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VOLUME 27 • ISSUE 322
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By Capt. Ryan Palmer
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ahoo are some of the fastest fish in the ocean. Built for speed with large tails and torpedo shaped bodies, they can accelerate rapidly and turn on a dime. Wahoo can be solitary fish or found in large schools, depending on conditions, time of year and moon phases. Known for their excellent table fare and awesome fighting ability, anglers travel to South Florida and The Bahamas from all over the world to target them. They have razor sharp teeth and their jaws are hinged like scissors, so landing one on mono is always an exhilarating feat. They can be caught year round, but during the winter months they are found in far better numbers and sizes, especially around the new and full moons. There are several ways to catch them, including high-speed trolling, planer fishing, vertical jigging and live bait. High-speed trolling for wahoo could well be the most exciting method to catch them. There’s nothing like hearing the clicker of an 80 wide reel scream while you’re doing 17 knots. In some cases, you will have multiple hook ups with multiple drags going off. Talk about heart racing! I’ll go over my normal high-speed spread, but keep in mind everyone has their favorite way of doing things. I run a three-line spread. I fish two electric reels and a 50W Shimano Talica. My first electric is set at 80 feet from the boat with a 48-ounce cable-rigged cigar lead. To that I have 25 feet of 400-pound mono shock leader, which is then connected to my lure. The next electric is set at 150 feet from the boat with a 32-ounce cigar lead and the same shock leader. Last is my shotgun Talica with a 24-ounce cigar lead and the same shock leader. I have about 25 different lures from different manufacturers in many colors, shapes and sizes. All of my lures are rigged on 480-pound cable with either single or double hook sets. I start my spread with an assortment of colors. If I get more than one bite on a particular color, I will change the others to that or similar colors. High speed trolling is done in both South Florida and the Bahamas. I used to think that it
was pointless in South Florida, but over the last few years I have been more successful catching them, and the fish I’ve been catching are better sized fish than the wahoo I’ve caught while planer fishing. On a trip just after a winter full moon, we caught a double header off Pompano Beach. Each fish was in the 40-pound range. When high speed trolling, the optimum speed is between 15 and 20 knots, and we fish a zigzag pattern between 120 and 300 feet of water. There are a couple reasons for the zigzag. One is to mimic baitfish coming in or going out during tidal changes, and the other is that during your turns your baits will slow down and fall slightly before accelerating again. This is when you get most of your bites. Keeping an eye on your chart plotter is key, because you can generally mark the schools in the upper portion of the water column. High speed trolling is great if you want to specifically target wahoo, as there are only a few species that eat at that kind of speed. Planer fishing is just as fun and doesn’t burn nearly as much fuel. I like to run two planers consisting of a #4 and a #8 planer with either a drone spoon or a bonita strip behind a Sea Witch. Colors, sizes and shapes all vary, but once I find what color they like I switch them over. The drone spoon is a time-tested and proven method. The flash and vibration of the spoon cutting through the water gets their attention. I prefer 3.5-inch blue drone spoon behind a #8 Old Salty planer. I run about 60 to 100 feet of 60-pound mono between my planer and bait. While pulling planers down deep, I also pull a couple surface baits. Anything from a bonita strip behind a chugger-style lure to a rigged ballyhoo on wire behind an Islander will work. If you have outriggers, you can spread two baits wide and run a shotgun with a cigar-weighted rigged ballyhoo. I
planer fish the same areas as I high speed, but my speeds will be much slower at 6 to 11 knots. Lots of wahoo tournaments have been won fishing at slower trolling speeds, so don’t rule out a jumbo just because you’re not highspeeding. Live baiting wahoo is less common because you are either bump trolling or drifting goggle eyes or other live baits. You are not covering as much ground. Live baits rigged on light wire or titanium are my first choice, with fluorocarbon being second, due only to a wahoo’s super sharp teeth. I’ve caught several wahoo on vertical jigs. About 90 percent of those have come way offshore under some type of flotsam. I prefer a simple 2-ounce diamond Jig. All the wahoo I’ve caught on vertical jigs have been less than 10 pounds. Wahoo as table fare is in my top five, maybe even top three. I’ve often said that if you have cooked it, it’s already burnt. Do yourself a favor and try some wahoo sashimi! Capt. Ryan Palmer Family Jewell Fishing Charters 954-882-2631
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Friends&Fishing By Jim Parks
