fancy restaurant with a glass of wine will most likely order a dish made with farm-raised oysters. Plus, if farmers are growing diploids, it may help as they will likely contribute larvae to the water. Oyster farming and fishing can indeed coexist.” Ricciardone explains that topwater oyster aquaculture takes the pressure off the wild oyster population, thus aiding in the recovery process. Plus, the oysters they produce are top-quality and delicious, which helps out the restaurants in the area. “As the natural reefs are declining and becoming less predictable, technology use can provide a premium Alabama oyster,” he said. “Our cages at Admiral Shellfish Oyster Farm float on top of the water, so they are away from predators, low oxygen and silting-up conditions. They are held in the choice water column. We tumble and shake them to give them shape. As we chip the lips off of them, they form a deeper cup, with a good bit of meat and a nice, petite shape. Our oyster farm is located right near the pass to the Gulf, so we get a huge tidal flush every day, even when we don’t have a big tide. All of these elements make for a salty, clean-tasting product.” In addition to providing delicious oysters to the half-shell market, Admiral Shellfish Oyster Farm is teaming up with a variety of research and advocacy groups to help reestablish the natural oyster reefs in the area. The farm hosts Mobile Bay Keepers and Auburn University, which is working on a large-scale project onsite that is funded by the Alabama Department of Conservation.
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How Oyster Farms are Bringing Back Gulf Oysters
“The project involves new technology for off-bottom aquaculture, which can help natural reef restoration efforts by providing the main input they need -- live oysters and critical mass for spawn. They are also trying some different techniques to make farms predator-resilient and increase the density a farm can produce,” said Ricciardone.
Cucumber Mignonette Sauce is one of the many delicious farm-raised oyster recipes prepared by Chef Irv Miller of the famed Jackson’s Steakhouse in Pensacola, Florida, and author of the cookbook Gulf Coast Oysters: Classic & Modern Recipes of a Southern Renaissance. Image provided by Bill Strength Photography
A CHEF ON THE FRONT LINES Executive Chef Irv Miller of the famed Jackson’s Steakhouse in Pensacola, Florida, and author of the cookbook Gulf Coast Oysters: Classic & Modern Recipes of a Southern Renaissance, is a champion of the Gulf Coast oyster and says his book was created to spread awareness about success of growth and expansion of oyster farms along the Gulf of Mexico. He says he’s thankful so many are working to build back the oyster reefs and acknowledges the importance of oysters both to the Gulf economy and the ecosystem. “As a chef, I fell in love with oysters when I relocated to the Gulf Coast in 1982,” Miller said. “Because my career was Destin-, Seaside- and Pensacola-based, Apalachicola was my go-to as I discovered Gulf Coast oysters. Tonging for oysters has been part of our coastal food culture for over a century. In a very primitive way, shucking and slurping an oyster connects me to the past.” He says the flavor profile of a Gulf Coast oyster can vary from state to state as well as bay to bay, depending on location, habitat and lifeblood. Typically, if there’s not been too much rain, Gulf Coast Oysters tend to have a varying degree of up-front brine and a clean miso-like sweet finish. “My interest in writing about oysters began as I stayed connected to the decline of the Apalachicola oyster through the decades. I did some work with wild farmers in Apalachicola to help them any way I could, and to bring attention to both the diminishing oyster population and depleted wild oyster beds. I have been a chef on the frontlines all along, and felt there was no one better than me to tell the story of the Gulf Coast oyster’s revival.”
There is plenty of room for both farm-raised oysters and wild oysters. Image provided by Oyster South
The talented chef and cookbook author says there’s been an “explosion” of oyster farming from Cedar Key, Panacea, Alligator Harbor, Apalachicola, Pensacola, Alabama and Louisiana. Now Texas and Mississippi are beginning to off-bottom farm. He acknowledges that the Gulf Coast is famous for the wild oyster and introducing a smaller craft oyster has been a culture shock to the area. “But, I’m out to change that perception. Aquaculture compliments the wild oyster and perpetuates reef restoration projects. While we restore our reefs, we can also celebrate the hard-working farmer and his crafted oyster. There’s plenty of opportunity for both oysters.” Important Contact Information Admiral Shellfish Company 82 Plantation Pointe Rd Fairhope, Al www.alabamashellfishcompany.com
Irv Miller prepares recipes such as Crackling Crusted Oysters on Deviled Eggs from farm-raised Gulf Coast oysters. Bill Strength Photography
16 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Oyster South 309 E. Howard Avenue Decatur, GA www.oystersouth.com Jackson Steakhouse 500 South Palafox Street Pensacola, Fl 850-469-9898 www.jacksonrestaurant.com
Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program
42 APRIL 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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Captain Lee Pitts used the right rod to catch a bunch of very cold weather crappie while trolling a creek channel.
18 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
FISHING
Choosing the Best
Crappie Rods BY ED MASHBURN I’ve been given some tough assignments for fishing articles in the past, but folks, this just might be toughest. My editor wants me to write on choosing the BEST crappie fishing rod. Now, that’s a hard assignment, I think. There are so many ways to fish for crappie, and there are so many rods that work well for crappie in specialized situations, and each angler has his or her own set of skills when it comes to fishing, it is just about impossible to select a single “best rod for crappie fishing.” However, there are some ideas which we can roll around in our heads about choosing rods for our crappie fishing that might get us closer to a small list of “best” rods for crappie fishing. SPIDER RIGS AND BRUSH PILE DROPPING These specialty crappie rods are long, lightweight, and very effective at presenting bait and lures for crappie. Many times, these long rods are used in sets of multiple rods positioned in a semi-circle from the front and sides of a fishing boat. This set-up is, of course, the classic spider rig which can be seen on almost any lake or river where crappie and crappie anglers gather. Needless to say, these rods require some pretty sophisticated construction and materials to be effective. Captain and guide Lee Pitts specializes in putting folks on lots of big crappie on his home waters, Lake Weiss,”the Crappie Capital of the World.” His opinions on what makes up the best rod for different kinds of crappie fishing surely must be worth listening to. When asked about his preference for spider rigs and brush pile dropping rods, Pitts says, “Usually I prefer a 10 foot rod that allows me to stay off the top of the fish. Sometimes when I am fishing more shallow and shallow water brush and stumps, I will use a 12 foot rod, just to try not to spook the fish. These rods I prefer to be more sensitive than my trolling rods, with a little more backbone. That way I am getting the fish up out of the cover and coming my way.” B’nM’ Poles of West Point, Mississippi has been a long-time leader in creating some of the best crappie fishing rods in the world, and they have a wide range of poles made just for spider rigging and brush pile dropping applications. The B’nM’ Diamond Series Jig Pole is available in 8, 10, 12, and
14-foot lengths (all 2 piece construction). This jig pole is made from high modulus graphite that provides a stiffer backbone and maintains tip sensitivity. This perfectly balanced pole uses high quality aluminum oxide frames with stainless steel inserts. This is one of the best-looking jig poles on the market due to its gleaming royal blue color and gold accents along with its 100% carbon fiber handle TROLLING RODS What is Pitts’s rod preference for trolling applications? “I use a multiple of different lengths with my trolling rods. I like to start out with my longer rods in my front holders, normally I prefer a 12 ft. rod, reason being most of my clients are used to fishing with a six foot, maybe seven foot rod, so the longer rod takes a longer time to get used to. Also, as I take the rods down, with my 12 foot rods for my lead rods up front, I’m getting that bait further away from the boat. Then for my next rod I will use either a nine or ten foot. With this set up, my back rods will be my shorter rods, that way I am separating my baits and covering more of the water column. With my trolling rods, I prefer a more sluggish rod than one with higher sensitivity, this allows the fish to load up on it while the boat is still moving,” Pitts said. Again, B’nM’ Poles have rods built and designed for this kind of crappie fishing. The B’nM’ Poles Pro Staff Trolling Rod series has new Dyna-Flow guides. The trolling series with the most crappie championships just got a little bit better with the addition of these light, yet very durable guides. They’re made of extremely durable alloy with smooth, stainless inserts that will never pop out while spider rigging aggressively or pulling crankbaits but they’re still the most sensitive trolling rod out there. This rod has a great blend of strength and tip action for even the most aggressive trollers. It was tested using two jigs spaced at various depths, a five ounce. sinker, and trolling speeds up to two miles per hour (mph). These rods are stiff enough to withstand this aggressive style, yet sensitive enough to detect the slightest of nibbles. The reel seat is placed slightly upward on the 21 inch EVA handle to enable easy removal from any rod holder, yet allows ample room for your hand. Every Pro Staff Trolling Rod now comes with the reinforced hi-vis (RHV) tip. The RHV tip allows for better visibility and a more horizontal presentation of the bait. You get the added bonus of having a strong eyelet that reduces the instances of inserts popping out. 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 19
Choosing the Best Crappie Rods
PRO10 reel for crappie fishing in many situations.
SPINNING RODS FOR DOCK SHOOTING A very technical and specialized form of fishing for crappie is dock shooting. This technique requires a light but strong spinning rod which flexes well and straightens quickly to propel a jig far up under dock structure.
AND IF I WERE LIMITED TO ONE ROD FOR CRAPPIE I hope this sort of thing never happens, but if I were suddenly limited to a single rod for fishing crappie, I know exactly which rod it would be. For many years I have caught more crappie than I care to count on a very inexpensive little five and a half foot long Berkley Cherrywood ultra-ultra light spinning rod paired with a super ultra-light Lew’s reel and four pound test line.
This sort of crappie rod demands super-sensitive feel and response for those times when crappie just ease up below a jig and inhale it for a moment without creating a hard strike or bump for the angler to easily react to. Long-time guide opinions vary on what makes a good dock-shooting rod, but Pitts has definite feelings.
This little rod throws a 1/16 oz jig a long way, and for open water fishing in spring, this little rod does a great job. And when a big old slab crappie thumps my jig and hooks up, that little rod bends over so nicely for me to work the fish back to the boat.
“What I am looking for in a dock shooting rod is one with a little bit of backbone up until about the third eyelet. This way when I am really stressing the rod, bending it back to shoot, the backbone helps with my accuracy. Most people start out with a 6 to 6 1/2 ft. rod, I prefer a 7 ft. rod because I have a little more wingspan than most, and the longer rod allows me to play a bigger fish and handle it better.”
I’d rather have a full line of crappie rods for different fishing applications, but if I just had one, this little rod is the one I’d pick.
Contact Information
B’nM’ Poles offers crappie chasers in a wide range of dock shooting rods, but a particularly good one is the SharpShooter Deluxe 6 rod. This rod has been field tested by their pro staff for the last year. The one piece blank is made of extra stiff 98% graphite that provides longer and more accurate “shooting” of jigs as small as 1/64 ounce.. The micro tip eyelet reduces line wiggle. The handle is made of Portuguese cork and has a fixed reel seat and touch system to provide superior feel for the lightest of bites. Dyna Flo guides are used for smooth line flow. Though designed for dock shooting, this is an excellent all around spinning rod that matches well with the B’nM’
B’nM’ Poles 662-494-5092 www.bnmpoles.com Captain Lee Pitts 256-390-4145 www.pittsoutdoors.com
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Choosing the Best Crappie Rods
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Recipe and image courtesy of the Panfish Nation (www.panfishnation.com)
Grilled Panfish Let’s say you caught yourself a mess of bluegill (or crappie) during a round of fly fishing – lucky you! Now, you’re ready to prepare your spoils from today’s fishing, and you want to fire up the grill. Here’s a very simple and delicious way that you can grill your panfish. If bluegill isn’t your fish of choice, keep in mind that this recipe will work with any type of panfish, including bass, crappie, perch, sunfish, trout and many more. NOTE: This grilled panfish recipe will work on a charcoal grill, gas grill, or even a campfire!
Ingredients
• • • • • • • •
Four boneless and skinless filets (8 oz) Half of a white onion, chopped 1 cup Water 1 tbsp Pepper 1 tbsp Salt Two tablespoons of butter Aluminum foil, torn in 14–18-inch sheets Optional: Beer, lemon slices
Instructions Preheat your grill to a medium-high temperature, 400-450 degrees Fahrenheit. 2. Make a small plate out of the aluminum foil, and fold up the edges to keep the juices and ingredients from spilling out. Butter the aluminum foil sheet and place the filets in the center. 3. Add salt and pepper to both sides of the filets and sprinkle chopped onion over them. 4. Add just a splash of water (or beer!) to the filets to help keep them moist during the grilling process. 5. Garnish with lemon slices if you’d like then seal up the packets. 6. Place them on the grill and cook for 7-10 minutes, flipping once. Meat should be white and flaky with a fork.
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22 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
LIFESTYLE
HOW TO KEEP PEOPLE OFF YOUR PROPERTY BY JOE BAYA Let’s be accurate here. Trespassing is a crime. It’s not legally permitted for anyone to enter someone else’s property without that owner’s permission. It doesn’t matter if the property is a person’s home or rural property that is not monitored or even visited very often. But every day all across the country, hunters, hikers, and other outdoor-oriented folks unknowingly go onto some else’s property without knowledge and without permission. Most of the time, trespass is an innocent action not done with any harm in mind. But sometimes, people with evil intentions trespass and sometimes do great damage and harm to the property owner and possessions. So what can a landowner do, and what steps should a landowner take to let folks know a particular piece of property is posted, and what can a landowner do if trespassers continue to repeatedly enter private property? WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? Here’s part of the problem. There is no one single law or requirement regarding posting of property against trespassers. It varies from state to state. Basically, it comes down to this. If a person doesn’t own a piece of land or if it is not public property, then that person is trespassing if he or she enters that land. Most states require landowners to post something which tells everyone that past this line, the property is private and without permission, you should not be here. Each state has its own laws regarding posting of private land. Some states require signage of a specific size and color, and some states require specific distance limits between posted private property signs. Other states have no specific requirements for posting of land. For example, in Alabama, individuals can post a sign stating private property, but no specific wording or size requirements exist, or the owner can fence the property or otherwise use markers to indicate boundary lines of private property. Other states, like Texas, allow landowners to paint a strip of purple paint on prominent trees to indicate private property. Rural landowners need to know the specific requirements for their state for posting of property. However it is done, posting the property as private is the first step in keeping folks off. Still sometimes either through ignorance or evil intent, trespass occurs. It is up to the property owner to follow guidelines for posting property and to hunters and other outdoors people to know and follow requirements and regulations concerning private property and trespass. HOW TO KEEP FOLKS OUT Josh Phifer, CEO of Barn Owl Tech, a major property security monitoring company says,“Many times, trespass is done accidentally, but some trespassers are malicious in intent. It’s a problem monitoring land when the owner can’t be there. We [Barn Owl] started with remote sensors mainly for monitoring water sources, and then we went into camera systems. We are working now with the US Air Force to provide base security.” Barn Owl Tech provides cell camera gear which allows landowners to
monitor their land to see who and what is on their property even though the landowner may be many miles away. “Property owners should make sure the land is clearly marked. Boundaries should be marked, and fences put up,” Phifer said. “Sometimes landowners who are being troubled by trespassers can get help from other people who can keep an eye on the property when the owner is not present. “It helps to know your neighbors. Property owners can help look after each other’s land,” he added. Also, if trespassing is a chronic problem, it is a very good idea to seek the help of local law enforcement. Phifer advised that It’s a good idea to get to know local law enforcement officers, both sheriff and state game enforcement personnel. These local law enforcement personnel can often provide very good information and on-site security when it comes to trespassers. Of course, technology also enters the property security picture,. Property owners can use both game trail cameras, which usually take motion-detected photos on secure digital (SD) card sometimes with good resolution and clarity, to help identify trespassers for possible legal action. Cell cameras can generate almost instant photos and videos to owners’ cell phones when property owners want to check on the land and who might be on it. These game cameras and other electronic covert surveillance gear such as cell cameras can be very helpful for property owners if trespassing is a recurring problem. “Trail cameras can be effective for many properties,” Phifer noted.. “Images on SD cards are usually better than transmitted images from cell cameras. For typical trail cameras, cars and license plates can be accurately detected at about 100 feet. To recognize faces, 20 feet is good.” Placement of game trail cameras is crucial. The camera needs to be close enough to pick up details about trespassers which can help law enforcement, but the cameras must be located so that they are difficult to reach or damaged by trespassers”. Flash units on game trail cameras can sometimes be enough to discourage trespassers. “White flash on cameras can help deter trespassers, but infra-red flash is not visible. And infrared flash is not good for recording license plates for identification,” Phifer explained. Many times landowners want to discourage trespassers from taking gameespecially deer- from privately maintained property, and sometimes, this may require more than a single game trail camera. Phifer said that for monitoring deer hunting property, a network of cameras is a good idea”. 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 23
How to Keep People Off Your Property
with cable and latch or use metal lock boxes. Also, have the cameras placed so they can look at each other.” A set of cameras which view each other can show malicious trespassers damaging one camera while the other camera goes undetected..”
Barn Owl cell cameras allow property owners to monitor their property from a long distance.
IF TRESPASSERS ARE ON YOUR LAND- WHAT TO DO What if a landowner has a recurring problem with trespassers coming onto posted land? Confronting a chronic trespasser face to face can be interesting and even dangerous. This can be potentially a very intense situation. It is very possible a trespasser may be armed, especially during hunting seasons, and this can contribute to the intensity of a situation. “Don’t confront the trespasser aggressively. Try to avoid conflict. Keep it friendly. Inform the person he or she is trespassing. If the problem continues, document the trespass for prosecution evidence. Clear pictures of the trespasser on the property are often enough evidence. Pictures of vehicles can help. Pictures of tire tracks and boot tracks can help. If a GPS location can be included in photos, this is very good,” Phifer advised. Local law enforcement officials should be notified of a trespass problem, and they can handle the case from that point. In certain situations, game trail cameras can be detected by malicious trespassers and the cameras themselves stolen or vandalized if they are within easy reach. “You might not want to put your most expensive game trail camera right next to the gate. You do want some visible cameras, though. It may help to use ‘dummy’ cameras,”he said. ““In general, ‘high, hidden, and hardened’ is best for expensive security cameras. Put the cameras hidden in bushes and trees. Secure cameras
At no point should landowners try to handle a chronic trespasser alone. Trained law enforcement personnel are the best people to help deal with a trespassing problem. Contact Information Barn Owl Tech info@barnowl.tech 720-594-3433 720-594-3649
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4500 Hwy. 77 • Southside, AL 35907 1-800-IMREADY • www.bucksisland.com 24 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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During the late winter/ early spring when the water temperature reaches 52 degrees, Phillip Criss and his clients often catch and release 50-75 bass in a day, weighing from 3–7 pounds each, fishing a buzzbait.
26 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
FISHING
How to Use a
Buzzbait for Bass BY JOHN E. PHILLIPS
Fishing a buzzbait in March may result in a couple of anglers catching and releasing 50-75, three to seven pound bass. “I like to be the first angler to start fishing the buzzbait each year,” says Rick Clunn, four-time Bassmaster Classic champion. “I’ll begin fishing the buzzbait in late February or early March because the bass haven’t seen it for four or five months. Often I’ll catch some of the biggest prespawners of the year with a buzzbait.” WATER TEMPERATURE AND CLARITY AFFECT BUZZBAITS’ SUCCESS The water temperature where you fish determines the best time of the year to start fishing the buzzbait. According to longtime guide, Phillip Criss of Albertville, Alabama, who has guided on Guntersville Lake since 2013, “When the water temperature reaches 52-54 degrees, I’ll begin fishing the buzzbait. That may happen the last two weeks of February and/or the first two weeks in March at Guntersville. I’ll look for minnows scurrying away from the spot I’m casting to in shallow water. Then I know it’s time to fish the buzzbait. Minnows will be in that shallow water because the water’s warming-up, and/or the bass are pushing those minnows into shallow water.” Water clarity dictates the color of buzzbait Criss fishes. In stained water, he’ll use a dark buzzbait like black, and in the clearer water, he’ll fish white or white and chartreuse. However, Criss is quick to say that Mother Nature sometimes throws you a curveball. “I’ve had great days of March bass fishing, throwing a black buzzbait when the water’s gin clear, and then when the water’s stained, throwing a white-and-chartreuse buzzbait. I always have both colors rigged on my casting deck. I let the bass tell me which color buzzbait they want each day,” Criss said. In the past, most anglers fishing buzzbaits primarily were concerned with the colors of the skirts on the buzzbaits. However, anglers now put swimbaits, frogs and giant, soft-plastic, twisty tail grubs like Fishbites on buzzbaits, instead of skirts. “The key to knowing what type of lure to put behind the buzzbait is dependent on how active the bass are,” Criss reported.. “If bass are aggressive, I’ll put a twin-tail frog on the back of a buzzbait to give the buzzbait more action and attract bass to bite. Once I see bass chasing shad in shallow water that’s 56-58 degrees, I’ll put a small, paddle tail swimbait on the back of the buzzbait.”
