Coastal Angler Magazine | August 2020 | Northeast Florida Edition by Coastal Angler Magazine

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Big Baits, Lowcountry Big Grouper REDS PHOTO BY CAPT. JOHN RYAN • INSTAGRAM: @FILLETSHOWFISHING VOLUME 25 • ISSUE 305

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Sight Fishing Reds In The South Carolina Lowcountry

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By Nick Carter

oling his skiff through grass in shin-deep water, Capt. Josh Boyles was the first to spot a big redfish crashing bait about 100 yards away. The vast grass beds around Hilton Head, S.C. were inundated in an especially high tide, and we had been working them for a couple hours with limited success. Most of the limited success was blamed on a pair of trout anglers with little saltwater fly fishing experience. Boyles had already put us on a couple fish. We had botched both royally. Conditions seemed right, with plenty of water for reds to push into in search of crabs, but the fish weren’t showing themselves. And we needed to see fish in order to cast to them with one of Boyles’ Swamp Fox flies on an 8-weight fly rod. “I’m not going to lie. This is pretty slow,” Boyles said. “We should be seeing a half-dozen fish at once and trying to decide which one to go after.” With classic tailing redfish behavior, fish root around with their noses in the muck. On the other end, their tails wave above the surface like little beacons. Reds are not hard to find when they do what they’re supposed to. These fish were not cooperating. Instead of seeking tails, we were reduced to watching for unusual wakes and nervous water. Boyles hypothesized the fish might be eating baitfish or shrimp instead of crabs, which would account for their horizontal position in skinny water. As we poled slowly to where the fish was spotted in an open pool amid a sea of grass, I stripped line from the reel and onto the deck. There was no additional sign of the fish, but we had to check it out. The tide was beginning to turn out, and it would take all the fish with it. Boyles had earlier explained why tailing reds are great sport for fly rodders just getting into the saltwater game. Redfish are comfortable in the shallows, so they don’t spook easily. Also, they feed actively and opportunistically in the grass. If they see the fly, they will most likely eat it. When our redfish reappeared, it was right in front of the boat. So close that it made casting difficult. I saw it for a second, but Boyles could see it clear as day from the platform. He began barking instructions. “Two o’clock, about 15 feet out,” he said. “See the wake?” The fish was moving right to left across the bow. I made a timid first cast, which caught the wind and plopped down off target. “Pick it up! Do it again,” Boyles said, urgency entering his voice. “Play the wind. Put it in front of him.” The pressure was on, and the second cast was better. “Strip it… Strip it… Now stop!” Boyles instructed as he watched the action unfold. “Give it a little twitch.” He didn’t have to tell me to set the hook.

For com too the gre be we’

Al Tro tha imp dee pol clas The fish swirled. I jerked back hard with my line hand, the rod pointed right at the commotion. With a jolt, the redfish was on and streaking across the flat! Pound-for-pound, nothing pulls like a red, and this was a big one, spending its last season in the marsh before it would move offshore to join the rest of the big bulls. Capt. Josh Boyles is a veteran Lowcountry guide who offers local and international fishing experiences. Email him at joshboylesfishing@gmail.com or call (843) 816-2229.

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SiriusXM Fish Mapping: SERIOUS TOOLS FOR SERIOUS ANGLERS

hether it’s a weed line, a color change or a temperature break, success in the wide-open environs of offshore fishing depends on finding the features that hold baitfish and predators that hunt them. With this in mind, SiriusXM has developed a powerful new set of tools to help serious offshore anglers narrow the field of search and find fish more quickly and efficiently. Combined with SiriusXM Marine’s weather data, the company’s Fish Mapping service is so advanced it almost seems unfair. But when you’re competing for big tournament money or have a boatful of clients or friends to keep happy, any advantage is welcome. Real-time data and eight dedicated features pull together information captains need to save time and fuel in pursuit of the ocean’s biggest gamefish. All of it is marked directly on the boat’s display, making it easy to identify areas where fish are likely to be. Here’s a list of those fish-finding features: • Fishing Recommendations: Based on data-driven analysis from oceanographers, the service recommends hot areas for specific species overlaid on your chart. This tailored information is kept fresh with twice-weekly updates to keep you on the action as it evolves. It can be viewed in combination with Fish Mapping’s other features to help solve the puzzle. • Weed Lines: Vast drifting weed lines are always hotspots for hunting pelagics. They provide food and habitat for open-ocean baitfish and shrimp, which draws in the big-game species. Finding them can be tricky, though, since they are constantly moving. Fish Mapping’s Weed Line feature updates every 24 hours to display where weed lines have been sighted recently and where they are most likely to form. • Sea Height Anomalies: Areas where sea height is noticeably different from the surrounding water often indicate an upwelling, where nutrient-rich water pushes to the surface. These are favorable conditions that attract baitfish and gamefish. Using realtime radar and sea-surface models, experts analyze the data and identify upwelling areas every 24 hours. This feature can also be used to locate downwelling areas, so you won’t waste your time fishing nutrient-poor, unproductive water. • Surface Temperature Contours: Different species prefer different temperature ranges, and Fish Mapping’s easy-to-read temperature contour lines quickly and clearly illustrate water temperatures to home in on the ideal conditions for your target species. This feature updates with current temperature data every three hours. • Sea Surface Temperature Front Strength: There’s no need to spend hours running and searching for significant temperature variances between bodies of water. These “ocean fronts” are hunting grounds for big pelagics, which take advantage of concentrated nutrients and fish-movement barriers created by 6 NATIONAL

AUGUST 2020

precipitous temperature changes. Fish Mapping estimates the strength of these ocean fronts and updates them every 24 hours. There tends to be good fishing where temperature fronts and plankton fronts coincide. • 30 Meter Subsurface Temperatures: Surface temperature is not always a good indicator of what lies beneath, where pelagics do most of their hunting. This feature tracks water temps 30 meters below the surface and updates every 24 hours to help you find your target species’ preferred temperature range. • Plankton Concentration Contours: Baitfish feed on plankton; big fish feed on baitfish. It’s easy to understand why concentrations of plankton can lead the way to good fishing. Displayed with green contour lines on your multi-function display and updated every 24 hours, Fish Mapping makes quick work of locating productive water. • Plankton Front Strength: Strong plankton fronts offer good conditions for gamefish to hunt. Baitfish prefer nutrient-rich stained water. Gamefish prefer clear water where they can spot their prey. When the two conditions exist side-by-side and coincide with a temperature front, it presents optimal fishing conditions. The plankton front strength feature displays these conditions on your display and updates every 24 hours. With tools like these, it’s easy to see why SiriusXM’s Fish Mapping service gives serious offshore anglers a leg-up on open water. They even offer a one-month trial of the service because a test drive will prove how valuable their up-to-date, easy-to-access information is. For more information, visit www.siriusxm.com/FishMapping

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UNDER SEA THE

What It’s Like to Spearfish I

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and relaxed, and “becoming one with nature” will you be part of the tribe. This unlikely fraternity of ocean hunters is made up of men and women of all ages, races and socio-economic status. The only rules here are made by Mother Nature, and the only requirement is an unspoken bond with the ocean and a respect for its resources. Unlike our mostly predictable lives, every dive is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get. I’ve experienced a school of mantas flying by, a gentle whaleshark ambling along, a sunfish scratching itself on our anchor line. I’ve experienced the exhilaration of being accepted by a pod of wild dolphins. I’ve been bumped by a hammerhead and stared down by a menacing mako. I’ve endured jellyfish stings, sealice rashes, and a crab in my ear canal. The most thrilling sight of all—after paying your dues—is spotting your prey in the shadows.

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Th po we go du as oft

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“It of in to Sil Tr rea

By Sheri Daye

have a friend at work who is horrified by my spearfishing. He asks, “Why don’t you just buy fish at the market? Aren’t you scared of sharks? What’s it like?” I know spearfishing will never be his cup of tea, but I try to explain why it’s mine. The simple answer is it’s fun to jump into tropical water and choose a delicious fish for dinner. But the truth is those flat, warm, fishy days are few and far between. The truth is that weathermen are liars, visibility can turn ugly, and fish are unpredictable. The truth is that underwater hunting is hard work in an alien environment. One of many challenges is to become comfortable underwater—so comfortable that fish believe you belong there. Fish sense herkyjerky motions and aggression, which means you will never be able to stalk them unless you learn to control your movements, and more importantly, your emotions. You must also overcome the primal fear of becoming the hunted, which is ingrained in all of us. And, as a freediver, you must become adept enough to achieve decent breath hold times. Only after persevering, learning to be smooth

D 1

When hunting tunas, the sight of the yellow finlets speeding under you will make your heart thump. When hunting wahoos, the silver ghost appearing out of nowhere will take your breath away. The realization that your eye has caught the silhouette of a black grouper in the reef will send you into adrenalized stealth mode. Back at the dock, as you fillet your fish and watch the sun set, you feel a sense of accomplishment and relief to be back on solid ground. But you also feel a sense of longing to be back in the weightless, quiet, unpredictable, beautiful ocean. As cell phones begin to ring, traffic on the way home raises your blood pressure, and thoughts of work invade your brain, you begin to plan your next trip back to the soul-cleansing world beneath the sea. Sheri is a world-record holder, host of Speargun Hunter, and producer of “The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo” in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Follow “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram.

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Discovered! Unopened Bag of 138-Year-Old Morgan Silver Dollars Coin experts amazed by “Incredible Opportunity” The Morgan Silver Dollar is the most popular and iconic vintage U.S. coin. They were the Silver Dollars of the Wild West, going on countless untold adventures in dusty saddlebags across the nation. Finding a secret hoard of Morgans doesn’t happen often—and when it does, it’s a big deal. How big? Here’s numismatist, author and consultant to the Smithsonian® Jeff Garrett: “It’s very rare to find large quantities of Morgan Silver Dollars, especially in bags that have been sealed... to find several thousand Morgan Silver Dollars that are from the U.S. Treasury Hoards, still unopened, is really an incredible opportunity.” -Jeff Garrett

 Historic Morgan Silver Dollars  Minted in New Orleans  Struck and bagged in 1882  Unopened for 138 years  26.73 grams of 90% fine silver  Hefty 38.1 mm diameter  Certified Brilliant Uncirculated by NGC

 Certified “Great Southern

Treasury Hoard” pedigree

 Limit five coins per household Actual size is 38.1 mm

the southern gentleman by giving the coins the pedigree of the “Great Southern Treasury Hoard.”

But where did this unique hoard come from? Read on...

These gorgeous 1882-O Morgans are as bright and new as the day they were struck and bagged 138 years ago. Coins are graded on a 70-point scale, with those graded at least Mint State-60 (MS60) often referred to as “Brilliant Uncirculated” or BU. Of all 1882-O Morgans struck, LESS THAN 1% have earned a Mint State grade. This makes these unopened bags of 1882-O Morgans extremely rare, certified as being in BU condition—nearly unheard of for coins 138 years old.

Morgans from the New Orleans Mint

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The U.S. Treasury Hoard

Given the limited quantity of coins available from this historic hoard, we must set a strict limit of five coins per household. Call quickly to secure yours today as supplies are sure to sell out quickly!

In 1859, Nevada’s Comstock Lode was discovered, and soon its rich silver ore made its way across the nation, including to the fabled New Orleans Mint, the only U.S. Mint branch to have served under the U.S. government, the State of Louisiana and the Confederacy. In 1882, some of that silver was struck into Morgan Silver Dollars, each featuring the iconic “O” mint mark of the New Orleans Mint. Employees then placed the freshly struck coins into canvas bags... Fast-forward nearly 80 years. In the 1960s, the U.S. government opened its vaults and revealed a massive store of Morgan Silver Dollars—including full, unopened bags of “fresh” 1882-O Morgan Silver Dollars. A number of bags were secured by a child of the Great Depression—a southern gentleman whose upbringing showed him the value of hard assets like silver. He stashed the unopened bags of “fresh” Morgans away, and there they stayed...

The Great Southern Treasury Hoard

That is, until another 50 years later, when the man’s family finally decided to sell the coins—still in their unopened bags—which we secured, bag and all! We submitted the coins to respected third-party grading service Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), and they agreed to honor

Regular 1882-O Morgans sell elsewhere for as much as $133, and that’s without the original brilliant shine these “fresh” 138-yearold coins have, without their special NGC hoard designation, and without their ability to tell their full, complete story from the Comstock Lode all the way to your collection.

1882-O Morgan Silver Dollar NGC Certified BU from the Great Southern Treasury Hoard — $99 ea.

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H Photo courtesy of FWC TrophyCatch.

James Wirtz caught this 10-pound, 6-ounce beast from an unnamed Florida lake on June 16.