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here are a multitude of pleasures and benefits to fishing. The beauty of the environment, the challenge, the relaxation, the simple joy of being outside, the fish caught and the big ones that got away are all among the reasons we fish. Intertwined are the relationships created during outings. Like many others, there are times when I would rather be on the water alone. One particular period of my life, I was working full time while going to night school working on my master’s degree. I had no time. Recognizing this, my wife all but demanded I go fishing. Entering the creek that morning, I was mentally exhausted. I perhaps fished 30 minutes before I wound up lying on a rock with the sun in my face. The sound of the creek and my feet in the cool water washed away a lot of stress. At other times, I’ve found the solitude allows me to commune amidst the creation with its creator. After all, even Jesus knew the merits of hanging out with fishermen. To quote Norman MacLean in A River Runs Through It, “And we were left to assume, as my younger brother Paul and I did… that all firstclass fishermen on the Sea of Galilee were flyfishermen... and that John, the favorite, was a dry fly-fisherman.” Over the decades, I’ve been blessed to meet hundreds of like-minded sportsmen. Some, I’d rather forget! However, looking back over fourplus decades, I cannot help but reminisce over what fishing friendships have meant. If you were fortunate to begin fishing young, you had at least one mentor. If you had a father or grandfather who took you on early fishing trips, hopefully you realize how blessed you were 6 NATIONAL
JANUARY 2022
and will joyfully pass that blessing to the next generation. Having no fishermen in my family tree, I adapted. Like-minded friends of my own age, aka the “Three Amigos,” myself, Keith and Steve, as well as their fathers and grandfathers, helped me along the way. Though my father didn’t fish, he worked in a textile mill alongside more than a few fishermen with whom I came into contact. Among them were the late Don Kirk, author of several books on fly fishing, and the late, great fly tyer Kirk Jenkins. To this day, the memory is burned in my mind of my father’s co-worker Charlie Murrell tying flies with me while camped on Forney Creek in the Smoky Mountains. I was 14 years old. Along the way, they and others taught me wading, casting and reading water, always instilling an interest and knowledge of the history of and respect for the locations where I trod as a young fisherman. Growing older meant adulthood; college, career and marriage entered the scene. Still, at least one of the Three Amigos besides myself has kept fishing, and we still get together when life permits. As we grow older and hopefully better in our pursuit, we’re sometimes blessed to invest in the future of our sport by sharing with the next generation. We instill in them an appreciation for the beauty and opportunity of wading in the crystal clear streams while sharing the history passed down to us. Those opportunities make us better fishermen. In teaching, we are forced to consider the intricate, basic skills of the sport, which over time can become blurred by repetition. As my mentors did with me, I am careful to not “over-coach.” This allows the student to make and learn from their
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mistakes. How awesome to be part of their first catch and to share in that accomplishment. If we’re lucky, at some point we are blessed to come into contact with equally experienced fishermen with whom we just click. The best fishing buddies possess a similar interest in locales and styles, but are different enough that we still learn from one another. The best fishing buddies become those who can finish your sentence, agree on the best places to fish, offer insight we didn’t consider and share learned tidbits, making both that much better. An additional bonus are those friends who are willing to take those crazy adventures such as night trips, remote bushwhacking treks and just downright crazy ideas for which they’ll catch it from their spouse when they eventually return home, well past curfew. I remember as kids how we were competitive. We even had the unofficial “Virgil Ward Award” for whoever landed the largest fish that day. Over time, a point is reached when you get just as much joy in watching a friend ply a hole for that big ol’ brown. Sometimes it’s a tag-team approach, with a spotter directing casts to a trophy fish. We realize as much excitement in our friend’s success as if it were our own, if not more! Lately, I’ve been stepping back… just a little… to give my buddy the first crack at a good run. Watching an artist at work, regardless of the canvas, is a joy. When that person is using all the combined skills of a stealthy approach, with the fly you both agree is best, making that cast in just the right spot and setting that hook, it’s like watching yourself from a distance. In that moment, you are just as elated to share and witness the moment. That moment is when you realize having a fishing buddy is priceless.