Another rule of thumb Criss adheres to is - the colder the water, the smaller the buzzbait and the lure behind the buzzbait he fishes. The warmer the water - 60 degrees or so - the bigger the buzzbait and lure he’ll use. “When the water’s at 52-54 degrees, I’ll fish a 1/4-ounce buzzbait. As the water warms up, and the bass becomes more active, I’ll increase the size of my buzzbait to 3/8- or 1/2-ounce as well as the size of the swimbait I put behind it,” Criss explained. Criss likes a shad-colored frog on the back of his buzzbait, but in stained water, he prefers a black or a black-and-blue colored frog. All kinds of buzzbaits are on the market today, including dual-blade and single-blade buzzbaits. Criss has fished the dual-blades but generally opts for the single blade. “I fish the buzzbait in, around, on top of and beside grass, and I’ve found that a dual-blade buzzbait will get tangled-up in the grass more often,” he added. THE IMPORTANCE OF GRASS One of the reasons that Guntersville’s one of the top big-bass-producing lakes in the nation is due to the lake’s abundant grass that’s ideal habitat for bass providing: an ambush point for bass to attack baitfish; hiding places for the young of the year bass just spawned; and heat during the colder months and oxygen in the hotter months. The type of grass determines how and where Criss fishes the buzzbait. “If I’m fishing what we call primrose grass [an invasive, highly-adaptable species that forms thick mats featuring yellow flowers], I can fish the buzzbait over its top, around its sides or down its edges,” Criss said. “Anywhere I can run the buzzbait through or over the top of grass is where I’ll cast. But when matted milfoil gets close to the top or on the top of the water, I’ll have to fish that buzzbait down the edges of the milfoil.” Criss also searches for dark spots under the water. “Those dark spots are usually underwater grass. If the bottom’s clear around that dark spot, you can bet bass will be holding there to attack baitfish. So, if you cast past that dark spot and retrieve that buzzbait over its top, often the bass will blow-up out of the grass to attack and eat that noisy, big bait. Anywhere you can find hard, clear bottom around a patch of underwater grass, you’re almost assured of catching a bass,” he said. EQUIPMENT FOR FISHING BUZZBAITS Criss prefers a seven foot medium-heavy action rod with a soft tip, a 7:1 reel and 40-65 pound test braided line. He explained that the buzzbait is a reaction-type bait - causing a bass to strike, although the bass doesn’t 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 27
How to Use a Buzzbait for Bass
Left to right: Some of Phillip Criss’s favorite buzzbait fishing lures: a Pop–R to use when the bass blows up on the buzzbait; a watermelonred Strike Zone worm when the bass blows up on a buzzbait but misses it in the grass; a black buzzbait with a black lure behind it, like a black frog; and a silver or a white buzzbait with a white lure, like a frog, behind it.
know exactly what the buzzbait is. “I’ve learned that when the weather’s the coldest, I catch more bass reeling a buzzbait slowly enough to hear its blades squeak, clack or gurgle as they turn. As long as the bass are eating the bait with that type of retrieve, I’ll stay with it. But if not, I’ll speed-up my retrieve,” Criss said. “If you’re using a fast retrieve, the bass has to decide if it will: attack the bait, kill it, and come back and eat it; eat the bait immediately as soon as it spots it; or not bite at all.” Criss utilizes 40-65 pound test braided line. “The braided line doesn’t get down in the water most of the time when you’re retrieving a buzzbait. If you’re fishing it properly, the buzzbait’s the only part of your cast that’s in the water. I like the braided line since I’m almost always fishing the buzzbait around some type of cover, grass, blowdowns and/or logs. When you hook a bass on a buzzbait, it will try to go down in that cover. Therefore,with heavy braided line, you usually can turn the fish’s head up and away from the cover as soon as it attacks the bait and pull it out of the cover easier,” he said. Criss doesn’t fish fluorocarbon line with a buzzbait because fluorocarbon pulls the nose of the bait down in the water, instead of allowing it to ride on top. He pointed out that a 1/4-ounce buzzbait casts better on 40-pound braided line than on 65-pound braided but on Guntersville, he uses 65-pound braided line about 90% of the time. Although many anglers prefer heavy-action rods, Criss likes a medium-heavy action rod with a soft tip. “When a bass blows-up on a buzzbait, it’s trying to get a lot of the lure in its mouth at one time. With a heavy-action rod, you may jerk that bait away from that fish when you see it blow-up. With a medium-heavy action rod, even if you set the hook as soon as you see the bass blow-up, you won’t move the buzzbait away from the bass as quickly as with a heavy-action rod. That rod allows a bass to get the buzzbait all the way in its mouth before you set the hook. Another problem associated with fishing 28 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
a heavy action rod is if you don’t have your drag set just right, a fast, hard hook-set may rip the buzzbait out of the bass’s mouth,” he said. If 10 bass strike buzzbaits, Criss expects to land 80% of them with the rod, reel and line he uses. “When you’re fishing the buzzbait, you won’t hook every bass that attacks it. So, I always have a follow-up-bait – either a Rebel Pop-R [a top-water chugger and plugger] or a plastic worm tied onto a rod on my casting deck within easy reach that I can pick-up quickly,” Criss said. “I’ll cast a follow-up lure right to the spot where the bass has blown up on the buzzbait. Often, I think a bass isn’t trying to eat the bait when it attacks the buzzbait – but rather is attempting to stun or kill the bait. Then the bass will circle around the lure and eat it.” If the strike occurs in thick grass, Criss will throw a plastic worm like a watermelon-red Strike Zone Meat Stick that’s heavy, tough and falls through the grass – with no weight on the line. Criss explained that most worms are too light to get through the grass when bass miss buzzbaits but he can catch three to four times more bass on the tough Meat Stick worm than on other worms. “I’ll twitch the worm when it lands and let the weight of the hook cause the worm to fall slowly. When fishing thick grass like primrose, I’ll peg a weight to the hook and cast the worm to the spot where the bass has blown-up to get that worm to fall through the primrose grass,” he said. Once Criss thinks he can make an accurate cast to a hole in the grass, he may use a Pop-R, let it sit in the hole and only twitch the bait or cause it to quiver but not move in the hole. He also catches numbers of bass with his follow-up baits that he’s missed with his buzzbait. “Often if a bass sees that Pop-R sitting in a hole in the grass, quivering, the fish may think it’s stunned and that all it must do is slowly swim-up to that Pop-R and eat it. I’ll use this same tactic to fish the edges of matted grass,” he said.
How to Use a Buzzbait for Bass
“The real secret to catching bass on a follow-up bait is how fast you get it to the spot where the bass have blown-up.” PHILLIP CRISS’ BEST BUZZBAIT TRIP “I’ve had some days in March when my clients and I have caught and released 50-75 bass on a buzzbait,” Criss explained. “Numbers of three to four pound bass and some weighing five pounds and more may be caught. The biggest bass I personally have caught on a buzzbait weighed 10.86 pounds. I caught that bass one year on September 10, and that date’s important since I generally start fishing a buzzbait the last two weeks of February and continue fishing buzzbaits through the first of November. I caught that big bass on the edge of a milfoil patch. If I hadn’t been fishing 65-pound-test braided line, I’d never have caught her. She buried up in the grass as soon as I hooked her. I pulled her up in a big clump of grass three times. “The last time I pulled the line up, I saw my line in a big clump of grass that looked like it weighed 50 pounds. I spotted a bass’s tail hanging out of that clump and tore the milfoil off my line, until I could see the bass’s mouth, grab it and bring her to the boat. So, although I start fishing the buzzbait when the water temperature reaches 52 degrees, I don’t stop fishing the buzzbait usually until early November,” he concluded.
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Important Contact Information Phillip Criss: Phone: 205-461-5549; Email: pdcriss@hotmail.com Fishbites: https://fishbites.com/ Rebel’s Pop-R: https://www.lurenet.com/rebel-pop-r Strike Zone Worms: https://www.strikezonelure.com/plastics/
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For more info on the events or CCA Alabama www.ccaalabama.org 251-478-3474 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 29
Selecting the Best Surf Fishing Rod Auburn University Students Win More Than $1 Million Bass Fishing
Lessons on How to
Call Turkeys in the Spring BY JOHN E. PHILLIPS
One of the best ways to learn how and when to call to turkeys is to go with another turkey hunter, watch and listen to him as he calls a turkey in for you. Many states offer an adult mentoring program that puts a mentor with a wanna-be turkey hunter to help the novice turkey hunter save many hours of learning the sport. 30 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
HUNTING
Turkey calls are designed to make gobblers come to turkey hunters, not to be used as conversational tools to talk to the birds. Sometimes the mosteffective call a hunter can make to a turkey may be no call at all.
I’d used almost every call in my turkey vest. None had produced a gobbler response, while hunting Mexico to try and complete my Grand Slam by taking a Gould’s turkey. I pulled out my push button box call. I knew it wouldn’t impress my guide, but it had produced U.S. turkeys. After I gave three, quick yelps, the valley I was hunting exploded with gobbles. Setting-up in a small, open area and giving more soft yelps, in less than five minutes, six longbeards were standing 10-20 yards away. When I pointed my shotgun at the biggest turkey about 10 yards away and squeezed my 12-gauge’s trigger, that tom almost lost his head. Although many hunters don’t think much of a pushbutton call, it always will produce turkey gobbles when other calls won’t. Just about anything that squeaks, squawks or cries can and will call a wild turkey. So, learn to use a variety of calls. TURKEY CALLING SCENARIOS The best way to approach the use of calls is to understand that a turkey hunt is like a chess game. Players learn certain moves to play the game, but the real masters of the sport often break those rules for better results. The same is true for successful turkey calling. * Scenario #1: The hunter goes into the woods just before daylight, hears a turkey gobble, slips into an area to see 30 to 40 yards in all directions, faces the direction from which he expects the turkey to come, takes a stand 100–150 yards from where he’s heard the turkey gobble and gives a soft tree call. In a few minutes, the hunter hears the turkey fly-down and gobble. When the bird’s at 30 yards, the hunter aims for the tom’s wattles and squeezes the trigger for a successful hunt. * Scenario #2: The hunter hears a tom fly-down from the roost and gobble as he hits the ground. The hunter gives a few light yelps, and the tom gobbles back but doesn’t move closer. The hunter clucks, yelps and cutts to the bird. The turkey may come in then. * Scenario #3: The gobbler flies-down from the roost, gobbles, moves toward the hunter, stops 50-yards away, strutting and drumming, but not coming close enough for a shot. After the hunter makes soft clucks, the tom moves closer, before stopping again at 40 yards, strutting and drumming. The hunter gives light purrs to sound like a contented hen. The turkey moves closer, allowing the hunter to take him. * Scenario #4: The gobbler flies-down and comes in but hangs-up at 50 yards. Although the hunter tries all Scenario #3 tactics, none work. Using a mouth-diaphragm call, the hunter directs his call to a tree 10 yards behind to make the tom think the hen’s walking-away, forcing the bird to move closer, and the hunt ends. * Scenario #5: Same situation. The hunter uses all #3 and #4 tactics, but none work. The gobbler’s still hung-up at 50 yards and refuses to 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 31
Lessons on How to Call Turkeys in the Spring
move. The hunter quits calling, the tom walks off, and the hunter circles to the bird’s right, takes another stand and changes calls This time the gobbler walks in, and the hunter is successful. * Scenario #6: The tom flies-down, gobbles and walks-away as the hunter follows him and calls occasionally - sometimes yelping loudly. The gobbler may stop and return to the hunter, ending the hunt. * Scenario #7: A heavily-hunted turkey may gobble from the roost but not come to any call at first light. The hunter can leave the woods, return to the area around 10:00 am, take a stand and give some light clucks and yelps. That tom may come to you silently, never gobbling. * Scenario #8: A hunter may need to hunt a turkey like he does an elk by buddy hunting. The caller will set-up 50-100 yards behind the shooter and call. If that turkey comes in but stops coming just out of gun range of the caller, usually he’ll be within the hunter’s range. * Scenario #9: A gobbler knows that when he gobbles, hens are supposed to come to him. If he stops, struts, gobbles and/or drums out of gun range, and a hen doesn’t come, he may think another gobbler’s gotten with her and led her away, or a predator’s spooked her. While that fired-up gobbler searches for another hen, the hunter uses his crow, owl or any shock call to keep up with the gobbler’s movements. The hunter should back out of the area to move to where he thinks a gobbler can’t see or hear him, make a half-circle, get out in front of the gobbler, take a stand, change calls and attempt to call the bird to a new location. * Scenario #10: On Turkey Time, the turkey decides when the hunt’s over. Patience kills more turkeys than fancy calling does. * Scenario #11: The hunter’s prepared to shoot a turkey in front of him
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that’s gobbling and shortening the distance to him. But in the intensity of the moment, he hears a tom drumming 20 yards or less behind the tree where he’s leaning. Most hunters never consider the possibility that more than one mature gobbler may be in an area. The hunter has three options, although a tom may spot him and flee, including: turning around and shooting the longbeard behind him before the bird runs away; waiting on the gobbler in front to come to within gun range and then shoot him; and hoping and praying that one of the turkeys will walk in front of the hunter. The hunter can use a locator call – crow, owl, hawk and coyote – to learn the turkeys’ locations, reposition himself, change calls and switch the sequence of the calls he’s making. * Scenario # 12: Often public-land turkeys have had so many hunter encounters they almost can tell you the call maker’s name. When this call-shy tom flies off the roost, he’ll fly away from the hunter calling. The next time the hunter hunts this bird, he can: * Buddy hunt by having a friend set-up on the roost tree’s opposite side from where the turkey has been gobbling. Each hunter begins by tree calling to the turkey on the limb with a fly-down cackle and making yelps, clucks and purrs. Then a tom becomes very frustrated, because he’s got to decide which hen he’ll fly to, giving either hunter an opportunity to take that gobbler after he makes up his mind. * Use locator calls to keep up with the tom’s movement, once the gobbler flies off the roost and walks away from the hunter, who then backs out of his calling position and makes a big circle to get in front of the turkey. Then he switches up hen calls, changing their rhythm and intensity. *Imitate a hen following a gobbler by staying out of sight, about 100 yards away, calling occasionally, while walking and imitating hen turkey sounds. If that tom turns around and starts gobbling and walking toward you, quickly
Lessons on How to Call Turkeys in the Spring
Pushbutton calls are not fancy and don’t require the skill level of mouth or box calls, but they work.
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34 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Lessons on How to Call Turkeys in the Spring
Often in the spring, you’ll have to get wet to take a gobbler, so before you leave camp, make that decision.
find a good calling position, call very little, and wait a lot. * Scenario #13: The hunter may be hunting what I call a “helicopter” tom that gobbles until he has a flock of hens under the tree and then pitches out, comes straight down like a helicopter, lands in the middle of his harem and goes wherever the boss hen takes the flock. The helicopter tom’s hen flock is looking and listening for danger. He knows they’ll alert him to any predator or hunter. To take this bird, go to where his flock’s headed - a feeding site, a strut zone or somewhere he feels comfortable and safe that you’ve learned from your scouting. * Scenario #14: The hunter must decide if he’ll get wet to take a turkey. A turkey may gobble across a river, a creek, a backwater slough or a lake. The hunter can call a turkey across these obstacles, but his chances for taking that bird are much greater if he’s on the same side of the water as the turkey. * Scenario #15: Turkey hunters have to pay attention to and listen for the sounds in their surroundings and realize how they affect turkeys. “I hunted the same turkey for three days close to the Tombigbee River. I noticed that every time tugboats pushing barges blew their horns, this turkey gobbled. So, I bought a small air horn to keep in my turkey vest. When I hunted near the river, I always sounded my airhorn to force birds to gobble and give away their positions,” says long time turkey hunter Larry Norton of Butler, AL. These scenarios may occur when a hunter takes his calls and goes into the woods to pit his skills against a wild turkey. Although knowing when to call and what calls to give are important, understanding where a turkey wants to go and why and learning when to call and when not to call and never overcalling will result your bagging more birds. Turkey calls are designed to make gobblers come to turkey hunters, not to be used as conversational
BY NATURAL SUGAR
Recipe and image courtesy of www.allrecipes.com
Wild Turkey Gumbo Prep: 20 mins • Cook: 1 hr 45 mins • Total: 2 hrs 5 mins Ingredients • 1 cup wild rice • water to cover • 2 teaspoons Celtic sea salt, divided • 3 quarts chicken broth, divided • 2 tablespoons coconut oil • 3 cups cubed wild turkey breast, or more to taste • 2 large onions, chopped • 2 large carrots, quartered lengthwise and slice • 4 stalks celery, chopped • 1 pound bag frozen okra • 1 teaspoon white pepper • ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • 3 tablespoons chopped jarred jalapeno • 1 teaspoon hot sauce (such as Texas Pete®) Instructions
1.
2. 3.
4. 5.
Place wild rice in a bowl and pour in enough water to cover and soak for 4 hours overnight. Drain rice Mix wild rice and 1 teaspoon salt together in a stockpot and add about 3 cups chicken broth. Bring broth to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover stockpot, and simmer until rice is tender, about 30 to 40 minutes. Heat coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir turkey, onion, carrots, and celery in the hot oil until turkey is cooked through and vegetables are slightly tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Add okra to the turkey mixture and cook until okra is thawed, 5 to 7 minutes; season with 1 teaspoon salt, white pepper, and black pepper. Combine wild rice, turkey mixture, jalapeno peppers, hot sauce, and remaining chicken stock in a slow cooker. Cook on High for 1 hour.
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 35
Lessons on How to Call Turkeys in the Spring
tools to talk to the birds. The most-effective call a hunter can make to a turkey may be no call at all. To learn more about hunting turkeys: attend a free Adult Mentored Workshop - https://www.outdooralabama.com/hunting/adult-mentored-hunting-program; and read John E. Phillips’ eight turkey-hunting books, available in Kindle, print and Audible versions at www.amazon.com/author/johnephillips.
TYPES OF TURKEY CALLS
* Box Calls - Some of the first turkey calls were box calls whittled from cedar, which meant the calls never sounded alike. M.L. Lynch of Homewood, Ala., developed a box call in the early 1900s by planning the pieces for the box and the lid to the same thicknesses and gluing them together. * Mouth Diaphragm Calls - In the late 1920s, an avid turkey hunter named Jim Radcliff, Sr., was bitten by a mad dog in Mobile and traveled to New Orleans for rabies injections. A man there was making lifelike bird calls with mouth calls he’d built. Radcliff gave with his mouth the sounds of a wild turkey, and the man built a mouth diaphragm call of lead, prophylactic rubber and cloth tape to imitate a wild turkey hen. * Slate Calls - Lynch also developed a method of putting a slate on the top of a hollow box that could be held in your hand and a small peg used for a striker to sound like a turkey. * Tube Calls - Originally developed from a modified snuffcan call where the lid of a snuff can was cut in half and a piece of rubber stretched over the lid of the snuff can’s opening, hunters metered the air they blew over the rubber to make wild turkey sounds. * Wingbone Calls - These calls originally were made by gluing together three bones from a turkey’s wing to make a small, pipe-like call. The hunter sucked in air to make a turkey sound - rather than blowing air. * Pushbutton Calls - This small, easy-to-use box with a peg sticking-up from its bottom also has on its top a small paddle suspended by a round dowel. The hunter holds the box call in his hand and pushes or pulls the dowel to pass it over the peg to imitate a hen and can cutt, cackle, purr or yelp.
CALLS WILD TURKEYS MAKE
Wild turkeys have their own vocabularies. * Hens will: excitedly cluck like chickens to let a gobbler or their chicks know their locations; yelp to let other turkeys know their positions and to express their dominance over the flock; cackle excitedly flying down from the roost, going over a fence or wanting to mate; cutt – giving a mating call - several clucks in rapid succession; give the assembly call, primarily in the fall, that includes excited yelps to call the birds to flock together; purr with a low, guttural sound when feeding; putt – an alarm call given just before they plan to run off; and a tree call, a light soft series of yelps you barely can hear given at first light. * Gobblers will: gobble to tell hens where they are and exert their dominance; give squealing calls (a kee-kee run) by young gobblers that’s generally followed by a series of coarse yelps; give a gobbler yelp to locate other birds; cluck to let a hen know their locations; putt, which means that gobbler’s moving into high gear and will be gone; drum sounding like an 18-wheeler going up a steep grade and shifting gears. 36 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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Selecting the Best Surf Fishing Rod Auburn University Students Win More Than $1 Million Bass Fishing
How to Choose a
Boat Mechanic BY STEPHANIE MALLORY
38 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
FISHING You’ve spent a lot of money on your boat, so you want to keep it in good shape and running. To do so, you’ll need to find a reliable boat mechanic that has the technical knowledge to fix and maintain your boat’s engine. Sure, there are some basic maintenance tasks you can learn to handle yourself, like checking the oil, but today’s boat engines are so complex that they often require someone with special training and tools to work on them.
To find a mechanic on Boaters List, simply type the service you’re looking for and your city, state and zip code in the search box and a list of mechanics will come up for your area. This is an especially helpful service when you’re in a state other than your own and you don’t know who to call. Boaters List will soon be launching its verified review tool to its platform which will assist boaters in identifying quality mechanics(service providers). Once it does, the service will be invaluable to those looking for a reliable and trustworthy mechanic. Currently, those searching Boaters List for a mechanic can look to see if that mechanic is “Boaters List Premium Verified”. A mechanic can get that Premium Verified status if Boaters List has specifically talked to that mechanic and has remained in close contact with him or her.
When it comes to choosing a boat mechanic, most likely, your expectations are pretty simple. You want someone who’s going to show up when they say they’re going to, charge you a fair price, have the knowledge required to do a good job, work on it in a timely manner and not try to sell you a service you don’t need. Right?
“We just launched the Premium Verified status, which is a paid subscription for contractors,” Williams said. “That means Boaters List has a lot of contact with that contractor, plus the contractor can include photos and info about their company and the services offered. They get more use out of their profile when Premium Verified. From experience, we know those who take time to invest in their profile are typically more conscientious and interested in doing better work.”
So how do you find such a reliable and capable boat mechanic? Capt. Cody Williams, co-founder of www. boaterslist.com, a website that connects everyone to everything on the water, says many folks simply do a Google search for a local mechanic, but he recommends relying on the word of mouth of fellow boaters instead. WORD OF MOUTH “By doing a Google search, you may find someone to do the job, but who knows if they’re any good? If they do a poor job or they leave behind a big mess, like tape on your boat or trash, it just creates more work for you. You want a mechanic who will clean up the mess, be honest about what is wrong with your boat and let you know if he finds something else of concern, but you don’t want one who will claim you need a bunch of work that you don’t actually need,” Williams said.
SELECTING THE RIGHT MECHANIC FOR THE JOB When selecting a boat mechanic, remember that most of them specialize in engines or vessels. Depending on the type of boat you have, you may need a specialized service to maintain it. If you have a small skiff or any boat with an outboard motor, chances are the majority of outboard mechanics will be able to work on it. If you have a boat with advanced electronic equipment or a large inboard engine, you need to ensure your mechanic is qualified to work on it.
Williams advises that when it comes to selecting a mechanic, to talk to other boat owners first, and especially ask boat owners who have the same type of boat as you. “Other boat owners can act as a filter for you. Word of mouth is huge in the boating industry. If a mechanic did a good job for someone else, chances are, they’re going to do a good job for you,” he said.. “In fact, some smaller mechanics or mom and pop businesses that do really great work are not listed anywhere, and they only get their jobs through word of mouth.” According to Williams, Boaters List is on its way to becoming that word-of-mouth source for everyone on the water. “It’s going to be the contact you use to find the service you’re looking for,” Williams noted.. From marine services, to rentals, to charters, to fishing guides, to boat and equipment sales and everything in between – if it has something to do with boating, you can find a provider on Boaters List.
