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PHOTO COURTESY OF FELICIA SCOCOZZA VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 278
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O P P O R T U N I T I E S
A V A I L A B L E
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W O R L D W I D E
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THE LIGHTEST PENN REEL EVER MADE The Lightest PENN Reel Ever Made. The all new Conflict II matches an extremely light weight design with PENN’s legendary durability. Featuring our RR30 body, CNC Gear Technology and HT-100 Drag system, the Conflict II is the ultimate inshore reel.
PENNFISHING.COM
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Solar Shade™ ZERO Long Sleeve Shirt
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CEO / EDITOR IN CHIEF : Ben Martin • camads@coastalanglermagazine.com COO : Tracy Patterson • tracy@coastalanglermagazine.com ART DIRECTOR : Rebecca Snowden • graphics@coastalanglermagazine.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR : Nick Carter • editorial@coastalanglermagazine.com WEBMASTER : Derrick Oppelt • webmaster@coastalanglermagazine.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Corporate Headquarters info@coastalanglermagazine.com • 888-800-9794
FLORIDA
BIG BEND : Mike McNamara • (850) 510-7919 • captmike@coastalanglermagazine.com BREVARD : Chris Milner • (321) 631-1001 • cmilner@coastalanglermagazine.com FLORIDA KEYS : Cliff Lumpkin • (305) 849-9093 • cliff@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT LAUDERDALE : Gene Dyer • (954) 680-3900 • gene@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT MYERS : Nadeen Welch • (239) 595-8265 • nwelch@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER ORLANDO : Phillip & Giselle Wolf • (407) 790-9515 • phillip@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER MIAMI : Gene Dyer • (954) 680-3900 • gene@coastalanglermagazine.com LAKELAND & SUMTER : Mary Brasher • (352) 598-4219 • maryf@coastalanglermagazine.com NAPLES : Nadeen Welch • (239) 595-8265 • nwelch@coastalanglermagazine.com NC FLORIDA/NATURE COAST : Cary & Lynn Crutchfield • (352) 372-4237 • crutch@coastalanglermagazine.com NE FLORIDA : Danny Patrick • (904) 742-4696 • danny@coastalanglermagazine.com PANAMA CITY/FORGOTTEN COAST : Randy Cnota • (229) 834-7880 • randyc@coastalanglermagazine.com PALM BEACH COUNTY : Barbara Ryan • (561) 373-8040 • barbara@coastalanglermagazine.com SARASOTA : Phil Prevoir • (239) 257-4684 • pprevoir@coastalanglermagazine.com TAMPA BAY : Chuck Atkins • (239) 464-5153 • chuck@coastalanglermagazine.com TREASURE COAST : Misti & Gary Guertin • (772) 285-6850 • treasurecoast@coastalanglermagazine.com
flahama@coastalanglermagazine.com
SOUTHEAST
ATLANTA : Bob & Brenda Rice • (706) 614-8231 • bobr@theanglermagazine.com CHARLESTON : Jane A. Redden • (205) 725-9616 • jane@coastalanglermagazine.com
Sam Buckareff • (843) 607-8629 • sam@coastalanglermagazine.com
CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT : Mark & Haley Alberghini • (704) 651-1934 • mark@theanglermagazine.com COLUMBIA/MIDLANDS : John Lux • (803) 807-6885 • jlux@theanglermagazine.com MYRTLE BEACH : Mike Masiero • (732) 674-3019 • mmasiero@coastalanglermagazine.com SW GEORGIA : Bob & Brenda Rice • (706) 614-8231 • bobr@theanglermagazine.com TIDEWATER/OUTER BANKS : John Tiger • (757) 707-9654 • john.tiger@coastalanglermagazine.com
Laura Tiger • (757) 707-9655 • laura@coastalanglermagazine.com
WESTERN NC : Debra & Joe Woody • (828) 775-9663 • woody@theanglermagazine.com WILMINGTON/MOREHEAD : Charlie Lamm • (252) 205-6472 • clamm@coastalanglermagazine.com
NORTHEAST BOSTON : George Regan • (617) 488-2842 • boston@coastalanglermagazine.com LONG ISLAND : Lisa & Michael Danforth • (203) 321-7635 • lisad@coastalanglermagazine.com CONNECTICUT/RHODE ISLAND : Lisa & Michael Danforth • (203) 321-7635 lisad@coastalanglermagazine.com
GULF COAST MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST : Adam Nelson • (228) 627-5903 • anelson@coastalanglermagazine.com
You guys are everywhere.
A
nglers share some very unique commonalities. One trait that seems standard across the board is that whenever we find ourselves in a new destination, regardless of why we’re there, we always want to find out about “what’s biting.” Normally a quick trip to a local tackle shop gets us up to speed. I often hear from readers that they were in a different state or a different region and found a copy of our magazine at the tackle shop they went into. One such reader recently told me, “I live in Wilmington, North Carolina, and I read your Wilmington edition every month. I was in Mississippi recently on business and I saw a copy of your magazine at a local tackle shop. The next month I was in Key West, Florida and saw a copy of the magazine at a tackle shop there. I just landed in Connecticut today and can’t believe that I just picked up another copy of your magazine at a tackle shop here in Connecticut. You guys are everywhere.” It is true; we are available for free in over 30 market areas, but we’re not everywhere yet. Our franchise publishing model is changing the way American anglers view a local fishing magazine, and we’re looking to further expand our footprint. If you think owning your own business as the publisher of your area’s local fishing magazine is something that would fit your career and lifestyle goals, give us a call for information on potential franchise opportunities in your area. Previous publishing experience is not required. We have a complete training program and ongoing support system that enables our co-publishing partners to quickly establish the magazine as a primary resource for the avid angler nearly everywhere. Best regards,
Toby Nelson • (228) 623-1761 • tnelson@coastalanglermagazine.com
GREAT LAKES WEST MICHIGAN : Phil Belsito • (616) 957-1714 • phil@theanglermagazine.com
INTERNATIONAL PUERTO RICO/VIRGIN ISLANDS : Ace Bassue • (407) 285-9453 • ace@coastalanglermagazine.com COSTA RICA : Mike Erickson • (561) 262-2242 • mike@coastalanglermagazine.com © 2018. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Disclaimer: Coastal Angler Magazine / The Angler Magazine will not be held liable for injuries incurred while partaking in activities described herein, or for claims made against products or services provided by advertisers.
Ben Martin Editor in Chief info@coastalanglermagazine.com
1-888-800-9794
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WHO CARES ABOUT PUTTING YOUR LURE RIGHT ON TOP OF FISH?
All trademarks mentioned are owned by, or licensed to, the AkzoNobel group of companies. © AkzoNobel 2017.
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For over a century, a league of canned crusaders have been fighting to keep boats safe from barnacles, slime, algae and other aquatic evils that rob your boat of its true performance. With advanced know-how and unique capabilities, each antifouling is tailored to different conditions, and has the power to defeat fouling in all its forms. Micron® Extra leads the charge in all waters. Using its signature dual-protection with boosting Biolux® technology, it provides high-quality, multi-season protection that survives hauling and relaunch without the need for repainting. For super-powered antifouling protection and proven performance, choose Interlux®.
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Paddlesports Product Review CARIBE TIBURON INFLATABLE SUP You’ll be slithering through the waves with ease and gliding along in true mariner style when you hop on Caribe’s inflatable SUP. Decorated with a shark silhouette and further amplified by a cool camo print, this blue and black paddleboard is always a hit among water-lovers with a penchant for adventure. The Tiburon Inflatable Paddleboard comes with 6 D-Rings on the softpad so you can attach a variety of accessories like a cooler, 2 Kayak Seats, dry bags, etc. it also comes with a D-Ring on the front bottom deck, excellent for anchoring or towing the board. A very wide 34” design provides stability like no other board on the market. It’s ideal for fishing and long rides and has a smooth non-slip softpad that provides grip as well as comfort. Concerned about hooks on board or punctures from oyster beds? No worries! Double deck Tarpaulin layers protect the board from punctures while providing the most rigid inflatable experience out there. All Caribe’s boards come with a 2-year warranty against manufacturing defects.
WWW.CARIBESUP.COM
AIRHEAD SUP BONEFISH 1138 True to its name, the Airhead SUP Bonefish 1138 is a paddleboard specifically designed for fishing. This super-stable fishing SUP has two inflatable sponsons that give anglers the firm platform they need for fighting big fish and navigating rough water. There are four strategically placed mount pads on deck to accommodate four rod racks, Airhead SUP Fishing Racks and Bucket Racks. Two smaller accessory mounts are perfect for small rod holders or other accessories, and two stainless D-ring cooler tie downs round out endless possibilities for equipment customization. A classic teak-look EVA decking provides sure footing. At just 41 pounds, transport of the Bonefish 1138 is easy, and two molded handles fore and aft make carrying it to the water a breeze, even when it’s fully loaded. There is versatility built in with 10 stainless steel D-rings and two stretch tie downs. The Bonefish 1138 comes with a mesh backpack for transport and storage, a Hi Pressure hand pump for quick and easy inflation, a pressure gauge, valve wrench, board strap and repair kit.
WWW.AIRHEADSUP.COM
KAKU WAHOO 10.5 The new Kaku Wahoo 10.5 may be the baddest little ’yak on the water. It is a compact version of the Wahoo 12.5, which has proven itself as a superb fishing kayak. Kaku went and shaved a couple of feet and more than 10 pounds off of the original Wahoo to create a boat that is easier to transport and paddles very well in the tight environs kayak anglers often find themselves in. And while the Wahoo 10.5 gives up size, it does not sacrifice fishability or performance. It has all the features of the Wahoo 12.5. By flattening the rocker and lowering the keel, Kaku has designed a boat that tracks well and is easy to stand on. A sick deck pad rounds out the look of a quick little ’yak that is stable, comfortable and easy to handle.