Deep Summer’s Shallow-Water Option By CAM Staff

ere’s some advice for bass anglers sick of the summertime grind. Instead of dredging out deep ledges or dragging worms on offshore humps, go shallow and beat the banks. Yes. You read that right. In deep summer, bass that aren’t stacked up deep will scatter to seek out the best water conditions and feeding opportunities they can find. And while you probably shouldn’t throw all your tournamentday hopes into this pattern, which really is hit-or-miss, hitting it right can lead to some of the biggest largemouths of the summer. Wave action is a key to this pattern. On lakes with heavy boat traffic and on windy days, waves slamming into the banks oxygenate water. While water conditions across the rest of the lake are hot and stagnant this time of year, the shallows offer higher oxygen levels that attract baitfish and bass. By the same token, the backs of creeks with some current often offer better oxygen levels as well as cooler water. Vegetation oxygenates water, also, and provides shade from the stifling sun. Bait is another reason big fish will be up shallow. All of the bream species—the bluegills, shellcrackers, redbreasts and others—spawn during the full moons of summer. When they bed up in colonies, they do it in the shallows, often in just a couple feet of water. Bream beds are buffets for big largemouths, which hang just off the beds waiting on any strays small enough to fit in their mouths. Now, beating the banks all day looking for one big fish in the scorching August heat doesn’t sound like much fun. But that one kicker fish you need to bolster a tournament limit is not likely to be hanging out with all those 2-pounders suspended on a deep ledge. These are also great tactics for fun fishing, when you’ve got the luxury to only fish the comfortable morning and evening hours. In low light, a buzzbait burned around a bream bed or in the shadows of a blowdown can be just the thing to draw a reaction strike from a big girl lazing in the shallows. Running a spinnerbait, bladed jig or square-bill crankbait around and under shallow docks can be very productive. Resist the urge to slow down and pick apart cover with a jig or worm. Shallow fish will be scattered this time of year, so it makes sense to cover a lot of water. Hit all the stumps, grass, rocks and any other cover you encounter. Keep moving, but do it slowly and quietly. Keep your distance, and make long casts. Sound travels far and fish spook easily in the shallows.

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teamed blue crabs seasoned with J.O. No.2 or a custom blend that J.O. manufactures is the flavor people experience at crab establishments all over. Most people credit this crab house seasoning to another product but J.O. has been the crab houses’ seasoning of choice since 1945. J.O. Spice, started by J.O. (James Ozzle) Strigle and his wife Dot in Baltimore City in 1945, is celebrating its 75th Anniversary. A native of Tangier Island, Va., J.O. Strigle brought the seafood spice blend he created in his kitchen on the island to Maryland. Jane McPhaul, J.O.’s daughter took over operations of the family business in the late eighties while her son, Don Ports, was serving in the Marine Corps. In 1990 Don joined his mother in the family business with a vision to expand. In the summer of 1991 Don met his spice girl, Ginger, with the pick up line, “you’re destined to be mine; you’re named for a spice,” said J.O. Spice Company president Don Ports to wife Ginger Ports the moment they met. Twenty eight years later, Don and Ginger- alongside their children Brittany, Tyler and Bethany, are continuing the family traditions of quality seasonings, spices, and more at reasonable prices at their Halethorpe based J.O. Spice Company. “We can provide crab houses everything they need for the crab eating experience, minus the crabs”, Don says. The company added crab boxes, crab paper, bushel baskets, crab knives, crab mallets and a variety of other items to their offerings. “We purchased our first laser engraver and that opened the door to the retail gift world and personalized options,” Don says. J.O. specializes in custom blended seasonings for pizza companies, pit beef stands, butchers, potato chip companies and more. We are more than seafood seasonings. “My children, the fourth generation, and our amazing team work side-by-side to make all of this happen,” Ginger says. “At J.O., we are all family who enjoy working with so many other family businesses. We are blessed.” Please visit us at jospices.com.

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AUGUST 2020

FLORIDA 3

By John Saporito

How To

Beat

The

Pressure

lorida is home to some of the best and most diverse fishing on earth. The state also offers unmatched access to its fisheries. But with easy access comes a great challenge: fishing pressure. Fishing pressure results when

a population of fish is overexposed to fishing activity. Fish are capable learners with strong survival instincts; they become progressively more difficult to fool and catch as they experience our repeated attempts to capture them. Since they

pass their survival prowess on to their offspring, subsequent generations are empowered to avoid capture. Therefore, every fisherman should learn to cope with this obstacle so they may enjoy a lifetime of productive fishing regardless of how the future of Florida’s fisheries unfolds. While the less-traveled offshore waters may not show the effects of fishing pressure, the most accessible waterways in the state certainly do. This impacts many of our favorite gamefish, including inshore icons such as tarpon, snook, redfish and sea trout. The state gamefish, largemouth bass, is also subject to immense pressure. Fortunately, there are steps every angler can take to ensure even the wariest gamefish can be tempted to strike. The first is to use stealth when stalking your target species. The best way to avoid spooking fish is to not alert them to your presence in the first place. When fish know you’re there, they instantly become more difficult to catch. Be careful with every move, whether wading, walking a shoreline or positioning a boat. When you find fish that won’t bite, consider making a move. The problem for most fishermen is they prefer to fish easily accessible locations. The easier the access, the higher the pressure, and this shows

in how fish react to baits. Seek out locations that are more difficult to get to. Give yourself some space, and the results will speak for themselves. If you find fish that won’t bite and decide not to move, a good alternative would be to show them a finesse approach. Downsize lures and baits, cast quietly, and eliminate components of the rig a fish may find intimidating. A final remedy for fishing pressure is simply to fish off times. A dozen or more fishermen in the area around you is not ideal, neither are boat motors, jet skis and loud radios. By fishing the times when others are least likely to be on the water—think late at night and very early morning—you give yourself a tremendous advantage. While graveyard shifts might not be as relaxing as sitting on a beach chair in the afternoon sun, the fishing is likely to be more productive. Although fishing pressure is a growing problem, it presents an opportunity for anglers willing to take the steps to prepare for it. With a little know-how and proper execution, you can keep your rod bent on any of Florida’s fabled waterways. John Saporito is a lifelong fisherman and student of the seas.Visit him online at guerillaangling.com.

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FLORIDA 5

Paul Kolacia, of Rock Grass Fishing Charters, reports good things out of Homosassa

Bay Scallop Reports A

Mixed Bag

arly scallop season reports were mixed and across the board up and down Florida’s west coast. While poor weather and murky water led to reports of dismal results for many scallopers, others crowed of quick limits for those in the know.

More like diving than hunting Easter eggs, going deep seemed to be the key in most areas early on. With plentiful scallops reported in 10 to 15 feet of water, many casual scallopers were left scratching their heads. Meanwhile, those willing to work for

Dive iNTO

them were filling buckets. It’s worth noting that charter captains who are on the water daily seemed to have an edge on the rest of the crowds. These early results might bode well for late-season trips, as unfound scallops remain in the water. With a few storms from the southwest to push them in shallower, the tasty bivalves should be much easier to find. Pasco County’s short, July 17-26 season came and went after presstime, but the remainder of the scalloping zones will be open this month. The zone including Franklin, Wakulla and northwest Taylor counties remains open through Sept. 24, and there have been several good reports from St. Marks. The Levy, Citrus and Hernando counties zone also closes Sept. 24. Early reports from Hernando Beach, Homosassa and Crystal River were discouraging early on, but things seemed to be picking up nicely in mid-July. The zone off Dixie County and the remainder of Taylor County is open through Labor Day, and reports out of Steinhatchee went from bad to pretty good within a few days in mid-July. Everyone’s waiting eagerly for the Aug. 16 opening at St. Joseph Bay. FWC’s scallop-count numbers were off the charts for St. Joe last

year, and although the release of the 2020 counts has been delayed by COVID-19, it stands to reason there should be good numbers there. Bag and vessel limits are 2 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1 pint of bay scallop meat per person, with a maximum of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or a 1/2 gallon (4 pints) bay scallop meat per vessel. Vessel limits do not allow an individual to exceed their personal bag limit. When scalloping in open water, divers should stay within 300 feet of a properly displayed divers-down flag or device, and within 100 feet of a properly displayed divers-down flag or device if on a river, inlet or navigation channel. Boat operators traveling within 300 feet of a diversdown flag or device in open water or within 100 feet of one on a river, inlet or navigational channel must slow to idle speed. For more information, visit MyFWC.com/Boating/Regulations and click on “Divers-down Warning Devices.” Help FWC’s scallop researchers by completing an online survey at svy.mk/ bayscallops. Harvesters can indicate where they harvested scallops, how many they collected and how long it took to harvest them. Participants can email BayScallops@MyFWC.com to ask questions or send additional information.

SCallop Season Come experience Scallop season in Crystal River and Homosassa. Be a part of the tradition that creates memories of a lifetime with family and friends. discovercrystalriverfl.com/scalloping

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AUGUST 2020

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FLORIDA 7

A Perfect Day Out Of

PANAMA CITY By John Saporito

he rod slammed down. I hit the lever to engage the electric reel. It growled and started winching up something big from the bottom 175 feet below. The rod twitched and bounced as it pulled in line. Then the monster from the bottom almost stopped the electric reel. The rod bent for all it was worth. The reel stopped, and the line broke. We were all speechless. I was fishing with my friend Andrew and new friends Darrel, Brent and Gene. We were 52 miles out of Panama City Beach on Andrew’s 43-foot Yellowfin. It was one of those nearly perfect days, with the smoothest water I’ve seen in a long time. It was the first time Darrel had ever been fishing, and it was Brent’s first deep sea trip. On the way out to deep water, we saw a float and circled back to find a school of small mahi mahi hanging around it. I occasionally forget things when loading the boat, which is hard to believe because I keep everything but the kitchen sink on the boat. Well, somehow 14 rods seemed like enough. Trouble was, all the spinning setups were left behind. “Well, this is going to be tough, but we can catch these mahi with bait casters,” Andrew said. He rigged one up with a small hook and weight and cast it out. He handed it to Darrel, who hooked his first fish ever. He was all smiles when that mahi came over the rail. I remembered

8 FLORIDA

AUGUST 2020

by Gary Turner

my first bluegill I caught with my dad years ago. I know how good Darrel felt. At the first drop, we rigged rods with 8/0 Owner Circle hooks and 1.5-ounce weights. Soon we were catching all kinds of fish off the bottom: some red snapper, black grouper and some really nice trigger fish. Brent hooked one fish that put up a real fight. He was making ground, when all of a sudden it yanked hard enough to pull Brent to the rail. Then the line lost all its resistance. There was still weight, but no fight. As it neared the top in the clear blue water, you could see the head of a nice red grouper sheared in half by a big shark. As we continued our day, we moved around, dropped some live pinfish and caught more snappers, and groupers. We encountered a grass line with a bunch of mahi on it and caught a few small ones before I had a big bull break off right at the boat. I know I had the kid-who-dropped-hisice-cream look on my face. The last spot was the big fish bottom. Live baits were put down and the bite was on. We all got a shot at some big fish in this spot, but they kept breaking us off. The two electric reels gave it their best shot, but to no avail. You really couldn’t ask for a better day with friends on the water. Contact Gary Turner at gary@purgeright.com.

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Cool Off With A

SUMMER WADE

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

ade fishing comes natural to me. It’s the preferred method of inshore fishing where I grew up on the Texas Gulf Coast. And for those willing to give it a try, it’s a great way to catch fish wherever the bottom composition allows. Wading is a great way to catch fish all year long, and it is a perfect way to keep cool and catch fish during the dog days of August. It also puts you in tune with your surroundings, the bottom contour and structure, and gives you the ability to stealthily cover an area more efficiently. Here are some guidelines I follow on a hot August morning: I start early, and I’m in the water before safe light. Starting under the cover of darkness gives you an edge. Tossing a topwater lure tight to the shoreline is my go-to method. There is nothing more exhilarating than a blow up under the cover of darkness, and amplify that by 10 when the lure is near you! I start out near the shore and fan cast in all directions to thoroughly cover 180 degrees around me. Start with short casts and gradually increase

Photo courtesy of Knockin Tail Lures.

your distance when entering a new area. If you start by casting as far as you can and catch a fish, you will ruin any opportunity of getting a strike from the fish that were between you and the end of that long cast. This is truer in a skinny-water environment than in deeper water. I like to change my retrieve every few casts to see if a particular cadence outperforms others. My cadence is also determined by the type of fish I am targeting. Trout and reds have no problem hitting a lure on the pause, but snook will shy away from a motionless plug. As the sun begins to rise, I might or might not change my lure. For bass anglers, keep in mind that while bass might be less eager to hit topwater during a high sun, saltwater fish do not appear to mind. If they are still eating on top, I will not switch, but if

a change is required, I tie on a 4-inch swimbait and continue fan casting toward the shore. If the bites are not there, I ease out a little deeper. Depending on depth, work from the bottom to the top on alternating casts until the fish are located. To cover new water on my wade back, I zigzag from shallow to deep. This allows me to cover a wider variety of structure and bottom contour while hitting any repeat areas from a different angle. This can often be productive, depending on how the fish position themselves in relation to the structure. Be safe and take a kid fishing, even wade fishing. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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AUGUST 2020

