Coastal Angler Magazine | June 2024 | Brevard Edition

the importance of boat insurance

Do you love boating? Then you know how fun and relaxing it can be on the open water. But you also know that things can go wrong sometimes, like storms, accidents, theft, or injuries. That’s why boat insurance is so important. Here are some reasons why.

• Boat insurance can help you pay for damage to your boat, or to other boats or docks, up to specifed limits.

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PUBLISH YOUR OWN FISHING MAGAZINE

Swordfshing is great any time of the year, but during summer you can justify the fuel burn to get where they live. It’s nearly impossible to run that far ofshore in June and not come across diving birds indicative of mahi or tuna. With minimal efort, this can be a nice score to put something in the box if you don’t have luck with the swords. It is normal to get skunked while swordfshing, and I don’t recommend going if you can’t accept that possibility. Te best way to go into it is to be fully prepared for both a fsh of a lifetime or to just chill with friends. Make no mistake, when you do land one of these beasts, it’s some of the most exciting fshing you can experience, and it’s worth the skunk risk.

Although you don’t have to run as far, the same consolation prize applies to heading out for tilefsh, snowy and yellowedge grouper, queen snapper, barrelfsh and rosies. Mahi fshing to, from and during deep-dropping rounds out a trip nicely.

Be prepared for mahi when heading ofshore in summer. Keep at least four rods designated for working a school and more for trolling. J hooks are a must for these head-shaking, sky-rocketing, fippy-fappy, squirm-fsh, but just about any line and bait will do. Tese tasty little dummies aren’t picky and would strike a banana peel if you jigged it right. Tat said, the speed of the bait is a variable you might have to adapt to. Teir toddler mentality kicks in when you try to take a bait away from them, encouraging them to strike something they just turned their nose up at. If you get hit when reeling in your bait, open your bail and give them a chance to eat.

If you get excited about fsh with pointy faces, be prepared for a marlin encounter this time of year. I keep rigged ballyhoo in a trolling spread and a pitch rod set up. Marlin aren’t overly common here, but when you see one, you want to be prepared for more than to simply wave and think, “that was neat.”

SBy Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

SUMMERTIME’S BACK, BABY!

ummer in the Keys, albeit hotter than the devil’s you-know-where, is one of the best times to be on the water. With more calm days, open seasons for most species, and mahi peppering ofshore waters, this is the time of year to boogie out and hunt for whatever tickles your fancy.

the

and

of our

Marlin enjoy a mahi snack as much as we do and will pop up unexpectedly while mahi fshing. If you have a large live bait, toss that sucker out. If not, a mahi from the box will do in a pinch. Give her time to eat, hang on and enjoy the ride.

Mahi season is already of to a great start for both size and numbers. Come on down and fll your coolers!

Capt. Quinlyn Haddon; Sweet e’nuf charters, marathon, Florida Keys; @captainquinlyn; captainquinlyn.com; (504) 920-6342.

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FISH THE GREATER JACKSONVILLE KINGFISH TOURNEY JULY 13-20!

The “Grandaddy of all Kingfsh Tournaments” will get the First Coast buzzing July 13-20, as the 44th annual Greater Jacksonville Kingfsh Tournament presented by VyStar Credit Union hosts a full week of tournaments with more than $500,000 in cash and prizes.

Te competition kicks of July 13 with the Kingfsh Kick Of Beach Tournament, in which competitors are limited to state waters within 3 miles of shore. Tis event evens the odds for the smaller boats to haul in the largest kingfsh of the day and collect the $50,000 cash prize.

Fishing for the General Tournament begins Friday morning, July 19. Tis cornerstone event pays out to 20 places for both large fsh and aggregate. First place for largest fsh of the tournament will be awarded a Contender 28T with twin 200 Yamaha outboards, an Ameritrail Trailer and a custom T-top and leaning post by Custom Marine. Tis boat package is valued at more than $225,000.

Junior anglers have a shot at a 16foot boat with a 15 hp Yamaha, and the Junior Ofshore Tournament pays out to 25 places. Te Ladies Division pays out to 10 places.

cold beverages, hot food and vendors. Awards Day on Saturday, July 20 is all about celebration, with Kids Zone activities, rafes and seminars.

For inshore anglers, the popular Redfsh Tournament fshes on Saturday, July 20 with payouts of more than $12,000.

Jacksonville Marine Charities is the operating arm of the event, and it supports non-profts throughout the state. Recently, Child Cancer Fund, the Down Syndrome Association and the Child Guidance Center have beneftted from the organization, which also supports other local charity fshing events like Te Premier Trout, Flounder Pounder, Wounded Heroes on the Water and others.

For complete details, visit king fshtournament.com.

All the boats and fsh coming to the docks at Jim King Park and Boat Ramp at Sisters Creek Park in Jacksonville creates a festival atmosphere. Te

Trout are Eating Your Nymph More than You Realize

Alarge trout rising to a high-riding dry fy is one of life’s true pleasures. It’s pretty darn easy to see. Te fy is bouncing happily along the surface, and with a splash it’s gone.

