navigating peace of mind
THE IMPORTANCE OF BOAT INSURANCE
Embarking on the open water is an exhilarating experience, flled with the promise of adventure and relaxation. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a weekend cruiser, protecting your vessel with proper insurance is not just a choice—it’s a necessity. Explore the reasons why every boat owner should prioritize boat insurance for a worry-free voyage.
Unpredictable waters
The open water can be unpredictable, with unexpected storms, collisions, or other potential accidents. Boat insurance can give you fnancial protection if there is damage to your vessel, providing coverage for repairs or replacement.
Damage and injury
Accidents on the water can result in damage to other boats, docks, or even injuries to passengers. Boat insurance offers liability coverage, which can pay for damages or injuries you’re liable for while boating, up to specifed limits, and lawsuit costs if you’re sued. This includes damage you cause to another watercraft or if someone on or near your boat is injured and you’re found to be legally responsible.
Theft and vandalism
Unfortunately, boat theft and vandalism are realities that boat owners face. Boat insurance has comprehensive and collision coverage that can protect you against events outside of your control, including theft and vandalism.
Incurred medical payments
Accidents on the water may lead to injuries for you or your passengers. Boat insurance offers a range of optional medical payments coverage limits, helping to cover medical expenses if you are in an accident or someone is hurt on your boat, regardless of fault.
Peace of mind for fnancing
If you fnanced the purchase of your boat, most lenders require insurance coverage to protect their investment. Having boat insurance not only fulflls these requirements but also gives you peace of mind knowing that your fnancial interests are safeguarded.
Navigational fexibility
Some water municipalities and marinas may require proof of insurance for docking or accessing certain areas. Boat insurance allows you the fexibility to explore different destinations without worrying about entry restrictions.
Emergency towing and assistance
Progressive boat insurance can include optional Sign & Glide® On-Water Towing coverage. If your boat is disabled or breaks down on the water, Sign & Glide® pays for on-water towing, jump starts, soft un-groundings, and fuel delivery.
Wreckage removal
If your boat sinks, Progressive boat insurance will cover the cost of removing your boat from the water (if removal is legally required).
Investing in boat insurance is not just about protecting a valuable asset; it’s about safeguarding the memories, experiences, and joy that come with your on-water adventures. Don’t let unforeseen circumstances disrupt your journey—navigate with confdence, knowing that Progressive boat insurance has you covered. Ensure a smooth and worry-free voyage, because when it comes to your boat, peace of mind is the ultimate luxury.
Scan to get a quote in as little as 4 minutes
learn more.
THE TIME HAS COME TO RAMP UP AMERICA’S FISH STOCKING PROGRAM
By Ben Martin, Editor in Chief
The non-pro!t Protect Our Waters reports that, “Fish stocking has been a vital tool for maintaining healthy !sh populations in America’s lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. However, in recent years, most of our waterways have su ered from declining !sh stocks due to habitat destruction, over!shing, pollution, and climate change. If we’re going to combat these challenges, we’re going to need to ramp up our !sh stocking e orts to ensure the sustainability of recreational !shing, and food security.”
Fishing is one of America’s most popular outdoor activities, with millions of anglers heading to the water each year. e recreational !shing industry contributes over $125 billion to the economy annually and supports nearly a million jobs. Unfortunately, declining !sh populations threaten our industry, leading to fewer opportunities for anglers and reduced economic bene!ts for communities that rely on !shing tourism.
but also sustains the businesses like as bait shops, tackle manufacturers, and guide services that depend on a thriving !shery. Additionally, if we’re going to
can lead to an imbalance in the food chain. Stocking e orts can help restore native species in waters where they have declined, preventing the dominance of invasive species that may outcompete them.
While recreational !shing is the primary focus of most stocking programs, increased stocking can also support food security. Stocked !sh provide a renewable source of protein for both commercial !sheries and subsistence anglers.
Enhanced !sh stocking e orts can help mitigate the negative impacts that we’re seeing by introducing hybrid climate-resilient strains of !sh, e technology is there, we just have to use it. Without proactive stocking and conservation e of our favorite species of dramatic declines in the coming decades.
