Coastal Angler Magazine | April 2024 | Lowcountry Edition

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

KAYAK FISHING: RIDE THE AQUATIC SLEIGH

Whether your vessel options are limited or you just want to spice up your inshore fshing experience, fshing from a kayak should not be overlooked as a possibility. When done correctly, it is some of the most exciting fshing. It can also be modifed for the extreme, or an entirely leisure day on the water.

Kayaking is how I fell in love with fshing. Of all the diferent ways I have gone about it, I have enjoyed them all. From packing a lunch and fshing my way to an island for a picnic and a swim, to drifing backcountry mangroves other vessels cannot access, to cruising dock lights at night, or deploying in

1,300 feet of water seeking yellowfn tuna of of the oil rigs, kayak fshing is versatile with endless possibilities.

Tis type of fshing can be dangerous, and its especially important to know your limitations and be overly prepared. Currents and wind change quickly and afect your return trip. Make sure to check tides and weather before venturing or drifing too far. Paddling against the current while battling the extreme heat can put you in a bad situation very quickly. Make sure to have a small anchor onboard as well. Obviously, this will come in handy for fshing, and it can also provide an opportunity to rest if exhaustion is getting the best of you.

Decking out your rig for fshing is an art form, and there are many ways to go about it. Prioritize having a cooler attached to the back over all else. You do not want to get dehydrated out there. Aferall, you are the motor of the vessel, and should be well maintained just like any other motor.

Afx everything to your kayak with the expectation of getting fipped. Of course, do everything to keep yourself from that situation, but things happen. Use dry-storage bags, and clip everything to the kayak itself. Most kayaks are designed to make this a straightforward process.

Fishing artifcials will simplify your set up, but sometimes afer all the paddling, its nice to relax and toss out some live bait. A bait bucket on a rope with shrimp, that can be tossed out between paddles, should be all you need. For more extreme fshing, modify a PVC pipe with holes drilled into it to hold live baitfsh.

Use common sense and check local regulations. Protect yourself from the sun during the day, be properly lit at night, and stay out of high-trafc boating areas and channels. You are also required to carry a PFD and a sound producing device, such as a whistle.

Once you have hit the full safety checklist, go out there and experience the possibilities that kayak fshing has to ofer. Fishing from a kayak will intensify the tug even with smaller fsh you hook up to, so hang on and enjoy the aquatic sleigh ride.

Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Sweet E’Nuf Charters out of Marathon, Fla. See Captainquinlyn.com, @captainquinlyn or call (504) 920-6342.

FR A NKEN-FISH ON THE FLY

Hybrid striped bass are the Franken-fsh of anglers’ dreams. Also known as wipers, sunshine bass and other names, they are hatchery-produced crossbreeds of white bass and striped bass. Tey are stocked into reservoirs across the country for angler enjoyment.

Central Georgia’s Lake Oconee is a hybrid hot spot. Georgia stocks hundreds of thousands of hybrids in the lake, and conventional anglers get afer them with live baits, jigging spoons, bucktails and trolling lures.

Capt. Wayne Moore, of Oconee on the Fly guide service, is probably the only guy you’ll see on Oconee waving a fy rod from his center console. While he admits conventional tactics are more efective, there are three situations when fy fshing is both productive and a boatload of fun.

Oconee is a 19,000-acre impoundment about an hour and a half drive east of Atlanta. Te lake backs up behind a pump-back dam that creates currents that are key to a good hybrid bite. Moore said there is ofen a good afernoon bite when the dam kicks on and hybrids move onto main-lake points to chase threadfn shad. Afer locating bait and fsh with electronics, Moore goes to work on them with 8-weight fy rods and intermediate sinktip lines. He fshes a cadence of fve short strips and a pause with a 2-inch long white/chartreuse Clouser on a 5-foot leader of 12- to 15-pound

fuorocarbon.

When the bite is hot, a good angler might boat 8 to 10 fsh, and 4- to 6-pound hybrids are not uncommon. “A 6-pound hybrid is going to fght like a 10-pound striper,” Moore said.

By Nick Carter

A fy rod is also fun for the mid-lake morning bite. When the water starts moving, hybrids herd shad to the surface and blow up on them in a frenzy. Te action only lasts an hour, but the bite is consistent for two or three weeks during the May shad spawn.

With thousands of newly hatched shad in the water, Cowen’s Somethin’ Else, and Cowen’s Coyote are Moore’s go-to fies. Henry Cowen is a legendary angler and fy tier who developed patterns specifcally for striped bass in Georgia waters. His fies work just as well on hybrids.

Night fshing under the lights is another situation when Moore would rather use a fy rod.

