Coastal Angler Magazine | December 2022 | Florida Keys Edition

PHOTO

UpSwitzerland

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“[Piezo timepieces]...it would shake the Swiss watch industry to its very foundations.”

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Editor In Chief

Coastal Angler Magazine

The Angler Magazine

www.CoastalAnglerMag.com

TROUT TIPS FOR Wintertime

By Nick Carter

Trout like cold water, but there’s no denying the slow down that occurs on most wintertime trout fisheries. When water temps fall into the low 40s and below, insect life and other food sources are less prevalent. Trout metabolisms slow and they go into energy-conservation mode. They are content to hover near the bottom out of heavy current and feed only when an easy opportunity arises.

That said, fish still need to eat, and intrepid anglers will find joy in the seclusion of a wintertime trout stream. Here are some tips to raise the odds of a great wintertime trout trip. Dress warmly, wade carefully and savor the taste of the ice you suck from your rod guides.

1) Choose Destinations Wisely: Winter is not the time to explore high-elevation brook trout streams. Instead, float a tailwater, where water temps are consistent year-round, or go to lower elevation streams that are a bit warmer. For a target-rich environment, try out a delayed-harvest fishery. They are stocked heavily through the cooler months.

2) Fish Warm Spells: Two or three days of consistently warmer weather are primetime in terms of winter trout fishing. Everything in the stream, from the trout to the bugs and baitfish they eat, perks up.

By the same logic, the best bite is usually during the warmest part of the day. Sun warms the shallows, bringing out the tiny little midges, black stoneflies and blue-winged olives that are wintertime staples. Even if the action is subsurface, trout will take advantage of easy feeding opportunities.

3) Fish Meticulously: Unless trout are visibly rising, subsurface is the way to go. Turn your attention away from the riffles where rainbows pop dry flies in spring, and look to the deeper, slower runs. Pick them apart with nymph rigs. Keep in mind that most winter food items will be small, but fish a variety of sizes and patterns at the same time and cover every inch of each run vertically and horizontally. The idea is to hit a fish in the nose, and this is best achieved fishing slowly and carefully.

If you want to tempt a giant trout, it’s a good time to dead drift a big streamer with the same meticulous patience. Don’t hesitate to fish a heavy streamer deep under an indicator. Sometimes a big mouthful is enough to convince a lock-jawed bruiser to eat.

4) Fish Safely: Flooding your waders can kill you when it’s frigid. During cold snaps, consider fishing near the truck, where a quick jog can put you in a heated cab if you get wet. If you do go into the backcountry, take a dry-bag with fire-starting equipment, a towel and a change of clothes.

Wherever you fish, wade carefully, avoid stepping on frozen-over rocks, kick any snow off your boots before entering the water and avoid taking chances like wading deep water or heavy flows.

Nick Carter is the author of “Flyfisher’s Guide to North Carolina & Georgia.” Contact him at nsc8957@gmail.com.

Berkeley County, South Carolina

Berkeley County is a wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts, sports buffs, 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

Peacock Bass Luxury

Next stop Manaus, Brazil! It all started when my good friend Capt. Johnny Stabile called.

J: I know what you’re going to say before I even ask.

G: What is it?

J: Do you want to go Peacock fishing in Brazil?

G: When?

J: We would leave 13 days after our Alaska trip.

Of course, my response was, “Ok, sounds great!”

That would give me just enough time to get back from Alaska, fulfill orders for my business, and get things ready to head south. We flew out of Miami, and with a layover in Panama City, Panama met up with several other fishermen on the expedition. After a very long night of traveling, we finally landed in Brazil and hopped on a quick seaplane ride to the Rio Matupiri for six and a half days of non-stop fishing!

We stayed aboard the Amazon Legend with a very accommodating crew of 14. We ate like kings and fished hard. Our typical day of fishing consisted of getting up before the sun for a quick breakfast and loading into skiffs to spend the day zipping around to the guide’s best fishing spots. We threw a variety of lures, mostly topwaters like big choppers and walking baits. Johnny’s favorites of the trip were a Rebel Jumping Minnow and a Borboleta Woodstock 10.5 cm. He wore out the peacock bass on that Jumping Minnow. I threw bucktail jigs, and they produced the largest number of fish, but for Johnny it was all about the BIG’UNS!

Johnny loves to fly fish, so one special thing about fishing in Brazil for him was catching several nice fish on the fly rod with easy-to-tie flies that he made myself. These fish are so much more aggressive than the peacock bass you find in south Florida. For a little perspective, we caught more than 350 peacocks and more than 50 piranha along with several other exotic species. The average peacock was 2 to 3 pounds, and Johnny’s biggest weighed more than 8 pounds. One person in our party caught a big peacock that pulled the scales to nearly 14 pounds.

After a long morning of non-stop action, sometimes we would take a quick lunch break and hide in the shade of a tree for a wonderful shore lunch. The guides packed everything for remote meals on land, where they cooked native fare on an open fire. While they cooked, we relaxed in hammocks with

plenty of cold drinks and the opportunity for a quick nap before lunch was served. Many of the fish we caught contributed to these lunches, and there were also steaks and chicken available with all the fixins. Homemade salsa and native seasonings complimented the meals perfectly. After a relaxing lunch, it was back on the skiff and back in the action!

After afternoons of fishing, we indulged in fivestar dining and the most important part of the trip, air conditioning! The crew made up our rooms, did our laundry and prepared dinner every evening. Specialty cocktails were also provided, if that’s your fancy, but Johnny’s favorite was the freshly squeezed juices. He’s already looking forward to the passion fruit juice when we return next year!

Johnny shot some great video of our trip. Check it out in the December edition of The Angler Video Magazine

If you are interested in a Brazilian fishing adventure, e-mail Johnny at captain@ SFLFishingCharters.com or Gary at gary@purgeright.com.

By Capt. Johnny Stabile and Gary Turner

For as long as I can remember, offshore bottom fishing is what we look forward to during the last half of November and the entire month of December. The week of Christmas has always been considered the apex of the bottom-fishing year.

You can see the move of the big snappers marching offshore on the edge of the colder water. This will pile big snapper and other bottomdwelling species up on certain staging areas, along with a clean water temperature line that also stacks up the kings and wahoo. Keep a light line bait out while you’re bottom fishing. There is no telling what you’ll catch and on what baits.

Of course, I love a pinfish, grass grunts or sailors choice for grouper and snapper baits for more than one reason. 1) They get bites from the target species; and 2) they eliminate most of the trash bites from grunts, pinkies and sea bass.

Yes, I love a live bait on a jig, but don’t ever forget that a big grouper also loves a big chunk of cut bait. We have seen a huge uptick in amberjack and almaco jacks in the past few

years for some reason. This is an excellent bait source! I like to keep one of the first, smaller, amberjacks that come up just for this cut-bait option. The big chunks of cut bait do

of my bottom-fishing strategy. This is also the reason I take a couple boxes of squid on every trip. I start every new post-up on a ledge or live bottom area with everyone firing down whole squid every drop. I don’t care what they are catching. It’s usually grunts, pinkies or seabass, but what is really happening on the bottom is the squid are being ripped to shreds and small pieces are swirling around and creating a chum slick. After several volleys of whole squid, I change it up to live pinfish, grass grunts or other live baits on a jig.

Grouper and big snapper see the live bait as a smaller fish that was grabbed by a crab while feeding on small pieces of squid. It’s a winning technique that has been very successful for me and other Decoy Jig users for years now. It is also new to the fish, tackle-wise.

two things. They get bites and they also create a “chum slick” on the bottom right where you are fishing. When the cut bait gets pecked at, all the small pieces of flesh swirl around as it’s being eaten.