By increasing !sh stocking e orts, states could easily replenish popular game !sh species like red!sh, $ounder bass, trout, walleye, and crappie, ensuring that anglers have plenty of !sh to catch. is not only keeps !shing enthusiasts engaged
encourage a younger generation of anglers to be passionate about this wonderful pastime, they’ve gotta be able to catch !sh.
Many ecosystems are under constant pressure from habitat degradation, invasive species, and pollution. In some cases, native !sh populations struggle to maintain healthy numbers, which
America’s !sh stocking programs could and should play a critical role in maintaining healthy !sh populations, supporting the economy, preserving ecosystems, and enhancing food security. With increasing environmental and economic pressures threatening it’s time for a signi!cant investment in stocking e orts. By expanding hatcheries, improving stocking strategies, and integrating habitat conservation e orts, America can ensure that its waters remain abundant with !sh for generations to come.
Protect Our Waters is an angler-sponsored, nonpro!t organization with it’s primary focus on the sustainability and enhancement of recreational !shing. Learn more at ProtectOurWaters.com.
Smooth Sailing
There are many reasons why the beautiful, deep-water queen snapper has made its way to the top of many anglers’ bucket lists. Not only is this !sh unique and stunning in appearance, but the quality of !llets it produces tops the scale of other snappers.
Most !sh that are harvested from the deeper, cooler waters, as with queen snapper, tend to yield higher quality table-fare. With the thick white meat on these !sh, that can grow over twenty pounds, targeting this species is a foodie’s delight.
Queen snapper can be found from 400 to 1,600 feet of water, spawning year round, with schools constantly on the move. Although they can be targeted over ledges and deep-sea coral beds within these depths, it’s not common to catch one as bycatch while not speci!cally intending to target them. As with most !sh with a penchant for these depths, research is scarce, with !shermen providing the majority of information on their observed behavior. at being said, targeting this species will be more productive with an experienced guide, rather than going it alone and winging it.
If you are a part of the DIY deep-dropping explorers club, and looking to add queen snapper to your hunt, you’re probably going to want to make a few di erent rigs for them.
An electric reel setup is recommended for this type of !shing. Not only due to the depths you are trying to reach, but you may only get short
By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon
dri%s over where you need to be before its time to reset.
e standard drop LEDs and lights should be used the same as with other deep-drop methods. Utilizing a heavy mono!lament leader line of approximately 300 pounds, a x your !ve drop lines at varying distances from each other. You may !nd you get bites higher up in the water column on certain days, making an extremely long leader more productive in !nding the !sh, especially on a !rst dri%. e drop lines should be decorated with your choice of glowing fandangles, whether it be glow wraps, rubber squids or the simple glow beads. Circle hooks ranging from 7/0 to 10/0 are e ective, and if you choose to put a variety of sizes on a single rig, the larger hooks should be at the bottom of the line.
this type of !shing is new to you, pepper in a few chunks of skin-on bonita in your presentation.
If you happen upon your queen snapper territory and !nd yourself in conditions without much current, you can also attempt to catch them with a heavy slow pitch jig. As long as you have light braid and a heavy jig to get to the bottom, and the energy and tenacity to retrieve it again, this is a productive method in extremely light current.
Once you start catching !sh, you may !nd they are consistently eating the bottom hook or the top hook, you can then play around with switching your rig to a longer or shorter leader.
e ideal go-to bait for queens is squid, but since this is a so%er bait, its easier to miss the bite. If
FISHING IS BETTER IN
Queen snapper can be found deep in the gulf, and in the Atlantic from North Carolina to Brazil. While they have hot spots in the Bahamas and deep within the Gulf, e Atlantic waters of e Florida Keys o ers the best opportunity to target these within the United States and with the most minimal travel time. With mahi season around the corner in the Florida Keys, this is a great time to start heading o shore for queen snapper, as it provides a chance to target mahi to and from the deep-drop spots. Give me a call to get out there!
Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Sweet E’Nuf Charters out of Marathon, e Florida Keys. (504) 920-6342. www.captainquinlyn.com; IG: @captainquinlyn
MUD HOLE CUSTOM TACKLE ALL-IN-ONE ROD BUILDING KITS
For anyone looking to build the best rod you’ll ever !sh, All-In-One Rod Building Kits from Mud Hole Custom Tackle are the ideal starting point. All-In-One kits take all the guesswork out of building a !shing rod, making it easy and enjoyable. Whether casting, spinning, y, or even ice, Mud Hole has everything you need for the perfect performance !shing rod and to start a lifetime of custom building.