“We don’t have a lot of lit docks here, but the

ones that are lit will be covered with fsh,” he said. Casts must be precise, and the fghts are technical, so Moore reserves night trips for experienced fy fshers.

“You better have that 15-pound leader. A 6-pound hybrid will give you a run for your money,” he said. “Tey’ll run you right back under that dock.”

With the May schooling bite approaching, it’s worth making plans to visit Oconee now…or try these tactics on your local hybrid reservoir.

Contact Wayne Moore at (404) 317-9556 or wmoore1700@outlook.com and check out Oconee on the Fly at www.oconeeonthefy.com.

Cast Lures in a Mitzi Tournament

May 10th & 11th, 2024

Online Registration:

MothersDayDolphinTournament.com

Captain’s Meeting

The Island Fish Co.

Friday May 10th - 6pm to 7pm

Lines In: Saturday, May 11 - 7:30am

Lines Out: Saturday, May 11 - 3:30pm

Weigh-In

Curly’s Cofee

Saturday, May 11th - 3:30pm to 6pm

Awards Banquet

Marathon Yacht Club

Saturday, May 11th - 7pm

Sunday Honor Our Moms

Always in our Hearts JB!

18th Annual Mother’s Day Dolphin Tournament

An Angler TournamentAngler Entry Fee is a Donation

Catagories

Ladies, Junior (16 and under), Weekend Warrior and Pro Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in all categories

Contact Chris Todd Young at 305-797-5779

Admin@HabitatMiddleKeys.org

Presented by

LREPORT by James Strange, Contributing Writer

Mahi Mahi Mahi

engthening days and warmer temperatures have the mind of every Lowcountry offshore angler on one thing - mahi mahi. The status of these beautiful fish as some of the most heavily sought after gamefish off the coast of the Southeastern U.S. is owed to their delicious table fare and spectacular acrobatics when hooked. The months of AprilJune are the best time to target mahi in Charleston. Although possible to catch in almost any depth of water beyond 100 ft, the sweet spot for these fish is typically 300-600 ft in clean blue water. Mahi are pelagic, surfaceoriented predators that typically feed within the top 10 ft of the water column. These fish relate heavily to structure, and since most of the open ocean is a featureless desert, finding solid temperature breaks, weed lines, color changes, current rips, or any other surface feature is the ultimate key to locating them. On calm days these areas are easily visible at a distance and are the tell-tale giveaway that baitfish are likely aggregated beneath the surface. Any of these features have the potential to hold mahi even when outside of the 300-600 ft depth range. If something catches your eye well inshore of the Ledge, it may be worth making a few passes over in the heat of the season.

Mahi will strike almost every style, color, and design of lure, but the most effective and commonly used are any variant of the skirted ballyhoo. Preferred skirt colors will change depending on light availability with darker colors providing better profiles on overcast days. On sunny days fish may tend to prefer more vibrant color schemes such as blue/white or pink/white. An effective trolling strategy is to begin your day fishing darker baits out of one outrigger and more vibrant baits out of the other with naked (unskirted) ballyhoo on both flatlines. If you notice you are catching more fish on a particular side, change your entire spread to mirror that side and you will fill the box in no time.

Naked ballyhoo are always a good option to keep in the spread throughout the day for a chance at a passing billfish. Since mahi feed high in the water column, construct your spread to maximize surface disturbance. Chugger-head style skirts work well to create commotion by “sipping” air from above the waterline and leaving behind a smoke trail of bubbles dissipating from the cup-shaped front of the lure. Spreader bars and teasers are also good options to create disturbance and work to mimic the erratic movement of panicked baitfish.

If a trolling bite just isn’t happening or if you’d rather opt for a more aggressive tactic, consider “running-and-gunning”, a method that involves actively searching the open ocean at cruising speed for large mats of sargassum or any other floating object likely to attract mahi.

James Strange

Go-Pro

photographer 502-836-3580

fathomoffshorephotography@gmail.com

photos by Fathom Photography (@fathom_photography_)

Doing so requires a sharp eye and a little luck, but locating such opportunities can provide some of the most fun you’ll ever have offshore. Approach quietly with a single motor in gear and cast in the vicinity of the floating object using any 5/0 circle-hooked cutbait such as squid, bonita, scaled sardines, silversides, or menhaden. A mediumsized spinning outfit will do the trick in this case. If you see mahi in the vicinity but struggle for a bite, consider deploying a frozen menhaden block in a chum sock to turn the fish “hot” and get them on the feed. Or if you’ve found a hot school and want to try a more sporting approach, any topwater lure such as a Spook, Halco popper, or stick bait will yield explosive results.