On the other hand, that same fat rainbow trout sucking in a nymph 6 feet down in a dark run may not be as obvious. When you’re nymphing, speed is of the essence. In a second, that fsh will expel the fy. Tere are a bunch of diferent strike indicators designed to help you see the sometimes-faint signal of a hit. Some work well, some break, some slide, and some just suck.

I love yarn indicators for their sensitivity and the plastic air-flled bobbers for ease of use. Both styles rigged up the leader about twice the depth of the water you’re fshing help you detect the strike. Any hesitation, dive or shif in direction of your indicator might be a hit.

I tell clients, if they think a fsh might even be breathing on the fy to set the hook! You get a heck of a lot more strikes than you think you do when nymph fshing. Any slack between your indicator and fy allows a fsh eat and spit your nymph out, and sometimes go completely undetected.

At close range, high-stick or Czech-nymphing techniques work great. No indicator is needed, as diferent colored lines or coiled-line indicators that straighten when a fsh takes are the deal. A lot of the time, the trout is felt when it takes the fy, or you will see the line suddenly stop. Tis method is deadly in experienced hands.

Another method of strike indication is the use of a big dry fy as the

indicator. Usually, a piece of fuorocarbon tippet is tied to the hook and a nymph or two hang underneath. Tis is a good when the fsh might spook if a plastic bobber crashes on their heads. A buggy looking dry fy is a lot less scary.

Another cool way to catch trout on subsurface fies is to watch them eat it. I call this ninja fshing! You’ll need the sun at your back or directly overhead. Start by locating a particular fsh, and then tie on a brightly colored fy that stands out and is easy to see. Cast upstream of the fsh, and let it drif down to the fsh. Sometimes a fy bounced right into their face will get a refex strike. Tis is a good way to learn how fsh react to fies and how currents afect your ofering. If you are in a pool with several fsh, you might be amazed at how many fsh take a swipe at it. You will then realize how many strikes you’ve been missing.

David Hulsey is a North Georgia-based guide and fy fshing instructor. Call him at (770) 639-4001 and visit Hulsey Fly Fishing at hulsey fy fshing.com.

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As an authorized service and repower center for many brands including Yamaha, Volvo, Suzuki, Mercury, Evinrude and Cox Diesel, your needs will be covered. With a huge inventory of parts, they’ll likely have what you’re looking for. Advanced has also catalogued an inventory of over 5,000 used parts in case what you are looking for is no longer available or you can’t fnd it anywhere else.

Advanced ofers services such as routine maintenance, custom electronics, trolling motor and power-pole installation. Tey don’t stop there. Rewiring your boat, gauge and switch panel replacements, steering, canvas and Sea-Deck are also in their arsenal. Almost anything you can think of, they can handle including cutting custom dash panels with their computerized CNC router.

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By A. deGruchy

SCHOOLING PERMIT ON THE WRECKS

Permit schools have been sighted in the Florida Keys over the past couple of months, and June marks the fnal stretch of their journey. Tese elusive permit are wrapping up their ‘spring break’ routine and are heading to some of our ofshore wrecks to spawn.

Tis time of year can be great for permit, because they school up and provide ample opportunity for hook-ups. Pursuing a permit takes strategy and stamina, since these fsh are known for putting up a serious battle. Any angler who is interested in trying to land one of these

prized sportfsh needs to know what they are signing up for.

When fshing for permit on ofshore wrecks in Islamorada, we usually target schools around wreck sites like the Eagle in June. Tese wrecks are typically on the ocean side in deeper waters, ranging from about 30 to 100 feet deep.

For tackle, we typically use 6500 combos with fuorocarbon leaders and circle hooks. Spotting and sight-casting to permit is usually the goto method. Tis means looking for glimpses of fashing silver just below the surface. Permit love

crabs, and they have great eyesight. fcial crabs like the Savage Gear 3D Crab are very realistic, and they are ective and cost-friendly. However, it’s tough to beat a live blue crab for permit bait. Hook them through the shell to keep them lively. Let the crab swim freely to drif into the school of permit and prepare for action. ght, fne-tuning the drag is crucial with permit because overpowering them won’t do the trick. You want the drag set just right, enough to make progress when reeling in, but allowing the permit to run… and it will run.

Permit are one of the most sought-afer sportfsh in the Keys because they’re notorious for their incredible strength. Anyone who’s ever hooked one can tell you that they’re strong enough to make even the toughest angler break a sweat. Once you do land your frst permit, it is a moment you’ll never forget.

While they are a ton of fun, permit aren’t known as a particularly desirable food fsh. Catch and release is the way to go because they play a crucial role in our ecosystem, and releasing them safely helps ensure we’ll have permit to play with in the future. Land them as quickly as you can. Handle them gently for a quick release to minimize stress and ensure the fshery thrives.

Many times while permit fshing, we encounter exciting bycatch like other jack species, grouper and snapper. It’s all about the thrill of the catch in these beautiful waters of the Florida Keys.

To book a permit charter, visit www.beansportfshing.com.

