UNICORN HUNTING INSHORE AFTER DARK
navigating peace of mind
THE IMPORTANCE OF BOAT INSURANCE
Embarking on the open water is an exhilarating experience, flled with the promise of adventure and relaxation. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a weekend cruiser, safeguarding your vessel with proper insurance is not just a choice—it’s a necessity. Explore the reasons why every boat owner should prioritize boat insurance for a worry-free voyage.
Unpredictable waters
The open water can be unpredictable, with unexpected storms, collisions, or other potential accidents. Boat insurance can give you fnancial protection if there is damage to your vessel, providing coverage for repairs or replacement.
Damage and injury
Accidents on the water can result in damage to other boats, docks, or even injuries to passengers. Boat insurance offers liability coverage, which can pay for damages or injuries you’re liable for while boating, up to specifed limits, and lawsuit costs if you’re sued. This includes damage you cause to another watercraft or if someone on or near your boat is injured and you’re found to be legally responsible.
Theft and vandalism
Unfortunately, boat theft and vandalism are realities that boat owners face. Boat insurance has comprehensive and collision coverage that can protect you against events outside of your control, including theft and vandalism.
Incurred medical payments
Accidents on the water may lead to injuries for you or your passengers. Boat insurance offers a range of optional medical payments coverage limits, helping to cover medical expenses if you are in an accident or someone is hurt on your boat, regardless of fault.
Peace of mind for fnancing
If you fnanced the purchase of your boat, most lenders require insurance coverage to protect their investment. Having boat insurance not only fulflls these requirements but also gives you peace of mind knowing that your fnancial interests are safeguarded.
Navigational fexibility
Some water municipalities and marinas may require proof of insurance for docking or accessing certain areas. Boat insurance allows you the fexibility to explore different destinations without worrying about entry restrictions.
Emergency towing and assistance
Progressive boat insurance can include optional Sign & Glide® On-Water Towing coverage. If your boat is disabled or breaks down on the water, Sign & Glide® pays for on-water towing, jump starts, soft un-groundings, and fuel delivery.
Wreckage removal
If your boat sinks, Progressive boat insurance will cover the cost of removing your boat from the water (if removal is legally required).
Investing in boat insurance is not just about protecting a valuable asset; it’s about safeguarding the memories, experiences, and joy that come with your on-water adventures. Don’t let unforeseen circumstances disrupt your journey—navigate with confdence, knowing that Progressive boat insurance has you covered. Ensure a smooth and worry-free voyage, because when it comes to your boat, peace of mind is the ultimate luxury.
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THEHIGHS OFUNICOR HUNTING
Throughout chc year, the Florida KC)'S provide excclltnt billlish oppor1unitics.
Bycapt.QulnlynHaddon
Sailfish c.an be foulld year.round and are most reliably targeted in late autumn through the spring when they feast on ballyhoo at the reef.
Swordfishing is grc.1t any time ofthe year. as lcmgasM!3.lhcr accommodal('S!he l<>nsrnn l() the decpwa1cr JcdgcS. Tai:gcting them during tht:: day re<1uii:csdroppingabaitLothebottom.
�fariinfishi11gjsdoableduri11gsummer.butit$ certainlyJess thanreliable. 'Ihey a.-eoftenhooked as bycatch while fisltillg for the mahi or tuna on whichtheyarefeeding.
I recently had the pleasure of taking a trip solely targetingmarlinandswordfish.\Vehadtwo fishermen on board who were firs1 1liners with both.spl't'i<$. It wasintcro:,ting ,vatching them go 1hrough thebipolarswingsofbUlfishing. ·n1eywere
there LQ a$$i:.land learn, and I got lo watch them enjoy nnd suffer through thefull experience. Initially. there was opliini.sm as the su1\ rose a11d wedeployed ail elaboratetrolling spread. 1he setupmust haveseemedfantasticaltoanewcomer, with the giant lures.strange-looking teasers and lines everywhere. like we were captained by a coffoc fuclcdspider.Thedaywas )'Oung.1hcspread ,rasaworko(an,andthenc,,·bieshadnoreasonto doubt ourchances.
Frustrationsoo1lfollowed.Aswewerewtapping up marlin 1rollillg to head for the swordgrouods.
wepa.ss«1agorgeous weed linefull ofhma birds. It looked likeourbestchance... until the right rigger caught grnss. Upon• gentle rc1ricvc10dc.1rtheline,itpopf)OOthe rigger, foll1hroughthespreadam.lauempll-'<ll.Omate with the teaser al the worst time. We packed up inthemiddleof1hegiantflockof birdsthat mockedusforquitting.Ahh,disappointinent It was time co hii Lhe swordgrouncb and beginthecycleagain.Our nextelaboratesetup wo,dd drop to 1,500 feet.and the doe e)eS of optimismmadetheir nextappearance. 1hc dance belwccn doubt. lx)rcdom and forcedoprimismcontinued.a,,;ourfirs1bitedidn1l occuruntilafter4 p.m. It wasaheavyhit.a reelstopping, drag-pulling, set-up-the-harpoon type hit that had us giggling like children. El'eryone was re�1dy to t.1keon dutieswhen, JOO.feet from theweight, the rod tip popped up and everrone experiencedgut.wrenchingheartbreak.
On Lhc nc:ic1 drift, we hooked up again, and cvcrronequietlyheldtheirexcitement untilthetlsh hit the deck. l don't m.�d to cxplah\ the foe-ling in that Jlext moine11t, but with smiles and high fives a1J around > it was the 011e we wereall looking for. We tookhomesati.sfactio11.exhaustio11.andbigbags ofm<.".ll.
Hunting swimming unicorns is hands-down m)' favorite fishing. If youwant toexperiencethe emotional rollcrcoaS1cr of chasing the fish of a lifetime,givemeacallalSwce1 E'nul'Charters.
