HOOKED ON™ SUZUKI TECHNOLOGY
YOU’RE GONNA NEED
A BIGGER COOLER RELIABILITY TO FISH ALL DAY WITH CONFIDENCE Among the many advantages of Suzuki’s proven technologies are simplified rigging and installation, silky smooth shifting, instant throttle response, enhanced performance, and superior fuel economy. With Suzuki Marine’s reputation for performance and reliability, you can rest assured your fishing day is going to make memories that will last for years to come.
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.
251.968.2628
6940A HIGHWAY 59 | GULF SHORES, AL 36542 HWY 59 @ COASTAL GATEWAY BLVD. 2 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 3
HUNTING & FISHING IN ALABAMA & THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE
16
22
26
CONTENTS
Where Do Raw Oysters Get Their Flavor? . . . . . . . . . 8 by Stephanie Mallory How to Inspect Used Bass Boats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 by David Strickland How to Pick Custom Rifle Stocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 by Butch Thierry The Best Time to Plant Food Plot Trees. . . . . . . . . . 18 by Stephanie Mallory Gulf Recreational Red Snapper Season 2022. . . . . . 22 by Frank Sargeant Update on Alabama Chronic Wasting Disease. . . . . 26 by John E. Phillips The Ins & Outs of Tractor & Equipment Financing. . . . . . 32 by Ed Mashburn How and Where to Take Alligators This Year. . . . . . 36 by Josh Honeycutt Busting Bream. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 by John E. Phillips Understanding SST Charts for Fishing. . . . . . . . . . . 44 by Frank Sargeant How to Keep Bait Alive Longer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 by Stephanie Mallory Support Alabama’s CCA & Your Coastal Fishing. . . 52 by Frank Sargeant What to Know About Buying Land and What Questions to Ask. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 by William Kendy Carbon Credits Explained for Landowners. . . . . . . . 60 by Joe Baya
In Every Issue
40
4 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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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
Fins & Feathers Hunting
Pine View Lake Lodge & Trophy Hunting Retreat
Located in Uniontown on Highway 183, this property features: 2 water wells and pumps, 182+/- acres pine, 26+/- acres green tree reservoir, 7+/acres hardwoods, 200+/- acres in duck ponds, 76+/- acres open land, 26+/- acres bass pond, nice enclosed metal shop, nice 3BD/2BA camp, county road frontage.
Lodge, lake, trophy hunting, water frontage, and diverse stands of income-producing timber. Manicured property built with family and entertainment in mind, and it’s been highly managed for decades at all levels. Amenities include a well-appointed 4BR/3BA lodge w/game room (which could also be a fifth bedroom), expansive views where you can see clear to the next county, providing an amazing wildlife observation area and panoramic sunset and sunrise views, stocked fishing lake with a pier and gazebo large enough for entertaining, miles of the scenic and fishable Santa Bogue Creek frontage, three equipment sheds, feed silo, diverse timber with mature natural pine, mature hardwood, and pine plantations ready for thinning, providing potential for immediate income, a network of large food plots totaling ~35 acres and MORE!
Perry County, Alabama, 530+/-Acres
Washington County, Alabama, 1,100+/-Acres
Alabama Listings COUNTY Autauga Autauga Baldwin Baldwin Baldwin Baldwin Baldwin Barbour Barbour Barbour Barbour Bibb Bibb Bibb Bibb Blount Blount Butler Butler Butler Butler Calhoun Chambers Cherokee Cherokee
ACRES 372 114 688 518 48 39 20 1331 125 5 3.42 573 395 168 152 211 67 406 394.47 75 2 1.4 166 2230 2
COUNTY Cherokee Chilton Chilton Chilton Chilton Chilton Choctaw Clarke Clarke Clarke Clarke Clarke Cleburne Cleburne Coffee Colbert Colbert Colbert Colbert Colbert Conecuh Conecuh Conecuh Coosa Coosa
0.3 256 68 34 4.34 2.88 175 620 66.42 8.9 8.4 8.1 149 65 117 72 40 18.84 18 0.28 355 74 1 430 30
ACRES
Covington Crenshaw Crenshaw Cullman Cullman Dale Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Escambia Escambia Escambia Escambia Fayette Fayette Fayette Fayette Fayette Geneva Hale Hale Hale Hale
40 160 75.44 106 8 115 740 270 179 130 94 311 269.5 159 50 484 344 275 260 235 228 350.2 140 96 80
Hale Henry Henry Henry Henry Henry Houston Houston Houston Houston Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Lamar Lamar Lamar Lamar Lamar Lauderdale Lauderdale Lauderdale Lauderdale Lauderdale
80 115 80 76.3 60 57 295 261 54 38 1000 265 202 180 160 252 210 202 143 47 102.69 75 36 25 24.63
COUNTY
ACRES
Limestone Limestone Limestone Limestone Limestone Lowndes Lowndes Lowndes Macon Macon Marengo Mobile Mobile Mobile Mobile Mobile Monroe Monroe Montgomery Montgomery Montgomery Montgomery Montgomery Perry Perry
60 53 0.67 0.67 0.67 783 656 50 483 185 25 1800 399 271.83 260 200 191 62 640 250 200 65.8 18.7 611 530
COUNTY Perry Perry Perry Pickens Pickens Pickens Pickens Pickens Pike Pike Randolph Russell Saint Clair Saint Clair Saint Clair Shelby Shelby Shelby Shelby Shelby Sumter Sumter Sumter Sumter Sumter
398.31 240.75 240 430 356 260 180 121 44 9.2 178 50 67 19 1.04 133 102 87 75 74 2151 1282 908 640 300
Talladega Talladega Talladega Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Walker Walker Walker Walker Washington Washington Washington Washington Washington Wilcox Winston Winston
ACRES 250 93 1.01 800 600 525 500 381.56 120 115 95.91 80 1320 1100 640 430 280 522 213 2.3
FL Panhandle Listings COUNTY
Bay Washington
ACRES 264 133
Over 700 more tracts across 47 states available...
®
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 5
BEST BETS
BEST BETS FOR MAY These are our top targets for hunters and fishermen this month! BY WILLIAM KENDY
MAY ALABAMA BLUEGILL CRAZE
When May rolls around bream pretty much take center stage for Alabama Freshwater anglers. Whether it be shellcrackers, bluegill or redear sunfish these feisty fighters are fun to catch and delicious table fare. One of the best things about fishing for bream is that it doesn’t require sophisticated or expensive tackle or methods to fill your cooler. In his article, “Busting Bream” John Phillips provides some general advice on being successful but he dives down deeper and identifies areas and habitat that are most likely to hold fish. He goes even further and provides some specific locations across Alabama that are rated as top bluegill fisheries. If you want a good chuckle on bluegill fishing check out Jim Mize’s humor column, “The Bluegill Hound”.
VOLUME 26 ISSUE 5 MAY 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
FRISKY BAIT MEANS MORE FISH IN THE BOAT
Live bait is part of the successful fishing equation and the healthier and friskier the bait is the more attractive it is to whatever you are trying to catch. It is hard work to catch the requisite amount of bait needed for a day’s fishing. In addition, if you purchase your bait, considering that the cost of bait is going up, if you can keep that fish food alive longer you are ahead of the game.
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
With that goal in mind Stephanie Mallory’s article “How to Keep Bait Alive” outlines things that you need to consider when it comes to bait. Mallory includes insight from veteran captain Delynn Siegler on how to prevent bait deaths in livewells, how to separate your bait for greater longevity and best temperature and lighting
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.
TAKING THE MYSTERY OUT OF TRACTOR AND EQUIPMENT FINANCING
If you are looking to buy a tractor or other equipment to clear land to construct food plots, build or maintain roads or just do general land improvements, you will find a plethora of equipment choices along with multiple financing options available in the market. To help make understanding the financing part of the purchase process a little easier and less scary, Ed Mashburn tapped into the expertise of Darren Hammonds, a loan professional at First South Farm Credit in Birmingham. Hammonds explained where we are in today’s financial environment in terms of rates and terms, what is expected for a down payment, the intricacies of financing new and used equipment and even what types of outdoor equipment can be financed. 6 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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.
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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 7
Where Do Raw Oysters Get Their BY STEPHANIE MALLORY
Flavor?
Known for their salty, crisp, fresh-ocean flavor, Gulf Coast oysters are a favorite cuisine among locals and the thousands of tourists who visit the region every year. What is it about Gulf Coast oysters that make them such a desirable table fare? In addition to their appealing flavor, oysters are low in calories, high in protein and loaded with nutrients, making them a supremely healthy choice. They’re also fun to share with good friends and a bottle of wine. Like wine, oysters take on the flavor of their environment. In fact, fewer foods reflect the taste of origin better than oysters. With wine, that sense of place through flavor is called “terroir.” With oysters, it’s called “merroir,” which incorporates “mer,” the French word for sea. Eddie Butterfield, sales manager for International Wines and Craft Beer, explains how the same species of oyster can have different flavors depending on the area of origin. “For example, you could have three Americans -- someone born and raised in Seattle, another from New Orleans and another person from Boston. They’re all humans who speak the same language, but they have different dialects. Their dialects are a reflection of that sense of place. In the same 8 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
way, oysters are a reflection of their environment, a sense of time and the weather conditions at that moment of harvest,” Butterfield explained. Depending on the region and conditions, an oyster’s flavor profile can have a cucumber, citrus, melon, copper, smokey, sweet, briny, mild, crisp, rich or creamy taste. Exceptional filter-feeders, oysters reflect their environment because they can pull up to 50 gallons of water a day through their gills to capture nutrients. They take on characteristics, such as the salinity, temperature and food sources of the waters they live in. That’s why oysters from different growing regions, even from one bay to the next, can have distinct characteristics and tastes. Butterfield says the farm-raised oysters showcase the fresh ocean flavor and the fauna and flora in the Gulf’s warm waters but in a smaller, more artisanal format than the bigger, wild Gulf Coast oysters. “They have a nice, clean creamy ocean flavor that pairs well with a white wine, such as Muscadet, as well as champagnes and bubbles,” he said. Butterfield believes that not only are oysters a perfect pairing for wine, but they’re also essentially the perfect food.
LIFESTYLE
The key to producing delicious oysters is finding the perfect spot for farming. Image by Admiral Shellfish
“You know, some people say oysters are one of the few foods you could solely live off of because they are packed full of healthy protein and nutrients,” he said. Oysters are loaded with omega 3’s, which are critical fats, as well as vitamins D, B1, B12, B3, iron, protein and niacin. They also contain selenium, magnesium, manganese, copper, and phosphorus, which are essential for health and wellness. FINDING THE PERFECT SPOT FOR THE BEST FLAVOR Growing farm-raised oysters that boast the size, taste and consistency desired by both chefs and consumers is no easy task as Anthony Ricciardone and Chris Head, co-founders of Admiral Shellfish Company, in Gulf Shores, Alabama, can attest. “When it comes to a farm-raised oyster’s flavor, shape and savory quality, nothing is an accident,” Ricciardone said. “The site you pick to farm your oysters determines all of these elements.” He said they learned just how important location is to the quality and taste of the oyster with their first attempt at farming oysters several years ago.
“I tried to establish a farm higher up in the bay, 13 miles north of where we are now,” he said. “There was more silt and fresh water coming down the natural river channels. That fresh water, combined with the mud and silt, created a bad flavor profile for the oysters. Freshwater flooding caused die offs and then Hurricane Sally in Sept. 2020, caused us to lose 95% of our crop.” While struggling with the original farm site, Ricciardone says he’d looked all over the bay for a better location. In his search for the area with the best salinity, substrate, location and conditions, he stumbled upon an ideal piece of property. During his own search, Head had also identified that piece of property as an ideal location for an oyster farm. Head, who is also an environmental scientist, said that he had pinpointed that same couple hundred feet of beach because it was sandy, shallow and had a good tide. “It was a pristine, undeveloped site. I knew it’d make an awesome location for growing oysters,” he noted. Head and Ricciardone agreed to partner on the farm at that ideal site, which is located on a remote stretch of beach near Fort Morgan and benefits from clean, salty tides that flush in directly from the Gulf to the shallow and 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 9
Where Do Raw Oysters Get Their Flavor?
For those who want to try one of everything at Sidecar Patio & Oyster Bar. Image by Jeffery Spoo, lead shucker at Sidecar Patio & Oyster Bar
consistency,” he said. “If they go to serve six oysters, they don’t want three oysters that measure 2 ½ inches and a few oysters over three inches. They want a uniform look for their dishes. A deep cup to hold that natural liquor is important as well. If you go to shuck it and the meat slides right out because it’s too shallow, that’s no good.” Ingraham says if a restaurant is carrying six different types of oysters, it wants the average person to be able to tell the difference in flavor between the six oysters. “Some will have a cucumber or melon-type taste. Some are less salty, while others have more brine. You’ll get different opinions with each chef you speak to. Generally, most people want a brinier oyster. If an oyster has been sitting in water with a salinity level that’s below 10 parts per thousand (ppt), it will taste bland. Its texture will also be softer. Oysters in water with higher salinity will be firmer.”
sandy banks. The conditions promote healthy year-round oyster growth and provide consistent salinity that nurture an impressive crop of oysters. Thanks to these perfect conditions, Admiral Shellfish’s oysters are easy to shuck and boast a deep cup, beautiful shell, plump meat and a clean salty liquor with a savory seafood finish. FARM-RAISED OYSTERS’ APPEAL Joe Ingraham, farm manager for Admiral Shellfish, says what many people don’t realize is that even though East Coast oysters can vary greatly in size, taste and appearance, they’re all the same species of oyster, unlike Pacific Coast oysters which include three distinct species. “All the oysters from Texas to Maine are all the same species called Crassostrea Virginica,” Ingraham said. “But if you put one from New England next to one from Texas and then next to a farm-raised oyster, they’re each going to look different to the layperson There’s so much variety throughout the environment in the region that the oysters are going to look and taste very different from area to area.” When it comes to the difference in taste between wild and farm-raised oysters, both types are recognized for being delicious. “Wild oysters are a great product,” Ricciardone said. “But with farm-raised oysters, we have more control over the size, shape and quality. Wild oysters are a bit more yellow and have a less distinctive shape. They are less briny and a bit more gamey, while farm-raised oysters have that clean umami seafood favor. They’re very savory.” PLANNED PERFECTION A lot of work goes into giving the Admiral Shellfish oysters that perfect size, deep cup and crisp, savory flavor. “We want the oysters to have a cup with a flat edge on top to shuck off,” Ingraham said. “Wild oysters don’t grow like that naturally. As they grow, we chip and break off that lip on a weekly basis to help create that deep cup and meatier oyster. A wild oyster will grow much more elongated with a shallower cup because it doesn’t undergo that chipping process.” Ingraham says that consistent size and deep cups are what chefs love about Admiral Shellfish oysters. “They want their oysters to measure between 2 ½ and 3 inches for 10 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Lindsay Allday, oyster sommelier with Sidecar Patio & Oyster Bar in New Orleans, runs the oyster bar and does the ordering and menu writing. She says her oyster menu, which features 20 different types of oysters at any given time, reads like a wine menu. “I have 20 different types of oysters on the menu at all times from all over the country,” she said. “Our menu is like a flavor rollercoaster.” She says most of her customers want a small oyster that is clean, crisp and meaty and that’s exactly what she gets with Admiral Shellfish oysters. “Admiral’s oysters are beautiful and immaculately clean,” Allday noted. “The meat is almost bigger than the shell. I call them ‘chunky boys.’ The oysters are about the size of a quarter, which is what people want. And the flavor is excellent thanks to their ideal farm location near Fort Morgan, which is out in the Gulf where they get that fresher, saltier water.” When asked what it is about oysters that people love, she says if they’re like her, it’s the taste of the ocean. “When I taste an oyster, I can truly taste where it comes from, and I love that because I’m a beach person. I also truly appreciate the oyster for the amazing creature that it is. They help with pollution by filtering the water. And, oysters not only feed us, but their reefs feed numerous aquatic species. Their beds literally create a whole ecosystem, which I think is beautiful.”
Admiral Shellfish oysters are carefully managed and farmed to produce the best quality. Image by Admiral Shellfish
Contact Information Admiral Shellfish Company Box 291 82 Plantation Pointe Rd Fairhope, AL 36532 www.admiralshellfishcompany.com/
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 11
How to Inspect
Used Bass Boats BY DAVID STRICKLAND I learned to fish on a small, rugged stream in West Central Alabama called the Sipsey. As soon as factory Jon boats became available, my family abandoned their old flat-bottom cypress model for a secondhand 14 foot version made of aluminum. We used wooden paddles for our float trips and a small outboard for the larger nearby rivers, and inspecting one of those boats was an easy task. We learned to take care of our motor by changing the foot grease, water pump, spark plugs, and to mix our oil and gas precisely. In addition, we knew to clean the carburetor filter and keep an eye out for any change in 12 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
performance. Our motors weren’t much to look at, but they served us well and usually outlasted our boats. Today, most boats have carpeted decking and a myriad of wires, pumps, and tubing underneath and out of sight. Fiberglass seems to be the favorite construction material, and most outboards are now four-stroke and have Electronic Control Modules and fuel injection. That’s why it might pay to have a professional take a look at that used boat you might be considering purchasing.
FISHING
Look closely below the waterline for any scrapes or dings that go below the gel coat
PROFESSIONAL OPINION So, how does one decide if their current boat or one they may consider buying is structurally and mechanically sound?
managed by his family, and they have accumulated a wealth of experience in both sales and service. They still run their business according to Buck’s philosophy of “Treating customers like we want to be treated.”
It is often said, “Experience is the greatest teacher.” If this is true, finding someone who has that experience might be an excellent place to start.
Britt shared with me the process they use to determine the structural integrity of a used boat’s hull and the mechanical condition of its motor. They have 18 dedicated service bays at Bucks Island, and their factory-certified mechanics strive to stay up-to-date on the newest products on the market.
I talked with Angela Britt, the service manager at Bucks Island Marina in Southside, Alabama. They have been in business since 1948, when Buck Lumpkin set up shop on the banks of the Coosa River. It’s still owned and
Angela said most outboards produced in the last 20 years have a control 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 13
How to Inspect Used Bass Boats
Put some up & down pressure on the raised lower unit and observe the transom for abnormal sound or movement.
module that stores vital information about the motor and its operation. They begin the motor inspection by examining the lower unit and propeller for any impact or freeze damage. They also check the foot and engine oil for signs of water or impurities. COMPUTERIZED ENGINE LOG “We plug into the computer to download the engine log before doing a compression test on each cylinder,” Britt said. She noted that newer engines store a wealth of data that can help evaluate an engine’s current condition. Some of the information stored can include such items as: • • • • • • • •
Total engine operating hours Engine run-time at various RPM ranges Active faults Previous faults A record of all engine data at the time of a fault Sensor failures Engine start count The number of times the engine has shifted gears
OLDER HOUR METERS Up until 20 years ago, most boats with steering wheels and consoles had hour meters mounted in the dash. However, they only provided a rough estimate of the actual run-time because they operated through the ignition switch. For example, the operator might leave the key in the on position, or a wire might come loose or get disconnected, and either of these conditions would alter the true run-time. That’s why when looking over an older model engine, the overall motor condition and compression readings on each cylinder are a better indicator of usage. HULL AND TRANSOM Though a hull issue might be the result of a manufacturing defect, it’s much more likely to be the result of an impact, improper storage, or neglect. Fiberglass is a fantastic choice for constructing a boat, but telltale signs on the exterior of a hull can indicate the need for a more thorough inspection. I asked Angela what her service techs looked for when examining a fiberglass boat’s transom and outer hull. She said they raise the foot of a motor, then place upward and downward pressure to ensure the transom is solid 14 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
before looking closely at the entire outer hull. “They look for any scratches or abrasions that extend past the gel coating, and also for any spider-webbing, then determine if it’s normal wear or signs of an impact,” she added. TRAILERS Angela said they also thoroughly inspect a boat’s trailer to ensure the wiring, lights, brakes, tires, and bearings are in good condition. “We also look closely for abnormal wear patterns on the tires that might indicate a spindle or axle issue,” she added. ENGINE TESTING Britt said that after their mechanics finish the initial inspection, they run the engine with water flowing through the foot. It’s run at various rpm’s, shifted, stopped, and repeatedly cranked to ensure everything is in working order. After that, they do a compression test to evaluate each cylinder’s condition. If a technician detects any abnormal issue, they will take it to the river for further evaluation. “If everything checks out in the shop, I begin a search of its service history, warranty claims, and any service bulletins or recalls. Only then will a boat be approved for sale,” Britt said. ELECTRONICS “Electrical components such as fish finders, stereos, and other onboard devices can be challenging to assess, Britt said., “If we determine they are in good working order and operating correctly, that’s about as much as we can do.” Other considerations are the age, button wear, and screen condition, but other than checking for any recalls or service bulletins, there is no guarantee for how long a used electronic device might last.” PAPERWORK If you’re buying from an individual, insist on seeing the registration and title with their name and address. You also need this same information for the trailer. Ensure the registration numbers match the make, model, and hull identification numbers. You will also need a copy if you plan to finance the boat
How to Inspect Used Bass Boats
and trailer. Also, request a bill of sale signed by the owner that clearly describes any warranty coverage, if offered. CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE BUYING You can learn a lot about a boat’s current condition by its appearance and maintenance history—both the quality and quantity of that servicing, along with who performed it. It can also be helpful to know how and where the owner stored the boat. Even if the owner produces the service records, have a mechanical inspection done by a qualified technician if you suspect anything whatsoever. They can tell you the current condition of the engine, drive system, and related components, regardless of its service history. QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK BEFORE BUYING • What’s the manufacturing date of both the boat and motor? • How many hours does the engine have on it? • When were the boat and motor last serviced? • Where was it serviced? • How long ago did the seller buy the boat and motor? • Are they the first owner? • Where was it purchased? • Have there been any major repairs to the engine or the hull? • When was the vessel last used? • Is the boat or motor still under factory warranty? • Do they have the original sales paperwork? • Where has it been stored/ has it been covered? • When was the trailer last serviced? THINGS TO LOOK FOR - BEFORE BUYING • Spin the propeller as you look at the center of the shaft. Does it wobble? Does the lower unit show signs of an impact? • Look at the overall condition of the motor on the outside and inside. Look for freshly painted areas or welds that don’t look normal. How
• • • • • • • •
clean are the powerhead and cowling? Check the age and condition of the battery and cables. Take the boat for a test ride. Start it up and listen closely. Does it start quickly and idle smoothly? How quickly does the motor reach maximum rpm and get to plane? Does it bog down or act sluggish? Get into the boat and walk around as you feel for soft spots in the deck. Bounce a little. Make sure all lights, pumps, gauges are working. Ensure the steering system turns smoothly. Inspect the steering cable. Check the condition of the fuel tanks, lines, sending unit, and fuel filter.
FINAL THOUGHTS If you feel confident that you can perform a thorough inspection of a used boat/motor/trailer, be sure to take your time so as not to overlook anything. Take along a checklist. Give the folks at Bucks Island a call if you begin to have doubts or questions about any aspect of a prospective deal. You could also check out their inventory and save yourself time and worry about the condition of your next boat.
Contact Information Angela Britt (Service Manager) Buck’s Island bucksisland.com (256) 442-2588
SPECIALIZING IN:
• • • •
Crawlspace Encapsulation Floor Support Concrete Leveling Wood Pile Repair
(251) 333-9355 www.mdhfoundationrepair.com
EVERY HOME HAS A FOUNDATION 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 15
How to Pick
Custom Rifle Stocks BY BUTCH THIERRY
A wide range of custom features and specific designs make carbon fiber stocks reliable and very accurate.
