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Heads Of Cold Steel Winter Steelheading In Upstate New York By Frank Geremski -The Angler Magazine of Upstate NY publisher
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inter steelhead fishing can be chilling, but once you hook into a 10-pound, lightning-fast bolt of silver, your blood will be boiling. The speed and explosion are what lures steelheaders to expose themselves to harsh Great Lakes winters. And there’s more. On Upstate New York’s Salmon River, there are plenty of beautiful, large, lake-run brown trout mixed in. Plus, today’s lightweight protective clothing provides comfort between strikes. The Salmon River in Oswego County, N.Y. (www.visitoswegocounty.com) offers consistent steelhead fishing during the late fall, winter and spring. In fact, the river has runs of trout and salmon from Lake Ontario all year long. With many quality tributaries along its length and a hatchery, this highquality wilderness river once was home to a legendary Atlantic salmon run. Rebounding populations of Atlantics still exist due to restoration projects, but Pacific salmon dominate the scene in late summer and fall. Huge chinook salmon, some heavier than 30 pounds, and coho salmon run up 14 miles of prime spawning and fishing waters each fall. A good number of steelhead (rainbow trout) follow the salmon to feed on the eggs dropped during this legendary fall salmon run. The steelhead feed aggressively during the salmon run, and they remain in this beautiful blue-ribbon river all winter, providing more than six months of explosive action. Winter thaws and early spring rains invite the remaining Lake Ontario steelhead to spawn and join their riverwintering kin. It’s a truly dynamic trophy trout experience. The Salmon River holds big fish. Ten-pound steelhead are commonplace. Fish in the teens are a definite possibility, and persistent steelheaders get chances every year on specimens in the 20-pound range. When salmon first enter the Salmon River in September and October, steelhead and lake-run brown trout mix in with pacific salmon making their spawning run. Both trout species feed on salmon eggs, and just when the salmon die off, the brown trout begin to spawn. Their eggs supplement the steelheads’ diet. Large numbers of giant trout and steelhead winter in the river, with additional fish running up from Lake Ontario all winter and early spring. When they first enter the river, these brightly colored bullets aggressively strike offerings like egg sacks, bright Estaz flies or beads that imitate eggs. Midriver matriculation brings them past the village of Pulaski, where there are about 10 miles of mostly public fishing access to deep holes, runs, rapids and every kind of trout water. Several high-quality tributaries flow in along the way and provide excellent spawning grounds up to what’s considered the upper section of the river. Natural reproduction does occur, and New York state operates a large hatchery on the upper end of the Salmon River. Since the Salmon River is a tailwater, this upper section is fishable all winter and never ices up. With egg availability diminishing, the winter steelhead diet evolves to more nymphs and stoneflies. Fly fishing is effective yet challenging. This section of river is ideal for fighting and landing large fish, with catch and release encouraged. Many trophy steelhead in the teens are photographed for replica mounts, and brown trout in the 5- to 10-pound range are caught regularly, with fish in the teens a possibility. 8
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The Salmon River has a reputation for tight quarters during the peak of the salmon run. Crowds diminish during winter steelhead season. Weekdays bring even less competition. Two very select permit-only resort properties are located on the two best sections of river offering managed access and exclusive riverside lodging. On the upper river, The Tailwater Lodge in Altmar, N.Y. has private southside access to Schoolhouse Pool and the runs and holes above and below. This is the prime wintering spot for a large percentage of steelhead and the best access for ice-free angling. The Tailwater is an Orvis-endorsed lodge, which includes an on-site fly shop, “The Woodshed.” Zero Limit Adventures Guide Service, also Orvis endorsed, has a collaborative relationship with Tailwater Lodge and provides outstanding guidance to this section and the entire Salmon River. They’ll get you dialed into current river conditions and what the fish are feeding on. The Tailwater Lodge’s opulent accommodations coupled with their location on the river and exclusive access make it the Mecca for Salmon River steelheading. This large section of river provides various speeds of current and holding water with ice-free conditions all winter. Tactics for hooking these giants include fly fishing, spinning, float fishing and center-pin techniques. The Angler Magazine highly recommends booking an experienced licensed guide on your first day to instruct you on equipment, fly or bait selection and technique. Allow Tailwater Lodge (www.tailwaterlodge.com) and Zero Limit Adventures (www. zerolimitadventures.com) ease the entry into this elite pursuit. Douglaston Salmon Run (DSR) manages more than 2 1/2 miles of exclusive access in the lower end of the Salmon River where steelhead first enter from Lake Ontario. Early steelhead action can be fast and furious. Winter access is dependent on weather conditions, as the middle and lower sections of the Salmon River get slushy or iced over during mid-winter cold speels. DSR (www. douglastonsalmonrun.com) publishes an accurate and honest daily report that functions as a great information source for river conditions and fish movement. The highly challenging adventure of hooking and battling your first 10-pound-plus Great Lakes steelhead will certainly not be your last. This divine experience will put you in a league of sportsmen who are the only ones to understand this trophy steelhead quest. It’s a feeling like the adrenaline rush of your first buck or sailfish. This heart-pounding adventure on a beautiful river will provide a memory that can be yours forever. To check out the “Men of Steel” video, go to
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12/15/16 3:09 PM
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Editor’s Note: Each month, Coastal Angler Magazine and The Angler Magazine staff search our vast coverage area for photos that will grace our covers. With well over a million readers in diverse coastal and inland markets, our magazines strive for broad national appeal as well as local-level intelligence to put anglers on fish. The cover is different depending on which edition you, the reader, are holding. The following is a little information about this month’s covers.
COASTAL ANGLER MAGAZINE Houma, Louisiana
FREE
The big black drum on the cover of Coastal Angler’s January editions was caught by Banging The Drums Of Jacki Shae, whose south Florida upbringing Houma, La. taught her a love of fishing from an early age. Winter Chrome In On a recent ladies-only fishing trip to the Upstate N.Y. marshes around Houma, Louisiana, Jacki learned a newfound respect for black drum. Local This often overlooked cousin to the everpopular red drum might not be much on looks, but it puts up a heck of a fight and grows even larger than the big bull reds prized by so many anglers. Rumor has it the fish on the cover was caught with one of those kids’ Barbie rods spooled with 30-pound test. With tutelage from their guide Brittney Novalsky, the ladies also did battle with some of the big redfish Louisiana is famous for. Four young women staying on a houseboat and hauling big fish from the Louisiana mud… what more could anyone ask for from a fishing expedition?
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The covers of this month’s editions of The Angler feature a beautiful chrome steelhead Winter Chrome In caught by Zero Limit Adventures Guide Rob Upstate N.Y. Reynolds. The photo was taken by Zero Limit Banging The Drums Of Adventures Guide Matthew DeRosa. The fish was caught on the Salmon River in Oswego County, New York. To learn more Local about this fantastic fishery view this month’s article “Heads of Cold Steel” by The Angler Magazine Upstate New York publisher Frank Geremski. Zero Limit’s diverse team of guides offer tailored trips of a lifetime and expertly fish many tributaries of central and western New York. They can be reached by e-mail via mderosa@zerolimitadventures.com by phone at 585-766-2421, or view their website at www.zerolimitadventures.com. Zero Limit has a collaborative relationship with the opulent Tailwater Lodge www.TailwaterLodge.com in Oswego County. Tailwater Lodge offers exclusive access and wonderful accommodations on the banks of the Salmon River, home of legendary trophy salmon, steelhead and brown trout runs from Lake Ontario. Call Tailwater Lodge for availability and reservations at 315-298-3434. To learn more about Lake Ontario, the Salmon River and Oswego County fishing go to www. visitoswegocounty.com or call 1-800-248-4FUN. Houma, La.
Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events
PHOTO COURTESY OF ZERO LIMIT ADVENTURES GUIDE MATTHEW DEROSA VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 264
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LADIES DRUM UP ACTION IN THE LOUISIANA MARSH By Jacki Shea
I
find myself staying in the strangest places when I go on fishing adventures. But as long as it involves fishing, sleeping on a couch or on the ground really doesn’t matter. On this particular trip, my friends and I found ourselves in a small houseboat on a river in the Louisiana marshes west of New Orleans. It was tiny, there was only one bathroom (picture four girls trying to use one bathroom), and the bed sheets smelled like a man after a long day of fishing. You might be wondering what brought us to such a place, and I will give you two very good reasons: redfish and black drum. Enormous specimens of these two drum species come into the marsh each fall and winter, 20 to 30 pounds to be more specific. If you plan on making the trip to Louisiana to do some inshore fishing, it is not necessary to stay on a houseboat; however, I highly recommend it. When
you wake up each morning, you are on the water ready to fish with your boat tied up next to you. Of the drum family, redfish seem to be the most popular inshore species. Redfish are always a great fight, especially the big bulls. But many anglers seem to overlook black drum, which are sometimes referred to as a “mud donkeys.” It is not an attractive fish, nor is it great for eating; therefore, it is not commonly targeted. This fish does, however, grow the largest of the drum species, and it fights with the same action and power as a bull red. Now that I’ve caught a few, I believe black drum can look very pretty once the Louisiana sun hits those scales just right. Redfish and black drum are thick in the Louisiana marshes all year, but the season for the monsters runs from September to January, when big fish move from offshore into the marsh following migrating baitfish. When the baitfish show up inshore, the big fish won’t be far behind. For bait you can use live or artificial depending on whether you are trying to sight fish or just toss a line out and wait. On our trip, we used a standard knocker rig, with an egg sinker and a hook, and sank split live blue crabs and shrimp to the bottom and waited. The fishing is quite simple when you know where the fish are, although a guide is recommended for those unfamiliar with the waters because it’s easy to get lost in the marsh. Keep an eye out for cold fronts. The cold fronts clean up the water and bring the fish closer to the surface, which makes for perfect sight fishing. The fish also enjoy the cooler inshore water, so they will be more abundant and active. Check out Jacki’s YouTube channel Jacki Shea Fishing for videos of her fishing adventures. Her guide for the Louisiana trip was Brittney Novalsky who can be contacted through www.fishingadventureswithbrittney.com. For more fishing with Jacki Shea, go to
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By Tom Karrow Researcher Tom Karrow assessing fishery health in Abaco with a Bahamian angling guide from the Delphi Club. Photo by Andrew O’Neill
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hen I first started fly fishing in the 80s, the sport was not nearly as popular as it is today. Shops carrying fly tackle were sparse, people with knowledge of the sport were few and far between and getting lessons was nearly impossible. When I think back to those days, recalling the number of flies I lost in trees, the frequent tangles I developed and the shear lack of fish I caught, it is a wonder that I kept with it. Indeed, if it were not for the fly tying component of the sport, I might well have thrown in the towel. I love fly tying; being able to create something to fool fish with is a marvelous achievement. In contrast to my early fly fishing days, today there is a seeming abundance of information on the sport, from equipment, to angling destinations; everyone seems to have some insights. On top of this has been the advent of the Internet, a treasure trove of information and misinformation. The fact of the matter is, fly fishing is not nearly as complicated as it may seem. It is simply a form of fishing that allows for lightweight or nearly weightless “lures” to be used, which without the added weight in the line could not be presented to a fish. In some cases, fly fishing is a far superior method for fooling fish and in others, deep waters for example, far more challenging. When it comes to heavily pressured or sensitive fish, especially those inhabiting shallow inshore waters, I would argue fly fishing can often out-produce other techniques. Being able to imperceptibly drop a fly in front of fish when they are used to loud splashes from heavy lures or live baits can often result in fooled fish. Fly fishing is sometimes called an art, perhaps because of the apparent delicateness of the cast, the manner in which the line travels out over the water, or because many incorrectly, consider it hard. So let me correct this fallacy. Fly fishing is not hard, it does not need to be complicated and it can be very easily learned. If you really want to learn to fly fish, I would suggest a trip to the Bahamas. The weather is beautiful, the waters are stunning, and the people, culture and food are marvelous. The chance of catching fish is very high, as the guides are great instructors and a week’s worth of fly fishing immersion would provide incredible advancement in understanding and skill level. Throughout my travels in the Bahamas, I have met many wonderful guides and visited many top-notch facilities. To highlight one Bahamian guide or lodge is simply impossible. However, when it comes to learning the sport, be honest. When booking a trip to a lodge, perhaps directly or through a travel company like Yellow Dog Fly Fishing or Frontiers International, tell them what you want. Tell them you are a beginner. Tell them you want to learn. Through this strategy, those in the know will put you with facilities and personnel best suited to an instructional 12