Capt, Quinl)'u Hmtdcm guides wit/1 Swed E'Nu/Clwrlers, Mnratliot1, Florida Keys. ww1�capt<1inqui11ly11.ccm1; <fi>captai11q11i11/y11; (504) 910�-12.
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TACTICS FOR DOG DAYS BASS 4
It’s hot. Te lakes and reservoirs are covered with jet skis, wake boats and party barges full of sun seekers.
Dog days conditions can be tough for bass fshing, but fsh settle into patterns this time of year that can lead to productive days on the water.
Finding cooler water is the key to catching bass when the surface temperatures reach uncomfortable levels, and there are several ways to do this.
Go Deep: Te huge schools of fsh that concentrate on ofshore ledges and river channel bends at many of our large reservoirs have already been beaten into submission by every angler with sonar by this time of year. You might still be able to pick a few out of the school with deep crankbaits, drop-shots or footballhead jigs, but sometimes it’s worth fnding less obvious fsh to target.
Tere are other areas that hold fsh. Tat 30-footwide shell bed of the main channel might not be covered with bass, but there will be some fsh there if there’s some current, and these bass see much fewer lures and are more willing to bite this time of year. Search with a crankbait, wiggle a football-head on the bottom or drag a big Carolina rigged worm over the shells and see what happens.
Cool-Water Tribs: A tributary stream feeding cooler water into the lake attracts baitfsh and bass. Fish ofen stage on points where a feeder creek enters the main body. Eliminate water quickly with crankbaits or spinnerbaits to see if there’s anyone home before
slowing down with a jig or a worm.
By CAM Staf
Extend the Night Bite: Bass do a lot of their feeding at night this time of year, and anglers can take advantage of this by fshing the frst couple hours of daylight.
Tis pattern will also show you that not every fsh in the lake goes deep. Shallow rocks and grass edges hold bluegill, shad, crayfsh and all sorts of other tasty critters. Start on top at or before dawn with a walking bait or popper and cover as much water as you can before the sun gets up. Tis is not really a numbers game, and the bites will be scattered, but it’s a lot of fun when a big fsh blows up your lure.
Fish the Shade: When the sun gets high and hot, you’ll fnd fsh hunkered down in the shade. Docks, laydowns, overhanging trees or matted vegetation all provide the shade bass and the things they eat look for. Bank shade is also where you’ll fnd bream beds where bass like to feed.
Skip a wacky rig up as far up under a dock as you can get it. Drop a jig into that blowdown. Work a frog over matted grass or punch through it with a heavy Texas rig. Cover water and pick apart those shady areas. It’s a fun style of fshing that can also be productive under less-than-perfect conditions.
For more bass tips, go to coastalanglermag.com.
Coleman Roberts caught his 9-pound, 4-ounce bass in July at Lake Istokpoga, Fla.
TREASURE FOUND!
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RUN-AND-GUN TROLLING Scout Weed Lines Quickly and Effectively
By Mark Ambert
With summer weed line formation, mahi become a favorite target for the “run and gun” method. A good way to quickly scout if anyone’s home is a modifed version of the troll. I have observed and adopted this method used by professional captains for mahi.
The Setup
Keep a couple of spinning rods rigged and ready with pitch baits that can be trolled. Te rig consists of a 7-foot medium-heavy spinning rod with a 6000-size spinning reel—preferably with a baitrunner setting.
If you’re not familiar with the baitrunner function, it is a free-spool setting that allows line to pull from the spool while the bail is engaged. When a fsh grabs your bait, it can take it without feeling resistance.
My favorite combo is a Penn Carnage III boat rod with a Shimano Tunnus reel. Spool up with 20-lb. mono and add a 40- or 50-lb., 4-foot fuorocarbon leader. Tie on a Gamakatsu 6/0 or 7/0 Octopus hook using a Palomar knot. Insert the hook under the chin of a fresh frozen, small- to medium-sized ballyhoo. Make sure the point of the hook exits directly between the eyes. I like a Squidnation Slammer 3-inch plastic chugger head
with the bait to produce more action.
Cast this behind the boat along a weed line while underway. Position it several yards past the last wakes from the prop wash, and slowly work the bait by twitching the rod tip while holding it above your head. Tis will cause the ballyhoo to skip like a feeing baitfsh. You can work two baits in this manner by staggering the distance. If nothing hits within a few minutes, move on.
Tis method is slower than traditional trolling, and it is deadly for locating feeding fsh on large, scattered weed patches. If you are using a baitrunner reel, allow the fsh to run a few seconds before setting the hook.
The Electric Alternate
An alternate method that’s ideal for long straight weed lines or rips is a more traditional trolling setup. I use the Piscifun Saltfow ofshore rod and a Kraken electric reel with battery pack for this type of trolling.
Te Saltfow is 8-foot, 3-inch rod with a sof tip. It has a unique line guide setup that eliminates rod twist under a load. Te Kraken electric reel is new to me this year and has already paid dividends.
beneft when constantly retrieving lures to clear weeds or move locations. A traditional ballyhoo rig with a teaser and bait spring is my choice for medium-speed trolling. A good premade rig is the Mahi Chaser by Trolling Pro Tackle.
Once you get a hook-up, get some fresh squid, jigs or live baits in the water and hang on. Te Mahi show is about to get started!
Mark Ambert, IG @marksgonefshing_™
Cast Lures in a Mitzi Tournament 17
LOBSTERING IN THE KEYS A FUN & FLAVORFUL ADVENTURE!
By A. deGruchy
If you’re craving the thrill of the hunt and the taste of fresh lobster, the Florida Keys are your paradise. Here’s a quick guide to help you fnd these delectable critters, catch them, and turn them into a simple, yet fancy meal. First things frst, you’ll need the right gear. Grab a tickle stick, to push lobsters out of their hiding spots, and a lobster net to scoop them up once they’re on the move. Snorkel gear is essential for getting up close and personal with these lobsters, and don’t forget gloves to protect your hands from sharp rocks and lobster spines. Lastly, a measuring device is required to make sure your catch is legal size. Tey are measured in carapace length, and it’s important to know how to measure
them before gathering them.
