Coastal Angler Magazine | May 2021 | Charleston Edition by Coastal Angler Magazine

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CHARLESTON EDITION

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BIG FISH SMALL LURES

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KITE! PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHELLE DALTON INSTAGRAM: @BOMBCHELLE_FISHING

VOLUME 26 • ISSUE 314

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F R A N C H I S E

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A V A I L A B L E

W O R L D W I D E

MAY 2021

Secrets of a Billionaire Revealed “Price is what you pay; value is what you get. Whether we’re talking about socks or stocks, I like buying quality merchandise when it is marked down.” — wisdom from the most successful investor of all time

e’re going to let you in on a secret. Billionaires have billions because they know value is not increased by an inflated price. They avoid big name markups, and aren’t swayed by flashy advertising. When you look on their wrist you’ll find a classic timepiece, not a cry for attention–– because they know true value comes from keeping more money in their pocket. We agree with this thinking wholeheartedly. And, so do our two-and-a-half million clients. It’s time you got in on the secret too. The Jet-Setter Chronograph can go up against the best chronographs in the market, deliver more accuracy and style than the “luxury” brands, and all for far, far less. $1,150 is what the Jet-Setter Chronograph would cost you with nothing more than a different name on the face. With over two million timepieces sold (and counting), we know a thing or two about creating watches people love. The Jet-Setter Chronograph gives you what you need to master time and keeps the superfluous stuff out of the equation. A classic in the looks department and a stainless steel power tool of construction, this is all the watch you need. And, then some. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Experience the Jet-Setter Chronograph for 30 days. If you’re not convinced you got excellence for less, send it back for a refund of the item price. Time is running out. Now CLIENTS LOVE that the secret’s out, we STAUER WATCHES… can’t guarantee this $29 chronograph will stick around long. Don’t overpay to be “The quality of their underwhelmed. Put a precision watches is equal to many chronograph on your wrist for that can go for ten times just $29 and laugh all the way the price or more.” to the bank. Call today! — Jeff from McKinney, TX

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Jackpot! Hoard of 1881-S Morgan Silver Dollars Found & Secured Mintage accounts for only 1.94% of all Morgan Silver Dollars Struck!

In 1859, Nevada’s Comstock Lode was discovered, and soon its rich silver ore made its way across the nation, including to the respected San Francisco Mint—the U.S. Mint branch known by collectors as the source of some of the finest U.S. coins ever struck. That includes the 1881 Morgan Silver Dollar, which exhibits crisp details, blazing luster, and the iconic “S” mint mark of the San Francisco Mint. Now you have the chance to add these historic, 90% pure U.S. silver coins to your collection!

Here’s the breakdown: in 1881, just 4.25% of the total Morgan series was struck. Less than half of those coins came from San Francisco. In the end, the 1881-S Morgan Silver Dollar accounts for just 1.94% of the entire series—and that’s before the mass meltings that have left so few coins for collectors to secure. And we can expect that even fewer of the survivors are of collector grade...

.71 ear Pe s O rY l ea d r!)

(MS63) condition by NGC/PCGS

 Sealed in protective holder  1881-S accounts for just 1.94% of all Morgans Struck

Actual size is 38.1 mm

Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS)! Grading service varies. The condition of these coins are as though they were struck yesterday, despite being minted 140 years ago to circulate in commerce! And yet they have survived with a quality level of eye appeal that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

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The Morgan Silver Dollar was struck from 1878 to 1904, and again in 1921. In the 100 years since, most of these beautiful U.S. Silver Dollars have been worn out or melted down for their silver. It’s estimated that as little as 15% of all Morgans struck exist today in any condition. Even fewer come from this particular mintage.

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The Morgan Silver Dollar is the most popular and iconic vintage U.S. coin. They were the Silver Dollars of the Wild West, going on countless untold adventures in dusty saddlebags across the nation. Finding a hoard of Morgans doesn’t happen often—and when it does, it’s a big deal. So when we came across a recent hoard of 549 Morgan Silver Dollars—all struck at the San Francisco Mint in 1881—it was like hitting the jackpot!

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THE BASICS

By Michelle Dalton

Flying OF

Kites T

here’s something about kite fishing for big pelagic gamefish that gets me going. Flying kites presents baits with a natural appearance and allows you to cover lots of water for higher catch rates. Also, the technique provides the ultimate adrenaline rush, as you get to watch the strike happen. For those unfamiliar with kite fishing, let’s go over the basics. Captains consider everything from water color and clarity to baitfish and birds to determine where to start fishing. I like fishing edges, where water color turns green to a deep blue, usually somewhere in 100 to 300 feet of water. There are different kite designs for different wind velocities. Kites are typically launched and retrieved with electric reels. Launching kites is not a piece of cake, but with the right equipment, patience and steady winds, a beginner can practice and perfect the skill. Attached to your kite line are three release clips.

Each clip is assigned to a rod. An experienced crew will fish three live baits off one kite, with each reel’s line clipped to the main kite line. Although it seems like a potential tangled mess, it’s rather organized. For the bait lines, I use high-capacity baitcasting reels spooled with 20- or 30-pound monofilament. Attached to the mono, above the leader, there are a few terminal tackle items that make up your rigs.

First, a ceramic ring is attached to the kite line using release clips. Next, a neon float dangles in the sky above each bait to help track them from a distance. From there, a small egg sinker maintains the vertical drop that keeps baits at the surface. Finally, a bead separates the sinker from your leader. Your leader depends on the targeted species. For the toothy critters, I use an 18-inch wire leader connected to fluorocarbon with an Albright knot and a 7/0 live bait hook. For sailfish, I use 10 to 12 feet of 60-pound fluorocarbon leader with a 7/0 circle hook. By paying attention and adjusting the lines, the angler keeps the baits on the surface where they make the slight commotion predators find irresistible. The rigs suspend in air above the baits, completely out of sight of the fish. I prefer fishing goggle-eyes, threadfin herring and sardines. Healthy bait is far more likely to be eaten. Ahead of tournaments, my team and I spend weeks feeding and nurturing bait to keep it healthy. If you’re fortunate enough to hook a sailfish, don’t immediately clear the other lines. Sailfish often travel in groups. Leave those other baits in the water for a chance at additional bites. Traditionally, when winds start to die at the end of spring, the number of boats trolling offshore grows. However, kite fishing goes on year-round in South Florida. Even with very little wind, a kite will fly with the help of a helium balloon. Next time your friends want to troll around offshore, tell them to “go fly a kite!” Michelle Dalton books charters through her social media pages: @Bombchelle_fishing.