KAKUKAYAK.COM
MANTA RACKS Whether it’s a mother-ship expedition offshore, a day-cruise to some isolated islands or exploration deep into the mangroves, there are a lot of places paddle-sports enthusiasts want to be that are too distant to access under paddle power. SUPs and kayaks take up a lot of room on the deck of the boat, and Manta Racks has come up with the perfect solution. The Manta Racks system stores your kayaks or SUPs securely to your boat, where they are out of the way, and it utilizes the boat’s rod holders, so there’s no need to drill any new holes for mounting. With a patented 360-degree locking swivel feature, paddleboards, wakeboards, kayaks, kiteboards, water skis and surfboards can be easily stored on the gunnel of the boat without drilling extra holes. All of your boards are out of the way of your passengers, securely fastened to your Manta Racks system. Go farther when you take your boards.
WWW.MANTARACKS.COM
WILDERNESS SYSTEMS RADAR SERIES With its new Radar Series, Wilderness Systems continues to build on its legacy of innovation, performance and quality in fishing kayaks. The Radar Series is Wilderness Systems’ first tri-powered kayak, which means it has paddle, power and pedal capabilities. It features S.M.A.R.T. Hull Technology that combines stability, maneuverability, acceleration, responsiveness and tracking throughout the entire design for ultimate
performance in multiple water environments. In addition to a flat platform for standing and freedom of movement, the Radar boasts state-of-the-art outfitting including expansive SlideTrax rails, a multitude of storage opportunities, and scupper options to deploy the Helix MD motor drive, Helix PD pedal drive and multiple options for electronics, including down-imaging, side-scanning or both. With Helix PD, a built-in steering control system allows for easy navigation that leaves your hands free for fishing. The AirPro Max seat complements the package with optimized positioning for any mode of travel.
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Paddlesports Product Review NUCANOE FLINT NuCanoe made waves when it introduced its new Flint kayak at iCast. Here is a boat jam-packed with features for serious anglers, yet the price tag is way below what you’d expect for such a high-quality kayak. At 11’3”, and less than 70 pounds, The Flint is the perfect boat for exploring creeks, rivers and backwater marshes. It is agile, responding nimbly to the paddle, and it also tracks very well despite its shorter length. Light enough for easy one-man transport, this boat is amazingly stable, and unique scupper hole design provides a firm deck. The Flint cockpit is wide open and fishes like a much larger kayak. There’s plenty of room and stability for standing to fish on an uncluttered deck, and the new Hawg Trough channel keeps your measuring board handy but out of the way. With five gear tracks, handy spaces for tackle boxes and angled flush-mount rod holders, NuCanoe has come up with a simple yet efficient and customizable layout for everything an angler needs. The side handle that doubles as a quick-clip paddle holder is a handy innovation someone should have come up with long ago. Cap it all off with the comfy custom-height Pinnacle seat NuCanoe is known for, and this is a top-notch fishing platform for a reasonable price.
WWW.NUCANOE.COM
PERCEPTION PESCADOR PILOT 12.0 Perception’s pedal-powered Pescador Pilot is a fishing machine that is extremely comfortable and functional for anglers. It excels in flat water and is an excellent kayak for inshore and bay fishing as well as on freshwater lakes and ponds. The Pilot Drive propeller system effortlessly propels the boat, even in reverse, while leaving both hands free. The spacious, sit-on-top design with generous storage and accessory mounts make the kayak easy to customize. Superior stability allows anglers to cast and fight fish while standing. Comfort is absolutely necessary for serious anglers spending long hours on the water. The Pescador Pilot is built for that. A roomy captain’s chair features zonal mesh to promote cooling airflow. On-the-fly seatback adjustment tilts back for relaxed pedaling or forward for sportier pedaling.
With performance, comfort, features, and storage that outdistance its price point, especially for a peddle-driven kayak, the Pescador Pilot is also a great value. This boat is proudly designed, molded and hand assembled in the USA and is backed by a 5-year warranty.
WWW.PERCEPTIONKAYAKS.COM
OLD TOWN PREDATOR PDL Prepare yourself for a totally new fishing experience. Old Town has taken boat control to new heights with forward and reverse via an efficient and easy-to-use propriety pedal-drive system. It gets you to the spot fast, and keeps you on the spot without paddling. With forward, reverse and agile maneuverability, you’ll experience precise boat control while your hands remain free to focus on fishing. The removable pedal drive installs in seconds and tips up instantly for shallowwater docking. The Predator PDL’s specially-designed hull combines the perfect balance of smooth pedal stroke speed and stand-up stability. The Old Town PDL pedals exactly like a bicycle, converting modest pedaling into maximum propulsion. A 10.3:1 gear ratio means that anglers can reach speeds up to 5.5 mph to reach fishing spots fast and efficiently. It also makes trolling through a range of useradjustable speeds easy and effective. The Predator PDL is infinitely customizable with rigging accessories from Cannon, Scotty, YakAttack, RAM and more.
WWW.OLDTOWNCANOE.COM
SEA EAGLE 350FX FISHING EXPLORER For anglers who like to go it alone, Sea Eagle’s 350fx is a terrific choice. The most stable and rugged entry in Sea Eagle’s Explorer Series of inflatable kayaks, it’s a lightweight (51-lbs.) and easily portable one-person fishing machine. Nearly indestructible, the 350fx features a double layer of 1000 Denier reinforced protective layers on the tubes and bottom, a 40-inch fish ruler, plus two spray skirts—each with three rod holders and accessory belts that hold tools, hooks and lures. A fully adjustable foot brace is easily positioned for maximum comfort and more power per stroke while a nifty anchor system quietly locks in advantageous casting positions. Suitable for paddling in waters rated to Class IV, 16 high-capacity self-bailing drain valves make this entry ideal for fishing in moderate whitewater rivers up to Class III. Close the valves to remain high and dry on flat waters, and insert the removable skeg to improve flatwater tracking. Fully inflated in seven minutes, the 350fx fits in a car trunk and handles electric motors up to 34-pound thrust. This inflatable fishing kayak is 11’6” long and has a maximum weight capacity of 575 lbs.
WWW.SEAEAGLE.COM
FLYCRAFT STEALTH The Flycraft Stealth is one of the most versatile boats in the world. Its unique construction and shape give it the functionality of many boats in one. From motoring on the coast or lakes to rowing rocky streams and mild whitewater, the Flycraft Stealth is your one boat answer. The boat’s lightweight and minimalistic design allow it to be easily carried on a roof or in a truck bed. No roof rack? No problem; this boat deflates and packs down to fit in a trunk or closet. At just 98 pounds, one person can easily transport or load this boat solo. For information, call 801-810-4022.
WWW.FLYCRAFTUSA.COM COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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QUIK-CHANGE II ™ Our Innovative, Interchangeable Fixed Blade Cutlery System 9” FILLET 7” FILLET 5” FILLET 3” SERRATED
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FLY FISHING
Michelle Bowman with a Yucatan baby tarpon from an inflatable SUP.
For more Bowman, go to
CAMFLYFISHING.COM
GAME CHANGER Sea Eagle FishSUP Stand Up Paddleboard
Win th Sea Eagle e FishSUP Pro Moto r Fishing Rig Packa ge! Fu
www.Coa ll details at stalAngle rContest.c om
Fits in a Bag! Paddle or Motor
Incredibly stable, the new inflatable FishSUP FS126 Stand Up Paddleboard is an angler’s dream. Lightweight, packable, portable and ready in moments. The FishSUP fits in any car trunk and inflates in just 7 minutes. Stand, sit, fish, motor, troll, fresh, salt or brackish water...the FishSUP goes everywhere. 800-748-8066 M-F 9-5 EST Dept C2048B 19 N. Columbia St., Suite 1
• 12’6” long x 40” wide for exceptional stability • Motor mount holds up to a 55 lb. thrust electric motor • EVA foam pad for secure stand up footing • 36” Built-in fish ruler • Heavy duty two layer drop stitch construction for a solid, super tough SUP board • Multiple d-rings and elastic cord for gear & accessories
MSRP $1149!
Port Jefferson, NY 11777
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NO 26
The best fishing stories start with you getting away.
F F
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2018 242CC
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2018 220CC ® Exclusive Variable Degree Stepped (VDS) Hull for Performance, Safety & Stability ® 10 year Structural Warranty ® SailTech Construction: 100% Composite, Reinforced with Kevlar® & Carbon Fiber ® Lifetime No-Rot Guarantee ® Bow To Stern Intelligent Ergonomic Design with Premium Finishes ® Family Friendly Features for Fun, Comfort and Safety
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Take a
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You could get a discount when you combine your auto and boat policies.
geico.com | 1-800-865-4846 | Local Office Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. Multi-Policy Discount available to auto insureds that have purchased a boat policy through the GEICO Marine Insurance Company. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2018 GEICO
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Center sp
For a limited time, get Suzuki Extended Protection, Instant Savings and attractive financing on select Suzuki outboards from 25 to 350 horspower. See your participapting Suzuki Marine dealer for details or visit www.suzukimarine.com.
REPOWER FINANCE Six Years of Protection at no extra charge on all new outboards 25 to 350 HP.
Instant Savings of up to $800 on select models. See your dealer for details.
Rates as low as 5.99% on new Suzuki outboard on approved credit.*
Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 04/01/18 and 06/30/18 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase. If an acknowledgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 04/01/18 and 06/30/18. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Customer and participating Dealer must fill out the appropriate form at time of sale. Instant Savings will be applied against the original dealer invoice (Suzuki will credit Dealer parts account). There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 04/01/18 and 06/30/18. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2018 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
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SOUTHEAST
By Will Clements
B
ass move shallow in spring, and kayaks are some of the best crafts to follow them. Most kayaks draft only 4 to 5 inches and can get to many places that bigger boats can’t. Culvert coves are some of my favorite places to bass fish this time of year. On large reservoirs, culvert coves are the shallow coves cut off from the main lake by roads or other barriers. The water has to come through somewhere, and typically this is via a narrow concrete bridge or large culvert. Many of these backwaters are only accessible in kayaks or other small vessels. On lakes with significant winter drawdowns, some of these areas are dry through the winter, which allows terrestrial grass and brush
to grow. When spring rains bring lakes back to full pool, these areas are flooded, creating havens for bass moving shallow to spawn. A kayak can slide into these areas and escape the traffic and spring winds on the main lake. Many people bank fish from the road in these areas; a kayak can access the entire cove. Kayaks also give you the ability to sneak up on bedding fish. Often you can drift in slowly enough that the fish see your kayak as a floating log. Being quiet is the key to sneaking up on these shallow fish. Try putting peel-and-stick foam anywhere you lay your paddle or rods. Any slight bang against the plastic hull reverberates through the water and can spook fish. Also, be aware of your shadow. Kayaks inherently cast less of a shadow than larger boats, especially when the angler is seated. Try standing in your kayak only to spot bedding bass. Then sit down to sneak in for the cast. When bed fishing, release fish quickly back to their beds to keep our fisheries strong. For prespawn and postspawn bass, be sure to fish the creek channel and culvert leading into and out of these areas. Bass congregate in these areas before and after spawning. My favorite baits to throw in these areas are bluegill imitations and reaction baits. In these sheltered backwaters, bass encounter less fishing pressure and can be easier to catch. When bass are up shallow or protecting beds, I like bluegill imitations. My favorite is a swim jig. You can fish it slow like a jig, fast like a swimbait or anywhere in between. It comes right through the grass and brush. I also like buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. In stained water caused by spring rains, bass will jump all over a loud and flashy bait. These protected, stained backwaters will warm up faster than any other water in the lake. Bass will be searching for any warmth they can find. Keep an eye out for these secluded culvert coves, and keep your kayak ready. Will Clements is an Outside World Outfitters Fishing Team member (outsidegeorgia.com/), a club series coordinator with River Bassin (www.riverbassintrail.com) and a Nucanoe team member (www.nucanoe.com).