This is one of the most important aspects

The beauty of this cold water line moving farther offshore with every cold front creates opportunity for a variety of species. You never know; keep firing down cut bait and setting the hook on “strange feeling bites,” and you might even catch a big deep-water lobster like the one in the video below.

Check out some awesome bottom fishing videos at https://youtu.be/w1YmT6M0ObQ.

Tim Barefoot

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LIMITED GOLIATH GROUPER HARVEST OPENS MARCH 1

grouper for the table.

e harvest will be very limited and tightly regulated, and permits will be issued by random drawing of applicants who applied during the Oct. 15-30 deadline. e cost to apply was $10 plus fees and permit at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.

Details for this limited, highly regulated harvest include:

• Total recreational harvest of up to 200 goliath per year, with a maximum of 50 from Everglades National Park.

• A goliath harvest permit and tag, issued via a random-draw lottery ($150 for residents, $500 for non-residents, plus fees) are required to participate. Permits and tags are non-transferable and no exemptions apply.

• A limit of one sh per person per open season with permit and tag.

• An open season from March 1 through May 31.

• Hook-and-line as the only allowable gear.

• A slot limit of 24-36 inches total length.

• Post-harvest requirements including proper application of the tag, reporting harvest data and submitting a n clip for genetic analysis.

• Harvest will be permitted in all state waters except those of Martin County south through the Atlantic coast of the Keys, all of the St. Lucie River and its tributaries, and Dry Tortugas National Park.

• Harvest will continue to be prohibited in federal waters.

“ e highly regulated, limited take of goliath grouper is an exciting and unique opportunity to provide access to this resource a er decades of closure, and we believe limited access is sustainable,” said FWC Commissioner Robert Spottswood. “We also look forward to collecting the post-harvest data to help guide future management decisions for this species.”

In October, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission opened the application process for recreational harvest of goliath grouper in Florida state waters. Harvest of the species was banned when the shery collapsed, and the 2023 spring season will be the rst time since 1990 that recreational anglers will have an opportunity to keep a goliath

is opportunity is intended to provide additional access to this shery while balancing the values of various stakeholder groups. Adult goliath grouper will continue to be prohibited from harvest statewide as well as goliath in heavy dive ecotourism areas. is limited harvest is not intended to address shing depredation concerns.

For more information about the goliath grouper harvest permit and details on the permit lottery and eligibility requirements, visit FWC’s Goliath Grouper Harvest Permit webpage.

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’Tis e Season for Gulf Coast Hogfish

With their oddly shaped mouths and a diet made up of crustaceans and mollusks, hog sh were once thought to be a species too di cult to target with rod and reel. All that changed over the last decade or so, as captains gured out how to speci cally target these delicious and beautiful bottom-feeders.

Wintertime is the best time to target hog sh on the Gulf Coast. From late November into March, they congregate on nearshore reefs and ledges to spawn, which makes them a great option in a season when rough weather can prohibit long runs to deep water.

Hog sh are protogynous hermaphrodites, which means they are all born female and change into males as they age. A single male will tend a harem of numerous females, which means nding good hog sh bottom can result in quick limits of ve sh per angler, but few of them will be large mature males. ere is a 14-inch minimum size limit in Florida, and hog sh of 18 or 20 inches are considered very good sh.

is time of year, dozens of hog sh can be found congregating together on reefs, rockpiles, and hardbottom in 50 to 75 feet of water. In most places, this can be found inside of 20 miles o shore. A prominent ledge with lots of growth is prime hog sh habitat. ey like to hover around reefs and use their long snouts to

probe cracks or root in the sand for critters like sand eas, crabs and snails.

Once you nd them, the secret to catching hog sh is pretty simple. Like just about anything else that swims, they are suckers for shrimp. Big live shrimp, fresh dead shrimp and even stinky thawed shrimp are irresistible. Just leave it right on the bottom, where a hog sh is likely to nd it while rummaging around in the sand. e rigs used to catch hog sh are also pretty simple. A knocker rig with a 1- or 2-ounce slip-sinker right up against a 1/0 circle hook will keep that shrimp right on the bottom. A half or 1-ounce circle-hook jig head will do the same thing. Some successful captains swear by hogballs, which are painted weights tethered to a hook by a small chain.

Regardless of the rig, you don’t need to go too light because hog sh aren’t particularly leader shy. A 5000 series reel with a comparable rod and 25-pound braid to a 30-pound leader is enough to haul even the largest hog sh up from depth. e trickiest part of catching hog sh is getting a good hook-set. You’ll want a little bit of slack in the line, which allows them

to pull that shrimp into their snout. Typically, you might feel or see a subtle rst bump, which will be followed by a second bump as they actually take the bait. Allow the sh to pull the line tight before reeling down and swinging the rod to drive the hook home.

For more information, go to coastalanglermag.com.

PhotoS courtesy of Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

Surf Expo is gearing up for its upcoming in-person trade show to be held Jan. 4-6, 2023 in Orlando, Fla. at the West Hall of the Orange County Convention Center.

Surf Expo’s January show has become known as a one-stop shop to preview and get a rst-hand look at the latest and greatest apparel and accessories that will lead the industry in 2023.

A few of the brands featured in the Bluewater section are AFTCO, HUK, Toad sh, Marsh Wear, Bajio, Dark Seas, Salty Crew, i-Sea, XTRATUF, CHUMS, Hey Dude, KEEN, Guy Harvey, Saltwater Born, Kangaroo Coolers, Reel Legends, Bimini Bay Out tters, Lake Time Supply Co, Coyote Eyewear USA, Skinny Water Culture, Croakies, Preston 1947 by Ebinger Bros, Tormenter Ocean and many more.

ere are quite a few new brands you’ll nd in Bluewater making their Surf Expo debut, including Grateful Diver, Red n, Palmetto Chair & Umbrella, Push to Star, Boat Bitch Apparel, Burnside, Columbia SPG and more.

e Bluewater section was designed with the buyer in mind—so they can see all the key inshore and o shore apparel and accessory brands in one

location. ey’ll nd products ranging from lifestyle and technical apparel to footwear, outerwear, sportswear, t-shirts, sunglasses, gear and lots more.

Steven “Fish” Fisher, Surf Expo’s senior buyer relations manager works directly with buyers from marinas, out tters, boat dealers and bait & tackle shops, “ ere’s a de nite need for product, people from Florida and across the U.S. as well as the Caribbean, Puerto Rico and all over the globe are registering and excited to come,” he said.

“We work hard to listen to and take care of all our customers, including brand exhibitors and retail buyers,” said Emerald SVP and Surf Expo Show Director Roy Turner. “We are thrilled that the winter show continues to grow post pandemic and are excited to welcome an impressive list of brands to Orlando.”

Features of the show will include the Bluewater Lounge, the 2023 Florida Shape O , educational sessions led by e Underswell’s Derek Sabori and Retail Smart Guys’ own Dan Jablons, plus fashion shows, happy hours and networking events. Surf Expo will be announcing its full line up of special events in the coming weeks.

Registration is free for quali ed buyers. For more information, contact steven. sher@surfexpo.com. For more information on the upcoming show, visit www.surfexpo.com.

By Will Schimdt

A mackerel’s ability to slice through line as if they were wielding a set of Ginsu knives leaves many anglers frustrated a er losing tackle. But if you target these speedsters with the right equipment, they can make for a fun day of action packed shing.

I like light spinning like a GLoomis GLX PR844 with a 2500 Stradic or an 8-weight NRX y rod with a Nautilus NVG 8/9 with Scienti c Angler sinking line. Chances are anything less than 30-lb. mono will be shredded immediately, so it is imperative to use wire leader when mackerel are around. Even then, they are known for hitting the line at the swivel connection from wire to mono, so it’s best to have several rigs ready. Also, make sure your swivels are black and not silver, these guys like shiny things. All that said, a spoon or a small jig rigged on wire will usually last a while.