Now, let’s talk lobster hotspots. Spiny lobsters love to hide in crevices, under ledges, and around coral reefs. Te regular lobster season runs from August to March. Once you have your snorkeling gear, you can generally fnd them in as shallow as 6 feet deep. Keep an eye out for their long antennae sticking out from their hiding places, and then gently use your tickle stick to encourage them out before swifly scooping them up with your net. Teir behavior is to swim away, naturally, and spiny lobsters use their tail to swim backward. Make sure your net is in position to anticipate them swimming backward into your trap. Once they’re in it, it’s also important to close the
Repower Center
netting to prevent any slip ups and runaways.
Once you’ve got your catch, it’s time to enjoy. Te easiest way to prepare lobster is to grill them. Split the lobsters in half lengthwise, brush with a mixture of melted butter, garlic and a squeeze of lemon juice and grill them shell-side down until the meat is opaque and slightly charred. Serve with a side of melted butter for dipping, and you’ve got yourself a fancy feast.
So, gear up, dive in, and get ready to enjoy the freshest lobster you’ve ever tasted. Happy hunting!
Visit www.myfwc.com for more information and updates on Florida Spiny Lobster regulations.
LIGHT UP THE NIGHT
Tim Barefoot
Fishing under lights at night is a good thing to do 12 months out of the year, but it is especially good during the hot summer months, when daytime temperatures can make standing on the deck in the glaring sun less than appealing.
During the hottest days of the year, snook, trout and redfsh follow bait directly to bright light, like moths to the porch light. Being that I sell boat lifs for a living, I suggest installing the biggest brightest lights on your docks that you can. Some systems can be controlled remotely with an app on your phone.
To turn your dock into a fshing Mecca, you must learn to use existing facilities for maximum return on investment. You can also feed shrimp and minnows with cornmeal and keep them attracted with lights at night. Once you get the bait concentrated, you will have the fsh concentrated as well. For more information on this, check out my Youtube channel.
If you don’t have a dock, you can still light up the night with powerful and lightweight lithium battery spotlights or purpose-made fshing lights that run on your boat’s electrical system. Some of these are submersible. Turn the lights on and hang out for a few minutes. You’ll be amazed at how many baitfsh show
up.
I like an artifcial shrimp jig or live shrimp best. Live shrimp are the most efective bait out there, but I like artifcials because it limits the amount of tackle and hassle. A good technique is to drif down a series of lighted docks and cast to the lights. When you fnd fsh, concentrate on that area with repeated drifs.
A word of advice: Be quiet! Older and wiser snook or trout are not stupid. Use the trolling motor only when it’s needed and not at all when possible. In my humble opinion, fsh become wary to the sound of a trolling motor. Remain calm and make as little noise as possible on your drifs. Don’t play music, stomp around on the deck, talk loudly or slam cooler lids.
Te light attracts the fsh and catching them is up to you. Match the hatch by taking notice of the type and size of the bait you see. Tis might require casting smaller jigs or even small shrimp or baitfsh fies when the fsh get picky.
Tis is the perfect atmosphere for showing children how to catch fsh. Te visual aspect of this technique is very entertaining and educational. Check out my Youtube video
for a perfect example of fshing a well-lighted dock properly.
For more information, visit barefootcatsandtackle.com and check out his YouTube channel.
Florida Keys
Storm Dodgers
By: Capt. Greg Poland
It is now the dog days of summer but the snook and smaller tarpon fishing in the Florida Everglades has been epic lately, and the only issue we have are the seasonal afternoon thunderstorms.
However, on board my new 26’ Contender boat, I opted to purchase the Sirus XM Satellite Weather Service, and we have had good luck navigating around the stormy weather most days. I will admit that there still are some days we can’t outrun these storms and we end up simply huddling under the T-Top! My boat is simply amazing, and I want to thank the crew at GTB Boats in Key Largo for putting it all together and keeping me on the water chasing fish, whether its deep in the backcountry or out on the refine.
If you do find yourself in the backcountry load up your bait well with pinfish or pilchards and cast them into the potholes or shorelines and hold on. I like to use a 7ft 1520lb spin rod loaded with beaded line along with a heavy duty jighead or a sinker with a circle hook and put my live bait of choice on and start prospecting along the shoreline. Another great option is the same tackle with a cork about 6ft away from a live bait.
If you have time to get away and want to come check out my new ride, give me a call or stop by the Lorelei to say hello. Keep dodging the storms and keep catching the fish! Capt. Greg.
By: Capt. Angelia Swanson
It is August in the Florida Keys, and it is hot! One way we captains find reprieve from the summer heat is to travel to cooler destinations to work for the summer. Alaska seems to be a favorite. I had two glorious summers in Alaska and in the summertime, it is truly magical.
My first Alaskan summer was a five-month contract working on a private yacht. It was an 80’ Trawler and we towed a 32’ fishing boat behind us for our adventures. It was mind boggling. As I left Vancouver in the yacht and cruised North through Discovery Passage inside Vancouver Island it felt like I had been dropped into a Nat Geo episode that just never stopped. Mountains higher than I had ever seen with snow caps still intact and waterfall after waterfall cascading like ribbons down these mountains was a true feast for the senses. I got my first taste for customs upon a boat as we entered Alaskan waters, and that has served me well. We also finally dropped some lines in the water as soon as we crossed that National border. Our first day of fishing had finally come and I was excited! I caught my first, and second, Halibut that day. These are BIG fish. The fight was thrilling. And with my home base with the yacht in Sitka, I had an amazing summer experience with Humpback whales, Orcas, and Dall porpoises included.