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on ply. ce mer ect ely. ng. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

MAY 2021

NATIONAL 7

Humbled

ON THE DAVIDSON By Nick Carter

he Davidson River in Brevard, N.C. is one of the most widely publicized trout streams in the Southeast. It’s a challenging fishery with beautiful water that holds some very nice fish. Part of the Davidson’s appeal, or its main drawback, is easy access. The river flows roadside through most its publicly accessible length. There is small water in the headwaters accessible only by foot, but for the most part it is a park-and-fish kind of place. On a gorgeous summer weekend, a buddy and I heeded advice from the guys at Davidson River Outfitters to join the dawn patrol. We arrived on

the river at first light to find a pod of big fish, maybe four or five in the 16- to 20-inch range, hovering near the bottom of a bellybutton-deep run. They were clearly visible in low summer flows. For the next hour, we worked the run together, one or the other of us making the same drift repeatedly as the other man tied on a new fly. It was a challenge that bordered on infuriating to see those trout, an occasional belly flash belying the fact that they were eating… just not what we offered. We tried everything, right down to a size 22 red midge pupa recommended at the fly shop. Finally, because we had tried everything else, I

tied on a white Woolly Bugger—another Davidson River staple. Just twitching it through the hole, a fish we had not previously seen streaked from the periphery to slam the streamer. Those big fish didn’t even flinch as I stripped in a pretty 11-inch brown. As I released the fish, an older gentleman waded down the side of the run. He glanced out at the pod of big fish still sitting on the bottom. “Wasn’t the one you were after, was it?” he asked. My response was to offer him a shot at the run. He declined. “Don’t want any part of it,” he grumbled. “Spent all afternoon yesterday standing right where you are.” That’s a snapshot of what fishing the catch-andrelease, fly fishing only section of the Davidson is like. The river is full of fish—and some big ones. It is also frequently full of anglers. The steady pressure makes trout wise. Of course, there’s always a guy who lights up Internet message boards with a photo of a big old bruiser. He’ll give advice like, “Use a little split-shot to get it down,” but I suspect there’s more to it. Pressured fish are on guard. Catching them requires perfect presentation of the perfect fly and also being in the right place at that right time. Arriving early, staying late and fishing hard makes it more likely you’ll be there when a 2-foot-long trout makes a mistake. This story is an abbreviated excerpt from the book “Flyfisher’s Guide to North Carolina & Georgia,” which includes maps and GPS coordinates to access points for all the region’s best trout fisheries. Purchase the book on Amazon or by contacting the author at nsc8957@gmail.com.

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CHARLESTON EDITION

MAY 2021

Coastal Angler Magazine Charleston is a Family Business published by SABJAR Media, LLC. We’re in our 4th year of publishing CAMC We’re based in Summerville, SC. Comments: send us an email to Charleston@coastalanglermagazine. com. Follow and like us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube & Twitter.

Inside this month.. - Capt. Mark Phelps - Charleston’s Best Fishing Forecast - Chris Pounder - Mt. Pleasant Pier Fishing Report - Jim Duncan - Boating in the Lowcountry - Safety Lanyard Law - David Fladd - Artificial Intelligence - Lightning Strikes Twice - Mandy Henderson - Fishy Nurse Adventures - Yellow Fin! - Jiggin Jerry - Float Your Way to Fishing Success - Capt. John Ward - The SouthSide Report - Folly to Edisto Beach - Chris Tweedy - Kayak Puddle Jumping - Capt. Will Adams - How to Use Vo0doo Shrimp - Cameron Rhodes - South Carolina Billfish & Offshore Report Advertising: Call for all the details to reach 25K monthly readers today. 843-607-8629 or send an email: Charleston@coastalanglermagazine.com Send us a letter to: CAM CHARLESTON Edition 717 Old Trolley Rd Ste. 6-154 Summerville, SC 29485 Visit us online: Coastalanglermag.com/Charleston Send your editorial contributions or info about distribution to: Sam@sabjarmedia.com

It was early mornin yesterday, I was up before the dawn... COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

MAY 2021

CHARLESTON 1

Charleston’s

May Forecast

By Captain Mark Phelps

WHERE THE LOWCOUNTRY

GETS HITCHED.

ay is a great month to go fishing in Charleston. The weather is great, the water is warm and lots of fishing opportunities are available. May is the start of the summer fishing season for good reason. The sea trout will come out of their winter haunts and begin schooling and feeding during their first spawn of the season. Because the large female trout will feed on mullet and small menhaden to prepare for their spawn, some of the largest trout of the year are caught in May. There are many in the 2-5 lb range. Please handle these trout with care and release the larger fish whenever possible. Biologists tell us one female trout can have several hundred thousand eggs in a spawn which will have a huge impact on our future trout stocks. Live bait like finger mullet or small menhaden is hard to beat. Use these under a cork or fish them on the bottom using a Carolina rig. However, I have caught several nice trout on the simple DOA shrimp under a popping cork. You will also find fishing this way will also produce several nice red fish and flounder as well. May is also when several of the seasonal migrating fish appear in the warmer waters of the Charleston area. Cobia should be moving along the beach and near shore 2 CHARLESTON

MAY 2021

areas on their migration north. We can also find schools of Spanish and king mackerel, amberjacks, Jack Crevelle, bluefish, ladyfish and pompano working their way north. You may find these fish just off the beach or working their way into the Charleston harbor. Look for the seagulls diving over the schools of fish or look for the fish busting on the surface. Overall, May is an excellent time to get out and enjoy the low country from the water. The weather will be warm and beautiful, and the fishing will be really enjoyable.

4534 Durant Ave - North Charleston 843-747-3400

A great way to spend the day on the water is to book one of the area’s great guides. Having fished in Charleston for twenty five years, I am extremely knowledgeable and experienced in this area. As owner and operator of Shore Thang Charters, I would love to share my expertise with you on the water. Please email me at: ShoreThangCharter@hotmail. com, check out my web page: www. ShoreThangCharters.com or call: 843-475-1274. Captain Mark Phelps Shore Thang Charters

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

CorbinsHitch.com

The Southside May Forecast

Folly Beach, Kiawah to Edisto Islands By Captain John Ward

VETERAN OWNED

ater has finally hit the magic temperature of 68 degrees or warmer which is rapidly allowing most of our seasonal species to move back into our local waters. The redfish are on the move and no longer in huge schools in shallow water for warmth and protection, which is giving us a lot

more options to fish. Sharks have begun to move back inshore and we are starting to catch good numbers of: bonnetheads, sandbar, and sharpnose sharks using cut bait near the inlets and oyster bars. Lots of life on the water with tons of bait arriving in the creeks, and we are starting to catch good numbers of bait ( minnows, mullet and shrimp) in the cast net along the banks and small creeks.