Best of all, once mackerel move in, they are typically found right in the passes to within a few miles of the beach. I nd the sh o shore tend to be larger, so I like to target them. A 3-pound mack will make a blistering rst run that is reminiscent of a bone sh, and they are much less spooky than bones. e easiest way to nd them is to look for birds working. at’s a tell-tale sign. Reefs and good hard bottoms that hold bait are great places to search, as well. ese types of spots can be trolled or chummed to keep the action close to the boat. A standard chum bag will bring the school well within casting range for both conventional and y shermen. Just throw out something shiny, move it fast and you’ll hook up quickly.

Mackerel get a bad rap as table fare, as they are oily and can be strong tasting. at oiliness makes them perfect for smoking, and that, too, could not be easier. Simply llet the sh, leaving the skin on. Salt them liberally and let them rest in the refrigerator for about an hour. Rinse the salt o and add some Cajun seasoning to the sh and smoke over indirect heat at 250 degrees for about two hours. It is done when it akes easily o the skin. Smoked mackerel tastes great on its own in a salad or rice bowl, and it’s fantastic when made into sh spread.

As the water temperatures drop this time of year, bait sh shows up in force. Pods of bait sh are followed closely by schools Spanish mackerel. is o en-overlooked speedster is viewed as nuisance by some anglers, but mackerel are a blast on light tackle and y rods if you gear up correctly.

If you are looking for some hot action with minimal work, grab some wire and enjoy the return of the mack.

Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler who has been writing about shing for more than two decades.

TIPS FROM A PRO

JERKBAITS AND BAITFISH

TYLER WOOLCOTT

Ajerkbait is a good idea whenever bait sh are plentiful. A jerkbait’s natural movement, size and resemblance to what the sh are already eating make this bait deadly.

ere are many scenarios I would consider good times to throw a jerkbait. One of the best situations you can encounter is when sh are actively feeding on bait sh and schooling. When bass are doing this, throwing a natural-bait sh-colored, shallowdiving jerkbait is an awesome way to replicate a dying bait sh. It at out gets bit, even when you can’t nd anything else they will touch.

Another awesome way to use a jerkbait is to blind cast in areas where bass are staged up and feeding. If you can identify bait sh already in an area, this makes the scenario even better. A lot of times this pattern sets up along grass lines, rip-rap banks and in pockets close to areas bass use to spawn. Depending on water clarity, I like a naturalcolored jerkbait or one with a little bit of chartreuse. Use a shallow or deep-diving jarkbait to match the depth you’re targeting.

Jerkbaits are also a great option for bass that are suspended with bait. Typically these sh are less pressured because they are harder to nd. You’ll need to spend some time searching with your electronics, but nding

this scenario and knowing how to target the bass can line up as some of the most fun shing you can imagine.

is can happen anywhere, but typically it occurs on points and pockets where sh can ambush the bait easier.

I use forward sonar a er I locate an active area and use the jerkbait to imitate the bait these sh are chasing in the water column. Typically, a shallow-diving jerkbait like a 13 Fishing Loco Special will work absolute wonders if you can get a sh to see it amongst the other bait sh.

Picking colors can get a bit confusing, as there are so many di erent options. I keep this decision as simple as possible and use only two di erent colors… ever. 13 Fishing makes a lot of natural colors as well as colors that stand out in dirty water. My go-to color is Casper Shad; it’s one of the most natural shad patterns you can get. Another color they make that is awesome in stained water is Neon Disco Shad.

With jerkbaits, I like a shorter rod, something between a 6’10” and a 7’. Actionwise, I like a medium-fast, which allows the sh to get the bait when you feel them hit it. e 13 Fishing Omen Black 6’10” MF is absolutely perfect. Reel selection doesn’t need to be too complicated. A 7:0:1 ratio allows you to work the bait and pick up line at the perfect pace. For line, I like 10- to 12-poundtest, and Seaguar Invizx uorocarbon is a very good line for the job.

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

Happy Holidays

By: Capt. Greg Poland

Ihope you have been getting out on the water with all this beautiful weather we have had lately. The fishing both in the backcountry and around the keys has been on fire and my clients have been catching everything from bonefish to baby tarpon. The live bait has been plentiful out there making it easy to load up your live well, grab a fly rod, and get out on the water. I have been finding lots of finger mullet and pilchards both here in the Islamorada area and around the Flamingo area, so if you don’t find them close to home, I bet you will on your ride into the Backcountry. As a backup plan, I always carry various soft plastics which have been working almost as good as the live bait. I like to use a 2-4ft piece of fluorocarbon just above the hook and we are usually fishing with a 12-15lb spinning outfit on a 7ft rod.

As the cold fronts start coming through, one of my favorite species will start showing up and it will be game on for action packed fishing out on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico, so check out next month’s article for some tricks on how to fish out that way for spanish mackerel.

Last year at this time, I was looking for something cool to give the kids next door. They are so into fishing much like I was at their age, so I visited Islamorada Fishing Outfitters and had Randy Towe build my two fishing buddies Blue Custom Rods just like I use on board my Contender. Check out my next-door neighbor getting ready to go fishing with his broth er and parents down at our local homeowner’s park. If you are looking for something for the neighborhood kids this year, get them a fishing rod instead of an electronic gadget! You never know but you might just be living down the street from the next local Charter Fishing Captain - I get the feeling I am.

— Contact Capt. Greg at 305.393.3327 or email gregpoland@icloud.com

Capt. Greg Poland

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

gregpolandphotography.com gregpolandstudios.com

December In The Keys

By: Capt. Bruce Andersen

Here we are.

Winter has fi nally rolled around, and the fishing is changing every day. Shifting into the winter patterns. It’s a great time to go out fishing down here. This time of year, has always been one of my favorite times to fish and live in the keys. We’ve got pelagic preda tors charging down the edge of the reef chasing enormous schools of bait, swarms of Span ish mackerel, schools of mangrove snapper and packs of cobia showing up around the wrecks out in the gulf, and an awesome combination of bottom and reef fishing for various types of snapper and grouper everywhere from the shallow patch reefs all the way out to the deep drop grounds.

With the days getting shorter and the temperatures cooling down the fishing slowly changes and gives all kinds of opportunities for amazing ac tion. One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to look for sailfish chasing bait up on top of the reef. In addition to the sails, you can also find dolphin and a mix of other sportfish chasing schools of ballyhoo. Look for frigate birds diving down to catch the ballyhoo being chased to the surface. From far away it will appear as white water on the surface, usually moving in the direction the sportfish is traveling. When you get close all of the splash ing baitfish will sound like a huge shower has been turned on. This is why we call them bait showers. Various types of live bait can work, but it’s best to match what they’re chasing so casting a live ballyhoo is usually the way to go. When you get close you can often make out the sailfish just under the surface and sometimes will even see him slash at the ballyhoo with his bill. When it all comes together it’s one of the most exciting types of fishing you can find anywhere.

Whether you’re out there chasing ballyhoo showers or getting in on any of the other types of fishing available this time of year there’s no doubt that not much can beat fishing in the Florida Keys this time of year!

— 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

Jack Attack

By: Caitlyn Gatrell

If you are a saltwater angler, then you know these fish give their hardest fight when reeling them in! Jack Crevalle, to me, are some of the tough est saltwater fish species, always putting up a strong fight no matter the size. I remember my first time catching them, where we would wake up in the early hours of the morning, get on the water when the sun starts to wake up, cast net our live pilchards, and then head straight to the bridge, ripping them up one after another. I would probably have to say this species of fish is what truly got me hooked to fishing. The fights were intense while reel ing them up, feeling like I could almost fall in as they fought hard to swim away, while also having the current act as another obstacle. At this point in my fishing career, I have caught numerous jacks, ranging from big to small, but I can say that reeling them in never gets boring. I also am pretty good at being able to tell when I have a jack on before I see it. The fight is pretty recognizable for me, especially the head shaking.

