Coastal Angler Magazine | June 2024 | North Central Florida / Nature Coast Edition Edition

the importance of boat insurance

Do you love boating? Then you know how fun and relaxing it can be on the open water. But you also know that things can go wrong sometimes, like storms, accidents, theft, or injuries. That’s why boat insurance is so important. Here are some reasons why.

• Boat insurance can help you pay for damage to your boat, or to other boats or docks, up to specifed limits.

• If you borrowed money to buy your boat, your lender may require insurance. And if you want to explore different places, some marinas or waterways may ask you to show proof of insurance.

Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. and af fliates Coverages subject to policy terms and conditions.

• Boat insurance can also come in handy if you need an on-water tow, jump start, or fuel delivery with optional Sign & Glide® coverage. And if your boat sinks, boat insurance can pay for the cost of removing it from the water (if removal is legally required).

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PUBLISH YOUR OWN FISHING MAGAZINE

Swordfshing is great any time of the year, but during summer you can justify the fuel burn to get where they live. It’s nearly impossible to run that far ofshore in June and not come across diving birds indicative of mahi or tuna. With minimal efort, this can be a nice score to put something in the box if you don’t have luck with the swords. It is normal to get skunked while swordfshing, and I don’t recommend going if you can’t accept that possibility. Te best way to go into it is to be fully prepared for both a fsh of a lifetime or to just chill with friends. Make no mistake, when you do land one of these beasts, it’s some of the most exciting fshing you can experience, and it’s worth the skunk risk.

Although you don’t have to run as far, the same consolation prize applies to heading out for tilefsh, snowy and yellowedge grouper, queen snapper, barrelfsh and rosies. Mahi fshing to, from and during deep-dropping rounds out a trip nicely.

Be prepared for mahi when heading ofshore in summer. Keep at least four rods designated for working a school and more for trolling. J hooks are a must for these head-shaking, sky-rocketing, fippy-fappy, squirm-fsh, but just about any line and bait will do. Tese tasty little dummies aren’t picky and would strike a banana peel if you jigged it right. Tat said, the speed of the bait is a variable you might have to adapt to. Teir toddler mentality kicks in when you try to take a bait away from them, encouraging them to strike something they just turned their nose up at. If you get hit when reeling in your bait, open your bail and give them a chance to eat.

If you get excited about fsh with pointy faces, be prepared for a marlin encounter this time of year. I keep rigged ballyhoo in a trolling spread and a pitch rod set up. Marlin aren’t overly common here, but when you see one, you want to be prepared for more than to simply wave and think, “that was neat.”

SBy Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

SUMMERTIME’S BACK, BABY!

ummer in the Keys, albeit hotter than the devil’s you-know-where, is one of the best times to be on the water. With more calm days, open seasons for most species, and mahi peppering ofshore waters, this is the time of year to boogie out and hunt for whatever tickles your fancy.

the

and

of our

Marlin enjoy a mahi snack as much as we do and will pop up unexpectedly while mahi fshing. If you have a large live bait, toss that sucker out. If not, a mahi from the box will do in a pinch. Give her time to eat, hang on and enjoy the ride.

Mahi season is already of to a great start for both size and numbers. Come on down and fll your coolers!

Capt. Quinlyn Haddon; Sweet e’nuf charters, marathon, Florida Keys; @captainquinlyn; captainquinlyn.com; (504) 920-6342.

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FISH THE GREATER JACKSONVILLE KINGFISH TOURNEY JULY 13-20!

The “Grandaddy of all Kingfsh Tournaments” will get the First Coast buzzing July 13-20, as the 44th annual Greater Jacksonville Kingfsh Tournament presented by VyStar Credit Union hosts a full week of tournaments with more than $500,000 in cash and prizes.

Te competition kicks of July 13 with the Kingfsh Kick Of Beach Tournament, in which competitors are limited to state waters within 3 miles of shore. Tis event evens the odds for the smaller boats to haul in the largest kingfsh of the day and collect the $50,000 cash prize.

Fishing for the General Tournament begins Friday morning, July 19. Tis cornerstone event pays out to 20 places for both large fsh and aggregate. First place for largest fsh of the tournament will be awarded a Contender 28T with twin 200 Yamaha outboards, an Ameritrail Trailer and a custom T-top and leaning post by Custom Marine. Tis boat package is valued at more than $225,000.

Junior anglers have a shot at a 16foot boat with a 15 hp Yamaha, and the Junior Ofshore Tournament pays out to 25 places. Te Ladies Division pays out to 10 places.

cold beverages, hot food and vendors. Awards Day on Saturday, July 20 is all about celebration, with Kids Zone activities, rafes and seminars.

For inshore anglers, the popular Redfsh Tournament fshes on Saturday, July 20 with payouts of more than $12,000.

Jacksonville Marine Charities is the operating arm of the event, and it supports non-profts throughout the state. Recently, Child Cancer Fund, the Down Syndrome Association and the Child Guidance Center have beneftted from the organization, which also supports other local charity fshing events like Te Premier Trout, Flounder Pounder, Wounded Heroes on the Water and others.

For complete details, visit king fshtournament.com.

All the boats and fsh coming to the docks at Jim King Park and Boat Ramp at Sisters Creek Park in Jacksonville creates a festival atmosphere. Te

Trout are Eating Your Nymph More than You Realize

Alarge trout rising to a high-riding dry fy is one of life’s true pleasures. It’s pretty darn easy to see. Te fy is bouncing happily along the surface, and with a splash it’s gone.

On the other hand, that same fat rainbow trout sucking in a nymph 6 feet down in a dark run may not be as obvious. When you’re nymphing, speed is of the essence. In a second, that fsh will expel the fy. Tere are a bunch of diferent strike indicators designed to help you see the sometimes-faint signal of a hit. Some work well, some break, some slide, and some just suck.

I love yarn indicators for their sensitivity and the plastic air-flled bobbers for ease of use. Both styles rigged up the leader about twice the depth of the water you’re fshing help you detect the strike. Any hesitation, dive or shif in direction of your indicator might be a hit.

