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Venice, Louisiana:
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Local
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Mike Iaconelli
Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events
Talks Kayaks Inshore
PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF SCHNEIDER VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 267
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Each month, Coastal Angler Magazine and The Angler Magazine staff search our vast coverage area for photos that will grace our covers. With well over a million readers in diverse coastal and inland markets, our magazines strive for broad national appeal as well as local-level intelligence to put anglers on fish. The cover is different depending on which edition you, the reader, are holding. The following is a little information about this month’s covers.
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The cover of this month’s Coastal Angler Venice, Louisiana: editions features a gorgeous Louisiana red A Paddler's caught by Kaku pro-staffer and Louisiana Heaven tuna captain Jeff Schneider while fishing from the deck of a Kahuna SUP. There is perhaps no better place in the world to chase redfish from a paddle-powered boat Local Bass Pro Mike Iaconelli than Venice, Louisiana. Kaku’s president Talks Kayaks Inshore Kevin Hawkins tells us all about it in this issue. With thousands upon thousands of acres of marshland situated around the mouth of the Mississippi Delta, it is a paradise for inshore species and the anglers who target them. There are so many options for kayak and paddleboard anglers around Venice. They range from mothership trips out in the Gulf of Mexico for big cobia, jacks and bull reds to easier hand-launch expeditions off the side of the road in Venice, where marsh ponds and canals in tall grass make it easier to find fishing out of the wind. No matter where or how one decides to deploy a little plastic boat in the waters around the Delta, the fishing will be fantastic. It truly is heaven for anglers under paddle power.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF SCHNEIDER
VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 267
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THE ANGLER MAGAZINE Bass Pro Mike Iaconelli: Down Off The Deck
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Professional bass tournament angler and Mike Iaconelli TV personality Mike Iaconelli is one of the most recognized anglers in the world. The 2003 Bassmaster Classic Champion and 2006 Make New Lures Angler of the Year, “Ike” can claim to have won Confidence Lures Local almost every major award in professional bass fishing. But he’s also a self-described fish-head, who will fish anywhere, any way for anything that will pull on the other end of a line. It’s fitting that the rig pulling his stateof-the-art Bass Cat boat also has a Hobie kayak strapped to the roof for quick and easy, on-the-spot fun fishing. In this month’s magazine, Ike tells us about his love of kayak fishing in a question-and-answer session that delves into some of the tools and techniques he uses inshore. Ike is one of the best bass fishermen in the world, and his tournament skills translate well to saltwater. The cover of this month’s The Angler Magazines is of “Ike” with a good redfish caught while filming for his TV show “Going Ike” in Port Fourchon, Louisiana. We interviewed him in the run-up to this year’s Bassmaster Classic, and taking a moment to talk kayaks seemed a breathe of fresh air for him during crunch time. Talks Kayaks Inshore
ELITE SERIES PRO MIKE IACONELLI CHASES VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 267
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Kayakin’ The Spring
By Patrick Sebile
L
ife is getting vibrant. Things are warming up, and spring is here. As a ritual long established, I feel the need to be close to nature. And to me there’s no better way to experience the feeling of life awakening than riding a kayak with a rod in my hand. I have fished and guided from all kinds of boats, from small skiffs to majestic deep-sea vessels, but a small plastic shell puts me right next to the fish, my hands always a few inches from the water’s surface. It’s not a money matter, as I own boats. Perhaps it is the challenge? I definitively spend more time each year fishing from my skiff or bass boat, and surely catch more fish from these boats. They are true fishing machines, helping me cover lots of water to find fish. And they can carry all the gear necessary for any situation. On my kayak, I have to think effectively about what my needs are and carefully consider every single thing I will bring onboard. It’s a good way to find the balance between needs and wants. So how do I fish while kayaking? In freshwater and saltwater, my approach is to slowly and surely cover every spot. In a kayak, I am much more aware of, and more capable of, targeting the places where fish hide. Superbly silent, my Pro Angler carries me at the edge of two worlds, above the surface where we
live and the liquid world, which holds the object of all our passions. My kayak tackle boxes have a variety of carefully selected key lures that will help in different situations and environments, nothing more than what I will need. I carry Magic Swimmers, hard for open water and soft for heavy cover and structure. A Flatt Shad snagless is effective in both open and snaggy areas. Twitch baits like the Stick Shadd definitely go into my box, as they are needed if fish are active. A handful of plastic worms, a couple of bucktails, and then a topwater or a pivot frog will complete this set to fish from a ’yak. Seated just above the water, gliding silently with gentle movements of my feet on the pedals, rod in hand and with eyes searching, I use the smooth approach to get as close as I can to the spot or to the fish. Then all that’s left is a short but accurate cast. Proximity also gives me greater enjoyment of seeing the fish and seeing it bite. That’s why I love kayak fishing this time of the year. And you never know; I may let my lures sit in the tackle box and simply hook a shiner or a shrimp and let it swim. Or maybe I won’t even do a thing, just watch the water and the life that surrounds it—just enjoy life… and a kayak ride. Patrick Sebile is the owner and lure designer of Sebile Innovative Fishing (www.sebile.com).
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Mike Iaconelli Talks Kayaks And Redfish
Editor Nick Carter had the chance to interview professional bass angler Mike Iaconelli just before the Bassmaster Classic. We didn’t want to jinx Ike by talking about the Classic, so we asked the Hobie pro about his love of kayak fishing.
W
hat’s the appeal in stepping down from the deck of a bass boat into a kayak? Ike: Growing up in southern New Jersey, I consider myself a small-boat angler first. Many of my early childhood experiences fishing involved fishing from the bank, rowing a small jonboat or paddling a canoe. Kayak fishing fills a huge niche in my fishing life. Outside of competitive bass tournament fishing, I’m still a huge fish head. That means fishing for all freshwater and saltwater species in my down time. When I’m fun fishing or filming for TV shows, I love to access remote places that I can’t get into with my full size bass boat. Kayak fishing is also a HUGE breath of fresh air to leave behind the big boat and all of the time and preparation that go along with launching and running that boat. With your tournament schedule, do you get to spend much time on the salt? Ike: I definitely try to go inshore and offshore fishing each fall when the tournament season concludes. This past fall, I spent a week in Port Fourchon, Louisiana hanging out at Hobie Worlds 6 and filming a kayak fishing episode for season two of my TV show, Going Ike, which premiers this spring on the Pursuit Channel! I had a great time catching big redfish and trout, plus it was awesome meeting the Hobie World Championship competitors from all over the world who love fishing as much as I do. I also had a chance to go offshore fishing with my buddy Ish Monroe in San Francisco during November. We were mainly targeting lingcod, and it was an amazing day of fishing! Where do you put your kayak in and what do you fish for in New Jersey? Ike: I mostly fish the small lake behind my house, which has largemouth bass, northern chain pickerel, crappie and sunfish. My son, Vegas, got a brand new Hobie kayak from Santa for Christmas this year. The fish in our lake better watch out this summer! I’m really looking forward to spending time with my family and pursuing exciting new fishing adventures. How do redfish compare to “green fish?” Ike: Anyone who has caught a big redfish would agree that they are definitely more powerful and are a very aggressive fish in general. One of my favorite things about targeting redfish is that most of the time I can focus on shallow-water power-fishing techniques and search for active, feeding reds. With the “green fish,” there are a lot of times that I have to slow down and present a bait to them slowly such as with a jig, worm or finesse fishing.
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What skills, techniques and gear from your bass arsenal translate well to inshore? Ike: Casting accuracy/ presentation, reading tides and powerfishing techniques are the first three that come to my mind. Often when I’m inshore fishing, I am targeting fish that are relating to a grass edge or current break. If I can make accurate, quiet casts, there’s a good chance I’m going to catch more fish! Having grown up fishing the Delaware River, which can have up to a 7-foot tide swing between low and high tides, I’ve spent much of my life learning how fish position based on the tide level and current. This experience translates extremely well to inshore fishing…. I bring a lot of traditional power-fishing gear that you’d also find in my Bass Cat boat when I’m fishing for bass: Abu Garcia “Ike” Series Rods, Berkley Trilene braided/ monofilament/ fluorocarbon fishing lines, Rapala Skitter Walk and Skitter V topwaters, VMC jigheads, and Berkley Powerbait and Gulp swimbaits, grubs, and more soft plastics. How is your Hobie rigged out? Ike: I have a Power Pole Micro Anchor to stop the kayak on a dime. This is a very crucial piece of equipment, which allows me to quickly stop and fish an area without the kayak drifting with the current or wind. This is huge when you are fishing specific targets such as points, current breaks, laydowns, docks and more. I also have a Lowrance HDS 9 Touch unit, a storage crate for my Flambeau Zerust tackle boxes and tackle bags, landing net, rod holders, and of course, Hobie’s Mirage Drive pedals so I can keep my hands fishing instead of paddling! Electronics play a huge role on the bass tournament scene, what’re your thoughts on electronics in kayaks? Ike: Electronics play just as huge of a role in kayak fishing. I really use it the same as with my Bass Cat boat! As I just mentioned, I run a Lowrance HDS 9 Touch unit on my Hobie for its GPS/ sonar abilities. I rely heavily on the information I can gather from the Lowrance such as mapping/ bottom contours, reading the water temperature, and using the sonar for locating fish, cover and structure to name a few. I may mount a Hydrowave on the Hobie as well soon. It’s another great innovation in electronics, and I use it often in my boat to fire up fish. I’m always interested in adding tools to my boat or kayak that help me catch more fish!
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f there’s a heaven for folks who fish from paddle-powered boats, it must look a lot like Venice, Louisiana. This narrow spit of marshland at the Mississippi River Delta is a maze of canals and bays that flush into the Gulf of Mexico with fecundity born of joining waters. Channels and marsh ponds tucked into thousands of acres of wetlands make it the perfect habitat for redfish, seatrout, flounder and other species. It’s like the landscape was designed for fishing and exploring with a paddle. Kevin Hawkins was born and raised in Tarpon Springs, Fla. He is the president of Kaku Kayaks & Paddleboards but calls himself the company’s chief pro-staffer. He prides himself on the amount of fishing he does and designs his boats on experience. Venice is one of his favorite testing grounds. Whether its launching roadside into the marsh, a trip outside the pass from remote Port Eads or a mothership expedition to the Gulf ’s famous oil rigs, it’s the perfect setting to test his boats. It doesn’t hurt that the fishing is awesome. When the seas aren’t too rough, there’s no adventure quite like a mothership trip out to the oilrigs in search of cobia, kingfish and bull reds. Kaku pro-staffer Capt. Jeff Schneider is also a tuna captain who runs a 36-foot Contender when he’s not paddling a small plastic boat. With kayaks loaded, it’s about an hour and a half run from Venice Marina out to 50-foot-deep rigs in West Bay. Hawkins described a day he fished with Schneider, and although the primary target was cobia, a big 45-inch redfish was the highlight. Armed with big 5000 reels and 40- to 50-pound tackle, they dropped Kaku Wahoo kayaks into 2- to 3-foot seas. Even on the stable fishing platform, Hawkins said it might have been a bit much for new paddlers. For a veteran it was fun. “It’s awesome, man. I love paddling a good kayak in that stuff and busting over big waves,” said Hawkins. “When it gets rough like that, it’s fun.” They fished a series of four or five structures linked by a bridge, which gave space to paddle around and explore. Hawkins said he paddled right up to the corner of a pier, dropped his jig straight down and began back paddling before jigging. That’s when the big bull red ate. “When you’re in the shallows and they pull you around, they call that the Cajun sleigh ride,” Hawkins said. “When you’re in deep water like that, he heads straight down. He was pulling me, and that kayak was smashing straight down on those waves. It was pretty intense.” Invariably, fish seek something to wrap the line around, and only by kicking off a beam was Hawkins able to keep himself from going
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Experience Heaven
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under the rig and losing the fish. He gave a piece of advice for battling big fish from a kayak in deep water. “Keep the tip of the rod toward the front of the boat,” he said. “When the rod goes to the side, that’s when you run the risk of flipping.” If an open-water mothership trip seems a little much, Port Eads sits on the southernmost tip of Louisiana, right at the end of the Mississippi River. It’s only accessible by boat, and reasonable prices buy lodging and good meals. Also known as South Pass, the location is a few minutes paddle from the open Gulf and offers excellent fishing for big jacks, reds, cobia, blacktip sharks and any number of other species big enough to warrant medium-heavy rods, 3000 to 4000 reels and 30- to 40-pound-test lines. Hawkins likes artificials and prefers Slayer Inc.’s Sinister Swim Tail rigged on a 4/0 jig head. For him, sinking bait outside the pass would detract from the reason he fishes from kayaks and SUPs in the first place. “Kayaks are about stalking and hunting the fish,” he said. “You’ve got to use your instincts to find them. I don’t like to just sit on a hole and fish bait.” It’s as much fun as you can have sitting down… or standing up if seas are calm enough for an SUP like Kaku’s Kahuna, which is specifically designed for fishing. But perhaps the best bet for calm waters is a third Venice option, to launch roadside. Highway 23 runs from New Orleans to Venice, and Tidewater Road is where the pavement ends. There are any number of places to hand-launch a kayak or paddleboard. Hawkins mentioned Yellow Cotton Bay as well as a series of marsh ponds and cuts at a circular canal known as The Pinwheel. Once you find fish off the grass edges, it’s probably the best inshore action in the world, and it’s easily accessible to paddlers. Popping cork rigs are a no-brainer, but Hawkins said once you get tired of catching scads of rat reds and trout, it’s time to switch to the paddletail rig he likes to fish outside the pass. “We’re looking for the big ones,” he said. “You’ve still got to be ready for the big ones. No matter where I am in Venice, I’ve got a 30-pound rig.” For more information on Kaku Kayaks & SUPs, see kakukayak. com.
To learn more about fishing from a Kahuna Paddleboard, go to
FISHINGLIFE.CO
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The 12.5′ length of the Wahoo helps ensure stability. The Wahoo spans 33″ wide, great for fishing! Weighing only 74 lbs, the Wahoo is WWW.kakukayak.com lightweight, but incredibly stable. The Wahoo has a capacity of 400lbs.
KAKUKAYAKS.COM
STABILITY LIKE YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN!
The Most Versatile Paddle Craft… Ever! The new Kahuna offers extreme stability, versatility and durability. Mount coolers, seats, storage boxes, rod holders and more to its rugged frame. It’s the first paddle craft of its kind to offer fully integrated mounting for the Micro Power Pole Shallow Water Anchor!
THE DAY’S BIG CATCH SHOULD BE YOUR ONLY FOCUS Insurance coverage through BoatU.S. makes for a great start to what could be an epic day of fishing. Our policies are designed with coverages custom-made for Anglers and include 24/7 claims service from boating experts. • Agreed Value Coverage for Your Boat, Engine(s) and Boating Equipment • Broad Cruising Areas • Charter and Guide Coverage Options Available • Coverage for Fishing Gear • Tournament Coverage • Water Towing and Roadside Assistance from TowBoatU.S. – the Nation’s Largest Fleet
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Paddlesports Product Review COVERALLS KAYAK COVER
CREEKKOOLER FLOATING COOLER
Who says kayak covers need to be bulky and thick? CoverAlls kayak covers deliver protection, strength and durability in a lightweight, tough material that keeps your kayak clean and dry year-round. Protect your kayak from nature and the elements. Prevent dirt, debris, pollen and leaves from piling up in the cockpit and seat. Block bugs and critters before they move in. Keep water out with material that’s not just water-resistant—it’s water-PROOF. Our covers are also UV-resistant to preserve your kayak’s hull and rigging from the sun’s damaging rays. Best of all, CoverAlls kayak covers are a breeze to use. They slip on quickly, draw closed with a single poly cord and cam lock—not zippers—and get snug with durable Velcro straps. There’s even a built-in red flag for transport. The cover slips off easily and stows neatly in an included compact stuff bag that even fits in most deck hatches. Spend more time with a rod and reel and less time with a hose and scrub brush. See how much better protection can be at www.coveralls.biz!
Space is always at a premium when you’re on the water in a paddle-powered vessel. Whether it’s a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard, a lack of stowage often forces us to leave behind the things not absolutely necessary for the activity at hand. On a larger boat where there’s plenty of room, many anglers wouldn’t think of going fishing without a cooler full of iced-down beverages. With the new Creekkooler, those navigating under paddle power can have the same luxury. The Creekkooler is an innovative floating cooler designed with dual-wall construction and top-quality insulation to retain ice and keep things cold for extended periods. Its shape cuts through the water, limiting drag and allowing it to be pulled easily behind a boat. Creekkooler has a 30-quart capacity and will hold 30 12-ounce cans and 20 pounds of ice. It has four drink holders on deck and a 1/8-turn watertight lid that makes it a great tool for extra dry storage, too. Whether it’s for keeping drinks cold during a day on the water with buddies, packing in provisions for a multi-day float trip, or extra dry storage for the stuff you need but don’t have room in the boat for, Creekkooler is an innovative new product that will make your excursion under paddle power more comfortable.
WWW.COVERALLS.BIZ
KANOOLERPRODUCTS.COM
WHALEBACK PADDLEBOARDS TORTUGA
When I’m not in the studio or at the racetrack, I’m fishing. Every chance I get. I recently started SUP fishing, and the 12’6” Tortuga by Whaleback Paddleboards is a real game changer. At 12’6” x 34” x 10.5”, with twin pontoons, the stability is ridiculous. I can walk nose to tail and all around the rails to reel in fish from any direction. Its 3-inch side bite tracking fins allow me to squeeze into shallow flats, and its maneuverability and stability is great offshore as well. With a fullcoverage, water-resistant traction pad, the deck space is unmatched. And its 28 customizable
By Matt Nix, Racin’ Nation Radio
WWW.WHALEBACKPADDLEBOARDS.COM
JACKSON KAYAK KRAKEN 13.5
Jackson Kayak’s Kraken 13.5 is an all-new option for paddlers looking to tackle big water. Based on The Kraken 15.5 platform, the 13.5 sheds some length for more maneuverability but with all the punch of its big brother. This kayak, just like the original, is designed for the most challenging paddling environments and intended for the offshore and big-lake kayak angler. It’s a natural follow up to the first collaborative design between legendary kayak angler, Jim Sammons and Jackson Kayak’s design team led by Tony Lee. The new Kraken 13.5 is a boat shaped and built to accommodate those hitting the open water in a nimble, smaller footprint but still capable of big water management. It’s designed for punching through surf, handling rough offshore currents, swells, beach landings and those who desire ultimate performance and maneuverability. With more features than can be listed, Jackson has considered all the needs of bigwater anglers and packed them thoughtfully into this kayak. Its great-tracking hull has the speed to cover miles and the volume and storage to carry you and your gear comfortably on long outings. 16
inserts and deck tie downs let me rig up my YakAttack lean post, rod holders, GPS and paddle holder and still have room for the cooler, cup holder and lawn chair. Because let’s face it, nothing’s better than celebrating a good catch with a cold one. Whether you’re an experienced SUP fisherman or just getting started, the 12’6’ Tortuga is the board for you. It sets you up with everything you need. You just have to find the fish. All Whaleback boards are made in the USA. Visit www.whalebackpaddleboards.com or call 561-3361612 for a dealer near you.