Have fun and tight lines,

WFolly Beach Pier

by Noah O’Brien, Contributing Writer

arm weather!! It is back in full force at this point, and that also brings the warm water until November. This means that surf fishing will be at its peak. With minimal wind, and a calm day on the water, you can expect to see the king and spanish mackerel back in wealth past the diamond. Back in the surf, the speckled trout, red and black drum, whiting and pompano will be lively and hungry after spending the last 3 months bunkered down. As always, we recommend bringing live bait, but if you forget or don’t have access to live bait, we can always take care of you in the pier giftshop. Shrimp, mud minnows, squid (whole or strips), fiddlers (if targeting sheepshead), and fishbites will always be on our list of recommended baits.

With all the excitement of warmer weather, we have one larger rule change. Fishing will no longer be allowed after sunset year-round. While we do understand that not everybody fishing after dark is there to shark fish, this was implemented to hopefully eliminate a large issue we have with our nighttime anglers. Another change is that we will now allow wire leader to help those of you targeting the mackerel species, reds, or any other sharp teethed fish friends (that are not sharks).

We’re always looking forward to seeing everybody out again, and please come out for our opening fishing tournament of the season on May 25th, and our Moonlight Mixers for some drinking and dancing on the pier, the first of which will be May 3rd!

For any questions or inquiries, please contact the Folly Beach Pier by phone at 843-795-4386 or check out ccprc.com.

Noah O’Brien, Operations Manager II

Folly Beach Pier

101 E Arctic Ave, Folly Beach, SC 29439

Office: 843-762-9516 / Mobile: 843-814-7344

Noah O’Brien@ccprc.com / CharlestonCountyParks.com

AFISHING FORECAST

Mount Pleasant Pier

by Chris Pounder, Contributing Writer

pril is a great month to give pier fishing a try and look for some species that we probably haven’t seen in a few months. The water temperature is typically in the 65-70-degree range which brings increasing activity to the flat. When you’re coming out you may want to rig up for flounder and plan on bringing or catching some live bait.

One of the best ways to target flounder is to use a basic Carolina Rig and “walk the dog” by raising and lowering your bait as you walk along the pier railing. Using live mullet or a mud minnow, drop your rig over the side and let it down slowly until the weight hits the bottom. Once you’re there you’ll want to reel in just a bit, so that you can walk with your rod over the side and ease it back to the bottom every few feet. Since flounder are ambush feeders, this trick works great and allows you to cover more ground. There’s no need to cast way out into the flat as most of the flounder we see are very close to the pier structure. Vudu shrimp, Zman DieZel MinnowZ, and other artificials can produce similar results when fished the same way as well.

We’re often asked if fishermen are allowed to throw a cast net or use a minnow trap to catch live bait. The pier does allow both; however, the trap or net should not interfere with another

LAND Where to fish from in Charleston

FOLLY BEACH

Folly Beach Pier

Folly River Park

MT. PLEASANT

Mt. Pleasant Pier Pitt St. Bridge

JAMES ISLAND Bowens Island

Sol Legare

Sunset/Demetre Park

WEST ASHLEY

Higgins Pier

West Ashley Greenway

West Ashley Park

Northbridge Park

DOWNTOWN

Waterfront Park Pier

Colonial Lake

Alberta Sottile Lake

Brittlebank Park

fisherman’s activity. Also, we recommend anglers checking the area around the pier at low tide before throwing an expensive cast net. There’s rebar and concrete from the old bridge in some spots and a cast in the wrong location will send you shopping for new equipment.

We hope everyone that comes out to the pier has a good time and can help us be good stewards of our natural resources. You can’t control what bites and there are plenty of species that show up in April that aren’t exactly “trophy” fish. If you hook something that you’re not going to keep, or something you can’t keep because of legal limits, please return it to the water as soon as possible.

NOTE: There will be NO FISHING from the pier April 28, 2024 due to the Blessing of the Fleet Festival at Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park.

Coastal FCA Fishing with SALTT is coming to the Lowcountry next school year with a youth redfish trail.

You do NOT have to have a team or club at your school, so just sign up over the summer and fish the events.

August and September will be our FCA Huddles on Sunday afternoons for recruiting. We will have snacks, a devotional and learn some fishing tips from local fishing guides. We will also have some prizes with a free raffle and everyone will take something home from our sponsors.

August is our pre-season “inches” tourney. You submit a virtual video for checking in then submit pictures of your fish on a bump board to the director. This tourney format gets in some great practice.

