Coastal Angler Magazine | January 2023 | Florida Keys Edition

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SPACE COAST

By Nick Carter

CHASING BAITBALLS

Winter is the best time to sh,” said Capt. Chris Cameron, “the only problem is the weather.”

Capt. Cameron is owner/operator of Fired Up Fishing Charters out of Cocoa Beach, Fla. He said it was tough to nd good weather windows this November and early December, but that o shore shing is primed to re o like a Space Coast rocket whenever conditions stabilize.

Winter on Florida’s Atlantic Coast can be spectacular because of all the migratory species that push down to overwinter in milder temperatures. King sh, cobia, black n tuna, sail sh and others are all hunting the reefs about 18 miles o Port Canaveral. e key to the shery is menhaden.

“ is time of year, you get these huge baitballs,” said Capt. Cameron, “and there are all these sh following the bait around. You nd sh where you nd ‘bunka’ congregating on the reefs.”

Cameron is a transplant from Long Island, New York, and even a er more than two decades living and shing Florida’s east coast, he still refers to menhaden as “bunka,” which is Yankee dialect for bunker, which is what they call pogies up where boats are winterized this time of year.

“On good days, when you can get o shore and the water is clean, we might catch a limit of kings, a couple cobia, a couple black ns and hopefully a sail sh,” Cameron said. Even with 2022’s tightening of cobia regs, that’s a fun and delicious mixed bag to ll the freezer.

At places like Pelican Reef and 8A Reef, where depths range from 75 to 85 feet, Cameron nds the bait and then goes to work slow trolling live baits on double-hook stinger rigs and 20-pound line and tackle. He said he pulls baits at about 1 knot, which allows them to swim along naturally.

“ e thing with slow trolling is you never know what you’re going to get,” said Cameron. “It could be a big king, a sail sh, a cobia or a shark.”

Pitch rods are kept ready in case a cobia shows up on the surface. Cameron said he’s learned from experience not to over-stimulate cruising cobia by throwing multiple lines at once. Usually, clients can convince cobia to bite with a one-two punch. ey keep a squid-tipped bucktail ready for a quick cast. If that doesn’t draw a strike, it allows time to slap a live bait on the second rig, which is a simple 5/0 circle hook.

Shrimp boats are another option Cameron seeks out this time of year. Although chasing them can be a bit of a time gamble, since they are usually 25 miles o shore over 200 feet of water, they can be extremely productive.

“If you see a shrimp boat o in the distance or spot one on the radar, it’s almost always worth a shot,” Cameron said. “When they dump their bycatch in the morning, it pulls everything up.”

Fishing shrimp boats can be short-lived, but

it can also provide fast action for the same species that come o the reef. For this bite, Cameron beefs up to 6500 spinning gear and 50-pound braid and 50-pound mono leaders. He keeps four pitch rods ready, two with bucktails and two with live baits, because the bite can turn into sight shing

in a hurry. Meanwhile, he’ll search with freelined pogies on a knocker rig.

Contact Capt. Chris Cameron and Fired Up Fishing Charters through their website at redupcharters.com.

By CAM Sta

Winter’s cold fronts consolidate wahoo to their preferred temperature ranges across their range. is makes them easier to target than at any other time of year. e following is a short list of very good destinations for wintertime wahoo.

San Salvador, Bahamas: Way out in the Atlantic in the southern Bahamas, the waters o San Salvador hold one of the best wahoo sheries in the world. Peak wahoo season is December through April, when hordes of ’hoos migrate to the area’s warm waters. e island might just be the

best place on the planet for a shot at a triple-digit wahoo, and the right conditions can yield fast action for 50-pounders, as well.

Within a short 10-mile run o the island, a seamount rises to 180 feet from 4,000 feet of water. is hump is a well-known feature, where wahoo congregate to feed on schools of small tuna. e remoteness of San Salvador keeps shing pressure in check, but it also makes this one of those bucketlist trips you plan ahead for.

Galveston, Texas: O shore humps out of Galveston, Texas also lay claim to some of the best wahoo shing in the world, and every winter anglers connect with giants. is shery, however, is reserved for anglers with the gumption to make 100-mile overnight runs to features like East and West Flower Gardens to catch the morning bite.

Windows of good weather and big, fast boats are a requirement to reach the shing grounds at the edge of the Continental shelf, where wahoo pile up with bait sh on steep depth changes of rock structure.

Murrell’s Inlet, South Carolina: O the South Carolina coast, cooling water temperatures con ne wahoo to the warm water at the edge of the Gulf Stream. is makes them much easier to target than when they are spread out in summer.

Depth changes and structure at the edge of the Continental Shelf, combined with warm 70 to 80 degree waters of the Gulf Stream can be found 50 or 60 miles o the coast. ese structures hold bait sh in the temperature range where wahoo are comfortable. Covering lots of water with high-speed spreads trolls up the best wahoo of the year, every year.

Venice, Lousiana: It seems everything o shore of Louisiana is about the oil rigs, and in wintertime the oil rigs are all about wahoo. e key to nding wahoo on the rigs is nding the right temperature range, and the magic number is 60 degrees. Wahoo congregate and feed around the rigs where there is bait and water temperatures of at least 60 degrees.

One of the great things about Venice is there are deep-water rigs relatively close to shore at just 15 or 20 miles, which means it’s possible to nd a good weather window and go. e Louisiana coast also boasts some of the best catch rates for wahoo in the world, and 50- to 60-pound sh are the norm.

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GO GROCERY SHOPPING IN JANUARY

With grouper season over, it’s time to switch gears and concentrate on other species. is is the time of year to size down and go for the snappers. Depending on water temps, it’s also a good idea to keep a light line out for any pelagics that swim by.

I love yellowtail and a mangrove snappers, but I really like jolt heads, trigger sh, pinkies, black seabass and hog snapper. I treat bottom shing like I’m going (organic) grocery shopping. First and foremost, I don’t shop on every aisle of the grocery store. I go down the aisles that contain the items I really want. e best groceries come from di erent places on the bottom and from di erent depths.