Mud Hole’s All-In-One Rod Building Kits make it simple. Each kit includes everything you need—rod blank, guides, reel seat, grips, thread, and even the tools and supplies for assembly. With everything already preselected and packaged together, beginners don’t have to worry about picking out matching components and determining which supplies and tools are needed—all the work has been done by their professional builders.
Plus, Mud Hole provides all of the instruction required to build your !rst !shing rod. Kits include an easy-to-follow instruction book, and Mud Hole is the world’s largest source of free online rod building education material and content. ere’s nothing like catching a !sh on a rod you built. And All-In-One Rod Building Kits from Mud Hole Custom Tackle are the perfect way to get started in this time-honored cra$.
Reminiscing of Life’s Past Years
CAPT. DAVID C DILLMAN
832-228-8012
galvestonbaycharterfishing.com
The other day, I was reminiscing of all that I could remember from my early days. My earliest recollection is of pre- school. I remember attending the Little Red School House on the edge of Bellaire, Texas. I remember playing on the playground, even the inside of the school, recalling how enormous the classroom seemed, especially to the eye of a four year old. I have not driven by there in years, but I imagine the school is long but gone.
Down the street, from the house I was raised in, my elementary school still stands. It is just resemblance of what it once was, since the school underwent extensive reconstruction a few years ago. Still, I can still recall each classroom from kindergarten to sixth grade. The playground and fields where I would play during recess are still etched in my mind. One of my most vivid memories of elementary was watching the Apollo 13 astronauts return to earth.
During my grade school years of 7th-9th, Junior High School back then, my memories were not so fond. During my first year a pipe bomb exploded in a locker. Fights were numerous among the students, as was the use of illegal drugs. The school resembled a prison, as I remember. My fondest times there was being able to visit my first girlfriend during classroom breaks and “making out”” underneath the staircase. The school stills stands today, looking much the same as it did in my days.
I was fortunate enough to attend Bellaire High School for grades 10th12th. At that time, it was one of the top-rated schools in Houston, even the country for academics. Although, my days there were just a blur with much
of my time spent in Galveston skipping school, I still have fond memories of high school. My father taught there for 36 years and the teachers went above and beyond to make sure you graduated. While I was far from a model student, I did graduate on time. The school has been renovated, and the new building resembles a small college, with a parking garage if you can believe it. A small cry from us having to park on the streets back in my day.
As you age, your mind is stimulated by memories, some good and some bad. Not much remains the same as you age and that holds true with Galveston Bay. Guiding for over 35 years, I’ve had my share of successes and failures and luckily, I took pictures of those successful catches from years past, although the locations are just a remnant of how they once looked. Examples are Redfish Island, Todd’s Dump, Bull Shoal, Pig Pens and even Smith Point. Places that in their day, always produced fish.
Many bait shops and marinas have closed. One constant that has weathered the time of change is Eagle Point Fishing Camp. This is the place that I’ve fished out of since the mid 80’s and is one of the oldest bait camps/ marinas on the Texas coast, maybe the entire Gulf Coast. See some things are a constant; Eagle Point in San Leon is that constant. Galveston Bay will still be utilized by the public, catches of fish will occur, but it saddens me that some of the glory and beauty that is gone, will never be seen again by these new anglers. You can’t stop progress and commerce, just like you can’t erase memories that are implanted in your mind.
Best Bait on Galveston Bay since 1929
What’s made Eagle Point Fishing Camp unique since 1929 is its location and business model. Because it’s in the center of the Galveston Bay, EPFC allows anglers to conveniently fish a vast stretch of water spanning from Houston to Galveston. Using the same full-service concept as its date of establishment, EPFC has proven for nearly a century that easy access to the water combined with a skilled staff creates the perfect fishing experience. Along with the boat ramp, boat storage, live bait for purchase, tackle shop, and RV park, EPFC has always had a fleet of shrimp boats to supply the bait that so many of their regular customers desire. Their successful commercial shrimping business has been an intricate part of what makes EPFC unique.