For many hunters, a rifle with its from-the-factory stock may shoot pretty well. It may feel pretty good when being fired. It may seem “good enough.”
can result in improved accuracy. Also, the ergonomics of a factory stock may not fit a person well which can affect how well they shoot.”
However, “good enough” may not in fact be good enough, and of all the modifications which can be made to a hunting rifle to improve its performance, there are few things more likely to improve the feel and shooting of a rifle than a custom stock.
Tandy explained that getting a custom carbon fiber stock allows a customer to find the stock that fits them perfectly.
However, like most things that make major changes, choosing a custom rifle stock needs to be done with care and with good solid information. There are many possible choices for custom rifle stocks, and just randomly picking a new stock because of its appearance or its reputation may not provide a good solution to shooting problems. Matt Tandy of AG Composites, an Alabama-based custom rifle stock company, gives us some good information and lots to think about when choosing a new custom stock. BENEFITS OF CUSTOM RIFLE STOCK “A rifle stock is like the foundation of a house. If the foundation is not solid or level you can have issues with your house such as cracks, unlevel floors, etc. It’s very similar when it comes to a rifle stock,” Tandy said. “A factory stock may not provide the foundation needed for having an extremely accurate rifle Having a rigid, sturdy stock with precise inletting for your action 16 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
“All too often the stock that comes on a rifle does not fit the shooter. Most don’t realize that until they go through the process of handling several different custom stocks. Once you have the right stock in your hands, you’ll know the difference.” “Changing to a custom rifle stock can also provide weight savings, which can be very important when a hunter is covering miles during a hunt. Tandy said. “I’ve seen guys drop over a pound. They’re walking around with a fourpound stock with all of their additional components on there. And they can drop down to under two pounds by going with carbon fiber.” A CUSTOM STOCK- WHAT MATERIAL IS BEST? There is a wide range of custom material construction materials, and they all work more or less. But for superior strength to weight and solid , long-lasting stocks, there’s really no material for custom rifle stocks quite like carbon fiber composite. This engineered material is very strong, and it provides a very solid base for a hunting rifle action and barrel, and it can be formed to fit particular hunters and their specific needs.
HUNTING Carbon fiber is a very strong material that is also very lightweight. It’s fivetimes stronger than steel and twice as stiff, making it the ideal material for our stocks. Our stocks maintain their dimensions under extreme conditions and require no maintenance other than wiping off mud or dirt from your last hunt. The stock is a superb platform for all your components- action, barrel, bottom metal,” Tandy said.
“ We always welcome phone calls. If someone has got any shadow of a doubt, give us a call. We have got a team here to walk people through it. When we designed our website, our goal was really to have someone who’s never done this before be able to go through the website and just be able to choose a stock that’s right for them. We just talk people through it, it’s their first time,” he added.
WHAT RIFLE BARRELS AND ACTIONS ARE MOST COMMONLY RE-FITTED WITH CUSTOM STOCKS? Most hunters who restock their guns are deer hunters and other big-game hunters. So their actions and barrels tend to fall in specific groups.
There is a wide range of materials used by some companies to produce custom stocks, and some work better than others. Some custom stock companies warn their customers that their new stocks should not be exposed to 150 degree heat or the stock will warp and separate. However, the AG Composite custom stocks have no such cautions.
“We focus on the Rem 700 and Rem clones such as Defiance, Lone Peak, Stiller, Kelbly, Bighorn, etc. We also offer a few dozen different barrel channel options and over a dozen different bottom metal inlet options. When a customer calls us to place an order, we go through a series of questions to get the stock exactly how they want it, Tandy pointed out. HOW CAN A SHOOTER GET A STOCK THAT FITS? The only real reason for a hunter to get a custom stock for a rifle is to make sure that the stock is a perfect fit for the specific shooter. This requires some measurement and fitting, and this is where AG Composites really shines. This company does what it takes to make sure a shooter gets a custom stock which fits the shooter and which provides maximum accuracy. “Length of Pull is important as well as the interface between the stock and the shooter’s cheek known as their cheek weld. We can help a customer with these items. The best way is for the individual to either work, in person, with their custom gun builder to get these fittings correctly. We have had people, who live in our neck of the woods, stop by and touch and feel all our stocks to find the right one, “ Tandy said..
“We have a process that is very repeatable and follows the latest “best aerospace practices”, for producing carbon fiber products,” he noted.. With our military and aerospace background, our manufacturing system allows us to produce a very high volume of premier, carbon fiber rifle stocks. Some of our competitors take months to get stocks delivered where we deliver in weeks. And based on our customer response, they love the quality, the finish and the precise inletting that comes with an AG Composites’ stock.” “We do not skimp on materials. We use very high end materials that are sourced in the US when possible but we do have items coming from countries such as Spain. A lot of what we do and the materials we use give us that competitive edge,” Tandy concluded. Contact Information AG Composites Owens Cross Roads, Alabama 1-256-723-8381 info@agcomposites.com
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18 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
LIFESTYLE
THE BEST TIME TO PLANT
FOOD PLOT TREES BY STEPHANIE MALLORY Hunters know that food plots play an important role in managing wildlife. If your food plot provides tasty plants with sufficient nutrition, deer, turkey and other critters will return to the plot year after year. Food plots traditionally consist of mostly herbaceous and browse crops that have to be planted annually, which requires time, money and a lot of hard work. Still, landowners and managers are discovering that they can enjoy long-lasting results with less work over the long run by planting fruit and nut trees on their properties. WHY PLANT FOOD PLOT TREES? Iain Wallace, CEO of Chestnut Hill Outdoors, a nursery and tree farm that offers trees designed to attract wildlife and enrich land, says that food plot trees, like the Dunstan Chestnut™, pear and persimmon, provide greater nutritional value and are the best long-term strategy for attracting game to your land. “You only have to plant trees once and then they provide nutrients for generations of wildlife without the cost and effort of replacement,” Wallace said. “By planting hard and soft mast you can sustain your wildlife’s nutritional needs throughout the year.” In the early spring you can have blueberries, mulberries and summer plums, and in the South, peaches. During the fall you can have more berries, as well as pears, apples and persimmons and then hard mast, such as chestnuts and acorns, come in. If you plant a wide-variety of mast-producing trees, you can have a long growing season for fruit and nuts that continue to produce every single year. If you only want to plant one type of tree, Wallace says your No.1 choice, without a doubt, should be the Dunstan chestnut. “Chestnuts are high in carbs and protein. They are comprised of approximately 40 percent carbohydrates, five to eight percent protein and two percent fat. That carb percentage is important to pack on energy and fat before the winter months,” he said. After they are planted, chestnuts begin producing nuts in three to five years and then, they produce every year. On the other hand, oak trees can take 10 to 20 years to begin producing nuts and then they only produce acorns every other year and sometimes every two years. Sometimes, they don’t produce at all.
While the initial investment of planting fruit and nut trees is a bit more than it is for planting traditional food plots, planting trees saves money, time and effort down the road as you don’t have the annual expense for tilling the soil, machinery for cultivation and planting, or hauling machinery to the property. Plus, trees can be planted in more sites than annual food plots because of adaptability to different slopes, soil types and locations. WHEN SHOULD YOU PLANT YOUR TREES? So when should you plant your trees and bushes? Wallace says you really can’t go wrong by planting in the spring or fall. You can even plant year-round in warmer climates if the ground doesn’t freeze. “Deciduous trees (trees that shed their leaves after growing season), which are mostly what we sell, all have the same planting schedules,” Wallace said. “We mainly ship out trees to customers to plant in the spring and fall. However, in the north or central states, you can plant in the spring, fall and summer, but you can’t plant in the winter because the ground is frozen. In the South, you can plant just about all year around. However, during the summer months, it’s the hottest and the trees will require consistent watering. You’ve got to keep an eye on those plants during hot weather or they will dry out. In the northern or central states, you’ll need to water the trees one or two times a week during the summer. In the South, you’ll need to water approximately three times a week.” Wallace acknowledges that spring is often thought of as the traditional time to plant trees. People assume it’s the right time of the year to plant because it’s the growing season and that’s when stores stock up on trees and plants. “But we like to stress you don’t have to just plant in the spring,” Wallace said. “Fall is also a great time to plant food plot trees. Both seasons have some risks and benefits.” When you plant in the spring, you’re following the natural growing cycle. The tree gets planted before it comes out of dormancy, so it gets established before it starts growing again in the spring. When planting in the spring, you’ll need to water frequently as you move into the hot summer months A benefit of planting in the fall is when you receive the tree to plant, it’s starting to go into dormancy. The energy requirement is going down. It will go fully dormant in the winter and will require little water. 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 19
The Best Time to Plant Food Plot Trees
It won’t be growing leaves and trunk, but the roots will continue to grow throughout the winter. The following spring, when it comes out of dormancy, it has established its roots and it will be more resilient. CHOOSING THE PERFECT SPOT Wallace explained that in addition to the season, soil type will influence how often you should water your plants.
SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY & ECOLOGY
“Before you go out and plant trees, you need to educate yourself on the different soil types – sandy, loam (healthy balance of sand, silt and clay) and clay -- and examine your soil to see what type you have. On some properties, you may use all three soil types.” Sandy soils tend to not hold water as well, so you’ll need to water your trees more often. Loam is typical garden soil that you’ll need to water a couple of times a week because it holds a bit more water. Clay soil holds water for a lot longer, so it’s easy to over water trees planted in clay soil. So, now that you know when to plant your trees, how do you choose where on your property to plant them? Just remember that all mast-producing trees require full sunlight. You want to avoid all shade if possible, for the best case scenario. Sometimes people will want to plant their trees along a tree line or in a small opening on their property, but just make sure that the trees will receive at least 6 to 8 hours of full sunlight. The more open, the better because trees require sunlight for photosynthesis. Adequate sunlight increases mass production. If the tree receives inadequate light, it may not produce at all. Also, when looking for a location to plant trees, make sure you don’t plant in an area that will retain or hold water. “If you want to plant down by the creek or pond or in a low-lying area on the property, make sure those areas don’t flood or have standing water during a heavy rain,” Wallace said. “If mast-producing trees keep wet roots, they’ll suffocate. If you can, plant on a piece of land with a bit of elevation, like a hillside.” You’ll also want to keep spacing requirements in mind, depending on the tree species you’re planting. “Many trees require a pollinator, and they will need to be planted close enough to their pollinator to sufficiently produce mast,” he added.
Admiral Oysters are now available for retail by the dozen at Bon Secour Fisheries, Inc. in Bon Secour, Alabama. Fresh, raw oysters can elevate any event. From a simple, nutrient dense appetizer at home to a shucking party with friends, Admiral Oysters will steal the show.
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Ultimately, you’ll want to try to plant your trees where you want to drive your “herd”. You can plant on the edge of your traditional food plot to encourage more traffic. You can also encourage more movement by planting along a high-traffic route, and you’ll create an attractive place for deer to hold and feed if you plant around a water source. To figure out where to plant your trees, study the movement of wildlife on your property and then determine what your goals are. Planting food plot trees may require more time and effort initially than planting a traditional food plot, but knowing they’ll attract and hold wildlife on your property for years to come makes it all worthwhile. Contact Information Chestnut Hill Nursery Alachua, FL 32615 1.800.669.2067 www.chestnuthilltreefarm.com 20 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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Gulf Recreational
Red snapper season BY FRANK SARGEANT
22 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
2022
FISHING
Ready for some snapper filets? Here’s what you need to know about the regulations Red snapper fishing in the Gulf of Mexico is not only a great recreational opportunity and a chance to bring home one of the tastiest fish in the sea, it’s also an economic engine that brings tens of millions of dollars to the states around the Gulf each year. So the annual setting of the inshore season, now controlled by the five gulf states, is of more than passing interest not only to anglers, but also to the thousands of marinas, boat dealers, tackle shops, motels, restaurants and other tourist infrastructure around the Gulf—it’s boom time when the fishermen come to town. Fortunately, there are a whole lot of red snapper out there according to the most recent and detailed studies. A new scientific study from the Harte Research Institute of Texas A&M indicates there’s an overall abundance of red snapper in both state and federal waters. The three-year study estimated there are some 118 million fish two years or older in the Gulf of Mexico, many times what the previous NOAA estimate was. Fisheries managers report that the fishery is “not overfished” and “not undergoing overfishing”, two terms used by biologists to indicate when restrictions are needed. However the distribution of age classes is skewed toward younger fish— there are few of the largest fish available due to long term overharvest prior to the current regulations. Red snapper can live up to 60 years, but there are currently few that are over 20 years old in the Gulf, a sign that the fishery still needs careful management. While it’s always better to manage fisheries on the side of caution because a collapse of a fishery can take a long time to rebuild and cause huge economic and environmental harm, managing too conservatively can also cause economic issues as well as needlessly restricting recreational opportunities. The majority of the “new” fish the Harte Report discovered were not on known reef locations but on “uncharacterized bottom”, where anglers do not target them. Some 30 percent of fish tagged on the known structure were re-caught in short order, so clearly fishing pressure can clean out the spots where sonar reveals their presence. Still, there’s a very large “bank” of fish that can replenish these spots if given time. As in the past, the state waters in the Gulf are defined as those extending out to nine nautical miles offshore. From there to 200 miles out, federal rules hold sway.
• •
in 2007, increasing from 3.3 pounds (2007) to 8.11 pounds (2018). Catching larger fish means that fishermen harvest their annual quota (measured in pounds) more quickly. If recreational harvests exceed the annual quota, any excess is deducted from the quota for the following fishing season. This is called a payback provision. As states extended their recreational red snapper seasons starting around 2012, a large fraction of the total harvest came from state waters. NOAA Fisheries had to account for this harvest when setting federal seasons. For example, when they set the 2017 recreational red snapper season, they estimated that 81% of the annual catch target would be caught during state seasons, leaving less than 600,000 pounds for the private recreational federal season.
STATE QUOTAS Under the federal system, Florida anglers get 44.8 percent of the quota, Alabama anglers about 26.3 percent, Mississippi 3.6 percent Louisiana 19.1 percent and Texas 6.2 percent. NOAA Fisheries reports they are currently working to combine their Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) estimates with the new estimates from A&M to come to a figure that can be used to manage the fishery into the future, and that will ensure state data are used in a way that is compatible with historic estimates produced by NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Recreational Information Program. The incorporation of multiple data streams into comparable time series of recreational catch is expected to improve stock assessments. HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR FOR THE 2022 SUMMER SEASON: ALABAMA Scott Bannon, director of Alabama’s Marine Fisheries Division, says this season is shaping up to be similar to last year. “We anticipate our quota for this year will be similar to last year’s, which was 1.12 million pounds,” Bannon said. “If the fishing effort is ‘normal,’ and the weather is favorable, we’ll fish probably 30 to 40 days, depending on the effort.” While this year’s Alabama season is projected to last around 40 days, the 2021 season was open for 124 days due to several factors including extended bad weather that kept most anglers off the water until late in the year. NOAA Fisheries has not set the federal for-hire season, but Bannon expects a June 1 opening with a season length of 62 or 63 days. The charter season is open seven days a week until the quota is met.
There are separate seasons for private anglers fishing from their own boats and for those fishing with charter captains and on headboats, provided the captains hold the federal red snapper endorsement.
In Alabama, the season in state waters is set to open Friday, May 27th, and continue until the recreational quota is met. The days open for red snapper fishing run from Friday at 12:01 a.m. to Monday at 11:59 p.m., only—there’s no fishing the rest of the week, allowing an extension of the season. The limit is two daily over 16 inches.
Here are some of the factors driving what the regs will be for 2022: • Catch rates more than doubled since 2007 due to an increase in numbers of both fishermen and fish. • The average red snapper is now more than twice the average size
Alabama will continue to use the Snapper Check app to monitor shore, private vessel and state charter angler landings during the season and will provide weekly updates at outdooralabama.com. The exact Alabama private angler quota for 2022 has not yet been provided by the NOAA Fisheries. 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 23
Gulf Recreational Red Snapper Season 2022
MRD will announce a season closure date when the 2022 quota is anticipated to be met. FLORIDA Florida’s season has not yet been set for 2022. The recreational red snapper quota in Gulf state and federal waters was met during the June 4 through July 28 open season last year, so there was no hoped-for fall season to finish out the quota. The 55-day summer Gulf red snapper season was the longest for Florida since FWC was delegated the ability to set the season. 113% of Florida’s quota (1,913,451 lbs.) was met during the 2021 season. The state will lose that extra 13 percent in the coming season via fewer fishing days. Check www.myfwc.com for the most current details. MISSISSIPPI Mississippi’s recreational red snapper season opened Jan. 1, 2022, and will continue until their quota of 151,550 pounds is reached. Anglers are allowed two per day, and are asked to use the Tales and Scales app to report their catches. Mississippi’s Red Snapper season will open for private recreational anglers and state for-hire vessels at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, May 27, 2022, with an anticipated mid-season closure date of Monday, July 4, 2022, at 11:59 p.m.
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council divides the red snapper catch into commercial, private angler and charter allocations. (Gulf Council)
24 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
As with previous years, a mid-season closure will allow for Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) staff to compile landings information and examine the potential for a season extension. The season will be open seven days a week in both state and federal waters. The season will close if the annual catch target (ACT) for recreational fisher-
Gulf Recreational Red Snapper Season 2022
Get a bit farther offshore and monsters like these await. (Shimano)
men is projected to be reached at any point after the season opens. One angler per vessel per trip is required to report through the MDMR Tails n’ Scales system on the catch for the boat. Visit tailsnscales.org to download the app. For more, visit the DMR online at dmr.ms.gov. LOUISIANA Louisiana’s 2021 season opened Friday, May 28 in both state and federal waters and was closed September 7, 2021 to allow staff an opportunity to analyze harvest limits. The season ran weekends only (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) with a daily bag limit of two fish per person and a 16-inch total length minimum size limit. The open season included the Monday of Memorial Day and the Monday of Labor Day. The 2022 season is scheduled to open on Memorial Day weekend of 2022. Anglers can voluntarily report their catches via the Recreational Offshore Landing Permit app (ROLP). Get details at www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/ red-snapper. TEXAS The Harte report indicated some 18 million red snapper two years or more off the Texas coast, but the fish are not targeted as much here as they are further north and east in the Gulf. The Texas season opened Jan. 1 for 2022 will continue until the state’s quota of 265,105 pounds is reached, with a bag limit of four per angler per day 15 inches or longer in state waters. See details here: https://tpwd.texas. gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing/saltwater-fishing/red-snapper Finding just the right “must have surf fishing gear” to make your day more productive and enjoyable takes some practice and time. But we hope this article will help your evolution in that direction happen more quickly.
BY LAURA ZAPALOWSKI
Recipe and image courtesy of Cooking Light (www.cookinglight.com) and my recipes (www.myrecipes.com)
Broiled Red Snapper with Ginger-Lime Butter Serve with long-grain rice tossed with green onions. Use the spicy herbed butter on shrimp, lobster, sautéed chicken, or beef, as well. Ingredients • 1 ½ tablespoons butter, softened • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro • 1 teaspoon minced seeded jalapeño pepper • ½ teaspoon grated lime rind • ¼ teaspoon bottled fresh ground ginger (such as Spice World) • ¾ teaspoon salt, divided • 4 (6-ounce) red snapper or other firm white fish filets • ¼ teaspoon black pepper • Cooking spray • Lime wedges (optional) Instructions
1. Lots of keeper size fish mean most anglers fill their limits quickly when the season opens. (ADCNR, David Rainer)
2.
3.
Combine the first five ingredients in a bowl. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cover and chill. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle both sides of the fish with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add fish to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness. Place one filet on each of four plates, and top each serving with 1 1/2 teaspoons butter mixture. Serve with lime wedges, if desired. 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 25
Selecting the Best Surf Fishing Rod Auburn University Students Win More Than $1 Million Bass Fishing
Update on
Alabama Chronic Wasting Disease BY JOHN E. PHILLIPS
Recently Alabama had its second deer identified with CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease). Misinformation about what causes this disease in deer and the effects it may have on anyone who handles a CWD deer, prepares the meat and/or eats the venison from a deer with this disease has been widely distributed. To learn the truth about what CWD does in white-tailed deer, we went straight to Chuck Sykes, the Director of the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division of Alabama’s Department of Conservation, who oversees the operations of all wildlife and freshwater fisheries biologists and conservation-enforcement officers in the state, and interviewed him. Great Days Outdoors (GDO,John E. Phillips): What is your opinion on finding the second case of CWD in Alabama’s deer herd? Chuck Sykes: I know this may sound strange, but I’m excited and happy that we’ve only discovered one more case of CWD in the Alabama deer herd. We tested 966 deer in Lauderdale and Colbert counties where that deer was harvested. Only identifying two deer with CWD is a very-small number of CWD deer to be found in a herd that large. From that information, I know that our staff has been doing a good job of testing deer harvested in that region and recognizing this disease early. GDO: If I harvest a deer with CWD and take the deer to a processor, and my deer is tested and found to have CWD, can I eat the deer, is the processor likely to spread CWD, and are there any ill effects from either handling or eating that deer? Sykes: We are the Alabama Department of Conservation, not a public-health agency. So, all I can explain is the information that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has released. The CDC strongly suggests that no one consume or eat the meat of a deer that has tested positive for CWD. With that being said, if you harvest a deer, take it to the processor to be processed and give a sample of that meat to be tested, more than likely you won’t receive word about your deer for two to three weeks or have the test results back. There’s no way to know immediately if the deer has CWD or not. We’ve been dealing with this problem for several years in Alabama. For example, if an Alabama resident goes to Colorado, harvests a mule deer and has the deer processed in Colorado, but then a month after the meat is frozen calls us and tells us that, “I just got a call from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife that the deer I harvested has 26 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
HUNTING
One of the problems associated with CWD is that there are no physical signs when deer carry this disease that are visible to the hunter’s eye.
According to Chuck Sykes, “If I take a deer on the land I hunt in Choctaw County, more than likely, I’ll process it and put the meat on the grill to eat that night.”
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 27
Update on Alabama Chronic Wasting Disease
CWD,” and asks, “What should I do with the meat?” In that case, we send one of our officers out to get that meat and dispose of it properly. GDO: In your research, have you found evidence of anyone unknowingly eating venison from a deer with CWD and experiencing any ill effects? Sykes: Not that I am aware of. CWD has been in Colorado since the 1960s, in Michigan since 2002, and in Wisconsin since the early 2000s. Still, as of our conversation today, there has never been a case reported of CWD jumping from a deer to a human. There appears to be a species barrier that prevents CWD from affecting humans. I believe because of an abundance of caution; the Center for Disease Control recommends that you do not consume venison from a deer that you know has CWD. GDO: What effect does CWD have on whitetail deer?
Sykes: No way exists right now to stop the spread of CWD. CWD is not a virus or a bacterium. It is a protein or a prion, and we have no idea how long it can survive in the environment. GDO: What’s the Department doing now to help solve the problem of CWD? Sykes: Right now, with the extremely-low prevalence of CWD, we still don’t want to artificially congregate deer and have eliminated feeding or baiting deer where we’ve located the two deer with CWD. We’re planning to continue to monitor deer that have been harvested by hunters. CWD is not at a stage where we can do anything to control it or eliminate it. When the state of Mississippi discovered its first case of CWD in February of 2018, they didn’t find another case of CWD for four years. Once Tennessee found its first case of CWD in December of 2018, within a month the state had located 50-100 cases of CWD. Luckily, Alabama isn’t seeing this disease spread as quickly as it has in Tennessee.
Sykes: In the most-simplistic terms, CWD eats holes in the brain of the white-tailed deer over time. No one has documented how long is required for this disease to have ill effects on the deer it inhabits. With EHD, Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease, commonly referred to as blue tongue, you can tell within a day if a deer has contracted this disease. However, with CWD, the deer may have this disease for years before they start expressing symptoms. This problem is one with deer that have CWD. There’s no way you can look at a deer and tell if it has CWD or not.