Trout bite has been good on the cleaner water days around high tide using popping corks with live bait, and throwing soft plastics around points and creek mouths. Sheepshead, redfish, black drum, and flounder have all been hanging out together around structure, and live bait and scented soft plastics have been producing good numbers with a mixed bag around low tide. The nearshore reefs have exploded with life all the way through the water column with: sheepshead, black and red drum, seabags, triggerfish, and snapper near the bottom, with huge schools of: Spanish, blues, and Bonito on the surface. By the end of the month we should see plenty of spadefish and cob arriving at nearshore structure. Just remember help us all out by taking a kid fishing, picking up some trash, and releasing a few more fish to help our future. Tight lines, Captain John Ward Affinity Charters www.affinitycharters.com 843-693-2460

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MAY 2021

CHARLESTON 3

Mt. Pleasant Pier May Forecast By Chris Pounder

ay is a great opportunity to try something new and possibly introduce youth family members to the world of Charleston pier fishing. As the water continues to warm up, so does the bite. Many youth fishermen don’t care what they catch. Their excitement is in seeing something come out of the water, over the rail, and flopping on the deck in front of them. Some of the happiest moments I’ve witnessed on the pier involve kids catching puffer fish and being mesmerized as the fish puffs itself up. It’s not always about the trophy catches. Eric puffing with puffer. To help that youth angler get “hooked” on the sport, a great place to start is with small hooks like a Sabiki rig. You can pick these rigs up at the River Watch Café & Gift Shop on the pier or at your favorite local tackle shop. Sabiki rigs come ready to go so all you have to do is tie them onto your existing fishing line and drop them over the side. Be ready to watch the excitement as the kids get into pinfish, grunts, perch, and puffers that hang around the pilings. Chunks of squid or shrimp work very well with this setup. Whether you’re catching these fish for bait or just for fun it’s something the whole family can do together. For anglers looking to target something a little larger, May should have something for everyone. We expect to see schools of mullet return to the Charleston Harbor and with bait comes the predators. A few years ago, during May we even saw keeper size cobia caught on a mud minnow so be ready for anything. Anglers should expect the usual mix of red drum, flounder, and sheepshead to continue. Bluefish, Spanish mackerel, and even pompano show up around this time of year as well. It’s time to dust off those reels, clean out that tackle bag, and come give it a shot. This year we are trying a new Jonathan Dixon with a flounder. format for fishing tournaments in May and June. In lieu of a single day tournament we’ll be holding a month long tournament that will allow anglers to fish at their leisure and upload catch photos to our website. Details are being finalized as this article is being sent to print so be sure to visit www. charlestoncountyparks.com for more information. For the non-fishermen in your family you can also find details about other Charleston County Park facilities and upcoming special events. See you on the pier! For any additional information about the pier or what’s biting this week feel free to call the River Watch Café & Gift Shop on the pier at 843-762-9946. Chris Pounder, CPRP Manager | Mount Pleasant Pier

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Charleston Inshore / Offshore Fishing Tips

How to use the Vudu Shrimp - Keep it Poppin’

uring the month of May water temperature is at a steady rise, the Vudu shrimp becomes more effective than in the winter months with flounder, trout, and reds. The Vudu shrimp has many colors- but my favorite are the chartreuse and 3.25. I also like natural, red pepper, mystic, Bluemoon, and green hornet. Vudu also have a new 3.5 inch with a kangaroo like belly pocket designed to hold an internal rattle(rattle chamber). It can be removed if quiet presentation is preferred. It also is a great place

to add pro-cure. When using the Vudu, I always use 12 pound mono and not fluorocarbon because fluorocarbon has a heavier, more stout memory versus mono- the Vudu falls more natural when under the popping cork. I use the Vudu cone popping cork with 4ft of 12lb leader mono. About every 10 casts I dab pro-cure shrimp onto its legs and hollow belly. The Vudu corks are built from high density foam and are coated for durability. Bomber paradise extreme

- By Captain Will Adams

popping cork are great as well! Either one will get the job done. During high tide Vudu shrimp will be most effective along grassy edges with oysters amongst the bottom. I like 5 to 8ft depth and again use 4 foot of leader below your popping cork. Be creative and make a popping pattern. Personally I pop the Vudu three times once I cast it into the area I’m fishing. Three pops, pause six seconds, then a simple pop. Create a pattern similar to how shrimp react when skipping across the water surface current! I always try to find small creek mouths with fast current. Trout and flounder love fast-moving water and during high tide you can find them feeding in large schools. I never just catch one flounder when I’m fishing. If you catch one, most likely there are several in the area. Be patient and get your pop on. During lower tides, I find that reds will group up and sit along holes, either in front of oyster beds or behind them. During this time I will use the Vudu without the popping cork and just a small swivel and 12lb mono. My leader usually is 3ft and I will cast in those holes with a slow retrieve or by lifting the rod up then slowly reeling in the slack line. Always keep a little tension on the line. Once you get a strike, you will feel a light or heavy pull. I never set the hook with a hard pull. Just tighten your line and lift

the rod at the same time. Remember every 10 casts to apply pro cure. For low tide, I will cast the Vudu without the popping cork along the edge of the low tide mark. Redfish and flounder will school up in these areas, and even though you might get snagged on oysters or structure- the odds will always be in your favor once you find them.

Ideal Environment:

-High tide -Fast current -Grass line -Low tide edges

-Pro-cure Shrimp -Popping cork -4ft. leader

Shopping List:

Capt Will Adams - Write off the Rip Charters. 843-270-0909 - writeoftheripcharters@gmail.com

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Fishy Nurse Adventures Yellowfin Tuna

he weather is warming up and so is the spring bite. As offshore fishing is starting to pick up more and the mahi are migrating north, I wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing more and more yellowfin tuna. The yellowfin had disappeared from the SC coast for the past 10 years. If you wanted a yellowfin tuna you had to

of people here in Charleston catching them! We might be having a come back! This past month I had the luck of catching one of these beauties! We were fishing the SC wahoo series tournament and were trolling for wahoo. We had our spread out and had just caught a decent wahoo about 30 minutes prior. All of the sudden the drag starts peeling off and we’re hooked up again. We start cranking it in and this fish is swimming hard. We’re trading off on the reel because he’s kicking my butt. Finally we can see him and I call out I think that’s a tuna. So finally the boys yell to open the tuna door and I do and we can’t believe it! I’m screaming, “yellowfin, yellowfin shut your mouth!!!” We got lucky and caught one! Here in Charleston! We were the only ones we knew to have caught one that day but found out 3 more were caught the next day as well! head north or to Louisiana. So heads up if you’re fishing offshore and trolling It was unheard of to catch one here anymore. That being anytime soon! You might catch a special guest celebrity… said there has been more and more reports and pictures the yellowfin Tuna!

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Let’s hope this means that they’re back and going to stay. Tight lines! Mandy - Mandy Henderson is a night cardiac nurse in Charleston, on her days off she loves to fish as often as she can! You can visit her on Instagram @onefishynurse

Artificial Intelligence Lightning Strikes Twice - David Fladd

bout five years ago I was fishing with my business partner Ralph and Joey P. from Z-Man Fishing in the springtime in Charleston and by all accounts we were having an average day of catching. The catch could not have been too memorable because I can’t recall many details, however, that was all to change suddenly. We were making a second pass down a stretch where we had some marginal luck when the wind suddenly shifted around to the South and picked up to about 15 miles per hour. Just like a switch flipped, we all started bailing trout, big trout. We were in the same spot using the same lures as we were before, and the feast lasted for about 30 minutes before it shut off completely. When it was all said and done, I think we caught six or seven trout over 20” and at least one threw the hook. In the days, weeks, and years to follow I have been in pursuit of repeating that day, and also, trying to understand just what the hell happened?