I have caught and seen jacks in a great variety of places, ranging in my fishing experiences in the Backcountry up in the Everglades/Ten Thousand Islands area. I have been able to capture them in deep cuts, shallow waters, mangrove areas, flats, boat ramps, marinas, docks, and even out in the open with no surrounding structure. They definitely seem to have an abundant population as most spots I travel to, I almost always catch one. I have noticed some with other species as well, such as along the tarpon and sharks at Rob bie’s in Islamorada, or even near some gators at the Port of the Isles Marina, close to Everglades City.

As much as I seem to catch these fish over and over, I do enjoy them, and have developed some good and funny memories with my jack fishing experiences. One specifically, I was fighting a jack on a boat in the middle of a deep cut in the Ten Thousand Islands, when I tried to get around the bimini as the fish was turning me quickly, I fell straight in the deep and murky water! Still fighting the fish, and having to be pulled up, where once I got back in, terrified and soaked from head to toe, I was able to bring it in. Definitely a crazy memory for sure, as I have noticed sharks and gators swim quite often in the exact area I fell in!

Cooler Temps

By: Eric Henson

Well, the weather has cooled down a bit, but that doesn’t mean the fishing will be cooling down! In fact, it can turn the heat of fishing up if you plan your fishing trips at the right time. So, let’s get ready to enjoy some cooler air and catch some fish!

SNOOK- Look for big numbers of these fish hiding out in the backwaters trying to stay warm. Unfortunately, Snook are probably the most heavily affected by cold weather. If they spend too much time in water temps in the low to mid 50’s they will start to go belly up. That is why they like to spend this time of year either on the darker bottom sea floor or even push back into freshwater springs where temps stay around 72 all year, but when you get on them you are ON THEM! Just please do your best to release them quickly and as healthy as possible because of their vulnerability at this time of the year.

TROUT- They absolutely flourish in the cooler temps and even pre fer it. Look for lots of these fish in the shallows or little deeper potholes. They will be there waiting patiently for their prey to come to them. This making them a great species to sight fish at this time of year. And don’t be surprised to catch your personal best at this time! The big fe males “aka Gator Trout” will be fattening up before their spawn.

REDFISH- You can still find these fish grouped up, but I really key in on singles and doubles cruising the flats. With their colors sometimes being bright reddish/ bronze; it makes them easier to spot or sight fish.

As we get into our busy season with our friends from the north migrating for the winter, please practice safe catch and release han dling skills when not harvesting the fish. Be safe out there and have a wonderful time!

Bye, Hurricane Ian

By: Beth Steele

This month was a crazy one. Hur ricane Ian did a lot of damage to Florida. All of the captains and my friends that were af fected have stayed in my prayers. Thankfully, I had minimal damage to my house in The Keys.

I had some gravel wash out with the surge and my freezer where I keep all my catches and baits was struck by lightning. I didn’t realize it had been hit, so when I went out the following week end to get ready for a trip offshore, I was met with an unexpected sur prise. I’d like to thank the Tackle Center for some good bait that came in pretty clutch after the freezer mishap. I was able to grab some great Sword and Ballyhoo bait. With the amount of destruction, I am really hoping this was the only hurricane to hit Florida landfall for 2022.

On a brighter note, stone crab season is here. There is nothing better

than some good claws. I typically pull my traps ev ery week after a good soak. I like to use pigs feet and fish heads that have been saved and stored from my sum mer catches. This past week, I was surprised to see a few lobsters and even a small shark that I released.

I didn’t get offshore as much as I would have liked due to the weather. With the one trip I was able to get in, I made it count. I got a nice swordfish and stopped for a little deep dropping on the way back in. I also caught a beautiful queen snapper to end the day…I’d call it a successful trip.

It was really great to see a lot of my favorite captains in The Keys when I was able to make it down this month. Many of them have had some amazing catches and it’s clear the Swords are biting! The Holidays are always a busy time for me and my businesses. With Thanksgiving and Christmas creeping up, it’s time to get out there and catch some beauties!

Here Fishy Fishy!

— Beth’s Burger Bar | www.bethsburgerbar.com

11:42 1.1 10:40 1.9 5:07 -0.1 4:04 0.6 6:59 5:40

Crustacean biologists are investigating stone crab movement throughout the Florida Keys. Stone Crabs caught in our fisheries-in dependent monitoring traps are being tagged and released into nearby waters, from Marathon to Key West. To date, they have tagged over 2,000 crabs!  Please look out for tagged stone crabs. The tags are placed by the back leg, chartreuse yellow and have a unique 4-digit number. We hope to get enough tag reports from commercial and recre ational fishermen to estimate how far crabs are trav eling and the direction of their movement. This data will help to fill in knowledge gaps and may result in a greater statewide tagging effort.  If you catch a tagged stone crab, please DO NOT remove the tag before returning it to

their molt phase. Please send a picture of your

4-digit number showing. Call/text (786)-492-0137 or email:  tagreturn@myfwc.com.

Favorite Time of The Year

By: Capt. Chris Johnson

There’s an abun dance of fine fishing to choose from, which is why December is my Number Two favor ite time of year to fish in the Florida Keys. Number One is the month of May. Come back and read our May article to find out why.

As the waters to the north chill, wintertime fish visitors crowd the reefs, wrecks and bay side. And there’s some thing for everyone.

Sailfish probably tops most people’s list as the fish to target. The key to catching sailfish is live bait, and the primary live bait to use is ballyhoo.

Start your day of sailfish fishing by catching your ballyhoo first thing in the morning on the patch reefs and shallow grassy areas. To get the ‘hoo to the boat, chum the waters with Bionic double-ground. Catch them by using hair hooks, small bits of shrimp and squid or by throwing a cast net on them.

Take great care when boating the ballyhoo. Try not to touch them too much between catching them and placing them in the live well. The most effective baits are those that have suffered the least amount of damage.

Once you’re loaded up with ballyhoo, head out to the deep edge of the reef in 100 to 130 feet of water or wherever you find a good, clean water break. Stagger the baits out behind the boat and drift parallel to the reef, waiting for the sailfish to find the ballyhoo. If your ballyhoo jumps out of the water, get ready for the sailfish bite.

When sailfish fishing, the SeaSquared crews use 20lb spinning gear with 40lb fluorocarbon leaders and 20lb main test line with a 6/0 Owner SSW Inline Circle Hook.

While waiting for the sailfish, quite often you’ll get bites from other win tertime visitors, such as blackfin tuna and dolphin, plus toothy critters that include king mackerel and wahoo. For the toothy ones, include a short trace

of #6 wire to prevent breakoffs.

The main reef line is where you’ll find the best yellowtail and mutton snapper action. The 40- to 60-foot depths are typically a good starting point. This area should be alive with yellowtail snappers along with the reemer gence of nice black groupers, mutton snappers and even some cobias.

Establish a quality chum slick and let the fish come to you. The yellow tails are best caught using small pieces of ballyhoo or shrimp. For the mut tons and groupers, use heavier conventional tackle with live baits, such as pilchards, ballyhoo or pinfish.

The patch reefs come into their own this time of year, with lots of action on mangrove snappers, keeper size yellowtails and red groupers. The same tactics employed for yellowtails on the reef work here, but you’re fishing in much shallower water at 20 to 25 feet.

Hawk Channel also gets active during December. You’ll find everything from snappers and groupers to cero, king and Spanish mackerel, porgies and, again, the occasional cobia. Live shrimp fished on a jighead on or near the bot tom coral humps and bumps should produce instant action. This is great fishing for kids or anyone looking for lots of action with excellent table fare as a bonus.