We believe Alabama is more like the Mississippi model of the CWD infection where the disease spreads slowly. Then over a four-year period, CWD only traveled 50 miles from Tennessee to Alabama. I don’t want to cause a knee-jerk reaction in our Alabama hunters and have them to believe that CWD will stop or ruin deer hunting in Alabama. We want our hunters to continue to hunt deer and have their deer tested after they have harvested them. Alabama’s Department of Conservation will continue to monitor the areas where we find CWD.
GDO: What plan does the Department of Conservation have to stop the spread of CWD in Alabama?
GDO: How and where can Alabama hunters have their deer tested for CWD?
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Update on Alabama Chronic Wasting Disease
This map shows CWD zones with the red denoting a high-risk area, the yellow showing the buffer zone in Lauderdale and Colbert counties and the green showing the positive CWD zone.
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 29
Update on Alabama Chronic Wasting Disease
Sykes: We have drop-off freezer locations for hunters. They need to cut off the heads of their deer a couple of inches behind the ears and fill out forms containing their names, the places where they’ve harvested the deer and phone numbers where we can reach them. That’s all hunters must do. On the homepage of our website, www. outdooralabama.com, you’ll find CWD info listed at https://www. outdooralabama.com/CWD-Info. If you click on the link, information is provided concerning what we’ve learned about CWD in Alabama, the location of the drop-off stations and the wildlife biologists who will check your deer for CWD. You’ll also see a map at https://www. outdooralabama.com/cwd/cwd-zone-map showing the high-risk and positive CWD locations in Alabama. GDO: If a hunter kills a trophy buck that he wants to have mounted or keep the horns from, can he do that and still drop off the skull of the deer and get it tested for CWD? Sykes: Yes, he or she can. A hunter also can have the deer processed, keep the meat in the freezer and then learn usually in two to four weeks whether the deer has CWD or not. GDO: Chuck, we know that you’re a deer hunter, as well as the Director of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. What will you do if you harvest a deer?
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Sykes: If I harvest a deer in Lauderdale or Colbert counties, I’ll have my deer checked for CWD before eating it.
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GDO: What if you’re hunting in Sumter, Greene and/or Choctaw counties?
*Subject to credit approval
Sykes: If I take a deer on the land I hunt in Choctaw County, more than likely, I’ll process it and put the meat on the grill to eat that night. GDO: To keep up with the CWD issue in Alabama, you can go to the www.outdooralabama.com site, and check it throughout deer season. This website is updated regularly and has the most-current information about CWD, what are the frequent questions and answers about CWD, where you can have your meat tested, and what, if any alerts, are needed.
Facts about Chronic Wasting Disease The best news learned from the Center for Disease Control is that CWD never has had any reported cases of CWD infection in humans. CWD is a prion (protein) disease that affects deer, elk, reindeer, Sika deer and moose. It’s likely spread between animals through body fluids like feces, saliva, blood and/or urine through environmental contact or indirectly through the environment (soil, food and/or water) themselves. It’s not caused by a virus or bacteria but occurs when proteins (prions) become misfolded and resist the body’s breaking them down, as normally happens with proteins. At this writing in 2022, CWD is present in 27 states, first identified in the late 1960s at a wildlife-research facility in Colorado and then later in the region’s wild deer by 1981. CWD has also been found in some Canadian provinces, Norway and South Korea.
30 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 31
Selecting the Best Surf Fishing Rod Auburn University Students Win More Than $1 Million Bass Fishing
32 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
The Ins and Outs of Tractor and Equipment Financing BY ED MASHBURN
LIFESTYLE Sooner or later, anyone who has land in the country, whether for agriculture or for hunting purposes, will have a need for heavy equipment. Land clearing, land maintenance, roadway and passageway construction, there’s a long list of improvements which can be made and they all require machinery, However, just going to the tractor dealership in the area and writing a check for a new or used tractor or other piece of heavy machinery is not a possibility for most of us. Most of us will need financial help when it comes to buying a major piece of land working equipment. Working with institutions which commonly finance agricultural equipment purchases is a wise decision for anyone who is in need of buying a tractor or other implement. These land-oriented institutions know about farming and land development, and they know about financing the equipment which makes this work possible. Darren Hammonds is the principal loan officer in the Montgomery, Alabama branch of First South Farm Credit, gives us some good advice and direction for those who may be in the market for land improvement equipment for hunting land. RATES AND TERMS One thing that is certain in any situation now when a land equipment loan is being sought- rates are changing on a daily basis. A landowner who is in need of equipment to improve the land whether it’s farm land or hunting land will want to keep a close eye on the current interest rates on loans. “I expect rates to go up with the current economic situation,” Hammonds said. He tells us that at present, farm equipment loans are running in the 4% to 5% range. “Most farm equipment loans are made for three to seven years, and most loans are made for under five years,” he noted. DOWN PAYMENTS When it comes to down payments on farm equipment loans, Hammonds said that First South Farm Credit has options to find customer’s needs. “We have a couple of different options. If someone is interested in finding a loan for equipment, they can call one of our branches for information on a loan, Typically there would be a 25 % down payment. However, if the borrower has other equipment, we can take other equipment as collateral to make up that 25 %, so there’s a couple of different options there we can look at,” Hammonds said. Another option for potential land equipment buyers is to go to an approved Farm Credit Express dealer. This is a point of purchase type program where people can go directly to dealers approved by First South Farm Credit and buy equipment. USED EQUIPMENT RATES A very important point for landowners to consider when looking at farm equipment is that used equipment is a red-hot market, and used machines will not be cheap. 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 33
The Ins & Outs of Tractor & Equipment Financing
“Yes, we can certainly do that. That would just be dealing with a party that was not part of the Farm Credit Express System, but it would be a direct loan,” he said. Hammond advises that landowners who need equipment are not limited to new equipment. “People are wanting to get pre.def. models (equipment older than emissions control additions) whether they’re using the equipment on their hunting lease or whether they’re using it for full-time farming, but we’re seeing that the used equipment is highly valuable right now,” Hammonds said. Used equipment is being financed and purchased at a high rate today.
“There’s a 25% down payment, but we do have another option called Farm Credit Express,” Hammonds explained. “It is a point of purchase-type program where people can go directly to approved dealers throughout the state and they can buy used or new equipment and get up to 100% financing. Typically the terms would be as we had discussed earlier. That would be anywhere from three to seven years and rates would still be in the mid-fours or lower fives through that program. The great thing about this program is that it’s kind of like when you go to buy a car. You show up at a car dealership, and you walk in and you get approved. That’s how this would work and typically it takes a few minutes for someone to go through that process” Some folks might want to know about a private party sale- person to person and if First South Farm Credit can work with that situation. Hammond says the answer is yes.
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WHAT KINDS OF EQUIPMENT CAN BE FINANCED “We make loans on equipment for any kind of landowner. As long as the equipment can be considered a piece of ag equipment, we can make a loan on it. And that would include all your tractors, implements and things like that,” Hammonds explained. “Most people would not qualify for a loan on an ATV, but this depends on the use of the machine. It might be different for a full-time farmer who uses the ATV as part of the farm operation.” “The older tractors are bringing in a lot more money than what they have been bringing. So you just have to weigh your different options and see what fits you and your finances. And the important thing to remember about First South is that we can do either one. We can do the new models or the used equipment. It doesn’t matter either way. We will try to format a program around your needs,” he concluded. Important Contact Information First South Farm Credit www.firstsouthfarmcredit.com
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34 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 35
Selecting the Best Surf Fishing Rod Auburn University Students Win More Than $1 Million Bass Fishing
How and Where to take
Alligators This Year BY JOSH HONEYCUTT Anyone who’s ever explained their alligator hunting adventure talks about how exciting it is, including the volume of great-tasting wild game meat that comes with a successful harvest. There are many reasons to hunt these majestic animals, but most new hunters don’t know where to start. Here is your primer. METHODS OF TAKE There are numerous ways to hunt alligators, perhaps even more so than with other game animals. Some of these seem modern, while others seem archaic. Nonetheless, while each method isn’t used in every state, these are still in operation somewhere, at least in one place or another. The first option is a hook and line. Similarly to jugging for fish, a sturdy line is attached to a heavy tree limb or pole. The other end of the line attaches to a large hook, which is baited with meat and placed in the water. After the gator eats the bait, the hook and line keep it in the vicinity until the hunter returns and finishes the job with either a bang stick, rifle, or handgun.
36 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Bow and arrow hunting is quite common throughout the South, too. Hunters oftentimes shoot an arrow into the alligator with a line attached to it. It’s quite synonymous to bowfishing but requires heavier-duty equipment to keep alligators on the line. Others choose to hunt with rifles alone. Oftentimes, they hunt and shoot gators from the banks, regulations depending. This is an effective way to hunt, but oftentimes requires patience for gators to resurface after being shot. It’s also easier to lose alligators. The fourth and final method is less common. That said, some hunters use gigs and snares. This requires close-quarter interaction, though, which isn’t for everyone. Analyzing regulations throughout the South, not all the above methods are legal in each state. Some states permit certain ones (https://greatdaysoutdoors.com/ready-alligator-hunting-fall-quotas/), while other states allow others. Check your state agency’s rules and regulations.
HUNTING
A look at hunting gators in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi
ALLIGATOR HUNTING TIPS AND TACTICS Those who choose to hunt alligators will need to deploy general tips to be successful. Some of these include:
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Those who used baited lines should consider using 1,000-pound test. This should hold most any alligator you catch. Gator getters who use treble hooks use heavy-duty rods tipped with a large treble hook. Attach a heavy braided line to the other end of the rod. Most alligator hunters use a bang stick — which fires a round after being pressed against the skull of the alligator — to dispatch game once brought close to the boat. These are commonly chambered in .223, .357, .44 mag, etc. These and more are quick, humane ways to kill alligators. Caliber regulations vary by state. Those who hunt with a harpoon, or who attempt to bowfish for alligators, might consider using heavy floats to tire gators down after impact. Spot-and-stalk hunters who choose to use centerfire rifles to hunt alligators will need plenty of practice. The bullet must strike a small
• • • •
1-to-2-inch target directly between the eyes. Missing that area will result in a missed or wounded animal. Regulations permitting, some alligator hunting takes place at night. Keep on hand plenty of bright headlamps and flashlights. Some states allow recorded or electronic game calls for hunting alligators. Most large males are territorial and stay within a home range. Generally, if you see one in deep, open water, it’s more likely to be a larger, older male. It can be difficult to get close to alligators. Approach them quietly. Trolling motors and paddles are the quietest options. At night, wear darker clothing to blend in. When trying to determine the length of an alligator, the number of inches from the bump of its snout to its eyes is generally the same number of feet as its total length. Safety is of the utmost importance. Even after gators have been dispatched, it’s important to have awareness. These animals are extremely resilient. Make sure it’s completely dead before getting close to the head or jaws. Oftentimes, hunters put heavy-duty tape around 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 37
How and Where to Take Alligators This Year
•
the mouths of dead alligators, just in case they “come back to life” or have a nervous-system reflex. Most experts urge hunters to use a heavy blade to sever the spinal column right behind the head, and to puncture the brain. This is another safety procedure that can help prevent accidents from occurring.
DESTINATION DEETS While Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas all distribute alligator hunting licenses, the best states for gators arguably includes Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Here are some of the details you need to know. Alabama: Alabama (https://www.outdooralabama.com/alligators/alligator-hunting-season-alabama) isn’t an easy place to draw a tag. Residents and lifetime Alabama hunting license holders may apply. Non-residents are permitted only to act as hunting assistants. Only 260 tags are handed out, including 100 in the Southwest Zone, 50 in the Coastal Zone, 40 in the Southeast Zone, 50 in the West Central Zone, and 20 in the Lake Eufaula Zone. Hunters may apply beginning at 8 a.m. on the first Tuesday in June. Drawings are held on the second Wednesday of July. Selected applicants must accept the results within a week to secure their tag. Unselected applicants receive preference points, but being selected for a tag, or missing a year of application, wipes out all your accrued preference points. Those who draw must complete an alligator hunting education course. The Alabama alligator season is broken up into five zones. Depending on location, opening day is August 12, 14, or 20. The bag limit is one gator, of which must be at least 8 feet if hunting in the Lake Eufaula Zone. Remember, in Alabama, it is unlawful to shoot an unrestrained gator. It must be captured and brought adjacent to the boat prior to dispatching. Other regulations apply, including mandatory check stations. Florida: Florida (https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/alligator/harvest/hunt-guide/) offers more opportunity for alligator hunters. Fishing rods with treble hooks, fishing rods with lures, baited wooden pegs, hand-line snatch hooks, hand-held catch poles, bang sticks (but not other firearms), bows, crossbows, gigs, harpoons, spears, and spearguns are permitted, but all methods must have a restraining line. Hunters can apply for countywide alligator harvest permits in 65 of Florida’s 67 counties. Permits are not available for Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. Generally, these permits allow hunting in most private and public waterways. However, countywide permits do not allow you to hunt within specific harvest units (https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/alligator/ harvest/hunt-guide/where-hunt/), of which there are 66. These areas require a different harvest permit, which apply to these specific impoundments, lakes, and rivers. Regarding cost, you must purchase an alligator trapping license, harvest permit, and CITES tags. For residents, this costs $272. For Florida residents with a disabilities hunting and fishing license, it costs $22. The cost for non-residents is $1,022. After the harvest (https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/alligator/harvest/hunt-guide/after-harvest/), it’s very important to place the CITES tag immediately after the alligator is dead. Cut a slit through the tail approximately 6 inches from the tip of it. Place the tag there. It must remain there until the alligator is processed, tanned, and taxidermized. You must also properly complete and submit the harvest report. Unused CITES tags must be mailed back to the agency.
38 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
As always, educate yourself on the current regulations (https://myfwc. com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/alligator/harvest/hunt-guide/regulations/), and follow all safety rules, including using navigation lights on boats, wearing life jackets, being careful with bang sticks and other weapons, etc. Louisiana: Louisiana (https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/alligator-hunting) is commonly considered king of alligator hunting, and oftentimes harvest as many as 30,000 alligators annually. Here, residents may hunt alligators on private lands they either own or have permission to hunt on. Public lands and lake access are granted via bidding or lottery. To hunt on private lands, residents must have an alligator hunting license ($25) and harvest tags. Tags are property specific. There are fees to hunt public areas, and cost varies depending on the program (lottery vs. commercial bidding) (https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/assets/Hunting/ Alligator/Files/hunter_license_application.pdf). Only residents may apply for a helper license, which is used in a variety of manners, including when aiding a licensed alligator hunter. Residents without access to private or public areas may harvest alligators as a licensed alligator sport hunter but must be accompanied by a licensed alligator hunting guide. Non-resident hunters may hunt alligators on private lands they own with a non-resident landowner alligator hunter license ($150) and alligator harvest tags. Again, tags are property specific, and must be used on the indicated property. There is no cost for the private land alligator tag. Non-residents who don’t own land may only hunt as a license alligator sport hunter while accompanied by a guide who possesses alligator harvest tags. Regarding seasons, the state is divided into East and West hunting zones (https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/assets/Hunting/Alligator/Files/wild_alligator_zones.pdf). The East Zone opens the last Wednesday of August. The West Zone opens the first Wednesday in September. Each is open for 60 days. Hunting hours are limited to between official sunrise and sunset. Nighttime harvest is prohibited. The daily and season quota is determined by the number of alligator harvest tags a licensed hunter possesses. There are no size restrictions on alligator sizes. Harvest alligators must be tagged immediately upon harvest. As for hunting methods, hunters may use hook and line, bow and arrow, and firearms (except shotguns). Only the hook and line method is allowed on public areas. Baited hook and lines may be set no more than 24 hours prior to open season, and shall be removed no later than sunset on the last day of the open season. Study all other regulations (https://www.wlf. louisiana.gov/assets/Hunting/Alligator/Files/alligator_hunting_regulations_ overview_2020.pdf), too. Mississippi: The Mississippi state alligator program (https://www.mdwfp. com/wildlife-hunting/alligator-program/) currently estimates approximately 35,000 alligators across 400,000 acres of habitat. It offered its first sport hunting season in 2005. Until 2011, opportunities continued to expand to include 480 permits. Eventually, the state was divided into seven zones with a 10-day season and 920 draw-based permits. Permit holders can harvest two alligators over 4 feet long, but only one may exceed 7 feet. Today, hunting opportunities are offered in 36 counties. That said, in open counties, properties must have a minimum of 20 acres of privately owned permanent surface water to qualify for a harvest voucher. This year, the public water season kicks off on August 26 at 12 p.m., and ends September 5 at 12 p.m. The 2022 hunting zone permit allotment is 960, including 40 for the Northwest, 130 for the Northeast, 190 for the West Central, 100 for the Pearl/Ross Barnett, 190 for the Southwest, 150
How and Where to Take Alligators This Year
for the South Central, and 160 for the Southeast zones. The private lands season opens August 26 at 12 p.m. and ends September 19 at 6 a.m. Private lands permits may be applied for from May 1 to July 1. Only one application may be submitted per property. For those who are looking to hunt here, study both the public waters (https://www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/alligator-program/ public-water-alligator-hunting-info/) and private lands (https://www. mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/alligator-program/private-lands-hunt-info/) hunting guides. It’s also important to take the alligator hunting training course (http://xnet2.mdwfp.com/Alligator/Course/Videos?_ ga=2.209011282.1540187111.1648752772-1586884649.1648752772). NEXT STEPS With a general idea of your goals as an up-and-coming alligator hunter, it’s important to continue your education both of alligator hunting itself, and all the rules that pertain to where you’ll be chasing these incredible critters. As always, check regulations to ensure you’re using legal hunting practices for the state you’re in. Every agency and DNR is different, and what might be permitted in one area won’t be in another.
Little-Known Gator Facts •
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Much like their African cousin, the crocodile, alligators (https://greatdaysoutdoors.com/alabama-alligator-hunting/) are interesting animals. The largest of the species can grow to nearly 15 feet in length. The heaviest can knock on the door of 1,000 pounds. Gators were hunted in an unregulated manner until the mid 1900s. Then, in 1967, the American alligator was listed as an endangered species. Today, it thrives throughout the South. While some hunters are out for a trophy, the meat and skin are the true prizes. Alligator meat tastes great, and commercial operations produce skins for products. History Channel’s TV show, Swamp People, revitalized alligator hunting after a sharp decline following the 2008 market crash. The gender of an alligator is determined by the temperature within the egg approximately three weeks into incubation. Alligators have special valves in their ears and nostrils that allow them to remain submerged under water for up to an hour. Alligator tails generally comprise half of their total body length. When a large adult alligator clamps its jaws shut, it can apply up to 3,000 pounds of force per square inch. Most adult alligators have up to 80 teeth, which are used to grip game and rip meat for consumption. Alligator teeth are mostly hollow. When a tooth breaks, another one grows in its place. Rick Flynt, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks alligator program coordinator, says these animals can go through 2,000-3,000 teeth in a lifetime. Temperature impacts feeding. When it’s cold, alligators can go weeks without feeding. When it’s warm, they can eat 15, 20, or 25 pounds, even more, per week.
Image and recipe courtesy of Louisiana Seafood (www.louisianaseafood.com)
Alligator Sauce Piquante This traditional Louisiana recipe pairs a well-seasoned tomato sauce with alligator. Ingredients • 1/2 cup vegetable oil • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour • 1 cup finely chopped onion • 1/2 cup finely chopped celery • 1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper • 1 Tbsp. minced garlic • 2 Tbsp. tomato paste • 1 large ripe tomato, peeled, seeded and chopped • 1 1/2 tsp. minced jalapeño • 1 bay leaf • 1/4 tsp. ground thyme • 4 cups beef or chicken broth, plus additional as needed • 2 lbs. cleaned Louisiana alligator meat, cut into 1-inch pieces • Salt • Ground black pepper • Cayenne pepper • 1/2 cup sliced green onion • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley • 6 cups hot cooked rice Instructions
1.
2.
3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
In a large Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Whisk in flour, stirring constantly until a dark-brown roux forms, about 12 to 14 minutes. Add onion, celery, bell pepper, and garlic; cook until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Add tomato paste, tomato, jalapeño, bay leaf, thyme and hot sauce. Slowly add broth, stirring constantly, and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring frequently, for 30 minutes. Gently stir in alligator, increase heat to medium and cook, stirring often, for 30 to 45 minutes or until meat is tender. Season to taste with salt and peppers. Additional broth may be added if the sauce becomes too thick. Remove and discard bay leaf. Add green onion and parsley, and serve over rice. 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 39
Busting Bream BY JOHN E. PHILLIPS
Most freshwater fishermen I know start off at a very young age catching bream.
