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VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 273
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EDITOR IN CHIEF : Ben Martin • camads@coastalanglermagazine.com VICE PRESIDENT : Tracy Patterson • tracy@coastalanglermagazine.com ART DIRECTOR : Rebecca Snowden • graphics@coastalanglermagazine.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR : Nick Carter • editorial@coastalanglermagazine.com WEBMASTER : Dmitriy Pislyagin • webmaster@coastalanglermagazine.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Corporate Headquarters info@coastalanglermagazine.com • 888-800-9794
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BIG BEND : Mike McNamara • (850) 510-7919 • captmike@coastalanglermagazine.com BREVARD : David String • (321) 684-5888 • dstring@coastalanglermagazine.com DAYTONA/NEW SMYRNA BEACH : Don Meadows • (321) 436-5895 • donm@coastalanglermagazine.com EMERALD COAST/DESTIN/PENSACOLA : Scott Risher • (850) 428-0996 • srisher@coastalanglermagazine.com FLORIDA KEYS : Cliff Lumpkin • (305) 849-9093 • cliff@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT LAUDERDALE : Gene Dyer • (954) 680-3900 • gene@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT MYERS : Nadeen Welch • (239) 595-8265 • nwelch@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER MIAMI : Scott Deal • (561) 945-6999 • scott@coastalanglermagazine.com Monica Isaza-Deal • (561) 945-8899 • monica@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER ORLANDO : Phillip & Giselle Wolf • (407) 790-9515 • phillip@coastalanglermagazine.com LAKELAND & SUMTER : Mary Brasher • (352) 598-4219 • maryf@coastalanglermagazine.com NAPLES : Nadeen Welch • (239) 595-8265 • nwelch@coastalanglermagazine.com NC FLORIDA/NATURE COAST : Cary & Lynn Crutchfield • (352) 372-4237 • crutch@coastalanglermagazine.com NE FLORIDA : Danny Patrick • (904) 742-4696 • danny@coastalanglermagazine.com PANAMA CITY/FORGOTTEN COAST : Randy Cnota • (229) 834-7880 • randyc@coastalanglermagazine.com PALM BEACH COUNTY : Barbara Ryan • (561) 373-8040 • barbara@coastalanglermagazine.com SARASOTA : Phil Prevoir • (239) 257-4684 • pprevoir@coastalanglermagazine.com TAMPA BAY : Chuck Atkins • (239) 464-5153 • chuck@coastalanglermagazine.com TREASURE COAST : Misti & Gary Guertin • (772) 285-6850 • treasurecoast@coastalanglermagazine.com flahama@coastalanglermagazine.com
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Cover Image Credits: (Clockwise from top left) Sailfish: Alphonse Fishing Co., Wesley Rapson; Bumphead Parrotfish: Alphonse Fishing Co., Andre Henn; Salmon: Scott Norton; Trout: Big Cedar Lodge; Bass: Nick Carter; Roosterfish: Francisco Mejias © 2017. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Disclaimer: Coastal Angler Magazine / The Angler Magazine will not be held liable for injuries incurred while partaking in activities described herein, or for claims made against products or services provided by advertisers.
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FLY FISHING By Nick Carter
F
ly fishing for bonefish and permit might have originated on the flats of the Bahamas and the Florida Keys, but these islands hardly hold a monopoly on the style of fishing. In the Indian Ocean, about 1,000 miles off the east coast of Africa, there is an archipelago that claims the highest density of bonefish in the world on one of its outer island groups. The Alphonse Group is three small islets on the southwestern end of the Seychelles, a nation of 115 islands in gorgeous tropical waters northeast of Madagascar. Within the Alphonse Group, Alphonse Atoll and St. Francois Atoll offer more 10,000 acres of hard, white-sand bonefish flats as well as a lagoon with channels, finger flats and coral heads where fly fishers sight fish in clear water to more than 60 species of fish. There are characters familiar to Atlantic flats—bonefish and permit—and there are also species exotic to North American fly rodders, like milkfish, colorful triggerfish and seven species of trevally. Instead of tarpon, the Seychelles offer up the giant trevally, which can weigh in excess of 120 pounds. And with a 10-minute boat ride out of Alphonse Island, anglers can access reef species and big pelagics like sailfish, wahoo, dorado, dogtooth and yellowfin tuna. Either trolling or teasing them up and casting flies to them, these offshore species offer a delightful break from the flats as well as a dinnertime treat on the island. “The Seychelles has become known as the best giant trevally fishery in the world and has become the benchmark for anglers searching for an outstanding saltwater flats fishing experience,” said Keith RoseInnes, managing director of Alphonse Fishing Company. “The sheer numbers and variety of fish species has amazed the fly fishing world, with anglers from across the globe queuing up to sample this ultimate fishing playground.” St. Francois is most well known for its bonefish, with ridiculous
numbers of 4to 6-pound fish and the occasional 8-pounder in the mix. “On falling tides, it is often the case that huge shoals of bonefish can be targeted when leaving the flats in what has been described as a continuous river of bonefish,” said Rose-Innes. “You hunt them on foot and not from a skiff, as the sand flats are hard and white.” It’s also as close to a sure thing as it gets for anglers seeking the Holy Grail of saltwater fly fishing. Good numbers of Indo-Pacific permit populate the flats, and Rose-Innes said his guides have near-perfected the art of catching them. Along with natural environs conducive to awesome fishing, a strong conservation ethic ensures an incredible angling experience. Alphonse Fishing Company tightly controls the amount and type of fishing pressure its waters see, and the fisheries are completely closed a minimum of three months per year. That’s the fishing side of the conservation effort. Alphonse also protects the unique flora and fauna of the islands, which makes for a sensational overall vacation experience, with comfortable lodging among beautiful tropical forests and beaches. For more information, see www.alphonsefishingco.com.
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Craig Sutton with a Costa Rica yellowfin.
“M
ost people my age buy a house in Costa Rica to retire,” said Craig Sutton, of Nosara Paradise Rentals and FishingNosara. “When I bought my first house in Costa Rica, my life was just starting to get interesting.” Craig first discovered Nosara, Costa Rica on a surfing trip in the late 1990s and immediately fell in love with the people, the culture and the year-round excellent surfing. He purchased a small house near Guiones Beach, bought out his neighbors’ land, and spent the next 15 years building a nature preserve campus of 14 houses plus a pool, common areas and maintenance facilities. One thing was missing from this surfer’s paradise: good fishing. As a native Floridian, Craig’s passion for fishing runs deep. He has been a regular on the kingfish tournament scene for years, with his boat Fishtastic posting top-5 finishes in the several tournaments.
“The problem with fishing in Costa Rica is that fish are so big and so harsh that they will destroy your tackle, plus the costs for fuel is astronomical at $7 a gallon and rising,” said Sutton. “Captains trying to make ends meet would have to choose between new lines, new tackle and a full tank of gas, or putting food on the family table.” After years of struggling to find a captain in Costa Rica who was willing and able to fish aggressively, Sutton realized his only option was to build his own boats and crew them with hand-picked locals. “These guys had the drive and the talent to be great fishermen, they just lacked the tools and the logistical support,” said Sutton. “The team-centered approach allows FishingNosara captains to pursue the fish as aggressively as a professional tournament boat without being distracted by losing lures or running up the gas bill.” FishingNosara launched their first boat, The Wanderer, in 2009 and have added a boat every year since. The results have been astounding. In the 2017 season, the five-boat FishingNosara team ran over 730 trips with over 80 marlin releases and 800 sailfish releases. More importantly, the team inflicted zero billfish fatalities. “Reviving and releasing billfish is a sacred priority to us as conservationists, plus it makes good business sense,” said Sutton. “We have created a market of charter fishermen, which means billfish are worth more money alive and swimming than they are on a scale at the meat market.” As for retirement for Sutton, don’t bet on it anytime soon. Last April he scored a billfish grand slam (blue marlin, striped marlin and sailfish) to win the Ship of Fools Billfish Tournament in Costa Rica. Sutton is looking to up-the-ante again in 2018. Back in the States, a new version of the Fishtastic came online this year. It’s an exact copy of the 32’ Eduardono Harvester currently in Nosara, and Sutton is already amped up for a new challenge. “My goal with the new boat is to snag a tournament winning king mackeral in July then go catch marlin in August… seems like a good way to bring two worlds together.”
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By CAM Staff
M
urrells Inlet, S.C. has always been a fishing town. Long before Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand began drawing tourists to experience the beaches, shopping, golf and nightlife that have made it famous, Murrells Inlet was a fishing village. And it’s no wonder. The inlet itself is an inshore angler’s dream. It’s an enclosed system, one of very few inlets on the east coast free from the influence of the Intracoastal Waterway or coastal rivers.