FLORIDA 9

Motorized Kayak Wins

2020 ICAST BEST OF SHOW

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t goes without saying that an online 2020 ICAST was very different from the bustling mega-show that has descended on Orlando in recent years. That said, one of the show’s highlights—The New Product Showcase— matched well with the new virus-inspired online format. The world’s top brands and most innovative creators rolled out their latest and greatest, and there’s some cool new gear out there. The coveted Best of Show award went to Johnson Outdoors Watercraft for their Old Town Sportsman Autopilot. It is a kayak purpose built for an electric motor. A short-shaft trolling motor with 45 pounds of thrust is seated through the deck in front of the angler. It is controlled with a wireless remote. Among other cool features, GPS-anchoring with the Autopilot is new to the world of kayak fishing. Here’s a rundown of the ICAST category award winners: • Boating Accessories – Minn Kota Raptor Shallow Water Anchor. • Giftware – Garmin quatix® 6X Solar watch • Footwear – Under Armour Micro G Kilchis • Eyewear – Costa Del Mar Ferg • Women’s Lifestyle Apparel – Simms Women’s Challenger Jacket and Bib • Men’s Lifestyle Apparel – AFTCO Saba Recycled Seam-Free Boardshorts • Warm Weather Technical Apparel – AFTCO Diffuse Air-o Mesh Fishing Shorts • Cold Weather Technical Apparel – AFTCO Reaper Windproof 3-layer Softshell Jacket • Coolers — YETI Roadie 24 • Electronics – Humminbird Coastmaster Charts • Cutlery, Pliers, Tools – Line Cutterz Dual Hybrid Micro Scissor • Fly Fishing Accessory – Frabill Floating Trout Net • Fishing Accessory – ATC Tsuka Handle System • Kids’ Tackle – Abu Garcia Gen Ike EZ Cast Baitcast Combo • Terminal Tackle – Rapala VMC Crossover Rings • Tackle Management – Plano EDGE FLEX • Ice Fishing – Rapala STRIKEMASTER LITHIUM 24V • Fishing Line - Berkley FluoroShield • Freshwater Soft Lure – A Band of Anglers Hyperlastics Dartprop Pro SK • Freshwater Hard Lure – Z-Man Chatterbait Jackhammer Stealthblade • Saltwater Soft Lure – 13 Fishing The Mullet • Saltwater Hard Lure – Shimano SP Orca 150 Flash Boost, Blue Sardine color • Fly Fishing Rod – Hardy Zane Pro • Freshwater Rod – St. Croix Legend Xtreme spinning • Saltwater Rod – St. Croix Mojo Inshore • Rod & Reel Combo – Abu Garcia Virtual Casting Combo • Fly Reel – Hardy Ultradisc UDLA Reel • Freshwater Reel – Shimano Vanford 2500 Spinning Reel • Saltwater Reel – PENN Battle III Reels 10 FLORIDA

AUGUST 2020

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AUGUST 2020

FLORIDA 11

Photo courtesy of Texas Sharelunker.

This 8.5-pounder caught by Hunter Manning came from Texas’ Sam Rayburn Lake, which ranked as the seventh best bass lake of the decade.

California’s Clear Lake Named

BEST BASS LAKE OF THE DECADE

ince 2012, Bassmaster Magazine has released an entertaining annual ranking of the country’s best bass fisheries based on data compiled from various sources. With COVID-19 making this year’s data hard to come by, Bassmaster decided to look back and pull together a list of the best bass lakes of the decade. California’s Clear Lake was the surprising pick for Best Bass Lake of the Decade. While considered a West Coast powerhouse, Clear Lake has never topped the Best Bass Lakes list until this year. However, in the past decade, California’s largest natural lake has also never ranked below tenth in the country and has been the top-ranked Western fishery for the past three years. Anglers can expect to consistently catch big bass in a fishery where an average bass weighs more than 5 pounds. In fact, a bass over 16 pounds was landed at Clear Lake last year. Combine that production with a pristine setting in California’s wine country, and you have a bucket-list fishing destination. Alabama’s Lake Guntersville, home of the 2020 Bassmaster Classic, took the No. 2 spot, matching its 2019 rank. Like Clear Lake, the Big G has never been named the Best Bass Lake in the nation, but it is rarely out of contention. Guntersville is known for breathtaking scenery and easy access, but big fish swim there as well. Most big-bass prizes are awarded to fish topping the 8-pound mark, with 10-plus-pounders taking center stage on occasion. True giants call third-place fishery, Lake Erie, home. While most of the tournament data comes out of Buffalo, N.Y., anglers can expect smallies in the 6-pound range anywhere along the shoreline, which includes New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Michigan’s Lake St. Clair, where you can catch the smallmouth of a lifetime, is in the fourth spot. Rounding out the remainder of the Top 10 lakes are California’s Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta at fifth; Toledo Bend, on the Louisiana/Texas border, at sixth; Texas’ Sam Rayburn Reservoir at seventh; Texas’ Falcon Lake at eighth; Idaho’s Lake Coeur d’Alene at ninth; and Florida’s Lake Okeechobee at tenth. The rankings identify the Top 25 lakes in the nation based on headto-head comparisons. As for bragging rights on which state has the most fisheries in the all-decade rankings, that title goes to Michigan with seven lakes. Right behind the “Great Lake State,” there is a three-way tie with California, Florida and Texas each placing six lakes on the list. See www.bassmaster.com for the complete list of the Best Bass Lakes Of The Decade. 12 FLORIDA

AUGUST 2020

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Pounder Wins Jax Kingfish Tourney

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he only 50-plus-pounder of the tournament smoked the competition at the 40th Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament July 13-18. On Day 2 of fishing, July 17, Zach Crabtree caught a 50.53-pound kingfish aboard Jacksonville’s own Vamoose. For his victory, Crabtree was awarded a Contender 24 Sport paired with a Yamaha 300 and trailer valued at more than $140,000. Crabtree’s fish bumped Day 1 leader Jack Lairsey out of the top spot. Lairsey’s 43.06-pounder wound up taking second in the General Largest Kingfish category, which featured some fierce competition within the top 10. A little more than 3 pounds separated the No. 10 fish (39.91) from the No. 2 fish. Ed Batt, aboard Jacksonville’s Batt Line, won the Past Champions tournament with a 46.47-pound kingfish. The top spot in the High Roller tourney went to Joe Shugart for a 38.64-pounder caught from One Time out of St. Augustine. A 43.19-pound king won the Junior Angler title for Tucker Musgrove aboard Palm Coast boat Always Hookin. The Aggregate title went to Marc Neu, aboard Hooneu, from Brunswick, Ga., with 78.85 pounds. The Single Engine division’s largest fish was a 47.81-pounder caught by Hayden Englert, aboard Four Reel, out of Ponte Vedra. Lauren Stevens was the top Lady Angler for her 38.1-pound king caught from Jacksonville’s 904Reel. There were some stud snapper weighed in for the Red Snapper tournament. The top-4 all weighed more than 20 pounds, and the No. 5 fish weighed 19.98 pounds. Trina Polkey, of Jacksonville’s Team Big Bobberz, caught the biggest snapper. It weighed 23.23 pounds. For a complete list of results, go to kingfishtournament.com.

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NORTH FLORIDA 1

as gently as possible so they have a strong chance of survival once they are back in their habitat. But just because you released that fish doesn’t mean you can’t have a memento of your catch. Digital cameras have come a long way since their inception. Even the phone in your pocket is a high-quality digital camera these days, with presets that take incredible photos. Modern units take amazingly high-quality images and video. They also keep getting smaller and smaller, taking up almost no room in a shirt pocket. There are also many ruggedized models on the market now that are water-, dust- and shock-proof, so you don’t have worry about exposing them to the elements or dropping them in the drink. This is a boon to anglers like me, who are fearless waders but not really sure-footed enough to warrant that kind of confidence. A little forethought goes a long way toward composing a good fish shot. If you think about how to set the shot up before you even hook up, there will be less fumbling in the frantic moments involved in landing an outsized fish. Having a plan will minimize the time spent handling the fish, which will decrease the stress on that animal and therefore the probability of mortality. Taking simple things into account such as the direction of the sun play a large factor. Look for a spot that you and fishing partner can safely stand and get that shot. Designate a part of the boat for pictures in advance, and always have camera handy. Handling the fish properly is crucial to the quality of the picture. If it is a species that can be grabbed by the lip, don’t hesitate to do so. With other species, a two-handed grip is best. Keep the fish about an arm’s length away from your body, and do your best to control any flopping. Any motion will translate into a blur in the photo. Make sure the fish’s body is parallel to the camera, whether it is being held in a horizontal or vertical plane. If the fish’s body isn’t flat to the camera it will look awkward, and you will lose many of the markings that make them beautiful. Make sure the sun is at the cameraman’s back, and in the angler’s face. That light will illuminate the angler and the trophy, enhancing all of the details. Lastly, make sure your hat brim is pulled up a bit; if you don’t do this, your face will be shrouded in shadows. Also, don’t forget to take pictures of the scenery; looking at them can help get you get through the offseason.

1 0 1 s o t o h P Fish By Joseph Albanese

PHOTO COURTESY OF SWORDFISH SPORTFISHING

s you probably have noticed, many of the species we love to fish for are on the decline. So now, more than ever, catch and release is important to help protect sport fishing for future generations of anglers. I’m not advocating throwing every fish you catch back; I enjoy a meal of fish just as much as the next guy. What I am suggesting is you handle the ones you release

Are Pontoons The Perfect Fishing Platform? Y By Capt. Cefus McRae

ou might think there’s an ordinance that requires people who live on lakes to own pontoon boats. Virtually every dock has one. For the longest time, I considered pontoon boats to be awkward contraptions for entertaining kids, grandparents and friends who came up from the city. They were slow and lacked the pizazz of a sleek fishing boat. A couple years ago—just to make sure we were abiding by the lake-living rules—I caved and got a pontoon. This one is a tri-toon, meaning it has three tubes under the deck with a Honda 250 on the back, so it’s pretty fast with a top speed around 40 mph. If I’m on the water, there will be a fishing rod within arm’s reach. So, I adjusted my thinking and made a few modifications to my pontoon. I installed a Lowrance Elite fish finder with a TotalScan transducer. I added several Scotty rod holder mounts around the perimeter and two on the back for trolling. I added some additional 12-volt outlets so I could run the pump on a Keep Alive bait tank and power my Hydro Glow underwater lights for nighttime fishing. I also mounted a 24-volt trolling motor on the front. Although it still didn’t look like a fishing boat, it was now set up to fish like one. I also rigged everything for easy removal, which lets us use the boat for its more traditional purpose. The trolling motor has a quick-release plate that leaves a very low profile when the motor is removed. The Scotty mounts use removable and positional rod holders, so when they’re off, you are left with a very small footprint for the mount. The Lowrance stays on the boat, and the bait tank resides on the dock when not in use. 2 NORTH FLORIDA

AUGUST 2020

After fishing from the ‘toon’ a couple times, I realized it is actually a perfect fishing platform for inland lakes and shallow bays. There’s an abundance of room, lots of storage, comfortable seating and a bimini top that can be raised or lowered. It is super-stable, and you can fish 360 degrees around the boat. It can get into about 12 inches of water with the engine raised, and the trolling motor will pull all weekend on a single charge. The only disadvantage is fighting fish when the bimini is raised. One might need to fight a large fish along the length of the boat, which would mean working the rod around the bimini structure. Typically, that’s not an issue. But if that’s the only downside, it’s a small sacrifice. I’ve even run charters off the toon, and although I got strange looks pulling up to the courtesy dock, once we started fishing, folks realized how comfortable and fishable it is. So, if you’ve got a pontoon sitting at your dock, liberate your mind from the stereotype. I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how remarkable the pontoon boat can be as a fishing machine. Capt. Cefus McRae is host of the Nuts & Bolts of Fishing Series. Check out nutsandboltsfishing.com.

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Catalpa Worm Time By Chuck Long

here are few natural baits that rival the catalpa worm. These fat, juicy black and yellow caterpillars are seasonal. They only show up in mid-summer, and they are only found on catalpa trees. When they are around, they are the best option for a variety of freshwater species. The catalpa tree can be identified by its large heart-shaped leaves, which are usually a lighter green than nearby vegetation. The tree can also have large white flowers for a short period of time followed by long, bean-like seedpods. Trees with active worms show signs of being eaten by the voracious caterpillars. Hardcore worm hunters use binoculars to check remote trees for worm damage instead of making the trek to a tree that might not have worms. The tools necessary for gathering are simple. The worms can be pulled directly from the leaves by hand. They excrete yellow/green fluid, so some gatherers might prefer wearing gloves. Many worm getters use a long pole to shake worms off limbs. A long rope can also be tossed over limbs to shake the worms out of the tree. Once gathered, place worms in a plastic container with a few catalpa leaves. If kept in a cool area, they last a few days until the next fishing trip. If they will not be used immediately, catalpa worms can be preserved by boiling them as soon as they are harvested. Heat a pot of water to a light boil and toss in the worms for about one minute. Once the worms have stiffened a bit, place them on paper towels to dry. Once dry, place a handful of cornmeal and the worms in a Ziplock bag and stick them in the freezer. Catalpa worms catch bass and bream, but they make especially great bait for channel catfish. A bottom fishing rig with a No. 2 baitholder hook tipped with a catalpa worm should yield a few catfish in most rivers and lakes. Chuck Long is an educator with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, www.agfc.com.