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CHARLESTON EDITION
Charleston’s January Forecast
By Capt Mark Phelps
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want to wish everyone a happy new year. There is no better time than January to sight fish for redfish on the flats in and around the Charleston area. We are in the heart of winter here so the water can be cold but very clear. Inshore fishing will mostly consist of sight fishing for redfish. You may also do well with sheepshead, black drum and possibly sea trout. There are several things you can look for to help you catch fish this month. The redfish are in large schools of 100-200 fish per school. These fish will be found in shallow warmer water, and since the water is so clear, you will be able to see the fish very well. I typically look for calm, warm days in January when the tide is low in the mid morning or early afternoon. This allows for the dark mud flats to warm up in the sun for a few hours. The warmer water draws the redfish to the very shallow areas and also puts them in the mood to eat something. Small plastic lures or flies work very well. There is very little bait in the water this time of the year so redfish will eat a wide variety of artificial lures. One important thing to remember is the large schools of fish can spook easily, so be very quiet when approaching the school and make long casts to the fish so as not to spook them. If you give them room to move around they will stay happy and continue to eat your offering. Another important thing to remember is that cold water will slow the fish down. You want to work your bait or fly very slowly to give the fish time to eat it. They will not run down bait like they did in the fall because the water temperature has them moving more slowly. If you think you are fishing slowly, slow down more. Follow these tips and you will find some excellent and exciting sight fishing. Consider just keeping a few for dinner that night and save the rest for the future.
WHERE THE LOWCOUNTRY
GETS HITCHED.
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
4534 Durant Ave - North Charleston 843-747-3400
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The Southside January Forecast By Capt John Ward
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Folly Beach, Kiawah, Seabrook & Edisto Islands he cooler temperatures has limited the variety of species in our waters, but the water is getting clear and the fish are in some big tight schools. Inshore fishing is pretty much down to 4 species : redfish, trout, black drum and sheepshead. The fishing has been good and we have been having some amazing sight fishing on light wind sunny days, with both redfish and trout on the flats. The redfish have really bunched up into larger schools and are staying shallow for warmth and protection. Live and dead bait has been working best on a float and or Carolina rig, but the bite on soft scented plastic baits has been really good as well. The sheepshead and black drum have been holding tight to structure such as docks, blowdowns , and rock walls with : shrimp, fiddler crabs, and oysters working best near the bottom. The sea trout are in large schools aggressively feeding on soft plastics with a slow retrieve, on warmer days have been finding them closer to the banks in 3-5ft of water, and cooler days staging on the ledges in 8-15ft. The key has been using light fluorocarbon leaders 8-12 pound test, with a slow retrieve just barely bouncing along the bottom with a 1/8 to a 1/2 oz jig head. The nearshore and reef fishing has been good with mostly bottom fish such as: black sea bass, sheepshead, with a few red and black drum fishing near the bottom of the water column. Larger sheepshead are on the reef and really grouped up on certain pieces of structure and can be quite productive when you can keep your baits away from the hungry seabass. The best thing about this time of the year on the water is the lack of crowds on the water and the boat landings. The colder weather slows most things down, so remember to slow your retrieve and presentation to get the fish cooperate . Patience has been our best friend when targeting winter time fish around the inshore waters. Bundle up, stay safe, and take a kid fishing to preserve the future of the outdoors.. - Tight Lines, Captain John Ward Affinity Charters www.affinitycharters.com | 843-693-2460
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Mt.Pleasant Pier January Forecast By Chris Pounder
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ater temperature is one of the keys to winter fishing at the pier so keep your fingers crossed it stays above 55 degrees. If that happens you could be counting sheepshead and trout as they come over the rail. You can still catch fish between the 50 – 55-degree mark, but action will be slower. Below 50 and you’ll need a little luck on your side. The two species we see the most during the colder months are sheepshead and trout. Target trout during the last two hours of the outgoing Seung Ho with 9 pound tide and the first two hours of the incoming. Recently I sheepshead witnessed a trout run from an angler who landed a dozen trout in a 20-minute span. Artificials like Billy Bay, Vudu, and ZMan are all popular among trout fishermen. One popular method is to cast parallel to the pier and work your lure back at various depths and speeds. As the water temperature dips you’ll want to slow your retrieve significantly since the fish won’t be as active. Don’t underestimate letting it sit on the bottom and bumping it along slowly as you might just run into a flounder still hanging around. Some sheepshead will move to deeper water Colin with a Big as it gets colder, but Sheepshead there’s also a resident population that typically hangs around the pilings and can be caught year round. During the winter months, pier anglers have better luck with clams and oysters than fiddler crabs. The crabs will still produce though if you have the patience to sift thru some smaller fish and donate a few to the known bait stealers. The River Watch Café and Gift Shop sells frozen sand fleas which are also productive for sheepshead. November thru February are typically the months we see some of the largest sheepshead caught each year. It is not uncommon to see catches in the 7 – 10-pound range with some pushing 12 pounds or Brandon more. At the time of print there with 8 lb sheepshead were at least three catches over 8 pounds in the past week. Be sure to let us know when you land the big one on the pier and we’ll be glad to feature you in the next article. Stop by the shop or flag down a maintenance attendant to share your success.
