FREE
LOWCOUNTRY EDITION
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SPRING
TIPS FOR REDS
POOR MAN'S
& TROUT
WANT TO BE A CHARTER CAPTAIN?
GIANT TREVALLY
MAR 21-24 • PBBOATSHOW.COM PHOTO COURTESY OF TOMMY MIANO
VOLUME 29 • ISSUE 348
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM
F R A N C H I S E
O P P O R T U N I T I E S
A V A I L A B L E
W O R L D W I D E
MARCH 2024
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PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®.
KEEN SENSES
ARE ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS
By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
I
t is always important to pay attention to our surroundings as we go through life, and fishing is no exception. How many of you have been fishing without any action and find yourself daydreaming and going through the motions until you feel the tug on your line? Suddenly you are frantically trying to remember the cadence of your retrieve to duplicate the action, but you are dreaming of fish instead of trying to catch them. Well, in this article and the accompanying video for The Angler Video Magazine, I will go over a specific situation when paying attention paid off, and you can see it and hear me talk through it on the video. I will also share some wisdom from two incredible Texas guides whom I was fortunate enough to spend a few hours with on the topic of targeting big trout. While wading in knee-deep water that
4 NATIONAL
MARCH 2024
was about 61 degrees, I could see a few mullet jumping in their casual mullet way. It was enough to keep me interested in the area. The bottom had undulating depth with grass and scattered potholes, or sand pockets for those not familiar with the term. I was throwing a slowsinking soft-plastic jerkbait, letting it slowly sink between twitches where the sand and grass met. With a cast in mid-air, I saw a mullet do an abnormal flip. It was distinct from the norm of the day and not as if it were being chased, but different, nonetheless. I burned my lure back in and made a cast just beyond where the mullet flipped. When my lure paused near the area, a nice redfish slammed my soft plastic. Had I not been paying attention and blew it off as just another mullet jumping, I would not have caught that fish and a few more in the general area. Since we cannot always have a bird’s eye view,
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we need to utilize the birds’ eyes. Here are a few tips I picked up on during a conversation with guides. Birds do not always need to be feeding to point us to fish. There are subtle hints, such as a head turn of a gliding pelican. They don’t turn their head for no reason; they saw something. Maybe they saw a huge trout and kept soaring because it was too big for them to eat. Also, watch the lines birds are relating too. They may not dive, bait may not flee from the shadow, but they are flying that line for a reason, and maybe you should work your way toward the area. Pay attention on the water and in conversation with old salts. You might need to read between the lines, but the answers are there. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures®, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®.
THERE ARE STORIES TO TELL B E L O W T H E S U R FA C E
RUN THE WATER™
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JACK CREVALLE: BATTLE THE BULLIES OF THE REEF
S
ometimes called the “poor man’s giant trevally,” jack crevalle will strike a surface lure or bait aggressively, and once hooked, engage the angler in a slugfest they won’t soon forget. Jacks are world-class fighters. These fish are perfect for small-boat anglers because they frequent inshore and nearshore waters. They can be caught in bays, inlets, canals and off reefs, where they target schooling baitfish. These fish are perfect for light spinning gear or a fly rod, as they will readily take any fast-retrieved bait imitation. They frequently show up in bays and estuaries following migratory baitfish like mullet. Strong current that concentrates bait is usually best, and you’ll find them at the mouths of the inlets on a strong outgoing tide. Any nearshore reef close to an inlet that has “nervous water” – a sure sign of bait schools—is prime territory for jacks. A 7-foot medium-action spinning rod equipped with a 6000 sized spinning reel and spooled with 40-pound braid is a prime tool for fighting these fish. I like a fluorocarbon leader in the 50-pound range for abrasion resistance. These fish are not leader shy. Jacks school up in large groups of juvenile fish under 10 pounds. The larger 20-plus-pound fish usually hunt in pairs. While a
By Mark Ambert
5000-class rod and reel setup will handle the smaller fish, a larger setup will be better for anything over 20 pounds. Pro-Tip: If you tangle with one of the larger fish, get a second bait or lure in the water for a double hook-up! Live bait and chum will usually find the biggest fish. Any local seasonal bait such as herring, pilchards, sardines or mullet will do the trick. For maximum fun factor, a topwater lure or fly stripped fast can’t be beat. I usually locate a school of feeding fish first then break out the fly or topwater spinning gear for sport. A 9- or 10-weight fly rod setup with an intermediate line is optimal. When fly fishing, a popper, Deceiver, Clouser or any streamer pattern will work. I use flies that cast easily and in colorful patterns to attract the fish. With spinning gear, any noisy or splashy plug such as a 3- to 4-inch Storm Chug Bug is ideal. I also use a 4-inch Heddon Zara Spook in white with a walk-the-dog retrieve. Watching this lure get knocked out of the water and eaten is worth the
price of admission. For sub-surface action, the Rapala X-Rap size 10 in Ghost finish can’t be beat. The initial run of a big jack is spectacular, with ever shortened runs to follow. Using lighter gear, you might have to chase bigger fish down, so be prepared to move. Once a fish is spent, I usually use a net or tail grab the fish boatside for a quick picture and safe release, as these fish have limited food quality. Now head out your local inlet and target these plentiful and eager sluggers. They will not disappoint. Find Mark Ambert on Instagram @marksgonefishing_™; Email: marksgonefishing25@gmail.com.