The school year long schedule will be released on our website and social media in April with 2 dates in Charleston and Beaufort where you will bring in the fish for an official weigh in. You will still launch virtually with a check in video. We plan to have food, a devotional and so many prizes. Gift cards for the winners plus a grab table for everyone to take home some fishing tackle.

www.salttfishing.com

Instagram : studentanglerleague

Facebook : Student Angler League Tournament Trail

The Benefits

of Pier Fishing

by Jiggin’ Jerry, Contributing Writer

Personally I love fishing. I enjoy using all kinds of techniques at all kinds of locations—off a boat, beach, bank, dock, wading through a river or stream, and especially, off a pier. There are all kinds of benefits when it comes to pier fishing, and these benefits may vary depending on the individual, group or family. Most commercial piers have facilities available like a café or small shop that sells fishing supplies, souvenirs, drinks and food, making them convenient if you find yourself in need of any of these items. They usually also have restrooms available. This definitely is a benefit to everyone. Handicapped individuals may find commercial pier fishing convenient, especially if they are bound to a wheelchair or have trouble walking and balancing. I personally enjoy working and fishing with individuals of all ages that are handicapped, and I have experienced the convenience it is for them to be able to come out on a pier and enjoy a day of fishing, come and go as they please, make their way to a restroom that will accommodate them. Individuals that are handicapped in one form or another may find it hard to get on a boat or find boats that can accommodate their needs. Families with young children may find it inconvenient and difficult to try to book a charter on a boat when they have young children that are impatient and may become cantankerous, irritated or bored at any moment. With the convenience of a pier, they can come and go at their leisure if necessary.

Groups of people, like work groups, elder groups, veteran groups, etc., planning a fishing event may find it beneficial scheduling it at a pier. A pier can usually accommodate larger groups like 10 or 20 people or more.

“Jiggin’ Jerry shows passion for fishing the Lowcountry everyday” - Coastal Angler Magazine Lowcountry

Not all piers fish the same, depending on the location the pier resides will definitely change the type of fishing for everyone. When it comes to a commercial fishing pier, most people think of a pier that resides off a beach and stretches out past the surf. In the Lowcountry, you can find all kinds of seasonal game fish. You can target large, fast, aggressive fish like King Mackerel, Tarpon, Jack Crevalle and other large fish like Red Drum, Black Drum, Sheepshead and, of course, other species like Spotted Seatrout, Flounder, Spanish Mackerel, Whiting, Spot, Croaker and more. The species of fish may differ at piers that are located up and down the coastline. Other piers may reside in estuaries located off of rivers and harbors.

>>Rates as low as 7.25%*

Charlie Hamlin, Sales Associates

Charleston, South Carolina

(843) 709-6364 Cell

(800) 286-8073 Office charles.hamlin@unibank.com

One pier that I have become popular for fishing is the Mount Pleasant Pier. It is located in the Charleston Harbor. One of its main benefits to the public is giving them the opportunity to truly fish inshore without a boat. It accommodates small children and allows parents to start them out on their first fishing adventures targeting Pinfish, Whiting, Croaker, Spot and more. These piers create an opportunity for the weekend warrior who only gets a chance to fish a couple times out of a month or twice a year, getting away from their 40hour work week, or the pro who wants to come out and target specific species, take pictures, share smiles and not have to worry about flushing the boat, washing it and putting it away. A lot of these piers hold tournaments and have pier records for different species of fish. You can usually find pictures of all kinds of individuals inside their shops or cafés showing off the accomplishments of fishermen. Most piers have their regular individuals, creating an atmosphere of friendship, families and, of course, rivalry. Sometimes they can be a world of their own.

Piers like these allow the opportunity to catch and land monster fish, small fish or your first fish. They allow everyone the opportunity to feel the wind in their face, watch nature all around them and share quality time with loved ones and friends that they might not have been able to do so otherwise in other circumstances. The benefits of pier fishing may be a different experience for everyone, making the benefits countless. For those of you who haven’t experienced pier fishing yet, I hope this sheds some light on future opportunities that may put a smile on your faces and create new memories.

I hope this information helps you with your next fishing adventure. Like I always say good luck out there and have fun fishing! To view some fishing adventures, go to my YouTube Channel Fishing With Jiggin Jerry or follow me on Facebook @fwjigginjerry.

EDISTO FISHING FORECAST

The Florida Everglades

by Capt. Justin Ravenel, Contributing Writer

These past five years now I have continued a tradition of heading south in April for my last adventure before the busy summer season. Florida has so much to offer for us who enjoy all things fishing and water related. A state that’s covered by water on three sides makes it fairly simple to get your line tight on something almost anywhere.