“You have inboard mechanics who are very specific about the type of boat/engine they’ll work on,” Williams said. “There’s just a lot to consider. Some mechanics, especially diesel mechanics, only specialize in certain brands. For example, a mechanic may only work on Yamaha or Mercury motors. Some mechanics are certified for certain motors and can only get parts for the engines they’re certified in. For example, Cat dealers can only get engine parts if they went to Cat school. If they didn’t, they can still work on Cats, but they can’t get the parts. In order to do warranty work on any engine, the mechanic must be certified in that particular brand.” Williams says contractors can list their certifications in the profile section on Boaters List, which makes finding the right mechanic much easier for the boat owner. SO HOW MUCH WILL IT COST ME? Boat mechanic fees may be similar to those charged by auto mechanics, between $70 and $120 an hour, but rates can vary according to the region and season. Of course, more specialized services may cost more.
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 39
Choosing the Best Boat Mechanic for the Job
Make sure you hire someone with the required certifications necessary to work on your boat. Middleton Marine image
While most mechanics charge hourly, some charge by the job. Of course, if the job only takes 30 minutes, they may charge for an hour’s worth of work,” Williams said. “Some just keep open tickets because they don’t know what the problems are going to be. They’ll charge a diagnostic fee and then you’ll get a price based on parts and labor. Sometimes it can be a moving number.” Keep in mind that mobile mechanics may charge extra fees. “My boat is not easy to take to people,” Williams said. “It lives in the water. If it’s a simple fix, I may not need to haul it out, and the mechanic can just come to me. Mobile mechanics really make it easier for those who own or captain large boats with inboard motors.” Most of the time, those who work on outboards will have their own shop, often at their house. They may come to you, but they’ll often offer you a discount if you bring your boat to them. Some of the mobile mechanics will factor in travel cost with the job cost.
Boaters List can help you find a mechanic that is reliable, affordable and capable. (Dillweeds image)
40 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
There’s a lot to consider when selecting a boat mechanic. But, if you rely on word of mouth from other boat owners and make sure the mechanic has the qualifications, certificates and diplomas to prove he has the skills and knowledge necessary for working on your boat, then most likely, your boat will be in good hands. And, if he does a good job for you, then spread the word and let other boat owners know. And remember to check Boaters List to get that word-of-mouth-type recommendation for boat mechanics in your area. Important Contact Information Boater’s List www.boaterslist.com
ALL ALABAMA TURKEY HUNTERS
GAME CHECK IS MANDATORY
All hunters are required to report their turkey harvest using Game Check, which will help the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources effectively manage wildlife for generations. Check your harvest at OutdoorAlabama.com/GameCheck or by using the official ADCNR mobile app Outdoor AL Search OUTDOOR AL on your app store!
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 41
Selecting the Best Surf Fishing Rod Auburn University Students Win More Than $1 Million Bass Fishing
41 Turkey Hunting Tactics to Use This Season BY JOSH HONEYCUTT
Turkey hunting isn’t easy. Learn as many tactics as possible and pull them from your arsenal as needed. 42 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
HUNTING Turkey hunting is hard but equipping yourself with effective turkey hunting tactics can provide you with the edge you need. Knowing about wild turkey behavior, what to do about it, how to execute the right tactics, and when to do so, are all part of the equation. Here are 41 tips that are part of it, too. 1. Put Safety First As with all things hunting, safety is the No. 1 priority. No turkey, or any animal, is worth injury or loss of life. Put safety ahead of all else while turkey hunting, and with any adventure afield. 2. Scout Aplenty Hunters often think scouting is a deer hunting prerequisite, but it applies to any form of hunting, including wild turkeys. Spend ample time getting to know the area you’ll be chasing turkeys this spring. 3. Find the Grub Like whitetails and other game animals, turkeys go wherever they find their basic needs. Find the food, and you’ll find the birds. This comes in the form of grubs (cow pastures, worked ag fields, swampy areas, etc.), mast crops (acorns, fruits, etc.), food plots (clover, chufa, etc.), and more. 4. Pack the Right Gear Turkey hunters love their gear, and for good reason. It helps get the job done. Make sure you pack your backpack or turkey hunting vest with items you trust and rely on. 5. Run Trail Cams for Turkeys Trail cameras aren’t just for deer. These work well for turkey hunting, too. Just remember to position them lower to the ground (about 12 to 18 inches off the ground), or you’ll miss birds. 6. Pattern the Birds It’s very important to pattern turkeys. This is doable by way of trail cameras, glassing from afar, and listening to gobbling turkeys on the roost. 7. Have a Plan Once you’ve finished scouting, pull it all together to create a game plan. Having a plan is an important part of the process. Have at least four or five plans ready to go, if not more. 8. Design Your Plan Based on the Property There are many things to consider, including how large of a property you’re working with. If it’s small, you’re better off being stationary. If you have a lot of ground to work with, you might be better off being more aggressive. 9. Roost a Turkey Spend some time on turkey season eve, or any evening prior to the hunt, putting birds to bed. Knowing where turkeys are located can give you a leg up. Then, be ready at dawn. 10. The 100-Yard Rule Most old-school turkey hunters say to get 100 yards away from the roost. If that’s the closest you can get without bumping birds, sure. But if you can get to about 40 or 50 without spooking them, even better. 11. Be the Monster Under the Bed Have you been setting up close to the roost, but can’t get it done? Get there about two or three hours before daylight. Then, without using a flashlight (where safe to do so), slip all the way up and camp out as close as possible to the roost tree. Focus on the direction birds generally land. 12. Recognize Turkey Body Language Turkeys are very expressive, and different non-verbal body postures can mean certain things. For example, if it flicks and tucks its wings, and turns away, that bird is uneasy and about to leave. There are many other examples of non-verbal communications that can tip you off to what a turkey is thinking, or about to do.
13. Know Turkey Tendencies Turkeys have tendencies, just as any species. For example, under average conditions, turkeys often spend early morning and late afternoon hours in open fields. Mid-morning and mid-afternoon hours are oftentimes split between deep cover and edge habitat. Midday is generally spent closer to water and low-lying areas, such as creeks, streams, and swamps. Of course, tendencies apply to other areas, too, such as gobbling earlier, midday and late in the day, among other things. 14. Deer Hunt That Turkey If typical turkey hunting tactics aren’t working, try a deer hunting approach instead. Find where birds spend most of their time and be stationary. 15. Run Some Locator Calls Some like to locate turkeys with hen vocalizations. I don’t. Instead, I prefer locator calls, such as owl hoots, crow caws, pileated woodpecker vocalizations, etc. 16. Find the Right Setup Heard a bird strike? Figure out where it’s located, where it might be going, and get between the two places. Find the best setup that hides you, but also puts you in a good position to get a shot opportunity. 17. Take Their Temperature Every turkey is going to respond differently. Take their temperature and see what they like. Turkeys might prefer different volumes, vocalizations, and frequencies over others. 18. Start Reserved Once you find a bird, start off by being more passive in your tactical approaches. It’s easy to crank it up, it’s hard to take it back if you turn off a turkey with aggressive tactics. 19. Gear Up from There If reserved efforts aren’t working, then crank it up. Try more aggressive ideas to fill that tag. It might just work. 20. Call Softly Start by calling softly. It’s hard to undo it if you start with aggressive stuff and it turns off the turkey you’re working. 21. Call Aggressively If soft calls don’t work, then get more aggressive. In some situations, you might just have to do that to close the distance. 22. Fling a Wing Using a turkey wing can help add realism to your calling, especially in conjunction with fly-down cackles, fighting purrs, and other aggressive calls. 23. Know What You’re Saying Each turkey vocalization means something specific. Know what these things are, and then use them under the appropriate circumstances to see best results. 24. Cadence Trumps All The rhythm of what you’re saying is much more important than the pitch or level of rasp. Keep the cadence right and you’ll have much better luck. 25. Call to the Hens Can’t seem to call that gobbler in? Is it henned up? Call to that hen instead. Mock her every sound. Cut her off with aggressive cackles and yelps. 26. Run Multiple Calls A longbeard might like one call, but not another. Keep a few different diaphragms and friction calls at the ready. If one doesn’t provoke a response, try another. 27. Go Silent If a turkey is gobbling at every call, but won’t commit, just go silent. Some877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 43
41 Turkey Hunting Tactics to Use This Season
times, that’s enough to create the curiosity needed for it to come looking for you.
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28. Match Decoys to the Situation It’s important to match your decoys to the situation. For example, it likely isn’t best to use a strutter decoy during the late season when turkeys are battered and bruised. 29. Understand Turkey Postures Knowing typical turkey postures, and what they mean, will help you use decoys in a more efficient manner. 30. Be Very Patient Some situations require serious patience. That’s hunting, after all. For example, when hunting small tracts of land, or when you have turkeys patterned well, it’s best to wait them out. 31. Be Very Impatient Other times, impatience is key. Being aggressive and moving to stay on birds can be rewarding, especially on larger tracts of land. 32. Be Meticulous Pay very close attention to details in all aspects of the hunt. This is a good way to pick up on subtle things you might otherwise miss. 33. Hunt the Midday Shift The first few hours of the day often deliver the best gobbling. I’ve taken a lot more turkeys from mid-morning to mid-afternoon than early morning or late afternoon.
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34. Hit the Strut Zones Gobblers find areas they’re comfortable with and they spend time strutting there, especially during the middle half of the day. These places are called strut zones. 35. Find Solitary Longbeards A lone bird is oftentimes easier to work than one with hens, or that’s with other turkeys. Find these singles and see if they respond. 36. Sit Back and Glass If turkeys aren’t talking, and you don’t know where they are, find a place where you can see a lot of ground and glass. When you spot a gobbler, make a game plan. 37. Intercept That Turkey Sometimes you’ll see a turkey in the distance, and it won’t be close enough to call to. So, watch it for a few minutes to gauge its line of travel, and then swing wide to get ahead of it. 38. Use the Terrain Terrain is very important when hunting turkeys. It can dictate where they spend their time, how you move into position on birds, and even how and where you set up. 39. Try Unorthodox Tactics Conventional tactics are great and are oftentimes the best play. Sometimes, you need to try something a little different to get the job done, though.
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44 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
40. Get on an Afternoon Gobbler The last couple hours of the day can be just as productive as the first few. This is especially true if gobblers are lonely as they work back toward the roost. 41. Stay After a Bumped Bird Did you spook that turkey? Stay positive and keep after it. Maybe let things calm down for an hour or so, and then resume the hunt. You have tags to fill.
41 Turkey Hunting Tactics to Use This Season
Calling tactics should be tailored to fit the scenario. (Honeycutt Creative photos)
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Choosing the Best
POND WEED
KILLER BY WILLIAM KENDY
46 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
FISHING Even though it may be chilly outside it doesn’t mean that aquatic weeds don’t grow and as a pond owner you need to be vigilant in stemming that growth.
If you want to postpone the day of Armageddon by nuking your pond with herbicides by introducing grass carp, when is the best time to stock them?
“We like to think about aquatic weed control as a holistic approach that we like to encourage,” says Norman Latona, founder and CEO of Southeastern Pond Management. “Once that vegetation is established and you get into the warmer months and have heavy stands of weed infestations in the 30 to 50% coverage range your options are pretty limited.”
“It depends on the lake but generally in lakes and ponds that are shallow and have a known history of aquatic vegetation issues, then the sooner the better,” Latona advised. “Ideally, you want to get grass carp established when there isn’t a lot to eat because you want them to be hungry all of the time and swimming around fighting for food and competing for vegetation.”
“You can just live with it or you can whack it with herbicide which works but it can be costly and it is not always the best overall solution,” Latona noted.
“We prefer to put them in January and February as opposed to March and April when the weeds are already growing. It grows so fast in the springtime that you’d have to stock 10 times as many grass carp than you really need to have any chance of controlling it,” Latona said. “They are just a part of the strategy but they’re not a magic solution.”
According to Latona there are a number of things to consider when combating vegetation growth and avoiding nuisance vegetation but the cornerstone of weed control is to manage the water quality in a positive way. That means paying attention to the water alkalinity and, if it is low, late winter and early spring is the ideal time to lime your pond to bring that level up to where it is supposed to be. “The reason we want to lime in the early spring, beginning in late February and early March is that we want to be ready to start fertilizing a little bit later,” Latona said. “I know this sounds a little counterintuitive and you are probably wondering how the heck does liming and fertilizing help prevent weeds? The secret is that by liming and fertilizing we are producing ideal water chemistry which enhances the plankton community in the spring. That gives the water a little tint and color which shades the bottom from intense sunlight, which helps prevent the growth of unwanted bottom rooted aquatic vegetation.” Even though there isn’t a lot of growing activity in the winter, it is still the time to establish that base, just like you do when you apply pre-emergent herbicide to your lawn in the colder months and you have the best shot at preventing vegetation from ever getting established in the first place. Latona pointed out that it takes three things to grow plants, soil, water and sunlight. While obviously, we can’t control the water or the soil, the one thing we can manipulate and control to some extent is the sunshine. He also said that most aquatic vegetation won’t tolerate much shade and is pretty direct intense sunlight dependent and any steps to mitigate the intensity or volume of direct sunlight will inhibit vegetation grown on the pond bottom. “By liming and fertilizing we are enhancing planktonic algae growth, which is a green plant as well and we can create a shading effect and we can block some of that intense sunlight from ever hitting the bottom which is where most of the nuisance stuff grows, and it is almost like putting a shade cloth across the top of the water,” Latona said. “If weeds do grow it is struggling and it isn’t going to grow in the massive quantities that you see in lakes and ponds that are super clear.” “That is the objective and the strategy and it is really important to get a jumpstart on that shading because once you get into mid-late March and April the weeds may be winning the war and you really have got an uphill battle on your hands,” Latona added. Once that aquatic vegetation gets a foothold it is difficult to curtail its growth because in the spring the water column is growing and introducing grass carp, who feed on that the vegetation is an option as is herbicides. “Grass carp can be effective but if the aquatic vegetation has already grown up near the surface it is difficult to shade the sunlight,’ Latona said. It is a lot easier to shade vegetation that is growing in four to six feet of water than it is something that is just a foot below the surface.”
How much aquatic vegetation is too much vegetation and is there a middle ground? A lot of the vegetation issue has to do with water depth. If you have a deep lake and the banks are cut pretty sharply down around a good portion of the lake chances are you won’t have a lot of super shallow water where vegetation can take a foothold and get established. If there is sparse or even no vegetation, there are companies that supply habitat to simulate floating grass, lily pads plus underwater structure that can provide cover for both baitfish and predators for those ponds devoid of vegetation. It’s the opposite side of the aquatic vegetation coin. Latona points out that there is “emergent shoreline and vegetation” that grows in the soil around and in the shallow areas and in three or four feet of water in the marginal areas. They will form some mats as they slowly creep outward into the open water. “That is one of those kinds of ‘best of both world’ scenarios in my mind,” Latona explained. “You have vegetation along the margins and the bait loves it, the predators love it and the fish utilize it for habitat for spawning, protection and ambush. But you don’t run the risk of it growing and taking over open water and becoming a nuisance.” Controlling aquatic vegetation is really about being proactive and starting the ball rolling early regardless of what the temperature outside is. “When we get towards the end of February and the beginning of March it’s going to be chilly and kind of wintery and while the temperature changes the daylight is the same and that which stimulates vegetation growth,” Latona said. “When it comes to fertilization it doesn’t matter what the air or water temperature is and the truth is that the calendar should dictate when you start fertilizing, not the water or air temperature.” “What we are doing is building the phosphorus content in the water slowly so that when we get into April, May and the true growing season we’ve already got a phosphorous and hopefully a phytoplankton base that is going to explode as the water and air temperatures rise,” Latona noted. “If you wait too long you are fighting vegetation, go with herbicide and need to wait until it kills the weeds. It costs you a bunch of extra money, puts you way behind in your fertilizing efforts and you’ve wasted a bunch of time. Important Contact Information Southeastern Pond Management www.sepond.com 205-664-5596 (Birmingham office) 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 47
Building a Cabin Step 2 Selecting a Site BY JOE BAYA
48 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
LIFESTYLE You have your heart set on building a cabin on the piece of property you own. It is your “getaway, safe haven, escape” whatever you want to call it, it is your home away from home. In part one of our series on building a cabin we went through the details of how to develop a budget for the project. Now we are addressing what considerations are involved with selecting a site. Clint Flowers is an Accredited Land Consultant with National Land Realty. He and I recently did some deep diving on this subject on a recent Huntin’ Land Podcast. You’ve figured out your tentative budget full well knowing that will change and part of the reason it will change is that some of that financing is hinged on where you are going to build and the requisite costs of making that actually happen. Some places are easy to access and build on. Other, possibly more desirable sites may require more labor and ultimately cost more to make it a reality.
How important is your cabin’s location in terms of affecting your hunting? Both Flowers and I agree that while you don’t want to plop your cabin in the middle of the best location to ambush a whitetail most of the time where you put your cabin doesn’t really affect the quality of the hunting or even really disrupt the game. They may have to change their travel and feeding patterns just a little bit but they adapt to the situation. The same can be said of traffic on a property. I’ve been on properties that it seems that the more you are on the property the less it matters and the game just gets used to the vehicles and the people. ‘It’s not like you are back and forth, in and out of the property three or four times a day. Most of the time you are going to come in once and then be on a little buggy or whatever,” Flowers said. “It is more about hunting pressure than traffic.”
For example, I’ve got two potential building spots on my property. One spot is very easily accessible. It’s not hard to get into but, while it is attractive, there is nothing there that is really aesthetically pleasing. It is not a location where you are going to sit on your porch and “ooh and ah” at.
It is a tough call in trying to determine where to draw the line in terms of the cost to develop a location. There is a big financial difference between developing 75 versus 500 yards of gravel driveway and even stringing electrical lines that same distance. When is enough too much?
Then I’ve got another location that is the “ooh and aw” spot but it isn’t that accessible and is going to be more expensive to build there. It is a tough choice.
Once again, the emotion and financial aspects come into play.
“You need to decide whether your goal is budget driven or emotionally driven and what the primary purpose of the cabin is,” Flowers said. “Who is going to be coming with you? If it is going to be your work or hunting buddies then it will probably be an “eat, sleep, hunt, eat, sleep, hunt” kind of thing and there isn’t going to be a lot of scenery or environment adoration going on because they will focus on getting back out.” “If it is going to be a family or entertainment setting where you are going to have people that are not driven hunters or don’t hunt at all and they may sleep in and just relax and enjoy the views and sounds of nature,” Flowers added. “For most people it is a blend of the two.” Putting that consideration in a separate box the second factor that comes into play is what you are planning to do with the property. If it is your “forever” camp that is different from a piece of property that you want to enjoy for a little bit then move on to something else or if it is your “forever” place. If it is basically just a place to get dry, something to eat and crash then the most accessible and subsequently cheapest spot to get a structure established makes sense. When it comes to resale value most of the time buyers are going to choose the option that has the family setup and more scenic location. “It is the romance when you pull in and see the river, the lake or the creek or the scenic view whatever it is that thing is that gives the property the ‘wow’ factor. If it is a budget driven location but the property offers are more scenic option a buyer may think that it would be ok for now but down the road, they will move the dwelling or build in the more scenic spot down the road,” In addition to scenic components, you need to consider access. Not everyone owns a four-wheel drive and is set up for off roading and may not be crazy about driving on muddy roads or two tracks so it has to be relatively easy to get to but still have a place you can relax. If you bought the property to get away it’s probably not a very bright idea to buy a structure within sight or within hearing distance of a busy road.
“It is based on your goals. If you don’t plan on selling the property and staying there then the return on your property isn’t budget driven, it is emotional. If you decide this is your spot and you are going to be there until you are gone then that settles the issue,” Flowers pointed out. If resale is possibly in your future then you need to determine if what you want to do is financially feasible. That means getting quotes for all the work to be done from getting equipment to the site, types of foundation, utilities and easements, everything. Then that cost needs to be assessed to come up with an adjusted cost per acre of the property once the improvements are made. That can be a tricky business in terms of pricing your property out of the local market. Rightly or wrongly many buyers evaluate property based on that cost per acre. If you have a smaller tract then the improvements may push the price per acre higher than the going rate in your market. “While from an appraisal standpoint it doesn’t make a lot of sense, that is still how most buyers frame land even with improvements. If you have a larger track with more acreage that a higher level of site and cabin expense gets spread over more acres and has less of an effect overall but if it is a smaller tract then it drives up the cost per acre higher,” Flowers explained. With Covid and the state of the economy the building trades have more demand than what they can handle and that affects the viability of a cabin on your property if you can keep the cost down to a level where it won’t drive your cost per acre up unreasonably high. Then there is the time factor. With the demand high the wait period for new construction starts can be months out. The good news is if you can get a cost-effective rate to build something, you’ve pretty much got equity built in immediately “The time value has a lot more effect on people these days and people will pay more for something turnkey,” Flowers concluded. “If you have some kind of water feature that is a big selling point, as is clearing a couple of acres as a wildlife observation area.”
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50 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
FISHING
Saltwater Wade Fishing Tips for Catching Speckled Trout in the Surf BY CAPTAIN RICHARD RUTLAND As someone who gets to fish almost every day for a living, when the fish show up on the Gulf beach I just about can’t sleep at night and that’s saying a lot considering my days start at three to four o’clock in the morning most days during the summer months. The really fun part about it is how aggressive the fish can be when you’re saltwater wade fishing. Surf fishing for speckled trout on Gulf beaches has produced some of the most aggressive schools of speckled trout I have ever encountered.
dark can have its challenges and that recorded information makes things easier. It also provides me several location options to fish if other fishermen are in any of the places I marked.
Catching speckled trout in the surf can be easy, considering they will eat almost any type of live bait and an array of different lures. I love fishing both baits but I’m fond of chunking lures at them. Armed with the proper saltwater wade fishing gear and tactics on how to catch speckled trout in the surf, anglers will be reeling them in with ease.
I look for points along the beach where there are a series of sand bars with deeper water adjacent. Anytime I find deep water, four to eight feet, next to the beach or next to a sandbar I make a note. On higher water the fish will sometimes be on top of the bars and in lower water I look for them in the deeper water next to a shallow bar. Anytime you can find structure on the beach like wrecks, rocks, bulkheads, pilings and clay/mud lumps are great places to start as well. The main ingredient for me though is always finding big schools of mullet. It doesn’t have to be finger mullet sized bait either, I like to see schools of big mullet either jumping or smoking on the surface.
Speckled trout are littered all along the Gulf Coast from the 10,000 Islands all the way to the southern tip of Texas. Most of what I’m talking about in this article relates to many different places all along the Northern Gulf Coast. Many years specs show up in about May and will reside on the beaches until about September when the first hints of fall weather start. The beaches will warm up faster than the rest of the surrounding waters but I always start to see them “come to life” for surf fishing speckled trout when the water temperatures start to reach 68-70 degrees.