Not to be overlooked are the Florida Bay and Gulf of Mexico areas. As these waters cool, king and Spanish mackerel, African and Florida pompano and cobia join the snappers that are prevalent in these venues.

Live bait is key for the king mackerel and cobia. These bayside kings are typically less fussy than the ones on the Atlantic and will happily eat pinfish as will the cobia. Just remember to use a trace of #6 wire to prevent bite-offs from the kingfish.

The pompano, snappers and Spanish mackerel will all readily eat live shrimp. While fishing for these, you’ll also find plenty of bluefish and jack crevalle.

For those interested in bigger fish on light tackle, sharks await you en masse. Blacktips, spinners, bulls, black noses and the occasional lemon all respond well to chunks of jack crevalles, bluefish, bluerunners. Sharks are great fun on light spin or conventional tackle. We like to use 9/0 Owner SSW Inline Circle Hooks to prevent harming the sharks so they can be released for someone else to enjoy. The gift that keeps on giving.

The SeaSquared crew wishes you and yours a joyous holiday season filled with family, friends and some great fishing!

— Capt. Chris Johnson | SeaSquaredCharters.com | 305-393-2929 Facebook.com/MarathonFishing | Marathon Florida Keys

Getting Jiggy With It

By: Capt. Angelia Swanson

Upon moving to the Florida Keys years ago

I experimented with a wide array of fishing styles offshore. One that fascinated me was high speed deep water ver tical jigging. This tech nique is usually used on our “humps” and wreck sites. As I watched men use this technique, I couldn’t wait to try it for myself, but I had trou ble with it. Men have much more upper body strength than women and high-speed jigging in 350 plus feet of water requires just that. So, I

jigging properly and that took some time to get the hang of. It’s the downward flutter of the jig that attracts the fish deep below and entices them to hit it. After much practice I finally got it down pat and it opened up a whole new experience for me. Catching BIG Amberjack! There is a reason the Amberjack carries the nickname “Reef Donkey”. They are fighters! Wrestling a Reef Don key is just that, a wrestling match like none other. Once one of these big fish hits, it’s ON! They will run a hundred yards of line out on you in record time and fighting them to the surface is truly a battle. They will dig down hard and bend your rod right over like no other fish I have experienced, so make sure you are using a rod that can handle such extreme action. My rod of choice is a Team Rainshadow RCKJB700 built by Believers Custom Rods. It can handle these beasts with ease and the action on this rod is simply incredible. Once you have one hooked is when the real battle begins, and it is tough work. No matter how hard a fighter is on the end of your line, you have to get that big boy to the surface as quickly as possible or the many sharks living with them deep below will make an easy meal of them and all of your effort will be for naught. Disappointment is a part of fishing the avid angler gets used to, but if you do manage to get it to the surface successfully, sit back and enjoy the thrill ing rush of adrenaline that makes all your hard work worth it! That adrenaline rush is so addictive that you will be dreaming of the next epic fight.

You can find videos of me using this technique on my Florida Salty Cow

Capt. Joel’s Fishin’ Holes WINTER CHARTERS

By: Capt. Joel Brandenburg

e charter offshore, deep sea, electric deep drop, big game, trolling in our 53ft or 45ft Hatteras and even our 30ft Grady White for mahi, tuna, wahoo, swordfish, sailfish, mar lin, snowy grouper, tile fish, queen snapper, wreck fish and many other species. We also offer flats fishing, back country, sight fishing, fly fish ing, light tackle, in our 24ft Proline Flatback or our 17ft Mako flats boat for bonefish, permit, pompano, snook, tarpon, redfish and many other species. We also offer a third option which is the reef and wreck fishing either anchoring and chumming or drifting over reef or wrecks typi cally in our 25ft Dusky or our 30ft Grady White targeting several species of snapper, grouper, mackerel and even African pompano, permit and cobia. During the winter months we do a lot of reef and wreck because many days it’s to windy and/or wavey to go offshore and the flats and back country is too murky and stirred up to do any sight fishing. A typical day of reef and wreck fishing would be heading out about 7 miles from Ana Banana Marina near Vaca Cut in Marathon Florida Keys. We head out straight south and anchor on the largest living reef in the world near Sombrero light house. Depending on where the best bite is, we’ll anchor as shallow as 20ft and as deep as 100ft. We do best between 70ft and 85ft. We anchor with a claw anchor rigged with zip ties to the chain so when we go to pull it up and when the anchor gets stuck in the reef the anchor will trip and reverse out and not damage our precious

Wreef. We also pull it up with a ball and ring which saves my first mates back too. Once we are anchored, the first thing we do is evaluate the wind and drift current. Some days the chum flows to the left or right or center behind the boat. Any of those drifts are great and best for fishing, bottom dropping, flat lining or balloon free lining, etc. Unfortunately, sometimes the wind and drift current collide and come together head-to-head.

The reason this scenario is unfortunate, is because with this scenario your chum line is running back up your anchor line and that spooks the fish back so far in your chum line you can’t get a bait to them. In that case we like to bridle our anchor line and turn our boat as hard as 180 degrees into the current and set or chum ring bag away from the anchor line so as to get a clean chum line that will bring fish closer to our boat. Once we get our boat and chum line set, we like to immediately send down a bottom rig for grouper (shorter leader 3ft) or Mutton snapper (long lead er 30ft) with the appropriate size egg sinker to hold the bottom depending on the speed of the current. While we have an angler or two bottom fishing on opposite mid aft positions, we’ll have some anglers against the stern ready to flat line for yel lowtail snapper and whatever else wants to hit their flat lines. The art of flat lining is simple. Your goal is to make your bait look like a piece of chum. You want your bait to flow and go at the same rate and speed as the current is taking the chum. With flat lining your line is always going out or coming in. You are never flat lining with your bail closed waiting for a bite. You always go with the flow. We also call flat lining bayou fishing, because everyone else is fishing by you. Half the battle with flat lining is keeping everyone’s lines apart. Each angler has to choose a lane and stay in their lanes. Yellowtail snapper are very picky fish. For example: sometimes they look at a bait for a minute or two. If they see it tick or stop the will turn off of your bait (it’s got to flow naturally.) or if we use to heavy of fluorocarbon mono leader, they spook out (12lb to 17lb works best). We like to present one flat line initially. Once we get our first or second yellowtail landed then we’ll introduce flat line number two and have both lines going out. Then we wait until we get a double hook up. Once we’ve landed a double or two, then we’ll introduce a third line and even a fourth line. It’s hard to keep any more than four flat lines separated. We use larva weighted hooks also called yellowtail jigs. The weight of the hook is determined by the speed of the current. Less current less weight, more current more weight. Again, your goal is to present your bait as a piece of chum.

We use squid, ballyhoo, shrimp, pilchards, glass minnows, bonita belly, mullet gizzards, chicken gizzards, chicken hearts and many other baits. It’s good to travel out with several bait options. Yellowtail could have loved squid yesterday, but to day they like mullet gizzards and tomorrow they might like shrimp only, yellow tail are very finicky creatures. When the tide goes slack, we like to pull anchor and drift wrecks in 100ft to 300ft deep. The reason we like to drift fish wrecks during slack or slackish tide is because it makes it a lot easier to keep our lines straight up and down. Our favorite bait is live bait. Many times, ballyhoo will school in our chum line on the reef, and we’ll cast net them or Bally hoop them and bring them out to drop and drift the wrecks and also free line some out on top. I could write a lot more about reef and wreck, but Phil only gives me 600 words..lol!

— 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.