To Find a Dealer Near You, Visit
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MARCH 2024
NATIONAL 7
DO YOU WANT TO BE A CHARTER CAPTAIN? By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon
I
went fishing while on Florida vacation about a decade ago. After returning home to Canada for two months, I drove back to pursue a career in the industry. I had zero experience, no connections, and less than half a clue on where to begin. For those with a similar dream, here’s what I learned. First, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been a weekend warrior. If you want to be a captain, be a deckhand first. You don’t know what you don’t know, and working for someone fishing the waters you plan to guide provides all kinds of information. Every fishery has its own etiquette and unspoken guidelines. Community is crucial, and paying your dues and earning respect goes a long way. Captains communicate about fishing on the water, and often, we are each other’s first responders. This same-team mentality is nearly currency. Beginning as a deckhand is difficult. Nobody wants to train you, yet you must be trainable. On your own time, practice skills like knot tying, bait rigging and net throwing. Veteran fishermen are usually happy to flex knowledge to those who ask for help humbly. No matter what you learn, be ready to have a captain you work for tell you it’s wrong. Adapt, and learn things their way. The expectations of deckhands are high, and everything on board will be their fault. You are expected to arrive early, stay late, come in on days off, anticipate your captain and clients wants, and do it on minimum salary. The biggest issue with new deckhands is they sometimes don’t show up. Finding a replacement at 6 a.m. is nearly impossible, and it affects the productivity of a charter. Being a fisherman takes a special kind of person. If can fish six days a week and still want to go out for fun on your day off, this job
may be for you. If you’re on the boat watching the clock, you won’t last long. Showing up to the dock consistently is a great way to make connections and get work. If you can’t find work, show up an hour before local charters head out. Walk the dock and ask if anyone had a no-show deckhand. If you do this consistently and pass out your number, eventually someone will call you. They will see you have the dedication to show up. Deckhands are also required to be on a drug consortium. Sign up and keep your paper with you. Lastly, if you hold a captain’s license and are working as a deckhand, make sure your “captain” has one too. You do not want to be held liable for someone else’s mistakes. Protect your future in the industry. If this is something you want to do, I highly recommend going for it. In 10 years, I have never regretted it or lost the smile it puts on my face. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Sweet E’Nuf Charters, Marathon, Florida Keys. Captainquinlyn.com; @captainquinlyn; (504) 920-6342.
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by Allan McCoy, Contributing Writer
Smiles, laughter, encouragement and healing creates success when serving our nation's wounded heroes The Hook Line and Heroes Mission is to serve those who have served us by providing an unforgettable outdoor experience, through fishing with our wounded, post-traumatic stress (PTS) and catastrophically disabled military veterans and heroes in our lives. We were successful in meeting our goals in our 6th year by increasing our number of Veterans served despite offshore weather getting in our way many times. We strive to give as many Veterans as possible the fishing experience they deserve while at the same time maintaining our level of personal interaction with them during the trips. It is the least we can do for those who have given so much for our freedoms.
The Bible says in Isaiah 41:10 - "Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." At Hook Line & Heroes we work very hard to provide an unforgettable fishing experience for our wounded warriors. While we will never be able to fully repay them for their sacrifices for our country, we aim to provide a break from life's stress and some healing. We work very closely with them through the application and approval process to identify a location that they would like to fish and to target a specific species of fish to reel in. Many hours go into planning to find the absolute best Guide, great hotels, and top-shelf food to ensure an unforgettable experience on the water for our service-connected disabled Veterans and catastrophically wounded Veterans.