These fish must have been in the area on the first pass, or at least close by, and had ignored our offerings. What exactly caused the voracious feeding frenzy? Clearly it had something to do with the weather. The wind shift to the south surely indicated a front passing and likely a drop in barometric pressure. We have all heard that trout bite well right before a front, but this was something different, a whole different level of feeding. In many parts of the country, its proven that big fish bite best on solunar periods, when the sun and moon and combinations thereof combine, such as overhead, below or at the horizon. I think this is mostly true in those areas with slight tidal flow. In Charleston, our tides are dominated by the moon overhead and under our feet and coincide with our large high and low tides. New and full moons create our biggest tides and that usually negates the benefits of solunar for us, in my opinion, due to the large amount of moving water it creates.

My friend Chris Bush of “The Speckled Truth” calls groups of big feeding trout wolf-packs. I love that term because how else would you describe what happens when the proverbial switch flips? I feel like there may be many things that can fire off a frenzy, and I don’t know how often it happens. Daily? A few times a week? Once or twice a month?

.... Continue reading on page 15

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South Carolina Billfishing & Offshore Report By Cameron Rhodes

SC Wahoo Series

f you’ve been keeping tabs on social media accounts or reports over the radio, you’ve likely heard about some pretty impressive wahoo hitting the scales this spring. Reports have been relatively consistent, with many large wahoo, blackfin tuna, and even yellowfin tuna making their way into the box. Anglers up and down South Carolina’s coast have been enjoying fresh sashimi, poke, fillets, and steaks. In addition to this bevvy of excellent table fare, fishermen had a chance at winning some alluring cash prizes in the 2021 South Carolina Wahoo Series. The Series offered a first place prize of $40,000 this year, with cash winnings guaranteed through 11th place. A total of 180 boats competed for that pot of cash as well as other nice prizes. By the time of publication, a winner will have been announced. Competing in the SC Wahoo Series has numerous perks. Participating teams get to pick three days to fish and are allowed to weigh 1 wahoo per day, with the two heaviest weights added for total points. This year, fish days ran from February 19, 2021 through April 24, 2021. Each team could select whatever fish days were best for them. The SC Wahoo Series website proudly boasts, “take the bad weather out of the equation!” It’s a great format, especially when considering work schedules and snotty conditions. In early April, Stranglehold and Captain Chas Shiels of Statesboro, Georgia were in the lead with a 68.5 lb wahoo, a 81.1 lb wahoo, and still another day to fish. Game

Hawg and Captain Jerry Fehlig of Conway, South Carolina were holding onto second with a 69 lb wahoo and a 75.3 lb wahoo. Many boats were still in the running, so the competition remained fierce. Multiple fish in the 50 to 80 lb range made it back to the dock for weigh-in, with one fish tipping the scales at a whopping 98.2 lbs! That monster hoo was caught aboard the Reel Happy with Captain Mark Huggins at the helm. Be sure to visit https://www.scwahooseries. com/ to get Series results and to learn more about other similar tournaments in South Carolina. Dolphin & Wahoo Management The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, the body responsible for management of dolphin and wahoo along the Atlantic coast of the United States, is considering actions that would change dolphin and wahoo recreational bag limits and vessel limits, as well as other items, in Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 10. These management measures will certainly affect offshore fishermen in South Carolina. The Council will consider the amendment for final approval at their upcoming June meeting that will be held from June 14-18, so be sure to review the actions and provide public comment on what’s being proposed. Visit https://safmc.net/amendmentsu nd e r- d e vel opme nt / d olph i n - w a ho o amendment-10/ for more information.

SC Governor’s Cup

53rd Annual Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament, the first leg of this year’s South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series. Don’t miss a bite! Be sure to follow along at http://govcup.dnr.sc.gov/ or the Gov Cup’s Facebook or Instagram accounts. Due to marina construction and repairs, both the Megadock Billfishing Tournament and the Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament have been cancelled. The Annual Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament, the Carolina Billfish Classic, and the Edisto Invitational Billfish Tournament are moving forward as scheduled. Until next time, tight lines! – Cameron - Over the last several years, Cameron

Rhodes has served as the official photographer and social media manager for the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series. Utilizing her Bachelor’s degrees in Marine Science and Biology from the University of Miami, Cameron also works in federal fisheries management as an outreach and communication specialist. While she is very proud of all of this work, Cameron is most excited about sharing the stories, experiences, and expertise of fishermen. She is not the expert here, but will instead be sharing news and information from those who know these waters best. *All Photo’s for this article unless noted are courtesy of Cameron Rhodes/SC Governor’s Cup

As you’re reading this, the blue water fishing community is gearing up for the

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Focus

On Fishing

Float Your Way to Fishing Success

e are on our way into our summer months. Our waters are warming up and soon the Finger Mullet will be running, young Shrimp will be crawling and swimming their way around the rivers and creeks, and the Mud Minnows, Shrimp and young Finger Mullet will be hiding all through our Oyster beds. Our inshore game fish know this as well, but whether you are fishing off of a boat, a pier, a dock or a bank, Oyster beds and structure under the water are hard to fish around. You can throw your Carolina rigs with Mud Minnows, Finger Mullet and Shrimp amongst the structure, but in most cases, you will find yourself hung up and stuck, losing a lot of terminal tackle and bait. A popular method of fishing over structure and Oyster beds to target game fish like Flounder, Spotted Seatrout and Red Drum is using a float. There are all kinds of floats that can be used, also known as bobbers. One of the most popular of inshore floats is the popping cork. They call them a popping cork because when you jerk the fishing rod, the popping cork slides along a small metal shaft, making a clattering sound that attracts nearby game fish because that sound imitates the sound that occurs when a fish is feeding off of the top of the water. Some floats are cupped at the top, and when twitched or pulled, make a popping

sound on the top of the water, accomplishing the same thing. Then there are torpedo floats. You can find them in all sorts of weights and sizes. They are meant to