PAU HANA BIG EZ ANGLER At 11 feet long and available in both 32 and 36 inches of width, Pau Hana’s Big EZ Angler is built to be stable, the perfect platform for fighting any game fish. This paddleboard is derived from the classic Big EZ, and is shaped to provide anglers the balance they need while remaining easy to maneuver in shallow water without disrupting fish underneath. It is lightweight at just over 30-pounds, which means it is easy to launch anywhere there’s a place to carry it to the water. It can be rigged up for any kind of fishing, can handle heavy loads and carry all the gear you need. With a soft and stylish deck and space in between the pieces for water drainage, the Angler comes pre-equipped with 25 multiple threaded mount attachment points using Pau Hana’s innovative SeaMount System. Coolers, tackle boxes, anchors, nets, rod holders, paddle clips, lights and anything else an angler needs can be easily mounted on deck. The Big EZ Angler is a real teak paddleboard with the capacity to carry everything an angler needs and provide a stable platform to fish from.
WWW.PAUHANASURFCO.COM WWW.JACKSONKAYAK.COM APRIL 2017 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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Paddlesports Product Review RAM MOUNTING SYSTEMS Whether you are on a lake, stream, whitewater, inlet or ocean, kayaking is all about adaptability. RAM has created a complete line of rust-resistant mounting solutions for kayaks that allow anglers to mount items where they are needed. RAM Mounting systems offer the widest selection of kayak fishing accessories to adapt to a wide range of fishing scenarios. With a patented ball-and-socket design, RAM mounts allow anglers to mount almost anything at the perfect angle. This provides flexibility to mount equipment within reach, but out of the way. RAM’s kayak mounts and fishing accessories are rugged, compact, and have no sharp edges or points. All of our kayak mounts are backed by a lifetime warranty and are made in the USA. RAM mounts are the solution for mounting anything you might need on the water. A full line of rod holders covers everything from fly rods to conventional baitcasters and spinning rods of all sizes. Electronics, like fishfinders, chartplotters, phones, tablets and cameras can be mounted securely where they are needed. RAM even has a special system for mounting transducers for depthfinders. If there is something that needs to be mounted on a kayak, chances are RAM has thought of it and designed a product to hold it.
WWW.RAMMOUNT.COM
THE SKIMMER KAYAK MOTOR KIT Paddle fatigue getting to you? Want to motorize your kayak or canoe? There’s no need to pay $2,000 for a motorized kayak. Watercraft Technologies’ The Skimmer is a simple system for motorizing your kayak or canoe, and it costs less than $400. It is a lightweight, portable motor that mounts easily to your stern. Just snap it on when you need it. Fishing has never been easier, safer and more convenient. Go farther and save your energy for fishing! Increase your range! Catch more fish! The Skimmer weighs only 6 pounds. It’s 12v battery operated. There are easy controls for steering and motor lift. It’s environmentally safe, with no pollution, oil or gas spills. The Skimmer is made for saltwater, but does great in brackish or fresh water. It is able to propel a craft 2-4 knots and lasts two to five hours per charge. Imagine running your kayak at that speed and that long with zero effort! This propulsion system is great for people who want to get on the water and not worry about paddling hard into a swift current or strong wind. It is also great for those with shoulder, back or elbow issues. This kayak trolling motor kit carries a one-year, full parts replacement policy. See The Skimmer in action and order online at www.kayaktrollingmotor.com or order by phone at 631-848-3119.
WWW.KAYAKTROLLINGMOTOR.COM
MALIBU X-WING CONSOLE
Storage is a huge issue when all the gear you need at hand must fit in a space the size of your legs and lap. Malibu’s X-Wing Console is a fantastic option for storing and organizing gear in the cockpit of a kayak. Mounting of electronics, rod holders and other accessories can all be accomplished on one unit without drilling unnecessary holes in a kayak’s deck. A dry-storage compartment included in the unit makes the perfect place for valuables as well as being a great place for a battery. The X-Wing slides back and forth on a track mounted to the gunnel, so placement can be customized on the fly so it’s there when you need it and out of the way when you don’t. It’s also completely removable for storage and transportation. The X-Wing fits Malibu Kayaks, and modifications and adapters can be used to make the console fit other brands.
WWW.MALIBUKAYAKS.COM
YAKGEAR COOLER SEAT A cooler is one of the most valuable tools in most anglers’ arsenals. It goes everywhere and serves as a refrigerator, stepladder, poling platform, storage box and even a seat. YakGear’s Cooler Seat and Rigging Kit allows anglers to turn their cooler into a more comfortable and practical seating platform. Perfect for fishing, paddling, camping, tailgating and hunting, the YakGear Cooler Seat and Rigging Kit consists of the YakGear Sting Ray Seat and the necessary hardware to mount and secure the seat to a cooler. The kit is compatible with all coolers that feature “Front Locking Holes” including Yeti, Grizzly, Engel, Yukon, Icehole, some of the Bison models, and many more. The YakGear Sting Ray Seat features built-in back braces, which allow rigid back support without pressure from an exterior backrest. While most seats slouch down or fold over, the YakGear back braces hold the seat in place. As an additional feature, the seat has an aggressive non-slip pad to prevent unwarranted movement while sitting.
YAKGEAR.COM APRIL 2017
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INSPIRED BY STRENGTH HELL-FOR-STOUT CONSTRUCTION INCLUDES STAINLESS STEEL GEARS AND UP TO 30-POUNDS OF AVAILABLE DRAG.
NEW KOMODO SS REELS & SHADOW STALKER GULF COAST RODS Powered by aluminum framing, stainless steel drive and high-output Carbonite drag, Komodo SS reels in 350 and 450 sizes are instant favorites. Compact and comfortable with enough line capacity for incredible versatility inshore and offshore. • Shadow Stalker Gulf Coast 1-piece rod actions deliver superior sensitivity and back it with OC-9 carbon reinforcement for amazing strength when the fish of a lifetime strikes. okumafishingusa.com
Okuma KomodoSS-ShadowStalkerGC-Strength 7.625x5.0125.indd 2
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full ahead: How Sea Tow Captains operate 24/7.
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FLY FISHING A Modern Take On Booking Fishing Guides And Charters
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a better way. In April 2016, Fisher Guiding was founded. Since then, Hill has been working full time to turn his dream of easy one-stop shopping for charters and guided trips into reality. Fisher Guiding is a web-based service that lets anglers book trips with guides and charters online. It allows potential customers to search, review, message and pay guides all through an easy-to-use website. This service allows guides and captains to advertise and book clients based on available dates. It makes payment hassle free and allows guides and captains to market to customers in a way never before available. For some independent guides, the local fly shop is the only avenue available for them to book clients. Fisher Guiding is looking to supplement and modernize by offering a variety of scheduling and booking tools. Right now, Fisher Guiding currently has booking options from Alaska to the East Coast, Bahamas, Belize and Costa Rica. Although the consumer website just launched eight days ago, Fisher is already off to a great start with trips booked and new guides joining daily making for a constantly growing community. “Ultimately, the goal is to have guides and charters representing every market and fishing destination in the USA and around the world,” said Hill. It will be interesting to see how Fisher Guiding impacts the industry. The advantages are obvious for guides and charter services, but the greatest benefit may be for the consumer. Customers can read reviews and even message guides right through the website. Booking and paying for trips can be handled in two easy steps. While all change forces adaptation, a more competitive and transparent system will serve both the professionals and consumers. Ultimately the goal of Fisher Guiding is to make guides and charters more accessible to the public and contribute to the growth of the sport. A high tide will raise all the boats. See for yourself at www.fisherguiding.com.
FLY FISHING
ooking fishing guides and charters has not really changed at all for 50 years, so the industry is ripe for change and improvement. That is what Edward Hill—founder of Fisher Guiding– thought before launching his online service for guides and captains and the anglers who use them. Hill worked at Front Range Anglers before By Charlie Warfield graduating from the University of Colorado. There he saw firsthand how the guiding business worked in the local area. After school, he did private sector work in Washington, D.C., but after a couple years felt the need for a change and a new challenge. He began planning a trip to the Everglades with his father to do some fishing and reflection. Hill began searching the Internet for local guides. He was frustrated by the lack of information and the hoops he had to jump through to get hold of a guide. He had to look up guides and then call them for available dates and rates. It was a hassle, and it then turned out the guides he tracked down didn’t have the dates available he was looking for. Hill thought there must be
CHOOSING THE CORRECT BAITFISH FLY
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f you look in many fly anglers’ boxes, you will see a huge array of flies in all shapes, sizes and colors. However, having the one correct fly in the box is the key to fishing success. Picking the correct flies for any saltwater fly fishing situation is key to whether or not you’ll be catching fish. Walking into a fly shop and looking into the fly bins can prove mindboggling to the uninitiated. The bins are filled with so many flies with which the fledgling saltwater fly fisher has little or no knowledge. Saltwater flies differ from their freshwater cousins in size and dress. Sometimes, like the kid in a candy store who is more influenced by the attractive wrapper than its contents, the beginning saltwater fly angler often chooses the eye-candy, over-dressed flies far too bulky to resemble a baitfish or a crab, flies that hook fishermen rather than fish.
Baitfish patterns
I believe a sparsely dressed baitfish pattern is preferable to a bulked up flashy fly. Why? The sparsely dressed fly will have a more natural look than will an all-too-spruced-up fly. Also, my experience has shown that a fish is far less selective when presented the sparsely dressed fly. The fly is only an imitation, a hint, of what the fish is feeding on, producing in the fish a reflexive action to strike. Perhaps one of the most important parts of the saltwater fly is its large eye that resembles closely the good-sized eyes on baitfish such as sardines, pilchards, and anchovies. Game fish zero in on that oversized eye when chasing and feeding on baitfish. Focusing on that eye results in fewer lost meals.
Color
Natural colors work best. Olive green, browns, tans and
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FLY FISHING Upstate New York
Bass On The Fly! By Mathew DeRosa
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t was a very successful spring steelhead season on New York’s Salmon River. Approaching the tail end of the season, a friend and I made a “last chance” trip in hopes of finding a few final drop-back steelhead left in the system. We fished the lower section of the river, near Lake Ontario, to increase our chances of a tight line. It was one of those days when spring starts meshing into summer. The sun was shining with a few high clouds, the warm breeze was 70 degrees, and we had the river to ourselves. For an angler, being outside and fishing in a short sleeve shirt with no one around should be enough to call any day a success. This day was about to get better. As we cast into a river with increasing water temps and a majority of the steelhead already back in Lake Ontario, our expectations of a tight line were low. Soon enough, as we launched large flies
into the water, the addicting tight line grabs began. These fierce strikes were not steelhead, but hungry smallmouth bass. We enjoyed a full day on the river swinging 4-plus-inch flies and catching more than 25 smallmouth bass apiece. Are you a bass fisherman? Have you experienced the power of a bass on a fly rod? Smallmouth and largemouth bass will aggressively hunt down prey, which makes catching them on a fly rod extremely enjoyable. The late spring and early summer months are perfect to experience bass on the fly in Upstate New York. Altmar, N.Y. is on the Salmon River a short drive from the Tug Hill Sportsman Club. Both the Salmon River and the Tug Hill Sportsman’s Club are great places to learn how to fly fish and test your skills on bass. The beautiful scenery and vast expanse of meandering clear water make the Salmon River a top-priority fishing location in late spring. Favorable river conditions draw in large numbers of smallmouth bass. The river has more than 12 miles of public fishing property, and you can fish all day without encountering another angler. Smallmouth enter the river in April to spawn and remain in the system until September. Average Salmon River smallmouth bass range from 2 to 3 pounds; some weigh more than 5 pounds. Bass are present the entire length of the river from Altmar to the Douglaston Salmon Run. Tug Hill Sportsman Club The Tug Hill Sportsman Club is located on 450 acres of gently rolling land and is home to four lakes. The lakes make up about 45 acres of pristine largemouth bass-infested water. New to fly fishing or experienced, the opportunity to catch a world-class largemouth is there. The fish in these small lakes have had unpressured feeding, growing and reproductive conditions as the property has been carefully managed for more than 25 years. The goal is to provide guests with the highest quality angling. Enjoy Tailwater Lodge’s relaxing accommodations and fish the Tug Hill Sporting Club with Zero Limit Adventures! Matthew DeRosa is a guide with Zero Limit Adventures. For more information on the Tug Hill Sportsman’s Club and Zero Limit Adventures, visit www.zerolimitadventures.com.
whites are all great color combos for baitfish patterns. You should, however, carry a selection of blue and white, red and white and, of course, chartreuse and white in your fly box.
Size
Depending on what type of fish you’re pursuing, the size of your flies will vary. But, in most saltwater fly fishing situations, you’ll also need baitfish patterns that range from a small anchovy patterns in size 6 to large sardine or pilchard patterns in size 2/0. Remember, just as it is on the spring creek or on the large river, it’s all about matching the hatch, weather it’s insects or baitfish.
For more flyfishing with Bowman, go to
CAMFLYFISHING.COM
35 Acres of Private Access to the World-Renowned Salmon River 42 Luxurious Accommodations On-Site Bar and Restaurant • Daily Hot Breakfast Included Salmon River, Altmar, NY 315-298-3434
TailwaterLodge.com
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You could get a discount when you combine your auto and boat policies.
for your boat geico.com | 1-800-865-4846 | Local Office Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. Multi-Policy Discount available to auto insureds that have purchased a boat policy through the GEICO Marine Insurance Company. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2017 GEICO
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FLORIDA
Elite Series Anglers Visit The Big O
By Steve Daniel, the voice of Okeechobee fishing
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hen Bassmasters Elite Series competitors came to the Big O in February, they went all out to showcase our great fishing. In the end, Timmy Horton came out on top. He did most of his fishing with a jig in the bulrushes on the south end of the lake. He knew if the wind got up it could spell trouble, and it did. Even though he carried a 7-pound lead into the final day, it would be nerve racking to finish the job. He ran back to the Harney Pond area and caught 12 pounds to win by about a pound over Tennessee angler Ott Defoe.
At the weigh in, Horton’s daughter showed up with a pizza box, and no one knew what that was all about, but my wife Deb and I knew; we were there. Horton won an event on New York’s Lake Champlain several years ago. On the final day he made a long run, over 60 miles, to catch a 20-pound bag. The only way he could lose the event was if the weather got bad and he could not get back to the weigh in on time. Being aware of this, he returned early and tied his boat to the dock. Rules state that an angler can’t leave the boat unless there’s an emergency. After approval from Tripp Welden, tournament director, Horton’s cameraman, who was his observer and could not get out of the boat either, ordered a large pizza to the boat. They enjoyed a long afternoon tied to the dock. Here on Okeechobee, Horton also enjoyed a big lead going into the last day. The plan was to go to the south end, get a heavy bag and return early to have an early lunch tied to the dock. It didn’t happen that way. The wind got up and changed the area he was fishing, and it took Horton until 11:30 a.m. to even catch his first bass. In the end, Horton caught enough to win, and the rest is history, but that is what the box of pizza was all about. I bet the pizza got cold waiting the docks. With water levels falling here on the Big O, we will be fishing some really shallow water going into April. Here is a tip: Get a 4-foot stick and keep it by the driver’s seat to feel the bottom. If you feel sand and the water is deep enough to get on plain, you will be fine. If the bottom feels hard, keep idling out until you have deeper water. Use a little common sense. Fishing in April will be incredible. An extremely successful professional bass tournament angler, Steve Daniel is 30-year veteran Okeechobee guide and the voice of Okeechobee fishing on WRVO Radio Network 1’s Hooked Up With Steve and Deb. Check out the show at www.renoviolaoutdoors.com
To learn more about fishing in the Big O, go to
ANGLERLIFE.CO
BEACHMARINEPRODUCTS.COM
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DINNER AND
A SHOW By Michael Landress
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riskly driven by warm sea breezes, we drifted in 26-fathoms—three grizzled and oft impatient anglers awaiting a bite. Biker Brad and I chartered Capt. Chris Le-Mieux and his 27foot Conch Cruiser out of Boynton Beach with expectations of catching summer dolphin. Joggling in 2-foot seas, Chris set the lines. After a few minutes, we noticed the spinning rod baited with a lively threadfin at the transom presenting a tad odd. The monofilament was loosely wrapped around the reel’s handle and bail. The line was straight down from the rod tip and disappeared beneath the Conch Cruiser. Chris seized the rod and quickly untangled the quandary then began a feverish retrieval of slack line. A tenacious, girly mahi gobbled the jittery herring then torpedoed toward the vessel. I reached for the camera in an effort to capture images of her aerial assault for freedom, but missed the opportunity because Chris forced the straining rod in my face barking, “REEL . . . REEL . . . REEL!” We watched in awe as the flailing dolphin rocketed through the air twisting and turning with great energy. Perhaps, the mahi is the prettiest fish in the world’s oceans. The brilliant harlequin green and cyber yellow of its lit skin, embellished with ultramarine specks in contrast with blue water, is spectacular. Having missed two epic jumps, I couldn’t resist the temptation. I passed
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the rod to Brad so I could focus on capturing the final flurry of vaults with a camera. But, as quickly as the acrobatic breaches had begun, they ceased. The worn dolphin laggardly cruised near the surface. Her brilliant color quickly faded as she succumbed to a well-placed, razor sharp gaff. Wild-eyed and grinning from ear to ear like yellow cartoon sponges, we extended our gratitude for the show by welcoming her aboard for a dinner engagement. Dinner and a show is how we roll!