GALVESTON FISHING PIER GUIDED PIER FISHING
GET HOOKED UP WITH A PRO
Level up your fishing game and dive into the thrilling world of pier fishing with guidance from some of Galvestons expert local fisher folk!
PRIVATE PIER PARTY PAD
A Day
of
2STARTINGHOURS AT $50
•UP TO 10 PEOPLE
• PRIVATE FISHING DECK
•BAIT STATION
•CLIMATE CONTROLLED
•PARTY ROOM
•CATERING AVAILABLE
Smiles and Fishing:
The Yellow Out Campaign’s Fishing Activity Day
On March 15th, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Yellow out Campaign’s Fishing Activity Day, hosted in partnership with the 4 W’s Outdoors Team. This special event was designed to introduce individuals with disabilities, particularly those with Spina Bifida, to the joy of fishing. It was an unforgettable day filled with laughter, excitement, and, most importantly, big smiles from participants and their families.
Held at the Galveston Fishing Pier, https:// www.galvestonfishingpier.com, which also co-sponsored the event, the setting could not have been more perfect. The Gulf breeze carried the sounds of seagulls and crashing waves, and the waters below teemed with fish just waiting to be caught. But the real magic wasn’t in the setting—it was in the expressions of pure exhilaration from the participants as they cast their lines and reeled in their catches.
For many attendees, this was their very first-time fishing. Some were hesitant at first, gripping the rod with curiosity, while others eagerly awaited their turn. Volunteers from 4 W’s Outdoors and the Yellow Out Campaign were on hand, offering guidance and encouragement, making sure every participant had the best possible experience. And when that first fish was hooked—oh, the excitement! The joy that lit up their faces as they reeled in their catches was contagious. Parents and family members cheered them on, snapping photos and celebrating alongside them.
The event wasn’t just about fishing; it was about inclusion, empowerment, and creating unforgettable experiences for these amazing individuals. The families who attended were grateful for the opportunity to spend quality time outdoors in an environment that was welcoming and accommodating. Many parents expressed their appreciation, saying that events like this give their children the chance to participate in activities that might otherwise seem out of reach.
Thanks to the efforts of the Yellow Out Campaign, 4W’s Outdoors, and the Galveston Fishing Pier, this Fishing Activity Day was a resounding success. It showcased the power of outdoor recreation to bring people together, break down barriers, and create moments of pure happiness.
As the event wrapped up, and fishing rods were put away, one thing was clear—this wasn’t just a day of fishing. It was a day of connection, achievement, and inspiration. For those who participated, it was an experience they will never forget.
To learn more about these amazing organizations and their work, visit yellowoutcampaign.org and fourwsoutdoors.com.
1 Tue 11:31 1.2 4:02 -0.3 7:06 7:38
2 Wed 12:55 1.2 4:57
3
4
5 Sat 5:25 1.1
6
8
9
12
13 Sun 9:02 1.1 6:43 0.9 2:23 0.2 3:27 0.8 6:53 7:45
14 Mon 9:51 1.1 6:33 0.9 2:48 0.1 4:05 0.9 6:52 7:46
15 Tue 10:39 1.1 6:00 0.9 3:16 0.0 4:48 0.9 6:51 7:47 16
18
19
3:22 1.1 6:01 0.0 6:46 7:49
20 Sun 4:41 1.1 7:02 0.1 6:45 7:50
21 Mon 5:02 1.1 8:11 0.1 6:44 7:50
22 Tue 5:10
23
24
25 Fri 5:47 1.1 5:28 0.9 12:02 0.5 12:48 0.5 6:40 7:53
26
27
28 Mon 9:22 1.4 5:37 1.0 2:04 -0.2 4:18 1.0 6:38 7:55
29 Tue 10:27 1.4 2:51 -0.4 6:37 7:55
30 Wed 11:35 1.4 3:42 -0.4 6:36 7:56
www.USHarbors.com Eagle Point, Galveston Bay, TX - Apr 2025
2
1
Off The Grid
The weather is warming, and the winterchallenged fishermen are pulling their boats out of storage. This undoubtedly will lead to more traffic on the water. With the added traffic and high southern winds, this is a perfect time for me to avoid both by swapping the kayak for the boat for a few weeks and going deep into the marsh.