My destination year after year however is the famous “River of Grass” the Florida Everglades.

A while back an old high school friend of mine was telling about some of the trips down there and how wild it really is. He and a small group of his friends were trailering shallow water skiffs down all the way down and camping overnight; sometimes for a week or more! When I inquired about the fishing, the feedback was incredible. When I inquired about the comfort level of the trip it was a little different story.

If you make the 10 hour trip down there successfully without incident to the boat, truck or trailer then you have another 3 hour skiff ride to your camp site.

We always leave around 10pm and drive through the night so we can have more time to fish while we are there. By 9am the next morning our skiffs are in the water and loaded with gear. Coolers with just ice, extra fuel, food, drinks camping gear and oh yeah; tackle.

Facebook: ravenelfishingcharters.com

Instagram: justin_ravenel

We maneuver away from the boat ramp and begin to get up on plane. As I take in my surroundings the sheer amount of fuel and gear required for such an endeavor are cumbersome in a small skiff to say the least. No cell phone service means you better have some way of reaching the outside world should there be any kind of issue while in the backcountry. Several different types of satellite communication devices are with the group at all times.

As we begin our journey that I am a passenger on, due to lack of ever running this area, I can’t help but notice how shallow it is at a high tide. We get on plane and just

Captain Justin Ravenel Ravenel Fishing Charters 843-864-5056

as the breeze starts to cool me off I notice big chunks of limestone whizzing by just feet from either side of the boat and barely under the water! As I nearly break my neck turning back to the captain I notice he’s already supporting a huge grin. He reassures me that we’ll probably be alright and I sit back in my seat and crack open my first ice cold beverage of the trip.

Three hours later we pull up to camp. We unload the gear, spring the tents and zip off to our first destination. Fly fishing is what drives us but when the mangroves are too thick we switch to soft plastics on spin reels. My go to set up is a 7ft Star rod paired with a Shimano Stradic 3000. 15 lb. braid will cut it most of the time down here for snook, red fish and pretty much everything else with the exception of adult tarpon. I always up my game with leader down here though. 40 lb. monofilament will do just fine up in the mangroves. ¼ to 3/8 oz. Eyestrike jig heads with any type of jerk shad or fluke never disappoint. Literally everything down there will happily eat that bait.

typical 9-10 foot gator are everywhere I’ve seen them up to 12 and 13 feet long which is scary enough. However the crocs in the glades are up to 14 feet long! They are a clear sign of the ever present danger down there but just like any wild thing; you just need to be aware that they are there and they can do pretty much whatever they want. So no washing dishes at night on the water side after dinner.

If the wind is down we fish the coastline out front. If the wind is up, we stay in the backcountry where it’s primarily more fresh water.

Just like here in the low country when you are inland the fish have much more color and when you are closer to the ocean the fish are lighter and more silver in color.

We always see plenty of wildlife but the thing that sticks out the most to me are the crocodiles. I’ve grown up knowing gators could and usually are in most fresh water ponds, lakes and rivers. While the

Next are the bugs; they are pretty bad. Let’s just say this trip isn’t for the faint of heart when it comes to things that creep, crawl and bite. The scorpions under every single surface were fun but the mosquitos are on a level not know by modern man. Each night just as the sun goes down it starts by hearing a faint whining growing louder and louder to the point you have to ask someone what it is. That’s when the deet starts flying and the newbies retreat into their tents for the rest of the evening. The locals of the group embrace the pain and taunt us “northerners” as they call us. This remains this way until the sun comes up fully the following morning. At that point the things that creep and crawl return to whatever hell they came from until the following evening; then it starts over.

UPCOMING COASTAL EVENTS

April 7. 6am-2pm

Charleston Redfish Spot Tournament

Benefiting the Charleston Miracle League $50 per boat, cash payout. Contact: (843)640-1546

April 20

Haddrell’s Point / Fin to Feather

Fly Casting Clinic

Contact Fin to Feather for more information

April 20

Charlestown Landing Fishing Rodeo

9am - 1500 Old Town Rd. Charleston

Fishing for kids 16 years old and younger Bring your own equipment. Registration at eventbrite.com

April 26 & 27

Redd Roof Inn Dolphin Tournament

Captain’s meeting April 25 - Ripley Light Yacht Club

Registration at: www.fishreddroof.com

April 28

Blessing of the Fleet

7am-1pm / Mt. Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park

Boat parade, live music, food and craft beer

May 3 & 4

2024 Dolphin Slam Edisto Beach

Contact Marian at Edisto Beach for more information

May 11

Charleston County Parks

Cast Off Fishing Tournament

Mt. Pleasant Pier • Info at www.charlestoncountyparks.com

May 18

Haddrell’s Point / Fin to Feather

Fly Casting Clinic

Contact Fin to Feather for more information

May 25

Charleston County Parks

Cast Off Fishing Tournament

Folly Beach Pier • Info at www.charlestoncountyparks.com

June 8

Lowcountry Open

Family friendly fishing tournament with inshore, Kingfish and offshore divisions, benefitting Prostate Cancer research, awareness, survivors and their families. More info to come.

