Coastal Angler Magazine | January 2023 | Naples/Marco Island/Everglades/Bonita Springs Edition

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SPACE COAST

By Nick Carter

CHASING BAITBALLS

Winter is the best time to sh,” said Capt. Chris Cameron, “the only problem is the weather.”

Capt. Cameron is owner/operator of Fired Up Fishing Charters out of Cocoa Beach, Fla. He said it was tough to nd good weather windows this November and early December, but that o shore shing is primed to re o like a Space Coast rocket whenever conditions stabilize.

Winter on Florida’s Atlantic Coast can be spectacular because of all the migratory species that push down to overwinter in milder temperatures. King sh, cobia, black n tuna, sail sh and others are all hunting the reefs about 18 miles o Port Canaveral. e key to the shery is menhaden.

“ is time of year, you get these huge baitballs,” said Capt. Cameron, “and there are all these sh following the bait around. You nd sh where you nd ‘bunka’ congregating on the reefs.”

Cameron is a transplant from Long Island, New York, and even a er more than two decades living and shing Florida’s east coast, he still refers to menhaden as “bunka,” which is Yankee dialect for bunker, which is what they call pogies up where boats are winterized this time of year.

“On good days, when you can get o shore and the water is clean, we might catch a limit of kings, a couple cobia, a couple black ns and hopefully a sail sh,” Cameron said. Even with 2022’s tightening of cobia regs, that’s a fun and delicious mixed bag to ll the freezer.

At places like Pelican Reef and 8A Reef, where depths range from 75 to 85 feet, Cameron nds the bait and then goes to work slow trolling live baits on double-hook stinger rigs and 20-pound line and tackle. He said he pulls baits at about 1 knot, which allows them to swim along naturally.

“ e thing with slow trolling is you never know what you’re going to get,” said Cameron. “It could be a big king, a sail sh, a cobia or a shark.”

Pitch rods are kept ready in case a cobia shows up on the surface. Cameron said he’s learned from experience not to over-stimulate cruising cobia by throwing multiple lines at once. Usually, clients can convince cobia to bite with a one-two punch. ey keep a squid-tipped bucktail ready for a quick cast. If that doesn’t draw a strike, it allows time to slap a live bait on the second rig, which is a simple 5/0 circle hook.

Shrimp boats are another option Cameron seeks out this time of year. Although chasing them can be a bit of a time gamble, since they are usually 25 miles o shore over 200 feet of water, they can be extremely productive.

“If you see a shrimp boat o in the distance or spot one on the radar, it’s almost always worth a shot,” Cameron said. “When they dump their bycatch in the morning, it pulls everything up.”

Fishing shrimp boats can be short-lived, but

it can also provide fast action for the same species that come o the reef. For this bite, Cameron beefs up to 6500 spinning gear and 50-pound braid and 50-pound mono leaders. He keeps four pitch rods ready, two with bucktails and two with live baits, because the bite can turn into sight shing

in a hurry. Meanwhile, he’ll search with freelined pogies on a knocker rig.

Contact Capt. Chris Cameron and Fired Up Fishing Charters through their website at redupcharters.com.

By CAM Sta

Winter’s cold fronts consolidate wahoo to their preferred temperature ranges across their range. is makes them easier to target than at any other time of year. e following is a short list of very good destinations for wintertime wahoo.

San Salvador, Bahamas: Way out in the Atlantic in the southern Bahamas, the waters o San Salvador hold one of the best wahoo sheries in the world. Peak wahoo season is December through April, when hordes of ’hoos migrate to the area’s warm waters. e island might just be the

best place on the planet for a shot at a triple-digit wahoo, and the right conditions can yield fast action for 50-pounders, as well.

Within a short 10-mile run o the island, a seamount rises to 180 feet from 4,000 feet of water. is hump is a well-known feature, where wahoo congregate to feed on schools of small tuna. e remoteness of San Salvador keeps shing pressure in check, but it also makes this one of those bucketlist trips you plan ahead for.

Galveston, Texas: O shore humps out of Galveston, Texas also lay claim to some of the best wahoo shing in the world, and every winter anglers connect with giants. is shery, however, is reserved for anglers with the gumption to make 100-mile overnight runs to features like East and West Flower Gardens to catch the morning bite.

Windows of good weather and big, fast boats are a requirement to reach the shing grounds at the edge of the Continental shelf, where wahoo pile up with bait sh on steep depth changes of rock structure.

Murrell’s Inlet, South Carolina: O the South Carolina coast, cooling water temperatures con ne wahoo to the warm water at the edge of the Gulf Stream. is makes them much easier to target than when they are spread out in summer.

Depth changes and structure at the edge of the Continental Shelf, combined with warm 70 to 80 degree waters of the Gulf Stream can be found 50 or 60 miles o the coast. ese structures hold bait sh in the temperature range where wahoo are comfortable. Covering lots of water with high-speed spreads trolls up the best wahoo of the year, every year.

Venice, Lousiana: It seems everything o shore of Louisiana is about the oil rigs, and in wintertime the oil rigs are all about wahoo. e key to nding wahoo on the rigs is nding the right temperature range, and the magic number is 60 degrees. Wahoo congregate and feed around the rigs where there is bait and water temperatures of at least 60 degrees.