My second summer was spent doing halibut charters on Cook Inlet off of the Northern Coast of the Kenai Peninsula. 30’ foot tides had to be dealt with, yes, 30’ tides and my departure times for daily fishing trips were always different because of these enormous tides. I literally only had an hour or so before slack tide and an hour or so after slack tide to get your fishing in, and during the 30 minutes or so of slack tide, nothing would bite. It was all new and exciting for me and it was a completely different world again looking across Cook Inlet at the string of volcanoes on the other side. I boated my biggest fish ever that summer, a monstrous Halibut that was thrilling and surreal.
On my down time in the Kenai Peninsula, I would go to the Kenai River, after a long rough hike with all of my gear, and “floss” for Sockeye Salmon. I became addicted. Every chance I got I hiked to the same gravel bar where anglers were lined up for miles as the Sockeye run was in its prime, something anglers wait all year for. I think the most flattering thing was what the charter business owner told me that second summer. He said he sought out his summer charter captains from the Keys because “if you can catch fish in the Keys, you can catch fish anywhere”. And that is a fact!! Hoping all of my fellow captains that went North this summer are enjoying it for me!
The Perfect Summer Day
By: Capt. Bruce Andersen
Summer is here and it’s blazing hot out there! Summer is a great time to try and stay cool by heading offshore to chase mahi. There are a lot of different kinds of days offshore, but every now and then you wind up with the perfect summer day mahi fishing offshore in the Florida Keys.
Before I get started with what makes an offshore fishing trip this time of year perfect, I’ve got to go through the things that come up most days that make it short of perfect. Sometimes we’ve got high winds and rough seas off shore. Sometimes it’s crowded and there are boats everywhere. Other times the fish just aren’t around or cooperating. And then there’s the days where the thunderstorms are rolling in, and you literally spend the day being chased by lightning and waterspouts.
Hook those fish and a huge school follows them right up behind the boat and as soon as you get done with that school, you spot another set of birds and do it all over again. It almost seems
But every now and then you’ll experience the perfect summer day. Some days heading offshore it will be so glassy calm that there’s not a ripple on the water. It might be a weekday and for some reason hardly any body else decided to go fishing that day. There will hardly be another boat out there. Tons of open space right in front of you no matter what direction you go. Heading offshore into the Gulfstream and just about when you start to get a little nervous because you haven’t seen any signs of fish yet, maybe about 15 miles out, you’ll start to see sets of birds over huge weed patches that are loaded with mahi.
On approach to the weed patches, before you even get close enough to cast a bait, you look behind the boat and see a few nice gaffer size mahi hopping in towards your lures. Hook those fish and a huge school follows them right up behind the boat and as soon as you get done with that school, you spot another set of birds and do it all over again. It almost seems too easy!
You go down the weed a little further and behold there are a couple of bigger slammer dolphin! Now you’ve got a box full and a couple of trophies to go along with it. It just doesn’t get any better than that.
Perfect days like these are far and few between, but that’s what makes them special. There are a lot of normal days and some tough ones. But if you keep going out there and put in enough time, you’ll get to experience the perfect summer day and if you would like to see how we do it on the Capt. Easy, call or email me! —
Spearfishing and Bowhunting
By: Capt. Tony Young
Ioften compare spearfishing to bowhunting, there are a number of similarities. If you enjoy hunting on land, you will certainly enjoy hunting underwater. Another comparison that stood out this summer was the similarity of spawning fish to whitetail bucks coming into rut. With the delayed summer mutton snapper spawn, I noticed a lot of behavior from the fish that has not been as prevalent in previous years. As we come into the middle to tail end of summer, start comparing your fishing notes to your time spent in the woods. This will be a fun read, let’s dive in!
It’s no secret that the mutton fishing has been much slower than last summer’s mega spawn, it seemed like the big spawn just would not come. Diving though, we noticed some very interesting behavior by the fish. Through the months of May, June, and part of July; large mutton snappers spent more time than normal searching on the shallow and deep reefs. By searching, I mean large mature fish looking for others to spawn with. An individual fish will swim till it finds another, then those two will swim until they find others, and so on until the spawn starts. This is very similar to whitetail deer bucks that are searching for a doe in estrus. They run, chase, and search around until they find a hot doe.
We saw a lot of single to small schools of mature muttons searching during the same time they were spawning last year, for this we know there is a delay. One interesting observation I look for is the color of the fish. When they are searching, we notice a mix of coloration in their scales from green to pink. Greenbacks are fish that have a green tint to their upper scales. These greenback fish come from shallow water, where their food source has more presence of photosynthetic pigments like green chlorophyll. Fish that are all pink on the other hand, come from deep water where their food source consists more of shrimp or crustaceans. Think back to the mutton snapper you shoot or catch. In general, you find greenback fish shallow and all pink fish deep. This is important because in order for fish to spawn, they need to find each other in large numbers to be successful. So, weeks or even months leading up to a large spawn, you will see the shallow greenbacks mixed in with all the deep pink colored mutton snappers on the reef. All searching for other
fish to spawn with. One last note is that searching fish are more curious and make more mistakes, just like a whitetail buck searching for a doe. For diving, they often swim right up to us and for fishing you often catch them on less than perfect bottom rigs. We have had small packs of searching muttons come up in our yellowtail slicks. Just the same with hunting, you might get a shot at a mature buck with his nose to the ground in the middle of the day.
What this all means is that the end of July and coming into August should be some very good deep reef and wreck hunting for mutton snapper. The spawn is definitely delayed from last summer and it will lead to some great fishing ahead! If you have noticed a lot of searching fish on your dives, then you can relate to this article. When the spawn begins, the searching will end. If you’re not seeing them running around, it’s because they are all spawning and you’re not in the right area! Just like sitting in the woods during the rut. The deer are breeding, bucks are fighting, and hunters are getting after it. During the rut however, just like spawning fish, you are either on them or you’re not seeing any.