There’s no dirty water flowing in from upstream, and this system of marshes and backwaters is a completely saltwater environment, with no freshwater pumping in to reduce salinity. The result is excellent fishing and exploration of backwater creeks for speckled trout, redfish and the doormat flounder that Murrells Inlet has gained a reputation for. Another thing the area has a well-earned reputation for is huge red drum, which hang out around the jetties to provide anglers with the bulldog runs only a big bull red can provide. It’s some of the best red fishing on the east coast, with fish in the 20- to 40-pound range arriving in numbers in both spring and fall. For those who don’t mind a short boat ride to fill the cooler,
there are numerous nearshore reefs that can be easily accessed with a half-day trip and a run of less than 5 miles. Mackerel, sharks, black sea bass, reds, flounder, bluefish, spadefish and more make for an exciting outing even for the family, and you’ll come back with a cooler full of delicious fish. Out to 15 or 30 miles, there is also excellent trolling for king and Spanish mackerel, cobia and amberjack, as well as bottom fishing for snappers, groupers and sea bass. But those who want to get serious should look into a full-day trip to the Gulf Stream. From 55 to 70 miles offshore, opportunities for tuna, dolphin, wahoo, marlin and sailfish abound. Trolling the Gulf Stream for big-game species off the lower end of the Grand Strand is tough to beat anywhere. So… it’s easy to see why Murrells Inlet has always been a fishing village, and perhaps the best way to experience it is from a base camp at the Inlet Sports Lodge. Located at the heart of Murrells Inlet, the Inlet Sports Lodge is a comfortable and classy boutique hotel that caters to anglers and golfers with the finest amenities in the area. It’s minutes away from three marinas, works closely with the area’s best charter captains and can accommodate boats up to 25 feet. There’s a fish cleaning room for prep, as well as gas and charcoal grills available in the courtyard to cook your catch. Or, for those who’d rather let someone else do the cooking, the COSTA Coastal Kitchen and Bar on-site offers up fine, fresh Italian and seafood fare. There are also several other restaurants nearby that prepare the kind of delicious right-out-of-the-water dishes that have made Murrells Inlet the “Seafood Capital of South Carolina.” And don’t forget the golf. If days on the water paired with days on the links sounds like the perfect way to relax, the Inlet Sports Lodge has you covered. With golf packages booking a wide variety of the Grand Strand’s famous courses, there’s more golf than you can swing a stick at, including two award-winning courses with the same ownership as the Inlet Sports Lodge. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club and True Blue Plantation are two of the finest courses in the area as well as the nation. For more information on fishing, golfing and the Inlet Sports Lodge at Murrells Inlet, S.C., go to www.inletsportslodge.com/ or call 877-585-9360.
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FLORIDA
By Dianne Poston
T
he South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAC) recently issued a news release stating that they have approved a request to NOAA Fisheries that would allow fishermen access to red snapper in federal waters off the coast of the Carolinas, Georgia and the east coast of Florida. The Council is requesting that NOAA Fisheries allow an interim annual catch limit (recreational and commercial) of 42,510 fish for 2017 via an emergency rule. The annual catch limit would allow for a recreational mini-season with six to 12 days of fishing over a few weekends beginning in late October. The recreational bag limit would be 1 fish per person/day with no minimum size limit. The recreational sector is allocated 71.93 percent of the total catch limit of 42,510 fish for 2017. The Council also approved measures in Amendment 43 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan with
the intent to have a red snapper season in 2018. If allowed, the recreational fishery would open the second Friday in July (July 13, 2018) and the commercial fishery the second Monday in July (July 9, 2018). SEDAR 41 is 805 pages and contains all the information on how the South Atlantic Council arrives at the numbers of fish that fishermen are allowed to catch. During the last season in 2014, biology tables were set up at the boat ramps to assess the red snapper stock. We fished in this last season and believed that the council was interested in how many older, breeding red snapper were available. We noted that the only fish that were making it to the biology table were the older, large fish and no one brought in the smaller red snapper to be assessed. As a result of this, there was a spike in the number of older fish being included in the council’s data. They assumed that fishermen had been discarding the smaller red snapper, allowing them to become dead discards, to catch the larger snapper. The council believed that the dead discards were greater than the allocated number of red snapper to be caught and therefore closed red snapper harvest for 2015 and 2016. During the 2017 season there will also be biology tables to assess our catch. Please be responsible fishermen and report all your catches, large and small, and also the ones you released. Private recreational fishermen will also have an opportunity to report their catch information as part of a voluntary pilot project using the mobile iAngler tournament app. Dr. Duval, of the SAC, is recommending practices such as moving off areas when you have caught your limit and if you need to release fish to use a descending device. Washington state, Oregon and California recently mandated fish descending devices for all bottom fishing. California reopened rock fish harvest after a study using descending devices showed that mortality was significantly reduced when using a descending device. There are several other states currently looking at mandating fish descending devices. There are many fish descending devices on the market. A good one is the Fish Saver by Roy’s Electric Reels. For more information, go to Fishsaverdevice.com.
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nglers in search of big-game sportfishing have chosen the Palm Beaches since the 1900s. Some of the earliest sportfishing boats were built in the area. With the Gulf Stream waters passing closer to the coast than anywhere in the continental United States, the annual migration of Atlantic sailfish to Palm Beach County sets the stage for Operation Sailfish on Dec. 6-10, hosted by the Sailfish Marina and Resort in Palm Beach Shores, Fla. Operation Sailfish is the first leg of the Quest for the Crest series, where the world’s best sail-fishing teams will compete. Prior to the
start of the competition, there is a special event, “Take a Hero Fishing Day.” Men and women of the United States military are invited to join the fishing teams for a fun day of fishing on Dec. 7. Active duty men and women, veterans and wounded warriors are eligible to participate in this event, created to honor and thank them for their service. The Quest for the Crest four-leg series teams are expected to compete for an estimated purse of $3,000,000 in 2018. The series begins at the historic Sailfish Marina and Resort in December. The Sailfish 400, the second leg will be January in Miami. The largest sailfish tournament in the country is the third leg of the series, known as The Sailfish Challenge, with a three-inlet format; Ft. Lauderdale will be the home base. The series wraps up with the Final Sail in Key West in April. The Sailfish Marina and Resort is the perfect venue for the tournament, with accommodations, the waterfront restaurant, ship’s store, dockage, fuel, heated pool and a weekly sunset celebration featuring live music. Many tournaments enjoy the amenities of the resort throughout the year, including The Big Dog Fat Cat KDW, The Silver Sailfish Derby and Blue Water Babes. A family tradition since 1952, the Sailfish Resort and Marina offers transient and annual docking, a charter fleet, 32 hotel accommodations, Peanut Island shuttle, as well as a snorkel trail and beach just a few blocks away. If you don’t compete in any of the tournaments based at the resort, come make some memories of your own. For more information, visit www.sailfishmarina.com.
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By Terry Gibson • Photo by Pete Markham/flickr.com
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he maritime salvage laws on the books today originated well before the days of Christopher Columbus. Today, salvage laws remain relatively unchanged. Boaters in Florida and across the nation should understand how and when these laws apply to them. Otherwise, you could end up with a shocking bill for even basic assistance on the water. A long-time friend of mine is a charter captain in Sebastian, Fla. He was fishing offshore with clients and noticed a slight crack in the hull, which let water in below decks. With an abundance of caution, he headed back to shore and contacted a popular maritime salvage and towing company to provide assistance. This company rushed a boat to his location and tossed him a pump to help minimize the effects of the leak. The company representative never set foot on my friend’s boat. A couple weeks later, my friend received a shocker of a bill—for $3,800. I recently learned about another individual who received a bill for a salvage claim that was several times that amount. This particular individual was a few hundred yards from shore while traveling to Key West when he saw there was more water in the bilge than normal. He got on the radio and called for a friend to help, but a maritime salvage company met him and helped pump water from the bilge. The company employee was on the boat for less than five minutes. Because the company classified the service as “salvage,” this boat owner received a bill for $30,000 even though he had a membership agreement with this company. I don’t share these stories to make people distrust maritime salvage and towing companies. I personally have a membership with one of these companies, and all the assistance they’ve provided was swift and above board. More than half of Florida boat owners invest in a membership for maritime assistance. Every boater should be aware that when you receive assistance on the water, you could be on the hook for a huge bill–even if you have a membership. Unless you have a pre-arranged contract with a salver that protects you, that individual or company has the right to make what’s called a “salvage claim” against the value of your vessel if it’s in “impending peril.” According to numerous maritime attorneys, the salvage fee amount depends upon factors including but not limited to the value of your vessel, the direness of the situation and the risk the salver took. Dishonest salvers know there’s legal gray area and that most salvage claims are settled in or out of admiralty courts. You can prevent an unexpected bill when you need assistance by negotiating a fixed fee or a set hourly rate. That way everyone is clear on what assistance will be provided and what it will cost. Mechanical and hull-integrity issues happen on the water; that’s the nature of boats. When they do, it’s good to know there are services available to help. To keep these challenging moments from turning into real financial problems, know what’s in store before calling on the help of a maritime salvage and towing company. To learn more about this issue or to share you own story about a salvage experience, visit StopSeaPiracy.com.
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By Costa Rica Pro Staff
Photos by Francisco Mejias
W
orld-class sportfishing and the sexy big-game species get a lot of attention on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, and for good reason. However, the inshore fishing can be just exciting. It is action-packed and diverse, utilizing different techniques to target more than a dozen different species. The main target of inshore anglers in Costa Rica is the hard-hitting and powerful roosterfish. They will smash artificials, and even topwater plugs, but the easiest way to catch them is with live bait. We bridle a live runner, sardine, lookdown or even a skipjack tuna on a 9/0 Trokar circle hook. Slow trolling around rocky structure or along beaches is a surefire way to draw strikes. Once hooked, the average 20-pound rooster is as ferocious as it is beautiful, and these beasts can get a whole lot bigger than average. We very often encounter fish in the jack family, including jack crevalle and different species of trevally in many of the same areas as the roosterfish. These can also be caught on live bait but are even more responsive than roosterfish to topwater baits such as poppers and stick baits. The lures are rigged with one or two in-line hooks from Lazer Sharp. We replace the factory treble hooks, which makes the fight much cleaner, the fish handling safer and does a lot less damage to the fish. These are fast fish, and quick retrieves often get the fish’s attention. Topwater does also work for smaller roosterfish, but the larger ones are harder to lure to the surface. Not so for the snappers, including cubera snapper, which will rise from 100 feet to smash a well-worked popper. This is one of the ultimate challenges in inshore fishing. They dive right back down to the rocks, often leaving the angler with a cut leader. Heavy popping gear, with 80- to 100-lb. line is necessary for the big ones. We have put 44 pounds of drag on big cuberas, and they keep going like there is no drag at all! Jigging is also a popular and fun technique we use a lot. Jacks,
trevally, seabass, snappers, groupers and mackerel are common catches. We look for underwater structure like rocks and drop jigs ranging from 2 to 9 ounces. The jigs are rigged with a pair of the new Eagle Claw Trokar assist hooks. On and close to the bottom, a slow jigging pace interests the snappers, groupers and seabass. As you move higher in the water column, a speed-jig style approach with rapid jerks gets the bite from the pelagics. Bottom fishing is also an option we sometimes use for an even larger variety of fish. Costa Rica does have some big bottom fish like giant grouper, broomtail grouper, cubera snapper and big stingrays. Live or dead bait gets the job done. Snook can be found in and around river mouths and are a fun species to target. Live bait works, but artificials like a small stick baits or jigs are more common and more fun. Wazo jigs with a Mr. Twister tail and a Trokar hook have resulted in many double-digit snook. If you haven’t tried inshore fishing in Costa Rica, take the time to try it. It’s great fun.