Florida Keys

Heather Born with a nice catch off the coast of Key Largo

This beauty was brought up on the Ana Banana Fishing Charter boat operated by Capt. Joel Brandenburg out of Marathon

Beth Steele landed a nice Cobia off the coast in Islamorada

Capt. Angelia Swanson, better known as the Florida Salty Cowgirl, reeled in this Reef Donkey

This Grouper was brought in on Capt. Bruce Andersen’s boat Capt. Easy Charters

Caitlyn Gatrell with a nice Jack caught in the Backcountry

What Did We Name Our Boats in 2022?

With recreational boating season coming to a close across much of the country, BoatUS compiled a list of the top-10 boat names ordered this season through its online boat graphics service. Here are the rankings.

1) Andiamo: Meaning “let’s go/we go /come on” in Italian, Andiamo remains in the No. 1 spot from last year’s list. It’s also a happy refrain heard from the person behind the helm as they put the throttle down and head to open waters.

2) Osprey: is year was the rst time Osprey has made the top10. In a unique twist, Osprey bumped last year’s No. 2 boat name, Social Distancing, completely o the list. ’Nu said, right?

3) Serenity: is No. 3 name is so popular it has made the top 10 seven times since 2010, tying the record with Second Wind. Yep, you guessed it – both are popular with sailboat owners.

4) Encore: Also a newcomer to the top-10 this year, Encore may be the boat name of choice for an entertainer. Or, it could indicate the “next” boat – either satisfying the three-foot-itis or scaling down, or maybe even coming back to boat owning a er a hiatus.

5) Zephyr: Last appearing on the top-10 in 2010, sailors will welcome this reference to a gentle breeze back to the list.

6) Second Wind: Is this boat named for a new chapter in life or achievement? A comeback? A new strength? We’ll never know for sure, but gosh is it perennially popular.

7) Adventure: A boat with this name is usually out of the slip every weekend putting miles of water under the keel.

8) Knot on Call: is boat name serves as a notice that on-the-water time can’t be tampered with. Of unique importance, the owner of this boat can silence their cellphone ring in just under two seconds.

9) Shenanigans: Quit fooling around. Shenanigans are a part of every boating culture.

10) Grace: In its fourth appearance on the top-10 boat names list since 2010, Grace likely holds deep meaning for vessels with beautiful lines or for those that navigate with nesse. is is the one boat in the marina that also makes docking look easy.

For a look at all of the BoatUS Top-10 Boat Names lists over the years, visit BoatUS.com/BoatNames.

This Isn’t the PANFISH of Your Youth

By Rex Hannon

More o en than not, pan sh were the sh that introduced most anglers to the sport. e term “pan sh” is used to describe any of the commonly found species that usually never grow bigger than the size a frying pan. Most of them are legal to keep, regardless of size.

ese are species known as sun sh, bluegills, red eyes, rock bass, pumpkinseeds and countless other names, o en depending on the region. But this article is about a di erent kind of pan sh, and one that was naturally found only in other countries.

e Mayan cichlid is native to southeastern Mexico and the waters of Central America’s Honduras, Belize, Nicaragua and Guatemala. e rst reported non-indigenous population was recorded here in Florida Bay in 1983. Due to their adaptability and south Florida’s favorable climate and water conditions, they now can be found in great numbers from the canals in Miami to the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, and almost all inland waters between.

Mayan cichlids are a freshwater species, but are known to thrive under a variety of environmental conditions, from a wide range of salinity to low oxygen conditions, and therefore can inhabit most waters in this region.

is oval-shaped sh has spiny anal and dorsal ns, and it ranges in color from olive green to a light brown, with darker vertical bars. During breeding season, their colors become vibrant, and their throats and n edges glow bright red to orange, which earned them the nickname “atomic sun sh” or “orange tiger.” Similar to their cousins the peacock bass and the oscar, they sport a black spot and ring on the tail to confuse predators. e Mayan’s spot is black with a turquoise ring.

Mayan cichlids are a very attractive sporting species that o ers strong ghts on light and y shing tackle. Mayans readily take a variety of natural baits as well as small arti cial lures and ies. e countless canals, lakes and neighborhood ponds of south Florida are full of these amazing little ghters and many other species. I am a y sherman, and Clouser’s Minnow or any small bait sh pattern, along with a Gurgler work well for this aggressive feeder.

I would recommend an out t in the 7/8 weight range, because cichlids share these waters with much larger species. It’s common to catch snook, juvenile tarpon, tilapia and largemouth bass in these locations.

Mayan cichlids are not considered invasive, although they are nonnative. ey have no season or bag limit, and harvest is encouraged. ey have white aky meat with a mild avor and are considered very good table fare.

I will not o er an opinion on just how this species found its way to this region, but I believe they’re here to stay. We might as well sh for them.

COLD FRONTS BRING BLACK DRUM TO THE INLETS

By Emily Hanzlik

With the mullet run over and the cold setting in, our target species begin to change. Most of the high-energy sh like jacks and tarpon slow down during winter. So we turn our attention to already slow bottom-feeding sh that aren’t as a ected by cooler water. Black drum are a highly praised bottom-feeder. Not only do they taste delicious, they grow to amazing trophy size.

Black drum are in the drum family with red sh, but they are di erent in appearance and their way of living. Black drum have a high arched back compared to most sh that levels out toward the tail. ese sh are a darkish gray or black with some tones of brown that fade to a lighter belly. Normally, juveniles have four to six vertical bars on their side, similar to sheepshead. e bars fade with age.

Black drum have barbels or whiskers on their lower jaw like cat sh. ese barbels are used to smell mollusks and other prey in the sand, which the drum digs out. ey then use rows of molar-like pharyngeal teeth to crush mussels, crabs and other hard-shelled creatures. ese teeth line the top and bottom of their mouths and can extend to the back of their throat.

Black drum live from Texas all the way up past New Jersey. ey congregate around structures like bridges and docks. However, they also can be found in bays, river mouths, oyster beds and along beaches. Juveniles are mostly found in estuaries.

As these sh begin to spawn in the colder months, they move toward owing inlets. Just like red drum, they participate in mass free-spawning, where they release sperm and eggs while grouped together in owing water. e pre-spawn move to the inlets gives anglers plenty of time to target them in groups.

Jalon Tomlinson enjoys targeting black drum during peak season. He said shing is best during cold fronts on an outgoing tide. He uses a chicken rig with a 3- to 4-ounce pyramid sinker or a Carolina rig with a 3-ounce egg sinker and a 2/0 hook. He recommends a 40-pound leader because powerful sh heavier than 30-pounds are a real possibility. Ideal baits are fresh dead shrimp or old stinky shrimp. However, Tomlinson has also caught them on crabs and sand eas.

Tomlinson catches some monster drum with this technique, but he prefers to keep the 14- to 28-inchers because they’re better to eat. In Florida, there is a daily bag limit of ve per harvester, with a slot size of 14 to 24 inches. One sh is allowed over the 24-inch slot.

e IGFA all-tackle world record black drum weighed an amazing 113 pounds, 1 ounce and was caught out of Lewes, Delaware.

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.

SNOOK SEASONS CLOSE

Florida seasons for snook harvest close this month in state and federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic.

e Gulf snook season closure date is Dec. 1, and snook harvest will remain closed through the end of February in Gulf state and adjacent federal waters. e Atlantic snook season is closed Dec. 15 through Jan. 31 in state and adjacent federal waters. Special regulations for di erent zones exist for this species, so be sure to check current regulations online at MyFWC.com.

When snook season re-opens, anglers who wish to harvest a snook must have a snook permit in addition to a recreational shing license. ere is a slot limit of not less than 28 inches or more than 33 inches total length. e daily bag limit is 1 per harvester per day with zero captain and crew for-hire limit.

For more information, go to MyFWC.com.