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A 9-Year-Old’s First For-Real Fishing Trip

Remember the frst time you went fshing for real? For many of us, the earliest trips elicit memories of a blue plastic container of red wigglers, a red-and-white plastic bobber and the ripe muddy fsh smell of an active bluegill bed. But that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the frst time you went fshing for real.

Maybe it was the year you were fnally allowed on the annual charter trip? Or perhaps it was the long-planned bass fshing weekend with Grandpa? Whatever it was, the person who took you decided you were ready to grow beyond the pushbutton-reel stage of fshing. It was on that trip when you became one of the crew instead of the kid who stayed home with mom.

Remember gathering your gear in anticipation? Remember waking up throughout the night and checking the clock to make sure you didn’t sleep through the alarm?

Jackson Willer, 9, of Melbourne, Fla., recently experienced his frst for-real fshing trip. Really, Jackson has fshed most of his life. His frst fsh was a jack crevalle caught with his Pop-Pop, Chris Willer, and his Mimi, Joann Willer, when he was 3 years old. But the Willer men are saltwater people, and when Jackson’s older cousin Ryan Willer, 21, told him to be ready early the next morning because they were going fshing, it was something new and exciting… his frst trip as one of the boys.

In the morning, before Ryan and Jackson lef for Sebastian Inlet, Pop-Pop pulled a special surprise from the back of his truck. He handed the 9-year-old a Penn 450SS mounted on an Ugly Stik. With freshwater wash downs and occasional cleaning, these vintage reels spin smoothly for decades. Chris (aka Pop-Pop) had been fshing this one since he bought it in the 1980s.

“I’m going to take care of it for as long as I possibly can,” said Jackson

on receiving the gif. “It feels really special. He was the one that taught me how to use a shing rod and all that stuf.”

So…armed with the rod and reel and a tank of live shrimp, Jackson and Ryan fshing for “I thought, there he goes. He’s running with the pack now. He doesn’t need us anymore,” said Joann (aka Mimi).

It wasn’t exactly a jam-up day on the water, but that’s fshing, and Jackson had fun.

“First I caught a redfsh, and then I caught a snook,” Jackson said. “It was pretty fun trying to reel it in and everything. It was hard and it was fun.” Jackson also said he doesn’t know when the next trip is, but he’s excited.

And that’s the whole point. Even if it’s just another day on the water for you, remember that the kid you’re taking was likely lying awake last night seeing visions of monster fsh and epic drag-peeling battles.

If you’ve got a great fshing story to tell, email us at editorial@coastalanglermagazine.com.

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PORT CANAVERAL OFFSHORE

JFORECAST

une is a great month for me personally because Father’s Day, my birthday and my son Cash’s birthday (who is celebrating his 15th), falls within a few days of each other. Just gonna be a great month! Now as far as fishing is concerned, hopefully it’s just as good and gets even better than it was in May. We had a great month and the fish started to turn on. The bunker have finally been consistent as we were getting them from the cruise basin all the way to the pier. Just look where the fleet is in the morning and you can’t miss them. Please be courteous, please. We do this for a living and need that bait to make our customers happy, so let us get our bait. No need to play bumper boats; that only drives the bait down and makes it harder. Most of the time we will share our haul...just ask!

From the beach to local reefs, tarpon, jack crevalle, bonito, Spanish mackerel and kingfish have been 20 feet to about 40 feet from the beach. We have been having a lot of fun on light tackle with all these power hitting fish. Use live bunker and keep a jig ready for the cobia for when you see or mark the bait out there, as this is the time of year they start to show up on the bait pods just off the beach.

Pelican and 8A have been great for the early morning king bite. Use bunker for the best catch. In the last few weeks there has been wahoo, blackfin tuna, dorado and a handful of cobia all caught on liveys in the same area.

From the reefs to offshore has been good as well. There was a solid few days of great catches of mahi and we should still see a few weeks of it. Many fish have been caught from 140-180 feet, and some days past 500 feet. It’s just a day to day thing and up to the winds and weather as usual. The basic ballyhoo rigs and skirts have been the key.

Bottom fishing for grouper has also been decent. Pinfish is a great bait for them as is croakers and basically anything live. Don’t forget they shut down gags June 15. But, for now, fish the offshore reefs such as 21 and 27, and any of the wrecks is a good start too.

Don’t forget about the amberjack. They’ve been great and should continue as well. But watch the regulations as I think they also shut down; honestly this is a good thing.

Have fun, be safe and God bless.

CAPT. CHRIS CAMERON Fired Up Fishing Charters firedupcharters.com sharkfishingcocoabeach.com (407) 222-3573

The boys got their quick limit of gag grouper aboard the Fire Fight with Capt. Joe.

Nice sail safely released.