Our outposts in Charleston, SC, and Charlotte, NC, were faced with many challenges, but we persevered and had a record year! We fished in a wide variety of locations like Baltimore, Nags Head, Lake Erie, Knoxville, Charleston, Columbia, Wilmington, and Stuart, FL. All were destinations chosen by our Veterans to fulfill wish lists of catching Sailfish, Wahoo, Tuna, Snook, Striper, King Mackerel, Steel Head, Trout, and big Mahi! Hook Line & Heroes is a 501c3 nonprofit and was founded by Charleston resident and president, Allan McCoy, in 2017. After seeing the need for our Veterans to get the love and appreciation they deserve for the sacrifices they endured, much prayer and thought went into creating a mission that would provide spiritual awareness, emotional self-examination, and relaxation through fishing. Our Veterans are desperate to find inner peace, relaxation, and self-healing that is needed for the emotional and physical scars of war. In the words of one of our Veterans served, “it gave me the opportunity to unplug from life’s troubles for a day”! cont'd on pg 6 2 LOWCOUNTRY
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HIGH COUNTRY STYLE. LOWCOUNTRY STATE OF MIND.
WWW.STARLINGCHEVYMP.COM • 1607 N HWY 17, MT. PLEASANT
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MAR. 2024
LOWCOUNTRY 3
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Where to fish from in Charleston
LAND MT. PLEASANT Mt. Pleasant Pier Pitt St. Bridge
FOLLY BEACH Folly Beach Pier Folly River Park
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
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MAR. 2024
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Hook Line & Heroes cont'd from pg 2 Matthew 4:19 - "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." We would be remiss if we did not mention the beautiful boats we fish on and great Charters; 4 Sons Charters in Charleston (45 Sea Hunter), Last Cast Charleston (47 Viking), Dog House Sport Fishing in Manteo (60 Bayless), Captain Bo Fishing Charters, Charleston, Knoxville Fishing Guide, and East Coast Fishing Charters in Stuart, FL. We appreciate the top-shelf service we get from all our Guides and the attention they give to our Veterans.
If your business would like to be a sponsor, we have multiple Partner giving levels with different benefits for your business. You can also check out our Partners tab online to see what other great companies you could be joining as an annual sponsor! If you are a boat owner interested in donating/hosting a trip, we would love to talk to you! Don't hesitate to reach out to Allan at 704-591-5129. Thank you to all our sponsors and future sponsors! God Bless.
While we try to provide great conversation and light-hearted fun, many times the Veteran-to-Veteran camaraderie is the main component of every trip they all enjoy the most. Often it is a battle buddy that we fly in from across the country to join in on the trip. Many times, they have been complete strangers, but that shared common brotherhood and bond makes them fast friends. All in all, the ultimate goal is smiles, laughter, healing and creating new memories for these Veterans. We love smiles!!! With a five-year goal to serve 50 Veteran fishing trips every year, we need community and business financial help to reach those heights. As a 100% volunteer organization that is run out of a garage, we put every penny we can back into showing love and appreciation to our Veterans. If you are interested in supporting us through a monthly or one-time donation, please go to our website at www. hooklineandheroes.org/donate.
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MAR. 2024
LOWCOUNTRY 7
FISHING FORECAST
Mount Pleasant Pier
Jimmy with 21" trout
by Chris Pounder, Contributing Writer
W
e’re coming out of a stretch of winter weather that was less than ideal for pier fishing in the Charleston Harbor. Water temps dipped and some fish around the pier took a little vacation. Once we get a nice run of warmer weather and the harbor temp reaches 60 degrees, we expect to see the return of several species around the pier. Anglers should expect to see the return of flounder and black drum around the pilings and structure. Black drum can be targeted with shrimp or fiddler crabs on a Carolina rig. Our resident flounder population can be enticed with mud minnows, live mullet, or hopping your favorite artificial lure along the bottom. Casting lures parallel to the railing and working along the shadows can produce an aggressive ambush strike when conditions are right. Red drum and trout will become more aggressive in the warmer water so you’ll want to have options in your tackle bag to rig up for different species. A Carolina rig with live mullet or mud minnows works for both, but don’t underestimate the fun to be had fishing with artificials. The end of the pier on the north side can be a great spot for trout during the slack tide. The key when fishing that area is to keep your rig off the bottom. The area off the tip of the pier has 350 cubic yards of old bridge debris that’s known for snagging rigs if you fish too deep. Eventually everyone that fishes the end of the pier makes a donation to that reef. Check in with staff anytime to get some helpful advice and then head down the pier to see what’s biting in March. Don’t forget to check out Charlestoncountyparks.com for information regarding summer tournament dates, open employment opportunities, and happenings at all the county parks. There’s a lot going on for the non-fishing members of your family as well.