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Great equipment meets great Bahamian culture. Photo by Tom Karrow
environment. You want a location that offers everything, lodging and food of course but also equipment, casting lessons, fly tying lessons, safety instruction along with patient and professional guides. One common thread that has become apparent through my research in the Bahamas is the respect that Bahamians have for travelers, specifically bonefish anglers. Bahamians openly welcome tourists, recognizing the importance that bonefishing has on local Family Island communities. Bonefishing on some Bahamian islands provides employment for up to 80 percent of the local population. With that level of economic importance, industry professionalism is critical along with healthy fisheries. In the Bahamas you will find both a high degree of angling knowledge and amazing fisheries. The Bahamas are certainly an excellent place to consider taking a trip and a phenomenal place to learn to fly fish. What I find most attractive about the Bahamas is the shear diversity available. With more than 700 islands, there is something for everyone. And for anglers, old and new, there are always new opportunities to learn from. Tom Karrow is a sustainable tourism scholar from the University of Waterloo. His research focuses on the Bahamian bonefishing industry, centered on the guides and their knowledge, stories and experiences. For more on his research see: http://tomkarrow.wixsite.com/bahamasguide-tek, and follow Coastal Angler Magazine for updates and more. Tom Karrow can be reached at tkarrow@uwaterloo.ca or tomkarrow@ gmail.com. For more Bonefishing in the Bahamas, go to
CAMFISHING.CO
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no weight reduction had gone into the components above the handle. The guides were large and weighty. As a result, the rod was annoyingly front-heavy, even when I mounted two of the spinning reels I had tabbed for the task. Lost balance led to lost feel and sense of control over my bait. It took an oversized reel to bring anything resembling “balance” to this rod, and the resultant combo was still cumbersome. “It’s hard to get a rod perfectly balanced without knowing the reel a guy plans to put on it,” said Russ Lane, a Bassmaster Elite Series angler known for his talent for tackle tinkering. Lane wraps many of his rods with Winn Superior Rod Wrap (www.winngrips.com) to give them the same advantages of hand control and comfort that he gets with the Denali Attax rods and other rods in his arsenal already fitted with Winn grips. But at times there’s a secondary benefit to the wrap. “Sometimes adding the Winn rod wrap can add just enough weight to balance a rod,” noted Lane. He faced a formidable “weight-forward” balance challenge with the flipping/pitching rod he uses to punch matted vegetation with soft plastic lures and 1.5-ounce tungsten By Mike Pehanich weights. “I needed to add more weight to the handle,” Lane recalled. As usual, he covered the cork mid-grip of this 7-foot, 6-inch Denali Lithium Flipping Stick (Xtra Heavy) with the ightness” has been the dominant thrust of rod evolution for years. Lightweight guides, skeletal reel seats, split grips… these and other polymer overwrap. Before he added the wrap to the butt grip, however, he developments have served rod builders in their ongoing quest to added Storm SuspenStrips—adhesive-backed rectangles of soft lead that he reduce rod weight and, in turn, diminish fatigue and enhance angler comfort generally uses to add weight to his jerkbaits—to the tapered butt grip. “You can get the balance perfect by adding just enough lead tape over the and feel on the water. Oddly enough, radical downsizing of rod components sometimes produces butt grip before adding Winn overwrap on top of it,” explained Lane. “Balance the opposite of its intended effect if rod balance is significantly compromised makes a big difference when you are flipping those heavy tungsten weights in along the way or when heavier-than-usual lures or terminal tackle enter the heavy cover all day long.” picture. Several seasons ago, a rod manufacturer asked me to road test a new midFor a word from Lester on the benefits of Winn Grips, go to priced spinning rod the company was planning to bring to market. The design team had taken the split grip concept to an extreme, virtually eliminating the mid (rear) grip altogether and adding a very airy foam to the butt grip. However,
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Shown above: Chad Roberson, President of H2O Sports congratulates Danny Amador on his new boat.
hat’s a real mouthful of salutations, but the winner of Coastal Angler and The Angler Magazine’s Boat Giveaway contest is certainly deserving of all three. Danny Amador was drawn as the winner of the 15’10” Cape Craft boat with 75 hp Honda engine and a Coyote trailer. A massive fire at H20 Sports Manufacturing delayed much of their manufacturing, and Danny Amador had to wait until Dec. 9 to pick up his brand new Cape Craft vessel. That’s where the story gets really interesting. Dec. 9 is Danny’s birthday. Yep, and as all December birthday people know it’s always “Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas.” Coastal Angler Magazine would like to salute Danny Amador for his patience in receiving his boat. Unforeseen circumstances can sometimes alter even the best of transactions. Danny Amador’s patience and H20’s commitment to fulfilling the contest award represented the best of our industry. In addition to Danny’s boat, motor and trailer, Chad Roberson, H20 Sports Manufacturing’s President, insisted on
throwing in a free bimini top and invited Danny Amador to pick his favorite custom color for the boat. Good things are worth waiting for. Special thanks to Top Notch Marine in Fort H2O Staff and Danny Amador shown at H2O Sports headquarters. Pierce, Fla. for their assistance in titling this boat to our Florida winner. Once again to Danny Amador: “Congratulations, Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas!”
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UNDER THE SEA
Center s LIONFISH: CAN’T BEAT ’EM? EAT ’EM! SHERI DAYE
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lthough beautiful to look at, the invasive lionfish poses a severe threat to Atlantic and Gulf waters. They are known for having spines that can sting if not handled properly, but the meat is perfectly safe and delicious to eat. In other words, they are venomous but not poisonous. Lionfish is becoming increasingly common on restaurant menus and is even available at Whole Foods grocery stores. Connoisseurs often compare the quality to hogfish – a fine, delicate white meat. The scientific community concluded that home aquarists are to blame. Much like the python in the Everglades, it only took a few released invasive individuals to begin the breeding cycle. Since they are a new and strange looking species, native fish are not consuming lionfish. Yet lionfish are consuming juvenile native species at an alarming rate. Adding to the problem, they also breed at an amazing rate. Females reach sexual maturity at six months and release up to 30,000 eggs every five days. They now cover the east coast of the U.S., the entire Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic side of Central and South America, and can be found between 2 and 1,000 feet deep. The most effective way of hunting them, by far, is spearfishing. Since they have no natural predators, they are not wary which makes them easy to spear. Just handle the spines with care and you will be rewarded with a delicious meal while helping the environment! Lionfish hunting tips: 1. First, you must find them! Unfortunately, they are everywhere—look on reefs, wrecks, sometimes out in the open and often in ledges and holes. 2. Handle them carefully and do not to let the fins puncture your skin. If stung on the hand, remove any rings right away. The best treatment is heat, which breaks down the venom. Heat packs or hot water collected from the boat exhaust can be used. 3. Use the specially designed pole spears (such as Neritic) and use lionfish containers (such as the Zookeeper), which are puncture-proof. These specialty items can be found on the LionfishHunting.com website or your local dive shop.
4. Once back on the boat/shore, place lionfish into cooler and continue to handle with care. The protein-based venom is broken down by heat but preserved by cold. 5. Lionfish can be filleted just like any other fish. See LionfishHunting.com for a good set of instructions with photos on how to fillet. 6. Lionfish can be prepared like any other white-meat fish. Many recipes can be found online. For an impressive presentation, they can even be cooked whole as cooking neutralizes the venom. P. S. The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo, which takes place April 2017 in Ft. Lauderdale, will have a Lionfish Pavilion featuring several exhibitors along with a cook-off event where several chefs will be showing off their best recipes and giving samples. Happy Hunting! Sheri Daye is a world-record holder, host of Speargun Hunter, and producer of “The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo” in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Follow “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram.
For more Sheri Daye, go to
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Power. Luxury. Elegance. Adventure. Whether you are a novice seeking a fun day with your family or a serious tournament fisherman, we offer a trip to meet your needs. The RELENTLESS is our 65’ x 20’ custom built sportsfisherman and is available for daily trips from 4 hours up to 18 hours. With a captain who has over thirty five years of fishing in the Gulf of Mexico the RELENTLESS specializes in overnight trips of 24 to 72 hours if you prefer to stay longer and “fish bigger” for marlin, tuna & swordfish.
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Catch a sunset
in an Ocean Reef luxury property.
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t’s 6:30 a.m., and my photographer and I are following a black Ford F-150 from Georgetown to Rolle Town in Exuma, Bahamas. The sun is slowly making its journey upwards, and the landscape seems to be glowing because of it. We make our way to a little dock below a hill, park our rental car and board the boat. Off we go dashing across the still water in the dim early morning. The sun and its bright orange rays are barely above the horizon. Exuma is an interesting place to bonefish. Known more for the swimming pigs and its dozens of beautiful cays, the island has become a popular hub for tourists in search of authentic Bahamian island life. Boasting top resorts like Sandals Emerald Bay, February Point and Grand Isles, Exuma is not short on gorgeous properties overlooking its turquoise and electric blue waters. My guide, Reno Rolle, explains that Exuma has never been known as the fishing capital of The Bahamas; that title is held by Andros, Eleuthera, Bimini or Abaco. But Rolle said his clientele includes people from Germany, Paris, the Unites States and lately, Canada. And Rolle, who has been fishing for 20 years, does everything he can to make his clients lifelong patrons. “I’ve got a guy from Germany who has been fishing with me for six years,” he said. “For one, I feel that as long as people get comfortable fishing with you as a guide they continue to building that relationship and it becomes naturally like that’s your friend. When we look at bonefishing, sometimes it just draws the outer world into these islands.” There are eight full-time professional bonefish guides on Exuma. Exuma is centrally located in the island chain of The Bahamas. A 35-minute flight from New Providence, Exuma is also an hour from Miami. Flights include Air Canada, American Eagle and Delta Airlines. The Tropic of Cancer runs through a beach in Exuma, aptly named the Tropic of Cancer Beach. There is lots to do on the island. The swimming pigs tour, a journey through most of northern Exuma, takes guests from Barraterre on Great Exuma to Compass Cay in the north. Four C’s Adventures is a recommended guide service that can accommodate large groups. Visitors not only get to meet the pigs on pig beach, they get to explore Thunderball Grotto, an underwater cavern filled with marine life, which served as a pivotal scene in the 1965 James Bond film Thunderball. Within a few miles of that is a sunken drug plane. Then there is a beach filled with endangered iguanas, a property once owned by actor Nicholas Cage and of course Compass Cay and its equally
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famous nurse sharks. These are experiences that can only be found on Exuma. Thousands of sailors anchor in Georgetown each year during the summer season, many are on their way south in an epic exploration of the Caribbean. Exuma’s harbors are well protected and exciting. Chat N Chill, a restaurant and bar found on Stocking Island, overlooks that harbor. On a dull day, you’ll find about 20 people on the island feeding stingrays and eating fresh tropical conch salad and enjoying a Kalik – beer of The Bahamas. Rolle, my guide, grew up on Exuma. The son of a taxi driver, Rolle began instructing me in the ways of the fly rod during our trip. “It’s the only way to bonefish,” he told me. While we circled around the back of Rolle Town searching for the gray ghost in the marshes, I learned just how complex using the fly rod can be. Rolle caught one bonefish that day, I caught zilch. Needless to say, I did not master the fly rod. As we returned from our trip, the tide became increasingly low and suddenly several sandbars appeared above the water’s surface. Exuma is truly one of the most exciting and unpredictable islands in the Bahamian archipelago.