I tell clients, if they think a fsh might even be breathing on the fy to set the hook! You get a heck of a lot more strikes than you think you do when nymph fshing. Any slack between your indicator and fy allows a fsh eat and spit your nymph out, and sometimes go completely undetected.

At close range, high-stick or Czech-nymphing techniques work great. No indicator is needed, as diferent colored lines or coiled-line indicators that straighten when a fsh takes are the deal. A lot of the time, the trout is felt when it takes the fy, or you will see the line suddenly stop. Tis method is deadly in experienced hands.

Another method of strike indication is the use of a big dry fy as the

indicator. Usually, a piece of fuorocarbon tippet is tied to the hook and a nymph or two hang underneath. Tis is a good when the fsh might spook if a plastic bobber crashes on their heads. A buggy looking dry fy is a lot less scary.

Another cool way to catch trout on subsurface fies is to watch them eat it. I call this ninja fshing! You’ll need the sun at your back or directly overhead. Start by locating a particular fsh, and then tie on a brightly colored fy that stands out and is easy to see. Cast upstream of the fsh, and let it drif down to the fsh. Sometimes a fy bounced right into their face will get a refex strike. Tis is a good way to learn how fsh react to fies and how currents afect your ofering. If you are in a pool with several fsh, you might be amazed at how many fsh take a swipe at it. You will then realize how many strikes you’ve been missing.

David Hulsey is a North Georgia-based guide and fy fshing instructor. Call him at (770) 639-4001 and visit Hulsey Fly Fishing at hulsey fy fshing.com.

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As an authorized service and repower center for many brands including Yamaha, Volvo, Suzuki, Mercury, Evinrude and Cox Diesel, your needs will be covered. With a huge inventory of parts, they’ll likely have what you’re looking for. Advanced has also catalogued an inventory of over 5,000 used parts in case what you are looking for is no longer available or you can’t fnd it anywhere else.

Advanced ofers services such as routine maintenance, custom electronics, trolling motor and power-pole installation. Tey don’t stop there. Rewiring your boat, gauge and switch panel replacements, steering, canvas and Sea-Deck are also in their arsenal. Almost anything you can think of, they can handle including cutting custom dash panels with their computerized CNC router.

Ready for the latest in engine technology? Advanced Marine has an inventory of over 100 Yamaha and Mercury engines ready to bolt onto the back of your boat, and fnancing is available. Refresh your dashboard with the latest gauge and NMEA integration technology. Just give their repower specialist Harrison a call for an estimate, and you never know when the

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By A. deGruchy

SCHOOLING PERMIT ON THE WRECKS

Permit schools have been sighted in the Florida Keys over the past couple of months, and June marks the fnal stretch of their journey. Tese elusive permit are wrapping up their ‘spring break’ routine and are heading to some of our ofshore wrecks to spawn.

Tis time of year can be great for permit, because they school up and provide ample opportunity for hook-ups. Pursuing a permit takes strategy and stamina, since these fsh are known for putting up a serious battle. Any angler who is interested in trying to land one of these

prized sportfsh needs to know what they are signing up for.

When fshing for permit on ofshore wrecks in Islamorada, we usually target schools around wreck sites like the Eagle in June. Tese wrecks are typically on the ocean side in deeper waters, ranging from about 30 to 100 feet deep.

For tackle, we typically use 6500 combos with fuorocarbon leaders and circle hooks. Spotting and sight-casting to permit is usually the goto method. Tis means looking for glimpses of fashing silver just below the surface. Permit love

crabs, and they have great eyesight. fcial crabs like the Savage Gear 3D Crab are very realistic, and they are ective and cost-friendly. However, it’s tough to beat a live blue crab for permit bait. Hook them through the shell to keep them lively. Let the crab swim freely to drif into the school of permit and prepare for action. ght, fne-tuning the drag is crucial with permit because overpowering them won’t do the trick. You want the drag set just right, enough to make progress when reeling in, but allowing the permit to run… and it will run.

Permit are one of the most sought-afer sportfsh in the Keys because they’re notorious for their incredible strength. Anyone who’s ever hooked one can tell you that they’re strong enough to make even the toughest angler break a sweat. Once you do land your frst permit, it is a moment you’ll never forget.

While they are a ton of fun, permit aren’t known as a particularly desirable food fsh. Catch and release is the way to go because they play a crucial role in our ecosystem, and releasing them safely helps ensure we’ll have permit to play with in the future. Land them as quickly as you can. Handle them gently for a quick release to minimize stress and ensure the fshery thrives.

Many times while permit fshing, we encounter exciting bycatch like other jack species, grouper and snapper. It’s all about the thrill of the catch in these beautiful waters of the Florida Keys.

To book a permit charter, visit www.beansportfshing.com.

One if by Land . . . Two if by Sea

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A 9-Year-Old’s First For-Real Fishing Trip

Remember the frst time you went fshing for real? For many of us, the earliest trips elicit memories of a blue plastic container of red wigglers, a red-and-white plastic bobber and the ripe muddy fsh smell of an active bluegill bed. But that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the frst time you went fshing for real.

Maybe it was the year you were fnally allowed on the annual charter trip? Or perhaps it was the long-planned bass fshing weekend with Grandpa? Whatever it was, the person who took you decided you were ready to grow beyond the pushbutton-reel stage of fshing. It was on that trip when you became one of the crew instead of the kid who stayed home with mom.

Remember gathering your gear in anticipation? Remember waking up throughout the night and checking the clock to make sure you didn’t sleep through the alarm?

Jackson Willer, 9, of Melbourne, Fla., recently experienced his frst for-real fshing trip. Really, Jackson has fshed most of his life. His frst fsh was a jack crevalle caught with his Pop-Pop, Chris Willer, and his Mimi, Joann Willer, when he was 3 years old. But the Willer men are saltwater people, and when Jackson’s older cousin Ryan Willer, 21, told him to be ready early the next morning because they were going fshing, it was something new and exciting… his frst trip as one of the boys.