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Fishing Report & Forecast Mayport By Capt. Kirk Waltz

efore the ink dries on this report it is with great hope that we have begun to get some settled weather. June begat continued Northeast/ Southeast winds for almost 4 weeks strait. This flow gave us incredibly rough water but, it also caused our upwelling of dirty/clear water on the areas beaches. This unusual water conditions forced our normally numerous bait pods off the beach and it also took the striking fish with it for the most part. Bait is important to acquire if you want to catch some bottom fish or striking fish. This means our pogies/menhaden will be scarce. Look for greenies to take up residency on the ends of the jetties both North and South. Use a number 6 or 8 Sabiki rig to jig a few dozen off the rocks for a morning of fishing. The beaches can still hold some kings, tunny, and sharks so try the SE Hole, Red Tops, Nassau Sound, or Chum Hole spots for striking fish. If this proves futile move off deeper until you acquire some warmer water and try the party grounds. MR, RL, Jax Wreck, 9 Mile, PM, PG or any of the other spots will hold striking fish. Try these and you can catch a mess of kings, sharks, cudas, cobia,

and AJ’s. Drop a few cut or live baits on the bottom at the party grounds I just mentioned for snapper, sea bass, trigger fish, and maybe a grouper. Look at your bottom recorder to see if clouds of bait are present. If so drop a Sabiki rig down for cigar minnows or sardines to use for bait. Match the hatch! The Inlet at the big rocks will have bull reds, sharks, and tarpon around. Fish the last of the falling tide adjacent to the rocks on the bottom with big live baits like mullet or greenies for good action. Also try cut or whole blue crabs too! This is also the beginning of our bull red spawn. Typically if the stars all line up and everything follows a normal pattern the first full moon of August brings them in till early to late October. Whole blue crab, cut ladyfish, mullet, or pogies if you can get them work great. Fish from the Coast Guard base all the way down the river past Mill Cove for good action on the edges of the big river for good results. Remember these are our breeders and must be released so bring a venting tool. Take care to release these great fighters safely back in the water. With the heat of the summer the ICW both north and south should slow down but, can produce. Fish real early or late with mud minnows or shrimp on a ¼ oz jig for good results. A top water lure like a Bomber Long A, Mirror Lure floater, or a Seibel top water work well for good action. Reds, trout, ladyfish, small jacks, and flounder are still around. Remember you can’t catch them from the couch. Capt Kirk can be reached at 904.241.7560 or 904.626.1128 for a charter or go to www. Enterprisefishingcharters.com for more info. Listen Saturdays from 7-10am for the fishing forecast on the Outdoors Show on 1010am or 92.5fm.

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AUGUST 2020

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Fishing Report & Forecast Sisters Creek By Capt. Tony Bozzella

ug can be the hottest month of the year. To be most successful, very early, or evenings can be most productive. I try and go very early and do what’s best at that tide. If it’s low, I like looking for backers and tailors. Most mournings are windless and if you are patient and observant you can see pushes and from far and plan your presentation. Poling up to them is your best bet. However, if you use a trolling motor, be stealthy as possible, reds can be spooky and you are competing with a lot of natural bait. They won’t work for it. If big bull reds are your desire, the bite will get stronger as we get closer to fall. A fish finder rig and crab, lady fish, mullet, will do great. Soak your baits on the edges of the channel from the jetties, heading South in the river. These fish are big and powerful. Use tackle capable of catching them in a fair amount of time to keep the fish strong for a healthy release. Using to light of tackle can run the fish beyond recovery. Trout bite is slower than years past, however, if you are targeting them, early early morning 4 NORTHEAST FLORIDA

AUGUST 2020

is a must. Float rigs, jig & shrimp combos, top waters and lipped divers are all a great pick. Choose the method that you are best at doing. Fish the cool incoming tide, hitting points, and places with moving water and bait is always a plus. Unless you are fishing dock lights, trout can be spotty and tuff to catch after the heat of the sun is up just like many species. If you want to just bend a rod, you can target the lady fish and jacks with lures or jig & bait combos. As I am running, I always look for birds and action. Those species are always fun to add some fun to the mix. I stay as far away as you can and cast your presentation to wear the birds are hitting the water, even if you see no fish, usually fish on! The beach fishing in the pogie pods and along near shore areas can produce an early mourning tarpon, shark, big jack, bull reds and kings. Casting a TBS Jig paired with a pogie rigged through the lower jaw coming up through the top of the mouth, around the edges of the pods can produce any of the species. I always use fluorocarbon tied to my jig and some type of loop knot so the bait can act freely. If sharks are a target use a piece of wire. Many times anglers like to cast a bait behind the shrimp boats, and sharks have become plentiful. However, occasionally you can get a tarpon or Bonita, big Jacks etc. they are reluctant to hit a wired bait, so target your species. Until next month, tight lines.!

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ACGFA - August

hallenge weekend is behind us and Offshore Angler-of-the-Month: a fun was had by all! Things were Matthew Padgett definitely not what we are used to with COVID-19 restrictions, but we pulled it off and raised money for local charities which is most important to us. Big thank you to all our Sponsors, Anglers, Volunteers and Spectators! For club members, June was our Kingfish Shootout Tournament and a big congratulations goes to the winner, Matthew Padgett and his crew. July was our Young Anglers Tournament. Stay tuned for details. We also had a Red Snapper Tournament On Saturday, August 15th at 6pm during the 4 open dates, but winners we will hold our end of the year party have not been determined as of yet. In and awards banquet. This event is August, we’ll target Flounder. being catered by Tim Cause BBQ who will prepare Pulled Pork, Smoked Links, Mac-n-Cheese, Congratulations to all our top Sausage Green Beans, Rolls and Iced Tea anglers in June! for us. Members are asked to bring an appetizer or a dessert. Members June Anglers of the Month were: Inshore Junior Angler-of-the-Month: are FREE - Guests are welcome Douglas Bell for $15 each. PPE IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED! Please dress Offshore Junior Angler-of -theMonth: Canon Creter patriotic in Red, White and Blue! Inshore Angler-of-the-Month: Jeff Schlegel 6 NORTHEAST FLORIDA

AUGUST 2020

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Mastering the Art of Outdoor and Wildlife Photography Through the Lens of Local Visionary and Avid Coastal Angler… Carson B. Kent By Terry Newsome

hen it comes to mastering the art of breath-taking outdoor photography and spectacular marine wildlife cinematography, few visionaries can compare to local photographer and coastal angler extraordinaire… Carson B. Kent; and for good reason. Driven by his purpose and dedicated to setting a new global threshold in capturing the natural majestic beauty of the great outdoors, Carson B. Kent will take you on a remarkable journey into a new world of discovery that will far exceed your expectations. In a world filled with inspired professional and commercial photographers chasing that one digital snapshot that will live for eternity (and perhaps define a generation,) Carson is following his dream through a different pathway on road less travelled. In fact, the road that leads to fulfilling Carson’s purpose-driven vision for his life and career as a professional outdoor photographer is paved with inspiration from his father, his family and his love for fishing. I recently had the honor and pleasure of interviewing Carson B. Kent and was genuinely impressed with his vast knowledge of the outdoors and his creative genius. I was truly inspired by the fascinating story of

and I can tell you without hesitation that Carson B. Kent is truly a visionary and one of the most talented outdoor photographers I have even met. Having personally filmed, directed and produced hundreds of outdoor television shows, TV commercials and instructional fishing videos internationally over the past 25 years, I have worked with some of the leading award-winning professional photographers in the world. With my outdoor media background, I can tell you with absolute certainty that it is extremely difficult to capture superior quality images and film footage in an ever-changing outdoor setting. Carson gifted beyond measure and is in a league of his own. Carson has a significant following on social media and has received many accolades about his unique and inspiring photography. In fact, local multitalented photographer Nicole Marmo is also extremely impressed with Carson’s work. “I was instantly captivated with Carson’s magnificent ability to capture light so perfectly, particularly with his long-exposed shots and sunset photos,” Nicole reports, “and he has a keen eye for capturing beautiful landscapes. It is truly evident that Carson B. Kent is passionate about his work.”

his life that revealed how he mastered the art of outdoor and wildlife photography. “Growing up, we had a family camera that we all shared and used for over 10 years! I took more family photos and fishing photos than you could imagine,” Carson affectionately remembers, “and I fell in love with photography at an early age. When I turned 16, I got my driver’s license and had the freedom to explore the outdoors and experience an unlimited number of outdoor adventures and photo-shoot excursions. I would spend countless hours exploring nature along the backroads and waterways of Northeast Florida taking countless photographs of a wide variety of birds, wildlife, unique landscapes, bridges, amazing sunsets and even spectacular lightning storms at night.” I recently visited Carson’s Instagram account (at “carsonbkent”)

What is the source of Carson’s inspiration and passion for his work? “My father has always been an inspiration to me,” Carson passionately recalls, “and he loves nature and the outdoors. My father and I love to fish and have taken many fishing trips together. For years we fished together in local retention ponds and lakes… so naturally in my younger days, I started taking photos of many species of fish including panfish and Largemouth Bass. Years later, my father and I went to the Bahamas on a fly-fishing trip and caught some of the biggest bonefish you have ever seen! I was able to capture several classic photos of huge schools of Bonefish tailing and feeding in less than a foot of water. The crystal-clear aqua-marine water in the Bahamas combined with the perfect light conditions were a photographer’s dream come true. That Bonefish trip with my father and the amazing island-life experience

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sparked the beginning of my passion for fly-fishing. Today, I try to go fly-fishing as often as I can. I love using a small fly-rod with light tackle and have caught fish that weighed over 40 pounds! When I am targeting Redfish, I usually fish at low tide. This gives me an advantage because I can see the Redfish tailing much easier at low tide and I can follow the Redfish wakes much better and cast out in front of them. I live on Doctor’s Lake in Fleming Island and catch quite a few Redfish near my dock. I also catch Black Drum, Sheepshead, Speckled Trout and other saltwater species in Doctor’s Lake as well. I even hooked a Tarpon at the mouth of Doctor’s Inlet but did not land it. For Redfish, Clapboard Creek and Sister’s Creek are two of my favorite places to fly-fish.” When it comes to family life, Carson is extremely close to his parents and his older brother and sister. Carson’s father, Andy Kent, is a highly-successful businessman here in Northeast Florida and owns Beach Blvd. Motorsports (BBMS.com;) a premiere dealer for Yamaha, Suzuki and KYM motorcycles including Yamaha, Ranger and Tidewater boats. Carson has spent countless hours at Beach Blvd. Motorsports with his father which galvanized his love for the outdoors including recreational boating and fishing. Today, Carson spends most his time pursuing his love for outdoor, landscape and wildlife photography. “Taking photos of the hidden coves of the beautiful St. Johns River and the Intracoastal Waterway is an outdoor activity I truly enjoy,” Carson proudly explains, “and when I slowly cruise the shoreline of the rivers, creeks and waterways of Northeast Florida, I am filled with excitement knowing that at any moment, I could potentially capture that once in a lifetime photo of an American Bald Eagle or Osprey taking-off in flight or soaring over the tree tops looking down at me.” When asked about his “secret to success,” Carson B. Kent is eager to share his trade secrets to anyone who asks. “I use Sony digital cameras almost exclusively and shoot at the highest possible frame rate to capture the highest resolution photos possible,” says Carson “and I also love shooting at night and have become somewhat of a stormchaser looking for that once in a lifetime shot of the dark sky lit-up with multiple bolts of lightning! I have been extremely fortunate to have captured some truly unique photos of multiple lightning strikes chasing those massive Northeast Florida electrical storm super-cells that occurs almost every afternoon in the summer. Some of my favorite photographs features cloud structures outlined in white, tan and brown with multiple unique shades of purple showing a maze of lightning bolts. I love taking photos just after sunset when the sky is transitioning from orange to gray and sometimes to purple and then to black. I will go back and edit my original photographs so that I’m able to blend the images, lighting, shading and colors to create the ultimate night-time photographs.” Carson also passionate about outdoor and sportfishing cinematography. “I love to shoot high-resolution outdoor

cinematography of coastal anglers catching a variety of freshwater and saltwater gamefish including Largemouth Bass and Redfish, Carson explains, “and I use high-resolution cameras with a special lens that enables me to capture top-water strikes and blow-ups. The ultimate for me is shooting sportfish skyrocketing out of the water!” I am extremely impressed with the amazing outdoor photography and lifework of Carson B. Kent. Driven by his vision and purpose, I can tell you with absolute certainty that Carson will continue his journey and quest to inspire the next generation of coastal anglers by digitally capturing the natural beauty of the great outdoors like no one has ever imagined. This vision has been his passion since he was just a kid. Today, Carson B. Kent is just 17 years old. With over 25 years of corporate experience as a writer, director and producer, Terry Newsome has personally filmed and produced over 100 outdoor television shows and instructional fishing videos internationally. He is an avid coastal angler and is a former co-owner of Pine Island Fish Camp on the Intracoastal Waterway just north of St. Augustine, Florida.

Carson on the other side of the lens. 8 NORTHEAST FLORIDA

AUGUST 2020

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Fishing Report & Forecast St. Augustine Inshore By Capt. Tommy Derringer

he bite has been great all summer long and this month is no different… Get ready to hook into redfish, trout, and flounder inshore as well as tarpon, kings, sharks and more along the beaches. How do you beat the summertime heat when on the water? Well… Get out at first light or wait for the last few hours of daylight, right around dusk. Those are typically the best times to catch the fish feeding this time of year. Just like I’ve said the last couple of months, it’s the summer pattern, and top-water “walk the dog” style plugs as well as “chuggers” will make for some exciting catches, especially during those lower light conditions.