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crisp March air was cold enough to have me bundled up tight in layers and a heavy coat. To make things a little more interesting, the previous week of heavy rainfall had the dam wide open, causing swift current and massive waves in high winds. After fishing for half the tournaBy Ryan Kennedy ment day with no success other than a few short fish, I was feeling a little discouraged. have dreamed of certain That’s when things took a turn for the better. As my partner and days that would come I approached a stretch of rocky bank, I reached for a Red Crawdad along for as long as I have Rapala DT-6 crankbait and started slinging casts toward the bank. A been fishing bass tourna- few casts in led us to a small transition area where the size of the rocks ments. Those dreams turn changed. The first cast at this transition started with a bang. into goals, and those goals My St. Croix Mojo Bass Cranking Rod, which is a glass rod, was are attainable with hard work bent heavily. I was in for the first good fight of the day. After what and perseverance. It’s beyond seemed like an eternity, I was holding a 4-pound, 8-ounce Lake Gunamazing to me looking back tersville spotted bass. If you are familiar with the lake, you know a on my most recent tourna- spot of that size is something to appreciate. It’s just 3 ounces shy of the ment to see how God’s plan 4-pound, 11-ounce lake record. came together down to the My demeanor quickly changed for the better. Back on deck, with very rock that I bumped my one cast behind me after landing Spotapotamus, I was laser focused. I crankbait into before catching slung my crankbait as far as I could cast toward a log just past the same the fish I had always dreamed transition area. Within three cranks of the reel, my dream was about about. to become a reality. Moments later, I was holding a 9-pound, 8-ounce The goal that had elud- donkey of a largemouth. ed me thus far in my tournaTo get this straight, let’s go over what just happened. In three casts, ment career was catching an a near-lake-record spotted bass was in the boat, my new personal best absolute giant in a tourna- largemouth bass was in the boat, and 14 pounds of fish were in the ment. Don’t get me wrong, I am always excited to catch a big bass, but livewell. My partner and I ended up with over a 20-pound limit with whenever it happens it always seems to be while fishing for fun on the only four fish and qualified for the 2019 FLW Collegiate National lake or while pond-hopping around my house. This all changed, as I Championship! will forever remember, during the situation I am about to describe. Contact Ryan Kennedy at ryankfishing@gmail.com. Keep up with I was fishing at Lake Guntersville, Alabama, during the second his exploits on YouTube: Ryan Kennedy Fishing, Instagram: @ryankstop of the FLW Collegiate Southeastern Tournament Trail. The fishing and Facebook: Ryan Kennedy Fishing.
I
By Chris Beardsley
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Charleston’s Fishing Forecast For April By Captain Mark Phelps
F
ishing the Charleston area in April can simply be unpredictable. The type of fishing will depend on the weather. If spring truly comes early and we have 80 degree days we might be fishing an early summer pattern. However, if the weather is cool we might still be fishing for redfish the same way we fished all winter. This winter’s cold snap dermally slowed the fishing down. However, the recent warm February, has the fishing back close to normal. If the weather in April is still on the cool side, the redfish will continue to be found in schools of 20-50. On calm days you should still have enough visibility to do some great sight fishing with fly or artificial lures on the flats. Try small olive or black flies fished slowly on the bottom. For spinning rods use a DOA shrimp or jerk bait on a weedless hook. Some days the red fish in the spring will get quite picky to say the least. When this happens you might find that anchoring the boat and soaking some cut bait works best. I like to use cracked crabs or cut mullet for this purpose. However, if you have some live mud minnows or live mullet they will also work well. One of the most constant fisheries in the spring time is for Sheepshead, They seem to be doing well after the cold snap. Nice catches of
them nearshore on the wrecks or inshore close to structure will do the trick. They love fiddler crabs on a small #2 hook as well as other baits such as clams, sand fleas, mussels or oysters crushed up on a hook. They can be tricky to hook but be patient and you will be rewarded with some nice catches.
Wyatt with a great 12lb inshore sheepshead. If April brings warm sunny days and the water warms to the high 60s or low 70s, we will have several options. The redfish will began to look for crabs in the grass at high tide and you might find the first “tailing” fish of the year. Crab flies and a weedless DOA shrimp or artificial crab work great. This will be a great time to start fishing for sea trout. A mud minnow or DOA shrimp under a cork is hard to beat. I always like April for the start of flounder season. Use a mud minnow or finger mullet on the bottom fished slowly and you might catch dinner. If the seas are calm you can look for the annual cobia run off the beaches and jetties. The last few years have seen some red hot cobia action in April as they migrate north for the summer. Cobia love bait fish and eels so anything that resembles these will work. Make sure you have a rod and reel in the 20-50 lb class because some of the cobia can be over 50 lbs!!! It’s time to get on the water and enjoy being in Charleston! 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 almost twenty three 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 • www.ShoreThangCharters.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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3/18/18 6:05 PM
Mt. Pleasant Pier
Fishing Forecast
A
pril is a great month to fish in the Charleston area. It’s mild enough to throw on a pair of flipflops, grab a cold beer from the River Watch Cafe, and head down the pier to see what’s biting. A fun species to target in April is the flounder. The best way to target the “doormats” is to hop a finger mullet or mud minnow Small black drum. along the bottom between the pier pilings where the tide rips through. Vudu shrimp and other artificials can produce results when fished the same way as well. Flounder and other predators will sit and wait for the tide to bring an easy meal. Live shrimp or 21 inch Red Drum. mud minnows along with soft plastic jigs are great bait options when looking for trophy trout. April should be a great month at the pier and produce a wide range of species. Be sure to give the Mount Pleasant Pier a call at (843) 762-9946 and the friendly folks on staff will let you know exactly what is biting and the best way to land the big one. It is a great time to hone your skills and get ready for the first pier tournament of the year. Saturday, May 5 the Cast-Off Fishing Tournament series officially kicks off the summer for Charleston County Park fishing tournaments. The competition runs from 6am – 2pm and entry is only $5 plus the regular daily fishing fee. Advance registration available at charlestoncountyparks.com. The Winter Sheepshead Challenge at the pier ran from November 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018. Thank you to all who participated. The 3 winners for this year are Kin Ladd with an 11 pound 4 oz beast, Jiggin’ Jerry with a 9 pound 11 oz sheep, and Don Mounce with a 5 pound 5 oz fish. Congratulations gentlemen! Note: NO FISHING from the pier April 29, 2018 due to the Blessing of the Fleet Festival at Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park.
• No trailering • Launch with ease
• Protect your investment
Chris Pounder, CPRP Manager Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission | Mount Pleasant Pier For more info please contact the pier at (843) 762-9946 or visit www.charlestoncountparks.com
CAPT. ADAM LIMBACH 843.872.8020 • Inshore Fishing Charters • Harbor/Eco Cruises 13+ Yrs Professional Guide Capt Adam Will Put you on the FISH!
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APRIL 2018
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3/18/18 6:05 PM
A
pril is the month that most of us anticipate all winter! To stay successful you need to be able to adapt to the chance in the weather, and more importantly water temperature. Typically I start April trolling on top of structure and looking for bait. If you can find a temperature break on top of structure even better. When I’m looking for tuna I run either seawitches with small Ballyhoo, or a cedar plug. I run direct rigs making my leaders 45 feet long out of 50 or 60 pound fluorocarbon. If I’m seeing tuna busting on the surface and I’m not getting bites I will drop back my long riggers. There are times my baits are half a spool back. If that doesn’t work I’ll go down in leader size. If I’m fishing for Wahoo I use #8 or #10 piano wire rigged with a medium to large ballyhoo. In front of my bait l like a seawitch or bullet head style lure. For the last couple years I’ve been having great success running lures from a local Charleston based company, Stryke Lures. They swim great, they are reasonably priced, and they are made out of quality hair that stays soft and won’t knot up. They just got a line of high speed lures that I haven’t gotten to try yet. I get most of my Wahoo bites getting my baits below the surface. You can do this using trolling leads, down riggers, or a planer. Many times I will get my first strike on one of the down rods, then hook a second wahoo on one of the long riggers. In my opinion one of the biggest mistake people make after they are hooked up to a wahoo is
stopping forward momentum. Keep the boat moving forward by bumping the motors in and out of gear; but do not stop. By keeping the boat moving forward you will have more control of the fish and you will land more wahoo. Once you have a hold of the leader, push the fish off to the side of the boat; never try and gaff a fish in the prop wash. When the fish is boat side, at the moment just before the gaff man goes in for his shot put the boat in neutral and the water will clear up making it a little easier to see the fish. It’s been an abnormally cold winter this year so the Dolphin might show up a little late; but in years past they start to show up by the end of April. When this happens I spend a lot of time studying temperature charts looking for edges and eddys. Temperature breaks are where I find most of my bait and fish. I catch most of my fish on the offshore side, but there are days I have done better on the inshore side. This is the time of year to cover ground and do some hunting. If I’m having a slow day I’ll put out the marlin plugs and speed up to 8 or 9 knots. When I get back into the Mahi I’ll slow down and put the ballyhoo back in the water. Go make memories!!! Capt. Adam Limbach / Therapy Fishing Charters therapyfishing.com | 843.872.8020
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t happens occasionally; the fish that will seemingly eat anything- quits. Although we all like the days where the strangest and gaudiest flies in the box work there are those days it takes a little patience and insight to get them to bite. Here’s a few tricks to get over the slump. First thing I would suggest would be to drastically change the color of the fly. Its obvious they aren’t eating so we’re looking for a more instinctual “triggered” bite. Dark colors generally suited for stained and off color water work miracles when its clear. My first thought would be to offer the fish a fly that is realistic during time of clear water but its not always the case. Flashy flies generally used in summer such as Randy Hamilton’s copperhead can also be deadly on lockjawed reds to get the trigger. If changing the color of my offering still does not get the redfish to bite, I will generally drop down to very small flies and a 12lb fluorocarbon leader. Flies often reserved for bonefish get dusted off and put into service. The lighter fluorocarbon leader will allow the smaller flies to sink a bit faster. Small lead eyed gotchas and even crazy charlies have produced redfish when the standard “go to” flies failed for us. Lastly the retrieve should be addressed. Again, change is the key here. If you’ve been stripping erratically and shrimpy, try a long and very slow retrieve. Many of the flies we use for redfish have either rabbit strips or marabou feathers, both of which breathe beautifully underwater. Take advantage of this and let the flies materials provide the movement for you. It will generally seem more natural to the fish (crabs don’t try to outrun redfish). Also its a good rule to not strip the flies towards spooky redfish so letting it set on the bottom would be a more natural presentation.