In the morning, before Ryan and Jackson lef for Sebastian Inlet, Pop-Pop pulled a special surprise from the back of his truck. He handed the 9-year-old a Penn 450SS mounted on an Ugly Stik. With freshwater wash downs and occasional cleaning, these vintage reels spin smoothly for decades. Chris (aka Pop-Pop) had been fshing this one since he bought it in the 1980s.

“I’m going to take care of it for as long as I possibly can,” said Jackson

on receiving the gif. “It feels really special. He was the one that taught me how to use a shing rod and all that stuf.”

So…armed with the rod and reel and a tank of live shrimp, Jackson and Ryan fshing for “I thought, there he goes. He’s running with the pack now. He doesn’t need us anymore,” said Joann (aka Mimi).

It wasn’t exactly a jam-up day on the water, but that’s fshing, and Jackson had fun.

“First I caught a redfsh, and then I caught a snook,” Jackson said. “It was pretty fun trying to reel it in and everything. It was hard and it was fun.” Jackson also said he doesn’t know when the next trip is, but he’s excited.

And that’s the whole point. Even if it’s just another day on the water for you, remember that the kid you’re taking was likely lying awake last night seeing visions of monster fsh and epic drag-peeling battles.

If you’ve got a great fshing story to tell, email us at editorial@coastalanglermagazine.com.

COASTAL ANGLER

North Central Florida/Nature Coast

Cary & Lynn Crutchfield

ALACHUA, CITRUS, COLUMBIA, DIXIE, GILCHRIST, LEVY, MARION, SUWANNEE

JUNE

Today is a rainy/sunny day in late May. We were flooded for almost a month, a very minor flood and a small inconvenience. Because of all the rain in N FL and S GA, the river is rising again north of us. We are also invaded by those little black grasshoppers, who grow up to be big grasshoppers, eating my wisteria, amaryllis, and a few other plants. Because of the flood, they are a little late this year. Every evening I walk around my yard doing the “grasshopper stomp”. Oh well, a small price to pay to live in Paradise!

This month’s recipe, Shrimp Scampi with Spinach over Angel Hair, page 2, earned the “You can make this again!” award from Cary. (What’s not to like about shrimp, wine, lemon juice, butter and spinach?)

Father’s Day is June 16th. How about a guided fishing trip for Dad? Our guides are the best in the business!

The best thing about summer on Florida’s Nature Coast (Hernando County through Taylor County) is scalloping, AKA “an Easter egg hunt under water”. Scalloping is fun for all ages and scallops are simple to cook and delicious! See page 4 for a map showing scallop season dates in our area.

You might want to check to be sure that your vaccinations are up to date before you leave for summer vacations. It could save your life.

Please thank our advertisers and the location where you picked up the world’s greatest FREE fishing magazine.

Lynn Crutchfield Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida/Nature Coast

North Central Florida

Nature Coast Staff

SALES

Cary Crutchfield

EDITING & PRODUCTION

Lynn Crutchfield

DISTRIBUTION

Rosa Crisman

GRAPHIC ARTS & DESIGN

Kathleen Stemley

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Tommy Derringer

Noel Kuhn

Dr. Kevin McCarthy

Capt. Andrew Fagan

Capt. Jason Clark

Capt. Katie Jo Davis

Capt. Jonathan Hamilton

Capt. Tony Johns

Capt. Pat McGriff

Capt. Brent Woodward

CONTACT INFORMATION

crutch@coastalanglermagazine.com

352-542-0356

Photo by: Suwannee River Water Management District

SHRIMP SCAMPI WITH SPINACH OVER ANGEL HAIR PASTA (YIELD

2 SERVINGS)

Thank you to The Crab Plant for the shrimp. Visit their Fresh Seafood Market or enjoy Cooked Seafood to go. You are welcome to sit at their table and view

beautiful Kings Bay while you enjoy your delicious, freshly prepared meal, watching manatees, dolphins, pelicans and boats. Or, you can carry it home; your choice. Open Tues-Thurs 10:00-5:30, Fri-Sat 10:00-8:00. 201 NW 5th St. Crystal River 352-795-4700.

DIRECTIONS

Melt 1 tablespoon Butter in small skillet over medium heat. Add Panko and cook, stirring constantly until Panko is golden and toasty, about two minutes. Set aside.

COOKING DIRECTIONS

Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Remove from water, set aside. Reserve water.

Add olive oil to 12-inch skillet and heat over med high. Season shrimp with salt and pepper and add to skillet. Sauté until just cooked through, two to three minutes. Remove to plate and set aside.

Add garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) to pan and sauté about one minute. (Watch closely; garlic burns easily.)

INGREDIENTS

• 14 cup Panko Breadcrumbs

• Angel Hair Pasta for two (or pasta of your choice)

• 2 tablespoons Olive Oil

• 12 Shrimp, the largest available (or Grouper cheeks)

• 4 cloves fresh Garlic minced

• ½ teaspoon Red Pepper flakes (optional)

• 1 lemon juiced and zested

• 1/2 cup Dry White Wine

• 3 tablespoons Butter

• Bag Fresh Spinach

• ¼ cup chopped Parsley

• Salt and Pepper

Add the lemon juice and white wine and raise heat to high. Let liquid reduce two to three minutes. Whisk in the butter, add ½ cup pasta cooking water.

Gently fold in spinach (I remove the stems), chopped parsley, and then the pasta and lemon zest. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper to taste. Add more pasta water if dry.

Transfer to plates, place shrimp over pasta and sprinkle with toasted panko. Serve and enjoy.

Lynn Crutchfield, Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida

FLORIDA WATERWAYS

More nautical terms

From time to time, because I am a linguist greatly interested in our language, I will discuss the origin of terms that can be traced back to our nautical past.

By Kevin McCarthy

“To let the cat out of the bag” or “to spill the beans” or “inform others of the misdeeds of companions,” etc. goes back to a practice in the 19th-century British Navy. One of the authorized methods of punishment on a British ship was to whip a guilty sailor with a whip made up of pieces of cord with knots at the end. The said whip was kept in a cloth bag so that someone who tattled on another or who himself was guilty of something would lead to an officer letting “the cat out of the bag.”