40 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
HUNTING May historically has been known as the top bream-fishing month in Alabama. Here’s what you need to know to find and to catch these hard-fighting, delicious panfish. UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SHELLCRACKERS AND BLUEGILLS You may find shellcrackers mixed-in on the beds with bluegills. However, shellcrackers prefer to bed in weeds where they find snails that are their primary diet, on the weeds’ stems. Although bluegills and shellcrackers will take crickets and worms, shellcrackers generally prefer worms. “When I’m fishing for shellcrackers, I use live night crawlers cut into pieces,” says Gayland Gilliken of south Alabama. “I thread them on my hook all the way up to its eye. I leave about an inch of the night crawler past the end of the hook to wiggle and attract shellcrackers. I drop that bait in any hole I find in the weeds, as well as fish it along the edges of the weeds,” FINDING AND FISHING SHELLCRACKER AND BLUEGILL BEDS Bluegills and shellcrackers often will bed from the bank out to 20-30 feet of water. Use your side-imaging sonar. Even in deep water, the shellcracker beds on the bottom will resemble small craters. You can cast to the shoreline with a clear bobber and a small Renosky Keystone jig that looks like a minnow. Reel it in, but set your bobber to swim just off the bottom. Once you get a bite or catch a bream, put the Keystone jig down, and start fishing with worms or crickets. Bream beds in deep water often will be on underwater ridges or gravel points that run out into deep water. Make long casts with a slip bobber as a strike indicator. Let your bait fall to the bottom. You’ll often locate the biggest bream in deep water, where few anglers fish for them. IDENTIFYING THE BEST GENERAL BREAM PLACES * Back Currents and Offsets at Dams - Bream don’t like strong current, preferring to let the current bring their food to them. You’ll almost always find bluegills holding in the back current at dams and the spillways on the faces of dams. While scuba diving, I’ve learned the habitat and cover that bream prefer at a dam site. Any type of offset like a ladder or a break in a straight concrete wall at a dam may hold bluegills. * FloodGate Drop-Offs – Below a dam’s flood gates, the concrete runs out into the water for a short distance and then drops off dramatically to the bottom of the lake. You may pinpoint bream holding on this concrete drop-off, facing into the current. The bream will feed on top of the underwater concrete making up the spillway and above the lip of the break in shallow water on baitfish and insects caught in the light current. When the mayflies hatch, you’ll generally find them swarmedup against the spillways. Then the bream will drop below the wingwall and hold in the calm water below the current. Casting small squirrel-tailed jigs or rubber jigs, like the Keystone Minnow and live bait like crickets, worms and/or maggots, straight at the wingwall, reeling these baits slowly to the wingwall drop-off and allowing the baits to fall may catch limits of bream. * Underwater Rock Piles - Around most locks and dams, you’ll often pinpoint visible and/or underwater rock piles in front of the flood gates. When scuba diving, I’ll see good concentrations of both bluegills and shellcrackers holding in the holes and depressions under and around rock piles. * Barge Canals - Large rip-rap rocks often line the edges of a dam’s barge canal, and bluegills and shellcrackers will hold in their holes and crevices. Cast to the rocks with Beetle Spins, squirrel-tailed jigs and small rubber jigs. Use a depth finder when fishing the barge canal in the deeper water to pinpoint sunken brush. Keep jigs and Beetle Spins close to the bottom, and bounce them off the rocks during the entire retrieve. Then change to live bait on light line, and fish
vertically in the deep water to catch bream. * Current and Tailraces - Once I caught some of the biggest shellcrackers ever on the face of a dam and in its tailrace. As the swift water came out of the last turbine of the dam closest to the bank, the current ran down the face of the dam and then collided with the dam wall, resulting in a reverse current and creating a slack-water area where shellcrackers might hold. You should use a live worm or a jig with a shot lead six inches up the line to get bait down to the shellcrackers. * Pepper Grass - You often can catch numbers of shellcrackers during the late spring and early summer in pepper grass, a water weed that grows close to the shore. In Alabama, the shellcrackers usually go on the bed during the last week of April or the first week of May, depending on the full moon. To catch shellcrackers in the grass, cast along the edges of the grass with either a Beetle Spin or a Keystone jig. Or, drop fish with either crickets or worms and a small shot lead six to eight inches in front of the hook from the outermost edge of the grass all the way to the bank. * Hidden Locks and Dams - The inundation of old river systems that had locks and dams on them has formed numerous lakes throughout Alabama. Many lake maps will show the positions of these old underwater locks and dams where you can catch bream on their tops. You also can take bream deep on the down-current side of the wingwalls and barge canals making up these old dams. When you fish around these underwater structures, you’ll also catch a variety of fish, including catfish and largemouth, spotted and white bass. The speed of the current will dictate the size of the weight you use, and smaller line will sink your bait down faster and easier than larger line will. * Power Lines - Below many hydroelectric power plants, power lines sit on manmade rock islands in the water that break the current and provide an eddy area where bream can feed. * Fly-Fishing at Dam Sites - During the late spring and early summer, you may catch 100 bluegills fly-fishing a chartreuse-colored popping bug in front of spillways and on the slack-water sides of dams by casting your fly toward the dam, twitching it and moving it away from the dam. KNOWING MORE BAMA BREAM HOT SPOTS Here are some places Alabama bream specialists recommend you fish: * Wheeler Wildlife Refuge – Near Decatur, this refuge is noted for its huge flights of Canadian honkers and ducks, due to an abundance of food, water and cover. The refuge is flooded each winter through culverts that protrude into the river. When the waterfowl leave, this land is drained and replanted for next year’s northern migration. The culverts hold large numbers of 1/3- to 1/2-pound bream that like crickets and worms. However, you may have to walk 1/4- to 1/2-mile from your vehicle to reach the culverts containing the bream. * Wheeler Dam Tailrace – Anglers below Wheeler Dam suggest you face the dam and fish in the eddy area on the left-hand side of the turbine discharge to the dam for bream. Beside the wall is a small cut in the concrete where the wall from the dam meets the corner of the last discharge turbine. According to reports, by fishing a tight line with crickets or worms, you can load-up with bluegills there in May and throughout the summer. Too, drop-fishing down the spillway wall and fishing around the towers, just below the swift water, will provide bream bites. * Little River Canyon – The Little River provides two regions to bream fish from mid-April until the end of June, above the Little River Canyon and down in the canyon itself. Wade the Little River, fish with ultralight spinning tackle, and cast #0 Mepps spinners, Panther Martins, small Rooster Tails and Beetle Spins. * Lake Guntersville – Guntersville provides fishing for 3/4- to 1-1/2 pound 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 41
Busting Bream
bream every spring. Guntersville’s fairly-shallow and very-fertile water homes grass for bream hiding places as well as an abundance of hard bottom for bedding areas. * Gator Lake and the Conecuh National Forest – Many bream fishermen like Gator Lake at the Perdue Unit of the Bon Secour Refuge at Fort Morgan on Alabama’s Gulf Coast. The bream there prefer crickets, red worms and mealy worms. The Conecuh National Forest homes numerous small ponds and streams that are rarely fished all spring and summer but do contain healthy populations of both bluegills and shellcrackers. These national forest ponds may be clear, so, you’ll need to make long casts with ultralight tackle and small baits. * Other Bama Hot Spots – Anglers also rank these places as tops for catching bream. 1) Mifflin Lake in the Mobile Delta for bluegills. 2) Hartford Lake in Geneva County near Dothan, and Big Chippewa Creek close to Mt. Vernon, just off the Tensaw River. 3) Yates and Thurlow dams at Tallassee below Lake Martin, fishing for shellcrackers with crickets in small coves and at the submerged islands in the lake’s middle. 4) Lake Demopolis, containing numerous fallen trees and stumps, and fishing with wigglers, cane poles, six-pound line and corks. 5) The Coosa River below Jordan Dam and Wetumpka, fishing for 1/4- to 1/2-pound bream in the deep pools around rocks with a 1/32-ounce catalpa-colored Beetle Spins on 6-pound line. 6) The 92-mile-long Sipsey River, one of Alabama’s last, free-standing streams, fishing with ultralight tackle, cane poles, crickets, red worms, mealy worms, Beetle Spins, Mepps spinners and Panther Martins. 7) Lake Gainesville in Sumter County, around the Vienna Landing. 8) The Mobile Delta, a 30-mile-long region north of Mobile Bay, fishing for bream and shellcrackers, especially in the Lower Delta around the Mobile Causeway. 9) Gantt and Point A, impounded reservoirs on the Conecuh River with fertile water and numbers of weeds containing bream. 10) State Lakes – These 23 state public-fishing lakes are managed intensively and are fertilized and limed. Visit (https://www.outdooralabama.com/where-fish-alabama/alabama-public-fishing-lakes-pfls)
Lures for Catching Bream * Panther Martins https://www.panthermartin.com/ * Renosky Keystone Jig https://www.facebook.com/renokylures/ * Rooster Tails https://www.lurenet.com/rooster-tail * Zero Mepps Spinners https://www.mepps.com/
42 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
By Margaret Garbers, Van Horne, Iowa Recipe and image courtesy of Taste of Home (www.tasteofhome.com)
Bluegill Parmesan All the fishermen at your house will be pleased to turn over their catch for this tasty recipe. The seasoned crumb mixture produces a crispy coating for baked filets that really stays on. Prep/Total time: 30 mins Ingredients • 1/4 cup butter, melted • 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese • 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley • 1 teaspoon salt • 1/2 teaspoon paprika • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano • 1/4 teaspoon dried basil • 1/4 teaspoon pepper • 1 pound bluegill or crappie Instructions
1.
2.
Place butter in a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, combine the bread crumbs, cheese and seasonings. Dip fish in butter, then coat with crumb mixture. Please in a greased 15x10x1 inch baking pan. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.
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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 43
Understanding SST Charts for Fishing BY FRANK SARGEANT
44 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
FISHING Thomas Hilton’s Realtime Navigator, a service that collects satellite imagery and makes it easily understandable and accessible to sportfishers and offshore mariners, has been in business some 18 years this spring, and the service has helped thousands of users to great fishing. It’s now a staple of many top offshore fishing captains and tournament winners who use it to plot their strategy for finding fish on a regular basis. It’s also been a huge plus in decreased fuel bills and wear and tear on marine engines—skippers can pull up the parameters they know will lead them to fish on Hilton’s online system via connected PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone and chart a course directly to the prime waters. There are no long hours of running and looking—and no longer a reason to charter a small plane prior to a big tournament and fly out to the shelf to scope out prime fishing areas. Recent upgrades have made the service even more useful according to originator and CEO Thomas Hilton. “Captains now are able to actually see their boat’s position relative to the latest imageries while out on their spots,” Hilton said. “So, you can not only plan your trip in advance, with a satellite link you can see where you are in relation to that temperature break or current edge in real time.” Thomas began monitoring five new NOAA satellites last year for improved sea surface temperature readings, as well. WHAT SHOULD ANGLERS LOOK FOR? A temperature break is one of the biggest features, particularly late fall through early spring when chilly waters in the northern gulf keep fish many miles offshore until a swirl of the warm Gulf Loop or offshooting eddies brings them closer. “A break of half a degree or even less can sometimes indicate a likely spot, but of course a 4-degree break with a clear edge is a buffet line for the pelagics so that’s ideal, but not very common.” Hilton noted. Put a nice temperature break near some sort of offshore structure, and the odds go up even more, says Hilton—and all the structures in the Gulf, from fixed platforms to moveable rigs to Fish Attracting Devices (FAD’s) are marked on Hilton’s charts. “The FADs are always a good place to start when the water color is good there,” Hilton pointed out “And they’re close enough for a day trip for a fast boat.” Hilton says the ideal situation is when all the parameters point to the right conditions to hold bait, which will usually attract offshore gamefish. “If you get the right temperature, the right water color, a good current movement and it’s flowing around structure, that’s going to be a very high percentage spot,” Hilton explained. “Structure holds bait, so when you find the right temperature and water color around structure, that’s a spot you’re very likely to catch fish,” “Even where there’s no surface structure, if you get two or three of the prime conditions, maybe low chlorophyll, an upwelling and current flowing over the continental shelf or a sea mount, that’s also going to be a likely spot to find fish,” he added. “And of course, weedlines that form on the edges of color changes or on the shelf or near a structure, that all adds up to fish.” THE CURRENCY OF OFFSHORE DATA “Sea surface shots come in at 35 to 40 per day from NOAA satellites, so that’s very current, within two to three hours,” Hilton stated. “Chlorophyll readings, on the other hand, are from the day before, but you can look at several days prior
to see the likely trend for your fishing days. Some services claim to provide “real-time” data to download offshore – this is a misnomer as there is no such thing as “real-time” – there is always a delay of a few hours to several hours”. “You can also get Hilton’s while you are offshore if you have a satcom/WIFI interface—hook it up to your iPad and you can get updates anytime,” he said. “You can set this up for less than $3,000. You don’t need it for day trips but if you’re out there for 3 days or a week, those updates will be a huge help.” Users can save their data to the systems and access it when offshore without the need for a satellite link. The data won’t be “live”, but conditions usually change slowly offshore so the downloads are very useful. “Our system lets you monitor the tendency of movement of the currents and temperature breaks in the days leading up to your trip so you can project where they will be on your fishing days and take a direct route to intercept them—that alone can be a huge fuel savings if you’re running a hundred miles out,” Hilton said..“You will also be able to overlay our data on your boat’s positioning screens and mark the spots that look fishy as well as the spots where you actually catch fish.” While the system is no guarantee you’ll be on the fish, it does mean you’re unlikely to spend hours plowing through lifeless seas where bait is absent and other conditions don’t suit big game fish—it maximizes your time on the water Moving the cursor when it’s linked to the Nav Tool gives you the exact coordinates of a spot down to a thousandth of a minute of any location, a huge plus for precise location of surface structures. Parameters like the temperature range you’re interested in can be pinpointed and the edges of the various temperatures brightened and colorized to make it very clear where those edges are located. You can then save that map for future reference, with your customized colors in place. Down the left side of the screen are choices of data you want to review: CURRENTS, SALINITY, AND WEATHER RADAR Chlorophyll in Realtime Navigator is indicated by “hot” colors orange and yellow inshore where there’s lots of runoff, resulting in high chlorophyll load and turbidity, shading to green as the nutrient falls out farther offshore, and then to blue, which indicates the cobalt blue clarity of offshore waters. Altimetry is a curious phenomenon also measured by the satellites and easily reviewed in Hilton’s Realtime system. It measures an average sea surface height, and then indicates areas that are either higher or lower than that level. Oddly, those that are lower indicate upwellings of cold, nutrient-rich water from the sea bottom, and these are often attractive to the planktonic base of the food chain, luring bait as well as gamefish. Hilton says the sea surface over a strong upwelling may be as much as 10 inches lower than the mean sea surface level. Warm-core eddies, on the other hand, may be 15 to 20 inches higher than the mean sea level. While the interior of these eddies are usually like fishing the Dead Sea, the edges can be highly productive, especially in the cooler months when gamefish are looking for warmer water. SALINITY Hilton’s just launched a new “cloud-free” salinity imagery which also allows one to tweak the readings to sharpen the imagery – no other service provides this ability. There are many variables as to why fish are on a spot one day and not
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 45
Understanding SST Charts for Fishing
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the next, and salinity is an important one. It can be important for determining where to fish whether you are fishing for king mackerel or yellowfin tuna. Areas that might normally produce very good king-fishing, such as around a nearshore rig, can be turned off after a big outflow from a bay or river, and checking for where the edge of the saltier water is located can make a big difference in finding the fish on a given day. While there’s a bit of a learning curve with any app or online service, Hilton’s offers the added advantage of direct telephone tutorials with the home office. Call (713) 530-2267 and Hilton or one of his employees will walk you through the system. MOVEABLE STRUCTURE Hilton’s also provides continuing updates on the “moveable” structure in the northern Gulf of Mexico, the semisubmersibles and drill ships that are part of the oil industry. “We pay about $4,000 per year for the absolute best data regarding the locations of the semisubmersibles and drillships in the Gulf,” Hilton said. “These large deepwater structures are fish attracting devices and hold bait and gamefish year-round and we are currently tracking around 50 of these structures each week as they move. It’s important to have the latest intel on the position of these structures if you are really serious about billfishing in the Gulf of Mexico.” Bottom line is that offshore fishing is often compared to playing poker – one good parameter such as a nice temp break is like an ace in your hand. Combine that with good altimetry, good current, good water color, and all of a sudden your poker hand is looking really good. Anglers fishing without satellite service these days are certainly not playing with a full deck. For more on Hilton’s Realtime Navigator, visit www.realtime-navigator.com.
46 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 47
How to Keep Bait Alive Longer BY STEPHANIE MALLORY
48 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
FISHING Top professional guides and saltwater anglers know that live bait is a top option for pulling in gamefish offshore. Catching a good supply of baitfish takes time and effort, so nothing is more disheartening than opening your livewell once you make it to your offshore destination and finding your baitfish floating. When it comes to offshore fishing, catching live bait and then keeping it alive until you reach your destination can be challenging. Of course, having a roomy and functioning livewell is essential to keeping bait alive, but there’s more involved to keeping bait healthy during a trip offshore. When it comes down to it, details matter. Captain Delynn Sigler says when it comes to taking care of his bait, he’s “kind of a nerd and a little bit OCD,” but those tendencies pay off with an abundance of healthy live bait to choose from once he arrives at his destination. BAIT CARE TIPS When it comes to preventing bait death in a livewell, Sigler gets specific. “Let’s start with pinfish. If you have a pinfish trap, never pull it up until you’re ready to dump it in the live well. Don’t pull them up and check them, beat ‘em up and kick them around the dock. Have a bucket right there full of water and ready. Sometimes I won’t pull my pinfish trap out of the water until I can immediately pick it up and dump it in a big bucket of water or dump it in the livewell, so they’re not beating each other up and red-tailing and all that other stuff,” he said. According to Sigler, if you take care of your bait and love your bait,
they’ll love you in return. “When I’m catching cigar minnows, herrings and all of that offshore, I’ve found it’s much faster to dehook them with a dehooking tool. That way you’re not grabbing them and squeezing them and popping their eyes out,” Sigler said. “If you limit how much you touch the bait, it will remain frisky when you get off shore. So, after you catch it, hold the baitfish directly over the livewell, knock it off into the livewell and then it’s never been touched. It just has that little bitty hole in its lip from the hook.” Sigler also recommends pressurizing your livewell. “If you go offshore and it’s a little bit bumpy, instead of them being back there in a big washing machine, it’s pressurized all the way full, all the way to the top. And even when you’re hitting those waves, it’s as if the bait is sitting in a bean bag. They’re good, warm and happy. They’re not getting the heck beat out of them. They’re not getting the scales knocked off of them until they’re half dead.” SEPARATE YOUR BAIT Sigler separates his bait by size and species so he’s not fishing around in the livewell for a specific bait, which knocks the other baitfish around, risking injuring or killing them. “We are fortunate enough to have three livewells on our boat. We have two in the back and one on the front. I put all my little cigar minnows to one side and I have my big thread fin herrings and bigger hard tails and big cigar minnows over on the right-hand side,” he noted. By separating your bait into various livewells, depending on what
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How to Keep Bait Alive Longer
bait you want, you can just go to the particular livewell and scoop out the bait, without fishing around for a certain type and touching those you don’t want. Separating the bait also saves time, especially when you’re on fish and don’t want to waste a second. “I don’t want to have to go digging through an assortment of bait to find the one particular bait I need to fish a specific hole,” Sigler said. “For example, if you get on a hole that holds amberjacks, you just go to your well that’s holding the big bait. If you’re on beeliners and scamps, and they’re small, you just go over to the well with all the small cigar minnows and start grabbing them.” Another reason to keep baitfish separate is that fish of different sizes and species will beat each other up. Certain species just don’t mix. And fish, such as herrings or Spanish sardines with big scales will tend to die if they start losing those scales. “If you put 100 cigar minnows in a normal-size livewell, not like a giant oversized livewell, and then you throw five or six herrings in there, by the time you get offshore, usually three or four of
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How to Keep Bait Alive Longer
the herrings are dead,” Sigler said. “They don’t mix well together. So, I do try to separate them. I put big baits in one well and smaller baits in another. If you’re just catching cigar minnows and herrings, put one on one side and the other in the other well.”
lost two or three of the herring. I learned then that you’ve just gotta have a light for herring or they don’t do well.” Even if you have the perfect livewell conditions and take all the steps required to keep your baitfish alive, it’s inevitable that at least a few of your baitfish will die.
Of course, sometimes you won’t know what bait you’re gonna need until you get to your fishing destination. “Some days, the fish will tell you what they want. Some days all they want is cigar minnows and other days, all they want is herring. And that way, whichever one they’re going for, that’s the livewell you go to and start catching fish,” Sigler explained. TEMPERATURE AND LIGHT MATTER If your livewell has an opaque lid, Sigler recommends putting a light inside of it, especially if it’s going to hold herring. “You will be surprised how many more of your herring will survive if the livewell is lit.” He says he’s not sure why a light makes such a difference. It could just be because the herring can see better to avoid running into each other and into the sides of the livewell, but whatever the reason, adding a light works. But it is not necessary if you have a clear livewell lid that allows sunlight to filter through. “Twenty years ago, I went out with a buddy of mine on a big boat,” Sigler said. “He suggested we put as many herring in the livewell as we possibly could because ¾ of them would eventually die. Sure enough, the first day, a ton of them died. On the second day, I grabbed a swordfish light and put it in the well. After that, we only
“If you see a dead one, get it out to give your live fish more room,” Sigler said. “I’m especially motivated to remove the dead ones if I’m keeping them in a circulatory well because it’s circulating all types of bad stuff from that dead fish.” Although it’s not as effective, you can still use that dead fish as bait. If it’s mid-summer, just take it out and put it on ice if you think you may need it later. Maintaining a proper water temperature in the livewell is important as well. “Whenever we’re in the heat of summer, and I’m using an uninsulated livewell, I’ll freeze coke bottles of water and throw those in there to cool the live well water down some,” Sigler said. “I’ve done that more with inshore fishing because conditions are usually cooler once you get offshore. The key is to get the water conditions as close as you can to the water conditions when and where you caught the bait fish.” When it comes to keeping baitfish alive, there’s no guarantee. But if you follow Capt. Sigler’s tips above, you’ll reach your offshore spot with more healthy and active baitfish and greater odds for a successful day on the water.
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251-433-3696 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 51
Support Alabama’s CCA & Your Coastal Fishing BY FRANK SARGEANT
The Alabama Saltwater Fishing Tag provides funds to CCA for conservation and fisheries projects along the coast. (CCA) 52 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
FISHING The Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) was created in 1977, after drastic commercial overfishing along the Texas coast had decimated redfish and speckled trout populations. A group of 14 concerned recreational anglers gathered in a local tackle shop to create the Gulf Coast Conservation Association to turn the tide for conservation. Only four years later, gill nets along the Texas coast were outlawed and both red drum and speckled trout were declared game fish. This previously unimaginable victory launched a new era in marine resource conservation. The successful conservation movement that started with the “Save the Redfish” campaign got the attention of anglers across the Gulf and by 1985, chapters had formed all along the Gulf Coast. CCA Alabama was the first state chapter outside Texas. With eight chapters in the state, CCA Alabama has over 2200 members who work to conserve our marine resources for future generations to enjoy. By the early ‘90s, the South and Mid-Atlantic regions had CCA chapters, in 2007, Washington and Oregon chapters were formed and in 2015, the CCA California chapter was created. The fish are different, but the challenges facing them are often the same on all coasts – destructive commercial gear, degraded habitat and misguided management concepts. CCA has proven time and again that anglers are the best stewards of the marine environment. Conscientious anglers work to protect not only the health, habitat and sustainability of our marine resources, but also the interests of recreational anglers and their access to the resources they cherish. One hallmark of the organization has been to work within the political system, gaining a scientific understanding of fisheries and habitat issues and calling for fisheries and environmental laws that support healthy fish populations. With a growing, well-informed, active membership, CCA continues the mission launched by those 14 visionary anglers so many years ago. RAISING FUNDS FOR CONSERVATION Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida and South Carolina now have CCA STAR tournaments aimed at boosting membership through offering amazing prizes with the help of industry partners who generously support the prize ladder. Actually the STAR stands for “State of Texas Anglers Rodeo”, but since it has spread to other states so successfully, the STAR designation has been maintained. Together, they award over $1 million annually to anglers who enter the tournament—but you have to enter in advance of catching that tagged fish. Entry requires at least a $35 base membership in CCA plus the $40 entry fee for the tournament. No one can win a prize in the event without being a currently paid-up CCA member and becoming a member and entering the tournament after you catch a tagged fish is not permitted. (They polygraph all winners, so cheating is not a good plan.) The Alabama 2022 STAR—the first ever for the state--begins at 5:00 a.m. on May 28, 2022 and ends on September 5, 2022 at 5:00 P.M. CST. If you get lucky and catch one of those tagged fish, the deal is you call
the tournament hotline within two hours of the catch and send a photo by text message to arrange to go to the nearest STAR check-in station to have it officially recorded. You have to leave the tag in place and deliver the whole fish to the check-in committee member—it can’t be frozen, gutted, mutilated or altered in any way, and the fish becomes the property of CCA. At least 30 tagged reds will be released and the blue tags read “CCA AL 2022” Since Alabama has only 53 miles of coastline, the odds of anglers recapturing some of those fish are high. (Florida has some 1350 miles of coastline, and their STAR event usually sees a number of recaptures.) The first participant to call in a tagged redfish and have it properly checked-in and certified by CCA-AL will win a Nautic Star 215 Bay Boat, Yamaha 150 4-stroke outboard & trailer package. According to Blakeley Ellis, CCA-Alabama executive director, the value of the rig is about $66,000. “We’re able to provide this great prize thanks to the generosity and the conservation ethic of Nautic Star and of Yamaha,” Ellis said. Money from the event, from local chapter banquet/auctions and from the sale of CCA-Alabama vehicle tags is used to support fisheries conservation and research in state waters. The CCA Saltwater Fishing License tag for cars and trucks costs $50 more than a standard tag, and can be personalized at no extra charge, according to Blakely. “CCA gets $43 out of that $50,” Ellis explained. “So it’s a very high proportion of direct contribution to the resource to buy that tag.” FISHERIES PROJECTS SUPPORTED CCA Alabama recently announced its support of two programs in the University of South Alabama’s Department of Marine Sciences (USADMS) that will advance knowledge of marine sportfish now and in the future. With a donation of $20,000 for a cobia tagging and research program, and $20,000 for the USADMS Student Benefit Fund, CCA Alabama affirmed its commitment to enhancing conservation-based science for the benefit of marine resources and recreational anglers. “These donations are at the core of CCA’s Science of Conservation Program, and we are proud to partner with a marine science leader such as the University of South Alabama to improve the sustainability of our amazing coastal resources,” said Matt Grant, CCA Alabama State Chairman. “We are excited about the potential of the cobia tagging program to further understanding of one of the most popular game fish on the Gulf Coast, and we hope our support of the Student Benefit Fund will help graduate students reach their full potential and become tomorrow’s leaders in the challenging field of marine science.” CCA created the Science of Conservation as a national program to bring together anglers, marine science centers and industry to provide financial support for scholarships and projects that will ultimately improve understanding of the marine environment and enhance the role that recreational anglers play as stewards of our shared marine resources.
