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Heads Of Cold Steel Winter Steelheading In Upstate New York By Frank Geremski -The Angler Magazine of Upstate NY publisher
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inter steelhead fishing can be chilling, but once you hook into a 10-pound, lightning-fast bolt of silver, your blood will be boiling. The speed and explosion are what lures steelheaders to expose themselves to harsh Great Lakes winters. And there’s more. On Upstate New York’s Salmon River, there are plenty of beautiful, large, lake-run brown trout mixed in. Plus, today’s lightweight protective clothing provides comfort between strikes. The Salmon River in Oswego County, N.Y. (www.visitoswegocounty.com) offers consistent steelhead fishing during the late fall, winter and spring. In fact, the river has runs of trout and salmon from Lake Ontario all year long. With many quality tributaries along its length and a hatchery, this highquality wilderness river once was home to a legendary Atlantic salmon run. Rebounding populations of Atlantics still exist due to restoration projects, but Pacific salmon dominate the scene in late summer and fall. Huge chinook salmon, some heavier than 30 pounds, and coho salmon run up 14 miles of prime spawning and fishing waters each fall. A good number of steelhead (rainbow trout) follow the salmon to feed on the eggs dropped during this legendary fall salmon run. The steelhead feed aggressively during the salmon run, and they remain in this beautiful blue-ribbon river all winter, providing more than six months of explosive action. Winter thaws and early spring rains invite the remaining Lake Ontario steelhead to spawn and join their riverwintering kin. It’s a truly dynamic trophy trout experience. The Salmon River holds big fish. Ten-pound steelhead are commonplace. Fish in the teens are a definite possibility, and persistent steelheaders get chances every year on specimens in the 20-pound range. When salmon first enter the Salmon River in September and October, steelhead and lake-run brown trout mix in with pacific salmon making their spawning run. Both trout species feed on salmon eggs, and just when the salmon die off, the brown trout begin to spawn. Their eggs supplement the steelheads’ diet. Large numbers of giant trout and steelhead winter in the river, with additional fish running up from Lake Ontario all winter and early spring. When they first enter the river, these brightly colored bullets aggressively strike offerings like egg sacks, bright Estaz flies or beads that imitate eggs. Midriver matriculation brings them past the village of Pulaski, where there are about 10 miles of mostly public fishing access to deep holes, runs, rapids and every kind of trout water. Several high-quality tributaries flow in along the way and provide excellent spawning grounds up to what’s considered the upper section of the river. Natural reproduction does occur, and New York state operates a large hatchery on the upper end of the Salmon River. Since the Salmon River is a tailwater, this upper section is fishable all winter and never ices up. With egg availability diminishing, the winter steelhead diet evolves to more nymphs and stoneflies. Fly fishing is effective yet challenging. This section of river is ideal for fighting and landing large fish, with catch and release encouraged. Many trophy steelhead in the teens are photographed for replica mounts, and brown trout in the 5- to 10-pound range are caught regularly, with fish in the teens a possibility. 8
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The Salmon River has a reputation for tight quarters during the peak of the salmon run. Crowds diminish during winter steelhead season. Weekdays bring even less competition. Two very select permit-only resort properties are located on the two best sections of river offering managed access and exclusive riverside lodging. On the upper river, The Tailwater Lodge in Altmar, N.Y. has private southside access to Schoolhouse Pool and the runs and holes above and below. This is the prime wintering spot for a large percentage of steelhead and the best access for ice-free angling. The Tailwater is an Orvis-endorsed lodge, which includes an on-site fly shop, “The Woodshed.” Zero Limit Adventures Guide Service, also Orvis endorsed, has a collaborative relationship with Tailwater Lodge and provides outstanding guidance to this section and the entire Salmon River. They’ll get you dialed into current river conditions and what the fish are feeding on. The Tailwater Lodge’s opulent accommodations coupled with their location on the river and exclusive access make it the Mecca for Salmon River steelheading. This large section of river provides various speeds of current and holding water with ice-free conditions all winter. Tactics for hooking these giants include fly fishing, spinning, float fishing and center-pin techniques. The Angler Magazine highly recommends booking an experienced licensed guide on your first day to instruct you on equipment, fly or bait selection and technique. Allow Tailwater Lodge (www.tailwaterlodge.com) and Zero Limit Adventures (www. zerolimitadventures.com) ease the entry into this elite pursuit. Douglaston Salmon Run (DSR) manages more than 2 1/2 miles of exclusive access in the lower end of the Salmon River where steelhead first enter from Lake Ontario. Early steelhead action can be fast and furious. Winter access is dependent on weather conditions, as the middle and lower sections of the Salmon River get slushy or iced over during mid-winter cold speels. DSR (www. douglastonsalmonrun.com) publishes an accurate and honest daily report that functions as a great information source for river conditions and fish movement. The highly challenging adventure of hooking and battling your first 10-pound-plus Great Lakes steelhead will certainly not be your last. This divine experience will put you in a league of sportsmen who are the only ones to understand this trophy steelhead quest. It’s a feeling like the adrenaline rush of your first buck or sailfish. This heart-pounding adventure on a beautiful river will provide a memory that can be yours forever. To check out the “Men of Steel” video, go to
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12/15/16 3:09 PM
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Editor’s Note: Each month, Coastal Angler Magazine and The Angler Magazine staff search our vast coverage area for photos that will grace our covers. With well over a million readers in diverse coastal and inland markets, our magazines strive for broad national appeal as well as local-level intelligence to put anglers on fish. The cover is different depending on which edition you, the reader, are holding. The following is a little information about this month’s covers.
COASTAL ANGLER MAGAZINE Houma, Louisiana
FREE
The big black drum on the cover of Coastal Angler’s January editions was caught by Banging The Drums Of Jacki Shae, whose south Florida upbringing Houma, La. taught her a love of fishing from an early age. Winter Chrome In On a recent ladies-only fishing trip to the Upstate N.Y. marshes around Houma, Louisiana, Jacki learned a newfound respect for black drum. Local This often overlooked cousin to the everpopular red drum might not be much on looks, but it puts up a heck of a fight and grows even larger than the big bull reds prized by so many anglers. Rumor has it the fish on the cover was caught with one of those kids’ Barbie rods spooled with 30-pound test. With tutelage from their guide Brittney Novalsky, the ladies also did battle with some of the big redfish Louisiana is famous for. Four young women staying on a houseboat and hauling big fish from the Louisiana mud… what more could anyone ask for from a fishing expedition?
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The covers of this month’s editions of The Angler feature a beautiful chrome steelhead Winter Chrome In caught by Zero Limit Adventures Guide Rob Upstate N.Y. Reynolds. The photo was taken by Zero Limit Banging The Drums Of Adventures Guide Matthew DeRosa. The fish was caught on the Salmon River in Oswego County, New York. To learn more Local about this fantastic fishery view this month’s article “Heads of Cold Steel” by The Angler Magazine Upstate New York publisher Frank Geremski. Zero Limit’s diverse team of guides offer tailored trips of a lifetime and expertly fish many tributaries of central and western New York. They can be reached by e-mail via mderosa@zerolimitadventures.com by phone at 585-766-2421, or view their website at www.zerolimitadventures.com. Zero Limit has a collaborative relationship with the opulent Tailwater Lodge www.TailwaterLodge.com in Oswego County. Tailwater Lodge offers exclusive access and wonderful accommodations on the banks of the Salmon River, home of legendary trophy salmon, steelhead and brown trout runs from Lake Ontario. Call Tailwater Lodge for availability and reservations at 315-298-3434. To learn more about Lake Ontario, the Salmon River and Oswego County fishing go to www. visitoswegocounty.com or call 1-800-248-4FUN. Houma, La.
Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events
PHOTO COURTESY OF ZERO LIMIT ADVENTURES GUIDE MATTHEW DEROSA VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 264
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LADIES DRUM UP ACTION IN THE LOUISIANA MARSH By Jacki Shea
I
find myself staying in the strangest places when I go on fishing adventures. But as long as it involves fishing, sleeping on a couch or on the ground really doesn’t matter. On this particular trip, my friends and I found ourselves in a small houseboat on a river in the Louisiana marshes west of New Orleans. It was tiny, there was only one bathroom (picture four girls trying to use one bathroom), and the bed sheets smelled like a man after a long day of fishing. You might be wondering what brought us to such a place, and I will give you two very good reasons: redfish and black drum. Enormous specimens of these two drum species come into the marsh each fall and winter, 20 to 30 pounds to be more specific. If you plan on making the trip to Louisiana to do some inshore fishing, it is not necessary to stay on a houseboat; however, I highly recommend it. When
you wake up each morning, you are on the water ready to fish with your boat tied up next to you. Of the drum family, redfish seem to be the most popular inshore species. Redfish are always a great fight, especially the big bulls. But many anglers seem to overlook black drum, which are sometimes referred to as a “mud donkeys.” It is not an attractive fish, nor is it great for eating; therefore, it is not commonly targeted. This fish does, however, grow the largest of the drum species, and it fights with the same action and power as a bull red. Now that I’ve caught a few, I believe black drum can look very pretty once the Louisiana sun hits those scales just right. Redfish and black drum are thick in the Louisiana marshes all year, but the season for the monsters runs from September to January, when big fish move from offshore into the marsh following migrating baitfish. When the baitfish show up inshore, the big fish won’t be far behind. For bait you can use live or artificial depending on whether you are trying to sight fish or just toss a line out and wait. On our trip, we used a standard knocker rig, with an egg sinker and a hook, and sank split live blue crabs and shrimp to the bottom and waited. The fishing is quite simple when you know where the fish are, although a guide is recommended for those unfamiliar with the waters because it’s easy to get lost in the marsh. Keep an eye out for cold fronts. The cold fronts clean up the water and bring the fish closer to the surface, which makes for perfect sight fishing. The fish also enjoy the cooler inshore water, so they will be more abundant and active. Check out Jacki’s YouTube channel Jacki Shea Fishing for videos of her fishing adventures. Her guide for the Louisiana trip was Brittney Novalsky who can be contacted through www.fishingadventureswithbrittney.com. For more fishing with Jacki Shea, go to
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By Tom Karrow Researcher Tom Karrow assessing fishery health in Abaco with a Bahamian angling guide from the Delphi Club. Photo by Andrew O’Neill
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hen I first started fly fishing in the 80s, the sport was not nearly as popular as it is today. Shops carrying fly tackle were sparse, people with knowledge of the sport were few and far between and getting lessons was nearly impossible. When I think back to those days, recalling the number of flies I lost in trees, the frequent tangles I developed and the shear lack of fish I caught, it is a wonder that I kept with it. Indeed, if it were not for the fly tying component of the sport, I might well have thrown in the towel. I love fly tying; being able to create something to fool fish with is a marvelous achievement. In contrast to my early fly fishing days, today there is a seeming abundance of information on the sport, from equipment, to angling destinations; everyone seems to have some insights. On top of this has been the advent of the Internet, a treasure trove of information and misinformation. The fact of the matter is, fly fishing is not nearly as complicated as it may seem. It is simply a form of fishing that allows for lightweight or nearly weightless “lures” to be used, which without the added weight in the line could not be presented to a fish. In some cases, fly fishing is a far superior method for fooling fish and in others, deep waters for example, far more challenging. When it comes to heavily pressured or sensitive fish, especially those inhabiting shallow inshore waters, I would argue fly fishing can often out-produce other techniques. Being able to imperceptibly drop a fly in front of fish when they are used to loud splashes from heavy lures or live baits can often result in fooled fish. Fly fishing is sometimes called an art, perhaps because of the apparent delicateness of the cast, the manner in which the line travels out over the water, or because many incorrectly, consider it hard. So let me correct this fallacy. Fly fishing is not hard, it does not need to be complicated and it can be very easily learned. If you really want to learn to fly fish, I would suggest a trip to the Bahamas. The weather is beautiful, the waters are stunning, and the people, culture and food are marvelous. The chance of catching fish is very high, as the guides are great instructors and a week’s worth of fly fishing immersion would provide incredible advancement in understanding and skill level. Throughout my travels in the Bahamas, I have met many wonderful guides and visited many top-notch facilities. To highlight one Bahamian guide or lodge is simply impossible. However, when it comes to learning the sport, be honest. When booking a trip to a lodge, perhaps directly or through a travel company like Yellow Dog Fly Fishing or Frontiers International, tell them what you want. Tell them you are a beginner. Tell them you want to learn. Through this strategy, those in the know will put you with facilities and personnel best suited to an instructional 12
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Great equipment meets great Bahamian culture. Photo by Tom Karrow
environment. You want a location that offers everything, lodging and food of course but also equipment, casting lessons, fly tying lessons, safety instruction along with patient and professional guides. One common thread that has become apparent through my research in the Bahamas is the respect that Bahamians have for travelers, specifically bonefish anglers. Bahamians openly welcome tourists, recognizing the importance that bonefishing has on local Family Island communities. Bonefishing on some Bahamian islands provides employment for up to 80 percent of the local population. With that level of economic importance, industry professionalism is critical along with healthy fisheries. In the Bahamas you will find both a high degree of angling knowledge and amazing fisheries. The Bahamas are certainly an excellent place to consider taking a trip and a phenomenal place to learn to fly fish. What I find most attractive about the Bahamas is the shear diversity available. With more than 700 islands, there is something for everyone. And for anglers, old and new, there are always new opportunities to learn from. Tom Karrow is a sustainable tourism scholar from the University of Waterloo. His research focuses on the Bahamian bonefishing industry, centered on the guides and their knowledge, stories and experiences. For more on his research see: http://tomkarrow.wixsite.com/bahamasguide-tek, and follow Coastal Angler Magazine for updates and more. Tom Karrow can be reached at tkarrow@uwaterloo.ca or tomkarrow@ gmail.com. For more Bonefishing in the Bahamas, go to
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no weight reduction had gone into the components above the handle. The guides were large and weighty. As a result, the rod was annoyingly front-heavy, even when I mounted two of the spinning reels I had tabbed for the task. Lost balance led to lost feel and sense of control over my bait. It took an oversized reel to bring anything resembling “balance” to this rod, and the resultant combo was still cumbersome. “It’s hard to get a rod perfectly balanced without knowing the reel a guy plans to put on it,” said Russ Lane, a Bassmaster Elite Series angler known for his talent for tackle tinkering. Lane wraps many of his rods with Winn Superior Rod Wrap (www.winngrips.com) to give them the same advantages of hand control and comfort that he gets with the Denali Attax rods and other rods in his arsenal already fitted with Winn grips. But at times there’s a secondary benefit to the wrap. “Sometimes adding the Winn rod wrap can add just enough weight to balance a rod,” noted Lane. He faced a formidable “weight-forward” balance challenge with the flipping/pitching rod he uses to punch matted vegetation with soft plastic lures and 1.5-ounce tungsten By Mike Pehanich weights. “I needed to add more weight to the handle,” Lane recalled. As usual, he covered the cork mid-grip of this 7-foot, 6-inch Denali Lithium Flipping Stick (Xtra Heavy) with the ightness” has been the dominant thrust of rod evolution for years. Lightweight guides, skeletal reel seats, split grips… these and other polymer overwrap. Before he added the wrap to the butt grip, however, he developments have served rod builders in their ongoing quest to added Storm SuspenStrips—adhesive-backed rectangles of soft lead that he reduce rod weight and, in turn, diminish fatigue and enhance angler comfort generally uses to add weight to his jerkbaits—to the tapered butt grip. “You can get the balance perfect by adding just enough lead tape over the and feel on the water. Oddly enough, radical downsizing of rod components sometimes produces butt grip before adding Winn overwrap on top of it,” explained Lane. “Balance the opposite of its intended effect if rod balance is significantly compromised makes a big difference when you are flipping those heavy tungsten weights in along the way or when heavier-than-usual lures or terminal tackle enter the heavy cover all day long.” picture. Several seasons ago, a rod manufacturer asked me to road test a new midFor a word from Lester on the benefits of Winn Grips, go to priced spinning rod the company was planning to bring to market. The design team had taken the split grip concept to an extreme, virtually eliminating the mid (rear) grip altogether and adding a very airy foam to the butt grip. However,
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Shown above: Chad Roberson, President of H2O Sports congratulates Danny Amador on his new boat.
hat’s a real mouthful of salutations, but the winner of Coastal Angler and The Angler Magazine’s Boat Giveaway contest is certainly deserving of all three. Danny Amador was drawn as the winner of the 15’10” Cape Craft boat with 75 hp Honda engine and a Coyote trailer. A massive fire at H20 Sports Manufacturing delayed much of their manufacturing, and Danny Amador had to wait until Dec. 9 to pick up his brand new Cape Craft vessel. That’s where the story gets really interesting. Dec. 9 is Danny’s birthday. Yep, and as all December birthday people know it’s always “Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas.” Coastal Angler Magazine would like to salute Danny Amador for his patience in receiving his boat. Unforeseen circumstances can sometimes alter even the best of transactions. Danny Amador’s patience and H20’s commitment to fulfilling the contest award represented the best of our industry. In addition to Danny’s boat, motor and trailer, Chad Roberson, H20 Sports Manufacturing’s President, insisted on
throwing in a free bimini top and invited Danny Amador to pick his favorite custom color for the boat. Good things are worth waiting for. Special thanks to Top Notch Marine in Fort H2O Staff and Danny Amador shown at H2O Sports headquarters. Pierce, Fla. for their assistance in titling this boat to our Florida winner. Once again to Danny Amador: “Congratulations, Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas!”