Listless: a listless person is tired and without energy. Interestingly, the word comes from the fact that sailboats tend to heel or list to starboard or port depending on the direction of the wind. In a light wind such a boat will not list, but will in fact move sluggishly or barely at all.

A troublemaker who acts impulsively to the detriment of others is a “loose cannon,” referring to a cannon that breaks free of its mooring in rough weather and rolls on the deck uncontrollably.

If you “miss the boat,” you have lost a good opportunity. The expression goes back to those sailors who didn’t pay attention to the time and got stranded.

“Dingbat” refers to a person who is not very bright, for example the man who cuts off the branch on which he is sitting. The term was a sailor’s slang word for a deck mop that was made from used rope ends. When sailors were swabbing a deck with such a deck mop, they would find that the loose ends would fly about out of control. Archie Bunker used the term

for his wife, Edith, in the 1970s television series “All in the Family.”

The “crow’s nest” refers to a lookout platform near the top of the mast. When sailors were lost at sea on their ship, they would sometimes release a crow from a cage at the top of the mast. The bird would fly in a direct line to the nearest coast. From that experience the expression “as the crow flies” referred to the most direct route.

I’m often surprised at how many

English terms come from our nautical heritage, which shows how English and American sailors influenced our language.

Kevin McCarthy, author of North Florida Waterways (amazon, 2013), can be reached at ceyhankevin@gmail.com.

The crow’s nest on a ship

A dingbat

To miss the boat (cr. Iremy)

A moored cannon on a ship (cr. brittak)

A sailboat listing to one side (cr. theHague)

A cat-o-nine-tails

HOMOSASSA

Summer is finally here! I know my kids are excited and I’m sure yours are as well. June is a pretty productive month in Homosassa and plenty of action to keep the rods bent for the kids! I know my kids will be begging to get out on the water and wet a line. I really like to hit the near shore shallow water rock areas like the foul area for what I call summertime trout fishing!

MirrOlure Lil Johns rigged on a 1/8th ounce DOA Jig heads are hard to beat. I like the watermelon red flake or glow. Establish your drift and once you catch a couple, duplicate that drift. Mackerel, sea bass, grouper, flounder, blue fish and more will be plentiful as well. I like to rig a live shrimp on a jig head and fish the rock piles while you are offshore. While you are on those rock piles, especially the larger rock structure, make sure to have a rig set up for cobia. Free lined pin fish will produce. Hang a chum bag and let the kids enjoy some great rod bending action!

Inshore red fishing will be good on the incoming tides on the outside points of the St. Martin Keys to Ozello. Live pin fish or live shrimp are hard baits to beat. I like to fish free lined baits this time of the year over bait under a cork. Cut mullet or lady fish will produce bites as well. Gold spoons are great go-to artificial, this time of the year to locate

fish. Keep an eye out for snook as well, especially on those points with hard moving water!

June is a great month for tarpon fishing the entire gulf coast of Florida. Crystal Bay in Crystal River has some great tarpon fishing in June. I’m a fly guide so I Iike to fish small bait fish flies or small tarpon toads in dark colors this time of the year. If you are fishing conventional, fish live pin fish, thread fin ,or DOA bait busters are great baits to fish for the Giant Silver King!

June 4th the Homosassa Guides Association will be giving out $10,000 dollars in scholarships to graduating seniors in Citrus County. We had a remarkable number of applications sent in. Congratulations to the students who were selected and good luck in the future to all who applied. For more information about our scholarship program visit us at www. homosassaguidesassociation.org

– Capt. Stump

Capt. Jonathan Hamilton www.stumpnation.us

352-424-3260

KATIE JO’S NATURE COAST ADVENTURES

Summer is here, and that means one thing here on Florida's Nature Coast! The underwater hunt in the crystal-clear waters of Crystal River and Homosassa is something so many of us look forward to all year long! It is a time well spent out on the water with family, friends, kids and even your favorite neighbors. Scallop season is July 1 - September 24 in this area, and the scallops are found in 2 to 6 feet of water, while snorkeling atop the Gulf of Mexico's water surface, looking down looking for the wonderful scallop shell.

A few things to remember when heading out for a day of scalloping.

1. All those scalloping, between the ages of 16 and 65, must have a Florida fishing license. This will be needed should you want to include anyone on the boat within the scallop limit.

2. The limit on scallops is two gallons per person in the shell, with a maximum of ten gallons per boat.

3. A dive flag is absolutely required to be displayed before anyone jumps into the water. The dive flag also must be taken down when underway.

4. Snorkel fins and masks are highly recommended as there is generally always a current when searching for scallops.

Should you choose to not bring your own boat to Florida's Nature Coast, I have created a simple and easy way to enjoy what we locals here consider one of the funnest ways to spend the day on the water. I offer a Bimini top on my boat for shade, and can fit up to six people for a four hour trip. I also offer multiple boat trips, should your entire family decide to join you.

Katie Jo Davis

CEDAR KEY

Hey anglers, I hope by time you read this, all this up and down weather is past us (mainly the wind). Despite having some high winds and temperatures in May, the bite has been very consistent.

With water already in the 80s, the redfish have been out in full force around the keys. I've had the most success during incoming tide, using knocker rigs with cut mullet. Fresh mullet works much better than frozen. So knock the dust off that ole cast net.

Trout have been thick on several of the southern flats. I've found that the lower the water, the better the bite. When that water gets over four feet, it seems like the bite really slows down. Then once it hits five feet, you can almost forget about catching a good one. A popping cork and paddle tail combo is all you need to fill the cooler with trout at the right tides.

Now with us getting into June, it's time to start looking for cobia and tripletails. So, make sure while you're out there to keep an eye out for either of those fun fish around structure.

Well y'all, until next month. Stay safe out there.

Jason Clark In The Slot Fishing Charters 352-639-3209 www.intheslotfishing.com

NAPA

What’s

up fishy people!?

Another month has come and gone and here we are six months through this year and moving fast!

Inshore, the redfish made their final migration to the outside points, bars and islands for the summer pattern. They will be fine to school up and a gold spoon will be a key factor this time of year. The tripletail and cobia bite will remain solid through this month with some big ones trickling through here and there. A big live shrimp for the tripletail and a big pinfish will catch that cobia.