I believe the greatest part of spear fishing or fishing is learning more about the fish and their environment. Just like hunting in the woods, you will develop a library of information on the species you are targeting. It takes years to learn, and the fishery is always changing, this is part of the fun for me. Last summer’s big spawn was June and July, for fun I scuba dove a spawning site off Islamorada, and it truly blew my mind. The water depth is irrelevant, but the majority of the water column in every direction I looked was beautiful mature breeding sized mutton snappers. These fish are 12-18 pounds with numerous fish larger and small mixed in. If you stumble upon a spawn, put your speargun or fishing rod down and enjoy it. This year we had a small April spawn off Islamorada and caught some great fish! Check your notes and start fishing your spots, it’s going to be some great fishing and diving to finish off the summer months! Enjoy every day out there, dive safe!
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IT’S AUGUST
By: Capt. Rob Modys
In the world of magazines, the stories you read were written at least one month in advance, if not more. The time required in between the writing and publication is needed for editing, and page layout. In light of this time lapse, it’s very daring of me to pen an article in July about the weather in August, but I feel I must, and I’m going to cite my status as a science geek.
Yes, I love science. I was a hopeful future holder of a marine biology degree, but a lot of things got in the way in the middle of college, and I wound up in the business technology world. When my technology job hit
a major hiccup, the universe aligned and brought science back into play in my career as I became a fishing guide.
So, I’m going to science the heck out of August weather while still in July. There’s some good news. The weather in the Keys during the month of August is normally fairly predictable. It rains almost every day — sometimes a little, sometimes a lot, and it’s also hot and very humid because, well, it’s summer. The only major variation is the occasional low-pressure system that becomes a tropical storm or hurricane.
Winds normally range from calm to slightly breezy unless the aforementioned tropical blow shows up. Water temperatures are pretty stable with higher readings in the backcountry than in both the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. That’s due to the much shallower water depths in the backcountry.
In my opinion, August is a great time to catch almost any fish species in the Keys except perhaps tarpon. They tend to migrate north during the summer, so the big schools of adults are much more difficult to locate and target. But aside from that almost all the other fish species that anglers love to go after are readily available in August.
Another positive is something a lot of folks don’t notice unless they spend a great deal of time on the water. The saltwater high and low tides are quite a bit higher in the summer than in the winter, allowing anglers to search for fish in locations that were unobtainable in the winter.
In the winter the sun is lower in the southern skies and pulls water out of the bays. During the summer the sun is much higher and pulls water in.
Well, sort of. Actually, the sun continually stays right where it is all the time, it’s the tilting earth that makes the sun appear to move higher in the summer skies and lower in the winter.
My favorite thing about August, regardless of the weather, is there’s much less boat and vehicle traffic in the Keys. The long 4th of July weekend is in the past and lobster mini season is also over. Locals suddenly have the Keys to themselves, almost.
And the fishing is fantastic!
PAWsitive Beginnings
Agroup of foxes in Key Largo have been making waves since their arrival in May of 2020. When people think of the Florida Keys, foxes are maybe the last thing that would come to mind. The seven foxes that reside at the non-profit, Pawsitive Beginnings in Key Largo were all saved from the fur trade that is still happening in the United States.
Many people, especially in Florida, do not realize that farming and killing animals for their fur still legally takes place. Roughly 100 fur farms are still in operation today in the U.S.
Pawsitive Beginnings was born with the mission to educate and raise awareness regarding fur farming. Nicole Navarro who is the Executive Director and founder, uses her popular social media platforms to highlight her foxes with the hopes that the world will see that these foxes are individuals, each with their own unique personalities deserving of life.
In 2022, Navarro approached they Key Largo based women’s holistic treatment center, Kinder in the Keys with the idea of using the fox’s stories of survival as a therapeutic tool to show the clients at Kinder that regardless of species, trauma can affect anyone. Executive Director, Joan Lorenzo, agreed to test out this unique concept, and it became apparent that the clients felt a sense of healing and began asking for more visits with the foxes.
When word got out that the foxes of Pawsitive Beginnings were now being used as animal-assisted therapy tool, the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter contacted Navarro to see if a partnership could be created. The children’s shelter began bringing their residents on a weekly basis and once again, it was apparent that the foxes and their stories have the ability to heal and inspire hope. Ben Kemmer, CEO of the children’s shelter said: “Witnessing the transformation and resilience of the foxes allows our children to foster hope, envisioning a future that can be different from their current realities.”
In March 2024, Pawsitive Beginnings was awarded two $10,000 grants for the construction of an unprecedented space. “The Human-Animal Alliance Healing Den”, which is named after one of the granting charities, will be a dedicated therapy office onsite at Pawsitive Beginnings where therapists and counselors can have private sessions either before or after their interactions with the foxes.
Navarro says that “It has been an honor to care for these animals and show the world that they are worth more than the fur on their backs. Being able to give back to the community in such a unique way has been the most humbling experience of my life. Having a front row seat to healing via the human-animal bond will never get old.”
Reef
Nicole Navarro
Kai
Leaders Flies and for Juvenile Tarpon
By: Randy Morrow
Fly fishing for juvenile tarpon from a kayak is terrific fun in the summer. Getting out early (first light) will increase your chances immensely and give you the best fishing before the scorching afternoon heat. My trips this time of year are usually done by noon. Tarpon have a habit of breaking the sur-
face, known as “rolling”, often during early, low-light hours. This is great for us anglers since it gives away their position and direction enabling us to deliver an accurate cast. But then the question becomes, “What do I throw at them?”
Tarpon have a wide variety of food items, and respond well to many types of flies, but the tried and true performers would be flies that emulate shrimp, crabs or baitfish. Furthermore, there are fly patterns that don’t necessarily look like any of these three but seem to consistently work well.
Tarpon like to eat up, so most tarpon patterns have no added weight at all. The juveniles in the Keys are usually in 2 to 5 feet of water so you want a floating fly line. These two criteria will keep your fly high in the water column and get much more action than a fly dragging the bottom. Once in a while I may use a fly with bead chain eyes to get it down a little bit in stiff current, but never any more weight than that.