By Jiggin’ Jerry

pull through the water smoothly without making much sound or causing much friction while reeling in your line. Torpedo floats are often used to throw very light lures and live bait that would be difficult to throw on a spinning rod or bait cast rod without the assistance of the float. The main purpose of floats is a strike indicator. When the fish strikes, the colorful float will dip under the water quickly, alerting the angler that the bait or lure has been taken, and it is time to set the hook. The other purpose is to control the depth of your bait or lure. This is why the floats are very popular when fishing over structure or Oyster beds. For instance, if the water over an Oyster bed is three feet, and you would like to maintain and keep your bait just above the Oyster bed so that it will stay in view of the game fish but not get stuck in the Oysters or debris, you would tie a piece of fluorocarbon line from the float to your lure around two and a half feet. This will keep your lure or bait around six inches over the Oyster bed itself, allowing you to safely fish that location, but there are a few other things that an angler should know about when using floats. When it comes to live bait like Finger Mullet, Mud Minnows or Shrimp being used under a float, it is important to add a weight around six inches over your bait on your fluorocarbon leader. The weight could either be tied in like a small quarter ounce egg weight or lighter or split shot pressed on the line. The reason for this is to keep your live bait under the float and allow the bait to move in a 12-inch radius around the weight. If the weight is not applied, the live bait will usually try to swim away, trying to tow the float in its escape. When doing so, it will bring itself to the top of the water, defeating the purpose of trying to maintain

a certain depth over structure or in deeper locations. This also helps when you are fishing in moving water, like rivers and creeks. When the cork is stationary and your rod is in a rod holder, the current will pull your float on an angle along with your bait. This again will bring your bait to the top of the water, defeating the purpose. A weight will help keep your bait lower into the water. Just remember when in fast moving water and you are holding your float stationary, the current will still pull your bait out on an angle from underneath your float and change the depth you intend on fishing. It is always better to toss your float in one location and feed line out, allowing your float to flow with the current for a certain distance, and then retrieve and recast. This will allow your float and bait to move at the same speed. When doing so, the bait will maintain its intended depth under the float and keep it in the strike zone. If you pass a game fish while using this technique, this will usually entice the fish into a strike, the float will go under the water, alerting the angler to set the hook and the fight is on! Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to using a float is that you can rig all kinds of set ups underneath the floats. You can even make up your own. I personally have set up double and triple inline hooks under one float and fished three Finger Mullet at the same time. The fun was coming up with the rig. The surprise was catching three Spotted Seatrout at the same time! Believe me, it was a very exciting surprise, which put a memory and smile on my face that will last a lifetime. So, as we move into summer and your head out to the water and you spot some attractive structure that you believe will bring in the game fish you are looking for, don’t forget to make sure you have some good old trusty floats with you because they may be the difference that can float your way to fishing success and turn fishing into catching. I hope this helps while you are trying to get ready for the season, and remember, the right balance can make the difference. Like I always say, good luck out there and have fun fishing! - To view some fishing adventures, go to my YouTube Channel: Fishing With Jiggin Jerry.

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Lowcountry Kayak Fishing ____________________________________________________________

Kayak Puddle Jumping

ith the warmth of springtime growing by the day, large public waterways will start to be crammed with boats and wakes, the solitude of winter kayak fishing becomes an evermore distant memory. One of my favorite Spring fishing adventures is to pond hop with my kayak around the various freshwater launches in and around the vast Francis Marion National Forest just north of Charleston/Mount Pleasant. These often-secluded spots offer kayakers peace and quiet from the myriad unqualified boaters running around the saltwater closer to town as well as an opportunity to immerse one’s self in the natural beauty that surrounds our cities. Alligators, snakes, bobcat, deer, turkey, feral hogs, owls, birds of prey, coyotes, foxes, and many more amazing creatures possibly lay around every bend and turn. Not to mention the fishing, but as you can imagine resident species do not see a ton of pressure from other anglers. Let’s break down what a kayak outing like this looks like for planning:

Where to Go

These seepages, spring ponds, and creeks/ rivers all offer a variety of fish and experiences depending on what it is you’re looking for. Some are tucked well back in the woods adjacent to dirt roads with deep ruts, marvelous fauna, and plenty of fishing action. Angler can expect to encounter largemouth bass, bowfin, all variety of bream, garfish, pickerel, and catfish of all sizes! The US Forest Service website and a mapping program like OnX Hunt, Google Earth, or the website for Berkeley County BlueWays, are all you need to plan a short outing or a day jumping from launch to launch exploring. Included here also a list of some public freshwater access points that have been successful for me over the years, feel free to them a try yourself or find some of your own using the resources indicated above! 12 CHARLESTON

MAY 2021

FRESHWATER SPOTS IN/AROUND FRANCIS MARION NATIONAL FOREST • Bluebird Pond • Dawhoo Lake • Wadboo Creek • Guilliard Lake • Wisdom Corner Pond • Santee River (Hwy 41 above Jamestown) • Wee Tee Wildlife Management Area

What to Use

My goal on these trips, even if I plan to be out most of the day, is to take as little as possible. 1 or 2 rods rigged up with your favorite bass/ bream lure or maybe a bait rod for catfish is about all you need. I tend to use a short rod (6ft) to keep it out of the wasp nest overhead and medium-light action is sufficient, paired up with a 1000-2500 size spinning reel with about 10-15lb test and a 10lb mono leader. My typical selection of what to tie on is a simple selection of about 3-4 tried and true swamp favorites. I will carry 2-3 spinnerbaits usually of different sizes/colors, some soft plastic lizards with an EWG hook to fish weightless over the top of the submerged grass/structure, a chatterbait, and a few jig bodies and some Eye Strike Finesse Texas Eye jigheads. I’ll usually skip bait unless I’m targeting catfish, in which case I’ll bring some worms along to either catch some live bait or to make chasing bream easier.

How to Fish

Now that you know where to go and what to use, it’s relatively easy to find some fish at these spots. How to fish is determined by the body of water you picked. For a seepage or spring pond, your target is likely to be bass and bream with some smaller (eating size) catfish also possible. Once on the water, I’ll usually paddle a round and explore the water a little before deciding how to fish. Most of these spring ponds will only be about 6ft deep at most, so I tend to hold

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my kayak in the middle of the pond and cast at the banks as I work the water. Most success has been on weightless lizards drifted slowly across the tops of submerged vegetation. I also find bass and bream holding to vegetation or submerged structure (pipes, Christmas trees, fallen logs). Mid-day the fish will sometimes move to the deepest parts of the pond. In that case, I’ll switch to a finesse jig setup like a ned rig or a texas eye and work it along the bottom low and slow. Oxbow lakes and bigger waterways will offer the angler more areas to fish as well as finding the fish more spread out. Most of the gamefish will be holding close to the trees along banks, especially if it’s a cypress swamp. My typical approach with jigs, spinnerbaits, or chatterbaits is to cast at the base of bigger cypress trees and fish the nooks below the surface that hold fish safely away from gators and predators. I also like to cast around the mouth of spots where the main water will creep into the swamp, catching a good deal of bass and bream on these edges waiting for an easy meal or staying safe. If the bite isn’t what you’re expecting, bring along some good ole worms and some split-shot for dropping some bait down into the trees if the fish are closed-lipped. In addition, you’ll find some catfish and bowfin in the middle, especially in deeper holes or on a wide bend, so be sure to toss your bait to the middle on ocassion to up your chances of success for them! If you’d like to check out some kayak swamp fishing, I encourage you to give it a shot! The views and experience are amazing and the fishing can be incredible as well. Topwater Kayak Charters also offers swamp fishing experiences as a spring and summer outing, so if you’re interested in checking it out, give us a call at 843-906-7112 or check us out on Facebook or at carolinatopwater.com. Thanks for reading and tight lines, Chris Tweedy, Owner/Operator Topwater Kayak Charters