Photo courtesy of Richard Matteson

LURES

FIGHTING FISH AT LONG DISTANCE

It’s on! You made a very long cast, and within a few cranks a sh grabs your lure and you’re engaged in a ght!

Long distance lures allow you to hook-up with sh other anglers can’t reach, but ghting sh with so much line out presents complications, mostly in the form of environmental elements the angler does not control.

If you’re shing from a at sandy beach on a calm day with no waves, little current and no oating sargassum, then nothing is di erent. Just ght the sh and enjoy it. But when ghting a sh at great distance, elements like current or obstacles such as rocks or weeds become magni ed threats to successfully landing the sh. e more line you have in the water, the less direct in uence you have on the sh. e sh has more freedom to swim sideways or even directly at you. ere’s a greater chance your line will snag an encrusted boulder or load up with oating grass. Ripping currents and wave action are more pronounced during the ght, and sh—especially bigger ones— will use this to pull away.

Here are tactics to better ght sh from long distances.

• Keep the rod tip up and hold it high to keep as much line as possible out of the water or high in the water column. is limits the risk of snags and reduces drag on the line. I sometimes put the rod butt against my shoulder and hold the rod almost vertically to gain as much height as possible.

• When a sh swims or is pushed by waves or current into a snag-prone area, it’s o en counter productive to crank down and pull directly against the sh. Pulling hard works OK on small or mediumsized sh, but with larger sh I like to angle the rod horizontally and

sideways in the direction the sh is going. It’s like judo in that you use the sh’s momentum against it. By pulling the sh sideways, instead of directly against it, it will curve toward you. is is unconventional, but it has saved sh for me a number of times.

• When sh use strong currents during the ght, walk with them. Try to walk the same speed the sh is moving with the current and continue picking up line.

• Use a power-pull to put a lot of pressure on big sh. Keep the rod at a 30 to 45 degree angle from horizontal, and walk backward at constant speed. When I was guiding in Africa for tiger sharks and giant tarpon, this was the best way to bring sh closer to shore.

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

PATRICK SEBILE

A Band of Anglers pro team member Jim Louro, of Vicki Lynn Sport shing, caught this big striped bass with a long cast from the beach.

Perhaps Florida anglers are getting used to the regulations changes that closed fall harvest of ounder for the rst time last year. With a 45-day closure during the peak of the fall spawning movements, keeping ounder is by design illegal when it’s easiest to catch them. e season closure ran Oct. 15 through Nov. 30, and many Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic states enacted similar closures in the face of several years of falling ounder numbers. So, while you likely didn’t get to enjoy stu ed ounder at the anksgiving feast, you should be able to go catch, or gig, a doormat to serve at Christmas.

Starting Dec. 1, ounder harvest is allowed with a 14-inch minimum size limit and a daily bag limit of ve sh per person. ese regulations apply in state and federal waters o Florida. Legal gear includes spears, gigs, hook and line, seine and cast nets.

For more information, go to MyFWC.com.

Photo courtesy of Capt. Tim Cutting

By TAM Sta

Chipola River Shoalies are on the Comeback

If you’re not familiar with shoal bass, they are a distinct species of black bass that evolved to inhabit the riverine shoals of the Apalachicola River Basin in Florida. ey are considered a Species of Greatest Conservation Need by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission because they are native only to one drainage worldwide, and habitat in that drainage was forever altered by dams.

e Chipola River, which roughly bisects the Panhandle to join the Apalachicola River at Sumatra, Fla., is home to Florida’s only known

reproducing population of shoal bass, and it is potentially the species’ most genetically pure population. Farther north, Georgia’s Chattahoochee and Flint rivers are part of the same drainage. ere, shoal bass are considered an excellent sport sh. ey grow to weights heavier than 9-pounds and o er a unique opportunity for anglers, especially y shers, because they inhabit swi -water shoals and will readily slam arti cial lures, topwaters and ies.

Shoal bass are in trouble in Florida, and FWC is on the case. In 2018, the Chipola River population of shoal bass was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Michael. Impacts from the storm resulted in nearly a 90 percent decline in the population. In May, 2022, biologists with the FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and the Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management released 3,300 1- to 2-inch genetically pure, hatchery-spawned shoal bass from the Blackwater Fisheries Research and Development Center into the Chipola River.

Recent sampling discovered the released sh have made a signi cant contribution to the existing population. DNA analysis of n clips taken from shoal bass collected during these sampling events con rmed that 65 percent of the yearlings collected were from sh produced and released by Blackwater Hatchery. ese stocked shoal bass had grown to 4 to 6 in the four months since being stocked. Additionally, data suggests these stocked sh may comprise nearly 20 percent of the entire shoal bass population in the river.

“ e shoal bass population in the Chipola River has become a top priority of sheries biologists within the northwest region of Florida since Hurricane Michael,” said Fisheries Biologist Andy Strickland. “Management actions to suspend harvest and successfully stock shoal bass have yielded positive results for this unique black bass species.”

FWC biologists anticipate stocking additional hatchery reared shoal bass in the Chipola River in the spring of 2023 to increase the number of genetically pure sh in the population and eventually restore population numbers to pre-Hurricane Michael levels.

Currently a catch-and-release-only regulation is in e ect for shoal bass on the Chipola River and its tributaries.

To learn more, visit MyFWC/Freshwater.

Florida Angler Ties Georgia Pompano Record

In November the Georgia Department of Natural Resources certi ed a sh that tied the state record for Florida pompano. e sh, which weighed 1 pound, 7.68 ounces, was caught by a Florida woman who was at St. Simons Island, Ga. volunteering at a youth shing tournament.

Cathy Sanders, of Palm Coast, Fla., landed her record-tying pomp while surf shing on St. Simons Island on Oct. 9. Her catch tied the previous record holder, Laura Cheek, who landed a 1-pound, 7-ounce pompano on Sea Island in 1982. Sanders’ pompano was 12 inches fork length.

Sanders was volunteering with the Kids Can Fish Foundation’s Running of the Bulls youth tournament when she caught the sh. She was surf shing with a 12-foot Okuma Rockaway rod and Okuma Rockaway 6000 reel. As bait, she used Fishbites EZ Crab (Electric Chicken) with Sinker Guys glass beads and salted shrimp on 20-pound high visibility mono lament. Her terminal rig was a 2/0 circle hook on a double drop rig with 3-ounce Guy Sputnik sinker.

Under the rules of the Georgia Saltwater Game Fish Records Program, Sanders’ catch quali ed as a tie because it weighed more than the current record, but did not exceed the record by more than 4 ounces.

e IGFA all-tackle world record Florida Pompano weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces. It was caught by Barry Huston in St. Joe Bay, Fla. in 1999.

See Georgia’s saltwater records at CoastalGaDNR.org/SaltwaterRecords.

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The question of lure size is o en pondered in the shing world. Di erent circumstance requires a di erent mentality, but one thing is for certain, the sh did not read any articles, attend any seminars or watch that YouTube video. ey eat what they want, when they want, but I have an approach that I nd useful in deciphering the riddle.

As winter approaches, it brings changes to our estuaries: cooler water temps, a change in the type and abundance of forage, less pressure from boaters, and in some areas, much better water clarity. ere are two trains of thought on lure size when it comes to winter shing in the bays. Should I go bigger or smaller? I know anglers who immediately upsize for the entire season, while others downsize for its duration.

Both can be e ective, but here is how I typically tackle early winter shing.

Cooling water temps and increasing frequency of cold fronts put the sh on both spectrums of the feeding attitude. Unlike more stable weather patterns, when sh are less a ected and feed more consistently, these fronts can make them, for a lack of a better term, moody.