Offshore the red snapper season opens and from 60 feet to 120 feet the bite will be exceptional. The only issue, the last five years have been sharks! If the sharks show up, either drift or keep moving spot by spot, getting what you need and work your way in for mangroves and hogs.

Tight lines guys!

Capt. Andrew Fagan

Instagram : Capt_redfishdrew EBB TIDE CHARTERS

BAIT & TACKLE

SUWANNEE

By the month of June, the weather is settling into a pretty predictable pattern, it's hot-n-humid and a chance of thunderstorms on most days! The early morning bite will generally be the best, no matter if you are fishing inshore or offshore. At this time of the day, the water is the coolest it will be all day, so “the early bird catches the fish!”

During the first part of May, the Suwannee River had been cresting and/or falling. But, with the heavy rains in North Florida and South Georgia on May 10th and 13th, the river will be back on the rise! As far as local rains go, it's pretty dry down here at the mouth of the Suwannee River!

The Suwannee River has now been high for an extended period of time; this means decreased salinity in the Estuary and especially the East Pass, the Alligator Pass and McGriff Channel. You will find that certain species of saltwater fish find it easier to acclimate to this big change in salinity. In our area the black drum and red drum (redfish) are two of those species. You can find them around the oyster bars in the mouths of the creeks, both North and South of the River. A jig head with a shrimp or piece of crab is a great choice for the redfish and black drum; the only problem is that the dang catfish will be a pain in the butt. If I want to target both redfish and black drum, I prefer to fish with a jig head and the FishBites 5 inch Jerkbait. If you fish it slowly close to the bottom, that's good for both species, but, if you speed up your presentation, you will catch more redfish! Also, for the redfish, it is hard to beat a

gold spoon or a top water plug and be prepared for a snook to also eat your bait!

By this time of the year, the primary migration of mackerel will be over, but there are always a few fish lingering around throughout the summer months, especially the Spanish Mackerel! The area of the “Spotty Bottom” is a great location for some fun fishing. You can drift, troll or anchor up in the area. The key is to target the sandy spots in between the grassy areas. Check your depth finder and you will find that the grass in places will be from 3 to 5 feet in length, creating a hole for the fish to be in, and is a great ambush location! Best baits will be many, alive or dead, fresh or frozen, artificial or natural, the choices are many! Grab a box of frozen bait, some bags of FishBites Baits and go out there and have some fun! Remember to watch the weather and afternoon thunderstorms! Until next time, y'all be safe and Catchemup!

Captain Tony Johns | 352-221-2510

www.lowersuwanneriverfishing.com

Instagram: captaintonyjohns

Facebook: Lower Suwannee River Fishing Adventures

KEATON BEACH

Trout fishing has greatly improved and beginning to stabilize after a bizarre spring. We had limits of trout for two trips, then a 20-knot day, when getting out to my fish wasn’t reasonable, so I opted for reds, and we landed 15 enroute to salvaging a trip, despite the 20 knot w-i-n-d. Live pinfish rigged under a Back Bay Thunder have accounted for a majority of our fish while Assassin soft plastic has made up the balance. I have been bouncing Assassin 5-inch shads in the Stinky Pink pattern, and tossing the NEW P&V under an Original Oval Cajun rigged on Bert Deener’s light wire 1/16 oz. screwlock jigheads tied up on a 36 inch leader of 30 pound test TrikFish clear mono. My best color patterns have been Laguna Shrimp, Green Glass Minnow and Brown Glass Minnow. Five to seven feet has been the depth for trout so far in May (today is May 12th)

Our reds are mostly eating live pinfish, but we had one day when we got a few on Precision Tackle’s HEX Spoon in the 1/2 oz. size in Gold. Reds are beginning to show up, bunched up on old familiar haunts close to shore. This has not been the case for most of this spring, so I am looking forward to June redfishing.

Don’t be surprised if you see a cobia or two as they have come in here at Keaton, as well as Steinhatchee and points north. Have a 30-pound outfit at the ready, and have a small blue crab or pinfish ready to toss them when they show

HORSESHOE BEACH

Hello guys and gals. Hope everyone is having a good start to the hot months! Fishing has been hot as well with several new species finally starting to show up. Spanish mackerel and bluefish have been pretty thick on the flats along with a variety of baits.

Redfish and trout have started seeking their typical summertime spots and will continue to cruise through these areas until September or so.

We’ve been catching these fish, throwing a variety of baits and techniques. We’ve been throwing bigger top waters first thing in the morning, then switching to paddle tails or flukes, either on a jig head or on a popping cork, which brings me to my next thing. We get asked all the time, “What are you catching this on or what are you catching that on?” And the reality of that question is, if the fish are hungry enough, they will eat just about any live bait in front of them. The most

important tool you can carry on your boat is a cast net. I’ve used live mullet, cut mullet, pinfish, fatback’s, mud minnows and an assortment of crabs. So as these hotter months approach, shrimp will be getting harder and harder to get, so the best thing you can invest in is not only a cast net--but learning to operate a cast net to perfection.

up, after your hooked up fish. Meanwhile, Let's Go Fishing!

Meanwhile, Let's Go Fishing! Pat McGriff dba One More Cast guide service for 30 years! www.onemorecast.net onemorecast@gtcom.net cell: 850.838.7541

We would love to get y'all out there on the water to catch some fish and teach you how to throw a cast net, or teach you how to tie knots, and what to use and when to use it. So, give us a call or reach out to us via email and let’s get a fishing or scalloping trip lined up. Until next time, Keep It Reel Native!!

Captain Brent Woodard

Reel Native Fishing Charters

ReelNativeFishing.com

352-284-5514

Zim Johnson and Mark Binion of Thomasville, GA, with a “double” of redfish.

Bill Cochran from Leslie, GA, with a nice 20-inch trout.

Lanie Rizer from Branford, with her first-ever trout.