Choi with 8lb and 9lb sheepshead
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For any additional information about the pier or what’s biting this week feel free to call the River Watch Cafe & Gift Shop on the pier at 843-762-9946 Chris Pounder, CPRP Manager Mount Pleasant Pier
FISHING FORECAST
Folly Beach Pier by Noah O’Brien, Contributing Writer
F
inally! We’ve made it through the cold Winter months, which now means that all of you who were bunkered down for the season can get out of the house and on the water. While the water might still be a little cold for the game fish, it leaves plenty of opportunity to stock your freezers and coolers with whiting, blue fish, and menhaden. Historically for March, the pompano bite heats up again, and as always, the black drum are there for the taking in the shallow surf by the pilings. While the new pier construction made for an interesting and fresh look on the fishing scene out here, we have noticed a lot of the same old habits resurfacing for the local fish species. The Folly Beach Pier will be hosting another round of fishing tournaments this year! We will have prizes for the winners and if it wasn’t your day out here, don’t worry because we’ll have tons of awesome raffles to give out! The dates for our tournaments will be May 25, June 22, September 14, and October 12. Standard entry is $12, and children 12 and under and seniors 60+ will pay $10. Each entry receives a raffle ticket for the raffle at the end of the tournament. We’re expecting an awesome year out here on Folly, and as always, we’re looking forward to seeing you out here! For any questions or additional information please call the Folly Beach Pier giftshop, 843-762-9516.
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
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MAR. 2024
LOWCOUNTRY 9
Artificials vs. by Jiggin’ Jerry, Contributing Writer
A
s we move into March here in the Lowcountry, most anglers are excited, anticipating the arrival of Spring, and as we move closer to Spring, our inshore game fish become more active. A lot of experienced anglers start to look for these active fish around structure in shallower water and lurking over and around Oyster beds. Some may ask themselves—why do fish like Spotted Seatrout, Red Drum and Flounder lurk around these types of structures? The answer is simple. They are looking for food, their prey, such as Shrimp, Mud Minnows, Mullet, Crabs and other small species of crustaceans and fish, but the hard part of trying to target these inshore game fish in these locations is doing it without snagging or getting hung up in the debris or Oysters. After all, plenty of us inshore anglers have experienced fishing with all kinds of lures and trying to twitch them through and over Oyster beds and around dock pilings without getting hung up and losing our tackle.
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s. Oyster Beds
& Structures One of the most popular types of artificial combinations that are thrown is a quarter ounce jig head with a paddle tail or curly tail Grub in all kinds of colors, and they do work fantastic for catching the inshore slam. But if you are looking for a way to fish these locations and increase your ability to not only catch fish, but to cast the same lure over and over, increasing your chances without getting hung up nearly as often, I will share a trick that works quite effectively and has been successful for me often. Growing up, not only fishing inshore, but I also was addicted to fishing for a lot of freshwater game species, Largemouth Bass being at the top of the list. When it comes to fishing for Largemouth Bass, you find yourself using all kinds of lures. But, unlike a Bass pro who is pressed for time and rushing to catch and land their fish for tournaments, we find ourselves fishing with a little more finesse. We use lighter lines, lighter rods and reels and lures that can be rigged weedless, like artificial worms, rigged Texas style, weedless tube baits and weedless Flukes because Bass love to hide and lurk in debris, rocks and weeds, and trying to drag an open hook through these locations can be almost impossible. So, I decided years ago to use some of these weedless hooks and Flukes to target inshore fish around Oyster beds and structure to find out if I could successfully cast repeatedly into the debris where these fish are lurking and jig, twitch and jerk my bait, imitating Mud Minnows, Glass Minnows and Mullet, and retrieve my lure without losing it. What I had discovered for myself is that I was able to target and successfully land more fish and use the same lure over and over without losing it, 10 times more effectively than my standard jig head and Grub. In Exhibit A, you will see 4 weedless hooks. The first 2 hooks from the top down are weightless. The third and fourth hooks are weighted. In Exhibit B, you will see 3 Flukes by Zoom