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VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 273
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F R A N C H I S E
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BOOST YOUR CATCH w/RezBoostTM Technology
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EDITOR IN CHIEF : Ben Martin • camads@coastalanglermagazine.com VICE PRESIDENT : Tracy Patterson • tracy@coastalanglermagazine.com ART DIRECTOR : Rebecca Snowden • graphics@coastalanglermagazine.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR : Nick Carter • editorial@coastalanglermagazine.com WEBMASTER : Dmitriy Pislyagin • webmaster@coastalanglermagazine.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Corporate Headquarters info@coastalanglermagazine.com • 888-800-9794
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BIG BEND : Mike McNamara • (850) 510-7919 • captmike@coastalanglermagazine.com BREVARD : David String • (321) 684-5888 • dstring@coastalanglermagazine.com DAYTONA/NEW SMYRNA BEACH : Don Meadows • (321) 436-5895 • donm@coastalanglermagazine.com EMERALD COAST/DESTIN/PENSACOLA : Scott Risher • (850) 428-0996 • srisher@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 MIAMI : Scott Deal • (561) 945-6999 • scott@coastalanglermagazine.com Monica Isaza-Deal • (561) 945-8899 • monica@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER ORLANDO : Phillip & Giselle Wolf • (407) 790-9515 • phillip@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
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Cover Image Credits: (Clockwise from top left) Sailfish: Alphonse Fishing Co., Wesley Rapson; Bumphead Parrotfish: Alphonse Fishing Co., Andre Henn; Salmon: Scott Norton; Trout: Big Cedar Lodge; Bass: Nick Carter; Roosterfish: Francisco Mejias © 2017. 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.
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FLY FISHING By Nick Carter
F
ly fishing for bonefish and permit might have originated on the flats of the Bahamas and the Florida Keys, but these islands hardly hold a monopoly on the style of fishing. In the Indian Ocean, about 1,000 miles off the east coast of Africa, there is an archipelago that claims the highest density of bonefish in the world on one of its outer island groups. The Alphonse Group is three small islets on the southwestern end of the Seychelles, a nation of 115 islands in gorgeous tropical waters northeast of Madagascar. Within the Alphonse Group, Alphonse Atoll and St. Francois Atoll offer more 10,000 acres of hard, white-sand bonefish flats as well as a lagoon with channels, finger flats and coral heads where fly fishers sight fish in clear water to more than 60 species of fish. There are characters familiar to Atlantic flats—bonefish and permit—and there are also species exotic to North American fly rodders, like milkfish, colorful triggerfish and seven species of trevally. Instead of tarpon, the Seychelles offer up the giant trevally, which can weigh in excess of 120 pounds. And with a 10-minute boat ride out of Alphonse Island, anglers can access reef species and big pelagics like sailfish, wahoo, dorado, dogtooth and yellowfin tuna. Either trolling or teasing them up and casting flies to them, these offshore species offer a delightful break from the flats as well as a dinnertime treat on the island. “The Seychelles has become known as the best giant trevally fishery in the world and has become the benchmark for anglers searching for an outstanding saltwater flats fishing experience,” said Keith RoseInnes, managing director of Alphonse Fishing Company. “The sheer numbers and variety of fish species has amazed the fly fishing world, with anglers from across the globe queuing up to sample this ultimate fishing playground.” St. Francois is most well known for its bonefish, with ridiculous
numbers of 4to 6-pound fish and the occasional 8-pounder in the mix. “On falling tides, it is often the case that huge shoals of bonefish can be targeted when leaving the flats in what has been described as a continuous river of bonefish,” said Rose-Innes. “You hunt them on foot and not from a skiff, as the sand flats are hard and white.” It’s also as close to a sure thing as it gets for anglers seeking the Holy Grail of saltwater fly fishing. Good numbers of Indo-Pacific permit populate the flats, and Rose-Innes said his guides have near-perfected the art of catching them. Along with natural environs conducive to awesome fishing, a strong conservation ethic ensures an incredible angling experience. Alphonse Fishing Company tightly controls the amount and type of fishing pressure its waters see, and the fisheries are completely closed a minimum of three months per year. That’s the fishing side of the conservation effort. Alphonse also protects the unique flora and fauna of the islands, which makes for a sensational overall vacation experience, with comfortable lodging among beautiful tropical forests and beaches. For more information, see www.alphonsefishingco.com.
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Craig Sutton with a Costa Rica yellowfin.
“M
ost people my age buy a house in Costa Rica to retire,” said Craig Sutton, of Nosara Paradise Rentals and FishingNosara. “When I bought my first house in Costa Rica, my life was just starting to get interesting.” Craig first discovered Nosara, Costa Rica on a surfing trip in the late 1990s and immediately fell in love with the people, the culture and the year-round excellent surfing. He purchased a small house near Guiones Beach, bought out his neighbors’ land, and spent the next 15 years building a nature preserve campus of 14 houses plus a pool, common areas and maintenance facilities. One thing was missing from this surfer’s paradise: good fishing. As a native Floridian, Craig’s passion for fishing runs deep. He has been a regular on the kingfish tournament scene for years, with his boat Fishtastic posting top-5 finishes in the several tournaments.
“The problem with fishing in Costa Rica is that fish are so big and so harsh that they will destroy your tackle, plus the costs for fuel is astronomical at $7 a gallon and rising,” said Sutton. “Captains trying to make ends meet would have to choose between new lines, new tackle and a full tank of gas, or putting food on the family table.” After years of struggling to find a captain in Costa Rica who was willing and able to fish aggressively, Sutton realized his only option was to build his own boats and crew them with hand-picked locals. “These guys had the drive and the talent to be great fishermen, they just lacked the tools and the logistical support,” said Sutton. “The team-centered approach allows FishingNosara captains to pursue the fish as aggressively as a professional tournament boat without being distracted by losing lures or running up the gas bill.” FishingNosara launched their first boat, The Wanderer, in 2009 and have added a boat every year since. The results have been astounding. In the 2017 season, the five-boat FishingNosara team ran over 730 trips with over 80 marlin releases and 800 sailfish releases. More importantly, the team inflicted zero billfish fatalities. “Reviving and releasing billfish is a sacred priority to us as conservationists, plus it makes good business sense,” said Sutton. “We have created a market of charter fishermen, which means billfish are worth more money alive and swimming than they are on a scale at the meat market.” As for retirement for Sutton, don’t bet on it anytime soon. Last April he scored a billfish grand slam (blue marlin, striped marlin and sailfish) to win the Ship of Fools Billfish Tournament in Costa Rica. Sutton is looking to up-the-ante again in 2018. Back in the States, a new version of the Fishtastic came online this year. It’s an exact copy of the 32’ Eduardono Harvester currently in Nosara, and Sutton is already amped up for a new challenge. “My goal with the new boat is to snag a tournament winning king mackeral in July then go catch marlin in August… seems like a good way to bring two worlds together.”
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By CAM Staff
M
urrells Inlet, S.C. has always been a fishing town. Long before Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand began drawing tourists to experience the beaches, shopping, golf and nightlife that have made it famous, Murrells Inlet was a fishing village. And it’s no wonder. The inlet itself is an inshore angler’s dream. It’s an enclosed system, one of very few inlets on the east coast free from the influence of the Intracoastal Waterway or coastal rivers.
There’s no dirty water flowing in from upstream, and this system of marshes and backwaters is a completely saltwater environment, with no freshwater pumping in to reduce salinity. The result is excellent fishing and exploration of backwater creeks for speckled trout, redfish and the doormat flounder that Murrells Inlet has gained a reputation for. Another thing the area has a well-earned reputation for is huge red drum, which hang out around the jetties to provide anglers with the bulldog runs only a big bull red can provide. It’s some of the best red fishing on the east coast, with fish in the 20- to 40-pound range arriving in numbers in both spring and fall. For those who don’t mind a short boat ride to fill the cooler,
there are numerous nearshore reefs that can be easily accessed with a half-day trip and a run of less than 5 miles. Mackerel, sharks, black sea bass, reds, flounder, bluefish, spadefish and more make for an exciting outing even for the family, and you’ll come back with a cooler full of delicious fish. Out to 15 or 30 miles, there is also excellent trolling for king and Spanish mackerel, cobia and amberjack, as well as bottom fishing for snappers, groupers and sea bass. But those who want to get serious should look into a full-day trip to the Gulf Stream. From 55 to 70 miles offshore, opportunities for tuna, dolphin, wahoo, marlin and sailfish abound. Trolling the Gulf Stream for big-game species off the lower end of the Grand Strand is tough to beat anywhere. So… it’s easy to see why Murrells Inlet has always been a fishing village, and perhaps the best way to experience it is from a base camp at the Inlet Sports Lodge. Located at the heart of Murrells Inlet, the Inlet Sports Lodge is a comfortable and classy boutique hotel that caters to anglers and golfers with the finest amenities in the area. It’s minutes away from three marinas, works closely with the area’s best charter captains and can accommodate boats up to 25 feet. There’s a fish cleaning room for prep, as well as gas and charcoal grills available in the courtyard to cook your catch. Or, for those who’d rather let someone else do the cooking, the COSTA Coastal Kitchen and Bar on-site offers up fine, fresh Italian and seafood fare. There are also several other restaurants nearby that prepare the kind of delicious right-out-of-the-water dishes that have made Murrells Inlet the “Seafood Capital of South Carolina.” And don’t forget the golf. If days on the water paired with days on the links sounds like the perfect way to relax, the Inlet Sports Lodge has you covered. With golf packages booking a wide variety of the Grand Strand’s famous courses, there’s more golf than you can swing a stick at, including two award-winning courses with the same ownership as the Inlet Sports Lodge. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club and True Blue Plantation are two of the finest courses in the area as well as the nation. For more information on fishing, golfing and the Inlet Sports Lodge at Murrells Inlet, S.C., go to www.inletsportslodge.com/ or call 877-585-9360.