One very important ingredient for catching fish this time of year is to look for the bait. Whether it’s finger mullet, shrimp, or pogies, if you find the bait, you’ll find the fish. The bait can be easily located by looking for nervous water (small disruptions on the surface, similar to a 10 NORTHEAST FLORIDA

AUGUST 2020

very small boat wake). You can be sure that redfish, trout, and flounder will be hanging around the schools of bait looking for an easy meal. Don’t overlook the banks along the ICW on the lower tide stages this month. A lot of the baitfish will come out of the creeks and hang along those ICW banks, especially the ones that have oysters scattered on them. Again, the bigger fish will be in close pursuit. If you’re fishing inshore during the higher tide stages, try a popping cork. Popping corks are a Summer go-to for my clients and I as the noise from the cork can persuade even the pickiest of fish to bite. The pop that the cork creates allow fish to find them in the murky summer water and make for some really exciting hookups. You can use a live mud minnow or shrimp under the cork or a scented soft plastic or cut piece of bait. The combo of the pop from the cork and the scent from the bait will definitely get some looks. Last month we got off to a great start with our tarpon season with many fish coming from behind the shrimp boats (and their by-catch slick) along the beach. Also look for the silver kings to be feeding early in the morning on the bait pods just off the beach (If the pogies ever to decide to show up in good numbers this year). Free-line a pogy around the bait pods and hold on. If the tarpon don’t want to play, do some trolling along the beach for some line-screaming kingfish action (there will be plenty of them out there). There will also be plenty of smaller tarpon inshore in the canals and deeper creeks and flats. A back hooked free-lined finger mullet, a free lined select shrimp, or medium sized pogy, will all make for a great tarpon snack.

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Capt. Tommy Derringer 904-377-3734 • www.InshoreAdventures.net

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FLAGLER SPORTFISHING CLUB By Chris Christian

he Flagler Sportfishing Club will have its Annual Classic Fishing Tournament on Aug 21st22nd with the mandatory Captains Meeting and Silent Auction being held on the 21st at the Social Club

nearshore. The Club will meet as usual at the VFW and people can exercise social distancing, and we are required to use facial masks. The bar will not be open for sitting at this time.. Upcoming Events: Monthly Meeting – August 4th – VFW

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of Palm Coast. The Official Weighin will be held at Hidden Treasure on the 22nd in Flagler Beach. This year the Tournament will benefit the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) so enter early as this year should have a large turnout! The August 4th meeting will have the Introduction of Officers with special guest speaker being Carlos Garcia teaching us How to catch Tarpon and King Mackerel

Annual Classic Fishing Tournament – August 21-22nd flaglersportfishing.com/event/ annual-spring-classic/ Join the Flagler Sportfishing Club www.flaglersportfishing.com Contact: Chris Christian @ chris@flaglersportfishing.com YouTube: Also, check out our new YouTube Channel for Fishing Quick Tips – search Flagler Sportfishing Club and subscribe

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Fishing Report St. Johns River By: Richard Hamilton

et's start out with the most-talked about--the Shrimp. They should be starting to show up with a little more regularity and increasing in size. The shallows at night and deep water during the day are the ticket to this plan. But there's only one real way to know--Go! Now on to the fishy species. Reds will be getting more common and eating what they want. But they do like crab or a nice shrimp, if possible. Check out activity in the shallows and progressing into the deeps and off the bars. You can still catch them fishing the bottom and the plus side is the Croaker and TroUt will be in the same area and hopefully biting the same

baits. But if all else fails, go to top water lures in the morning and lipless crank baits around the drops and bars. So give it a go. Next will be the Stripers. They love ambush points behind piling at the bridges. So you have tons of options on these beauties. Look for the birds ripping up the bait from the eating machines. Secondly you start trolling big minnow imitations around the pilings. You can also anchor away from the bridge and fish with the tides. Both work well as does fishing with live shrimp, drifting it towards the pilings. You should be rewarded if you're lucky. Now Large Mouth will be in the shade or under docks. So you can use lures like shallow running crank baits or plastic worms. But the simplest method will be live shrimps hold on and you'll know really quickly. This method can get you a large mouth or a red or even a nice-sized Catfish, but it's fun to do, so go at it! Next will be the Bream. These aggressive beauties will be found in the creeks around around the bonnets. The best way and the most enjoyable is fly rod popper or bream poles worked into and around the pads. Well, I've got to go, so 'til next time, keep your line wet and your lure movin'--Richard. R & J Tackle 501 S Orange Ave, Green Cove Springs (904)284-5081

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Fishing Report Pier and Surf By: Noel Kuhn

ith the hot weather comes hot pier action. The big pods of pogies are now just outside the surf zone and the aggressive predators are right behind them. King Mackerel and Jack Cravalle will be cutting through the pods. Underneath will be big Redfish and sharks will be chewing along the botttom. With the Jacksonville Beach pier still under repair, a lot of anglers are enjoying the action at the Flagler Beach pier. In the surf, we are enjoying a very late run of Pompano. All fish migrations are cyclical but catching Pompano in June into early July has been a bonus. Live sand fleas and live clams have been producing the best catches. If you use more than one rod, you should

definitely cast one short. You will be amazed when that big fat Pompano slams your bait in thigh deep water. This is especially true early in the morning with an incoming tide. Speaking of early morning, summertime is prime time to have your toes in the sand before sunrise. I always have my best luck before 9AM all summer long. Getting to the beach at 5:30AM to have baits in the water by 6AM is my go to plan. On a normal outing it is amazing how the bite shuts off between nine and ten. If you go even earlier you will need to do some prep the day before since most of our bait stores do not open until 6AM. Here in Northeast Florida sand fleas are very abundant so now is the time to stock up. As soon as our weather cools down in October the sand fleas will go deep into the sand. I want to share with you my way to have great bait when fleas are hard to catch. It takes some prep work but when you get home with left over fresh caught fleas it is so easy to store them. I just put up a post on Facebook. Please visit my page “Surf Fishing Guide”. The process is preserving them in highly salted water that will NEVER freeze. With this process you can have fresh looking fresh smelling fleas when they are impossible to catch. Remember go early to get in on the bite. The bonus is you will beat the heat. Next month the “MULLET RUN”! Tight lines and see you on the beach. Noel Kuhn Surf fishing guide and long distance casting coach. 904-945-0660 www.TheSurfAngler.com

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Fishing Report & Forecast Flagler Inshore By Captain Chris Herrera

ugust is a great month to hit the beach and target the usual suspect’s tarpon, kingfish,sharks and jacks. Look for shrimp boats to dump their by catch and get ready to hook into various species of sharks using 7/0 Daiichi circle hooks and a minimum of 80lb. test leaders. Once the sharks get their fill look for the tarpon to move in to finish off what the sharks didn’t. A tarpon’s favorite meal seems to be the trout dumped by the shrimp boats, float one in the mix of chum and hold on. Best set up for tarpon is a 6/0 live bait hook with 80-100lb. 6ft. leader.

Look for Schools of jacks pushing water on calm days in 30-55ft. of water, a well place fly or live bait is a sure hook up as jacks are ferocious eaters. Make sure you don’t use inshore tackle because these are not your typical inshore jacks. Ocean running jacks push weights up to 40lbs. so gear up properly or be prepared to get spooled. Inshore Jacks can be found cruising the ICW at first light heading north busting bait. These fish move at a fast paste so keep that motor running and keep up. The inshore bite continues at first light tossing your favorite topwater lure along grass banks at high tide or along sandbar edges at low tide. During low tides look for schools of reds to gather in the deepest parts of the flat possibly mixed in with the mullet, a live mud minnow on a Daiichi 2/0 circle hook and bb split shot will get the job done. Live bait fisherman can also target redfish around oyster beds and grass edges using a live shrimp and popping cork to get their attention. ICW banks are holding some nice trout when the current is moving and bait is present. Free lining a live shrimp is hard to beat but for the artificial fisherman a Z-man Paddle Tail and Slayer 1/8 ounce jig head jigged off the bottom will put specks in the boat. Capt. Chris Herrera Serving Flagler Beach, Palm Coast, St. Augustine www.palmcoastfishing.com 386-503-6338

20 NORTHEAST FLORIDA

AUGUST 2020

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D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3

TIDE CHART - AUGUST

Mayport Degaussing Structure 30.3967° N, 81.3950° W Date Day Time Hgt 01 Sat 01:02 AM -0.03 L 02 Sun 01:52 AM -0.14 L 03 Mon 02:39 AM -0.20 L 04 Tue 03:23 AM -0.20 L 05 Wed 04:05 AM -0.12 L 06 Thu 04:47 AM 0.02 L 07 Fri 05:29 AM 0.21 L 08 Sat 12:01 AM 4.81 H 09 Sun 12:43 AM 4.61 H 10 Mon 01:26 AM 4.43 H 11 Tue 02:11 AM 4.27 H 12 Wed 03:01 AM 4.15 H 13 Thu 03:55 AM 4.09 H 14 Fri 04:51 AM 4.13 H 15 Sat 05:45 AM 4.25 H 16 Sun 12:34 AM 0.73 L 17 Mon 01:21 AM 0.38 L 18 Tue 02:07 AM 0.03 L 19 Wed 02:52 AM -0.27 L 20 Thu 03:37 AM -0.46 L 21 Fri 04:24 AM -0.53 L 22 Sat 05:13 AM -0.47 L 23 Sun 06:05 AM -0.33 L 24 Mon 12:53 AM 5.41 H 25 Tue 01:50 AM 5.15 H 26 Wed 02:51 AM 4.91 H 27 Thu 03:55 AM 4.76 H 28 Fri 04:59 AM 4.71 H 29 Sat 05:59 AM 4.74 H 30 Sun 06:53 AM 4.82 H 31 Mon 01:32 AM 0.40 L

Time 07:08 07:59 08:46 09:32 10:17 11:00 11:43 06:11 06:55 07:39 08:25 09:12 10:01 10:52 11:43 06:37 07:26 08:15 09:04 09:54 10:45 11:38 12:32 07:01 07:59 08:58 09:58 10:57 11:55 12:49 07:42

AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM PM AM AM AM AM AM AM PM AM

Hgt 4.48 H 4.52 H 4.55 H 4.56 H 4.57 H 4.57 H 4.59 H 0.42 L 0.63 L 0.81 L 0.93 L 0.97 L 0.91 L 0.75 L 0.50 L 4.44 H 4.68 H 4.93 H 5.17 H 5.39 H 5.56 H 5.68 H 5.75 H -0.13 L 0.07 L 0.23 L 0.34 L 0.37 L 0.33 L 0.26 L 4.92 H

Time 01:01 01:52 02:40 03:26 04:11 04:56 05:43 12:26 01:09 01:54 02:42 03:34 04:28 05:23 06:15 12:35 01:25 02:14 03:02 03:53 04:46 05:42 06:43 01:28 02:28 03:32 04:36 05:38 06:34 07:24 01:39

Approximate Correction Times Palm Valley ICW: H: +2:20 L: +2:00 +/- for Other regional Locations JAX Beach: H: -:29 L: -:20 Bings Landing: H: +2:57 L: +2:44

Hgt PM -0.33 L PM -0.37 L PM -0.33 L PM -0.20 L PM 0.04 L PM 0.35 L PM 0.67 L PM 4.61 H PM 4.66 H PM 4.71 H PM 4.78 H PM 4.87 H PM 5.00 H PM 5.18 H PM 5.41 H PM 0.19 L PM -0.12 L PM -0.37 L PM -0.50 L PM -0.49 L PM -0.36 L PM -0.14 L PM 0.11 L PM 5.76 H PM 5.73 H PM 5.69 H PM 5.67 H PM 5.68 H PM 5.71 H PM 5.72 H PM 0.20 L

St. Augustine Beach: H: -:07 L: -:15 St. A City Dock: H: -:04 L: +:09

Time 07:39 08:28 09:13 09:57 10:39 11:20

Hgt PM 5.67 PM 5.63 PM 5.53 PM 5.39 PM 5.21 PM 5.02

H H H H H H

06:32 07:24 08:16 09:09 10:01 10:53 11:44

PM PM PM PM PM PM PM

0.98 1.22 1.38 1.44 1.40 1.27 1.04

L L L L L L L

07:05 07:54 08:41 09:29 10:18 11:08 11:59

PM PM PM PM PM PM PM

5.64 5.86 6.00 6.06 6.02 5.88 5.67

H H H H H H H

07:46 08:50 09:52 10:52 11:50 12:43

PM PM PM PM PM AM

0.34 0.51 0.62 0.65 0.62 0.52

L L L L L L

08:10 PM 5.70 H

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Fishing Report & Forecast St. Augustine Offshore By Capt. Robert Johnson

The Other Snapper… I hate under current regulations we were limited to a four-day Red Snapper season in July. They are my favorite fish to catch and Jodie Lynn’s favorite fish to eat. Luckily for NE FL anglers we have other options. We are blessed with awesome Vermillion and Mangrove snapper fishing but to anglers in the know there is another snapper species available. That’s right we have great Mutton snapper fishing if you know where to look and what gear to use. Bottom anglers need to look for other species to fill the void. Muttons fill that void readily. Mutton fishing is a deep-water affair with the best fishing occurring just inside the shelf edge in 145 to 165 ft. I use long leaders and I do mean long – 25’ - 35’ of 50# monofilament tied to a barrel swivel is my normal rig. Use enough weight to get 22 NORTHEAST FLORIDA

AUGUST 2020

your bait to the bottom not necessarily hold it there – I’ve done the best when there was a strong current and my bait was drifting along the bottom and covering ground. Anchoring is a must and you need to position your boat well ahead of the spot. You may have to sit for a while until they turn on. Muttons will get off the structure so being dead on the spot isn’t as critical for them as some other species. Whole sardines are my bait of choice and if you can catch some live ones that’s even better. Hook size is number 5 or 6. In addition to Muttons you will catch Mangrove and some giant Vermillion this time of year. Red Porgy, Amberjack, Trigger fish, and Cobia will round out the list of available species. On the troll, King Mackerel are great in August. It all depends on bait. Find the schools of Sardines and you will find the fish. If live bait trolling is not your thing, you will have plenty of action on the planer and spoon rig. I use a 3.5-inch Drone spoon behind a number 3 planer. Make sure you have a barrel swivel mid way to prevent line twist. I like a 40’ leader.