One of the great things about Venice is there are deep-water rigs relatively close to shore at just 15 or 20 miles, which means it’s possible to nd a good weather window and go. e Louisiana coast also boasts some of the best catch rates for wahoo in the world, and 50- to 60-pound sh are the norm.

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GO GROCERY SHOPPING IN JANUARY

With grouper season over, it’s time to switch gears and concentrate on other species. is is the time of year to size down and go for the snappers. Depending on water temps, it’s also a good idea to keep a light line out for any pelagics that swim by.

I love yellowtail and a mangrove snappers, but I really like jolt heads, trigger sh, pinkies, black seabass and hog snapper. I treat bottom shing like I’m going (organic) grocery shopping. First and foremost, I don’t shop on every aisle of the grocery store. I go down the aisles that contain the items I really want. e best groceries come from di erent places on the bottom and from di erent depths.

Farther north up the Atlantic coast there are a lot of beeliners (vermilion snapper) taking the place of yellowtails. In this mix will be trigger sh, which I absolutely love! Beeliners and trigger sh have one thing in common: the largest ones of the school stay higher in the water column. is is why I like to sh a level-wind reel versus a spinning reel with small circle hooks for this style of snapper shing. I start dropping one “strip” of the reel

at a time until I get down to the sh. A “strip” is the distance of raising the rod up with your thumb o the spool, and putting your thumb back on the spool. Simply let your thumb o the spool and let it fall in 10-foot “strips” while raising the rod tip upwards. Count the strips it takes to get down to the bites. Four strips will be approximately 40 feet deep. Note where you feel the rst bite. is will usually be the largest triggers and beeliners in the school. If you stop getting bites or you’re only catching smaller sh, let this same tackle go deeper or all the way to the bottom. is is where you’ll catch the jolt heads, black sea bass, mangroves and hogs.

I use a two-hook “chicken rig” made of 50-pound uoro with small circle hooks and a 3-ounce bank sinker. I bait it with small pieces of squid. A small 2- or 3-ounce jig works with the same tackle as the weight instead of a bank sinker. is is especially e ective on large triggers. Just replace the treble hooks or single

J hooks on the back of the jig with small circle hooks and tip with a small piece of squid.

I could go on and on about this style of shing. e limits are pretty good and the reward comes at the table. It is a good time of year to take youngsters out, because this style of shing produces lots of action, and it’s not heavy-duty grouper shing. Little ones love a trip to the “organic grocery store.”

See more from Tim Barefoot at www.barefootcatsandtackle.com and check out a video explaining this style of shing at https://bit.ly/3YcVzV1.

Tim Barefoot

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Wprivileged to guide clients there. We have broken many personal bests, and I get goosebumps every morning I launch the boat because I know the quality of sh.

Headwaters Lake is a 10,000-acre manmade lake in Indian River County adjacent to the well-known Stick Marsh and Farm 13. Prior to ooding the land, the FWC and the St. Johns River Management District created habitat with numerous underwater structures, ooded timber, vegetation and 30-foot-deep pits. ere were already existing ponds and pits on the property that contained resident bass, and nearly a million Florida strain bass were stocked along with bluegill, redear sun sh and crappie. ere are thousands of acres of submerged vegetation, mostly hydrilla, along with acres of cattails, spatterdock pads and hyacinth mats that are super fun to sh.

In central Florida, January and February are primetime, when bass are in full prespawn mode and waves of females move up to the ats to spawn. Air and water temperatures drop considerably a er cold fronts. Severe cold fronts a ect the ckle Florida strain bass, but not for long. Usually two days post front, conditions warm up and sh eat well again. ese weather changes transition bass and bait sh from summer patterns into fall and winter staging areas. ey feed heavily on shad and other forage and stage near the spawning ats.

When full moons and 60-degree water temps coincide, bass move onto the ats. ey spawn in waves. Spawning sh select isolated hydrilla clumps, reeds and the bases of pad stems to fan out beds. Hard sand bottom is key. Use sonar to locate hard bottom or stick your rod tip into the water to feel the bottom. If your rod tip pushes into mud, keep moving until you nd sand and then search for isolated cover.

My other primary focus is staging areas. Staging sh eat well and are plump as they congregate to wait for prime conditions to move up and spawn. New sh constantly come and go using the same areas, so they are extremely productive this time of year.

Ditches and canals on Headwaters are highways that bass and bait sh utilize to stage. e intersections and mouths of these canals are high percentage areas to locate schools of sh. Find a canal with nearby ats as well as pits or deeper water for bass to retreat to, and you will nd sh. ey stage on tapering drop o s, mouths of intersections, deep ditches and on main-lake points to ambush bait. I target staging sh with 6- to 8-inch paddletails, glidebaits, Rat-L-Traps, jerkbaits, chatterbaits, prop baits, Whopper Ploppers, spinnerbaits, stick worms and speed worms.

Contact Capt. Ricky Congero through his website at www.blackcloud shing.com or call him at (407) 693-6153.

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FLORIDA BANS HARVEST OF SHORTFIN MAKOS

The FWC banned recreational harvest of Atlantic short n mako sharks by setting the recreational bag limit at zero during its Nov. 30-Dec. 1 commission meeting. e previous bag limit for recreational anglers was one mako per angler per day, with a limit of two sharks per boat. In a press release, FWC indicated the rule would make regulations in Florida waters consistent with federal regulations and address over shing of short n makos in support of U.S. and international e orts to manage the species. Commercial harvest of short n mako is already prohibited in state and federal waters.