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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Lowcountry Kayak Fishing ____________________________________________________________
School is In for Winter Kayak Fishing!
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By Chris Tweedy
intertime fishing in and around Charleston provides anglers with tremendous opportunities to hone their presentation skills and learn to entice fish with skill rather than fresh bait. It’s been a few months now since our charters put away the mullet and turned our focus to chasing redfish in the shallow creeks that warm at low tide on sunny afternoons with artificial baits. Sight fishing becomes the norm and limits of trout can be found near deeper holes and along the banks adjacent to bigger waters. Finding the fish becomes the challenge and staying on them as the tide ranges forms the game. The bite becomes picky and the strike zone for the fish shrinks a bit, so if you want to spend your time learning how to find the most popular inshore fish this winter, here’s how we do it at Topwater!
Redfish
Our winter kayak charters for refish can happen at most any tide with different strategies for where and how to find the schools of fish at high and at low tide. Our high tide search is typically along the edges of flats and grass edges, places where a big school of fish can have some degree of protection from roaming pods of dolphins and diving birds. Low tide finds us searching skinny water in the creeks, with how far you need to look depending on what your creek holds. Some deeper holds on a creek that gets shallow on the bottom of the tide provides a great cover for fish holding up in the marsh at low tide, both for their own protection as well as forage and warmth, as the mud warms up in the mid-day sun on colder days. It’ll be feast or famine if you’re not able to locate the schools, so look for active birds, moving/ popping bait on the surface, or the telltale wakes of reds cruising with the tide. If you can get up on the school, you should be able to pull several or more fish from it provided you can keep as stealthy as possible.
Speckled Trout
Trout are a little less predictable than redfish 4 CHARLESTON
JANUARY 2021
and the search can sometimes be infuriating for both the casual and expert angler. On the higher end of the tide cycle, most trout success comes from beating the grass line in bigger current areas. To accomplish this, we’ll set up a drift along a bank in the kayaks, working with the direction of the tide and look for water with the highest degree of clarity to find these visual feeders. Along a bank, this clear water can be anywhere from directly against the grass to 10-15 yards off the bank, so if success eludes you within the 3-4ft line along the grass, make some casts to deeper water and see if they’re hoding just off the bank in deeper water or more current. At the bottom of the tide, I’m looking for structure...namely areas in proximity to dead shell mounds, islands, and spots along the bank where the shells form a beach. Again, the fish won’t always be where you think they should be, so cast to various depths and angles to help narrow your search. Once you find the fish and the bite slows, it’s a good idea to spread your casting around as they may adjust their holding place as the tide creeps in or out. Now that we have some idea of where to look, what we use to get them to bite is up to you. I’m a huge believer in throwing your own confidence bait, whatever that is for you. Anglers can swear by only topwater, only this jig, only this line, etc., but really it all works and especially so if you trust that statement. For me, Zman Minnowz profile
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paddletail baits on a ned-rig style jig offer the best result to me and my customers. Gulp, DOA, topwater, and hard-bodied lures also work and your proficiency and/or interest in a particular selection will go a long way toward your successful outcome. Folks constantly ask what the specific weight of my jigs are and my answer is constantly just enough to get to the bottom and hold. Color is the angler’s choice and my philosophy is to present natural looking stuff in clearer water and crazy colors in stained water, simple as that. Colors catch anglers not so much fish, look at the 25,000 options that bass anglers need to catch one fish and you’ll see it’s all about marketing. Best way to catch fish is to put the phone down and do it, as most folks on YouTube offer more fluff than any real skill they have to demonstrate. Lastly, wintertime is no joke on the weather and conditions, so stay warm and dry and most of all don’t play games with your life jacket in cold water. Hope these tips help your winter catching and if not, you can always give us a call at Topwater Kayak Charters at 843-9067112 for some help along the way! Good luck and tight lines!