For more fishing with Costa Rica Pro Staff, go to
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Center sp UNDER THE SEA
will also have a break-away setup instead of a reel so that the rig (and fish) are attached to your float instead of your gun. There are several good companies that make this specialized equipment, such as Wong Spearguns, Riffe, Omer, Sporasub, Rob Allen, Gannet, and more. Retailers include SpearfishingWorld.com, SpearAmerica.com and many local dive ore than a few spearos have shops. spearing a tuna on their bucket Here are some quick tips to make sure list. Some are surprised to hear me your travel is fun, safe and productive: say that spearing a tuna is actually pretty 1. Go with a mentor or guide the first few easy. It’s the before and after activities times. Safe diving requires that you look out that are more challenging, along with the for one another, especially when bluewater planning. hunting. Due to safety considerations, it’s not the 2. Choose a reputable charter that first species one should aspire to. A more specializes in tuna spearfishing, as this likely progression would start with reef requires an experienced captain who can hunting for hogfish and red groupers, then give you good “drops.” on to mutton snappers and black groupers, 3. Use a Sportube to pack your spearguns and then perhaps some bluewater action and use the wetsuits for padding. Tell TSA with mahi and wahoos. you have “fishing equipment” rather than In addition to experience, going after using the word “speargun.” yellowfin tuna will likely require you to 4. Make sure all body parts are clear of travel, and it will also require special rigging the line when shooting a tuna. Tunas will to withstand the increased speed and size Sheri with 179-lb tuna from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. frequently sound and have a strong initial of this awesome prey. These two factors are Photo by Terry Maas. run. key. Traveling to the right place will increase 5. After cinching up the line through a clip on the float, use a second your chances of seeing them, and having the right equipment will ensure speargun for the kill shot. Do not handle a “hot tuna” with your hands. a successful capture. Don’t be disappointed if it takes a few trips to land your first tuna. It Currently, the most active places to spear yellowfin tuna include Louisiana, Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama. In more recent times, may take some effort, but in the end, it’s worth it. It’s hard to think of a spearos have been landing bluefin tuna off the coast of California. The fish that is more beautiful to look at or more delicious to eat. best way to find out which places are productive is through word-ofSheri is a world-record holder, host of Speargun Hunter, and producer mouth and social media. After selecting the right destination, here is what you will need to of The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Follow take in terms of equipment. Instead of the standard speargun with a “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram. reel, you will use a specially designed bluewater tuna gun. This will most likely be 60 to 70 inches long, the diameter of the shaft will be thicker, For more Sheri Daye, go to and it will have four to five bands (versus 1 to 2). It will have a slip tip and cable (versus flopper and mono)1 for a more Airline_Ad_CoastalAngler_8-1-14_Layout 8/1/14 1:14sure PM hold Pageon 1 a strong fish. It
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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 6 Tournament & Events Page 10-11 Map Page Page 12-16 Local Business Page 20 Find Us Here
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, Capt Bobby Woodard, Hunter Towery 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
CAM Nov 2017.indd 1
NOVEMBER 2017
Best Fishing Days
11/7-11/8 EVENING 11/26-11/27 MORNING
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10/19/2017 4:58:46 PM
INDIAN RIVER LAGOON FISHING FORECAST With the month of November upon us, anglers will jump at the chance to catch some nice fish while enjoying a change of season in our great state of Florida. During this time of year, anglers will begin to move away from their summer time approach to fishing. As water temperatures begin to cool down, many fish throughout out our region will begin to change their feeding habits throughout our region. Fish such as trout, reds, or even black drum will be in search of an easy meal. One of my favorite rigs to use when targeting these fish is a popping cork. A popping cork is basically a fixed cork that is rigged onto a 15 pound test mono leader that is 18” to 30” long. If you are looking for a cork on the retail market that is made to catch fish than look no further that Bass Assassin’s Kwik Cork. Attaching a live shrimp or Bass Assassin Die Dapper 3.5” (Mama’s Chicken) onto a popping cork and suspending the bait just above the bottom is a great way to target these fish. Once the bait is in the targeted area, anglers will want to give the cork a quick tug. This will make a very 2 POLK & SUMTER
CAM Nov 2017.indd 2
distinctive sound that will get plenty attention. This is especially true when conditions are calm. Anglers will want to make long cast in order to have a successful hook up. When conditions are right, anglers should consider drifting. This style of fishing will allow anglers to target sandy pot holes, grass flats, or even channel drop offs with ease. Drifting also allows anglers to practice stealth like approach so fish are not easily spooked. Have you ever caught a snook? A snook has been known to feed along mangrove shorelines with steep drop offs, boat docks, and even bridge fenders that are lit up at night. This is especially true when fishing in and around the port. Snook enjoy a wide variety of baits. However, they have been known to be picky and only feed on one specific bait at a time. Live shrimp, pinfish, or bright colored scented jerk baits will all work well when rigged onto a 7 foot medium action spinning reel combo equipped with 20 pound test braided line and 25 pound test mono leader. Snook have been known target these baits during low light conditions or at night under a full moon. Submitted By: Capt. Keith Mixon
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NOVEMBER 2017
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10/19/2017 4:58:48 PM
LAKE ALFRED / AUBURNDALE / WINTER HAVEN
RON’S TACKLE BOX SUMMER BASS TOURNAMENTS (Every Thursday Night 6:30 – 9:00 PM April through October) For More Info: CALL RON (863) 956-4990
FISHING FORECAST November offers some great fishing in our central Florida lakes. We’re being told that many good size Specs are showing up early this year mixed in with some large Shell Crackers. The good reports on Spec and Cracker activity started coming in early September. Recent high water levels are creating a very favorable environment for Spec and Cracker fishing, so get out and take advantage of it while you can! Our best reporting lakes continue to be Lakes Haines and Rochelle here in Lake Alfred, but we’ve been getting good reports from Lake Alfred as well. Best bait to use is still live small minnows. As the weather gets colder, Specs will move in closer to the shore line. That would be a good time to try some pier fishing. We have many fine fishing piers here in our area . . stop in for suggestions and directions. Bass fishing on the North and South Winter Haven Chain has been good all summer, although the sizes have been smaller. The high water levels have stirred things up creating a lot of food in the water. The fish are all over the place . . no set pattern at this time. As fall and winter approaches, we should begin to see some large Bass again. The smaller Bass, and even the Pan Fish, are nice fat ones due to all the food stirred up in the high water levels. The 3rd Annual Bass Assassin/Power Pole Tournament hosted by Ron’s Tackle Box on September 30th at Lake Shipp Park in Winter Haven was a great success despite a few sprinkles. There were (54) teams competing for that 1st Place prize of $2500, which was won by Dale Francis and Bobby Ford (photo) with a total weight of (12 lb/1 oz). Big Bass Winner was Robert Garcia (5 lb/11 oz), who along with partner Daniel Garcia also took 2nd Place. Dustin and Sarah McKenzie were the lucky winners of the Power Pole Shallow Water Anchor raffle. A good time was had by all! Our 19th season of Ron’s Tackle Box Weekly Bass Tournaments is now finished and will not begin again until April 2018. We want to thank everyone for another great season. We appreciate ALL of our faithful anglers and friends, many of which have been participating for ALL of those 19 years. Even Hurricane Irma couldn’t keep us down for long . . See YOU next season!!