For more Bonefishing in the Exumas, go to
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HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM YOUR COASTAL ANGLER TEXAS TEAM! Mark your calendars. The largest indoor show for outdoor sports in America is coming to NRG Center, January 6-15, 2017. It’s the 2017 Houston International Boat, Sport & Travel Super Show! Friday Sat-Sun Mon-Tues Wed-Thur Friday Saturday Sunday
January 6th January 7th-8th January 9th-10th January 11th-12th January 13th January 14th January 15th
1 PM – 8 PM 11 AM – 8 PM 11 AM – 8PM 1 PM – 8 PM 1 PM – 9 PM 11 AM – 9 PM 11 AM – 5 PM
Admission for Adults – $12.00 | Children ages 6 – 12 – $5.00 | Children 5 and under are FREE. CASH only at the ticket windows. $12.00 Per Day for Onsite Parking – CASH Only With the Spotlight on over 1,000 Boats and RVs, plus 100’s of Fishing, Sport, Travel and Outdoor Gear, along with Art Exhibits, there are great surprises for the whole family. The Boat Show is the place to go to get the greatest deals on new boats and boating gear and to learn about the latest in marine technology and maintenance. Keep your kids entertained by visiting the kid’s build-a-boat, build-an-engine, paint-a-boat, bungi jump, inflatable slide and bumper boat attractions. Make sure your kiddos don’t miss the boat show annual Fish-ORama tradition. Fish-O-Rama is a great opportunity to introduce kids to the challenge of fishing. Anglers can decide to take their catch home with them or just take home their fishing story. The tanks are stocked with rainbow trout and the poles are baited and ready for the big catch. Remember to visit our advertisers Hook Spit Fishing Gear, Ron Hoover, The Nautic Group and Safe Floor, LLC for incredible deals. As always we would like to thank our pro writer’s who take their time to offer up expert fishing tips: Cassie Willis, Craig Lambert, Jeffrey Acosta, Galveston Bay Foundation, Dean Muckleroy, Mark Franklin, Mark Talasek, Tobin Strickland, Mike Meza, Michael ‘Sharky’ Marquez, Brian Joseph Spencer and legal adviser Attorney Weston Prescott Ray. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our advertisers: The Nautic Group, Hook Spit, Serious Tackle, Bacliff Builders Supply (Ace Harware), OJ’s Marine, Avid Anglers Jewelry Design, Fisherman’s Motel, Tran Sport Boats Inc, Gulf Coast Palapas, Cowboy’s Wild Game Washer, Spotless Services, Advanced Marine Service, LLC, Blackburn Marine, SafeFloor and Ron Hoover RV & Marine Galveston. Without them, this magazine would not be possible. Remember to visit and shop with our advertisers and please make sure you ask for your Coastal Angler discount upon purchase. Read us online at www.coastalanglermag.com/galveston/ under the red banner find and click ‘online editions’ scroll down to the ‘Galveston edition’. Click on our ‘advertiser’s ad’ and go directly to their web site. Tight lines and We wish each and every one of you a prosperous and Happy New Year! The Mowry Sisters – Chanci & Michelle Facebook - Coastal Angler Magazine Texas
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F I S H I NG R EP O RT
Galveston Bay
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ell the month of December is coming to a close and the end of a new year. 2016 was a great year as far as fishing went for me in Galveston Bay. We caught lots of Big Trout along with Redfish this year from East Bay to West Bay and from the Jetties to Trinity Bay. The fishing continues to be strong in the Upper End of Galveston Bay as the Speckled Trout are there in abundance. We are catching numbers and size now with live shrimp and STX Ultimate popping corks, long with Lews Reels, and Redtail Rods. The fishing remains strong due to the abundance of bait still in the bay due to the long summer we encountered this year. I believe fishing will remain strong into January as the Speckled Trout are just starting to get into he typical winter haunts. Redfish have been fair along shell in 3 to 5 feet of water and live shrimp also in Trinity Bay and Upper Galveston Bay. Just remember this time of year can get foggy at times so please use common sense when boating in the fog and slow down because you don not know whats or who is in front of you. Tight Lines until next time. Captain Mike Meza Reel Smooth Guide Service | 281 904 6925 Galveston Bay Fishing Charters, Galveston Fishing Trips 2 GALVESTON & UPPER COAST
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Boat Ramp Safety
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lways have your boat ready to launch before you back up to the ramp. Also use a rope longer than your trailer, this way when you launch your boat by your self the boat will float off the trailer. Make sure you tie the loose end to the trailer. Also be sure to turn your lights off while launching your boat. Be sure to check the night before your trip to make sure you have all of your safety equipment ( life jackets, kill switch, throw ring, fire extinguisher, horn, all lights working for boat and trailer). Always tell someone the area you will be fishing and the time you will back. When loading your boat watch your step while hooking up your boat to the boat hook. The boat ramp is very slippery. Always remember have fun and be safe. Captain Mike Cacciotti | 281-507-1933 www.galvestonbaytxfishingtrips.com
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WELLCRAFTS
RETURN
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ellcraft is back in full force with nine new models launched in the last year. The brand comes out of the gate strong with the goal to lead the pack in bay boat, center console and walkaround offerings. The Wellcraft design team, in collaboration with pro fishermen, has built a brand new offering as well as new identity. Filling a gap in the Wellcraft line up the 22-foot Fisherman bay boat model, 24-foot Fisherman bay boat and the 24-foot Fisherman center console all recently arrived in the market place. With brand new hull designs, the bay boats and center console models come fully equipped with all the fishing amenities needed
for a day-long outing. Upgrade packages feature the Tournament edition in the bay boat line up, and Scarab Offshore in the center console line up. The new center and dual console boats, available in 22-feet, 24-feet and 26-feet, are packed with flexibility for fishing or cruising. Designed for families or weekend warriors, all the new Wellcraft models will satisfy any boater’s dream of quality, comfort, and performance. As the premier Wellcraft dealership on the Texas Gulf Coast, The Nautic Group recently debuted the new bay boat and center console models, and is proud to offer the full selection at their dealership in Kemah Texas.
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FI S H I NG R EP O RT
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hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and as we start out on a new year fishing is looking great. The fish are in their winter patterns despite the see saw weather. Larger trout are being taken wading the shore lines close to muddy bottoms. Most of the party’s I have been running are wanting Quantity over Quality so we have been working in 5 to 7 foot of water over mud and scattered shell and producing 16 to 18’s with an occasional 22 to 24 and a few reds and flounder in the mix. I have been throwing artificial as well as shrimp under a popping cork depending on what the client wants but soft plastics have been very successful. I have been throwing Bass Assassins, red shad, chicken on a chain, pumpkin seed and chartreuse, and limetruse. D.O.A avocado paddle tails are always a good bet in stained water. For wading it’s time to put on the Corkey, catch 5 or soft dine. My preference is lsu, pink, or Texas chicken depending on conditions. Be sure to know the area you are wading and wear floatation, no fish is worth dying over. Hope to see you at the Houston Boat Show that kicks off this month. Tight lines, Capt Dean Muckleroy. 281.660.4280 | www.trinitybaytxfishing.com Like us on facebook @ Muckleroys Guide Service
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OUTDOORS REPORT
in Baffin Bay
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ell the first split of duck season has ended with full straps of Pintail , Mottled Ducks, Gadwall, Wigeon, Buffleheads, an Teal. Big cold fronts should really help out the duck numbers here in Baffin. Snow an specks are here in full swing, some of the farm fields around the bay are loaded up. Cooler temperatures has really starting changing the water clarity in Baffin with visibility in some places over 4’. I’m still catching my larger trout up shallow with reds on rock piles, grass lines, and shallow flats. Winter fishing for wall hanger trout is getting close, I’ll be wade fishing drop offs an deeper mud/ shell bottoms. While wading these spots be sure to work the shallow areas too, Small top waters has been the ticket. Drift fishing shallow flats mid morning has produced good opportunities site casting for reds an drum. I’ve been seeing lots of big trout in extremely shallow water while running to an from my duck blinds. Remember look for bait or nervous water, fish slow an hang on cause it could be a fish of a lifetime. Wearin Em Out. Capt Mark Franklin | 361-720-4003 | markbowfish@sbcglobal.net If it lives in Baffin ... I chase it !
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FISHING Cassie Willis WITH
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inter trout fishing in the Galveston Bay system does show signs of producing some decent size winter trout already. Most people would not likely to locate a big concentration of heavy trout. They are kind of like loaners. There are a few areas that offer potential when it comes to hooking into consistent bigger trout. Mud is important because it warms up more quickly than anything else when fronts subside. The presence of shell in the mud is also good, as these transitions and fragmented bottoms give baitfish places to hide. This time of year it really paysoff to be wading. Where to choose your spot to fish depends on the color of the water and if you see baitfish. Mullet are not going to be too thick right now. But where you see two or three jumping is a good indication. There is less bait during any other time of year, so you don’t need to be looking for large schools. Finding just a few mullets in an area is a good signal fish might be waiting around. However, your time would be worth it to consider fishing windward shorelines, because that’s where baitfish. And under those baitfish are likely to be some rather large trout. Mullet are the prime food source during the winter months. You may also see a few slick during your winter fishing. Mullet replications are the furthermost effective winter fishing. Working the lures slowly and to make sure you cover all the areas, especially near to the bottom. An effective approach is to bump larger soft plastics along the bottom and to slowly work suspending or slow sinking lures. Corkies are an excellent lure this time of year.