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FLORIDA
By Dianne Poston
T
he South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAC) recently issued a news release stating that they have approved a request to NOAA Fisheries that would allow fishermen access to red snapper in federal waters off the coast of the Carolinas, Georgia and the east coast of Florida. The Council is requesting that NOAA Fisheries allow an interim annual catch limit (recreational and commercial) of 42,510 fish for 2017 via an emergency rule. The annual catch limit would allow for a recreational mini-season with six to 12 days of fishing over a few weekends beginning in late October. The recreational bag limit would be 1 fish per person/day with no minimum size limit. The recreational sector is allocated 71.93 percent of the total catch limit of 42,510 fish for 2017. The Council also approved measures in Amendment 43 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan with
the intent to have a red snapper season in 2018. If allowed, the recreational fishery would open the second Friday in July (July 13, 2018) and the commercial fishery the second Monday in July (July 9, 2018). SEDAR 41 is 805 pages and contains all the information on how the South Atlantic Council arrives at the numbers of fish that fishermen are allowed to catch. During the last season in 2014, biology tables were set up at the boat ramps to assess the red snapper stock. We fished in this last season and believed that the council was interested in how many older, breeding red snapper were available. We noted that the only fish that were making it to the biology table were the older, large fish and no one brought in the smaller red snapper to be assessed. As a result of this, there was a spike in the number of older fish being included in the council’s data. They assumed that fishermen had been discarding the smaller red snapper, allowing them to become dead discards, to catch the larger snapper. The council believed that the dead discards were greater than the allocated number of red snapper to be caught and therefore closed red snapper harvest for 2015 and 2016. During the 2017 season there will also be biology tables to assess our catch. Please be responsible fishermen and report all your catches, large and small, and also the ones you released. Private recreational fishermen will also have an opportunity to report their catch information as part of a voluntary pilot project using the mobile iAngler tournament app. Dr. Duval, of the SAC, is recommending practices such as moving off areas when you have caught your limit and if you need to release fish to use a descending device. Washington state, Oregon and California recently mandated fish descending devices for all bottom fishing. California reopened rock fish harvest after a study using descending devices showed that mortality was significantly reduced when using a descending device. There are several other states currently looking at mandating fish descending devices. There are many fish descending devices on the market. A good one is the Fish Saver by Roy’s Electric Reels. For more information, go to Fishsaverdevice.com.
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nglers in search of big-game sportfishing have chosen the Palm Beaches since the 1900s. Some of the earliest sportfishing boats were built in the area. With the Gulf Stream waters passing closer to the coast than anywhere in the continental United States, the annual migration of Atlantic sailfish to Palm Beach County sets the stage for Operation Sailfish on Dec. 6-10, hosted by the Sailfish Marina and Resort in Palm Beach Shores, Fla. Operation Sailfish is the first leg of the Quest for the Crest series, where the world’s best sail-fishing teams will compete. Prior to the
start of the competition, there is a special event, “Take a Hero Fishing Day.” Men and women of the United States military are invited to join the fishing teams for a fun day of fishing on Dec. 7. Active duty men and women, veterans and wounded warriors are eligible to participate in this event, created to honor and thank them for their service. The Quest for the Crest four-leg series teams are expected to compete for an estimated purse of $3,000,000 in 2018. The series begins at the historic Sailfish Marina and Resort in December. The Sailfish 400, the second leg will be January in Miami. The largest sailfish tournament in the country is the third leg of the series, known as The Sailfish Challenge, with a three-inlet format; Ft. Lauderdale will be the home base. The series wraps up with the Final Sail in Key West in April. The Sailfish Marina and Resort is the perfect venue for the tournament, with accommodations, the waterfront restaurant, ship’s store, dockage, fuel, heated pool and a weekly sunset celebration featuring live music. Many tournaments enjoy the amenities of the resort throughout the year, including The Big Dog Fat Cat KDW, The Silver Sailfish Derby and Blue Water Babes. A family tradition since 1952, the Sailfish Resort and Marina offers transient and annual docking, a charter fleet, 32 hotel accommodations, Peanut Island shuttle, as well as a snorkel trail and beach just a few blocks away. If you don’t compete in any of the tournaments based at the resort, come make some memories of your own. For more information, visit www.sailfishmarina.com.
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By Terry Gibson • Photo by Pete Markham/flickr.com
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he maritime salvage laws on the books today originated well before the days of Christopher Columbus. Today, salvage laws remain relatively unchanged. Boaters in Florida and across the nation should understand how and when these laws apply to them. Otherwise, you could end up with a shocking bill for even basic assistance on the water. A long-time friend of mine is a charter captain in Sebastian, Fla. He was fishing offshore with clients and noticed a slight crack in the hull, which let water in below decks. With an abundance of caution, he headed back to shore and contacted a popular maritime salvage and towing company to provide assistance. This company rushed a boat to his location and tossed him a pump to help minimize the effects of the leak. The company representative never set foot on my friend’s boat. A couple weeks later, my friend received a shocker of a bill—for $3,800. I recently learned about another individual who received a bill for a salvage claim that was several times that amount. This particular individual was a few hundred yards from shore while traveling to Key West when he saw there was more water in the bilge than normal. He got on the radio and called for a friend to help, but a maritime salvage company met him and helped pump water from the bilge. The company employee was on the boat for less than five minutes. Because the company classified the service as “salvage,” this boat owner received a bill for $30,000 even though he had a membership agreement with this company. I don’t share these stories to make people distrust maritime salvage and towing companies. I personally have a membership with one of these companies, and all the assistance they’ve provided was swift and above board. More than half of Florida boat owners invest in a membership for maritime assistance. Every boater should be aware that when you receive assistance on the water, you could be on the hook for a huge bill–even if you have a membership. Unless you have a pre-arranged contract with a salver that protects you, that individual or company has the right to make what’s called a “salvage claim” against the value of your vessel if it’s in “impending peril.” According to numerous maritime attorneys, the salvage fee amount depends upon factors including but not limited to the value of your vessel, the direness of the situation and the risk the salver took. Dishonest salvers know there’s legal gray area and that most salvage claims are settled in or out of admiralty courts. You can prevent an unexpected bill when you need assistance by negotiating a fixed fee or a set hourly rate. That way everyone is clear on what assistance will be provided and what it will cost. Mechanical and hull-integrity issues happen on the water; that’s the nature of boats. When they do, it’s good to know there are services available to help. To keep these challenging moments from turning into real financial problems, know what’s in store before calling on the help of a maritime salvage and towing company. To learn more about this issue or to share you own story about a salvage experience, visit StopSeaPiracy.com.