OUR 19th SEASON is going STRONG!! Here’s our “SEPT.” Winners!! September 7th Tournament: CALLED DUE TO HURRICANE IRMA September 14th Tournament: (13) Boats on Lake Shipp Big Bass – Daniel Smith (5 lb/12 oz) 1st Place – Daniel Smith & Shea Arnold (15 lb/2 oz) Total 2nd Place – Jay Haygood & Tim Denmark (10 lb/14 oz)Total 3rd Place – Daniel & Robert Garcia (10 lb/4 oz) Total September 21st Tournament: (10) Boats on Lake Rochelle Big Bass – Jeremy Scarborough (5 lb/14 oz) 1st Place – Mark Murphy & Jeremy Scarborough (13 lb/11oz) Total 2nd Place – Dale Francis & Bobby Ford (12 lb/6 oz) Total 3rd Place – Dustin & Sarah McKenzie (10 lb/3 oz) Total September 28th Tournament: (11) Boats on Lake Summit Big Bass – Ricky Garcia (5 lb/8 oz) 1st Place – Matt Schlayer & Nick Childs (9 lb/2 oz) Total 2nd Place – Joseph MyHand & Jacob Haggard (8 lb/7 oz) Total 3rd Place – Sean Morgan & Cody Oshman (7 lb/7 oz) Total September 30th Tournament: (54) Boats on Lake Shipp (3rd ANNUAL BASS ASSASSIN/POWER POLE TOURNAMENT) Big Bass – Robert Garcia (5 lb/11 oz) ~ $500 1st Place – Dale Francis & Bobby Ford (12 lb/1 oz) Total ~ $2500 2nd Place – Robert & Daniel Garcia (11 lb/10 oz) Total ~ $500 POWER POLE RAFFLE Winners ~ Dustin & Sarah McKenzie
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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PANA VISTA LODGE FISHING REPORT All is well at Pana Vista …we dodged a bullet with Hurricane Irma. We spent most of September cleaning up the mess but by early October we were back to normal. For everyone wanting more water we sure got it. The water finally crested around the first part of October and is really flowing well now and has dropped to a more normal level. Due to the rain and higher levels and the flushing of the swamps, the oxygen levels were down the first half of October but started increasing to a pretty good level after that. When the oxygen levels are down the fish are not really active and that is normal when you get a rain event like we got. November Best bets: I look for the fishing to be pretty good in November. The bass action should really pick up especially around the vegetated areas. The vegetation will change due to the high and darker water so you may have to move around a little to locate the fish. With some cooler weather, the spec action may pick up as well. Drifting minnows will be your best option there. I don’t expect much from the shellcrackers and bluegills this late in the year but you can most likely catch a mess of bream around the Outlet and creeks. The fall hunting in our local management areas should be good this year too so if you are hunting in one of our many local areas we can put you up as well. We have cabins, RV lots, and tent camping too. I am really looking for a good winter of fishing and hunting this year and hope y’all can come out and take advantage of it. Submitted By: Jim Veal Jr. Pana Vista Lodge Lake Panasoffkee, Fl. 352-793-2061
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10/19/2017 4:58:53 PM
St. Petersburg Tides - November 2017 HIGH
DATE
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed
LOW
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
RISE
SET
12:31 12:54 1:18 1:45 1:15 1:50 2:29 3:15
2.1 2.2 2.4 2.5 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.7
12:59 1:52 2:44 3:37 3:33 4:36 5:51 7:24
2.1 2.1 2.0 2.0 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.6
6:48 7:30 8:12 8:56 8:42 9:33 10:29 11:31
0.6 0.4 0.1 -0.1 -0.3 -0.3 -0.3 -0.2
6:53 7:26 7:56 8:26 7:54 8:23 8:55 9:38 12:38 11:06 1:48 2:53 3:48 4:34 5:13
0.7 0.9 1.0 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.5 -0.0 1.6 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.7
7:40 7:41 7:42 7:43 6:43 6:44 6:45 6:46
6:47 6:46 6:45 6:45 5:44 5:43 5:43 5:42
9 Thu 4:09 2.5 8:51 1.6 10 11 12 13 14
Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue
5:21 7:03 8:57 10:27 11:38
2.2 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.8
15 Wed 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
24 Fri
SUN
12:13 12:33 12:56 1:22 1:52 2:27 3:06
2.3 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.3
9:39 10:12 10:40 11:06 11:30 12:36 11:52 1:27 2:12 2:53 3:33 4:12 4:54 5:41 6:34
1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.1 1.8 2.2 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5
1:23 3:16 4:32 5:28
1.5 1.2 0.9 0.6
6:46 5:42 6:47 6:48 6:49 6:49 6:50
5:41 5:41 5:40 5:40 5:39
6:14 0.3 5:45 0.9 6:51 5:39 6:53 7:29 8:02 8:35 9:10 9:46 10:27 11:12
0.1 0.0 -0.1 -0.2 -0.2 -0.2 -0.2 -0.1
3:53 2.1 7:29 1.5
25 Sat 4:51 2.0 8:17 1.6
6:13 6:37 7:00 7:23 7:49 8:19 8:59 9:53 12:02 11:13 12:56
1.0 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 0.0 1.3 0.1
6:52 6:52 6:53 6:54 6:55 6:55 6:56 6:57
5:38 5:38 5:38 5:37 5:37 5:37 5:37 5:36
6:58 5:36 6:59 5:36
26 Sun 6:08 1.8 8:57 1.7 12:53 1.3 1:51 0.2 6:59 5:36 27 28 29 30
Mon Tue Wed Thu
7:43 9:18 10:40 11:51
1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6
9:32 10:03 10:33 11:04
1.8 1.9 2.1 2.2
2:28 3:41 4:40 5:30
1.1 0.8 0.5 0.2
2:44 3:33 4:18 4:59
0.3 0.5 0.6 0.8
7:00 7:01 7:02 7:02
5:36 5:36 5:36 5:36
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NOVEMBER 2017
POLK & SUMTER 5
10/19/2017 4:58:55 PM
Your Polk & Sumter Holiday Events/Parades 11/20 Winter Haven Tree Lighting Ceremony In Central Park 7pm 12/2 Havendale Christmas Parade 7-10pm 12/2-3 29th Annual Carols In The Park Bok Tower Gardens 9-4 12/3 Holiday Tree Trimming Party Downtown Auburndale 5-8 12/3 Winter Haven Chain of Lakes Boat Parade 4pm 12/3 Carols In The Park In Winter Haven Central Park 10am4pm 12/4 First Friday - Holiday Hometown Downtown Lakeland 6-9 12/4 Holiday Tree Ligthing Party Eloise Resource Center 6-9 12/4 Jingle Bell Rock Party Wabash Community Ctr Lakeland 6-9 12/4-6,11-13 Lights of Lakeland 6:30-9 12/5 Breakfast with Santa Auburndale Civic Center 7am-11am 12/5 Bartow Ford Winter Wonderland Bartow Ford 9-2 12/5 Breakfast With Santa Bartow Carleton Hall of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church 12/5 Glitter, Glisten & Snow Lake Eva Park Haines City 6pm 12/5-6 Carols In The Park Central Park Winter Haven Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5 12/5-6,12-13,19-20,26-27,28-30 Christmas Bricktacular Legoland Fl Winter Haven 12/7 Junior League of Greater Lakeland Christmas Parade: A Night In The North Pole 7-9 12/8 Main Street Bartow, Inc Christmas Parade 6-9 12/9 Lake Wales Christmas Parade 6pm 12/9 Mulberry Christmas Parade & Village 6-10pm 12/9 Lake Alfred Christmas Parade 6:30-9pm 12/11-12,18-19 Florida Flywheelers Christmas In The Village 6-9pm 12/12 Winterfest Davenport 4-8 12/12 ISO Holiday Spectacular 7:30-9:30 12/17 Snow Central Central Park Winter Haven 6-9
6 POLK & SUMTER
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NOVEMBER 2017
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10/19/2017 4:58:56 PM
CENTRAL FLORIDA FRESHWATER FLY FISHING REPORT Fall Fly Fishing Feeding Frenzy Best Time: Afternoon-Evening Surface Temp: 80F Clarity: Tannic, 18” Fly fishing in the Fall is one of my favorite times of the year, the fish are pretty strict to a pattern but whenever you find out exactly how they want it then your in for an amazing day if fly fishing. Tips: Downsize your fly patterns to match the hatch, instead of number two Clousers throw size sixes. The fish will congregate around the outflow of moving water and there will be a constant supply of food and the fish know that. Don’t drift too close to the current this could spook the fish. Cloudy days are great streamer fishing as the bass are more active than on sunny days. Techniques: This time of year the fish are feeding to fatten back up from the grueling summer and to prepare for the cold winter. With the above average temperatures and constant storms, the fish have stayed close to the flowing water whether that be from canals, creeks, or culvert pipes. The higher water levels have caused increased water flows and this pushes bait into ambush zones. When fishing the moving water don’t be afraid to stay there and fish for a little while. Keep drifting your fly through the current and also in the slack areas around the pipe or canal mouth. The water levels also push the bass shallow early in the morning. Frog patterns have been very successful causing some awesome blow ups. With topwater fly choices, stick to frog patterns both popper style and diving. The diving patterns work well with a slow retrieve or swimming it just underneath the surface depending on how aggressive the bass is. When its overcast the bass tend to want to chase prey since they feel safer from predators and have the advantage over prey in these adverse conditions. Those diving frogs or small white streamers are perfect for the more active bass. When it’s sunny its best to slow it down and pick apart structure rather than cover water. Pay extra attention to grass lines and hardcover on sunny days when the bass don’t chase as much. The bluegill action has still been very good. With Popper Dropper rigs still being the best bet. Brighter colored topwaters in chartreuse, blue, or orange in a size 10 with a size 12 or smaller hares ear or pheasant tail trailed behind it. Also, they have been munching the small streamers as well. When they are around hardcover, it has been docks, the less grass the better. They are also around the flowing water to eating the same flies as the bass. Using small nymphs without an indicator or popper can be deadly as well since you can allow these flies to fall deeper. Damselfly nymphs and pheasant tails are always productive. Submitted by: Hunter Towery Peace Creek Guide Service 863-837-7028
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CAM Nov 2017.indd 7
NOVEMBER 2017
POLK & SUMTER 7
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RIDE THE ELECTRIC TIDE
Trolling motors have their place in the anglers’ arsenal. Some anglers if they have that boat of choice, will utilize the ancient art of poling their boats in the skinny water (sometimes 2’ or less) while searching out snook, reds, or tarpon. But even then, the long pole and platform are mostly if they are on an extensive flat where it’s too shallow to run the trolling motor, or either out on the open flats targeting tarpon. Indeed, many anglers have moved to electric motors as a primary method of approaching their quarry in all but the shallowest of waters. They’re super quiet, efficient and you can allow an extra person to be fishing while operating it. However, at least 2 manufacturers that are specializing in electric propulsion for saltwater continue to offer innovative product improvements, so why wouldn’t you want to have one on your vessel? Trolling motors can be employed either on the bow (bow is the most common practice) or from the stern. Depending on the needs, each application has its advantages. Bow mount models are very maneuverable because they “pull” the boat from the nose and are very efficient since the thrust is centered over the bow. Uses of stern models (which are typically duels) are usually seen on the tarpon boats used for quick, quiet thrust to get to a passing or distant seen school. Two main manufacturers are Minn-Kota and Motorguide, which dominate the market. Both offer digital-control electronics, ever-improving galvanic corrosion protection, several different thrust package options, and innovative special features, such as a wireless operation. Minn-Kota’s saltwater model is the “Riptide” and offers a composite shaft with a sacrificial anode being the prop nut. Motorguide’s saltwater model is the “Great White” that offers a stainless shaft and the anode ball on the shaft. Each is good and has been proven. Both also offer 12 and 24-volt models, with 55 lbs. of thrust being about the highest for a 12 volt. Each offers variable speed which is a nice feature. Minn-Kota offers a tilt tiller, while Motorguide offers the extended tiller. (A, “patent” thing.) Both offer fully encapsulated electronics on the saltwater models, digital technology- improving run time and extended battery power and longer motor life. They both offer a breakaway system that protects the motor and shaft from impact from any direction. Each offers a 3-year warranty. So you don’t have to worry about getting stuck with a lemon. Both manufacturers’ saltwater models range in price from $500 to $1500 depending on the model, thrust, bells, and whistles, etc. Here’s a good formula to follow if you’re not sure on the size thrust and model for your vessel. Three pounds of thrust (minimum) for every foot of vessel. I.e. 15’ boat should have at least a 45 lb. thrust trolling motor. So, if you’re just drifting the flats for trout, it may not be as big an issue. Unless you need a quick, quiet thrust to miss an oyster bar, crab pot or something without having to crank up the big kicker and make noise. But if you’re in deep enough water (around 2’ or better) trying to work around mangrove islands, down the island banks, points, through cuts or passes, in search of the reds and snook, it can be very beneficial. They can really equate to more opportunities for greater shots. Now is the time to ride an electric tide.