Farther north up the Atlantic coast there are a lot of beeliners (vermilion snapper) taking the place of yellowtails. In this mix will be trigger sh, which I absolutely love! Beeliners and trigger sh have one thing in common: the largest ones of the school stay higher in the water column. is is why I like to sh a level-wind reel versus a spinning reel with small circle hooks for this style of snapper shing. I start dropping one “strip” of the reel

at a time until I get down to the sh. A “strip” is the distance of raising the rod up with your thumb o the spool, and putting your thumb back on the spool. Simply let your thumb o the spool and let it fall in 10-foot “strips” while raising the rod tip upwards. Count the strips it takes to get down to the bites. Four strips will be approximately 40 feet deep. Note where you feel the rst bite. is will usually be the largest triggers and beeliners in the school. If you stop getting bites or you’re only catching smaller sh, let this same tackle go deeper or all the way to the bottom. is is where you’ll catch the jolt heads, black sea bass, mangroves and hogs.

I use a two-hook “chicken rig” made of 50-pound uoro with small circle hooks and a 3-ounce bank sinker. I bait it with small pieces of squid. A small 2- or 3-ounce jig works with the same tackle as the weight instead of a bank sinker. is is especially e ective on large triggers. Just replace the treble hooks or single

J hooks on the back of the jig with small circle hooks and tip with a small piece of squid.

I could go on and on about this style of shing. e limits are pretty good and the reward comes at the table. It is a good time of year to take youngsters out, because this style of shing produces lots of action, and it’s not heavy-duty grouper shing. Little ones love a trip to the “organic grocery store.”

See more from Tim Barefoot at www.barefootcatsandtackle.com and check out a video explaining this style of shing at https://bit.ly/3YcVzV1.

Tim Barefoot

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Wprivileged to guide clients there. We have broken many personal bests, and I get goosebumps every morning I launch the boat because I know the quality of sh.

Headwaters Lake is a 10,000-acre manmade lake in Indian River County adjacent to the well-known Stick Marsh and Farm 13. Prior to ooding the land, the FWC and the St. Johns River Management District created habitat with numerous underwater structures, ooded timber, vegetation and 30-foot-deep pits. ere were already existing ponds and pits on the property that contained resident bass, and nearly a million Florida strain bass were stocked along with bluegill, redear sun sh and crappie. ere are thousands of acres of submerged vegetation, mostly hydrilla, along with acres of cattails, spatterdock pads and hyacinth mats that are super fun to sh.

In central Florida, January and February are primetime, when bass are in full prespawn mode and waves of females move up to the ats to spawn. Air and water temperatures drop considerably a er cold fronts. Severe cold fronts a ect the ckle Florida strain bass, but not for long. Usually two days post front, conditions warm up and sh eat well again. ese weather changes transition bass and bait sh from summer patterns into fall and winter staging areas. ey feed heavily on shad and other forage and stage near the spawning ats.

When full moons and 60-degree water temps coincide, bass move onto the ats. ey spawn in waves. Spawning sh select isolated hydrilla clumps, reeds and the bases of pad stems to fan out beds. Hard sand bottom is key. Use sonar to locate hard bottom or stick your rod tip into the water to feel the bottom. If your rod tip pushes into mud, keep moving until you nd sand and then search for isolated cover.

My other primary focus is staging areas. Staging sh eat well and are plump as they congregate to wait for prime conditions to move up and spawn. New sh constantly come and go using the same areas, so they are extremely productive this time of year.

Ditches and canals on Headwaters are highways that bass and bait sh utilize to stage. e intersections and mouths of these canals are high percentage areas to locate schools of sh. Find a canal with nearby ats as well as pits or deeper water for bass to retreat to, and you will nd sh. ey stage on tapering drop o s, mouths of intersections, deep ditches and on main-lake points to ambush bait. I target staging sh with 6- to 8-inch paddletails, glidebaits, Rat-L-Traps, jerkbaits, chatterbaits, prop baits, Whopper Ploppers, spinnerbaits, stick worms and speed worms.

Contact Capt. Ricky Congero through his website at www.blackcloud shing.com or call him at (407) 693-6153.

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FLORIDA BANS HARVEST OF SHORTFIN MAKOS

The FWC banned recreational harvest of Atlantic short n mako sharks by setting the recreational bag limit at zero during its Nov. 30-Dec. 1 commission meeting. e previous bag limit for recreational anglers was one mako per angler per day, with a limit of two sharks per boat. In a press release, FWC indicated the rule would make regulations in Florida waters consistent with federal regulations and address over shing of short n makos in support of U.S. and international e orts to manage the species. Commercial harvest of short n mako is already prohibited in state and federal waters.

For more information, visit MyFWC.com.

By: Capt. Greg Poland

Hope everyone had a great holiday season and got a new fishing pole or set of rain gear from Santa. Its winter here in Islamorada and that means it is time to get out your fleece and get out on the water for some rod bending action! If you are on the Atlantic side of the islands, it is now officially Sailfish Season and a great time of year to load the livewell with ballyhoo and get out on the edge of the reef. Although I can throw a castnet, last year I got a BallyHoop Net at Islamorada Fishing Outfitters and have never looked back as it is so simple to use and you will not have to visit the Chiropractor as much!

I like a 20lb spinning outfit with 40lb fluorocarbon leader and a 4/0 circle hook for my sailfish rods. On the Gulf side of the islands, the bite has been great for spanish mackerel and honestly this is something I always look forward to doing with my clients as the seas are mostly calm and the action can be nonstop. I typically like to chum heavy and take as many live shrimp as you can afford. For this set up, use a light spinning outfit with beaded line and a leader of either 40lb mono and a 2/0 circle soon or light jighead. You are going to get some cutoffs, but I find you will get many more bites and prefer the mono to start the day. After you know the Macks are in your slick, switch over to a short trace of leader wire and you are bound to have lots of laughs on a mackerel trip.

I always keep a backup heavier rod ready because sooner or later a cobia will show up and if you toss him a grunt, he will have a hard time resisting it! The snook fishing has been consistent both in the Everglades and around some of the Keys bridges. If you are looking for a snook trip, my advice is to select the biggest shrimp in the bait tank or better yet get a well full of pilchards and do a bit of chumming before putting one out with a hook. Chum for a bit to see if you can get them really worked up and chasing the freebies then send one back with a soon and another one on a jighead so you are covering the water column. I have some open days in my calendar this month and would love to get you out on my Contender Bay Boat and show you how we do it! Call me and lets set up a trip or I can meet you at your dock and we can take your boat.