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lthough beautiful to look at, the invasive lionfish poses a severe threat to Atlantic and Gulf waters. They are known for having spines that can sting if not handled properly, but the meat is perfectly safe and delicious to eat. In other words, they are venomous but not poisonous. Lionfish is becoming increasingly common on restaurant menus and is even available at Whole Foods grocery stores. Connoisseurs often compare the quality to hogfish – a fine, delicate white meat. The scientific community concluded that home aquarists are to blame. Much like the python in the Everglades, it only took a few released invasive individuals to begin the breeding cycle. Since they are a new and strange looking species, native fish are not consuming lionfish. Yet lionfish are consuming juvenile native species at an alarming rate. Adding to the problem, they also breed at an amazing rate. Females reach sexual maturity at six months and release up to 30,000 eggs every five days. They now cover the east coast of the U.S., the entire Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic side of Central and South America, and can be found between 2 and 1,000 feet deep. The most effective way of hunting them, by far, is spearfishing. Since they have no natural predators, they are not wary which makes them easy to spear. Just handle the spines with care and you will be rewarded with a delicious meal while helping the environment! Lionfish hunting tips: 1. First, you must find them! Unfortunately, they are everywhere—look on reefs, wrecks, sometimes out in the open and often in ledges and holes. 2. Handle them carefully and do not to let the fins puncture your skin. If stung on the hand, remove any rings right away. The best treatment is heat, which breaks down the venom. Heat packs or hot water collected from the boat exhaust can be used. 3. Use the specially designed pole spears (such as Neritic) and use lionfish containers (such as the Zookeeper), which are puncture-proof. These specialty items can be found on the LionfishHunting.com website or your local dive shop.
4. Once back on the boat/shore, place lionfish into cooler and continue to handle with care. The protein-based venom is broken down by heat but preserved by cold. 5. Lionfish can be filleted just like any other fish. See LionfishHunting.com for a good set of instructions with photos on how to fillet. 6. Lionfish can be prepared like any other white-meat fish. Many recipes can be found online. For an impressive presentation, they can even be cooked whole as cooking neutralizes the venom. P. S. The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo, which takes place April 2017 in Ft. Lauderdale, will have a Lionfish Pavilion featuring several exhibitors along with a cook-off event where several chefs will be showing off their best recipes and giving samples. Happy Hunting! Sheri Daye is a world-record holder, host of Speargun Hunter, and producer of “The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo” in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Follow “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram.
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The event also features Port Salerno’s finest restaurants. For the fourth consecutive year, the festival was voted the “Best Local Event in Martin County” by TC Palm Newspaper’s readers. This year will see continued enhancement of the Fishermen’s Village and Market. Here you can learn about the history of Port Salerno and go home with some locally caught fish. The festival features three stages with some of the area’s top bands performing, and a new Kids Fun Zone. Advance tickets are just $7 on our website and Facebook page. These tickets will be available for purchase until January 20 or until supplies run out. Admission at the gate will be $10 for adults, children 12 and under are free. The festival will also provide complimentary transportation to and from the event via trolley or water taxi. A portion of the festival proceeds is distributed to local charities. For complete festival information go to the website www. PortSalernoSeafoodFestival.org or call 888612-4192.
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et in the mood for seafood! It’s time for the 11th Annual Port Salerno Seafood Festival. The fun begins The Port Salerno Seafood Festival Inc. is Saturday, Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. This local event a not-for-profit trade association dedicated boasts the best seafood that you will find at any festival, a great to preserving the heritage and integrity of the music line-up, arts, crafts and local business vendors, a Kids commercial fishing industry in Port Salerno. Fun Zone, mermaids, pirates and more. “There is a reason why the seafood is so delicious,” said Edward “Butch” Olsen, Jr., president of the Port Salerno To learn more about last years Port Salerno Festival, go to Commercial Fishing Dock Authority. “We serve the freshest seafood and locally caught fish when possible. The majority of our seafood is prepared by BluewaterSFC_half_pg_Feb2017 FOR PRINT.qxp_Layout the fishermen and their families. This is truly a family affair.” 1 12/7/16 11:18 AM Page 1
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s anglers, SCUBA divers and Florida beachgoers, using sustainable practices. we all have a stake in maintaining the health of One of the easiest ways to choose sustainable the natural areas that bring us so much joy. By seafood is to keep it local. Many restaurants and seafood integrating sustainable fishing and seafood practices markets throughout Florida feature the “Fresh from into our daily lives, we can ensure that local ecosystems Florida” designation. This endorsement by the Florida thrive for generations to come. Department of Agriculture guarantees foods and In fact, as an angler, you are probably already their ingredients are sourced from local suppliers and choosing your seafood in an eco-friendly way. Rod- producers, including seafood caught by local fishermen. and-reel fishing is one of the most environmentally Visit www.freshfromflorida.com for a list of restaurants beneficial ways to source our seafood. Staying within throughout the state that feature “Fresh from Florida” catch limits and taking home fish to feed your family food. lowers our dependence on commercial fishing. RodWhen local favorites aren’t available, or if you are and-reel catch practices facilitate natural fish stock new to the intricacies of sourcing sustainably caught replenishment, both inshore and on our reef systems. seafood, programs like the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Smaller, locally caught fish are also lower on the Seafood Watch can provide great guidance to help you food chain than their predators, like tuna, salmon and make informed choices. swordfish. Although popular on the dinner plate, larger Their straightforward system categorizes seafood predatory fish are more likely to accumulate toxins by location and ranks them into one of three groupings: within their systems. Catching fish puts you in direct “Avoid,” “Good Alternative” and “Best Choice.” The control over what reaches your dinner plate, ensuring Seafood Watch program comprehensively evaluates each you are able to make informed, healthy choices. fishery, so the same species may fall into two different The relatively recent introduction of biodegradable categories, based on how and where it was sourced. fishing line and the prevalence of monofilament Once you have the right tools, it is easy to choose recycling stations throughout local parks and piers sustainably caught seafood and improve your fishing are further increasing the long-term sustainability practices. Join Pura Vida Divers in January for a fun of fishing. Check out the Florida Fish and Wildlife social night and engaging presentation that will teach Conservation Commission’s Monofilament Recycling you the basics to sourcing seafood that’s best for your Program website to learn more about these important family and our planet. Visit the events page on our stations: www.mrrp.myfwc.com. website at www.puravidadivers.com for details, or call When species seasonality, weather conditions or us at 561-840-8750. the day-to-day bustle limits your ability to get out on the water and For more about choosing sustainably sourced seafood, go to catch your own seafood, there are still many ways to ensure the food on your plate was sourced
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accomplished, as they examine hundreds of species of local invertebrates, sea turtles, algae and fish from the Gulf, including sharks. The facility in Panacea, which is south of Tallahassee on the Gulf, is open at 222 Clark Drive most weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. For a modest entrance fee, a fee that
that’s where the staff of Gulf Specimen Lab comes in. Knowing the Gulf really well from years of exploring it, they go out in their boats, collect the requested specimens, take them back to their lab, carefully package them, and send them off to labs in the United States, Canada, Europe, and even outer space for use on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. All the while, the specimen collectors are very careful not to damage the coral and delicate ecosystems of the Gulf. Begun in 1963 by a truly remarkable man, Jack Rudloe, the lab is an independent, non-profit organization that has engaged in mariculture, farming the depths of the sea, studying endangered species, and—maybe most importantly for future generations— opening up their facilities to thousands of school children in hopes of educating the youngsters and maybe inspiring some of them to study marine science as their career. Every year thousands of school children and more than 20,000 ordinary visitors visit the facility and probably come away with awe and admiration for what the lab has
goes to the maintenance of the many tanks of live sea animals, visitors can photograph, read about and marvel at the exhibits, and even touch and hold some of the live animals. The facility has knowledgeable staff and interns who are eager to share their knowledge and answer questions. If you’re really lucky, you’ll get to meet and interact with the founder of the Lab, Jack Rudloe, author of fascinating books like “The Living Dock at Panacea,” “Potluck,” “Search for the Great Turtle Mother,” “The Erotic Ocean,” “The Wilderness Coast,” and—with his late wife, Anne—“Shrimp.” If you do meet the man, ask him about the influence of Nobel-Prize-winning author John Steinbeck on his own career. You’ll no doubt come away with an appreciation of a new kind of Florida fisherman: one who collects fish and other specimens for use in the fight against cancer and other terrible diseases.