Throw your “Thunder-Spin” saltwater spinnerbaits in a gold blade, jerkbaits in white and rootbeer rigged weedless, or even a topwater plug like a Skitter-Walk, Zara-Spook, or Chug Bug, to fool them on the fakes. There will be plenty of mackerel making their journey down the coast toward the southlands. Chumming and tossing silver spoons, jigs, or shrimp will do the trick. Cobia is also going to be making the same journey. My clients already caught 2 last month, and there will be a lot more moving through for November. Grouper……….. What can I say? Good numbers of keeper size gags will be in the 15’ to 25’ range. Trolling the stretch 18’s and 25’s in blue and white, and firetiger will surely produce. Mark those hookups, then go back, anchor up, and catch a few more, bottom fishing with frozen sardines or frisky live pinfish. My grouper fishing for the 11th month will be in the 6’ to 12’ range. (Shallow water rocks, plug fishing). If you haven’t tried it, and aren’t squeamish, holler….. We’ll definitely hook ya up. There it is in a nutshell. If you’re not in the woods this month, it’s a good time to be on the water. And this is one of the only magazines that give you the best of both worlds. Be safe and good fishing Submitted By: Capt. Rick Burns Reel Burns Charters www.reelburns.com Homosassafishingguide.com 352-201-6111
BEST BETS FOR NOVEMBER: The trout will be up in the shallows making their trek inland following baitfish and the upcoming cooler water temps. Topwater plugs and jigs under a popping cork are going to be your best bet. Reds are now starting to leave the outer most islands and head farther inland as well. The area we call the backcountry maze of mangrove and sawgrass islands is where you should be TROLLING and concentrating your efforts. The “bait and waits” should utilize fresh cut mullet or ladyfish for best results. Using shrimp will just be making the bait stealers happy and you unhappy. Frisky live pinfish is a good choice as well. Anchor and work your points of islands with your chunking. Trolling down and working the banks and/or fan casting the points with artificials will be a good way to locate these “Fall” fish. 8 POLK & SUMTER
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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
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
6-Overdue Adventures 863-559-4480 518 Main Street • Auburndale, FL 33823
27- Action Watersports 863-967-4148 402 Progress Rd • Auburndale, FL 33823 www.ActionWatersports.net
7-Sky Powersports 863-676-2245 20769 US Hwy 27 • Lake Wales FL 33853 www.SkyPowersportsLakeWales.com
28- Marine Supply of Winter Haven 863-297-7003 1700 3rd St SW • Winter Haven, FL 33880 www.MarineSupplyBoats.com
8-Champs Sports Grill 863-647-5900 6645 S. Florida Ave • Lakeland, FL 33803 www.ChampsToGo.com
29- Hoppy’s Marine 863-439-7616 31499 Highway 27 • Haines City, FL 33844 www.HoppysMarine.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
30- Gary’s Boating Center 863-638-0537 15520 Highway 27 • Lake Wales, FL 33859 www.GarysBoating.com 32- Polk Tractor 863-967-0651 3450 Havendale Blvd NW • Winter Haven, FL 33881 www.PolkTractorco.com
12-Hurricane’s Handi Mart 863-537-1300 5401 Hwy 60 E. • Bartow, FL 33830
33- Spurlows 863-635-0240 30 E. Wall St. • Frostproof, FL 33843 SpurlowsOutdoorOutfitters.com
13-Camp Mack 863-696-1108 14900 Camp Mack Rd • Lake Wales, FL 33898 www.CampMack.com
34- RYK Seafood 863-294-2300 175 Ave A NW • Winter Haven, FL 33881 www.RKYSeafood.com
14-Bridgemasters 863-676-1009 2131 FL-60 • Lake Wales, FL 33898 www.Bridge-Masters.com
35- Interstate Battery 863-666-8787
15-Catfish Johnnys 863-793-2083 2396 N County Rd 470 • Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538 www.CatfishJohnnyRestaurant.com
36- Jeffords Airboats 863-956-3030
16-A Cut Above Polish Shop 863-444-1078 529 East State Rd. 44 • Wildwood, FL 34785 www.ACutAbovePolishShop.com
37- Cypress Inlet 855-449-7666 2600 W Lake Eloise Dr • Winter Haven, FL 33884 www.cypressinlet.com
17-Phillips Bait & Tackle 863-666-2248 3780 US-92 • Lakeland, FL 33801 www.CentralFloridaTrollingMotor.com
38- Millers Fiberglass 863-551-1551 1505 Lake Shipp Dr, Winter Haven, FL 33880 www.facebook.com/Millers-Fiberglass-Repair-157407427716301
18-Chilton Signs 863-438-0880 28597 Hwy 27 North • Dundee, FL 33838 www.ChiltonSigns.com
39- Big Fish Bait & Tackle 863-815-9492
19-Chilton Signs 863-337-6272 3237 Hwy 98 South • Lakeland, FL 33803 www.ChiltonSigns.com 20-Ron’s Tackle Box,LLC 863-956-4990 380 S. Lake Shore Way • Lake Alfred, FL 33850 www.ronstacklebox.com
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
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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Boat/Personal Watercraft/Canoe/Kayak/SUP Dealers Manufacturers/ New & Consignment Sales/Realtors 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
Gary’s Boating Center 15520 Hwy 27 • Lake Wales, FL 33859 863-638-0537 • 863-638-0527 Fax www.GarysBoating.com
Serving Sumter County For 45 Years Commercial Acreage Residential
www.livingwatercruises.com 863-268-0577
On The Beautiful Winter Haven Chain of Lakes Visit our website for available cruise options, pricing, coupons and discounts. Gift cards available! Open Monday-Saturday 8-8, Sunday 11:30-8. All tours depart in Winter Haven. Departure location is assigned at time of booking.
Marine Supply of Winter Haven 717 6th Street SW • 1491 3rd SW (Sales) Winter Haven, FL 33880 863-293-1156 www.MarineSupplyBoats.com
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 See all our models on www.OldSaltMarine.com
EVAN MERRITT Cell 352-603-1578 352-793-3202 352-793-3201 Fax: 352-793-5201
The Living Water Pontoon Boat Cruises
Carolina Skiff - Mercury & Yamaha Outboards Hewitt Boat Lifts & Dock Systems
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
Sumter Realty, Inc P.O. Box 681 • 239 N. Main Street Bushnell, Fl 33513
Erwine’s Marine 250 S. Scenic Hwy • Frostproof, FL 33843 863-635-4492 www.ErwinesMarine.com Come in to check out our new line of Lowe's Jon Boats
Yamaha - Evinrude - Mercury - MerCruiser Volvo Penta - Avalon - Magic Tilt - Exide Technologies Power-Pole - Teleflex Marine Starcraft Marine - Engel Coolers & Tumblers
Pana Vista Lodge 3417 Co Rd 421 • Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538 352-793-2061 www.panavistalodge.com
Sea Ark - Salty Boats - Stumpnocker - Polar Kraft -Misty Harbor Pontoons - Sea Born Boats. Outboard Motors - Evinrude - Yamaha - Suzuki.
Cottages - Rv Camp Ground Hook-Ups - Camping - Boat Sales & Service. JohnsonEvinrude Motors Sales & Service. Boat Rentals Pontoon Rentals - Licenses - Bait - Ice - Gas Ramp
Stumpnocker By Salty Boats 1916 Us Hwy 98 North • Lakeland, FL 33805 Ph: 352-748-1161 • Fax: 863-688-3954 See all our models on Stumpnockerboats.com
Jason Nix LLC State Certified Marine Contractor SCC131151894 Ph: 863-934-6218
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.™
Floridas Choice for Marine Construction. Boathouses, Sea Walls, Docks
Taylor Made Charters & Guide Service Central Florida & Great Lakes Bass Fishing
Capt. Keith Mixon Mixin’ Work With Play Fishing Charters Capt. Scott Taylor www.mixinworkwithplay.com USCG Licensed Captian 321-212-8484 238 Towhee Rd • Winter Haven, FL 33881 TMCGuideService.com 855-354-8433 12 POLK & SUMTER NOVEMBER 2017 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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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 863-588-0298 www.catfishsportingclays.com
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
Hours: Tues -Sun 9-5 Our Airboats are the “Real Deal” not 20+ 20 Fully Automated Stations, Golf Cart Rentals, passenger Air-Busses! This guarantees your Gun Rentals, Ammunition, Instructors and a Full Retail Shop, Banquet Halls, Six-bedroom Villas, EVERGLADES AIRBOAT TOUR to be Hotel Rooms, ConferenceCOASTALANGLERMAG.COM Rooms, Onsite Culipersonal and powerful! • THEANGLERMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2017 POLK & SUMTER 13 nary Team. Groups from 15 to 1,000. CAM Nov 2017.indd 13
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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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Airboat Repair Shop
NOVEMBER 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
Camp Mack
www.TheBridgmaster.com
10% OFF ALL QUANTUM REELS IN THE CASE! 25% ALL DISCONTINUED COSTA SUNGLASSES!