— Contact Capt. Greg at 305.393.3327

Capt. Greg Poland 305.393.3327 | gregpoland.com Instagram: gregpoland Facebook: Fishing in the Florida Keys with Capt. Greg Poland

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Great Time to Take The Family Fishing

By: Capt. Bruce Andersen

are light and the seas are calm the sky’s the limit and all of our reef and off shore options are great for the whole family. There are plenty of options for fishing with the family here, but two of my favorite types of fishing for fam ilies are patch reef fishing for various snapper and reef fish and the fishing back in the gulf for Spanish mackerel, snapper, and a whole bunch of other stuff. Both are excellent this time of year and both offer fast action and take place in semi sheltered areas with relatively calm seas.

On the patch reefs you can expect fast action to keep the kids busy with yellowtail and mangrove snapper while waiting for a chance at a larger mut ton snapper or grouper as well as cero mackerel, barracuda and a whole mix of other stuff. The winter time cold fronts usually spark up the action on the patches and in the upper keys the seas on the patch reefs will usually be calm especially on a northwest or north wind. The same cold fronts that stir the water up and spark up the fishing will usually bring winds from this general direction and make a perfect combination for fishing the patches.

Back in the gulf the action can be extremely fast paced with a combination of spanish mackerel, Mangrove snapper, lane snapper, and a whole bunch of fun catch and release options like sharks and jack crevalle. There’s even a chance of cobia back there as an added bonus. Like the patch reefs the areas close to Sprigger bank in the gulf are semi sheltered on certain winds and will be relatively calm, especially on an east wind.

Both of these options offer plenty of action to keep the kids busy and they’re both calmer seas options to not beat the family up on a windier day. If you would like to take the family out for a fun filled trip in the keys give me a call and I’ll show you what it’s all about!

— www.captaineasycharters.com

You can reach Captain Bruce Andersen at Capt. Easy Charters, MM 85, call 305.360.2120 or email at: captbrucekey@comcast.net

Sea Trout Fishing

By: Caitlyn Gatrell

With seasonal changes bringing in cooler temperatures within the air and water, it can be a change of pace for the fishing production in Southwest Florida. We start to see less of some species but others may become more prevalent. One species that produces higher numbers during this time of year is the spotted sea trout.

Florida is a perfect spot for spotted seat trout, as although they like the cooler temperatures they don’t like it too cold, and Florida definitely isn’t know for freezing temperatures in the winter season. I have absolutely noticed higher numbers of sea trout during the fall/ winter months.

During the winter season, we typically will spend a good amount of time at those island points, flats, and oyster beds to find fish. We almost always find sea trout at these spots, especially on the flats and near the oyster beds. They seem to like almost any bait we throw, whether live or artificial. I caught my personal best sea trout on a small live pilchard, as I threw it right

off the edge of an oyster bed flat.

When we got there, there was noticeably a lot of activity, lots of swirls on small baitfish, and movement of water from fish swimming around. They were hungry for sure, as we all seemed to catch a fish quickly after throwing our baits in. Once my line goes off and I get to reeling, I can tell it’s a trout once I see those flash of colors and the black dotted back makes the surface. The fight isn’t too long and we bring them in for the up close look, picture, and nice release.

We have ate sea trout before, but this one I wanted to release back to its natural habitat. Watching my fish swim off back to their homes makes me feel peaceful, so I usually like to release mine.

When we go fishing around this time of year, it seems that some days we catch more sea trout than any other species, and that day was a prime example of that. For me, I prefer a bigger and stronger fight when it comes to fishing, but I don’t mind sea trout, they are still a fun and simple fight, providing the joy of fishing and the beauty of what nature can provide. Although, I do not really care for the sliminess that comes with trout, haha!

Sailfishing

By: Capt. Angelia Swanson

Before I ever caught my first Sailfish, I had seen them on the reef in our beautiful Florida Keys and I was always amazed. You could be in 15’ of crystal-clear water and see the baitfish breaking the water’s surface in large schools literally fleeing for their lives, and right behind them is a majestic sail cutting through the water like a knife. Widely considered the fastest fish in the ocean, the baitfish didn’t stand a chance. It is said that Sailfish can swim in quick bursts up to 80mph and their maneuverability is astounding.

I had always dreamed of catching one, but I thought you had to know some special technique that I had yet to try like kite fishing with live bait on the reef. I really love to troll and felt like I was getting pretty good at it, so mastering my trolling style was my mission at the time.

One cold, windy, and overcast morning I was doing my thing trolling the reef line when the scream of the drag roared from one of my lines. I was sure it was a Wahoo or Kingfish. I saw no jumps, no sail, just powerful runs that gave me one of those epic fights at the reel that I live for. You should have seen my shock and excitement when I got my eyes on this Sailfish! It is still sharp in my memory, as you never forget your first!!

Since that first Sailfish, I never count them out when trolling the winter

months in the Keys. I have had my share of these beauties on the end of my line by now and my excitement is always as adrenaline fueled as it was on that first one. On top of that, I had the opportunity to travel to Isla Mujeras, Mexico last February and do two days of nothing but Sailfishing. I was happy to see that they too troll for them and sometimes they are so thick around the boat that the mates will pitch live bait at them. Day one off the coast of this beautiful little Mexican island, just a ferry ride from Cancun, I personally reeled in 10 Sailfish! What a mind-blowing experience that was! I highly recommend it as a bucket list fishing trip!

While fishing for these beauties in Florida, make sure you follow regulations. It is illegal for you to boat an Atlantic Sailfish in Florida. You can pull the head and sail out of the water, but these fish are quite delicate and boating them for pictures increases the chance of them not surviving after being returned to the water, so please know that my featured picture was taken in Mexico where it is allowed to boat them, and I just had to have the photo opportunity!

— Come out fishing with me by contacting me at: floridasaltycowgirl.com | 813-610-0078

By: Beth Steele

What kind of fish are we going to find in the blue seas in 2023?