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FISH THE GREATER JACKSONVILLE KINGFISH TOURNAMENT
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ingfish anglers will converge on Jacksonville the week of July 17 for the 37th edition of the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament. Steve Thompson, Captain of the Sea Snake, will once again serve as tournament chairman. With more than 30 years of experience on the SKA circuit, he brings unique insight to the Jacksonville tournament. The traditional two-day, Thursday/Friday format returns this year. Each angling boat will be allowed to weigh one fish Thursday and up to two fish Friday. Boats that made a wrong turn on day one still have a fighting chance on day two. Also returning is the single-engine class, where payouts go to the top 10 largest fish only. This year’s event, unlike last year, will not pay big fish or aggregate. The wildly popular ladies division will be expanded for 2017 and payouts will go out to the top 10 largest fish caught by ladies. Last year there were more ladies than ever arriving at the weigh scales, and with expanded payouts more are expected this year. As usual, there will be fun for all the kiddos. Junior anglers will have their own offshore day on the boats on Tuesday, and there will be a juniors dock tournament. As bonus prizes, there will be treasure chest drawings. Every boat that weighs a fish on Friday will receive a treasure chest key. Lucky keys open one of 10 treasure chests valued at more than $700 each! With donated fish, organizers will
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also be handing out tickets for $100 drawings. Again this year, an awesome gas-powered, customized golf cart will be raffled off. This isn’t your grandad’s golf cart; this one has 14-inch offroad tires, a Yamaha gas engine, Bluetooth sound system and lights all around. It is worth more than $9,000, and raffle tickets can be purchased with a $10 donation. New this year is a traveling angler prize, where one lucky angler from outside of 75 miles of Jacksonville will win cash. This is for the heaviest king outside the perimeter. It’s this, especially for an entry fee of only $345. just another way Jacksonville On top of all that, there is the seafood festival. Marine Charities and the GJKT says thanks for Don’t forget to visit Ship2Shore, the tournament’s fishing with us. And let’s not forget the grand prize. Once seafood vendor, and enjoy some fresh cooked again, the GJKT is proud to award, for the seafood. Make plans now to attend this year’s event. heaviest kingfish of the tournament, a Contender 22 Sport boat, powered by a 250 hp Yamaha 4 The weather is predictable in July, and big fish stroke outboard. Sitting on a brand new Trailer, are always plentiful. Over the years, several with a custom T-top by Pelagic Fabrications and tournament winners have come from within 5 a custom boat cover made by Mousa’s Auto & miles of the inlet. Marine trim shop, this To learn more about last years event, go to prize is valued at more than $86,000 dollars. No one offers a prize value like
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ishing in the Big Pine Key area can be the experience of a lifetime. The areas around Big Pine Key have a deep history that includes a large range of visits by famous explorers, pirates and American industrialists. Hundreds of years ago Native American tribes made frequent visits to harvest the Florida Keys’ rich abundance of seafood the area provided. Now many years later and well into the 21st century the combination of flowing Gulf Stream waters, coral reefs, lush mangrove islands, shallow flats and a complex interconnection of deep channels make this area unlike anywhere else in the world. Due to the ability to easily access both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, the variety of fishing is absolutely endless. Directly offshore is the famous Looe Key Reef. Tournament sport
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By Capt. Nate Wheeler
fishing boats often travel many miles to target a great sailfish bite off these reefs. Other pelagic gamefish such as black fin tuna, dolphin and speedy/yummy wahoo can also be targeted. Big schools of the very tasty reef fish such as mutton, mangrove, lane and yellowtail snappers are plentiful in these areas. Between May 1 and Dec. 31, grouper is open to harvest. Very nice black, gag, and red groupers can be caught around all sorts of bottom ranging from inshore patches close to shore all the way to the outer reef. If the inshore gamefish are your preference, there may be no better location in the world than Big Pine Key area. Close proximity to the famous Bahia Honda Bridge provides some of the best live bait tarpon action in all of the Keys. The shorelines, channels and bays in the area provide some of the very best habitat there is to target these giants with a fly rod. Endless amounts of shallow flats in close proximity to deep channels provide miles and miles of habitat for much sought after permit and bonefish. You could fish a lifetime in the area and only discover half of what the region is capable of providing. No matter what style of fishing you prefer, no matter what time of year, Big Pine Key is an incredible area capable of catering to both the diehard enthusiast and the casual recreational angler! Contact Capt. Nate Wheeler and Waypoint Fishing Charters at 305394-2177 or captnatewheeler@aol.com, and see the website at www. waypointfishing.net.
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Center sp Rookie Wins FLW Tour on Harris Chain
N
ot a newcomer to the bass-tournament crowd but a rookie this season on the FLW Tour, Enigma Pro Bradley Dortch came from fifth place to win the third stop on the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Fla. Unlike a lot of the top finishers who were sight fishing for bedding bass, Dortch caught his fish on championship Sunday switching between a lipless crankbait and a large plastic worm in junebug color to sack up 22-2 pounds of Florida largemouths. Starting the day off with a 7-pounder and a fish nearly 4 pounds right behind it proved that deciding to go winding instead of pitching a soft stick bait to grass and lily pads was a great idea. His gut instinct was right. He figured a lot of the fish had moved due to the incoming front. The decision to move as well as picking up a large worm late in the morning and making a long casts to catch a second bass of nearly 7 pounds was right-on. Dortch sacked up his huge bag on FLW Live with the huge smile on his face while the current leader Debary Florida native, John Cox was struggling to get his bedding fish to bite. In the end, Dortch bested the three-day leader by about 4 pounds to take home the Tour Trophy and a $100,000 grand check. All the while, another well-known Florida pro, J.T. Kenny, was having a great day, bringing a huge 27-pound-plus sack to the scale. It was the tournament’s largest five-fish limit, and Kenny came all the way from tenth place to take second, less than 2 pounds behind Dortch. Only the top five anglers had the FLW-Live cameras on board, so the updates to the FLW site were coming in via an I-Pad from the Marshall onboard J.T. Kenny’s boat. Kenny’s huge sack had him on the hotseat until Dortch brought his 22-pound plus sack to the scale. The three-day leader, Mud Hole Custom Tackle Pro John Cox was last to the weigh scale, and after a tough day1:14 trying get1several bedAirline_Ad_CoastalAngler_8-1-14_Layout 1 8/1/14 PM to Page
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ding fish in the 5-pound-plus class to bite, he brought in a limit of just over 14 pounds. He ended up placing third right behind Kenny. The “Angler of the Year” points leader, FLW Pro Brian Thrift, ended up in sixth place after finishing second in the last three tournaments he has fished. This makes five straight top-10 finishes for Thrift, which is the longest streak for any tour angler since Kevin Van Dam had 10 in a row. With his tournament win, Dortch has now earned 500 total Angler of the Year points on the season and is in second place in the coveted Rookie of the Year (ROY) race. Justin Atkins, of Florence, Ala., the current ROY leader, is one spot ahead of Dortch with 502.
To watch his announced win, go to
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NORTH FLORIDA
COLOR Me Caught…Choosing Lure COLORS
E
veryone has their go to lure or fly, that certain color and pattern that always gets the job done. But why is that one lure so effective? Is it the color, shape, action or just the fact that you have confidence in it? Undoubtedly it is a combination of all of the above, especially when you consider what the fish sees. The colors fish can see are limited by the light absorbing characteristics of water as well as the amount of light and the water clarity. In water, the longest color wavelengths are absorbed first. Red is affected nearly immediately, transitioning to a shade of gray within depths of just 15 feet in clear water. The absorption continues in the order of the color spectrum to affect orange, yellow, green and finally blue. It is important to note color absorption occurs both vertically and horizontally. No matter the depth, red will appear gray to a fish that is 15 feet away from the lure. The distance is shortened in stained water. Conversely, with blue being visible to about 90 feet in clear open water, it will show up pretty well. So does that mean color has little bearing? Absolutely not; while colors might not pop bright and vivid, they have a profound effect on contrast. This might be of even more importance in fishing. Many anglers have discovered that dark colors work better at night, in low light and in dirty water. This may seem counter-intuitive, but consider that fish see the contrast of a bait to its surroundings. Using baits with two colors boosts the contrast when fishing in turbid
By Will Robinson
water. Colors, shapes and patterns are likely more important when fishing a particular run. If you are fishing the mullet run or a menhaden migration, matching the natural appearance of the food is pretty important. How to put this to use: • Black is generally the most visible color and creates the best contrast in low visibility. • Create contrast by using dark colors next to light colors. In dirty water or lowlight situations, more contrast is better. Bright clear conditions call for less contrast. • When using lures deep, use blues and greens as they are the last colors absorbed. • Consider the visible colors of natural prey at the depth you will be fishing and match that, not the surface colors. Studies show that fish react to specific colors. Maybe it is a color that occurs during mating or a color that triggers another response. However, what fish see and react to varies species to species. Also, unlike humans, fish can see ultraviolet light, which leads to options when tying flies or using skirted lures. Many materials can bring this into play. There is no doubt that color plays an important role in lure selection. Utilizing colors that show up at the depth you are fishing is a good strategy. Also, use colors that create contrast and make your bait visible under the conditions you are fishing. Will Robinson is an accomplished tournament angler and has been writing and hosting fishing shows for nearly two decades.
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3/20/17 11:33 AM
Fishing the Sunshine Skyway Bridge
O
ne of the many places in Florida that offers a wide variety of fishing experience is near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay. Officially known as the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge, the structure is almost 22,000 feet long and can be a little unnerving for vehicle passengers going on I-275 between St. Petersburg and Terra Ceia in Manatee County. More than 50,000 vehicles travel over it every day. Built in 1987 to replace an older bridge that was partly destroyed in a ship collision in 1980, the new bridge rises 180 feet over the water. After the U.S. Coast Guard cutter “Blackthorn” collided with a freighter, “Capricorn,” in 1980, 23 Coast Guardsmen lost their lives. One can see a memorial to the “Blackthorn” in a park at the northern end of the bridge. After the cutter was raised, officials decided they could not use the ship again and allowed it to be taken out into the Gulf to be scuttled, after which it became an artificial reef for recreational diving and fishing. Today, one can find fishermen using the western fishing piers at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, although large trucks, recreational vehicles, and trailers are not allowed. The piers are open 24 hours a day. One can buy fishing supplies, bait and drinks on the piers, as well as free copies of the latest fishing regulations.
No alcoholic beverages or pets are allowed on the piers. Promoters of fishing there claim
that the approaches to the old bridge are the longest fishing pier in the world, and therefore one can find dozens of anglers there on any
given day. Among the fish species found near the piers are black sea bass, cobia, grouper, king mackerel, pompano, red snapper, sheepshead, snook, Spanish mackerel and tarpon. The usual fee for each car on the piers is $4, plus $4 for each adult. As evidenced in the photo here, one can also find kayakers fishing near the piers as well as boaters in different-sized fishing boats. The piers may be too high for some fishermen, and so there are many legal spots for those who want to fish from shore. One can find deep channels near those spots, and snook have been known to congregate there. The warmer times of the year are popular for migrating fish. Because several million people are within driving distance of the piers, those places are popular for many anglers. One can also see fishermen wading along the flats in search of some keepers. When I’ve been there, I have looked up at the vehicles speeding along the bridge high above the water and wondered how many of the passengers look down with envy at the fishermen enjoying a day on, at, or in the water trying their luck to catch some good fighting fish. Kevin McCarthy, the award-winning author of “South Florida Waterways” (2013 - available at amazon.com for $7), can be reached at ceyhankevin@gmail.com. For more on Kevin McCarthy, go to
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LAKE PANASOFFKEE • BUSHNELL • WILDWOOD • SUMTERVILLE • WEBSTER • THE VILLAGES • OXFORD MULBERRY • BARTOW • LAKELAND • POLK CITY • AUBURNDALE • EAGLE LAKE • WINTER HAVEN LAKE ALFRED • HAINES CITY • DAVENPORT • LAKE HAMILTON • DUNDEE • LAKE WALES HILLCREST HEIGHTS • FROSTPROOF • FORT MEADE
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If you have a suggestion for a distribution location for Coastal Angler Magazine, please let me know. You can view all 39 magazines in the U.S., including The Bahamas, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands at www.CoastalAnglerMagazine.com Please feel free to send me any fishing photos and comments about the magazine-I would love to hear from you!
E dition Highlights & Business Spotlight Page 2 Photo Of The Month Contest Winner
Page 8 Lakeland Jr. Bassmasters Page 10 History of Salty Boats/ Stumpnocker Boats/ Old Salt Marine.
Page 6 Tournament & Events Page 9 Bass Assasins of Polk County Page 11 John Lietz Memorial Tournament Results
Page 14-15 Map Page
Page 16-20 Local Business Page 24 Find Us Here
Welcome Rickert Properties Paddleboard Winter Haven
Polk & Sumter Edition Staff: Sales, Editing & Production- Mary Brasher Graphic Arts & Design - PPP Graphic Design Distribution - Mary & Larry Brasher, Joyce & Capt Dave Ochs Media Mgr - Patrick Powers Contributing Writers - Capt Keith Mixon, Jim Veal Jr, Capt Dave Ochs, Ron Schelfo, Capt. Scott Taylor, Capt Eddie Perry, Capt Rick Burns, Chris O’Byrne FaceBook -CoastalAnglerMagazineLakelandVicinity • Twitter - @camlakeland • Instagram- camlakeland • Youtube- CAM Sumpter Lakeland
Each month I will bring you the latest and best knowledge for you to put to good use. I also invite you to share my passion for this area and if you would like to become a contributing writer contact us. You can read our magazine online anytime or sign up for a free digital subscription. Just visit our website and never miss an issue! CoastalAnglerMag.com. 1 POLK & SUMTER
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Best Fishing Days
4/2- EVENING 4/3- MORNING 4/11,12,13 - EVENING
4/21-22- MORNING 4/29-30- EVENING
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
3/19/2017 5:52:23 PM
INDIAN RIVER LAGOON FISHING FORECAST At t e n t i o n anglers, now is a perfect time to get out on the water and catch some fish. Spring time fishing along Florida’s Space Coast is something special. It was created just for you. Throughout our region, the early morning spotted sea trout bite should be very good. These trout will be in search of an easy meal and are fun to catch. This is especially true along the flats. In this area, countless fingerling mullet will be invading our region for the spring mullet run. Trout which are one of many predatory fish will be aggressively feeding on these mullet during low light conditions. In order to prepare for a tug of war battle with one of these hard fighting fish, you will need to do an equipment check up. One of my favorite rod and reel combo to use for trout is a seven foot medium action spinning reel combo equipped with 20 pound test braided line and 15 pound test mono leader. This particular combination will allow you to make long accurate casts to targeted areas. Here are a few helpful hints when fishing for trout. First of all, keep in mind that trout have excellent eye sight and are eas2 POLK & SUMTER
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ily spooked. To overcome this, anglers should practice stealth like approach. Second, live bait fishermen should attach a 6/0 circle hook to the end of a mono leader. Then hook a live fingerling mullet just behind the anal fin. This is a great way to catch a trout. Allowing the bait to swim naturally (free lining) can help increase your chances of catching a nice fish. Also, fishing baits near schools of bait fish when conditions are calm can be a very exciting time. During this time of year, many of these trout should have an average length of nearly 20 inches with some measuring up to 24 inches long. In addition, blue fish can also be caught. These hard fighting fish can be caught along the beach, or structure such as piers or the jetties. Blue fish mostly feed on schools of bait fish and can be caught on a variety of artificial lures, spoons, or cut bait. When targeting them, anglers will find that rigging their baits onto a 30 pound test mono leader can increase their chances of bringing them to the boat. The easiest way to catch them is to use gold spoons or live baits such as mullet or shrimp when fishing near schools of baitfish. Anglers can expect for these blues to have an average weight.
KISSIMMEE CHAIN FISHING FORECAST
Rookie bass fisherman Steve Warter January 15, 2017 with his 6.5 lb. bass caught on Lake Kissimmee.
Bass are starting to load up on the grass lines, particularly on Lake Kissimmee and Lake Rosalie. Look for this trend to continue over the next month. On Lake Hatchineha, good numbers of Bass are moving into shallow sparse pad areas with larger bass staging up on the thickest buggy whip lines that you can find. The shell bed flats are also producing good numbers of bass, particularly on Lake Cypress and Gator Cove on Lake Hatchineha. In these areas, either use a Texas Submitted By: Capt. Keith Mixon rigged speed worm with a 1/4 oz. Mixin' Work With Play Fishing Charters ww.mixinworkwithplay.com weight or a Carolina rigged Senko 321-212-8484 with a1/4 oz. weight for best re-
sults. On the grass lines, a Texas rigged Senko or fluke with an 1/8 oz. weight are producing some really hard strikes. Speckled perch can be found almost anywhere on the Kissimmee Chain. The best areas are in lily pads in 5’ of water. 1/16 oz. jigs tipped with a grub, white, red and white or chartreuse and white are your best best. On Lake Rosalie, the specks came into the canals and shallow grassy areas to spawn. This won’t last for very long and the specks will be moving into deep water 10’ to 15’ within days. Some have already moved into the deep water. Stay deep and use your slip cork sets with a minnow. Big shellcrackers are starting to come into the lily pads on just about all the lakes. The next full moon cycle should be some of the best bream fishing of the year. Get your crickets and red worms stocked up on and have your deep fryers ready. The feast is about to begin! Submitted By: Capt Dave Ochs Waters Edge Fish Camp 10730 Camp Mack Rd LakeWales, Fl 863-589-6295
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3/19/2017 5:52:24 PM
LAKE ALFRED / AUBURNDALE / WINTER HAVEN FISHING FORECAST The weather is great!! This is one of the best times of year to get out there and fish before our temperatures begin to rise. Everything is biting right now including Shell Crackers, Blue Gills, and even some Specs. Aaron McCutcheon and Jacob Mobley (shown in photo) stopped by recently to show off their nice catch of (25) good size Specs caught right here on Lake Alfred. Shell Crackers respond best to Live Red Worms and Crickets and are currently hitting very well on Lakes Rochelle and Haines in Lake Alfred. When fishing on Rochelle . . Find pockets or areas located about 25 yards from the shoreline . . You’ll have great results! Blue Gills are also at the shoreline located in and around the lily pads. Blue Gills respond best to Live Crickets. Of course, Bass fishing is probably at its best this time of year. To catch one of those BIG Bass, we recommend using a top water lure. Our all-time proven favorite is a Cordell Pencil Popper in Trout Color. A Heddon Poppin Image will also bring you great results. Another winner is the Bass Assassin Boss Shiner Swim Baits in assorted colors which can be used with a jig head and flipped or a swim bait hook and swim it. My “personal” favorite continues to be a Booyah Lipless Crank Bait in Royalty Color. Our anglers bring us reports of great catches every day using any of these recommendations . . Try them . . You will catch those BIG Bass!! Right now our best Bass fishing reports are coming in from the North and South Winter Haven Chains and Lakes Alfred and Swoope in Lake Alfred. Polk County is home to (554) beautiful lakes and offers some of the best fishing in Florida!! Don’t miss out . . Come out and enjoy a great time fishing our area. Remember . . The best time to go fishing is when YOU can GO!! Submitted By: Ron Schelfo Owner RON’S TACKLE BOX, LLC 380 S. Lake Shore Way • Lake Alfred, FL 33850 863-956-4990 • www.ronstacklebox.com Check us out on FaceBook and “LIKE” our page. “Catch” my Weekly Fishing Report every Saturday (6-8 AM) on WFLA 970 AM
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TAMPA BAY FISHING REPORT As water temps start to climb different species are moving into the bay and back from the rivers as the bait will be moving back on to the flats. The Snook bite has been really good and should stay consistent on live bait and artificial. They are very hungry and need to fatten up for the summer spawn. The new Gill Reaper swimbaits in a white or mullet pattern is a good artificial bait choice throwing around structure and fast moving current. Sheepshead are still in good numbers throughout the bay near reefs, bridges, docks and seawalls feeding on shrimp and fiddler crabs. We’re starting to see smaller schools of Redfish on the flats. As the bait gets thicker on the flats larger schools will start showing up. The fish will be skittish for the first month or so and then will be feasting the chum. Submitted By: Capt. Shawn Raulerson captshawnfishing.com 863-860-8502
4 POLK & SUMTER
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3/19/2017 5:52:28 PM
SOME SPRING ANGLING ACTION
St. Petersburg Tides - April 2017 HIGH
DATE AM
ft
LOW PM
ft
AM
ft
SUN PM
16 Sun 7:04
1.3 4:58
17 Mon 8:32
1.3 5:41
18 Tue 19 Wed 11:31 20 Thu 11:59 22 Sat 23 Sun 12:07 24 Mon 1:08 25 Tue 2:05
6:38 1.4 7:55 1.5 9:30 12:22 10:56 12:43 1.9 1:04 1.9 1:26 1.9 1:50
12:08 10:54 1:18 2.3 11:11 2.1 2:38 2.0 4:00 1.5 5:11 1.9 1.6 6:07 1.9 1.7 6:51 1.8 7:27 1.9 7:56 2.0 8:21 2.1 8:43 2.2 9:03 2.3 9:24 2.3 9:45 2.3 10:08 12:10 2.2 10:34 1:05 2.1 11:02 2.0 2:08 1.9 3:16 1.8 4:19 1.6 5:14 1.8 1.7 6:00 1.9 6:41 2.0 7:17 2.2 7:50
26 Wed 3:00
1.8 2:17
2.4 8:21
27 Thu 3:56 28 Fri 4:57 29 Sat 6:06
1.7 2:47 1.6 3:22 1.5 4:01
30 Sun 7:33
1.4 4:46
2.5 8:49 0.9 10:12 2.6 9:17 1.0 11:06 2.6 9:43 1.2 12:04 -0.4 2.5 10:07 1.3
1 Sat 6:57
1.3 5:12
2 Sun 8:54
1.2 6:01
3 Mon 4 Tue
7:06 8:41 1:01 10:27 1:20 11:51 1:39 1.9 1:57 1.8 2:14 1.8 2:29 1.7 2:44 1.6 3:02 1.5 3:24 1.4 3:50 1.4 4:21
5 Wed 6 Thu 7 Fri 8 Sat 9 Sun 10 Mon 11 Tue 12 Wed 13 Thu 14 Fri 15 Sat
12:54 1:46 2:31 3:11 3:50 4:29 5:12 6:01
21 Fri
2.3
Get Your Cobia Gear Ready
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SET
7:18 7:49 7:17 7:50 7:16 7:50 7:15 7:51
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0.0 6:58 0.1 7:43 0.2 8:22 0.4 8:58 0.6 9:32 0.7 10:06 0.8 10:43 0.9 11:24 1.0 -0.1 1.1 -0.0 1.2 0.0 0.0 2:01 0.1 4:01
0.8 7:11 0.6 7:10 0.4 7:09 0.2 7:08 0.1 7:07 0.0 7:06 -0.1 7:05 -0.1 7:04 7:03
7:52 7:53 7:53 7:54 7:55 7:55 7:56 7:56 7:57
7:02 7:57 7:01 7:58 7:00 7:58 1.4 6:59 7:59 1.3 6:58 7:59
0.1 5:20
1.1 6:57 8:00
0.1 6:17 0.2 7:06 0.3 7:51 0.5 8:36
0.8 6:56 0.5 6:55 0.2 6:54 0.0 6:53
0.7 9:23
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8:01 8:01 8:02 8:02
A very nice double limit of trout caught by Denver Turner and Roger Jones off Homosassa. They ranged from 22" - 18".