When I think about how to catch speckled trout in the surf with live bait, I really favor croakers. They are usually very easy to come by at a few bait shops, pulling a small shrimp net, catching them on hook and line or cast netting them. Live Menhaden are very hard to keep alive but also work very well in the surf. For fishing live croakers, I like to use a 7 ½ foot medium power fast to moderate fast action rod and we fish a free-lined setup with no weight. I prefer a casting rod with 12 lb. monofilament line with a 4-6-foot section of 15-20lb. fluorocarbon leader with a 1/0 to 2/0 Owner SSW live bait hook.
“Come to life” is a term that I live by when I first start to find fish on the beaches. Finding life in general is a key to success on the Gulf beach and that means looking for schools of bait fish on your bottom machine when cruising, finding birds working in the surf, seeing porpoises feeding and looking for mullet jumping.
I like the casting rig because I can easily free spool the reel and let some line out to allow the fish to swallow the bait. When I get a bite, I usually count four to six seconds before setting the hook. We also use spinning setups with 7 ½ foot rods spooled with 15-20 lb. braided line with a four-foot section of fluorocarbon leader attached with an improved Albright knot.
Most years when approaching late spring and early summer I jump at the opportunity to get on the beaches well before the fish show up. I like to run at a slower speed and really take note of the “lay of the land” and make marks on my GPS to come back later and fish in the future. Utilizing your GPS does a couple things for you. I like to start my morning very early and finding a place I am not familiar with in the
To fish this saltwater wade fishing gear, I make long casts into or around the deeper sides of sandbars. I leave enough slack “belly” in my line to give the fish a chance to swallow the bait before I set the hook but, at the same time, keep enough tension on the line so I can slowly work the retrieve back and know when I get a bite. A typical cast and retrieve is about a one-to-three-minute process.
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Saltwater Wade Fishing Tips for Catching Speckled Trout in the Surf
Sometimes, the whole bait will pull out of the fish’s mouth and, if you can be patient enough and pause, most times you will get another bite quickly. While I don’t know if these bites are from the same fish or other fish competitively feeding in the school, it frequently happens. In terms of saltwater wade fishing gear baiting, I have found that hooking the bait through the top lip/nose of the croaker is the best route. There is a fine line between not hooking it deep enough or hooking it too deep and that will come with experience over time. It is important to note that if you aren’t getting bites relatively quickly you need to be moving. The beach bite is not really one to turn on and off at certain times. If they are chewing you will know it pretty quickly so always be on the move until you get a bite. I said earlier that I prefer to fish lures when catching speckled trout in the surf due to the amount of water that can be covered in a short amount of time. Sometimes they are only on the live bait and not lures and other times you can catch them better on lures. If I am not getting bites, I am constantly moving down the beach to find the next school of fish. In the morning I always start out with a topwater lure. If you get lucky and have very calm, quiet and smooth conditions I prefer a smaller topwater like the Rapala Skitter-V. When I have a little more wave action and wind, I throw larger topwater’s like my favorite, the Heddon Super Spook. When it comes to color, pink always seems to be a great color but a lot of days I throw color out the window because it seems like it doesn’t matter. I like to try and match the color to the water conditions. If it’s a clear day with clean water I go with bright colors and if it’s cloudy or off-color water I go a little darker. Topwater is usually an early morning and low light tactic but I have seen many days when they will chew them up all day. You have to throw it to know what the fish are in the mood for that day. My all-time favorite piece of saltwater wade fishing gear and just favorite lure to throw for speckled trout anytime of the year is the Slick Lure. I like this soft plastic jerk bait because of the unbelievable natural action it has in the water and the translucent colors that they carry. I only fish this lure on the Owner Beast 4/0 in the 1/8 ounce weighted hook. The 4/0 hook only comes two ways which is unweighted and weighted 1/8 ounce. I only fish the weighted version year-round. My favorite colors are pink/chartreuse, pearl/chartreuse, goblin, bayou blues, cool beans, and mad mullet. With the Slick, I use a medium power fast to extra fast casting rod in about 7-7 ½ ft with a low-profile casting reel spooled with 30 lb. braided line tipped with a 20 lb. fluorocarbon leader. It is critical when attaching a lure to your line that you use a loop knot. My “go to” loop knot is the Lefty Kreh Loop Knot. It’s very strong and easy to tie, but does need to be retied a few times throughout the day to avoid failure from the light teeth that speckled trout have. There is definitely an art to mastering the Slick but once you figure it out it’s truly a game changer. When it comes to setting the hook, I like to come out of my shoes on my hook set. This lure is a large profile with a lot of plastic and you have to overcome that with a big hook set. Once hooked and on the line, you can play the fish back to you with light pressure because of the wide gap in the hook. ADD FISHBITES TO YOUR LURE ARSENAL While I really like to use Fishbites for redfish and flounder I have found that they also work well for speckled trout. In the Fight Club series, 52 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
I’ve found that the Brawler five-inch jerkbait in the haymaker color is a winner. I also have had success with the four-inch Butt Kicker paddle tail also in the haymaker color. These are great for those occasions where you may be battling some dirty water conditions. The Haymaker color is a good dirty water color but also the added scent will also help to overcome tough water conditions. One of my other go to colors in the Counter Punch which is a Chartreuse color. As far as rigging goes, I use from a 1/8 to ¼ ounce jig with a Hogie jig head for either the Brawler or the Butt Kicker and work it a little bit fast on the beach twitching it along pretty quickly. I also like rigging it with a weighted Fight Club weighted swim bait hook for a more subtle approach in calm conditions. I will put those on a 20-pound fluorocarbon leader attached to 15 to 30 pound braid and sometimes a lighter leader in clear water conditions. You could tie them under a popping cork if you were fishing in dirtier water and for that setup, I use a 2 ½ foot section of leader under the cork attached to a Fight Club weedless hook worked with a 7 ½ foot medium light road with an extra fast tip and a 2,500-3,000-size spinning reel. This is a great all around go to setup in many different conditions and areas around bays and estuaries. As far as surf fishing goes for me I do not have a lot of opportunities to sight-cast Trout on the beaches but many times redfish make themselves available. The Fight Club series in many different patterns and colors are a great bait selection to take advantage of redfish on the beach. I like to use the lightest weight that the conditions will allow to avoid making a big slash with the lure and spooking the fish. When casting I like to lead the fish or school of fish by quite a margin and reel the lure back quickly to get in front of the fish. Once you feel your lure is in front of the fish, slow down your retrieve with small twitches to spark a bite. When I think about fishing in the surf, I always prefer to be in the water if possible but sometimes that can be tricky due to the sea state. Wade fishing away from the boat allows you to be stealthy and a bit sneaky approaching fish or fishy spots. A boat in the water makes a lot of noise and causes water displacement that the fish can feel, especially on the calmer days. When wade fishing you want to park your boat at a minimum of 100 plus yards away from your fishing spot. Make sure you use a good heavy anchor and anchor the boat off the beach a little. It takes no time for the waves or a wind change to blow the boat up on the beach, which leads to calling a buddy to pull you off, not to mention if you have a storm blow up on you quickly. Some saltwater wade fishing gear you want to have is a good belt with a set of pliers, tackle box, extra leader material, braid cutter like the Boomerang tool, a stringer, measuring device (or mark on your rod for minimum and maximum size fish), a small landing net and a good pair of wading shoes. I never get in the water to wade fish without a good pair of wading shoes on. There are too many unknown obstructions on the bottom to worry about and it’s easy to find something to wear on your feet in the water. When surf fishing for speckled trout from the boat, I like to always be on my trolling motor if the conditions are calm enough to do so. Having a Power Pole or anchor feature on your trolling motor is a “must have” to really be effective in setting up on a school of fish and, at the same time, be mindful, when using either, of wave action, which could push you into shallower water. If you get in too shallow of water on top of a sand bar you can break the motor shaft or torque your Power Pole to the point of failure. I have experienced both of these and it doesn’t make for a fun day.
Saltwater Wade Fishing Tips for Catching Speckled Trout in the Surf
When it’s too rough to use a trolling motor or Power Pole in the surf I break out the anchor. I know this may seem foreign to some but an anchor is a very important part of my equipment on board my vessel. I try to set up the boat to where I can cast on the edges of bars and also into the trough next to the bar. In closing I want to reiterate that when surf fishing for speckled trout, you really need to stay on the move until you get a bite and then slow down. When they quit biting, you need to start moving again until you hit on something else. I also always preach long casting when saltwater wade fishing and in order to accomplish that and have a great fishing experience, an angler has to have a quality rod matched with a quality reel spooled with quality line and know how to use them. The more water you can cover in the shortest amount of time equates to more successful trips out on the water…and more fun.
Contact Information Captain Richard Rutland Cold Blooded Fishing 251-459-5077 www.Coldbloodedfishing.com
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 53
Must Have Boat Accessories and Essentials BY DAVID STRICKLAND
Are you contemplating the purchase of a new or used boat? Perhaps you’ve already found your dream boat, and you need to figure out the best places to mount or store a few accessories. Whether it’s your first or the latest in a long line, there are a few necessary items that are vital to any floating vessel’s operation and safety. A good checklist of the essentials is crucial for any on-the-water activity, and then there is a second, ever-expanding list that we’ll call accessories. These are things that seem to make any boating adventure more enjoyable. Sometimes accessories slip over to the essential side, and it can be a matter of opinion about defining the terms and how best to distinguish between the two. Everything having to do with the propulsion, navigation, or safety of a vessel is deemed essential. Therefore, my definition of an accessory is anything that makes a boat trip more convenient, comfortable, or fun. If you want to see for yourself the vast array of choices in each category, a trip to your nearest West Marine to browse their extensive collection of nautical gear might cause that list to grow a little longer. They have over 200 stores scattered across North America, so locating one near you should be easy. ESSENTIALS Once you’ve decided on your perfect boat, you will need to make a list of things that will stay on board at all times and where best to store them. Let’s start by listing a few things to ensure everyone is safe and happy on the water: Sunscreen and Bug Spray- The sun can be a nemesis to our skin, eyes, and equipment. Combine a few bugs with sweat, and you have a recipe for an unhappy crew. Therefore, a ready supply of sunscreen and bug spray is vital to any trip. Always keep one formulated for kids and adults on the boat, and make sure to replace them every year. First Aid Kit- Add a little water to the deck with a bit of wave action, and you have the perfect recipe for a few bumps and bruises. The addition of a filet knife for cut bait, along with a few sharp hooks, and it doesn’t take long to realize a well-stocked safety kit is a must. In addition, learning to self-extract a fishhook is a highly recommended and relatively simple procedure. Since medical problems can happen quickly, ensure someone on board has the necessary training and supplies to provide immediate attention for the most common injuries. Be sure to have emergency contacts, such as poison control, readily available, along with a bottle of Syrup of Ipecac – in case of accidental poisoning. Thankfully, most injuries will be minor, but a proper first aid kit could save a life.
54 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
FISHING Fire Extinguisher- Fire on a boat can be a life-threatening emergency, especially if far from shore. So first, protect your vessel and passengers with an up-to-date fire extinguisher. In addition, contact your local fire department for some hands-on advice and training, just in case. Also, check out the newer technologies that can detect fuel leaks and automatically shut down your engine. Another excellent product is the new ball extinguishers that are mounted in an enclosed engine compartment to disperse a 360-degree dry chemical spray if a fire breaks out. Life Jackets and Throwable Life Preservers (Type 4)- Everyone on board must have a life jacket that is properly sized, in good condition, and readily accessible. Also, kids under eight must always wear their life jackets unless in an enclosed cabin.
adding and controlling lights easy for any boat owner. Accent lights placed under rear decks or flush-mounted options can turn your nighttime boating trips into a brighter, more colorful experience. Water Sports- This category has enough options to satisfy everyone, whether it’s a relaxing float on a water mat, a tube ride, snorkeling, or even spearfishing. Grills- A marine-grade stainless grill with push-button ignition is an excellent addition for larger vessels. Dropping anchor at days-end in a quiet cove and firing up the grill is a great way to watch the sunset. For sheer portability, the Cabo Grill is a great choice, with folding legs for dockside or camping use, as well as pedestal and rail mount options. West Marine sells both the gas and electric versions along with covers, padded carrying cases, and various mounts.
In addition, boats 16 feet in length or longer must have one Type IV (Throwable) U. S. Coast Guard-approved PFD on board that’s readily accessible.
Coolers- Electric or ice? The number of passengers and length of your trip will determine the size and number of coolers needed. Remember, your cooler’s storage capacity will be reduced by 30-50% if using ice.
Extra Rope- You never know when an extra length of rope will come in handy. So, stow away at least one bundle, and you’ll most likely be amazed at how quickly you’ll find hundreds of uses for it.
Many newer electric coolers have dual-zone cooling to take the place of a portable refrigerator. In addition, some models can utilize 12-24 DC or A/C voltage.
A Sharp Knife- At least one good quality, sharp knife is essential for every boat, from cutting bait to cutting an unwanted rope off your prop. Keep your knife in its sheath and safely stored where children won’t have easy access. Probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to invest in a couple of them since knives aren’t always where they seem to be needed and have a tendency to get temporarily “lost”.
Chart Plotters/Fish Finders- West Marine carries an extensive line of units designed for ocean and inshore use. Not only will the newer units show where you are and where you’re headed, but everything between you and the bottom with near-photographic imaging.
Also, carry a sharpener and keep a fine edge on your blades. Statistics verify that the increased effort required in cutting with a dull knife is the cause of many accidents. Emergency Signal Flares- If you get stranded on the water, a dependable signal flare is one of the more critical rescue items. It should give off both thick smoke and light to make the projectile visible both day and night. In addition, if your communications fail, it might be your only backup if you and your crew are stranded. Motion Sickness Pills- Even the most experienced sailors can get seasick every once in a while, so keep a supply of motion sickness pills in your boat. Even though you may never need them, the first passenger who gets seasick will be genuinely grateful. Plenty of Water- If you are planning a long trip, be sure to carry an adequate water supply. Hot sun and warm breezes can quickly cause dehydration and fatigue. Ensure each passenger has enough clean, cool water for each trip, and don’t hesitate to head to shore if your supply runs out faster than you expected. In addition, boat captains should carefully calculate the amount of clean water needed for cleaning, cooking, and even bathing on larger vessels. ACCESSORIES One’s imagination is about the only limitation in this category: Music- West Marine carries salt-water-resistant wired and Bluetooth audio systems from Clarion to Sony. Add satellite radio, and you can choose a tune for any occasion.
The better models are able to automatically plot the shortest and safest course based on the boat’s draft, beam and height; creating a route around a landmass, shoals and other fixed navigational hazards for a trouble-free cruise. Also, many units can wirelessly connect to your trolling motor, radar, and even your music, from a convenient HD screen, or your phone Boating Courses- Whether it’s your first boat or you’re a seasoned helmsman, there is always something new to learn. One good thing to come out of this covid outbreak is the improvement and expansion of online learning. If you already know the basics of boating, that’s great. However, several organizations offer a variety of upper-level options for folks with dreams of learning a whole lot more. In addition to classes offered by the US Coastguard, there are many online classes and seminars about cruise planning, in-depth weather analysis, marine electrical systems, anchoring, knot tying, and many other boating skills and procedures. FINAL THOUGHTS So even if you don’t have a list, head over to your nearest West Marine and discuss how to define accessories with their knowledgeable staff. West Marine carries everything from boat bumpers to blenders to help make your next trip safer and more enjoyable.
Contact Information West Marine www.westmarine.com
Lighting- The advent of modern led lights and Bluetooth technology makes 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 55
Fishing Tournaments near you Stanly County Big Bass Bounty
Format: A CPR (catch-photo-release) online “virtual” tournament in which bass are photographed on an approved measuring board along with an Event Identifier Card then uploaded via the Fishing Chaos App. Minimum length: 15.00” Number of Fish: 1 Number of Photos Scored: There’s no limit to the number you may submit; fish with lower scores are automatically replaced by those with higher scores. The score of your largest bass will remain on the Monthly and Overall Big Bass Leader Board at end of competition and your Best Five for the year long Leader Board. January 1, 2022 - October 31, 2022
MBKFA 2022 BATTLEGROUND - AOY & Citations 2022 AOY & Citation Standings.
January 1, 2022 - October 31, 2022
Baldwin Strong Tournament Series 2021-2022
The Baldwin Strong youth fishing tournament series is an online (CPR) catch, photo, release fishing tournament for anyone 18 years old and younger. A CPR tournament is a length-based tournament format quickly growing in popularity where participants capture a photo of the fish on a bump board or measuring device and submit the photo to the tournament. The Token is required to be visible (written on hand or paper) within all photos submitted (NO PHOTO EDITING ALLOWED) The tournament series will consist of 8 month-long tournaments from October 2021 to May 2022 with competitive categories and prizes each month with the Master Angler awarded at the conclusion of the tournament! All participants are encouraged to log every fish caught, as we will have random prize giveaways. October 1, 2021 - May 31, 2022
SWF Boat Show on the Bay Showdown 2022
All Anglers entered must be registered by 11:59pm Friday, April 1st, 2022. All fish entered must have been caught between Saturday, April 2nd at 12am and Sunday, April 3rd at 5pm. Fishing is allowed in all Alabama and Mississippi state waters, as well as Louisiana state waters east of the Mississippi River, and Florida state waters west of the Apalachicola River. Weigh-In will be held Saturday April 2nd from 12pm-5pm and Sunday April 3rd from 12pm-5pm at The USS Alabama Battleship. April 2, 2022 - April 3, 2022
For a full list of tournaments, rules, and prizes, check out https://app.fishingchaos.com/tournament 56 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
FISHING TOURNAMENTS NEAR YOU
Phins Fishing Classic
The inaugural Phins Fishing Classic, presented by Phins Apparel, the net proceeds will benefit United Ways across the 8-state region of this event. The goal of this tournament is to raise funds and awareness for United Way, as well as connect anglers to their local United Way chapter. The proceeds from this event will be divided proportionally based on how many anglers participate from each community. Participants of high school age and up are invited to join this event because it will be an NSR Reporting Qualifier! Phins Fishing Classic will be open to Fishing, with plans to expand nationwide in future years. Open Ticket: $35.00 Open Ticket with a T-shirt: $55.00 April 9, 2022 - May1, 2022
Crank 4 Bank on Lake Martin 2022
Crank 4 Bank is a bass fishing event held on Lake Martin and Lake Wheeler April 1st-July 4th where anglers purchase a $100.00 ticket to have a chance (after reg) to catch a tagged spotted, smallmouth (Wheeler) or largemouth bass worth $1,500 dollars along with a chance at being drawn to win one of two boats (a Bass Cat from Russell Marine or a Skeeter bass boat from Ashley’s Boat and RV) on Lake Martin, one boat (a Phoenix Bass Boat from Freedom Marine) on Lake Wheeler or a new Chevrolet Truck. When you purchase a $100 ticket and catch a tagged bass you win $1,500, a chance to be drawn to win one of the two bass boats on Lake Martin or one on Lake Wheeler, a new Chevy Truck (sponsored by Lake Martin Cabinetry and Alan Embry on Lake Martin or Lynn Layton Chevrolet of Decatur on Lake Wheeler) or $1,000,000 (sponsored by Point Broad Band and Big Fish Realty on Lake Martin or Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourism on Lake Wheeler) while also being eligible to win prizes through our first ever virtual fishing tournament that runs concurrent with Crank 4 Bank! You must have purchased a $100.00 ticket to fish the virtual tournament. Lake Wheeler on the Tennessee River in North Alabama will be added to the OGS Family in 2022! 200 tagged bass will be released in February and March of 2022 throughout Lake Martin (from up the river beyond Hwy 280 to Parker Creek near Kowaliga) and Lake Wheeler (from one end of the lake to the other) with a tag. April 1, 2022 - July 4, 2022
FishOPS CATCH5 Challenge Series
There are no minimum age limits; however all competitors under age 18 must be supervised at all times during competition by either a parent or guardian or by an adult designee. Waiver & Release form must be completed and on file with KBF for the current year. A month long CPR (catch-photo-release) online “virtual” tournament in which bass are photographed on an approved measuring board along with an Event Identifier Card then uploaded via the Fishing Chaos App. January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022
2022 KBF April State Challenge
A month long CPR (catch-photo-release) online “virtual” tournament in which bass are photographed on an approved measuring board along with an Event Identifier Card then uploaded via the Fishing Chaos App. Minimum length: 12.00” Number of Fish: 5 Digital photos for any KBF State Challenge may be submitted only for bass caught from public-access waters for which the competitor is legally authorized to fish, and for which he complies with all regulations. Competitors in multi-state or multi-province groups may submit bass caught in either/any of the combined states or provinces, providing they comply with all regulations (e.g., have a valid fishing license, meet boat permit requirements) for the water in which they fish. ENTRY FEE $46.00 April 1, 2022 - April 30, 2022
For a full list of tournaments, rules, and prizes, check out https://app.fishingchaos.com/tournament 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 57
Selecting the Best Firearm Insurance BY JOE BAYA
In many respects, buying insurance is a lot like going to the dentist. I should know. I have insurance and I am married to a dentist. I may be putting myself at risk by saying this but, here goes…you don’t really want to buy insurance or go to a dentist but you know that you have to and that it makes sense and is in your best interest. It is also a kind of fear of loss thing for both insurance and teeth. Getting regular cleanings and checkups can help but all is up for grabs depending on how you maintain your chompers. The same thing applies for insurance. Your hard worked for and earned assets need to be protected in case the unexpected happens and you need to make sure that your coverage matches the value of your property and possessions. You don’t want to be “under-insured” or “over-insured” and a lot of it gets down to details. My “epiphany” came after I bought some land and started trying to monitor my remote assets, which is equipment, campers and other stuff. I got to thinking about what would happen if a fire got out of control, a tornado or hurricane struck or I had flooding. Am I covered? Do I have enough coverage? What about “exclusions” and maximum payouts for specific categories. As a hunter and shooter, I have a number of firearms and always thought that my homeowner’s property/casualty insurance would cover their loss in 58 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
case of calamity or theft. After some further probing I found that generally, your homeowner’s insurance has a limited payout that often doesn’t cover the value of firearms, especially if you have some high-end guns or collectibles. To get the inside scoop on firearm insurance GDO reached out to Cole Cushman, president of Gun and Trophy Insurance headquartered in Chantilly, VA. Partnering with the Hanover Insurance Group the family run GTI provides affordable firearm and trophy insurance worldwide. Cushman points out that there often is confusion between firearm insurance and firearm liability insurance. Firearm liability insurance (such as offered by U.S. LawShield) covers a firearm owner for legal defense for self-defense and the liability associated with that and owning a firearm. It can also help with gun and identity theft and, through its Huntershield program can assist if you have an issue while hunting and is available to cover hunting in multiple states. The firearm insurance provided by Gun and Trophy Insurance covers the actual cost of loss or damage to a firearm. So, what exactly does your home homeowners policy cover when it comes to firearms?