rigged weedless. The first Fluke from the top down is rigged weightless. This style will allow the Fluke to descend slowly, sinking from the belly forward. The second Fluke is rigged weedless, weighted. The weight on the hook is at the belly. This allows the Fluke to sink faster, dropping by the belly and slightly forward. This technique allows for more of a jerk-bait motion. The third Fluke is rigged weedless, weighted and the weight is at the front of the hook. This allows the Fluke to sink fast in a nosedive motion, which is great for twitching or jigging and using in deeper holes and faster moving water. There are a number of artificial bait companies that sell Flukes and jerk baits in all types of shapes and sizes. Some designed specifically for inshore saltwater and some designed for both fresh and salt. In Exhibit C, you will see an example of three popular styles of baits by three different companies rigged weedless, weighted. From the top is a Z-Man jerk bait. The second is a jerk bait by D.O.A., and the third is a Fluke by Zoom. I have tested these brands in various colors and find them to be some of the most effective I have used. So, if you are trying to target some of these fish hiding in these difficult locations, try using baits like these set up weedless and find out for yourself if they help you successfully pull a monster out of that mess. After all, catching that fish might not have been a Fluke, you were just using one for bait! Until next time, good luck out there and have fun fishing! To view some fishing adventures, go to my YouTube Channel Fishing With Jiggin Jerry.
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MAR. 2024
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UPCOMING COASTAL EVENTS Now - March 31
Arts Bar and Grill Oyster Roast Every Saturday and Sunday 1:00pm-7:00pm 413 Coleman Blvd., Mt. Pleasant
March 20
Suds & Bugs Fly Tying
Free event 6:30-8:30 pm Rivers and Glen Fly Shop, Mt. Pleasant
March 23
Offshore Trolling Seminar Haddrell’s Point Tackle & Supply Hosted by Capt. Chase Edgren at Longshore Boats, Clements Ferry 9:00am -12:00 noon • 843-881-3644
March 23
Live Auction at Essenbay Marine Beginning at 10:00am (Previewing at (9:00) 217B Varnfield Dr., Summerville
March 28
Cheers on the Pier
Free event 5:30-7:30 pm Live Music, Craft Beer and the sunset Mt. Pleasant Pier
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 28
Blessing of the Fleet
7am-1pm / Mt. Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park Boat parade, live music, food and craft beer
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 12 LOWCOUNTRY
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Katie Jo, of Pluff Mud Princess Outdoors held a women’s fishing clinic in early February at Pitt St. Bridge
T
he day included her personal instruction on equipment selection, rigging up your rod, knot tying and live and cut bait selection. With a selection of snacks and refreshments, the afternoon consisted of a couple of hours of hands-on instruction and then putting the new knowledge to the test with some fishing. If you want to become a more knowledgeable and confident angler then check out Pluff Mud Princess Outdoors on Facebook and Instagram.
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“Katie Jo is very passionate about encouraging and empowering more women to start fishing…” - Coastal Angler Magazine Lowcountry Edition
MAR. 2024
LOWCOUNTRY 13
EDISTO FISHING FORECAST
South Carolina Striper by Capt. Justin Ravenel, Contributing Writer
W
ell it’s officially cold outside and my feet are feeling a little itchy if you know what I mean. I’m ready to do a little traveling before the summer season so the next couple of months I plan on doing just that. While I’m excited about my annual Everglades trip this April and I can’t wait to tell you all about it; I am almost equally excited to go north for striper. No I don’t mean up on the cape In Massachusetts; I’m going to Lake Murray South Carolina. So here is my introduction to this explosive fishing in the upstate. While sitting around with my cousins after Thanksgiving dinner, we were telling all sorts of lies and stories of fishing and hunting trips. My cousin “Stu” lives on Lake Murray and while he may be more of a bill fisherman than anything, he does appreciate light tackle and fly fishing. Being as how I am the only fly angler (currently) in the family I get all sorts of questions about what and how I’m catching fish in the saltwater down here. Equally, I have just as many questions for cousin Stu about all things Pelagic related. However, more recently I had the itch to attain another notch in my belt, specifically on the fly rod. That notch was striper but not just any which way; it had to be on the fly rod. Fly fishing is for some folks and not for others but once it takes hold there is no turning back. I’ve heard stories of land locked striper in the