Submit your upcoming events or tournament Info to: brooks@coastalanglermagazine.com

Our friends at Hook Line & Heroes working hard to give our veterans some success on the water. Please consider supporting them by participating in their raffle

Local boy, Lee, landed this black grouper while vacationing in The Keys

Pluff Mud Princess doing what she does, catching fish and showing others how to…

WORK THE EDGES FOR

SPRING INSHORE ACTION

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

As the seasons change, so should your fshing locations and tactics. In my quest to target larger trout and reds, I modify my approach slightly versus what I have been doing for the past three or four months. However, depending on the weather, spring can be a tricky time to fnd solid and repeatable patterns. With the water temperature swings, the fsh begin to move from winter to spring areas. But a slight cold front will send them right back to their winter patterns, and it will keep you on your toes.

Te frst major transition is from mud to a frmer sand bottom. In my area, the prominent structure will still be grass, but the base sediment will change. If your area structure is shell or rocks, you will still want to fnd harder sand. According to biologists, the primary reason for this is the winter forage, primarily mullet, fnd their food source in the mud during the colder months. We all know fsh follow the bait, and that is why we target trout and reds on sofer bottoms in the winter. As the water warms, the next generation of perch shrimp and other species hatch and will be found in structure with a frm bottom. In my area, that will be grass.

Now that we know where to fsh, let’s cover the how. In spring, staying tight to the cover is important. It is imperative for juvenile forage to stay in tight schools and intermingled in the structure for survival. Keeping your lure near the grass, shell, or wherever you are fshing will be critical to success. I target the borders where sand and grass meet. Each area will vary depending on if it is predominantly sand or grass. If it is mostly grass, I concentrate my eforts casting into the grass and working my lure into the sand, paying attention to the edge and giving the fsh time to fnd my lure at that intersection. On the other hand, if it is mostly sand, I will target the grass patches and once again the edge.

Spring allows us to utilize a wide range of lures. Sof plastics danced along the bottom or topwaters skated across the surface can both be efective, depending on the mood of the fsh. Tis will be determined by water temp and the passing of late-season cool fronts.

Whatever lure you decide to use, concentrate on the edges of the available cover to increase your odds of having a productive day. As always, take a kid fshing; you just might learn something.

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES ®

FISHING THE SECOND SHIFT

Spring is one of my favorite times of year for many species on the inshore menu, including red drum, snook and trout. I usually fsh at night for several reasons including my “day job,” which keeps me occupied for a vast majority of daylight hours. I guess I could become a weekend warrior, but I’ve noticed the best weather typically doesn’t occur on weekends. Tere’s an old saying that goes something like this: “You know what happens afer two days of really crappy weather?”

“MONDAY!”

All joking aside, I believe the best bite for older, wiser, heavily pressured fsh is at night. Tey’re a little more at ease afer the sun goes down and the boat trafc lets up. Tis is when the big girls let their guard down and come back into shallower water to feed. Wherever you fnd shrimp and small mullet along the edges is a good place to take advantage of aggressively feeding redfsh, trout or snook afer dark. Te patterns are similar for all of them.

Just before dark is a good time to get situated to the rising or falling tide and the water clarity, which might be afected by

frequent rains this time of year. Get used to your surroundings and how fast the current is running. Keep the lights low, and allow your night vision to kick in as darkness settles.

Music on the boat is fun, but this is a situation when you’ll want to be quiet. Don’t play the radio loud or stomp around on the deck. Close your coolers and hatches quietly. Try not to talk are laugh too loud. Sound travels extremely well in the water, and when the rest of the world is quiet, the noise you make is even more startling to the fsh.

I don’t even use “spot lock” on the trolling motor at night in shallow water. I think fsh have learned to associate the sound of trolling motors with the presence of a boats and humans… just saying. Make your own choice here.

Color selection is a very important at night. Dark colors, especially with shrimp lures, work better at night, especially when there is a bright moon. It might sound crazy, but dark colors are silhouetted by the moonlight and are easier for fsh to see. Dark brown, purple and black can be extremely hot on nights with a full or nearly full moon.