HEAD FOR THE REDS With winter hopefully out of the picture, spring in fullforce, and summer nipping on our heals, this month of April is definitely amost favored time of the year for bonuses in angling.Check it out, the winds have started to subside, the daysare longer, the water temps are on the rise (high 70’s) but not miserable yet,so the fish are eager to feed up.Let’s do something a little different than the norm andstart with the offshore and work our way in.You need but only find or have that day good enough forboating to get out there, cause the kingfish are waiting for ya. Trolling is the best way to take one of myfavorite eating sport fish. Start your trolling over good bottom or structureat 18 to 20 foot depths. Use your stretch plugs in 18’ or 25’. Or the Rapalasin the same. Colors like firetiger, blue and white, and red and white will beproductive.Closer in the cobes will be hanging on and around ournearshore rock piles. When approaching one, motor down well off, and trollquietly up to it. Anchor up current, toss out a chum bag, and then toss afrisky pinfish around the area. Good chances are you’ll take more than one. Alot of times they run in pairs.Further towards shore. Say in the 3’ to 5’ depths. Thetrout have moved out of the river mouths and creeks
Submitted By: Capt. Rick Burns Reel Burns Charters Homosassafishingguide.com 352-201-6111
-0.4 6:52 8:03 -0.5 6:51 8:04 6:50 8:05 6:49 8:05
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CAM April Number 2.indd 5
and extreme shallowsstalking the flats in search of most anything thrown their way. Utilize aFishbites extreme scent release plastic shrimp, paddle tail, or jerkbait undera Cajun-Thunder to locate these fish. For our Nature Coast, Crystal River,Homosassa area, try Ed’s Bait and Tackle in Crystal River to find theseproducts. A lot of folks don’t or can’t carry these products, and Ed’s has whatworks. Now.. let’s venture further inshore around the islandsand my favorite place, the backcountry, to as I would say, Head for the Reds!This is one of about 3 times of the year where you can find some excellentredfishing.Reason being, they’re starting to school up, the waterand conditions are getting righteous, the bait is abundant, and they just haveto have something similar swim their way to oblige and make you happy with ahookup. Work the ole proverbial banks, cuts, pockets, and pointsfor the best success. Keep one of 2 or 3 things tied up and ready to toss toem. You do have more than 1 rod to fish with right?Have a weedless rigged jerkbait in the “chicken on achain” color by assassin. Have a Thunder-Spin saltwater spinnerbait tied onanother. And maybe a live bait hook tied under a Cajun on the third just incase you see some fish, but they’re finicky and need to toss a shrimp, pinfishor one of those fresh cut up ladyfish you caught earlier when trout fishing.Get out and enjoy what our month of April has to offer onthe beautiful Citrus County waterways.
APRIL 2017
POLK & SUMTER 5
3/19/2017 5:52:28 PM
Your Polk & Sumter Tournament News & Community Events 4/1 Ring of Honor Wrestling Supercard of Honor 6-8pm The Lakeland Center jason.refermat@lakelandgov.net
IN THE FLY FISHING SECTION
4/1 Tampa Bay Jr Bassmaster Tournament on Crooked Lake Ramp Na
4/8 Lakeland Bassmasters Team Trail on the Kissimmee Chain out of Camp Mack Martin Bozeman (863_640-8349
4/8 “Flipping for Charities” 59th Annual Kiwanis Pancake Festival 7am4/1 Annual Indian Lake Estates Kids Fishing Derby Contact Buddy 3pm Publix Field Joker Marchant Stadium Lakeland Contact Kerry Charlet Mongiovi (863)781-0736 (863)529-3260 4/1 Angler’s Team Trail Tournament on the Kissimmee Chain out of Overstreet Ramp njbloom@bellsouth.net
4/8 Xtreme Bass Series Tournament on Lake Reedy out of the Public Ramp
4/1 Lakeland Jr Bassmasters Team Series Tournament on Lake Istokpoga 4/8 West Coast Couples Tournament on the Winter Haven Chain out of Ramp TBA Martin Bozeman (863)640-8349 Old Shipp Contact Randy Crocker (813)927-0738 4/1 Xtreme Bass Series Tournament on the Winter Haven Chain out of New Shipp Ramp xbsmike@verizon.net
4/8 Willie Nelson-Waylon Jennings Tribute Concert 7-9pm Ramon Theatre Frostproof
4/1 -2 The Sun n’ Fun Seabird Splash-In Tavares Seaplane Base g.nye@att. 4/9 Sumter Scenic Highway Byway Corridor Advisory Group Meeting 11net 12 4/1-2 FJT at Country Club of Winter Haven (16-18) (863)324-4579 4/1,8,15,22,29 Florida’s Natural Grove House Visitor’s Center Saturday events www.floridasnaturalgrovehouse.com 4/1,8,15,22,29 Rodeo at Westgate River Ranch 7:30-9:30 (800)608-1462 4/1 RunWalkSplash4Dreams 5K Run/Walk Encore Resort at Reunion Kissimmee Fl Contact The Sunshine Foundation (863)424-4188
4/9 Bass Nation HS Series Tournament on the Harris Chain out of Venetian Gardens 4/10 Walt Disney World Palms Course Lake Buena Vista 8am shotgun start onedays@fsga.org 4/11 Walt Disney World-Magnolia Course Lake Buena Vista 8am shotgun start onedays@fsga.org
4/15 Outback Oasis Easter Eggstravaganza & Fundraiser to benefit SWIM 4/1 Relay for Life of Haines City & Davenport Lake Eva Park Haines City TOTTS 10am-2pm 4000 CC Rd S Winter Haven (863)508-5482 donna.barkley@aol.com 4/15 1st Jade’s Journey Benefit Tournament on the Kissimmee Chain out of 4/2 Lunker Lovers Tournament on the Kissimmee Chain out of Camp Camp Mack Contact Lane Crosson (863)873-5518 Lester www.lunkerlovers.com 4/15 Bass Assassin’s Of Polk County Tournament on Lake Arbuckle out of 4/2 Tampa Pro Bass Tournament on the Kissimmee Chain out of Camp the County Park Contact Alex Handley (808)778-2954 Lester Contact John & Wendy Taylor (727)403-6861 or (727)403-6862 4/15 Bartow HS Jackets Tournament on the Winter Haven Chain out of 4/2 Lakeland Bassmaster Draw Tournament on Lake Istokpoga out of Lake Shipp bboswell4@yahoo.com Istokpoga Park Martin Bozeman (863)640-8349 4/15 Polk County Police Cheif ’s Charitable Foundations “Sporting Clays 4/3 LEGOLAND Beach Retreat Preview Night 5-8pm Legoland Beach Fun Shoot 8am-2pm Catfish Creek Sporting Clays Haines City Contact Retreat Winter Haven info@winterhavenchamber.com Larry Williams (863)298-6363 4/3 One Day Event Adena Golf & Country Club Ocala Fl 9am shotgun start 4/21Coach Bonnevill’s Friday Night Lights “GRIND” Football Camp onedays@fsga.org 6-7:30pm Haines City High School 4/4-6 Men’s Super-Senior Championship Mission Inn Resort-El Champion, 4/22 Central Florida Farm Tour 8am-1pm Polk County david@ Howey-In-The-Hills (352)324-3885 centralfloridamediagroup.com 4/4-4/9 Sun ‘n Fun International Fly In & Expo 8am-till Expo Campus 4/22 St Pete Pro Bass Tournament on Crooked Lake out of Bob’s Landing Lakeland 863-644-2431 mburgun@tampabay.rr.com 4/4,11,18,25 Country Music Jam At Catfish Johnny’s Restaurant Lake 4/22 Agricultural & Fruit Festival 7:30am-4pm Dundee Community Panasoffkee Doors Open at 10:30- Serve lunch until 12:00 $12pp (includes Center Admin@Dundeeareachamber.Org lunch) 4/23 Xtreme Bass Series Tournament On The Kissimmee Chain Out Of 4/5 2nd Annual City Works (X)Po 300 Third St Winter Haven Camp Mack Cityworksxpofl.com 4/24 One Day Event Carrollwood Country Club Pine/Cypress Course 4/5,12,19,26 Florida’s Natural Grove House Visitor’s Center Wednesday Tampa Fl 9:30am Shotgun Start Onedays@Fsga.Org Events www.floridasnaturalgrovehouse.com 4/29 United Way Of Cf/Kiwanis One Day 8am-1pm Lakeland & Throughout 4/6 Craft Beer Crawl Downtown Winter Haven businesses 5:30-8:30pm Polk County Contact Scott Lonsberry (863)648-1500x241 (863)295-9422 4/29 Jr Bassmaster’s Team Series Tournament on the Kissimmee Chain out 4/6,13,20,27 Polk County Visitor Center Hosts Seasonal Farmers Market of Camp Mack Martin Bozeman (863)640-8349 Contact Dennis Budde (863)420-2586 4/29 Project Eagle 8am-2pm Lake Shipp Park Winter Haven (863)206-4113 4/7 One Day Event Country Club of Ocala 9am shotgun start onedays@ 4/29 6th Annual Carillon Classic 5K returns to Bok Tower Gardens 7:30fsga.org 9:30am 4/7 American Cancer Society Relay For Life Lakeland Lake Mirror 4/29 SPCA 25th Annual Florida’s Walk For Animals 2017 8am-12pm Lake Lakeland 5:30-11pm www.relayforlife.org/lakelandfl 4/7 Taste of Dundee 6-9pm Dundee Community Center admin@ Mirror Lakeland Contact Paula Creama (863)577-4608 dundeeareachamber.org Upcoming: 4/8 LEARN THE JOYS OF FLY FISHING AT ANDY THORNALS THE 5/4 Sumter Chamber Business Expo 2017 Wildwood Community Center CLASS RUNS FROM 9-3 ALL EQUIPMENT, FOOD AND DRINK, 4-7pm Contact Jessica Kelly (352)793-3099 T-SHIRT AND NOTEBOOK/OUTLINE ARE INCLUDED. STUDENTS 6/5-10 Off The Wall Adventure & Outfitters Scuba Camp $399 includes 3 WILL LEARN CASTING, TACTICS, EQUIPMENT AND KNOTS. Spring dives & 2 dvies in W Palm Beach, Books & Workbook, DVD, Dive CLASSES ARE LIMITED TO EIGHT STUDENTS. PRE-REGISTER BY Log, NAUI Open Water Dive, Certification, Lunch, Snacks, Drinks, Rental CALLING (863)299-9999 OR CHECK WWW.ANDYTHORNAL.COM of BC, Regulator, Computer & Tanks. www.offthewalladventures.com 6 POLK & SUMTER
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3/19/2017 5:52:29 PM
CENTRAL FLORIDA FRESHWATER FLY FISHING REPORT Surface Temp: 70f Clarity: Medium Tannic-24” Guide Tip:Try to seek cover from wind, stiffer leaders and weighted flies work well in the wind, be prepared to “chuck and duck”. Bass are still in the shallower portions of the lakes. Streamer flies like clouser minnows, and turd burglers will drop to the places that bass are hunkering. Mornings have improved and evenings are good. Slowing down your retrieve rate and focusing on shallow sand flats, and deeper points right off structure should yield some results. Top water early before the winds pick up has been successful.Fishing the bottom seems to be important. When the weather cools slow down your presentations and fish the same spot for a couple of casts, many times it’s your second or third try to the same spot that yields a fish.In most lakes natural colors have done well: black, white, or olive along with a couple of brighter colors such as chartreuse should cover the bases. Focus on crawfish and sunfish imitating patters to get the reactionary strike from a protective bass. The panfish bite has been picking up, expect for then to begin spawning shortly.Damselfly nymphs fished along the weed line with a slow presentation have worked best for a consistent bite. Small top water flies have worked well specially in brighter colors fished with a small nymph dropper. Also try smaller baitfish flies (size:6) if you end up catching a lot of smaller bluegill, this should weed out the small ones. Good fishing reports have been coming in from Lake Elbert, Saddle Creek, Teneroc, and some smaller lakes in the area. Now is a great time of year to try and land some serious sized largemouth. Hunter Towery Peace Creek Guide Service 863-837-7028
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APRIL 2017
POLK & SUMTER 7
3/19/2017 5:52:30 PM
Come join the largest B.A.S.S. youth fishing club in the South East. We welcome you to join in on the action. Membership is open to anglers between 7 and 18 years of age. All events listed on the Tournament Trail offer Two Divisions for Teams to compete. The Jr Division For Anglers Not In High School & The High School Division For All High School Team to compete against each other for a chance to qualify to fish The B.A.S.S. Costa High School National Championship.
SPRING QUALIFIER FOR NATIONALS The Istokpoga Bash By Ready Pools April 1st 2017 Windy Point Ramp Check in by 6am, Launch at 6:45am. Note: This will be a out of the boat weigh in at 2pm. Lake Placid Marine will be having a special sale 15% off and staying open late to all anglers and captains on Friday night.
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3/19/2017 5:52:31 PM
Bass Assassin’s of Polk County South Chain 2/18/17 1. Justin Brown/Jacob Garrard - 24.39 Big Bass = 9.46 2. Jared Dial/Todd Arington = 21.42 3. Jeff Worthy/Roger L = 20.87 4. Matt Henderson/Mike T = 20.78 5. Lonnie Gates/Larry Cox = 16.21 6. Keith Brown/Dennis Minton = 15.79 7. Kerry Wood/Dalton Hanger = 14.69 8. Scott Jackson/Steve Green = 14.23 9. Doug Branch/Bryan Vaughn = 14.20 10. Shane Sizemore/Rodger Wright = 14.06 11. Ed Burkhimer/Frank Sylvester = 13.72 12. Jimmy Saxon/Randy Johnson = 13.30 13. Tyler Chattin/Ryan Terlep = 12.61 14. Joe Magneta/Shorty = 12.41 15. Hagen Ron Dowdy = 11.68 16. Bryan Boyd/Austin Williams = 11.46 17. Scott Stapleton/Amp Milton = 11.16 18. Craig Johnson/Ronny Jackson = 10.80 19. Wendy & Barry Norton = 10.49 20. Trina & Steve Prichard = 9.69 21. Justin Braswell/William Mays = 9.22 22. Cory Vrabel/Austin Reeves = 8.38 23. Blane Duncklee/Dennis Test = 8.01 24. Brandon & Andrew Smith = 7.78 25. Brad Jones/Ricky Madocks = 7.47 26. Scott Martell/Mike Aguiar = 7.20 27. Sean Ripley/Owen Jones = 5.57 Steve Green - 6.43lb bass weighed in
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
CAM April Number 2.indd 9
APRIL 2017
POLK & SUMTER 9
3/19/2017 5:52:34 PM
T
History of Salty Boats, Stumpnocker Boats and Old Salt Marine
he history of Salty Boats, Stumpnocker Boats and Old Salt Marine began when Richard J LaCharite left the Marine Corp in 1967 from Embassy Duty. Richard began working for the Ferro Corporation which made resin, gel coat and fiberglass materials in Miami Florida. Richard was promoted to Sales in 1968 and Florida Sales Manager in 1970. In 1974 MiniCraft of Florida, Inc was started by Richard J LaCharite in Lakeland Florida. MiniCraft manufactured small radio controlled fiberglass boats and grew into supplying fiberglass manufacturing companies with the necessary shop supplies to operate. In 1977 Richard J LaCharite left Ferro Corporation. In 1982 MiniCraft started color tinting 5 gallon pails and drums of gel coat for boat builders to be supplied in an emergency basis when the "large" gel coat suppliers needed help. In 1984, Ferro Corporation of Miami relocates to Wildwood Florida. In 1986 MiniCraft of Florida, Inc started offering quarts and gallons to boat yards and individuals to repair non-current vessels. In 1999 Richard J LaCharite purchased the factory in Wildwood that Ferro Corporation had purchased in 1984 and relocated MiniCraft of Florida, Inc from Lakeland to Wildwood Florida.