Winter Fishing can be a best time on the Texas coasts with a lot less traffic on the water and the opportunity is there to catch that big trout. Look for the baitfish and pick your lures to work them slowly. And remember be prepared for rapid changes in weather if and fronts that might be approaching so dress warm and stay safe. Good Luck Hunting Them Trophy’s and Safe Adventures, Cassie Willis, Pro Angler’
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B U Y I N G A B O AT
ome times it seems as if buying a used boat is the way to go to save some money. How ever if you don’t know what to look for it could be a nightmare. Here are a few points to consider - The first thing to inspect when purchasing a used boat is the transom. It should be solid without any give. The next thing would be the floor. Check for soft spots, signs of rot, and leaks in drains or other plumbing in the boat. Over time adhesive can deteriorate and cause water to leak into the bilge of the boat. Another very important thing to look at would be any through hull fittings that could be leaking or completely broken off. If your new purchase may require some fiber glass work I would strongly encourage you to check out South Texas Boat works out of the Pearland area. However if you are going to look around here are a few points to consider - The same with just about any business, check your online reviews and see what other people have thought about the quality of the work done. Another thing to consider is if the boat is wood or all composite. Here are a few keys to consider reference Randy’s Marine - As everyone knows, wood rots. Even the best treated woods will rot over time causing weakness in the transom, floor, and can even lead to separation of major structural components in the hull. A fully composite hull eliminates the risk of rot or any weakness in the hull. The material is completely unaffected by even the most intense marine environments, and is surprisingly light. Also screws down in the floor of the boat will lose their bite over time in a wooden hull due to rot, another thing eliminated by choosing composite. This is very crucial when it comes to large structures like a T-top. I would also recommend Randy’s marine for all of your needs when it comes to service or trailer repair. Randy Rhodes took over C&E Marine May 1st 1983. That will be 33 years this May 2016 he has been in business. This is a great point when considering where to go, you know he has a great reputation and will be here today as well as tomorrow. Randy’s Marine is a family owned and run business that takes the quality of service provided to customers very seriously. Customer’s safety and satisfaction is their main priority. Their experience, organization, and the pride they take in their work and attention to detail is what their reputation is built on and mistakes are simply not acceptable. Randy’s Marine are boaters and fisherman that know boating and have the best service reputation years past and years to come. Randy owned a 1977 Ranger 205A with a Mercury 175 Black Max. One day it stopped running right. He checked it out and come to the conclusion that it had lost spark on 3 cylinders, having been a Machinist for years, had worked on cars, and built race car engines since the age of 16, he thought he’d buy a service manual and fix it himself. He tested all of the ignition components and they past all the tests. Not knowing what to do next, he went to a Mercury service center just 2 blocks from his house in Pasadena. There he met Ray Evans, the owner of C&C Marine. He said, “if all ignition components tested ok, and it didn’t have spark on 3 cylinders, it probably had a bad switch box”. So he bought one, installed it, tested spark again, and the engine had pretty blue spark on all 6 cylinders. The engine ran like new again. Randy became friends with Ray and Old Richard and found out Ray was wanting to sell out and retire. Randy used all of his retirement savings at Atlantic Richfield refinery and owner financed the rest. We have been servicing not just Mercury but all the major brands for over 30 years. And over that period of time we formed our own opinion of what is best. If cared for any engine when in its first few years runs great until it doesn’t, and this goes for any make or model of engine. I will pull my torch and drill and tap set out before I even pull the cowling on a foreign engine. The quality of the material used to build the engine doesn’t hold up to salt like a Mercury. Foreign engines use smaller bolts which corrode inside the block and break off when attempting to remove. Mercury uses larger bolts than can be zipped out with a half inch impact without the help of a torch. Trim relay for a foreign engine is almost $300 compared to a Mercury, less than $50 and you can replace the up or down relays individually. And that goes for all the components on the engine. Mercury’s engines are made to be maintained to last instead of when it’s time for repairs you might as well go buy a new engine cause the outrageous price of parts and the extra hours it takes to disassemble the engine in order to do the repairs. Also I’ve never understood why the foreign engine manufactures can’t figure out how to put the vapor pump on the outside of the intake manifold. You have to disassemble half the engine just to do a simple tune up. Mercury’s vapor pumps are easily accessible and basic maintenance procedures can be done in a fraction of the time keeping the hours down on the service. The engines are easier to service, hold up in saltwater much better than any other engine, parts are cheaper and better quality, the technology is by far surpassed its competitors, and they are still the fastest on the water. Mercury is dedicated to nothing but the water unlike their competitors. 6 GALVESTON & UPPER COAST
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They don’t make key boards and motorcycles and whatever else is out there, just the water. If the foreign engine manufacturer didn’t slap a longer warranty on the engines they wouldn’t sell any of them. It’s to hook impulse buyers that don’t take the time to compare their options. Mercury doesn’t need to use the warranty for a sales pitch, they focus on building the best products. Mercury’s are not built like a disposable camera. Timing belts vs timing chains. American material vs cheap hardened clay that permanently salts up. Get in the boat and compare the engine for what it is and not for what the warranty on the paperwork says. Mercury was partners in 7-Marine and builds a 1,650hp sterndrive with a warranty. Randy’s Marine is Houston’s premiere Blazer Bay dealer. Blazer Bay has always been on the cutting edge of new manufacturing techniques and hull performance, as well as ultra-high performance bass boats. They continue today with the latest boat building methods and materials to make an incredibly strong, light weight hull with a life time warranty. They are building some of the best boats in the industry today, like their Ultimate Bay 675, and the new 2420 GTS models and continue to come out with new and exciting models that meet the needs of recreational and professional fisherman. A new line of flats boats will be on the market soon. Stay tuned. If you guys are looking for a trip in the Houston/Galveston area feel free to contact me at www. fishinggalvestonbaytx.com or visit my FB Acosta’s Guide Service.
Rippn Lipz n Bendingrodz.
REMEMBER TO SEND IN YOUR PICTURES FOR THE BRAG BOARD, SEE YOU ON THE WATER
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
12/15/16 7:10 PM
MATAGORDA FISHING REPORT By: Captain Mark Talasek
O
ld man winter is starting to take his grip. Water temperatures are lowering. Fish are moving to deeper water for warmth. Less people are on the water. This is the time of year I like to work on equipment. Getting everything back in tip top shape after a long fishing season. I usually ship some of my reals back to Shimano in California for a thorough cleaning. Pull the boat to the barn fixing wiring connections, trailer maintenance ect. between the rainy days and cold fronts. I am thankful for God allowing me to make a living doing what I love. As the fishing slows it allows me to chase some big girls along the shorelines. This is the time of year for a trophy trout if you want a wall hanger. When the sun comes out on a winter day mud warms up first. This in turn attracts big trout who are looking for a larger bait to eat. They don’t feed as often so large mullet are their staple during the winter. I have seen trout with 12” mullet inside them. Find a muddy bottom and tie on your favorite subsurface lure. It is a grind but the rewards are worth it. Have a wonderful Christmas and God bless. Captain Mark Talasek | 979.479.1397 | www.talasekguideservice.com
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GA
O U T D O O R S M A N R E P O R T
Winter Trout and Redfish
By
By: CAM Special Correspondent Tobin Strickland
I
remember years ago when coastal fisherman put up their boats for the entire winter season. Now we all take a small break to go hunting and return to the water.. and its perfect timing. I recently talked to Capt. Ernest Cisneros in the Lower Laguna about the types of areas he fishes this time of year for trout and reds. Here’s what Ernest had to say. “... we’re going to be wading very specific locations in relation to where the majority of trout are in the bays are being caught, and we’re going to be wading specific structure; Mostly mud and grass in the shallows”. Ernest went on to say that the water is looking great in the Lower Photo Laguna and Port Mansfield and Courtesy Capt. Ernest he is expecting a great winter Cisneros wading season with trout from 6 to 9lbs and an occasional beast exceeding 10lbs. He’s also catching limits of redfish in the same areas. Keep an eye out for baitfish schools as well. Ernest has been catching his fish on Bone Diamond and Plum / Chart Kwiggler Ball Tail Shad and various Paul Brown FatBoys worked slowly near the bottom of the water column. When you fish with Ernest, you don’t have a days catch, you come away with a livelong friend and teaching mentor. If you get a chance, congratulate Ernest on retiring from teaching, and now, guiding full time. Tobin Created TroutSupport.com - 1000’s of Anglers of all levels have increased there catch size and number… see testimonials on the site. TroutSupport - Tech Support for Speckled Trout & Redfish www.troutsupport.com
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PALAPAS
WADE FISHING By: Captain Jake Rangnow
I
t’s that time of the year again where the water temperatures are plummeting deep into the 50’s. Avid fishermen everywhere grab their waders and favorite slow sinking plug, to begin the search for big winter trout. I have always been an outdoors enthusiast. Ever since I was young waking up with my father for an early morning deer hunt or a quick trip to a lily pad covered bass pound, to me taking in the outdoors has been what makes every trip a successful one. Little compares to the experience of getting out of the boat for a wade on a still, pre-frontal morning, with the sun starting to peak up slowing burning away the thick fog that covers the glassy bay. The only things that can be heard are the subtle sounds of mullet beginning to stream and flip; as you know of the yellow mouthed predators that lurk below. Those Sounds are soon to be broken by the persistent sound of a spook clicking across the placid water. Cast after cast with the anticipation building with each twitch of your rod, waiting on the seemingly inevitable crash from a thick bodied winter trout. If you have ever encountered all of these sights and sounds of wade fishing with this time of year, you will know that actual catch is a mere bonus to the experience of being in the mists of nature at its purest state. I encourage you to get out and explore what nature has to offer, whether it be on your or with the help of a seasoned guide. Tight Lines
2 FREE
CEDAR BAR STOOLS WITH PURCHASE OF A PALAPA
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12/15/16 7:11 PM
GALVESTON BAY FISHING REPORT By: Capt.Craig Lambert
H
ere we are again looking forward to another new year on the water. The world of saltwater fishing here on the Texas coast is exploding in to the future with the continued evolution of better, faster and even more expensive bay boats, a fantastic selection of rods and reels to choose from (also getting more expensive) and an unlimited supply of baits and tackle in every color, shape and size. Our fishing industry is definitely growing and expanding every year. In 2017 look for more anglers with better equipment and more knowledge than ever before. Some anglers might see this as a bad thing but lets take a look at the Bass fishing industry which has already gone through these growing pains so to speak. General attitudes towards catch and release changed in the hearts and minds of bass anglers once they experienced the benefits of proper conservation and changing attitudes to a more
PA
catch and release type fishery. TPWD has already deemed it necessary to change the speckled trout limits to only 5 fish on most of the Texas coast. Looks like that isn’t too far away for the Galveston Bay complex either. Sometimes we have to all change with the times and this is what the future of coastal fishing looks like. If it is time for a change to keep up with the growing numbers of better anglers then I am OK with it and look forward to the fantastic fishing that lays ahead of us this year and for the many years to come. The future is now and Happy New Year! Things have been looking up these past few weeks with the bigger fish showing up on the flats and the wade fishermen are the ones really cleaning up. Shallow is the name of the game right now so fishing in 4 ft. or less of water over mud and shell is where you want to be when chasing speckled trout. Look for late afternoon high tides to offer best results to really whack’em. Live shrimp under a popping cork has been king here lately and I have switched to a longer leader to keep that bait close to the mud. Those specks will hang deep and use the mud as warmth so keep that bait low and in their face so they do not have to chase it. We haven’t seen cold enough water temperatures for the fish to be lethargic but they have definitely slowed down a bit. What that really means is that they just wont chase your bait very far so keep it in the strike zone to make for an easy meal. If you are an artificial guy then low and slow is the ticket to getting bites. The redfish bite has been very good in both East and West Bay. The many back lakes and coves seem to all be holding fish. A popping cork hooked with a shrimp or a gulp on a 1/8th oz jig has been getting it done drifting over super shallow mud flats and in coves. Black drum, croakers and sheepshead have also been mixed in with the redfish. They aren’t slicking very well this time of year so blind drifts and putting in your time to find them is the only way to get it done. Grassy shorelines and areas of extreme shell on the shorelines are also great places to check out. Who knows you might even catch a flounder or two. Let’s talk weather because I think that is where most inexperienced anglers go wrong. People weather and fishing weather are very different. A nice calm sunny day may be nice to hang out on the golf course but it isn’t the best for chasing game fish. 12-18 mph winds with clouds and even fog or drizzle are the days that I love to fish. Those are the days when the fish actually bite best. I always cringe when I hear customers talking about having a chance of rain so they ask if it is worth even going. Have some good foul weather gear and you will be comfortable and catch a ton of fish and maybe everyone will start to realize that nasty days are the best days and that is especially true in wintertime. See you on the water and take a kid fishing!!! Capt. Craig Lambert | Galvestoninshorefishing.com | 832.338.4570
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G A LV E S T O N B AY F O U N D AT I O N
B
R ECY CL E Y OU R G REASE
A
fter frying up some bacon or sautéing some vegetables, the cook is often left with a pan of oil or grease and an important decision to make – whether to pour it down the drain or not. Everything people in communities surrounding the Bay put down their drains, even a little bit of grease, affects the health of the Bay. Even liquid cooking oil congeals quickly when poured down drains, leading to pipe blockages. Clogged pipes cause sewer overflows, which introduce harmful bacteria into Galveston Bay and the environment. That’s why it’s so important to be cognizant of what goes down the drain. Galveston Bay Foundation’s Cease the Grease program educates the community about proper grease disposal to keep the grease monster out of their pipes. Dispose of grease properly: 1. Remove kitchen oil from dishes and pans and pour it into a collection container. 2. Seal the container and store it in the freezer. 3. Once full, recycle the oil or dispose of it in the trash. Once the used cooking oil is collected at recycling stations, it gets converted into biodiesel, a cleaner-burning fuel than petroleum diesel. By converting cooking oil into biodiesel, billions of gallons of waste grease can be diverted from landfills and pipes and can
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There are plenty of places to recycle grease around Galveston Bay. Visit www.ceasethegrease.net for a map of recycling stations.
contribute to improving air and water quality instead of being part of the problem. Be a part of the solution! When holding a pan after cooking with oil, make the choice not to dump it down the drain and make a difference for your Bay. Visit www.ceasethegrease.net for more tips on recycling grease.