PORT CANAVERAL NEARSHORE & BANANA RIVER LAGOON FORECAST

PORT CANAVERAL: The waters outside of the Port should continue to hold decent numbers of bonito, tarpon, shark and jack crevalle, plus anglers should see an increase in the number of king mackerel this month. The kingfish won’t totally abandon the offshore reefs that they have been holding on for the past few months, but we will see a significant increase in the numbers of fish that will start moving into the 20- to 40- foot depths to join these other species that have been here for a while. Anglers will need to start thinking about running wire stinger rigs for the king mackerel. There will be a few fish caught on mono or fluorocarbon “tarpon” style rigs, but the number of cut offs from the mackerels’ teeth will usually have anglers switching to wire rigs to avoid this from happening. The good news about “beach mackerel” is that these fish are usually larger than the average kingfish that you will find on the 70- to 90-foot reefs. There can be some real (or reel) “smokers” that will weigh into the 40-pound range.

BANANA RIVER LAGOON: If the water clarity remains as good as it was last month, anglers should continue to see an increase in the numbers of trout and redfish

that take up residence in the Banana River Lagoon this month. Clean, clear water is what allows the sea grass beds to flourish and, in turn, the grass is what holds the shrimp, clams, crabs and small bait fish that larger predators feed upon. Redfish should be found near docks, rocky areas and mangrove-covered shorelines. Fish near glass minnow or fingerling mullet bait pods when possible. Topwater lures like the Rapala Skitter Walk usually work at first light and again at dusk. Through the middle of the day Saltwater Assassin soft plastic jerk baits rigged on a weedless hook or a sea shad tail rigged on a jig head or weedless swim bait hook are often effective for these fish. Live shrimp or live fingerling mullet are good choices if you are not proficient with using these types of artificial lures. To give these lures a little extra attracting power, try spreading some Pro-Cure “mullet” or “inshore” flavored scent on them and hang on!

Capt. Glyn Austin

Capt. Lukas Brickweg

Capt. Chris Cameron

Capt. Jonathan Moss

Capt. Jim Ross

Grabbing a tired tarpon after a hard-fought battle.

SEBASTIAN INLET TO EAU GALLIE CAUSEWAY FORECAST

I1W

2Th

January 2020

’m sure by now everyone’s tired of the fronts and the winds we had in fall, winter and spring. The hot weather should be here to stay now. Beach fishing should get as hot as the weather with sharks, kingfish, tarpon, jacks and snook all feeding on the bait pods. It may take some time to find the bait, but once you do you’ll find the fish. Use live greenies, pogies or sardines around the bait pods for the species that are following the bait. Throw Rapala X-Rap long cast in size 14 hard baits along with D.O.A. jerk baits, paddle tails and Bait Busters for soft baits. Fish the soft plastics deep and the X-Raps for the fish staying close to the surface. Snook will be in the trough close to the beaches hanging on the bait pods as well, and the X-Rap 10 is a great bait to work in the trough.

The bite in the early morning and late evenings along the mangrove shorelines, spoil islands and the flats from Melbourne to Wabasso should be good for big trout, reds and snook as well as big jacks. Topwater action will be solid, and as the sun comes up switch to suspending baits or live baits later in the morning. Live pinfish, pilchards, mullet and pigfish are the baits of choice to entice the fish throughout the day. The tarpon will also move into the Indian River Lagoon from Sebastian to Melbourne and can be found around bait pods in the ICW as well as deeper areas that typically hold bait. Early morning and late evening are the best times to target the tarpon.

The summer rains will turn on the creeks from Melbourne to Sebastian. Anglers should look to target snook, tarpon, jacks and sharks this month as long as the rains aren’t too heavy and the dams open and create a heavy fresh water influx into the creeks. The Sebastian River, Turkey Creek, Crane Creek and the Eau Gallie River will be good early in the mornings for anglers using artificial baits. Rapala Skitter Walks fished early morning and evenings are great topwater baits, and D.O.A. Terror Eyz are great deep water baits. Bait fishermen targeting snook and tarpon can find success using live finger mullet or pilchards rigged on a 5/0 circle hook rigged with 30-50 lb. leader depending on the size of the tarpon.