December was such a fun month…the Swordfish were chewing and unfortunately so were the sharks! I caught 3 Cuban Night Sharks this past month. They’re a species of the Requiem Shark and are found pretty frequently in the Atlantic Waters. Cubans Nights are known for their ‘no quit’ attitude, fighting back and making those long runs. Maybe Cuban Night Sharks are my spirit animal. Either way, I’d prefer they stay away from my baits.

I didn’t get out 2 of my usual weekends due to high winds. That means I had to try and make it count on the other trips out. Luckily, I still caught 5 Swordfish and released 3. The most stressful catch was also quite the entertainer. I watched him fight back and do four arial jumps and I was hoping he was hooked good and wouldn’t pull the hook. After a few hours, my line went slack and there he was, a nice pumpkin. Out of nowhere, a giant Mako Shark attacked him. He got his tail and part of his side pretty good but was gracious enough to share my catch with me. After getting him on the boat, the Mako circled for about 15 minutes, probably wondering why his dinner vanished out of sight. He could smell the blood coming out of the gunnels so he continued to search…he was definitely on a fishin’ mission. He was out of luck because the 268lb. Swordfish was mine.

Shortly after, I saw a giant Marlin swimming a few feet from my boat. He looked close to 800lb. It was so amazing to see!

I can’t wait for the next trip…you never know what

11:56 0.3 11:10 0.7 6:59 -0.1 5:55 0.1 7:07 5:50

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By Captain Tony Young

inter has now hit the Florida Keys and as water temperatures cool off, spearfishing heats up. It seems like my entire year leads up to these few magical months of bluewater hunting. Without a doubt, there is nothing easy about hunting pelagic bluewater fish. For most freedivers, our relationship with wahoo has become more of a love/hate situation. I love the hunt, their majestic nature, and of course a freezer full of that premium sushi meat. However, on the flip side, getting that freezer full of meat is a daunting task for most divers.

Years ago, myself and a few friends decided we wanted to learn how to effectively hunt wahoo. This was before the Youtube how-to videos, magazine articles, and all the other information that is available today. Truthfully, it took two seasons and most of the time we were just burning fuel and countless hours trying to figure out a pattern for these fish. It took time, years at that, but we did figure out a basic formula to follow and it still holds true today. Fortunately for anyone looking to get started in the passionate chase of bluewater spearfishing, there are now mountains of resources to seek out! It has been a few years since I have written any articles on wahoo/pelagic spearfishing, so it made sense to focus on the recent changes in the fishery that will help you be successful. Not what gear to buy or how to find fish, my focus is more on what to do when you get that moment you’ve been waiting for.

It’s not a secret, everything has changed over the past few years. More people live near the water, more people have access to the water, and local fishers have adjusted to the new pressures they face. Years back, Wahoo in the upper Florida Keys acted just like you see on the videos. They would swim right up on the flashy piece of metal dangling on a string from the surface, while they pondered on if it was food or not a diver could dive down and place an easy shot. In my opinion these times are over, pressure has taught these fish to avoid divers and sometimes even their flashers. Wahoo have been around a long time and they will continue to evolve and adjust to their predators like they always have. While they learn and pattern our moves, we must also adjust our techniques to stay a step ahead. I see a lot of people chasing hard after the fish, swimming in circles, slapping the surface, and throwing everything they have at them. This may be effective in other areas, however it doesn’t seem to work well here. When you see a wahoo and make your dive, that fish will come to a decision on what to do based on how you approach and portray yourself in the water. These fish know what we are doing and if they associate you as a diver that has shot at them in the past, they will avoid you. From what I’ve seen in recent years, divers that rush down and try and get a quick shot before the fish swims away, rarely land the fish. Those divers that quietly enter the water, slowly approach, and wait get the kill. This isn’t exactly what everyone wants to hear, one of the attractions to wa-

Whoo is that they are beautiful big fish that you can shoot near the surface. Many like hunting them because it’s a trophy fish that they believe doesn’t require a lot of breath holding or depth skill. However, this is not true; those divers that can quietly approach and hold for a few minutes while the fish gets comfortable, often land their kill every drop they take.

Two or three years ago I missed a Wahoo from what I thought was a guaranteed shot, following my advice laid out above and took a relaxed shot during a long dive. I did get a nice fish this day but missed what I found out later would have been the largest wahoo of my life. After reviewing the footage, I made a mistake by breaking one of my foundational rules of hunting wahoo. That rule being never take a shot until you can see the fine detail of the fish. The stripes on their side, the curve of their lateral line, and the detail in the eye.

When you see all this, you are close enough to shoot. Most of the fish we kill are between 35-45 pounds, which the fish I missed would have been if I hit it. However, the water was so clear that day and I did not wait to see the fine detail in the fish, I missed it. The footage revealed the fact that this fish was much larger than I had thought, likely around 80-90 pounds.

He had a ton of mass and a belly on him like no other fish I have seen in the keys. My shot fell short and I watched him light up and swim away, to this day I know the mistake I made and haven’t made it again. Bluewater spearfishing is exactly what it is labeled as, hunting in clean blue water. It will make a 90 pound out of range Wahoo look like a 40 pound in range Wahoo. Approach slowly, don’t rush the shot, and pull the trigger when you can see the fine detail in the fish.

It happens, fish don’t always give you a shot, no matter what you do it sometimes just doesn’t work out. If that is the case, don’t just go for it. I hear all the time, “they were swimming away and I figured it was now or never.” If you don’t feel good about the shot, don’t take it, you will not land the fish. Know this, once you pull the trigger, that fish is as good as gone. You’ll watch him swim away, better educated for the next time he runs into a diver. When you find a spot that has wahoo, it’s because they are there for a reason. If you remain relaxed in the water and don’t pose a threat, you can do multiple drifts hunting the same fish. The right shot will come and your patience will pay off. If your shot doesn’t feel good, surface and reset, you will see them again.