For more information, visit MyFWC.com.

Sea Trout Fishing

By: Caitlyn Gatrell

With seasonal changes bringing in cooler temperatures within the air and water, it can be a change of pace for the fishing production in Southwest Florida. We start to see less of some species but others may become more prevalent. One species that produces higher numbers during this time of year is the spotted sea trout. Florida is a perfect spot for spotted seat trout, as although they like the cooler temperatures they don’t like it too cold, and Florida definitely isn’t know for freezing temperatures in the winter season. I have absolutely noticed higher numbers of sea trout during the fall/ winter months. During the winter season, we typically will spend a good amount of time at those island points, flats, and oyster beds to find fish. We almost always find sea trout at these spots, especially on the flats and near the oyster beds. They seem to like al-

most any bait we throw, whether live or artificial. I caught my personal best sea trout on a small live pilchard, as I threw it right off the edge of an oyster bed flat. When we got there, there was noticeably a lot of activity, lots of swirls on small baitfish, and movement of water from fish swimming around. They were hungry for sure, as we all seemed to catch a fish quickly after throwing our baits in. Once my line goes off and I get to reeling, I can tell it’s a trout once I see those flash of colors and the black dotted back makes the surface. The fight isn’t too long and we bring them in for the up close look, picture, and nice release. We have ate sea trout before, but this one I wanted to release back to its natural habitat. Watching my fish swim off back to their homes makes me feel peaceful, so I usually like to release mine. When we go fishing around this time of year, it seems that some days we catch more sea trout than any other species, and that day was a prime example of that. For me, I prefer a bigger and stronger fight when it comes to fishing, but I don’t mind sea trout, they are still a fun and simple fight, providing the joy of fishing and the beauty of what nature can provide. Although, I do not really care for the sliminess that comes with trout, haha!

NEW BEGINNINGS IN SWFL

up and intact, but caution is still the word. I have however, noticed that the strength from Hurricane Ian has distributed some seabed sand and mud from one location to another, creating shallow areas that once were deeper. Nonetheless and for the most part, these areas are soft but still require caution when ‘scoping’ out the old fishing holes. Most of the areas that were productive prior to the hurricane are still holding fish.

By: Capt. Terry Fisher

Notwithstanding the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, everyone seems to be ready to return to our waterways for boating, recreational and commercial fishing. The Fort Myers Boat Show will ‘kickoff’ the ‘New Year’ (January 4-8) with extensive displays of new boats, marine equipment, and ‘BE IN THE KNOW’ safety seminars by the (Auxiliary Coast Guard) as well as fishing seminars by Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters.

Together with Coastal Angler Magazine, Captain Terry Fisher will be on hand outside of the Convention Center offering extensive one and a half hour seminars on inshore, offshore and Tarpon fishing. Each topic will be discussed three (3) times a day allowing approximately ½ hour for each venue and will include instructional, question and answer periods. These are extensive seminars, and they will be held in close proximity to the entrance of the Convention Center (next to the FT. MYERS MARINE BOAT DISPLAY) and adjacent to the ‘BE IN THE KNOW’ booth location. The seminars will feature suggestions for the type and right equipment one should consider for the utmost in performance and experience when fishing. Seminars begin at 10:30 am- Noon; Noon-1:30 pm and 2-3:30 pm.

1st Mate Vicki will be inside the Convention Center at our information and sales booth, next to Coastal Angler Magazine’s booth. She will be there offering to register for a free fishing trip to be drawn at the end of the show as well as to answer any questions regarding a fishing charter on our boat, FISH FACE II or on your vessel with Captain Terry as ‘Captain for Hire’, by the hour to introduce safety, navigation, fishing techniques and fishing locations so that your every trip is successful, inshore of offshore. Our fishing charter trips are designed to be custom tailored to the client’s needs and/or desires, including time on a beach, a restaurant or simply a hardcore fishing trip.

In addition, Captain Terry will have Fish Face II (New 26ft. Pathfinder HPS) on hand at the seminar location featuring a number of his sponsors and supporters from the fishing industry. These seminars are all inclusive and offer something for the novice to the experienced. Pictured here is the new boat that will be ready to launch right after the Boat Show.

The good news for those wanting to boat or fish is that the waterways north of Ft. Myers Beach appear relatively clean of excessive debris, migrant or damaged vessels. Most of the channel markers are

At the time of writing this article, little to no amount of Red Tide was spotted in the northern part of Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor areas. The thing to remember about Red Tide, is that the fish move away to areas not compromised and fishing can still be good. Fish will not be active in areas of extreme Red Tide. This is true either offshore or inshore. Another contributor to recent good fishing is the fact that there has not been a lot of pressure from anglers since Hurricane Ian. Moreover, the FWC closed harvesting on some offshore species until this month. These species included Red Grouper, Lane Snapper to name a couple. Lack of crab pots being placed has also reduced the number of Triple Tail being caught. Hopefully, the FWC will continue to monitor and properly set harvest numbers that are fair to guides and anglers of all species, to insure they have time to replenish.