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By Costa Rica Pro Staff
Photos by Francisco Mejias
W
orld-class sportfishing and the sexy big-game species get a lot of attention on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, and for good reason. However, the inshore fishing can be just exciting. It is action-packed and diverse, utilizing different techniques to target more than a dozen different species. The main target of inshore anglers in Costa Rica is the hard-hitting and powerful roosterfish. They will smash artificials, and even topwater plugs, but the easiest way to catch them is with live bait. We bridle a live runner, sardine, lookdown or even a skipjack tuna on a 9/0 Trokar circle hook. Slow trolling around rocky structure or along beaches is a surefire way to draw strikes. Once hooked, the average 20-pound rooster is as ferocious as it is beautiful, and these beasts can get a whole lot bigger than average. We very often encounter fish in the jack family, including jack crevalle and different species of trevally in many of the same areas as the roosterfish. These can also be caught on live bait but are even more responsive than roosterfish to topwater baits such as poppers and stick baits. The lures are rigged with one or two in-line hooks from Lazer Sharp. We replace the factory treble hooks, which makes the fight much cleaner, the fish handling safer and does a lot less damage to the fish. These are fast fish, and quick retrieves often get the fish’s attention. Topwater does also work for smaller roosterfish, but the larger ones are harder to lure to the surface. Not so for the snappers, including cubera snapper, which will rise from 100 feet to smash a well-worked popper. This is one of the ultimate challenges in inshore fishing. They dive right back down to the rocks, often leaving the angler with a cut leader. Heavy popping gear, with 80- to 100-lb. line is necessary for the big ones. We have put 44 pounds of drag on big cuberas, and they keep going like there is no drag at all! Jigging is also a popular and fun technique we use a lot. Jacks,
trevally, seabass, snappers, groupers and mackerel are common catches. We look for underwater structure like rocks and drop jigs ranging from 2 to 9 ounces. The jigs are rigged with a pair of the new Eagle Claw Trokar assist hooks. On and close to the bottom, a slow jigging pace interests the snappers, groupers and seabass. As you move higher in the water column, a speed-jig style approach with rapid jerks gets the bite from the pelagics. Bottom fishing is also an option we sometimes use for an even larger variety of fish. Costa Rica does have some big bottom fish like giant grouper, broomtail grouper, cubera snapper and big stingrays. Live or dead bait gets the job done. Snook can be found in and around river mouths and are a fun species to target. Live bait works, but artificials like a small stick baits or jigs are more common and more fun. Wazo jigs with a Mr. Twister tail and a Trokar hook have resulted in many double-digit snook. If you haven’t tried inshore fishing in Costa Rica, take the time to try it. It’s great fun.
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will also have a break-away setup instead of a reel so that the rig (and fish) are attached to your float instead of your gun. There are several good companies that make this specialized equipment, such as Wong Spearguns, Riffe, Omer, Sporasub, Rob Allen, Gannet, and more. Retailers include SpearfishingWorld.com, SpearAmerica.com and many local dive ore than a few spearos have shops. spearing a tuna on their bucket Here are some quick tips to make sure list. Some are surprised to hear me your travel is fun, safe and productive: say that spearing a tuna is actually pretty 1. Go with a mentor or guide the first few easy. It’s the before and after activities times. Safe diving requires that you look out that are more challenging, along with the for one another, especially when bluewater planning. hunting. Due to safety considerations, it’s not the 2. Choose a reputable charter that first species one should aspire to. A more specializes in tuna spearfishing, as this likely progression would start with reef requires an experienced captain who can hunting for hogfish and red groupers, then give you good “drops.” on to mutton snappers and black groupers, 3. Use a Sportube to pack your spearguns and then perhaps some bluewater action and use the wetsuits for padding. Tell TSA with mahi and wahoos. you have “fishing equipment” rather than In addition to experience, going after using the word “speargun.” yellowfin tuna will likely require you to 4. Make sure all body parts are clear of travel, and it will also require special rigging the line when shooting a tuna. Tunas will to withstand the increased speed and size Sheri with 179-lb tuna from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. frequently sound and have a strong initial of this awesome prey. These two factors are Photo by Terry Maas. run. key. Traveling to the right place will increase 5. After cinching up the line through a clip on the float, use a second your chances of seeing them, and having the right equipment will ensure speargun for the kill shot. Do not handle a “hot tuna” with your hands. a successful capture. Don’t be disappointed if it takes a few trips to land your first tuna. It Currently, the most active places to spear yellowfin tuna include Louisiana, Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama. In more recent times, may take some effort, but in the end, it’s worth it. It’s hard to think of a spearos have been landing bluefin tuna off the coast of California. The fish that is more beautiful to look at or more delicious to eat. best way to find out which places are productive is through word-ofSheri is a world-record holder, host of Speargun Hunter, and producer mouth and social media. After selecting the right destination, here is what you will need to of The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Follow take in terms of equipment. Instead of the standard speargun with a “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram. reel, you will use a specially designed bluewater tuna gun. This will most likely be 60 to 70 inches long, the diameter of the shaft will be thicker, For more Sheri Daye, go to and it will have four to five bands (versus 1 to 2). It will have a slip tip and cable (versus flopper and mono)1 for a more Airline_Ad_CoastalAngler_8-1-14_Layout 8/1/14 1:14sure PM hold Pageon 1 a strong fish. It
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Covering All of Broward County...Offshore, INSHORE & Freshwater!
Fort Lauderdale Area
Sam Dyer caught this silky snapper on his very first drop.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Fishing with Kids
LOCAL Fishing Forecasts • Tide Charts • BUILT IN BROWARD • Brag Board For advertising or other inquiries, call (954) 680-3900 or email us at fortlauderdale@coastalanglermagazine.com 385_Fort_Lauderdale_FINAL.indd 1
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fROM THE
F
PUBLISHER
ishing has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I think I got my first Zebco combo when I was four years old. At ten, I couldn’t wait to get home from school so I could ride my bike to the local golf course to chase largemouth bass. Fast forward forty years and fishing has become my life. As the editor and publisher of Coastal Angler Fort Lauderdale, it’s now what I do for a living. I certainly don’t get to go fishing as much as I’d like to anymore. Running a monthly magazine is very much a deadline driven business and sometimes requires working on nights and weekends. When I can get away to fish, the weather doesn’t always cooperate. It’s just the way the pickle squirts sometimes. However, loving what you do helps to balance that out. I’m lucky to be able to work in the sport that I love. I actually think that I have learned to appreciate each day that I do get out on the water even more. This November edition of Coastal Angler Fort Lauderdale is our twelfth and marks one year since we acquired the franchise. Over the last twelve months, we have been fortunate to establish solid relationships within the fishing community, especially with our advertising partners and for that, we are extremely grateful. As we move forward into the holiday season, we will continue to do all that we can to promote your businesses and send our readers your way. We wish all of you a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving. Keep reelin,
GENE DYER
Editor & Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine Fort Lauderdale fortlauderdale@coastalanglermagazine.com (954) 680-3900
2 FORT LAUDERDALE AREA
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NOVEMBER 2017
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forecastS
SPORT
fISHING
S
ailfish, sailfish, sailfish! November is one of our best months for catching sailfish, our most sought after game fish. In Fort Lauderdale we have the perfect location for targeting these hard fighting and aerobatic gamefish. The Gulfstream current comes closer to shore in Fort Lauderdale than anywhere on the eastern seaboard of the United States. Just inside the Gulfstream is our 100' reef that runs parallel to our coast. If you were designing the perfect place for sailfish to congregate, you couldn't do any better than just offshore of Fort Lauderdale. The narrow strip of water between 100-200ft deep is known as "Sailfish Alley". It acts as the migrating highway for almost all the sailfish that move northward along the Florida Coast. Nowhere I have ever fished is there such a concentration of these highly prized gamefish. The best technique is a method called 'kite fishing'. Using kites, we can suspend live baits so that they are
DRIFT N
fISHING
ovember is a good month to catch kingfish while drift fishing in Fort Lauderdale. The mullet run, a huge baitfish migration where hundreds of thousands of mullet travel down our beaches, is still underway. This event revitalizes our reefs with new pelagic fish as they feast on the multitude of available food. Most of the kingfish we're catching will be in the 5-10 pound range with some monster kingfish mixed in from time to time. Kingfish aren't the only fish to take advantage of this "mullet buffet". Blackfin tunas, wahoo, mahi-mahi and sailfish all come in to shallower water this month to get their fill. The mullet run will taper off towards the end of the month, but action should be good for quite a while. While there is almost always more action to be caught fishing the bottom, a flat line surface bait is very effective to hook into the bigger species 4 FORT LAUDERDALE AREA
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Cool looking tiger shark was caught and released on an afternoon sportfishing charter.
held high on the water's surface, struggling to keep their heads underwater. These struggles send off 'fish-in-distress' signals that sailfish can pick up on from a long distance away. Of all the fishing tactics devised to catch sailfish, kite fishing remains the most effective.
this month. For those fishing the bottom, yellowtail snappers bite pretty good this time of year. Mutton snappers, African pompano and groupers are also lurking on the bottom and have a hard time passing up a wellpresented bait. Night anchor fishing for snappers is excellent this time of year and these night trips are our best trips for catching the most action. Yellowtail snappers are all over the place and biting well. When anchored up and chumming, yellowtails bite the best on a flat line bait rigged without a sinker. They like to hang back in the chum line, picking up scraps of meat drifting back off the chum bag. Those anglers fishing the bottom with a heavy sinker will have a much better shot at catching the bigger snappers and possibly grouper too. Mutton snapper, mangrove snapper, and the shallow water groupers (gag, black, red and scamp) should all be biting with regularity this time of year. Cobia sometime move through too, and NOVEMBER 2017
Offshore fishing this month is great, too. Mahi-mahi dolphin are biting excellent this year and if last year is any indicator of how this year will be, we caught boatloads of mahi-mahi throughout last year's November. Mahi-mahi are gregarious fish, so if you hook into one while trolling, look out for
more. There probably are more in the area. Usually with dolphin, we catch them underneath floating debris such as boards or seaweed floating on the top of the water. This month, we catch most of them just trolling open ocean. Keeping an eye peeled for birds working a school of fish is always a good idea. Trolling offshore, trying to cover the most territory possible is the way to catch them this month. And when you are fishing this way, usually trolling at a slightly faster clip, you can also entice wahoo or tunas to bite. Wahoo are another offshore gamefish that bite well this month. If sailfish, mahi-mahi and wahoo aren't to your liking, wrecks hold some nice fish too such as cobia, groupers, jacks and sharks. It's a great month to come fishing in Fort Lauderdale. Tight Lines! BIG TIP: Watch and wait for cold fronts this month as cold weather really gets the sailfish frisky!