Springs’ rising tides will flood new water over the once-dry marsh, encouraging more fish to explore the new terrain in a quest for a good meal. Little do they know, I will be waiting there with my trustworthy rattling paddle tail.
Redfish will be my primary target since I spent the winter targeting trophy trout. As always, bait will be the key to a successful outing. Since the size of the bait will be small, I like to have two characteristics in my lure. They are small, roughly 3”, and have a clear sparkling color. This helps produce in most situations because the bait is tiny, maybe smaller than my lure. That is why I like the transparent reflective colors; they disguise the lure’s size, making it appear smaller. I like to work irregular shorelines since they have more areas for the bait to hide. I also feel it slows the reds down. When they have a straight shore, they tend to cover more water rather
than hang around, allowing you more opportunities.
If the water is off-color, I like to add a popping cork rather than changing color. Known for their effectiveness when using live shrimp, popping corks also improve the performance of soft plastics. Depending on the situation and preference, these can be used on a jig head, weedless weighted hook, or with just a hook. When choosing a popping cork, I like a deep cup, which is hard to find on most corks in today’s market, but there are a few. Most manufacturers went away from the actual reason for the name, popping. The original, and a few out there today, still have the deep concave top, which produces the slurping sound and splash mimicking a fish feeding on the surface. I find that sound is what attracts the fish more than a clack. I’ll dedicate an entire article to cork fishing and the many ways to use them soon.
While targeting reds, use a stout hook on your jig head. A hook you can flex with your finger is better suited for trout than reds. This is not where you want to skimp on quality. Not only do the hooks need to stand up to the hookset into the thick skin of a red, but they also need to hold up to the torque of removing the hook from the their jaw. I see many hooks get destroyed at this point.
Thank you for reading my words and don’t forget to take a kid fishing! The time is right.
Photo courtesy of Knockin Tail Lures®
National Pediatric Cancer Foundation
“Fishing
Funds the Cure” Tournaments Raise Awareness
and Funds for Crucial Research
The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (NPCF) created “Fishing Funds the Cure” to raise awareness and funds for crucial research. Each year, they unite corporate partners, passionate anglers, and dedicated supporters for Fishing Funds the Cure Tournaments through an activity that everyone loves. ese exciting inshore and freshwater shing tournaments are held in beautiful locations like St. Pete Beach and Sarasota, Florida, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and more. Each event, thoughtfully designed to engage supporters, features a kick-o celebration, angler swag bags, an awards dinner and a silent auction, all dedicated to making a meaningful impact.
NPCF organizes these events to blend the universal love for shing with an important cause. eir mission is to conduct research leading to less toxic and more therapeutic treatments for children with cancer, and are committed to making a di erence in a system that o$en neglects our children. Despite their bright futures, only 4% of government funding for cancer research supports pediatric initiatives, highlighting the urgent need for advocacy.
NPCF has made remarkable progress and is recognized as the nation’s leading solution, delivering rapid, innovative, and e%cient science
through a collaborative network of 40 hospitals. Operating independently of pharmaceutical and government funding, with eight institutions noted in the “Top 20” by US News, they have invested over $40 million in translational studies and clinical trials. NPCF currently have 30 studies and 11 active trials:
• A new drug compound – which could be the 11th drug utilized to treat children
• Blood bio-marker study – which could be a prevention indicator for relapse patients
• A rare disease trial addressing “rhabdomyosarcoma”
• Multiple combined immunotherapy trials to include a potential vaccine
• NPCF has also authorized the “ rst-ever” education toolkit – provided to pediatric cancer families
• ey are also developing treatment guidelines for relapse patients
If shing is your passion, NPCF invites you to channel that enthusiasm toward a worthy cause. Join them at one of their tournaments, organize your own fundraising event, or take on their “43 Challenge” to honor the 43 children diagnosed
with cancer every day. You can easily start by using NPCF’s online fundraising tool, challenging 43 friends to sh, and encouraging them to donate $43.
e National Pediatric Cancer Foundation is proud to be a top-rated charity, with 89% of every dollar donated directly supporting research. To learn more, visit NationalPCF.org.