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STUART TOURNAMENT ANGLERS HAPPY TO SEE SAILFISH By Ed Killer
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They’re baaack. Not long after Thanksgiving, anglers on Florida’s Treasure Coast set sights on the warm-water eddies spinning westward from the Gulf Stream. Typically, December and January make up the sailfish season in this region, as thousands of sailfish migrate south along the coastline to their winter spots off Mexico. Four tournaments take place on the Treasure Coast each season. For much of the last two sailfish seasons, the sailfish have been few in numbers. That all changed this year. The fourth annual Fish Heads Invitational Sailfish Tournament sailed out of Sailfish Marina on Stuart’s Manatee Pocket Nov. 29-30. A fleet of 18 boats compiled the young event’s catch record of 108 sailfish releases. Martha D with Capt. Scott Fawcett, owner Ryan Dayton of Wellington and Maryland, angler Dan Hall and mates Kyle Francis and Matt Coppelletta caught 14 sailfish to win the tournament. Miss Victoria led by Capt. Brian Speedy caught 12 to finish second. Ohana led by Capt. Eddie Wheeler placed third with 11 releases. Fawcett said his team’s big day, where they caught nine, came to the south of Stuart, off Juno Beach, in about 120 to 200 feet of water. The weather was oddly spring-like–warm with southeasterly winds. The 28th Pirates Cove Sailfish Classic saw 24 boats enter the tournament. Fishing patterns continued the same way for the three-day event, and the sailfishing was good. The tournament fleet racked up 222 sailfish. Capt. Josh Chaney led Champagne Lady with owner Tony Ingram of Stuart, anglers Carl Repetto, Rob Miller and Mark Donohue, and crewmen Connor Tillman, Mark McDevitt and Sean Young, to a day-high nine releases on the final day for a fleet-best 20 releases. Showtime! With Capt. Wink Doerzbacher and Vintage with owner and Capt. Hans Kraaz each caught 18 sails and placed second and third, respectively. Nice start to the month-long tournament season, but the area’s longestrunning event, the Stuart Sailfish Club’s 63rd annual Light Tackle Sailfish Tournament was next. And the sea conditions did not remain the same. The weekend of Dec. 9-11, the Light Tackle swung into action from Sailfish Point Marina. A fleet of 24 boats competing in traditional and amateur divisions endured very rough seas and high winds. The fishing was still pretty good, as the fleet caught and released 152 sailfish. Toast with Capt. Newt Cagle, owners Jared and Michael Gillman of Palm Beach, anglers Ron Martin, Anthony Rizzo, and Jimbo Brogan, caught and released 14 sailfish to win the event. Cagle and crew caught the go-ahead sailfish about 35 minutes before the tournament’s lines out call to edge out Showtime!, Challenge with Capt. Jim Hardee and Floridian with Capt. Glenn Cameron, each with 13 releases. Marlin Hunter with owner and team captain Kurt Von Seekamm of Sewall’s Point won the amateur division with six sailfish releases. So, with 75 percent of the Treasure Coast sailfish tournament season in the books, it’s good to see the area will not have to relinquish its earned nickname from the 1930s – Sailfish Capital of the World. Ed Killer is the outdoors columnist for Treasure Coast Newspapers and is part of the USA Today network.
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iami is the place to be over President’s Day weekend as more than 100,000 boating enthusiasts from around the globe are expected to flock to the Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show. Recognized as one of the world’s largest and greatest boat shows, 2017 marks the show’s second year at the Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin, where it will unveil a number of elements expected to further solidify Miami’s position as the boating capital of the world. Building on its 2016 success, the Miami Boat Show will unveil a number of enhancements in 2017—from transportation and product offerings to food and beverage—while maintaining all the elements that make the Miami Boat Show such a beloved experience for attendees and exhibitors. Highlights include: More Boats to Browse, Board and Buy: Organizers anticipate more than 1,300 new boats on display throughout this year’s show with more new model debuts than ever before. The number of boats in-water is expanding 35 percent to an estimated 550 boats and yachts—all located in the show’s marina. From
sport fishing and high performance boats to personal watercraft and wake sport boats, family cruisers and luxury yachts, there is something for every lifestyle and budget. More to Taste and Toast: The 2017 Miami Boat Show encourages attendees to come hungry and thirsty! A highlight of the 2017 show is an enhanced food and beverage program featuring more than 150 options ranging from luxe to casual fare. More Large Yachts: More than 100 new luxury yachts for sale, makes the Miami Boat Show one of the largest yachting exhibitions in the country. Attendees seeking the VIP treatment will have exclusive access to everything from premium bites and live music, to concierge services, VIP parking, and an exclusive on-water VIP lounge aboard the 111-foot Biscayne Lady. More Strictly Sail: The show’s second location, Strictly Sail Miami, will dock at Miamarina at Bayside and feature approximately 130 sailboats, a large selection of sailing and power catamarans, seminars and sailing gear. Free water taxis and shuttle buses run until 7 p.m. More On-Water Experiences: Sea trials will allow interested shoppers to take the boat of their dreams for a spin. This year, more boat exhibitors will participate, giving boat buyers a chance to test-drive a number of options. In addition, the show will offer its Discover Boating Hands-On Skills Training. Space is limited; advance registration is recommended. More Parking and Transportation Options: The Miami Boat Show will offer seamless transportation to and from Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin with water taxis, shuttle buses and abundant parking. The show will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. Tickets may be purchased in advance at www.miamiboatshow.com. For more information, see www.miamiboatshow.com or search the show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The phone number for the Florida office is 954-441-3220.