SURF & PIER

Fishing is hot, hot, hot during the Summer. As our water temps start creeping towards 90 degrees, earlier is better. The early morning bite is the best. Sunrise during June is about 6:30AM. I meet my customers at 5:30, because by 5:45 we have enough light to bait and cast. On hot Summer mornings the bite usually shuts off by 10:00AM.

There is still a pretty good pompano bite is June. By July almost all of them have passed us, heading for cooler water in North Carolina. So go early and catch some of these delicious fish before they are gone! When I hit the beach, I usually have several live fresh baits ready to go. This morning I had live fleas, clams and crabs. I also had FKS, aka fresh killed shrimp. However, what caught the most fish was lime green/ crab flavor/FISHBITES. For the last ten years, I have never gone to the beach without Fishbites. Later in the Summer they are a game changer due to bait stealers. From June through October our surf is full of two-inchlong pompano and whiting. With fresh bait, you do not even see your rod wiggle. When you reel in, you discover you are fishing on credit. No

bait equals no fish. It is now time to break out the Fishbites. I prefer just a one-inch-long piece with the corners rounded off.

June is the best month to catch the best eating shark, which is the bonnethead. We are what we eat, and they are crab eaters. Hence their meat taste better than most species. To catch one, like the 20 pounder in the picture caught in May 2024, you want to use 100 pound mono finished off with a 5/0 MUTU light circle hook. Since they are after the calico/spotted crabs in the surf, the best bait is a half of a blue crab. Set your drags light. The first run is a real sand spike tester. Alright go now and go often, before the dog days of Summer are upon us. It will not be too long before the annual mullet run cranks up. More about that next month.

See you on the beach!

ST. AUGUSTINE

Withair temps getting into the mid to upper 90s, the next few months, it’s a good idea to get on the water as early, or as late as possible. The fish will be on the feed during those times and lying low during the heat of the day. Inshore, toss your favorite top-water plug at first light for exciting redfish and trout blowups. My new favorite “walk the dog” type lure is the Berkley J-Walker. It has great action and it’s easy to walk compared to some others. If you're not an “early bird”, check out the dusk bite using the same lures. The fishing right off the beach really comes alive this time of year. Huge sharks, tarpon, kingfish, and many more will be chowin’ down on the giant pods of pogies right behind the breakers. It’s a great time to put your heavier tackle to the test!

Noel Kuhn

43 years of surf fishing experience, surf fishing guide and long distance casting coach. Founding member of Florida Surf Casters club. 904-945-0660 www.TheSurfAngler.com

When looking to catch some redfish, be on the lookout for concentrations of finger mullet or pogies on the flats. You can be guaranteed that at least a redfish or two will be hanging nearby a big school of baitfish. During the higher tide stages, one of my favorite lures to toss this time of year is the spinner bait, as it provides a ton of “thump and flash” that the fish can easily hunt down. My clients also have great success tossing a popping cork with either a Fishbites scented plastic or a live shrimp or mud minnow attached to a 1/4oz jighead. On the lower tide stages, a lot of the bigger fish will move to slightly deeper water where it’s a little cooler. Live mud

minnows or finger mullet will be hard to beat, but a chunked piece of ladyfish or mullet will also work especially when fishing deeper for the redfish. A scented soft plastic like a Fishbites lure fished very, very slowly, will also be a good bet. The flounder bite should be good at the St. Augustine and Mantanzas inlets, and just about all the regular inshore flatty haunts. Fishing around the slack tides will give you the best chance to get your bait on the bottom where the flounder hide. Small to medium sized finger mullet on a fish finder rig can be deadly. Don’t be afraid to use a good-sized mullet to catch the doormats; just remember to let the flounder chew on the bait a few moments before setting the hook. One of my favorite fish, the tarpon, should be thick along the beach, gorging themselves on the bait (pogy) pods just about now. (We’ve been seeing them here and there since mid-April this year). The best bite will be early morning and just before or after the afternoon summer rainstorms. Rig a live pogy on a large 6/0 to10/0 circle hook and fish the outside of the bait pods. Sometimes a little weight will help the pogy get down. Depending on water temps, you’ll also find some huge jacks and plenty of sharks around those pods- maybe even a stray cobia as well!

Capt. Tommy Derringer www.InshoreAdventures.net

904-377-3734

2024 CCA FLORIDA STAR: WINNING IS EASIER THAN EVER!

CCA Florida STAR presented by Yamaha launched into year-10 on Memorial Day weekend! For 100 days, this unique fshing competition will award more than $500,000 in prizes and scholarships.

CCA Florida, the state’s leading marine fsheries conservation, habitat restoration, education and advocacy organization, holds the annual event to create awareness for conservation and support the protection and enhancement of Florida’s marine habitat.

Tis year, participating in STAR is easier than ever. Te competition has eight divisions including Tagged Redfsh Division, Tagged Dolphin Division, an Inshore and Ofshore Division, Native Watercraf Kayak Division, Realtree Youth Scholarship Division, Power Pole Conservation Division and Costa Kick Plastic Trash Division, and there are more than $500,000 in prizes and scholarships available!

“We are excited to kick of Florida’s largest family friendly saltwater

fshing competition for the tenth year,” STAR Director Leiza Fitzgerald said. “Tis year, it is easier than ever to participate in STAR because we have simplifed the competition to give anglers and non-anglers the chance to win big. Since 2015, we have given away more than $4 million in prizes, including $900,000 in college scholarships, and we can’t wait to do it again!”

STAR’s signature Tagged Redfsh Division presented by TH Marine ofers fve adult winners the choice of a Contender Boats 22 Sport, Dek Kat Boats 27 Flatz Kat, Spyder Boats FX19, Micro Draf Ski package that includes a Sea-Doo Fish Pro Trophy and a CanAm Defender. Each boat is powered by Yamaha and equipped with an Infnity trailer. For the frst two youth anglers, prizes include a tiller boat powered by Yamaha, a trailer, a Minn Kota trolling motor and Humminbird electronics.

In total, there are more than 160 prize-winning tagged red of Florida’s coastal counties. Citrus and Charlotte counties, STAR’s 2024 Destination Counties, ofer the best shot at a prize-winning received twice as many tagged reds as the other counties.