Wahoo and other pelagic bluewater fish are hands down some of the most delicious, beautiful, and fun fish to hunt. They require a ton of gear, yield a lot of meat, and make beautiful trophies! As these fish continue to be pressured, we need to always stay a step ahead. When your chance does come, all of your hard work will be worth it. Hunting wahoo is a journey, there is nothing easy about it. Every fish I land is a true blessing and no matter what I come back to the dock with, the time drifting in blue water is priceless. The more patience people have in the water and with each other will allow us all to kill more fish. Relax on the water, around other boats, and on your dives. Approach the fish slowly, keep your heart rate down, and don’t pose a threat to the fish. When your chance on a wahoo starts to unfold, wait for the right moment, see the detail in your fish and place a shot that feels good before you pull the trigger. Enjoy every moment of the kill and all the meals to come!

Dive Safe!

— Capt. Tony Young can be reached at Forever Young Spearfishing in Islamorada, FL at 305-680-8879

Capt. Joel’s Fishin’ Holes WINTER CHARTERS

By: Capt. Joel Brandenburg

Snapper, grouper, wahoo, mackerel, tile fish, jacks, tuna for example can be harvested with a speargun, but not likely to be harvested with a bow because of how deep they dwell.

Fish that are targeted with a bow are typically fish that school at the top of the water such as mahi and cobia or fish in the flats that can be shinned at night such as Sheepshead, black drum, mullet, porgy, ladyfish and flounder. Here are some fish that are off limits for spearfishing or bow fishing in Florida, Tripletail, shark, manta Ray, Spotted Eagle Ray, Tarpon, snook, redfish, sea trout, permit, pompano, african pompano, trigger fish, stone crab, lobster, parrot fish, trumpet fish, sea horse, Angel fish, porcupine fish, pipe fish, puffers, billfish and probably many other fish not listed. Spearfishing and bow fishing is strictly illegal in Florida’s fresh waters. Only legal in Florida’s saltwater.

My favorite fish to target with a bow is by far cobia. The only season for cobia is salt n pepper, in other words cobia have no season they are open year-round. The limit is one per person and no more than two per vessel. Cobia must be 36 inches or bigger measured from the fork of the t ail to the bottom lip measured down the lateral line of t he fish. Cobia bow fishing is very complicated, unpredictable, random and spontaneous at the same time. Kind of li ke bow hunting for deer. Complicated because the number one rule of bow fishing is safety first. It can be a very dangerous sport or a safe sport. Always know what’s in front of the tip of the arrow whether your bow is drawn or not. Also, when you gaff the cobia and land it in your vessel, you normally have a cobia going wild swinging an arrow around.

The set-up is complicated too. If your set up is wrong and your line gets connected to the back of your arrow or gets hung around the reel, rod or bow, it’s likely that upon your release the arrow could spring back and hit the shooter or someone else (believe me I’m talking from experience unfortunately.) Remember the knock of the arrow is sharp too.

The reason cobia bow fishing is unpredictable, spontaneous and random is because they are very hard to find on the surface. The best bet of having a cobia encounter is over a wreck in the Gulf of Mexico on the coldest day of the year and on the hottest day of the year.

One of the best opportunities to arrow a cobia is while you are bringing up

a cobia or shark on rod n reel and a cobia sometimes multiple cobia come up with the cobia or shark that you’re fighting. Also, you can find the daisy chaining under floating objects, big rays, manatees and whale sharks.

An archer should be in position to make a safe and ethical shot when this opportunity arises. The bow, arrow, rod and reel set up can be done dozens of ways (just Google it.)

My favorite set up is with a rod and reel in the rod holder. Bail open drag light. Your main line is coming out of the eyes like normal. Take your main line from the top eye and tie it to your arrow where the metal point meets fiberglass on the top of the arrow. When you draw your bow, the main line from the tip of your rod goes to the tip of your arrow and sags clear of your bow and bow string.

I like to shoot for the top of the head of the cobia right behind its eyes and between it gills. If you make a direct head shot many times it kills the cobia instantly, most ethical and makes the fight easier. If you shoot the cobia anywhere else get ready for a fight.

Once your arrow has penetrated the cobia, immediately drop your bow and grab the rod, flip the bail, rod tip up, adjust the drag and fight it traditionally like you would w ith a hooked fight. Just use more finesse because the chances of the arrow pulling out of the fish is more likely than a hook.

The arrow tip does have a barb. I like the three barb arrows. Some bow fishing set ups have a mini rod n reel screwed into the bow and you fight the fish with the bow in your hand. I find that technique awkward, strenuous and loses fish to many times, plus I’d rather fight the fish traditionally with a spinning rod n reel. It not only works the best for the archer/angler, but the fish too!

— For a charter with Captain Joel or Jojo Brandenburg of Ana Banana Fishing Company in Marathon Florida Keys call cell 813-267-4401 or office 305-395-4212 or visit www.marathonkeyfishingcharters.com or visit us in person at Ana Banana Marina located at 11699 Overseas Hwy Marathon Florida Keys. Look for the big yellow Ana Banana sign with antlers around it.

I find that technique awkward, strenuous and loses fish to many times, plus I’d rather fight the fish traditionally with a spinning rod n reel.

After The Holidays

By: Capt. Chris Johnson

Sure hope Santa brought you that new rod and reel you asked for, because it’s time to put it to use!

We anticipate sailfish season will continue to be quite good on the reef, especially with the bumper crop of ballyhoo available for them to feed on. Up and down the reef, chasing sailfish that are spraying ballyhoo is common practice during January for guys in the know.

your boat. No sailfish has ever passed up a live ballyhoo in the danger zone.

Among the sails, you may also encounter large blackfin tuna in the 15- to 20-pound class. On occasion, dolphin, wahoo and king mackerel are roaming the same areas.

As sailfishing is sight-fishing at its finest, a boat with a tower of some sort offers the best vantage for spotting fish. No tower? Try heading off the reef edge to the 100- to 150-foot depths and putting out a spread of four to six live ballyhoo while drifting a color change, current break or weed line. The live ballyhoo should attract the sailfish and lure them to

Further out, you’ll find cobias, Goliath groupers, blacktip sharks and more, all responding to your efforts.

On the Atlantic wrecks, expect mutton snappers and amberjacks. Live ballyhoo is your prime bait, but pilchards or pinfish will also work.

On the main reef, the yellowtail snapper action can be hit or miss this time of year, depending on the weather patterns. The more frequent the cold fronts occur, the less likely the yellowtails are to cooperate. Should you luck out with a four- or five-day period of stable weather, drop everything and head straight for your favorite yellowtail spot.