CAPT. GLYN AUSTIN

Going Coastal Charters www.goingcoastalcharters.com (321) 863-8085

JUNE 2024

DAY TIME HEIGHT

1SA 4:29 AM 2.31 H

10:33 AM -0.15 L

5:15 PM 2.41 H

11:04 PM 0.14 L

2SU 5:27 AM 2.34 H

11:29 AM -0.31 L

6:17 PM 2.53 H

3M 12:02 AM 0.1 L

6:24 AM 2.38 H

12:23 PM -0.43 L

7:14 PM 2.63 H

4TU 12:56 AM 0.07 L

7:19 AM 2.42 H

1:15 PM -0.51 L

8:07 PM 2.7 H

5W 1:48 AM 0.04 L

8:11 AM 2.45 H

2:05 PM -0.53 L

8:58 PM 2.71 H

6TH 2:38 AM 0.04 L

9:02 AM 2.45 H

2:55 PM -0.5 L

9:46 PM 2.68 H

7F 3:26 AM 0.07 L

9:50 AM 2.42 H

3:43 PM -0.42 L

10:33 PM 2.61 H

8SA 4:14 AM 0.12 L

10:37 AM 2.36 H

4:31 PM -0.3 L

11:18 PM 2.5 H

9SU 5:03 AM 0.18 L

11:24 AM 2.27 H

5:19 PM -0.16 L

10M 12:03 AM 2.39 H

5:52 AM 0.25 L

12:10 PM 2.17 H

6:08 PM 0 L

11TU 12:46 AM 2.27 H

6:42 AM 0.3 L

12:58 PM 2.06 H

6:57 PM 0.16 L

Miami Beach, Government Cut

12W 1:29 AM 2.16 H

7:33 AM 0.34 L

1:47 PM 1.98 H

7:49 PM 0.31 L

13TH 2:13 AM 2.07 H

8:25 AM 0.34 L

2:39 PM 1.93 H

8:42 PM 0.42 L

14F 2:57 AM 2 H

9:16 AM 0.32 L

3:33 PM 1.91 H

9:36 PM 0.49 L

15SA 3:44 AM 1.94 H

10:05 AM 0.27 L

4:28 PM 1.94 H

10:29 PM 0.52 L

16SU 4:33 AM 1.92 H 10:51 AM 0.2 L 5:23 PM 2.01 H

11:19 PM 0.51 L

17M 5:24 AM 1.93 H 11:36 AM 0.11 L 6:16 PM 2.1 H

18TU 12:07 AM 0.47 L 6:15 AM 1.97 H 12:20 PM 0.01 L

7:06 PM 2.2 H

19W 12:52 AM 0.41 L 7:05 AM 2.02 H

1:04 PM -0.09 L 7:55 PM 2.3 H

20TH 1:36 AM 0.35 L 7:53 AM 2.09 H 1:47 PM -0.19 L 8:42 PM 2.39 H

21F 2:19 AM 0.28 L 8:41 AM 2.17 H 2:31 PM -0.28 L 9:28 PM 2.47 H

22SA 3:03 AM 0.22 L

9:28 AM 2.23 H

3:16 PM -0.34 L

10:14 PM 2.52 H

23SU 3:48 AM 0.16 L

10:16 AM 2.29 H

4:03 PM -0.36 L

10:59 PM 2.55 H

24M 4:35 AM 0.1 L

11:05 AM 2.33 H

4:51 PM -0.33 L

11:45 PM 2.55 H

25TU 5:25 AM 0.04 L

11:57 AM 2.34 H

5:43 PM -0.26 L

26W 12:32 AM 2.52 H

6:18 AM -0.02 L

12:51 PM 2.35 H

6:38 PM -0.14 L

27TH 1:20 AM 2.46 H

7:13 AM -0.08 L

1:49 PM 2.35 H

7:37 PM -0.02 L

28F 2:11 AM 2.4 H

8:11 AM -0.14 L

2:49 PM 2.35 H

8:38 PM 0.1 L

29SA 3:05 AM 2.33 H

9:10 AM -0.21 L

3:52 PM 2.35 H

9:41 PM 0.18 L

30SU 4:02 AM 2.27 H

10:10 AM -0.26 L

4:56 PM 2.38 H 10:43 PM 0.23 L

Frank, Ebby and Joe with a big Snook Frank caught on the flats.

YOUR ONE STOP SHOP FOR

SPACE COAST SURF FISHING FORECAST

Summertime surf fishing translates to big fish with early morning and late afternoons providing the best conditions. With the heat of the day causing a slowing of all species and activity, it remains vital to hit the surf in the coolest periods of the day.

While the central focus of summertime surf fishing will be headlined around snook and tarpon, it’s important to understand there is still a good quality bite for pompano, whiting and sheepshead. With that being said, fishing the beach this time of year consists of a diversified setup. Typically we prefer to run 3-4 standard pompano rigs casted at various distances from the shore, targeting pompano and whiting along with the other species. In addition, we will run 1-2 live bait setups with mullet, croakers or chunked bait casted in the first or second trough. Lastly, we employ a light action casting rod worked along the shoreline with a buck tail, diving plug or swim bait.

the Space Coast. First, soaking live baits on a fishfinder rig in the first or second trough gives one the ability to work multiple rods simultaneously which increases the opportunities. Fish finder rigs consist of a one- to threeounce weight, a oneto two-foot 40 lb. fluorocarbon leader and a 3/0–5/0 circle hook. Hook mullet, croakers or threadfins in the nose or anal fins for best presentation.

Diving deeper into the targeting techniques for snook and tarpon, we will discuss how these species react to various presentations. There’s three main techniques that prove most effective for catching snook and tarpon from the beaches along

Second, and one of my personal favorites, is casting live baits in the breaking waves along the shore. This method imitates a confused baitfish being washed in and out from the beach, in turn, causing nearby ambushing species lurking in the first trough to take notice and pounce on the opportunity. The fun part of this style is actively working the shoreline with repetitive casts and presentations. Not to mention when strikes occur it can be right at your feet in ankle-high water. There’s nothing like seeing a giant snook go airborne on your bait just fingertips away from you. Then the battle ensues on light tackle gear.