Classic examples of not controlling the harvesting goes back only a few years when fifteen (15) sheepshead could be harvested in our area by each angler and is now only eight (8) per angler (which I think is still too many in our waters). Seatrout, redfish and snook harvest have also been reduced and those numbers need to be continued to insure a future healthy population. Until last year, the harvesting of dolphin (Mahi Mahi) in the Atlantic was ten (10) per angler or sixty (60) per vessel. These liberal numbers have contributed to a significant reduction in the amount of them showing up. I enjoy fishing for them in the Florida Key’s every year and have noticed a significant reduction in the population. Fortunately, they have now reduced the amount of harvesting per angler, and it is my hope they will cut it back a little more until these fish are more abundant.

December provided good fishing both inshore and offshore and the New Year should offer even better fishing and harvesting so plan on hiring a guide. This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters. Check out my website for charter information on your vessel or mine at www.fishfacecharters.com or call me direct at 239-357-6829. I am available as ‘Captain for Hire’ on your vessel by the hour.

Getting Back to Normal

By: Capt. Billy Norris

Although everyone is still dealing with the aftermath left by Hurricane Ian, we have been able to get back on a somewhat regular fishing schedule. Fishing has actually been awesome this past month! We’ve begun to shift into our wintertime pattern meaning were starting to see pelagic showing up in local waters. As far as the backwaters, fish are definitely biting however it is very important to be on a constant lookout for debris in the water. The state and county have begun cleaning up the junk in the water, but its a big task and there are still plenty of hazards that will make short work of your prop. That being the case, we’ve been fishing mostly offshore this past month.

Grouper, snapper and cobia have all been aggressively taking baits. As the water has cooled down, lots of big gag grouper have moved into the nearshore wrecks and reefs. We’ve been targeting them with big live baits on the bottom. Threadfins, sardines and pinfish have all been working equally well. If you feel like getting a little more advanced, trolling for gags is always fun and usually quite productive as well. Cobia are also still migrating as they do every fall. We’ve been getting

them sight fishing as well as keeping an eye out for them while anchored up fishing the bottom. As the water continues to cool, we will be looking out for kingfish which should be here with the onset of winter.

Even though it has been a tough couple of months since the hurricane, fishing has been on fire! A final note concerning the red tide. We always have some sort of red tide bloom following a hurricane. There is red tide in Southwest Florida right now. However, it is not bad in the Ft. Myers/Bonita/Naples area and improving day by day. The big blooms are now off Sanibel/ Captiva and also down south off of Marco Island thanks to some offshore winds. We haven’t had any problems with it in our local area, and hopefully since we are leading into winter, the red tide will die off quickly as the water temperature drops. Fishing is great this time of year, so get out on the water and catch ‘em up! -Captain Billy

Horse FC | palehorsefishingcharters.com | 239-285-7710

Pale

Freedive Spearfishing Techniques

By: Capt. Chad Carney

After a freediver has passed a level 1 certification course and relaxed enough to dive to fair depths and times, he or she often looks into spearfishing. Buying a speargun, Hawaiian sling, or polespear is next depending on location and intended prey. (For lots of info see my 20 articles https://www.deeperblue.com/beginners-guide-spearfishing/). Before shooting, I recommend open water practice and flattened aluminum cans are good targets.

L earning to stalk prey is the 1st technique and hogfish are an easy first fish. Hang high above and act uninterested, while slowly and quietly following. Minimize your profile by pulling back your weapon next to your body. Watch for the fish to accept your pres -

ence, then begin your calm descent bringing your unextended shooting hand up along side your head and pointed at the fish. The kill shot is from above and behind the fish’s head along it’s lateral line. So calmly extend, lock your elbow and pull the trigger. See my photo with double mangrove snappers on 1 kill shot. This doesn’t happen often on open moving fish, but they swarmed and I was lucky!

Another photo is my student Kyle Barnell as he stalked his smart gags well for a rookie!

A 2nd technique is an ambush. While watching Kyle shoot, I noticed a gag circle back twice to the same spot on a concrete structure. When the gag moved out again, I dove down and laid flat on the back side of the structure. Kyle’s tip was to dive a little fast toward my gag, then stop. The gag’s behavior repeated itself - right into my stone shot! Shoot Straight! Capt. Chad

chad.carney@yahoo.com https://www.facebook.com/floridaskindiver/ https://www.deeperblue.com/beginners-guide-spearfishing/ 727-423-7775

OntheRiver

By:JoeSheaffer

It has been a challenge for our area in SWFL this fall. Hurricane Ian and Red tide have definitely affected fishing and I have had to make some changes in my fishing plans. I’m very blessed to be in an area that has a couple of rivers nearby. Recently I have been spending

time fishing the Myakka River and have focused my efforts along the west wall. It is a huge area and having a game plan can be very helpful in covering and eliminating water. As always, looking at satellite maps has helped formulate a plan for the time on the water. I definitely recommend keeping an eye on the tide charts. The water can be very shallow along the wall. With this information I have been able to put together a few strategies that have been effective. The maps have helped zero in on structures like points, grass flats, oyster bars. Using the tide charts along with the information from the maps, I have been able to catch fish like Snook, Redfish, and qTrout. Fish don’t change their stripes, they use structure and current wherever they live to position themselves to feed. Most of my success is on the down current sides of structure working the lures with the current. Jigs and paddle tails were lures of choice but jerkbaits and wake baits have produced bites. There is definitely some truth to the old saying “90% of the fish are in 10% of the water”. Clearly the structures along this area have been more productive and making a plan has been worth the effort.