The SeaSquared crews tend to fish for yellowtails in the shallower reef areas in 30 to 50 feet of water. Standard size blocks of chum are all you need, as a smaller amount of food is required to hold their attention during the winter.

These areas also contain plenty of king and cero mackerel, so prepare to fire up your smoker. Live ballyhoo or live pilchards will draw their interest.

You’ll find more consistent snapper action around the humps in Hawk Channel. Fresh shrimp and live pilchards are your baits of choice. Fish them on a jighead on the bottom for the best results.

There’s no telling what you may catch when that shrimp hits the bottom. Snappers, groupers, cobias, porgies, hogfish (which also must be released as that season is closed as well) plus Spanish, cero and king mackerel.

In the bayside waters, mangrove snappers and Spanish mackerel hang on the inshore wrecks and banks. Further out, you’ll find cobias, Goliath groupers, blacktip sharks and more, all responding to your efforts. — Capt. Chris Johnson | SeaSquaredCharters.com | 305-393-2929 Facebook.com/MarathonFishing | Marathon Florida Keys

SAWFISH NEWS

by Tonya Wiley, Havenworth Coastal Conservation

What Does Recovery Mean for Endangered Smalltooth Sawfish?

Following the population decline of smalltooth sawfish in the United States and the 2003 listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), a team was assembled to recover the population of this endangered species. But what is recovery and how do we achieve it for smalltooth sawfish?

Under the ESA, recovery is defined as the process of restoring endangered and threatened species to the point where they no longer require the safeguards of the Act. To guide managers and researchers in that recovery process, the ESA directs NOAA Fisheries (or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the case of terrestrial animals) to develop recovery plans. Recovery plans outline the paths and tasks required to restore and secure self-sustaining wild populations. They are guidance documents that describe, justify, and schedule the research and management actions necessary to support recovery of a species.

A recovery plan for smalltooth sawfish in the U.S. was published in 2009 and outlines specific criteria for downlisting (a reclassification from endangered to threatened) and delisting (a reclassification from threatened to recovered). Sawfish may be delisted on the basis of recovery only if the best available scientific and commercial data indicate an improvement in the status of the species to the point where it is no longer appropriate to be considered endangered. For smalltooth sawfish that means ensuring the long-term viability of the species through substantial increases in both abundance and range.

Smalltooth sawfish in the U.S. are considered to be, and managed as, one single population. This means that under ESA regulations, all sawfish receive equal and consistent protections regardless of where they are geographically. Sawfish in Everglades National Park are just as protected and equally important to the population as those in Tampa Bay, Indian River Lagoon, Texas, or Georgia. Since the species is managed as a single population, not individual geographic

populations, only the species as a whole can be considered recovered. In other words, smalltooth sawfish cannot be locally or regionally recovered such as in one particular bay system.

While we are starting to see some encouraging signs in the population, we are certainly a long way from recovery. Modest increases in sawfish numbers are likely the result of the 1992 protection from harvest in Florida waters, the 1995 Florida gillnet ban, and the 2003 ESA listing which have all aided in reducing mortality, and a substantial increase in important outreach and education efforts over the last two decades. However, until recovery is truly documented, it is critical that local, state, and federal regulations and protections remain in place in all areas of the U.S. to ensure the continued improvement in the smalltooth sawfish population.

You can also help scientists track recovery of the population and steer research efforts by sharing information about your sawfish catches and sightings by visiting www.SawfishRecovery.org, calling 1-844-4SAWFISH, emailing sawfish@myfwc.com, or entering the details in the FWC Reporter App. For more information on protected species recovery visit https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/insight/recoveryendangered-and-threatened-species

A smalltooth sawfish, Pristis pectinata.

Credit: Tonya Wiley

A smalltooth sawfish, Pristis pectinata.

Credit: Beau Yeiser

Florida Keys

This Mahi was caught trolling in Key Largo. In the photo is Elliot London, Capt. Brandon Storin, MLB all-star JD Martinez and Christopher Toomey!

The Wissler family had a blast with Main Attraction, helping our junior anglers catch yellowtail snapper on the reef.

Phillip G. Smith Jr. reeled in this 20lb. blackfin tuna while fishing with Capt. Nick Stanczyk and mate Lee Gahagan.

Phillip G. Smith Jr. reeled in this 20lb. blackfin tuna while fishing with Capt. Nick Stanczyk and mate Lee Gahagan.

First mates Steven Bellovich and Josie Kidd, showing off two stud mahi they caught offshore. Nice work to the Main Attraction crew!

Susan Crescenzo with a 30lb+ African Pompano fishing w/Capt. Mark Crescenzo With their last pinfish on the Busch Wreck off Cudjoe Key

The Honeycutt family caught a nice black grouper while fishing with Main Attraction on the reef.

THE ABACOS ACKLINS ANDROS BIMINI CAT ISLAND ELEUTHERA THE EXUMAS HARBOUR ISLAND LONG ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

By Emily Rose Hanzlik

Sailfish

IT’S SEASON

inSouthFlorida

their anal n. ese long skinny sh are built for speed and can reach max speeds of about 70 mph.

Atlantic sail sh participate in seasonal migrations along the coast of America. Some sh will stay where they are, but most move northward in spring and south during the winter. is is due to the bait schools following the cold cycles. As soon as it gets hotter up north, they migrate. Once winter sets in, they return to Florida. Sail sh spend most of their time in warm surface waters of the epipelagic zone of the ocean. ey make frequent nearshore forays and congregate where water temperatures are in the 70 to 80 degree range.

ey begin spawning in spring, and this can occur as early as May or all the way into the fall. Like many other pelagic sh, sail sh use a process called external fertilization, or broadcast spawning. Males release sperm and females release eggs into the water current. Each female can produce about 4.5 million eggs. Once the sail sh hatch at around an eighth of an inch, they grow rapidly to about 6 pounds within a month. eir growth slows once they reach about 4 feet in length.

Capt. Charlie Stuve put me on my rst sail sh. He runs Native Guide Fishing Charters out of Jupiter, Fla., and sail sh are a favorite winter target for his clients.