...(my favorite is the canoeman knot) and you’re in business.
Do a google search for “tarpon toad fly”, “tarpon cockroach pattern”, “tarpon gurgler”, “tarpon marabou fly” and you’ll see flies that don’t specifically mimic an ocean creature, but are very popular and productive patterns, nonetheless.
Hooks should be high-quality and razor sharp. Tarpon have extremely hard and bony mouths, so using cheap hooks will lose you a lot of fish. In the Keys, most guides are using Gamakatzu or Owner hooks exclusively for this reason, and it’s also a good idea to carry a small file in your tackle to touch up hooks on flies that have been fished before.
Oddly, one the most popular color combinations for tarpon flies are black and purple. I say oddly because I don’t know of any black or purple shrimp or baitfish in these waters. But the theory is that the dark colors give a sharper visual profile to the tarpon’s eyes. Regardless of how or why, there’s no question these colors work great, especially around sunrise and sunset. In bright sun, I many times feel I get better results with lighter, more natural colors like white, tan, and olive.
Leaders for juvenile tarpon are a fairly straight-ahead approach - 10 feet or so, all fluorocarbon, all the time with 30lb tippet. If you are fortunate enough to find fish over 30 pounds, you might consider 40lb tippet. Attach your fly with a loop knot (my favorite is the canoeman knot) and you’re in business.
My schedule is light during the summer so if you want to get out there and have some fun with tarpon from a kayak, ring, text or email and we will get after them!
— Randy Morrow, Kayak Fishing Guide | 305.923.4643
LowerKeysKayakFishing.com | Randy@LowerKeysKayakFishing.com
Floaters
By: Capt. Joel Brandenburg
As we head offshore, I commonly tell my clients we are looking for the following:
1 Birds,the bigger and blacker the better.
2 An organized weed line.
3 A floater which I defined as anything floating on the surface bigger than a water bottle.
4 A boat that may have found what we’re looking for and do some “monkey see monkey do.”
Ihave written about how to read birds and troll under birds. I’ve also written about what weed lines to look for and how to troll next to them. I’m going to now write about floaters. Some of the floaters we find offshore are trees, logs, stumps, migrant vessels, tangled up ropes, and buoys, jugs, barrels, boat debris, plane debris, Wooden pallets, boat cushions, and yes, packages. The reason why a floater is so important to find is when a large object is floating in the ocean, it’s like an oasis in the desert. Schools of bait fish hang out underneath the floater to get shade to eat at barnacle crabs, and crest stations and the floater also serves as a pivot point, so bait fish can pivot away from feeding gamefish. Most large floaters have an entire ecosystem under them from the surface of the water straight down to the bottom of the ocean. This is how I fish most floaters. The first thing I do is a troll ballyhoo and plastic baits past the floater. As long as I’m hooking fish, I keep trolling past the floater. Most of the time, I’ll catch several fish trolling past the floater and at some point, we have either caught them all or the ones that are there are not eating and educated. Regardless of the reason, when the bite stops and I’m not catching any fish trolling past the floater the next thing I do is to stop my boat a few feet off of the floater and chum with ballyhoo or squid chunks or live bait fish. Sometimes that brings game fish up from the deep and we start catching them on hook line as they are feeding on chum. Once the bite stops and we don’t see fish coming into our chum, we start vertical jigging. We jig with a medium size vertical jig with a 6 or 8-inch wire leader attached between our main line and our vertical. We drop the vertical jig under the floater and let it sink for
Capt. Joel’sFISHIN’ HOLES
count of 80 Mississippi. Once you’ve counted 80 Mississippi, then you start jigging and reeling violently. The more violent the better. We catch a lot of wahoo vertical jigging under floaters. Here’s a couple examples of what not to do. This week I encountered a couple real nice floaters. Both floaters were holding good quality and a good quality of dolphin. Even though those floaters were productive, we did not get to experience maximum productivity off these floaters because other boats came in and took over. Earlier, I mentioned that the 4th thing we look for was another boat who may have found what we’re looking for and do “monkey see monkey do” that doesn’t mean that we find another boat and do a hostile takeover on their floater. In fact, you should stay at least a football field away from the floater until the boat is done fishing that floater. One floater incident this week was a guy who pulled up in a quad engine center console waited until I trolled 25 yards past this 15-foot floating chunk of fiberglass from a boat that had been delaminated, got within 2 feet of the floater started chumming and vertical jigging. I didn’t say one word to him. I just kept trolling around the floater. Then he starts yelling profanities, calling me an idiot, and telling me to get out of here. It was definitely a hostile takeover of my floater that I had been trolling around for a half an hour. The very next day I found a floater that was a giant waterlogged cushion with barnacles stuck to it. I trolled around the cushion, which by the way was bigger than most coolers and caught a dozen dolphin off of it one bull almost 20 pounds and about a 10-pound cow. A known Captain in Marathon and I won’t mention any names comes up and waits until we’re about 25 yards trolling away from the cushion, races up to the cushion has three customers dropped vertical jigs under the cushion and then gaffs the cushion and pulls it up to the gunnel, takes a knife and opens it up to see what’s inside it. I come up next to him and asked him what do you think you’re doing? He said this looks like a money package, then he says, bro don’t worry if there’s anything valuable in it, I promise I’ll split it with you 50-50. All I can say is I felt violated. I just laughed and drove away. I figured out a long time ago by yelling and screaming, it only makes you feel better and usually doesn’t solve any challenges. Here’s an example of the right way to come in on someone’s floater. Last year, I found a floater that was an old barnacled up half sunken kayak in about 600ft of water. I caught several dolphin off of it, chummed it, and vertical jigged it. Chris Still owner of the Tackle Box and local charter captain was trolling around me 3 football fields away and catching a few dolphin and watching us. I eventually waived him in, and he asked me if I minded him trolling next to it. I told him yes, no problem. His first troll past it he caught a nice wahoo. I wasn’t upset and just like the preacher I take fishing says, “sometimes it just be like that”. Anyway, Capt. Chris handled his approach patiently, courteously, and professionally. Keep your eyes peeled for those oases in the desert.