THE SABIKI: MVP OF THE TACKLE BOX
The month of April is when the real change comes around. For a number of reasons, April can be a game changer. Just for starters, we have made it out of the month of March and the “Gales of March.” !e temperatures will rise, the daylight hours will be longer, and the urge to spawn will get stronger for a lot of species.
!e pelagics will be on the march up the coast headed north, and I have taken a much di erent approach to shing in general, but especially for the pelagics. Sure, we may troll for a short period in the morning to mark some bait and/or productive bottom holding sh like African pompano, big snapper and grouper, but trolling will quickly stop and dri$ing and/ or %ying the kite will begin as the sun rises in the sky. As the title of the article suggests, we have either stopped on the way out or will start to work with the Sabiki right away.
!is is the key: when you have the live bait, you get the bites. Don’t hesitate to bring bait from the dock like pin sh, menhaden, etc. to use as light-line kite bait or bottom bait. Sometimes it’s just easier to pull up beside the bait barge and exchange some green for sardines, cigar minnows, goggle eyes, etc., so you can just get on with getting to where
Tim Barefoot
you’re going and start shing right o the bat. When you nd a good mark of bait, and hopefully bottom structure, the stage is set. Put the kite %oats, tackle or freelines out and start sending the jigs to the mid or lower water
column, and even to the bottom. Of course, I like a natural looking squid jig you can cast to breaking sh that’s heavy enough to sh in the mid to lower water column or a few hundred feet deep when needed on the bottom. the
entire time you were harvesting sh on the jig pay attention to the free line or %oat baits and keep some chum going if possible. !is is a great way to bring the sh to you. !ey will de nitely come to the chum.
As always, I would pay attention to the amount of noise you make. Don’t let cooler lids slam down or hard objects hit the deck; this will send a soundwave hundreds of yards away from the boat telling the sh something isn’t right. If you’re dri$ing quietly with a chum slick out and beautiful live baits, you have a recipe for success!
!is is a great time of year to catch that African pompano of a lifetime in 150- to 250foot range as they are ready to break up into smaller schools for spawning. Again, I like a squid-type jig because it is the primary food source for the African pompano. It is the bulk of their diet according to the experts. And it’s not just African pompano; everything out there, without exception, eats a squid. !is is a great way to catch big snappers as well. Pull up to where the marks are, make a dri$ and repeat as o$en as needed. A trolling motor upfront can slow the dri$ nicely, keeping your boat forward in the wind with the kite bait or %oat, and baits behind the boat very manageable.
And be sure to keep an eye on the recorder to know where to keep the jig in front of sh.
For more info on the squid jig and dri ing, check out Tim Barefoot’s YouTube channel and website, barefootcatsandtackle.com.
1920s Style for a 1920s Price
It was a warm summer afternoon and my wife and I were mingling with the best of them. The occasion was a 1920s-themed party, and everyone was dressed to the nines. Parked on the manse’s circular driveway was a beautiful classic convertible. It was here that I got the idea for our new 1920s Retrograde Watch.
Never ones to miss an opportunity, we carefully steadied our glasses of bubbly and climbed into the car’s long front seat. Among the many opulent features on display was a series of dashboard dials that accentuated the car’s lavish aura. One of those dials inspired our 1920s Retrograde Watch, a genuinely unique timepiece that marries timeless style with modern technology.
With its remarkable retrograde hour and minute indicators, sunburst guilloche face and precision movement, this design is truly one of a kind. What does retrograde mean? Instead of displaying the hands rotating on an axis like most watches, the hands sweep in a semicircle, then return to their starting point and begin all over again.
Retrograde watches by the big brands can set you back thousands; one recent offering from a big French fashion house is selling for more than $150,000! But because we’ve designed the 1920s Retrograde Watch in-house, we can offer it to you for just $99!
This watch is so wildly popular with our customers that we’re actually concerned about running out; we only have 937 729 left for this ad!