“I suggest live baiting,” said Capt. Charlie. “Goggle eyes are the most popular bait, but other baits work, as well. Kite shing is preferable with goggle eyes, but I also do well slow bump-trolling edges. Live thread n herring, Spanish sardines and pilchards are my favorites while dri ing on a color change.

Now that the cold has set in and will be here for a bit, we once again change focus on what we are catching. Most larger sh tend to slow down during winter months since it takes more energy out of them; however, this is not the case for sail sh. As long as you are brave enough to venture into the rough winter seas, you’ll be sure to get on the bite.

Sail sh are the sleek and slender member of the bill sh family. eir name comes from the extremely large dorsal n that extends over almost their entire back. ey also have long pelvic ns, which stretch almost to

“Depths can vary, so don’t use yesterdays information because conditions constantly change. Sometimes when the bite is slow, I like to bottom sh and y a kite downwind. at way you stay busy with the bottom action and when you least expect it you have a sail sh on your kite.”

e IGFA world record for Atlantic sail sh weighed 142 pounds, 6 ounces and was caught in Lobito Angola in 2014.

Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 56 IGFA world records in various categories. She hails from West Palm Beach, where she has a part time Bow n Guide Service as well as shing classes for Jr. Anglers. Find her on Social Media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.

Photo courtesy of Capt. Charlie Stuve, @nativeguidejupiter

The FWC approved rules to help conserve Gulf striped bass in Wakulla County’s lower Ochlockonee River at the Nov. 30-Dec. 1 commission meeting.

FWC research has identi ed high rates of recreational harvest of brood sh (breeding sized) Gulf striped bass, and sta proposed rule language to change the harvest length limit. e bag limit of three sh per day for striped bass will remain in e ect. e proposed change to the length limit would change from 18 inches minimum size to no minimum size with only one sh allowed over 24 inches. Gulf striped bass populations are dependent on stock enhancement via hatchery production and protection of these larger-sized striped bass is necessary for the continued survival of the species.

“ is rule change is a positive step for Gulf striped bass, an important sport sh in Florida,” said FWC Commissioner Gary Lester. “We appreciate sta working with stakeholders on these ongoing conservation e orts for the future of this shery.”

Sta held public meetings with local anglers to discuss research and management options for this shery at Lake Talquin in May 2022 and an additional meeting in November to discuss the rule language. Anglers were supportive of using regulation changes as a management tool. Further stakeholder engagement will occur on this rule.

Email Christopher.Paxton@MyFWC.com with questions, or visit the striped bass pro le on MyFWC.com.

Let’s grow with Florida together.

Berkeley County, South Carolina

Berkeley County is a wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts, sports bu s, adventure seekers, and water lovers. From exemplary fishing for striped bass, or a trophy largemouth bass, to our hiking trails and water activities, along with scenic outdoors where you can catch a glimpse of white tail deer and gators, Berkeley County has activities to fit all visitors and families.

Learn more about Berkeley County at: exploreberkeleycounty.com

NEW HOOK DESIGN ALLOWS FISH TO RELEASE THEMSELVES

Researchers have designed and tested a new style of hook that takes catch-and-release to a whole new level. ese “bite-shortened” hooks are intended to allow sh to “release themselves” without being handled by the angler.

Dr. Holden Harris, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Florida’s Nature Coast Biological Station, was the mastermind behind the study. In his write up on Hook Line & Science, a North Carolina Sea Grant blog, he promoted the bene ts of e cient de-hooking and minimal handling of caught sh to considerably improve chances of survival for released sh. e hook he tested is a modi ed jig, which researchers clipped at the point, so that this “bite” portion of the hook—the business end— was reduced in length from 15 mm to 10 mm. e simple modi cation just clipped the barb and vertical length beyond the bend of the hook before it was re-sharpened. Harris tested it against a standard jighead as well as a jighead with the barb led down on 150 spotted seatrout. ey went shing with all three jigheads, reeled in the sh and then allowed the sh to op around boat-side until they either did or did not come unhooked.

“We found promising results for the bite-

HARRIS

shortened modi ed hook, which enabled anglers to land 91 percent of hooked spotted seatrout and then release 87 percent of those sh without direct handling,” Harris wrote. “In comparison, the self-release success rates were 47 percent using barbless hooks and 20 percent using standard, unmodi ed hooks.”

Additionally, Harris found that smaller seatrout were able to “self-release” at higher rates than larger ones.

Coastal Angler contributor and seatrout-on-

arti cials guru Michael Okruhlik has written on his use of barbless hooks when targeting pods of trout crashing bait. He said the ability to quickly and safely release sh without taking them out of the water allows him to get back in the action faster.

Maybe anglers would use a hook designed to let sh come unbuttoned?

For a video of this hook modi cation, see https://youtu.be/VC23oNikyc8

PHOTO BY DR. HOLDEN

Every year in Basel, Switzerland, the world’s best-known luxury watchmakers gather to display their new timepieces. It’s a great event for spotting timepieces that standout–– in performance and in personality. We saw one impossible to ignore: a precision dive watch with an arresting green dial. But we also saw the five-figure price tag and knew we could bring our customers that exact same precision and stand out appeal for a whole lot less. The Stauer Evergreen Diver is that timepiece.

Built like a submersible battleship with a stainless steel case, caseback, and band, the Evergreen Diver is water-resistant down to 660 feet or 20 atmospheres, a feat facilitated by a hardened crystal and screw-down crown.

Green On Your Wrist AND In Your Pocket. You could pay an awful lot elsewhere for this verdant virtuoso, but the majority of the cost is in the big designer name upcharge. We think those guys are all wet. This is how you own a top-of-the-line dive watch without helping pay for some marketing guy’s yacht.

Satisfaction Guaranteed or Your Money Back. Wear the Evergreen Diver for 30 days. If you’re not completely happy, send it back for

Amonster gold sh aptly named “Carrot” has been making the rounds on social media recently a er the sh was caught from a trophy carp lake in Champagne, France. UK angler Andy Hackett caught the nearly 70-pound bright orange sh from Bluewater Lakes, a heavily managed, privately owned pay-to-play shery that boasts of carp weighing heavier than 90 pounds.

Carrot seems to be somewhat of pet, but not the type you’d keep in a sh bowl. She is a crossbreed between leather carp and koi, and was stocked in the lake 15 years ago to give anglers an interesting sh to pursue.