Capt. Brett Magers New Lattitude Sportfishing (954) 707-2147 www.newlattitude.com
Ray caught this big bull dolphin aboard the Catch My Drift.
our night technique of anchor fishing and chumming works well for them. There is a lot of action to be caught day or night this season in Fort Lauderdale. All that's necessary to get them is to go out there and throw out a line. Good luck to everyone fishing this
month. I'll sea ya on the water.
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Hook Them Early! I n South Florida, we are lucky to have access to many fishing options. From the urban canal and lake systems to the Gulf Stream just off our beach, there are plenty of opportunities to get a kid hooked on fishing. Not only can fishing put smiles on young faces, but our sport can teach patience, plenty of everyday life lessons and influence the future of impressionable minds. Fishing also provides an avenue for young children to develop hand-eye coordination, motor skills, confidence and self esteem that they will carry with them for a lifetime. Most importantly, fishing is a great way to have fun and make lasting memories with your children. When introducing your child to fishing, it’s very important to remember that they have short attention spans and you’ll want to keep them interested. You won’t want their first trip to be a full day of offshore trolling as they will likely get bored quickly. Instead, take them to a spot where they will almost certainly catch a fish in the first few minutes. Urban canals and lakes are a great place to start. They are loaded with small fish like bluegill, bream, small bass and cichlids. Local saltwater canals can be accessed from seawalls and will produce pinfish, grunts and small snappers. You don’t need an expensive rod and reel. You can find everything that you will need at your local Wal Mart. Rig a small push button outfit with a small hook and bring along some live worms for freshwater or frozen shrimp for saltwater. Make sure to use a bobber so they can get a visual of when they are getting a bite. Once they catch a fish, let them know they did a great job. Positive reinforcement is key to hooking them for life. After a few successful outings, your child will be asking you when the next fishing trip is. Once your child starts showing a real
interest in fishing, don’t be afraid to ask for help with taking their fishing to the next level. Talk with the folks at your local tackle shop or ask a local guide for pointers. Among adults, it’s well known that fishing spots and techniques can be closely guarded as top secret, but throw a kid in the mix and most of those walls will come crashing down. There are also plenty of online resources to learn about fish identification, knot tying and techniques to catch various different species. Many boat shows offer kids fishing clinics. Captain Don Dingman runs the Hook the Future Foundation and puts on a wonderful clinic for kids between five and sixteen years old. Hook the Future will be at the 2017 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show on November 4th and 5th with two clinics each day. Now that your little fisherman has learned the very basics of fishing, it’s a good time to begin teaching responsibility. Don’t overload them with all of the rules and regulations at once, but talk to them about size and bag limits of the species that you are fishing for. Show them how to handle the fish correctly and use the opportunity to explain proper catch and release techniques. Fishing allows children to be outdoors where they can experience nature. Teach them about the environment and ecosystem and how their footprints can impact it if they are not careful. If you see discarded fishing line or garbage at your fishing spot, pick it up and throw it away and tell them why. Conservation is essential to the future of our sport and it’s up to the adults to pass on those principles our children and grandchildren. There are reasons that we call it fishing and not catching. Lots of them. Sometimes the fish don’t bite. Sometimes the fish gets away. Use these opportunities to talk about patience and persistence. Life doesn’t always go the way that we would like and
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forecastS
EXOTIC
fISHING
A
Hai fooled this bucket mouth with a topwater frog.
s South Florida and the rest of the state recovers from this year's hurricanes, the end of November brings the season to a close. The combination of the excess water from both the region's rainfall and hurricanes means more area to work lures, flies and live baits. Use muscle memory to work familiar spots, blind casting past productive areas and working the banks where one could probably stand prior to the high waters, especially over limestone, structure and choke points where ambush predators often stage. The fishing in general can be tougher this time of year. It will quickly define those that put in the time and recognize the subtle changes necessary to get tight, otherwise dismissing any given spot as unproductive or simply a bad spot, which is almost never the case. I almost never rule out any spot in general as bad, so long as most or all the tell tale signs are present. It can be slow that day or that specific time you were there. Always revisit spots
KAYAK
fISHING
W
ith the consistent easterly breeze over the last month, the dolphin bite is hot right now and anglers are catching these fish right on the reef edge, which is easily accessible for kayak fishermen. Some 25lb plus mahi mahi have been swooped up around the deep wrecks in 200 to 300 feet of water. Make sure you’re in the blue water or on the color change to put the odds of catching one or more of these beautiful fish in your favor. Lots of decent sized dolphin are being caught around floating debris that Hurricanes Irma and Maria left behind. Be sure to bring some chunked up squid, ballyhoo or any other baits you can get your hands on to chum up and turn on the fish you see under the debris. Kayak anglers fishing close to the reef have found the kingfish
8 FORT LAUDERDALE AREA
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PHOTO CREDIT: Carlos De La Fuente.
despite past activity and keep in mind that fish move around, often circling their territory. Keep an eye out for minnows, small cichlids, mullet, bait fish or pan fish. They will often tell you the water quality and often times, predator species won't be far. One of my favorite fish to chase during this time and the very first species I ever caught is the elusive largemouth bass. Bass in general tend to be very
bite to be slow. However, some small blackfin tuna have been finding their way into the kayak’s front hatch. If you’re lucky, you can still get catch the occasional 25lb tuna over the deeper wrecks by working a pink or purple vertical jig. Wahoo, my favorite fish to catch have already shown up and will really turn on once we get that first November cold front. Right now, anglers are getting some nice medium sized wahoo right in front of Pompano Pier at the color change around the wrecks from 180-250 feet of water. Fat, local sailfish are being caught around the shallow reefs straight out front between the Pompano and Deerfield Beach piers with some kayakers reporting double hookups in 80-100 feet of water. A great tip to help revive sailfish after an acrobatic fight is to use your pedal drive to swim the sailfish into the current for a few minutes until it’s ready to swim off and NOVEMBER 2017
curious and almost bully like when it comes to competition for both territory and food. Size matters and it is very common to see at least one very large bass, if not several, swimming along with other smaller bass and various predators. It seems they work together for the common goal of feeding but more likely, they are just using other fish for distraction. A Texas rigged worm can be a great way to chase these
gluttons. Use various sizes, colors and weights. If conditions dictate, go weightless. Crankbaits make great search baits and cover a ton of water. Mix in some erratic style plugs like suspending twitch baits or lipless crankbaits for variety in presentation, sound and vibration. Stealthy rigs like lures without rattles or free lining a Texas rigged fluke may be the ticket for extremely spooky fish. Topwater frogs or any bite on top is usually the most rewarding, especially when you throw them outside the ideal time zones of dawn and dusk like this bass caught in the Everglades mid day. I had the pleasure to prototype this frog among others, designed by good friend Patrick Sebile. Feel free to visit my website, follow my social links to learn more or book a trip. Learn the techniques to better your game and pass it on to the next generation responsibly, while enjoying the Magic City's exotic freshwater scenery in beautiful Miami, Florida.
Hai Truong
(786) 405-4146 www.HaiTruongFishing.com hai@haitruongfishing.com
Joe Hector landed this mahi after it ate his pilchard off Pompano Beach.
fight another day. For kayak anglers heading out just before dawn, there are some big snook swimming in the surf, just off the beach between Pompano Pier and Hillsboro Inlet. Use a live finger mullet or pilchard to get hooked up. The 2018 Extreme Kayak Fishing tournament season will
kick off January 27th and 28th with the annual Sailfish Smackdown. For more information check out www.extremekayakfishing.com.