Lastly, it’s the gorilla-style approach of light tackle equipment with a small case of lures and lots of walking along the shore edge. This method is all about finding the fish and not waiting for them to come to you. Using swim baits, diving plugs and bucktails, you’ll work the shorelines casting 45 degrees out and retrieving them while maximizing the presentation in the troughs where these fish will be most concentrated. Casting in this regard isn’t for the faint of heart as you can ensure there’s a lot of walking and a lot of casts. But understand the reward that comes when the startling strike ignites your adrenaline with a leaping tarpon or drag screaming snook.

CAPT. LUKAS BRICKWEG

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Silvy Sebring said she was surf fishing for couple hours using cut bait but had no bites, then decided to switch to her favorite bait, dead shrimp. She had a huge bite and reeled in this beauty, a 34-inch red!

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JJ Margaritondo shows off his monster 40-inch Brevard beach snook.

2024 CCA FLORIDA STAR: WINNING IS EASIER THAN EVER!

CCA Florida STAR presented by Yamaha launched into year-10 on Memorial Day weekend! For 100 days, this unique fshing competition will award more than $500,000 in prizes and scholarships.

CCA Florida, the state’s leading marine fsheries conservation, habitat restoration, education and advocacy organization, holds the annual event to create awareness for conservation and support the protection and enhancement of Florida’s marine habitat.

Tis year, participating in STAR is easier than ever. Te competition has eight divisions including Tagged Redfsh Division, Tagged Dolphin Division, an Inshore and Ofshore Division, Native Watercraf Kayak Division, Realtree Youth Scholarship Division, Power Pole Conservation Division and Costa Kick Plastic Trash Division, and there are more than $500,000 in prizes and scholarships available!

“We are excited to kick of Florida’s largest family friendly saltwater

fshing competition for the tenth year,” STAR Director Leiza Fitzgerald said. “Tis year, it is easier than ever to participate in STAR because we have simplifed the competition to give anglers and non-anglers the chance to win big. Since 2015, we have given away more than $4 million in prizes, including $900,000 in college scholarships, and we can’t wait to do it again!”

STAR’s signature Tagged Redfsh Division presented by TH Marine ofers fve adult winners the choice of a Contender Boats 22 Sport, Dek Kat Boats 27 Flatz Kat, Spyder Boats FX19, Micro Draf Ski package that includes a Sea-Doo Fish Pro Trophy and a CanAm Defender. Each boat is powered by Yamaha and equipped with an Infnity trailer. For the frst two youth anglers, prizes include a tiller boat powered by Yamaha, a trailer, a Minn Kota trolling motor and Humminbird electronics.

In total, there are more than 160 prize-winning tagged red of Florida’s coastal counties. Citrus and Charlotte counties, STAR’s 2024 Destination Counties, ofer the best shot at a prize-winning received twice as many tagged reds as the other counties.

Te STAR competition also focuses on conservation with its CatchPhoto-Release format and smartphone app. STAR’s Trash Division has set the bar for other fshing tournaments to implement conservation-friendly alternatives.

All STAR entries must be photographed with the o Florida Measuring Device, which is available free of charge at locations throughout the state, including all Florida West Marine stores.

Te CCA Florida STAR competition presented by Yamaha has a division for everyone. Now with only eight divisions, plus ALL saltwater species included in the event and most winners determined by random drawing, anglers of all ages and skill levels can fsh from anywhere in Florida’s saltwater and have greater opportunities to win.

Registration is $40 for current CCA Florida members or $80 for nonmembers, which includes CCA Florida membership. Kids ages 6-17 can register for free with their current ($10) CCA Florida youth membership.

To register, visit ccafstar.com today!

888-POUND BLUEFIN CAUGHT OFF DESTIN!

In case you haven’t seen it yet, this enormous 888-pound bluefn tuna caught in late April out of Destin just might be the largest bluefn ever caught of Florida. It was brought to the docks at Boshamps Seafood and Oyster House on Destin Harbor, and although the fsh won’t qualify as a state record because landing it was a team efort, no one in Destin really seems to care. It’s a catch worth celebrating.

According to Te Destin Log, Capt. George Gill was piloting the Flat Dangerous on its frst Gulf of Mexico trip on Wednesday, April 24. About 68 miles out of Destin, the new 80-foot Viking encountered a massive school of surfacefeeding bluefns while the crew was fshing for bait.

With just four baits onboard, some small yellowfn, skipjack and blackfn, the captain gave chase, and the crew tossed baits into the school of bluefns. Tey lost three big fsh in short order, but the fsh of a lifetime for boatowner Warren Williamson, of Alabama, came tight on the fourth and fnal bait.

Te fsh died about an hour into the fght, and it was a team efort to haul it to the surface over the next four hours with 100-pound main line, 150-pound braid and 400-pound leader.

Te fsh measured 110 inches in length and weighed 888 pounds. Tat’s a heck of a fsh to break in a new boat!