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Fishing Report & Forecast Fernandina / Amelia Island By Terry D. Lacoss

he month of August is prime time to hook up to the high leaping “Silver King” along the beaches and inlets of Amelia Island. Tarpon weighing from 50 -150 pounds are commonly targeted, while it is Anchoring up your fishing boat at the very tip of the St. Mary’s inlet and fishing dead on the bottom with cut baits is a tried and true tarpon tactic. Chumming with small pieces of cut bait will certainly increase your odds of hooking up with the “King”. Amelia Island tarpon can also be targeted along the beaches where good concentrations of menhaden are numerous. Simply drift along the outer edges of the menhaden schools, also referred to as pogies, while free drifting barbed menhaden where tarpon are rolling in the bait fish pods.

sea bass, triggerfish and more. Bottom fishing with double hook bottom setup with a 6-8 oz. weight and fresh local squid is a tried and true bottom fishing setup. When targeting large adult gag grouper, fish with a freshly caught grunt on the bottom and hang on. Jumbo size sea trout will be showcasing the backwaters during the last few hours of the in-coming tide. Look for a hard bottom where mullet and oyster bars are numerous. Live finger mullet drifted under a small float is a tried and true big sea trout fishing tactic. Casting a “Top Dog” surface plug in the red and white color pattern will also produce big specks weighing over the five-pound mark. Good numbers of redfish will be schooling along the inside of the St. Mary’s south jetty rocks during all tidal phases with the last of the

Typical tarpon gear includes 30-pound terminal fishing line with a 7/0 kahle hook attached to a six-foot length of 100-pound fluorocarbon shock leader. A fish finder slide is attached to the terminal fishing line which allow weights to be attached with a small piece of picture hanging wire. When the tarpon leaps the weight is tossed free keeping the tarpon hook firmly lodged in the tarpon’s mouth. Tarpon are not allowed to be brought on board your fishing boat. Simply measure the length and girth of the tarpon using the formula, length times girth squared divide by 800. Taxidermists can also produce a replica mount of your tarpon that will look much better than a real skin mount. Kingfish will still be holding offshore at FA, FB, FC, HH and the Nassau Live bottom during the month of August where slow trolling live menhaden or cigar minnows is key. Bottom fishing at FA fish haven will produce red snapper, grouper,

falling tide produces the best red drum fishing action. Fish dead on the bottom with finger mullet, or a 3-inch Berkley Gulp shrimp in the “New Penny’ color pattern. Flounder weighing to ten-pounds will be schooling close to and under boat docks during the falling tide as well. Fish with live bullhead minnows worked super slowly along the bottom. Surf fishing is excellent at the southern tip of Amelia Island while fishing with sand fleas, or ultra-fresh local shrimp. Casting a clear curly tail plastic tail with silver metal flakes at the small jetty rocks is a great sea trout fishing tactic.. For more fishing and charter information please call the Amelia Angler Outfitters 904-261-2870, or visit www.ameliaangler.com Amelia Angler Outfitters is located at 111 Centre, St. Fernandina beach Fl. 32034.

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Home Team Wins Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic

By Capt. Dave Lear

ith some of the best teams in sportfishing vying for $1.747 million in cash prizes, the 2020 Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic was destined to feature stiff competition. And it did. By the time the last boats had weighed in, however, it came down to a truism in sports—the home team always has a slight advantage. So after winning all the other major tournaments in the Gulf, it was Mollie, a Destin-based G&S custom sportfisher, that claimed the top prize. Angler Wes Long, Capt. Jeff Shoults, mates Chance Young, Sawyer Henderson, Josh Goodson and the rest of the team won first place blue marlin with a 660.4-pound fish, and third place in the release division (3 blues). With tournament and crew payouts, plus multiple optional jackpots, Team Mollie earned $514,933 and the 2020 ECBC trophy for top boat. Panhandler, a 54 Hatteras owned by Tim O’Brien and run by Capt. Travis Gill, was the second-place team with a blue that weighed 601 pounds. With optionals, that fish was worth $182,274 for the Pensacola team. Charles “Charlie” Thomas III and his crew aboard Fins Up, a 54 Bertram based in Orange Beach, earned third-place honors with a 553.3-pound marlin that was weighed in Friday night. Capt. JJ English and the team earned $57,282 for their efforts. Fleur de Lis, a 72 Viking with Capt. Scooter Porto at the helm, was the top team in the billfish release division. Based in Grand Isle, the team released four blue marlin to claim top prize and $159,415. Mon Chari, (Capt. Matt Coppoletta) came in second in the division with 1,700 points to earn $43,800, and Mollie was third with three free-swimming blues to its credit. Some hefty tuna were brought to the Baytowne Marina scales on Saturday evening. Austin Sculley on Ridgeback, (37 Bertram/Capt. Wild Man Waldmann), hoisted the heaviest yellowfin at 198.8 pounds to claim $56,600. Chasin’ Tail, (80 Weaver Boat Works/Capt. Clayt James), boated a 153.9-pound tuna, good for a $28,218 payout. John Engquist was the angler. Rounding out the division was angler Craig Brown, competing aboard Second Wind, (72 F&S/Capt. Marlin Brown). Brown’s 148.5-pound entry won the team $17,942. Houston Adams, fishing on his family’s 52-foot Southern Cross, Gunnslinger, wound in the heaviest wahoo of the tournament. It was 58.6 pounds and was worth $49,805. Capt. BJ Teems is Gunnslinger’s helmsman. Ritchie Prince wound in the second-place wahoo at 51.7 pounds. That fish earned Can’t Deny It (48 Viking), Capt. Jeff Bryars and the team a $15,168 bonus. Questionable Judgement, a 39 Nor-Tech center console run by Capt. Kyle King, rounded out the field with a 50.1-pound wahoo. Mark Wade was on the rod and the team won $17,840 for that fish. Next year’s Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic will be held June 16-20, 2021 at the host Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Miramar Beach, Fla.

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TACTICS For Spanish Mackerel I

By Englis Glover

want to share some tips that will make your experience on the water more productive and a bunch of fun. Every year, when the finger mullet start heading into the inlets, it provides great bait for targeting all of our inshore species as well as some of our offshore species. I have always enjoyed and lived by the belief that we should “match the hatch” on baits. When it comes to Spanish mackerel, we have some great tactics for catching them from trolling spoons on planers and dragging spoons behind birds on the top of the water. They are an aggressive fish that spends a lot of the time on the surface chasing schools of bait. From glass minnows to greenbacks, they enjoy setting up to eat on a buffet line. We can also target them with topwater plugs and baits when they are in these incredible feeding frenzies. Years ago, after dumping a live well on the reef to head in from a trip, we watched Spanish start feeding in a frenzy chasing our mullet through the air. After watching all these fish sky-rocketing, we tossed a couple out with hooks and some wire leader. We did not get hits on the baits with hooks. We were using big hooks and big wire, and after some changes and modifications we came up with great rigs that worked. Get some No. 4 or 6 nickel-coated treble hooks preferably 3x or 4x strong. Use 20-pound, non-coated, seven-strand wire. This enables the bait to swim more naturally and will hold up to most of the razor-like teeth of these ferocious feeders. I have all of my inshore rods spooled with braid, so I attach about a 3-foot section of monofilament for a leader. Mono sinks slower than fluorocarbon or braid and helps keep your bait on top of the water. I attach my leader with a double uni knot. I attach my wire with an albright knot and my hook to the wire with a snell. The bait has to look natural and healthy. I prefer hooking the bait up through the top of the mouth, but I will at times hook the mullet through the top of the back to make longer casts possible. The most important part of this tip is to make sure you have lots of mullet. You are going to have to spend some extra time catching bait, but it is worth it. When currents stacks bait up on the nearshore reefs and around the jetties, you’ll know very quickly if the fish are there. Toss out three to five baits every 5 or 10 minutes. Don’t be scared to move and locate the fish.

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or night owls, gigging flounder is one of the most fun and effective methods to pile up a cooler full of flat fish. Being on the water at night is a whole new experience. When the boat traffic is gone, summer evenings are warm and quiet. Poling the shallows in a flat-bottomed boat or wading a shoreline in search of flounder really can’t be beat. Giggers use a sharp multi-pronged, barbed spear to stab flounder while they are sitting on the bottom. Bow-fishers also have success using specialized fishing bows with barbed and tethered arrows. Either way, finding flounder is the key to the pursuit. They aren’t hard to catch once located. Flounder, by nature, are comfortable relying on their camouflage. If you’re quick and quiet, they’ll just sit there under the light and wait for you to stick them. Flounder, like redfish and seatrout, are very current oriented. They look for the right current where there is available forage to bed down in the sand or mud. Their predatory advantage is the ability to blend in with the bottom and wait for unsuspecting prey. And while they won’t pass up mullet on the surface, they prefer to sit still looking up as a buffet is swept over them. They will snap up anything that passes, from crabs, eels and minnows, to menhaden and shrimp. Now this is not a conversation about flounder baits. You don’t need bait to gig flounder. You do, however, need to find an area where they like to hunt, which means forage species should be present. Also, even with powerful lights, the water clarity has to be pretty good in order to spot them. The best shorelines are somewhat protected from wind and wave action, which stirs up silt. Current exiting a backwater provides forage. Areas with a sandy bottom typically clear up quicker than mud flats. Once you find your likely area, it’s just a matter of easing around as quietly as possible and shining a light on the bottom. It takes some practice, but you’ll soon be able identify their mottled sides as a fish-shaped outline on the bottom. Keep the light on them, ease in as close as you dare and then strike swiftly with the gig. Keep the fish pinned to the bottom until you’re sure it was a solid hit. Even with those mean-looking barbs, a flopping flounder will wiggle off and be gone. If you are wading, wear boots and shuffle your feet across the bottom continuously as you search for fish. Stingrays hug the bottom just like flounder, and stepping on one is a pretty nasty surprise.

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CCA Florida Showcases Successful HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECT

ast month, Coastal Conservation Association Florida (CCA Florida) joined U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt for a special event commemorating the success of its Fantasy Island habitat restoration project in Tampa Bay. The onetime eroding Fantasy Island, located in Hillsborough Bay near the mouth of Alafia River, suffered severe destruction due to heavy traffic from the nearby ship channel. In an effort to restore lost habitat to the bay, prevent further erosion and improve water quality, CCA Florida the Building Conservation Trust (BCT) – the national habitat program of CCA – and Tampa Bay Watch joined forces to launch the restoration project in 2016. “The Fantasy Island project is not just about habitat restoration, but habitat innovation through use of innovative design and science-backed data,” CCA Florida Chairman JD Dickenson said. “In collaboration with our partners, our work has enriched the ecological system for oysters, birds and fisheries while improving water quality and increasing opportunities for Florida’s anglers” To kick off the project, more than 1,000 oyster domes and 40 tons of fossilized oyster shells were placed in two feet of water to allow low and high tide exposure. The development of a thriving oyster reef stabilized 700 feet of the island’s southern shoreline. Today, planted spartina grass has spread to stabilize the sand, and the placed reef balls and oyster domes are now covered with new oyster growth. Additionally, the island has become home to various species of fish and sea life, and white ibises can be found nesting on almost every tree. CCA Florida and BCT secured $50,000 of the necessary $150,000 for the project.

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he Florida mini-season for spiny lobster opened July 29 and 30, bringing out the usual horde of divers looking to get a first crack at lobsters that have been unmolested since April. Chances are the reefs will be crowded with divers again during the first part of the general season, which opens Aug. 6, but the crowds usually taper off as the more easily accessible lobsters are snatched up. Veteran divers will tell you the best way to fill your 6-bug limit with lobsters much bigger than the 3-inch carapace length limit is to find an isolated rock pile away from the larger, more well-known reefs. A small structure in a vast expanse of flat sandy bottom consolidates spiny lobsters and makes them easy to catch. These isolated areas are also less likely to have been picked over by other divers. The Atlantic Coast, from the Keys up to about Jupiter typically offers the best visibility and accessibility to an abundance of spiny lobsters. Although they can be found all the way up to the ledges off Jacksonville Beach, catching lobsters in northeast Florida involves deeper dives and limited visibility. For more information and complete regulations for Florida’s 2020 lobster season, go to myfwc.com.