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 53
Support Alabama’s CCA—and Your Coastal Fishing
The CCA-Alabama STAR tournament will award some mega-prizes this year, including a Nautic Star center console with Yamaha outboard and trailer to the first angler catching one of the redfish tagged especially for the event.
54 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Support Alabama’s CCA—and Your Coastal Fishing
“We’ve had tremendous success collaborating with marine science institutes in the past, and the Science of Conservation Program will create continued opportunities in the future,” said Patrick Murray, president of CCA National. “These two endeavors at the University of South Alabama are the kinds of investment in the future that we envisioned when we created the Science of Conservation, and we are excited about what they will produce.” The University of South Alabama’s Marine Science Student Benefit Fund helps cover expenses encountered by graduate students as they travel for their research and attend/present at conferences, as well as other costs associated with work necessary for their advanced degrees. “It allows us to fund a diversity of thesis and dissertation topics, from basic oceanography to fisheries ecology,” said Dr. Sean Powers, Chair, USA Marine Sciences. “The fund gives a tremendous return on investment. From modest grants of $1,000 to $3,000, graduate projects can be completed and careers made.” COBIA RESEARCH IN THE GULF FUNDED CCA Alabama’s donation to the cobia tagging program will help fill in the blanks on cobia migration routes to and from the Central Gulf of Mexico, as well as their discard mortality when caught and released. The project will use MiniPAT Tags that are a combination of archival and ARGOS satellite technology. It will allow researchers to track the movements and behavior of a fish that does not spend enough time at the surface to allow for use of real-time ARGOS satellite tags. Updates on the findings will be made available to the public as the data becomes available.
“Cobia are amazing fish, and their great ability to migrate coupled with their very rapid growth make them a wonderful, but challenging species to study,” Powers said. “With the assistance of CCA Alabama, we will be able to tag five fish with tags that will give us information on migration and discard mortality.” “We couldn’t have done this without the hard work and dedication of our members from across the state,” said Ellis. “Projects like these are exactly what CCA Alabama is all about.” To learn more about these and other efforts by anglers in support of marine science, visit CCAAlabama.org and ScienceOfConservation.org. Be on the lookout for tagged cobia in the northern Gulf of Mexico. CCA Alabama contributed $40,000 in 2019 and 2020 to purchase 12 GPS tags for the University of South Alabama. The final tag was deployed in September 2021, and the tags are set to pop off and transmit their data in 2022. If you catch one of the tagged cobia, CCA asks that you get some pictures, measurements, and, if possible the tag number, and release the fish. As a reward for releasing the fish, CCA Alabama and Daiwa are offering a 2022 Daiwa Certate SW 8000-H Spinning Reel with a value of more than $600. Contact Information Coastal Conservation Association Tags.USOUTHAL.edu info@ccaalabama.org.
While many anglers release their redfish catches, anyone who catches a tagged fish and wants to enter it in the STAR event must keep the fish and take it to a CCA check-in location. (Z-Man Lures)
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 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
2022 Tripletail Championship
A six month long contest to find out who the best Tripletail fishermen around are. Multiple cash prizes as well as sponsor prize packages spread over several categories including the crowning of a Grand Champion. This is a catch and release tournament. May 1, 2022 - October 31, 2022
For a full list of tournaments, rules, and prizes, check out https://app.fishingchaos.com/tournament 56 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
FISHING TOURNAMENTS NEAR YOU
2022 Salt Life Virtual Fishing Tournament
Whether it’s surfing, fishing, diving or simply enjoying a day at the beach, those who live and breathe the Salt Life have one thing in common... the ocean and all it has to offer. 1st place prize in Black Bass, Redfish, Speckled Trout, and Flounder: 20 qt. Grizzly Cooler, $250 Gift Code to Saltlife.com, South Port Sunglasses, Salt Life Fishing Gloves, Salt Life Beach Towel, Salt Life License Plate, Salt Life Medium Decal, Grizzly Can Holder, Salt Life Novelty Flag May 1, 2022 - May 31, 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
Emilia’s Anglers
Join us in raising funds this fishing season to help Emilia’s family with cost of hospital bills, insurance payments, and whatever Emilia’s parents, Marciel and Maggie Quiros, need to aid in the search for their daughter’s liver disease, and liver transplant costs.This is a catch-photo-release tournament open to all anglers fishing from the bank, dock, kayak, or boat. Catch 5 of the same species of fish to qualify for prizes to be awarded at the end of the tournament. April 1, 2022 - May 31, 2022
For a full list of tournaments, rules, and prizes, check out https://app.fishingchaos.com/tournament 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 57
What to Know About Buying Land and What Questions to Ask BY WILLIAM KENDY
58 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
LIFESTYLE I think it is safe to say that many (if not most) people are familiar with the ins and outs of buying a home mortgage. It is pretty transparent and above board. Lenders need financial data such as what your income is, what your debt-to-income ratio is, your financial and credit history and more. They need to know what type of down payment you are prepared to bring to the table and what you have as collateral as in stock and bond portfolios, other property or investments. It is all about minimizing risk for the lender while offering the customer a competitive and fair deal. Buying land is basically the same thing but just a tad different. Whether you want to buy some property for a homestead, a weekend getaway, a hunting camp, an investment to take advantage of land appreciation or as a business venture to harvest timber or even pine straw, unless you are very well off, you need a lender to make your dream a reality.
What are my options? What interest rates go along with those options? How Fast Can I close? “We require a minimum of 15% down and possibly more depending on the circumstance but we can structure and customize a program to fit a buyer’s needs,” Thomas said. “When it comes to terms, we have a number of options ranging from five to 30 year fixed rates to balloon notes that allow someone who wants to build on the parcel down the road and roll it over into a different loan when they start construction. It all depends on what the buyer wants to do.” Thomas pointed out that the interest rate is dependent on the credit worthiness of the buyer, the type of loan they need and are qualified for, the down payment and the market.
To shed some light on the nuances on what is involved in buying and financing land versus buying and financing a home we reached out to Daily Thomas who is a vice president and branch manager for First South Farm Credit. FSFC was founded over 100 years ago and has over 40 branches in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana serving 9,000 members and specializes in providing financial services to the agricultural and rural markets.
“The last couple of years have been an anomaly with rates were artificially low for reasons such as covid. Rates are moving up, but they are still at historic lows for land loans, Thomas said.
Thomas says that many people who call First South Farm Credit are frustrated because, while they can find a bunch of lenders ready and able to loan money on a house, it is a challenge to find a financial institution that is willing to make a loan on a piece of property.
“We live in a face-paced world and time is money. Everyone wants to close as soon as possible, and we do too, but we’re never going to rush something just for the sake of closing. That’s when things get missed and problems arise. I always say it’s better to do things right up front, rather than have to go back and try again later.”
“When I talk to people, I find out that the hardest part for them is finding a lender who is willing to finance it. A bank, a credit union or a mortgage company doesn’t generally want to carry fixed rate land loans on their books for a long term. And if they do, you will likely see a higher down payment and interest rates and you will often be looking at an ARM or other unfavorable terms,” Thomas said. “At First South, land financing is what we do all day, every day and we try to make it as easy and convenient as we can.” Thomas pointed out that there are only a few lenders in each state that really specialize in land financing.. “In Alabama there are two other institutions that do the same thing we do but we just feel like we do it better. We are professionals who care about our customers and, at the end of the day, we want to make sure that we are protected and, at the same time, looking out for our customers to make sure they are protected as well,” Thomas said. “When people want to buy land and have never done it before it is nice to have someone who can take them through the process and give them some peace of mind in knowing that someone is looking out for them. Thomas pointed out that while FSFC can finance all different types of land acreage, its “sweet spot” is parcels of 10 acres or more.
When it comes to the amount of time needed to close, Thomas says that First South’s commitment to the customer is what sets FSFC apart from other lenders.
“That being said, my rule of thumb is that we can close within 30 days when an appraisal is not required and 45 days when it is, assuming there are no other issues, such as problems with the title, the need for a survey, etc. Some of that we can’t control,” Thomas further stated. . One of the benefits of doing business with First South Farm Credit is that when you get a loan you become a member and own stock in the Association. This ownership entitles you to share in the profits through First South’s Patronage Refund Payment Program. In other words, First South Farm Credit gives its customers, who are actually owners, money back. While it can’t guarantee payments back to you or the exact rate of return, as long it remains profitable and well capitalized, FSFC is committed to sharing its profits with its members as they have for the past 27 consecutive years.
Contact Information L. Daily Thomas Jr Vice President Branch Manager Albertville Branch 320
“In general, 10 acres or more is what we specialize in, whether that is for homestead use, recreational property, pasture, crop or other purposes,” Daily said. “We specialize in land.” Thomas emphasized that regardless of the size of the parcel a customer wants to buy, the process is basically the same and all customers are treated equally. “The ten acres that someone wants to build a house on one day is just as important to them as the 1,000 aces someone wants to hunt on. It is the same process with the exception that the larger loans means a little more work on our end for appraisals to make sure everyone is protected but the general process is the same,” Thomas said. THOMAS’S FOUR BIG QUESTIONS What down payment do I need? 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 59
Carbon Credits Explained for Landowners BY JOE BAYA
60 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
LIFESTYLE Who would have thought that if you own property with trees on it, you could make money by NOT cutting them down? It’s true, but the question is how can you take advantage of it? The answer is through enrolling your land in a carbon credits program. In this article, we’re going to tell you what you need to know to get started. Why would you get paid for not cutting trees? On a recent Huntin’ Land podcast we interviewed Alex Macintosh who is the Director of US Origination for Natural Capital Exchange (NCX) to find out what this is all about. Originally, NCX focused on using remote sensing technology through satellite imagery and forest modeling for inventory projects. The company began to work with some larger landowners to help reduce some of the cost burden associated with inventorying, measuring and understanding the forest. The company has evolved into a broker of carbon credits representing forest landowners. What exactly is a carbon credit? A carbon credit is a generic term for any tradable certificate or permit representing the right to emit a set amount of carbon dioxide or the equivalent amount of a different greenhouse gas. If you have a business concern like a factory, power plant or a business that produces greenhouse gas emissions beyond your allowance (quota), you either need to reduce your emission level by retrofitting or purchase carbon credits to compensate for the difference. Each carbon credit equals one ton of carbon dioxide or other equivalent greenhouse gas that goes into the atmosphere. Conversely, businesses that have not used their emission allowance can sell their remaining emission balance as carbon credit to those companies that may exceed their quotas. That is where property owners with timber come into play. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, in one year a mature tree will absorb more than 48 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen in exchange. It only makes sense for you to get a handle on your timber resource and determine whether it is in your best interest to clear cut your trees, selectively thin, clear cut smaller more mature timber or let them go and see what you can get for the carbon credits on the market. It also gives you a reason to review your land management program for a maximum overall return by, for example, a limited harvest every year and followed by new tree plantings and other resource developments. “The way I would describe it is a change in the carbon landscape versus what a business’s usual management scenario might be,” Macintosh said. “A lot of folks think about planting trees to pull carbon out of the atmosphere and into the wood biomass.” Macintosh points out that one of the programs NCX focuses on is “harvest deferral” which suggests that landowners should consider changing their management plan so they harvest less intensively or later than what they would otherwise. Utilizing carbon credit to offset the loss of cash flow by not immediately harvesting timber could reap greater future financial and property enhancement rewards. Basically, the end goal is that by leaving trees standing, we’re trying to offset carbon emissions that are happening somewhere else. It is kind of a “tit for tat” trade-off situation. One of the goals of NCX is to “democratize” opportunity to small, medium and large landowners and even someone with 10 or 15 acres can participate in the program. “The really important thing for us is that we’re working with landowners
who are managing working forests, where the likelihood of harvest exists such that by participating in our program, they can be changing their behavior versus a business’s usual management practices,” Macintosh said. Carbon credits were originally introduced in the early 2000s but one of the inhibitors of the program was the length of the contract, which could go for decades, this turned off landowners. “We were using a carbon accounting framework that essentially quantifies the climate impact of a landowner deferring timber harvest by a year at a time. So, our contract terms are one year long,” Macintosh noted. “That means that a landowner can participate for a year, change their management practices, versus what we assess as their baseline management scenario, which we do, again, using that remote sensing technology, keep referencing, and then they can participate for that year.” Macintosh used the example of a pine plantation that is basically managed as a crop. “By forgoing thinning or even clear-cutting sections for a year or more allows those pines to mature and increase in value. While the revenue from carbon credits won’t approach the cash you would get by final cutting it allows you to extend the optimal economic rotation, put on some more volume and get compensated at the same time,” Mackintosh said. What can you look for in terms of revenue per acre? “We see between $5 and $15 an acre as a sort of median range but a lot depends where in the life cycle of that rotation, where you are in the country, the forest type and structure, the market and other factors,” Macintosh explained. “For us. It’s really just about what’s the total volume of carbon that’s likely to come off this property in the coming year. Whether it’s in, you know, permanently hardwood, mixed hardwoods, combination of softwood hardwoods or pure pine plantation, really our job is understanding the carbon that’s likely to come off the property.” Macintosh pointed out that a person can manage his property in terms of thinning or even a small harvest up to a point and still be enrolled in the program and that flexibility offers property owners an opportunity for multiple income streams. After the initial assessment at the end of the first one-year term NCX will do some ground measurements to make sure all is where it should be relative to the baseline data that was assessed. In terms of payment, Macintosh said that NCX pays a lump sum after a year if it is verified that you’ve delivered the “change in behavior”, which is the modification of your management plan, that you signed up for. That sum is based on the market value and can range from a lower to higher rate depending on the characteristics of the timber stands. The bottom line is that getting involved in the NCX carbon credit scenario provides landowners different options not only in terms of additional income while growing the health and value of your timber resource but opens the door to having funding to help you manage your property in ways you hadn’t thought about before. The best part is that it is easy to get started, and it is free. Enrolling your property into a carbon credits program is as simple as submitting an online map of your property and filling out some basic informational paperwork. There are no enrollment fees and no acreage minimums for one-year contracts. The companies paying for the carbon credits are the ones who handle the brokerage fees if you do in fact get a winning bid for your harvest deferral. If you want to take a look at what it takes to capitalize on this additional stream of income for your timberland, just check out https://ncx.com/landowners/.
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 61
BY HANK SHAW Photos by Holly A. Heyser
Reverse Seared Elk Roast This method works with all large, red-meat roasts, so beef, deer, moose, caribou, etc. It is intended for hind-leg roasts you want to eat rare to medium. Prep: 15 mins • Cook: 2 hr 15 mins •Total: 2hrs 30 mins Ingredients
• • • • • •
5-pound elk roast (or other large roast) 2 tablespoons olive oil Salt 2 tablespoons cracked black pepper 2 tablespoons ground cumin 1 tablespoon ground coriander (optional)
Instructions Coat the roast with the oil, then massage the salt and spices into it. 2. If you are using a smoker, get it ready. You want to smoke around 200°F and no hotter than 250°F. Wood choice is up to you. If you are using your oven, set it to 225°F. 3. Set the roast in the oven or smoker, and insert a probe thermometer into its thickest part. With a roast around this size, you will be shooting for an internal temperature of about 110°F to 120°F. This could take as long as 3 hours to reach, but normally it takes a couple hours. 4. When you hit that temperature, remove the roast and set it on a cutting board. Remove the probe thermometer. Either increase the heat of your oven to at least 500°F and better yet 550°F, or get a grill or pizza oven roaring. 600°F is not too much heat. 5. Return the roast to the screaming hot oven or grill (cover the grill if that’s what you are using), and roast for 10 to 15 minutes. If you’ve hit 600°F, you may only need about 6 minutes. You are looking for a pretty, browned crust. 6. Remove the roast once again and let it set on a cutting board. Re-insert the thermometer, ideally in the same hole. Let this sit until the internal temperature hits at least 127°F, and no hotter than 145°F. In terms of time, no less than 10 minutes and up to 30 minutes is fine. Slice and serve.
1.
Notes The five pounds for the roast is just as an example. See the headnotes for guidance on timing. Keys to Success • Cooking large roasts is an art, not a science, because there are so many variables in terms of size, temperature and time. If you don’t have a probe thermometer, err on undercooking your roast. You can always cook it a bit more. • If time is not an issue, you can drop the smoker temperature to 200°F or lower and get a really nice smoke on the roast before finishing. It’s up to you. • The spices I use are just what I like. Use what you want, or skip everything but the salt. You need the salt. • Leftovers make great sandwiches, and are good in steak salads and chopped in tacos, burritos or enchiladas. 62 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
CAMPHOUSE KITCHEN
Fish Pie with Leeks Prep: 45 mins • Cook: 20 mins • Total: 1 hr 15 mins Ingredients POTATOES • 2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks • 1/4 cup unsalted butter • 1/4 cup heavy cream or milk • 2/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese FILLING • 1 cup whole milk • 1 cup heavy cream • 1/2-pound white fish, skinless and boneless • 1/2-pound smoked fish, skinless and boneless • 1/2-pound crabmeat (see above for alternatives) • Salt • 1/4 cup unsalted butter • 2 leeks, split lengthwise and sliced thin • 1/4 cup flour • 1/2 cup white wine or lager beer • 1 tablespoon dry mustard • 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish (optional) • 1/4 cup chopped parsley • 2 tablespoons minced chives or green onions Instructions 1. Make mashed potatoes. Put the potatoes in plenty of water and add a hefty pinch of salt. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes. Use this time to chop and prep things. 2. While the potatoes are cooking, bring the 1 cup each of milk and heavy cream to the steaming point in a medium pot, and
drop the fish in to poach. Let this cook gently for 10 minutes, then lift out the fish. When it’s cool enough to handle, flake it. Reserve the milk-cream mixture. Flake out the smoked fish, too. 3. By now your potatoes should be ready. Drain them. Set the pot back on the stove over low heat, then put the potatoes back in the pot to steam out a little. This removes excess moisture. Shake the pan a little to prevent the potatoes from sticking too much. Add the butter and mash them. Mash well, adding cream or milk as needed to make them nice and smooth. Add salt to taste, turn off the heat, and set this aside. 4. In a large sauté pan, add the 1/4 cup of butter over medium heat. When it’s hot, add the leeks and cook, stirring often, until they’re soft, but not browned. 5. Add the flour to the pan with the leeks, mixing well. It will seize up, and that’s OK. Keep it moving for a couple minutes to cook off the raw flour taste. Slowly pour in the wine or beer, stirring constantly. It will make a paste in the pan. Now add the milkcream mixture you cooked the fish in little by little, stirring to combine. You want a sauce that is like thick gravy. You might not need all the mixture. 6. Add the poached fish, smoked fish and seafood, along with the mustard, horseradish and herbs. Stir and cook this for a couple minutes to warm through, then turn off the heat. 7. To make the pie or pies, spoon the filling into your ramekins, baking dishes or any shallow, oven-proof pan. Top with the mashed potatoes, then sprinkle the cheddar cheese on top. Since everything is cooked, you need only brown the topping in a toaster oven set to 400°F or put the pie or pies under the broiler. Be sure to put them on a baking sheet because the cheese often spills over the sides. Notes Keep in mind that you can use almost any combination of fresh and smoked fish or seafood, as well as whatever shellfish you feel like — or you can leave out any of these elements. 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 63
NEW & Cool gear BY WILLIAM KENDY
Lew’s Tournament Pro Speed Spool LFS Baitcast Reel
This reel sports Lew’s P2 bearing-supported pinion gear technology with high-strength precision aluminum speed gears for smooth performance. It comes in a low-profile one-piece aluminum frame and features a 10+1 bearing system, double anodized 34 mm drilled aluminum spool, a zero reverse 1-way clutch and a 6-pin /27 position externally adjustable centrifugal brake. It weighs in at only 6.5 ounces so it won’t wear out your casting arm. Suggested Retail Price: $199.99 www.lews.com
Pro-M 100 Offers Backside Comfort to Outdoorsmen
Millennium Marine’s ComfortMAX contoured, tight sling seat with breathable, cool fabric that dries quickly is at the heart of every Pro-M Series product. The mesh seat fabric’s mold, mildew and UV-resistant properties provide years of solid use, and the tough reinforced anodized aluminum frame will ward off saltwater corrosion. It offers an adjustable folding backrest for lumbar support and adjustable armrest straps for extra comfort. Suggested Retail Price (PRO-M 100): $194.99 www.millenniummarine.com
Al’s Goldfish Fish Wrap Saltwater Series Lure
Originally designed to catch species like striped bass and bluefish, this lure has proven itself deadly for other species. The green back, light underbelly and black spots were specifically chosen to be most effective in all sorts of water conditions and was specifically built for use in heavy surf and on bright sunny days where color and size matter. Available in both a ¾ and 1 ¼ ounce size. Suggested Retail Price: $10.99 to $11.49 www.alsgoldfish.com
BONE-DRI Introduces Range & Tool Bag
Engineered with advanced materials to wick moisture, the BONE-DRI Range & Tool Bag protects your handgun, ammunition, accessories, and tools from rust. Crafted from durable nylon and guaranteed for life, this bag is engineered with patented Absorbits™ moisture-removal material to store and protect your firearms and gear from rust after exposure to moisture. This 13” x 10” x 9” bag weighs 2.6 pounds and has a lifetime warranty. Suggested Retail Price: $57.99 www.BONE-DRI.com.
Crosman Announces New Bolt-Action Icon PCP Air Rifle
Chambered in both .177 caliber and .22 caliber the Icon can deliver up to 1,000 feet per second of velocity and allows 30 effective shots on target before needing a recharge. It features an all-weather synthetic stock, a rifled steel barrel, a 1/2×20 UNF threaded muzzle for the attachment of a dedicated air gun suppressor, fiber optic front sights, full adjustable rear sights and more. Suggested Retail Price: $299.99 www.crosman.com 64 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
NEW & COOL GEAR FOR OUTDOORSMEN
Huk Tide Point Long Sleeve
The Huk Tide Point shirt is constructed using lightweight, breathable, quick-drying, moisture-wicking 30+ UPF rated fabric with four-way stretch and built-in microfiber sunglass wipe. The Hydrophobic fibers transport water and sweat away from the skin to the exterior of the clothing, where it can evaporate more efficiently and offers all-day comfort for on and off the water pursuits and can transition from the river to the boardroom. Suggested Retail Price: $55.00 www.hukgear.com
Outdoor Edge® Offers the FieldLite™ Knife
The FieldLite™ is a true everyday carry blade. Its glass/nylon handle is durable and lightweight, while the rubberized TPR ensures a secure grip in conditions ranging from hot and dry to wet and cold to freezing and icy. The 8Cr13MoV blade contains 14.5 percent chromium, making it a true stainless-steel blade with great corrosion and wear resistance and a maximum Rockwell hardness of 62HRC. Suggested Retail Price: $29.99 www.outdooredge.com
XTRATUF introduces the Auna Flip Flop
The Auna sandal incorporates a high rebound PU footbed coupled with an abrasion resistant forefoot strap and is built to be supportive and comfortable for long days on the water or land. It features our TUFgrp outsole, a revolutionary patent pending design constructed from a specially formulated rubber compound. TUFgrp provides next level traction on flat and hard surfaces as well as wet and uneven terrain. Suggested Retail Price: $70-$80.00 www.xtratuf.com
Savage 320 Thumbhole Security/Hunting Shotgun
The Savage 320 Security Thumbhole model combines an 18.5” barrel with a matte black forend and aggressive stock texturing in 20 and 12 gauge with a three-inch chamber. Both are available with either ghost ring sights or a traditional front beat sight. The 320 is bottom loading (5 + 1 capacity) and features a swivel stud on the stock, a magazine cap and recoil pad. Suggested Retail Price: $275-$305 www.savagearms.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.