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Boating in the Lowcountry ____________________________________________________________

The New Safety Lanyard Law - By Jim Duncan

or many years, engine cutoff switches (ECOS), or safety lanyards have been included as standard equipment for most boat and engine manufacturers. However, most boaters are not in the habit of using them for their intended purpose. Now, the use of these ECOS are required by law. Requiring the use of these devices is part of the National Defense Authorization Act that included a U.S. Coast Guard Reauthorization. Effective April 1, 2021, the new law requires a vessel operator to use either a helm or outboard lanyard or wireless ECOS on certain vessels less than 26 feet when traveling on plane or above displacement speed. While most utilize lanyards, some ECOS devices eliminate the lanyard and rely on wireless proximity devices to shut down an engine if the operator goes overboard. Exceptions to the ECOS requirement include if the main helm of the vessel is in an enclosed cabin or the vessel is not operating on plane or at displacement speed. Low-speed activities such as fishing or docking do not require use of an ECOS. The vessel operator is also exempt if the boat’s motor

While boat operators who fail to follow the new requirement could face a $100 civil penalty for the first offense, BoatUS expects the U.S. Coast Guard’s initial focus will be on education. Boaters are encouraged to check the U.S. Coast Guard website for additional information on this new use requirement and other safety regulations and recommendations. Now is the time to get in the habit of using your safety lanyard. If you do not like the idea of being tethered to the helm, consider investing in one of the new wireless proximity devices to give you a bit more freedom. In any event, these devices are designed to save lives. produces less than 115 lbs. of static thrust – or about the size At Duncan’s Boats, we are passionate about the boating of a 2-hp engine. The new law applies to all federally navigable waterways. lifestyle and encourage all boaters to enjoy the day on the As this is a federal law, states generally do not have the water in a safe and responsible manner. ability to enforce the new ECOS regulation. However, there is a provision in the South Carolina Watercraft Code Jim Duncan, Duncan’s Boats of Laws that states that Coast Guard Navigational Rules automatically apply to the state.

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o check site for his new safety ions. he habit you do ered to n one of vices to In any gned to

boating on the

Artificial Intelligence ....Continued from page 7

It seems that when these frenzies happen its often about 30 minutes long, give or take, in my own experience and in informal polls of fellow trout junkies. If you think analytically about it, if you aren’t in the right place, at the right time, with the right tackle and skills – you’ll miss it. That’s a lot to come together at the same time, and probably why I’ve only experienced something like it one other time since. The more I think I know about big trout, the less I understand, it seems. But the pursuit of understanding their behavior is a life-long endeavor. Fast-forward to this Spring. I have been super busy since the beginning of the year and fishing is taking a back seat. I’m trying to fit in half-days when the work schedule allows. To give you an idea, I was on the water just twice in February, well under my usual pace. It was late March and a day of significance: My first COVID-19 vaccine dose. I traveled 30 minutes each way to my appointment and since any semblance of work productivity was lost I figured I might as well hook the boat up and hit the water. I quickly tied on a couple lures that select for big trout; a Rapala Skitter V - as I was hoping for my first topwater trout of the year, and a Mirrolure/Paul Brown SoftDine which is a suspending lure I’m trying to gain confidence with. The Paul Brown is a lure I’ve gravitated to since it sinks a little faster than a standard Mirrodine with an enticing wobble and of course I love that it has a giant eye on it. As I launched my bay boat, I took note of the conditions. The tide was incoming and very slow moving, almost like molasses. When life hands you molasses, you look for syrup, in other words, faster moving water. This will be where the river or creek necks down or turns a corner. Bouncing around to different spots that meet this criterion, I was able to catch several small, grunting, trout and a really nice redfish. Grunting trout, of course, are males, and when the males are feeding often the females are not. The afternoon wore on and casting a Texas Eye to a grassy point a solid thump led to my second “Release Over 20” trout of the year. If nothing else, that was a day maker. As the sun started to get lower in the sky, I approached a bank where I have caught some nice trout in past years. A long cast to the grass

line resulted in a solid strike and the fish turned and sliced off to the side. Glimpsing silver I immediately thought to myself this is a giant trout. I wish I could hear a recording of the narrative as I talked myself through this fight. “PLEASE don’t throw the hook…EASY…Don’t go that way!” You see, most gator trout caught are first mistaken for a redfish, and knowing trout have soft mouths you really need to baby the fish to land it unless you are lucky enough to hook it in some cartilage. Waiting anxiously to catch a glimpse of this beauty it finally came up and…somehow my trophy became a 26” redfish. A great catch no doubt, but very disappointing when you’re expecting the trout of your life. After I took a few moments to tag and release the fish and gather myself, I noticed the sun had set and it was getting dark. I moved down the bank a bit and grabbed my rod with the topwater plug and launched a long cast. Working the plug slowly and erratically to act like a wounded baitfish I wondered if something would happen. About halfway back to the boat a trout launched itself and the plug like a kingfish a couple feet out of the water, missing the hooks. It did not come back for seconds, so while trying to ignore the 30 or so gnats having their own feast on my exposed skin, I cast the plug back to follow the same path. In about the same spot, this time the plug got slurped, not slammed. That is a telltale sign of a big one. After a tense few moments fighting the current and drag a 21” trout was hoisted to the boat. One strike is random, but two is a pattern, and I knew the big trout were feeding.

The next half hour was a blur as I landed five trout over 20” consecutively on topwater. The largest was 23.5”. The best part, however, was when the topwater bite slowed a bit, I decided to throw the Soft-Dine since I knew the fish were there and feeding. I made a long cast, silently counted to 5 to let it sink, and pumped the “corky” once, followed by long pause, then pumped it again. The plug suddenly stopped and I set the hook and felt the weight of yet another grown trout. Not being able to see very well I could only guess at the size. Sliding the fish into the net I was looking at another 23 incher. Catching this fish on the Paul Brown plug was so satisfying and definitely helped me gain confidence in it. My next fish was only 18”, and since the streak was broken and it was getting late, I decided to leave them biting and head back to the landing with satisfaction that I had just experienced another of these wolf-pack bites where I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time. How cool is it to be shaking with excitement after a day on the water? Based on feedback from friends and entries to the Release Over 20 program we seem to have a fair amount of 23” trout this year. These fish are 6 to 7 years old and survived our last cold snap in 2018. Let’s handle these big females with care (please, no fingers in the gills) and let them go to become even bigger fish to catch in the future. - David Fladd Partner, Eye Strike Fishing dfladd@eyestrikefishing.com • eyestrikefishing.com