Joe Hector 954-895-4527 Extreme Kayak Fishing Inc. www.extremekayakfishing.com joe@extremekayakfishing.com
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FORT LAUDERDALE AREA 9
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FRESH
T
forecastS
WATER
T 2018 KING OF THE GLADES SERIES Season 12 JANUARY 7
Round 1 - Clewiston RMMC
FEBRUARY 4
Round 2 - Holiday Park **If flats are off limits, Round 2 will be held at Clewiston
MARCH 4
Round 3 - Clewiston RMMC
APRIL 8
Round 4 - Holiday Park
MAY 6
Round 5 - Holiday Park
MAY 20
Wildcard Event Clewiston RMMC
JUNE 2
Classic Meeting @ BJ's Bait & Tackle
he water is at the highest point it's ever been since records have been kept here in Florida. Water continues to run from as far north of the Harris Chain all the way south into Lake Okeechobee and down throughout the Florida Everglades. There have been concerns with the amount of water these areas are presently is holding, not to mention the recent hurricanes. On top of that, Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades are being sprayed by government to control aquatic vegetation knocking down structure, oxygen levels and making for some really tough fishing. This year it's dawned on me for the first time that we don't always get the pick the day we would like to fish. It doesn't really matter as the FLW, BFL, ABA's, local tournaments and guide trips will all go on regardless of high winds, high waters or unfavorable conditions. We all have to figure out patterns, where the fish are positioned, how they're eating and what they're eating to catch them down here in Florida, the fishing capital of the world. This past year I have witnessed anglers catching fish and yes some monsters, time and time again regardless of conditions. Fishing the conditions makes us much better anglers. Put together the pieces of the puzzle, take what Mother Nature offers and turn it into a fantastic day. 1. Lake Okeechobee: Fishing has been really good on the outside, weather permitting.
Mark Escobar and Greg Moule with a winning bag in the Bass n Fools tournament.
Hard baits, rattle traps, swim jigs, Chatterbait, just to name a few. If you're fishing grass and cover, swimbaits, swim jigs, aces and burner worms are getting it done. 2. Urban Canal Systems: Fishing is off the chain right now. Top on the list are peacock bass, snook, tarpon largemouth and other exotics. Pick your favorite jerkbait, live bait or topwater. Don’t forget the camera. 3. Holey Land: Fishing in the main canal has been really good. Flukes, jerkbaits, topwater, and spinnerbaits. I've been catching some really good numbers of quality fish. 4. Mile marker 35: Fishing big baits through the pads like the snake, Big Easy, and frogs are getting big bites.
JUNE 3
Fitzgerald Rods KOTG12 Classic 5 Location Classic Draw #1 - Scott Driver #2 - Holiday Park #3 - LOX #4 - Lake Trafford #5 - Clewiston
5. Everglades Holiday Park: Fishing here has been up and down. If you can find water with no current you will find good numbers of fish. There is some decent peacock fishing as well. Jerkbaits, crankbaits, and worming the ledges have provided some of my best bites. By no means is it on fire, but there are some big ones biting if you're patient. 6. Sawgrass Recreational Park: If you are looking for numbers, this is the place. Small sinko's and flukes will keep your rod bent all day. For those of you without access to a boat, they have boat rentals here. Remember for those of you that do not harvest your fish please handle them properly and get them back in the water as soon as possible. Help keep our resources clean and free of debris such as line, discarded hooks, bait containers and plastic water bottles. Please pick up after yourself and others. Together, we can keep our waterways beautiful. Till next time tight lines and bent rods.
Capt. Neal Stark (954) 822-1481 Fishing with America’s Finest, Inc. "Changing Lives One Cast at a Time." 501(C)(3) Non-Profit Organization, FEIN #455494005
www.FishingwithAmericasFinest.org fwaforg@gmail.com American Everglades Guide, Inc. www.AmericanEvergladesGuide.com aeguideinc@gmail.com
Get some!
10 FORT LAUDERDALE AREA
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TIDE CHARTS Day 1W 2TH 3F 4SA 5SU 6M 7TU 8W 9TH 10F
Hillsboro InLet Time
height
12:16 AM 06:31 AM 12:41 PM 6:48 PM 01:01 AM 07:21 AM 1:27 PM 7:35 PM 01:46 AM 08:10 AM 2:14 PM 8:22 PM 02:32 AM 08:58 AM 3:01 PM 9:09 PM 02:19 AM 08:47 AM 2:49 PM 8:58 PM 03:08 AM 09:38 AM 3:40 PM 9:49 PM 04:00 AM 10:30 AM 4:34 PM 10:43 PM 04:56 AM 11:25 AM 5:33 PM 11:41 PM 05:58 AM 12:23 PM 6:37 PM 12:44 AM 07:04 AM 1:25 PM 7:45 PM
0.59 3.26 0.64 3.27 0.32 3.47 0.48 3.39 0.09 3.65 0.37 3.49 -0.10 3.76 0.31 3.54 -0.20 3.81 0.30 3.54 -0.20 3.77 0.36 3.48 -0.11 3.67 0.46 3.39 0.05 3.54 0.57 3.27 0.24 3.39 0.66 3.16 0.41 3.26 0.68
L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L
11SA 12SU 13M 14TU 15W 16TH 17F 18SA 19SU 20M 21TU
01:51 AM 08:13 AM 2:28 PM 8:51 PM 02:58 AM 09:18 AM 3:29 PM 9:51 PM 04:03 AM 10:18 AM 4:26 PM 10:45 PM 05:00 AM 11:11 AM 5:17 PM 11:34 PM 05:51 AM 11:59 AM 6:03 PM 12:18 AM 06:37 AM 12:43 PM 6:45 PM 12:59 AM 07:18 AM 7:25 PM 01:38 AM 07:57 AM 2:04 PM 8:02 PM 02:16 AM 08:34 AM 2:42 PM 8:39 PM 02:53 AM 09:11 AM 3:19 PM 9:16 PM 03:30 AM 09:49 AM 3:57 PM 9:54 PM
3.09 0.54 3.18 0.63 3.08 0.59 3.15 0.53 3.13 0.59 3.15 0.41 3.20 0.58 3.16 0.30 3.27 0.55 3.16 0.21 3.31 0.54 3.15 0.17 3.32 3.12 0.16 3.30 0.57 3.07 0.19 3.25 0.62 3.00 0.26 3.18 0.69 2.92 0.35 3.08 0.77 2.82
H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H
22W 23TH 24F 25SA 26SU 27M 28TU 29W 30TH
04:07 AM 10:29 AM 4:36 PM 10:35 PM 04:45 AM 11:10 AM 5:18 PM 11:19 PM 05:28 AM 11:54 AM 6:05 PM 12:07 AM 06:17 AM 12:42 PM 6:58 PM 01:02 AM 07:15 AM 1:33 PM 7:56 PM 02:02 AM 08:17 AM 2:28 PM 8:54 PM 03:03 AM 09:18 AM 3:24 PM 9:48 PM 04:04 AM 10:15 AM 4:19 PM 10:40 PM 05:01 AM 11:09 AM 5:13 PM 11:31 PM
Day 0.46 2.98 0.85 2.72 0.57 2.87 0.92 2.62 0.69 2.78 0.96 2.55 0.77 2.71 0.94 2.52 0.82 2.67 0.85 2.55 0.82 2.69 0.69 2.66 0.74 2.75 0.46 2.82 0.61 2.85 0.19 3.03 0.44 2.97 -0.08
L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L
1W 2TH 3F 4SA 5SU 6M 7TU 8W 9TH 10F
NOV 2017
port everglades Time
height
12:07 AM 06:25 AM 12:32 PM 6:42 PM 12:52 AM 07:15 AM 1:18 PM 7:29 PM 01:37 AM 08:04 AM 2:05 PM 8:16 PM 02:23 AM 08:52 AM 2:52 PM 9:03 PM 02:10 AM 08:41 AM 2:40 PM 8:52 PM 02:59 AM 09:32 AM 3:31 PM 9:43 PM 03:51 AM 10:24 AM 4:25 PM 10:37 PM 04:47 AM 11:19 AM 5:24 PM 11:35 PM 05:49 AM 12:17 PM 6:28 PM 12:38 AM 06:55 AM 1:19 PM 7:36 PM
0.56 3.17 0.60 3.18 0.31 3.38 0.46 3.30 0.08 3.55 0.35 3.40 -0.09 3.66 0.29 3.44 -0.18 3.70 0.29 3.44 -0.19 3.67 0.34 3.39 -0.10 3.58 0.43 3.30 0.05 3.44 0.54 3.18 0.23 3.30 0.62 3.07 0.39 3.17 0.64
L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L
11SA 12SU 13M 14TU 15W 16TH 17F 18SA 19SU 20M
01:45 AM 08:04 AM 2:22 PM 8:42 PM 02:52 AM 09:09 AM 3:23 PM 9:42 PM 03:57 AM 10:09 AM 4:20 PM 10:36 PM 04:54 AM 11:02 AM 5:11 PM 11:25 PM 05:45 AM 11:50 AM 5:57 PM 12:09 AM 06:31 AM 12:34 PM 6:39 PM 12:50 AM 07:12 AM 1:15 PM 7:19 PM 01:29 AM 07:51 AM 1:55 PM 7:56 PM 02:07 AM 08:28 AM 2:33 PM 8:33 PM 02:44 AM 09:05 AM 3:10 PM 9:10 PM
3.00 0.50 3.10 0.59 3.00 0.56 3.06 0.50 3.04 0.56 3.06 0.38 3.12 0.54 3.07 0.28 3.18 0.52 3.08 0.20 3.22 0.51 3.06 0.16 3.23 0.51 3.04 0.15 3.22 0.54 2.99 0.18 3.17 0.58 2.92 0.24 3.09 0.65 2.84
H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H
21TU 22W 23TH 24F 25SA 26SU 27M 28TU 29W 30TH
03:21 AM 09:43 AM 3:48 PM 9:48 PM 03:58 AM 10:23 AM 4:27 PM 10:29 PM 04:36 AM 11:04 AM 5:09 PM 11:13 PM 05:19 AM 11:48 AM 5:56 PM 12:01 AM 06:08 AM 12:36 PM 6:49 PM 12:56 AM 07:06 AM 1:27 PM 7:47 PM 01:56 AM 08:08 AM 2:22 PM 8:45 PM 02:57 AM 09:09 AM 3:18 PM 9:39 PM 03:58 AM 10:06 AM 4:13 PM 10:31 PM 04:55 AM 11:00 AM 5:07 PM 11:22 PM