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 65
Alabama State Parks Need Your Help May 24
Alabama State Parks provides visitors with many stunning vistas, including this one from Lake Guntersville State Park, and the amendment on the May ballot would provide the funds needed to keep State Parks in top form for the near future. Photo by David Rainer
We are blessed to live in one of the finest states in America for outdoor recreation. We have some of everything here in Alabama when it comes to enjoying the “Great Outdoors.” Twenty-one of the gems we have here are our beautiful and diverse Alabama State Parks.
BY CHRIS BLANKENSHIP Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
This past fiscal year, the number of park visitors increased from an average of 5 million to approximately 6.2 million visitors. Outdoor activity was recognized as an “essential activity” during COVID-19, and our Alabama State Parks remained open and operational during the pandemic. I know many of you enjoy the state parks on a regular basis. I hope the rest of you will give them a try soon. If you love Alabama State Parks or want them to be the shining stars of outdoor recreation, I hope that you will vote yes on Amendment 1 on the ballot on May 24. This amendment will authorize the sale of $85 million in bonds to be used solely for the improvement,
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renovation, equipping, acquisition, provision, construction, and maintenance of Alabama State Parks. When I describe them as gems, that is truly how I feel about them, although some of those gems need a little polishing to bring out their full sparkle and majesty. In recent years, we have had three tornadoes and one major hurricane that have caused extensive rebuilding needs in six of our parks. Most of our parks were built over 75 years ago. Many contain cabins that were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s. These cabins were built to stand the test of time, and the craftsmanship is impeccable. Most of these cabins have undergone updating in previous years, but they still need a little TLC to bring them up to our 21st century standards. Most of the campgrounds were built when camping meant a pop-up camper or a tent.
FROM THE COMMISSIONER We have upgraded some of the campgrounds to 50-amp service and larger camping spots, but to provide for today’s larger motorhomes, fifth-wheel campers and such, we have to upgrade our electrical infrastructure and expand our camping pads in all of our parks. The new proposed bond will focus on prioritized needs that will yield the greatest return on investment for our state parks and will make them self-sustaining moving forward. The goals of this bond initiative are to focus on large-scale projects to campground facilities, to both build new and renovate older cabins, and to modernize other high-use activity areas. The surge of visitors due to the pandemic brought additional pressures to these public spaces and highlighted the need for State Parks to: 1. 2.
Renovate, modernize, and expand cabins and campground facilities to accommodate a dramatic increase in camping activities and larger campers and RVs; and Update the existing utilities infrastructure at the state parks to provide reliable sewer, electric, and internet connectivity throughout these locations.
We have over 2,600 campsites, 700 lodge rooms, 200 cabins and cottages, and over 250 miles of trails in Alabama State Parks. With your support for the bond on May 24, we can make Alabama State Parks truly spectacular and provide for the outdoor recreational needs for our state for decades to come. Here is a little information on our parks. I encourage you to go to www. alapark.com to explore the parks closest to you. I am a water person. I love being on or around water in Alabama, and I am so glad my predecessors built parks on many Alabama waterways. From the mountain lakes in Northeast Alabama all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, we have waterfront parks on all sizes of bodies of water. Our parks on big-water lakes like Guntersville, Wind Creek (Lake Martin), Lakepoint (Lake Eufaula), and Joe Wheeler State Parks (Lake Wheeler) have majestic views of the water as well as fully functional marinas to allow our guests boating access. They also have rentals to help you get out and enjoy the lakes. Three of these parks have resort hotels, cabins, and cottages that are ideal for people who love the outdoors but don’t want to “camp” in the traditional sense. We have cool parks on smaller lakes and rivers that offer more laidback waterside relaxation and recreation. These include DeSoto SP (Ft Payne), Lake Lurleen SP (Tuscaloosa), Buck’s Pocket SP, Frank Jackson SP (Opp), Roland Cooper SP (Camden), Chewacla SP (Auburn), Oak Mountain SP (Pelham), and Blue Springs SP in Barbour County.
Cheaha State Park is at the highest point in Alabama. The views from Cheaha are spectacular! Miles and miles of trails in the Talladega National Forest surround Cheaha, and it has a small mountain lake for swimming. Monte Sano State Park on Monte Sano Mountain in Huntsville also has great trails and views and is minutes from the hustle and bustle of Huntsville and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Gulf and Meaher State Parks in Baldwin County are both great gateways into very special places in Alabama. Meaher is the best jumping off point to explore the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, known as “America’s Amazon.” This 200,000-acre wild and scenic area is a true treasure for Alabama and the United States. Most of the MTD is owned by the Forever Wild Land Trust or ADCNR and is unforgettable. Gulf State Park is over 6,000 acres of the most diverse habitats found anywhere in the world. Besides the phenomenal beaches and The Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel, that we all know about, Gulf SP has maritime forests, freshwater lakes, a coastal dune system, grass savannas, and other critical habitats. A wonderful campground, first-rate cottages, and 28 miles of easy to hike or bike trails wind all through this natural diversity and beauty as well. It is the park that most people have visited at least once in their lifetime. If you have come once, I bet you have been back again and again. Our mission at ADCNR is to preserve natural areas; to develop, furnish, operate, and maintain recreational facilities; and to extend the public’s knowledge of the state’s environment. And our vision is to be recognized as one of the leading state park systems in the nation in providing quality outdoor recreation services and resources to the public. I trust that you will join us in our vision by supporting Amendment 1 on May 24.
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We have two “cave parks,” Cathedral Caverns near Huntsville and Rickwood Caverns north of Birmingham. Both parks contain caves, but the caves could not be more different. Rickwood is a narrow cave that snakes its way through Blount County. One really neat feature of this park is that the pool is filled with refreshingly cool 60-degree water drawn from the cave. That is a perfect place to cool off on a hot July day in Alabama. Cathedral Caverns is just how the name suggests, cathedral-like. It is a wide and open cave that has spectacular pillars and formations that dwarf you as you tour. We have added a brand-new campground at Cathedral that just opened this year. It has been a need for a long time and has had good occupancy since opening.
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251-473-3176 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 67
A Much-Needed Reality Check Complex surgeries that may be appropriate for domestic pets are typically not suited for wild animals who are not well adapted for the stress of restraint, confinement, and recovery and have a high mortality rate after release.
Mother Nature has never watched a Walt Disney movie.
BY CHARLES “CHUCK” SYKES Director of the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF)
I understand that times and many people’s attitudes have changed since I was a kid. This fact was never more evident than during the public comment portion of the first Conservation Advisory Board (CAB) meeting this year, held on March 5, 2022. Of course, we had the typical topics of most meetings like pro vs. anti-dog hunting, commercial vs. recreational fishing, and too many vs. not enough deer being taken. But, we also had a highly emotional topic surface: wildlife rehabilitation. Put very simply, wildlife rehabilitation is the practice of taking a wild animal that is “in need” out of the wild and attempting to fix its injuries or ailments. Nationwide, this activity requires a permit from the corresponding state or federal agency.
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This topic was first brought to my attention at the CAB meeting back in May 2013. I had been on the job approximately four months, so I was very new to the whole process. However, I can vividly remember the very emotionally charged speakers talking about wildlife rehabilitation, and I can also remember thinking: Why are we even having this discussion? Biologically speaking, wildlife rehabilitation is not a contributor to the health and success of Alabama’s wildlife populations. Saving negligible numbers of raccoons, squirrels, songbirds, or deer isn’t producing any positive impacts to the species and can also doom the individual. Negative outcomes can stem from the spread of disease when animals are grouped together
FROM THE DIRECTOR then released into various locations. In recent times we all have been well-schooled in how diseases spread throughout a population. Now take what we’ve learned about humans and apply it to rabies, distemper, CWD, rabbit hemorrhagic disease, avian flu, and other wildlife diseases in situations where multiple animals from multiple areas are placed into enclosures and then released (perhaps onto your land), ready to spread everything their cage mates shared with them. In addition to potentially spreading disease, wildlife rehabilitation simply does not bolster our wildlife populations. The number of animals released from rehabilitation facilities (even added up over multiple years) does not compare to the number of animals taken by just one trapper or hunter in a season, and yet these wildlife populations continue to thrive and support a state full of consumptive users. For every call our offices receive about seeking help for an orphaned animal, we get 50 more from landowners asking how to decrease wildlife that have become nuisance animals on their property. Meanwhile, some rehabbed animals survive, but rehabbed wildlife has a high mortality of after release, and the suffering they were “saved from” is simply delayed to a later stage of life. Growing up on a farm taught me that Mother Nature can be a cruel and heartless b@#$#. I understood that wild animals needed to remain wild. I had pet dogs and cats and, even though I loved my pets, a point came when the humane and ethical thing to do was to put them down. I didn’t like it. It didn’t mean that I was a mean person. It simply meant I had to grow up and take responsibility for the health and well-being of a pet, which meant making life or death decisions. Human compassion can be misplaced and even cruel. Wild animals taken into captivity can languish for months while being kept alive and “rehabilitated.” Before their eventual death or euthanasia, wound care, forcefeedings, and confinement are all stressful for wild animals. Additionally, every individual animal “saved” in this manner is a meal taken from other hungry wildlife. Naturally high mortality rates and complex food webs are not a broken system that need to be fixed.
facility isn’t properly licensed to take in rabies vectors like raccoons). The facility fails to take contact information from the family, which becomes a real problem when the raccoon later dies and tests positive for rabies. Now, we have a facility with animals and workers potentially exposed to rabies and an unknown family who never did get the memo that everyone in that car may need life-saving medical treatment depending on their exposure on that cuddly car ride. Another actual case: A man illegally takes in a fawn and raises it. He keeps “Bucky” in a small pen for 6 years. Bucky is his “pet,” and the man loves him until, one day during the rut, Bucky (being a wild animal) attacks the man and almost kills him. The man lost an eye, had a punctured lung, and many other injuries. These are just two examples of incidents where well-meaning individuals made poor decisions that negatively impacted the health and safety of themselves and their families, and the animal wasn’t saved in the end either. Wouldn’t it have been much better for everyone involved to either leave the animals in the wild where Mother Nature could take her course of action or do the right thing and simply put the animals down? The mission of the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division is to ensure healthy and stable populations of wildlife and aquatic resources for the citizens of Alabama now and in the future. We accomplish this mission by managing wildlife based on science not emotion. In addition, we must manage population levels. We can’t protect each individual. So, as cruel and heartless as the impassioned speakers made us sound, we’re not. We love the wildlife we manage. We’d have to. We definitely don’t take these jobs for fame or fortune. Efforts to rescue all animals “in need” can reflect a gross misunderstanding of nature and serves more to warm the human heart than to help wildlife.
Despite these truths, I’m trying to be open-minded and understand why some are so passionate about wildlife rehab. One speaker said he was trying to teach his children compassion for all wildlife. He asked what he was supposed to tell his children when they saw an injured baby bird? To me it’s a simple answer. That’s a perfect opportunity to explain life and death in the natural world. Here’s a reality check: Life isn’t a Disney movie. Every bird isn’t named Tweety, and every raccoon isn’t named Rocky. Why not take the time to explain to children that in the real world, there are no participation trophies. There are always winners and losers. That’s called the predator/prey cycle. The strong survive and the weak are fuel for the rest. Releasing wild animals that are ill-equipped for survival into novel territories does nothing positive for the individual animal or the population. This artificial assistance quite often simply delays the inevitable and prolongs suffering. Only the humans involved feel good about it. The notion that wildlife found in need is a side effect of their interactions with humans reflects a naive understanding of what is really happening deep in the woods, away from what we see. Let me provide some actual examples of how decisions to “help” wildlife had catastrophic consequences. A family driving sees a raccoon on the side of the road, feels sorry for it, picks it up, and puts it in the car. They find a wildlife rehabilitation facility that is willing to take the raccoon (note that this 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 69
Must Have Kayak Fishing Accessories
Go to a kayak shop with a list of gear needed and stick to the list.
A new fishing kayak usually arrives to its owner as bare as a just-born baby. And just as a newborn baby has lots of equipment needs, so does a new fishing kayak. Although we’ve called these add-on gear items as “accessories,” in truth, these are necessary and needed items which a kayak angler should have aboard for every fishing trip We’ll look at some gear which we have found through our years of kayak fishing to be needed and “must have” gear.
BY ED MASHBURN Photos by Ed Mashburn
PFD- Without any doubt, the first purchase to properly equip a fishing kayak is a good personal floatation device. This bit of gear won’t help an angler catch more fish, but it might just save the angler’s life. There are so many excellent and not terribly expensive PFDs to choose from, there will be one to suit any angler. But the main thing is, get a PFD and wear it!
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A Good Paddle- Many new fishing kayaks come with a paddle, and some of these standard equipment paddlers are quite usable. Others are pretty bad. Each new kayak angler will want to try a range of paddles to see which one feels right in hand, gives good power to a paddle stroke, and is light enough for a long day’s use without tiring out the angler. Anchoring System- There will come a time when every kayak angler will want to stop the kayak and keep it in position. This happens quite often. Traditional anchor and line systems work well for many situations, and a electric motor equipped kayak with a GPS unit can “spot lock” in position and the kayak won’t move much at all. The traditional system is cheap, and the electronic system is not, but they both serve anglers very well. Rod Holder- All modern fishing kayaks come equipped with “rod holders” and many beginning anglers think this is all they need. Actually, the “rod holders” built into a kayak are only useful for transporting rods. They’re not much good for actually holding a rod while it is being used for fishing. A wide range of real rod holders which fit into the accessory tracks most new fishing kayaks come equipped with are very adjustable, flexible in use, and very effective when trolling or drifting bait from a kayak.
PADDLE FISHING Fish finder- These electronic marvels have become so small, so easy to install, and so effective in helping kayak anglers find and catch fish, it is amazing to anyone who saw the early models of fish finders which were heavy, bulky, expensive- all things which kayak anglers try to avoid. Storage crate- A milk crate or similar storage device which fits in the back storage well of a kayak is a great piece of fishing equipment. All sorts of gear, rainwear, food and drink, and even photography gear can be stored in a crate, and be ready for quick retrieval and use. Sunglasses- A long day on the water kayak fishing with unprotected eyes can become painful. A good pair of sunglass- the Bajio brand of sunglasses is superb and particularly useful for kayak anglers because of the wide range of lenses, colored lenses, and frame which Bajio offers. This Florida-based company offers great protective eyewear for a wide range of fishing applications. Knife- It may seem simple, but a good sharp knife can be very important to a kayak angler. There have been times when a good knife has saved a trip for me- and maybe even more- like my life. I have had to quickly cut an anchor line which threatened to pull my kayak under in a strong, tide-influenced current. I have had to cut a big wad of 50 pound mono line which I snagged and which I could not otherwise remove from my lure. A good knife can also be very handy in bait preparation. Dry Bag- Let’s face it. A kayak is not a dry ride in many cases, and gear that doesn’t need to get wet- clothes, food, electronics and photography gearneeds protection. There are some inexpensive and very effective bags which can serve a kayaker’s needs. From heavy-duty zip-lock bags to dedicated double recloseable super-heavy duty dry bags, these things can make life a lot easier for kayak anglers.
work loose while on the water. And we hope it never happens, but a good set of pliers can help remove a hook from an angler if that accident happens. Paddle Leash- Some kayak paddles float when dropped in the water. Some paddles actually sink rather quickly. However, whether an angler’s kayak paddle is a floater or a sinker, if the paddle gets away from the angler, it very quickly becomes unable to be used, and that’s bad. A paddle leash which connects the paddle to the kayak is a good piece of insurance to make sure when that paddle comes loose- and this happens a lot when the angler is busy landing a big fish- that the paddle will be quickly and easily recoverable. These leashes are simple to install, don’t get in the way, and are quite affordable. Rod Leash- And just like paddles, fishing rods can be dropped or pulled out of the angler’s hand. And there is a direct relationship to the cost of a rod and reel and the likelihood it will go over the side and sink. So for all rods and reels, a cheap, easy to use rod leash can make a lot of difference in the outcomes of a rod loss. And a bit of advice: if the kayak angler is going off the beach into the Gulf for big fish, have rod leash on rigs. Coming back through the surf is the best known way to have a whole load of kayak gear lost when the kayak rolls over, and a rod leash can help recover expensive rods for rinsing and repair.
Important Contact Information Bajio sunglasses 368-273-3208 Customer.service@bajiosunglasses.com
Fish Gripper- There will come a time, especially here on the Gulf Coast, when a kayak angler will land a big fish that has sharp teeth. A fish gripper- and there are many brands and prices- will help secure that mackerel, snapper or even shark and make hook removal much safer and easier. Landing Net- It can be very difficult to land a big fish caught from a kayak by hand alone. Grabbing a big redfish by the jaw or tail might work sometimes, but also hand-grabbing is good way to lose a big fish right at boat side. A landing net can make landing a big fish much easier. There are several good landing nets suitable for kayak use. Most of these nets have a collapsible or foldable handle which can easily be expended for use. Kayak Cart- It will take exactly one trip dragging a kayak across the beach to the surf from a parking area for a kayak angler to realize that there must be a better way to get the kayak from the car to the surf for some offshore big-fish fun. A kayak cart makes life much better for those bold kayak anglers who go off the beach. A wide range of styles, prices, and functions can be found in kayak carts, but for across the beach use, the kayak cart needs big, fat, soft sand tires. Narrow hard wheels works just fine for paved surfaces, but the narrow wheels just don’t work well at all in the sand. Fishing Pliers- One of the most helpful tools any kayak angler can have aboard is a good set of pliers. I like a set of long-nosed needle nose pliers. These are helpful for removing hooks from fish and for adjusting lures and even bending hooks. And a good pair of pliers can help do emergency kayak repairs to pedal-drive units and even help crimp any electronic wires that might 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 71
Gulf Coast Fishing Outlook
May is a great month for Mangrove Snapper! Photo courtesy of Stephen Franklin
May is prime time to hit the water. Very few months can compete with the variety and consistency that this month offers. From the backwaters to rigs, there’s no shortage of options. MISSISSIPPI The barrier islands will certainly be hot spots this month with anglers looking for trophy speckled trout and redfish amongst others. Working beachside troughs and sandbar points leads to the action. Bait choices can vary, but covering water with larger-profiled artificials will consistently produce quality fish. Hardbaits like the Mirrolure DD, MR27, Yo Zuri Inshore Twitchbait and the Rapala Rip Stop jerkbait are top choices. These baits should be worked erratically and aggressively. Soft plastics like the Vudu Mullet, Slick lure and Matrix Shad are also great baits. Live bait is always an option and nothing will beat a live croaker. Rigged on a Carolina rig or freelined, they will get bit. BY CHRIS VECSEY
Tripletail will begin showing up in good numbers and
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can be found throughout MS sound. The “run n gun” approach is usually best while looking for floating debris, channel markers and tidelines. Tripletail will hide under and around such structures. A big, live shrimp and many different artificials like the DOA shrimp and Vudu Mullet will work well. This is also a prime opportunity to take a tripletail on the fly rod. Most small baitfish or shrimp patterns work well. Flounder will also be a common catch inshore from the barrier islands to the marsh. Live bull minnows or paddle-tailed soft plastics will take flatfish along the edges of bars and channels in anywhere from 1-15ft of water. Areas with good current will generally be best. ALABAMA There’ll be no shortage of action off the beaches of Alabama this month and it’s within reach of both shorebound and boating anglers alike. This is one the best times of the year to catch trophy speckled trout in the surf. Trout will stack up in beachside troughs along with redfish, flounder, bluefish
FISHING OUTLOOK and others. All will hit a mix of different lures and baits with twitchbaits, topwaters and soft plastics being the most popular.
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A bit further out, both king and spanish mackerel will keep the trolling crowd entertained. Pulling spoons, diving plugs and duster/cigar minnow combinations will produce. Speeds of around 4-5kts are generally best.
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Depths and areas to fish will vary, but mackerel will be taken in good numbers from the beachfront and beyond. Artificial structures and oil/gas rigs in 50-120ft will produce quality fish. Speaking of the oil/gas platforms, this is a great time of the year to target trophy mangrove (black) snapper around them. These tasty and finicky snappers will usually hang tight to platform legs, but can be persuaded from cover by chumming with small pieces of cut bait. It’s best not to overdo it, a few small pieces of cigar minnow or sardine is all it takes to get their interest. Downsizing gear makes a big difference as well. Mangroves are much more tackle shy than the bigger reds. Moving down to leader sizes of 20-30lb fluoro and 1/0-3/0 circles will greatly up the chances. Freelined baits are best but when weight is needed, a simple split shot or 1/8-1/2oz egg weight rigged “knocker” style will do. Going deep, large pelagics like yellowfin tuna, wahoo, marlin and others will take up residence around the offshore platforms through the month. Knowing where to go when the weather breaks makes a huge difference in finding success. Subscribing to a satellite imagery service like Hilton’s Realtime Navigator will keep you in the loop on the water conditions offshore. FLORIDA PANHANDLE The surf fishing will still go strong into June. Pompano numbers will slow down a bit, but they will remain a viable option. Whiting, redfish and others will take up the slack. Focus on the deeper troughs and washouts and primarily on an incoming tide. The lower bays and sounds will provide good action with speckled trout around grassbeds and piers. This is a great time for topwater plugs, but shallow running jerkbaits and soft plastic “fluke” style baits will also work very well. Offshore, natural bottom areas will be prime spots to target scamp and vermilion snapper. Both can be taken in water as shallow as 70-80ft but the best depths for quality fish will be 180+ft. Live baits like pinfish and cigar minnows will do well on scamp and red grouper. For vermilions, use small pieces of squid or bonito on 2 hook “chicken” rigs. Keep in mind that gag grouper are not in season at this time, although they will be a possible bycatch while scamp fishing.
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Wahoo will be cruising the shelf along the 50 and 100 fathom lines. Covering water while working the contours will produce. Pull various trolling spreads of ballyhoo/ilander combinations and lipless plugs like the yo-zuri bonita. Wahoo can also be taken by bump trolling live baits around key structures. May is an exceptional month for swordfish off the panhandle. Fishing depths of 1200-1600ft both day and night will get you hooked up. Bait choices can vary widely but whole squid and bonito bellies are always top choices.
Important Contact Information Hilton’s Real-Time Navigator www.hiltonsoffshore.com
(251) 479-5264
457 Dauphin Island Parkway “At the Loop” Mobile, AL 36606 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 73
Pier & Shore Fishing Outlook
Fishing for mackerel draws a lot of attention to the Gulf piers this month.
There is no finer way to greet a spring sunrise than with a bent rod fished from the beach. May offers some of the best fishing of the year for shore-bound anglers along the Emerald Coast. We can expect gulf water temperatures to rise through the upper 70s to just above 80 by Memorial Day Weekend. So we should see a plethora of pelagic fish species come pouring through our coastal waters throughout the month. Plus our resident fish species should still be in spring seasonal abundance even as the sheepshead and pompano numbers wind down. But the influx of mackerel and other jack species more than makes up the difference.