lakes in South Carolina but had never pursued them. I also know a little about riverine striper a little closer to home but not on fly and certainly not consistent catches. No I wasn’t interested in pitching live bait or trolling down deep. I wanted them up on top, where I can see them. I explained this to Stu and he assured me that when he saw the birds, he would call. Fast forward to December and that call came. I hitched my big boat and headed north. I arrived sometime around 1:30pm ready to roll. I’m not huge on talking on the phone so I had 100 questions ready to go when I hopped out the truck. Are we going now? What do you think about this fly? Should I have brought my other boat instead so we would have a trolling motor? As always he just smiled, played it cool and said something like, “let’s get everything ready for an early dinner then we’ll go out after that and watch the sunset”. While helping him make dinner I started to pick his brain. I explained that while I do have my light tackle spin rod and reel, I prefer to catch them on fly. That’s going to require me getting within around 50 feet of them. He assured me that shouldn’t be a problem being as how the fish were up on the surface busting bait. The striper push large schools of bait fish to the surface causing a lot of commotion on the water that can be seen from far away. This will attract birds and that’s what we are looking for. After dinner we headed to the landing around the corner and as we pulled up my heart sank a little. The landing was absolutely packed. It was a Friday so I knew I was rolling the dice but I had no idea there would be this many bass boats putting in. I looked over to Stu and said, man I guess it’s going to be a little crowded out there today. To which he simply smiled and chuckled; typical Cousin Stu. We dropped in and started out of the marina. I began to relax when I noticed that half the boats that just put in before us were actually pitching baits around the marina and along the banks. It was then I realized why Stu was smiling, all these guys were after largemouth bass. He told me the lake holds bass tournaments almost every weekend of the year. We were on plane for about ten minutes before spotting birds. We literally pulled straight up to them and I relinquished the helm and pulled out the buggy whip, a.k.a. the fly rod. My go to for reds is an 8 weight rod paired with the same size reel. I overload the reel with 9 weight line for a little extra punch into the wind should I need it. Six foot of leader attached to a standard white and tan clouser minnow. Stu brought the star rod paired with my Shimano Stradic 3000. I false cast once, then double a haul the line to get that fly about 40 feet to the exploding water and begin to strip the line back to the boat. NOTHING! I do it again with a little more action when working the fly back but get the same result. When I look back at Stu he’s smiling and says “man you gotta let that thing sink down to them”. Turns out what I was seeing on top was just the bait fish. The striper were actually feeding about 3-4 feet below all of that. I cast out again except even shorter because now we have drifted within about 25 feet of them. The fly hits the water, I count to 5, strip the line one time and BOOM! Immediate action like I’ve never felt with my red fish. In my neck of the woods it’s either a flooded marsh flat or a low tide creek when I’m sight fishing reds so they have no depth causing a lot of long runs out and away from the boat. Whereas with the lake striper they have anywhere from 30-90 feet to go straight down. Don’t worry though, they’ll run straight out on you too! As I began to turn the fish around I looked back to see an empty helm and a white fluke with a ¾ oz Eye Strike jig head flying over my shoulder, straight to the fish fired up and flashing around mine. Many fish were landed on both soft plastics and fly’s but I included the picture of my first on fly that day and the tackle we used. Captain Justin Ravenel Stu isn’t guiding yet but I look forward to writing more about him in future articles. Ravenel Fishing Charters You can catch these fish year round using all sorts of tackle but if you are like me and want the thrill of 843-864-5056 the hunt then go look for the birds, they know where the fish are! ravenelfishingcharters.com 14 LOWCOUNTRY
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I landed this 32” 9 lb Red drum in Johns Island on a little 2000 reel
Wyatt’s (9yr) first big redfish (28")caught in Beresford Creek off a neighborhood dock
Offshore and inshore success courtesy of Hook, Line and Heroes
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18th Annual
Mother’s Day Dolphin Tournament FISH FOR A CAUSE to benefit
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Awards Banquet Marathon Yacht Club Saturday, May 11th - 7pm
Sunday Honor Our Moms Always in our Hearts JB!