LIFESTYLE “Every homeowner’s policy has a personal property part which is typically 50% of the actual dwelling amount of the house and that covers clothing, furniture, electronics and guns in some capacity,” Cushman said. “You may have $10,000 worth of guns but your homeowner’s policy’s coverage is only $2,500, unless you buy an insurance rider or a separate policy like ours.” Cushman explained that the other area of concern with a homeowner’s policy is “valuation”. For example, if your house burns down how is the insurance company, and every carrier is different, going to value your guns? Most of the companies will limit or pay you the actual cash or depreciated value for older items or antiques that are no longer in production. “You could be looking at an actual cash value on a homeowner’s policy that is pennies on the dollar for guns that are going up in value and you may be disappointed with what your insurance carrier thinks your collection is worth come claim time,” Cushman said. Let’s say you have a “collection” of firearms. Some of them are utilitarian and others are classic and maybe even vintage. It is a fact that the value of guns is increasing so the question is how do you insure guns that are going up in value and what if they are accessorized with slings, sights, scopes, tripods, muzzle brakes or even silencers? Cushman said that they have two ways of insurance: firearms and accessories. They can insure the firearm and anything that attaches to a gun which includes silencers, thermals and other collateral attachments. With that policy they can either use a “blanket unscheduled limit” which unless the item is worth over $10,000, they don’t need to know anything about it until claim time. “We value it at fair market value at the time of loss,” Cushman said. “If you bought a gun 10 or 15 years ago for $5,000 and it’s now worth $7,500, we pay the fair market value to replace it.” The second option is for items that firearms that are valued at over $10,000 need to be itemized and includes a description of the package, a serial number and the value of the item. “When a gun is scheduled, we give the stated amount or value that you list and you can adjust it every year and then we’ll give an additional 25% of the stated value of the item if it is insufficient to replace,” Cushman noted. “A lot of guys will do a combination of the two. If they own anything over $10,000, they will schedule it and they will use the blanket unscheduled to cover everything else and that avoids them from having to report to an insurance company exactly what they own.” It is no secret that in today’s society, firearm owners are under a microscope in terms of gun control and have a legitimate fear in keeping their personal data safe.
time of loss for unscheduled firearms. “We discuss with the insured what condition the firearm was in, what they think it is worth, refer to the blue book for gun values for some direction and through online sales and auction houses to establish what the gun is worth and what the insured is going to be happy with,” Cushman explained. “A lot of times in most claims the insured is better off and receives more than the gun was worth if they sold it.” Cushman said that to initiate a policy all you need to do is go to their website and they have a secure point of sale system which easily allows you to purchase up to half a million dollars in coverage in a matter of minutes. They will email you a certificate showing your coverage and that it is in force. “We always answer the phone and talk to everyone whether they are paying $115 a year or $2,500 a year for their collection,” Cushman said. What about insurance “exclusions” “The number one exclusion that is built into most gun insurance policies is theft from an unlocked vehicle and we have that exclusion as well however we remove it if at a shooting range or gun venue. We also remove it if the gun is being shipped by FedX , UPS or an airline,” Cushman noted. “We will cover theft from your car, even if it is in your driveway, but we need forceful sign of entry.” Gun and Trophy Insurance offers five different rating tiers which are all based on the collection size. The rates start at $115 a year for $20,000 coverage and then increases. “Basically, we’re at a 31 cent per 100 rate and as a collection grows our lowest rate is 15 cents per 100 value and is literally one tenth of what a lot of carriers charge,” Cushman pointed out. According to Cushman in terms of insuring your trophy collection, homeowners’ insurance will cover the cost of the taxidermy which doesn’t even come close to the cost of the hunt. To that end they have set limits on about 600 species throughout the world and have set dollar amounts which are more in line with the cost of the hunts, the trophy fees, the airline, taxidermy and other expenses. “We’re ensuring trophies more as fine art paintings, which they are for the lifetime memories for people,” Cushman concluded. Important Contact Information Gun and Trophy Insurance www.gunandtrophy.com (703)-901-4899
“One of our clients’ biggest concerns, as well it should be, is ‘where is my data going’,” Cushman said. “They don’t necessarily want Cushman and Gun and Trophy Insurance to know exactly what they have. We don’t share client’s information with anyone and never will but if Russia wants to hack my system, I can’t guarantee that someone’s name isn’t going to be released.” “We don’t want that information, we don’t need it until there is a claim so you can keep it in a secure location, your gun safe or even in an email to yourself,” Cushman added. In terms of “fair market value” Cushman said that it is established at the 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 59
How to Hook a Sand Flea BY WELDON HALL
I’ve found the best way to hook them and keep them on is to start at the bottom with your hook point going through the digger tail and that kind of pins them on to the hook and then you come up through the back of the shell. The trick is to use a drill back and forth to just make a small hole at the point and gently ease it through. If you jam it through you will crack the shall and the bait is going to swing off almost immediately. If you can get the hook through without cracking the shell and get past the barb it will stay on.
Sand fleas have a barrel shaped shell and they burrow into the sand in the swash (which is the layer of water that washes up the beach after an incoming wave has broken) and use their feathery antennae to filter plankton from the incoming waves. A sand flea can hold its appendages close to its body so they can roll in the waves and where they land, they dig in for concealment with only their antennae exposed. They have five sets of legs and a “digger” which helps them to do just that and once dug in, helps them anchor. They can only move backwards when they are on wet sand. They are basically immobile when they are on dry sand.
My rule of thumb is that whatever the size of the sand fleas you are using you want to match your hook size to that sand flea length as closely as possible. You can use a Kahle hook (left) or a circle hook (right) 60 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
I like to tip my sand fleas either with crab or sand flea Fishbites about the size of my thumbnail. Not only will it help attract fish but it helps to keep the sand flea on the hook and if the sand flea does get flipped off you still have bait in the water. A little piece of orange Fishbite looks like eggs (spawn) in a female and can attract a bite.
FISHING
Capt. Rutland Capt. Richard Richard Rutland 251.459.5077 251.459.5077 Inshore Fishing Guide Service Inshore Inshore Inshore Fishing Guide Service
richard.rutland@yahoo.com richard.rutland@yahoo.com
Speckled Tripletail Speckled Trout Speckled Trout Tripletail Speckled Trout Trout USCG USCG Licensed & Insured USCG Licensed & Insured USCG Licensed Licensed & & Insured Insured
www.coldbloodedfishing.com
Redfish Flounder Redfish Flounder Dauphin Dauphin Island Island Alabama Alabama
Dauphin Island Alabama CAPT. RICHARD RUTLAND
You can also utilize pompano jigs, such as the Sea Striker or Bomber Nylure models or banana type jigs like Goofy jigs or Buccaneer Wiggler jigs to hang your sand fleas on instead of circle hooks.
251.459.5077
Inshore FishingCharters Charters Inshoreand andOffshore Offshore Fishing USCGLicensed Licensed & Insured USCG & Insured USCG Licensed
Important Contact Information
Dauphin Island, Dauphin Island, ALAL
251.459.5077 Capt.Richard Richard Rutland 251.459.5077 Capt. Capt. Richard Capt. Rutland Rutland 251.459.5077 richard.rutland@yahoo.com www.coldbloodedfishing.com
Sand Flea Outfitters – Destin, Florida www.Destinsurffishing.com 850-974-7919
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DIVISION OF CLUTCH PRODUCTS INC. Speckled Trout Tripletail Speckled Trout Tripletail USCG Licensed Licensed & & Insured Insured USCG
Redfish Flounder Dauphin Island Alabama
& POWERTRAIN
Time to Get Your 4x4 Ready for Hunting Season Cables · Transmission Parts · Ring & Pinions, Axles · 4X4 Drive Shafts & Differentials Custom Built Control Cables · Complete 4WD Services · All Types of Parts Specializing in Agricultural Clutches and Drive Shafts
www.clutchproducts.com
OUR LOCATION 1159 South Broad St. MOBILE, AL 36603 1-800-239-2191
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BY HANK SHAW Photos by Holly A. Heyser
Chilorio, Sinaloan Braised Pork This recipe comes together easily, and the ingredients can be found in many supermarkets, and in all Latin markets. Serve it on tacos, burritos, sandwiches, sopes, or just alongside some rice. Prep: 30 mins • Cook: 2 hrs •Total: 2 hrs 30 mins Ingredients
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2 to 3 pounds pork shoulder 1 large white onion, sliced in quarters 8 cloves garlic, unpeeled 2 to 5 bay leaves Salt and black pepper 4 guajillo chiles 4 papilla or ancho chiles 4 chipotle chiles 2 tablespoons cumin seeds, or 2 teaspoons ground 2 teaspoons coriander seeds, or 1 teaspoon ground 1 tablespoon oregano, Mexican if possible 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, or more to taste 1/3 cup lard
Instructions Cut the pork into large chunks about 3 inches across. Put them into a large, lidded pot and cover with water by 1 inch. Bring to a boil and skim any froth off. Lower the heat to a simmer and add 1/4 of the onion, 2 garlic cloves and the bay leaves. Salt to taste and cook until the pork is tender. 2. Remove the seeds and stems of all the chiles. It’s OK if a few seeds get stuck. 3. Meanwhile, make the salsa. Heat a comal pan or griddle or heavy frying pan over high heat and char the rest of the onion and the garlic cloves. 4. While the vegetables are charring, bring a medium pot of water to a boil. While that is heating, quickly toast the chiles on the hot comal — about 30 seconds total, flipping a couple times. You want the dried chiles to blister a little, but not blacken. When they are toasted and the pot of water hits a boil, put the chiles in the water and turn off the heat. 5. If you want, toast the cumin and coriander seeds in a hot, dry pan until they smell nice. Put them in a spice grinder or a blender and grind. This step does add a lot of flavor. 6. When the onions and garlic are nicely charred and the chiles soft, put them in a blender with the oregano and spices, salt, vinegar and enough water to make a sauce with the consistency of cream. Puree. 7. Once the pork is tender, drain the broth and discard it or use in another recipe. Wipe out the pot and add the lard. When it’s hot, add the chunks of pork and sear hard on one side — you want a combination of crispy and soft. 8. When you have achieved that, pour in the salsa and mix well. Turn the heat to a simmer and cook for 10 to 20 minutes, then serve.
1.
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CAMPHOUSE KITCHEN
Fried Speckled Trout with Black-Eyed Pea Salad Prep: 20 mins • Cook: 20 mins • Total: 40 mins Ingredients TROUT • 4 to 6 skinless speckled trout filets • 1 cup milk • 1 cup fine cornmeal, a/k/a “fish fry” • 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning • 2 teaspoons ground black pepper • Peanut oil for frying SALAD • 1 cup black-eyed peas • 2 cups chicken broth • 2 cups water • 1/4-pound bacon • 1 chopped onion • 3 chopped garlic cloves • 1 or 2 roasted red peppers, canned or freshly roasted, chopped • 3 cups chopped turnip or mustard greens • Salt, black pepper and cider vinegar to taste
Instructions 1. Start by cooking the black-eyed peas. Bring the water and chicken broth to a boil and add the peas. Lower the heat to a very gentle simmer and cook until they are tender, but not falling apart. While this is happening, cook the bacon in a large saute pan. When the bacon is crispy, remove it and chop. Set it aside for now. 2. Sauté the onion in the bacon fat over medium-high heat until the edges brown. Add the garlic and the greens and toss to coat in the bacon fat. Cook until the greens wilt. Turn off the heat, add back the bacon, then mix in the red peppers. Cover the pan and set aside for now. 3. Pour the milk into a shallow bowl. Mix all the breading ingredients. Pour enough peanut oil into a frying pan to come up about 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Heat the oil to 325°F to 350°F. If you don’t have a thermometer, the oil will be ready when a bit of the breading sizzles instantly when flicked into it. When the oil is hot, dredge the fish in the milk, then coat with the breading. Fry until golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels. 4. To finish, warm the black-eyed pea salad and put some on everyone’s plate and top with the fried fish. Serve with beer or an uncomplicated white wine.
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NEW & Cool gear BY WILLIAM KENDY
Rambo Electric Bikes Offers Canoe/Kayak Trailer Haul your favorite Kayak right to your launching destination securely and safely. Padded contact points protect your kayak from scratches and simple ratchet straps secure it tightly in place. This lightweight steel constructed trailer only weighs 28 pounds and can be used with all Rambo bikes. It’s three-foot width can be extended up to ten feet. The R150 Extra Large Luggage rack is required for proper use of the trailer. Suggested Retail Price: $269.99 www.rambobikes.com
Mossberg Introduces Two New 940 Pro Turkey Shotguns
These two-gas system operated 12-gauge autoloaders are optics-ready and available in an 18.5 or a 24-inch barrel. They feature HIVIZ ® CompSight ® fiber optic sight for quick target acquisition; Mossberg X-Factor ™ ported choke tube for improved pattern density; full camo coverage in Mossy Oak ® Greenleaf ™ for ultimate concealment. They are compatible with factory manufactured 2.75- or 3-inch shells. Suggested Retail Price: $1,120.00 www.mossberg.com
Millennium TU03 Field Pro Turkey Seat
Featuring a Millennium ComfortMAX seat, the TU03 in Mossy Oak® Bottomland provides superior comfort and back support which keeps your backside above moisture and bugs. The slight elevation allows hunters to see further as a tom sneaks over a rise or steps in from cover. Made from powder-coated aluminum, it has a fully adjustable folding seatback, weighs only 6.4 pounds and comes with a padded carrying case. Suggested Retail Price: $104.00 https://millennium-outdoors.com/
TenPoint Launches Affordable High-End Crossbow
The new Tenpoint Turbo S1 crossbow includes the ACUslide™ silent and safe cocking and de-cocking system and delivers speeds of 390 FPS shooting a 400-grain arrow with just a 31 inch forward draw. The cam system rotates 340 degrees and utilizes four cables instead of the traditional two resulting in straight-nock travel for down range accuracy. It features a two-stage trigger with a 3.5-pound pull. Suggested Retail Price: $1,299.00 www.tenpointcrossbows.com
Bushnell Announces New Laser Rangefinder
Delivering .3-yard accuracy out to 150 years, the Bushnell Broadhead laser rangefinder is tailored around short-range accuracy for exacting archery yet has the capability to range animals out to 500 yards with a maximum range on reflective targets out to 1,500 yards with one yard accuracy. It features a scan mode for constant range and a fully multi-coated glass optical system that is up to 2x brighter than similar rangefinders. Suggested Retail Price: NA www.bushnell.com
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NEW & COOL GEAR FOR OUTDOORSMEN
Jack Wolfskin Lakeside Trip Jacket
Description: Tailored from extra lightweight, highly breathable fabric featuring the brand’s proprietary biocide-free mosquito-proof technology, this jacket is perfect for days on the river. It also provides factor 40+ UV protection, and comes equipped with plenty of useful pockets for flies, leader, tippet and more. Perfect for days spent on the river. Suggested Retail Price: Men’s - $199.95 / Women’s - $149.95 us.jackwolfskin.com/
See Things Differently with Bajio NATO Sunglasses
The NATO has a bold, squared statement frame with oversize temples to block sidelight and keep the focus on what is in front of you. Constructed of light and strong castor-based bio-polycarbonate, the polarized lenses with proprietary LAPIS technology slices through glare for better fish-spotting while blue light blocking prevents eye fatigue. The rubber temple tips ensure a snug fit and is available in six lens colors. Suggested Retail Price: $199-$249 www/bajiosunglasses.com
Engel Rechargeable Live Bait Aerator Pump
The Engel Bubbler sports two electromagnetic pumps to generate airflow. All hardware and screws are marine-grade stainless steel and it features an internal gasket for ultimate protection of the battery and circuit board compartment. The pump runs on a high-capacity Lithium-ion rechargeable battery with a 36-hour life. Battery run-time can be further enhanced by utilizing the intermittent feature and the unit offers four variable speed settings. Suggested Retail Price: $39.99 www.engelcoolers.com
Camp Chef Professional Fry Griddle 2
Turn your double-burner camping stove into a flat top griddle. This griddle top incorporates heat diffuser plates to evenly distribute heat and minimize hotspots. It is pre-seasoned with Camp Chef’s “True Seasoned Finish” and has a natural cooking surface that is ready to use right out of the box. It is made from heavy-duty steel with cooking dimensions of 16 inches by 24 inches and weighs in at 28 pounds. Suggested Retail Price: $114.95 www.campchef.com
New On-line “Shopping Mall” for Hunting Equipment
If you are looking to buy and sell used and even new hunting equipment, look no further. The Hunting Exchange is a new on-line service that can help you find what you are looking for, from boots to bows and arrows, decoys, optics, treestands and blinds and more. Plus, if you have hunting gear that you want to sell, listing and selling it online is easy and safe. For more information go to www.hunting-exchange.com.
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Be Aware of Changes to the
2022 Turkey Season Alabama’s turkey hunters, probably the most avid in the nation, need to be aware of several changes to the season dates and regulations before the start of the 2022 spring season. The turkey season in Zone 1, which covers the bulk of the state, will be from March 25 through May 8. Zone 2, which covers northwest Alabama, will be open April 1 through May 8. The spring season in the Zone 3 counties of Talladega, Clay, Randolph, Clarke, Monroe and Covington counties, the only counties with a fall season, is March 25 through May 8. BY CHRIS BLANKENSHIP Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
Other than the later starting date, two other significant changes were approved by the Alabama Conservation Advisory Board (CAB) at its May 2021 meeting. The season bag limit was reduced to four birds with a daily turkey bag limit of one gobbler per person, including fall and spring seasons. Also, decoys are prohibited for the first 10 days of the spring season and for all the fall seasons. These changes were discussed at three CAB meetings before the adjustments to the season were approved. The Board meeting in August 2020 was the first to discuss changing the
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season regulations after a presentation by Mike Chamberlain, the Terrell Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management at the University of Georgia, about the decline of wild turkey populations in the South. Chamberlain compared the turkey population trends in Alabama to what has been witnessed in Arkansas, which has seen a steady decline in numbers. He said Alabama appears to be seven to eight years behind Arkansas. Chamberlain said gobbling activity begins about 45 days before the peak of nesting, which makes the toms susceptible to harvest early in the season. The double whammy that is affecting populations in the Southeast is the increased harvest of gobblers and a survival rate of hatchlings that is not high enough to sustain the population. After tabling a motion at the August 2020 meeting to reduce the season bag limit to three birds, the Board broached the subject again at the March 2021 meeting. At that meeting, the Board heard from Dr. Barry Grand, Supervisor of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Cooperative Research Unit at Auburn University, who was in charge of a five-
FROM THE COMMISSIONER year wild turkey research project conducted by Auburn University and initiated by the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division. Grand’s summary of the project indicated several actions could positively impact the health of the wild turkey population in Alabama, including a reduced bag limit, opening the season later, shortening the season or a combination of those and other actions. Grand said the study indicated a shortened season and reduced bag limit would not have as much impact as a later starting date. The turkey harvest data shows 26 percent of the gobblers are harvested the first week of the season, and by the end of the second week almost 50 percent of the birds have been harvested. WFF produces, in conjunction with the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Full Fans & Sharp Spurs publication. The brochure is the compilation of the data collected by wildlife managers and turkey hunters who spend a great deal of time in the turkey woods. The data gives WFF officials information on any trends in turkey sightings and activity so that hunting pressure, predators and habitat changes can be factored into management decisions that will ensure wild turkeys continue to thrive in our great state. What the most recent Full Fans & Sharp Spurs publications indicate is a survival rate of less than two poults per clutch of eggs (editor’s note according to wildlife biologists, the average clutch size of wild turkeys is 10-12 eggs). The publication also shows that the hunters have the most success in the first week of the season, which is before the peak of the breeding activity. Visit www.outdooralabama.com/turkey-hunting-alabama/turkey-research to view the publications for the past seven years. Avid turkey hunters who spend a significant amount of time in the woods during the season can join the survey team to report turkey sightings and activity. This provides valuable information on statewide and regional trends
in gobbling activity, hunter effort, harvest rates, age structure and sex ratios. Combined with the WFF staff’s field surveys, the Avid Turkey Hunter Survey is used to make informed management decisions that will ensure wild turkeys continue to thrive in Alabama. The more information available, the better the data. That is why I ask turkey hunters who spend 10 days or more in the woods to join the Avid Turkey Hunter Survey. To participate in the Avid Turkey Hunter Survey, contact WFF at 334-242-3469 or send an email to amy. silvano@dcnr.alabama.gov. WFF staff will provide hunters with information about how to complete the survey. I hope Alabamians remember the wild turkey success story that allows us to enjoy hunting the majestic bird. Through trapping, relocation, and restocking efforts initiated in the late 1950s through early 2000s, WFF began replenishing a once depleted population and bolstered wild turkey numbers throughout Alabama to a state of abundance. We at the ADCNR will do everything possible to ensure the Eastern wild turkey remains one of the premier big game species in Alabama’s great outdoors. Even with the recent changes, turkey hunters in Alabama still enjoy one of the longest spring seasons and most liberal bag limits in the country. By the way, please join us at the first Alabama Conservation Advisory Board meeting of 2022. The meeting will be held March 5 in the Beard Auditorium at the Alabama Agriculture and Industries facility at 1445 Federal Drive in Montgomery. Anyone who wishes to address the Board about the turkey season or any other conservation issue can sign up between 8:00-8:30 a.m. to speak during the public comment period of the meeting. I hope your turkey season is filled with gobbling birds and safe, successful hunting.
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Public Support for Hunting
Unfortunately, hunters can be their own worst enemy when it comes to public support of hunting.
BY CHARLES “CHUCK” SYKES Director of the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF)
While on an annual hunting trip in south Texas, I was having a very candid conversation about the public’s attitude toward hunting with my fellow hunters and our outfitter. Their reactions to some of the statistics I was quoting prompted me to write this month’s article. Like them, before I took this job, I was only privy to conversations and meetings with like-minded individuals who, for the most part, shared my same thoughts and opinions on hunting.