Fishing & Diving Charters
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
Phillips Bait & Tackle 3780 Hwy. 92E • Lakeland, FL 33801 863-666-2248 www.PhillipsTackle.com cftm3780@yahoo.com
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: Cricket - Worms - Minnows - Shiners. Full Line Of Tackle - Tackle Boxes - Rods & Reels
Live Bait & Tackle - Cast Nets - Sportswear Gifts & Decor Mon - Th 6AM - 6PM • Fri & Sat 6AM - 7PM
Come Check Out Our Roundabout Demo Day November 4th!
30% Off Some Apparel 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 - NEW Exage & Talavera - Bruiser Baits GRT Jigs - Zoom - Gambler - Power Pole Breathe 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
Waters Edge Fish Camp Capt Dave Ochs 10730 Camp Mack Rd • LakeWales, Fl 863-589-6295
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 Fly’Em High Charters
Scalloping Charter Capt. Rick Burns Reel Burns Charters Homosassafishingguide.com 352-201-6111 Manatee Charter
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Capt. Bobby Woodard www.Captain-Bobby.com 863-224-1418 USCG. Licensed Tarpon, Snook, Grouper
NOVEMBER & SUMTER 15 Redfish,2017 Trout, POLK Scallop Trips
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CAM Polk/Sumter Top Picks For Best Places To Catch The Game Hooters
Winners Circle Sportsbar & Grill
4215 S Florida Ave. • Lakeland, Fl 33813 863-644-9464 • WinnersCircleSportsBar.com
3437 S Florida Ave • Lakeland, FL 33803 863-644-8461 www.hooters.com
Mon-Th 11am-12pm • Fri-Sat 11am-2am Sun 12pm-12am
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!
HAPPY HOUR M-F 11am-7pm ORDER TO GO & DELIVERY 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!
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!
Hurricane Grill & Wings
Wing House
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
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
Somewhere Sports Bar & Grill 5688 Cypress Gardens Blvd. Winter Haven, Fl 33884 863-324-7524
Davenport’s Ale House
MoJo’s Wings, Burgers, Beer
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
Mon-TH, SUN 11am-12pm FRI & SAT 11am-2pm Take Reservations, Walk-Ins Welcome, Good For Groups, Good For Kids, Take Out, Waiter Service, Outdoor Seating
Locally Owned & Operated EAT, DRINK & GET MOJO’D!
1853 E Memorial Blvd Lakeland Fl 33801 863-583-9119 M-TH, SUN 11am-11pm FRI & SAT 11am-12am Coldest Beer In Lakeland • Award Winning Wings 1/2# Ground Sirloin Burger • Indoor & Outdoor Bar Outdoor Patio • Best Daily Happy Hour • Great Daily Specials For Lunch & Dinner.
San Diegos Mexican Grill & Sport Bar Beef O’ Brady’s 102 W Polk St • Auburndale, FL 33823 1300 3rd St SW • Winter Haven, 33880 863-968-0010 863-268-6815 - facebook.com/House-ofwww.beefobradys.com Wings-1185199374843017/ NEW WINGS & THINGS - 6 Award Winning Draft Beer 2-4-1 All Day Everyday! Wings Paired With a Favorite Side, Pizza & House Margarita and Sangria Wing Wednesdays, Lighter Side Salads, Wraps & 2 For 1 3pm-7pm Everyday. “Bunless” Burgers, FREE Shareable Starter When Tuesday Wings $.79. You Join Team ‘O’ Brady’s! Kids Eat FREE Every Thursday 16 POLK & SUMTER NOVEMBER 2017 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM With A Purchase Of An Adult Meal. CAM Nov 2017.indd 16
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97 Miles South By: Captain Phil Thompson By: Chris O’Byrne
Captain Phil Thompson
Fishing, travel, fishing, love, fishing, adventure, fishing, fighting bad guys, and fishing; 97 Miles South, by Captain Phil Thompson has all the ingredients of a great story. In this entertaining short novel, the American crew of a tournament fishing yacht cruises to Havana Harbor for the Hemingway Marlin Tournament, but those majestic fish are only their first challenge. Some of the man’s most harrowing antagonists: nature, economic philosophy, and love, take their turns confronting the crew. On top of the vivid descriptions of beautiful land and sea, and action that had me cheering, this fast-moving story delivers significant information. In the tradition of important books like Atlas Shrugged, The Casual Vacancy, and Animal Farm, Tropical fishing is the lens through which Captain Phil displays the human struggle to overcome the oppressive promises of Communism. With insights based on years spent in Cuba, Captain Phil shows us the lives of those forgotten people under what he describes as “the invisible dome of isolation.”
Even with the important and enlightening information, 97 Miles is an emotional love story at its heart. All the struggles of relationships, yours or your fishing buddy’s, are played out with a long list of well-drawn characters we care about. The heroes fight for love, victory, and freedom with the same sneaky skills they use to trick fish. Captain Phil blends the struggles of the sporting life, human life, and the life of the heart with ridiculous hilarity and rich images of people in action. Offshore, inshore, and fly anglers will enjoy this book, as the many fishing scenes, even underwater, are described in such detail that the reader’s hands will hurt. Story lovers who enjoy tense plot lines will bite their fingernails to the nub waiting for the heroes’ successes in dangerous missions outside of fishing. Travelers, experienced and would be, will enjoy 97 Miles, Captain Phil’s third novel, as he guides his characters to varied locations we may not be able to visit in real life but come to know in this novel. Beginning in Key West, The heroes travel across the Gulf Stream, to the bright clubs and dark corners of Havana, up to the impoverished mountain communities of Cuba, and to La Finca Vigía, The Cuban home of Ernest Hemingway. Not surprisingly, the person behind this well-told story is a fisherman. Captain Phil (capt. philthompson.com) has lived the life in the book as a boat captain, professional fishing, and scuba dive guide. In this enjoyable novel, available at The Andy Thornal Company, Captain Phil shows that he is not only a skilled writer but an experienced professional of all the outdoor sports he describes.
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CENTRAL FLORIDA REGION FORECAST
Jimmy, from the U.K., with his 1st ever Florida largemouth bass.
Fall is in the air with the cooler morning temperatures, and daytime temps that generally stay in the low to mid-80’s, which helps the lake temps continue to cool down, and when you combine the those get ready for some fantastic bass fishing. Over the past month, we’re already seeing an increase in the activity around Central Florida, with more aggressive and better bites, and fish that are actively feeding and looking thicker and healthier than the summer months. Here in Winter Haven on the clearer south chain lakes, and also the smaller single lakes, we’ll continue to start the day working the shallower grass lines with topwater baits like poppers and stick baits, weightless
flukes or senkos, then moving out to throw crankbaits & jerkbaits over the deeper grass and hydrilla patches. One bait to kinda keep in mind is having a 3”-4” grub or swimbait in natural colors, they nearly always catch fish, especially if you happen to head out on a less than stellar off-weather day. On the darker lakes with less visibility, it is very hard to beat flipping the reeds, cypress trees, and lily pads with the scented creature or craw baits in black and blue, or even a deep Junebug color. The Strike King Rage Craws are still one of my hands-down favorite baits for flipping. Moving over to Camp Mack and the Kissimmee Chain, our mornings will still be spent up shallow in the pads, hyacinth mats (if you can find any), and hydrilla throwing frogs, weightless swimbaits like the Gambler EZ Swimmers, and topwater poppers, stick baits and prop baits. A fluke is always a solid choice for letting the kids have fun catching fish. If that bite tapers off in the shallows we’ll be moving to the outside grass lines pitching senkos, jigs, ribbon tail worms, and Rage Craws. The bass are moving into their pre-spawn routines and if you fish the outer edges of the spawning flats you should find quality fish feeding. This is also a great time of year for family eco-tours around the lakes. The Winter Haven south chain has 16 lakes and is easily accessible for people that may not have a lot of extra time for traveling. For those wanting to see more alligators, eagles, and osprey in “Old World Florida” we have trips leaving from The Port on Lake Hatchineha of Camp Mack’s River Resort heading south down the Kissimmee River. For more information regarding Polk County events, activities, and things to do, VisitCentralFlorida.org has everything you’ll need. We hope to see you out on the water! Submitted By: Capt. Scotty Taylor TMC Guide Services, llc • 855-354-8433 Scott@TMCGuideService.com • TMCGuideService.com Capt. Scott is the official guide for VisitCentralFlorida.org & Camp Mack’s River Resort
KISSIMMEE CHAIN FISHING FORECAST
Dave and Ralph on Kissimmee caught these on flukes, crankbaits and swimbaits
Bass fishing is improving on the Kissimmee Chain as water levels are slowly dropping. Bass are settling into more of a stable Fall pattern. Even so bass is still hard to find. The best places to fish are the mouths of creeks and canals when the water is moving. Strike King 2.5 black back/chartreuse crankbait does the job in those areas. Sparse Kissimmee grass 5’-8’ deep is holding a lot of bass. Swimbaits are the hot ticket to use. Gambler Big Easy in copperfield or lane toad are the hot colors rigged on an Owner 3/16oz weighted twist lock 5/0 hook. For all of your bass anglers who like fishing with shiners, Eagles Nest and Grassy Island on Lake Kissimmee around scattered pads are really good at this time. Speck fishing on Lake Kissim-
mee is really good at this time. Channel markers 8 and 9 are producing good numbers of specks. The hourglass on Lake Hatchineha is also good at this time. Minnows on a slip cork rig set at 7’-9’ in 10’-16’ of water depth is best. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets on Lake Kissimmee with Gobbler’s Ridge being the hot spot in 5’ of water in the thick pads. Submitted By: Capt Dave Ochs Waters Edge Fish Camp 10730 Camp Mack Rd Lake Wales, Fl 863-589-6295
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Make reel memories. By Ed Killer - This 6-pound pompano was caught with Native Salt Clam bait in Vero Beach, Fla. Photo by Manuel Briceno.