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Center colors and feather pattern selection for the avid fly tyer is endless. If you are willing to put in several days of hard hunting this winter, at the end of the season you very well could end up with enough waterfowl plumage to last you an entire year of fly tying. To add icing on the cake, as if harvesting your own fly tying material wasn’t enough motivation, wild duck will provide you with some of the most highquality table fare the Sunshine State has to offer. For those new to hunting, here are the licenses and permits you will need to hunt ducks in Florida; that way you can avoid an unpleasant encounter with the game warden. If you’ve never bought a hunting permit before, you will first need to take the online hunter safety coarse at www. myfwc.com. Once you have completed that, you will then need to purchase a standard Florida hunting license, a Florida By Brandon Tourigny • Photo Courtesy of Cohutta Fishing Company waterfowl permit, a migratory bird permit (which is free), and if you intend to hunt public land you will also need a Wildlife or all of us fly tyers, the cost of materials always seems to be a big set back, as it is with many art forms. The more addicted to the art of fly tying one Management Area (WMA) permit. The final thing you will need to purchase gets, the faster money will seem to fly out of the wallet. However, for those before you hit the marsh is the annual Federal Duck Stamp, which can also be who consider themselves all-around outdoorsmen, I have a simple solution to purchased at www.myfwc.com. Catching fish on your own handmade flies is one of the most rewarding help ease the pain of buying fly tying material: go duck hunting! Why would you go spend crazy amounts of money at fly shops to buy high- experiences in our sport, and using feathers that came off of waterfowl you quality waterfowl plumage when the great state of Florida is home to millions harvested makes the experience even better. Duck season is in full swing now of ducks and other waterfowl all found on public land. In the Sunshine State, until the end of January, so go get your license, pull out the old 12 gauge, and any duck hunter is allotted 6 ducks a day (with certain species restrictions), and go hunt! when push comes to shove a single medium sized duck such as a wood duck For more duck hunting and fly fishing, go to will provide you with a wealth of material to tie from. As it just so happens, nearly every single species of migratory duck that frequents North American flyways can be found within our borders, so the
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W H A T ’ S
T R E N D I N G
OKEECHOBEE
SERVING OKEECHOBEE, HIGHLANDS, GLADES, AND HENDRY COUNTIES Welcome to the January issue of the Okeechobee edition of Coastal Angler Magazine. We hope you had a great set of Holidays and are ready to use all those great outdoor gifts you received from Santa and his elves. For fishermen we start the year off in great shape. With a year ending dry-spell, Mother Nature has helped the local lakes recover from a year’s worth of high water. With a little help from falling water levels, spawning bass will move out of the deep back country and be more available for us fishermen. The key to the winter months is to watch the weather and be flexible in your patterns. Bass and crappie will be keying on favorable conditions and will move accordingly, so once you find them you need to make note of the conditions for that day. For Snook fishermen, the Snook harvest remains closed for both the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regions. On the Atlantic side the season will open on February 1st, per 2016 regulations, while the west-coasters will have to wait until March. As a reminder, Lake Okeechobee resides in the Atlantic management region while the Caloosahatchee River west of the lake falls under Gulf Coast regulations. In both cases, you’ll need a saltwater license and a Snook stamp to harvest a Snook during the season. Hunting in our area will be a mixed bag since we’re on the border of Zones ‘B’ and ‘C’. In Zone ‘A’ the area south and west of Lake Okeechobee, general gun season for deer closed on January 1st. In Zone ‘C’, the areas north of Route 70 west of Lake Okeechobee and Route 441 east of Lake Okeechobee, the general gun season for antlered deer remains open. Fall turkey in both Zone ‘A’ and ‘C’ also closed on January 1st. For waterfowlers, the winter duck season remains open until January 29th. For all hunters, consult the FWC website, continued on page 2
Bassmaster Elite Series Comes to Okeechobee
F
or fans of professional bass fishing, the return of the Bassmaster Elite Series to Lake Okeechobee on February 23 – 26 provides an opportunity to meet and greet some of the best professional fishermen the sport has to offer. The Bassmaster Elite Series is the sport’s highest level in professional bass fishing tournaments. For the 2017 tournament season, 111 anglers will compete in nine tournaments through-out the nation for a shot at the Bassmaster Classic in 2018. To qualify for the Elite Series, the top 70 anglers in the previous season automatically requalify for the coming season. Then up to 15 anglers from Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open tournaments and one qualifier from B.A.S.S. Nation will receive invitations to join the 2017 field. The remaining slots needed to complete the field of 108 anglers are awarded based on AOY rankings for each year of an angler’s carrier. For the 2017 field, three special exemptions were accepted to bring the total count to 111 anglers. Two of the exemptions were ‘Legend Exemptions’ which went to 1982 Classic winner Paul Elias and David Fritts who won the 1996 Bassmaster Classic and the 1997 Forest Wood Cup. This year the season gets off to an early start with a Bassmaster Elite event at Lake Cherokee in Knoxville Tennessee on February 9-12. Two weeks later they come to Lake Okeechobee after which the anglers take a break for the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic in Houston Texas on March 24-26. The Classic and two other marquee tournaments in the Series, the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest and the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Champion, each offer a purse of at least $1 million. So it is expected that the Okeechobee event will be the final tune up for these premier events. The last time the Elite Series called upon the Big ‘O’ was the 2012 Power-Pole Slam in which California pro Ish Monroe won the 4-day event with a weight of 108-5 lbs which happened to be the fifth largest in trail history. During the first two days of the tournament Ish
Monroe was on fire with the Day-1 and Day-2 top bags of 34-5 lbs and 24-15 lb. But on Day3 the winds and the Big ‘O’ turned on Ish and allowed Chris Lane to make up a 14 lbs deficit to come within 9-oz of the leader going into the final day of the tournament. On Day-4 the last day of the tournament, Ish headed to untested waters in Pelican Bay on the south end of the lake. After a slow morning start the bass began to cooperate allowing Ish to bring to the scales a bag weighing 30-15 lbs which secured him first place and the top prize of $100,000. As for this year’s event, we’ll just have to wait and see what surprises the Big ‘O’ has in store for the anglers. Among this year’s anglers, Florida is represented by Drew Benton of Panama City, Shaw Grigsby Jr. of Gainesville, Koby Kreiger of Bokeelia. Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Cliff Prince of Palatka, Bernie Schultz of Gainesville, Terry Scroggins of San Mateo, Randall Tharp of Port St Joe, and Jesse Tacoronte of Orlando who is making his rookie debut. An Elite Series event attracts thousands of bass fans from around the country. Some come with their boats to follow the anglers while others come to rub elbows with the pros after a day’s weigh-in. To provide activities for both young and old, Bassmaster and the event’s sponsor, Okeechobee County Tourist Development Council, will provide games, interactive activities and exhibitors at C. Scott Driver Park where the weigh-ins will be held. So plan for a full day of fun and fishing excitement. The Bassmaster Elite Series brings some of the nation’s best fishermen into our community. It’s an event that all locals should visit and support. See you there!
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FISHING REPORT
BY CAPTAIN EDDIE PERRY | LAKE OKEECHOBEE – NORTH END
F
ishing on the north end of the Big’O’ has been for the most part very good; mild air temperatures and good weather has made conditions favorable for a good bite. Early morning bass action has been at its best on wild shiners, catches of 50 plus fish a day are common and bigger females continue to move in from the open lake for their annual spawning ritual. Buckhead Ridge and Tin House Cove have been the most consistent for fast action. Schools of smaller fish in the 1 lb to 3 lb range are on the outside edges of the reed lines and they make for some fun and fast action. After you go through 3 or 4 dozen of your shiners, move inside and find a mat to anchor up on and you will have a better chance at a big fish. Eagle Bay had its ups and down, one day it’s some of the best fishing you have ever seen and the next it can leave you scratching your head. But don’t be discouraged, this is a big lake and with a little local knowledge and a little effort, you can find fish biting. The North Shore down on the west side of the lake in the Lakeport area has had very good action in open water between Horse Island and the Point of the Reef. The best thing about this part of the lake is there are a couple of different ways to fish here; you can anchor your boat which is what most fishermen do, or you can drift and this area is meant for drifting. When drifting you can cover a lot of water fast and can find fish in a hurry. If you hit a hotspot drifting and catch a couple of fish real quick, don’t be afraid to stop your boat and put some live baits out. Even if you are artificial fishing, when you are drifting like that an anchor can be your best friend. So many times people will catch a bass and move right on down the line, when in reality they should stop their boat and fish it slow. Bass usually have a few of their friends with them so don’t think that’s the only fish there. Since January typically has more windy days, deploying a drift sock will slow down your drift enabling
Welcome
you to work the area more thoroughly. Crappie action has been improving. Specks are moving into the reed heads in front of the Okeechobee Pier and at the Buckhead marker and are being caught on jigs and minnows. Fishermen that are drifting are catching limits in the open lake out in front of the mouth of the Kissimmee River. Down towards Harney Pond, anglers are not maxing out yet but the size of the Specks have been impressive. Reports of 2.25 to 2.75 lb Specks have been common. The area between Bird Island and the Point of the Reef has been very active. During the bass and Speck spawning seasons, pay particular attention to the phases of the moon. During the next few months, the days just prior to and just after the full and new moons will be Father & Son with Capt Ed particularly active. Be sure and stop by Garrard’s Bait and Tackle for all your fishing needs. GOOD FISHIN Capt. Eddie Perry Capt. Eddie Perry is a 5th generation Floridian and owner of Okeechobee Adventures Guide Service. He has fished the Big ‘O’ since he was a little boy and has professionally guided on the lake since 1996. There isn’t much that he hasn’t seen on the lake. He can be reached by telephone at (863) 763-7722, web www.OkeechobeeAdventures.com, Facebook.com/OkeechobeeAdventures, or at Garrard’s Bait and Tackle.