Join more than 1 MILLION smart people who love stauer watches
Watch Specifications:
• Precision movement
• Stainless steel case, caseback and crown
• Retrograde hour and minute indicators
• Water-resistant to 5 ATM
• Brown genuine leather band
• Fits wrists up to 8"
1920s Retrograde Watch
$399 $99* + S&P Save $300
*Special price only for customers using the offer code.
“An elegant and exciting timepiece that every collector will love.”
— George Tomas, internationally renowned watch expert
“[A] unique and beautiful timepiece.”
— Carlos C., Los Banos, CA
By Don Norton
FISHING THE BLUEGILL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
Most anglers think of Lake Okeechobee, Florida, and many other great shing lakes as a destination for largemouth bass. And they truly are. But for those in the know, “Lake O” boasts some of the greatest bluegill shing you’ll nd anywhere in the country.
!is is the time of the year—April and May—that bluegill anglers look forward to all year long. !is is when the feisty, hard- ghting pan sh begin their annual spawn. !eir popularity is unmatched with young and experienced anglers looking to test their light line and tackle.
While bluegill is a single species (Lepomis macrochirus), it is sometimes categorized into three subspecies: the northern bluegill, the coppernose
bluegill, and the southwestern bluegill.
To add to the confusion, redear sun sh and bluegills, both belonging to the sun sh family, are easily confused, but can be distinguished by the red or orange coloration around the redear’s operculum (gill %ap), while bluegills have a dark blue to black operculum. Redear sun sh typically grow larger than bluegills, but are o$en caught in the same area, as are coppernose bluegill.
Bluegills are so plentiful that many anglers come to Lake Okeechobee every year just for them and go home with coolers full of their tasty lets. !e daily limit is $y pan sh per angler, and that’s not a hard number to reach when the season is in full swing.
Bluegills can be caught year-round, but when they come into the shallows to spawn, they become a much easier target. Many anglers will test their skills with a %yrod and small popper, while others will use live bait, light line, and tackle—and even bamboo cane poles!
On average, bluegill typically range from six to eight inches in length, although some can grow up to 10 to 15 inches. Nine inches is considered a decent keeper in the “Big O.”
To rig for bluegill, use a small hook (size 8-10) with a light line, a small split shot a few inches above the hook, and a bobber set to suspend your bait near the bottom; commonly used live baits include small worms, waxworms, or crickets, and you can also try small jigs or tiny so$ plastic baits depending on the situation and water depth.
When it comes to the time of day that produces the best bluegill shing, many anglers recommend early evening. As the sun begins to set, waters tend to calm down and %ying insects quickly become a big part of the menu.
But during the spawn, bluegills can be caught all day long.
Finding the beds is relatively easy. Just look in shallow water, 5-foot deep or less for small circular divots in the sandy bottom. !ese “beds” will o$en be close together and will sometimes number in the hundreds.
!e world record bluegill—a sh weighing 4 pounds, 12 ounces— was caught in 1950 in Ketona Lake, Alabama with a cane pole and common worms.
Don Norton is Co-Publisher of Coastal Angler Magazine’s Okeechobee edition. Contact him at (863) 273-4998 or don@theanglermagazine.com.
Praise for DiamondAura®
“So much sparkle and the play of light on DiamondAura® beats any diamond!” — D.D. from Columbus, OH
How to Win at Love
A classic tennis bracelet serves up over 10 carats of sparkle for a guaranteed win
It was the jewelry piece that made the world stop and take notice. In the middle of a long volley during the big American tennis tournament, the chic blonde athlete had to stop play because her delicate diamond bracelet had broken and she had to fnd it. Te tennis star recovered her beloved bracelet, but the world would never be the same.
From that moment on, the tennis bracelet has been on the lips and on the wrists of women in the know. Once called eternity bracelets, these bands of diamonds were known from then on as tennis bracelets, and remain the hot ticket item with jewelers.
with D Flawless diamonds from another company that costs $57,000!
Want to look like a million bucks without stressing over losing or damaging something that cost you a fortune? Te Love Wins Tennis Bracelet is a simple strand of glittering gems in precious sterling that epitomizes elegance.
FREE earrings with your purchase of the Love Wins Bracelet.
Te frst time we ofered this bracelet, we sold out literally in minutes. It was our fastest selling product of 2021. It took six months to get it back in stock — Get yours before we run out!