Remember: Gazelles don’t run towards lions. Its been a weird winter and a breezy spring, and things will get going full tilt soon. In the meantime you could paint the house, plant a garden, or get out on the water and improve your craft. Get out of your comfort zone and experiment. Scotty Davis | Lowcountry Fly Shop lowcountryflyshop.com
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April 2018 Tides
Charleston, South Carolina 32° 46.9’ N, 79° 55.5’ W
Date 1 Su 2 Mo 3 Tu 4 We 5 Th 6 Fr 7 Sa 8 Su 9 Mo 10 Tu 11 We 12 Th 13 Fr 14 Sa 15 Su 16 Mo 17 Tu 18 We 19 Th 20 Fr 21 Sa 22 Su 23 Mo 24 Tu 25 We 26 Th 27 Fr 28 Sa 29 Su 30 Mo
High Tide High Tide Low Tide 6:34a 2.7 7:57p 2.6 12:08a 1.4 7:02a 2.7 9:29p 2.7 1:06a 1.8 7:30a 2.8 10:48p 2.8 2:06a 2.1 7:58a 2.9 11:56p 2.9 3:05a 2. 8:26a 2.9 4:00a 2.5 12:56a 3.0 8:54a 2.9 4:51a 2.7 1:50a 3.0 9:25a 3.0 5:35a 2.8 2:39a 3.0 9:59a 3.0 6:12a 2.8 3:22a 2.9 10:39a 2.9 6:47a 2.7 3:57a 2.8 11:26a 2.8 7:21a 2.6 4:22a 2.7 12:21p 2.7 8:01a 2.4 4:37a 2.5 1:29p 2.5 8:48a 2.2 4:44a 2.4 2:52p 2.4 9:40a 1.9 4:48a 2.4 4:33p 2.2 10:33a 1.6 4:52a 2.5 6:28p 2.2 11:27a 1.2 5:02a 2.6 8:27p 2.4 12:20p 0.7 5:19a 2.8 10:14p 2.6 5:46a 3.1 12:14a 2.5 6:23a 3.3 2:54p -0.7 7:09a 3.5 3:45p -0.9 1:11a 3.2 8:04a 3.5 3:20a 3.1 1:42a 3.2 9:06a 3.5 4:31a 3.0 2:09a 3.1 10:14a 3.3 5:41a 2.8 2:35a 3.1 11:28a 3.0 6:50a 2.5 3:00a 3.0 12:51p 2.7 7:58a 2.1 3:24a 2.9 2:25p 2.4 9:05a 1.6 3:47a 2.9 4:10p 2.3 10:07a 1.2 4:10a 2.9 6:03p 2.3 11:06a 0.8 4:30a 2.9 7:56p 2.5 12:00p 0.4 4:48a 2.9 9:33p 2.7
Low Tide 1:04p 1.0 2:02p 0.6 2:54p 0.3 3:42p 0.0 4:27p -0.1 5:10p -0.2 5:52p -0.2 6:32p -0.1 7:12p 0.0 7:51p 0.2 8:29p 0.5 9:06p 0.8 9:43p 1.2 10:19p 1.6 10:56p 1.9 11:33p 2.2 1:12p 0.2 2:03p -0.3
4:35p -1.0 5:25p -1.0 6:15p -0.7 7:04p -0.3 7:52p 0.2 8:40p 0.8 9:28p 1.4 10:19p 1.8 11:17p 2.3 12:50p 0.0
Phase
3rd
New
1st
Full
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CHARLESTON 5
3/18/18 6:05 PM
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t has been a long Winter here in the Lowcountry. A lot of us local fishermen are readily waiting for Spring, and one of the fish species that we love to target through Spring, Summer and Fall is Summer Flounder. Summer Flounder like to spend their Winter vacation in deeper waters out at sea, but as we come into April, we will start to see the Summer Flounder reappearing along our inshore coastal waters. We will also find our Southern Flounder, which tend to stay yearround in the Lowcountry, but become less active during the Winter. As the water warms up and we move into Spring, the Southern Flounder will become quite active again. So what are a few good ways to target Flounder as we move into their season? I recommend starting with live bait off the bottom. Of course, this is a good choice all season, but it is an important choice to start out the season. Southern Flounder are just becoming active, and they are not completely aggressive yet, nor are the Summer Flounder that are re-entering our inshore waters, so a live Mud Minnow sitting on the bottom would be a great way to start and an easy meal for a hungry Flounder. The rig I would recommend for live Mud Minnows would be a Carolina rig with a 2/0 Kahle hook, 20 lb. test fluorocarbon leader line, approximately 12-18 in. long and an egg weight from ½ oz. to 2 oz., depending on water conditions and depth, and allow me to let you in on one of my personal tricks that I have been sharing for a number of years.
Summer Flounder are just becoming active, not completely aggressive yet Mud Minnows are not a shiny fish at all. They do not have a flash like Finger Mullet do, and in our Lowcountry waters that like to stay tea-colored or brown due to the mud in our rivers and harbors, a little bling can go a long way. That’s right, bling—flashy, shiny, glittery—something that will catch their attention. 6 CHARLESTON
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There are a number of jig head paints and powder coatings that fishermen can purchase online or from some local tackle shops. I have found that chartreuse powder coatings work great on my egg weights that I use with my Carolina rigs when fishing for Flounder or Trout. How will this help to attract Flounder? You assemble the Carolina rig the same way you always do, you just use a bright chartreuse-colored egg weight. When you cast your Carolina rig into the water and let it sit or drag it slightly to cross a Flounder’s path, the Flounder will see the chartreuse egg weight easily in the dirty-colored water, catching his attention and luring him over to investigate.
In most cases, as he approaches the colored egg weight, he then sees the nice, juicy, plump Mud Minnow attached to the leader line, and of course, a hungry Flounder cannot resist slurping up a juicy morsel like that. Will this help you catch more Flounder? From my personal experience, I would say yes! A large number of acquaintances and friends have fished along my side and had great success using this technique, and I hope you have great success yourself. So as we anticipate the arrival of our Summer Flounder, get your gear ready, put on a nice pair of polarized glasses, grab yourself a dozen Mud Minnows and hunt them down. Maybe this season you can find yourself a “doormat.” Like I always say, good luck out there and have fun fishing! To view some fishing adventures, go to my “Fishing with Jiggin Jerry” Channel on YouTube or go to ww.jigginjerry.net. Jiggin’ Jerry www.jigginjerry.net
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3/18/18 6:05 PM
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Folly Beach Fishing Pier
Any Hitch Just Won’t Do.
WHERE THE LOWCOUNTRY
GETS HITCHED.
Bonnie with a Spanish mackerel
8 CHARLESTON
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Joey Crawford Folly Beach Pier jcrawford@ccprc.com For more information visit CharlestonCountyParks.com
4534 Durant Ave - North Charleston 843-747-3400 www.CorbinsHitch.com
Charleston
maintenance staff worked steadily again this past winter to spiffy up the 1045-foot-long pier with new deck boards. Much thanks to the crew for keeping one of Charleston’s landmarks beautiful! Our extended summer fishing hours have started, so come join us from 6:00am to 10:00pm everyday this month. In addition, our best fish of the month challenge runs from April 1 till October 31 this year. Also be sure to join us next month for the Cast-Off Fishing Tournament May 19. Last but not least, we’re bringing back the Moonlight Mixers on May 25.