Thanks for reading and tight lines, Chris Tweedy, Owner/Operator Topwater Kayak Charters
843-906-7112
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Fishy Nurse
Adventures It’s A New Year !
By Mandy Henderson
W
ell another year has come upon us and here is to staying positive and hoping this one will be better! I’ve been hoping more and more anglers will be practicing more catch and release so we can help build back up our local inshore fishery. Trout and flounder need our help! This year I hope to catch another flounder over 20 inches and release it to grow and get bigger! This winter the smaller creek reds have been schooled up and it’s been a blast catching them on artificials! Always fun to them this time of year and the water is super clean and clear! Thank goodness for those oysters to not only eat but keep those waters clear! We had a day recently that I had managed to catch a smaller red with 50 spots on one side and over 30 on the other! Of course he was released to go get bigger! Just bundled up because it gets cold out there this time of year! It’s worth the time and effort if you wanna go and get some water therapy. Layers and hot hands are your best friend! Here’s to another year of catching and releasing and enjoying the memories to be made! Tight lines and fingers crossed for another great year! - 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
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JANUARY 2021
CHARLESTON 7
LIFE ON THE WATER
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Triple Play Limited Collector’s Edition
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ooking for a knife that’s a cut above? We can do you two better. The Triple Play Knife Collection gives you three different styles of hunting blades for one unbelievably amazing price of just $69. Because serious hunters know that sometimes one knife isn’t enough, and so do serious collectors. All three blades in the Triple Play Knife Collection are made with genuine 440A stainless steel and measure an impressive 52-58 on the Rockwell scale for hardness. There’s the reliable lockback blade, designed to open up and never let you down. The two-blade trapper knife, engineered for those who trap small game, and a solid, simple, fine fixed blade measuring 9" in overall length, and the antler-textured handles on every knife complete the expert hunter look. With all three blades along with a decorative display box priced at just $69, this is some big collectible prey worth hunting down. This deal truly is a cut above. Satisfaction Guaranteed or Your Money Back. Try out the Triple Play Knife Collection or 30 days. If it doesn't make the cut, send it back for a full refund of the item price. Limited Reserves. We only have 850 available for this ad only at this incredible price. Call today!
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All accommodations are completely cleaned and sanitized prior to guest arrival 10 NATIONAL
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Bassmaster Classic Returns to Hartwell T
he world’s most prestigious professional bass tournament is returning to the site of some of the best moments in the sport’s famed history. The 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk will be held at Lake Hartwell March 4-6. It is the fourth time the crowds and pageantry of the Classic have descended on Upstate South Carolina. Takeoffs will be conducted from Green Pond Landing & Event Center, while daily weigh-ins will be held at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The annual Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo will take place at the Greenville Convention Center, both of which are in nearby Greenville. B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin said the organization is excited to once again visit a venue that has become the gold standard for professional bass fishing events. “Everything about Lake Hartwell and the city of Greenville make them the perfect setting for the Super Bowl of Professional Bass Fishing,” Akin said. “The Bassmaster Classic is not only a chance for the best anglers in the world to showcase their abilities, it’s an annual celebration of the sport itself. “Lake Hartwell provides the perfect site for amazing competition, and the city of Greenville provides the hotels, restaurants and other facilities you need for an event the size of the Classic.” Hartwell is a 56,000-acre man-made reservoir situated between Georgia and South Carolina and encompassing portions of the Savannah, Tugaloo and Seneca rivers. It features a vast array of habitat and a good population of both largemouth and spotted bass that are likely to be in the prespawn phase when the Classic competitors arrive.