— 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.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The 2024 lobster mini-season is here and that means coastal waters will be flooded with lobster hunters angling for this year’s bounty.
“Mini-season is a great time for residents and visitors alike, and I want to ensure everyone is aware of the law and has fun in a responsible, and safe manner,” said Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay.
A new website, www.keyslobsterseason.com, includes interactive videos with need-to-know dive and boating safety tips, upto-date rules, and regulations such as daily limits, harvesting techniques, and no-take zones.
Marine thefts commonly happen in the Florida Keys and thieves may see mini-season as an opportunity to target people who aren’t being careful with their valuables. Make sure you remove electronics, fishing, and diving gear from your boat.
Let’s make the 2024 lobster miniseason as safe and fun as we can!
www.keyslobsterseason.com
Crime Stoppers offers a reward for the arrest of anyone in a felony criminal case. If you see anything suspicious, call the Sheriff’s Office immediately! It is our job to check out suspicious activity. Your call may be the one that helps us catch the bad guys!
If you see something you think may be suspicious. Call CrimeStoppers with any crime tips: 1-866-471-8477 Submit tips online at www.floridakeyscrimestoppers.com
FloridaKeys
Dan @floridafishingcouple with a gaffer Mahi!
Don E Medeiros on the Reel Blessed caught this one in 128ft
If you have a catch to brag about send your picture and caption to: flkeys@coastalanglermagazine.com
Christopher Burdette landed this nice Mahi off Marathon
Austin from Texas with his first snook aboard @salwatercowboys
Essex Mominee caught this 30” Mutton kayak fishing off Key West
Returns to Orlando Sept. 5-7
Surf Expo, the premier watersports and coastal lifestyle tradeshow, returns to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., from Sept. 5-7, 2024. Held in the West Concourse, the September event features an expansive selection of exhibiting brands and an exciting lineup of events and networking opportunities.
“We are thrilled about the array of exhibitors that will be at our upcoming September event,” said Surf Expo Show Director Roy Turner. “From the established major brands to the next wave and start-ups, retailers will be able to meet face-to-face with key players and fnd the next new.”
to the preservation of our environment and coastal waterways.
“Surf Expo allows retailers to preview styles from fshing and marine products, top surf brands, hard goods, apparel, footwear, swimwear, boutique fashions, and souvenirs,” adds Turner.
Retailers attend Surf Expo to stock their shelves for adventures on or near the water and fnd the gear and goods to keep customers coming back for more. Whether it is surfng, paddling, fshing, hiking, camping on the beach, wake surfng, tubing or simply soaking up the sun, Surf Expo has everything needed to cater to customers with a passion for waterborne thrills, outdoor adventure or just the sun-loving beach vacationer.
Te Shoreline category at Surf Expo is the hub for brands that specialize in inshore and ofshore apparel and accessory products; sportswear, technical apparel and gear, footwear, outerwear and hardgoods as well as games and accessories to transition from a day on the water to stretching out on land. Tis helps target businesses associated with outdoor amenities and recreation found in lake and beach towns nationwide and ofers crossover opportunities for buyers and manufacturers alike.
Te Surf Expo show foor is organized by product category with complementing cross-selling categories in adjacent aisles making it easy for retailers to navigate so they can easily discover the newest brands and products in person, all while making purchasing decisions.
Chris McCotter from Lake Anna Outftters, Virginia, refects, “As frst-time attendees, we did not know what to expect beyond a strong recommendation to attend from a supplier. Te show was exactly what we needed to take our shop to the next level with the merchandise and brands we wanted to stock.”
A wide range of both returning and new exhibitors will be represented that cater to the watersports, coastal life and outdoor industry such as; ORCA Coolers, GCI Outdoor, Teva, Xtratuf, POP Board Co., Salt Life, Hurley, CHUMS, Salty Crew, Captain Fin, Dark Seas, Howler Brothers, Rip Curl, SUNSKI, Deep Blue Gear, Fish Hippie, Jetty, Hook & Tackle, O’Neill, Reel Skipper, I-SEA Sunglasses, Chubbies, Vissla, Tommy Bahama, DIFF Eyewear, Katin, Outerknown, Free Fly Apparel and many more.
In September, Surf Expo will feature a full schedule including daily fashion shows, retailer learning labs, industry networking events, happy hours and parties.
For more information about the show visit www.surfexpo.com.
50,000 Plus Anglers Strong Promoting TakeAction Initiatives For Preserving Our Fisheries And Supporting Our Community.
At 18’2” in length and with a 70” beam, the Mosquito is a very capable hull for many situations – however it’s designed to do one thing with absolute perfection: silently stalk inshore game fsh in the shallowest coastal waters.
BUST A GULF COAST SCALLOP REPORT
Scallop season is underway for most of Florida’s Gulf Coast, and the reports we are getting so far are mixed—but mostly good—with some areas experiencing outstanding scalloping in terms of numbers, size and water conditions.
Scallops are regionally managed by the state, so diferent zones along the Gulf Coast have diferent seasons, with most remaining open well into September. Tere’s still plenty of time, plenty of scallops and plenty of places to go if you’re interested in an underwater egg hunt. Keep in mind, weather and water conditions can change quickly, and it can dramatically change the prospects for fnding bay scallops. Plan your trip accordingly.
Starting down south in Pasco County, the Anclote River area is apparently on fre this summer. Following a mediocre season last year, we’re hearing people rave about quick limits and good-sized scallops coming from shallow water. Te season opened July 10 in the Pasco Zone, and early on at least one person called it the best scalloping she’s ever experienced. Tese are big scallops, too, and we’ve heard talk of throwing back legal-sized scallops to fnd bigger ones. In mid-July, the shells were in as little as 4 feet of water, and with such a good early season, there should be some lef up until the season closes Aug. 16.