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12/15/16 7:11 PM
BRAG
Sponsored by
www.hookspit.com
BOARD
CATCH of the
son Avid Angler Jewelry’s Phillip Thomp
Ruby Delgado
MONTH
Photo courtesy of Mark Franklin
Javier Garza’s Texas slam was caught in Jamaica Bay Wading all on Down South Luers
Michael ‘Sharky’ Marquez
Catch of the Month receives a FREE $25 HOOK SPIT gift card. Send your catch pictures to chancim@coastalanglermagazine.com To redeem your ‘Catch of the Month’ Gift Card present this page at the Hook Spit store in League City COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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FLOUNDER RUN WITH OUT CAST CHARTERS
T
here are many different trip varieties that we offer with Out Cast Charters. One of our most popular trips at this time of year is our Flounder Bay Trips. During the fall, flounder spend their time migrating from the bays to the Gulf in order to spawn. A major cold front and continues cool weather will cause these flounder to mass migrate; this is why the winter months provide some of the best flounder fishing. Here are a couple of ways that I like to target flounder. First, I am a big fan of the lures called GULP. They are scent infused and provide a wide variety of color options and styles to choose from. My favorite gulp lure to throw for flounder would be the 4” (Teal & Orange) Mud Minnow. Depending on how strong the current is, I typically use a ¼ Ounce Jig head with the Mud Minnow. The key is to cast the lure against the bank line and with a slow retrieve, give it a small ‘jig’ every 2nd or 3rd rotation on the reel. This will cause the lure to bounce across the ocean floor and attract the flounder. When the flounder strikes your lure, you will feel a nice THUMP. From there, slowly lift up your rod, if your line feels tight, count to three, and SET THE HOOK! You are most likely now hooked up to a MONSTA flounder! My second favorite way to fish for flounder is to use a popping cork with a long fluorocarbon leader and a live shrimp. This method is one that many people who regularly flounder fish are often caught off guard by. When you think of fishing with a popping cork, you think about keeping the bait off of the bottom. In the case of using the popping cork method, we are fishing in shallow waters around 2-3’ deep with a nice current movement. When you cast your bait out, the shrimp is then slowly drug across the ocean floor. The current does most of the work for you. Many times your cork will not go underwater once you get a bite but just simply stop flowing with the current. From here, slowly lift up with your rod, if you see that the tension is causing your cork to be pulled underwater, SET THE HOOK and start reeling in that MONSTA saddle blanket! This is an awesome method to use with kids as well as the more inexperienced anglers. Although these are two of my favorite methods, there are many more out there that are just as successful. My biggest advice is to get out on the water and see what works best for you. Tight lines, Capt. Michael ‘Sharky’ Marquez Out Cast Charters www.outcastfishincharters.com MonstaFishin Apparel www.monstafishin.com 12 GALVESTON & UPPER COAST
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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
12/15/16 7:11 PM
An educational series for Coastal Anglers
W H AT H A P P E N E D TO
OUR
FISH?
N
ew for 2017, Coastal Angler will keep our fishing community updated on important regulatory, legislative and conservation issues that affect recreational anglers. The Gulf Coast’s fish are a public resource, but the rights of the public to access them are being trampled on by for-profit special interests. Large commercial fishing businesses (often termed as the Gulf ’s “Sea Lords”) and federally-licensed charter boat operators want to limit recreational access to the fishery in order to seize greater volumes and profits. The corrupted management of fishery by the federal government has damaged the opportunity for recreational fishermen and devastated businesses that service their needs. At Coastal Angler, we are family fishermen; we stand with our fellow recreational fishermen in support of transferring the federal government’s failed fisheries management to the five Gulf states who have a noteworthy record of successful fisheries management and habitat creation. Inaccurate, even manipulated, “science” is used by NOAA to justify control of the fishery by the federal government – “gifting” catch rights to special interests at the expense of recreational fishermen. Your fishing rights in the Gulf of Mexico are being controlled by Congressmen in 45 of our 50 states that don’t even border the Gulf. Much of their information comes from lobbyists paid by the commercial fishing “Sea Lords” and the association representing federally-licensed charter fishing operators. Their objective is to minimize recreational fishing to expand their commercial harvest for greater profits. With millions in profits, large commercial fishing interests and charter boats pour contributions into re-election campaigns and PACs of our Congressmen - and the money trail is revealing. Attacks on the Gulf ’s recreational fishermen affect numerous species; the most contentious has been red snapper. Snapper are lucrative for commercial fishermen and sought after by recreational fishermen. Because recreational fishermen enjoy catching the species, the federallylicensed for-hire charter boat operators have created an even furtherreaching flimflam that is an eye opener. Let’s look at history. Ten years ago, 1500 commercial fishermen caught red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico for a living. Many small operators supported their families with a single boat. Through legal maneuvering, the largest operators had the political system “gift” them the rights to the majority of the Gulf ’s commercial harvest - with no fee for their takeover of the public’s resource! Fifty-five millionaires received over 75% of the Gulf ’s commercial red snapper harvest – costing over 1000 family businesses their livelihood. Many of those still own boats to be paid for and now must buy their catch rights from these millionaire “Sea Lords” who received their catch rights from the government for free. Seeing the financial windfall that lobbyists and campaign contributions accomplished for the commercial fishermen, a small percentage of charter fishing operators (those with federal fishing licenses) banded into groups such as the Charter Fisherman’s Association to become politically active. They pay members’ expenses to attend and speak up at regulatory meetings – attempting for this small minority to appear as the majority. They utilize lobbyists and campaign contributions effectively.
In 2016, commercial fisherman could catch red snapper 365 days per year with no daily catch limits. They bring 12 to 15,000 pounds of snapper to the dock on a single trip. Meanwhile recreational fishermen were legislated to a 9-day fishing season with a 2 fish per day catch limit. HOWEVER, if a recreational fisherman would abandon using his private boat and charter a federally-licensed charter operator (to drive him to the same reefs with his same fishing license), his season was extended from 9 days to 46 days. If you’re unfamiliar with this scam, you likely think you just misread that; BUT, it’s true!!! A legal flimflam! While commercial fishermen catch Gulf snapper with no limits 365 days per year, the recreational family fishermen may avail himself of the same PUBLIC resource for only 9 days with a 2 fish per day limit – unless he pays a charter operator, in which case he can fish for 46 days! U.S. House of Representatives bill #HR3094, introduced by Louisiana Congressman Garret Graves, proposes to transfer management of the Gulf red snapper fishery from the corrupted federal management to the five Gulf states. Eleven U.S. Congressmen from Texas are among the 42 co-sponsors of the bill. Some Representatives in Texas have not yet co-sponsored.
365
46
Commercial Fisherman
Recreational Fisherman
Do you want the right to catch fish to be available to the next generation? Please ask your U.S. Congressman to co-sponsor HR3094 to transfer the Gulf fisheries management to control by the 5 Gulf states? If he doesn’t co-sponsor HR3094, then you are hearing “political speech”. Will you make one phone call for recreational fishing? To locate your U.S. Representative visit: www.house.gov/ representatives/find and type in your zip code. Click the link to your Representative’s website for their phone number. Your personal call is the most effective means of communication. Contact info: recreationalfishermen@gmail.com Follow this issue on Facebook: What Happened to Our Fish?
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Charter Boat Fishing
9
JANUARY 2017
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GULF OF MEXICO
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12/15/16 7:11 PM
Flounder Tips & Tactics
M
y last month of fishing and gigging for flounder has been quite a rollercoaster. There are many reasons for this. One of the most important has been the weather changing so often from hot to cold. If you are a Texan then you should be used to this. Since the gigging season has just started back up and by the time this comes out our limit will be five again, I will give some info to make your trip easier hopefully. In most of the flats that I would find flounder super shallow they have been a bit on the deeper side, mainly finding most of them on their way out to migrate in the gulf right on the ledges. The ones I have seen were huge. The rod and reel aspect has changed from last article. I was using gulps before but have found some great quality flounder lures lately. Don’t get me wrong, gulps can work. But for a more realistic action I use my thump kings and chickenboy lures bubba clucker. If I have those two plastics on me I will not go home empty handed. Just use the lightest jig that will keep you on bottom and work it very slowly. I am still finding my flounder this month off of eddies and drop offs from the flats. I really enjoy helping others so don’t be shy, and email me with any questions you might have. Until next month I just want to say be safe! Tight lines and sharp gigs. Brian Joseph Spencer | Flounder Fanatics @ Facebook Flounderfanatics@gmail.com
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GE
O
ne of the slowest ways to learn is learning from your own mistakes… but some of them will be priceless over time and hopefully you’ll laugh at yourself along the way. Just last weekend, a buddy and I hit the bay on a quick afternoon wade fishing trip and we excitedly launched the boat on a super low tide. Fail number one! Even if you are in a hurry, check the tidal forecast. We almost didn’t make it out of the little bayou. It didn’t stop there; we ran to our fishing area only to look at each other and say, “I thought you put my rods in the boat”…. “no, I thought you did”—Fail number 2! We both began to laugh. We always have plenty rods in the boat, and we still had just enough to get the job done, check out our big trout spot and to catch this redfish. There are faster ways to learn than just spending time on the water. You can spend years and not make much real advance guessing where to be and what to use. Hire teaching guides, go with better fishermen, read quality magazine articles, and watch quality instructional videos. Make sure you get good positive referrals to make sure you get the most out of your time and it will be something that will benefit you years to come. Laugh at yourself often. Tobin created the TroutSupport.com DVDs and has supported thousand’s of anglers in taking their game to the next level.
W
By Ed Killer
hen you have empty pockets, the thought of someone pressing a wad of cash firmly into your sweaty palm can be intoxicating. Want also can do that to a country and its leadership. It nearly happened to the Bahamas. For the discount price of $2.1 billion, China wanted to buy fishing, timber and farming rights for the next 10 years from the Bahamas. Reports from the Bahamian capital of Nassau suggest the proposed deal is dead in the water. For now, future fishing and diving trips to the islands will continue to be fruitful and productive. Following two weeks of outcry from Bahamian citizens, environmental groups, tourism officials, fishing organizations, recreational anglers and even the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, it appeared in late November the deal was a no-go. Bahamian Prime Minister Perry Christie said any such deal would have been “rejected outright.” This is a classic case of Bahamian officials trying to monetize what limited natural resources the country has. Once the arrangement became public, however, it was realized how lopsided and short-sighted it was. The deal would have far-reaching ramifications ecologically, economically and internationally. Let’s start with the ecological. Chinese corporations are in the business of feeding a nation of more than 1 billion consumers. To them, the Bahamas must look like a gold mine. Thousands of square miles of tropical reefs are inhabited by creatures great and small, all of which taste good dipped in soy sauce. More than anything, what Chinese interests were paying for was exemption from regulation and enforcement. The cash-strapped Bahamian government already struggles to enforce laws against illegal fishing, human trafficking and drug smuggling. Can anyone envision the Royal Defence Force boarding a factory fishing ship hailing from Shanghai to bust it for undersized lobsters?