Te existing state record, caught by Rick Whitley out of Destin in 2017, weighed 826.5 pounds. Another would-be new record was caught in 2022, also out of Destin by a team of anglers sharing time on the rod. Tat fsh weighed 832 pounds. Te Gulf of Mexico bluefn tuna record stands at 1,152 pounds. Tat fsh, caught of Louisiana in 2003, is the largest fsh caught by rod and reel in state history.

PHOTOS BY ANNE HINZE

CCW Petitions Big Sugar Over Everglades Restoration

Captains For Clean Water (CCW), a non-proft organized by fshing guides, is petitioning Big Sugar to drop its lawsuit seeking access to irrigation water from the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir.

Te EEA reservoir, which is currently under construction, is the centerpiece of Everglades restoration projects designed to provide relief from devastating Lake Okeechobee discharges and restore the fow of freshwater south, as nature intended, through the Everglades to Florida Bay.

Big Sugar, made up of sugar producers United States Sugar Corporation, Okeelanta Corporation (Florida Crystals) and Te Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida, claims farming interests in South Florida were promised water access by the federal government. Last year a federal judge threw out the case brought by Big Sugar, and this recent lawsuit is in the appeals process, with no projected timeline.

Explanation of the CCW petition reads: “If Big Sugar wins, they could push to use the EAA Reservoir as their personal taxpayer-funded water supply, upending years of restoration progress and sealing the fate of Florida’s future to include more damaging discharges, more toxic algae blooms, and more economic and environmental peril. It could also set a dangerous precedent, forcing Everglades Restoration projects to prioritize Big Sugar’s interests and replace their historical water supply over benefts to South Florida’s waters— regardless of how and when Sugar lost water supply since December 2000.”

To see more or to sign the petition, go to captainsforcleanwater.org. YOU THINK IT, WE INK IT! SCREEN PRINTING | EMBROIDERY STICKERS | BANNERS | SIGNS DECALS | WRAPS | LASER ENGRAVING DIRECT-TO-GARMENT PRINTING

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HIT-AND-RUN GROUPER

Tim Barefoot

I’ve long been a proponent of chumming up a place on the bottom with squid and then feeding grouper a big live bait.

However, afer the last few trips, I’m starting to rethink this tactic because of the number of sharks we’ve been catching.

I’ve never seen as many sharks as we are seeing right now. Te bottom is covered with them, and the top layer of the water column is full of them. Tis past trip, we put out fve Spanish mackerel on light lines hoping for a wahoo bite. We caught fve sharks almost instantly. One of these bites was the biggest tiger shark I’ve ever seen. It was at least 12 feet long and 2 feet wide across the head. Te rest of them were standard 6- to 9-footers; it takes a toll on you to get them to the boat for dehooking.

apart to create a lot of smell down on the bottom. Ten I drop live pinfsh or small snappers to the grouper drawn in by the “chum.”

Lately, I’ve resorted to dropping big, pretty live baits frst to see if we can get a few grouper bites before the taxman arrives, and it’s become a matter of WHEN rather than IF he shows up. It’s “hit-and-run” fshing. We pull up on a nice mark with pinfsh and grunts already rigged on the jig. I hit the spot lock on the Rhodan and drop in for a few good bites. When the sharks show up, we just move up or down the ledge. Lather, rinse and repeat as ofen as needed. Granted, we haven’t boated as many of the smaller snappers or seabass for the cooler, but we’ve caught some beautiful grouper with this “hitand-run” style of bottom banging. Te wahoo are diferent story. We quit putting the light line out due to the instant shark bite. I’ve got to fgure something out for that. From now until the end of October or the frst of November, wahoo will be everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Tey will come inside the edge of the Gulf Stream following big stacks of bait. As usual, some king mackerel fsherman will catch a 100-pounder on a live menhaden in less than 100 feet of water while chasing a tournamentgrade kingfsh.

Between all the American red snappers—which we aren’t allowed to keep—and all the sharks, we’ve been run of of several square miles of bottom lately. Tankfully, we’ve found some of the grouper we’re looking for, but I’m seriously rethinking the “chumming” part of the tactics I usually employ. Normally, I begin on a spot by dropping whole squid on jigs, which the smaller fsh pick

I said all that to say this: We’re going to take more pinfsh and less squid to catch “hit-and-run” grouper. Someone please educate me on a bait that will not catch a red snapper!

For more info on the jigs and bait, check out Tim Barefoot’s YouTube channel and website, barefootcatsandtackle.com.

C-HAWK MITZI SKIFF: & Two Brands, One Philosophy

In the boating world, brand loyalty is earned. Over years, boater experiences with vessels— good and bad, on and of the water—are what build the reputations of boats. It might, or might not, come as a surprise that two brands that have garnered sterling reputations in the industry for functionality and dependability are manufactured by the same builder.

C-Hawk and Mitzi Skif are both built in the U.S.A. with the same philosophy that simplicity leads to vessels that are easier and more afordable to operate and maintain. A simple, well-designed and well-built boat, comes with less hassle, leaving more time to spend on the water. Especially among anglers, this philosophy has built large followings for both brands among people who are more interested in fshing and boating than they are in pampering their pretty boats.