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FISH SMELL 1000X BETTER THAN WE DO. Underwater. In current. And even in nutrient-dense saltwater, fish can pick up a scent at the parts per billion level. Think that’s impressive? How about a bait with the ability to trick that sense of smell into believing it is even better than real food. In scientific tests, Gulp!® proved so effective on saltwater gamefish, it actually outfished real bait time and time again. Not only does the scent outperform real and artificial bait, it has 400 times the scent dispersion of the best competing soft plastic bait. Now, Gulp! is available in all of the most popular sizes, colors and actions, including the new Firetail options. Berkley® Gulp! We’ve done the science, now you catch the fish. berkley-fishing.com ©2020 Pure Fishing, Inc.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE BITE Berkley Saltwater Gulp! Continues to Outshine Live Bait for Coastal Anglers

ll along the coast, as the highways near the busiest launch ramps, the bait shop signs announcing what’s for sale reinforce what most anglers already know: natural bait does a good job of catching fish. Live baitfish and live shrimp are almost always on the bait shop menu as they present the most natural food source. But even the frozen slabs of baitfish and chunks of cut bait that are also widely sold—baits which have no action to them whatsoever—are eaten by saltwater species if presented the right way. But why? The answer is simple, as it all pertains to one of the most misunderstood senses in fish biology: a fish’s sense of smell. It’s this sense of smell that inspired the development of Berkley Saltwater

Gulp!, the line of baits that has transformed saltwater fishing with their effectiveness, ease of use and value. For as effective as live or cut bait can be in saltwater fishing, it’s far from the perfect solution. Live bait can be very expensive and difficult to keep alive. Unused bait becomes a treat for pushy pelicans or gets dumped into the water. Presented with a problem, the scientists at Berkley set out to find a solution. Fish smell on the parts-per-billion level, the equivalent of a single drop of water in an Olympicsized swimming pool. This powerful sense of smell is extremely important to a fish’s ability to feed. Fish rely upon their sense of smell because they live in an aquatic environment filled with particles

and debris that can look like food. Their noses tell fish the difference between food and other organic compounds. Berkley scientists set out to make the first artificial bait that really appealed to a fish’s sense of smell. The first step was getting scent to disperse from a soft bait. While fish attractants and scents are nothing new, all of the competitive versions were oil-based. And just like the old adage reminds us, oil and water don’t mix. An oil-based scent that is smelly to a human has no effectiveness on fish since it is not soluble in water. That’s why Gulp! scents are water-based. The water-based scent formula, now known as Berkley Gulp! and which has since become synonymous with saltwater fishing across the country, caught more fish than live bait in headto-head tests. This scent, combined with the proprietary material used in Berkley Gulp! baits, disperses scent 400 times more effectively than any other soft bait, meaning it creates a scent field that is easily detected by fish and which continues to expand as the bait is retrieved. “I started really using Gulp! in about 2007, a few years after it came out,” said Capt. Jot Owens, who operates out of Wrightsville Beach, N.C., where he specializes in putting his clients on big redfish, flounder and other species. “And from the first year I started fishing with Gulp!, we were catching more and bigger flounder than we had ever caught before—and we were fishing in the same areas we had always been fishing. I don’t

know what the magic formula is, but it really wakes fish up.” Capt. Owens said he prefers Berkley Saltwater Gulp! for a host of species, but especially for redfish and flounder. His go-to set up for flounder varies slightly depending on whether he’s fishing inshore or farther out. The set up consists of a 6-inch Saltwater Gulp! Jerk Shad (Chartreuse/Pepper/ Neon or Firetiger) on a 3/8-ounce long-shank jig head. Because Gulp! baits are wet inside and out, they can come unrigged, so Capt. Owens relies on a Berkley Fusion19 jig that has lead lips and a wire hook to keep his Jerk Shad rigged properly. When fishing inshore, he uses a medium-fast Fenwick HMG Inshore paired with a Size 2500 or 3000 PENN Battle III DX spinning reel, which is spooled with 15-pound braid and a 30-pound fluorocarbon leader. Farther out, he will increase the line size to a 20-pound braid mainline and a 40-pound fluorocarbon leader spooled onto a Size 3500 PENN Spinfisher. “Just make sure the bait is bouncing on bottom; I’m typically jigging with the rod tip pretty high,” Capt. Owens said. “It’s not that you won’t get bit dragging it on the bottom, but the bait is more effective bouncing up and down.” For redfish, Capt. Owens has his clients using 3- or 4-inch Gulp! Shrimp (Sugar Spice Glow or Chartreuse) on a 1/8- or 1/4-ounce jig head, increasing the weight of the jig based on fishing depth and current. The rest of his redfish set up is similar to that of his inshore rig for flounder:

medium-fast Fenwick HMG Inshore paired with a Size 2500 or 3000 PENN Battle III DX spinning reel, which is spooled with 15-pound braid and a 30-pound fluorocarbon leader. “The best retrieve is a hop-hop; let it sit for a second or two then give it another hop-hop,” Capt. Owens said. “Redfish are really bottom feeders, so they’ll almost always hit it on the drop or while it’s sitting on bottom for the brief pause. The way the Berkley Saltwater Gulp! Shrimp is putting out scent, redfish pick it up with the same excitement as they would a hunk of cut bait even though it’s not moving.”

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t’s a lot more fun to fill fish boxes when the various Gulf and Atlantic grouper seasons open in spring. These days, advances in electronics have made finding good grouper bottom easier than ever. There is, however, a trade-off. In the good old days, captains precisely timed their courses out of the pass in hopes of coming off throttle near a fish-producing rock pile. Before GPS and sonar, the best indicators of productive bottom were boats already there and catching fish. Successful anglers even welcomed new PHOTO COURTESY OF CRYSTAL LAFOSSE boats to the party, reasoning that more baits in the water served to excite fish into feeding. In case you didn’t notice, that’s not the way things work any more. Now any yahoo with a boat can plug coordinates into their navigation system and sleepwalk straight to a ledge or wreck. Community holes and artificial reefs are crowded and sometimes picked clean of fish. To avoid this, a good set of numbers is a jealously guarded secret. Camaraderie on the open sea is officially a thing of the past when picking up and moving off productive bottom is a logical step to avoid being marked in the mapping system of a passing vessel. We’ve traded open sharing of information for technological advancements the old salts couldn’t have dreamed of. With advanced radar, sonar, mapping and GPS, it’s up to the angler to spend time on the water to locate their own magic numbers. With grouper seasons opening in state and federal waters off the southern states, most species have finished with the peak of spawning. They have begun moving to deeper water and are hungry to feed-up and regain what was lost to the rigors of the spawn. However, grouper are also spread out more thinly right now than they are when they group up on deep-water structure in summer. You might not have to run as far to reach productive bottom, but you will likely have to do more spot-hopping to fill the boxes. It’s a good time of year to troll. Some fish will still be shallow enough to target with deep-diving lures. Using planers and downriggers, it’s possible to get lures down to 60 feet or deeper, and some very deep-diving plugs can get down to 40 feet on their own with the right braided line. This allows you to cover ground on and around those ledge coordinates you have marked. It’s a throwback to the olds days, when trolling up a grouper was the method for finding an area to stop and drop baits. If you keep an eye on the bottom machine, you might even spot a small formation you didn’t know was there. These small blips are the honeyholes that produce when the larger reefs and structure succumb to constant fishing pressure. Don’t care for boat rides and watching rods? Traditional bottom fishing may still be the best method. Check your shallower coordinates as you head out this time of year. Many boats ride right over good structure on the way to their deeper summer spots. Reefs or rocks as shallow as 40 feet will hold fish before they head out to their mid-summer haunts. Just be sure to drop some chum down upstream of the structure to bring them out of their hidey-holes. See your state’s saltwater fishing regulations to determine which species of grouper are open for harvest where you fish.