14 FLORIDA

AUGUST 2020

Florida FWC Seeks Assistance in

LAKE MANAGEMENT PLANS

ere’s your chance to be more involved in the management of your favorite Florida fisheries. FWC has launched a new Lake Management Plans webpage designed to strengthen communication and encourage stakeholders to become more involved with the management plan process. The FWC’s lake management plans focus on the management of a system’s fish, wildlife and habitat. They are intended to guide the successful management of fish and wildlife on these systems for their long-term wellbeing and the benefit of people. The FWC is committed to designing these plans using stakeholder input and feedback to help guide management activities on individual lakes. Input from the public is vital to the success of these projects. The FWC is actively gathering input on each PHOTO COURTESY OF EXPERIENCE KISSIMMEE plan through multiple methods to ensure stakeholders can be involved in the development of management goals and objectives. The FWC is currently developing lake management plans for the Harris Chain of Lakes, the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes and Lake Okeechobee. If you would like to get involved in this planning effort, select the lake in which you’re interested, click the “Get Involved” button and send us your information. Check the webpages for information on the progress of the plans and for completed management plans. For general waterbody information, fishing forecasts, virtual tours, plant control operation schedules and annual workplans, boat ramp information and more, visit the “What’s Happening on My Lake” website at MyFWC.com/Lake.

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You Can Catch ’Em, But...

You Can’t Keep ‘Em! Y

ou might not be allowed to keep snook through the summer months, but that doesn’t mean you can’t catch them. And right now is a good time to target large snook. In fact, this catch-and-release period may be one of the best times for serious anglers to land a fish worthy of a photo to hang on the wall. In summer, snook are in the spawning mood. They can be caught in the surf, often very close to the shore, and also around inlets and ports leading to the open ocean. They’ll move in and out with the moon phases through about September, but they don’t generally move too far. If you’ve got a good area for snook during the fall mullet run, chances are the snook will be nearby during the summer months. For the same reason, the best surf locations will be near a pass. Typically a 15-pound snook is enough to make most anglers very happy. But this is the time of year is when 20- to 25-pounders are caught, and a 40-pounder is not out of the question. The Florida state record snook was caught out of Fort Myers in 1984 and weighed 44-pounds, 3-ounces. But with no way to certify a weight during the summer because fish must be released, there’s no telling how many have topped that mark in the more than three decades since it was caught. Many anglers chase snook with artificials, as they are a fish that will readily jump on jerkbaits, spoons, soft plastics, topwater plugs or flies while they are not spawning. However, bait can be and fisherman’s best friend when

targeting truly big fish. Snook will eat any small fish as well as live shrimp and crabs. Pilchards and other schooling baitfish make for good chum and bait. But if you’re specifically after the fish of a lifetime, sink a big hung of cut bait to the bottom. Large mullet heads and ladyfish heads are known for producing trophy-size snook. Morning, evening and night will be

the best times to fish, as snook are notoriously nocturnal. Sure, 20-inch snook caught in the backcountry on flies or soft-plastic shrimp are a ton of fun, and you can do that through the fall and winter. But summertime is your best opportunity to land a snook that’ll make your jaw drop and your reel scream. So get your hands stinky with some real bait and catch the fish of a lifetime. Just be sure to take care with the fish and revive it well before release. Those big snook are responsible for making the next generation of fish for us to catch.

JET

Yo 16 FLORIDA

AUGUST 2020

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n over 30 years fishing the flats at Luquillo, Puerto Rico, two of the funniest people I met there were Reggie and Manny, a couple of pals from New Jersey on their first visit to the island. I had waded a few yards from shore, keeping my legs covered with water, so as to stay cool and was having a great time catching and releasing cero mackerel, which are related to Spanish macks. As Reggie and Manny walked by, I hooked into one and promptly lost it. “I told you it looked like he was catching fish!” said Reggie. “So, where’s the fish?” Manny asked. “Out in the water, where it belongs,” I replied. “Smart-ass!” Manny shot back as Reggie laughed. Thus, we became friends. The first thing my new pals wanted to know was whether there was a reasonable chance I might catch something while they watched. I explained that the rate of an angler’s success was directly related to the number of fish in the water, divided by the number of people taking note of what the angler was doing, divided again by the probability that the angler in question may well have caught the last fish he was apt to encounter for the rest of the day, which in itself was damn near a sure thing. “That bad?” Reggie marveled. There was always a chance, I offered. “Maybe we might be able to get you to give us one for dinner?” Manny asked hopefully. Now saddled with an audience that expected to be fed, I began to feel the pressure. I got two hits and lost them both at the strike. Another fish took me into a weed bed about 70 feet out before it snapped off. Dinner was beginning to resemble an abstract concept. Still, Reggie was optimistic and he urged me on. I believe I might have eventually met with some success, but for Manny’s query a few minutes later. “Hey, Pete! You mind if I take a dip? It’s getting hot watching you.” Manny waded into the channel I was fishing and submerged. He came back to the surface with a smile on his face. He bobbed about in the water, contemplating the clear blue liquid and feeling it cool him down. He paddled about for 10 minutes before climbing out onto the beach. “We done here?” he asked. “I dunno,” Reggie remarked. “Are we, Peter?” They looked at me with a mixture of expectation and mild disappointment. After all, I had offered the vague promise of a fish dinner, delayed their swimming hour while they waited patiently for it, and then failed to deliver. If I had possessed a conscience, I might have felt awful about it and offered some kind of apology, which I believe my new friends would have graciously accepted, if only out of pity. Instead, we looked out on the ocean wondering where the fish had got to and laughed like hell. Peter Cammann has written fishing stories for magazines and newspapers for over 30 years. He is the author of three books: Fishing Vermont’s Streams and Lakes, Ultralight Spin Fishing and a novel titled SlipNot, all of which are available on amazon.com.

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FLORIDA 17

MARK SOSIN

GUCKEN MEMORIAL REEF

Photo courtesy of Swordfish Sportfishing

FISH & FISHING

HOOK ‘EM UP

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pair of pliers can help you land more fish than you have in the past. Most anglers ignore the logic of that statement, preferring to follow the same rut in the road that they have in the past. The process is simple. All you do is use pliers to mash the barb on the hook or hooks. One squeeze with those pliers and you have dramatically improved your chances of hooking the next fish that picks up the bait or attacks your lure. Historians tell us that barbs were put on hooks originally to keep the bait from falling off. Conservationists recommend barbless hooks or at least hooks where the barb has been flattened to help prevent injury to a fish that will be released. That’s a valid reason, but a much more compelling one centers on the fact that your ratio of hookups will begin to soar, particularly with species whose mouths are lined with piscatorial equivalent of cinder blocks. There’s more to the story. Serious anglers choose their hooks carefully, opting for light wire rather than the stout stuff that could lift a truck out of a ditch. The finer the wire, the easier it penetrates. Huskier hooks with oversized barbs bore wider holes in a fish’s jaw, sometimes falling out regardless of how tight the line may be. Climb out of the trench of tradition and take a hard look at the hook sizes you presently use. Smaller hooks prove more effective than larger ones in terms of hooking and holding a fish. It’s a gambler’s bet that you’re using hooks that are way too big for the task at hand. Remember that bigger or heavier wire does not mean better. An itinerant philosopher of questionable fame and barely a wisp of glory insists that whatever most people believe to be true will probably prove false. Try his thinking on these statements. 1) Fish straighten light wire hooks easily. 2) It takes a big hook to catch a big fish. 3) Without a barb you’ll never land a fish. 4) If you use big bait, you need a big hook. 5) The more hooks you have on a lure, the better your chances for a hookup. Let me share two examples: An extremely successful captain with whom I have fished for years uses very small hooks with live bait on the offshore grounds. His hooks have a shank of just less than an inch and a gap of a half-inch. The fish he lands on those tiny hooks would amaze you. A captain with whom I fished in Costa Rica uses small hooks for billfish. The first thing he does is mash the barbs on his hooks. Then, he sharpens every hook and triangulates the point. If you had a chance to fish with him, the first thing you would do when you got home, is buy a pair of pliers.

For more from Mark Sosin, visit

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18 FLORIDA

AUGUST 2020

fter three years in the making, the Sean Gucken Memorial Reef was recently deployed just 5 miles off Anna Maria in west Florida. CCA Florida spearheaded the reef project, in an effort to honor its late member who unexpectedly passed away in 2017. Sean Gucken, of St. Petersburg, a revered angler, free diver and spearfisherman, was also a devout advocate for protecting Florida’s waters and marine resources. The deployment is a tribute to his passion, and the Gucken Reef will continue his legacy by helping create new fisheries and habitats. The concrete was deployed on the Manatee County “Bridge Reef,” a pre-permitted artificial reef site roughly a quarter mile square. The concrete reefing materials were donated by Port Manatee and Westra Construction. The Bridge Reef is located west of Anna Maria Island, 27º°30 55.44 / 82º 49 1.56 central point. A separate memorial module for Gucken will be deployed on the Bridge Reef in a private ceremony later this year. Thanks go out to partners Yamaha Outboards and Building Conservation Trust (BCT) for supporting this project and continuing Sean’s legacy.

LIONFISH CHALLENGE ENDS ON LABOR DAY

ime is running out to register and compete in the 2020 Lionfish Challenge. The Lionfish Challenge is an incentive program that rewards harvesters for their lionfish removals. The Challenge is open now and will run through Labor Day, Sept. 7. Register online at FWCReefRangers.com at any time. With a tiered system, everybody can be a winner. The participant who harvests the most lionfish will be crowned the Lionfish King/Queen. There are two categories: recreational (number of lionfish) and commercial (pounds of lionfish). Participants with an active Saltwater Products License and lionfish sales within the last year will automatically be included in the commercial category. The recreational category is open to all divers who do not have a SPL. The more removals, the more prizes you win. To qualify for the Challenge, harvesters must collect 20 lionfish (recreational) or 20 pounds of lionfish (commercial). Once those initial lionfish have been submitted, the participant will receive a commemorative 2020 Lionfish Challenge Coin and Dri-Fit long sleeve T-shirt. Recreational – the first 20 lionfish must be submitted to the FWC Lionfish Team via photo of all lionfish laid out so they can be counted. The photo must include the harvester’s name, date of harvest (shown on phone or dive computer) and their signature. After the qualifying tier has been met, the harvester must submit their lionfish tails with their information (harvester name, date of harvest and signature) to a verified checkpoint. A 2020 FWC Lionfish Challenge Submission form must be filled out and sent to Lionfish@MyFWC.com. Commercial – catches are submitted via electronic trip tickets. The trip tickets must include the harvester’s name, date of harvest, amount harvested (pounds) and the harvester’s signature.

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Diving with Endangered Sawfish By Tonya Wiley, Havenworth Coastal Conservation

Sweat THE SMALL STUFF

Life is a Beach!

By Richard Matteson – Stuart Rod and Reel Club

es, summer surf casting on the beach is about big snook and tarpon. Perhaps overlooked are the smallest table fare on the beach, whiting and croaker, which average 10 to 12 inches in length and weigh less than a pound. Their meat is white and very tasty, and if you catch enough of them you’ve got a fine fish dinner. I always keep a bag of whiting and croaker in my refrigerator and add to it as I go. Whiting and croaker are mostly bottom feeders unless they encounter schools of glass minnows, which they follow and blast on the top or corral along the shoreline. Standard techniques for catching them involve sand fleas, live shrimp, cut bait and dead shrimp fished on double rigs with small hooks. You can also use ¼-ounce jig tipped with shrimp. I prefer to use standard jigs (3/8 to ½ ounce) with a 2- or 3-inch plastic body. I shorten the 4-inch D.O.A. paddletails so they are 2 ½ inches long. The trick is to bounce the bait on the bottom and to jerk it near the top. Sometimes they’ll miss, and you’ll snag them around the mouth. Whiting and croaker are Sometimes they’ll take the jig in their often overlooked when mouths. When there’s baitfish and fishing the beach. they’re feeding, it’s easy to catch a dozen fish in a few minutes. Whiting and croaker are an unrestricted species, which means an angler can harvest 100 pounds of fish and there’s no size limit. Smaller fish are harder to fillet. On light tackle and a spinning reel and thin rod, a 1-pound whiting can put up a fight. They are pretty strong for their size. Because of their small mouths, they flip off jig hooks. The bite to hook-up ratio isn’t great. So, if the big fish are not hitting, try fishing the bottom for croaker and whiting. For information about the Stuart Rod and Reel Club, visit our website www.stuartrodadnreel.com. 20 FLORIDA

AUGUST 2020

he population of smalltooth sawfish in the United States experienced a dramatic decline during the 20th century due to overfishing, habitat loss, and the species’ limited reproductive potential. Given the decline, smalltooth sawfish were listed as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act in 2003. The ultimate goal of the listing is to recover the population to the point that it no longer needs the protections; therefore, NOAA Fisheries convened the U.S. Smalltooth Sawfish Recovery Implementation Team to develop and implement a plan to recover the U.S smalltooth sawfish population. One of the best ways to track the effectiveness of ongoing management and conservation efforts is to collect information about sawfish encounters from divers, fishers and others. Because of their countless hours in the water, we are seeking to partner with the diving community to collect information about their sawfish sightings. Our team developed the guidelines below to inform divers about how to safely and legally enjoy encounters with sawfish: • Keep your distance • Avoid disturbing sawfish • Never chase, feed, or touch them • Share information about encounters Divers should note that advertising expeditions aimed at encountering endangered smalltooth sawfish can be considered “targeting,” which is a violation of the ESA. Therefore, it is strongly urged that the following conservation messaging be included in all advertisements and social media posts regarding sawfish interactions underwater: Sawfish are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Help protect this critically endangered species by following NOAA Fisheries viewing guidelines available at www. SawfishRecovery.org. Share sawfish observations by visiting www.SawfishRecovery.org, calling 1-844-4SAWFISH, and/or emailing sawfish@myfwc.com.