BY DAVID THORNTON Photos by David Thornton
Fishing can get particularly good during relatively calm weather periods when the water clears, as long as there is still some wind to stir the water surface in the afternoon. Swarms of filter feeding baitfish like Scaled and False herring (called “LYs”) move near shore to spawn in May, with
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hordes of hungry predatory fish hot on their tails. Bluefish, king and Spanish Mackerel are joined by ladyfish, blue runners and herds of jack crevalle which press shoals of LYs and other small baitfish into the surfzone around the gulf beach piers. They patrol the perimeter of the bait schools alert to pick off weakened or injured baits like those with hooks impaled by pier anglers. Even fresh dead baits work well to entice a variety of predator fish into biting. Casting medium sized diving plugs has gained popularity in recent years. But through decades, “snobling” dead “cigar minnows” (Round scad), Sardines, LYs or small mullet has been elevated to almost an art form among dedicated Florida Panhandle pier anglers. Most rig the bait with a #4 to #1 3X or 4X strong treble hooks on a 12 to 18 inch long wire leader with a small black barrel swivel tied on the main line. The type and thickness of
FISHING OUTLOOK the leader material varies from angler to angler and day to day depending on conditions and fish being targeted. Seven to nine foot medium heavy rods and 4000 to 7000 size spinning reels with a smooth drag, capable of holding at least 250 yards of 15 pound or heavier line are well suited for this. It is commonplace to see a couple of dozen anglers lined elbowto-elbow along the rail near the ends of the gulf beach piers in various states of casting and retrieving dead baits involved in snobling. After each angler chooses their casting lane, the bait is cast far out in that direction and allowed to sink slowly out of sight on a slightly slack line with the bail open. The line is moved periodically to tighten up, and the rod tip may be twitched to impart some action on the bait as it moves it a few feet. Then the bail is opened and the bait allowed to settle again, thus mimicking a dying baitfish. When a fish grabs the bait, allow it to swim away with slack line for several seconds to swallow the hook. Then, once the bail is tripped, the swimming fish will tighten the line and practically hook itself as it panics and tries to flee away from the pressure on the line. A light to moderate drag setting assures a good hookset, though some pier anglers like to add some dramatic hook sets for show. The drag should be set light enough to allow the darting mackerel to run away without breaking the line or pulling the hook. King mackerel in the 15 to 25 pound range may run 250 to 300 yards of line off in mere seconds. So be prepared for that well ahead of time. Mackerel are “sprinters” for the most part, and after expending most of their energy on their initial run usually only muster a few more progressively weaker runs until led to the gaff at the pier. Larger Spanish mackerel as well as small king mackerel may be netted, especially if they may not be of legal size. King mackerel have a creel limit of 3 per day, yet must be at least 24 inch fork length. Spanish mackerel have a 12 inch minimum fork length in Florida, but no minimum size in Alabama. Both states allow 15 Spanish mackerel per angler, per day. Mackerel are very popular as sport and food fish, and may be prepared a variety of ways, though most are fried, pan-sauteed, grilled or smoked.
topwater plugs like Heddon Spooks and Rapala Skitterwalk. Also, shallow diving plugs like Rapala X-rap and twitchbaits such as MirrOlure’s MirrOdine can be quite effective for trout even during the midday hours when they seek out deeper waters. Since fish don’t have a hat, or sunglasses or even eyelids to protect from blinding glare, they often slip into deeper water to diffuse the brightening sunlight. Using lures that can reach them down there, is critical to continued success. Otherwise the early morning and late afternoon hours will be most successful as the predatory fish move into shallower waters when the lighting is dimmer. Surf casters might still find plenty of pompano, though their numbers are rapidly thinning in the surf zone as more of these fish move offshore to spawn. Morning high tides should bring pompano closer to shore as mole crabs (sand fleas) move onto the swash zone to spawn. But NEAP tide periods around the 12th and 25th could disrupt that pattern. So could calm periods, or very rough periods. A little surf action with two to three foot waves is best to dislodge prey items from shore for pompano as well as whiting, redfish, drum and such. This generates rip currents moving away from beaches that carry food items into slightly deeper water where the gamefish are waiting. This near shore bite offers a great opportunity for light tackle pompano fishing and even jig fishing from shore if the water is fairly clear. So, as you can see, May has many fishing prospects and options for shore-bound anglers to choose from, and that is often the hardest part. But the water is warming and the weather is often ideal to try any number of things as you enjoy these great days outdoors.
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Mackerel aren’t the only ‘big game” in town this month, as cobia and jack crevalle are also available from the beach piers. In addition, pompano still please both pier and surf anglers even as their numbers decrease this month. Farther west, into Alabama and Mississippi coastal waters, speckled trout gradually displace mackerel and pompano as the most popular inshore species. Specks, along with slot-sized redfish and flounder are commonly targeted and caught from beaches and piers. As the waters warm, wadefishing gains huge popularity with fromshore anglers. There is no finer way to greet a spring sunrise than with a bent rod fished from the beach. Walking the beaches while tossing a topwater plug is a great experience made unforgettable when a trout or other predator engulfs it with an audible “plop”. Besides speckled trout, anglers may encounter ladyfish, bluefish, redfish or even jack crevalle. Because of the later possibility, most wade fishers like to tackle up with 12 to 20 pound class tackle, and 20 pound braided line is quite popular. Reels holding 150 to 200 yards of line are needed. But it is best to keep the reel size relatively small so its weight doesn’t wear the angler out while making hundreds of casts in the course of the morning. The rod should be a seven to eight foot medium to medium heavy action with a fast taper. This allows for throwing lighter baits like Zoom Flukes on a ¼ ounce jig head, but still handle the bigger
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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 75
REGIONAL FRESHWATER Fishing Outlook BY ED MASHBURN Photos by Ed Mashburn
Some fine bass will take topwater lures in May.
76 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
FISHING OUTLOOK
ALABAMA WATERS
SIPSEY FORK The year-round rainbow trout fishing at Sipsey Fork is prime in May, and Randy Jackson of Riverside Fly Shop told us the trout bite at Sipsey Fork will, as always, be weather related, and if typical spring weather occurs, a caddis fly hatch will come off in May, and also lots of terrestrial bugs, especially ants, will be on the trouts’ menu. Toward the end of May going into June, the first mayfly hatch should come off, and these will be larger mayflies. Dry fly fishing should be quite good. Anglers can target the size of trout they seek by focusing on different parts of the river. Up close to the dam, the oxygen levels are higher and there are lots of smaller bugs, and the trout tend to be smaller and somewhat easier to catch. As anglers move downstream away from the dam, the trout tend to get larger, more like wild trout, and they eat larger bugs. At any point along the river, anglers can expect to catch trout from nine to sixteen inches long, with the bigger fish farther downstream. If the skipjacks come up to the dam in good numbers this year, they should still be around in May, and they are loads of fun to catch on flashy, fast-moving flies.
The bank grass at Weiss along the shallows will hold lots of bass, and Pitts said that anglers can catch bass just about anywhere on topwater lures- especially soft plastic frogs. There will also be a hot jig and trailer bite on the grass. Pitts recommends the Gene Larue Wheeler Punchout Craw as a trailer on jigs. In May, bass anglers can’t go far wrong by fishing very shallow water. The bass will be found in water much shallower than most anglers think possible. When the trolling motor starts throwing up mud, the angler is getting in good territory for Weiss Lake bass. LAKE GUNTERSVILLE Spring bass fishing on massive Lake Guntersville can be red-hot and Captain Jake Davis Captain Jake Davis from Mid-South Bass Guide Service said that in the middle and later parts of the month, the shad will start their spawn, and this really gets the bass feeding. Throwing light colored willow leaf spinner baits over the flats where the shad gather to spawn is a good bet. Bass will be found on the main channel docks, and emerging grass beds will be places to find bass on the feed. For the top water bait, anglers can try buzz baits or Spooks. Throw over emerging grass or along weedlines for good top water action.
Jackson said that Riverside Fly Shop carries a huge assortment of flies for anglers to select, and as a help in the choice, flies which have been productive recently are marked with orange tags.
The middle sections of the lake should be very good. The Goose Pond area can be hot in May.
To make trip planning easier for anglers, the generating schedule for the Smith Dam is posted every day on the Riverside Fly Shop website, or a call to the shop will provide current conditions.
Crappie will be back in the deeper creek mouths, and anglers looking for some real light tackle fun can find big shell crackers bedding up on deeper hard bottom areas and shell banks.
LAKE EUFAULA Captain Sam Williams, long-time guide and veteran Eufaula angler, says that the topwater bite for bass at Eufaula should be very good in May. The frog bite in particular should be good. Fish around the grass and other growing structure. Don’t be afraid to throw a weedless frog into the roughest cover possible- some big bass will be up in the shallows.
LAKE WILSON/PICKWICK LAKE Big catfish specialist Captain Brian Barton said that catfish will be feeding heavily in the days leading up to their spawning. Fish can be caught from 2 to 70 feet of water this month depending on where you want to fish. To locate shallow fish, check out logjams in cuts along the main river bank on both sides of the river. Logs stack in the backs of these pockets and cats seek their cover for spawning.
In general at Eufaula in May, bass anglers need to start each day with gold colored lures. For whatever reason, Eufaula bass seem to prefer gold colored lures. Crappie can be very good in May at Eufaula. Anglers can find the slabs with small jigs in a wide range of colors. Start with chartreuse, and then work other colors to see which color the crappie prefer on particular days. It’s always a good day to go cat fishing at Eufaula, and May is one of the best months for catfish. Big chunks of cut bait fished on the bottom where feeder creeks run into the main lake are great spots to find some big cats. WEISS LAKE May is about the tail end of crappie spawning, and this means that we’ll be shooting deeper docks as the crappie pull off their shallow water spawning waters and head out toward deeper open water,” said Captain and guide Lee Pitts. For about two weeks in May, the crappie will be stacked up under certain docks. Anglers may have to look around a bit to find the best deep docks, but when located, the crappie will be thick. For bass anglers at Weiss Lake, May is a great time to be on the water. Pitts told us that May is the kickoff of a great spinner bait bite. Also, the top water bite will really get going.
“I fish these areas by rigging spinning tackle with 14 lb Vicious mono and a 3/0 Mister Twister Keeper red worm hook. I place a 1/16 or 1/8 oz sinker about 8 to 10 inches under the hook creating a dropshot rig,” Barton said. Barton advised that anglers should cast their bait up against or just under the floating logs and hold steady keeping a tight line. Worms, shrimp, shad, and skipjack all work well with this application. For larger fish, seek out 15 to 40 feet of water in the mid to rear portions of sloughs on the south end of the lake. Pickwick Lake, like Wilson, will be hot for cats throughout the month. Fish will be on top of and along river ledges as well as the tops and backs of humps and mounds in the river channel. Blues will be staging heavily at the base of Wilson Dam this month. It’s not uncommon for local anglers to catch 50 to 75 fish each day along the tailrace. Eddy pockets and any slack water areas downstream of the dam are likely to be holding cats. “A favorite spot of mine this month is to fish the knees of cypress trees from Seven Mile Island downstream to the Sinking Creek area. Channel cats will often load up in droves under these trees for spawning. I cast worms, prepared baits, or chicken livers underneath the trees to catch the fish,” Barton noted.
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 77
Regional Freshwater Fishing Outlook
MILLER’S FERRY Joe Dunn with Dunn’s Sports knows the fishing at Miller’s Ferry quite well, and he said that the crappie will be out of bedding areas and in five to twelve feet of water. Crappie can be caught on Road Runners and tube jigs vertically jigged around stumps and other wood cover. Many of the crappie will be taken on drop-shot rigs baited with live minnows out on the main river channels. Trolling the larger creeks will produce crappie in May if the angler uses live minnows and jigs. Bass at Miller’s Ferry will be off the beds by May, and anglers should look around shallow grass with spinner baits. Major lake channels will be hot for bass when fished with crank baits and soft plastics on Carolina rigs. A key point for Miller’s Ferry anglers looking for success is to try and plan trips around moving water. When the dam is releasing water and there’s some current in the lake, the bass just bite better. Anglers can call the Miller’s Ferry powerhouse at 334-682-4896 to get water release schedules for each day.
FLORIDA WATERS
LAKE TALQUIN Jeff DuBree of Whippoorwill Lodge on Lake Talquin says that the bream fishing will be very good as the bream really get going on the spawning beds in shallow water. For both bluegill and shell crackers, anglers who throw Beetlespins on light tackle will have success. Live crickets always work for bream here. Working the bream on full moon times can be very effective. DuBree told us, “The bass will be post spawn in May, and there will be some schooling action. Bass anglers will want to fish main lake points early and late. The bass will move into deeper water in May, and anglers can catch them on crank baits and jigs if they work the sandy points.” The white bass in Talquin will still be scattered, and anglers can look for diving birds which will show where whites are chasing shad in open water. Make a quick run to the birds and throw shad-look lures into the feeding area, and the whites will respond. Catfishing on Talquin will be good in May. Using stink bait and pond worms, anglers can expect some good eating size catfish. Work water in six to twelve foot depths for best catfish action in May. APALACHICOLA RIVER SYSTEM Tony Poloronis of Outcasters Bait and Tackle in Apalachicola gave us some good tips for May fishing in the river system there. First, a lot of the saltwater fighters such as redfish, trout, and flounder will be making their way up the river past the town of Apalachicola, and freshwater anglers should not be surprised to find these fish taking lures and bait scent for freshwater fish. Poloronis told us that bass anglers will find some good bass near cover using soft plastics, spoons with some flash, and especially Snagless Sally spinners. These should be worked close to the cover. If an angler can find some large minnows or shiners, the bass will jump all over them. Shellcrackers will still be on the beds in places in the backwaters, but many of the big bream will have pulled back to deeper open water. Live worms are good when fished near the bottom. SEMINOLE LAKE Catfish anglers can fish drop off sand ledges where the catfish will collect in ten to twelve foot water after their spawning is complete. All kinds of 78 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
live bait and prepared stink bait will work on the cats in May. Captain Matt Batty, a long-time bass tournament angler and guide, told us,” Bass fishing is good. The fish are mostly post-spawn with some fish still spawning. There is also a shad spawn going on all over the lake. Target main lake grass lines with a ½ oz. Buddha Blade in sexy shad- the new one with serrated blades puts out more flash and seems to attract more strikes.” Batty continues, “Also, a 3/8 oz. Buddha Bait buzz bait in white with silver blade works well for early morning top water shad spawn bites.” There are also fish suspended in the timber in Spring Creek. Use a Lowrance DownScan to locate schools of bass suspended next to stumps in the creek. A good bait to catch the suspended bass is a five-inch Big Bite Baits Suicide Shad in pearly shad pattern.
Important Contact Information Joe Dunn Dunn’s Sports 334-636-0850 33356 Hwy 43, Thomasville, AL Captain Sam Williams Hawks Guide Service 334-687-0400 Brandon Jackson/ Randy Jackson Riverside Fly Shop 17027 Hwy 69N Jasper, AL 256-287-9582 Riversideflyshop.com Captain Lee Pitts 256-390-4145 www.leepittsoutdoors.com Captain Brian Barton 256-412-0960 brianbartonoutdoors.com Captain Jake Davis Mid-South Bass Guide Service 615-613-2382 msbassguide@comcast.net Jeff DuBree Whippoorwill Sportsman’s Lodge Lake Talquin 850-875-2605 fishtalquin@gmail.com Captain Matt Baty 229-726-0153 bassinboots@yahoo.com Tony Poloronis Outcasters Bait and Tackle 631 Hwy 98, Apalachicola, Florida 850-653-4665
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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 79
MOON & FEED TIMES
Mobile / Tensaw Delta
PRIME FEEDING TIMES
This chart is specifically designed for fishing times in the Mobile/Tensaw Delta & other tidally influenced waters of South Alabama. Date Day
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
May 2022
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue
80 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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ALABAMA TIDE CHARTS
T
3 12:05 PM / 1.55 11:20 PM / 0.07
W 4 12:47 PM / 1.56
--
Th 5 01:33 PM / 1.56 12:42 AM / 0.07 F
6 02:21 PM / 1.55 01:47 AM / 0.06
S 7 03:07 PM / 1.51 02:39 AM / 0.06 Su 8 03:49 PM / 1.43 03:20 AM / 0.09 M 9 04:29 PM / 1.30 03:52 AM / 0.15 T 10 05:09 PM / 1.12 04:12 AM / 0.25 W 11 12:24 PM / 0.89 04:18 AM / 0.40 06:13 PM / 0.90 02:59 PM / 0.88 Th 12 10:59 AM / 0.92 04:06 AM / 0.58 --
06:10 PM / 0.64
F 13 12:02 AM / 0.79 03:26 AM / 0.75 10:16 AM / 1.05 07:00 PM / 0.39 S 14 09:59 AM / 1.24 07:48 PM / 0.16 Su 15 10:11 AM / 1.45 08:42 PM / -0.02 M 16 10:42 AM / 1.62 09:51 PM / -0.14 T 17 11:25 AM / 1.75 11:16 PM / -0.21 W 18 12:17 PM / 1.81
--
Th 19 01:13 PM / 1.82 12:37 AM / -0.24 F 20 02:11 PM / 1.76 01:43 AM / -0.23 S 21 03:03 PM / 1.63 02:39 AM / -0.15 Su 22 03:48 PM / 1.44 03:25 AM / -0.00 M 23 04:21 PM / 1.19 03:54 AM / 0.20 T 24 04:33 PM / 0.92 03:32 AM / 0.43 W 25 10:35 AM / 0.94 02:27 AM / 0.61 --
08:11 PM / 0.62
Th 26 09:38 AM / 1.08 07:41 PM / 0.40 F 27 09:04 AM / 1.26 07:55 PM / 0.22 S 28 09:18 AM / 1.41 08:23 PM / 0.10 Su 29 09:46 AM / 1.51 08:59 PM / 0.03 M 30 10:22 AM / 1.57 09:43 PM / -0.00 T 31 11:02 AM / 1.60 10:36 PM / -0.01
T
3 12:49 PM / 1.69 11:44 PM / -0.07
Su 1 12:46 PM / 1.78 10:48 PM / 0.13
Su 1
09:25 AM / 0.94 07:42 PM / -0.04
M 2 01:15 PM / 1.88 11:39 PM / 0.09
M 2
09:48 AM / 1.00 08:54 PM / -0.05
T
T
10:18 AM / 1.04 11:05 PM / -0.06
3 01:51 PM / 1.94
--
3
W 4 02:33 PM / 1.96 12:52 AM / 0.09
W 4
10:55 AM / 1.04
Th 5 02:12 PM / 1.68 01:08 AM / -0.07
Th 5 03:19 PM / 1.96 02:14 AM / 0.09
Th 5
11:39 AM / 1.03 12:17 AM / -0.06
F
6 02:59 PM / 1.65 02:24 AM / -0.08
F
6 04:07 PM / 1.93 03:19 AM / 0.08
F
6
12:28 PM / 0.99 01:15 AM / -0.06
S
7 03:49 PM / 1.59 03:19 AM / -0.09
S
7 04:53 PM / 1.88
04:11 AM / 0.08
S
7
01:21 PM / 0.94 02:00 AM / -0.05
Su 8 04:43 PM / 1.49 04:01 AM / -0.05
Su 8 05:35 PM / 1.79
04:52 AM / 0.11
Su 8
02:21 PM / 0.87 02:32 AM / -0.01
M 9 05:42 PM / 1.35 04:31 AM / 0.04
M 9 06:15 PM / 1.63 05:24 AM / 0.18
M 9
03:15 PM / 0.77
02:42 AM / 0.05
T 10 07:01 PM / 1.15 04:50 AM / 0.19
T 10 06:55 PM / 1.40 05:44 AM / 0.32
T 10 03:59 PM / 0.64
02:57 AM / 0.14
W 11 12:51 PM / 0.95 04:56 AM / 0.41
W 11 02:10 PM / 1.12 05:50 AM / 0.51
W 4 01:28 PM / 1.69
--
10:07 PM / 0.95 04:46 PM / 0.86 Th 12 11:37 AM / 1.00 -F 13 01:29 AM / 0.89
04:43 AM / 0.64 06:08 PM / 0.58 04:03 AM / 0.86
10:36 AM / 1.20 07:10 PM / 0.30
07:59 PM / 1.12 04:31 PM / 1.10 Th 12 12:45 PM / 1.15 05:38 AM / 0.73 --
07:42 PM / 0.80
F 13 01:48 AM / 0.99
04:58 AM / 0.94
12:02 PM / 1.31 08:32 PM / 0.48
--
W 11 08:53 AM / 0.46
01:09 AM / 0.25
08:44 PM / 0.54
12:24 PM / 0.38
Th 12 09:06 AM / 0.58
01:12 AM / 0.32
09:46 PM / 0.46
05:11 PM / 0.27
F 13 09:19 AM / 0.72
12:45 AM / 0.37
--
05:46 PM / 0.07
S 14 08:52 AM / 0.89 06:22 PM / -0.11
S 14 10:22 AM / 1.46 08:09 PM / 0.05
S 14 11:45 AM / 1.56
09:20 PM / 0.20
Su 15 08:57 AM / 1.07 07:02 PM / -0.24
Su 15 10:43 AM / 1.72 09:13 PM / -0.14
Su 15 11:57 AM / 1.81 10:14 PM / -0.03