continued from page 1
www.MyFWC.com for the latest in hunting regulations, zones maps and seasonal dates. For those who like outdoor community events, this is a great time of year. County fairs are in full swing and there are plenty of outdoor concerts, arts and craft events and food festivals to attend. All you need to do is push back those New Year’s Diet Resolutions a month or two and have a good time. Consult the Community Events page within this magazine for a sampling of what’s waiting for you to do. Finally, for those of you that just want to sit back, relax and enjoy one of our wonderful sunsets, winter is the season for you. Warm days, cool nights and the great company of our northern friends makes these next few months the best of Florida living. So get outside and enjoy the best of what Florida has to offer. Ken Gabryel Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine - Okeechobee
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WWW.COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/okeechobee • THEANGLERMAG.COM
12/15/16 11:41 AM
FISHING REPORT
BY CAPTAIN MARK KING | LAKE OKEECHOBEE - SOUTH END
H
appy New Years to ya’ll and a good year it is going to be here on Lake Okeechobee! The fishing has been awesome and just keeps getting better daily with some really big bass being caught. The water level is down to around fourteen and a half feet above sea level and in my opinion that is about perfect. It’s enough water for the bass to go back into traditional spawning areas and enough water that you can safely run your boat almost anywhere on the lake. As we head into the next few months here on Okeechobee the fishing will be some of the best in the country. The bass are moving in off the main open water part of the lake toward the shallow grassy areas of the lake to spawn and this is where you need to be fishing. Some keys things to look for are clean water and about four feet of water which will be a lot of the areas we fish year round but now there will be an almost endless supply of bass from now till May. Areas like Pelican Bay, Rita Island, Grassy, Bay Bottom, East Wall, the Shoal, North shore, and the Monkey Box will all be good areas to fish. These bass will stage on the outside of the areas prior to the full moon and then move back in to spawn on the moon as long as we don’t get a cold front move in and put a monkey wrench in the program. The live bait bite has been absolutely awesome the past month and will be good all the way through our season here on the lake. The artificial bite has improved and will get better as more fish move in off the main lake. I have been catching a lot of fish on a Gambler Fat Ace rigged Texas style and pitched into holes and open areas in the grass, the key has been to fish it slow. As the bass move in to spawn I will be throwing a Gambler EZ Swimmer and Big EZ in spawning areas. This is a great locator bait to find these spawning bass and you will catch some monster bass doing this. When fishing in these grassy spawning areas be sure and just move the boat slow or let the wind push you along and continually look down in the water for beds. Once you start finding beds you will be amazed at
how many are in an area. We are also starting to get a good crappie bite on the lake on both minnows and jigs. This is shaping up to be an amazing year here on Okeechobee with the water level being just right and yes the water quality is good in spite of what you might have seen on the news. Our lake is great and the fishing is great, come and experience one of the top fishing lakes in the country you won’t be disappointed. Until next month good luck, tight lines, and I hope to see everyone on the water soon. Capt. Mark King Captain Mark King is a full time guide and tournament angler guiding out of the world famous Roland Martin’s Marina and Resort in Clewiston Florida and also in the Florida Keys out of Marathon area. Mark is an IGFA Certified Captain, active member of the Florida Guide Association and the Florida Outdoor Writers Association. Mark can be contacted to book a guide trip, seminars, personal appearances, test rides in his Evinrude powered Ranger, or to fish a tournament with him at 863-677-0983 or at www.markkingfishing.com and www.tarponinthekeys.com
FISHING REPORT
BY SALLY HERNANDEZ - SLIM’S FISH CAMP | LAKE OKEECHOBEE - PALM BEACH
T
he south end of Lake Okeechobee is producing excellent catches! One of our local guides caught an 8, a 9, and a 10 pound largemouth bass all in one afternoon on wild shiners. You read that right! Another boater, who witnessed this awesome catch, also caught 3 five pounders the same afternoon on a fluke. These awesome fish were all caught in Pelican Bay. Look for hyacinths, hydrilla and other water plants where big bass like to ambush shiners. The Speck, Florida crappie, are really biting well this month and the locals are coming out to get them several days a week. Although the Florida crappie can be caught during the summer months, they really are at their best from late fall to early spring. Specks can be caught using minnows or jigs. Minnows should be suspended at various depths to locate schools. When jig fishing, you can cover a great deal more area. The secret to successful crappie fishing is to move often until you locate a school. The big difference in jigs is the weight when crappie fishing. If you’re fishing 14 feet of water on a day with 15-mph winds, it may take a 1⁄ 4-ounce head to keep the lure down within a couple of feet of bottom where the fish are likely to be biting. On the other hand, on a calm day you’ll catch more fish with a smaller head, down to 1⁄ 64 ounce. Take a selection to match whatever conditions you may face. Or better yet, do like most of the locals do and stick a minnow in their face, set the hook and start heating up the frying pan as we say here on Okeechobee. Even the youngest anglers are reeling in the big ones at Slim’s Fish Camp. Four year old little Miss Charlee Vann of Loxahatchee, FL caught her first nice sized bass on a domestic shiner from the shoreline and it weighed in at just under 4 pounds. Slim’s Fish Camp carries both live bait and artificial baits, so come by us and see us! We will be happy to hook you up. Have a safe and happy holiday season from all of us here at Slim’s. Happy Angling!! You can reach Slim’s Fish Camp via telephone at (561) 996-3844 and follow us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/slimsfishcamp WWW.COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/okeechobee • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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Hard Baits vs Soft Baits
box. Remember if you have enough open water to fish a hard bait it By: Steve Daniel “The Voice of Lake Okeechobee Fishing” is probably going to be a better choice. You don’t need a $20 jerk bait to catch a bass here on the Big O when a $7 Long A will get the job done. The hooks that come on the bait are just fine but if I want to make sure I land every bass that hits my hard bait I will change the hooks to No. 4 EWG hooks. If a bass just comes close enough to Debs studio smell the bait they will get hooked. There are a lot of lures out there that will catch fish but sometimes the old reliable lures that have been around for a long time are still some of my favorites. How long has it been since you have seen a fisherman fish a Johnson Spoon, maybe it’s time to just go back in time and dig out some of those old reliable lures from yesteryear. Steve Daniel Until next month, Tight Lines his is a question I get all the time, “which is better, hard baits or soft Steve Daniel baits”. Well they are both good, they just have different jobs.
T
Take a soft swim bait such as Gambler’s Big EZ or Reaction Innovation’s Skinny Dipper, these are tools that do a great job when the bass are feeding in and around the grass. You can rig them weedless and fish them anywhere. The hard jerk bait such as a Bomber Long A or a Smithwick Rouge are lures that I use a lot when I have enough open water to work the lure efficiently. Any time I can use a hard bait I will pick it over a soft bait for a variety of reasons. The Long A is a lure I can cast and fish as a surface lure at the start of my retrieve and work the lure all the way back to the boat and it usually doesn’t take me long to find out what the bass want. Remember every bass you catch is trying to tell you something if you are paying attention. If you go out and fish a soft swim bait and nothing else you are missing the point. Sometimes when bass are not active they will pay little attention to a bait just swimming through the water. However you can still get them to respond to the very erratic action of a hard bait. Remember, bass are predators and will hit your lure just because it looks like an injured bait fish and it is the nature of predators to attack injured prey even though they are not feeding. It is hard for me to get that type of action out of a soft bait but you can get that action out of a soft bait like a Zoom Fluke. The Fluke is a good choice when the water you are fishing is too grassed-up to fish a hard bait. A hard bait with all those treble hooks will catch a lot of fish just because the fish will come close to the lure to investigate its erratic action and they’ll get hooked by one of the many points of the trebles, you can’t do that with the soft bait. Anybody that knows me very well knows how I feel about the hard jerk bait. Every FLW event that I won here on Lake Okeechobee was won because of hard jerk baits even when the air temperature was in the 30s and our Florida bass were lock-jawed. I really believe that the hard bait will catch bass no matter what Mother Nature throws at us, it is the nature of the bass that makes this possible. One last tip on fishing the hard jerk bait, when you get the bait close enough to the boat to see it, stop the bait and watch it closely. Many times a bass will be following your bait and if you see him chasing it, give the bait a twitch or two. This often triggers a last minute attack on the lure, but you need to see this action as far from the boat as possible. Both soft baits and hard baits have a role in every serious angler’s tackle 4 OKEECHOBEE
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For more information on the fishing, catch HOOKED UP WITH STEVE & DEB the voice of Okeechobee fishing: Friday 1,7,10am & 4pm, and Saturday & Sunday 10am eastern @ renoviolaoutdoors.com; Saturdays 100.9fm wokc.com; Sundays 100.5fm, wafcamfm.com; or visit www. OkeechobeeProSteveDaniel.com; or simply call 239.560.2704.