0.33 3.00 0.72 2.75 0.43 2.90 0.80 2.64 0.54 2.80 0.86 2.55 0.65 2.70 0.90 2.48 0.73 2.64 0.89 2.45 0.78 2.60 0.81 2.48 0.77 2.61 0.65 2.58 0.69 2.67 0.43 2.75 0.57 2.77 0.18 2.95 0.42 2.89 -0.08
L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L
THIS MONTH’S Tide Charts Proudly sponsored By:
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“LITE N UP” 50’ 1999 HATTERAS CALL GREG HUNT: 561.926.8017
“LORI ANN” 50’ 1998 VIKING CALL JOHN STRADER: 954.610.4478
“JWILAVI” 43’ 2012 INTREPID CALL JAY JURGENS: 954.263.7186
“BACKLASH” 42’ 1980 OCEAN CALL JERRY GILPIN: 772.359.5745
“MISSION POSSIBLE” 39’ 2011 SEA VEE CALL SCOTT LEVIN: 772.263.1208
“TRACIE RAYE” 38’ 2002 PURSUIT CALL MATT LONG: 954.682.5250
“G3 II” 37’ 2012 BOSTON WHALER CALL BABB RAWLINGS: 954.804.5421
“LIBERTY” 36’ 2011 GRADY WHITE CALL JACK ROBERTSON: 772.260.1364
“SEAHUNTER” 35’ 2016 SEA HUNTER CALL MATT LONG: 954.682.5250
“ADDICTION” 35’ 2004 ISLAND RUNNER CALL ANDY SIMMONS: 561.699.5020
“GOOD ADVICE” 35’ 2003 TIARA CALL CHRIS VACCHIO: 772.263.0547
“LADY G” 34’ 2006 SILVERTON CALL JOEL DE LOS REYES: 954.303.9764
“REEL OF FORTUNE” 33’ 2007 FOUNTAIN CALL JOEL DE LOS REYES: 954.303.9764
“VINEYARD VINES” 32’ 2008 REGULATOR CALL GLENN CLYATT: 786.258.2434
27’ 2009 VENTURE CALL BABB RAWLINGS: 954.804.5421
SOUTH FLORIDA
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r spread
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Make reel memories. By Ed Killer - This 6-pound pompano was caught with Native Salt Clam bait in Vero Beach, Fla. Photo by Manuel Briceno.
F
all and winter along Treasure Coast beaches offer up some of the finest fishing there is. Surf fishing is fun, fulfilling and best of all, can fill a freezer in a couple of trips. Whiting, pompano, croaker, bluefish and Spanish mackerel are prime targets. While none of these species will ever earn acclaim for their size, they earn high marks at the dinner table. The hours of the incoming tide and beginning of the outgoing tide are the best time to go. Seas don’t have to be flat calm, but there is a threshold where if the shorebreak is too heavy, it might not be worth the effort. Surf fishing is generally a modified form of bottom fishing. If the waves are too large and require too much lead weight to hold bottom, it makes it impractical to fish. Plus, fish move out beyond casting range when the water is too sandy near the beach. Tackle requirements include a long 9- to 12-foot rod. Some anglers prefer spinning reels, however, the professionals keep one or more conventional reels in play, which helps reduce the potential for line being “spun” up by jacks and bluefish. Light line is the norm, too, about 10-pound test, but no more than 15. Most use monofilament with 1/0 or 2/0 hooks in a double-hook rig. Small pieces of bait like clam strips, pieces of shrimp, sand fleas or artificial bait like Fish Bites work well, as many of the targeted species feed using scent. Using a clip swivel, hook on a sinker heavy enough to hold bottom. Sometimes that weight might be 2 ounces; sometimes it might be a Buick. Whiting are nice to catch, and croaker mix into the cooler just as well. Both produce white flaky fillets and can be prepared in any number of ways. Take the skin off the fillet and bread for frying. Or try a whiting Reuben on rye bread with cole slaw and Thousand Island dressing for a true delight. Bluefish are voracious predators that feed in schools reminiscent of toothy piranhas, except larger. They are fun to catch, peeling off line and pulling like a jack crevalle. The Florida state record was caught in Jensen Beach in 1972. It was a whopper of a chopper, weighing 22 pounds. Spanish mackerel are also a fan favorite, and both macks and blues can be caught with topwater plugs, large spoons like Krocodiles and fast-reeled jigs. Bluefish taste fishy. Spanish mackerel are flavorful, but are best day-of fresh, and not great otherwise. But pompano really draw the crowds. In case there is any question, stop by a fish market and check the price per pound, which hovers around $19.99. Pompano have a delicate, rich flavor and elegant texture. Fillet with the skin on, which leaves them perfect for grilling or broiling. Lemon and pepper and a little tartar sauce make for a great reward for taking one’s fishing rod to a Martin County beach. Ed Killer is an outdoors columnist with Treasure Coast Newspapers and the USA Today Network.
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Stuart, located in Martin County, is known as the Sailfish Capital of the World. Sitting on the most biodiverse estuary in the Northern Hemisphere, Martin County is home to 100 artificial reef systems and over 800 species of fish. Its climate, waterways, natural environment and opportunity for diverse catches make it a mecca for fishermen and nautical explorers year-round. An array of unique shops, fine restaurants, great golf courses and quiet beaches make a day ashore fun, too. Inshore, offshore, saltwater or fresh, head out for an adventure and reel in the memories.
Plan your trip at discovermartin.com
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T
he Bassmaster Classic stands out as one of the biggest bass fishing events each year, and this year three pro anglers will don the signature Mud Hole colors on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell for the 2018 Classic in March. Joining the Classic line-up is a huge accomplishment for any angler, so let’s take a look at how Bassmaster Elite pros Brandon Lester and Bradley Roy as well as FLW veteran John Cox were able to capitalize on their opportunities to make the cut. Brandon Lester Captures His Spot Heading into Mille Lacs Lake in Onamia, Minnesota, Bassmaster Elite pro Brandon Lester found himself on the Classic bubble. On
the verge of either making the Classic or watching his bubble burst, Brandon knew it wouldn’t be easy, but welcomed the challenge. After three days of tight competition and a lot of learning on the lake, Lester caught 43 pounds, 1 ounce to finish in the money and leave with a qualifying ticket for his third Bassmaster Classic appearance. Although he was nervous coming off the lake, he later left weigh-in with a huge smile knowing he’ll be fishing Hartwell in March. Bradley Roy’s Big Return Like Brandon, Bassmaster Elite pro Bradley Roy entered the Mille Lacs event with his mind focused on making the Classic cut and his custom MHX Rods dialed in for smallmouth fishing. But after just day two, Roy could rest easy knowing he bagged 36 pounds, 13 ounces, which also gained him enough points to seal a place in the 2018 Classic. Bradley ultimately finished with 52 pounds, 1 ounce of Mille Lacs bass, a nice check to cash, and a ticket to his second straight Bassmaster Classic. Considering this will be his second Classic and he placed seventh in his first appearance, Bradley is incredibly hungry for a strong return. John Cox Fishing Familiar Water When John Cox finished on top of the B.A.S.S. Southern Open at Chickamauga Lake in Dayton, Tenn. with 68 pounds, 3 ounces, his big win came with more than just a check, it also included a spot in the 2018 Bassmaster Classic. After hoisting the Forrest Wood Cup and making a major splash on the FLW Tour, Cox and his custom MHX Rods are crossing over to fish in the Classic. The sight fishing phenom is excited for the opportunity, especially considering this Classic will be held on Lake Hartwell, where he secured a huge Tour win back in 2016. With his spots and some new rod builds in mind, Cox is a dangerous competitor looking to capitalize on his knowledge and experience of Lake Hartwell. To fish the Pro Tour Rods these pro anglers are taking to the Classic, visit www.mudhole.com/pro-kits.