“We build a keep-it-simple-stupid boat. If you want something you can sof scrub at the end of the day and put it away, you’re my guy,” said Brad Grubbs, the owner and manufacturer of C-Hawk and Mitzi Skif. “We set out to make boats that are afordable to operate and afordable to own, and the philosophy has worked.”

Mitzi Skiff

Although Mitzi Skif originated in the 1990s for a singular purpose, the same philosophy for simplicity applies. Fly fshing the fats drove Tom Mitzlaf to design a skif with quiet maneuverability, extremely shallow draf and a clean deck layout to make him a better fsherman. It was simple by necessity, and it revolutionized the industry.

Tree decades later, Mitzi’s line of 15’, 16’and 17’ skifs achieves those purposes exceptionally well, and they have led the way with innovations that make them the fats boats other boat builders imitate. A Mitzi does everything the pricier skifs do, yet they are afordable enough for any angler to own and operate.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fx it,” Grubbs quipped. Mitzi builds skifs for anglers more interested in fshing than in spending a lot of money.

Te 15’ remains a purpose-built fats boat for one or two anglers to sneak up on wary fsh in super-skinny water. Te 17’ models are more multi-purpose. Tey can fsh three anglers, and while they are primarily a fats boat, they perform admirably as bay boats with a modifed V-hull and an 11-degree deadrise at transom to reduce hull slap. Rolled gunnels knock down spray for an exceptionally dry ride.

Tey are solid and durable for long years of heavy use, and from hideaway pushpole holders to fush-mount hardware, Mitzi delivers clean and stable casting decks designed specifcally for hard-core anglers. www.mitziskifs.com

C-Hawk Boats

C-Hawk has been around since the mid1970s and ofers lines of bombproof 16’ to 29’ center consoles and 22’ to 29’ sport cabins that were originally developed for commercial applications. C-Hawks remain widely used commercially, and many recreational

boaters also see the value in a vessel that’s built to take a beating.

“Really, we just took a commercial-duty boat and put a little lipstick on it,” Grubbs said. “ Te boat is as tough as it ever was. It’s been the same boat for nearly 50 years.”

At their core, C-Hawks are hardcore workhorses, and the center console models have become popular with charter captains because they are built to withstand hard use for years of trouble-free boating. Grubbs pointed to C-Hawk’s 25 CC as a great example of what the brand has become. It’s an extremely stable fshing platform that drafs just 12 inches, and with a 300 horsepower max it’ll take you anywhere you need to go from skinny water to light ofshore duty. What’s more, it’s infnitely customizable from the factory.

“We can mix and match consoles, fsh boxes, full transoms, cut transoms, bare hulls… you name it,” Grubbs said. “ Tere are some recreational guys adding towers and sight fshing for cobia, and such. Everything we do is built around keep it simple, keep it efcient, keep it easy to maintain, keep it cost efective to own and operate. Tey are all unique… no cookie cutter trailer queens here. Te 25 is a great example of what C-Hawk is.” www.chawkboats.net

Every month, I provide tips to help make you a better angler. Tis month’s tip is one of the most important. With so many tackle and gear options on the market these days, staying organized on the water is difcult. Here are a few things I do that make me a more efcient angler because I know exactly where to go when looking for the right tool for the job.

Storage options vary depending on the type of fshing you do. I’m going to stick to bass fshing, but don’t be afraid to alter these tips to your style of fshing.

When storing baits, hooks, line and gear, your No. 1 enemy is moisture. Keeping your tools dry should be a priority because it keeps hooks sharp and everything else rust-free. I store almost everything in waterproof boxes or bags. Tese storage options might be a little more expensive up-front, but when compared to losing a whole box of lures or hooks to rust, your investment will pay for itself many times over.Another good trick I’ve learned is to use DampRid moisture absorbers. Here in Florida, where humidity is high and temperatures fuctuate, condensation builds up in boat compartments. Te best thing to do is to take your tackle out of the boat and move it inside, but this is not an option if you fsh a lot and have a lot of gear. DampRid containers help keep everything safe and dry by absorbing moisture from the air in your boat’s storage compartments.

Now let’s talk about organization. If you’re a bass angler, you have a ton of sof plastics in diferent styles and colors as well as packs of hooks, jigs and weights to fsh them. I use plastic Sterlite containers with latches to store my bags of sof plastics. You can buy them at Walmart. I organize my baits by the type of sof plastic they are, and I label each container. On the water, this makes it easy grab the style of bait I’m looking for. Also, before I leave the house, labels make it easy to load what I think I’ll need for the day and remove what I don’t.

On the hook side of organization, one mistake people make when organizing hooks is to take them out of the original packaging to place them in compartment boxes. Tis is a huge mistake. Hook packs are clearly labeled by size and style, which allows you to quickly identify them on the water. Also, hook packs are designed to keep hooks sharp, untangled and dry. You can store your hooks in a box, but you should leave them in their original packaging.

Hopefully, these tips help you be more efcient on the water and save you some money by protecting your investments.

Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfshing.com.

TYLER WOOLCOTT

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