I’m partial to shrimp imitations, and a lot of times I’ll suspend one under a glowin-the-dark cork for night fshing. Tat cork carries it along perfectly with the current and you can keep your eyes on where your bait is, which is one of the difculties of fshing at night.

If you’re like me and have a job that keeps you occupied during the day, consider fshing the second shif. You might be pleasantly surprised.

See more from Tim Barefoot at barefootcatsandtackle.com.

Tim Barefoot

By A. deGruchy

CHASING BACKCOUNTRY COBIA in the Keys

Cobia are robust, daring, and always up for a challenge. You know you’re in for some fun when you spot them cruising near the surface, sometimes in pairs or groups, hounding baitfsh like a wolfpack or drawn in by curiosity at the action around your boat. If you’re geared up and ready for them, a little fnesse will have you luring them in like a pro.

Location is key. When fshing for cobia in the backcountry here in the Florida Keys, we look for them to be around structures, wrecks and foating debris, ofen roaming the same areas in groups. Tey’re not pickiest eaters. Pitch a live bait out in front of them, and they’ll usually eat it, and we’ve also had great success with a Savage Gear RTF 3D Shrimp.

Te action when using these Savage Gear shrimps is a hard jerking lif, then letting your shrimp fall, mimicking a shrimp’s natural actions. For the battle, the optimal gear is at least a 4500 reel, but you really don’t need more than a 6500, and we always trust our Penn Authority and pair it with a medium/medium-light Carnage III Rod for maximum control and power.

Te most important thing to remember when hooking a cobia is to be ready, as it’s very common to spot “following” cobia. Tey ofen travel together and like to investigate what your hooked cobia is doing and eating. Tese “followers” can lead to an epic double header, but only if you have enough rods rigged and ready on the boat and hands to cast them.

Cobia are known for powerful runs, ofen scoping up and switching directions in a split second. Keep calm, adjust your drag, and let them exhaust themselves. Stay alert as you reel in your cobia, as they are known for sudden maneuvers, and will sometimes dart under the boat in a heartbeat. And the fght doesn’t end even afer you’ve gafed a cobia. Exercise caution when you bring them over the rail and onto the deck because they ofen cause havoc on the boat. It’s best to tire them out completely during the fght to minimize potential damage.

Since regulations frequently change with cobia, staying informed is important. One keeper cobia can feed a lot of people. Teir meat is known for its steak-like texture and delicate favor, perfect for a mouthwatering sear with butter and seasoning.

For the best shot at spotting a cobia, consider booking a full-day charter. Tis helps your chances to see one, and the timing should be pretty solid for in the upcoming weeks.

Book a charter at www.beansportfshing.com and follow their cobia adventures at “Bean Sportfshing TV” on YouTube.

PRE-SPAWN FISH

BREAK STATE RECORDS

Along with blooms on the trees and frogspawn in the ponds, the annual rites of spring include an uptick in anglers reporting heavyweight catches.

A spate of recent record catches marks the transition to longer days, warmer weather and spring-spawning species putting on weight. In Indiana, an angler caught a monster 8-pound, 4-ounce smallmouth bass that crushed the existing state record by a pound. In Kentucky and Georgia, two anglers boated big yellow perch. Te Kentucky perch set a new state record, while the Georgia fsh earned the angler a tie for the heaviest perch ever caught in the Peach State.

In Indiana, angler Rex Remington caught his big pre-spawn smallie on March 3 at Monroe Reservoir. Te fsh was weighed on certifed scales in the presence of Indiana DNR ofcials before being released. Te new record was adopted a couple weeks later and is listed at 8 pounds, 4 ounces, beating a record that had stood since 1992. Te all-tackle world record smallmouth weighed 11 pounds, 15 ounces. It was caught from Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee in 1955.

Smaller, but no-less-impressive, Lynn Bumgardner caught his 1.58-pound Kentuckyrecord yellow perch at Lake Barkley on March 2. It beat the existing 1.44-pound record caught in 2010. He was trolling grubs for crappie and knew

he had a heavy fsh when it hit, but he didn’t realize it was a potential record perch until it surfaced. Te fsh was 14.25 inches long.

Tey must grow perch bigger in Georgia. On Feb. 18, Emerson Mulhall caught a huge 16-inchlong, 2-pound, 9-ounce yellow perch that tied the existing state record set in 2013. Mulhall, who usually bass fshes at north Georgia’s Lake Burton was initially confused, because the fsh he’d hooked didn’t fght like a bass. When he realized it was a perch, his father convinced him to get of the lake and go get it weighed on certifed scales.