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FISH & FISHING
MARK SOSIN
S
ounds transmitted into the water can either repel or attract fish. The key, of course, is to avoid driving fish away with the wrong kind of sound and, instead, arouse their curiosity or gain their attention with the right kind of sound. Keep in mind that sound travels five times faster in water than it does in air and that fish are extremely sensitive to a wide range of frequencies. You will hardly ever see a fish make a mistake and swim toward an alarming sound. However, the gentle splat of a bait or lure at a respectable distance from the fish will often attract its attention. Although fish don’t have protruding earflaps like those of humans and other mammals, they do have ears buried on either side of the head protected by skin, flesh and bone. In addition to their ears, fish have a second sound-detecting organ known as the lateral line, which is unique in the animal kingdom. Vibrations in the water pass through thousands of openings along the lateral line alerting a fish to their presence. The lateral line works within 20 to 30 feet of the fish. As the fish gets closer to the source of the sound (a baitfish or a lure), it can locate its prey even if it can’t see it. Within 5 feet or so, a fish can accurately strike its prey or a lure without actually seeing it. Sound plays a vital role in the daily activities of fish. Using their ears and lateral line, they can detect any disturbance in the water and react to it, whether
it is food or a predator ready to target them or simply some foreign sound that puts them on the alert. From a fishing standpoint, the key lies in eliminating alarming sounds. You can talk all you want, and the sound will bounce off the surface of the water. If you’re aboard a boat and you scrape a tackle box or bang your feet on the deck, that noise will transmit through the water. On clear shallow flats, it’s easy to see the effect of noise. Drop a lure too close to a bonefish, a 100-pound tarpon or even a large shark, and you can bet it will vacate the area. Even if it doesn’t go far, it’s on the alert and difficult to get to strike. One reason that fishing with live bait proves to be very effective is that its swimming ability is restricted and it sends out signals that it is in trouble. If you can keep the live bait on the surface where it continuously splashes, the results can be even more positive. That’s one reason why kite fishing with live bait proves so effective, particularly if you change baits frequently. Researchers tell us there is little doubt that sound with all its ramifications is a critical factor in the life of a fish, and it is equally important from a fisherman’s standpoint. As an angler, you should be totally aware of the effects of sound on fish and make them work for you both in attracting fish and by avoiding those sounds that would frighten fish or alert them that something is not right.
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ne of my favorite places for fishing, boating and enjoying nature is Hontoon Island in the St. Johns River in Volusia County. Accessible only by private boat or the park ferry, the island offers something for everyone, including the fisherman, canoer, hiker or archaeologist. A walk through the park or a stop in the visitor center can tell one about those who inhabited the island hundreds of years ago, for example Native Americans. The parking lot for the park’s ferry, which operates daily from 8 a.m. to right before sunset, is six miles west of Deland off State Road 44. The boat ride takes just a few minutes, but takes one into a world that seems little changed for hundreds of years. The 1,650-acre island has over three miles of hiking trails and cabins for rent for those who want to spend even more time fishing and swimming and exploring the river. One may learn in the museum there how the island once functioned as a center for commercial fishing. As in many places along the river, fish caught near the island and in the river waters offshore include bass, bream, catfish, crappie, perch and sunfish. What I have particularly enjoyed is boating the side streams around Hontoon Island, where one can find a wide variety of fish hiding in the grasses along the edge of the water. Nearby Lake Beresford, which is two miles long and a half-mile wide, is the site of the Stetson University Crew Boathouse, near which one can see boat crews racing along the waterway. South of Hontoon Island is the very popular Blue Spring State Park, which has the largest spring on the St. Johns River and is a designated manatee refuge. The most amazing finds on the island by archaeologists include wooden effigies called totems. They include what early visitors called a large owl totem carved from a log, a smaller carving of a pelican, and one of an otter holding a fish. One can see replicas of the totems on the grounds, whereas the so-called owl totem is at Fort Caroline National Monument Museum near the mouth of the St. Johns River north of Jacksonville and
near Mayport. The replica on Hontoon Island may represent the largest wooden effigy ever found in a North American archaeological site and the only totem of its kind in the eastern United States. All in all, a visit to Hontoon Island can satisfy the angler in the family as well as those interested in one of the jewels of the St. Johns River.
Whenever I walk the really old paths around the island, I can picture how Native Americans lived and fished there. The island still retains much of the charm of a pristine wilderness in the midst of the river that was the lifeblood of those who lived in Central Florida over a thousand years ago. Kevin McCarthy, the award-winning author of “South Florida Waterways” (2013 - available at amazon.com for $7), can be reached at ceyhankevin@gmail.com.
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H
ello, and welcome to the scuba diving column in Coastal Angler Magazine! Each month we fill you in on what’s happening below the surface here in Palm Beach County. This month we’d like to give you some basics about diving in Palm Beach County and why it’s so spectacular. To begin with, Palm Beach is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the blue waters provided by the Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream flows east along the equator turning north as it swings by Florida and up the eastern seaboard. Its clear-blue, warm waters dip closest to the continental United States right here in Palm Beach, and that’s great for us. This current swings in delivering a bounty of underwater creatures in its flowing tropical waters. Everything from small tropical fish to giant whalesharks gather in our local waters, and different creatures show up in abundance at different times of the year. Because the Gulf Stream brings warm water year-round, we dive all year long. Winter water temps average around 72 degrees and summer temps get as high as 84. The cooler winter waters bring big creatures to our area like migratory whales, whalesharks, and many species of shark, including the migratory lemons and spinner sharks. Spring kicks off our sea turtle nesting season with the giant leatherbacks arriving first, followed by loggerheads and then green turtles. By the time summer hits, it’s sea turtle craziness with nests hatching out and frisky adults lounging on the reefs. Fall brings the giant Goliath grouper in by the hundreds to spawn just offshore on our wrecks and artificial reefs. It’s not uncommon to see more than 50 500-pound grouper on one dive here in August and September. And people come from all over the world just to have a chance to dive with our amazing creatures! Palm Beach is home to the third largest barrier reef in the world, stretching from the Florida Keys up through Jupiter and just into Martin County. Because we have thousands of different species on our reefs, no matter what you enjoy seeing, chances are you don’t have to leave the “backyard” in Palm Beach. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and enjoy the beautiful Florida waters. As a good friend used to say, “Don’t take Florida for granted... she’s good to ya!”
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lorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) fisheries biologists certified a new state record jaguar guapote, weighing 2.78 pounds and measuring 16.7 inches long. It was caught by 14-year-old angler Jerry Martin from Miami. Martin was thrilled to catch his jaguar guapote in the Snapper Creek Canal (C-2) with live bait. “When I caught it, I freaked out,” said Martin. “I was excited because I knew it could be a state record.” Martin has never targeted jaguar guapote before. He most often fishes for largemouth bass and peacock bass. “It was an accident to catch the state record jaguar, but now I’m planning to start fishing for more records,” he said. Jaguar guapote are primarily known to exist in the urban canal systems of southeast Florida, ranging as far north as West Palm Beach. The species was first reported in 1992 from a photograph of two specimens caught in a farm pond near Miami Canal. The jaguar guapote was made eligible for state record status in 2012, and this is the first confirmed record for this species. Jaguar guapote is one of 34 nonnative freshwater fish species that have become established in Florida. The FWC strongly encourages anglers to catch, keep and eat nonnative fish (except legally-introduced peacock bass and triploid grass carp), as many nonnative fishes provide excellent table fare. In addition, releasing fish from aquariums or moving them between water systems is illegal and could produce detrimental effects.
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TIPS FROM A PRO
FRESHWATER BRANDON LESTER
B
eing from middle Tennessee, I was introduced to many diverse fisheries in my younger years. This area of the country has long been known for great smallmouth bass fishing, as it should be, but in my opinion it can’t compare to the smallmouth fishing in the Great Lakes region right now. I am certainly not bashing the smallmouth fishing down south, but fishing the Elite Series allows me to see some of the best lakes in the country, and the “good ole days” of smallmouth bass fishing on the Great Lakes is right now. Flowing out of Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River is one of my favorites on our schedule because it fishes similar to the rivers back home. The river has a lot of current, which positions the fish. The water is clear, and you can catch smallmouth from 2 feet deep all the way out to 60 feet. The St. Lawrence is absolutely full of smallmouth, and 30- to 40fish days are just another day on the water. In addition to the fishing, the area is also just an awesome place to spend time. Waddington, N.Y., which is our host city when we go, is in a very rural part of New York with lots of cropland and cattle farms. If you’ve not visited this fishery, I strongly suggest you do. Lake St. Clair is on fire right now. The final Elite Series tournament of the regular season was held there this year, and overall bass weights were absolutely phenomenal. The big smallmouth of the tournament weighed almost 7 pounds. In the past, tournaments on St. Clair were won by guys who ran to Lake Erie or Lake Huron, but not anymore. It seems now that St. Clair is the place to be. The style of fishing is different than most smallmouth destinations. Lake St. Clair is just a big bowl-shaped lake with a shipping channel running through the middle of it. That’s about the only real contour change on the whole lake. The big keys are
looking for clean spots in the grass and finding bait. If that doesn’t fit your style, you can run up the river toward Huron or down the Detroit River toward Erie. Both rivers have plenty of current and plenty of smallmouth. After fishing a tournament on Lake Champlain this year, it is my new favorite lake in the country. The smallmouth fishing is phenomenal, and you can catch big largemouth, too. The smallmouth hang out on offshore shoals, old bridge blow-throughs and rocky structure around the shoreline. If you get tired of catching them, there is an abundance of milfoil, docks and reeds where largemouth bass are willing and ready to bite. Lake Champlain, in my opinion, has the healthiest population of bass of anywhere I have ever fished, and that makes it fun, period. Plattsburg, N.Y. is a great place to visit, as well, with lots of cool sites to see. If you make one of these trips, be sure you’re prepared with the right MHX rods, Mustad hooks and Vicious fishing line. Hit Brandon up on Facebook or Instagram with any questions.