Late fall and early winter can be some of the best inshore shing of the year. Schools of

bait ushed from the bays with the dropping tides are followed by hungry specks and reds. In these situations, I like to use a smaller lure. Generally, they feed on shrimp or smaller bait sh, and having a lure of similar size is a good idea. When they are following these schools, I like non-natural colors so the sh have something to key in on when bait is abundant. I like my lure’s color to stand out in the fall feeding frenzy.

Now, for the other end of the mood swing, the inactive period caused by post-frontal conditions. is is another situation when I favor smaller lures in early winter. When the bite is o , smaller o erings entice bites from non-aggressive sh. Using myself as an example, if I am not hungry, the chance of me driving to a restaurant for a steak dinner are slim, but I might grab a few peanuts for a quick bite just because they are on the counter.

e nal reason is clearer water. Some bays I sh will have 1 to 2 feet of clear-green water in the summer, but 6 to 7 feet of air-clear water in winter. ese sh are not accustomed to this transitional clarity. When I can see my lure bouncing in the sand in depths of 7 feet, a much smaller lure will produce more bites.

I hope these tips help you catch more sh this winter, and next month I will explain my transition to larger lures as we press deeper into winter’s grip.

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

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

Photo courtesy of Knockin Tail Lures

Centuries

ago, Persians, Tibetans and Mayans considered turquoise a gemstone of the heavens, believing the striking blue stones were sacred pieces of sky. Today, the rarest and most valuable turquoise is found in the American Southwest–– but the future of the blue beauty is unclear.

On a recent trip to Tucson, we spoke with fourth generation turquoise traders who explained that less than five percent of turquoise mined worldwide can be set into jewelry and only about twenty mines in the Southwest supply gem-quality turquoise. Once a thriving industry, many Southwest mines have run dry and are now closed.

We found a limited supply of turquoise from Arizona and purchased it for our Sedona Turquoise Collection . Inspired by the work of those ancient craftsmen and designed to showcase the exceptional blue stone, each stabilized vibrant cabochon features a unique, one-of-a-kind matrix surrounded in Bali metalwork. You could drop over $1,200 on a turquoise pendant, or you could secure 26 carats of genuine Arizona turquoise for just $99

days

don’t

MONSTER SMALLIE IS GREAT LAKES RECORD

Ohio Angler Gregg Gallagher caught a 10.15-pound smallmouth bass on Nov. 3 that once certi ed should be a new Lake Erie record. e 23 ¾-inch sh is also the largest bronzeback ever caught from the Great Lakes.

Gallagher told In-Fisherman his was the result of his son’s extensive time surveying bait and bottom structure. With sonar, they were able to do what some call video-game shing and target individual sh with drop shot rigs. He was shing 8-pound test.

“With an abundance of bait sh and unique bottom composition located a er long days behind the graphs, we dropped down our forward-facing sonar and we were able to individually target these pelagicesque smallmouth,” he told In-Fisherman. “On what turned out to be the most memorable cast of my life, my bait got hit before it even hit the bottom and my rod quickly doubled over. I honestly thought I had hooked into a sheephead and not a smallmouth. We quickly learned we had just caught the smallmouth of a lifetime.”

e monster smallmouth is the only certi ed 10-plus-pounder ever caught from the Great Lakes. It should beat out the Canadian record of 9.84 pounds, which was set 68 years ago. It is also heavier than the Ohio state record, which weighed 9 pounds, 8 ounces and was caught in 1993.

e world record smallmouth bass weighed 11 pounds, 15 ounces. It was caught from Tennessee’s Dale Hollow Lake in 1955.

You raise the flags of the fish just caught to show you weren’t skunked.

Once onshore you can take it a step further showing your fellow anglers your catch of the day wearing “slippahs” from Scott Hawaii.

Hanapa‘a - Marlin

Hanapa‘a - Ahi

5 WINTERTIME FISHERIES

Instead of spending the next few months holed up inside, get yourself a good parka, nd a window of decent weather and go shing. Believe it or not, for some sheries winter o ers some of the best action of the year. Here are a few ideas to help you combat cabin fever.

By CAM Sta

1) Wintertime Wahoo:

is time of year, wahoo pile up around the Bahamas. Some of the largest sh of the year will show up over the next couple of months.

High-speed trolling is the technique that allows captains to cover lots of water along rocky ledges, color changes, temperature breaks and dropo s. ’Hoos hunt in packs, so multiple hook-ups and double-digit days are possible. is shery requires some forethought and perhaps some exibility. ey bite best around the full and new moons, but you’ll de nitely want to avoid fronts and those wicked north winds.

2) South Florida Sailfsh: From

December

through February

the Atlantic Coast of South Florida becomes one of the best sail sh destinations in the world. Release ags will be ying along the edge of the Gulf Stream from roughly Fort Pierce down through the Keys.

For this bite, you’ll want to sh when the weather’s a little rough. With strong winds from the north, tailing conditions push sail sh high in the water column to feed. ey surf the swells and it’s possible to sight sh for them, which is about as exciting as shing gets.

3) The Outer Banks: In winter, North Carolina’s Outer Banks are the destination for several migrations which bring excellent shing to the island chain from Oregon Inlet down past Ocracoke.

Out of Hatteras, it’s a short ride out to the edge of the Gulf Stream, and this time of year tuna congregate there to feast on a bounty of bait sh. Big blue n tuna 200 pounds and larger are on the prowl, and anglers can also do battle with black n, yellow n and bigeye tunas.

At the same time, big schools of striped bass will be marauding bait sh on the beaches and in the inlets. Surf anglers can encounter them blitzing menhaden by looking for bait and birds. Charter boats do good business this time of year trolling while keeping eyes peeled for stripers herding and crashing bait balls.

4) South Padre Island, Texas: Way down on the Mexican border, South Padre Island is as far south as you can go in Texas. e winters are mild and the shing is good year-round.

When water temps drop, snook pile into the canals and school up. ese schools of sh can be giant, and they are suckers for arti cials. At the same time, the grass ats experience the clearest water of the year. Red sh, big trout and black drum cruise the ats, where anglers can sight sh them in shin-deep water.

5) Delayed Harvest Trout: On the East Coast from Maryland down to Georgia, most states have developed robust delayed harvest trout sheries which keep y shers on the stream through the winter. ese specially regulated sheries are catch-and-release only through the cooler months and most of them have single-hook, arti cial-only regulations.

Most delayed harvest streams are heavily stocked, usually with some largerthan-normal hatchery sh. Since you can’t keep them, they stay in the creeks and rivers all winter long. Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia are some of the states with excellent delayed harvest programs. See the state wildlife agency websites for information.

TROUBLED ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS STOCKS TREND UPWARD

For the rst time in a while, sheries managers are reporting some good news about striped bass populations on the Atlantic Coast. In early November, e Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) accepted an updated 2022 stock assessment that looks good enough that no additional harvest cuts will be needed.

is stock assessment found that rock sh stocks are still over shed but they are not currently experiencing over shing. e female spawning biomass appears to have been on a modest upward trend for at least the last three years, but at an estimated 143 million pounds is still far below the 235-million-pound target for rebuilding.

Total mortality in 2021 from commercial and recreational shing was estimated at 0.14, which is below the mortality threshold of 0.20 as well as below the mortality target of 0.17.

What does this mean for anglers?

Currently, a reduction in catch is not needed, and the rebuilding program is on schedule to declare the striped bass stock rebuilt by 2029.

“ is 2022 assessment was the rst check-in point for progress toward stock rebuilding by 2029,” said Board Chair Marty Gary with the River Fisheries Commission. “It is extremely important shery removals and conduct regular stock assessments to keep evaluating rebuilding progress and stay on track.”

e next stock assessment update is scheduled for 2024, and the Board will review the 2022 removals as soon as the data are available to evaluate whether catch remains at sustainable levels.

The Return of a

For more information, visit www.asmfc.org.

NOAA Photo

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