“I always knew e Carrot was in there but never thought I would catch it,” said Hackett. It took him 25 minutes to reel in pot-bellied carp, which o cially weighed an astounding 67.4 pounds.

Carp caught at Bluewater Lakes are handled very carefully with a strict catch-and-release policy.

For more record sh, visit coastalanglermag.com.

TIPS FROM A PRO

THROW A LIPLESS CRANKBAIT FOR WINTER BASS

TYLER WOOLCOTT

Some cold but very fun shing days are ahead, and a Trapstyle bait is my absolute favorite way to sh this time of year. Typically sh group up in winter, and whether that be bait sh or bass, there are opportunities that make lipless crankbaits absolutely deadly!

rowing a lipless crank around areas where sh are chasing bait or where they are grouped up has caught lots of bass and some big ones. Even casting this bait as a search bait can work wonders. ere are so many options for lipless cranks that it can get confusing. I’ve experimented plenty, so I hope this article helps.

Traps range from ¼ oz. up to 1 oz. in weight, and every size can be used di erently. I pick sizes depending on the depth I’m shing or the depth of the structure, and I also consider the natural bait that is prevalent in the area. If you’re shing shallow or around tiny bait sh, a ¼-oz. size will be the best bet. A ½-oz. is usually my goto. It’s great for the mid-range depths of 5 to 10 feet, and it imitates a range of bait sh sizes.

A ¾-oz. is a bit bigger, and I don’t throw it as much, but it certainly has its place in 10 to 20-foot depths.

Remember, you can always vary your retrieve to get these baits higher or lower in the water column.

Color is another key factor. Ninety percent of the time, I sh a bait sh color. Whether it’s a shad, shiner or bluegill pattern, natural colors always work for me. I also throw orange or red a lot in winter. ese colors imitate craw sh, and they work where craw sh are prevalent. Match your bait color to the forage in the lake.

e last factor for lipless baits is sound related. ey come in silent, multi-rattle or single-knocker versions. I go silent for very clear water and heavily pressured sh, when appearing natural is important. e multi-rattle baits make a lot of noise, and the commotion draws strikes. My go-to, though, is the one-knocker style. is sound is unique and a little deeper pitched. I feel like sh, over the years, have become accustomed to the loud versions. I nd the single-knocker gets a few more bites in most situations.

With treble hooks, rod selection is important. You just reel into the sh when you get a bite, and this means your rod needs a solid backbone to drive those hooks and also a good amount of tip for keeping sh on during the ght. My go-to rod is a 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’4 Medium Heavy Moderate. e 13 Fishing Concept A 7:5:1 is a perfect reel for this application. I sh 15- to 20-lb. Seaguar Invizx line, depending on the structure I’m shing.

I hope these Trap tips help you put a few more sh in your boat this winter!

Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcott shing.com.

RECORD LONGFIN TUNA LANDED OFF NEW JERSEY

ANew Jersey angler eked out a new state record for albacore (long n) tuna in October when he boated a 78-pound, 2.4-ounce long n that bested the previous 1984 record by 3.4 ounces.

Matthew Florio, of Brick, N.J., is a commercial scalloper and he was shing with the rest of his scalloping crew aboard the Luna Sea at the east elbow of Hudson Canyon, the largest known underwater canyon o the east coast of the U.S. ey were at least 75 miles o shore and chunking for yellow n tuna, which is a technique that involves cutting up a bunch of butter sh and throwing them overboard before following up with hooked chunks of butter sh. e crew was already having a good day with yellow ns when Matthew hooked into his big albacore. He battled it in with a Kevin Bogan 30 Stand Up rod and a Penn 30 reel loaded with 60-pound mono lament. e sh measured 48 and 3/8 inches long and had a girth of 37 inches. e previous record was a 77-pound, 15-ounce long n caught in 1984 by Dr. S. Scannapiego in Spencer Canyon.

For more record sh, see coastalanglermag.com.

DO BIG LURES = BIG FISH?

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

Now that Jack Frost has bay temperatures thoroughly chilled, only diehard lure chuckers will be found stalking the ats. Most of us have one thing in mind this time of year, catching a trophy trout. Here is how I approach my quest for that dirty 30-incher.

When water temperature stabilizes in the COLD range, all the migratory forage ees for warmer pastures. e bays are le with larger mullet as the primary food source for prized speckled trout. is is the time of year that I pull out my larger lures. is could be a longer length, a wider pro le, or both. is doesn’t have to be a 12-inch lure that is no fun to cast all day, but I do upsize from my typical 3- and 4-inch lures that I use most of the year. We have all seen a 25-inch trout with a 15-inch mullet in its belly, so they will eat something huge, but giant baits aren’t as fun to sh.

My con dence lures this time of the year are typically a 4-inch wide-pro le slow-sinking lure or a 5-inch bulky body paddletail. Since plastisol is buoyant, the bulky lure will have a slower sink rate, which I prefer under most conditions. e

slower sink allows for dual bene ts this time of year. Logically, the slower sink rate matches the slower mood of a cold sh. Also, I spend a lot of time targeting sh over shallow grass in knee-deep water. A slower sink rate keeps my lure in the strike zone longer before it disappears into the grass.

weedless hook. Depending on the conditions, I might go weightless or with a 1/16- or 1/8-ounce jighead. e weedless version keeps me out of the grass, it lessens the opportunity for my cold, less-dexterous hands to be impaled by a hook, and most of all, it does less damage to the trophy sh that I am targeting.

Areas I target will be near deeper water, have so er bottom, have visible forage, structure and hopefully be lowertra c areas. While planning trips, I take into consideration moon phase, current conditions and recent conditions when determining where to sh.

I have never caught a trophy trout by accident. I don’t know if that is lucky or unlucky, but every trout I have landed over 27 inches was on a day when I set out speci cally targeting larger sh. Case in point, if you want to catch trophy trout consistently, you must make the e ort to target them, sh where they live and be attentive to details. I know numerous anglers have caught large trout with no e ort, but most don’t catch two.

The Return of a

I t my 5-inch rattling paddletail with a

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®.

SAVOR THE SEASONS in Upcountry South Carolina

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