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12/15/16 11:41 AM
10 John Stretch Park Free - Boat ramp, bank fishing, picnic shelters with tables & grills, water, restrooms, scenic viewpoint, play area, dump station 11 Clewiston City Park Free - Boat ramps, bank fishing, picnic shelters with tables & grills, scenic viewpoint 12 Alvin Ward Park Free - Boat ramp, bank & pier fishing, picnic shelters with tables & grills, water, restrooms, play area 13 Moore Haven Lock & Dam Free - Bank & pier fishing (south side of river) 14 Old Sportsmans Village Free - Boat ramp, bank fishing, picnic tables 15 Fisheating Creek Free - Boat ramp, bank fishing 16 Harney Pond Canal Recreation Area Free - Boat ramps, bank fishing, picnic shelters with tables & grills, water, restrooms, raised scenic viewing platform 17 Dyess Ditch Canal (Bare Beach) Free - Boat ramps, bank fishing 18 Indian Prairie Canal Free - Boat ramp, bank fishing
LAKE OKEECHOBEE
19 Okee-Tantie Recreation Area - C. Scott Driver Park - Boat ramp, marina, bank fishing, bait, fishing license, guide service, ice, picnic shelters with tables & grills, water, showers, camping
R A M PS
Jaycee Park Free - Boat ramp, bank & pier fishing, water, scenic viewpoint, picnic tables 2 Nubbin Slough Free - Bank fishing, scenic viewpoint 3 Henry Creek Free - Boat ramp, bank fishing 4 Chancy Bay Free - Boat ramp, bank fishing, equestrian access 5 Port Mayaca North Free - Boat ramp, bank fishing, scenic viewpoint Port Mayaca South Free - Bank fishing, scenic viewpoint 6 Canal Point Picnic Area Free - Boat ramp, bank fishing, picnic shelters with tables & grills
98
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Lake Harbor
8
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NW 1st Avenue
Moore Haven Lock & Dam Free Bank & pier fishing (south side of river) 14 Old Sportsmans Village Free Boat ramp, bank fishing, picnic tables 15 Fisheating Creek Free - Boat ramp, bank fishing 16 Harney Pond Canal Recreation Area Free Boat ramps, bank fishing, picnic shelters with tables & grills, water, restrooms, raised scenic viewing platform
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19
Pahokee Marina/Campground - Boat ramp, boat rentals, marina, camping, bank & pier fishing, cabin rentals, water, restrooms, pool Paul Rardin Park Free - Boat ramp, bank fishing, picnic shelters with tables & grills, water, restrooms, scenic viewpoint Slim’s Fish Camp - Guide services, bait & tackle, RV & camping, marina John Stretch Park Free - Boat ramp, bank fishing, picnic shelters with tables & grills, water, restrooms, scenic viewpoint, play area, dump station Clewiston City Park Free - Boat ramps, bank fishing, picnic shelters with tables & grills, scenic viewpoint Alvin Ward Park Free - Boat ramp, bank & pier fishing, picnic shelters with tables & grills, water, restrooms, play area
27/80
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9
80
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710
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Dup Barree
Fisheating Bay
ut
Fisheating Creek
osa
King’s Bar Shoal
3rd Point Tin House Cove
rm ar o ve Bech W Co Big ea B Pond Canal Recreation Area
Dyess Ditch Cana
15
Calo
15B
721
Lakeport Fisheating Creek
27
3
1st Point Trail 1st Point
18
Harney
to Sebring
441
Hog Island
l na Ca
nd
16
ld
Eagle Bay Island
19
ie air Pr
Po
na
O
710
Creek
n dia In
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LD3
Okeechobee
78
rn
L50
to Ft Pierce
441
Brighton Indian Reservation
Ha
to Yeehaw Junction
to Sebring
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1
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BO A T
Hi
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80
bo
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80
27
to Ft Lauderdale
17 18 19
Dyess Ditch Canal (Bare Beach) Free - Boat ramps, bank fishing Indian Prairie Canal Free - Boat ramp, bank fishing Okee-Tantie Recreation Area - C. Scott Driver Park - Boat ramp, marina, bank fishing, bait, fishing license, guide service, ice, picnic shelters with tables & grills, water, showers, camping
RV sites rentals • Cabin rentals • Boat rentals Bait & Tackle Shop • Tavern • Live Music Sat & Sun Family, pet and motorcycle friendly 9500 SW Conners Hwy, Okeechobee, FL Mon-Thur 12 Noon – 8:00pm • Fri-Sun 10:00am – 10:00pm
(772) 597-4455 www.JandSFishCamp.net
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HIGHLANDS FISHING REPORT BY LY NGUYEN | HIGHLANDS COUNTY
A
s the New Year brings in some fish to the beds, fish will still be found staged-up just off the grass edges in most lakes. Grassy Island on Lake Istokpoga continues to produce fish and a real lunker frequently cruises the area. Hard topwater lures such as the East Texas Big Bass lure, similar to the Devil’s Horse, worked with a stop-and-go do well early. So do soft plastics like the weedless frogs, flapping shads, Horney Toads, bigger cut tail worms, all cranked at a medium-steady retrieve. RatL-Traps and spinner baits have been producing around the grass edges as well. Or you can fish a plastic worm and catch fish all day along grass edges, open pockets, cuts, grass clumps, etc. For those who like to flip & pitch, Istokpoga is a noted weedless jig lake and the Medlock Jig or similar style
jig produces some massive strikes. The best soft plastic colors I’ve found are Junebug, Red Shad, Green Pumpkin, Watermelon, Watermelon/Red and Candy Bug.” Lake Jackson continues to have several hungry “wolf packs” of schoolies cruising just offshore. Just look for the bait attacked at the surface and throw any baitfish replica you like. Once the little lake is back open for action then I anticipate an increase in bigger fish. Be patient this time of year as any cast could land you that fish of a lifetime. January rings in that time of year from now until April where the giant fish make themselves easier targets while in spawn. Lake Placid and Lake June have been spotty at best during December and as the water temperatures drop, fish will be searching for a comfortable thermocline to hold
to. Using your electronics to find holding fish is the key for these lakes. The ‘community’ brush piles are seeing lots of pressure and bass holding to these structures are getting skittish. If we get a string of warm days then hit the shallows and look for bedding fish. Across the area, the Crappie fishing has been very good. Several fishermen have reported nice catches by using their electronics to locate and stay on the fish. Best baits remain live minnows though jigs can be very productive. Remember to set you first string of poles at different depths to help zero-in on the feeding fish. When you find the feeders, be ready for fast action and multiple hook-ups. The month of January is known for radically changing weather patterns including cold fronts and windy conditions. The key to
success during this time is to know your lakes and which wind direction favors which lake. Highlands County has plenty of fishable lakes and some perform better under different wind patterns. So learn your lakes and don’t be afraid to try some new places. Also don’t overlook the canals that feed into the lakes. Some are quite deep and provide good fishing and protection from the wind on those days when offshore conditions are a challenge. January marks the start of another season for the Highlands Bass Anglers Tournament Trail. Anyone interested in joining a great group of people feel free to contact us at 863-381-2310. Don’t miss your chance at some fun on the water and the chance to take home some cash! Have a great time on the water.