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all and winter along Treasure Coast beaches offer up some of the finest fishing there is. Surf fishing is fun, fulfilling and best of all, can fill a freezer in a couple of trips. Whiting, pompano, croaker, bluefish and Spanish mackerel are prime targets. While none of these species will ever earn acclaim for their size, they earn high marks at the dinner table. The hours of the incoming tide and beginning of the outgoing tide are the best time to go. Seas don’t have to be flat calm, but there is a threshold where if the shorebreak is too heavy, it might not be worth the effort. Surf fishing is generally a modified form of bottom fishing. If the waves are too large and require too much lead weight to hold bottom, it makes it impractical to fish. Plus, fish move out beyond casting range when the water is too sandy near the beach. Tackle requirements include a long 9- to 12-foot rod. Some anglers prefer spinning reels, however, the professionals keep one or more conventional reels in play, which helps reduce the potential for line being “spun” up by jacks and bluefish. Light line is the norm, too, about 10-pound test, but no more than 15. Most use monofilament with 1/0 or 2/0 hooks in a double-hook rig. Small pieces of bait like clam strips, pieces of shrimp, sand fleas or artificial bait like Fish Bites work well, as many of the targeted species feed using scent. Using a clip swivel, hook on a sinker heavy enough to hold bottom. Sometimes that weight might be 2 ounces; sometimes it might be a Buick. Whiting are nice to catch, and croaker mix into the cooler just as well. Both produce white flaky fillets and can be prepared in any number of ways. Take the skin off the fillet and bread for frying. Or try a whiting Reuben on rye bread with cole slaw and Thousand Island dressing for a true delight. Bluefish are voracious predators that feed in schools reminiscent of toothy piranhas, except larger. They are fun to catch, peeling off line and pulling like a jack crevalle. The Florida state record was caught in Jensen Beach in 1972. It was a whopper of a chopper, weighing 22 pounds. Spanish mackerel are also a fan favorite, and both macks and blues can be caught with topwater plugs, large spoons like Krocodiles and fast-reeled jigs. Bluefish taste fishy. Spanish mackerel are flavorful, but are best day-of fresh, and not great otherwise. But pompano really draw the crowds. In case there is any question, stop by a fish market and check the price per pound, which hovers around $19.99. Pompano have a delicate, rich flavor and elegant texture. Fillet with the skin on, which leaves them perfect for grilling or broiling. Lemon and pepper and a little tartar sauce make for a great reward for taking one’s fishing rod to a Martin County beach. Ed Killer is an outdoors columnist with Treasure Coast Newspapers and the USA Today Network.
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Stuart, located in Martin County, is known as the Sailfish Capital of the World. Sitting on the most biodiverse estuary in the Northern Hemisphere, Martin County is home to 100 artificial reef systems and over 800 species of fish. Its climate, waterways, natural environment and opportunity for diverse catches 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, saltwater or fresh, head out for an adventure and reel in the memories.
Plan your trip at discovermartin.com
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T
he Bassmaster Classic stands out as one of the biggest bass fishing events each year, and this year three pro anglers will don the signature Mud Hole colors on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell for the 2018 Classic in March. Joining the Classic line-up is a huge accomplishment for any angler, so let’s take a look at how Bassmaster Elite pros Brandon Lester and Bradley Roy as well as FLW veteran John Cox were able to capitalize on their opportunities to make the cut. Brandon Lester Captures His Spot Heading into Mille Lacs Lake in Onamia, Minnesota, Bassmaster Elite pro Brandon Lester found himself on the Classic bubble. On
the verge of either making the Classic or watching his bubble burst, Brandon knew it wouldn’t be easy, but welcomed the challenge. After three days of tight competition and a lot of learning on the lake, Lester caught 43 pounds, 1 ounce to finish in the money and leave with a qualifying ticket for his third Bassmaster Classic appearance. Although he was nervous coming off the lake, he later left weigh-in with a huge smile knowing he’ll be fishing Hartwell in March. Bradley Roy’s Big Return Like Brandon, Bassmaster Elite pro Bradley Roy entered the Mille Lacs event with his mind focused on making the Classic cut and his custom MHX Rods dialed in for smallmouth fishing. But after just day two, Roy could rest easy knowing he bagged 36 pounds, 13 ounces, which also gained him enough points to seal a place in the 2018 Classic. Bradley ultimately finished with 52 pounds, 1 ounce of Mille Lacs bass, a nice check to cash, and a ticket to his second straight Bassmaster Classic. Considering this will be his second Classic and he placed seventh in his first appearance, Bradley is incredibly hungry for a strong return. John Cox Fishing Familiar Water When John Cox finished on top of the B.A.S.S. Southern Open at Chickamauga Lake in Dayton, Tenn. with 68 pounds, 3 ounces, his big win came with more than just a check, it also included a spot in the 2018 Bassmaster Classic. After hoisting the Forrest Wood Cup and making a major splash on the FLW Tour, Cox and his custom MHX Rods are crossing over to fish in the Classic. The sight fishing phenom is excited for the opportunity, especially considering this Classic will be held on Lake Hartwell, where he secured a huge Tour win back in 2016. With his spots and some new rod builds in mind, Cox is a dangerous competitor looking to capitalize on his knowledge and experience of Lake Hartwell. To fish the Pro Tour Rods these pro anglers are taking to the Classic, visit www.mudhole.com/pro-kits.
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FISH & FISHING
MARK SOSIN
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ounds transmitted into the water can either repel or attract fish. The key, of course, is to avoid driving fish away with the wrong kind of sound and, instead, arouse their curiosity or gain their attention with the right kind of sound. Keep in mind that sound travels five times faster in water than it does in air and that fish are extremely sensitive to a wide range of frequencies. You will hardly ever see a fish make a mistake and swim toward an alarming sound. However, the gentle splat of a bait or lure at a respectable distance from the fish will often attract its attention. Although fish don’t have protruding earflaps like those of humans and other mammals, they do have ears buried on either side of the head protected by skin, flesh and bone. In addition to their ears, fish have a second sound-detecting organ known as the lateral line, which is unique in the animal kingdom. Vibrations in the water pass through thousands of openings along the lateral line alerting a fish to their presence. The lateral line works within 20 to 30 feet of the fish. As the fish gets closer to the source of the sound (a baitfish or a lure), it can locate its prey even if it can’t see it. Within 5 feet or so, a fish can accurately strike its prey or a lure without actually seeing it. Sound plays a vital role in the daily activities of fish. Using their ears and lateral line, they can detect any disturbance in the water and react to it, whether
it is food or a predator ready to target them or simply some foreign sound that puts them on the alert. From a fishing standpoint, the key lies in eliminating alarming sounds. You can talk all you want, and the sound will bounce off the surface of the water. If you’re aboard a boat and you scrape a tackle box or bang your feet on the deck, that noise will transmit through the water. On clear shallow flats, it’s easy to see the effect of noise. Drop a lure too close to a bonefish, a 100-pound tarpon or even a large shark, and you can bet it will vacate the area. Even if it doesn’t go far, it’s on the alert and difficult to get to strike. One reason that fishing with live bait proves to be very effective is that its swimming ability is restricted and it sends out signals that it is in trouble. If you can keep the live bait on the surface where it continuously splashes, the results can be even more positive. That’s one reason why kite fishing with live bait proves so effective, particularly if you change baits frequently. Researchers tell us there is little doubt that sound with all its ramifications is a critical factor in the life of a fish, and it is equally important from a fisherman’s standpoint. As an angler, you should be totally aware of the effects of sound on fish and make them work for you both in attracting fish and by avoiding those sounds that would frighten fish or alert them that something is not right.
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ne of my favorite places for fishing, boating and enjoying nature is Hontoon Island in the St. Johns River in Volusia County. Accessible only by private boat or the park ferry, the island offers something for everyone, including the fisherman, canoer, hiker or archaeologist. A walk through the park or a stop in the visitor center can tell one about those who inhabited the island hundreds of years ago, for example Native Americans. The parking lot for the park’s ferry, which operates daily from 8 a.m. to right before sunset, is six miles west of Deland off State Road 44. The boat ride takes just a few minutes, but takes one into a world that seems little changed for hundreds of years. The 1,650-acre island has over three miles of hiking trails and cabins for rent for those who want to spend even more time fishing and swimming and exploring the river. One may learn in the museum there how the island once functioned as a center for commercial fishing. As in many places along the river, fish caught near the island and in the river waters offshore include bass, bream, catfish, crappie, perch and sunfish. What I have particularly enjoyed is boating the side streams around Hontoon Island, where one can find a wide variety of fish hiding in the grasses along the edge of the water. Nearby Lake Beresford, which is two miles long and a half-mile wide, is the site of the Stetson University Crew Boathouse, near which one can see boat crews racing along the waterway. South of Hontoon Island is the very popular Blue Spring State Park, which has the largest spring on the St. Johns River and is a designated manatee refuge. The most amazing finds on the island by archaeologists include wooden effigies called totems. They include what early visitors called a large owl totem carved from a log, a smaller carving of a pelican, and one of an otter holding a fish. One can see replicas of the totems on the grounds, whereas the so-called owl totem is at Fort Caroline National Monument Museum near the mouth of the St. Johns River north of Jacksonville and
near Mayport. The replica on Hontoon Island may represent the largest wooden effigy ever found in a North American archaeological site and the only totem of its kind in the eastern United States. All in all, a visit to Hontoon Island can satisfy the angler in the family as well as those interested in one of the jewels of the St. Johns River.
Whenever I walk the really old paths around the island, I can picture how Native Americans lived and fished there. The island still retains much of the charm of a pristine wilderness in the midst of the river that was the lifeblood of those who lived in Central Florida over a thousand years ago. Kevin McCarthy, the award-winning author of “South Florida Waterways” (2013 - available at amazon.com for $7), can be reached at ceyhankevin@gmail.com.