I would encourage you to prepare yourself when fishing unfamiliar waters. Your efforts should help you to maximize your time and enjoy your day fishing. Good luck and keep casting.

2:25 2.6 4:25 2.0 10:44 -0.4 10:36 0.7 7:12 5:51

Mon 2:59 2.5 4:58 2.0 11:19 -0.3 11:13 0.6 7:12 5:52 10 Tue 3:35 2.4 5:32 2.1 11:53 -0.2 11:51 0.6 7:12 5:53

Wed 4:16 2.3 6:06 2.1 12:26 -0.1 7:12 5:54

Thu 5:03 2.1 6:39 2.1 12:34 0.5 12:58 0.1 7:12 5:54 13 Fri 6:01 1.9 7:11 2.1 1:27 0.5 1:31 0.2 7:12 5:55 14 Sat 7:24 1.7 7:43 2.2 2:36 0.4 2:09 0.4 7:12 5:56

Sun 9:00 1.6 8:18 2.2 3:48 0.2 3:03 0.6 7:12 5:57 16 Mon 10:35 1.5 9:02 2.3 4:53 0.0 4:16 0.7 7:12 5:57

Tue 12:13P 1.6 9:58 2.4 5:53 -0.2 5:28 0.8 7:12 5:58

Wed 1:19P 1.8 11:03 2.6 6:51 -0.4 6:35 0.8 7:12 5:59

Thu 2:06 1.9 7:44 -0.6 7:33 0.8 7:12 6:00

Fri 12:05 2.8 2:47 2.0 8:35 -0.7 8:24 0.7 7:12 6:01

Spearfishing Wahoo

By: Capt. Tony Young

Winter has now hit the area and as water temperatures cool off, spearfishing heats up. It seems like my entire year leads up to these few magical months of bluewater hunting. Without a doubt, there is nothing easy about hunting pelagic bluewater fish. For most freedivers, our relationship with wahoo has become more of a love/hate situation. I love the hunt, their majestic nature, and of course a freezer full of that premium sushi meat. However, on the flip side, getting that freezer full of meat is a daunting task for most divers.

Years ago, myself and a few friends decided we wanted to learn how to effectively hunt wahoo. This was before the Youtube how-to videos, magazine articles, and all the other information that is available today. Truthfully, it took two seasons and most of the time we were just burning fuel and countless hours trying to figure out a pattern for these fish. It took time, years at that, but we did figure out a basic formula to follow and it still holds true today. Fortunately for anyone looking to get started in the passionate chase of bluewater spearfishing, there are now mountains of resources to seek out! It has been a few years since I have written any articles on wahoo/pelagic spearfishing, so it made sense to focus on the recent changes in the fishery that will help you be successful. Not what gear to buy or how to find fish, my focus is more on what to do when you get that moment you've been waiting for.

It's not a secret, everything has changed over the past few years. More people live near the water, more people have access to the water, and local fishers have adjusted to the new pressures they face. Years back, Wahoo acted just like you see on the videos. They would swim right up on the flashy piece of metal dangling on a string from the surface, while they pondered on if it was food or not a diver could dive down and place an easy shot. In my opinion these times are over, pressure has taught these fish to avoid divers and sometimes even their flashers. Wahoo have been around a long time and they will continue to evolve and adjust to their predators like they always have. While they learn and pattern our moves, we must also adjust our techniques to stay a step ahead. I see a lot of people chasing hard after the fish, swimming in circles, slapping the surface, and throwing everything they have at them. This may be effective in other areas, however it doesn't seem to work well here. When you see a wahoo and make your dive, that fish will come to a decision on what to do based on how you approach and portray yourself in the water. These fish know what we are doing and if they associate you as a diver that has shot at them in the past, they will avoid you. From what I've seen in recent years, divers that rush down and try and get a quick shot before the fish swims away, rarely land the fish. Those divers that quietly enter the water, slowly approach, and wait get the kill. This isn't exactly what everyone wants to hear, one of the attractions to wahoo is that they are beautiful big fish that you can shoot near the surface. Many like hunting them because it's a trophy fish that they believe doesn't require a lot of breath holding or depth skill. However, this is not true; those divers that can quietly approach and hold for a few minutes while the fish gets comfortable, often land their kill every drop they take.

Two or three years ago I missed a Wahoo from what I thought was a guaranteed shot, following my advice laid out above and took a re-

laxed shot during a long dive. I did get a nice fish this day but missed what I found out later would have been the largest wahoo of my life. After reviewing the footage, I made a mistake by breaking one of my foundational rules of hunting wahoo. That rule being never take a shot until you can see the fine detail of the fish. The stripes on their side, the curve of their lateral line, and the detail in the eye.

W hen you see all this, you are close enough to shoot. Most of the fish we kill are between 35-45 pounds, which the fish I missed would have been if I hit it. However, the water was so clear that day and I did not wait to see the fine detail in the fish, I missed it. The footage revealed the fact that this fish was much larger than I had thought, likely around 80-90 pounds.

He had a ton of mass and a belly on him like no other fish I have seen. My shot fell short and I watched him light up and swim away, to this day I know the mistake I made and haven't made it again. Bluewater spearfishing is exactly what it is labeled as, hunting in clean blue water. It will make a 90 pound out of range Wahoo look like a 40 pound in range Wahoo. Approach slowly, don't rush the shot, and pull the trigger when you can see the fine detail in the fish.