In 2001 MiniCraft began offering the "MiniCraft University" which is a curriculum teaching gel coat, fiberglass manufacturing, mold making and fiberglass part fabrication still taught and managed today by Richard's brother Paul LaCharite. MiniCraft also offers custom color matching services. In 2004 Old Salt Marine Lakeland was started. Old Salt Marine is your "One Stop Shop" for all your boating needs! Old Salt Marine offers SeaArk, SeaBorn, Misty Harbor, PolarKraft and Stumpnocker line of new boats. Old Salt Marine also offers a large selection of quality preowned boats as well. Old Salt Marine will buy or consign your boat and they offer brokerage services for their clients for selling or purchasing their dream boat or Yacht. Old Salt Marine believes that "Boating and Fishing is a Lifestyle", especially here in Florida. No matter what your budget is, they will find a way for you and your family to fully enjoy the Florida lifestyle with their family. Old Salt Marine has a large selection of quality parts and accessories for your boat, and if they do not have it in stock, they will get it for
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you. Old Salt Marine service department is second to none and there is "No job too small or large" for their experienced technician staff to handle. Old Salt Marine also offers fiberglass repair and re-fits for your classic boat. Old Salt Marine has a custom canvas and upholstery shop as well and they can handle everything from seat cushions to T-Tops. In 2016 Old Salt Marine was selected Best Of Lakeland Award in the Consumer Products Category by the Lakeland Awards Program. In 2017 a second Old Salt Marine location was opened in Wildwood Florida. This location offers boat storage, new and used boats, service to all items sold by the dealership, upholstery- new and repair and specializes in outboard repower by Evinrude, Suzuki and Yamaha. Richard J LaCharite's son Donald manages both of these locations as well as Salty Boats. Go online to oldsaltmarine.com or give them a call at (863)802-0543 both locations.
Through the gel coat manufacturing process, MiniCraft needed an outlet to test materials, thus the creation of Salty Boats in 2006 in Wildwood Florida currently managed by Richard J LaCharite's son Donald LaCharite. Salty Boats offers boats under the brand in boats "Stumpnocker" The Stumpnocker line of boats are all composite construction with closed foam flotation. There are many models to choose from including flat bottom boats with 8" depths to semi V bottom boats with 10" drafts. Stumpnocker also builds boats and other fiberglass products privately labeled such as fiberglass furniture, fiberglass pools, rowing boats and more. In 2015 Salty Boats began offering dealership territory. Go to Stumpnockerboats. com to get your local dealer or give Richard with his granddaughter Morgan. them a call at (352)748-5200.
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3/19/2017 5:52:35 PM
Tropical Harbor Estates 2nd Annual John Lietz Memorial Bass Fishing Tournament
March 4th was a windy but wonderful day on Lake Clay at Tropical Harbor Estates 2nd Annual John Lietz Memorial Bass Fishing Tournament. Congratulations to our 1st Place Winners – George Ripberger & Kenny French who brought in 5 fish for a total 1st Place – George Ripberger weight of 13.72 pounds! 2nd Place Winners & Kenny French – Reinhard Pope & Larry Barber with 5 fish for 11.85 pounds and 3rd Place Winners Eric Harris & Paul Converse with 5 fish for 11.35 pounds. Daniel LeClair & Gary Durham won Big Bass with a weight of 4.51 pounds. Our Resident longest fish caught contest was won by Don Enright with 19 ¼”, he 2nd Place – Reinhard Pope received one month’s FREE lot rent! & Larry Barber
3rd Place - Paul Converse & Eric Harris
Big Bass Winners – Gary Durham & Daniel LeClair
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POLK & SUMTER 11
3/19/2017 5:52:37 PM
CENTRAL FLORIDA REGION FORECAST
I love this time of year because we’ve had a really busy past couple of months. And Paula and I get to go back up to South Carolina for a week to visit with family, hang-out on the beach and take a vacation, plus sneak in a guided trip for some redfish in Charleston. What else would you expect a guide to do on vacation?! On to REEL business: I’d like to officially welcome everyone to Spring here in Central Florida! It has been a weird “winter” with more cold fronts with the high winds and cold nights. It seems that as soon as we would get back to a good stretch of 70’s-80’s temperatures that got the post-spawn bass thinking summer patterns, Jack Frost would pay us an unwelcome visit and the bottom would fall-out again. With April upon us I expect the fishing to stabilize and get back to normal patterns of topwaters, swimbaits, flukes, while changing your patterns as the sun comes up and the day progresses. Here in Winter Haven on the South Chain, I’m really looking forward to the bass fishing just getting better day-by-day. A “typ-
ical” guide trip (if there is one!) starts at sunrise drifting a couple shiners behind the boat while our guests cast topwaters, flukes, and twitch baits from the front of the boat as we cruise the mid-range grass lines. As the day progresses we’ll still have the shiners out back but may change-up a bait or two along the way. If the fish get quiet for a bit we’ll add a weighted fluke or jerkbait to the mix to get them going again once they’ve dropped down some and are suspending. There are always variables that you have to account for every day. Most of the time if we have a sunny high sky and light winds in late mornings and easy afternoon having a texas-rigged worm or crankbaits is always a safe bet. If it’s a day with clouds or a little rain I like to keep my focus up top. Moving over to Lake Hatchineha and the Kissimmee Chain I’m already thinking of an “old” GunsN-Roses song: “Welcome To The Jungle!” Personally, I love getting back up into the nastiest, knarliest, viniest (sorry for making up words), thickest, most tangled-up junk that will make you curse the sun, moon and stars that I can find – with some scattered eel grass of course – and throw a Spro Frog or Gambler EZ Swimmer. That is my “Go To Happy Zone” hands down. Captain Scott Taylor is the officially sanctioned guide for VisitCentralFlorida.org and can be heard on 97 Country WPCV with Grant Starr every Thursday at 8:20pm. He also guides on Charlotte Harbor in SW Florida for saltwater trips. Submitted By: Capt. Scotty Taylor 855-354-8433 Scott@TMCGuideService.com
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CAM April Number 2.indd 12
APRIL 2017
POLK & SUMTER 12
3/19/2017 5:52:38 PM
PANA VISTA LODGE FISHING REPORT
The bass fishing in March was excellent. Donnie and Celia Winghart caught some nice bass with Celia outdoing Donnie with a nice 7-¾ lb. bass. Most of the bass were caught on shiners but plastic baits did well and crank baits are starting to pick up a bit as well. The Specs did ok early in the month but by later in March they started winding down for the season. The bluegill and shellcracker didn’t do much by mid march probably because of the cold front around the full moon. April Best Bets: I look for the bass fishing to do good in April. The shift from live bait to artificial baits will increase.
I look for the Plastic baits, including frogs to really pick up along with an increase in crankbaits and spinner baits as well. The pan fishermen will be all out in full force chasing the shellcrackers as well. The full moon of April may be the best opportunity but don’t overlook the new moon as well. The shellcrackers will mostly be biting on worms while the bluegills will bite both Crickets and worms. Also I would let everyone know to mark their calendars for the 3rd Annual Pana Vista Lodge/ The Big & Wild Outdoors Panfish challenge. It will take place on June 10th. This year. For all of you new to this it is a panfish tournament geared strictly for the youth and family fun. Everyone is welcome to enter and “ALL” proceeds other than prize money will go to youth organizations. It is really a great event. More details will follow next month or feel free to give us a call at 352-793-2061 Submitted By: Jim Veal Jr. Pana Vista Lodge Lake Panasoffkee, Fl. 352-793-2061
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APRIL 2017
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3/19/2017 5:52:38 PM
1-Capt. Keith Mixon 321-212-8484 290 Marine Harbor Dr. • Merritt Island, FL 32953 www.MixinWorkWithPlay.com
22- Old Salt Marine 863-802-0543 1916 Us Hwy 98 •North Lakeland, FL 33805 www.OldSaltMarine.com
2-Capt. Rick Burns 352-201-6111 8975 W. Halls River Rd • Homosassa, FL 34448 www.RealBurns.com
23- Off The Wall Adventures 863-709-9253 2055 Shepherd Rd. • Lakeland, FL 33811 www.OffTheWallAdventures.com
3-Capt. Shawn Ralulerson 863-860-8502 CaptShawnFishing.com
24- Erwine’s Marine 863-635-4492 250 S. Scenic Hwy • Frostproof, FL 33843
4-Capt. Eddie Perry 863-763-7722 4375 US Highway 441 N • Okeechobee, FL 34972 OkeechobeeAdventures.FloridaBoyArt.com 5-Capt. Scott Taylor 855-354-8433 238 Towhee Rd • Winter Haven, Florida 33881 TMCGuideService.com 6-Overdue Adventures 863-559-4480 518 Main Street • Auburndale, FL 33823 7-Sky Powersports 863-676-2245 20769 US Hwy 27 • Lake Wales FL 33853 www.SkyPowersportsLakeWales.com 8-Champs Sports Grill 863-647-5900 6645 S. Florida Ave • Lakeland, FL 33803 www.ChampsToGo.com 9-Stone’s Bait & Tackle 863-940-4898 2049 E Edgewood Drive • Lakeland, FL 33803 10-Hurricane’s Grill& Wings 863-324-5157 6370 Cypress Gardens Blvd • Winter Haven, FL 33884 www.HurricaneWings.com 11-Harry’s Old Place 863-324-0301 3751 Cypress Gardens Road •Winter Haven, FL 33884 www.HarrysOldPlace.com
www.ErwinesMarine.com
25- FantaSea 863-668-8012 3405 US Hwy 98 South • Lakeland, FL 33803 www.FantaSeaMarine.com 26- Grape Hammock 863-692-1500 1400 Grape Hammock Rd, • Lake Wales, FL 33898 www.GrapeHammock.com 27- Action Watersports 863-967-4148 402 Progress Rd • Auburndale, FL 33823 www.ActionWatersports.net 28- Marine Supply of Winter Haven 863-297-7003 1700 3rd St SW • Winter Haven, FL 33880 www.MarineSupplyBoats.com 29- Hoppy’s Marine 863-439-7616 31499 Highway 27 • Haines City, FL 33844 www.HoppysMarine.com 30- Gary’s Boating Center 863-638-0537 15520 Highway 27 • Lake Wales, FL 33859 www.GarysBoating.com 31- Jimbo’s Restaurant 352-793-8150 965 CR 439 • Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538 www.Jimbosresort.com
12-Hurricane’s Handi Mart 863-537-1300 5401 Hwy 60 E. • Bartow, FL 33830
32- Polk Tractor 863-967-0651 3450 Havendale Blvd NW • Winter Haven, FL 33881 www.PolkTractorco.com
13-Camp Mack 863-696-1108 14900 Camp Mack Rd • Lake Wales, FL 33898 www.CampMack.com
33- Spurlows 863-635-0240 30 E. Wall St. • Frostproof, FL 33843 SpurlowsOutdoorOutfitters.com
14-Bridgemasters 863-676-1009 2131 FL-60 • Lake Wales, FL 33898 www.Bridge-Masters.com
34- RYK Seafood 863-294-2300 175 Ave A NW • Winter Haven, FL 33881 www.RKYSeafood.com
15-Catfish Johnnys 863-793-2083 2396 N County Rd 470 • Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538 www.CatfishJohnnyRestaurant.com
35- Interstate Battery 863-666-8787
16-A Cut Above Polish Shop 863-444-1078 529 East State Rd. 44 • Wildwood, FL 34785 www.ACutAbovePolishShop.com
36- Jeffords Airboats 863-956-3030
17-Phillips Bait & Tackle 863-666-2248 3780 US-92 • Lakeland, FL 33801 www.CentralFloridaTrollingMotor.com
37- Cypress Inlet 855-449-7666 2600 W Lake Eloise Dr • Winter Haven, FL 33884 www.cypressinlet.com
18-Chilton Signs 863-438-0880 28597 Hwy 27 North • Dundee, FL 33838 www.ChiltonSigns.com
38- Millers Fiberglass 863-551-1551 1505 Lake Shipp Dr, Winter Haven, FL 33880 www.facebook.com/Millers-Fiberglass-Repair-157407427716301
19-Chilton Signs 863-337-6272 3237 Hwy 98 South • Lakeland, FL 33803 www.ChiltonSigns.com
39- Big Fish Bait & Tackle 863-815-9492
20-Ron’s Tackle Box,LLC 863-956-4990 380 S. Lake Shore Way • Lake Alfred, FL 33850 www.ronstacklebox.com 21-Fly Em High Charters 863-224-1418 Capt Bobby Woodard 6499 Gasparilla Rd • Placida, FL 33946 www.Captain-Bobby.com
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2855 US Hwy 92E • Lakeland, FL 33801 www.InterstateBatteries.com 1850 Hwy 92W • Winter Haven, FL 33881
6908 US Hwy 98 North • Lakeland FL 33809 wwww.CentralFloridaAngling.com
40- Whirly Bait 352-443-0245 Lake Panasoffkee FL 33538 www.whirlybait.com
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Support Your Local Businesses!
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Boat/Personal Watercraft/Canoe/Kayak/SUP Dealers Manufacturers/ New & Consignment Sales Hoppy’s Marine 31499 Hwy 27 • Haines City, FL 33844 863-439-7616 www.HoppysMarine.com We Sell & Service Most Major Brand Boats Tracker - Minn•Kota - Nitro - Power Pole Sun Tracker
Okeechobee Adventures Guide Sevice Garrard’s Bait and Tackle Capt. Eddie Perry www.OkeechobeeAdventures.com Facebook.com/OkeechobeeAdventures 863-763-7722
Gary’s Boating Center 15520 Hwy 27 • Lake Wales, FL 33859 863-638-0537 • 863-638-0527 Fax www.GarysBoating.com
Action Watersports 402 Progress Rd. • Auburndale, FL 33823 863-967-4148 www.ActionWaterSports.net
Carolina Skiff - Mercury & Yamaha Outboards Hewitt Boat Lifts & Dock Systems
Custom Fishing Kayaks, Stand Up Paddleboards, Accesories & More. Over 13,000 Sq Ft Packed With All The Gear For Your Paddlesport Adventure!
Marine Supply of Winter Haven 717 6th Street SW • 1491 3rd SW (Sales) Winter Haven, FL 33880 863-293-1156 www.MarineSupplyBoats.com
Erwine’s Marine 250 S. Scenic Hwy • Frostproof, FL 33843 863-635-4492 www.ErwinesMarine.com Yamaha - Evinrude - Mercury - MerCruiser Volvo Penta - Avalon - Magic Tilt - Exide Technologies Power-Pole - Teleflex Marine Starcraft Marine - Engel Coolers & Tumblers
Fully Certified Yamaha, Mercury & Evinrude Technicians. Boat Acc. & Engine Parts - High & Dry Storage - Boat Detailing - Gasoline At Our Docks. Full Line of Yeti Products, Pontoon Rentals
Old Salt Marine 1916 Us Hwy 98 North • Lakeland, FL 33805 9003 E. St Rd. 44 •Wildwood, FL 34785 Ph: 863-802-0543 • Fax: 863-688-3954 www.OldSaltMarine.com
Pana Vista Lodge 3417 Co Rd 421 • Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538 352-793-2061 www.panavistalodge.com Cottages - Rv Camp Ground Hook-Ups - Camping - Boat Sales & Service. JohnsonEvinrude Motors Sales & Service. Boat Rentals Pontoon Rentals - Licenses - Bait - Ice - Gas Ramp
Sea Ark - Salty Boats - Stumpnocker - Polar Kraft -Misty Harbor Pontoons - Sea Born Boats. Outboard Motors - Evinrude - Yamaha - Suzuki.
Stumpnocker By Salty Boats 1916 Us Hwy 98 North • Lakeland, FL 33805 Ph: 863-802-0543 • Fax: 863-688-3954 See all oumodels on Stumpnockerboats.com. From Flat Bottom Models For Shallow Water Fishing To The Semi-V Series For Skinny Water Fishing, You’ll Find The Perfect Boat From Stumpnocker.™
Capt. Keith Mixon Mixin’ Work With Play Fishing Charters www.mixinworkwithplay.com 321-212-8484
Taylor Made Charters & Guide Service Central Florida & Great Lakes Bass Fishing Capt. Scott Taylor USCG Licensed Captian 238 Towhee Rd • Winter Haven, FL 33881 TMCGuideService.com 855-354-8433 16 POLK & SUMTER APRIL 2017 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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Paddleboard Winter Haven 863-845-5307 www.paddleboardwinterhaven.com
Lessons • Tours • Rentals • Sales We are a mobile business with access to the beautiful chain of lakes.
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Guns and Archery Shops, Skeet/Trap/Clay Rifle & Pistol Shooting Clubs and Training Skeet Imperial Polk Gun Club
Imperial Polk Gun Club Inc. 151 Race Pit Road • Winter Haven, FL 33880 863-206-0602 www.imperialpolkgunclub.com
Gator Busters 11451 Schaefer Lane Lake Wales Fl 33898 (407)729-6686 www.gatorbusters.com
Hours: W& S 9-1pm, R- 6-10pm, Sun. 1-5pm 5 Skeet Fields - 7 Trap Fields - 60 RV Hookups Clubhouse w/AC, TV - Bathroom & Shower Kitchen Facilities - Trap & Skeet in Sunny Winter Haven Florida!
Chuck Simmons FWC Licensed Trapper
Lakeland Rifle & Pistol Club 2000 Lasso Lane • Lakeland Fl 33801 863-665-0092 lakelandgunclub.com Private and safe shooting facility with membership open to the public. COME TO OUR GUN SHOW AT THE LAKELAND CENTER SEPTEMBER 17th -18th!
Polk County Trap & Skeet
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Polk County Trap & Skeet 150 Spirit Lake Rd • Winter Haven, FL 33880 863-299-4853 Hours: W&S- 9-5pm, R- 6-10pm, Sun 1-5pm Open To The Public Trap & Skeet Club
Shoot Straight
230 N Lake Parker Ave • Lakeland Fl 33801 (863)937-8021 Hours: M-S 10-9, Sun 11-7 Gunsmithing, Concealed Weapon Course, Firearms Training, Range Membership. We are the largest gun store chain and dealer in Florida, which means better selection, more choice, expert service, and your best shot at the best price!
Leadfeather Guns & Archery
410 Overlook Drive WH Fl 33884 863-875-8989 leadfeatherguns&archery.com Hours: M-R 10-7 F& S 10-8, Sun 12-6 Indoor Climate Controlled Gun & Archery Range, Training Classes, Online Store, Gunsmith Services, Grand Inventory of Firearms, Archery Equipment & Lot Of Accesories.
Tenoroc Shooting Sports & Training 3755 Tenoroc Mine Rd • Lakeland Fl 33805 863-666-2500
Spurlows Outdoor Outfitters Archery ProShop 30
Hours: MRF- 9-5, SS 8-5 Our mission is to provide you with everything necessary to safely engage in firearms training, recreational shooting, hunting and self defense shooting activities.
2009-2015 Hoyt Dealer Of The Year! FREE Set up, Tune & Range Time with Purchase of New Bow Indoor Range Bows (All Major Makes & Models) Arrows-Strings-Crossbows, Apparel-Bowfishing Accessories, Largest Selection of Arrows & Broadheads We accept all major credit cards.
Polk Sporting Clays 2000 Lasso Lane • Lakeland Fl 33801 863-698-0677 www.polksportingclays.com.