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Additionally, according to the Marine Conservation Institute, these fishing businesses often use indiscriminate and destructive harvesting equipment and methods. They kill non-targeted species and marine habitat. Entire schools of migrating yellowfin and bluefin tuna would be at risk. Dolphin, wahoo, snapper and grouper also would be taken in great quantities. And does anyone think for a second that Chinese ships would obey the Exclusive Economic Zone of U.S. Federal waters? The second part of this foolish concept is the economic damage wrought to the Bahamas—and Southeast Florida. The Bahamas chief form of income is tourism. Year-round sunshine and beautiful beaches are the main draw, but right behind those two are recreational fishing, boating and diving. According to an economic study by the World Travel and Tourism Council, tourism represented 43.6 percent of the nation’s GDP in 2014. Some 98,000 jobs in the Bahamas are based on tourism. The deal would impact the Treasure Coast marine economy, too. Thousands of boaters use marinas in the three-county area as well as Palm Beach to provision for trips to the Bahamas. They spend money here getting ready to go there. No fish in the Bahamas would mean a sharp decrease in our boat traffic. Yet, earlier this year, Bahamian minister of agriculture and marine resources V. Alfred Gray authorized ambassador to China Paul Andy Gomez to pursue a deal he initially called a “progressive initiative.” Gray, Gomez and others were willing to mortgage a 10-year projected $38 billion in tourist revenue in exchange for $2.1 billion in fishing rights. For now, it seems Bahamian officials have reached a conclusion that is best for their country’s future. But there will be more offers to come. Not all of them will be brought to light before they are agreed upon. Ed Killer is the outdoors columnist for Treasure Coast Newspapers and TCPalm.com, and this column reflects his opinion. Friend him on Facebook at Ed Killer, follow him on Twitter @tcpalmekiller, email him at ed.killer@tcpalm.com or call him at 772-221-4201. For more about the Chinese and Bahamian relationship, go to
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12/15/16 2:16 PM
U.S. Angler Steve LEssard Crowned
Hobie Fishing Worlds Champion
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fter three days of fish and fun, 11 North American World Championship Team members recently returned to their respective states from Lafourche Parish, La. There they represented the United States and Canada in the sixth-annual Hobie Fishing World Championship, presented by Rhino-Rack and hosted by Hobie Cat Company. Anglers either qualified through regional tournaments or were invited to attend the crowning event held December 8-10. Competitors from 17 countries fished for the chance to be crowned this year’s Hobie Fishing World Champion.
After three days of challenging windy conditions, Steve Lessard deservedly claimed the top prize, becoming the first two-time Hobie Fishing World Champion. Just as soon as handshakes, camaraderie and celebrations were over, the other competitors started planning how the crown could be theirs at the seventh Hobie Fishing World Championship. “The first major cold front of year hit on day one,” Lessard said. “Honestly,
it helped me because I knew fishing conditions would change drastically. I knew it was going to be a physical as well as mental challenge. It’s easy to get discouraged with muddy water and high winds, but I was able to settle in and catch a few fish on the worst day. Day two went better and put me in first place.” Richard Somerton, representing Australia, took home a hard-fought second place. U.S. angler Matthew Vann rounded out the podium with his third place finish. Competitors fished for trout, flounder and redfish from identically rigged Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 14s, provided by Hobie Cat and outfitted with Lowrance electronics, Power-Pole MICRO Anchors, Yak-Attack accessories, Ram Mounts and equipment including Daiwa, Lurefans, Hobie Polarized and AFTCO gear. Bassmaster Elite pro Michael Iaconelli surprised the 49 international competitors when he showed up at the welcome dinner to cheer them on. “Unlike the competitions that I’m involved in, kayak fishing takes more strategy because it is much different and more difficult pedaling to the fish than racing over in a motorized boat,” said Ike. Competitors got a double surprise when he returned to congratulate Steve on his win and participate in the camaraderie that is an integral part of the Hobie Worlds. In the bayous of southern Louisiana, Lafourche Parish is the gateway to Cajun country and the Gulf of Mexico, offering a distinctly Louisiana “bayou” way of life and memorable experience for competitors. And then there is the fishing. According to Hobie’s Keeton Eoff, this could easily be the kayak fishing capital of the world. “We are very proud that Hobie Fishing Worlds chose to host their international tournament in Leeville this year. One of the best assets of Lafourche Parish is the world-class fishing, and Hobie anglers have been able to experience what makes our area so exceptional. The visibility of this tournament on a national and international level allows potential visitors to see the recreational value of our destination and why they should experience it firsthand,” said Timothy Bush, executive director of the Bayou Lafourche Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. For more about Hobie Fishing Worlds, go to
OFFSHOREANGLER.CO
By Jeff Anderson
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n a significant step forward for the outdoor recreation industry and the sportfishing community, President Obama recently signed into law the Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act of 2016. This legislation requires the Department of Commerce to assess and analyze the contributions of the outdoor recreation industry, including recreational fishing, to the United States economy. The legislation will help to ensure sportfishing industry jobs and recreational fishing’s economic impact are accounted for as part of the gross domestic product (GDP). The passage of the Outdoor REC Act was needed to make sure that the outdoor economy—and it’s estimated six million jobs and $646 billion in economic activity—receives official government recognition for years to come. “The Outdoor REC Act will also ensure that the outdoor industry’s economic statistics will be measured in the same comprehensive way as other business sectors, such as the automotive and apparel industries,” said American Sportfishing Association (ASA) Government Affairs Vice President Scott Gudes. “This is important because industry economic impact estimates also include data that show the non-direct impact that the activity has on the economy. For example, it would also include sportfishing’s contributions to travel and tourism, not just the purchase of tackle.” ASA is an active part of a team representing a wide-range of outdoor industries that will work with the Department of Commerce to shape how outdoor recreation is defined and ensure our reach and impact are recognized. In post-campaign remarks, President-elect Trump has voiced his support for maintaining fishing and hunting on our nation’s public lands.
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ishing the colder months of winter certainly has advantages. Most noticeable is the lack of crowds. This translates to more parking, less boat traffic and fewer people fishing in your favorite spots. Here’s how to dress for kayak fishing in the frigid conditions. Pay attention; for safety’s sake, it’s critical to dress properly and choose a stable kayak such as a Hobie Mirage Outback. Base layer: It’s important to have quality base layers that will wick water away from your skin instead of holding it in. Avoid cotton. Instead, go for wool or synthetics such as polyester. When layering over base layers, look for a zip-up fleece and fleece pants. Immersion layer: The best protection you can get is a drysuit. A suit made with a highly breathable material, such as Gore-Tex, will cost quite a bit more. If you’re going to spend a lot of time in the suit, it is well worth it. Waders: An inexpensive but adequate option for all but total immersion is a pair of breathable waders paired with a breathable dry top. Be sure to wear a wading belt as an extra safety measure. Gloves and footwear: For gloves, go for wools or synthetic materials, like fleece, so when they inevitability get wet, they won’t feel as cold on your skin. Look for a fleece lining and slit fingers that bend back for easy knot tying. For footwear, I like to wear thick wool socks under my dry suit, with booties on top. Wading boots are also nice and warm.
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s anglers, we are frequently faced with the decision to stay with the game plan or change to another. This is often amplified in the winter due to lethargic fish, less bait and unfavorable conditions. The first week of December, I took a day trip from Texas to Louisiana to target flounder and found myself with this dilemma. Conditions: Pre frontal—within 24 hours Overcast Start of the trip: Wind east 3 knots End of the trip: Wind northeast 9 knots Water Temp: 59 stayed constant Air Temp: 58 rose to 59 Tide: Outgoing moderate increasing to strong Water Clarity: Green, 1 foot visibility Depth: 3 feet I had not fished this exact area before, but I did some satellite research of the area prior to my departure. My plan was to cover a long stretch of shoreline along a channel varying my cast from shallow to deep. When I got there, I used this tactic for several hundred yards without a bite. I spoke to a few fishermen along the way who had similar results. As I continued my wade, I reached an area that started to slope down at a sharper angle and stayed in that area for a while. After catching a few flounder, I struck up a conversation with someone who educated me with the bottom structure of that area. Now I knew this one area had the structure to hold fish longer than the desolate stretch I had previously walked. With this newfound knowledge, I decided to change my plan and spend the rest of my day planted in this spot. The flounder bite was more aggressive if I kept my tandem-rigged soft plastics moving, but not necessarily forward. I found they were more interested if the lures were constantly jigging, but with little forward motion. Since I was wading in shallow water, I kept my rod tip high, rapidly moving my rod tip with short quick twitches. I would slowly turn my handle to retrieve the slightest amount of line. This action kept my lures wiggling on the bottom and only moving forward at a snail’s pace. My change of plans to stay in this one area rather than pace back and forth along my pre-determined shoreline proved a wise choice giving up a limit of flounder. From my vantage point, I was able to see that others fishing in the area of my original plan didn’t fare as well. Often in the winter, if I am confident in an area, I will typically stay longer than I would in other seasons waiting for the bite. The newfound structure in this area gave me that confidence. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com. To learn more about My Coast Outdoors, go to
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TIPS FROM A PRO
FRESHWATER WINTERTIME CRAPPIE FISHING
BRANDON LESTER
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very year as my bass tournament season comes to an end, I start thinking about crappie fishing. I like to take a break and let the competitive flames refuel a bit. When the calendar strikes November and water temperatures dip into the 50s in Tennessee, I take several days to go crappie fishing. These fish make really good table fare, they are also very fun to catch, especially the big ones like you find in winter. I am well aware of how good crappie fishing is in spring. But for the way I fish for them around home, fall and winter are when you can really fill the livewell.
It works the same way when fishing laydowns. I look for laydowns on vertical banks that have a good-sized trunk. If they have a big trunk, I know there is a good-sized treetop out in the water. If they are there, I will see them on my SideVision. Once you find fish, cast exactly where they are or just beyond them, not 3 feet to the left or right. If you miss a crappie’s strike zone by 6 inches, you’ve missed it by a mile. Make the cast, count your bait down to the desired depth and reel just fast enough to maintain that depth. No jigging, nothing fancy, just a
Crappie stack up in large schools this time of year, at it’s not hard to catch them if you know what to look for. Crappie always hang around cover of some type. The two key pieces of structure on my home water are boat docks and laydowns. There are a few docks that seem to always hold fish, but I like to hunt for them with my Raymarine electronics. I turn on SideVision mode and start searching. Crappie will be in big schools, and I might go down a line of 50 docks with only one dock holding the mother lode. To see how big they are and to make sure they are crappie, I will put an Aqua Vu camera down there and check them out. Most of the docks I fish are floating, and the magical depth is normally at least 20 feet of water under the dock. The crappie will normally be suspended under these docks anywhere from 8 to 15 feet down, depending on the water clarity.
slow reel. My favorite jig head is a 1/32-ounce ball-shaped jig head with a good sharp Mustad hook, but I will go up to a 1/16-ounce if the wind is blowing or I’m fishing deeper than normal. Any soft plastic minnow imitation in the 2-inch range with a straight tail will work. Stay away from twist-tail grubs for this method because they cause your bait to rise too much. I use a S721 MHX rod built with supplies from Mud Hole Custom Tackle, including a Winn grip. It is 6-foot-long, super-sensitive and has the perfect action for controlling small baits. I team it with a 1000-size spinning reel and 4-pound Vicious Panfish line in fluorescent green. The green line helps me detect light strikes. These tips will help you all the way up until crappie start moving shallow to spawn. These fish are fat and healthy this time of year. So get out and have some fun this winter.