TIPS FROM A PRO
ISOLATED TARGETS FOR BIG BASS
TYLER WOOLCOTT
A
round the country, spring is either here or it is rapidly approaching. There is an amazing tip I want to share to improve your chances for catching big bass this time of year. In spring, bass flood into shallower areas of any lake. Whether that be a bank, pocket or a flat shallow area, they move shallow to start their transition and get ready to do their thing. They use any type of readily available cover to stage up and then eventually spawn. This takes a lot of the guesswork out of the search for where your next bite may come from. What I look for is isolated cover and structure. Types of cover that I look for differentiate from state to state and lake to lake, but the general concept is always the same. The more isolated the better! For instance, here in Florida, anything from a couple lily pads or a very small patch of vertical grass sticking up away from most of the other cover is the ideal spot for a big one to be sitting. In other areas of the country, it could be a single rock, a piece of wood or any kind of debris or cover that looks out of place. Shallow brushpiles near a spawning area that you find with your electronics are also an awesome thing to look for. Some of my biggest spring bass have come from something so obvious that most anglers
go right past it. Fish also often replenish on these places very quickly, so don’t overlook visiting the same piece of structure multiple times in a single day. One of my favorite things to do is cast to isolated lily pads. There could be two tiny little pads out in the middle of a flat on their own, and I might catch multiple fish off the same two pads by revisiting them throughout the day. I often pick apart these objects by dragging something slowly by or through the structure. Typically, a wacky-rigged weightless Senko or a very lightly weighted Texas-rigged stick bait are my go-to lures. When in Southern states that have some stain to the water, I stick with darker colors like blacks and blues or junebug. When the water is clear, I’ll go with more natural colors like a green pumpkin. You can keep your gear pretty simple, but remember you’re fishing around structure fish can wrap you around and break you off. Use heavier line. Try stepping up your leader size to 12- to 15-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon on a spinning rod, and use 15- to 20-pound when throwing a Texas rig on a baitcaster. The 13 have fun and be safe on the water. Fishing Defy series of rods are awesome and Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament affordable. I use the 7’6” MH for baitcasting angler and guide. Check out his website at rods and the 7’1” MH for spinning. www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com. Good luck out there this spring and always
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A PAIR OF WILEY X SUNGLASSES THROUGH MARCH!
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n December, Coastal Angler and Suzuki teamed up to award one lucky reader with an extra special Christmas gift as part of the magazine’s regular contest drawings. Jeanette Harkin, of Edgewater, Fla., is now the happy owner of small, but feature-rich Suzuki DF2.5 outboard, which she plans to use on the inshore fisheries around Smyrna Beach. “I was super excited when I found out that I won, because we’ve been wanting to get a nice trolling motor for a long time,” Jeanette said. “It was an extra special Christmas present from you guys! Thank you again!!!” The Suzuki DF 2.5 weighs just 30 pounds, and the smooth, quiet and dependable engine is a perfect fit for the 16-foot Gheenoe Jeanette plans to put it on. She goes out frequently after whitefish, redfish and blue crabs on the Intracoastal near her home, and this little rig will be perfect for zipping around on the flats and backwaters. Coastal Angler’s current Giveaway drawing is for two pairs of awesome Wiley X sunglasses. These high-performance and stylish glasses will be just in time for all your springtime outdoor adventures. Go to Coastalanglermag. com, click the “Contest” tab, enter the drawing, and you could be sporting some free new shades on the water this spring. To enter, go to coastalanglermag.com/contest.
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WHERE THE SUWANNEE & STEINHATCHEE RIVERS MEET THE GULF OF MEXICO
PHOTO BY DAVID HAY JONES
GREAT FISHING!