“We are very excited for the opportunity to host the Bassmaster Classic once again on Lake Hartwell,” said Neil Paul, Executive Director of Visit Anderson. “The leadership of Anderson County has made a significant commitment to Green Pond Landing and the marketing efforts of Lake Hartwell, and we expect another record-breaking event with our teammates from Greenville. “Hosting our fourth Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell is significant to our community because no other fishery will have hosted more Bassmaster Classic events. Having hosted this great event in the past, we can speak first hand to the significant economic impact it will have on the upstate of South Carolina and the impact of residual tourism that will be felt in Anderson County for years to come.” The 2022 Classic will feature 55 qualifiers with berths earned through the Elite Series, the Opens, the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation circuit, the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops and the Bassmaster Team Championship, plus the defending Bassmaster Classic champion and winner of the final Elite Series event of the 2021 season. They will compete in the no-entry-fee event for their share of a whopping $1 million purse, with the champion earning $300,000. For more information, go to www.bassmaster.com.
DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO GET OUT ON THE WATER...
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252-235-2461 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
JANUARY 2022
NATIONAL 11
THINKING ABOUT QUITTING BOATING? P erhaps your vessel needs a major repair. Maybe you sold your house and are moving away from the seashore. Maybe you are too busy to sell your boat, or you tried and found a lot of people didn’t have the resources to buy it, much less to move it. There are a lot of reasons people have for getting rid of an older boat, working or not. We want to let you know that you can trust Boat Angel Outreach Center. We here at Coastal Angler have seen them help thousands get rid of their unwanted boats and receive generous IRS1098 tax receipts for doing so. Did you know older, larger working boats can be donated for their fair market value? Did you know Boat Angel will walk you through the whole process, and most of the time even a boat that has been unused on your dock or in your backyard will be gone in less than 15 days? I’ve known the people at Boat Angel Outreach for more than a decade, and I can personally vouch that this charity is both caring and focused on helping kids. 100 percent of their funding is from the sale of donated boats. They currently fund projects on four continents and ceaselessly work to make this world a better place, especially for children. They have a courteous and diligent staff. They are experienced in solving logistical problems and multi-state title issues, all while achieving their goals of getting the donated vessels moved away quickly. So, if you’ve got a vessel that’s no longer
working, or you have decided to move on from boating, I strongly recommend you give this great organization a call or contact them through their website. When your donation is completed, just forward your receipt to your tax preparer. Who knows how much money your donation will put back in your pocket? We all know that an unused or nonworking boat is a drain on anyone’s finances. Fuel, maintenance bills, registration, insurance and slip fees are year-round expenses. Maybe it is finally
Donate A Boat or Car Today!
12 NATIONAL
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time to move on. A friend of mine once asked, “What is better than being a boat owner?” “I don’t know, what?” I said. “A friend with a boat,” he replied, smiling. We all have friends with boats. Why not put the money saved into their gas tank and take a small fishing trip? Boat Angel Outreach Center; www.boatangel.org; EIN 42-1619552; 800-700-2628.
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KEEP IT GENUINE PRECISION PROTECTION
Whether you take your boat out to the lake or the ocean, your 4-stroke outboard needs ECSTAR Suzuki Semi-Synthetic Engine Oil so it can run long and strong. ECSTAR features special additives that protect the engine in harsh salt and fresh water environments, advanced detergents that keep engine parts clean, and viscosity index improvements that help the engine start in cold conditions. No matter where your next boat ride takes you, go confidently with ECSTAR.
RUN LONG. RUN CLEAN. RUN STRONG.
Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-Approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. Suzuki, the Suzuki “S” ECSTAR and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. © 2021 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC.