Get more tips from Lester at
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Surprising Winter is the Best Planting Time
I am often asked when is the best time to plant fruiting plants. My answer is usually the same; the best time is 20 years ago or today. The second best time to plant is during the winter months. Plants are dormant, and can be easily shipped and planted with no stress on the plant because there is not a lot of maintenance once the plant or tree has been planted. Simply dig a good hole, water thoroughly
at planting, and take the rest of the winter off. Even though there are no signs of growth above ground, the root systems will have time to get adjusted to their new location and begin to initiate new root growth. There are plenty of advantages of growing your own edibles. First of all, you know what has been done over the course of the growing season from a chemical stand point. Second, the fruit just taste
better coming out of your home orchard versus buying fruit from the grocers that have little to no flavors. Thirdly, it is good for your soul and you will feel more connected to the environment and nature. Whether it is an apple tree, muscadine vine or a blueberry bush; now is the time to plant. Let’s Grow Together. Greg Ison, Ison’s Nursery and Vineyards, 800733-0324, www.isons.com
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estled in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, Jackson County is home to the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail and its centerpiece, the Tuckasegee River, which dissects the county as it flows north to Fontana Lake. The “Tuck,” as it is known to the locals, is a beautiful tailwater trout fishery used for the 2011 USA Fly Fishing Championships, in which the Gold Medal was won by Team USA member Logan Egan. The most popular time to fish the Tuck is during the delayed harvest (DH) fishing season from Oct. 1 to the first Friday in June each year. During this time frame, the Tuck is a catchand-release fishery with artificial-lure, single-hook restrictions. This stretch of specially regulated water runs about 5.5 miles outside the small towns of Dillsboro, Sylva and Cullowhee. The boundaries of the DH are marked by signage on the banks. These regulations appeal to fly fishers and spin fishers alike. You will not only see anglers stripping streamers, drifting nymphs, and casting dries, but you will see a fair number of spinner fishermen taking good numbers of brook, rainbow and brown trout. Jackson County receives an annual stocking of 92,800 trout, the most in the state of North Carolina. In October and November 2016, the Tuck DH section was stocked with 19,600 trout. Rainbow and brook trout made up about 80 percent of this number, and the other 20 percent were brown trout. Normally, trout reach 12 inches in length before making it into the Tuck, but anglers should expect to see, and potentially land, some trophy-sized trout on any drift or presentation. Many anglers wade the river, and drift boats are also popular. Stream flow is controlled by Duke Energy, which posts three days of release schedules on their website, www.duke-energy. com under the Nantahala link. Duke Energy has also provided boat ramps on Old Cullowhee Road and North River Road that many drifters use while floating the Tuck. South River Road is a popular area for anglers and guides due to the number of pull-offs that parallel the river and make accessing the river easy. Access to the Tuckasegee is great compared to some other rivers in the area, but there is some posted private property. Be sure to avoid it. The Tuck is also part of the North Carolina Mountain Heritage Trout Waters program, which allows anglers to fish with a special three-day license that costs only $5. Many anglers opt to purchase a regular fishing license with a trout stamp since the fee is fair and it gives access to almost all the state’s trout waters. A non-resident can purchase a 10-day fishing license and trout stamp for $33 or an annual fishing license and trout stamp for $51. The Tuck DH runs very close to downtown Sylva, yet its beauty catches most first-time anglers off guard.
In fall, the red, yellow and orange leaves dancing on the trees highlight the contours of the surrounding mountains. A bald eagle might closely judge your fishing skills, watching for its opportunity to show you how it’s done. Winter brings cleansing and the occasional snowfall, in which many local anglers find solitude chasing trout on tiny midges. Winter fishing pressure is minimal, which makes it a great time to land a large trout if you’re willing to test your mental toughness wading in cold water. Spring comes to life with budding trees and insects hatching, signaling the coming summer. Anglers spend late evenings on the Tuck sight casting to rising trout honed in on larger dry flies and emerger patterns. Spring evenings can be very peaceful, since most anglers have broken down their rods by 6 p.m. and are headed to the local brewery or one of the many unique restaurants or food trailers in downtown Sylva or Dillsboro. There is a list of local restaurants and breweries at www.mountainlovers.com, or just ask local fly shop employees for their recommendation. In 2016, the North Carolina General Assembly proclaimed Jackson County the Official Trout Capital of North Carolina. Jackson County is home to 4,600 miles of trout streams with a good mixture of hatchery supported streams and wild streams. Check out www.NCTroutcapital.com for more information. Jackson County was also the first to have an officially designated Fly Fishing Trail, which highlights 15 different streams and rivers for any angler to test their skills. Many have taken the challenge of catching and releasing trout or smallmouth bass in each location. There is a map that gives detailed information about each stream, directions, and the type of fish anglers can expect to catch. More information is available at www. flyfishingtrail.com. If you are looking for a fishery with plenty of trout and the opportunity to catch a 25-incher, the Tuck is for you. It is relatively close to Atlanta, Knoxville, Charleston and Charlotte. The Tuck is just an hour west of Asheville, N.C., and it is at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Blue Ridge Parkway. This makes for a nice and easy weekend retreat, or it can be a popular destination for longer stays due to accessibility and other local attractions. Come and experience North Carolina trout fishing at its best! Shannon Messer owns Appalachian Flies and manages and guides at Blackrock Outdoors Orvis Authorized Fly Shop at 570 West Main Street, Sylva NC 28779. Contact him at 828-6314453 or appalachianflies@gmail.com.
North Carolina’s Tuckasegee River, A Southern Gem By Shannon Messer
For more fishin’ on the North Carolina Tuckasegee River, go to
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FISH & FISHING
A DIFFERENT APPROACH MARK SOSIN
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t’s commonplace today, but more than a halfcentury ago few anglers even thought about it. The late Dr. Webster Robinson wanted to catch either a sailfish or striped marlin on a fly rod while casting from a boat that was out of gear so that the fly was not being trolled. Working with his skipper, Capt. Lefty Reagan, these angling legends fathered the concept of teasing a fish. They reasoned that if they could raise a billfish on a hookless bait, capture its total attention by keeping the tasty morsel just out of reach, work the fish within casting range and substitute a different offering at the last minute, the mission would be successful. I knew both men well and listened intently as Web Robinson described the process to me in detail. He even gave me a copy of the fly he used. Teasing ranks as an extremely effective technique for countless species in a variety of situations. Working on sailfish or marlin on the offshore grounds is just one phase. Sometimes known as bait-andswitch, it’s nothing more than using a live bait, dead bait or a certain artificial to excite a fish enough so it will eat the lure or bait you want it to devour on the tackle of your choice. Very light tackle enthusiasts often tease their quarry into striking so that the line doesn’t break on the initial contact. I’ve teased countless species from sharks, albacore and tuna to striped bass, redfish, barracuda, amberjack, snook and many more. Let me share a couple examples to show you how effective teasing can be. Using a spinning outfit, I rigged a plastic worm exactly the same way as I would for largemouth bass. Pacific sailfish normally don’t include plastic worms as part of their diet. We teased one with a bonito belly and, once the boat was out of gear, I cast the worm. My partner yanked the teaser out of the water and the fish inhaled a plastic worm faster than you can read this.
I met a man who showed me beautiful flies for offshore species. When I told him I could catch a sailfish on a cigar just as easily as with one of his flies, he laughed at me. We were shooting a television show in Panama, and late in the day Capt. Karl Anderson asked if I had a cigar. He rigged it with a leader and hook, attached it to a flyrod and waited for a sailfish to show in the trolled teasers. We stopped the boat, Karl yanked the teaser away from the fish, and I cast the cigar. Within seconds, the sailfish crashed the cigar, went airborne, and all you could see was tobacco showering through the air. As Karl put it, that’s no longer theory. Teasing fish opens a broad new dimension to the sport. As an angler, it allows you to hook fish on all types of tackle using any bait or lure you choose including cigars and plastic worms. Try it and you’ll become hooked on the technique just as I am.
For More Mark Sosin Visit
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FLY FISHING
CASTING FOR REDFISH: BEYOND THE DOUBLE HAUL
I
t is well-known that the double haul and the back cast are essential for fly fishing for redfish. Here are three more casts I believe are very important when targeting winter reds with a fly. Fly Repositioning Cast This cast is wonderful when you need to recast a fly to a redfish that refused it or when you missed your target. It works best when 20 or more feet of line are outside the tip-top. It is essential to the success of this cast to not rush picking the fly line up off the water. The key is to load for the back cast by beginning with the rod tip close to the water and slowly lifting the line off the water. Then wait to feel the rod load on the back cast. Once you feel the rod load, make a forward cast, allowing the fly to hit the mark. I’ve witnessed far too many fishermen rush to recast, and in doing so, miss their target on the second cast. The Quick-Cast For The Short Game When sight casting, you will need to execute some short, quick accurate casts. The short cast is one of the most difficult casts to make because a fly rod made for short casting has yet to be built. When red fishing, unless I know I’ll be making long casts, I keep roughly 40 feet of fly line stripped into a line management basket (a bucket if fishing from a skiff) and 20 feet of line outside the fly rod’s tip-top. The first 15 feet of the belly section of the line will easily load the fly rod with minimal false casting. Place the fly between the index finger and thumb of the hand not holding the rod. If a redfish is spotted at close range, make a back cast while at the same time releasing the fly from your hand and cast to the redfish.
Master The Cross-Wind Cast The wind blows where redfish live. The most difficult winds to a fly flinger are the cross-wind and the following-wind. Both are guaranteed to give the angler fits. The best cast for these challenging situations is the Belgian cast, a very quick cast that when executed correctly presents the fly under challenging conditions. The key is to make an extended side-armed back cast, followed by a high extended-arm overhead cast that will provide the angler distance when working in a big wind. A word of caution: The side cast may produce the painful problem of a fly imbedded in the angler if the wind is blowing toward the casting arm. Put It To The Test When targeting winter redfish, the fly angler will be presented with many different casting situations depending on weather conditions. It’s important to understand and execute each of the casting techniques discussed. Once mastered, a trophy redfish is only a cast away! Conway Bowman caught this 41.65-pound IGFA fly-caught world record redfish out of Hopedale, La.