It happens, fish don't always give you a shot, no matter what you do it sometimes just doesn’t work out. If that is the case, don't just go for it. I hear all the time, “they were swimming away and I figured it was now or never.” If you don't feel good about the shot, don't take it, you will not land the fish. Know this, once you pull the trigger, that fish is as good as gone. You'll watch him swim away, better educated for the next time he runs into a diver. When you find a spot that has wahoo, it's because they are there for a reason. If you remain relaxed in the water and don't pose a threat, you can do multiple drifts hunting the same fish. The right shot will come and your patience will pay off. If your shot doesn't feel good, surface and reset, you will see them again.

Wahoo and other pelagic bluewater fish are hands down some of the most delicious, beautiful, and fun fish to hunt. They require a ton of gear, yield a lot of meat, and make beautiful trophies! As these fish continue to be pressured, we need to always stay a step ahead. When your chance does come, all of your hard work will be worth it. Hunting wahoo is a journey, there is nothing easy about it. Every fish I land is a true blessing and no matter what I come back to the dock with, the time drifting in blue water is priceless. The more patience people have in the water and with each other will allow us all to kill more fish. Relax on the water, around other boats, and on your dives. Approach the fish slowly, keep your heart rate down, and don't pose a threat to the fish. When your chance on a wahoo starts to unfold, wait for the right moment, see the detail in your fish and place a shot that feels good before you pull the trigger. Enjoy every moment of the kill and all the meals to come! Dive Safe! Captain Tony Young

Joe Keyes w/ a bare-handed catch (C&R) on Anna Maria Island!

Cash Nichols with an exciting catch at Keyes Marina.

@AmyKennelly_ with showing off some offshore fun!

Capt. Cody in Chokoloskee put Ryan Meacham on some nice redfish on their annual Thanksgiving trip!

Justin Guess w/ his 29” snook from the Caloosahatchee River.

Anna Martin

Kevin and Earl Horecky sunrise surface bite near Captiva. Zachary Ryan doing some nighttime fishing (safely caught & released).

Travis Schmahl caught this beauty using Wyzeguys neon minnow in mafia moon.

THE ABACOS ACKLINS ANDROS BIMINI CAT ISLAND ELEUTHERA THE EXUMAS HARBOUR ISLAND LONG ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

By Emily Rose Hanzlik

Sailfish

IT’S SEASON

inSouthFlorida

their anal n. ese long skinny sh are built for speed and can reach max speeds of about 70 mph.

Atlantic sail sh participate in seasonal migrations along the coast of America. Some sh will stay where they are, but most move northward in spring and south during the winter. is is due to the bait schools following the cold cycles. As soon as it gets hotter up north, they migrate. Once winter sets in, they return to Florida. Sail sh spend most of their time in warm surface waters of the epipelagic zone of the ocean. ey make frequent nearshore forays and congregate where water temperatures are in the 70 to 80 degree range.

ey begin spawning in spring, and this can occur as early as May or all the way into the fall. Like many other pelagic sh, sail sh use a process called external fertilization, or broadcast spawning. Males release sperm and females release eggs into the water current. Each female can produce about 4.5 million eggs. Once the sail sh hatch at around an eighth of an inch, they grow rapidly to about 6 pounds within a month. eir growth slows once they reach about 4 feet in length.

Capt. Charlie Stuve put me on my rst sail sh. He runs Native Guide Fishing Charters out of Jupiter, Fla., and sail sh are a favorite winter target for his clients.

“I suggest live baiting,” said Capt. Charlie. “Goggle eyes are the most popular bait, but other baits work, as well. Kite shing is preferable with goggle eyes, but I also do well slow bump-trolling edges. Live thread n herring, Spanish sardines and pilchards are my favorites while dri ing on a color change.

Now that the cold has set in and will be here for a bit, we once again change focus on what we are catching. Most larger sh tend to slow down during winter months since it takes more energy out of them; however, this is not the case for sail sh. As long as you are brave enough to venture into the rough winter seas, you’ll be sure to get on the bite.

Sail sh are the sleek and slender member of the bill sh family. eir name comes from the extremely large dorsal n that extends over almost their entire back. ey also have long pelvic ns, which stretch almost to

“Depths can vary, so don’t use yesterdays information because conditions constantly change. Sometimes when the bite is slow, I like to bottom sh and y a kite downwind. at way you stay busy with the bottom action and when you least expect it you have a sail sh on your kite.”

e IGFA world record for Atlantic sail sh weighed 142 pounds, 6 ounces and was caught in Lobito Angola in 2014.

Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 56 IGFA world records in various categories. She hails from West Palm Beach, where she has a part time Bow n Guide Service as well as shing classes for Jr. Anglers. Find her on Social Media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.

Photo courtesy of Capt. Charlie Stuve, @nativeguidejupiter

The FWC approved rules to help conserve Gulf striped bass in Wakulla County’s lower Ochlockonee River at the Nov. 30-Dec. 1 commission meeting.

FWC research has identi ed high rates of recreational harvest of brood sh (breeding sized) Gulf striped bass, and sta proposed rule language to change the harvest length limit. e bag limit of three sh per day for striped bass will remain in e ect. e proposed change to the length limit would change from 18 inches minimum size to no minimum size with only one sh allowed over 24 inches. Gulf striped bass populations are dependent on stock enhancement via hatchery production and protection of these larger-sized striped bass is necessary for the continued survival of the species.