Te STAR competition also focuses on conservation with its CatchPhoto-Release format and smartphone app. STAR’s Trash Division has set the bar for other fshing tournaments to implement conservation-friendly alternatives.

All STAR entries must be photographed with the o Florida Measuring Device, which is available free of charge at locations throughout the state, including all Florida West Marine stores.

Te CCA Florida STAR competition presented by Yamaha has a division for everyone. Now with only eight divisions, plus ALL saltwater species included in the event and most winners determined by random drawing, anglers of all ages and skill levels can fsh from anywhere in Florida’s saltwater and have greater opportunities to win.

Registration is $40 for current CCA Florida members or $80 for nonmembers, which includes CCA Florida membership. Kids ages 6-17 can register for free with their current ($10) CCA Florida youth membership.

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888-POUND BLUEFIN CAUGHT OFF DESTIN!

In case you haven’t seen it yet, this enormous 888-pound bluefn tuna caught in late April out of Destin just might be the largest bluefn ever caught of Florida. It was brought to the docks at Boshamps Seafood and Oyster House on Destin Harbor, and although the fsh won’t qualify as a state record because landing it was a team efort, no one in Destin really seems to care. It’s a catch worth celebrating.

According to Te Destin Log, Capt. George Gill was piloting the Flat Dangerous on its frst Gulf of Mexico trip on Wednesday, April 24. About 68 miles out of Destin, the new 80-foot Viking encountered a massive school of surfacefeeding bluefns while the crew was fshing for bait.

With just four baits onboard, some small yellowfn, skipjack and blackfn, the captain gave chase, and the crew tossed baits into the school of bluefns. Tey lost three big fsh in short order, but the fsh of a lifetime for boatowner Warren Williamson, of Alabama, came tight on the fourth and fnal bait.

Te fsh died about an hour into the fght, and it was a team efort to haul it to the surface over the next four hours with 100-pound main line, 150-pound braid and 400-pound leader.

Te fsh measured 110 inches in length and weighed 888 pounds. Tat’s a heck of a fsh to break in a new boat!

Te existing state record, caught by Rick Whitley out of Destin in 2017, weighed 826.5 pounds. Another would-be new record was caught in 2022, also out of Destin by a team of anglers sharing time on the rod. Tat fsh weighed 832 pounds. Te Gulf of Mexico bluefn tuna record stands at 1,152 pounds. Tat fsh, caught of Louisiana in 2003, is the largest fsh caught by rod and reel in state history.

PHOTOS BY ANNE HINZE

CCW Petitions Big Sugar Over Everglades Restoration

Captains For Clean Water (CCW), a non-proft organized by fshing guides, is petitioning Big Sugar to drop its lawsuit seeking access to irrigation water from the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir.

Te EEA reservoir, which is currently under construction, is the centerpiece of Everglades restoration projects designed to provide relief from devastating Lake Okeechobee discharges and restore the fow of freshwater south, as nature intended, through the Everglades to Florida Bay.

Big Sugar, made up of sugar producers United States Sugar Corporation, Okeelanta Corporation (Florida Crystals) and Te Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida, claims farming interests in South Florida were promised water access by the federal government. Last year a federal judge threw out the case brought by Big Sugar, and this recent lawsuit is in the appeals process, with no projected timeline.

Explanation of the CCW petition reads: “If Big Sugar wins, they could push to use the EAA Reservoir as their personal taxpayer-funded water supply, upending years of restoration progress and sealing the fate of Florida’s future to include more damaging discharges, more toxic algae blooms, and more economic and environmental peril. It could also set a dangerous precedent, forcing Everglades Restoration projects to prioritize Big Sugar’s interests and replace their historical water supply over benefts to South Florida’s waters— regardless of how and when Sugar lost water supply since December 2000.”

To see more or to sign the petition, go to captainsforcleanwater.org. YOU THINK IT, WE INK IT! SCREEN PRINTING | EMBROIDERY STICKERS | BANNERS | SIGNS DECALS | WRAPS | LASER ENGRAVING DIRECT-TO-GARMENT PRINTING

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HIT-AND-RUN GROUPER

Tim Barefoot

I’ve long been a proponent of chumming up a place on the bottom with squid and then feeding grouper a big live bait.

However, afer the last few trips, I’m starting to rethink this tactic because of the number of sharks we’ve been catching.

I’ve never seen as many sharks as we are seeing right now. Te bottom is covered with them, and the top layer of the water column is full of them. Tis past trip, we put out fve Spanish mackerel on light lines hoping for a wahoo bite. We caught fve sharks almost instantly. One of these bites was the biggest tiger shark I’ve ever seen. It was at least 12 feet long and 2 feet wide across the head. Te rest of them were standard 6- to 9-footers; it takes a toll on you to get them to the boat for dehooking.

apart to create a lot of smell down on the bottom. Ten I drop live pinfsh or small snappers to the grouper drawn in by the “chum.”

Lately, I’ve resorted to dropping big, pretty live baits frst to see if we can get a few grouper bites before the taxman arrives, and it’s become a matter of WHEN rather than IF he shows up. It’s “hit-and-run” fshing. We pull up on a nice mark with pinfsh and grunts already rigged on the jig. I hit the spot lock on the Rhodan and drop in for a few good bites. When the sharks show up, we just move up or down the ledge. Lather, rinse and repeat as ofen as needed. Granted, we haven’t boated as many of the smaller snappers or seabass for the cooler, but we’ve caught some beautiful grouper with this “hitand-run” style of bottom banging. Te wahoo are diferent story. We quit putting the light line out due to the instant shark bite. I’ve got to fgure something out for that. From now until the end of October or the frst of November, wahoo will be everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Tey will come inside the edge of the Gulf Stream following big stacks of bait. As usual, some king mackerel fsherman will catch a 100-pounder on a live menhaden in less than 100 feet of water while chasing a tournamentgrade kingfsh.