And there’s more... we will also include our Ultimate Diamond Alternative™ DiamondAura® stud earrings for FREE!
Jewelry Specifcations:
• 10 ¾ ctw of the Ultimate Diamond Alternative®, DiamondAura®
• Rhodium-fnished .925 sterling silver settings
• Bracelet: Fits wrists to 7 ½". Earrings: 1 ctw with post backs
We’ve captured this timeless classic with over 10 total carats of DiamondAura®, our signature diamond alternative stone. Tis sparkling marvel rivals even the fnest diamonds (D Flawless) with its transparent color and clarity, and both are so hard they can cut glass. Don’t believe me? Te book “Jewelry and Gems – Te Buying Guide,” praised the technique used in our diamond alternative DiamondAura®: “Te best diamond simulation to date, and even some jewelers have mistaken these stones for mined diamonds,” it raved. For comparison, we found a similarly designed 10 carat tennis bracelet
Love Wins Tennis Bracelet (10 ¾ ctw) $399 $39* + S&P
FREE stud earrings (1 ctw) with your purchase of the Love Wins Bracelet — a $99 value!
*Special price only for customers using the offer code.
Your Offer Code: LWB343-02
OTIPS FROM A PRO FROG FISHING FOR SPRINGTIME GIANTS
TYLER WOOLCOTT
ne of my all time favorite times of year to fish with one of the most fun ways to catch a bass. The spawn and post spawn feed is here for most of us in the south and it won’t be long for many others in the other parts of the country. There is a plethora of ways to catch these bass, but my all time favorite for getting bit and drawing in a big one is a hollow body popping frog.
A popping frog can be used as an incredible search bait, duplicating many different baitfish depending on where you throw it and what color you tie on. There are many different options out there, but I try to duplicate the baitfish forage in the particular lake I am fishing on. Sometimes I will stick to a frog that may imitate a bluegill, and sometimes I throw a color that would imitate a shad. Finding a frog that pops well, has good colors, and a big hook is a few things that need to check the boxes for me. The Gambler popping frog is good and so is the Spro.
When I throw a frog as a search bait, I like to work it faster than most. Cover as much water as possible until you put a pattern together on what exactly the fish are focusing on. That’s the magic of a frog; you can literally throw it around everything! Docks, lay downs, grass and down banks are just a few of the targets I would look for. Once you locate a group of fish or find that right area that they are using you can slow down and pick them off a little slower. I have noticed sometimes there isn’t a “too fast” while working a popping frog.
A couple things that I look for this time of year are areas with active fish spawning, fry guarding bass, and also fish roaming the banks feeding on bluegill. This is something that is very predictable and an awesome way to catch big ones when you get around it. Typically, if you know of a few areas that the fish had previously spawned, these patterns will be occurring in the same areas. I throw a bluegill pattern popping frog because the bluegill will typically be a fish that chase their fry and a fish that drives them crazy this time of year.
Another pattern that you might want to keep your eyes out for is a shad spawn. This usually occurs in the mornings and in the evenings and can be a way to catch a bunch of fish in a hurry. We typically look for birds feeding on banks while running down the lake; you find the birds, you find the bait! A white popping frog or a baitfish color is typically my choice in this situation as a lot of times these fish are so keyed in on the baitfish that you’ll want to match the hatch.
A popping frog can work all year long, but this time of year I think it excels the greatest. It’s an incredible search bait that really drives these fish crazy, and who doesn’t like catching fish on a topwater with heavy line and a heavy rod? Grab a popping frog and go catch some big bass! Frog Fishing Gear: Typically when throwing a popping frog you will be around some heavy cover and need to have some big hooks to get through the fish’s mouth. This calls for a heavy rod, some big line and a fast-geared reel. I like to throw a 13 Fishing 7’4H Myth rod paired with a Concept A 8.3 reel spooled up with Sufix 832 50 lb. braid. This setup will allow you to get the fish out of the heavy cover and into the boat.
Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.
You’re looking at it! Furuno’s award-winning Radar gives you clarity & target separation like no one else. Don’t take our word for it. See for yourself. Scan here, and we’ll show you! DRS4DNXTDRS6ANXT