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NATIONAL 17

On the Swordfish Ledge

off Marathon

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

f you’ve ever been swordfishing out of Marathon, Fla., chances are you were deep dropping the same area I was in April, when the U.S. Coast Guard ticketed us for fishing in Bahamian waters. Dropping for swordfish is exhausting. Staring mindlessly at one single rod tip, it’s easy to lose your mind questioning if every other wave was a bite. It is also possible to spend an entire day doing the crazy-eyed swordfish rod stare and never get a nibble. During a slow drift along the ledge in 1,800 feet of water, our luck finally changed. A flock of diving terns approached and crossed behind the

boat. We opened bails on the flat lines and let pinfish swim toward the commotion. Immediately we hooked up and stole a school of mahi from under the birds. With four mahi hooked up along the port side, we had just begun the assembly line from hook to killbox when we were informed the U.S. Coast Guard was about to board our boat. Approaching from starboard to accommodate our fishing, three “Coasties” boarded to conduct a routine safety check. After about half an hour with our official guests on board, we finished with the school of mahi and decided to reel up the sword line. We activated the electric reel, and— distracted by our visitors—it took a moment to

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realize we were hooked up. The Coasties were going to have to put a pin in it. “Hang on fellas; we’re hooked up!” For the next half hour, we didn’t hear a word from our visitors. As the fish began to surface, the line scoped out underneath the Coast Guard cutter raft. We radioed asking them to move. After a lot of chaos and tight boat maneuvering, we landed the 150-pound swordfish with the Coast Guard on board. They even took the catch photos. It was all high fives and celebration until they asked us for our Bahamian fishing licenses and informed us we were illegally fishing in the Bahamian Exclusive Economic Zone. Later on, extensive research by Steve Steenstra, owner of Blue Magic Charters, revealed the Bahamian EEZ line runs about 24 miles from land, straight across the U.S. sword ledge. None of us, not even our GPS mapping knew about this line. A law enacted some 40 years ago had just been enforced for the first time. We were the first vessel cited. As I understand it, after visiting the Coast Guard Station in Key West, the EEZ line was drawn straight down the middle by default. Now that they’re enforcing it, recreational swordfishing from the Keys is threatened, along with the livelihoods it supports. As the situation unfolds, it would be wise to stay up to date before venturing offshore from the Keys. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon and Blue Magic Charters are following this situation closely. Contact her at (504) 920-6342 or through Instagram @CaptainQuinlyn and @BlueMagicCharters.

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ach spring, inshore anglers are greeted with big winds, big tides and small baitfish. There is no time where the size of your lure can make or break your trip more than the spring season. With the abundance of small baitfish in the water, it can be difficult to get the attention of your target species, especially when you are fishing with artificial lures. It is also very common to find gamefish gorging themselves on tiny glass minnows. This is routinely evident when you land a fish and they spit up these miniature meals. As anglers, we have two obstacles here: the sheer amount of forage in the water competing with your lure and the small size of the lure required. What I have found to be the most successful tactic is to use the smallest lure I can cast and appropriately present to the fish. Both hard and soft lures can be effective. Another key to success is color. I prefer a white-and-silver combination that closely matches the natural forage. I like to fish these lures on the edge of large bait balls when possible. I try to keep my lure on the edge or under the school to let the fish focus on a single target rather than a large mass.

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

Using a slow-sinking lure is an advantage at this time of the year. A lure that will suspend or slow-sink is ideal. This allows the predator time to target your lure, and it also gives the appearance of a wounded baitfish, which is always a plus. When the bait is this thick, your lure needs to stand out, but you still need to match the forage in size and color. The use of tandem rigs allows for a couple of advantages. Casting two smaller lures could equal the weight of one of your typical offerings. This allows you to cast farther and still have the appropriate size lure. Rigging two small silver spoons with white bucktails is a great combination when fishing glass minnow schools. I also like to use a small floater/ diver with a small spoon trailer. The diving action in conjunction with the added weight of the spoon is a unique combination of action to entice strikes. Downsizing your lure presentation in spring can definitely up-size your catch. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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NATIONAL 21

“For Me, It’s a Fishing Tool”

The 2021 Must-Have Anchoring System

“T

he easiest way I can explain ‘boat position’: if you’re at the baseball game, you’re either playing—which is fishing—or you’re watching the game, which means you’re not…” Capt. Mickey Brelsford decided he’d rather be in the game than on the sidelines, so installing the Rebel EZ-5 became a no-brainer after researching product information and helpful documents on the company website, then calling the drum anchor winch plate design that allows the drum to free-spool when the manufacturer’s technical support team for additional pointers. clutch plate is disengaged. To get that “ good, solid anchoring In the past, using a windlass yielded poor retrieval results position,” press and hold the “raise/power up” side of the and left no room for customization, like adding special button for about five seconds: this will cause the clutch plate to attachments or splicing rope and chain. Now, Capt. Brelsford once again rotate, but this time clamping down on the drum says his Rebel free-fall unit is the perfect fishing tool, providing and holding the boat at anchor. him a “good, solid anchoring position.” “Once I deploy my anchor and it goes into a free-fall, it’s “I don’t know how many times I’ve been on boats where straight down to the bottom as quick as it can go…” Brelsford [the line is] hanging up, snarling, getting knotted up in the said. “And then, once I set the anchor, I can free-line out as windlass or shredding line.” Brelsford said. much anchor rode as I need: that’s what I call ‘boat position’.” A retired policeman, Capt. Brelsford enjoys his time fishing As an added bonus, the Rebel drum anchor winch is near the coast of St. James City, Fla. on his 37-foot “Nostalgic compatible with an E-Z Anchor Puller wireless long-range Lady”: a 1981 Hatteras Sportfish that carries 300 feet of ⅝-inch remote, which controls your drum anchor winch from rope and 20 feet of heavy-duty chain. After adding a pulpit to anywhere on the boat. Capt. Brelsford purchased his on the his vessel, Capt. Brelsford used to pull up all his rope by hand, wasting time company website, ezanchorpuller.com. and energy on multiple retrieval and deployment attempts as he tried to find “This [unit] here—don’t worry about it—it just rolls right on and keeps on the perfect “boat position.” rollin’. That’s what it is: E-Z!” Unlike E-Z Anchor Puller Mfg. Co’s two direct drive series (the Hero To learn more, call 1-800-800-1640 or visit ezanchorpuller.com. and Patriot series), the Rebel drum anchor winch has a clutch and friction

22 NATIONAL

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