REEL SEMINARS & EVENTS
Y
ou know the saying, “April swells bring king mackerels!” …or at least the conditions are right for them. Any species you see on our summer challenge board can be caught in the lively month of April. From baitfish to game fish, they can all be found feeding around the Folly Pier. On the end of the pier diamond, one can target bluefish, Spanish mackerel, and king mackerel. Bluefish are the first to show up and can range from 1 to 9 pounds or more. Soon to follow will be the mackerel, which prefer clean water at temperatures above 67° F. Just be sure to have a proper trolley rig set-up with a live bait when targeting mackerel. Move closer to the shore and one will find whiting, drum, sheepshead, sea trout, pompano, and the distinctive Crevalle Jack. These fish congregate in the ocean surf searching for shrimp, mollusks, or baitfish. Saltwater surf fish typically feed during a moving tide in the shallow gullies of 2 to 5 feet of water. However, if the fishing doesn’t lure you out here, perhaps a renovated pier will. Our
UPCOMING EVENTS APRIL 1 – 15
SOUTH CAROLINA WAHOO SERIES TOURNAMENT contact: Marc Pincus marcreelin@aol.
com or visit them online: scwahooseries.com APRIL 1
FOLLY BEACH FISHING PIER AND MT PLEASANT FISHING PIER BEST FISH OF THE MONTH CHALLENGE runs from April 1 till October 31 – for more info visit the website: ccprc.com/index.asp?NID=65 APRIL 1 – 21
CHARLESTON FESTIVAL OF HOUSES & GARDEN’S cfor more info visit them online: historiccharleston.org/blog/events/category/festival-houses-gardens/ APRIL 4 BOHICKET MARINA EVERY WEDNESDAY “KIDS FISH” A Fishing Tournament just for Kids Ages 4-14. Two rounds of fishing at 9am & 10am. It’s only $7 per Participant which includes all bait and fishing rods, No Experience Needed! For Questions call 248-719-0076! APRIL 6 – 8 SUMMERVILLE FLOWER TOWN FESTIVAL cfor more info visit them online: summervilleymca.org/flowertown-festival/ APRIL 7 COOPER RIVER BRIDGE RUN cfor all the details visit the website: bridgerun.com APRIL 14 FLY CASTING CLASS by John Irwin 9am – 2pm (Charleston – West Ashley location) To Sign Up Come By the Shop or Email simon@haddrellspoint.com APRIL 26 – 28 CHARLESTON INSHORE ANGLERS 26TH ANNUAL SHEEPSHEAD TOURNAMENT
contact: Kevin Mischke - (843) 324-1006 Nick Kvestad - (843) 557-2811 Gene Broderick (843) 224-6826 APRIL 28 BOHICKET MARINA 5TH ANNUAL DOLPHIN SLAM Scales Open 3pm-7pm visit the website: bohicket.com/events APRIL 29 – 31 ANNUAL BLESSING OF THE FLEET & SEAFOOD FESTIVAL Celebrate the shrimping industry including boat parade, music, activities all at Mt. Pleasant Water Front Park go online for all the details: experiencemountpleasant.com/events/blessing-of-the-fleet
IF YOU HAVE A SEMINAR OR EVENT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE INCLUDED IN COASTAL ANGLER MAGAZINE’S REEL EVENTS, PLEASE EMAIL IT TO: SAM@COASTALANGLERMAGAZINE.COM DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION IS THE 10TH OF THE MONTH PRECEDING PUBLICATION.
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3/18/18 6:05 PM
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argeting sheepshead from a kayak can be challenging for the angler when compared to other inshore fish. The challenges of sheepshead include locating structure that will attract them, finding what they prefer to eat, anchoring, proper rod setup, the technique to feel the bite, and the fight. Equipment-wise I recommend: parachute cord (x2) roughly six feet in length, a scraper to chum around pilings (if the owner objects don’t scrape or damaged their property), a 6’6” length medium/ heavy, fast-action rod with a conventional reel spooled with 40 lb braid.
feeder creeks and flats. As the tide falls, sheepshead gravitate toward these mounds to holdup in the shallow water around them. Natural sheepshead diet/baits include sand fleas, clams, shrimp, mussels, crabs, oysters, snails, various worms and bryozoans. By far, fiddler crabs are the most popular bait for targeting sheepshead.
The best find is old barnacle that looks like no one attempted to target sheepshead there. I attach a medium size swivel to the line but above that swivel are an egg sinker (1 – 1.5 oz) and a plastic bead to help protect the knot. At the other end of the swivel a 12” fluorocarbon leader of your choice with a size 1 or 1/0 mosquito hook snelled to the leader. Locating the right structure can be challenge. Some anglers would tell you “just go look for some pilings”. I have found that not all pilings are equal.
I prefer to scout new locations when the tide is low enough to expose pilings or other natural structure below the high water mark. Look for a lot of barnacle buildup. The best find is old barnacle that look like no one has attempted to target sheepshead there. Other things to look for near the pilings are live oysters or muscles, which provide additional food sources. Tall oyster mounds are also great sheepshead habitat at low tide. Look for mounds 3–5 feet tall at low water. Target mounds close to 10 CHARLESTON
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The hookset is a skill that needs to be developed over time and repetition. I will position next to a piling and scrape barnacles off of the piling to chum that area. I might chum a few other pilings in preparation of changing spots. After a few minutes, I will vertically drop my presentation to the bottom, maintaining some control while the bait is lowered, as the sheepshead can steal your bait on the descent. Once the bait is in position watch, the line or the rod tip for ANY movement—a rod tip moving upward, or a heavy feeling on the line. A convict’s bite is subtle, so set that hook and prepare for a hard fight or reel up a baitless hook! Once you hook into a sheepshead, the challenge is landing your trophy. Fishing next to pilings vertically from your kayak, dropping an anchor adds another obstacle to landing your fish. I prefer to either tie off to the pilings or paddle/pedal to stay in position till you hookup. This makes holding your position in place the best option. Yes, it will make the challenge in hooking up but this technique also gives you the opportunity to kayak away and fight the fish outside the structure. A quick reminder, please respect an owner’s wish for you not anchor directly to their property, which includes their dock and boardwalk; you may fish next to it unobstructed. Remeber, the sheepshead kicks off the Angler of the Year tournament for Lowcountry Kayak Anglers (see our Facebook page for details) so good luck or feel free to join in the chase. I hope this helps you successfully target sheepshead more often and, please, harvest no more than what you need for your evening meal. Darrell Olson, Lowcountry Kayak Anglers The Jackson Kayak Fishing Team Member
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any people considering the purchase of a new boat often ask about the differences between outboard and stern drive (or inboard/outboard) propulsion. Understanding the pros and cons of each system will help families find the right boat for their situation. Stern drive propulsion systems basically have a marinized automotive engine inside the boat with an outdrive on the outside of the boat. These types of drive systems are found mostly in family runabout boats and cruisers because of their user friendly layout. Outboards are the primary choice for fishing boats and certainly are the most popular choice for boats in the Lowcountry. Most family boat manufacturers have added outboard power options to their lineups as well, bringing more options to local boaters than just center consoles. Now, potential buyers can better choose the boat configuration that meets the family’s needs and match that to their choice of power. Typically, the initial purchase price of outboard power is greater than stern drives. However, the annual maintenance of outboards is generally less. Furthermore, stern drive engines will require exhaust manifolds, usually in 5-7 years in a salt water environment. Additionally, stern drive engines require winterization if hard freeze is expected. Understand that the purchase price will usually be lower for stern drives, but over time, they will cost more. Because the engine portion is typically underneath a sun pad on the stern of the boat, stern drives have much better space utilization in the aft. This affords much better access to the water and better lounging. There is no wasted space with outboard splash wells. Further, there is no engine to interfere with rear visibility. Another benefit of stern drive power is safety. In most applications,
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stern drive units are underneath the swim platform, providing better protection from the drive when jumping into the water or swimming around the boat. As an added benefit, the extra padding around the stern drive engine reduces noise, providing a more comfortable ride in a stern drive boat. On the other hand, many outboard models offer spacious lazarette storage and manufacturers have designed ways to enhance the swim platform area. Certainly one of the biggest advantages to outboard power is the fact that outboards can be tilted up to run in very shallow water. This provides advantages for fishermen who need to get in shallow waters in search of baitfish, or to the homeowner who has to navigate very shallow waters to get into the neighborhood tidal creek. That is not to say that stern drives cannot be tilted up. In fact, they can be tilted up, even with the keel of the boat in order to get off of a sandbar. The difference is that since the outboard shaft is connected to the engine, and the entire engine tilts, there is no potential for drive damage. When a stern drive is tilted, the engine remains in position. The tilt is made possible due to a component known as a universal joint. The engine should be turned off in order to get into the tilt position in order to avoid damage to the universal joint. As you consider a new boat, take these points into consideration to be sure that you are getting the best configuration and power to fit your needs. Of course, our Tidewater center consoles are all outboard powered, but Bayliner and Regal both build family boats with your choice of outboard or stern drive power. Let us help you and your family navigate the many choices available for your next family boat. Jim Duncan / Duncan’s Boats www.duncansboats.com / 843-744-2628
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ith spring right around the corner we are all desperately waiting for all the Pelagic species to return. Until then bottom fishing, artificial reefs, or live bottom still produce some desirable fish. One that I feel is often overlooked is the White Grunt. Most people look at me like I’m crazy when I say I eat them. However, they are delicious fried as with anything. If you catch a decent size grunt the fillet is generally larger than a sea bass, vermillion snapper, or porgy.
This month I am going to make simple yet delicious pan fried grunt Po’ boy (where I grew up pronounced poor boy) with an apple and carrot wasabi coleslaw with Sriracha mayonnaise. The first thing we need to do is get our ingredient list. For the coleslaw we need 2 green
apples, 1 coleslaw mix from your grocery store (feel free to use fresh cabbage), 1 medium carrot, dukes mayo, wasabi, rice vinegar, honey, and 1 lime. Start with mixing the mayo, wasabi, honey, vinegar, lime, and salt and pepper. Add in your cabbage mix, fresh grated carrots and apples and more seasoning if you desire. Cover and refrigerate until its time to prepare the sandwich. At this time you can make the Sriracha mayo which is just mayo, Sriracha, pinch of cayenne, S&P.
Now that the coleslaw is marinating we can start on the fish. Get your boneless, skinless, and scaleless fillets out. We are going to use a triple breading procedure so seasoned flour(season with salt and pepper), egg wash, and then seasoned panko bread crumbs. For the breadcrumbs I like to put them in a food processor and blend until it’s a little finer. Take your fish and coat in flour, then in the egg wash, followed by the breadcrumbs and reserve. Now it is time to cook it. Get a cast iron pan or whatever pan you feel comfortable frying in. Cover the bottom about a ¼ to a ½ inch with canola or grape seed oil. Heat until you see it lightly rippling (add a pinch of flour in the oil to see if its ready). Add the fish and cook until its golden brown on both sides. Remember fish cooks quickly so don’t overcook it. Not to mention fried food still cooks when taken out of the oil. This process should take about 5 minutes max. If needed add a little more salt on fish. Now it’s time for preparing the Po’ boy. I like to crisp up the bun like you would a grilled cheese- butter it up and toast until golden. Take your toasted bun and put Sriracha mayo on both sides, add coleslaw on the bottom then the fish on top. Then add sliced tomato, fresh basil, and fresh cilantro. Serve with your favorite sides. Feel free to add or take out any ingredients you like. Enjoy! For the full recipe check out our online magazine! www.coastalanglermag.com/charleston. Chef Kyle Kryske has been cooking in restaurants for 18+ years. He is Chef de Cuisine at Coast Restaurant in Charleston.