In the book How to Talk About Hunting, Mark Duda refers to years of human dimension research conducted by his company, Responsive Management, on the topic of public support of hunting. His research has shown that approximately 85% of American adults support hunting when it is for the meat. On the opposite end of the scale, less than 30% of these same people support hunting for a trophy. This point is what I want to focus on for this article.
They thought I was crazy when I pointed out that less than four percent of Alabama residents purchase a hunting license annually. When all of your friends hunt and you operate a successful hunting outfitting service, you would assume that hunters are everywhere. But that’s simply not the case. I also informed them of the overwhelming disdain for “trophy” hunting by the majority of the non-hunting public. Again, this came as a complete surprise to them.
First, what is considered “trophy” hunting and who gets to make that decision? That’s always been a huge question in my mind. So, let me describe a couple of hunting scenarios and see if you think they classify as “trophy” hunting.
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Scenario one: A hunter in his early 50s saves his money to go on a once-in-a-lifetime hunting safari to Africa. He has been dreaming of hunting Kudu since he was a child. During this hunt he takes hundreds of photos and hours
FROM THE DIRECTOR of video of the animals, countryside, and indigenous people to document this momentous trip, and he is fortunate to harvest an incredible bull. He has purchased all of the necessary licenses, spent money in the rural areas, provided the meat from the animal to the locals, and has a shoulder mount of the animal to bring home. Is this hunter a “trophy” hunter? I’d say absolutely. But is that a bad thing? Absolutely not! Money spent on the trip was utilized to maintain healthy animal populations. Protein from the harvested animal fed the local community. Tips, guide fees, and taxidermy fees were paid to support the local economy. Scenario two: A hunter in his early 50’s goes to his family’s farm on Christmas afternoon to deer hunt with his 78-year-old father. The two have hunted together on that same farm since the hunter was six years old. During this hunt he takes photos and video of the deer and the surroundings to document this momentous trip, and he is fortunate to harvest a 3.5-yearold four point. He has purchased all of the necessary licenses, spent money in the area, provided the meat from the animal to a local family, and removed the antlers to save a memento of the hunt. Is this hunter a “trophy” hunter? I’d say absolutely. But is that a bad thing? Absolutely not! The trophy in the case was not the biggest representative of the species. However, the years of hard work and sacrifices both men have made to manage the property to provide great habitat for the wildlife and, most importantly, the fact that they have harvested an animal together for the past 44 years make this deer a true trophy. Anti-hunters have done a superb job of creating a misperception among the non-hunting public about trophy hunting. In my opinion, most “trophy” hunters are classified by antis into two categories. The first are wealthy and heartless aristocrats who travel to exotic destinations to kill the biggest and
best of each species, cut off its head for a mount to hang in the office, and throw the rest of the animal away. These hunters are accused of having no motivation for the hunt other than as a status symbol of their wealth and physical prowess. The second group of “trophy hunters” is seen as drunk rednecks that kill only for fun. These hunters are often portrayed as uneducated, unethical, and dangerous. I’m not so naive that I don’t realize a few people do exactly what the antis accuse all hunters of. However, both of the anti-hunter’s classifications of “trophy hunter’s”, for the most part, are not accurate. As you can imagine, I was the hunter in both scenarios, and I don’t feel like I fit into either of the groups. However, according to the rationale of the antis, because I considered each animal a trophy, my hunting shouldn’t be supported by the general public. We have to understand that many people don’t hear what we say; they hear what they want to hear, and the word “trophy” has negative connotations. I don’t agree with it, but it’s a reality that we must deal with. I guess what I really want you to take away from this article is the fact that we as hunters are always under scrutiny. Unfortunately, we can be our own worst enemy on many occasions. Bow hunters and gun hunters disagree; dog hunters and stalk hunters end up at odds with each other; and when we fight among ourselves, it makes us much more vulnerable to attacks from the outside. Try to remember Responsive Management’s statistics the next time you harvest an animal. Don’t post pictures on social media that are disrespectful to the animal. Wipe off blood, poke the tongue back into the mouth, and pose respectfully. Your friends are not the only ones seeing these pictures on social media. In addition, choose your words carefully when you are in a crowd of strangers and are talking about hunting. Please don’t give the antis any more ammunition against us.
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EVERY HOME HAS A FOUNDATION 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 69
Fundamental Rigging for Offshore Kayak Fishing
Even reef fish like this red snapper are in reach of kayak anglers.
One of the biggest developments in the entire kayak fishing game is the discovery that kayaks, properly equipped and properly handled, make superb offshore fishing platforms. The fact that most fishing kayaks can be easily transported across beaches and launched through the surf means that kayak anglers can reach big water and big fish quickly and safely. However, fishing the deep blue water offshore, even if it’s only a mile or less off the beach, requires that kayak anglers rig up right for success. Going offshore with the same tackle used for inshore redfish, trout and flounder might work occasionally, but sure enough, if the kayak angler goes offshore often enough, something very big, very mean is going to come along and completely overpower standard inshore gear. So let’s look at rigging up a kayak for offshore fishing.
BY ED MASHBURN Photos by Ed Mashburn
ROD, REEL- VERY IMPORTANT FOR OFFSHORE Let’s be real. Some very large blue water fish have been caught from kayaks by anglers using fairly light tackle. It happens, but it’s a
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lot better for a kayak angler to be rigged a bit heavier and stronger for blue water fishing than standard inshore gear.. When that thirty-plus pound bull redfish or that thirty-plus pound king mackerel hits the bait and takes off, it’s best to have a rig strong enough to effectively fight the fish. Either spinning rigs or level-wind rigs will work well for off the beach kayak fishing. These rigs need a reel with a very good, smooth drag system, and these reels need to be spooled with a 20-35 pound line. Braid works well for this application. There needs to be at least 200 yards of line on the reel. There are many, many rod and reel combos that will work quite well for kayak fishing offshore. Most anglers will soon find a set up which feels ”right” and will stick with that rod and reel and line. However, for those just getting started in the offshore kayak fishing game, here’s a little specific item information which might be of value. The Lew’s Custom Onshore 400 spinning reel is a good reel for this application. It has a 6.2 :1 line retrieve ration, which is needed for offshore fishing to allow fast retrieves for multiple casts to moving fish. This reel has a 24 pound maximum drag setting which is quite good to help put the power to a big hooked fish. One thing that makes this reel better than other reels is that it has quick drains built in to the reel to allow salt water to get out fast and also to allow quick fresh water rinses after trips offshore are over. Many heavy rods will work for offshore kayak fishing, but a rod which I have had very good results with is the B’n’M Silver Cat heavy spinning
PADDLE FISHING rod. This rod was designed for heavy catfish, but it works very well on the salt water, too. ROD HOLDERS AND ROD STORAGE Quite often, kayak anglers in the deep blue water will have more than one rig baited and cast out. Putting a baited rig down with just the rod handle under the angler’s leg to hold it is a very, very good way to lose a fishing rig. Offshore kayak fishing rigs need to be placed in a strong, secure rod holder, and a rod holder with a lock-down system is a very good idea. A very good and well-tested rod holder for offshore kayak use is the RAILBLAZA system rod holder with TracLoder Side Port. This holder comes in a two-pack which allows rods to be securely deployed on both sides of the kayak at once. This set of strong rod holders costs $74.99, and it attaches easily to most newer kayaks with built-in gear mounting tracks. Quite often, kayak anglers who head offshore will take a number of different rods for different purposes. Bait catching, casting to distant fish on the surface, deep jigging for reef fish and trolling live bait all require different set ups. Most kayaks don’t have built-in rod transport ports for this many rods. A “milk-crate” type gear holder and rod transport system doesn’t cost much, and such a system can allow multiple rods to be easily carried offshore. I have used a Plano Weekend series crate liner along with added rod holders, and my gear stays secure in the kayak with no slipping or falling out, and the rods stay solidly in place. This soft-side crate liner runs about $52.00 and is a good product. BAIT KEEPERS Kayak anglers who go offshore usually have some sort of live bait along. There’s nothing like a lively cigar minnow or other baitfish slow-trolled behind a kayak to ensure some positive results. To keep live bait alive, some sort of bait keeper system must be used. There’s a wide range of kayak-appropriate live bait keeping gear out there, and some of them work very well. Some offshore kayaks, the Hobie kayaks in particular, have live bait water exchange systems which fit into the standard kayak hull. Other kayak anglers can rely on traditional tow-along bait buckets which keep live bait alive and are not too much of a hassle to use while offshore. Although the add-on bait wells like the Hobie system are nice, they can be pricey, and they may fit only very specific kayak models. I have had very good results using a Frabil Magnum Flow-Troll tow along bait bucket. This traditional fresh-water flow-through bucket is dead simple to use and that’s a good thing on an offshore kayak. It keeps bait alive, and while being used, it can slow the drift of a kayak down if there’s a strong current or wind. This can keep a kayak angler from being swept far away from the put-in and take-out landing spot. This bucket lifts into the kayak for storage while the boat is being paddled or pedaled. This cuts down on the drag of the bucket a lot. And this live bait bucket is quite affordable at only $22.00. ELECTRONICS Offshore, kayak anglers can profit greatly from a good fish finder setup to work on a kayak. In particular, just a mile or less offshore of many places along the northern Gulf Coast, there are many artificial reefs which are
covered up with red snapper and other reef fish, and a fish finder-equipped kayak can reach these delicious, hard pulling fish, Without the electronics, the reefs and their fish are totally hidden. Many newer kayaks have transducer unit passages built into the kayak’s hull, and these make setting up a fishing finder unit much easier. For $119.99, Garmin sells the Striker 4 Fish Finder which has a 3.5 inch color screen and also built in GPS. This little electronic unit allows kayak anglers to mark and return to offshore reefs and other bottom structure which otherwise would remain totally hidden. This little unit provides good waypoint maps which make navigating open water much easier and more secure. We’ve used this unit, and it works well. Set up and wiring is easy, too. TRANSPORT SYSTEMS- CARTS In many ways, getting the kayak from the parking lot to the water is the hardest part of any offshore fishing trip. Dragging the kayak across the sand is hard work, and dragging a kayak across a paved parking lot is very harmful to the kayak. So, a tool to easily and safely transport the kayak is needed. There are many wheeled carts designed to carry a loaded kayak across the beach to the water available for anglers, and most of them work quite well. The Wheeleez Kayak Cart has the big, soft beach tires a kayak cart needs, and this set carries up to 175 pounds. It is made of marine grade aluminum and comes with two tie-down straps to secure the kayak to the cart. At $279, this is not a cheap add-on for offshore kayak anglers, but it only takes a few sweaty, hard-pulling trips across the beach with a loaded kayak to make such a tool seem like a very good investment.
Important Contact Information Kayak Cart- Wheeleez.com 790 Chadbourne Rd, Suite B Fairfield, CA 94534 707-751-3999 Rod Holder system-RailBlaza Yakgear.com 866-610-7931 4000 airline Drive Houston, TX 77022 Fish finder- Garmin Striker 4 www.garmin.com Offshore Reel-Lew’s Custom Inshore 400 www.lews.com 1-877-470-LEWS Offshore rod- Silver Cat-B’n’M Poles 1-800-647-6363 Bnmpoles.com Live Bait Keeper- Frabil Troll-Thru Frabill.com 800-226-9868 Milk Crate rod-Gear Milk Crate Plano Weekend Series Planomolding.com 800-226-9868 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 71
Gulf Coast Fishing Outlook
It’s been a strange winter to say the least, but we are knocking on spring’s door once again. Whereas we are normally at the start of the winter/spring transition, expect spring patterns to come a bit early this season. Mississippi
BY CHRIS VECSEY
Bait and gamefish will begin moving out of the upper rivers and begin to spread through the lower bays and MS sound. The barrier islands will be heating up a lot through the month with big trout, redfish and flounder. Finding areas with higher concentrations of bait and current will lead to success. Bait and lure choices will vary depending on the type of forage in the area, but live shrimp and live croaker is always a safe bet. For artificials, expect baitfish imitations like paddletails and
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March is an excellent month for big swordfish!” photo courtesy One Shot Charters
larger twitchbaits to be more effective. Captain Kyle Johnson of Coastal Waters Outfitters will be focusing on the longer runs this month, with the Chandeleur Islands being the main focus. His days will start early, but the longer run is worth it “March is a great month at the islands and there will be a lot of quality fish to make the runs worthwhile”, Johnson. said. “I’ll primarily be targeting mud flats looking for big trout and reds.” Finding bait is step one for Johnson. Once bait has been located, Johnson will anchor the boat in place and begin wading.
FISHING OUTLOOK “Wading allows us to pick an area apart more thoroughly,” he noted. Johnson will be fishing artificials exclusively here and whereas he normally throws bigger lures like Corkys and larger topwaters, Johnson says he will scale down this time of year to smaller plastics and twitchbaits. Johnson’s “go-to” baits are the Texas Custom DD twitchbaits and the Down South Southern Shad”. He fishes the paddletails on 1/8-1/4oz heads.” Big trout and reds won’t be the only targets available. Johnson says pompano, bluefish and a few other bonus species will add into the mix. ALABAMA There will be many big changes this month in Alabama’s coastal and offshore waters. Inshore, the sheepshead will begin their spawn. As they aggregate around inlets and bigger structures, they’ll be prime targets. Live fiddler crabs and shrimp will get the job done. Baits should be fished close to the structure. Pompano will be storming the beaches in force. March usually sees the biggest push of these highly-sought beach runners and some of the biggest pomps of the year will be caught this month. Working wash-outs and nearshore troughs with small pieces of shrimp, sand fleas and fish bites will produce. These fish will also take a variety of artificial lures and are a blast on fly tackle. Speckled trout will be spreading throughout the lower bays and flats. The inshore reefs, although heavily pressured, will be reliable spots during this transition. Freelined shrimp work very well as do small jerkbaits, DOA shrimp and the Slick lure. Later in the month, expect to find bigger trout on the beaches from Dauphin Island to Perdido Key and on the grass flats in Orange Beach and Ole River. Spanish and king mackerel will begin showing up just off of the beaches. Both will take trolled spoons, diving plugs like the Yo Zuri Crystal Minnow and Rapala X Rap and duster/cigar minnow combinations. Pull these around three to five knots in waters from 25 feet and beyond. Once fish are located, they can be caught casting spoons and mylar jigs as well as drifting both dead and live baits. Further offshore, it’s time to hit the lumps and rigs for big wahoo and yellowfin tuna. Both will be available in good numbers and success is earned by anglers who stay prepared and can make the runs when the weather allows. Watching for ideal water conditions with the help of a satellite imaging service, like Hilton’s Realtime-Navigator, will point you in the right direction. FLORIDA PANHANDLE March is a great month to surf fish along the Florida panhandle. Big numbers of pompano, whiting, redfish and many others will be taken from the waves. Both single and multi hook rigs baited with shrimp, sand fleas or fish bites will keep rods bent. Targeting “washouts”, deeper troughs and any deviations in the bars will lead to better luck.
Occasionally Peeples will run a Yo Zuri Bonito off of one the corners, but day-in and day-out, he will run skirted lure/ballyhoo combinations over other options. The swordfishing will also be on fire this month when the weather allows. Peeples offers a wide variety of fishing trips, but swordfish are his passion and when the seas lay down, that will be the number one target. “March can be a tough month for reaching the swordfish grounds, but the action is usually very good when we can get out there,” he said. Peeples likes to focus on natural bottom areas in 1,400-1,600ft and uses a variety of baits, with a bonito belly being his favorite. For nearshore outings, Peeples focuses on triggerfish and vermilion snapper in depths of 70-150ft and mostly use cut squid, bonito and other smaller baits fished on “chicken” rigs.
Important Contact Information Coastal Water Outfitters Captain Kyle Johnson 228-669-3553 www.fishcoastalwaters.com One Shot Charters Captain Adam Peeples 850-585-9436 www.oneshotcharters.com Hilton’s Realtime-Navigator www.hiltonsoffshore.com
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Further offshore, several reef species will be out of season, but that shouldn’t stop you from heading out. Captain Adam Peeples of One Shot Charters says March is a good time to “dust off the wahoo lures”. Peeples like to target natural contour areas while looking for surface debris and temperature breaks. “I like to pull Ilander/ballyhoo combinations at speeds of seven to eight knots. I like to fish a couple off of the outriggers and a pair on trolling weights off the corner, “ Peeples said.
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Pier & Shore Fishing Outlook
Sheepshead are a target species for many pier anglers in March.
Angler anticipation increases during March as the air and water temperatures rise all along the Emerald Gulf Coast. Warmer water stimulates common invertebrates and small finfish to become more active as springtime approaches. March 20th is the date of the Equinox on the calendar, but fish don’t read. So at any point this month, warmer water may encourage fish to feed more actively. The shallow water of the surf zone and “salty” back bays warm faster than the deeper Gulf. Typically, this brings feeding fish closer to shore, especially near the time of high tide during the mid afternoon hours. BY DAVID THORNTON Photos by David Thornton
SPRING PLANNING Our annual Spanish mackerel migration is a great indicator of spring’s northward progression. Masses of these fast moving migratory fish venture from their wintering areas off the southwest coast of Florida, and
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show up here later this month, lean and hungry. They can be caught in large numbers at times by anglers from the Gulf beach piers, and even from jetties at the mouth of bays. Seven foot medium action spinning tackle (8 to 12 pound line on 2000 to 3000 series reels) is all that is needed to land these one to two pound “spotted speedsters”. Many are caught just south of the longshore sandbar by anglers throwing the popular 7/8 ounce Gotcha plugs. Still, a 5/8 to ¾ ounce lead head jig is often even more efficient, and certainly cheaper and safer. Two lead head jigs can be doubled up to make a tandem rig, which is often even more effective. In fact it can be said catching Spanish mackerel two at a time is twice as exciting! And that adds up even faster toward the generous creel limit of 15 mackerel per angler. (Note: Florida anglers have a 12 inch Fork Length (FL) minimum size limit on Spanish mackerel, while Alabama has no size limit).
FISHING OUTLOOK Spanish are famously popular game fish, and fine eating when fried, baked, broiled or smoked. These leaner spring migratory specimens have a lower fat content and are especially well tuned to fry either breaded or unbreaded. In fact, pan-sauteing in just a little olive with a dash of Cavender’s Greek Seasonings is a tasty and healthier alternative to deep frying. Bigger game fish available to pier anglers this month include the ever popular cobia and hard pulling jack crevalle. Both are commonly targeted with nine foot medium heavy or heavy action rods with 6000 to 8000 size reels capable of casting three ounce jigs long distances, and handling fish weighing 30 pounds or more. “Old school” anglers often used 20, 25 or 30 pound monofilament line, but thinner braided line allows anglers to spool with 40 to even 80 pound line. Just be sure your rod and reel are capable of handling that much pull without failing. Also, a few king mackerel might show up around the piers by the end of the month if the water is warm enough. Generally, when baitfish like “cigar minnows” (Round scad) and “northern mackerel” (Atlantic chub mackerel) show up at the piers, kings often follow. Of course March is renowned for the sheepshead spawn which usually begins peaking around the time of the full moon (on the 18th this year). In anticipation of that, sheepshead gather into spawning aggregations all month long, and the spawning activity often lasts well into April. Most anglers fish vertically for sheepshead under or beside the pier between pilings. Because of the strength of these two to six pound fish and proximity to barnacle encrusted piling, many use medium heavy class tackle (15 to 30 pound line). At times sheepshead will suspend in the water column and orient around hard structures like piers, generally on the upcurrent side. Often when the water is calm and clear, sheepshead may even be on the bottom near the pier. At these times, sheepshead can be efficiently sight cast to with lighter tackle in the 6 to 12 pound class. Either way, they are wary biters, scrappy fighters, and darn nice table fare. Sheepshead can be cooked deliciously any number of ways. And their flaky white meat steamed in crab boil can even be used to make faux-West Indies salad. BEACHIN SPRING BREAK Pompano are the primary target species of the surf zone this month. They are gathering into school-sized aggregations in anticipation of next month’s spawn. When the water is quite clear and calm, pompano may be sight-cast to from the piers with ½ to ¾ ounce lead head jigs and “Goofy jigs” especially along the Florida Panhandle. Many anglers use “set rigs” quite effectively too, with baits anchored to the bottom. This is a great way to wait for an infrequent bite, as the action is generally not all that fast early in the month. Most pompano are caught on the upcurrent side of the pier with this method, but they may be caught on the down current side by drifting small live shrimp on light tackle. Ghost shrimp work very well too, and can be fished on or near the bottom to tempt passing pompano along with a host of other species. “Whiting” (Gulf kingfish) are the most common bycatch for pompano fishers. But red and black drum, sheepshead and bluefish may intercept their offerings as well as the usual plague of rays and catfish. Shore fishermen with mobility can seek out locations with castable drop-offs, sandbar breaks, points or ‘holes’ along the beach that tend to concentrate feeding fish. Though mostly seeking pompano, they may encounter redfish, bluefish or black drum near these same spots. Wade fishing becomes a viable option for these anglers as the water warms
into the upper 60s. Even seven foot medium or medium light spinning tackle in the 6 to 12 pound class have a spot on the beach cart to take advantage of these fishing opportunities. Calm or light surf and fairly clear water are the keys to success for this method, as well as the ability to walk a good distance if necessary to locate that ‘good spot’. Alabama pier anglers may be getting closer to getting more fishing access soon. The rebuilt pier near the end of the Fort Morgan peninsula (next to the public boat ramp) is slated to be open by the time this column is published. Even though the Mobile Bay waters around it are relatively shallow, the pier historically supported a viable inshore fishery which should include sheepshead this month. Also, Mobile County recently purchased the popular fishing pier at Cedar Point, just north of the Dauphin Island Bridge. That pier has a traditional winter closure, and the county is endeavoring to add some upgrades and reopen it in the spring. It should be noted no fishing license is needed there for Alabama residents. It is well lit, and has renowned night fishing for large black drum and redfish and well as lots of “white trout” (Silver and Sand seatrout), Speckled sea trout, flounder, croaker, “ground mullet” and other ‘panfish’ throughout the warmer months. Lastly, a news update was released at the end of 2020 about the permitting process to repair the Gulf State Park Pier, damaged by Hurricane “Sally” in September 2019. If all goes as planned, construction may soon be starting (April?), with a completion date slated in the fall. We can hope for the best to repair this most popular Gulf fishing venue. All this should bode well for shorebound anglers as springtime approaches the Emerald Coast this month. And no matter which venue you choose, or date you go, as always we hope you enjoy these great days outdoors!
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REGIONAL FRESHWATER Fishing Outlook BY ED MASHBURN Photos by Ed Mashburn
Pre-spawn crappie will aggressively take small crank baits.
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FISHING OUTLOOK
FLORIDA WATERS
LAKE TALQUIN Buddy Cartwright of Whippoorwill Lodge on Lake Talquin tells us that anglers should visit the lake early in the month for the best shot at the biggest bass as they will be moving on the beds for spawning. The bedding bass will take worms, lizards, and other soft plastics, and March is a good time for sight fishing the big girls as they are on the spawning beds. June Bug has been a consistently good color for the March soft plastics. Crappie anglers will find plenty of slabs in the shallows as they continue their spawning, but some of the biggest fish will have moved off the beds and back into more open water. Try trolling creek mouths and deeper creeks with jigs and live minnows. The catfish will still be in deeper water in March, but they will be getting ready to move on the flats and ledges for spawning as the water warms. WAKULLA RIVER Rob Baker of Wilderness Way, a long-time resident of the area and guide, advises us that as the water warms, the bass will start moving into shallow water bedding areas, and depending on the water clarity, some good sight fishing for bedding fish can occur. This will be a good time for top water frogs worked over very thick cover. Work the soft-plastic frog slowly and be ready for some violent strikes. Plastic worms in watermelon color on Carolina rigs will catch bass that are near heavy cover. Look for logs and old blowdown treetops, especially in the Wakulla River. For panfish anglers, the bream will be moving into quiet backwaters off the main river channels, and tiny artificials and live crickets and worms will collect
ALABAMA WATERS
LAKE GUNTERSVILLE Veteran guide and tournament angler Captain Jake Davis says bass anglers will have good luck with Rat-L-Traps in the standard Guntersville red colors, and Texas-rigged soft plastics will also be very good. Square-bill crank baits will be good bets to cover a lot of water in order to find the best concentrations of bass. It looks like just about every kind of offering made to the bass this month should be good. Davis says that anglers need to look for water warming into the upper 50s or above for actual bedding to begin. When the water temperature hits the low 60s, things should get very good for bass anglers as the bass will go to the shallow bedding areas. Bass anglers should work the staging areas- drop offs and channelsnear the flats where most of the Guntersville bass go to make their beds for spawning. Crappie anglers should have good results in March by fishing the bigger creeks where the slabs will be getting ready to spawn in April and May. Both small jigs and live minnows worked slowly around deeper structure will be good. SIPSEY FORK March is a good time for anglers to get a good start in trout fishing in Alabama’s only full-time cold water trout fishery. This month will see March browns hatching as well as black caddis. Blue wing olives have been hatching all winter, and they will continue into March. Fly
hatches can occur anywhere along the run of the Sipsey Fork. Riverside Fly Shop will have flies to match all of the hatches. Another kind of fly fishing will occur in March as fly anglers throw streamers in white, silver and black top to match the run of threadfin shad. These one to three-inch streamers can attract some of the biggest trout in the river. Trout will be stocked monthly at the Sipsey Fork, but the folks at Riverside have a donation jar where anglers can drop a few dollars in for the purchase and release of three to five pound rainbows in the river- these are some fine fish. Riverside is doing guided drift boat trips, wading trips, and striper on the fly trips above the dam in Smith Lake. Anglers who want some world-class fly fishing fun should contact the shop for coastal saltwater fly fishing trips to various Gulf Coast locations. LAKE WEISS “It’s March - THE time for crappie here,” says Captain and guide Lee Pitts who literally makes it his business to know what, when, howand on what to catch crappie on Weiss Lake. Anglers can fill a big ice chest with fine eating crappie by long-line trolling jigs over open water and then as the month moves on, fast results will come from a jig fished under a float. This rig should be cast over submerged stumps on flats. Pitts says, “Throw it out, and let it sit. Then, move it a foot and let the jig settle back under the float. Keep moving the float and jig a foot at a time. The crappie usually hits the jig as it falls,” Pitts said. Anglers who are crappie fishing on Weiss at this time need to think about using light line, six pound test is good because it allows good lure movement and a more natural presentation. The bass at Weiss are starting to get tight to the shorelines in preparation for bedding. Anglers need to really focus on hard clay and gravel and rock bottom. The bass will be holding on hard bottom structure at this time. “I cover a lot of water at this time using a Larue Bifflebug on a jighead. I can feel the jig hit rocks. I also throw spinner baits. I like a Talon 3/8 oz spinner bait with double Indiana gold blades. I like chartreuse and white colors,” Pitts noted. MOBILE DELTA “Everything about fishing in March is predicated on the river stages. The higher the rivers- say eight feet or higher at the Berry Steam Plant- and you’ll be fishing down around the Causeway because of the very high water,” predicts Mobile-Tensaw Delta Guide Service guide Captain Wayne Miller. He says that it is not impossible to catch bass in the very high water and fast currents, but it can be close. After the high waters run down, bass will find lots of food coming out of the flooded woods. The bass will bulk up and get really healthy, and this benefit can carry on through the rest of the year. In March, the Delta bass will be eating crawfish, and lures need to match this food. Really bright reds and oranges are good choices for 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 77
Regional Freshwater Fishing Outlook
crankbaits. Jigs can be very good too. According to Miller March is the one time he gets away from his usual advice to “Think small”. “In early spring we see large crawfish, and the bigger bass will target big crawfish. Use big jigs with trailers, and I will bulk up the size of jigs and crankbaits in the crawfish patterns,” he said. LAKE EUFAULA Over on Lake Eufaula, Captain Sam Williams from Hawks Fishing Guide Service explains that the bass will be in pre-spawn pattern, which means they will be feeding heavily. Smaller crank baits and lipless crank baits fishing in five to seven feet of water should be quite good in March. Anglers need to work creek mouths very hard. Look for water grass which will be starting to grow. On another note, anglers can have some serious fun trolling along drop off and old creek channels for white bass, hybrids, and even some very big stripers in March. White jigs and shad pattern crank baits are good choices for slow trolling for the whites and hybrids. The crappie at Eufaula will be off deep ledges, and as the month goes one, they will move to the tops of drop offs and ledges as they get ready for the big spring spawn. Anglers need to pay attention to the weather. If the weather and water warm sooner than unusually, the crappie may start their spawn earlier than they most often do- April and May. WILSON LAKE Captain and guide Brian Barton makes it a habit to catch big catfish and points out that in March the catfish at Wilson are getting ready to spawn. Anglers should look near the lake flats and long points. Between Wilson Lake Shores and McKiernan Creek is a very good region to find these pre-spawn catfish. Look for rock and wood cover, and work the bait just above or beside the cover. Catfish anglers should try cut bait, chicken livers, and live shad if they can be found. Big catfish will be found right below Wilson Dam and try big chunks of shad or whole shad in deeper holes along bluff walls. Use electronics to find holes on the bottom that are five feet or deeper than the surrounding bottom- the bigger cats love these areas. As March moves on, bigger catfish will be moving up in shallower water for spawning. MILLER’S FERRY “In March, everything is on the banks in a pre-spawn or actual spawn pattern. When the water gets to 60 degrees, everything will start to happen,” advises Joe Dunnl from Dunn’s Sport shop. Bass anglers can flip jigs in grass that will be starting to emerge, and chatter baits and spinner baits will also be very good. All lures need to be in some kind of shad pattern since shad are the primary forage for bass. Dunn explains that many anglers will be riding around the lake at this time looking for the right conditions, because the lake doesn’t all have the same water and temperature conditions at the same time. 78 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Some bays and sloughs will be warmer and more productive than others. The Miller’s Ferry crappie will be up on the banks by late March, and they will be shallow near wood and grass. Crappie anglers should look for crappie to be just off the banks. Use a cork with a jig a foot or so below the cork. This rig works very well on suspended crappie along the banks at this time. “I like a Southern Pro jig- the color depends on water temperature and clarity. Silvers and blues work well for clear water. Chartreuse, black, and electric chicken are better for stained water conditions,” Dunn said.
Important Contact Information Capt. Brian Barton 256-412-0969 Brianbartonoutdoors@aol.com Capt. Jake Davis Mid-South Bass Guide Service 615-613-2382 www/midsouthbassguide.com Joe Dunn Dunn’s Sports 334-636-0850 Hwy 43, Thomasville, AL 33356 Rob Baker Wilderness Way Kayak Shop 850-877-7200 3152 Shadeville Road Crawfordville, Fl 32327 Whippoorwill Lodge 850-875-2605 fishtalquin@gmail.com Randy Jackson Riverside Fly Shop 17027 Hwy 69 N Jasper, AL 256-287-9582 riversideflyshop.com Captain Wayne Miller Mobile-Tensaw Delta Guide Service 251-455-7404 Millewa12000@yahoo.com Capt. Lee Pitts 256-390-4145 www.pittsoutdoors.com Capt. Sam Williams Hawks Fishing Guide Service 334-355-5057 www.hawksfishingguideservice.com
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MOON & FEED TIMES
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ALABAMA TIDE CHARTS
Fort Morgan T
1
09:38 PM / 1.17 08:06 AM / -0.40
W 2
10:35 PM / 0.99 08:23 AM / -0.20
Th 3
03:32 PM / 0.49
08:09 AM / 0.03
11:41 PM / 0.79
05:37 PM / 0.47
F
4
02:34 PM / 0.56
07:38 AM / 0.22
--
07:18 PM / 0.36
S
5
01:33 AM / 0.59
07:14 AM / 0.36
01:34 PM / 0.72
08:37 PM / 0.25
03:54 AM / 0.46
06:34 AM / 0.43
01:12 PM / 0.90
10:07 PM / 0.15
Su 6 M
7
01:28 PM / 1.06
--
T
8
01:57 PM / 1.17
12:18 AM / 0.06
W 9
02:35 PM / 1.23
02:05 AM /-0.01
Th 10 03:19 PM / 1.26 03:33 AM / -0.08
Fowl River 1
10:54 PM / 1.34 09:00 AM / -0.56
T
W 2
11:58 PM / 1.11 09:26 AM / -0.32
W 2
--
09:55 AM / -0.25
09:27 AM / -0.04
Th 3
12:21 AM / 1.24
09:41 AM / 0.04
F
T
Th 3 F S
4 5
-01:06 AM / 0.86
08:47 AM / 0.21
03:22 PM / 0.50
07:52 PM / 0.32
02:43 AM / 0.62
08:05 AM / 0.38
02:12 PM / 0.69
09:25 PM / 0.18
Su 6
01:56 PM / 0.91
10:49 PM / 0.05
M 7
02:16 PM / 1.08
--
T
8
02:51 PM / 1.19 12:38 AM / -0.04
W 9
03:36 PM / 1.25 02:29 AM / -0.12
Th 10 04:30 PM / 1.29 03:51 AM / -0.19 F 11 05:30 PM / 1.31 05:01 AM / -0.25
F 11 04:09 PM / 1.26 04:39 AM / -0.15
S 12 06:33 PM / 1.33 05:59 AM / -0.31
S 12 05:07 PM / 1.25 05:27 AM / -0.21
Su 13 08:39 PM / 1.34 07:46 AM / -0.34
Su 13 07:15 PM / 1.23 07:04 AM / -0.24
M 14 09:47 PM / 1.32 08:22 AM / -0.32
M 14 08:29 PM / 1.21 07:33 AM / -0.23
T 15 10:57 PM / 1.26 08:51 AM / -0.24
T 15 09:38 PM / 1.15 07:55 AM / -0.17
W 16
W 16 10:42 PM / 1.05 08:09 AM / -0.07
Th 17 12:08 AM / 1.17
09:18 AM / 0.10
Th 17 11:54 PM / 0.92
08:13 AM / 0.08
F 18 01:25 AM / 1.04
09:07 AM / 0.34
08:07 AM / 0.26
03:17 PM / 0.62
07:44 PM / 0.46
S 19 02:59 AM / 0.90
08:43 AM / 0.56
02:12 PM / 0.80
09:07 PM / 0.29
07:54 AM / 0.44
01:46 PM / 0.77
08:23 PM / 0.30
Su 20 03:57 AM / 0.67
07:31 AM / 0.59
01:24 PM / 0.96
09:28 PM / 0.15
M 21 01:32 PM / 1.16
10:58 PM / 0.05
T 22 02:02 PM / 1.33
--
W 23 02:45 PM / 1.46 01:43 AM / -0.05 Th 24 03:37 PM / 1.53 03:26 AM / -0.16 F 25 04:34 PM / 1.54 04:48 AM / -0.25 S 26 05:35 PM / 1.49 05:52 AM / -0.31 Su 27 06:46 PM / 1.40 06:43 AM / -0.29 M 28 08:13 PM / 1.27 07:23 AM / -0.20 T 29 09:47 PM / 1.11 07:50 AM / -0.02 W 30 11:16 PM / 0.94 Th 31 01:50 PM / 0.72 --
Su 20 05:09 AM / 0.79
08:07 AM / 0.74
01:48 PM / 1.05
10:20 PM / 0.13
M 21 02:04 PM / 1.30
11:43 PM / 0.01
T 22 02:41 PM / 1.51
--
W 23 03:31 PM / 1.65 01:53 AM / -0.09 Th 24 04:32 PM / 1.72 03:47 AM / -0.21 F 25 05:41 PM / 1.74 05:08 AM / -0.32 S 26 06:52 PM / 1.71 06:15 AM / -0.38 Su 27 08:04 PM / 1.61 07:12 AM / -0.36 M 28 09:26 PM / 1.45 07:58 AM / -0.26 T 29 11:06 PM / 1.25 08:31 AM / -0.06 --
Su 6
09:10 AM / 0.28 08:50 PM / 0.45
03:19 AM / 0.74
08:46 AM / 0.45
03:20 PM / 0.90
10:09 PM / 0.31
05:40 AM / 0.57
08:06 AM / 0.54
02:58 PM / 1.13
11:39 PM / 0.18
M
7
03:14 PM / 1.33
--
T
8
03:43 PM / 1.46
01:50 AM / 0.08
W 9
04:21 PM / 1.54 03:37 AM / -0.02
Th 10 05:05 PM / 1.57 05:05 AM / -0.10 F 11 05:55 PM / 1.57 06:11 AM / -0.19
1
09:39 PM / 1.00
06:10 AM / -0.15
2
10:34 PM / 0.86
06:23 AM / 0.00
Th 3
11:40 AM / 0.32
06:29 AM / 0.17
11:30 PM / 0.71
02:21 PM / 0.27
F S
4 5
Su 6
12:06 PM / 0.44
05:19 AM / 0.29
--
04:43 PM / 0.24
12:29 AM / 0.56
05:02 AM / 0.33
12:33 PM / 0.55
05:36 PM / 0.21
01:35 AM / 0.42
04:37 AM / 0.32
10:43 AM / 0.67
06:29 PM / 0.21
08:31 PM / 0.25
--
M
7
11:23 AM / 0.77
12:01 AM / 0.22
T
8
12:06 PM / 0.84
12:54 AM / 0.12
W
9
12:57 PM / 0.87
01:46 AM / 0.04
Th 10 01:53 PM / 0.88
02:45 AM / -0.02
F 11 02:45 PM / 0.88
03:44 AM / -0.07
S 12 06:53 PM / 1.56 06:59 AM / -0.26
S 12 06:38 PM / 0.86
04:30 AM / -0.11
Su 13 09:01 PM / 1.54 08:36 AM / -0.30
Su 13 08:29 PM / 0.91
06:07 AM / -0.12
M 14 10:15 PM / 1.51 09:05 AM / -0.29
M 14 09:11 PM / 0.92
06:36 AM / -0.10
T 15 11:24 PM / 1.44 09:27 AM / -0.21
T 15 09:52 PM / 0.90
06:52 AM / -0.03
W 16 10:39 PM / 0.83
06:51 AM / 0.06
W 16
--
09:41 AM / -0.08
Th 17 12:28 AM / 1.32
09:45 AM / 0.10
F 18 01:40 AM / 1.15
09:39 AM / 0.33
04:17 PM / 0.80
08:46 PM / 0.58
Th 17 11:48 AM / 0.31
06:51 AM / 0.18
11:36 PM / 0.73
02:21 PM / 0.24
F 18 12:09 PM / 0.41 --
05:45 AM / 0.29 04:51 PM / 0.20
S 19 03:27 AM / 0.97
09:26 AM / 0.55
03:32 PM / 0.96
09:55 PM / 0.37
Su 20 05:43 AM / 0.84
09:03 AM / 0.73
Su 20 01:53 AM / 0.47
05:08 AM / 0.38
03:10 PM / 1.20
11:00 PM / 0.19
10:49 AM / 0.74
06:59 PM / 0.06
S 19 12:40 AM / 0.60
05:31 AM / 0.35
10:10 AM / 0.57
06:01 PM / 0.12
M 21 03:18 PM / 1.45
--
T 22 03:48 PM / 1.67
12:30 AM / 0.06
T 22 12:24 PM / 1.01
--
W 23 04:31 PM / 1.82 03:15 AM / -0.06
W 23 01:18 PM / 1.08
12:38 AM / -0.09
Th 24 02:21 PM / 1.09
02:06 AM / -0.18
F 25 03:24 PM / 1.07
03:15 AM / -0.24
S 26 04:23 PM / 1.00
04:26 AM / -0.25
Su 27 07:58 PM / 0.96
05:19 AM / -0.22
M 28 08:54 PM / 0.92
05:57 AM / -0.14
T 29 09:44 PM / 0.82
06:20 AM / -0.01
Th 24 05:23 PM / 1.91 04:58 AM / -0.20 F 25 06:20 PM / 1.92 06:20 AM / -0.32 S 26 07:21 PM / 1.86 07:24 AM / -0.39 Su 27 08:32 PM / 1.75 08:15 AM / -0.37 M 28 09:59 PM / 1.58 08:55 AM / -0.25 T 29 11:33 PM / 1.39 09:22 AM / -0.03
M 21 11:35 AM / / 0.90 10:52 PM / 0.03
W 30 10:41 AM / 0.37
06:23 AM / 0.14
09:27 AM / 0.25
10:39 PM / 0.70
02:02 PM / 0.31
08:45 AM / 0.19
W 30
Th 31 12:46 AM / 1.04
08:12 AM / 0.45
Th 31 01:02 AM / 1.18
08:56 AM / 0.51
Th 31 11:05 AM / 0.48
06:21 AM / 0.30
02:26 PM / 0.73
07:11 PM / 0.51
03:36 PM / 0.90
08:17 PM / 0.66
11:38 PM / 0.57
04:09 PM / 0.26
07:55 AM / 0.20
W 30
07:24 AM / 0.41 06:45 PM / 0.53
BIG-BLOCK DIGITAL & MECHANICAL RIGGING MEET
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Yamaha’s award-winning 4.2-liter V6 four strokes set the standard for offshore performance. Not only do they feature class-leading 4.2-liter displacement, but they’re also: t
S 19 01:41 AM / 0.77
5
01:27 AM / 0.99 04:20 PM / 0.70
T W
FLEXIBLE — The entire lineup of 4.2-liter V6 four strokes—from the F225 and F250 up to the mighty F300—is now available with either mechanical or digital controls, for ease of repower
t
07:14 PM / 0.46
4
11:24 PM / 1.46 09:38 AM / -0.50
LIGHTER — At 562 pounds (digital) and 551 pounds (mechanical), they’re up to 73 pounds lighter than other four strokes in their class
t
--
09:10 AM / -0.10
S
1
FASTER — Up to 19 percent faster than other 300-hp competitors, planing offshore boats with ease*
t
F 18 02:31 PM / 0.64
--
Perdido Pass
Mobile River
SMARTER — Up to 17 percent better fuel economy, at cruise RPM, than comparable outboards*
Learn more about the powerful performance of our 4.2-liter V6 Offshore F300, F250 and F225 at YamahaOutboards.com/V6offshore.
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*Testing conducted by Yamaha at Yamaha’s test facility on a Grady-White® 257 Advance/300 hp, with each boat rigged for maximum performance. REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear. © 2017 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. 1-800-88-YAMAHA
116 E. I-65 Service Road N. Mobile, AL 36607 Phone: 251-476-2699 www.bluewateryachtsales.net 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 81
FLORIDA TIDE CHARTS
Panama City
Pensacola Bay Destin East Pass Navarre Beach T W Th F S Su M T W Th F S Su M T W Th F S Su M T W Th F S Su M T W Th
1 10:24 PM / 1.26 2 11:19 PM / 1.02 3 -4 12:22 AM / 0.74 01:32 PM / 0.40 5 01:52 AM / 0.48 01:01 PM / 0.66 6 01:05 PM / 0.88 7 01:26 PM / 1.04 8 01:58 PM / 1.12 9 02:43 PM / 1.16 10 03:42 PM / 1.17 11 04:55 PM / 1.19 12 06:11 PM / 1.23 13 08:18 PM / 1.26 14 09:14 PM / 1.26 15 10:06 PM / 1.19 16 11:03 PM / 1.06 17 12:11 AM / 0.88 18 -01:45 PM / 0.45 19 01:45 AM / 0.69 12:55 PM / 0.67
08:05 AM / -0.61 08:29 AM / -0.37 08:30 AM / -0.08 07:58 AM / 0.19 07:15 PM / 0.20 06:37 AM / 0.36 09:14 PM / 0.04 10:44 PM / -0.10 12:03 AM / -0.20 -01:25 AM / -0.25 02:48 AM / -0.29 04:03 AM / -0.33 05:02 AM / -0.39 06:48 AM / -0.42 07:23 AM / -0.42 07:48 AM / -0.36 08:06 AM / -0.23 08:14 AM / -0.03 08:07 AM / 0.21 06:43 PM / 0.29 07:29 AM / 0.45 08:28 PM / 0.10
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
12:49 PM / 0.93 01:09 PM / 1.16 01:47 PM / 1.34 02:42 PM / 1.46 03:51 PM / 1.52 05:13 PM / 1.54 06:41 PM / 1.53 08:03 PM / 1.47 09:17 PM / 1.34 10:27 PM / 1.13 11:45 PM / 0.89 12:50 PM / 0.60
09:52 PM / -0.10 11:16 PM / -0.25 12:52 AM / -0.35 -02:36 AM / -0.44 04:08 AM / -0.52 05:20 AM / -0.56 06:17 AM / -0.53 06:59 AM / -0.41 07:27 AM / -0.20 07:36 AM / 0.08 07:13 AM / 0.36
--
06:47 PM / 0.34
T 1 09:51 PM / 0.62 07:31 AM / -0.20 W 2 10:46 PM / 0.50 07:55 AM / -0.12 Th 3 11:49 PM / 0.36 F 4 12:59 PM / 0.20 -S 5 01:19 AM / 0.23
07:56 AM / -0.03 07:24 AM / 0.06 06:41 PM / 0.07 06:03 AM / 0.12
12:28 PM / 0.32 08:40 PM / 0.01 Su 6 12:32 PM / 0.43 10:10 PM / -0.03 M 7 12:53 PM / 0.51 11:29 PM / -0.07 T 8 01:25 PM / 0.55 -W 9 02:10 PM / 0.57 12:51 AM / -0.08 Th 10 03:09 PM / 0.57 02:14 AM / -0.10 F S Su M T W Th F
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
S 19 Su M T W Th F S Su M T W Th
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
04:22 PM / 0.58 05:38 PM / 0.60 07:45 PM / 0.62 08:41 PM / 0.62 09:33 PM / 0.58 10:30 PM / 0.52 11:38 PM / 0.43 01:12 PM / 0.22 -01:12 AM / 0.34 12:22 PM / 0.33 12:16 PM / 0.45 12:36 PM / 0.57 01:14 PM / 0.66 02:09 PM / 0.71 03:18 PM / 0.74 04:40 PM / 0.75 06:08 PM / 0.75 07:30 PM / 0.72 08:44 PM / 0.66 09:54 PM / 0.56 11:12 PM / 0.44 12:17 PM / 0.29
03:29 AM / -0.11 04:28 AM / -0.13 06:14 AM / -0.14 06:49 AM / -0.14 07:14 AM / -0.12 07:32 AM / -0.07 07:40 AM / -0.01 07:33 AM / 0.07 06:09 PM / 0.10 06:55 AM / 0.15 07:54 PM / 0.03 09:18 PM / -0.03 10:42 PM / -0.08 -12:18 AM / -0.12 02:02 AM / -0.14 03:34 AM / -0.17 04:46 AM / -0.18 05:43 AM / -0.17 06:25 AM / -0.14 06:53 AM / -0.07 07:02 AM / 0.03 06:39 AM / 0.12
--
06:13 PM / 0.11
82 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
T 1 W 2
09:34 PM / 1.16 06:47 AM / -0.60 10:37 PM / 0.97 07:23 AM / -0.37
12:03 PM / 0.10 04:57 AM / -0.10 10:31 PM / 0.67 02:31 PM / 0.03
Th 3
01:00 PM / 0.18 07:34 AM / -0.11 11:40 PM / 0.74 03:02 PM / 0.16
4
11:45 AM / 0.24 11:44 PM / 0.45
04:34 AM / 0.06 03:54 PM / 0.02
F
4
12:39 PM / 0.35 --
06:44 AM / 0.13 05:23 PM / 0.14
5
09:54 AM / 0.45 04:28 AM / 0.16 01:27 AM / 0.25 05:17 PM / -0.01
S
5
12:46 AM / 0.52 12:32 PM / 0.54
05:52 AM / 0.28 07:15 PM / 0.07
Su 6
10:18 AM / 0.66 04:07 AM / 0.20 -06:56 PM / -0.05
Su 6
02:06 AM / 0.32 04:19 AM / 0.29 12:10 PM / 0.73 09:00 PM / -0.02
M T
10:58 AM / 0.83 11:17 PM / -0.15 11:45 AM / 0.94 --
M 7 T 8
12:12 PM / 0.90 11:16 PM / -0.12 12:42 PM / 1.01 --
T W
1 2
08:24 PM / 1.09 06:06 AM / -0.57 09:28 PM / 0.89 06:52 AM / -0.34
Th 3 F S
7 8
W 9 12:38 PM / 1.00 12:15 AM / -0.26 Th 10 01:38 PM / 1.02 01:05 AM / -0.33 F 11 02:45 PM / 1.04 01:53 AM / -0.37 S 12 03:55 PM / 1.06 02:39 AM / -0.39 Su 13 06:04 PM / 1.08 04:19 AM / -0.37 M 14 07:08 PM / 1.08 04:54 AM / -0.33 T 15 08:07 PM / 1.05 05:21 AM / -0.25 W 16 09:08 PM / 0.99 05:31 AM / -0.12 Th 17 12:04 PM / 0.29 10:16 PM / 0.87
05:08 AM / 0.03 02:24 PM / 0.24
F 18 11:40 AM / 0.41 11:39 PM / 0.72
04:48 AM / 0.19 03:48 PM / 0.18
S 19 10:57 AM / 0.59 -Su 20 01:16 AM / 0.56 10:03 AM / 0.84 M 21 10:33 AM / 1.09 T 22 11:18 AM / 1.30 W 23 12:13 PM / 1.43 Th 24 01:17 PM / 1.50 F 25 02:30 PM / 1.49 S 26 03:51 PM / 1.43 Su 27 05:22 PM / 1.33 M 28 07:12 PM / 1.20 T 29 08:51 PM / 1.04 W 30 11:19 AM / 0.39 10:12 PM / 0.86 Th 31 11:05 AM / 0.49 11:29 PM / 0.68
04:40 AM / 0.33 05:05 PM / 0.09 04:30 AM / 0.44 06:26 PM / -0.02 08:15 PM / -0.13 11:34 PM / -0.30 -12:50 AM / -0.45 01:56 AM / -0.53 02:59 AM / -0.54 03:57 AM / -0.47 04:49 AM / -0.33 05:33 AM / -0.12 04:26 AM / 0.11 02:00 PM / 0.30 03:51 AM / 0.28 03:23 PM / 0.19
W 9 01:23 PM / 1.07 01:19 AM / -0.22 Th 10 02:16 PM / 1.10 02:22 AM / -0.30 F 11 03:24 PM / 1.11 03:11 AM / -0.37 S 12 04:58 PM / 1.12 03:54 AM / -0.41 Su 13 07:25 PM / 1.14 05:31 AM / -0.41 M 14 08:27 PM / 1.14 06:03 AM / -0.38 T 15 09:23 PM / 1.09 06:27 AM / -0.30 W 16 10:23 PM / 0.99 Th 17 11:31 PM / 0.85 F 18 12:46 PM / 0.43 -S 19 12:47 AM / 0.69 12:30 PM / 0.60 Su 20 02:13 AM / 0.54 12:02 PM / 0.82 M 21 12:15 PM / 1.04 T 22 12:51 PM / 1.24 W 23 01:37 PM / 1.38 Th 24 02:32 PM / 1.45 F 25 03:41 PM / 1.45 S 26 05:15 PM / 1.41 Su 27 07:06 PM / 1.35 M 28 08:27 PM / 1.24 T 29 09:39 PM / 1.08 W 30 12:23 PM / 0.41 10:53 PM / 0.90 Th 31 11:47 AM / 0.56 --
06:38 AM / -0.17 06:40 AM / -0.02 06:39 AM / 0.16 05:10 PM / 0.25 06:20 AM / 0.34 06:56 PM / 0.14 05:18 AM / 0.44 08:41 PM / -0.00 10:26 PM / -0.15 -12:16 AM / -0.30 01:55 AM / -0.43 03:09 AM / -0.53 04:08 AM / -0.56 04:58 AM / -0.52 05:41 AM / -0.38 06:16 AM / -0.17 06:30 AM / 0.08 02:49 PM / 0.40 05:54 AM / 0.32 04:57 PM / 0.29
MISSISSIPPI TIDE CHARTS
Pascagoula
Biloxi Bay T
1
10:16 PM / 1.40 07:15 AM / -0.79
W 2
11:18 PM / 1.14 07:53 AM / -0.47
Th 3 F
4
S
5
--
08:12 AM / -0.12
12:23 AM / 0.84
07:48 AM / 0.21
01:10 PM / 0.34
05:56 PM / 0.19
01:50 AM / 0.55
06:09 AM / 0.43
12:37 PM / 0.65
08:24 PM / 0.07
Su 6
12:49 PM / 0.93 10:33 PM / -0.09
M 7
01:16 PM / 1.15
T
8
01:51 PM / 1.30 12:10 AM / -0.26
W 9
02:34 PM / 1.40 01:21 AM / -0.39
--
Th 10 03:27 PM / 1.45 02:20 AM / -0.48 F 11 04:32 PM / 1.47 03:15 AM / -0.54 S 12 05:47 PM / 1.47 04:06 AM / -0.55 Su 13 08:02 PM / 1.47 05:52 AM / -0.53 M 14 09:10 PM / 1.45 06:34 AM / -0.46 T 15 10:10 PM / 1.38 07:09 AM / -0.35 W 16 11:09 PM / 1.26 07:37 AM / -0.18 Th 17
--
07:53 AM / 0.04
F 18 12:13 AM / 1.09
07:52 AM / 0.30
01:39 PM / 0.48
05:28 PM / 0.38
S 19 01:35 AM / 0.88
07:13 AM / 0.56
12:49 PM / 0.75
07:38 PM / 0.22
Su 20 12:46 PM / 1.07
09:28 PM / 0.00
M 21 01:08 PM / 1.40 11:11 PM / -0.24 T 22 01:46 PM / 1.68
--
T
1
09:08 PM / 1.59 06:53 AM / -0.13
W 2
10:00 PM / 1.39
07:25 AM / 0.10
Th 3
--
07:39 AM / 0.37
F S
4 5
12:30 AM / 1.16
06:35 AM / 0.59
01:28 PM / 0.71
05:52 PM / 0.52
01:47 AM / 0.97
06:29 AM / 0.74
11:08 AM / 0.95
07:09 PM / 0.42
Su 6
11:49 AM / 1.17
08:22 PM / 0.33
M 7
12:29 PM / 1.34
09:50 PM / 0.25
T
8
01:08 PM / 1.47
11:35 PM / 0.18
W 9
01:47 PM / 1.54
--
Th 10 02:31 PM / 1.56
01:19 AM / 0.14
F 11 03:32 PM / 1.56
03:37 AM / 0.07
S 12 04:55 PM / 1.55
04:15 AM / 0.02
Su 13 07:08 PM / 1.55 05:48 AM / -0.01 M 14 08:14 PM / 1.54
06:21 AM / 0.01
T 15 09:17 PM / 1.49
06:51 AM / 0.06
W 16 10:14 PM / 1.39
07:17 AM / 0.18
Th 17 11:18 PM / 1.23
07:21 AM / 0.34
F 18 01:47 PM / 0.68 --
07:00 AM / 0.53
S 19 02:10 AM / 1.08
07:07 AM / 0.73
11:24 AM / 0.92
07:24 PM / 0.29
Su 20 03:40 AM / 0.95
06:53 AM / 0.92
11:51 AM / 1.19
08:38 PM / 0.12
M 21 12:29 PM / 1.45 10:00 PM / -0.03 T 22 01:17 PM / 1.66 11:52 PM / -0.16 W 23 02:05 PM / 1.81
Th 24 03:32 PM / 1.99 02:04 AM / -0.63
Th 24 02:53 PM / 1.87 01:15 AM / -0.25
--
F 25 04:41 PM / 2.00 03:16 AM / -0.73
F 25 03:47 PM / 1.85 02:50 AM / -0.29
S 26 06:02 PM / 1.93 04:21 AM / -0.72
S 26 05:01 PM / 1.75 04:18 AM / -0.30
Su 27 07:33 PM / 1.79 05:19 AM / -0.62
Su 27 06:28 PM / 1.62 05:14 AM / -0.23
M 28 09:03 PM / 1.61 06:10 AM / -0.41
M 28 07:52 PM / 1.46 05:57 AM / -0.09
T 29 10:30 PM / 1.39 06:51 AM / -0.12
T 29 10:14 PM / 1.29
06:32 AM / 0.12
W 30 11:59 PM / 1.15
07:16 AM / 0.23
W 30 11:44 PM / 1.13
06:54 AM / 0.37
Th 31 12:45 PM / 0.74
07:07 AM / 0.56
Th 31 12:28 PM / 0.72
06:14 AM / 0.62
05:55 PM / 0.51
info@GreatDaysOutdoors.com
01:47 PM / 0.68
W 23 02:34 PM / 1.89 12:43 AM / -0.46
--
Share highlights from your great days outdoors with us!
--
3766 Airport Bo geico.com/mobile-al |
05:19 PM / 0.49
SAVINGS AND SERVICE THAT WILL FLOAT YOUR BOAT 251-445-0053 3766 Airport Boulevard Suite C | Mobile geico.com/mobile-al
Some discounts, coverages, payment plans, and features are not available in all states, in all GEICO companies, or in all situations. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, DC 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2020 GEICO
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 83
Pensacola Motorsports
TROPHY
Garett Leach with his 8 pt, 180 pound buck taken in Henry County
You didn’t see it coming. Neither did the fish.
ROOM
Luke Smelley with is 198 pound, 9 pt buck
GET FEATURED IN OUR ISSUES OF GREAT DAYS OUTDOORS WHEN YOU
GIVE US YOUR BEST SHOT
Introducing the all-new FISH PRO™ The world’s first personal watercraft designed for fishing will bring you closer to the action for an experience like never before.
IT'S EASY TO ENTER POST:
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618 N New Warrington Rd. Pensacola, FL 32506 (850)456-6655
©2018 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Some models depicted may include optional equipment. Carefully read the operator’s guide and safety instructions. Observe applicable laws and regulations. Always wear appropriate protective clothing, including a personal flotation device and wetsuit bottoms. Riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. See your authorized BRP dealer for details.
84 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Sea-Doo.com
Photo of the Month! Simply share your great day outdoors with us!
[ OR ]
EMAIL:
info@GreatDaysOutdoors.com
When Submitting Trophy Room photos, be sure to include as much information as possible about the person and the trophy. Final Decision is made by the editorial Staff of Great Days Outdoors Magazine. Submitting a photo does not guarantee it will be published.
Brandon Taff with his 13 pound piebald catfish
Price Walker sealed the deal on a Chilton County giant
Jessie Taylor got this one in St. Clair County
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // MARCH 2022 85
KID'S CORNER
TROPHY ROOM
Noah and Hannah Bryars with a bunch of bucket mouths
Gaddy Rice, 10, Marengo County has his hands full
1
1
Buck
Deer
ST
Macey Lee, 9, got her first buck, 155lb 8pt killed in Cullman County
ST
Lilygray Smith with her first deer. Camp Mack Wilcox County. Bella our tracker
Charlie Sasser age 16 with his take down
Graeme Harville age 9 posing with his kill.
Tra Alford, 14, Northport, AL is just practicing on the little ones
Give us your best shot!
Send your submission to info@greatdaysoutdoors.com.
Submitting a photo does not guarantee that it will be published. We cannot give any guarantees on when a photo will be published. Please include: child's full name, age, mailing address, and any details. We need to know when, where, size (weight, points, etc.), shot or caught with what and any other meaningful information, like first time, etc.. CONTRIBUTIONS WITHOUT THIS INFO WON’T BE PUBLISHED.
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88 MARCH 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
5” Brawler Jerk Bait
FISHING TIP
Advertiser Index A-Team Fishing Adventures . . . . . . . . 3 Admiral Shellfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 ADCNR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Advance Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Alabama Farmers CO-OP . . . . . . . . . 79 Alabama AG Credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Alabama Liquid Fertilizer . . . . . . . . . 17 Bay Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Bluewater Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Boaters List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Brush Clearing Service . . . . . . . . . . 11 Buck’s Island Marine . . . . . . . . . . 24, 33 Camper City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 CCA Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Clutch Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Coast Safe & Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Cold Blooded Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Deep South Crane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Dixie Building Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Farm Credit of NW Florida . . . . . . . . 32 Fiber Plastics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 First South Farm Credit . . . . . . . . . . 71 Fishbites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Fishing Chaos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56-57 Geico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Gulf Shores/Orange Beach . . . . . . . . 92 Hilton’s Offshore Charts . . . . . . . . . . 53 Hydraulic Crane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Killer Dock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 MDH Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Midway Lumber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 National Land Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Paradise Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Pensacola Motor Sports . . . . . . . . 84-85 Photonis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Ranch King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Ricciardone Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Sams Bait & Tackle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Sealy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Slick Lure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Southeastern Pond Management . . . . 7 Southern Seed & Feed . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Sunsouth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Test Calibration Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 War Eagle Boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
March Fishing Tips BY WILLIAM KENDY
In the south, March brings that sweet and delightful smell and aroma of spring. While we still may have a dip in the temperature, it is a signal of wonderful weather to come.
over”? Is the propeller good, the trim and tilt clean and ok? It can’t hurt to check your fuel tank, fuel filter, oil filter and spark plugs and do general maintenance.
There is no dearth of hunting and fishing opportunities in March in Alabama and the Florida panhandle for those who want to jump in. For hunters, it is turkey season. For freshwater fishermen, it is all about crappie and the start of bass activity. For surf fishermen it is the time for catching pompano and other pelagic fish on sand fleas, shrimp or other baits.
Now for the boat itself. Inspect the wiring for damaged insulation and make sure all the connections are good and that the instruments and switches are working correctly. Check out your live wells, bilge pumps and water plumbing. For more, check out the article “Annual Boat Maintenance Checklist” in the January 2021 issue of GDO.
Having said all of that, March is also the perfect time to do chores to be ready for the fishing and hunting season ahead.
How about your 4x4? For a complete list of steps to take see “The Outdoorsman’s 4X4 Inspection & Maintenance Checklist” in the September 2021 issue.
For example, as a boat owner it is a good time to do a review of your craft and figure out what needs fixing or even added before you get into full swing. Is your fire extinguisher up to snuff? Do you have emergency signal flares (if you are on big water)? Do you have updated life jackets? Do you have the necessary accessories on board? In terms of your trailer are the wheels, wiring, coupler, winch and even the frame up to snuff? When was the last time your engine had a “once
Then there is your UTV. Do you have the requisite stuff to make sure you don’t get stuck in the middle of nowhere? For the inside track, see “UTV Tool Kit Essentials” in the December 2021 issue. It never hurts to be prepared if you want to be able to really enjoy the outdoors for the upcoming season. As Benjamin Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.
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A GREAT DAY OUTDOORS
Buying Waders “Mostly trout and smallmouth fishing in the river,” said Beanpole. “Let’s start there. What have you learned so far?” Beanpole squinted, his brow furrowed and forehead wrinkled while he thought about this for a minute, then he replied, “That there are too many choices.” BY JIM MIZE Ronnie waved me over to the counter as soon as I walked through the door of the diner. He tilted his head at the corner booth where Beanpole sat and warned me, “He’s on his fourth cup of coffee. Proceed at your own risk.” I was halfway across the floor when Beanpole called out to me. He talked as if his underwear was bunched up and he paid for his words by the second. When he got really excited, he waved an outdoor catalog in the air and pointed with his free hand. “Hey Jim, what do you know about waders? They got all kinds. I don’t know if I need chest waders, hip boots, or stocking-foot waders with boots. Is there an advantage besides price? And do I need camo? Can fish see camo waders under water? Or is it just for ducks? Can ducks see underwater?” Somewhere in all these questions was something I could respond to; I just wasn’t sure where to start. “Good morning, Beanpole.” “Oh, hey. Sorry, but I’ve been studying these waders in the catalog and the longer I look the more confused I get.” “Hang on just a second then and let me order.” I gave Ronnie a wave, ordered the gravy and sausage biscuits, and waited for him to bring coffee before I jumped back into the conversation. Even though Beanpole had a head start on the coffee, I thought if I at least had one cup I could keep up. “So, you’re buying new waders?” I asked. “Yeah, Nell’s getting me a pair for my birthday. My old ones have more patches than a scarecrow’s drawers.” “Ok, so what are you going to use them for?”
This was looking difficult, but if I could get him to start narrowing it a little we might be able to make a decision. “Also,” added Beanpole, “some of this makes no sense.” “Such as?” “Well, take expensive waders. They always come with a leak-repair kit. But shouldn’t expensive waders not leak? I mean, I would think the cheap waders would come with a repair kit. But no-o-o-o-o-o, it’s the . . .” “Beanpole, this would have been easier about three cups of coffee earlier. What else?” “The prices don’t make sense. The thinner and lighter they are, the more they cost. So the cheap waders use more material and the expensive ones use less. Shouldn’t it be the other way around?” “That’s like asking why a Porsche costs more than a Ford pickup.” “I’d rather have a Ford pickup,” replied Beanpole. “Does Porsche even make a four-wheel drive?”
stop? “Do you want the waders to be insulated or would you rather use them year-round and wear long johns in the winter?” Beanpole studied the catalog before responding. “Better to go with one pair and use them all year,” said Beanpole. “So, it sounds like you need a pair of stockingfoot waders with separate boots. Not insulated. And for fishing, you don’t need camo. What other questions do you have?” “What about all these features? Like pockets and zingers and built-in straps and quick-release boots and . . .” My food had arrived and I let Beanpole ramble hoping to wear him down. Ronnie came by with coffee refills and I waved him away from Beanpole. “Do you need any of that stuff?” I asked. Beanpole thought for a minute. “Not really. I have everything but waders that don’t leak.” “Sounds like it’s settled then,” I replied, finally hoping to enjoy my breakfast. “Well, there is one thing I wondered about.” “What’s that?” “The waders that come with a zippered fly.” Beanpole looked sheepishly across the table.
“Let’s stick with waders. What else?”
“What were you wondering?”
“Do I get a pair that comes in one piece or do I need the stocking-foot waders with separate boots?”
“How do they work? Isn’t that like a screen door on a submarine?”
“That depends. The one-piece waders have to be patched or tossed if they leak. With the stocking-foot waders, if you spring a leak that you can’t patch you can still use the boots.” “Hmmm. That’s a lot to think about. I suppose my leaks usually occur above the boot. Especially in winter. Did I tell you about the trip last winter when it was seventeen degrees out and I got a leak in my waders? I was fishing below the dam and one side of my waders filled up and ran down the other leg. My feet got so numb that I . . .” “That raises another good point,” I interrupted. If I didn’t derail this train, who knew where it would
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I added a little more pepper to my gravy while I avoided eye contact, hoping to get a bite in before responding. “That sounds a little high-tech for you if you have to ask. The idea is that you don’t unzip them while you’re fishing. Otherwise, the zipper would work just like a screen door on a submarine.” “I was just messin’ with you anyway,” said Beanpole. “With my luck, I’d wade in with my fly open.” JIM MIZE has enough leaky waders to outfit a centipede. You can find his awardwinning books of humor on Amazon or at www.acreektricklesthroughit.com.
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