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I
t’s got the beaches, with fine white sand and the emerald green waters of the gorgeous northern Gulf of Mexico. It’s got the nightlife, the shopping and fine dining, the beautiful golf courses and everything else that draws vacationers from around the world. But what Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island—the heart of northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast—have more of than anything else is fishing. Back in 1956, Florida Gov. Leroy Collins called Destin “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” after catching a big king mackerel on a 15-minute photo-op boat ride during the Destin Fishing Rodeo. More than 60 years later, the historic Destin Fishing Rodeo just wrapped up its 69th annual October-long event, proving once again that this fishing village is just as lucky as ever. Daily weigh-ins at the rodeo give spectators a close look at what the waters off the Emerald Coast have to offer. Excitement builds on the docks in front of the landmark AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar when big tuna, wahoo, king mackerel, dolphin, groupers and snappers come to the scales. And in the Billfish Division, the big sportfishing yachts are out there pulling spreads for sailfish—and marlin that easily eclipse the 500-pound mark. There have been a couple grander blue marlin caught on the northern Gulf Coast over the years and a few more that came very close to tipping the scales past the 1,000-pound mark. Even swordfish show up pretty regularly, meaning there’s a real possibility for a grand slam fishing out of the marinas of Okaloosa County. It’s world-class fishing on the Panhandle, which in recent years has seen the big pelagic species moving closer to shore with changing currents. And what’s more, the action is yearround. There’s a good reason the world’s largest charter fishing fleet is based out of Destin Harbor.
Nearshore
Nearshore, warm and fertile Gulf waters coupled with numerous wrecks and reefs to create some of the most bountiful fishing Florida has to offer. With a short boat ride less than 8 miles off the beach, anglers can bottom fish or troll with family pleasing and cooler-filling consistency for amberjack, numerous snapper and grouper species, cobia, blackfin tuna, king and Spanish mackerel and more.
Offshore
Due south about 25 to 30 miles out, the continental shelf drops and there are multiple renowned hotspots, with some of the best big game fishing in the Gulf. South Florida seems to get most of the bright, hot spotlight when it comes to the big pelagics, but serious anglers out of the Emerald Coast quietly and consistently catch serious fish. Whether it’s a full-day trolling trip or an overnight expedition deep into the Gulf, dolphin, blue marlin, tuna and
wahoo are available to those who mean business when it comes to fishing.
Inshore
Those who would rather explore grass flats and oyster beds in search of trout or tailing redfish will also find that on the Emerald Coast. Inside East Pass and Okaloosa Island, Choctawhatchee Bay spreads out vast and shallow. It’s the perfect place to launch a skiff or a kayak into 130 square miles of inshore action that’s some of the best on the Panhandle.
Spring Cobia
Finally, any discussion of fishing options around the Emerald Coast has to include the cobia run, which is one of the best on the planet. Book your charter now, because in spring—peaking in April—cobia that have migrated north along the Gulf Coast arrive off the beaches bringing some of the most exciting fishing there is. This is sight fishing for one of the ocean’s tastiest and hardest fighting fish, and during this spring run they can arrive with weights in excess of 100 pounds. With a spotter in the tower, you cruise the clear blue-green waters looking for the telltale brown shadows of a pod of cobia doggedly pushing west. With a Airline_CoastalAnglerAd_3-2016_Layout 1 3/18/16 1:07 PM Page 1 smooth approach, the boat moves to intercept, and then it’s up to the angler to make an accurate cast with a live bait or a jig. Anticipation is almost unbearable for a few seconds before the take, and then bedlam breaks loose. Cobia put up the most unpredictable fight in fishing. They are capable of long, drag-burning runs, leaps, rolls and deep dives, but sometimes they save the thrashing until they hit the deck. Either way, catching a big cobia is exciting, and there’s no better grilling fish that swims. So, while the Emerald Coast offers gorgeous beaches and all the activity of a top-notch beach vacation destination, on the water it remains what it was before the Miracle Strip and Harbor Boulevard grew up around it. It’s one of the best fishing destinations in the world in terms of quality, quantity and variety of angling opportunities. For information, go to www.emeraldcoastfl. com. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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3 GALLON, 100 PSI OIL-FREE AIR COMPRESSORS
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 3/1/18*
SUPER COUPON
SAVE $285
• Accuracy within ±4%
Customer Rating
LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 3/1/18*
60" HARDWOOD WORKBENCH 6" VARIABLE SPEED WITH 4 DRAWERS DUAL ACTION POLISHER
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, saw mills, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, trenchers, welders, Admiral, Bauer, Cobra, CoverPro, Daytona, Earthquake, Hercules, Jupiter, Lynxx, Poulan, Predator, Tailgator, Viking, Vulcan, Zurich. Not valid on prior purchases. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/18.
LIMIT 1 - Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or prior purchase. Coupon good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Offer good while supplies last. Shipping & Handling charges may apply if not picked up in-store. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/18. Limit one FREE GIFT coupon per customer per day.
*52330318 * 52330318
LIMIT 8 - Coupon valid through 3/1/18*
*52309815 * 52309815
*52320448 * 52320448
SUPER COUPON
SAVE 70%
ANY SINGLE ITEM
ITEM 63604/63758 98025/69096/63759/90899 shown
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 3/1/18*
$9
20% OFF
• 3.5" LCD Display • Battery Included
MODEL: DCD780C2
12 VOLT MAGNETIC SAVE TOWING LIGHT KIT $106
13
51
MODEL: MT-1210
*52324497 * 52324497
LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 3/1/18*
$
ANY PURCHASE
7 FUNCTION DIGITAL MULTIMETER
COMPARE TO
HOME DEPOT
SAVE $80
99
ITEM 63100
WITH
Customer Rating
• 576 in. lbs. of torque • 2.5 amp hour battery • Weighs 3.6 lbs.
$7999 $9599 Customer Rating
SUPER COUPON
20 VOLT LITHIUM CORDLESS 1/2" COMPACT DRILL/DRIVER KIT
HUSKY
20"
SAVE $69
Customer Rating
$
FREE
M-REG109349_CoastalAnglerMagazine
DEWALT
BEATS
SUPER COUPON
NOVEMBER 2017
NATIONAL
17
10/6/17 9:40 3:42 AM PM 10/19/17
SUZUKI MAKES IT
EASY AS
1-2-3
The leaves might be falling, but the deals are just starting to spring up at your Suzuki Marine dealer. Make your best Fall Boat Show deal on a new Suzuki outboard from 25 to 300 horsepower and take advantage of not just one, but all three special Suzuki offers. See your Suzuki Marine dealer today and get on the water with a powerful, reliable new Suzuki.
REPOWER FINANCE
1. Six Years of Protection at no extra charge on all new outboards 25 to 300 HP.
2. Cash Rebates on select models. See your dealer for details.
3. Rates as low as 5.99% on new Suzuki outboards (OAC).*
Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 300 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 9/01/17 and 12/31/17 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. Cash Rebates apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 9/01/17 and 12/31/17. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Customer and participating Dealer must fill out the appropriate rebate form at time of sale. Cash rebate 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 9/01/17 and 12/31/17. “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. © 2017 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
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10/19/17 9:40 AM 9/8/17 2:55 PM
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© 2017 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries
THIS SEEMS TO BE THE PLACE WHERE ALL THE FISH HANG OUT. I THINK I’LL DROP IN.
12”
PROGRAMMABLE
HOT KEYS
PRELOADED
BUILT-IN
BLUECHART® G2 + LAKEVUU¨ HD CHIRP SONAR + CLEARVUU¨ + SIDEVU¨
GPSMAP® 1242xsv
COMMON CVRS_1117.indd 4 17-MCJT512 GPSMAP 1224xsv Coastal Fishing Ad_US-8.125x10.875-CoatalAngler.indd 1
10/18/17 3:19 PM 3/8/17 9:13 AM