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here is something distinctly different in the fishing industry today that back in the 70s and 80s when I was a child growing up was not really talked about around here in Charleston. Simply glancing over the forums online or listening in your local shops there is much talk about shark fishing. This simply did not happen when I was young, whether on purpose or not, I do not know nor remember. I do remember when I was younger that when a charter guide would take you out on a 4 hour charter, sharks were not a goal, but a way to get a tip after being skunked for 3 hrs. Times have definitely changed. Now there are shark charters, land based shark fishing clubs, shark tourneys, and other shark specific outings and organizations with a massive following and massive appeal. St Helena Sound is now the shark ground zero, the breeding and birthing destination for the 25 species or so of sharks that swim through the coastal Carolina Coast most of the year. In the last decade or so, our ocean has warmed. The South Carolina coast now has Floridian water temperature, while the Florida coast is Caribbean. All those sharks have followed water temperature north. Most shark species cycle from Florida up the Atlantic as far as Chesapeake/Long Island Sound. They follow warm weather patterns and the jet stream. This is why they seem to disappear during the winter. Nowadays, starting in March or April of every year, catching a shark off of Folly, Edisto, Beaufort, Hilton Head, and Seabrook is commonplace. You can catch them inshore, near shore, or offshore. Sharks now have their own classification through SC DNR regulations with about half having
1 per person or boat and the other half possession prohibited. If you are planning on keeping any, please know these differences. A problem people deal with while shark fishing is releasing them. Be sure to keep the larger ones wet or partially submerged, and always splash water around the gills. Normally, regardless of how tired or sore you are, they are feeling worse. Try the best you can to remove the hook, or if this is not possible cut the line at the hook and get him back in the water as soon as possible. There is something fun about having a rod in a surf spike while playing horseshoes with your family at the beach when all of a sudden the heavy action rod with a 6000 series reel starts screaming and your rod bends 90 degrees. The fight that ensues lasts about 30 minutes and by the time you’re done, everyone and their momma comes out of nowhere to watch. I always smile to myself as I release it back into the water while my arm is sore thinking; I’ve just made my last minute tip. Kyle Comen / South Side Bait and Tackle SouthsideBaitandTackle.com | (843) 203-6561
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The Charleston
Heather caught this beautiful Redfish in Charleston waters last year during the Lowcountry Open
Mrs Bates caught this 13lb Redfish with Capt Justin of All in One Charters
Jeff with his first catch of the day he was really happy with this redfish - with Capt Jessie Riddle Jesse and Jeremy caught a Gag grouper & Snapper off the Charleston Coast with Tight Line Charters.
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Fishing Gear Review by Capt. Mark Phelps
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e had some kind of winter this year. Very cold January followed by a hot February. Spring is here and things will pick up fast. If most of you looked at your fishing gear, it would be just where you left it last fall or maybe as late as Thanksgiving. Now is the time to pull your rods, reels, and tackle box out and start preparations for this year. Reels that are in question should be taken off the rods to be cleaned and serviced by a professional. The local shops offer excellent service or you can, in most cases, send back to the manufacturer. The rods should be checked over. Cracked guides can break or cause the line to break when you hook a fish. I am sure you can open the tackle box and do some cleaning out as well. Take inventory of what you are in need of and what you have more than enough of. I often find I am running low on a certain size hook or weight and have more than enough of something else. Organizing your tackle will help you take inventory as well as let you know what to fix or buy for this coming season. It’s important to do this early. This way, when the water warms and the bite starts you are ready to go at a moment’s notice. You may discover something isn’t in as good a shape as you remember. Sometimes equipment is put up without being cleaned at the end of the year.
Asquith Fly rod 8wt.
You soon remember that you dropped a rod in the water on the last trip and never cleaned it. Now it doesn’t work at all. You may think to yourself, this is the year I treat myself to a new rod/reel combo that will give me just the edge I need to out fish my partners on the water. There are always new and exciting innovations with fishing tackle. 16 CHARLESTON
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Sometimes, it’s a “recycled” item from years gone by. Other times, there is a breakthrough in technology that takes our sport to the next level. This doesn’t happen every day or even every year, but Shimano/G-Loomis has introduced a few new rods that have changed the market.
Conquest Spinning rod “CNQ 842S SJR”
The new Asquith fly rod and the Conquest spinning/casting rods are made with a completely new technology that is very impressive. This technology is called Spiral X construction. Spiral X makes the rods very light and sensitive while allowing for longer and more accurate casting. This new technology makes such a profound difference that when Yellowstone Angler did a 2018 Shootout of 25 of the best 8wt fly rods, the Asquith won in EVERY category. If you aren’t into fly fishing, the Conquest rod is for you. Conquest is available in both spinning and casting versions. The spinning rod I am using is CNQ 842 SJR. Whether you opt for the Asquith or the Conquest, you will definitely benefit from Shimano/G-Loomis’s new Spiral X technology. The hundreds of clients I worked with in the last year loved both the Asquith fly rod and the Conquest spinning rod. Both have lived up to the hype and even exceeded the expectations of many experienced clients. If you are looking for any new rods that will blow all others away, consider looking at the Asquith fly rod or the Conquest spinning/ casting rod. You won’t be disappointed.
Review by: Captain Mark Phelps / Shore Thang Charters www.ShoreThangCharters.com
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f this photo of a happy kid with a humongous fish doesn’t make you smile, nothing will. Chase Stokes, 11, caught his 33.25-pound, 40inch carp on a nightcrawler while fishing at Otter Creek in Panton, Vermont in April 2017. It is one of the three state records caught by Vermont anglers last year. All of them are species not typically targeted. In May, angler Mike Elwood landed a record redhorse sucker while fishing on the Winooski River in Colchester, Vermont. The sucker, landed on a live worm, weighed 9.9 pounds and measured 29 inches long with an 18-inch girth. The third record for 2017 was a cisco, also known as lake herring. Alan Franchot caught his 2.25-pound state record while trolling on Lake Champlain in September. “We saw some incredible catches in 2017, especially Chase’s carp,” said Shawn Good, fisheries biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife. “It was an impressive looking fish, but what’s really exciting to me is that we’re starting to see more Vermont anglers fish outside of the box, as I like to call it, by taking advantage of many of the overlooked fishing opportunities we have in our state.” Good said fishing in Vermont remains excellent for traditional species like bass, trout, salmon and pike, but that anglers should take a look at some of the oddball fish like bowfin, drum, gar, fallfish and suckers that can provide great action as well as trophy potential.
It’s Tarpon Time In The
Florida Keys
By CAM Staff • Photo by Pat Ford
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t is the heart of the tarpon season in the Florida Keys. With the annual migration in full swing, there should be silver kings everywhere over the next couple of months. The big spring run begins most years in February. It can last deep into the summer when conditions are right. This is when the big fish are most vulnerable. Averaging 80 pounds and sometimes running much larger, tarpon in the keys offer a fishery unlike any other in the world. The west coast of Africa might have the world record 286-pound, 9-ounce tarpon, but nowhere in the world has the opportunities to sight fish tarpon like the Keys. Poling the flats, there is a very real possibility of encountering tarpon up to 200 pounds and heavier in shallow and ultra-clear water. Migrating tarpon will push up into the backcountry in the thousands, skirting the edges of the flats and channels. Staking out or anchoring the boat in an ambush point where the angler is likely to encounter numbers of hungry tarpon is best accomplished through a local guide who stays on top of the movements of these giant fish. One thing you’ll notice is that while some captains might guarantee “shots” at tarpon, none promise you’ll actually bring one boatside. With a fly, enticing a big tarpon to eat is something that takes a lot of skill and a little luck. First-timers are probably better off fishing live bait, and a crab fished under a float in the passes and around bridges where fish are
concentrated can lead to multiple hook-ups in a day’s trip. What follows is a fight that cannot be matched by any fish anywhere. The powerful runs and repeated jumps of a hooked tarpon are what made them so highly prized as a game fish. Even experienced anglers are frequently left broken hearted when the line falls slack. Winning a battle with Megalops is an achievement to be remembered. Winning the battle comes with a heavy dose of responsibility, as well. Tarpon have a life span of 50 years or more. They are slow growing, and it takes them seven to 13 years to reach sexual maturity. This and their value as a game fish make them susceptible to population decline. Every effort should be made to release them with the best chance for their survival. All Florida tarpon must be released, with an exception for anglers who have purchased a state tarpon tag for the purpose of achieving an IGFA world record. Large tarpon should remain in the water at all times, which means unhooking and photographing them should be done quickly, with an effort to keep the head and gills in the water as much as possible. Never attempt to drag a tarpon over the side of the boat. Tarpon will often fight to exhaustion, so reviving them after the fight will greatly increase their chance of survival. Hold them horizontally in the water with their mouth open, moving them forward to push water over their gills. Do this until they are able to swim off on their own.
Fish wide open.
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By Conner Jones
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Look for Shadows: A trout’s camouflage is effective, designed to hide it from predators with better eyesight than humans possess. Sometimes the best way to spot a fish is by looking for shadows. If a fish is suspended any distance off the bottom, it will cast a shadow that contrasts against the bottom more so than the fish itself. Find the shadow, and you have found the fish. Find the Right Water: This means using the angle of the sun to your advantage. Try to position yourself so glare is minimal. Heavy currents and deep water can obscure what is hiding below, so be sure to check the shallows. Tail-outs are the shallow stretches at the end of a pool, usually with a uniform current and gravel or cobble bottom in free-stone rivers. These features make the tail-out ideal for spotting fish, but their shallow nature can put fish on edge, so be sure to go slow! The Gear: It’s hard to overstate the importance of good sunglasses on the water. Good sunglasses will not only cut the glare off the water, allowing you to see the underlying structure of the river, they will also enhance your ability to see fish. Good sunglasses are the key to being able to spot fish and also the easiest way to step up your sight fishing game, so invest in a good pair. Conner Jones is with Cohutta Fishing Company. Contact him at cjones@cohuttafishingco.com and visit their website at www.cohuttafishingco.com.
ven out in the open, trout are remarkably adept at hiding their presence. The muted colors and speckles of their backs are beautiful out of the water. In the water, these features make them invisible to the untrained eye. Most of their predators come from above, so spotting and stalking trout is difficult, which is what makes it so much fun. Here are a few tips to help you successfully sight fish for trout. Go Slow: This cannot be overstated. The easiest fish to see is the one you just spooked. As the fish bolts you will inevitably ask yourself, “Why was I in such a rush?” Go slow, start at the tail of the pool and work your way to the head. Be methodical. Look for Motion: It’s amazing how little motion it takes for a trout to keep its place in the current. However, these small movements are sometimes all it takes to give away a fish’s location. Look for unnatural movement like the side-to-side pulse of a tail or the telltale white of an opening mouth. Sometimes, this is the only clue Airline_CoastalAnglerAd_3-2016_Layout 1 3/18/16 1:07 PM Page 1 a trout will give to its location.
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On The Water With
Kaku By Capt. Ryan Drygas
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arpon Springs, a small town on the west coast of Florida an hour north of St. Petersburg, is a best-kept secret for redfish and snook. It sits within a web of waterways connecting the Gulf of Mexico to rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes and eventually Tampa Bay. This vast system offers excellent inshore opportunities, and it’s a ton of fun to explore under paddle power. I know a local who grew up there and knows the water like the back of his hand. Kevin Hawkins, owner of Kaku Kayaks, invited me out on the water to try his newest SUP, the Voodoo. Kevin lives, eats and breathes fishing. When he’s not fishing from one of his kayaks or SUPs, he’s thinking about ways to design these boats so they’re better to fish from. The Voodoo is a hybrid that melds the best qualities of an SUP, a kayak and a micro-skiff. We launched from his local ramp on a Saturday afternoon a cou-
ple hours before sunset. I don’t have the words to describe the picturesque setting that spread out before me. Mangroves, oyster beds and hidden shoals were in abundance. We paddled to the tip of a mangrove island where a smaller canal led to docks, sandbars and windbreaks. We had to cross the main channel to get there, and there was a 1- to 2-foot chop with the boating traffic and winds. The Voodoo was stable and fast, tracking straight as it cut through the channel. I was surprised the chop didn’t offer more of a challenge, but the hull design of the Voodoo is flawless. It also features a chair, which—without adjustment—offers two seated positions and can be used as a poling platform. The boat paddles well from a seated or standing position, and the ability to make powerful strokes with a low center of gravity came in handy during the crossing. As we rounded the tip of the island, we found wind-shade in a pocket. We poled down to cast right under the mangroves and docks. The Voodoo’s stern has five molded-in Power Pole mounts that allow for dual or single Power Pole Micros. And from a stability standpoint, the boat might as well be the deck of a skiff. Kevin hooked into a 25-inch redfish and fought it with ease from the open deck. As we paddled through the backside of the mangrove islands, we cast to oyster beds and under docks. The final spot Kevin had planned was a back corner of an area with a long sea wall and sand flats. Kevin wanted to hit it right at sunset, when the redfish bite is best. We could see reds tailing over the shoals as the tide went out. If you are looking for a perfect fishing machine, look no further than Kaku. These boats are a fisherman’s Cadillac. Kevin’s obsession with crafting a superior fishing vessel is evident in the sleek, stable versatility of his boats. For more on Kaku Kayak, visit kakukayak.com.
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By Tom Schlichter
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ou couldn’t tell by looking in the tannic-stained water, but Capt. Gary Dubiel was convinced redfish were holding just a few feet from the bank. “Toss your line up tight and see what happens,” he instructed. My cork popper landed with a splat and the trailing DOA shrimp settled toward the bottom. I waited a second, gave a “pop” and watched the cork slide under with an 8-pound red in full protest. “They’ll smack that setup every time,” smiled the skipper. It’s no secret that the coastal waters of North Carolina teem with redfish and stripers, but many visiting anglers focus their efforts solely on inlet and ocean waters. For truly amazing topwater action, the bays, creeks and river systems are also well worth exploring. “There’s amazing variety on the inside here,” said Dubiel, of Spec Fever Guide Service (www.specfever.com), who specializes in putting light-tackle and fly-fishing fans right in the mix. Dubiel especially enjoys working the Neuse River area because it hosts stripers and seatrout year-round, plus redfish from spring though mid-October. “These stripers are estuarine and don’t run to the ocean,” he explained. “They typically measure up to 32 inches, which makes them perfect for light gear and fly rods. Even better, they mix in with the specks and slot-sized redfish. We often catch all three on the same trip.” The striper action really heats up in late April when the bass return from spawning farther upriver to offer outstanding surface action from Oriental to New Bern, N.C. Much of the fun takes place in knee-deep depths here in the river’s mouth at Pamlico Sound, and that makes for a ton of topwater thrills. Interestingly, the Neuse River—America’s widest at 6 miles across the mouth— doesn’t have a lunar rise and fall in tides. Rather than look for current, Dubiel works around structure while using a trolling motor to quietly get in and out of
potential hot spots. He likes casting at old wood when possible, often using a Bob’s Banger Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec popper. “Because the fish often Fever Guide Service works hang in the shallows here, you can call them from a considerthe long wand for shallow able distance if you make a litwater Neuse River stripers, reds tle noise,” he said. “This is also and specks. Photo by Felicia a great lure for covering a lot of Scocozza. water. Some of our wood fields are pretty expansive.” Push up into the Neuse River tributaries above and below New Bern and you’ll also find largemouth bass, crappie and perch. The creeks stay warmer than the river in the winter months, so there are times in late winter and early spring when you might catch any of these along with a striper, redfish or speckled trout as well. “It certainly makes for an interesting mixed bag,” quipped Dubiel. Just an hour drive from Moorhead City, N.C., the Neuse River is easily accessible from Oriental, New Bern or the ICW. For accommodations, consider Bridgepoint Marina (www.bridgepointe.com) in New Bern. It’s within 500 yards of public launching at both Lawson Creek Landing and Union Park Point. For more info on the New Bern area, visit www.visitnewbern.com.
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United States Power Squadrons–America’s
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ho doesn’t have a smile on their face when they’re spending time on the water? You can’t help yourself. Boating is the definition of getting away from it all. And getting away from it all is always more fun with friends. This is where the United States Power Squadrons–America’s Boating Club comes in. Enjoying your time on the water with family and friends starts with being safe and responsible while having fun. That’s what makes America’s Boating Club different than most boating organizations. For over a hundred years, the organization’s focus has been on providing unsurpassed boating safety education. But the organization’s leadership and members are passionate about a membership that doesn’t end on Sunday and doesn’t care if the calendar says it’s winter. It’s about being together and building a community through a variety of events like parties, meetings and even just getting together for no reason at all. Driven by this passion, United States Power Squadrons–America’s Boating Club, the country’s largest nonprofit boating organization, just launched its new logo. This is the first of several planned updates in the organization’s new brand image and identity. Changes to the organization’s website, social media platforms and collateral are expected in the coming weeks.
“We are United States Power Squadrons but we are also America’s Boating Club,” said Gary Cheney, chief commander, United States Power Squadrons. “This is not just a name change, it describes what we do. We go boating and have fun doing it. Our squadrons are social clubs as well as providers of high quality boating education— allowing members to enjoy the sport and camaraderie of boating and any number of activities that keep us together. Togetherness is what this lifestyle is all about. We joined the organization for the boating education, but we stayed for the friends.” Offering classes For Boaters, By Boaters in boat handling, navigation, boat maintenance, weather and related subjects, United States Power Squadrons— America’s Boating Club serves as a virtual “yacht club” with boating and social activities for all types of recreational boaters. With over 27,000 members organized into 356 local clubs across the country, America’s Boating Club is comprised of families who contribute to their communities by promoting safe boating through education. Members are vital to strengthening the communities they live in and know it’s important to live their values by giving back through public service and volunteer opportunities. Members provide courtesy vessel safety checks, help the NOAA’s National Ocean Service keep nautical charts accurate and organize beach cleanups. “Our commitment is to continue learning, teaching, laughing and helping our fellow members enjoy boating,” continued Cheney. “Whether you’re passionate about cruising, racing, making new friends, volunteering in your community or learning from experienced boaters, your local squadron has the resources you need to engage your passions and, perhaps, instill some new ones.” In February of 2017, the United States Power Squadrons announced its America’s Boating Club co-brand to its squadrons, following an almost yearlong renaming exercise. To learn more about United States Power Squadrons–America’s Boating Club, visit www.americasboatingclub.org.
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FRESHWATER Jordan Lee Wins Back-To-Back
Bassmaster Classics Bassmaster photos by Andy Crawford
I
n sixth place headed into the final day of the Bassmaster Classic on March 18 at lake Hartwell, S.C., Alabama’s Jordan Lee was in striking distance to do what only two anglers have ever done—win the Super Bowl of bass fishing twice in a row. And he did it. With a final day surge that took him to the scales with 16 pounds, 5 ounces, Lee tallied a three-day total of 47-1 to edge out California pro Brent Ehrler by a single pound. With his Classic win last year at Lake Conroe, Texas, Lee joins Rick Clunn and Kevin VanDam as the only three anglers in the history of the sport to win back-to-back classics. With the $300,000 purse, Lee pushed his career earnings with B.A.S.S past the million-dollar mark.
“It was just a perfect week for me,” Lee told Bassmaster. “I caught fish on five different baits and a lot of different techniques.” Boat docks were the ticket to Lee’s success. Following poor practice rounds, he could not nail down a strong pattern. From Day 1, Lee reverted to his comfort zone and his strength. “I just wanted to cover as much water as I could to give myself the best chance of putting a bait in front of a fish,” he told Bassmaster. “On this lake, I knew boat docks were going to play because they always do—and that’s what I like to do.” Live on Day 1, video showed Lee pumping his fists over a chunky largemouth he finessed out from under a dock with black floats. Black floats tend to warm the water around them, and the fish were staging up prior to the spawn. A strong sack of 18-10 on Day 1 must have buoyed Lee’s confidence in the dock pattern. Despite catching nothing but smaller spotted bass and just 12-2 on Day 2, Lee was still solidly in the top 25 to make the cut to fish Championship Sunday. Lee found his magic pocket on Day 3. Fishing a Strike King Rage Swimmer, a Strike King Ocho and a Strike King Shimmy Stick, he stuck to that one little pocket and pulled fish from beneath almost every dock. Green pumpkin was his primary color. Jason Christie, of Oklahoma, who led through the first two days of competition, dropped back to third place after the final day with a three-day total of 45-15. Ehrler’s 46-1 earned him second place. Alabama pro Mark Daniels Jr. caught the Berkley Big Bass of the tournament, a 6-pound, 11-ounce largemouth that won him $2,500. Reporting by Bassmaster’s Bryan Brasher.
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UNDER THE SEA
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ike land hunters or rod-and-reel fishermen, spearos also study and perfect some tricks of the trade. Spearos immerse themselves into the fishes’ environment, so the first skill to master is to look like you belong there. Beginners tend to exhibit aggressive behavior, chasing and spooking fish. If fish scatter when you get near, study how calmly an experienced diver moves in the water. Until you achieve a non-threatening aura, all other tips and tricks will be useless. After achieving smooth diving technique, here are some techniques to get near fish. 1) Aspetto (Italian for “wait”)—It starts from the surface with a smooth duck-dive into the water while removing the snorkel. You descend with soft kicks until you begin to free-fall as you scan the bottom. By turning your fin blades, you maneuver to the right spot, perhaps where the reef meets sand. You lie motionless on the bottom until curious fish come to check you out. Moving only your eyes, you pick out the prey, move your gun slowly, and make a well-placed shot. A good spearo will make this technique look easy, but it is not. This is especially effective with evasive fish that become curious when you do not move, such as mutton snappers in Florida, stripers in the northeast, and bigeye emperors in Hawaii. 2) Agguato (Italian for “ambush”)–This is a dynamic stalking technique to get closer to prey without being noticed. The diver navigates the bottom using the environment to get closer to the prey. The diver must consider current, visibility and available bottom structure while moving from one object to another, blending into shadows or hiding behind reef formations. If your body can be hidden while closing the gap, the fish will remain unaware of your presence.
3) Flashers/ Sheri Daye practices “aspetto” technique. chum—Especially Photo by Joe Marino effective for hunting pelagics such as jacks, tunas, dolphin and wahoo. Multiple mirrors dangle below a float, and the flashes of light in the water imitate the reflective glare from a school of baitfish. The fish come in to investigate. Chum can be used in combination with a flasher to bring them even closer and keep them interested. In addition to these techniques, serious spearos are likely to train in a pool, use meditation techniques, and do cardio exercises to increase their breath hold capacity. Many take freediving classes to increase bottom time and safety. While there is no certification required to do it, classes should be a pre-requisite, as freediving is a sport that can lead to “blackout” and death if not practiced correctly. Spearfishing is a beautiful, selective way to catch fish, but it is also physically and mentally demanding. Above all, be safe and happy hunting! Sheri is a world-record holder, host of Speargun Hunter, and producer of The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Follow “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram.
For more Sheri Daye, go to
CAMSPEARFISHING.COM
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hen Jesus Chavarria was a small boy nearly 60 years ago, he remembers a giant silver fish with huge scales brought to the dock at his home in the small Pacific river port of Sierpe, Costa Rica. No one had any idea what it was. He went on to captain offshore sport fishing boats all over the west coast of Costa Rica for the next 35 years and retired a few years ago to taking guests fishing the backwaters of the Sierpe River. His specialty is snook but now and then he began to catch tarpon. Tarpon are not indigenous to the Pacific Ocean, but over the years anglers began to encounter a tarpon now and then. The thought is that over more than a century since it was constructed, the Panama Canal has provided passage for tarpon, which now reside in the Pacific. Tarpon capture has been recorded as far south as Colombia and as far north as El Salvador. Saul Porras’ capture of a tarpon that weighed barely 3 pounds at a creek mouth in southern Costa Rica changed the whole thought process. Chances that a fish that small swam through the canal and that far are slim. Are tarpon now breeding in the Pacific? FECOP, the sport fishing advocacy and conservation group in Costa Rica, agreed to sponsor a project to find out more about tarpon in the Pacific. They contacted Didiher Chacon, who had worked on a Costa Rican Caribbean tarpon project almost three decades ago in Barra del Colorado for Dr. Roy Crabtree, of Florida. He agreed to work on the science part of the project. “The Sierpe Wetlands are perfect habitat for juvenile tarpon,” explained Chacon. “That very well may account for the increase in numbers of tarpon caught there in the last few years.” Most of the river tarpon are small, less than 30 pounds, but fish as large as 100 pounds have also been taken. Phase 1 of the project will concentrate in southern Costa Rica. A DNA comparison will be done between Pacific-caught tarpon and tarpon taken from different parts of the Caribbean side of the country. They will also study what the Pacific tarpon have been feeding on. Today this can be done with a small tissue sample without sacrificing the fish. All Pacific caught tarpon will also be tagged. Chacon noted that there is a possibility over time for tarpon to change the ecology of the rivers. It is not yet known what they are feeding on or how they will affect native fish. The Pacific-side tarpon are now showing with enough frequency to make it worth finding out. Tropical storm Nate delayed the project when the massive amounts of rain that fell not only caused major landslides but also completely flushed everything out of most of the country’s rivers. Find out more about Pacific tarpon and other FECOP projects on sport fishing conservation at www.fishcostarica.org.
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2/10/50 AMP, 12 VOLT 7 FT. 4" x 9 FT. 6" CAMOUFLAGE BATTERY CHARGER/ WEATHER RESISTANT TARP ENGINE STARTER Customer Rating
SAVE 57% $
LIMIT 8 - Coupon valid through 8/1/18*
COMPARE TO
$18999
SUPER COUPON
NOW
MODEL: DW1369
15999
ITEM 93454/69054/63395/62603 shown
Customer Rating
NOW
Customer Rating
LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 8/1/18*
SUPER COUPON
DEWALT
41" to 61-3/4" • Crane height adjusts from 73-5/8" to 89"
9 $1299
SAVE $285
SUPER COUPON
2 TON CAPACITY FOLDABLE SHOP CRANE 40 VOLT LITHIUM CORDLESS • Boom extends from BRUSHLESS BLOWER
NOW
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 8/1/18*
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.
SUPER COUPON
Customer Rating
Tools sold separately.
LIMIT 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day Parking Lot Sale item, compressors, floor jacks, safes, saw mills, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, trenchers, welders, Admiral, Ames, Bauer, Cobra, CoverPro, Daytona, Earthquake, Fischer, Hercules, Icon, Jupiter, Lynxx, Poulan, Predator, Tailgator, Viking, Vulcan, Zurich. Not valid on prior purchases. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 8/1/18.
Cannot be used with other discounts or prior purchases. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 8/1/18 while supplies last. Limit 1 FREE GIFT per customer per day.
60" HARDWOOD WORKBENCH WITH 4 DRAWERS
$9999
ANY SINGLE ITEM*
ITEM 63604/63758 98025/69096/63759/90899 shown
ITEM 68053/62160 62496/62516/60569 shown
SUPER COUPON
6.5 HP (212 CC) OHV HORIZONTAL SHAFT GAS ENGINE NOW
1351
• 3.5" LCD Display • Battery Included
99
SUPER COUPON
ITEM 60363/69730 ITEM 69727 shown CALIFORNIA ONLY
PROSKIT
$
MODEL: MT-1210
SAVE $40 $ COMPARE TO
COMPARE TO
Customer Rating
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 8/1/18*
99
ANY PURCHASE
7 FUNCTION DIGITAL MULTIMETER
• 3-1/2 pumps lifts most vehicles • Lifts from 3-1/2" to 14-1/8" • Lightweight 34 lbs.
LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 8/1/18*
$
WITH
RAPID PUMP 1.5 TON ALUMINUM RACING JACK ®
NOW
NOW
20% OFF
FREE
850 Stores Nationwide • HarborFreight.com SUPER COUPON
SUPER COUPON
LIMIT 8 - Coupon valid through 8/1/18*
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At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare to” price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.
3/19/18 3/2/18 8:33 2:53 AM PM
GET A GRIP • Safer • Easier • Better
Made in USA
Don’t settle for imitations!
The Fish Grip is a fish landing device that was developed by avid anglers. The goal was to find a safer way to land a fish — safer for the fish AND the angler.
The Fish Grip will help you land fish!
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www.TheFishGrip.biz
Photo courtesy of Outcast Sport Fishing/Facebook
N
ot long ago, people didn’t know there were great white sharks off the coast of South Carolina. Now, thanks to the obsessive pursuit of them by Outcast Sport Fishing Charter Capt. Chip Michalove, everyone knows they’re out there, and in numbers during the winter months. Michalove seems to have figured it out, and he’s not sharing his secrets for fear of hurting the species he spent more than a decade trying to pattern. The captain has caught nearly 30 of these apex predators over the last three years. His most recent catch has made national news after a post about him catching a 16-foot-long, 3,000-pound white shark went viral from his Facebook page. Journalist Mandy Matney wrote in Hilton Head Island’s Island Packet about Michalove’s giant fish. She reported that with a two-man skeleton crew, Michalove had to radio to another fishing boat for backup to bring the giant fish boatside where it could be tagged and released. Michalove tags great whites for the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy in Chatham, Mass., according to the Island Packet report. They are working to study the movements of the sharks in the Atlantic, and through technique Michalove does everything he can to put minimal stress on the animals.
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THE PLANET’S
CLEANEST OUTBOARD It’s never been this much of a rush to make the right choice. The new Evinrude® E-TEC® G2® gives you power plus responsibility. Run the cleanest combustion outboard on the planet, period. Not just clean, but lean, with 15% better fuel efficiency*. No competitor takes you further on a tank of fuel. That’s more adventures to the gallon, more fish in the boat, more dollars in your wallet. The planet friendly E-TEC G2. No outboard engine runs cleaner.
©2018 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, TM and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. * Fuel economy claim based on BRP-conducted ICOMIA testing of Evinrude E-TEC G2 250 H.O., Yamaha 250 SHO® and Mercury OptiMax® 250 HP in a test tank to determine ICOMIA average cycle. Actual fuel economy dependent on engine model.
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