“ is rule change is a positive step for Gulf striped bass, an important sport sh in Florida,” said FWC Commissioner Gary Lester. “We appreciate sta working with stakeholders on these ongoing conservation e orts for the future of this shery.”

Sta held public meetings with local anglers to discuss research and management options for this shery at Lake Talquin in May 2022 and an additional meeting in November to discuss the rule language. Anglers were supportive of using regulation changes as a management tool. Further stakeholder engagement will occur on this rule.

Email Christopher.Paxton@MyFWC.com with questions, or visit the striped bass pro le on MyFWC.com.

Let’s grow with Florida together.

Berkeley County, South Carolina

Berkeley County is a wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts, sports bu s, adventure seekers, and water lovers. From exemplary fishing for striped bass, or a trophy largemouth bass, to our hiking trails and water activities, along with scenic outdoors where you can catch a glimpse of white tail deer and gators, Berkeley County has activities to fit all visitors and families.

Learn more about Berkeley County at: exploreberkeleycounty.com

NEW HOOK DESIGN ALLOWS FISH TO RELEASE THEMSELVES

Researchers have designed and tested a new style of hook that takes catch-and-release to a whole new level. ese “bite-shortened” hooks are intended to allow sh to “release themselves” without being handled by the angler.

Dr. Holden Harris, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Florida’s Nature Coast Biological Station, was the mastermind behind the study. In his write up on Hook Line & Science, a North Carolina Sea Grant blog, he promoted the bene ts of e cient de-hooking and minimal handling of caught sh to considerably improve chances of survival for released sh. e hook he tested is a modi ed jig, which researchers clipped at the point, so that this “bite” portion of the hook—the business end— was reduced in length from 15 mm to 10 mm. e simple modi cation just clipped the barb and vertical length beyond the bend of the hook before it was re-sharpened. Harris tested it against a standard jighead as well as a jighead with the barb led down on 150 spotted seatrout. ey went shing with all three jigheads, reeled in the sh and then allowed the sh to op around boat-side until they either did or did not come unhooked.

“We found promising results for the bite-

HARRIS

shortened modi ed hook, which enabled anglers to land 91 percent of hooked spotted seatrout and then release 87 percent of those sh without direct handling,” Harris wrote. “In comparison, the self-release success rates were 47 percent using barbless hooks and 20 percent using standard, unmodi ed hooks.”

Additionally, Harris found that smaller seatrout were able to “self-release” at higher rates than larger ones.

Coastal Angler contributor and seatrout-on-

arti cials guru Michael Okruhlik has written on his use of barbless hooks when targeting pods of trout crashing bait. He said the ability to quickly and safely release sh without taking them out of the water allows him to get back in the action faster.

Maybe anglers would use a hook designed to let sh come unbuttoned?

For a video of this hook modi cation, see https://youtu.be/VC23oNikyc8

PHOTO BY DR. HOLDEN

Every year in Basel, Switzerland, the world’s best-known luxury watchmakers gather to display their new timepieces. It’s a great event for spotting timepieces that standout–– in performance and in personality. We saw one impossible to ignore: a precision dive watch with an arresting green dial. But we also saw the five-figure price tag and knew we could bring our customers that exact same precision and stand out appeal for a whole lot less. The Stauer Evergreen Diver is that timepiece.

Built like a submersible battleship with a stainless steel case, caseback, and band, the Evergreen Diver is water-resistant down to 660 feet or 20 atmospheres, a feat facilitated by a hardened crystal and screw-down crown.

Green On Your Wrist AND In Your Pocket. You could pay an awful lot elsewhere for this verdant virtuoso, but the majority of the cost is in the big designer name upcharge. We think those guys are all wet. This is how you own a top-of-the-line dive watch without helping pay for some marketing guy’s yacht.

Satisfaction Guaranteed or Your Money Back. Wear the Evergreen Diver for 30 days. If you’re not completely happy, send it back for

Amonster gold sh aptly named “Carrot” has been making the rounds on social media recently a er the sh was caught from a trophy carp lake in Champagne, France. UK angler Andy Hackett caught the nearly 70-pound bright orange sh from Bluewater Lakes, a heavily managed, privately owned pay-to-play shery that boasts of carp weighing heavier than 90 pounds.

Carrot seems to be somewhat of pet, but not the type you’d keep in a sh bowl. She is a crossbreed between leather carp and koi, and was stocked in the lake 15 years ago to give anglers an interesting sh to pursue.

“I always knew e Carrot was in there but never thought I would catch it,” said Hackett. It took him 25 minutes to reel in pot-bellied carp, which o cially weighed an astounding 67.4 pounds.

Carp caught at Bluewater Lakes are handled very carefully with a strict catch-and-release policy.

For more record sh, visit coastalanglermag.com.

TIPS FROM A PRO

THROW A LIPLESS CRANKBAIT FOR WINTER BASS

TYLER WOOLCOTT

Some cold but very fun shing days are ahead, and a Trapstyle bait is my absolute favorite way to sh this time of year. Typically sh group up in winter, and whether that be bait sh or bass, there are opportunities that make lipless crankbaits absolutely deadly!

rowing a lipless crank around areas where sh are chasing bait or where they are grouped up has caught lots of bass and some big ones. Even casting this bait as a search bait can work wonders. ere are so many options for lipless cranks that it can get confusing. I’ve experimented plenty, so I hope this article helps.