Adventures Archery Lakeland 2332 E Edgewood Drive • Lakeland, FL 33803 863-450-2914
NSCA Tournament Club Only.
Catfish Creek Sporting Clays
5000 Firetower Rd • Hanes City, FL 33844 863-439-7855 Hours: W-S 9-5, Sun 9-2 20 Fully Automated Stations, Golf Cart Rentals, Gun Rentals, Ammunition, Instructors and a Full Retail Shop, Banquet Halls, Six-bedroom Villas, Hotel Rooms, Conference Rooms, Onsite Culinary Team. Groups from 15 to 1,000.
E Wall St Frostproof Fl 33843 863-635-0240 SpurlowsOutdoorOutfitters.com
“Your Adventure Begins Here”
Alligators Unlimited Airboat Nature Tours Captain John Wathey 14400 Reese Dr. • Lake Wales, Fl 33898 airboatnaturetours.com
Our Airboats are the “Real Deal” not 20+ passenger Air-Busses! This guarantees your EVERGLADES AIRBOAT TOUR to be personal and powerful! COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM APRIL 2017 POLK & SUMTER 17
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Boat Improvement/Service Repair Center Replacement Parts Millers Fiberglass
1505 S Lake Shipp Dr •Winter Haven, Fl 33880 863-551-1551 Bobby.mfr@gmail.com www.MillersFG.com www.facebook.com/Millers-FiberglassRepair-157407427716301
**FREE ESTIMATES** A Cut Above Polish Shop
529 E State Rd 44 • Wildwood, FL 34785 352-303-0294 3014 TV Road • Florence, SC 29501 352-303-9877 4538 Hwy 43 • Joplin Missouri 64804 417-781-2398 www.ACutAbovePolishShop.com Polish Semi-Trucks (Including Small Fleets!) - Boats Rv’s - Buses - Motorcycles & Vehicles.
You cand find the Whirly Bait at these local stores: Basswater Tackle Shop, Panasoffkee Hardware and Pana Vista Lodge in Lake Panasoffkee. At the Angler’s Tackle Shack in Bushnell and Brookers Bait & Tackle in Leesburg. Please call: (352)443-0245 for dealer inquiries. You Can Get The Whirly Bait In Any Military & Sport Team Colors!
Central Florida Trolling Motor Sales & Repairs
COME CHECK OUT OUR NEW ROUNDABOUT BOATS!
3780 Hwy 92 East • Lakeland, FL 33801 863-666-2248 • Fax 863-667-0213 cftm3780@yahoo.com www.CentralFloridaTrollingMotor.com Check out our weekly specials on facebook! Factory Warranty Service for Minn-Kota Cannon Downriggers- Motor Guide
Interstate Batteries 2855 US Hwy 92 E• Lakeland Fl 33801 863-666-8787 www.InterstateBatteries.com Motorcycle - Cell Phone - Household Automotive - Commerical - Marine - RV General Public Welcome
Jefford’s Airboats 1850 Hwy 92W • Winter Haven Fl 33881 863-956-3030 Jefford’s Airboats
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APRIL 2017
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Bait & Tackle Shops/Outfitters/Apparel Waters Edge Fish Camp 10730 Camp Mack Rd • Lake Wales FL 33898 (863)589-6295 Capt David Ochs (863)696-1411 Store www.watersedgefishcamp.com
Off The Wall Adventures & Outfitters 2055 Shepherd Rd. • Lakeland, FL 33811 863-709-9253 www.OffTheWallAdventures.com
Store, Fuel, Propane, Cabins, Bait Shop, Boat Rental, Boat Ramp
Scuba Diving Classes, Spearfishing Charters, Kayak Sales & Rentals. Dye - GoPro - Costa - Reef - Naui Worldwide Yeti Coolers
Bridgemasters 2131 Highway 60 E • Lake Wales, FL 33898 Phone: 863-676-1009 • Fax: 863-679-1638 www.TheBridgmaster.com
All Abu Garcia Reels In Case 15% Off Level Rods On Sale Carrot Sticks 15% Off Phillips Bait & Tackle 3780 Hwy. 92E • Lakeland, FL 33801 863-666-2248 www.PhillipsTackle.com cftm3780@yahoo.com Live Bait: Cricket - Worms - Minnows - Shiners. Full Line Of Tackle - Tackle Boxes - Rods & Reels
Fishing & Diving Charters
Overdue Adventures FL. “Cracker” Fishing Style Family Fishing, Shore Lunches, Waterside Dining Snorkeling Trips, Scalloping Trips, Egmont Key Day Trips Capt. Daryl Brown First Mate: Joy Brown 518 Main Street • Auburndale, FL 33823 863-559-4480 FishnFinatic Charters Specializes in light tackle fishing, targeting Redfish, Snook, Trout and more. Capt Shawn Raulerson Guide Services CaptShawnFishing.com
863-860-8502
Come In And Check Out Our Spring Sales Follow us on Facebook & Instagram
Stones Bait & Tackle 2049 E Edgewood Drive • Lakeland, Fl 33803 863-940-4898 Instagram: Stones Outhouse Rod & Reel Repairs - Fishing Rods - Reels Tackle - Apparel & Accesorries - Costa - Yeti Coolers - St.Croix - G-Looomis - OluKai - Abu Garcia Shimano -Power Pole - Breath Like a Fish
Big Fish Bait & Tackle 6908 US Hwy 98 North • Lakeland Fl 33809 863-815-9492 wwww.CentralFloridaAngling.com Bob Woodard-Owner Live Bait- Rod & Reel Repairs
Ron’s Tackle Box The Old Angler’s Antique Gallery 380 S. Lake Shore Way • Lake Alfred, FL 33850 863-956-4990 • Fax 863-956-2525 imareellady2@aol.com Live Bait & Tackle - Cast Nets - Sportswear Gifts & Decor Mon - Th 6AM - 6PM • Fri & Sat 6AM - 7PM
Camp Mack
14900 Camp Mack Rd • Lake Wales, Fl 33898
863-696-1108 www.campmack.com
Always Good Fishing - Airboat Nature Tours RV Camping - Trophy Bass Fishing - Cabin Rentals Liars Motel - Home Sales
Fly’Em High Charters
Scalloping Charter
Capt. Bobby Woodard www.Captain-Bobby.com 863-224-1418
Capt. Rick Burns Reel Burns Charters Homosassafishingguide.com 352-201-6111 Manatee Charter
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USCG. Licensed COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
Tarpon, Snook, Grouper APRIL 2017 & SUMTER 19 Redfish, Trout, POLK Scallop Trips
3/19/2017 5:52:46 PM
CAM Polk/Sumter Top Picks For Best Places To Catch The Game World of Beer
2751 W Torch Lake Dr • Wildwood FL 32163 (352)633-9519 • www.worldofbeer.com 53 Beers On Draft. Over 50 Bottled Craft Beers. Our German Pretzel, WOB Dry Rubbed Wings, Artisan Sausage Board & Chimay Burger Top The Favorites’ List Come In And Try Out Our FALL PLATE & PINTS or BOTTOMLESS BOOZE BRUNCH!
Brewlands Bar & Billiards 5733 S Fl Ave Lakeland Fl 33813 863-646-2600 24 Beers on Draft. Over 50 Bottled Craft & Import Beers. Full Liquor Bar .”Hand-picked” Wine List Great Beer-Superior TablesIncredible Atmosphere-FREE Billiard Lessons (on weekends)-Darts-20 Big Screen TV’sFantastic Food! Hurricane Grill & Wings
6370 Cypress Gardens Blvd Winter Haven, FL 33884 863-324-5157 www.HurricaneWings.com Offering 14 Seafood Entrees Try Our New Havanah Cuban Sandwich. Add Your Favorite Flavor To Any Menu Item Including Our Wings! Tropical Drinks • Ice Cold Drafts & Import Beers • Local Craft Beers • Wine
Hot Wings-Seafood-Appetizers-Fresh Salads Hearty Sandwiches-Signature Burgers-Ice Cold Beer-Specialty Drinks-Wines-Cocktails. BIGGER, BADDER, FLATTER SCREENS FOR FRONT ROW SEATS TO ALL THE GAMES!
Gator’s Dockside
5147 US-98 • Lakeland FL 33812 863-619-7619 www.gatorsdockside.com Happy Hour M-F 3-7 20% Off All Alcohol & Boneless Wings .Lunch Specials M-F 11-3 .Best Grilled Wings In Florida .First Class Sports Bar .Biggest Big Screens .Scrumptious Entrees, Sandwiches, Burgers, Wraps, Salads, Ribs, Unbelievable Desserts!
Wing House
4515 S Florida Ave • Lakeland FL 33813 863-646-0303 www.winghouse.com Monday All-You-Can-Eat Wings 5- Close . Fantasy Football Draft Parties. Bottomless Bonesless Wings Wednesdays .Open For Lunch & Dinner With A Full Service Bar, Wide Selection of Liquor Cocktails, Major Domestic,Imported & Specialty Beers, Your
House For All WWE PPV Events!
Champs Sports Grill 6645 Florida Ave S • Lakeland, FL 33813 863-647-5900 www.champstogo.com Cold Beer • Great Food • Good Times Family Fun • Best Wings In Town • Dine In or Take Out • 23 TV’S Featuring: Nascar NFL Sunday Ticket • SEC ESPN Network MLB • CBS College Sports • Big Ten Network
Beef O’ Brady’s 840 S Main St • Wildwood FL 34785 352-689-0048 www.beefobradys.com
Davenport’s Ale House
Beef O’ Brady’s
1260 Posner Blvd • Davenport, FL 33837 863-420-8000 www.davensportsalehouse.com $.69 Wings All Day Every Monday • Kids Eat FREE Every Tuesday • Hospitality Night Every Wednesday 9-close 15% Off Tab!! All Day Every Day: $2 Wells • $3 Doubles • $2.50 Landshark & Amber Bock • $3 Shock Top • Bud • Bud Light • Mich Ultra • Miller Lt • Coors Lt Drafts • $4 Stella • Goose IPA $4 Wine
San Diegos Mexican Grill & Sport Bar 1300 3rd St SW • Winter Haven 33880 (863)268-4477 - facebook.com/House-ofWings-1185199374843017/ Draft Beer 2-4-1 All Day Everyday! House Margarita and Sangria 2 For 1 3pm-7pm Everyday. Tuesday Wings $.79. FREE Every Thursday 20 POLK & SUMTER APRIL Kids 2017 Eat COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM With A Purchase Of An Adult Meal. CAM April Number 2.indd 20
Hooters
3437 S Florida Ave • Lakeland FL 33803 863-644-8461 www.hooters.com
NEW WINGS & THINGS- 6 Award Winning Wings Paired With A Favorite Side, Pizza & Wing Wednesdays, Lighter Side Salads, Wraps & “Bunless” Burgers, FREE Shareable Starter When You Join Team ‘O’ Brady’s!
300 Cypress Gardens Blvd Winter Haven, FL 33880 863-293-9464 www.beefobradys.com NEW WINGS & THINGS - 6 Award Winning Wings Paired With A Favorite Side, Pizza & Wing Wednesdays, Lighter Side Salads, Wraps, & “Bunless” Burgers, FREE Shareable Starter When You Join Team ‘O’Brady’s!
Beef O’ Brady’s
102 W Polk St • Auburndale, FL 33823 863-968-0010 www.beefobradys.com NEW WINGS & THINGS - 6 Award Winning Wings Paired With a Favorite Side, Pizza & Wing Wednesdays, Lighter Side Salads, Wraps & “Bunless” Burgers, FREE Shareable Starter When You Join Team ‘O’ Brady’s!
3/19/2017 5:52:47 PM
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3/19/2017 5:52:50 PM
Paddle Craft Fishing Guides Closer to the Fish By: Chris O’Byrne
Affordable, clean and sneaky, paddle craft are proven fishing tools. They can go where powerboats can’t and catch the fish that power boats scare away. Now several fishing guides using canoes, kayaks, hybrid boats and even river craft are rowing happy anglers to fish.
platform, “With the space of gas burning boats and the stealth of kayaks, our clients enjoy having all the gear necessary for various fishing situations, and a relaxed environment that gets us closer to the fish and other animals.” He describes the service with a mission statement come slogan, “Sit back and enjoy catching fish while I provide the manpower.”
Closer To The Fish, Closer To The Fight
Steve Gibson named his kayak guiding operation “Southern Drawl.” That describes the gentle pace which his clients take following him in their own dry and stable NuCanoe kayaks. As Gibson explains, the results are often better than fishing from powerboats. “My anglers get a kick when they catch more fish from my kayaks than from a boat with a gas motor.” He continues with a nod to the stealth that kayaks are known for, “In a kayak, you can get so close to the fish that sighting and casting is easy, and they don’t even know you’re there.” Gibson, who works the waters of Sarasota, Florida, gets excited assuring that the gentle pace ends when a big redfish is hooked. “You can feel every move the fish makes, and they often tow the kayak!”
An Unbeatable Platform For Angling
Other paddle guide programs offer uncommon large boat experiences. With pride in the hospitality of his boat, Hunter Towery says “My clients love the tall, comfortable seats and the space for cold drinks and snacks.” Hunter rows a McKenzie River drift boat with the stealth of a submarine and the storage of a cruise ship. “My anglers are comfortable, very well equipped and free to fish with both hands.” Towery, who guides the freshwater of Polk County with Peace Creek Guides, feels that his hand built wood craft provides a best of both worlds fly fishing 23 POLK & SUMTER
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Happy Anglers, No Motors Necessary
Guides with Mark Benson are also working from river style boats. Benson, the Director of Fly Fishing at the Ritz-Carlton, Orlando Great Lakes Resort explains that drift boats outperform powerboats because, “The spacing of the seats lets two clients fly fish easily.” Comparing drift boats to various power boats, he points out. “The more intimate seating places the guide’s help, company and knowledge in the perfect position to give anglers a pleasant day.” While hiring a paddle guide, like owning a paddle craft, is less cumbersome than other options, knowing what you are in for is important. When checking out guides, ask what is expected of you. Who paddles the boat? How much skill and effort does that take? Will you be wading? Or will you be dry all day? Will the guide leave you, then come back later? Or will they be tying on flies and unhooking fish for you? Compare your goals with their standard trip to maximize your day. For adventurous anglers, nontouristy vacationers or for avid fly fishers looking for a new way, hiring a paddle guide is a great method to have fun, experience a unique view of nature and catch fish. The advantages of guided paddle craft fishing is summed up by a pleased Southern Drawl client. “We had a most memorable trip! I’m convinced that kayak fly fishing is one of a few ways to have such an intimate experience fishing so close to your treasured resources.” COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
3/19/2017 5:52:51 PM
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3/20/17 11:33 AM
By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
of Braid I
Photo Courtesy of Controlled Descent Lures
The POWER
often tell people the power of braid will instantly make them better fishermen. I truly believe that. In last month’s article, I mentioned a very popular slow-sinking lure that everyone raved about but that I could not catch a fish with. Well, the power of braid changed that.
Somewhere in the 1990s, I jumped on the bandwagon and bought several of these popular slow-sinking lures. I read all of the articles that were written about it and tried to follow the directions on how to properly fish it, especially in the winter for large speckled trout. Occasionally, I would catch a fish or two, but most cast came back empty handed. Fast-forward about 10 years, and one day while wade fishing Shamrock Cove in Texas’ Corpus Christi Bay with three friends, it all changed. We were lined up walking this grass flat and throwing the same famous lure. Yes, I was throwing the lure I had not been able to catch many fish on for over a decade. I tied one on because a buddy said he had been killing the trout on it. I waded alongside the three of them watching them catch trout after trout. As frustration settled in, I started to mimic my friend closest to me. I would cast within 10 yards of his cast and mirror his rod movement. I still didn’t catch a fish, while he continued to do so. By now I was completely clueless on why I couldn’t work this lure properly. I ask him to cast his lure a few feet in front of and several yards past me. Once it passed by, I could see the movement of the lure and how it twitched, paused and darted. I made my next cast in a direction where I could clearly see my lure moving through the water. No matter how vigorously I worked my rod, my lure moved almost in a straight line through the water. What I discovered was I was the only one not using braid. The non-stretch and sensitivity of the braid is what made the lure twitch and dart to attract the fish. On my next trip, I was spooled up with braid, and finally caught fish on this famous lure. Simply by using braid, I became a better fisherman, and this lure soon became one of my favorites. There are still instances when I do not use braid, but for those who have not tried it, or have not tried it in years, spool up with the newest braid technology. It can instantly make you a better fisherman. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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3/20/17 3:22 PM
Bimini Bliss At The Inaugural World Resorts Bimini Wahoo Challenge
By Travis Cartwright
A
tense silence filled the Resorts World Bimini marina. A crowd of onlookers sat near the weighing station waiting for the next boat to arrive. Anglers from across the United States had descended on the tiny island of Bimini for the Inaugural Resorts World Wahoo Challenge Feb. 2-5. There were 25 boats, with men and women from as far away as Texas battling it out for the top prize of $35,000. Everyone at the weigh-station lingered anxiously, sipping on free rum punches and Kalik, the native beer of the Bahamas. Suddenly the silence was broken by a boisterous sound. It was music, more specifically a guitar solo. Someone was blaring George Thorogood’s “Bad to the Bone” loudly. As Team Bad Habits idled into the marina, an angler on deck was rocking out to the music, beer in hand. A group
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bikini-clad girls flocked to the men. It was obvious that Bad Habits was having a good day. “We went out early and kept hunting,” one of the men said. “It was a lot of fun being out there.” The team caught several wahoo, and they found mahi-mahi too. The event was sponsored by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with Resorts World Bimini and the Bahamas Ocean Sports Authority. Team Who’s Your Daddy from Miami, Fla. caught an 80.3-pound wahoo on the first day of the tournament. Who’s Your Daddy took first place with a total combined weight of 261.5 pounds. Second place went to Bad Habits with a total weight of 248.6 pounds. Third place went to Fishin’ A Loan with a total weight of 191.3 pounds. The tournament was a celebration of all things Bahamian, and the anglers were treated to authentic Bahamian food, drinks, music and hospitality. Bimini consists of two main islands, North Bimini and South Bimini, and numerous cays just 50 miles south of Florida. It has a history of entertaining fishermen. People use golf carts to get around on North Bimini, as the island is only 7 miles long. Many visitors even rent bicycles and spend their days having picnics on the island’s gorgeous beaches. Bimini is no stranger to hosting lively and exciting events or personalities. The Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon believed the fountain of youth was located somewhere on the island. Many famous Americans visited the island during the 1960s and 70s, too, including Ernest Hemmingway, Jimmy Buffet and Martin Luther King. King, the late great civil rights leader, wrote parts of his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in Bimini. He stayed at the Bimini Big Game Club. The legendary Bimini Big Game Club, located in Alice Town, caters to visitors in search of world-class fishing experiences that range from bonefishing and deep sea fishing, and there’s incredible shark diving as well. Today, Bimini hosts scores of visitors in search of their own fountain of youth. The island, with its close-knit community, offers an escape from the modern world.