SZ Q3 ECSTAR HALF HORIZONTAL CSTL ANGLR 7-16-21.indd 1
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JANUARY 2022
7/16/2021 9:56:33 AM NATIONAL
13
Angler Lands Record Red Hind
A
North Carolina angler boated a new state record red hind off Cape Lookout in October, and it’s a record that’s likely to stand for a while. The fish weighed 7 pounds, 1.6 ounces and measured 21.5 inches in length with a 17.5-inch girth. The new state record holder, Matthew Parr, of Wilmington, N.C., was fishing with Capt. Charles Stewart Merritt of Salt Air Ventures. They were dropping cut bait on 80-poundtest line, probably looking for big grouper. The record breaker Parr hauled from the depths was less than 2-pounds off the IGFA all tackle world record, which stands at 9 pounds even and was caught by Eddie Vanmeter out of St. Marys, Ga. in July of 2019. Previously, North Carolina did not list a state record red hind but created the category after Parr applied for the state record. The Division of Marine Fisheries creates new state record categories for fish that are exceptionally large for North Carolina. Parr’s was exceptionally large for anywhere. Although red hind are known to grow up to 23 inches and exceed 10 pounds in weight, anglers rarely encounter them that large. The typical specimen brought over the rail measures about 16 inches. Red hind is a quality table fish that is important in Caribbean commercial fisheries. In the South Atlantic it is regulated within the three grouper aggregate recreational bag limit. It is also listed in the ShallowWater Grouper Complex, which means there is a closure for the species from January through April.
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Meet the Beauty in the Beast Discover this spectacular 6½-carat green treasure from Mount St. Helens!
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or almost a hundred years it lay dormant. Silently building strength. At 10,000 feet high, it was truly a sleeping giant. Until May 18, 1980, when the beast awoke with violent force and revealed its greatest secret. Mount St. Helens erupted, sending up a 80,000-foot column of ash and smoke. From that chaos, something beautiful emerged… our spectacular Helenite Necklace.
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Helenite is produced from the heated volcanic rock of Mount St. Helens and the brilliant green creation has captured the eye of jewelry designers worldwide. Today you can wear this massive 6½-carat stunner for only $149! Make your emeralds jealous. Our Helenite Necklace puts the green stone center stage, with a faceted pear-cut set in .925 sterling silver finished in luxurious gold. The explosive origins of the stone are echoed in the flashes of light that radiate as the piece swings gracefully from its 18" luxurious gold-finished sterling silver chain. Today the volcano sits quiet, but this unique piece of American natural history continues to erupt with gorgeous green fire.
Necklace enlarged to show luxurious color.
Your satisfaction is guaranteed. Bring home the Helenite Necklace and see for yourself. If you are not completely blown away by the rare beauty of this exceptional stone, simply return the necklace within 30 days for a full refund of your purchase price. JEWELRY SPECS: - 6 ½ ctw Helenite in gold-finished sterling silver setting - 18" gold-finished sterling silver chain
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HOOKED ON™ A CLEAN OCEAN
CLEANING OUR OCEANS FOR A BETTER
TOMORROW
SUZUKI’S CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT If you’re going to claim to be “The Ultimate Outboard Motor,” you’d better do more than just build great engines. This is why, for the past 10 years, Suzuki has been committed to cleaning up the marine environment through voluntary “Clean Up The World” activities around the globe. Through the recently launched CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT, Suzuki Marine is committed to reducing the use of plastics in packaging materials to its consumers which has led to eliminating 2.3 tons of plastic waste annually. Suzuki is continually finding ways to reduce plastic waste while educating and informing the boating industry about this critical issue. This is only the beginning and Suzuki is pledging itself to the important cause of protecting our planet’s waters, coastal environments, and marine ecosystems for future generations to enjoy.
YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY
5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY applies to qualifying purchases of Suzuki outboard motors sold and delivered to the retail purchaser, for pleasure (non-commercial) use only, from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. See Suzuki Limited Warranty for additional details. Suzuki, the “S” logo, and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki Trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2021 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC. All rights reserved.
FOR REEL
GOOD FISHING Visit Upcountry South Carolina Stop by the South Carolina Lakes booth at the Bassmaster Classic Expo, March 4-6, 2022 at the Greenville Convention Center.
Perfectly Seasoned FishUpcountrySC.com
864-233-2690
Lake Hartwell, host of the 2008, 2015, 2018, and 2022 Academy Sports & Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk