The Angler Video Magazine | July 2022 Edition

@CAMTAMagazine

JACKS

ORLANDO, FL • JULY 19-22

FROM THE

BEACH

BASS ON THE

LEDGES

Summertime

SNAPPER TIME!

WATCH VIDEO PHOTO COURTESY OF: MANDY TILLMAN IG: @ITSMEMANDYTRN75 VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 12

F R A N C H I S E

JULY 2022

O P P O R T U N I T I E S

A V A I L A B L E

W O R L D W I D E

n i o j e Coomur band! a band of anglers is a way of life.

Members of ‘A Band Of Anglers’ (ABOA) are passionate anglers and good people. We aren’t all world record holders or tournament pros. But we are all passionate about fishing. Members of ABOA are employees. We are investors. We are friends. We are brothers and sisters. We are anglers who love and protect the sport of fishing and the beautiful waters in which our fish swim and thrive. We have that weird gene that makes us wake up on a late winter morning thinking about fishing. We smile when we set the hook on a solid fish and feel our rod bend.

And we LOVE to fish the patent-pending lures designed and made by Patrick Sebile and his friends.

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if you are an angler, promoter, dealer or local guide and want to be part of the band,

Suzuki Marine Partners with Tampa Bay Buccaneers as Team’s Exclusive Outboard Motor Sponsor

S

uzuki Marine USA, LLC announced today that it has finalized a new partnership to be ‘The Official Outboard Motor of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ — forming a unique and exclusive relationship between a leading outboard motor brand and the 2021 Super Bowl Champions. As part of the agreement, both organizations will collaborate on a one-of-akind community event that will launch annually this fall.

The partnership will feature a variety of marketing activities and promotional opportunities for Suzuki Marine on local, regional and national levels, connecting the excitement of being on the water with the unparalleled draw of NFL football.

“This is a strong marketing partnership for us and makes great business sense for Suzuki on multiple levels,” said Suzuki Marine USA President Max Yamamoto. “Through this connection, Suzuki Marine will be a key player on the biggest sports stage in the United States, reaching millions of people across Florida, throughout the nation and even around the world. We’re confident this association will increase our brand awareness and further strengthen our already solid reputation as a leading innovator in outboard power for boats of all types and sizes,” added Yamamoto.

“We are excited to partner with Suzuki Marine - an industry leader and a proven winner with nine marine industry Innovation Awards over the years,” said Brian Ford, Buccaneers

Chief Operating Officer. “Suzuki Marine has demonstrated strong support for the Tampa Bay region and the state of Florida as a whole since relocating its national headquarters to Tampa in 2021. Boating is a signature activity that defines the Florida lifestyle and we look forward to collaborating with Suzuki Marine, our first-ever outboard motor partner, to create memorable moments on and

off the water throughout Tampa Bay area over the next few years.”

“We are thrilled to be working with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and are excited for what is sure to be an exciting 2022 NFL season,” added George “Gus” Blakely, Suzuki Marine Executive Vice President. “This connection is going to raise our marketing efforts and brand awareness to new levels. If there are two things that Floridians are passionate about, it’s spending time on their boats and rooting for their Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This new partnership will form a solid bridge between the two, and will present Suzuki Marine in a new light to a whole new audience.”

To learn more about Suzuki Marine’s full array of 4-stroke outboard motors from 2.5 to 350 horsepower, contact Suzuki Marine USA headquarters at (813) 687-7200 or visit www.suzukimarine.com.

INTRODUCING THE PENN

The Slammer IV redefines PENN’s already unbeatable reputation, bringing durability and power together in a sleek, battle-ready reel.

It’s more than just a workhorse; it’s the must-have reel for anyone fighting underwater monsters.

With updated technology and expert engineering...

THE BEST JUST GOT BETTER.

DISCOVER THE NEW SLAMMER IV AT PENNFISHING.COM

LET THE BATTLE BEGIN

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PENN SLAMMER IV O ver the years, the PENN Slammer has proven itself on the water to be a durable, dependable and highperforming spinning reel, designed to stand up to the corrosive marine environment with the power and finesse to battle large and powerful saltwater game fish.

The best reel on the market just got better.

With the release of the new Slammer IV, PENN brings anglers a new and improved version of a reel that has risen to legendary status.

PENN updated the Slammer with superior waterproofing, a wider range of useable drag and smoother operation, which adds to both the durability and performance of a reel that is already iconic among serious saltwater anglers.

Building off a proven IPX6 sealed, fullmetal body, PENN tweaked the Slammer’s Dura Drag system to be better sealed and also to offer a wider range of usable drag.

Improved resistance to sand, salt and time make the Slammer IV a reel you just might pass down to your children. And you’ll be handing down a reel that’s smoother and more

powerful than ever before.

The system is bearing supported for silky smoothness, and the addition of all-brass CNC gear technology to an 8+1 stainless steel bearing system and Hydrophobic Roller Bearing has made the Slammer IV the ultimate workhorse reel.

The Slammer IV redefines PENN’s already unbeatable reputation to bring together a tough, sleek and battle-ready reel that will serve you for years in the harsh marine environment.

The Slammer IV is available in sizes from 2500 all the way up to 10500, allowing you to do battle with pretty much any fish in the sea. Whether you’re fishing

inshore, from the surf and jetties, dropping on offshore reefs or trolling the deep blue, the Slammer IV in its different sizes will not disappoint. It’s a general-purpose rig, designed for high performance in a variety of fishing styles, whether that’s casting and reeling, bottom fishing, jigging or trolling.

You will not find this combination of durability and performance at any price, yet the Slammer IV just happens to be one of the more moderately priced reels on the market.

WWW.PENNFISHING.COM

THE ANGLER VIDEO MAGAZINE

JULY 2022

7

WATCH

VIDEO

LESTER WINS ELITE TOURNEY

With Sneaky Pattern at Pickwick O ver the years, Brandon Lester has become known as one of the most consistent anglers in tournament bass fishing. Yet, in nine seasons on tour, an Elite Series win has eluded him… until now.

The Tennessee pro and former The Angler Magazine columnist won his first Elite Series tournament on Lake Pickwick in early June.

He did it in spectacular fashion, weighing a four-day total of 20 bass for 86 pounds, 1 ounce. He beat out the next closest competitor by almost 6 pounds.

Pickwick is a long 43,000-acre Tennessee River impoundment that runs north from Alabama into Tennessee along the Alabama/ Mississippi border. It is renowned for excellent largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing, and in summer dam-driven river currents combine with the lake’s many offshore humps and ledges to produce some pretty consistent patterns. Threadfin and gizzard shad make up the majority of the forage base, so big flutter spoons, large deep-diving crankbaits and 8

JULY 2022

swimbaits are summertime staples.

Lester said he knows the Pickwick ledge bite well and that doing something just a little different from everyone else put him on a sneaky pattern with some less-pressured fish.

“It was shellbed, and where the current rolled up on that bar, from 8 feet to 4 feet, there was a hard spot,” he said. “The fish were sitting up on that spot. It was small, maybe three times the size of my boat. It was a typical Tennessee River feeding spot, right off the main river.

There was a ton of bait in there — gizzard shad, threadfin shad. It was the perfect combination.”

Most of Lester’s fish came on a Strike King 4.0 crankbait in chartreuse shad. He also fished a Berkley MaxScent Magnum Hit Worm in plum apple Neko rigged with a 1/8-ounce nail weight. His sacks topped 20 pounds each day of the tournament, and the morning bite was key for him. A 6-pound, 13-ounce largemouth caught with a football jig anchored his sack on Day 3, and he entered Championship Sunday with a 3.5-pound lead.

THE ANGLER VIDEO MAGAZINE

By TAM Staff

On Sunday, he poured on the gas, catching 22 pounds, 14 ounces, which earned him the VMC Monster Bag of the tournament. In the morning, he caught 17 pounds within the first half hour of fishing. He culled a few fish and then shut the door on the competition with 6-pounder caught at about 1 p.m. from a main-river ledge that dropped from 14 to 21 feet. He caught that fish on a Scrounger head with a 5-inch Castaic Jerky J, which is a bait that hadn’t produced all week.

“This is unreal,” he said. “That Open win, I was super proud of it. It’s a stacked field in the Opens. But an Elite Series win is next level. I guess it’s between an Opens win and a Classic win. That’s the only thing that can top it. These are the greatest bass fishermen in the world.”

The $100,000 first-place prize at Pickwick pushed Lester’s career Bassmaster earnings past $1 million.

For more information, visit www.bassmaster.com.

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THE ANGLER VIDEO MAGAZINE

JULY 2022

9

I CAST 2022 Ro l ls I n to O r l a n d o J u ly 1 9 - 2 2

I

CAST, the world’s largest sportfishing trade show, will spread out across the expansive floor of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. July 19-22, showcasing the latest innovations in gear, tackle, accessories and apparel.

From Super Tuesday on July 19 to the final bell on Friday, July 22, it’s almost a full week of events that have become a cornerstone of the sportfishing industry.

From seminars and “learning lunches” to a show floor jam packed with hundreds of quality exhibitors displaying the products that will drive the industry in the coming year, ICAST is the place to make valuable connections and stay on top of the trends in fishing.

Many companies choose to roll out their latest innovations at ICAST each year, and the New Product Showcase is a chance for them to shine a spotlight on their latest and greatest. These new products are the hottest new

lures, tackle, clothing, electronics and gear that anglers will be purchasing in the coming year. ICAST is the one-stop

shop for retailers and manufacturers to connect in-person and make valuable business relationships.

Orlando’s world-class dining, lodging and entertainment will be bustling with the movers-and-shakers and the up-andcomers of the industry, as the sportfishing world convenes to determine what drives the next year in fishing.

Here’s are some of the scheduled highlights:

Tuesday, July 19 • ICAST Cup Bass Fishing Tournament Presented by Major League Fishing, 6:30-10:30 a.m. from Big Toho Marina on Lake Toho.

• On the Water Product Demonstrations, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the OCCC North Building ponds. Try out rods, reels, lures, SUPs and kayaks.

• New Product Showcase Preview Reception, 5-8 p.m. at booth 102. Open to buyers and media only, this is a first

look at entries to the 2022 New Product Showcase.

p.m. Room S320. 2022 “Best of Category” awards are presented.

Wednesday, July 20

Thursday, July 21

• State of the Industry Breakfast, 7-8:45 a.m., Room S320. At $40 per ticket, this is one of the most important business events for the industry. The keynote speaker is Paul de Gelder.

• New Product Showcase “Best of Category” Voting, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Booth 102. Voting continues for awards in 30 product categories.

• New Product Showcase Opens, 2-6 p.m., Booth 102. With voting complete, the showcase opens to all exhibitors and attendees.

• Buyers Lounge Happy Hour with Guy Harvey, 4-6 p.m., Booth 4220.

• New Product Showcase “Best of Category” Awards Reception, 6-7:30

• Exhibition open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• New Product Showcase “Best of Show” Voting, 9 a.m.-noon, Booth 102. Buyers and media vote on “Best of Show” from among the 30 “Best of Category” winners.

• New Product Showcase “Best of Show” Award Presentation, 2-2:30 p.m., Booth 102.

• Buyers Lounge Happy Hour with Guy Harvey, 4-6 p.m., Booth 4220.

Friday, July 22 • Exhibition Open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, visit www.ICASTfishing.org.

Regulations made simple

Use the Fishbrain app to check up-to-date fishing regulations for any species, accurate based on your GPS location.

Checking regulations - and exploring fishing maps - has never been easier!

Photo: RippinLipz1

Download for free!

Understand Fishing Regulations Like Never Before

E

very angler motoring across Florida’s coastal waters is actually gliding over a web of invisible lines, criss-crossing the blues and greens of the sea. These invisible lines divide different regulation zones, and are critically important for anglers to understand. For example, moving only a small distance might mean a shift from state to federal waters, and regulations might change between these neighboring areas. We’re used to flipping through pages of paper regs, practically needing a lawyer by our side to explain the exact location boundaries and regulations for different fish species… but not anymore!

The Fishbrain app now provides all the fishing regulations Florida anglers need to know, right in the palm of your hand. With a quick tap of your screen, you can bring up the regulations for individual species and boundaries separating different units, or zones.

Your Fishbrain map accurately determines which body of water you are on and where on it you are located, so you can know where you are in relation to any boundary. This allows for zero confusion in trying to determine which

unit you are in, and which species you can legally target or keep.

To quickly and easily access these regulations, all you need to do is open the map in the Fishbrain app and tap the “Regulations” icon in the bottom right of your screen. You can then select the specific species - including both freshwater and saltwater fish - you are targeting, or others you may inadvertently catch. Immediately you are informed whether a species is in season or not.

If you tap on a species, you will see even more data - including slot sizes, bag limits, special gear regulations and more.

Regulations are updated directly from state agency websites as soon as they change.

This provides the fastest solution you could want for getting the up-to-date regulations you need.

Fishbrain has been a trusted resource for more than 500,000 anglers in Florida who have used the app to find fishing spots, choose the right tackle, and interact with other anglers. Now we are happy and proud to provide regulation information to our community of anglers as well.

You can download the Fishbrain app for free on the App Store, Google Play Store, or by visiting fishbrain.com Fish smart. Fish confident. Fish with Fishbrain.

Visit FISHBRAIN.COM to learn more.

Red Snapper

By CAM Staff

The Official Fish of Summer Vacation

R

Red snapper should be the official fish of summer vacation. These hard-fighting and delicious reef fish are the traditional driving force behind the Gulf of Mexico charter fishing industry. The season dates are set to align with the arrival of tourists seeking fun in the sun, and whether you’re pulling your own boat to the Gulf for a week-long fishing expedition or you plan to hire a captain for a day on the water with the kids, here’s a stateby-state look at what you need to know to get in on the action.

Gear Non-stainless steel circle hooks are required when fishing with natural baits. At least one de-hooking device is required and must be used to remove hooks. A descending device or venting tool that is rigged and ready for use is required when fishing for reef fish in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Federal For-Hire Season Gulf-wide, most of the recreational catch of Gulf red snapper comes from federal waters, which begin 9 miles offshore for purposes of reef fish management. Charter operations targeting red snapper and other reef fish in federal waters must have a federal for-hire reef fish permit to fish federal waters.

The 2022 red snapper season for federally permitted vessels began June 1 and will close on Aug. 19. The bag limit is two fish per person with a 16-inch minimum length limit.

Captain and crew may not retain a bag limit.

Each state sets its own regulations for private anglers in state and federal waters as well as for charter boats in state waters.

FLORIDA: Florida’s season opened June 17 and will run through July 31. Florida has also set aside the following weekends for snapper harvest in fall: Oct. 8-9, Oct. 15-16, Oct. 2223, Nov. 11-13 and Nov. 25-27. The bag limit is two fish per person, per day with a 16-inch minimum length.

These seasons apply to recreational anglers fishing from private vessels in Florida Gulf state and federal waters. For-hire operations that do not have a federal reef fish permit may also participate in the season but are limited

to fishing for red snapper in state waters only.

All anglers who intend to fish for or harvest certain reef fish, including red snapper, from a private vessel are required to obtain the State Reef Fish Angler designation.

ALABAMA: The season for private and state-licensed charter vessels opened May 27 in Alabama state and federal waters. The season consists of four-day weekends, Friday through Monday, until the private angler quota is projected to be met. The daily bag

limit is two per person, per day with a minimum size limit of 16 inches.

Alabama uses Snapper Check to monitor landings during the season and provide weekly updates at outdooralabama.com. Anglers must have an Alabama Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement.

The owner or operator of each vessel is required to complete one landing report per trip through Snapper Check prior to removing red snapper from the boat or the boat from the water.

Red snapper caught from non-powered vessels, piers and the shoreline are also required to be reported through Snapper Check. A landing report may be submitted through Snapper Check in the Outdoor AL app, which is available at outdooralabama.com.

LOUISIANA: The season opened May 27 in state and federal waters of Louisiana.

It will run weekends only (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) with a daily bag limit of three fish per person and a 16-inch minimum size limit. The open season includes the Monday of Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. The season will remain open until recreational landings approach Louisiana’s allocation.

Anglers must have a Recreational Offshore Landing Permit (ROLP) to

a mid-season closure date of July 4. The midseason closure allows for compilation of landings to examine a potential season extension.

The season will be open seven days a week in both state and federal waters and will close if the annual catch target for recreational anglers is reached.

One angler per vessel, per trip is required to report through the MDMR Tails n’ Scales system. The daily bag limit is two fish per person with a 16-inch length limit.

fish for or possess red snapper and electronically report their catch via the ROLP app or the ROLP website.

MISSISSIPPI: Mississippi’s red snapper season opened for private recreational anglers and state for-hire vessels on May 27, with

TEXAS: The private recreational angler red snapper season in federal waters of Texas opened June 1. Red snapper fishing is open year-round in state waters. The bag limit in federal waters is two fish per person daily, with a 16-inch minimum size limit. In state waters, the limit is four fish per person daily with a 15-inch minimum. Red snapper caught in federal waters count as part of the state bag limit. No more than two red snapper in federal waters and four red snapper in state waters may be in your possession while fishing.

For more information, visit gulfcouncil.org.

SOUTH

2 DAYS

ATLANTIC GETS

FOR SNAPPER

R

ecreational harvest of red snapper in federal waters of the South Atlantic will be two days long this year. The July 8-9 season opens at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 8, 2022, and closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 10, 2022. The season is for Atlantic waters off North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

The recreational bag limit is one red snapper per person per day. Captain and crew on for-hire vessels may retain the recreational bag limit. There are no minimum or maximum size limits.

Allowable gear includes vertical hook-and-line, including hand line and bandit gear, and spearfishing gear without rebreathers. When fishing for or possessing snapper/grouper species in federal waters of the South Atlantic, the following regulations apply: • Use of a dehooking tool is required.

• The use of non-stainless steel hooks is required when using hookand-line gear with natural baits. In waters North of 28-degrees N. latitude, the use of non-offset, non-stainless steel circle hooks is required when fishing for snapper grouper species using hook-and-line gear with natural baits.

• A descending device is required on board all vessels and must be readily available for use (attached to at least 16 ounces of weight and at least 60 feet of line).

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHOW ME THE FISH CHARTERS

WATCH

VIDEO

For more information, go to safmc.net.

THE ANGLER VIDEO MAGAZINE

JULY 2022

17

TIPS FOR THE ATLANTIC RED SNAPPER SEASON

By Capt. Greg Rapp

H

ere we go! The short Atlantic red snapper season is a go. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for calm seas. It’s no secret that the red snapper population has exploded, and the limit of one per person should not be hard to fill. Here are a few tips that may help increase the size of the snapper you put in the box: 1) Have a Game Plan: When bottom fishing, I spend time the night before my trip plotting my course of action. Which spots do I want to try first, where do I want to go next, and what is my backup plan? On opening day, the reefs and wrecks will be a zoo. Everyone will likely gun for the proven spots and save their hot rocks for backups if fishing is not as easy as we all have envisioned.

2) Trust Your Bottom Machine: When you arrive to the first spot on your hit list, watch your bottom machine for signs of life. If you have a decent bottom machine, trust it. If you roll over a wreck or a nice ledge and are not marking life, don’t waste your time fishing it. When a spot has abundant snapper, the machine will light up like a Christmas tree. I wouldn’t zoom in to the bottom, as these days we find great marks of snapper suspended halfway up the water column and higher. If you check two or three spots within an area and you don’t mark fish, don’t be afraid to make a significant move.

3) Start Big: If we are fortunate and find the snapper bite red hot, go big. Bigger bait equals bigger fish! There are plenty of 20-plus-pound sow snapper ready to engulf a giant live bait. Plus, none of us will be disappointed if we crank up a chunky grouper. This will also result in fewer small fish being reeled to the surface and dying from barotrauma.

When targeting big snapper, I use jumbo live pinfish, a big pigfish or large croakers.

To properly fish large baits, a sliding sinker rig is the way to go. Start with the smallest egg sinker the current will allow you to get your bait to the bottom with.

In our area, 6- to 16-ounce sinkers are required. Place the sinker on your main line and then tie on your swivel. Next attach at least a 5-foot stretch of 80- to 100-pound fluorocarbon leader. Then use an 8/0 or 9/0 circle hook or 8/0 up to a 10/0 J hook. If your main line is not at least 80- or 100-pound test, it does no good to have that heavy of a leader. When it comes to bottom fishing, your main line and leader line should be about the same.

Make sure you use a strong hook that you can really pull on without straightening it out.

Set your drag to slip just before the breaking strength of the line. After the fish is away from the bottom, back the drag off a little more or at least be sure to lean to the fish when it surges. I can’t tell you how many times I have caught large snapper and grouper that have frayed the line or have come up barely hooked from a ripped lip. If we didn’t lean on the surges, they would have gotten away.

4) When to Lighten Up: If you find yourself on a spot that is marking fish but they are not biting, or you are only catching small snapper, it may be because the spot has already been beat up. It may be time to lighten up and drift down.

I like to use a 5/0 J hook or a 5/0 circle hook on a small knocker rig.

To make the knocker rig, start with a 6-foot stretch of 40-pound fluorocarbon leader, add a ¼-ounce egg sinker, and tie the hook directly to the fluoro. Don’t use a swivel to connect the fluoro to the main line, and if you are using braid, have a good top shot of mono. Cut a pogy, pinfish, strip of cut bait or if you have small live baits use them alive. Pin any of these to the hook and freeline them down directly over the mark of fish. Make sure you do not stop the descent, and as soon as you feel that line start taking off

quicker, set the hook.

At this point your angling skills will have to take over and you will need to apply as much pressure as you can to stop that fish without busting it off due to applying to much drag. This tactic normally requires you to apply drag pressure with your hand and can take a little practice. Just try to get a feel for the breaking strength of the line you are using, and err on the side of too little drag. If you bust them off from pure strength, you have no chance. If the wind or current are pushing you along, it will help pull your fish away from the structure or possibly have them feeding farther away from the structure and increase your odds.

I hope these tips will help you land some large red snapper and stock up your freezers. Remember, with this derby-style fishing we will find the Atlantic Ocean has gotten awfully small.

Respect the first-come, first-serve courtesy. If someone is on a spot already, go find another.

If you are sitting on a common rock, don’t flip out when another boat wants to fish there also. Most people don’t have endless bottom numbers to fish. Don’t forget descending devices for your throw-backs. Good luck out there everyone!

Capt. Greg Rapp owns Sea Leveler Sport Fishing Charters. Contact him at (321) 794-3474 or visit his website, www.sealeveler.com.

THE ANGLER VIDEO MAGAZINE

JULY 2022

19

LURES 20

TYPES OF LONG-DISTANCE LURES

L

PATRICK SEBILE

ong-casting lures are not limited to one shape or style, and that is a good thing. Distance is sometimes important in reaching fish, and a specific action or type of lure is important in convincing them to bite. Here’s a look at several lure styles and the pros and cons of fishing them.

Diamond Jig: The first long-distance lure ever was likely the diamond jig and other elongated metal spoons.

Originally designed for handline jigging, it just turned out that this lure’s shape allows it to cut through the air to reach great distances.

This one is always worth carrying. It allows you to cover a lot of water and cast in high winds pretty well. This said, the diamond jig being made of metal makes the lure size relatively small compared to its weight. It’s not the best option when fish are looking for larger prey.

Topwater: Nothing is more exciting and eye opening than topwater action.

When water explodes with snapping mouths as predators gobble prey on top, it gives you an obvious target to cast a lure to.

Poppers, pencils, chuggers and walkers all

JULY 2022

belong to the noble race of lures that we all love to fish because they are fun, especially when you can cast to fish that are feeding actively and visibly.

Floating topwater lures are traditional, but they don’t cast the farthest. Some topwaters are designed to be fished at the surface, rather than on top of it. These sinking and/or heavily loaded lures significantly improve range, and they can be worked on top thanks to design or a fast retrieve. In most situations, I prefer

THE ANGLER VIDEO MAGAZINE

topwaters that sink at rest. They draw those exciting topwater strikes, and they regularly achieve 50 percent or longer cast distance than floating lures.

Swimming Plugs: This category includes just about anything with swimming action.

I group billed minnows, hard swimbaits, darters, bottleneck swimplugs and others into this category. I do not, however, consider soft-plastic swimbaits such as a paddletail/jigheads to be distance-casting lures.

Like topwaters, floating versions of these plugs are common, but they limit the distance you can cast. Longdistance “rocket” or “bullet” models are typically heavier and sink at rest. They have the ability to reach fish far from the boat or shore, and they will also draw strikes right at your feet.

A key point about sinking distance-dedicated lures is they cast much better into wind than floating models, and this matters because the bite is often best—especially for large fish— when the wind is in your face and the water is white.

Next issue we’ll dig into the appendices and lure designs for long distance.

Legendary angler Patrick Sebile is a world record holder and an award-winning designer of innovative lures and fishing gear. Check out his creations at abandofanglers.com.

DISCOVER THE LITHIUM DIFFERENCE WITH THE DAKOTA LITHIUM 36V 63AH BATTERY

Used by Bass Master Elite fisherman Brock Mosley and two time back to back Bass Master Classic Champion Hank Cherry, Dakota Lithium is the choice of champions and trusted by professional tournament anglers for those long days on the water.

The Dakota Lithium 36V 63Ah battery will allow you to fish longer with twice the power, half the weight, and four times the lifespan than your old sealed lead acid or AGM batteries – providing exceptional lifetime value. All backed by the Dakota lithium legendary 11 year warranty.

Join the Lithium Revolution now! Use the code coastalangler for 10% off on your next purchase at dakotalithium.com

SIGHT FISHING IN SUMMER: PRACTICE; PATIENCE AND PROTECTION

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ometimes the simplest of concepts are the hardest things to do. Take sight fishing for example.

Although sight fishing sounds straightforward, the techniques associated with success require practice and patience, whether it’s developing the skill of spotting the fish in the first place, being able to cast in a way that doesn’t spook your target or cultivating the delicate jigging technique with your bait to convey irresistible allure as a tasty morsel.

Honing your sight fishing skills may take some practice, but getting you armed with the right apparel is easy with GILLZ gear.

When you’re out on the water all day in the summer, sun protection is critical. For sight fishing, it starts at the top with the GILLZ Flexfit Delta 180 hat to keep your head and face protected in customized comfort.

A GILLZ Pro Series UV Hoodie can help you keep your cool when the action is hot. This flexible shirt comes with a built-in mesh mask to protect from sun and wind,

and offers 360-degree ventilation for max breathability even on the hottest days.

Proprietary chemical free GillzTec® fabric yields 30% better cooling than other brands, and provides UPF 50+ protection letting you fish all day without worrying about harmful UV rays. For a streamlined

alternative, turn to the GILLZ Contender Long Sleeve UV shirt. The interlocking fabric offers four-way stretch technology that delivers unparalleled performance.

Since sight fishing requires constant reeling and casting to keep your lure in front of your target fish, flexibility and motion are often at a premium. That’s where the GILLZ Pro Series SS Woven "Tek" fishing shirt comes in. The modified raglan shoulder sleeve and no-seam underarm mesh gusset promote maximum range of motion and all-day comfort.

A long, hot day fishing demands a comfortable performance t-shirt. The GILLZ Pro Series Short Sleeve UV shirt gives you hightech functionality with UPF 50+ sun protection, raglan shoulders and no-seam underarm mesh.

When the sun starts to drop, tacking from boat to bar is a breeze. With your sharplooking GILLZ gear in hand, and you’ll also be ready for the sizzling summer nights.

GILLZ-GEAR.COM

CATCH HARD-FIGHTING

JACKS

ON TOP OR ON BOTTOM

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID JUNQUERA (IG: DAVID_ROCCA_)

By Emily Rose Hanzlik

S

outh Florida boasts some of the best surf fishing in the world.

High profile species are regular catches from the beaches of the sunshine state’s southern Atlantic coast. The jack crevalle is one of my favorites. It is a fierce, stubborn and dynamic gamefish that can be caught bottom fishing with live bait or by casting plugs. Whichever method you choose, you’re sure to have a battle on your hands once you hook up.

Shore-based fishing for jack crevalle is not limited to Florida.

These fish are widespread in the Atlantic. They inhabit the western Atlantic from Nova Scotia to Uruguay and throughout the Gulf of Mexico.

Juvenile jack crevalle live inshore, where they prefer moving water of upstream currents. They thrive in a wide range of salinity and are often found in brackish waters and sometimes freshwater canals.

Adults, on the other hand, usually move out of the estuaries and occupy currents, reefs and other nearshore and offshore structure, generally within the bounds of the continental shelf. Large individuals can absolutely be caught in shallow inshore areas, but deep-water jacks are usually larger. The largest IGFArecorded jack crevalle weighed 66 pounds, 2 ounces and was caught out of Angola off the western coast of Africa.

When food, such as mullet, is abundant, jacks get excited and will chase prey right up on the sand, against seawalls or into

a boat. In open water, they herd baitfish into a mass before plowing through it from all sides.

I target monster jacks from the beach or an inlet. Fishing with live bait on the bottom is the easiest method. I drop baits in the deep trough, just on the backside of a sandbar. Baits in the 10- to 12-inch range work best for bigger fish, and I prefer using whatever baitfish is around. My favorite for jacks is needlefish.

If you’re looking for more of a challenge as well as heart-stopping explosions, try fishing topwater plugs. David Junquera is a dedicated plug-chucker from West Palm Beach. Using topwater lures, he has landed 23 jack crevalle heavier than 40 pounds. His heaviest to-date weighed 46.3 pounds.

Junquera said time of day, winds, tides, migrations and location of bait are all crucial factors for successfully targeting jacks with topwater plugs. Anglers should get out and explore to determine the best patterns for the areas they fish.

At a minimum, Junquera recommends a 6500-size spinning reel with 50-pound braid and an 80-pound leader. Junquera prefers to throw lures that are 6.5 to 8 inches long. The faster you work the plug, the more strikes you’ll earn, he said. A whip retrieve is ideal.

Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 51 IGFA world records in various categories.

She hails from West Palm Beach, where she has a part time Bowfin Guide Service as well as fishing classes for Jr. Anglers. Find her on Social Media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.

Flying Fisherman Mojarra

Flying Fisherman Mojarra sunglasses are designed for anglers seeking excellent performance, style, and value in their polarized eyewear.

Frames are crafted from Grilamid TR-90, an extremely durable polymer that’s incredibly light weight, flexible, and impact and weather resistant. They’re built with comfort features like recessed nose pads, and co-injected temple pads, both of which help to ensure a stay-put fit when the action strikes. Flying Fisherman’s AcuTint® polycarbonate lenses are virtually shatterproof to provide unbeatable eye protection from flying hooks, lures, and other dangerous objects that anglers often encounter while fishing. The AcuTint® lens coloring system enhances contrast and clarity, reduces glare allowing anglers to see beneath the water’s surface, and blocks 100% of harmful UVA and UVB rays up to 400 nanometers. Multiple frame and lens colors available.

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Costa Lido

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Hobie Eyewear Bluefin Float – Hank Cherry Champions Collection

With a focus on style and performance inspired by the vibes of the Pacific shores, Costa's Lido frame is ready for anything the water sends your way. Boasting scratch-resistant and durable premium polarized Costa 580® lenses, Lido comes with top and side shields to help keep the light out, and Hydrolite® nose pads and temple tips to help you bring fish in. From east to west, for watching waves or riding them, Lido’s there for the adventure.

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As big and bold as the elite fishermen that inspired it, Hobie Eyewear's all-new Bluefin Float Hank Cherry Champions Edition goes a long way in their largest frame yet. An eight-base curve with wider temples provides maximum coverage without compromising on comfort. Ultra-light floatable material ensures durability and resistance for long days on the water. Comolded rubber nose pads and temples provide additional security, highlighted

by Hank’s signature red rubber. The Hank Cherry edition frame includes the elite tournament champion’s logo on the inside of the temple.

These sunglasses feature premium polarized nylon lenses with Hydro 360° Coatings and 100% UV A, B, C protection. If you want to see just like the 2x Bassmaster Classic Champion, then these are a pair of shades that you’ll want to have in your arsenal. hobieeyewear.com

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Costa Reefton PRO

Named after the iconic New Zealand fishing town, Costa’s classic Reefton frame just got some serious PRO upgrades. The large frame loved by anglers now carries our new PRO Series fit and features: sweat management channels and eyewire drains, improved Hydrolite® rubber, fullyadjustable nose pads, top hooding and side shields and metal keeper slots. Keep your frames on your face, your vision clear and your eyes on the fish.

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Peppers Polarized Eyewear Cutthroat

Peppers Polarized Eyewear has been an innovator driven in the optical industry to push the limits on creating affordable high quality polarized sunglasses, and their Cutthroat unsinkable floating sunglasses are built to handle it all. Impact resistant armored lens features hydrophobic coating which offers superior saltwater protection.

Unmatched polarization provides enhanced visibility and 100% UV protection from damaging UV rays. Hydrophillic Megol nose pads ensure they’ll never fall off.

Fin-Nor North Drop

Fin-Nor has created the ultimate high-performance sunglasses for anglers who want to worry less about eyewear and spend more time focused on the fish. Designed to withstand the elements saltwater anglers face every day, Fin-Nor’s North Drop sunglasses are made for all-day comfort no matter the conditions. North Drops feature custom integrated spring hinge, adjustable rubber nose pads, rubber temple tips, integrated side shields, and Fin-Nor’s breakthrough Lateral Line Lens Technology, an innovative technology that enhances your vision through distortion-free color, unmatched sharpness, and precision optics.

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Peppers Polarized Eyewear Mermaid

The perfect combination of style and affordability, Peppers Polarized Eyewear’s Mermaid women’s unsinkable floating sunglasses are built to last with Grilamid frame material with floating core and internal temple hinge construction. Other features incluse lightweight polarized lenses offering 100% UV protection, Hydrophobic and SLC (Sea Lens Coatings), and Hydrophilic Megol nose pads.

Multiple frame and lens colors available.

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Hobie Eyewear Monarch Float WATCH VIDEO

Flying Fisherman Swirl

The Flying Fisherman Swirl sunglasses are built for those who live the outdoor lifestyle, with on-trend styling and superior polarized performance on or off the water. The lightweight frames feature non-slip, co-injected temple padding to ensure their comfort and fit and are paired with Flying Fisherman’s AcuTint® polarized lenses in a variety of colors that block annoying glare, for excellent functionality on the water.

WATCH Scratch resistant lenses reduce eye fatigue, VIDEO and penetrate the water’s surface to help anglers spot fish and aid in navigation. Flying Fisherman’s AcuTint® lens coloring system also enhances color contrast, so optics are crisper and colors more vivid, adding to fishing productivity and maximizing the overall outdoors experience.

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The best all-around utility sunglasses! Not only does Monarch float like a butterfly, but it features removable side shields that provide extra sun protection during long days on the water. Monarch also comes with a clip-on retainer, which keeps them secure around your head or neck. When you want a more casual look, simply pop the side shields and retainer off the frame and Monarch transforms into a classic looking pair of sunglasses. Premium polarized polycarbonate lenses feature Hydro 360° coatings and 100% UV A, B, C protection. Starting at only $89.99, there has never been more technology packed into a single pair of sunglasses. Monarch Float’s 2-in-1 versatility makes them the perfect fishing accessory both on and off the water.

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HOW TO $AVE MONEY ON BOAT FUEL

THE ANGLER VIDEO MAGAZINE

JULY 2022

29

BAY SCALLOP SEASON IS HERE!

Y

ou’d be hard pressed to find better Florida family fun than kicking around in the shallows to pick up scallops. Bay scallop seasons open across most of Florida’s west coast this month, so grab your mask, fins and snorkel, load up the kids and hit the water. Here’s what you need to know to get in on the action.

SEASONS

St. Joseph Bay and Gulf County: Aug. 16-Sept. 24.

This region includes all state waters from the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County to the westernmost point of St. Vincent Island in Franklin County. The area marked with FWC buoys south of Black’s Island is a Bay Scallop Restoration Area and no scalloping or anchoring are allowed.

Franklin County through NW Taylor County (including Carrabelle, Lanark, St. Marks): July 1-Sept. 24. This region includes all state waters from the 30

JULY 2022

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westernmost point of St. Vincent Island in Franklin County to Rock Island near the mouth of the Fenholloway River in Taylor County.

Fenholloway through Suwannee Rivers Zone (including Keaton Beach, Steinhatchee): June 15-Labor Day. This region includes all state waters east of Rock Island near the mouth of the Fenholloway River in Taylor County and north of Alligator Pass day beacon #4 near the mouth of the Suwannee River in Levy County.

This area has a lowered bag limit June 15-30.

See bag limits for more.

Levy, Citrus, Hernando Counties Zone (including Cedar Key, Crystal River, Homosassa): July 1-Sept. 24. This region includes all state waters south of Alligator Pass day beacon #4 near the mouth of the Suwannee River in Levy County and north of the Hernando – Pasco county line.

Pasco County: July 15-24. This region

includes all state waters south of the Hernando – Pasco county line and north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, and includes all waters of the Anclote River.

BAG LIMITS Daily vessel limits do not allow individuals to retain more than the per-person limit. There is no size limit on bay scallops.

Fenholloway through Suwannee River Zone: • June 15-30: Daily bag limit per person is 1 gallon in-shell or 1 cup shucked. Daily vessel limit is 5 gallons in-shell or 2 pints shucked.

• July 1-Labor Day: Daily bag limit per person is 2 gallons in-shell or 1 pint shucked.

Daily vessel limit is 10 gallons in-shell or ½ gallon shucked.

All Other Zones: Daily bag limit per person is 2 gallons in-

shell or 1 pint shucked. Daily vessel limit is 10 gallons in-shell or ½ gallon shucked.

OTHER INFO • Legal methods of harvest include by hand or with a landing or dip net. Recreational harvesters are required to have a Florida saltwater fishing license unless they are 1) exempt from needing a license or 2) have a nocost shoreline fishing license and are wading from shore to collect scallops (feet do not leave bottom to swim, snorkel or SCUBA and harvesters do not use a vessel to reach or return from the harvest location).

• Direct transit of legally-harvested bay scallops is allowed through closed areas.

For more information, including regulations pertaining to boating and diving safely, visit myfwc.com.

Stay With Us For A Florida Fishing Vacation Of A Lifetime!

Just as few places compare to Crystal River when it comes to salt or freshwater sport fishing, but there is no other hotel or resort in the area that compares to the comfort and outfitting you receive at Plantation on Crystal River.

• Waterfront Resort • Onsite trailer parking* • Water parking* • Adventure Center Dive Shop: Live bait, tackle, ice, area charts and fishing reports • You catch, we cook at West 82 Grill* *Included with your stay at Plantation on Crystal River with purchase of Fishing Package

Adventures Begin Here From the peace and tranquility of swimming alongside manatees to the rush of adrenaline of hooking an evasive gag grouper in the Gulf, there are many memories waiting for you in Crystal River.

Discover all the excitement, fun and lifelong memories we have to offer for your next adventure.

GEAR UP FOR SUMMER

SeaStar Standard Trim Tab System Dometic has redefined the ease of use and practicality of a basic trim tab system. Featuring an intuitive dial controller, you can easily adjust the pitch and roll to get your boat on plane quickly and efficiently. A programmable favorites button makes for effortless operation. While its innovative, rugged design and autoretract feature, ensure reliability and safety on the water, whatever the conditions. dometic.com

DIAL IN THE RIDE WITH NEW SEASTAR STANDARD TRIM TABS

A

boat that isn’t trimmed properly can pound through the waves for an uncomfortable, wet ride and even suck up considerably more fuel than it should.

It can even be unsafe in challenging weather conditions.

Properly adjusting a boat’s trim tabs has an amazing positive affect on how a boat drives and feels, and can make a significant improvement in speed and fuel economy.

The challenge has always been the “trial and error” aspect of trim tab operation.

Adjusting port and starboard tabs individually with traditional toggle switches is not very intuitive–especially when you are faced with constantly changing dynamics throughout the day, as wind and waves change and people move and shift around the boat, altering the balance of weight.

Dometic Marine’s new SeaStar standard trim tabs are designed to make trim tab adjustment second nature to operators of all types of boats. The heart of this trim tab system is an intuitive dial controller that lets boaters easily “dial-in” the optimum ride for any situation. All the boater needs to do is turn the dial in the direction he wants to level the boat, and the electric actuators respond quickly and precisely to level the ride. Easy-to-see LED lights on the controller indicate port and starboard tab positions, with an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts brightness for optimum visibility in any environment.

There are also single press Bow Up and Bow Down inputs for manual adjustment.

This allows the boater to adjust the attitude of the boat without affecting roll, and vice versa, for precision ride tuning. This intelligent

system also has an easy “Favorite” button that makes it easy to return to a boat’s “sweet spot.”

The all-electric trim tab actuators utilize a planetary gearbox, high-torque DC motor and freewheeling ball screw mechanism for instant response and quiet operation. A rugged housing and simple two-piece design minimize water intrusion points and features dual housing seals, a rear seal in a protected bushing area, and a wiper that removes particles from the shaft and protects the rear seal. The result is a trim tab system built for the long run in the harsh marine environment.

The system is designed for use with heavyduty SeaStar stainless steel trim tabs, yet it can also be integrated with a boat’s existing tabs.

WWW.DOMETIC.COM

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BAMA BOAT THREE-PEATS AT MGCBC

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VIDEO

By Capt. Dave Lear

O

wner/angler Nick Pratt, Capt. Chris Hood and the It Just Takes Time team swept the blue marlin divisions by weighing the only qualifier during the 2022 Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic.

The 763.6-pound blue gave the team an unprecedented third consecutive win. That feat has never been accomplished in the 26-year history of the Classic or in any other Gulf Coast big game tournament.

It Just Takes Time, a 72 Viking based in Orange Beach, Ala., took home a payout of $630,985 for the marlin tournament award, crew division and all marlin optional entry categories.

The total prize purse this year’s event was $1.36 million.

Quantified, a 64 Spencer with Capt. Justin Drummond at the helm, had an impressive showing, too. Angler Cyler Pape wound in the top dolphin at 37 pounds and the team released three sailfish and three white marlin to score 1,500 points in the release division.

With tournament and optional entries, the team earned a payout of $140,060.

The top release boat with four blue marlin on its ledger (2,400 points) was Ramble On, a 67 Billy Horton run by Capt. Shannon Allman.

With an optional dolphin entry (25.9 pounds), the team won $120,170 for the tournament.

Shock Wave, a 69 Spencer with Capt. Shelby Johnson on the throttles, scored three blue 36

JULY 2022

marlin in the release division, good for a check totaling $47,025 in optional entries.

Sunrise, a 53 Guthrie (Capt.

Billy Blount) also had three blue marlin releases, along with the third-place dolphin (Chris King/32.8 pounds), a 102.4-pound tuna and a wahoo optional, good for a $42,065 payout.

Angler Drew Phillips outlasted a yellowfin tuna weighing 206.9 pounds after a 45-minute fight. Phillips was fishing aboard Second Wind, a 72 F&S run by Capt. Marlin Brown. The team earned $36,695 for that record catch.

Rising Sons’ two optional entry tuna (52.1 and 50.9 pounds) paid out $34,650 for angler Evan Crochet and Capt. Toby Berthelot and the team. Rising Sons is a 58 Viking based in Orange Beach.

Capt. Dennis Bennett and the Destin team aboard Salt Shaker (58 Viking) capitalized on two blues and a white marlin release in the Catch and Release Division. That score earned the team $32,760.

Owner/angler Timothy O’Brien on Panhandler scored the second-place dolphin at 36.1 pounds. Capt. Nick Millsap was at the helm

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of the 63 Hatteras. With the tournament award and optional entries, that fish was worth $22,864.

Iona Louise was the first boat to weigh on Saturday and the 52.5-pound wahoo they hoisted aloft held on to take first place in the division.

Capt. Clip Hopkins runs the 58 Hatteras and Christopher Nolan for the angler.

A total of 73 boats and 360 anglers competed in the 2022 MGCBC. The fleet caught 56 blue marlin, eight white marlin and three sailfish.

In the game fish categories, 29 yellowfin tuna were weighed, along with eight dolphin and five wahoo.

For complete results, visit mgcbc.com.

New!

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Preston/Cortes Duo Wins 59th Annual Gold Cup Invitational Fly Fishing Tarpon Tournament T

By CAM Staff

he 59th Annual Gold Cup Invitational Tarpon Fly Fishing Tournament, one of the most revered fly fishing tournaments in the world, is known wherever anglers pursue the Silver King with a fly. It has been referred to as the "World Series" of tarpon fishing and consists of 5 days of honorable competition.

This year was especially exciting as fishing far exceeded previous year’s numbers as well as provided some real suspense each day.

Talented Fly-Anglers were able to pull in a total of 103 fish during the five-day stretch, consisting of 70 Release and 33 Weight Fish, the best tarpon fishing during this prestigious tournament in some time. Teams of Anglers and Guides compete for various trophy and sponsor-donated items. The real honor is for the overall winning team to have their names added to the 59-year-old perpetual trophy. The historic GCTT trophy is showcased locally at The Florida Keys Outfitters.

Second time Grand Champion Angler, Dave Preston from Miami, FL, and Guide to Grand Champion, Capt. Luis Cortes, earned their Grand Championship title with 6850 points, consisting of 7 Release Fish and 5 Weight Fish for the week. Preston and Cortes’s Weight Fish weighed in at 99.7, 132.5 96.8, 74.5, and 71.5 pounds. Dave Preston’s never failing positive

attitude and passion for conservation has been evident over the 10 years that he has fished the tournament.

Preston says, “It’s humbling to even be invited to fish the Gold Cup, and Capt.

Luis and I consider it a great honor just to be in the room, trying to follow in the footsteps of giants. To come out on top in 2021 was the experience of a lifetime, and to be able to repeat and carry this feeling on for the next 365 days is everything we could dream of and then some. We’re extremely grateful to our fellow competitors, the tournament organizers, and the anglers and guides who have come before us to make the event what it is today.”

First Runner Up Angler, Mike Criscola from Fair Haven, NJ, and Guide, Capt. Eric Herstedt, earned 5295 points. They are one of one of the rare teams to catch the 5 weight fish limit by day 4, allowing the last day of fishing to consist of chasing release fish that are at least 4 feet long, instead of chasing the biggest fish

that would count as weight fish. They also caught fish every day, which is an oddity during the Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament.

Second Runner Up Angler, Nathaniel Linville, from Key West, FL, and his Guide, Capt. Ian Slater, earned Second Runner-Up with 3226 points. This reputable team caught 5 Release Fish and 2 Weight Fish weighing 94.5 and 78.1 pounds.

The Largest Tarpon Award was earned by Angler Ned Johnson from Charleston, SC and his Guide, Capt. Craig Brewer with a fish weighing approximately 139 pounds.

The 60th Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament will take place June 19-23, 2023.

For additional information, including current results and sponsors, visit www.GoldCupTT.com.

SPORTFISHING

BANNED IN COLUMBIA

By CAM Staff

C

olumbia recently banned sportfishing.

That should serve as an eye opener even for anglers who have never considered travelling to fish.

A potential destination fishery, with rivers famous for exotic species like peacock bass and a coastline that boasts excellent fisheries for roosterfish, tuna, marlin, sailfish and cubera snapper, has decided that catch-and-release fishing is cruelty to animals and has deemed the practice unconstitutional. With an 8-1 vote in favor, the ruling came down from the Columbia Congressional Court in May with a plan to begin enforcement next year.

The court, which is roughly equivalent to the U.S. Supreme Court, decided that while commercial, artisanal and subsistence fishing remain constitutional, catching fish and returning them to the water should be banned.

If you catch a fish, you must kill it in order for the catch to be legal. It’s enough to scramble the brains of anglers and conservationists. Anyone who has paid a lick of attention has watched the 40

JULY 2022

rise of catch-and-release lead to the rebound of coastal and inland fisheries around the world.

At presstime, Columbians were voting to elect their president, with Gustavo Petro, an extreme leftwing candidate by U.S. standards, leading in a runoff election against Rodolfo Hernandez, a businessman and former city mayor running on an anticorruption platform.

Columbian attorneys are already contesting the sportfishing ban, but if Petro wins the election there’s a good chance parts of the ruling will be enacted.

Columbian lawyer Luis Guillermo Valez Cabrera lambasted the ruling in op-ed for the website La Republica, saying the ruling “may be the stupidest decision a constitutional court has made in recent history. It’s really laughable.”

“What the court wants to tell us is that, since we do not know if the fish can suffer, to protect the environment, we must prohibit sportfishing,” Cabrera wrote. “The possible impact on the

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VIDEO

environment is due to commercial fishing and artisanal fishing, practices that were not constitutionally prohibited. Think of the meshes, the dynamite and the dragnets that kill anything, sentient or not.”

While this court’s ruling might be easy to write off as nonsense from a nation more well-known for corruption and cocaine than anything else, it’s a reminder that hunters and anglers must remain vigilant. Germany banned catch-and-release fishing in the 1990s, and the animal rights movement has successfully restricted hunting in many places around the globe, including in Columbia.

As with most political debates, money is the key. Politicians who’ve never held a fishing rod need to realize that fish in the water can be far more valuable economically than they are served up at restaurants. Just ask Costa Rica, which boasts of a recreational fishery that generates hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

2 miles from shore islamorada, florida enjoying a family day out

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Sailtech Construction unites science, materials and human touch to build lasting structural integrity into every hull, ensuring your safe return home from every fishing trip.

Learn the secret that makes Sailfish one of the most reliable boats on the water at sailfishboats.com/sailfish_dna

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GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO BAIT.

FIND A NET FOR EVERY LIVE BAIT NEED AT

CASTNETS.COM OR FINER TACKLE SHOPS 42

JULY 2022

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Pharmaceuticals Discovered in South Florida Bonefish

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VIDEO

A

three-year study by Florida International University (FIU) and Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) has discovered pharmaceutical contaminants in the blood and other tissues of bonefish in Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys.

“Coastal fisheries face increasing threats associated with humanbased contaminants,” said Jim McDuffie, BTT President and CEO. “Pharmaceuticals are an often overlooked dimension of water quality and their presence in South Florida bonefish is cause for concern. These contaminants pose a significant threat to the flats fishery, an important part of Florida’s recreational saltwater fishery, which has an annual economic impact of $9.2 billion and directly support over 88,500 jobs.”

Since the study began in 2018, FIU scientists and BTT research associates, in partnership with Sweden’s Umeå Unversity and the University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), have sampled 93 fish in South Florida, finding an average of seven pharmaceuticals per bonefish, and a whopping 17 pharmaceuticals in a single fish. The list includes blood pressure medications, antidepressants, prostate treatment medications, antibiotics, and pain relievers. Researchers also found pharmaceuticals in bonefish prey—crabs, shrimp and fish— suggesting that many of Florida’s valuable fisheries are exposed, and not only the bonefish fishery.

Lead researcher Jennifer Rehage, a coastal and fish ecologist and associate professor at the FIU Institute of Environment, presented the study’s findings at a BTT panel event in Tallahassee.

“These findings are truly alarming,” Rehage said. “Pharmaceuticals are an invisible threat, unlike algal blooms or turbid waters. Yet these results tell us that they are a formidable threat to our fisheries, and highlight the pressing need to address our longstanding wastewater infrastructure issues.”

Approximately 5 billion prescriptions are filled each year in the U.S., yet there are no environmental regulations for the disposal of pharmaceuticals worldwide. Pharmaceutical contaminants originate most often from human wastewater and are not sufficiently removed by conventional water treatment. They remain active at low doses, can be released constantly, and exposure can affect all aspects of fish behavior, with negative consequences

for their reproduction and survival. Pharmaceutical contaminants have been shown to affect all aspects of the life of fish, including their feeding, activity, sociability and migratory behavior.

“These troubling findings underscore the urgent need for Florida to expand and modernize wastewater treatment facilities and sewage infrastructure statewide,” said McDuffie. “Governor DeSantis’s leadership and historic funding for water quality improvements, along with legislative support and funding, have set us on the right path. Now we must expedite those efforts, increase investment over the long term, and pursue innovative solutions. We must accelerate septic to sewer conversion, and in those places where sewage is not available, require the use of advanced septic technology. The health of our citizens and the coastal resources that support Florida’s economy depend on it.”

For more information, visit www.bonefishtarpontrust.org.

SLOW DOWN AND COVER THE ENTIRE WATER COLUMN

I

Tim Barefoot

’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: wahoo and tuna don’t wear Maui Jims.

They use depth to regulate the amount of sunlight they are exposed to.

So, while normal trolling at 6 to 8 knots and high-speed trolling at 15 to 20 knots are good things at first light and up to 10:30 or 11 a.m., it’s time to slow down once the sun gets directly overhead. I slow it to a crawl and even fish some baits down deep under a sliding cork on the drift.

Spreading baits across the water column is the best way to continue that morning bite when the mid-day doldrums arrive.

Darker colored baits like red-and-black or purple-and-black work well when fish are looking up to feed. The dark silhouettes of darker colored baits show up well against the bright surface. Yet, it doesn’t make sense to continue trying to convince fish to come to the surface to eat a bait 50 or 75 feet above them. When pelagics drop down in the water

44

JULY 2022

column, it’s better to put a bait right in the “strike zone” where they are.

There are several baits that provide a natural presentation down deep, but a big beautiful squid checks all the boxes on this

one. Squid rise to the surface at night and descend to the depths as the sun gets higher… just like the fish. This is the natural choice, as you are trying to match the hatch, so to speak.

There is nothing in all the seven oceans of the world that is more common than the squid.

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Squid could, and should be called the “rice of the oceans.”

Frozen squid are readily available for bait, and everything in the ocean eats them. I have the ultimate example of this as one day we were on anchor grouper fishing when a couple of nice dolphin swam under the boat 20 to 30 feet below. I could tell they were nice ones and started throwing out cigar minnows and sardines to get them fired up. They didn’t want any part of the free minnows. So, I pulled out a whole frozen squid and hooked it up on light tackle and threw it out about 50 feet. I just let it start sinking. After all the minnows they let go by and sink out of sight, the biggest one of the pair saw that sinking squid and inhaled it! It just goes to show, they will eat a squid when all else fails.

The other good news is a squid is so easy to rig to swim perfectly.

Whether you are fishing a natural frozen squid, a live one or an artificial one, just slow down a little to allow the bait to get down to the level where the fish are staged during the middle of the day for some serious bites.

See more from Tim Barefoot at barefootctasandtackle.com.

d T e o Last n g i s e D Wa

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SeaCatBoats.com

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VIDEO

Teen Angler Catches Pending World Record A

t first glance, this fish might look like a deformed dolphinfish (mahi-mahi), but it’s not. It’s a pompano dolphinfish, and it’s a new North Carolina state record and a potential world record.

Charles Kenneth Noonan, of Sumter, S.C., caught the 11-pound, 5.4-ounce fish at an abandoned raft, about 42 miles off Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina on June 8.

He caught it with an Okuma Cedros 7-foot PCH custom rod and Okuma Cedros 8000 reel using dead ballyhoo on 60-pound power pro braid.

Noonan said he is applying to the IGFA for certification of the fish as the all-tackle world record. The current certified world record pompano dolphinfish weighed 8-pounds, 8-ounces, and was caught off Maryland in 2008.

Noonan’s fish measured 30.5 inches fork length and had a 17.25inch girth. He was fishing with Capt. Tyler Hailey and First Mate Bailey Auten of Salt Fever Guide Service in Ocean Isle Beach. They were aboard the Glory Daze, a 37-foot Freeman Boatworks Catamaran.

For more information North Carolina state records fish, visit ncwildlife.org.

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By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

T

n e m r e

T A H W

sh i F

he fishing industry offers some of the most grueling, labor-intensive and lengthy days of any profession.

The pay isn’t always exceptional, and it takes a major toll on the body. So why would anyone choose this career? Why do so many who are in it seem so happy?

What are these fishermen made of?

As a female, who fell in love with fishing at age 25 with absolutely zero prior experience, I had a difficult time cracking into the industry.

The time between being introduced to the sport and having it consume me was very short. I knew with every fiber of my being that fishing professionally is what I wanted to do with my life. I quickly found out what fishermen are made of, and what truly makes them good at what they do.

Fishing will always be about a healthy combination of skill and luck, but without heart the aforementioned come with an expiration date. If you are someone with that unique passion for fishing and a curiosity about getting into the industry, here are some very basic tips.

First, you must start at the bottom and pay your dues. It doesn’t matter how long you have owned a boat or held a captain’s license, spending time working as a deckhand is highly advised.

Second, nobody is going to hire you over

F O E D A M E R A

the phone. Just show up, which is actually the third, fourth and fifth pieces of advice I can offer. The biggest downfall with deckhands is they don’t show up, or they don’t cover the extent of their chores. Just being at the dock to talk to captains about potential work speaks to the type of character they are looking for.

Show up at the dock to look for work when boats are coming in from charters. Perhaps their deckhand didn’t show up that day, and they’d be happy to put you to work cleaning fish or the boat. If you get a foot in the door this way, be prepared to say yes if the captain asks you to be at the dock the next morning for a charter.

Better yet, show up at the dock before boats head out on charters. When the deckhand, who only thought he had the heart for the job, is a no-show, you’ll be on deck. If you don’t get lucky the first time, keep showing up. Captains will notice.

Once you’ve landed a job on a boat, forget everything you know and learn exactly what your captain expects of you. Even if you disagree, or know a better way, you’re wrong.

Learn everything you can about the boat and the fishery, and never ever stop learning. Be a robotic, superhuman machine, with your head on a swivel, absorbing every piece of data you can.

Be prepared to stay late, making sure everything is done properly and thoroughly, and

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VIDEO

that everything is prepared for the following day.

If you’re on time, you’re late. Find out what time your captain likes to arrive, and get there before then.

Entertaining customers is also extremely important, especially when fishing is slow and your captain is grouchy. Never make your captain look bad in front of clients, even when they rip you a new one for something that might or might not have even been your fault.

Accepting all blame publicly is, in fact, part of your job description. Eat the humble pie, and keep the energy positive for the clients.

Deckhanding might feel like slavery a lot of the time, but mates also have a lot of control over the atmosphere on deck. Remember your customers’ names, be personable and start collecting jokes and one-liners. When fishing is slow, a good deckhand makes or breaks the experience of a charter.

Heart is what makes a good fisherman a great fisherman. It’s what makes this career more than just a job. It’s what makes the crew more excited about catching fish, and more upset about losing one, than the customers.

It’s heart that keeps us learning and trying new things every day.

If that is something that speaks to you, you probably aren’t happy at your desk job. If you belong on the water, don’t put it off any longer.

Somewhere, a deckhand didn’t show up for work this morning.

Capt. Quinlyn Haddon fishes for Blue Magic Charters out of Marathon in the Florida Keys.

Contact her at (504) 920-6342 or through social @CaptainQuinlyn.

e m i t r e m

’GILLS,ACKERS ’CR ND

m u S A

! n Fu

By Nick Carter

E

very now and then, it’s good to rediscover what ushered you into fishing in the first place. For many of us, it all began with small ponds and eager bream. The simplicity of just catching fish, without concern for size or species, is a pursuit that brings back a certain child-like joy. It’s even more fun when you take a kid. Witnessing the light of discovery and pride pass over a child’s face turns untangling lines and dodging errant casts into a labor of love.

It doesn’t need to be difficult.

If you time it right and have a good place to go, it’s easy to load a stringer full of fat bluegills or redear sunfish in a hurry. They are easy to clean, and they are delicious dredged in a seasoned cornmeal-flour mixture and fried crispy. The traditional preparation is to behead them, gut them and scale them, which yields those great crunchy fins. They can also be filleted for folks who don’t like picking through bones, and the resulting bream nuggets make tasty fish sandwiches or tacos.

Throughout the spring and summer, bluegills return to the beds to spawn around each full moon. They spawn in groups, so their fanned-out beds look like honeycombs on the shallow bottom. Shallow flats with a sand or gravel bottom are the preferred areas, and they pile up on these beds for three days or so on either side of the full moon. In all but the most

dingy water, you can see the beds on the bottom. Once you find them, the same spots will provide fast action year after year.

A cricket under a bobber and a long cane pole is probably the way your grandfather yanked ’gills off the beds.

If your young angler is competent with an ultralight spinning combo, a 1/32-oz. crappie jig can also be deadly when reeled steadily across the beds. Fly rodders can wear them out with a small popping bug or small streamer.

Redear sunfish, also known as shellcrackers, can be more difficult to locate and catch than bluegills, but it’s worth it once you find them. They are the heavyweights of the bream world and regularly grow up to a pound or two.

They fight very hard on light tackle.

Shellcrackers spawn in early spring and prefer similar areas to bluegills, only deeper. Their beds can be difficult to find because they are usually too deep to see, and they don’t spawn throughout the summer. When they are on the beds they are very aggressive and will hit small jigs, spinners and flies. When they move off the beds, it’s time to switch to live bait.

Shellcrackers feed near the bottom on snails and mollusks. After the spawn, they move off the banks to feed around grass or submerged structure like stumps and treetops. A red-wiggler, either slowly dragged across the bottom with some split-shot or a lightweight dropshot rig are both effective for ’crackers. Once you find one, you can usually find several.

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CROCODILE BAY The Ultimate Fishing Experience C

rocodile Bay boasts the largest professional sport fishing fleet in Central America with in-house captains and mates able to cater to all skill levels. At the helm stands Diego Camacho, Director of Fishing and expert fisherman. Anglers will enjoy offshore, inshore, as well as the now all-new kayak and shore fishing excursions. Each is uniquely challenging and equally rewarding. The fleet of 24 and 25-foot center consoles Boston Whalers and 33 and 35-foot tower Strike are easily accessed from the 800-foot private pier.

Crocodile Bay offers world-class catch and release bill fishing in the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy going after sailfish, striped, blue and black marlin, dorado, tuna and wahoo. And when fishing in Costa Rica’s Golfo Dulce (Sweet Gulf) you will find roosterfish, cubera snapper, jack trevalle, bluefin trevally, sierra mackerel, tripletail, and grouper to be excellent throughout the year. Are you ready to strap in and reel in a yellowfin tuna that can reach up to 300 lbs? Do you think you have what it takes to beat the Roosterfish resort record at 106 lbs?

So what are you waiting for? Visit Crocodile Bay for an adventure of a lifetime and experience the incredible transformation to Crocodile Bay Marina and Botánika Osa Peninsula, Curio Collection by Hilton. Botánika will provide unparalleled services and amenities, including the clubhouse, a lagoon-shaped pool, several restaurants and bars, a fully equipped state-of-the-art fitness center, and nature trails right on property. With the Pacific Ocean in the front yard, and Corcovado National Park in the backyard, guests can participate in a wide array of land and water based ecoadventures. With the adjacent Crocodile Bay Marina, Botánika guests will continue to enjoy marine adventures, such as worldclass sport fishing, whale and dolphin watching, and snorkeling.

Just as Crocodile Bay Resort, Botánika is destined to become a world-class vacation destination and a new Costa Rican legacy.

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Cherokee County, situated in Western North Carolina encompasses the communities of Murphy, Andrews and Brasstown, where forested mountains seem to touch the sky, lakes sparkle like jewels in the sun and the air is crisp and clean. It is a quiet area located in the south western corner of North Carolina and has come to be known as the “Gateway to the Smoky Mountains.”

Visit Cherokee County

One can never get lost here visitcherokeecountync.com

BASS ANGLER CATCHES RECORD CARP

D

uring a slow day of bass fishing June 4, a Maryland angler hooked up with an un-targeted monster fish that is sure to make for some outstanding stories.

The 49-pound common carp Logan Kurhmann caught in the Susquehanna Flats area of Chesapeake Bay is a new state record.

Kuhrmann was using spinning tackle with a plastic worm. When he set the hook, he thought he’d tied into either a flathead or blue catfish. After a few minutes, the enormous carp was hauled onto

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VIDEO

the boat and into the live well.

“We’ve seen some really big ones up in the Flats, but we’ve never seen one this big ever,” Kurhmann said. “The bass fishing wasn’t great, but this made my week.”

The catch was weighed on a certified scale by Mike Benjamin of Herb’s Bait and Tackle in North East, and verified by a DNR biologist. The previous record of 44.4 pounds was held by Jimmy Lake with a fish caught off Morgantown Beach in 1978.

The IGFA all-tackle world record common carp weighed 75 pounds, 11 ounces. It was caught in France in 1987.

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SAVOR THE SEASONS in Upcountry South Carolina

Every season is the best season to explore the many treasures in the Upcountry.

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ou don’t need an invitation to have fun in Upcountry South Carolina: Come kayak crys-tal blue lakes, hike to rushing waterfalls, dig into local cuisine, attend family oriented events and breathe fresh mountain air. But when you hold a South Carolina fishing license, it feels like an official ticket to enjoy the great outdoors.

Fish bite year-round in the lakes, rivers and streams of Upcountry South Carolina, which is located in the state’s northwest corner in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Devils Fork State Park in Salem is a great place to access Lake Jocassee, which holds state records for rainbow trout, brown trout, redeye bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass and yellow perch. Or try your luck at Lake Hartwell, at Lake Hartwell State Park in Fair Play and Sadlers Creek State Park in Anderson, three-time host of the Bassmaster Classic.

The Chattooga River boasts healthy wild trout populations and is also regularly stocked by Oconee County’s Walhalla State Fish Hatchery. The Whitewater River above Lower White-water Falls is another great option for wild trout. Lake Keowee, at Keowee-Toxaway State Park in Pickens County, swims with largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, crappie, bluegill, yel-low perch, catfish, brown and rainbow trout.

Pick up everything you need—including advice— at local fly shops or book a guided fish-ing trip. Sam Jones, of Jocassee Charters, puts anglers on trophy trout. Buster Green’s Guide Ser-vice reels in stripers,

THE BEST PLACE TO DROP A FISHING LINE

hybrids and bass on Hartwell and Keowee. Chattooga River Fly Shop leads fly fishing trips on the Chattooga and Chauga rivers.

Even if you don’t fish, you can still get on the water. Jocassee Lake Tours offers tours of the lake and of Jocassee Gorges, which National Geographic called a “destination of a Lifetime.”

Some amazing spots can only be reached by boat. Several tours are offered, so you can learn from a naturalist while riding on a pontoon or paddle a kayak through coves and under waterfalls.

Prefer to captain your own boat? There are several rental companies, including Tri-County Boat Rental, on Keowee, Jocassee, Hartwell and other lakes.

If you’d rather be under the water, Jocassee is a world-renowned freshwater diving desti-nation that boasts visibility of more than 50 feet at depth. Lake Jocassee Dive Shop offers lessons and guided trips to see “The Wall,” where a section of mountain was blasted to build the dam, or a 40-foot swim-through wooden sailboat.

From fishing to boating, hiking to camping, biking to bird watching and more, the Up-country’s state parks are a great place to play. Dip into the swimming hole at Oconee State Park. Hike to the tops of Pinnacle and Table Rock mountains at Table Rock State Park.

Explore the 13,000-acre Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area at Caesars Head State Park. Or create your own adventure at any of the Upcountry’s 13 state parks.

Visit UpcountrySC.com to learn more.

AVOID KILLING SUMMERTIME TROUT

By Joe DiPietro

S

ummertime in the South is tough on trout. Unfortunately, I received a reminder of this recently when a rainbow in the 20-inch class died in my hands after I’d spent more than 20 minutes trying to revive it.

I hooked the fish right in the corner of the mouth, fought it quickly, netted it and unhooked it promptly before returning to the water. When it was clear the trout was gone, I fed it to the river. With that experience fresh on my mind, it seemed suitable penance to give a few suggestions on what anglers can do to maximize the likelihood that released fish survive.

First, water temperature is paramount. If a creek or river is warmer than 65 degrees, I leave it alone. Trout are cold-water fish that do not tolerate temperatures above 68 degrees. While they can survive forays into the upper end of suitable water temperatures, any sort of stress at these temps can cause them to go belly up. This is why many private waters shut down during the hottest months.

It’s also important to size your gear properly. The faster you land and release a trout in the summer, the more likely it is the fish will survive. This means fishing with tippet and rod weights a little heavier than normal and going with barbless hooks. While it can be tough to do, it’s often better to break off a big fish in the summer than it is to fight the trout until it’s exhausted. If you can put a fish

in the net while it’s still green, chances are much better it’ll fight again.

Perhaps one of the most important things in the survival of trout, regardless of conditions, is how you handle it. Never touch a trout with dry hands, avoid the “lipping” trout like bass, and never touch a fish’s gills. If shooting a picture, make it quick, and be sure not to squeeze a trout into submission.

Finally, taking as much time as necessary to revive a fish and using the best revival techniques are critical. Cradle the fish in your hands or in a large net so it faces upstream and is sitting upright.

I like to use my long-handled boat net.

A fish that swims into the current and out of the net is a survivor in my book.

Sometimes this takes seconds. On the other hand, I’ve had it take more than 30 minutes for a fish to swim off.

While I practice catch and release 99 percent of the time, I think it’s important to remember that despite our best efforts, some fish won’t make it. Do the best you can to see each released fish lives, and try not to let it break your heart when, on occasion, you feed a fish to the river. It’s all about perspective. Instead of turmoil over an old fish dying, think of it as an opening in the food chain for another trout to get big.

Joe DiPietro guides for and owns North Georgia Trout Fishing. See his website at www.blueridgetroutfishing.com.

The Bass Fishing Dropper Rig

I

nshore saltwater anglers and freshwater fly fishermen already know the value of fishing a lure on the surface with another suspended beneath. The bass fishing crowd can also take advantage of this technique.

The rush of visible and often explosive surface strikes is undeniable. Topwater baits can also be more effective than sub-surface offerings in certain situations such as mayfly hatches, baitfish spawns and when fish are actively chasing bait on top. Walk-the-dog style baits are deadly, and popping or chugging baits can call fish up when they’re already in the

feeding mood. But what if you’re in a situation where bass seem to be snubbing your topwater offerings even though you know they’re there and feeding?

Take a page from the book of saltwater anglers and employ a tactic similar to those used for redfish. A popping cork trailed by either live shrimp or a soft-plastic with a jig head is a goto redfish rig. Fishing a dry fly on the surface with a dropper nymph subsurface is a standard rig for fly fishermen. Guess what, it works on largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, too.

Don’t even clip off the popper you had tied on. You were probably fishing it on 8- to 10-pound line. Tie about a 2-foot fluorocarbon leader of the same test off the rear treble hook of the popper and finish it with a worm hook

or a lightweight jig head. Flukes and finesse worms are both great choices for the dropper on this rig, and they can both be fished either weightless or with a jig head.

Without delving too deeply into piscatory psychology, the theory is popping and chugging baits mimic the sound of fish feeding on the surface. This draws the attention of nearby predators. And while bass might still refuse something floating on the surface, they’re hard-pressed to pass up that soft-plastic bait suspended seductively nearby.

Lake Chatuge May Hybrids and Spotted Bass

T

he hybrid bass bite is in full swing. These Lake Chatuge monsters are right in the midst of their spring spawn.

Currently, they are feeding pretty aggressively on bait in the backs of creeks and in shallow areas around the mouths of creeks. The far south end and far upper ends of the lake have been pretty decent. We are seeing most of our fish in the 25 to 50 foot range. Your early morning and late evening bites will be the best. Pulling planer boards and free lines with live blueback herring and shad will be your best technique.

Towards the end of this month, we’ll start to see these hard-fighting fish school up in the mouths of creeks and off points around the lake. When these hybrids school up, it can most certainly make for an unforgettable fishing trip. We typically average 30 to 60 hybrids

By Darren Hughes

in a morning and sometimes in less than 2 hours. These fish will range in sizes from 6-15 pounds and fight like no other. Also, look for an awesome top-water bite to get fired up soon. I usually keep a Red Fin or a spook at the ready.

The spotted bass bite has also been excellent. Fish should be coming up off their beds and are super hungry. They will be schooling up off shallow points and humps throughout the lake.

Recently, we have been boating 25 to 30 fish a trip. A lot of these spots have been averaging 4 to 6 pounds. Focus on shallow areas around creeks and off points and humps. Down-lining live bluebacks has worked the best. Also, watch for a strong top-water bite to start.

When these schooling spots start chasing up bait and busting on the surface, they’ll hit almost anything

14 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE

MAY 2022

you can throw at them.

May is a fantastic month for catching a lot of trophy hybrids and spots on this North Georgia lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1-rated guide service put you on some of Lake Chatuge’s best trophy hybrids during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Murphy, NC’s and

Blairsville, Georgia’s premier fulltime guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Hiwassee and Nottely, and Lake Blue Ridge in Blue Ridge, GA. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on!

Darren Hughes is a member of The Angler Magazine Fishing Team and a guide for Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. Look him up at www.bigolfish.com or give him a call at (706) 745-6569 or (828) 361-2021.

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Tims Ford Lake

Tennessee’s Lineside Paradise

By Michael Ernst

A

s we pushed off the dock just past 5 a.m., we slowly motored out of the marina and headed out to the main lake. We discussed our plan of attack on where to go and what to use. As the horizon started glowing, we entered a deep cove. Bait was all over, and fish were decorating the graph. Cast after cast we tried and tried, but couldn’t fool our targets into eating our presentations. We pushed farther up lake, around another bend, and then decided to drop a few baits. A swimbait on each rod were set out around a depth of 15 feet on a downrigger. We trolled about 2 to 3 mph along the shoreline in search of our target.

Fifteen minutes later, as we came around a bend into a large bay, one of the rods doubled over and the drag was screaming at us. Just as we noticed it, the other responded the same way. Three minutes later two plump 7-pound hybrid stripers were in the boat. I glanced on the graph to see it covered in giant arcs. I looked up to see birds crashing everywhere, shad flipping all over and hybrids and stripers blowing up the surface from underneath. This was a fisherman’s paradise!

As we drifted across the cove, casting 4-inch, white, soft-plastic swimbaits on a ¼-ounce jigs, we hooked one after another of these dragpulling fighters. Three hours later, we figured we caught more than 50

hybrids and stripers, with several exceeding 10 pounds.

There are not many places you can do this, but Tennessee’s Tims Ford is the place to be if you are in search of hybrids… big hybrids and striped bass. There are a lot of them, and they are all over the lake. Don’t expect stripers heavier than 30 pounds, but 10- to 20-pounders abound.

Trips like the one mentioned above happen often on Tims Ford.

The main key is finding the bait, which will be followed by schools of linesides chasing them. The artificial bite can be excellent as well as dragging live shad through the schools.

During the summer months, closer to the dam on the lower end of the lake seems to hold the most fish. And remember, when that cloudy fall day approaches, get a Spook ready to fire. The fall topwater bite can be incredible, especially if you come across a cloudy, misty day; it can last all throughout daylight hours. If you see birds feeding, get over there, because you can just about be sure there are feeding fish underneath.

Take a weekend, stay at Tims Ford State Park and catch some hybrids and stripers.

Michael Ernst is an avid outdoorsman, writer and photographer.

View more of his work on social @bosticphotography.

EPA MOVES TO PROTECT THE WORLD’S LARGEST SOCKEYE RUN

By Nick Carter

P

ebble Mine, a proposed mining development in the headwaters feeding Bristol Bay, Alaska, is in the news again. The latest development in this two-decade struggle is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to veto the project under authority of the Clean Water Act. It is a next step toward establishing lasting protections for the largest remaining salmon fishery in the world.

The Pebble deposit is an enormous accumulation of gold, copper and molybdenum in the headwaters of the Kvichak and Nushgak rivers, which feed Bristol Bay and the Bering

Sea about 300 miles southwest of Anchorage. In 2001, the first steps toward mining the deposit began, and ever since it has been a source of controversy as mining rights have changed hands through several multi-national corporations and actual development of a massive open-pit mine has been tied up in red tape.

At stake is one of the few remaining truly pristine areas on the planet. Back in 2005, my wife and I spent a glorious week with Alaska Sportman’s Lodge fishing the Kvichak, Nushgak and several other

rivers in the Bristol Bay drainage. It was a once-in-a-lifetime type experience in the most beautiful and unspoiled place I’ve ever been.

The fishing was phenomenal and featured 40-plus-pound king salmon, a sockeye salmon run so thick you could have walked across their backs, 30-inch rainbow trout in their native waters, as well as grayling and Dolly Varden in places where anglers share water with brown bears, moose and bald eagles. Getting there is difficult and expensive, but the experience is highly recommended for anyone interested in arguably the best fly fishing destination in the world.

But there’s more to it than a recreational fishery so good it will spoil you.

Bristol Bay is also the most important salmon fishery on earth. It provides half of the world’s wild sockeye salmon. If your local grocery store carries “wild-caught sockeye salmon,” there’s a good chance it was caught

by Bristol Bay’s commercial anglers. According to Bristol Bay Defense Fund, the unspoiled natural resources of the region support a $2.2 billion economy that employs tens of thousands of people in commercial fishing, hunting, sportfishing, outdoor recreation and tourism.

Earlier this year, Alaska Department of Fish and Game projected 2022 will be the second record-breaking year in a row for Bristol Bay’s sockeye salmon run. The

estimate calls for 73.4 million fish to swim up area rivers to spawn. This annual run supports an amazing ecosystem that has for time immemorial thrived on the transfer of nutrients far inland from the ocean.

And while proponents of the Pebble Mine likely speak the truth in their assertion that a mine would bring added wealth and jobs to the region, it would come at the potential expense of a natural phenomenon that perpetually and sustainably supports humans as well as the native flora and fauna.

EPA’s public comment period on the proposed veto is open until July 5.

To get involved, go to www.epa.gov/bristolbay.

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ern basin of Lake Erie as well for a variety of species. Last month was exceptionally good for walleye with banner catches coming from casting and trolling fisherman alike. We are living in “the good old days” for walleye on Lake Erie! There are still many walleye around the west end of the lake with the best catches now mostly coming from deeper water areas where there will be bugs hatching all summer long, not limited to mayflies as walleye will feast on about anything, especially with the large number of fish we have right now!

Expect to be fishing around west sister island or the deeper water to the west of the bass islands. Some “migrating” walleye will travel east as well as north and with “normal” restrictions back on Canadian waters we may see some fisherman fishing north of the border as well in deeper cooler waters. These fish will still be biting gold worm harnesses for casting fisherman and trolling fisherman can use jet divers and spoons. A favorite of mine for trolling this time of year is “worm burner” spoon rigs that give the walleye a snack that can be pulled at a higher speed.

Perch fishing should be heating up by the end of the month as well.

It has been tough perch fishing for many in the last few years, but oddly enough late July has almost been the peak in recent years. Try the classic perch spreader teamed with emerald shiner minnows for perch but don’t be afraid to try something new if you are marking them and can’t get them to bite.

Lastly bass fishing can be great in July. I like to hit the lake shore in the mornings and late evenings this time of year for largemouth and really focus on points with structure, the fish may surprise you but don’t be afraid to fish shallow. They can be caught on spinnerbaits, soft plastics, and crankbaits. Smallmouth will be hanging in deeper post spawn waters waiting for a soft craw or tube jig to be dragged by their home.

Captain Jonny Fickert has grown up on the shores of Lake Erie and has been guiding for over 10 years. He can be reached at Sea Breeze Charters at @ 877-616-7780 or seabreezecharters.com

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Make your catch in the Western Basin of Lake Erie then catch the sunset during a night on the town.

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LAKE ERIE’S CENTRAL BASIN: TOP BET FOR MID-SUMMER FISHING

PHOTO BY JOHN HAGEMAN

By John Hageman

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ake Erie is a unique body of water with three personalities. It features a shallow Western Basin that has lots of islands and underwater, rocky reefs along with mud flats in-between which average 24-feet deep. The Central Basin is essentially the shape of a bathtub with an average depth of 60 feet, and the Eastern Basin deepens to over 200 feet and averages 80 feet deep.

The Western Basin reefs and tributary streams support the lions share of the walleye spawning population, which make an annual migratory there, then return to the Central Basin or further east to avoid summer water temperatures above their comfort level.

Ports from Huron to Conneaut in Ohio and near Erie, Pennsylvania see peak walleye activity in June through August with fish hugging the shoreline when upwellings push cool water inland, otherwise following schools of baitfish roaming well offshore.

These far-ranging migratory schools of walleyes are populated with a high percentage of larger fish, since they prefer to live and feed in water under 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ohio Division of Wildlife summer creel survey data shows that around 80% of the larger walleyes harvested in the summer there are females.

Younger and male fish are not necessarily absent but are just not feeding. On some days, dozens of undersize fish will strike the spoons, crank baits and worm harnesses being trolled using planer boards that spread out multiple lines per angler.

The Ohio Division of Wildlife stocks over 450,000 Steelhead trout in 6 Central Basin streams from Vermilion to Conneaut and many of these salmonids are caught offshore now on purpose or by accident.

Trolled spoons are effective for both walleyes and steelhead, so experienced anglers can alter speed and color to target one of the species or choose a lure attractive to both and let the chips fall where they may.

Faster trolling speeds result in higher catches of steelhead, but walleyes and lumbering, garbage can lid size Freshwater drum sometimes catch up to lures even when trolled at speeds over 3.0 mph.

Wherever bait fish are plentiful, schools of large white bass can provide sporty action as they hit the trolled spoons. Their identity is predictable by their lively strikes and line-tangling routes, but lack the reel smoking, sizzling runs and jumps of steelhead. They both differ from the steady bend of the rods that walleyes produce.

John Hageman now writes approximately 125 articles per year after retiring from the Ohio Sea Grant/Stone Laboratory - The Ohio State University’s Lake Erie biology station at Put-in-Bay.

Cooler of Lake Erie Central Basin summer walleyes, steelhead trout and white bass.

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Lake Erie Kayak Fishing Guided

Adventures

LakeErieKayakFishing.com Chuck Earls - 216.296.9157 LakeErieKayakFishing.com | Chuck Earls - 216.296.9157

We spend 6+ hours off shore chasing Lake Erie Legends! Take home your catch or let it swim away for another day, the choice is yours! See you on the water!

Frequent Practice Yields Kayak Stability S ummertime is the perfect time to learn how to self-rescue and get back in/re-enter your kayak. Fortunately, with warmer water temperatures, there is no concern for cold water dangers so as long as you’re wearing your PFD, you can float around in the water and practice reentry for as long as it takes or until you reach the point of exhaustion, which can and will happen.

Kayak stability is earned through frequent practice. Purposely flipping your kayak, then practicing self-rescue, substantially decreases the chances of you finding yourself in the water. You will build a warning point within your subconscious that’ll force you to react quickly and correctly. If you have to think

about it, you’re already in the water.

Getting back into your kayak takes a lot of energy and strength (far less when your technique has been perfected through frequent practice and testing). It’s much safer to learn how to re-enter your kayak very close to shore, enabling you to quickly get out of harm’s way if you reach the point of exhaustion before you figure out how to successfully re-board.