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3/20/17 3:23 PM
Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo Celebrates 10th Anniversary April 22-23
S
Photo courtesy of Controlled Descent Lures
heri Daye, producer of the 10th Annual Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo announced the popular water sports expo, which features exhibits, seminars, demos, marine art and more, will return to the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center April 2223. What began as a small charity event has evolved over the past decade and flourished into an exciting, two-day event. The 2017 Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo will exceed 65,000 square feet, host 160 exhibitors and anticipates 5,000 attendees. Highlights include seminars and exhibits on freediving, scuba, spearfishing, fishing, marine art, underwater photography and videography, paddle boarding, adventure travel and more. The popular Kids Zone will offer face painting, art classes and crab races. The event offers activities for the whole family to enjoy. Attendees will be fascinated by the variety of celebrity speakers like TV personality Manny Puig and other experts who are a “who’s who” in the underwater worlds of freediving, spearfishing, photography, video and more. Hands-on workshops offer proven techniques and include: Yoga Session, Lionfish Preparation and Sampling, Marine Art Printmaking, Fish Filleting Demos, How to Hunt Off Your SUP and more. “I’m thrilled to be celebrating our tenth anniversary this year. We strive to offer an exciting atmosphere where like-minded ocean lovers and watersport enthusiasts of all ages can meet up and socialize,” said Daye. “I’ve crafted the expo be both educational and entertaining, where attendees can learn about latest techniques and products, shop for great deals, listen to the best speakers and network with one another.” For marine art fans, The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo has one of the most impressive collections—from the world-renowned to the local scene with artists such as Carey Chen, Don Ray, Randall Scott, Jason Mathias and many more. Returning exhibitors include Aqua Lung, Mares, Cressi, SEAC,
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PADI, Pelagic, Bass Pro, YETI, Florida Freedivers, Island Water Sports, Nautical Ventures, Wong Spearguns and many more. The Expo is pleased to welcome several new exhibitors such as NAUI, Reef Photo and Video, and Coco View Resort. Adding to the excitement, the Expo also has state-of-the-art water toys, kayaks and Contender Boats. The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo is known for its high-energy crowds and fun vibe. The diverse crowd includes visitors, experts and exhibitors from all over the world who flock to Fort Lauderdale for its desirable and central location. Water-lovers can also take advantage of the year-round tropical weather and warm waters. Entry is $20 at the door and includes a free goodie bag (while supplies last) and free entry to the Saturday night After-Party at the Fort Lauderdale Beach Courtyard Marriott. For more information, visit www. TheBlueWild.com or check out a video from last year at...
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Make reel memories. Stuart, located in Martin County, is known as the Sailfish Capital of the World. Sitting on the most biodiverse estuary in the Northern Hemisphere, and the northernmost point of the South Florida Reef, Martin County is home to 100 artificial reef systems and over 800 species of fish. Its climate, waterways and natural environment make it a mecca for fishermen and nautical explorers year-round. An array of unique shops, fine restaurants, great golf courses and quiet beaches make a day ashore fun, too. Inshore, offshore, salt water or fresh, head out for an adventure and reel in the memories.
Plan your trip at discovermartin.com
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A TRIBUTE TO
Legendary Boat Builder
Curt Whiticar
“Millennium is a leader in our industry and makes quality products that I’m proud to represent!” - BILL DANCE Bill Dance Outdoors
1OO
BOAT SEAT From left are Coastal Angler Magazine Co-Publisher Gary Guertin, Curt Whiticar and Jim Dragseth, president of Whiticar Boat Works. Photo courtesy of CAM/Treasure Coast.
By Ed Killer, Outdoors columnist for USA Today Network
O
ver the course of a life spanning more than a century, Curt Whiticar earned quite the reputation. He was the patriarch of the Stuart family best known for building classic sport fishing boats and died March 7 of prolonged congestive heart failure and kidney issues. He was 106. “Through his life, he touched so many people’s lives,” remembered his son John Whiticar, 67, of Jensen Beach. “He was one for getting things done. And he was so proficient at whatever he would set about to accomplish.” George Curtis Whiticar was born Feb. 13, 1911 to Capt. Add Whiticar, a commercial fisherman and charter captain who fished out of New Jersey. Curt Whiticar was the oldest of three brothers who all followed in their father’s fishing footsteps. They took paying customers on fishing adventures through the St. Lucie Inlet. But when customers were thin, they fished commercially. Curt Whiticar’s dad first came to Stuart to scout the bluefish and Spanish mackerel commercial fishery in 1917. The family settled in Stuart full time in 1926. Curt Whiticar built his first boat in 1921, and by the late 1930s had begun to make a name for the family with his craftsmanship. By the 1950s, his boats were in demand by anglers who wanted boats built to handle the sometimes-choppy Treasure Coast offshore waters. Whiticar boats were known for a sharp entry bow and steep deadrise, which made them perfect for slicing into a 4- to 5-foot-high wave. More than 60 Whiticar boats have been built since Whiticar assembled his first. Capt. V.J. Bell, of Stuart, ran the Bone Shaker, a 40-foot Whiticar, for Stuart’s Joe Lehner for more than 10 years. “It was a great headsea boat which was Whiticar Boats’ claim to fame,” said Bell. “It had a sharp entry, and ran really well into a sea or a chop. And once we got to where we were going, it was a fish-raising machine. It had a clean wash, small propellers. It was a very strong boat, too, overbuilt, if anything.” Bell was one of many Stuart-area captains to come to the area from the Delmarva Peninsula. Many of them came as mates working for Capt. Ray Parker, who owned a red-hulled Whiticar named Hobo. They stayed for the great sailfishing—a sport fishery pioneered by Whiticar and his family. They were among the first in the area to promote conservation of sailfish. The Whiticars were also among those who founded the Stuart Sailfish Club. Whiticar retired from boat building in 1986 at age 75. He received a number of awards and recognition for his service as a craftsman and a leader in conservation. Last month, he was inducted into the International Game Fish Association’s Captain and Crew Hall of Fame. There will be a celebration of Whiticar’s life April 9 at Indian Riverside Park in Jensen Beach. In lieu of flowers, the family asks to make contributions in his name to the Stuart Sailfish Club, the Stuart Heritage Museum or Treasure Coast Hospice.
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anhandle lionfish hunters only have until May 19 to compete in the Panhandle Pilot Program. This yearlong lionfish removal incentive program rewards divers for harvesting lionfish off Escambia through Franklin counties. The program may be ending, but lionfish are open for harvest year-round, and there are no bag or size limits. For every 100 lionfish removed, divers receive a tag that allows them to take an additional cobia or red grouper in state waters, but this tag must be used before May 19. The first 10 teams who remove 500 or more lionfish also qualify to name an artificial reef in the Panhandle. To date, six groups have qualified to rename an artificial reef. The program ends the day before the annual Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day Festival, which is May 20-21 at Plaza de Luna in Pensacola. A revamp of the statewide Lionfish Challenge will also be launched that same weekend. More information on this program will be coming soon. Learn more about the Panhandle Pilot Program and how you can get rewarded for your lionfish removals by visiting MyFWC.com/ Lionfish.
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What to Wearipsum Lorem WheN KAYAK FISHING
By Nick Paul Carter Lebowitz By
J
im Salazar has been kayak fishing Southern California since the 1990s. He’s old school. Floridian Brandon Barton started in 2010. He’s from the new school. Both are elite-level Hobie fishing team members, a pair of Top Guns. For Salazar, the water is sizzling when it hits the relatively frigid 70s. He dresses accordingly, in a shorty farmer john wetsuit worn over a pair of fishing board shorts. For UV protection, he tops the ensemble with a hooded polyester sun shirt. His feet have it easy. “In the summer you can’t get me out of my flip flops,” he said. Where Salazar is traditional, Barton is modern. Comfort in hot weather and protection from insects are Barton’s major concerns. In the summer and spring he wears lightweight nylon fishing pants paired with a long-sleeve sun shirt. He tops them with a hat and a neck gaiter—popularly known as a buff. “The sun beats down on the water. I keep my whole body covered up,” he said. Some warm water anglers wear shoes made for the water. Barton prefers to slather sunscreen on his bare feet. If he’s fishing offshore or for dinosaurs, he adds fingerless fishing gloves. “For tarpon and sailfish, you need some hand protection,” he added. Although they fish in different climates, both pros avoid cotton. They dress for the conditions in clothing built to shed water and dry fast. You should too. Photo: Brandon Barton dressed for the warm Florida climate in lightweight sun-protective fishing clothes. Photo courtesy Brandon Barton.
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Tackle Corner:
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Angling for comfort and joint health
O
nce upon a time, fishing was deemed a passive, even contemplative game, a quiet pastime spent under a straw hat and a warming sun. No more! Modern angling is an active endeavor generally characterized by energetic casts, and plenty of them. The aggressive style of the modern angler takes its toll on the body with back, wrist, elbow and shoulder injuries. “As we get older, our bodies kind of fall apart,” said Bassmaster Elite Series angler Mark Menendez during an outing on Kentucky Lake. Menendez has developed tendinitis in his elbow. “I have had to figure out ways to fish that are less taxing on my body.” He has changed technique and equipment to reduce the wear. He fishes soft swimbaits like the Strike King Shadalicious far more these days, working them on relatively light spinning tackle and line testing no more than 10 pounds. It’s effective and easier on his elbow. The other adjustments he makes relate to his tackle. He lauds the Winn grips now featured on Lew’s Custom Lite, Lew’s Tournament Performance TP1 Speed Stick and Lew’s Mach Speed Stick rods. “The advantage to the angler is that the Winn grip adheres to your hand, but it’s not sticky,” he explained. “It just makes you feel you have a good grip on your rod and reel. The grips also allow me to make longer casts because I have better control of my rod and reel.” Musky and saltwater anglers are also taking advantage of the “tacky” feel and security of the non-slip polymer to protect against joint stress. Eavesdrop on a group of musky fishers for long and you’re bound to hear complaints of sore elbows and forearms. Many musky anglers are building custom rods with Winn grips, employing larger 1.25-inch Straight Taper split grips or a Straight Taper fore
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grip coupled with a 15-inch Straight Cylinder Saltwater grip capped with a fighting butt to extend the rear handle to 18-plus inches. Winn will add a new 18-inch grip to the Saltwater line this spring. Builders of custom surf and offshore rods are already making plans for its use. But oversized grips and rod wraps are finding favor with other anglers, too. At the Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lake Okeechobee in February, anglers with arthritic hands and joint issues noticed the booth Winn shared with North Fork Bait & Tackle owner and rod builder Steve Keller, who also operates a Winn Authorized Service Center at his store in Jensen Beach, Fla. Arthritis sufferers noted their preference for larger grip diameters to ease gripping pressure. The 1.25-inch Winn grips caught their attention, as did the array of offerings in the Winn Superior Rod Wrap line of overwraps, which enable the angler to put a layer of non-slip Winn polymer over existing cork or EVA grips. Winn grips and rod wraps (www.winngrips.com) are available in a wide range of sizes and colors. The Winn interchangeable grip system offers an endless combination of configurations.
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TIPS FROM A PRO
FRESHWATER LEARN CONFIDENCE IN NEW TECHNIQUES
BRANDON LESTER
G
rowing up in southern middle Tennessee, I was fortunate to have a lot of really good fisheries within a couple hours of my house. I had my choice between the Tennessee River lakes like Guntersville, Wheeler and Wilson or the typical highland reservoirs located in the hills of Tennessee. I spent many days fishing club events and absorbing every bit of knowledge I could. It helped me become a versatile angler and to stay in tune with the seasonal movements of bass. These things helped prepare me for the situations I would later face on
the Bassmaster Elite Series. I remember my very first Elite Series event. It was at Lake Seminole. I had never been to the lake and didn’t know a thing about it. After a tough first day of practice, I ran way up the Flint River to see if I could find something up there all to myself. What I found was a couple of small backwaters with clear water and fish that were setting up to spawn. These places had been completely overlooked, and I finished 21st in that tournament. I caught almost every fish on a floating worm, something that is very popular during the spawn around my home waters. That tournament and many others since have taught me that no matter where you go in the country, or what body of water you’re on, there will always be something that fits your fishing style. It may not always be the winning pattern,
but more times than not, I would rather be fishing for fewer fish with more confidence. The very best lure in any tackle box is confidence. But this doesn’t mean I stubbornly sticking to the same techniques I’m comfortable with. Successful tournament anglers must keep up with the latest trends. Lures, line, rods, reels and everything else are constantly evolving. It helps to stay on the forefront. As I travel the country, I learn a lot of new techniques and about new baits that work in particular regions. Every time I go to a tournament and a new technique arises that I’m not familiar with, the first thing I do when I get home is take it to a nearby lake and try to learn it. When trying to learn something new, it’s best to do it in areas you know hold fish. A good example of this was at the first Elite Series event of this year at Lake Cherokee. Cherokee is in east Tennessee, but it is much different than my home waters. There is a hot new trend among the locals there called the “Damiki rig” that is dynamite for catching smallmouth relating to baitfish. It is a small fluke-style lure rigged on a Lake Erie-style jig head that allows for precise placement of the lure at depth. I had heard about the rig leading up to the tournament and tried it in practice, but I never could figure it out. Our tournament was actually won on that rig, and several of the top guys were doing it. After that tournament was over, I spent the next day on my home lake with nothing but that rig. I wanted to learn everything there was to know about it. I went on to catch some big smallmouth on my home lake with it, and although I still don’t consider myself an expert, I feel like I can catch them on it next time the opportunity arises.
Get more tips from Lester at
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Endless Fishing Opportunities
In Marathon
By Capt. Chris Johnson, SeaSquared Charters Marathon, the very heart of the Florida Keys, offers fishing options as vast as the crystal blue waters that surround the islands. to experience the exhilaration of big game sport fishing closer to shore and easier on your budget. Rounding out the sport fishing options in Marathon are bonefish, snook, Goliath grouper, permit and barracuda. Each challenging in its own right and all worthy of a place of honor on your trophy wall.
F
ill Your Trophy Wall With visions of Ernest Hemingway’s exploits in their heads, adventurers flock to Marathon from around the globe to fulfill their dreams of catching the sportfish of a lifetime. The offshore deep blue waters are the realm of the mighty swordfish, who live in the 1,500-plus-foot depths. Fishing for swordfish is highly technical and is best done with an electric set-up. While a magnificent creature to display above the fireplace, swordfish are also prized for their food value. Closer inshore are sailfish, which are unsurpassed in their size range for combined strength and spectacle. These silver speedsters, with their distinctive blue fan-shaped fin, are free-roamers that seem to prefer the coral reef areas. They are best fished for where their favorite foods are plentiful, such as along weed lines or around schools of blue runners, goggle eyes or pilchards. Perhaps the most elusive of all the sportfish in the Marathon waters is the Silver King. The tarpon that visit the Middle Florida Keys each spring love to hang out at bridge passes, where their food of choice is easily obtainable. These areas are known for their relative calm conditions, making tarpon fishing a comfortable experience for all anglers, even those prone to seasickness. Using light spinning tackle and circle hooks, fishing for tarpon is about as sporting as it gets. And, to hook one and chase it through the bridge pilings, hoping to be rewarded with a few jumps and maybe a picture at the side of the boat is an unforgettable experience. With a plethora of media coverage of sharks, catch-and-release fishing for them has become increasingly popular. The Marathon area sees a vast spectrum of sharks, including lemons, blacktips, bulls, blacknoses, nurse, spinners, hammerheads and tigers. These range in size from little guys to behemoths at 12 to 15 feet in length. Light tackle, shallow water angling for sharks in the Middle Florida Keys presents the opportunity 30
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Fill Your Dinner Plate When it comes to catching fish with a top-quality food value, you’d be hard-pressed to find a greater bounty than contained in the waters surrounding Marathon. On the Atlantic coral reefs and wrecks, snapper of all variety are plentiful for the taking year-round. Yellowtails, mangroves, muttons and lanes offer endless rod-bending entertainment and fill the bellies of hungry anglers at the end of the day. Grouper – blacks, reds and gags – are ever-present as well, although they tend to retreat to deeper waters during the summer heat. Additionally, the season is closed for them from January 1 to May 1. There are many more species that provide high-quality table fare – too many to list – but include amberjack, cobia, kingfish, Spanish mackerel, cero mackerel, pompano and on and on. Marathon’s offshore waters are fishing central for pelagic species that provide angling excitement. Venture 26 miles out to the Marathon Humps and you will be in tuna heaven. Blackfin and skipjack tuna are abundant year-round, and the only thing that can prevent you from getting there to catch them on any given day are the winds. But, on a calm day, the ride out and back is comfortable and the catching typically rapid-fire. Dolphin (mahi) and wahoo roam the open sea in a continuous hunt for food. Anglers seek them along weed lines and around any sort of floating debris. Feeding birds, particularly frigates, also indicate their presence. The spectacle of the blue and yellow blaze of a dolphin or the blue and white zebra-like stripes of a wahoo on the end of your line is indelible. Entertain The Family. There’s nothing finer for family bonding than spending quality time together on the water, away from the interruptions of everyday life. Marathon boasts multiple venues that are ideal for a day of family fun fishing. The patch reefs, Hawk Channel, the Seven Mile Bridge and the nearshore bay waters are chock-full of fun-catching fish. Snapper, hogfish, porgy, yellowjack, maybe even grouper, keep the rods bent with tasty rewards at the end of the day. Just for fun, there are sharks, barracuda, jacks and more. Catch ’em and release ’em and on to the next! So, whether you’re looking to fill your trophy wall or your dinner plate, or just have a great day out with the family, Marathon offers the fishing opportunities to make your dreams come true. Capt. Chris Johnson specializes in offshore, gulf/bay, reef/wreck, sailfish, shark and tarpon fishing with SeaSquared Charters, docked at Faro Blanco Resort and Yacht Club in Marathon. You can reach him at 305-743-5305, http://SeaSquaredCharters.com and http://Facebook. com/MarathonFishing.
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All trademarks mentioned are owned by, or licensed to, the AkzoNobel group of companies. © AkzoNobel 2017.
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Register For
The Bahamas Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament
A
Photo courtesy of Controlled Descent Lures
nglers with the guts to mix big-game tournament fishing with kayaking will head to beautiful Grand Bahama this month to compete in the Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament April 2023. This two-day kayak fishing tournament will attract anglers and their family members from all over the world for a chance to win more than $40,000 in cash and prizes, and all to help raise funds for the Humane Society of Grand Bahama. There will be free entertainment, food, drinks, a huge raffle and lots of fun for the entire family! “This event, now in its fourth year, has gained tremendous interest and notoriety for anglers and sporting enthusiasts from throughout the USA, Canada, China and Brazil. We have seen the competition grow each year from 40 anglers in our inaugural year in 2014 to some 280 participants last year,” said Bahamas Ministry of Tourism (BMOT) spokesman Richard Treco, Sr. “The high level of competition, coupled with our incredible on-island authentic cultural experiences and diverse product offering, makes this event most attractive for the seasoned as well as relatively new to the sport, angler.” Joe Hector, of Extreme Kayak Fishing International and organizer of the event, said he is excited to work with The BMOT on this tournament, and is particularly pleased with its rapid growth. “The Bahamas Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament truly is the gold standard for kayak fishing in the world, as it provides everything into one great getaway: fun and family adventures, awesome fishing from white and blue marlins to huge mutton snappers, friendly people and the most beautiful destination in the world,” said Hector. Pre- and post-tournament packages range from $595 triple or qua-
druple occupancy for a three nights stay to $1,370 single occupancy for a seven nights stay, which includes tournament registration, hotel accommodations at the Flamingo Bay Hotel and Marina, round-trip transportation for the angler and his/her kayak from Port Everglades to Grand Bahama, a cocktail reception and awards dinner. Fish caught during the tournament will be given to the Grand Bahama Children’s Home, Flamingo Bay Hotel and Marina, and volunteers assisting with the project. For more information or to register for the tournament, visit www. extremekayakfishing.com or call 954-661-0175.