Traps range from ¼ oz. up to 1 oz. in weight, and every size can be used di erently. I pick sizes depending on the depth I’m shing or the depth of the structure, and I also consider the natural bait that is prevalent in the area. If you’re shing shallow or around tiny bait sh, a ¼-oz. size will be the best bet. A ½-oz. is usually my goto. It’s great for the mid-range depths of 5 to 10 feet, and it imitates a range of bait sh sizes.

A ¾-oz. is a bit bigger, and I don’t throw it as much, but it certainly has its place in 10 to 20-foot depths.

Remember, you can always vary your retrieve to get these baits higher or lower in the water column.

Color is another key factor. Ninety percent of the time, I sh a bait sh color. Whether it’s a shad, shiner or bluegill pattern, natural colors always work for me. I also throw orange or red a lot in winter. ese colors imitate craw sh, and they work where craw sh are prevalent. Match your bait color to the forage in the lake.

e last factor for lipless baits is sound related. ey come in silent, multi-rattle or single-knocker versions. I go silent for very clear water and heavily pressured sh, when appearing natural is important. e multi-rattle baits make a lot of noise, and the commotion draws strikes. My go-to, though, is the one-knocker style. is sound is unique and a little deeper pitched. I feel like sh, over the years, have become accustomed to the loud versions. I nd the single-knocker gets a few more bites in most situations.

With treble hooks, rod selection is important. You just reel into the sh when you get a bite, and this means your rod needs a solid backbone to drive those hooks and also a good amount of tip for keeping sh on during the ght. My go-to rod is a 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’4 Medium Heavy Moderate. e 13 Fishing Concept A 7:5:1 is a perfect reel for this application. I sh 15- to 20-lb. Seaguar Invizx line, depending on the structure I’m shing.

I hope these Trap tips help you put a few more sh in your boat this winter!

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

RECORD LONGFIN TUNA LANDED OFF NEW JERSEY

ANew Jersey angler eked out a new state record for albacore (long n) tuna in October when he boated a 78-pound, 2.4-ounce long n that bested the previous 1984 record by 3.4 ounces.

Matthew Florio, of Brick, N.J., is a commercial scalloper and he was shing with the rest of his scalloping crew aboard the Luna Sea at the east elbow of Hudson Canyon, the largest known underwater canyon o the east coast of the U.S. ey were at least 75 miles o shore and chunking for yellow n tuna, which is a technique that involves cutting up a bunch of butter sh and throwing them overboard before following up with hooked chunks of butter sh. e crew was already having a good day with yellow ns when Matthew hooked into his big albacore. He battled it in with a Kevin Bogan 30 Stand Up rod and a Penn 30 reel loaded with 60-pound mono lament. e sh measured 48 and 3/8 inches long and had a girth of 37 inches. e previous record was a 77-pound, 15-ounce long n caught in 1984 by Dr. S. Scannapiego in Spencer Canyon.

For more record sh, see coastalanglermag.com.

DO BIG LURES = BIG FISH?

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

Now that Jack Frost has bay temperatures thoroughly chilled, only diehard lure chuckers will be found stalking the ats. Most of us have one thing in mind this time of year, catching a trophy trout. Here is how I approach my quest for that dirty 30-incher.

When water temperature stabilizes in the COLD range, all the migratory forage ees for warmer pastures. e bays are le with larger mullet as the primary food source for prized speckled trout. is is the time of year that I pull out my larger lures. is could be a longer length, a wider pro le, or both. is doesn’t have to be a 12-inch lure that is no fun to cast all day, but I do upsize from my typical 3- and 4-inch lures that I use most of the year. We have all seen a 25-inch trout with a 15-inch mullet in its belly, so they will eat something huge, but giant baits aren’t as fun to sh.

My con dence lures this time of the year are typically a 4-inch wide-pro le slow-sinking lure or a 5-inch bulky body paddletail. Since plastisol is buoyant, the bulky lure will have a slower sink rate, which I prefer under most conditions. e

slower sink allows for dual bene ts this time of year. Logically, the slower sink rate matches the slower mood of a cold sh. Also, I spend a lot of time targeting sh over shallow grass in knee-deep water. A slower sink rate keeps my lure in the strike zone longer before it disappears into the grass.

weedless hook. Depending on the conditions, I might go weightless or with a 1/16- or 1/8-ounce jighead. e weedless version keeps me out of the grass, it lessens the opportunity for my cold, less-dexterous hands to be impaled by a hook, and most of all, it does less damage to the trophy sh that I am targeting.

Areas I target will be near deeper water, have so er bottom, have visible forage, structure and hopefully be lowertra c areas. While planning trips, I take into consideration moon phase, current conditions and recent conditions when determining where to sh.

I have never caught a trophy trout by accident. I don’t know if that is lucky or unlucky, but every trout I have landed over 27 inches was on a day when I set out speci cally targeting larger sh. Case in point, if you want to catch trophy trout consistently, you must make the e ort to target them, sh where they live and be attentive to details. I know numerous anglers have caught large trout with no e ort, but most don’t catch two.

The Return of a

I t my 5-inch rattling paddletail with a

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®.

SAVOR THE SEASONS in Upcountry South Carolina

Every season is the best season to explore the many treasures in the Upcountry.