Just to the north, Hernando County scallopers were of to a slow start, but a little farther up the coast, the Crystal River to Homosassa area was very productive. We’re hearing reports of scads of scallops in as little as 3 feet, with a majority of boats concentrating in the 7-foot depths. Te size has been good, and it has apparently been difcult to fnd an undersized shell. With good weather and water conditions, good scalloping should hopefully last until the season closes Sept. 24.
We are also hearing good things farther north out of Keaton Beach and Steinhatchee, where the scallops are apparently very thick and close, although they might be trending smaller this year depending on your location. Limits in an hour or less were reported, with scallops hanging out in grass at 3- to 6-foot depths. Te Fenholloway-Suwannee River Zone opened June 15 and will close on Labor Day.
In the big bend, reports have not been great out of the St. Marks area, where heavy freshwater infux, low salinity and poor clarity are being blamed for scarce fnds during the early season. Some are pointing to better days ahead in late summer. As wind and water conditions change, scallops holed up in the 15-foot depths sometimes shif closer in, where they are easier to fnd. Te Franklin-NW Taylor County Zone remains open until Sept. 24.
Finally, over to Gulf County and Port St. Joe, the season opens Aug. 16 and runs through Sept. 24. Tere’s nothing yet to report, but historically this zone has been a good late-season option for grass fats that haven’t been picked over yet.
For seasons and regulations, go to MyFWC.com.
Commercial Gear for Anglers!
on high alert, and the noises of the day silenced, the bites can be startling and give the impression that the fsh is larger than it is. Tat’s part of the excitement of a topwater bite! I only use this tactic in areas I know well, for safety reasons, of course.
I know wading isn’t for everyone, and night wading is for even fewer anglers, but there are other methods. Fishing from a dock, boat or kayak are all good options. Focusing on dock lights, causeway lights and lighted piers can provide excellent fshing. Many canal homes have lights, both underwater and above the surface, that attract baitfsh, which attract the gamefsh we target. I’d say trout are the most prolifc, but reds and snook can be found mixed in with trout if you have them in your area. I like to target these areas with smaller lures, either a sof-plastic rattling paddletail or a small, hard, lipped bait with or without rattles. I prefer natural colors in some shade of white or clear with some silver mixed in.
I also enjoy fshing granite jetties at night. Setting up for this is a little more work but can yield terrifc results. When jetty fshing, I bring a generator and two 1,500-watt stage lights. Tese areas typically have more current, so my hard-lipped lures may be slightly larger, but I still go with the smallest lure I can work properly in the current. I stick with the same colors as mentioned earlier. Te channel and surf side of the rocks can both be productive depending on the tide, water clarity and bait. I recommend pointing one light in each direction until you determine which area has the best conditions.
Fishing at night brings new challenges, but it can ofer some of the best catches of the summer. If you decide to give one of these three methods a try, remember safety frst and don’t fsh alone. Enjoy some cooler times on the water and be safe.
Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures®, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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STUD AJ IS A SOUTH CAROLINA RECORD!
Fishing out of Murrells Inlet on May 23, angler James Carroll battled in a 129-pound amberjack that is a new South Carolina state record. Here is the story in Carroll’s own words:
We set out from Murrells Inlet, S.C. at the crack of dawn, heading ofshore to the Winyah Scarp area, about 60 miles out. Our goal was to catch some mahi or wahoo. Afer a few hours of trolling along a weed line and the ledge without success, we decided to move closer in and try bottom fshing.
We relocated to a spot about 50 miles ofshore in 100 feet of water. I switched to a Connley Fishing kingfsh rod paired with a Penn Fathom 40, rigged with 80-lb. Momoi Diamond Braid and a two-hook bottom setup.
At this location, we caught vermilion snapper, black sea bass, grunts and porgies, sometimes two at a time. It was a productive day. I began waiting afer getting a bite, hoping to hook a second fsh. While doing this, something big hit the line without getting hooked.
Finally, I hooked a monster fsh. Afer about 45 minutes of fghting, I told my great friend and captain of the Liberty Call, Gordon Jobe, to put the boat in gear to help bring the fsh up in the water column. Around the one-hour mark, we landed what turned out to be a South Carolina state record greater amberjack.
Using a Garmin InReach, we contacted friends onshore to check the state record weight for South Carolina. Tey replied with 123 lbs. We knew we had surpassed that mark but had to wait a few hours to confrm.
Back at the dock, we went to Seven Seas Seafood Market in Murrells Inlet, S.C., to weigh the fsh on their certifed scales. Te fsh weighed in at 129 lbs. and measured 69 inches in length. Afer certifcation by Kris Reynolds, of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the crew at Seven Seas processed the fsh for me.
For more giant fsh, go to coastalanglermag.com
Throw Yourself a Bone
The very best hunting knives possess a perfect balance of form and function. They’re carefully constructed from fine materials, but also have that little something extra to connect the owner with nature. If you’re on the hunt for a knife that combines impeccable craftsmanship with a sense of wonder, the $79 Huntsman Blade is the trophy you’re looking for.
The blade is full tang, meaning it doesn’t stop at the handle but extends to the length of the grip for the ultimate in strength. The blade is made from 420 surgical steel, famed for its sharpness and its resistance to corrosion.
The handle is made from genuine natural bone, and features decorative wood spacers and a hand-carved motif of two overlapping feathers— a reminder for you to respect and connect with the natural world.
This fusion of substance and style can garner a high price tag out in the marketplace. In fact, we found full tang, stainless steel blades with bone handles in excess of $2,000. Well, that won’t cut it around here. We have mastered the hunt for the best deal, and in turn pass the spoils on to our customers.
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• 12” overall length; 6 1/2” stainless steel full tang blade • Genuine bone handle with brass hand guard & bolsters • Includes genuine leather sheath