To learn more about the event and how to register, go to
THEFISHERMANPARADISE.COM
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UNDER THE SEA
SLINGS AND POLESPEARS
from companies have challenged this SHERI DAYE traditional design by changing the here’s a fun retro-movement taking hand position. The place in spearfishing—a trend toward Headhunter Guerilla primitive hunting gear. Slings and Sling has a comfortable polespears are used in places that do not allow trigger mechanisms, such as Bermuda or the grip, which transfers the weight load from Bahamas, but they are growing in popularity the wrist and distributes the force throughout the forearm. Sea Archer slings look like an outside these regions too. This could be attributed to the new Sling/ underwater bow and arrow. The user holds Polespear category for world records, run by the body of the sling just as they would with a the International Underwater Spearfishing bow and arrow. There’s nothing more beautiful Association (IUSA). However, I suspect the than watching a skilled underwater hunter real reason is that many hunters appreciate using a sling and hitting the mark with a freethe challenge and simplicity, not unlike land- flying shaft! Polespears are another fun option. hunters opting for bow-and-arrow over rifles. It’s a beautiful art form that evokes images of They can be made of fiberglass, aluminum Indians using extreme stealth and having great or carbon fiber. The tip can have a flopper, three-prong paralyzer tip or a slip-tip. Neritic respect for their prey. Slings and polespears are great tools for Diving company makes polespears with someone who is either learning how to spearfish interchangeable sections that can be assembled or interested in improving their hunting skills. in different length configurations. Users may Compared to modern spearguns, they force a choose to use a shorter polespear when hunting diver to become calmer and stealthier because in dirtier water or in tight spaces. When diving of their shorter range. One must slow down and in deep clear water, fish may not be cooperative study the behavior of fish in order to get closer and a longer polespear may be desired. The to them. While both slings and polespears are ability to quickly construct your weapon of powered using rubber bands without trigger choice is one of the best recent innovations, along with magnetic slip-tips that don’t fall off mechanisms, these two styles differ. Slings, sometimes called “Hawaiian slings,” while diving. I must admit that I can’t help feeling a are similar to a slingshot where the band is pulled back to launch the spear. Traditionally, smug sense of satisfaction when I land an the shooter was a tubular-shaped piece of wood elusive fish with a simple stick and rubber with a hole drilled down the center so the shaft band. Regardless if you are a novice or could slide through when being launched professional, primitive hunting offers a forward by the band. Recent innovations fun and entertaining challenge. Why not
T
Charles Duffie with a polespeared hogfish. Photo by James Ferrara.
add another skill to your spearfishing resume and another choice in your toolkit? It will double your fun and make you a better hunter! Sheri is a world-record holder, host of Speargun Hunter and producer of “The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo” in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Follow “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram.
For more Sheri Daye, go to
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Spearfishing Course for Freedivers
By Capt. Chad Carney Photo courtesy of Controlled Descent Lures
I
n 2016, Freediving Instructors International (FII) presented their new spearfishing course at The Blue Wild Expo in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. If you’re new to spearfishing or a veteran, this wealthof-knowledge course, from many of the world’s best spearfishermen and freedivers will be invaluable. All students must already have a Level 1 freediving certification from an internationally recognized agency. FII founder Martin Stepanek, and freediving instructors John Dornellas and Cameron Kirkconnell, wrote the textbook for the course, called FII Spearfishing. The first course was taught by Martin and John at Florida Freedivers, Jonathan and Kelsey Dickinson’s dive shop in North Palm Beach, Fla. just days before The Blue Wild. Jonathan became a FII Spearfishing Instructor in September and taught the course to most of his staff and several customers since. The classroom section of the course runs a half day and is packed with great content including spearfishing ethics, freediving safety, location safety about dive planning, site obstructions, currents, marine animals, divers and boats. Information about spearfishing gear, it’s handling and use is covered thoroughly along with underwater hunting skills and techniques. The second half of the day is the pool training, where speargun handling and float line training is hands-on. The provided spearguns are unique in that they can be loaded in the water with total safety, because their shafts are completely stationary, as they are permanently bolted to the muzzles and mechanisms. Otherwise, the spearguns are fully functional and allow the best practice for pool or confined water training. Hunting styles and tricks are also taught and practiced in the pool around a portable artificial reef at the pool bottom where students will stalk a foam fish. Certification is completed with the classroom and pool session, along with a written test. A day of real ocean spearfishing is an option and may vary from location to location, but in the Palm Beaches, Jonathan says they plan for a day of spearfishing in moderate depths where water entries with gear can be polished, and also float lines can be used in currents. Reefs with low structure are available for stalking with, aspetto and agguatto techniques. The photo is Jonathan Dickinson with a recent 70-pound amberjack!
Check out www.floridafreedivers.com and www.freedivinginstructors.com for more information about the course and spearfishing and freediving equipment. Capt. Chad Carney runs diving and spearfishing charters in southeast Florida and can be reached at 727-4237775 or chad.carney@yahoo.com.
To learn more about Florida Free Divers, go to
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FISH & FISHING
THE LIGHT WAND MARK SOSIN
L
earning to fish a fly in saltwater adds a new and extremely challenging dimension to the sport. Light-wand enthusiasts on the marine scene don’t have to trip over tradition that sometimes limits the thinking and performance of their brethren who focus attention solely on trout and salmon. There are differences. When you work over fish in a stream, you often have ample time to contemplate the situation, change flies if the first one doesn’t work, and even try several approaches. Even a shoreline largemouth bass lays claim to a stationary feeding station near a log or under the lip of a lily pad. Saltwater critters remain on the move, probing and prowling continuously or they hold on a seat in the restaurant until the water level rises or falls a certain amount. Then, they change position. If you happen to spot your quarry, you only have seconds to get a fly in front of it. The first cast has to count. Simple hesitation can cause you to miss the opportunity. When you are blind casting, it’s important to read the water and recognize another set of signals. Predators frequently follow a feeding rhythm tied directly to the stage of the tide. Since they are not restricted to a few deep pools or the tail end of a run, finding them and presenting a fly with accuracy requires detailed knowledge of their habits and habitat. Casting in saltwater demands a bit more distance than it does in many freshwater settings. False casting becomes a handicap when you’re trying to drop a fly in the path of a cruising gamefish. You won’t have time to admire the tight loops or match the distance to the target precisely before dropping the fly gently on the skin of the water. The repeated surges of a powerful marine denizen tethered to flyline, leader and backing, or the task of driving a fly into the wind and in front of a cruising fish have no parallels in other forms of angling. Once experienced, these challenges trigger an insatiable appetite that demands more.
For smaller species of fish, a 9-weight fly rod that is 9-feet long would be my first choice. The reel should be single action, hold adequate backing, and left or right hand retrieve. You should turn the handle with your primary hand rather than what many fly fishermen do today. With a 9-weight rod, the reel should hold at least 200 yards of 20-pound dacron or braid. The second outfit for larger fish starts with a 12-weight or 13-weight rod and a reel that holds at least 275 yards of backing. Again, if you are right handed, choose a right hand retrieve. If you’re new to fly fishing, the time to break out the fly rod is when fishing is very good and your chances of success are boosted. It pays to keep it rigged and handy all the time. Let me warn you that catching fish on a fly rod becomes addictive. Once you start hooking fish on the light wand you will also be hooked.
For more Mark Sosin visit
CAMFISHING.COM
BE ONE WITH THE FISH An Aqua-Vu HD underwater camera is the quickest way to find big bass. Unlike pixels and mysterious sonar signals, an Aqua-Vu reveals a live, crystal clear image of the underwater world. See largemouths buried in vegetation and brush, smallmouths hidden beside boulders, suspended spots and everything else beneath your boat.
DISCOVER THE TRUE UNDERWATER WORLD, IN REAL TIME AND FULL COLOR HD. > XD Camera with ultraclear 720p resolution > Waterproof & Sunlight Viewable 7-inch LCD > Anti-Spook IR Underwater Lights > 100-feet HD Cable, Charger & Custom Storage Bag www.aquavu.com
UNDERWATER VIEWING SYSTEMS
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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
3/20/17 3:40 PM
UR-Cut
FIELD TEST
DEXTER UR-CUT FILLET KNIFE
Ergonomically perfect. Virtually non-slip. Unmatched comfort. Unmatched control. Takes minutes to do.
A slippery knife can make filleting fish a difficult chore. Dexter UR-Cut Fillet knives were designed to eliminate this problem, while providing comfort and control by custom molding the grip to a user’s hand. Coastal Angler put Dexter’s design to the test at the docks with a cooler full of sheepshead, which are known to be difficult to clean. The customization involves boiling the handle before dipping it in cold water and gripping it tightly so the owner’s grip is impressed on the handle. With attention to thumb position during the process, we were able to customize the grip to the exact position our fillet men prefer. It took just a few minutes, and the result was a well-balanced tool that felt secure and comfortable in the hand. Then we took our blades to the cutting table. Dexters are known for maintaining a super-sharp edge, and having just the right amount of flexibility. Past experience has taught us they are also easy to sharpen. We were not surprised to find the blade on our new UR-Cut knives performed flawlessly working along spines and ribcages. Our hands and the table were coated in slime, and this is where the URCut showed why it is more than just a good knife. We intentionally created a slippery situation by not washing down, and the non-slip properties of the custom handles performed as advertised. For more information, visit...
UR-Cut features the same legendary DEXSTEEL, super-sharp edge, and just-right flexibility that you are used to with Dexter... 1.Dip handle in boiling water for 2 minutes. 2. Dip in cold water for 1 second. 3. Grip and form handle for 10 seconds. 4. Put back in cold water for 10 seconds and your done.
WWW.DEXTEROUTDOORS.COM
Defender
dexteroutdoors.com ®
WAHOO “COWBELLS’’ & ‘’SNAGGER’’ DOLPHIN LURES
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TOURNAMENT
NEVER BUY FLARES AGAIN!
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Item 550696
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www.defender.com 800-628-8225 Coastal Angler Apr 2017.indd 1
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RIGGED N’ READY!
The only electronic flare that meets U.S. Coast Guard requirements One time purchase - Never expires The only alternative to traditional flares
BRANDS YOU WANT AND TRUST IN STOCK FOR LESS Over 50,000 items IN STOCK and Ready to Ship! Most orders Placed by 4:30 et shiP the saMe day!
Fillet Knives
The only custom moldable handle fillet knife.
2017
FREE Catalog!
“TOP GUN” SALTWATER TROLLING LURES
714-545 0196 6-pak Special $69.00 w/ FREE Case
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www.BALLYHOOD.com
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM 3/1/17 1:39 PM
TROLLS 6-10 OR UP TO 20 KNOTS — NO WEIGHTS NEEDED
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O/B MOTOR BRACKET Mounts to your existing swim platform
RATED FOR 2 & 4-STROKE ENGINES UP TO 15 HP OR 132 LBS.
ADD SOME KICK WITH PANTHER’S ALL-NEW SWIM PLATFORM O/B MOTOR BRACKET Transform your boat into a fishing machine and make trolling for your favorite species more efficient and productive. www.MarineTechProducts.com
f /PantherMarineProducts
PANTHER SWIM PLATFORM OUTBOARD MOTOR BRACKET Now, with the new Panther Swim Platform Outboard Motor Bracket you can transform the family boat or even the work boat into a fishing machine. The convenience of having a kicker motor makes slow trolling for your favorite species much more efficient and productive. The new bracket easily mounts to most swim platforms and features three levels of convenient height adjustment to accommodate most platform heights and motor shaft lengths, for optimal prop depth and performance. • Rated for two- and four-stroke motors up to 20 hp with max motor weight of 195 pounds • Constructed of black powder coat aluminum • Comes complete with transom support bar for weight support torque resistance For more information, contact MarineTech Products at 1 651-486-2010 or visit
WWW.MARINETECHPRODUCTS.COM
Come Outside & Play in Okeechobee
www.visitokeechobeecounty.com
PWC Fishing Towers
Enclosures
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Rod Holders
Casting Platform
E-Box
Accessory Mounts
Lights
Storage Bag
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
3/20/17 3:41 PM
Ohio Man Charged With
Cleaning Out The Fishing Aisle
NEVER WAX AGAIN! RESTORE AND PROTECT YOUR BOAT
M
ost anglers would probably enjoy a shopping spree in the fishing section of the local Walmart. An Ohio man allegedly helped himself to not one, but two free-ofcharge shopping sprees last October, and has now been charged with stealing an estimated $3,800 worth of fishing gear, according to NBC affiliate WLWT. Warren County, Ohio prosecutor David Fornshell told reporters that Derrick Marcum, “pretty much cleared out the aisle.” According to the WLWT report, Marcum was arrested last October when he attempted to carry two backpacks stuffed with fishing gear out of an Ohio Walmart. He was arrested that same day for the theft of $1,300 worth of gear. But it wasn’t until recently that investigators connected that incident with another theft that occurred the previous day at another Ohio Walmart. Marcum allegedly filled five plastic bins with tackle and then proceeded to the self-checkout, where he paid only for the bins. Investigators valued that heist at about $2,500. A grand jury indicted Marcum, and he waits in jail for his arraignment, according to reports. Jail time seems a pretty steep price, even for thousands of dollars worth of fishing gear.
Poli Glow does what wax can’t! As seen on Ship Shape TV
for more than 12 months with a finish that is “like new!”
“Recommending Poli Glow is a no brainer.” - PRACTICAL SAILOR, the #1 consumer resource of the U.S. boating industry
FREE SHIPPING Code: CA13 | 1-800-922-5013 WATCH THE DEMO at PoliGlowProducts.com
Be Your Own Boss Coastal Angler Magazine is now offering Gulf Coast markets for franchise development. If you love the outdoors this is a great opportunity for you to be in business for yourself, but not by yourself.
Editor in Chief
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A Paddler's Heaven
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Mike Iaconelli
Talks Kayaks Inshore
M RMABG.CO I D E LAN GLE L E W O R L D W COAOSTA I E S A VA I L A P P O R T U N I T
JEFF SCHNEIDER PHOTO COURTESY OF VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 267
• New Orleans, LA SOLD! • Baton Rouge, LA • Lafayette, LA • Corpus Christi, TX • Austin, TX
APRIL 2017
F R A N C H I S E
3/16/17 11:02 AM
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For More Information On These And Other Franchise Locations
Call Tracy Patterson 321.777.2773 Email info@coastalanglermagazine.com
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#1
RA LO HE FL
ITEM 6125
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100 SW TRA
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RAPID PUMP® 3 TON LOW PROFILE HEAVY DUTY STEEL SAVE $190 FLOOR JACK ITEM 61282 shown 61253/62326
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• 580 lb. capacity
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45 WATT SOLAR PANEL 10 PIECE KIT ITEM 62443 68751 shown
SAVE $83
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$
149
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$203.73
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Blade sold separately.
ITEM 61971/61972 98199 shown Customer Rating
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VALUE LIMIT 1 - Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or prior purchase. Coupon good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Offer good while supplies last. Shipping & Handling charges may apply if not picked up in-store. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 8/1/17. Limit one FREE GIFT coupon per customer per day.
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Item 68498 shown
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18 VOLT CORDLESS 3/8" DRILL/DRIVER AND FLASHLIGHT KIT
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$2999
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1" x 25 FT. TAPE MEASURE
• Air delivery: 5.8 CFM @ 40 PSI, 4.7 CFM @ 90 PSI
7" VARIABLE SPEED POLISHER/SANDER
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WITH
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99
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1000 LB. CAPACITY SWING-BACK TRAILER JACK
2.5 HP, 21 GALLON, 125 PSI VERTICAL OIL-LUBE AIR COMPRESSOR
SUPER COUPON
ITEM 68496/61363 68497/61360 68498/61359
$499
8
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AMERICA'S BEST GENERATOR
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Customer Rating
ITEM 69676/69729/63080/63079 shown ITEM 69675/69728/63090/63089 CALIFORNIA ONLY
SAVE $149
7 $15.99
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ITEM 69594/69955 42292 shown
$
339
Wheel kit sold separately.
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$439
LIMIT 3 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17. At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare” or “comp at” price means that the same item or a similar functioning item was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare” or “comp at” price by another retailer in the U.S. within the past 180 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare” or "comp at" should be implied. For more information, go toHarborFreight.com or see store associate.
Use Coupons:COASTALANGLERMAG.COM In-Store, HarborFreight.com or 800-423-2567 • THEANGLERMAG.COM APRIL 2017
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suzuki spring savings Three Limited Time Offers Make A Good Deal Even Better Suzuki Gives You All Three So You Don’t Have To Choose One Or The Other
Buy a new Suzuki outboard from 25 to 300 horsepower and take advantage of not just one, but ALL THREE Suzuki Spring promotional offers.
Add cash rebates on select models and you can get up to $800 cash back. Plus our Repower Financing is available at attractive interest rates (on approved credit.*)
Just say, “Gimme Six!” and you’ll get six years of product protection. That’s right, you’ll get Suzuki’s three-year limited warranty and Suzuki’s 3-Year Extended Protection Plan at no extra charge.
See your participating Suzuki Marine dealer today and find out how you can get the ultimate deal on the Ultimate 4-Stroke Outboard.
Six Years of Protection at no extra charge on all new outboards 25 to 300 HP.
Cash Rebates on select models. See your dealer for details.
REPOWER FINANCE
Rates as low as 5.99% on new Suzuki outboards (OAC).*
For details and the name of your nearest participating Suzuki Marine dealer, visit www.suzukimarine.com
Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 300 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 4/01/17 and 6/30/17 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase. If an acknowledgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Cash Rebates apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 4/01/17 and 6/30/17. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Customer and participating Dealer must fill out the appropriate rebate form at time of sale. Customer will have the choice to either apply the cash rebate against the original dealer invoice (Suzuki will credit Dealer parts account) or have a check sent directly to the customer. There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 4/01/17 and 6/30/17. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2017 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
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PENNFISHING.COM
LET THE BATTLE BEGIN The Slammer is back! Featuring a full metal body and rotor, IPX6 sealed gear box and spool design, a full Brass CNC Gear system,
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and a smooth yet powerful Dura Drag System. The Slammer is not only back…. it’s better than ever before.
3/19/17 2:26 PM
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3/19/17 2:26 PM