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Photo by Andrea Whitaker
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ello, and welcome to the scuba diving column in Coastal Angler Magazine! Each month we fill you in on what’s happening below the surface here in Palm Beach County. This month we’d like to give you some basics about diving in Palm Beach County and why it’s so spectacular. To begin with, Palm Beach is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the blue waters provided by the Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream flows east along the equator turning north as it swings by Florida and up the eastern seaboard. Its clear-blue, warm waters dip closest to the continental United States right here in Palm Beach, and that’s great for us. This current swings in delivering a bounty of underwater creatures in its flowing tropical waters. Everything from small tropical fish to giant whalesharks gather in our local waters, and different creatures show up in abundance at different times of the year. Because the Gulf Stream brings warm water year-round, we dive all year long. Winter water temps average around 72 degrees and summer temps get as high as 84. The cooler winter waters bring big creatures to our area like migratory whales, whalesharks, and many species of shark, including the migratory lemons and spinner sharks. Spring kicks off our sea turtle nesting season with the giant leatherbacks arriving first, followed by loggerheads and then green turtles. By the time summer hits, it’s sea turtle craziness with nests hatching out and frisky adults lounging on the reefs. Fall brings the giant Goliath grouper in by the hundreds to spawn just offshore on our wrecks and artificial reefs. It’s not uncommon to see more than 50 500-pound grouper on one dive here in August and September. And people come from all over the world just to have a chance to dive with our amazing creatures! Palm Beach is home to the third largest barrier reef in the world, stretching from the Florida Keys up through Jupiter and just into Martin County. Because we have thousands of different species on our reefs, no matter what you enjoy seeing, chances are you don’t have to leave the “backyard” in Palm Beach. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and enjoy the beautiful Florida waters. As a good friend used to say, “Don’t take Florida for granted... she’s good to ya!”
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lorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) fisheries biologists certified a new state record jaguar guapote, weighing 2.78 pounds and measuring 16.7 inches long. It was caught by 14-year-old angler Jerry Martin from Miami. Martin was thrilled to catch his jaguar guapote in the Snapper Creek Canal (C-2) with live bait. “When I caught it, I freaked out,” said Martin. “I was excited because I knew it could be a state record.” Martin has never targeted jaguar guapote before. He most often fishes for largemouth bass and peacock bass. “It was an accident to catch the state record jaguar, but now I’m planning to start fishing for more records,” he said. Jaguar guapote are primarily known to exist in the urban canal systems of southeast Florida, ranging as far north as West Palm Beach. The species was first reported in 1992 from a photograph of two specimens caught in a farm pond near Miami Canal. The jaguar guapote was made eligible for state record status in 2012, and this is the first confirmed record for this species. Jaguar guapote is one of 34 nonnative freshwater fish species that have become established in Florida. The FWC strongly encourages anglers to catch, keep and eat nonnative fish (except legally-introduced peacock bass and triploid grass carp), as many nonnative fishes provide excellent table fare. In addition, releasing fish from aquariums or moving them between water systems is illegal and could produce detrimental effects.
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TIPS FROM A PRO
FRESHWATER BRANDON LESTER
B
eing from middle Tennessee, I was introduced to many diverse fisheries in my younger years. This area of the country has long been known for great smallmouth bass fishing, as it should be, but in my opinion it can’t compare to the smallmouth fishing in the Great Lakes region right now. I am certainly not bashing the smallmouth fishing down south, but fishing the Elite Series allows me to see some of the best lakes in the country, and the “good ole days” of smallmouth bass fishing on the Great Lakes is right now. Flowing out of Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River is one of my favorites on our schedule because it fishes similar to the rivers back home. The river has a lot of current, which positions the fish. The water is clear, and you can catch smallmouth from 2 feet deep all the way out to 60 feet. The St. Lawrence is absolutely full of smallmouth, and 30- to 40fish days are just another day on the water. In addition to the fishing, the area is also just an awesome place to spend time. Waddington, N.Y., which is our host city when we go, is in a very rural part of New York with lots of cropland and cattle farms. If you’ve not visited this fishery, I strongly suggest you do. Lake St. Clair is on fire right now. The final Elite Series tournament of the regular season was held there this year, and overall bass weights were absolutely phenomenal. The big smallmouth of the tournament weighed almost 7 pounds. In the past, tournaments on St. Clair were won by guys who ran to Lake Erie or Lake Huron, but not anymore. It seems now that St. Clair is the place to be. The style of fishing is different than most smallmouth destinations. Lake St. Clair is just a big bowl-shaped lake with a shipping channel running through the middle of it. That’s about the only real contour change on the whole lake. The big keys are
looking for clean spots in the grass and finding bait. If that doesn’t fit your style, you can run up the river toward Huron or down the Detroit River toward Erie. Both rivers have plenty of current and plenty of smallmouth. After fishing a tournament on Lake Champlain this year, it is my new favorite lake in the country. The smallmouth fishing is phenomenal, and you can catch big largemouth, too. The smallmouth hang out on offshore shoals, old bridge blow-throughs and rocky structure around the shoreline. If you get tired of catching them, there is an abundance of milfoil, docks and reeds where largemouth bass are willing and ready to bite. Lake Champlain, in my opinion, has the healthiest population of bass of anywhere I have ever fished, and that makes it fun, period. Plattsburg, N.Y. is a great place to visit, as well, with lots of cool sites to see. If you make one of these trips, be sure you’re prepared with the right MHX rods, Mustad hooks and Vicious fishing line. Hit Brandon up on Facebook or Instagram with any questions.
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By CAM Staff
I
t’s got the beaches, with fine white sand and the emerald green waters of the gorgeous northern Gulf of Mexico. It’s got the nightlife, the shopping and fine dining, the beautiful golf courses and everything else that draws vacationers from around the world. But what Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island—the heart of northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast—have more of than anything else is fishing. Back in 1956, Florida Gov. Leroy Collins called Destin “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” after catching a big king mackerel on a 15-minute photo-op boat ride during the Destin Fishing Rodeo. More than 60 years later, the historic Destin Fishing Rodeo just wrapped up its 69th annual October-long event, proving once again that this fishing village is just as lucky as ever. Daily weigh-ins at the rodeo give spectators a close look at what the waters off the Emerald Coast have to offer. Excitement builds on the docks in front of the landmark AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar when big tuna, wahoo, king mackerel, dolphin, groupers and snappers come to the scales. And in the Billfish Division, the big sportfishing yachts are out there pulling spreads for sailfish—and marlin that easily eclipse the 500-pound mark. There have been a couple grander blue marlin caught on the northern Gulf Coast over the years and a few more that came very close to tipping the scales past the 1,000-pound mark. Even swordfish show up pretty regularly, meaning there’s a real possibility for a grand slam fishing out of the marinas of Okaloosa County. It’s world-class fishing on the Panhandle, which in recent years has seen the big pelagic species moving closer to shore with changing currents. And what’s more, the action is yearround. There’s a good reason the world’s largest charter fishing fleet is based out of Destin Harbor.
Nearshore
Nearshore, warm and fertile Gulf waters coupled with numerous wrecks and reefs to create some of the most bountiful fishing Florida has to offer. With a short boat ride less than 8 miles off the beach, anglers can bottom fish or troll with family pleasing and cooler-filling consistency for amberjack, numerous snapper and grouper species, cobia, blackfin tuna, king and Spanish mackerel and more.
Offshore
Due south about 25 to 30 miles out, the continental shelf drops and there are multiple renowned hotspots, with some of the best big game fishing in the Gulf. South Florida seems to get most of the bright, hot spotlight when it comes to the big pelagics, but serious anglers out of the Emerald Coast quietly and consistently catch serious fish. Whether it’s a full-day trolling trip or an overnight expedition deep into the Gulf, dolphin, blue marlin, tuna and
wahoo are available to those who mean business when it comes to fishing.
Inshore
Those who would rather explore grass flats and oyster beds in search of trout or tailing redfish will also find that on the Emerald Coast. Inside East Pass and Okaloosa Island, Choctawhatchee Bay spreads out vast and shallow. It’s the perfect place to launch a skiff or a kayak into 130 square miles of inshore action that’s some of the best on the Panhandle.
Spring Cobia
Finally, any discussion of fishing options around the Emerald Coast has to include the cobia run, which is one of the best on the planet. Book your charter now, because in spring—peaking in April—cobia that have migrated north along the Gulf Coast arrive off the beaches bringing some of the most exciting fishing there is. This is sight fishing for one of the ocean’s tastiest and hardest fighting fish, and during this spring run they can arrive with weights in excess of 100 pounds. With a spotter in the tower, you cruise the clear blue-green waters looking for the telltale brown shadows of a pod of cobia doggedly pushing west. With a Airline_CoastalAnglerAd_3-2016_Layout 1 3/18/16 1:07 PM Page 1 smooth approach, the boat moves to intercept, and then it’s up to the angler to make an accurate cast with a live bait or a jig. Anticipation is almost unbearable for a few seconds before the take, and then bedlam breaks loose. Cobia put up the most unpredictable fight in fishing. They are capable of long, drag-burning runs, leaps, rolls and deep dives, but sometimes they save the thrashing until they hit the deck. Either way, catching a big cobia is exciting, and there’s no better grilling fish that swims. So, while the Emerald Coast offers gorgeous beaches and all the activity of a top-notch beach vacation destination, on the water it remains what it was before the Miracle Strip and Harbor Boulevard grew up around it. It’s one of the best fishing destinations in the world in terms of quality, quantity and variety of angling opportunities. For information, go to www.emeraldcoastfl. com. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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2. Cash Rebates on select models. See your dealer for details.
3. Rates as low as 5.99% on new Suzuki outboards (OAC).*
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 9/01/17 and 12/31/17 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 9/01/17 and 12/31/17. 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. Cash rebate will be applied against the original dealer invoice (Suzuki will credit Dealer parts account). 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 9/01/17 and 12/31/17. “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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© 2017 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries
THIS SEEMS TO BE THE PLACE WHERE ALL THE FISH HANG OUT. I THINK I’LL DROP IN.
12”
PROGRAMMABLE
HOT KEYS
PRELOADED
BUILT-IN
BLUECHART® G2 + LAKEVUU¨ HD CHIRP SONAR + CLEARVUU¨ + SIDEVU¨
GPSMAP® 1242xsv
COMMON CVRS_1117.indd 4 17-MCJT512 GPSMAP 1224xsv Coastal Fishing Ad_US-8.125x10.875-CoatalAngler.indd 1
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