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lso known as the “gray snapper” and to many locals as “mangoes,” the mangrove snapper derives its name given its abundance in Florida’s mangroves. Anglers can find mangoes around shoreline structure year-round. Although larger individuals of the species (14-plus inches) venture offshore once matured, they return to inshore waters from June to September to spawn. Weighing up to 10 pounds as adults, they can be found under docks, along rock lines and bridges all over the Florida coast. With delicious white meat and as a highly sustainable seafood option because of their abundance, mangrove snappers make great table fare. From a boat or from shore, night fishing is the best way to catch mangrove snappers. Cooler waters and darkness result in more aggressive fish. I prefer spinning tackle for chasing mangoes. A 6- to 7-foot medium-light action spinning rod outfitted with a medium spinning reel is a common setup. Use 10- to 20-pound-test braid. The abrasion resistance is necessary because big mangrove snappers are known for bulldogging runs directly to rocks, oyster-covered pilings and other structure. The limited stretch of braid also allows for better sensitivity to bites. A 7- to 10-foot 20- to 30-pound fluorocarbon leader is also key. Mangrove snappers have excellent eyesight, so a tough, low visibility leader can often be a necessity depending on the amount of moonlight when fishing. The additional abrasion-resistance of fluoro as compared to mono can often mean the difference between an unsuccessful trip and one resulting in several offshoresize keepers. In terms of bait, live shrimp or sardines are often the preferred snapper fare, and mangroves can typically be spotted swimming toward the surface to ambush these prey. However, if live bait is unattainable, large cut chunks of pilchards, mullet, ballyhoo or even squid will suffice. A simple fluorocarbon leader tied to a weightless size 1 hook serves as the best low-profile method of naturally presenting bait. A knocker rig is a good second option when fishing waters exceeding 10 feet. When searching for potential structure, look for pilings, bridges and docks with protective cover such as rocks. Mangroves also prefer some current. Some particularly good places to look are jetties close to inlets, which commonly hold large schools of snapper. As ambush predators, mangrove snappers tuck tight to cover and wait for whatever prey might swim by in the current. After locating good structure, cast your bait a few yards up-current, letting the bait drift naturally toward areas where snappers are believed to be hiding. When a mango bites, be patient. They frequently carry a bait back toward cover before swallowing it. After setting the hook, anglers should put pressure on them quickly, as larger snappers take advantage of structures to sever fishing lines.

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New Laws Should Curb Florida’s

By Terry Gibson

SEWAGE TREATMENT CRISIS

By John Saporito

on septic tanks and provides an infrastructure grant fund to lower costs for rate payers. In summary, the 111-page Clean Waterways Act provides: 1) new stormwater regulations that reduce nutrient loads; 2) upgrades to domestic wastewater infrastructure; 3) conversion of polluting septic tanks to municipal systems; 4) improved regulation of sewage biosolids application, as well as; 4) advancements in best management practices to reduce agriculture nutrient contributions. Senator Debbie Mayfield (R-Melbourne) Rep. The Clean Waterways Act Bobby Payne (R-Palatka) championed Clean Anglers are forced to live with billions of gallons Waterways. It passed unanimously. of sewage spills because local governments that The Environmental Accountability Act own wastewater utilities have raided the utilities’ revenues, called “Enterprise Funds,” to pay for The Environmental Accountability Act is the other government services instead of reinvesting in enforcement arm. Wastewater utilities viewed the infrastructure. By forcing each utility to provide the meager fines for spilling sewage as the cost of the Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection business. Environmental Accountability increases with plans for maintenance, repairs and upgrades, fines by 50 percent to $15,000 per day for sewage and an explanation of how they’ll pay for them, dumping and other point sources of pollution. the Clean Waterways Act should discourage such The fines may go into a trust fund that may only short-sighted behavior. be spent on repairs, upgrades and other efforts to Clean Waterways also makes it the DEP’s improve water quality. obligation to regulate septic tanks instead of the Rep. Randy Fine (R-Melbourne), and Senator Dept. of Health, which many critics accuse of Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota) championed the aiding and abetting the septic tank industry. It Environmental Accountability Act. It also passed strongly discourages new construction that relies unanimously. don’t have to tell anglers that Florida has a major poop problem. Aging, ailing wastewater infrastructure is major culprit that feeds harmful algal blooms and spreads fecal pathogens into an overwhelming majority of Florida waters. Septic tanks, which pollute by design, represent 30 percent of the state’s wastewater “infrastructure.” Thankfully, on June 30, Governor Ron DeSantis signed two pieces of legislation into law that will significantly reduce pollution and contamination in waters of the Fishing Capital of the World.

Federal Action Our organization has also worked on the federal level to increase funding for water infrastructure repairs and improvements. Congress significantly increased funding levels. There is also a great deal of bi-partisan support for Covid-19 stimulus packages that include massive funding for water infrastructure.

What You Can Do Reach out to your elected officials to express your concern about sewage pollution. The Clean Waterways Act and the Environmental Accountability Act will now go into the rulemaking process, where the “teeth” get applied, or not. Meanwhile, we need support on all levels of government to fix what is at a minimum a $16.5 billion problem in Florida. Jensen Beach-based Terry Gibson is the Government Affairs Director of the American Water Security Project. He is a veteran outdoor writer and has served in many editorial capacities at several fishing publications.

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eports are coming in from this summer’s big-game tournaments of some huge blue marlin topping the leaderboards. The largest we’ve heard of so far— 964 pounds— was a big meal shy of achieving grander status. There were also a couple of big fish caught in the Gulf of Mexico, one of which is a potential Alabama state record. The near-grander was caught July 4 in the Cape Verde Islands off Africa’s North Atlantic coast by La Onda Mila, captained by Marty Bates. The fish won $464,000 and the 2020 Blue Marlin World Cup, which is open in waters worldwide for a single day. Another qualifying entry in the Blue Marlin World Cup was 667.2-pound blue, caught by Done Deal and Capt. Jason Buck from the central Gulf of Mexico. Weighed at Cypress Cove Marina in Venice, Louisiana, Done Deals’ big fish earned $339,200 for the optional Big Blue Challenge consolation prize. It was a big payday for Done Deal. Their 667.2-pounder was also entered in the July 4 Gulf Cup, in which boats may fish out of any Gulf of Mexico port. Done Deal earned an additional $128,000 for its catch as the Gulf Cup champion.

The next day, July 5, Ginger Myers sat in the chair of the Fleur-de-lis and battled a huge 851.9-pound blue to submission during the 2020 MONGO Offshore Challenge. Weighed at Orange Beach Marina, the fish is a pending Alabama state record and it also puts Myers in position to claim the largest blue marlin ever caught by a woman from the Gulf of Mexico. She’ll have to wait for the results of the MONGO, as the tournament runs through Oct. 15.

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ew gear requirements required for anglers targeting snapper and grouper species went into effect July 15 for Atlantic waters from North Carolina through Florida. NOAA’s new regulations are designed to decrease mortality rates for released fish and require anglers to have a descending device on board and readily available while grouper or snapper fishing. The new rule also requires the use of non-offset, non-stainless steel hooks when fishing for snapper or grouper with hook-and-line gear and natural baits. More than 50 fish species fall under the umbrella of the snapper-grouper ‘complex,’ a diverse collection of offshore fish that are sought-after table fare and critical to a healthy ocean ecosystem. Some of the most commonly encountered snapper-grouper species are black seabass, vermilion snapper, triggerfish, red snapper, gag grouper and spadefish. Many snapper-grouper species live a long time, grow slowly, and reach maturity at a late age—all of which makes them vulnerable to overfishing and makes each adult fish valuable to the overall population. Because these fish are often pulled from deep waters, they’re at high risk of barotrauma, a potentially fatal condition that occurs when fish undergo rapid pressure changes. Barotrauma, often accompanied by bulging eyes and bloated stomachs, can be a death sentence for caught-and-released fish. Fortunately, barotrauma can be reversed through the use of a descending device, which helps anglers return fish to deep waters from which it was caught. Descending devices can range from sophisticated, commercially available instruments to a DIY weighted hook.

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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM 7/14/20 7/14/20 4:22 4:22 PM PM

GO GROUPER FISHING,

NOT JUST BOTTOM FISHING Tim Barefoot

t’s not a coincidence...people who go “grouper fishing” come home with grouper in the box. People who go “bottom fishing” might catch a grouper, but they are more likely to fill the cooler with grunts, pinkies and sea bass. If you’re dropping cut squid and minnows on a high-low (chicken rig), you’ll have plenty of action, but you are not fishing for grouper. In order to specifically target grouper, you have to put baits on the bottom, and tackle that will accommodate that bait, in order to eliminate the trash bites. I love to eat grunts, pinkies and sea bass as much as the next guy, but I specifically target the grouper bite with the size and kind of bait I use. From an anchored boat, I typically start everyone out with whole squid and minnows to get the party going on the bottom. This creates a “chum slick” and gets the fish all excited. After half a dozen drops of sacrificial baits each, we change over to larger live and butterflied baits. Wherever you fish, the best bait to use is the bait that is there. That’s why I stay on the sabiki while everyone else is sending down squid. I’m fishing for grass grunts and beeliners (vermillion snapper) to be used live or butterflied. Don’t think for a minute that a 12inch beeliner is too big to use as bait. It’s not. A foot-long butterflied beeliner is the perfect bait for a big grouper.

The idea is to use baits that grunts and pinkies can’t fit in their mouths. If they do eat it, it will take them a long time and a lot of small bites. The angler must be patient with big baits like this. You’ll feel a lot of little “tap, tap, taps,” and then all of a sudden the little fish will stop biting. When the nibbling stops, it’s time to get ready. A lull often signifies the arrival of a bigger fish. It’s getting ready to happen! Live grass grunts on a Decoy Jig are probably my go-to big gag grouper bait, but a big butterflied beeliner is just as good. In the past, when we had abundant and inexpensive bait like frozen cigar minnows and sardines in 5-pound boxes, it was easy to take a few boxes of minnows and a couple boxes of squid for these sacrificial “chum” baits. Now, we have to be more creative. I keep a pinfish trap fishing a few days before a trip and butterfly a large bag of the biggest pinfish. You can also sabiki or cast net larger pinfish on any wreck or fish-cleaning station with a little chum. Cast net a few dozen big turbo pogies (menhaden) as a back-up if you can’t find big pinfish. If you’re interested in catching big grouper, fish big baits on heavy-duty tackle, and be ready for the big bite! For a video on how to butterfly baits, see https://youtu.be/UzdxiTkjvHI.

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Finding Trout On

SUMMERTIME TAILWATERS

By CAM Staff

f you’re looking for a way to beat the summer heat, fishing a tailwater trout stream is an obvious choice. With predictable flows controlled by hydroelectric dams, these are waters where temperature and oxygen content remain relatively stable year round. For trout and angler alike, tailrace fisheries are an oasis in the deep summer heat. While life in all but the highest-elevation free-flowing streams is suffering from heat-induced lethargy, tailwater trout remain active and healthy. Whether it’s the White River in Arkansas, Maryland’s Gunpowder Falls or Georgia’s Toccoa River, there are some constants when it comes to fishing tactics in deep summer. No two rivers fish the same, but trout prefer similar conditions wherever they live. • Fish High — When cold water from the bottom of a deep reservoir is pulled through generation turbines under various methods of oxygenation, flows released below the dam offer excellent conditions for trout. This only extends so

far downstream, though. Summer heat and the sun warm the water, which is also robbed of its oxygen content in the absence of aerating shoals. For anglers on most tailwaters, this means the first few miles below the dam will be the best place to fish. • Fish The Morning — In the depths of winter, sleeping in and fishing the warmest part of the day is often recommended. The opposite is true in summer. Anglers and trout will be more comfortable in the early morning before the sun has had a chance to heat the shallows. Fish are more likely to be up and feeding when the sun is not cooking their backs. Get on the water at daybreak for a few hours of action and then go eat brunch.

• Fish The Shoals — Shoal-broken water has more oxygen. Trout seek out water with higher oxygen content, and their metabolisms also churn when there’s more oxygen in the system. Especially in low-light conditions, work the runs and pockets in the shoals to find actively feeding fish. • Fish The Holes — Find a good deep hole beneath a turbulent shoal and use plenty of weight to dredge the bottom. Deeper water is colder water. When water temps begin to rise, trout go deep. You might find a pod of hungry trout hugging the bottom, or you might find that one fish big enough to have the whole lie to herself.

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