Te all-tackle world record yellow perch is reported by IGFA to have weighed 4 pounds, 3 ounces. Tat fsh was caught in New Jersey in 1865.

For more record fsh, go to coastalanglermag.com.

TIPS FROM A PRO

HOW TO FIND AND TARGET THE POST-SPAWN FEED

In some parts of the country, the bass spawn is already coming to an end like it is down here in Florida. In others the post-spawn might not start up for another couple months. Regardless of your phase, this post-spawn fshing tip should help you dial in your fshery when the time is right for you.

One thing is the same for every fshery and every species of bass afer they spawn, they are hungry! Tis can create some awesome and fun fshing opportunities. Post-spawn bass have provided some of my best days on the water.

Typically, afer the largemouth bass spawn, there are other fsh that begin their spawn. I’m not a scientist, but I’m sure this has a lot to do with the specifc timing of why bass do their thing when they do. In most areas of the southern United States, bluegill and ofentimes shad start to spawn very shortly afer the bass fnish up. Afer a long couple weeks or months protecting eggs in the shallows, bass use every advantage they can to feed when these baitfsh group up, and this can make for some fun fshing.

Smallmouth bass and spotted bass in the post-spawn phase are very similar to largemouths when it comes to taking

advantage of bait schools. I have seen them group up and attack shad, perch and alewife schools and any other bait that is readily available. Typically, I do a lot of my searching for these things with my electronics and forward-facing sonar, which is a very helpful tool for learning fsh activity and seeing what’s going on under the surface of the water.

Most of the time you don’t necessarily need electronics. You can use clues visible to the naked eye to help you fnd this “feed” that is going on. Birds feeding on the water is an awesome sign of a feeding frenzy, and it’s one thing I always look for. Also, always keep your eyes peeled for fsh blowing up on the surface or shad fickering under the surface. Sometimes the very smallest clue can lead you to much larger picture. Birds standing on specifc banks, the sound of bluegill popping around vegetation, anything that clues you in to bait in the area usually means the bass aren’t very far away.

Hopefully this tip will help you when the fsh in your area get into the post-spawn feed. Find the bait, and you will fnd the bass!

I try to imitate the prevalent baitfsh with whatever kind of lure I’m throwing. For bluegill eaters, I will throw a frog or a swimjig in bluegill colors. For shad eaters, I will throw white or silver topwaters and crankbaits.

Always match the hatch if possible. Good luck out there this season, and tight lines!

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

TYLER WOOLCOTT

READY FOR

By Will Schmidt

RED GROUPER

With gag grouper closed until late summer for many of us, it is time to be out looking for red grouper to fll our tacos this spring and summer. Fortunately, they are aggressive eaters if you’re willing to make the extra efort to go to their feeding grounds. In general, to get to decentsized reds, you’ll need to head a bit farther out, with the best fshing being found in 80 feet or deeper, especially as the water warms. You are still looking for the same type of environment; Swiss cheese bottom, ledges and artifcial reefs can all hold good numbers of quality fsh.

Te tactics are the same and simple. Tey will eat dead or live bait in most cases. Tat said, I found a combination of the two to be the best bet. I like to start with “stinky bait.” Dropping some frozen squid or menhaden is a great way to get the bite going. Once the bite starts, which is usually quickly if they are around, I like to switch to palm-size live pinfsh to entice the bigger fsh. While dead bait and jigs will certainly get you keepers, the larger fsh are quicker to hit a live bait.

Rigs are simple. Circle hooks must be used with natural bait and 5/0 to 7/0 hooks will do the trick. I prefer to use about 2 feet of leader, then a swivel and my weight, and a knocker rig will also work. A minimum of 50-pound fuorocarbon leader is recommended, as they will run for a hole in the rocks once hooked. Keep a close eye on your leaders, as they tend to get chafed when the fshing is good.

Even though red grouper are typically smaller than gags, I still use my goto big grouper set up, as at these depths you could get a big gag or other sea monster. Fortunately, new lighter combos like the Accurate BV600 reel and 70H rod make a full day of fshing more fun and less fatiguing. Tese two-speed reels have a patented twin drag that will stop the hardiest of fsh, and with that winching power you can use a lighter more parabolic rods to handle the biggest of bottom fsh. Line is important too. Te lack of stretch in braid is a must for landing big grouper. A minimum of 65-pound test, and a metered braid like the Nomad Panderra 8x is great for knowing how close you are to the bottom. Moreover, these rods are sensitive enough to do double duty as trolling rods for kings, sails and mahi.

While they might not be quite as big as some of their cousins, red grouper are great table fare, and it is hard to turn down a grouper taco, no matter what variety it is.

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

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