M 16 09:27 AM / 1.21 07:57 PM / -0.32
M 16 11:21 AM / 1.93 10:25 PM / -0.27
M 16 12:28 PM / 2.03 11:23 PM / -0.17
T 17 10:07 AM / 1.29 09:32 PM / -0.35
T 17 12:09 PM / 2.06 11:47 PM / -0.35
T 17 01:11 PM / 2.19
W 18 10:53 AM / 1.30 10:57 PM / -0.36
W 18 01:01 PM / 2.12
W 18 02:03 PM / 2.27 12:48 AM / -0.26
--
--
Th 19 01:55 PM / 2.09 01:10 AM / -0.40
Th 19 02:59 PM / 2.27 02:09 AM / -0.30
F 20 02:51 PM / 1.98 02:21 AM / -0.39
F 20 03:57 PM / 2.20 03:15 AM / -0.29
S 21 03:46 PM / 1.78 03:16 AM / -0.32
S 21 04:49 PM / 2.04 04:11 AM / -0.19
Su 22 04:37 PM / 1.52 03:57 AM / -0.15
Su 22 05:34 PM / 1.80 04:57 AM / -0.01
M 23 05:18 PM / 1.20 04:19 AM / 0.09
M 23 06:07 PM / 1.49 05:26 AM / 0.25
T 24 12:10 PM / 0.96 04:07 AM / 0.36
T 24 06:19 PM / 1.16 05:04 AM / 0.54
W 25 11:04 AM / 1.05
W 25 12:21 PM / 1.18 03:59 AM / 0.76
--
03:16 AM / 0.56 07:53 PM / 0.54
Th 26 10:16 AM / 1.23 07:58 PM / 0.27 F 27 09:56 AM / 1.42 08:24 PM / 0.07 S 28 10:08 AM / 1.57 08:55 PM / -0.07 Su 29 10:34 AM / 1.67 09:33 PM / -0.14 M 30 11:08 AM / 1.71 10:18 PM / -0.18 T 31 11:46 AM / 1.73 11:11 PM / -0.20
BIG-BLOCK DIGITAL & MECHANICAL RIGGING MEET
POWER
--
09:43 PM / 0.78
Th 26 11:24 AM / 1.35
09:13 PM / 0.50
F 27 10:50 AM / 1.57 09:27 PM / 0.28
Th 19 11:46 AM / 1.25
--
F 20 12:38 PM / 1.15 12:04 AM / -0.32 S 21 01:29 PM / 1.00 01:01 AM / -0.24 Su 22 02:16 PM / 0.83 01:40 AM / -0.12 M 23 02:45 PM / 0.64
02:00 AM / 0.04
T 24 12:46 PM / 0.49
02:08 AM / 0.20
07:35 PM / 0.45
05:32 PM / 0.40
W 25 08:23 AM / 0.62
12:02 AM / 0.31
08:49 PM / 0.35
05:59 PM / 0.21
--
10:57 PM / 0.32
Th 26 08:43 AM / 0.76
06:25 PM / 0.06
F 27 09:07 AM / 0.87 06:45 PM / -0.05
S 28 11:04 AM / 1.76
09:55 PM / 0.12
S 28 09:27 AM / 0.95 07:00 PM / -0.12
Su 29 11:32 AM / 1.89
10:31 PM / 0.04
Su 29 09:09 AM / 1.00 07:23 PM / -0.15
M 30 12:08 PM / 1.96 11:15 PM / -0.00
M 30 09:04 AM / 1.06 08:00 PM / -0.15
T 31 12:48 PM / 2.00
T 31 09:29 AM / 1.09 10:08 PM / -0.14
--
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11:29 AM / 1.51 10:07 PM / 0.07
11:45 AM / 1.57 09:53 PM / -0.02
M 2 12:14 PM / 1.65 10:41 PM / -0.06
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M 2
Su 1
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t
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t
Su 1
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FLORIDA TIDE CHARTS
Su M T W Th F S Su
Pensacola Bay Destin East Pass Navarre Beach
Panama City
Su 1 10:33 AM / 0.76 08:58 PM / -0.07 M 2 10:59 AM / 0.79 09:46 PM / -0.07 T 3 11:32 AM / 0.79 10:45 PM / -0.07
Su 1 M 2
08:39 AM / 1.37 06:35 PM / -0.12 09:13 AM / 1.44 07:38 PM / -0.19
Su 1 09:53 AM / 1.41 08:30 PM / -0.06 M 2 10:20 AM / 1.50 09:22 PM / -0.11
T
3
09:51 AM / 1.48 08:49 PM / -0.21
W Th F S Su
W 4 Th 5 F 6
10:32 AM / 1.48 10:01 PM / -0.20 11:17 AM / 1.48 11:02 PM / -0.16 12:05 PM / 1.46 11:54 PM / -0.09
S
12:57 PM / 1.43
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
11:06 AM / 1.54 11:32 AM / 1.60 12:05 PM / 1.62 12:46 PM / 1.61 01:32 PM / 1.59 02:21 PM / 1.57 03:09 PM / 1.52 03:56 PM / 1.44
09:32 PM / -0.20 10:20 PM / -0.22 11:19 PM / -0.21 --
M 9 04:43 PM / 1.29 T 10 05:45 PM / 1.07 W 11 12:29 PM / 0.82 08:05 PM / 0.81 Th 12 10:37 AM / 0.88 11:53 PM / 0.64 F 13 09:55 AM / 1.09 -S 14 09:48 AM / 1.35 Su 15 10:06 AM / 1.59 M 16 10:41 AM / 1.79 T 17 11:29 AM / 1.91 W 18 12:26 PM / 1.97 Th 19 01:27 PM / 1.96 F 20 02:29 PM / 1.87 S 21 03:28 PM / 1.70 Su 22 04:22 PM / 1.45 M 23 05:10 PM / 1.12 T 24 12:02 PM / 0.83 W 25 10:03 AM / 0.95 -Th 26 09:28 AM / 1.19 F 27 09:25 AM / 1.42 S 28 09:39 AM / 1.57 Su 29 10:03 AM / 1.66 M 30 10:34 AM / 1.70
03:05 AM / -0.21 03:33 AM / -0.14 03:50 AM / 0.00 03:55 AM / 0.20 04:19 PM / 0.77 03:37 AM / 0.44 05:45 PM / 0.46 02:06 AM / 0.62 06:37 PM / 0.14 07:29 PM / -0.14 08:27 PM / -0.35 09:34 PM / -0.49 10:52 PM / -0.56 12:12 AM / -0.59 01:25 AM / -0.59 02:22 AM / -0.51 03:04 AM / -0.34 03:26 AM / -0.09 03:22 AM / 0.20 02:32 AM / 0.45 06:28 PM / 0.41 07:05 PM / 0.12 07:40 PM / -0.10 08:16 PM / -0.23 08:57 PM / -0.28 09:44 PM / -0.30
12:27 AM / -0.20 01:33 AM / -0.21 02:26 AM / -0.23
T 31 11:11 AM / 1.70 10:38 PM / -0.30
4 5 6 7 8
12:13 PM / 0.79 12:59 PM / 0.78 01:48 PM / 0.77 02:36 PM / 0.75 03:23 PM / 0.70
11:53 PM / -0.07 -12:59 AM / -0.07 01:52 AM / -0.07 02:31 AM / -0.07
M 9 04:10 PM / 0.63 02:59 AM /-0.05 T 10 05:12 PM / 0.53 03:16 AM / 0.00 W 11 11:56 AM / 0.40 03:21 AM / 0.07 07:32 PM / 0.40 Th 12 10:04 AM / 0.43 11:20 PM / 0.31 F 13 09:22 AM / 0.54 -S 14 09:15 AM / 0.66
03:45 PM / 0.26 03:03 AM / 0.14 05:11 PM / 0.15 01:32 AM / 0.21 06:03 PM / 0.05 06:55 PM / -0.05
Su 15 09:33 AM / 0.78 07:53 PM / -0.12 M 16 10:08 AM / 0.88 09:00 PM / -0.16 T 17 10:56 AM / 0.94 10:18 PM / -0.18 W 18 11:53 AM / 0.96 11:38 PM / -0.20 Th 19 12:54 PM / 0.96 -F 20 01:56 PM / 0.92 12:51 AM / -0.19 S 21 02:55 PM / 0.83 01:48 AM / -0.17 Su 22 03:49 PM / 0.71 02:30 AM / -0.11 M 23 04:37 PM / 0.55 02:52 AM / -0.03 T 24 11:29 AM / 0.41 02:48 AM / 0.07 05:39 PM / 0.37 04:50 PM / 0.25 W 25 09:30 AM / 0.47 01:58 AM / 0.15 -05:54 PM / 0.14 Th 26 08:55 AM / 0.58 06:31 PM / 0.04 F 27 08:52 AM / 0.69 07:06 PM / -0.03 S 28 09:06 AM / 0.77 07:42 PM / -0.07 Su 29 09:30 AM / 0.81 08:23 PM / -0.09 M 30 10:01 AM / 0.83 09:10 PM / -0.10 T 31 10:38 AM / 0.83 10:04 PM / -0.10
82 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
7
--
Su 8 01:51 PM / 1.37 12:35 AM / -0.00 M 9 02:49 PM / 1.29 01:06 AM / 0.12 T 10 03:56 PM / 1.15 01:22 AM / 0.26 W 11 09:33 AM / 0.89
01:22 AM / 0.43
05:48 PM / 0.96 12:23 PM / 0.85 Th 12 08:37 AM / 0.98 01:11 AM / 0.59 09:30 PM / 0.82 02:17 PM / 0.63 F 13 08:00 AM / 1.15
12:59 AM / 0.72
-07:31 AM / 1.38 07:45 AM / 1.61 08:19 AM / 1.80 09:02 AM / 1.93 09:51 AM / 1.98 10:45 AM / 1.95 11:40 AM / 1.85 12:34 PM / 1.68 01:23 PM / 1.46 02:04 PM / 1.20 08:52 AM / 0.89 02:30 PM / 0.92 08:19 AM / 1.01 09:14 PM / 0.68 -08:03 AM / 1.17 07:22 AM / 1.33 07:18 AM / 1.46 07:44 AM / 1.55 08:17 AM / 1.59
03:34 PM / 0.35 04:43 PM / 0.07 05:57 PM / -0.18 07:23 PM / -0.37 08:49 PM / -0.49 10:02 PM / -0.52 11:07 PM / -0.47 -12:04 AM / -0.33 12:49 AM / -0.12 01:08 AM / 0.14 12:21 AM / 0.39 11:14 AM / 0.86 12:02 AM / 0.55 05:44 PM / 0.60 11:50 PM / 0.63 05:59 PM / 0.34 06:21 PM / 0.12 06:41 PM / -0.05 07:02 PM / -0.18 07:32 PM / -0.25
S Su M T W Th F S Su M T
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
W 25
Th F S Su M
26 27 28 29 30
T 31 08:54 AM / 1.60 08:13 PM / -0.28
T 3 10:57 AM / 1.55 10:12 PM / -0.14 W 4 11:40 AM / 1.57 11:04 PM / -0.14 Th 5 12:26 PM / 1.57 11:57 PM / -0.13 F 6 01:13 PM / 1.55 -S 7 02:00 PM / 1.49 12:48 AM / -0.11 Su 8 02:47 PM / 1.40 01:32 AM / -0.06 M 9 03:38 PM / 1.25 02:04 AM / 0.02 T 10 04:40 PM / 1.07 02:24 AM / 0.14 W 11 10:22 AM / 0.78 02:37 AM / 0.31 07:46 PM / 0.86 02:00 PM / 0.77 Th 12 09:25 AM / 0.88 02:35 AM / 0.49 10:06 PM / 0.71 04:05 PM / 0.53 F 13 09:06 AM / 1.06 01:26 AM / 0.65 -05:21 PM / 0.27 S 14 08:44 AM / 1.28 06:30 PM / 0.02 Su 15 08:59 AM / 1.52 07:41 PM / -0.20 M 16 09:35 AM / 1.72 08:52 PM / -0.38 T 17 10:24 AM / 1.86 09:59 PM / -0.49 W 18 11:20 AM / 1.93 11:02 PM / -0.53 Th F S Su M T
19 20 21 22 23 24
W 25 Th F S Su M T
26 27 28 29 30 31
12:19 PM / 1.93 01:16 PM / 1.84 02:08 PM / 1.67 02:53 PM / 1.43 03:27 PM / 1.14 10:30 AM / 0.81 03:31 PM / 0.83 08:42 AM / 0.96 -08:40 AM / 1.16 08:44 AM / 1.34 08:46 AM / 1.48 08:57 AM / 1.58 09:23 AM / 1.64 10:00 AM / 1.67
-12:02 AM / -0.49 12:59 AM / -0.37 01:48 AM / -0.18 02:20 AM / 0.07 02:04 AM / 0.33 12:41 PM / 0.80 01:22 AM / 0.54 05:49 PM / 0.53 06:23 PM / 0.28 07:00 PM / 0.09 07:37 PM / -0.04 08:14 PM / -0.12 08:53 PM / -0.17 09:31 PM / -0.19
MISSISSIPPI TIDE CHARTS
Pascagoula
Biloxi Bay Su 1
11:06 AM / 1.97 09:11 PM / -0.06
Su 1 09:58 AM / 1.57 07:39 PM / -0.06
M 2
11:31 AM / 2.10 09:54 PM / -0.14
M 2 10:29 AM / 1.67 08:20 PM / -0.10
3 12:01 PM / 2.17 10:40 PM / -0.17
T 3
11:04 AM / 1.72 09:05 PM / -0.10
W 4 12:35 PM / 2.19 11:32 PM / -0.17
W 4
11:47 AM / 1.73 10:03 PM / -0.08
Th 5 01:14 PM / 2.17
Th 5 12:45 PM / 1.71 11:22 PM / -0.04
T
F
--
6 01:57 PM / 2.11 12:27 AM / -0.14
F
6 01:43 PM / 1.68 12:19 AM / -0.00
S 7 02:44 PM / 2.01 01:22 AM / -0.09
S 7 02:32 PM / 1.62 12:59 AM / 0.06
Su 8 03:33 PM / 1.86 02:12 AM / -0.01
Su 8 03:17 PM / 1.50 01:34 AM / 0.15
M 9 04:26 PM / 1.67 02:53 AM / 0.12
M 9 04:11 PM / 1.33 02:08 AM / 0.28
T 10 05:35 PM / 1.42 03:24 AM / 0.29
T 10 05:52 PM / 1.12 02:40 AM / 0.45
W 11 08:16 PM / 1.14 03:40 AM / 0.51
W 11 10:32 AM / 0.81 02:13 PM / 0.72
Th 12 10:48 AM / 1.14 03:28 AM / 0.77
09:51 PM / 0.94 03:08 AM / 0.65
--
05:18 PM / 0.75
Th 12 10:02 AM / 0.91 04:11 PM / 0.45
F 13 09:58 AM / 1.39 06:17 PM / 0.37
F 13 08:29 AM / 1.14 05:20 PM / 0.14
S 14 09:51 AM / 1.71 07:12 PM / 0.00
S 14 08:50 AM / 1.43 06:18 PM / -0.15
Su 15 10:09 AM / 2.06 08:09 PM / -0.32
Su 15 09:20 AM / 1.70 07:20 PM / -0.38
M 16 10:42 AM / 2.35 09:08 PM / -0.57
M 16 09:55 AM / 1.93 08:25 PM / -0.52
T 17 11:25 AM / 2.56 10:11 PM / -0.71
T 17 10:36 AM / 2.07 09:34 PM / -0.58
W 18 12:13 PM / 2.65 11:17 PM / -0.74
W 18 11:24 AM / 2.12 10:50 PM / -0.56
Th 19 01:06 PM / 2.62
Th 19 12:21 PM / 2.08 11:56 PM / -0.47
--
F 20 01:59 PM / 2.46 12:23 AM / -0.66
F 20 01:23 PM / 1.95
S 21 02:52 PM / 2.19 01:24 AM / -0.48
S 21 02:14 PM / 1.75 12:48 AM / -0.30
Su 22 03:41 PM / 1.83 02:16 AM / -0.21
Su 22 02:54 PM / 1.48 01:33 AM / -0.07
M 23 04:06 PM / 1.43 02:54 AM / 0.13
--
M 23 03:13 PM / 1.17 02:04 AM / 0.20
T 24 12:28 PM / 1.12 03:02 AM / 0.49
T 24 10:40 AM / 0.89 01:16 AM / 0.45
W 25 10:15 AM / 1.22 02:02 AM / 0.79
W 25 09:26 AM / 0.98 01:09 AM / 0.64
--
06:24 PM / 0.60
Th 26 09:32 AM / 1.48 06:52 PM / 0.27
Share highlights from your great days outdoors with us!
--
05:58 PM / 0.52
Th 26 08:56 AM / 1.16 05:58 PM / 0.26
F 27 09:30 AM / 1.74 07:25 PM / 0.01
F 27 07:51 AM / 1.38 06:28 PM / 0.06
S 28 09:45 AM / 1.95 07:58 PM / -0.17
S 28 08:21 AM / 1.57 07:00 PM /-0.07
Su 29 10:08 AM / 2.09 08:31 PM / -0.29
Su 29 08:55 AM / 1.70 07:32 PM / -0.15
M 30 10:35 AM / 2.18 09:06 PM / -0.35
M 30 09:31 AM / 1.78 08:04 PM / -0.19
T 31 11:05 AM / 2.22 09:45 PM / -0.37
T 31 10:09 AM / 1.82 08:38 PM / -0.19
Savings as local as your fishing captain. Your GEICO Local Agent could help you save on more than just car insurance!
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May 2022 Sunrise / Sunset 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 83
Pensacola Motorsports
TROPHY
ROOM
Sean Kelley with his first catfish of 2022
Landon Robinson with a beautiful buck
You didn’t see it coming. Neither did the fish.
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©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 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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[ OR ]
Photo of the Month! Simply share your great day outdoors with us!
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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.
Bobby Little with his spotter saying he’s off 3 clicks right and 4 clicks low
Brandy Lewis Chambless with her trophy gobbler
Mark Bennett with his trophy that has not only points but mass
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 85
KID'S CORNER
TROPHY ROOM 1
ST
Buck
Braidin Hyatt, at 16 when he shot this 8pt.
Destin Wallace with this 6pt
Gaddy Rice (10) & Gavin Gorum (10) with Lillian Rice (6) and their spring break catch in Dauphin Island.
Destiny Hadley excited to show her trophy.
Jed DeFee, 16 years old with his catches.
Reese Chastain and his 8pt killed opening day of 2022 season in Monroe County Al
Micah Ferguson 4 years old with a big trophy smile.
Give us your best shot!
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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 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
FISHING TIP
Advertiser Index A-Team Fishing Adventures . . . . . . . . 3 Admiral Shellfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 American Hunting Lease . . . . . . . . . 92 ADCNR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 ADCNR Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Alabama AG Credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Alabama Farmers CO-OP . . . . . . . . . 88 Alabama Liquid Fertilizer . . . . . . . . . 31 Bluewater Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Boaters List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Buck’s Island Marine . . . . . . . . . . 28, 50 Camper City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 CCA Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Clutch Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Coast Safe & Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Cold Blooded Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Deep South Crane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Dixie Building Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Farm Credit of NW Florida . . . . . . . . 17 Fiber Plastics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 First South Farm Credit . . . . . . . . . . 71 Fishbites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Fishing Chaos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56-57 Geico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Gulf Shores/Orange Beach . . . . . . . . 79 Hilton’s Offshore Charts . . . . . . . . . . 54 Huntersmate Lowdown . . . . . . . . . . 24 Hydraulic Crane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Killer Dock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 MDH Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Midway Lumber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 National Land Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Paradise Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Pensacola Motor Sports . . . . . . . . 84-85 Photonis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Ranch King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Ricciardone Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Sams Bait & Tackle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Slick Lure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Southeastern Pond Management . . . . 7 Test Calibration Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 United Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 War Eagle Boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Spring Surf Fishing Tips BY WILLIAM KENDY
Photo by David Thornton
GETTING THE LAY OF THE SURF If you’ve ever surf fished in the spring for pompano you will know that it isn’t easy “reading the water” and figuring out where to set your rigs. Unlike lakes and ponds that have relatively easily identified bottom contours, structure, drop-offs and other physical properties, to the untrained eye the beach and surf kind of all look the same. To get the real skinny on determining what to look for and how to set up we asked Weldon Hall, owner of Destin Fishing Charters who is a “trained eye” specializing in surf fishing. Here are a few of Hall’s general suggestions when surf fishing for pompano that he shared in an interview on GDO Northwest Florida Fishing Report. “GO EAST” While this isn’t written in stone, migrating fish in the spring come from the east and they are hungry. It just makes sense that if you can the best bottom contour and surf conditions in the beginning of the “angler line” the competition for the bite won’t be as great. . GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT It is a given that pompano love sand fleas. Still, if you don’t have sand fleas, Hall says coquina clams are a viable alternative. “You can go online and buy salted clams or go
to Publix and buy some littleneck clams and salt them yourself,” Hall said. WATER IN OR WATER OUT? “Tide is important but I don’t worry about it too much at this time of year and whether it is incoming or outgoing,” Hall explained. “I focus on where I’m going to have the most amount of water movement and give me the most current on the beach.” WHERE TO PARK YOUR RIG Hall pointed out that anglers should take their time in determining where to set up their rods and spend some time surveying the water. “The number one thing I do is not rush to set up the rods but take a minute and kind of survey and scan the waterfront for dark spots which means holes, rips in the bar, birds in a spot, things like that,” Hall said. “Once I find a couple of prospective spots it mainly becomes a matter of prospecting and I try to strategically put my bait to fish different areas of the hole or rip so that I’m covering the water in various depths and with different baits to see what is working.”
Contact Information Weldon Hall www.destinsurffishing.com 850-974-7919 https://northwestfloridafishingreport.libsyn.com/ Episode 104
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 89
A GREAT DAY OUTDOORS
The Bluegill Hound “So what does he do?” I asked. “It’s pretty cool,” said Beanpole. “We rode down the bank real slow. When Sparky, that’s his name, when Sparky smells bluegill he lets us know.” Never one to dismiss good dog work, I decided this might be worth the trip. So I bit my tongue, unfortunately partly due to a bump in the road and Beanpole’s bad shocks, and sat quietly until we reached the lake. BY JIM MIZE I don’t get a lot of calls so when my phone rings it’s either a cemetery-plot salesman or Beanpole. Some days it’s a toss-up on which is better.
Beanpole backed the boat into the water and I eased it off the trailer. He parked and came walking back with Sparky in his arms. He laid him on the front seat and we headed down the lake.
Picking up on the second ring, I heard Beanpole’s voice. He was out of breath like he had just run in and phoned me. I expected to hear he was being chased by a pack of skunks or his kitchen was on fire.
I unfurled my fly rod and lofted a rubber spider back to the bank. No sooner had it landed than a big, slab-sided bluegill sucked it in.
“Hey,” said Beanpole. “It’s me.” “That was my first guess,” I replied. “What’s up?” “You want to go catch some bluegill . . . I mean, a serious bunch of bluegill?” “Sure . . . I just . . .” By then he had hung up. Five minutes later, he was in my driveway, his boat was hooked up, and he was yelling for me to get in. I locked up, threw my gear in his boat, and started to get in the truck. That’s when I saw it. Curled up asleep on my side of the seat was a hound; at least, I think it was part hound. The legs were short like a Beagle’s, the ears floppy as a Basset Hound’s, the color mostly black and tan mixed in with some mange, and the body long enough to have some Dachshund thrown in. “Want me to sit in the back?” I asked. “No, just push him this way and get in.” I did and the dog never woke up. As soon as I was settled, Beanpole took off like a madman. Over the din, I asked him what was up with the dog. It seemed a logical question. “He’s a bluegill dog,” said Beanpole. “I borrowed him from my cousin to try him out. I may buy him.” I looked at the hound and tried to guess what he might do. I couldn’t.
The next time Sparky alerted us to bluegill we were at the end of a cove where a creek flowed in against a downed tree. His wagging seemed to point to the tree and sure enough, we were quickly into bluegill. After a while, we started throwing bluegill back. Partly this was due to our not wanting to clean more fish and partly to the numbers we were catching. At some point, we began to feel like gluttons. Still, Beanpole needed to give Sparky a good workout to determine if he wanted to buy the dog. In the course of the next two hours, Sparky located nine bluegill beds. At each one, I’d flip the rubber spider over the bed to confirm the fish were there, then I’d release it and off we’d go again. Sparky was a fishing machine. The next day I bumped into Beanpole at the gas station. He seemed a bit out of sorts and didn’t notice me pull up as he filled his tank. I walked over to talk with him and maybe cheer him up by bragging on his new dog. “Why so glum? I thought you’d be ecstatic now that you are the proud owner of a bluegill dog.” “I didn’t buy him,” lamented Beanpole. “Oh. Price too high?”
At the first cove, Beanpole dropped the electric motor and started down the bank in parallel about thirty feet out. Sparky hadn’t opened an eye yet and I began to wonder if he was alive. Perhaps Sparky had been stuffed by a taxidermist. At least, either version would have the same amount of energy from what I’d seen so far. As we pulled even with an indentation in the bank, Sparky slowly began to wag his tail. Then the wagging increased. After we passed the spot, the wagging stopped. Sparky had still not opened his eyes. Beanpole turned back to me grinning and pointing. “There should be a bluegill bed back in that little cut in the bank.” I unfurled my fly rod and lofted a rubber spider back to the bank. No sooner had it landed than a big, slab-sided bluegill sucked it in. By now, Beanpole was rigged and immediately into fish. We kept this up until the fishing slowed. Bluegill were splashing in the livewell like piranhas when you throw a piece of jerky in. “Let’s go find the next bed,” said Beanpole and off we went.
90 May 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
“No, my cousin only wanted $200.” “Too lively for you?” “That wasn’t it.” I’d run out of guesses. “Well, what was the problem?” Beanpole thought for the right words. Finally, he said, “It didn’t seem fair.” “Fair?” “Yeah, unsportsmanlike.” I thought about all the bluegill we’d found in so short a time. But still . . . “I guess Sparky was just too high tech for bluegill fishing,” said Beanpole. Sparky and high tech had probably never been used in the same sentence before, but maybe Beanpole had a point. This story is an excerpt from Jim’s newest book, Fishing With Beanpole. You can find his award-winning books of humor on Amazon or at acreektricklesthroughit.com.
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // May 2022 91
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