Between all the American red snappers—which we aren’t allowed to keep—and all the sharks, we’ve been run of of several square miles of bottom lately. Tankfully, we’ve found some of the grouper we’re looking for, but I’m seriously rethinking the “chumming” part of the tactics I usually employ. Normally, I begin on a spot by dropping whole squid on jigs, which the smaller fsh pick

I said all that to say this: We’re going to take more pinfsh and less squid to catch “hit-and-run” grouper. Someone please educate me on a bait that will not catch a red snapper!

For more info on the jigs and bait, check out Tim Barefoot’s YouTube channel and website, barefootcatsandtackle.com.

C-HAWK MITZI SKIFF: & Two Brands, One Philosophy

In the boating world, brand loyalty is earned. Over years, boater experiences with vessels— good and bad, on and of the water—are what build the reputations of boats. It might, or might not, come as a surprise that two brands that have garnered sterling reputations in the industry for functionality and dependability are manufactured by the same builder.

C-Hawk and Mitzi Skif are both built in the U.S.A. with the same philosophy that simplicity leads to vessels that are easier and more afordable to operate and maintain. A simple, well-designed and well-built boat, comes with less hassle, leaving more time to spend on the water. Especially among anglers, this philosophy has built large followings for both brands among people who are more interested in fshing and boating than they are in pampering their pretty boats.

“We build a keep-it-simple-stupid boat. If you want something you can sof scrub at the end of the day and put it away, you’re my guy,” said Brad Grubbs, the owner and manufacturer of C-Hawk and Mitzi Skif. “We set out to make boats that are afordable to operate and afordable to own, and the philosophy has worked.”

Mitzi Skiff

Although Mitzi Skif originated in the 1990s for a singular purpose, the same philosophy for simplicity applies. Fly fshing the fats drove Tom Mitzlaf to design a skif with quiet maneuverability, extremely shallow draf and a clean deck layout to make him a better fsherman. It was simple by necessity, and it revolutionized the industry.

Tree decades later, Mitzi’s line of 15’, 16’and 17’ skifs achieves those purposes exceptionally well, and they have led the way with innovations that make them the fats boats other boat builders imitate. A Mitzi does everything the pricier skifs do, yet they are afordable enough for any angler to own and operate.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fx it,” Grubbs quipped. Mitzi builds skifs for anglers more interested in fshing than in spending a lot of money.

Te 15’ remains a purpose-built fats boat for one or two anglers to sneak up on wary fsh in super-skinny water. Te 17’ models are more multi-purpose. Tey can fsh three anglers, and while they are primarily a fats boat, they perform admirably as bay boats with a modifed V-hull and an 11-degree deadrise at transom to reduce hull slap. Rolled gunnels knock down spray for an exceptionally dry ride.

Tey are solid and durable for long years of heavy use, and from hideaway pushpole holders to fush-mount hardware, Mitzi delivers clean and stable casting decks designed specifcally for hard-core anglers. www.mitziskifs.com

C-Hawk Boats

C-Hawk has been around since the mid1970s and ofers lines of bombproof 16’ to 29’ center consoles and 22’ to 29’ sport cabins that were originally developed for commercial applications. C-Hawks remain widely used commercially, and many recreational

boaters also see the value in a vessel that’s built to take a beating.

“Really, we just took a commercial-duty boat and put a little lipstick on it,” Grubbs said. “ Te boat is as tough as it ever was. It’s been the same boat for nearly 50 years.”

At their core, C-Hawks are hardcore workhorses, and the center console models have become popular with charter captains because they are built to withstand hard use for years of trouble-free boating. Grubbs pointed to C-Hawk’s 25 CC as a great example of what the brand has become. It’s an extremely stable fshing platform that drafs just 12 inches, and with a 300 horsepower max it’ll take you anywhere you need to go from skinny water to light ofshore duty. What’s more, it’s infnitely customizable from the factory.

“We can mix and match consoles, fsh boxes, full transoms, cut transoms, bare hulls… you name it,” Grubbs said. “ Tere are some recreational guys adding towers and sight fshing for cobia, and such. Everything we do is built around keep it simple, keep it efcient, keep it easy to maintain, keep it cost efective to own and operate. Tey are all unique… no cookie cutter trailer queens here. Te 25 is a great example of what C-Hawk is.” www.chawkboats.net

Every month, I provide tips to help make you a better angler. Tis month’s tip is one of the most important. With so many tackle and gear options on the market these days, staying organized on the water is difcult. Here are a few things I do that make me a more efcient angler because I know exactly where to go when looking for the right tool for the job.

Storage options vary depending on the type of fshing you do. I’m going to stick to bass fshing, but don’t be afraid to alter these tips to your style of fshing.

When storing baits, hooks, line and gear, your No. 1 enemy is moisture. Keeping your tools dry should be a priority because it keeps hooks sharp and everything else rust-free. I store almost everything in waterproof boxes or bags. Tese storage options might be a little more expensive up-front, but when compared to losing a whole box of lures or hooks to rust, your investment will pay for itself many times over.Another good trick I’ve learned is to use DampRid moisture absorbers. Here in Florida, where humidity is high and temperatures fuctuate, condensation builds up in boat compartments. Te best thing to do is to take your tackle out of the boat and move it inside, but this is not an option if you fsh a lot and have a lot of gear. DampRid containers help keep everything safe and dry by absorbing moisture from the air in your boat’s storage compartments.

Now let’s talk about organization. If you’re a bass angler, you have a ton of sof plastics in diferent styles and colors as well as packs of hooks, jigs and weights to fsh them. I use plastic Sterlite containers with latches to store my bags of sof plastics. You can buy them at Walmart. I organize my baits by the type of sof plastic they are, and I label each container. On the water, this makes it easy grab the style of bait I’m looking for. Also, before I leave the house, labels make it easy to load what I think I’ll need for the day and remove what I don’t.

On the hook side of organization, one mistake people make when organizing hooks is to take them out of the original packaging to place them in compartment boxes. Tis is a huge mistake. Hook packs are clearly labeled by size and style, which allows you to quickly identify them on the water. Also, hook packs are designed to keep hooks sharp, untangled and dry. You can store your hooks in a box, but you should leave them in their original packaging.

Hopefully, these tips help you be more efcient on the water and save you some money by protecting your investments.

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

TYLER WOOLCOTT

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