The flipside is finding yourself in a dangerous situation where you now have to figure out how to get back in your kayak while fighting off panic. Not taking the time to learn how to re-enter under safe and controlled conditions means that when you do make

a mistake and go in, you could find yourself fighting for your life.

The next time you’re heading out to hit the water this summer, leave the gear in your vehicle. Put on your PFD/ Life Jacket and purposely flip over or fall out of your kayak.

Then go to work developing the skills needed to ensure your safe return at the end of the day. View the QR code in our ad for a link to a video training on that.

Do it for yourselves, but most importantly do it for your loved ones. They’ll thank you for it. Fishing is Life... but SAFETY comes First!!

Chuck Earls LakeErieKayakFishing.com (216) 296-9157

Lake Erie's Largest Walleye Fishing Tournament 2022 Walleye Fall Brawl October 15 - November 27 Kayak, womens, and kids divisions

Each entry is a chance to win a Chevy Silverado!

Enter to win a two person elk hunt and receive a free Fall Brawl sweatshirt

Registration deadline- October 12th at midnight

Register at lakeeriefallbrawl.com or scan the QR code

e of The Angler Magazine! omEdition lcOhio WtoeThe

Who knew a simple thing like fishing could have such an impact on our lives? I am over 60 years old and still remember my first fish.

My Dad took me to Charles Mills Reservoir near Mansfield when I was very young. I actually lassoed a catfish and drug it in sideways, (which made it seem very large and heavy). The fish wasn’t hooked very well, but I was, and I have been fishin ever since. Later my Mom would let me go to a farm pond down the road by myself when I was eight years old. There I caught a huge two and half pound bass and ran back home with it. My Mom, (bless her heart), cleaned it and cooked it for me. Who knew such seemingly little events would end up being some of my fondest memories? Thanks Mom and Dad.

Lake Erie tributaries, to big rig fishing for catfish in the Muskingum River to catching sauger in the Ohio River and saugeye at Buckeye Lake. Ohio is a great place to fish and make memories, so, take a kid fishin, who knows, maybe he or she will grow up and be the CoPublisher of fishing magazine someday.

Wishin’ you good fishin’ Steve Philpott Co-Publisher The Angler Magazine – Ohio Edition steve@theanglermagazine.com Office: (740) 899-0591 Photo by Steve Ph ilpott Photo by Adam Philpott

Some of my family’s best trips and funniest experiences were associated with fishing. From having my son Mitch hook my hat and throw it in the lake, to people falling in the water, there was always fun times associated. The fishing was just a good excuse for getting outside, away from electronics and the world. On one trip I took the family to Rose Lake in Hocking Hills State Park. My then three year old son Jared fell in and was completely submerged. He was okay, my wife didn’t think it was funny but the rest of us sure got a good laugh.

One of my favorite trips was when we took the whole family to the AEP Lakes in Southeastern Ohio. We hiked two miles to a lake just full of bass. My wife fell in on that trip. She didn’t find that funny either, but I was chuckling when she wasn’t looking. Half of us got lost on the way back to the car, but it was a great trip!

I sincerely encourage you to take a kid fishing as often as you can, and Ohio is a great place to do that in. There is such a diversity of species and method’s for catching them: from charter fishing at Lake Erie to fly fishing for trout in the Mad River and steelhead in the

Photo by Mitch Philpott

Play & Stay Shores & Islands Ohio is more than just a place, it’s a feeling. Discover something new with each adventure. Whether you’re a first timer or a seasoned regular, experiences here stay in your heart for a lifetime.

Find your Lake Erie Love at SHORESandISLANDS.com.

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LAKE ERIE:

FLY FISHING FOR SMALLIES

PHOTO BY JEREMY MALISHEFSKI

By Chagrin River Outfitters

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argeting lake run smallmouth on the local tributaries is still a worthwhile endeavor in July, but you do want to keep a few things in mind when it comes to fly selection, retrieves and approaching the water.

Pay attention to the water conditions; low and clear means more natural and less obtrusive offerings will be better received. If fishing topwater, a slider or gurgler type fly will get more looks then a loud and noisy traditional popper. Same goes for streamers, smaller leeches, crawfish and baitfish patterns in the 1-2 inch range with less flash will excel when the water is down. On the flip side, if we have had a little rain bigger can be better.

Large game changer flies and baitfish patterns in the 3-5 inch range fished on a clear sink tip will draw a lot of attention. As for which color for the bigger stuff, white is good; olive, yellow, black, and crawfish color schemes are never a bad idea and account for their share of big smallies.

How to fish these flies varies from day to day. Sometimes they want fast. Sometimes very slow; sometimes in the middle. Point being, mix it up until you find what they like

best that day.

As for where to look, lower in the river system is never a bad idea, but do not be afraid to look in the middle to upper sections as well. Many of these fish will travel a good way upstream to spawn and will slowly start making their way back to the lake and feed along the way. Early mornings, evenings, and periods of low light are typically best. Keep in

mind that smallmouths move shallow during low light so start close, try not to disturb the water too much, focus on cover such as logs, boulders, etc. and work your way out from there.

Chagrin River Outfitters chagrinriveroutfitters@ gmail.com chagrinriveroutfitters.com 440.247.7110

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THE GULF’S W PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES

BOUNTIES

FROM THE

BEACH

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

hen the surf is on, it can be some of the best and easiest fishing around. For those in the know, we keep a keen eye on the beachfront starting in May and when the conditions are right, we make sure not to miss it!

During July, the shrimp migration hits the beachfront and many hungry predators are following on their tails. Trout in the 5- to 8-pound range are not uncommon while trout shorter than 20 inches are found in large schools. There are many productive tactics that can land you a hefty stringer of these speckled beauties from live shrimp and finfish to an array of artificial lures. I prefer the latter, and here are some of my favorites.

Topwater! There is no beating a topwater eruption as the sun is peeking over the horizon. I use a wide range of plug sizes and let the size of the seas determine what I throw. I like a larger heavier lure when the surf is rough. When it is flat, a small or large can be effective. Switching out the standard trebles to single circle hooks is a good approach to lessen the chance of injuring yourself. Bouncing around in the surf trying to land a stout surf trout can lead to an accidental hook in you. Singles also save time unhooking, which leads to more time fishing and catching.

S l ow - s i n k i n g hard baits with WATCH VIDEO rattles also make it into my box when heading into the suds. I like to cast these lures out and let them sink for a few seconds. Most of them have a relatively slow sink rate, so I give them a little time to get lower in the water column. A series of fast twitches followed by a pause usually draws their attention.

Many solid trout have fallen for the old faithful ¾- to 1-ounce silver spoon. The presentation is as simple as it gets. Cast and reel; that’s it. This inexpensive lure is an attention getter for sure and casts like a bullet.

I typically start my day before sunrise. During the course of my wade, I will hit all structure from a foot deep to eight feet deep. I give equal attention to the depth of the guts to the top of the bars.

I see a lot of fishermen go straight out to the second or third gut and stay there the entire time. You will miss many opportunities if you choose to do this. The fish are not always in that gut. At times, I only catch them on top of the bar.

Start early, broaden your target area, be safe and catch fish!

Surf ’s Down!

Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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lebroc Industries began business in 1981 as a medium to high-end seat manufacturing company. During the 80s they evolved into a front-line manufacturer of a diverse group of automotive products for pickups, Suburbans and SUVs. But, in 1997 Llebroc switched primary focus to marine seating. Their first customers were Champion and Skeeter, both manufacturers of bass boats.

Since then, the company rapidly expanded their scope of operations to include seating for boats and ships of every size and description.To accomplish this in such a short span of time, they exercised extensive experience in automotive seating, and now, just 24 years later, Llebroc is creating the most innovative concepts and designs in seating for the marine industry.

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don't stop reeLing Alex Kendrick reel salty www.reelsaltydestin.com

season and is only going to get better. Trolling lures 10-15 knots is ideal starting around the 90’ mark. Keep an eye out for weed lines and large patches of grass, you never know what’s below them. Whenever I see grass patches I like to stop and sight fish for Mahi, Tuna, Wahoo, and Triple tail.

For Mahi I like to keep a light pitch rod with 20# fluorocarbon and 2/0 Owner circle hook. Live bait works really well on the larger bulls and cut squid works better on the smaller chicken dolphins. If lures are your thing I prefer Yozuri Crystal Minnows and honestly color doesn’t matter. Pitch around the weed lines or patches and look deeper down for the bigger Mahi. As for Tuna with all the chumming going on, I like to send down a vertical jig on 60#-80# test at least 100’ below the boat. Working your jig through the water column is a good way to fire up any kind of fish that may be lurking around in the shadows. If you have a large diamond jig I’d put some heavy wire in front of it for a chance at a wahoo. Triple Tail are amazing fish on light tackle and I recommend 15#-20# fluorocarbon and #2 Owner hook. Live shrimp work really well along with small cuts of squid.

If bottom fishing is your go to joy Vermillion snappers, Groupers, and Rock salmon is my target. For Vermillion snappers I like using a 2-3 hook chicken rig mixed with cut squid and Boston mackerel. Let your weight sit right on the bottom and wait for those 2-3 light bites. Rock salmon and Groupers like to hide out in the rocks and caves, so a slip lead is what I like to use. Heavier leader line for Groupers and larger baits close to the bottom. Feel the bite and start cranking. The first 20’-30’ are the most important so DON’T STOP reeling.

When it comes to offshore fishing don’t give up. There’s a lot of trial and error. Figure out what works best for you and as always keep your lines out and keep them tight.

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GIANT HAVASU

SHELLCRACKERS WATCH

VIDEO

A

rizona’s Lake Havasu is the best fishery in the world for giant redear sunfish. This spring, it produced a 5.07-pound, 16 ¼-inch eggladen freak of nature for angler Zac Mickle. The fish made the rounds on social media and the news, yet Mickle’s monster is well short of what Havasu has produced in the past.

Lake Havasu is a 19,300-acre impoundment of the Colorado River on the Arizona/California border. When invasive quagga mussels showed up in the reservoir around 2007, it created incredible conditions for growth of redears, which are also known as shellcrackers because they feed on snails and mullosks.

This perfect storm for shellcrackers has produced a string of IGFA alltackle world records for the species. Going back to 2011, Havasu has shelled out three record fish, with the current record standing at 6-pounds, 4 ounces. Thomas Farchione caught that fish last May. It measured 17 inches in length and had a 20-inch girth.

That’s a mighty big bream!

Fishing for Havasu shellcrackers is different than the bream fishing you’re probably familiar with. The biggest individuals typically come from 20-foot depths, with anglers using modified drop-shot rigs to present nightcrawlers on very light line.

For more information, visit www.azgfd.com.

Virginia Record Tripletail Certified WATCH

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VIDEO

ripletail have long been a prized target for anglers in the Southern Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, and they are gaining popularity farther north. A big 16-pound, 12-ounce tripletail caught from Chesapeake Bay last summer was recently certified as a Virginia state record. A press release from Virginia’s Marine Resources Commission suggested the rise in popularity of sight fishing for cobia is also pushing tripletail into the spotlight.

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Richard H. Stuart Jr., of King George, Va., and his father, Richard Sr., were sight fishing for cobia in southern Chesapeake Bay last July 23 when they spotted a flash in the water and decided to pursue it. On approach, they identified the fish as a tripletail on the surface.

Richard Jr. convinced it to eat on the second cast of a 2-ounce cobia jig.

Tripletail are not a new arrival to Chesapeake Bay, but with the rise in the popularity of sight fishing for cobia,

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encounters are increasing. Along the Atlantic Coast tripletail have been collected as far north as Massachusetts but are rarely found north of the Chesapeake Bay. Their flesh has been compared to other mild-tasting whitefleshed fish like snapper and grouper.

The IGFA all-tackle world record for tripletail was caught off Zululand, South Africa in 1989. It weighed 42 pounds, 5 ounces.

For more information, go to mrc.virginia.gov.

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