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REDFISH TIP:
THE GARRETT REDFISH DRAG
H
ere’s a quick redfish tip from Capt. Garrett Ross, of Miss Judy Charters out of Savannah, Ga. “While using a traditional adjustable style cork, adjust depth to allow the live shrimp to sit directly on the bottom. This means that your cork will be laying completely over on its side. Now, when the cold-water redfish decides to take the bait in its mouth, you will not know until the cork stands up right and starts to make way. It is suggested to reel lightly tight and allow the circle hook to do its job of lip hooking your redfish!” Capt. Garrett’s reasoning for the Ethan Long, 13, with a nice redfish caught effectiveness of his while fishing with Capt. Garrett Ross. technique is that a redfish has plenty of time to eat the shrimp and begin to swim away before the angler holding the rod even knows the fish is there. It might sound counterintuitive, but circle hooks have a way of coming unbuttoned when there’s an over-eager angler holding the rod. For more from Capt. Judy Helmey, visit missjudycharters.com. 12 NATIONAL
MARCH 2024
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very saltwater angler knows the frustration of losing their hardearned catch to sharks. With a hard thump, that big, feisty cobia or snapper stops fighting and all that’s left to haul over the rail is a head. Those delicious fillets were donated to the taxman, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Well, it seems the U.S. Congress is at least willing to take a look at the issue of shark depredation, which is a shark hammering a fish on the line before it can be landed. The SHARKED Act is a piece of legislation working its way through Congress right now with bipartisan support. The bill is just a first step toward mitigating shark interactions with anglers, both recreational and commercial, but it’s one of those rare occasions when legislators might just come together. According to the American Sportfishing Association, shark encounters are increasing on all U.S. coasts. The Magnuson-Stevens Act of 2007—the sweeping legislation that gave us the decades-long red snapper fiasco in the Gulf of Mexico—has been successful, maybe too successful, in rebuilding populations of many shark species that were previously reduced by fishing. In addition to being frustrating to anglers, there is concern that sharks are negatively impacting fisheries, and there is already talk among fisheries managers of stricter regulations on anglers intended to offset or avoid shark interactions. With support from several sportfishing and conservation organizations, the SHARKED Act unanimously passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives, and at presstime it was headed to the Senate and potentially to President Biden to be signed into law. It would direct NOAA Fisheries to develop a task force to study the issue of shark depredation. The task force would be tasked with improving coordination and communication across the fisheries management community to identify research priorities and funding opportunities and make a plan to reduce shark/angler interactions. We can only hope this future plan puts limitations on the taxman and not on anglers.
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GRAND LAKE TO HOST
2024 BASSMASTER CLASSIC T
he field is set, and the grandest spectacle in bass fishing will be renewed for the 54th time from March 22-24. This year’s Bassmaster Classic will be held on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, with weigh-ins and festivities in Tulsa, Okla. Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees has more than lived up to its name. The 46,500-acre fishery provided some of the grandest moments in the history
of the event when Classics were held there in 2013 and 2016. Now the picturesque reservoir in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains will add to that grand lore when it again plays host the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing. As with past Classics held in Tulsa, daily weigh-ins will be held at the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa, with the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo across the street at the Cox Business Convention Center. Daily takeoffs will be held about 90 miles away at the Wolf Creek Park and Boating Facility on Grand Lake. During the first Tulsa Classic in 2013, former Elite Series pro Cliff Pace of Mississippi claimed a wire-to-wire victory during a frigid event when icy precipitation tested the toughness of the 53-angler field. In 2016, local favorite Jason Christie led Days 1 and 2 and seemed poised to earn his first Classic trophy until fellow Oklahoma pro Edwin Evers caught a five-bass limit that weighed 29 pounds, 3 ounces to claim a dramatic come-frombehind win. “The Grand River Dam Authority is excited to see the Bassmaster Classic make its return to Grand Lake in 2024,” said GRDA President and CEO Dan Sullivan. “Not only will the event provide a tremendous economic benefit to the region but it will once again showcase Grand Lake to interested audiences across the country. “GRDA places a high priority on caring for the natural resources under its control, and being a three-time host of the Bassmaster Classic reinforces Grand’s reputation as one of the nation’s top fisheries. GRDA is excited to once again support the Bassmaster Classic, which is known as a premier event and competition for anglers.” On last year’s list of 100 Best Bass Lakes by Bassmaster Magazine, Grand Lake ranked 17th in the Central Division. That marks the 11th straight year that the fishery has ranked in the Top 100. The field will include 56 anglers competing for a $300,000 first-place prize and a total purse of over $1 million. “Since its inception, the Classic has been a tournament that changes lives,” said B.A.S.S. Vice President of Tournaments Chris Bowes. “The payday is great, sure. But the opportunity to refer to yourself as ‘Bassmaster Classic champion’ for the rest of your life — there’s no greater clout in our sport.”
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With more than 60,000 surface acres and 1,300 miles of shoreline, Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees is one of the largest outdoor destinations in Oklahoma. Located on the Grand River, the lake is hugely popular with boaters, fishermen, campers and anyone else who loves spending time in the great outdoors. Anglers are sure to have a blast searching for largemouth bass, white bass, crappie, channel catfish, bluegill and the rare paddlefish on Grand Lake waters. And Grand Lake’s shores are lined with so many unique attractions, shops, restaurants, state parks and casinos that seeing everything in one trip is next to impossible. There’s truly something for everyone to love in the Grand Lake Area!
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