For More Fly Fishing with Bowman, go to
CAMFLYFISHING.COM
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FISHING AND DIVING
The Maldives
By Capt. Terry Fisher
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t had been 20 years since I had boarded a followed by fishing. The Maldivian government live-a-board to fish and dive. My friend, Capt. is famous for it’s eco-friendly approach and Wayne Hasson, president of Aggressor and serious application to fish conservation. The Dancer Fleets, invited me to accompany him to government’s prohibition of net and long-line the Maldives for a world-class fishing and diving fishing for commercial purposes has sustained the expedition. Over the years, Wayne and I have abundance of fisheries. Commercial fishermen use fished and dived many exotic locations, including line and pole, preventing by-catch of species other waters of the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Pacific than their main target, which is tuna. Sport fishing, and Atlantic. This was my first visit to the Indian therefore, has thrived. Among the game fish found Ocean. are giant trevally, barracuda, wahoo, dorado, A three-leg flight from Miami through New yellowfin tuna, sailfish and marlin. Bonefish and York and Dubai landed us in Male, the small, permit inhabit the flats. bustling capital of the Maldives. Upon arrival, There are many charter fishing operations Wayne and I quickly cleared customs and were in the Maldives. I had numerous opportunities to assisted by a friendly and helpful crew of the be transported to beautiful sand beaches in the mother ship. We were transported aboard a ‘Dhoni’ middle of the Indian Ocean to fish for bonefish, (dinghy) by water, to lush accommodations aboard giant trevally, jack crevalle and other species. the Maldives Aggressor. This live-a-board vessel While sailing to new dive sites, we used a ‘Dohni’ boasts a full-service galley, huge salon, 10 guest to troll and catch tuna, sailfish, wahoo and dorado. state rooms and decks for relaxing, sunbathing, At night aboard the Maldives Aggressor, we dining under the stars or just getting away for bottom fished for grouper and snapper. some private time. This luxury yacht offered all Trolling, spinning, fly-fishing gear, including of the comforts and amenities of a five-star, land- lures and fly presentations are basically the same as based property with toilets, lavatory and shower we use in the states. Diving various locations and facilities to satisfy the most demanding guests. seeing up close the numerous species that I would This voyage, Dive with the Owners Week, fish for was an added and educational bonus. provided me the benefit of being surrounded Perfect water clarity offered a vast array of marine by a number of crew, divers and fishermen, life at every dive destination. representing more than 10 different countries. The Maldives is a nation of islands. It is also For information on this trip of a lifetime, visit the “Honeymoon Capital” of Europe and parts www.maldivesfishing.com or www.aggressorfleet. of Asia. Temperatures range from 77 to 86. There com. Contact Capt. Terry Fisher of Cape Coral, are 26 atolls with 1,190 islands. One island boasts Florida’s Fish Face Charters at fishfacecharters@ a rainforest. Only 209 of the islands are inhabited yahoo.com. with a total population For more fishing in the Maldives, go to of only 400,000. Tourism is the leading industry,
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ll tournament anglers want to win. The questions are: How bad do you want that win? How much are you willing to sacrifice? How much are you willing to put on the line chasing the big win? The answers aren’t cut-and-dry or crystal clear. Most tournament anglers I know are perfectly content competing at the club and local level for beer money. But don’t underestimate the will of those guys either. I recently competed in a Deerpoint Team Trail event with Travis Poole in which a win would have been a few hundred dollars for us to split. It was low threat, low entry fee and big fun. You’d think that given the conditions that day, any sane man would’ve stayed at home. Approximately 4 inches of rain fell that day, the wind blew and lightning popped around our heads all day. Still, most guys that entered the event that morning brought their catch to the scales in the pouring rain hoping to claim the prize. The weather didn’t seem to dampen their desires one bit. They wanted it bad enough, at least they did that day. For the professional angler, the weather is just one of many elements they must fight to stay in the game. Family, sponsorship obligations, mechanical problems and financial burdens are just a few of the non-fishing issues that require an angler to do a gut-check nearly every day. All these things must be tended to before the angler can even set out to find fish for a coming event, and he’s usually a one-man crew. Some of the top touring anglers have support networks taking on some of this for them, but rest assured, they didn’t get there with them. Stories from many of the top pros sound the same, tales about sleeping in the cab of their trucks for weeks on end, dining on peanut butter day after day, selling possessions off to fund the next event, and practicing in horrible weather because they only have two days to figure out unknown waters. If there was one thing I could define that separates the successful tournament angler from the others, it’s this: he wanted more. The guy in this picture is my friend Johnny Nguyen. He is a great example of what I just described. I can’t tell you how bad he wants it, but I can tell you he possesses at least one critical element for fishing success: the undeniable, unflappable, hard-core love for the sport. No tournament here, just him out fishing on a day he probably shouldn’t have been. But there he is, doing what he loves. Some get it, others never will. Randy Cnota is the co-publisher of Coastal Angler/The Angler Magazine’s Panama City/Forgotten Coast edition.
For More fishing with Randy ‘C-Note’ Cnota, go to
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hose of us who live life outdoors know it’s not always sunny. It can get downright ugly, and many times the best bite of the year is on the leading edge of a nasty front. With good foul weather gear, wind and rain should never stand between anglers and feeding fish. Pelagic Gear, a company founded on and devoted to the ocean lifestyle, has developed a line of gear that guarantees anglers will stay happy and dry, no matter what Mother Nature sends rolling in. Pelagic’s Dri-Flex Lightweight Jacket is perfect to throw in the bag for those dewy mornings or windy evenings when there’s a slight chill. Pelagic’s DRI-FLEX fabric provides the comfort of a lightweight jacket while protecting you from the elements with water repellant technology. When it’s time to take protection from the elements up a notch, anglers shouldn’t get caught on the water without
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Pelagic’s Hurricane Jacket. For more than a decade, this 100-percent waterproof outerwear has been the choice of hardcore captains around the world. It was designed specifically for the harsh conditions of the marine environment with technical features that cater to the needs of anglers. With welded zipper technology, reflective hex-safety patches and a moisture-wicking liner, the Hurricane Jacket keeps anglers dry and shielded in bad weather. And then there are those times when you need protection all over. Pelagic’s Stormbreaker Foul Weather Jacket and Bib are a full barrier to the elements. The suit is made of a lightweight PVC that is 100-percent waterproof, yet comfortable to wear. Again, it was designed specifically for anglers, with a loose cut for optimal maneuverability and plenty of ventilation. This is also the perfect rain barrier for the traveling angler. It is lightweight and packs easily, so an angler never has to leave the docks without the full protection from harsh conditions. Good foul weather gear is essential to every angler. When it comes to selecting protection from the elements, it makes sense to choose gear designed specifically for fishing. Any outerwear will do if the mission is a stroll through the park. Pelagic Gear’s line protects anglers and keeps them fishing in the kind of brutal conditions only found on open water. To learn more about the Pelagic Lifestyle, go to
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FITEC CAST NETS Fitec International has been providing the very best cast nets available to anglers for over 50 years. They are the world’s largest manufacturer of cast nets and their products are in stock or online with all major retailers and distributors where cast nets are sold. The superior quality in their handmade nets gives anglers the fun and performance they deserve while out on the water. Hold a Fitec net next to a competitor and you will see there is no comparison. Fitec’s Super Spreader and Ultra Spreader cast nets are simply the best! Fitec offers four distinct categories to ensure you are able to get the net you need. The patented EZ throw cast net is designed with a disc feature that is perfect for the novice. The RS, or Recreational Series, is designed for shallow waters or for the person who wants a lighter net. The SS, or Sport Series, nets are designed with a 1-pound per radius foot weight system and are the No. 1 selling cast net in the country. Finally, the GS, or Guide Series, nets are designed for the serious angler, built with the highest quality standards and the fastest sink rate. Fitec values your business. They go to work every day with you, their customer, in mind. Their mission is to “bring innovative quality products to customers, with drive and passion every day.”
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Seeking to become the leading and most comprehensive manufacturer of all things diving and fishing, Hammerhead Spearguns has made another addition to its lineup of gear. They are proud to announce the launch of the Dentex NT, a utility glove so durable yet flexible it’s almost like having a second skin on the hands. The Dentex NT comes with an ANSI Cut Level 5 and Puncture Level 3 and is woven from Hammerhead’s signature red Dentex fabric, but now it has a Sandy Nitrile coating on the palm and fingers, giving it increased resistance to heat and chemicals, plus additional grip. The Dentex NT is also known to be extremely pliant, molding seamlessly into your hands, so no clumsy mitten-hands here. You can even pick up a penny while wearing them! The wide range of things you can do with the Dentex NT gloves is staggering. You can use them not just when you fish or handle tricky, spiny sea critters but also when doing repairs or squaring off with hazardous materials. Welding a piece of metal to fix your boat? Piece of cake! Filleting tuna? Sure thing! Changing lines and hooks? Say goodbye to line abrasions and getting pricked, stabbed, or poked on your fingers. Sharp tools and hot objects no longer pose a threat to your valuable hands.
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT ERGODOCK OFFERS IMPROVED RESILIENCE, AESTHETICS AND SAFETY
While many docks along the Florida coastline buckled to the force of Hurricane Matthew this fall, widespread reports from boaters and anglers indicated that docks utilizing ErgoDock technologies held up considerably better. With the damage and debris left in Matthew’s wake, the resilience of ErgoDock proved significant—not only because of its strength, but because of expected durability against future hurricanes that routinely batter the coast. The ErgoDock difference is its inherent structural augmentation. ErgoDock is designed to provide a matrix that evolves the dock into a single structural component instead of a succession of individual parts like most marine docks are constructed. Independent tests report that ErgoDock significantly outperforms all other dock options in comfort, safety and customization. ErgoDock’s unique texture, for example, enhances safety with a far more slip resistant material than wood or composite decking. The ErgoDock surface also is designed to allow more “give,” increasing comfort and safety by easing stress on ErgoDock owners’ feet, back and joints while also mitigating any potential injury from a fall. ErgoDock prevents deterioration, therefore reducing the need for maintenance. Its products adhere with an impervious membrane to seal all decking materials and are self-draining, to prevent UV or water degradation of existing decking or concrete surfaces. “Our purpose was to create a material that far outperforms all other dock options when it comes to safety, comfort, customization and longevity,” said Kent Weisenberg, founder and CEO of ErgoDock LLC. “There is nothing like it on the market. ErgoDock is a multi patent-pending marine surfacing system that is revolutionizing the dock design and repair industries.” Weisenberg, the sole named inventor on 28 U.S. and foreign patents, added, “We passionately pursue improving the world’s infrastructure with green technology. ErgoDock surfaces are made of sustainable materials that fight the depletion of our environment.” ErgoDock products can be used in various stages of a dock’s life whether for preservation, safety, aesthetics or for any combination of the three. Still want that traditional wood dock look? ErgoDock offers ErgoWood Decking, which is select-treated wood that is pre-dried and then encased in ErgoDock’s patented SafeTread material and prevents deterioration from sun and water while increasing a dock’s life by as much as 10 years over current decking materials. “Add it all up, and ErgoDock products represent a major leap forward in dock design and repair,” Weisenberg said. “We want people to know that there is another option out there–one that comes with ergonomic elegance and represents a resilient, safe and viable option that contractors will want to offer their customers.”
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT XTRATUF CAMO-LINED LEGACY BOOT Designed to keep fishermen sure-footed on the water, XTRATUF’s Camo-Lined Legacy Boot is the ideal boot for fishing in the elements. An interior camo lining and XTRATUF logo that are visible when the boot is rolled down adds a pop of color to XTRATUF’s classic performance boot. Not your typical rubber boot, the Legacy is triple-dipped to create a seamless coating of rubber that further strengthens an already watertight material, thus sealing the boots and making them impervious to fish oils and chemicals. The soft, pliable and lightweight neoprene latex rubber gives the Legacy boots unparalleled comfort and flexibility. The hand-laye r e d construction allows for flex and strength at critical stress points on the boot. A signature chevron outsole design and unique rubber compound provides maximum surface contact for ultimate traction and stability in even the most severe fishing and work conditions. These 100 percent waterproof boots will keep the warmth in and the cold out when the temperature drops.
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Customer Rating 69662 shown
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6" VARIABLE SPEED DUAL ACTION POLISHER Customer Rating ITEM 69924 shown 62403/62862
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How Does Harbor Freight Sell GREAT QUALITY Tools at the LOWEST Prices? We have invested millions of dollars in our own state-of-the-art quality test labs and millions more in our factories, so our tools will go toe-to-toe with the top professional brands. And we can sell them for a fraction of the price because we cut out the middle man and pass the savings on to you. It’s just that simple! Come visit one of our 700+ Stores Nationwide. R PE ON SU UP CO
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ITEM 95659 shown 61634/61952 • 580 lb. capacity
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RETRACTABLE AIR HOSE REEL R PE ON WITH 3/8" x 50 FT. HOSE SU UPCustomer Rating ITEM 93897 shown CO 69265/62344
$ $
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comp at
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ITEM 69252 68053/62160 62496/62516 60569 shown
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LET THE BATTLE BEGIN The Slammer is back! Featuring a full metal body and rotor, IPX6 sealed gear box and spool design, a full Brass CNC Gear system,
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