HIGHLANDS LAKE PROFILE LAKE HUNTLEY | BY GEOFF BALOG
L
ake Huntley is a mid-size 680 acre lake located on the southeast side of Lake Placid, Florida. Lake Huntley is a typical ‘ridge lake’ which are characterized by clear water, sandy bottoms and low nutrient loads. Through the years the shoreline has been developed so that today there are residential homes on the east and west side of the lake. Still this lake has a few remaining pockets of undeveloped land which provide for dense pockets of marsh and emergent vegetation. Lake Huntley receives water from local run-off as well as a small feeder canal from Lake Grassy. During periods of high water, Lake Huntley will drain into Lake Clay. There are two public boat ramps on Huntley with one being at 125 Lake Huntley Drive and the other at 250 Anderson Street. Both ramp areas are small and can accommodate only a handful of trailers. Being surrounded by residential homes the lake is enjoyed by many residents and sees a wide variety of water sports including fishing, boating, water skiing and jet skiing. The bottom topology of Lake Huntley is kind of unique for a ridge lake. While the average depth is only 6.5-feet, there are plenty of deeper pockets ranging in the 12-17 foot range. This makes for plenty of contours and bottom structure to hold fish. When fishing the open water of the lake, using your electronics to isolate grass beds, flats and drop-offs that hold schools of bait will greatly improve your success rate. As for shoreline vegetation, the undeveloped areas on the north and south ends of the lake offer plenty of opportunities for bass fishermen. There you’ll find cattail stands, patches of hydrilla, pond weed, eel grass and even some water lilies. In the more developed areas there are plenty 6 OKEECHOBEE
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of docks along the shoreline so pitching, flipping and skipping under docks will find good numbers of fish. Though this lake is somewhat small it fishes large. Local clubs and tournaments that do fish this lake often come in with nice bag weights. There are some sizable fish in this lake and the largest to date registered under the FWC’s Trophy Catch Program is a 9-4 lb fish caught in March 2015 by Reinhard Pope. In addition to bass, you’ll find plenty of crappie, shell-crackers, catfish, and pickerel in this lake along with the ever present bowfins and gars. As for baitfish, you’ll find schools of shad, wild shiners, bluegills and other panfish. In choosing a style or color of bait for Lake Huntley, the choices are wide open. Having clear water, natural appearing colors generally work best and these include green pumpkin, watermelon red, junebug and black. Along the shallows, top water baits such as frogs, spinner baits and swim baits work well. In the thicker patches of vegetation, worms, senko type baits, and jigs will produce big strikes. As you break out into the open water, along the edges, jerk baits, rattle traps, crank baits will help cover a lot of water. Then as you get into the deeper pockets, deep crank baits, drop shots and Carolina rigged soft plastics will get you to where the deeper fish lay. As always, start shallow and work your way deeper. Lake Huntley is one of those lakes that once you get to know her, she’ll keep bringing you back for more. See you on the water Geoff
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12/15/16 11:41 AM
Canal Recreation Area Free - Boat ramps, bank fishing, picnic shelters with tables & grills, water, restrooms, raised scenic viewing platform
anal (Bare Beach) Free - Boat ramps, bank fishing Canal Free - Boat ramp, bank fishing
ecreation Area - C. Scott Driver Park - Boat ramp, marina, bank fishing, bait, fishing license, guide service, ice, picnic shelters with tables & grills, water, showers, camping
HIGHLANDS LAKE MAP ADELAIDE CHILTON OLIVIA LILLIAN EAGLE POND
64
TROUT DAMON
64
PYTHIAS PIONEER
BYRD
SILVER LELIA
DUCK DEER
FOX ISIS VIOLA VERONA
TULANE ANOKA
LOTELA GLENADA
ANGELO
LITTLE LAKE BONNET BONNET LITTLE RED WATER BASKET
SEBRING
ARBUCKLE CREEK ROAD
DINNER 17
LUCAS
SEBRING
JACKSON 17A
LITTLE JACKSON
27
RED BEACH
CHARLOTTE
BLUE CHRISTY
WOLF
823
17
HUCKLEBERRY
EDILA
GRASSY POND
MUD
COUNTERFEIT
LETTA
LOST SUBMARINE
ARBUCKLE CREEK
AVON PARK
DENTON GRANADA
AVON PARK BOMBING RANGE
98
RUTH
66
LYNN
JOESPHINE
JOSEPHINE CREEK
17
HILL
HARRY
PERSIMMON REDWATER FRANCIS
CARRIE
NELLIE APRHORPE SIMMONS
HENRY
BLUE
621
JUNE IN WINTER LACHARD SIRENA
CREWS
LAKE PLACID
ISTOKPOGA
SADDLE BAGS HUNTLEY
LOST
AUGUST
821
CLAY
MIRRIR
MCCOY
29
PEARL GRASSY
PLACID DIANE
LITTLE GRASSY
29
BUCK 70
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ANNIE
JANUARY 2017
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KAYAK FISHING 101 BY ROBERT FARABEE
M
ost readers may already know through some of my past writings that I am a veteran. Since my retirement from the Marine Corps I have been compelled to pay it forward and have spent many hours doing charity work for veteran organizations. Now I have stepped it up a little and will combine my love of kayaking and the outdoors to help veterans. I won’t go into statistics and reference articles already written in regards to veteran suicides. The information is readily available through social media and news organizations every day. What I want to share with you in this month’s article is the Peace River Warrior Challenge. I will be taking four veterans on a 100 mile kayak trip over a four day period in March. The goal of the trip is to get veterans out of their homes and introduce them to kayaking and the great outdoors and raise awareness of veteran suicides. These veterans will be at least 30% disabled or have received a Purple Heart. As most of you know, being in the outdoors can be very therapeutic. We have received a lot of support from the Federation of Christian Sportsmen and the Florida Purple Heart Association, but now we need help from other kayakers in being a paddle buddy for one of the veterans. We are in need of light weight camping supplies such as sleeping bags, tents, and cooking items. We are also in need of donations in order to purchase items needed for the trip like bug sprays, food, water, and protective shirts. If you are interested in this event or making a donation, please contact me directly at G.S. Outdoors, 863-446-2870, or email
reelitinrob@gmail.com So, take the time, find yourself, and go kyaking. Rent or buy but give it a try. You’ll find many manufacturers and models of kayaks to choose from for the type of experience you’re looking for like, angling to tandem models which can be found at GS Outdoors located at 5621 U.S. Hwy 27 N. Sebring, Fl. 33870 Robert Farabee • Pro Staff GS Outdoors | reelitinrob@gmail.com
Area Fishing Guides Capt. Mark King Reel Dreams Fishing: Bass, Lake ‘O’, Florida Keys Live bait & Artificial Clewiston, FL Ph: (863) 677-0983 www.MarkKingFishing.com
Capt Eddie Perry Fishing: Bass & Panfish Lake ‘O’ Live Bait & Artificial Okeechobee, FL Ph: (863) 763-7722 www.OkeechobeeAdventures. FloridaBoyArt.com/
Capt. Dave Stephens Back Bay Xtremes Charters Fishing: Snook, Tarpon, Redfish Peace River - Port Charlotte Ph: (941) 916-5769 web www.BackBayXtremes.com
Steve Daniel Steve Daniel Guide Service Fishing: Bass Lake Okeechobee Live Bait & Artificial Clewiston, FL Ph: (863) 885-2230 www.OkeechobeeProSteveDaniel. com
Capt. Brian Nelli TC Kayak Fishing Fishing: Palm Beach Kayaking Palm Beach, FL Ph: (772) 201-5899 www.TCKayakFishing.com
Capt. Chris Chesley World Wide Charter Fishing: Bass, Lake ‘O’ Hunting: Ducks, Lake ‘O’ Lakeport, FL Ph: (863) 946-2736 www.CaptChris-Okeechobee.com
Tony with bass 8 OKEECHOBEE
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WWW.COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/okeechobee • THEANGLERMAG.COM
12/15/16 11:41 AM
Special selection
LURE OF THE MONTH
RAZOR BAIT’S LIMBER NINJA SPINNERBAIT
FISHING REPORT BY CAPTAIN BRIAN NELLI | PALM BEACH KAYAK
By: CAM Okeechobee Staff
D
uring this time of year spawning bass are heading into the shallows and you need a bait that can work through the grass and into the beds, so for this month’s lure selection we have chosen the Limber Ninja made by Jim Lanza of Razor Baits in Boca Raton FL. This spinnerbait is created by taking two great time proven spinnerbaits and combining them into one. Unlike your typical hairpin styled spinnerbait, the Limber Ninja has a flexible cable arm that allows you to throw the bait into the thickest of cover and still be able to retrieve it without it collapsing upon contact with structure. You then add the counter rotating Doc Sheldon Tomahawk style blades, which adds vibration and flash, and you have the Limber Ninja! Another feature of the Limber Ninja is that with a cable arm, the lure does not stretch or spread out like most hairpin style lures do. After a tough battle there is no need to retune the lure to its original shape like you need to do with conventional hairpin lures. The Limber Ninja is available in 1/4 oz, 3/8 oz and 1/2 oz models. The colors are Black head/Black skirt with Hammered Nickle Doc Sheldon Blades. Chartreuse head/ Chartreuse skirt with Hammered Nickle Doc Sheldon Blades. Chartreuse head/Chartreuse & White skirt with Hammered Nickle Doc Sheldon Blades. White head/White skirt with Hammered Nickle Doc Sheldon Blades. For more tradition anglers, a stiff arm version called the Ninja Spin is also available. The Limber Ninja Spinnerbait and other Razor Bait products are available at Garrard’s Bait and Tackle in Okeechobee, Performance Marine Bait and Tackle in Lake Placid or online at www.RazorBaits.com
Brian with a Pompano
Atlantic Coast Inshore
Pompano, bluefish, jacks and Spanish mackerel become more of the focus in January. I like to target areas near the inlets like the mouth of the Loxahatchee River in Jupiter and Sailfish Flats in Stuart. The deeper channels and sand flats make them ideal locations for the fish to swim in and out with the tides. Try working the edges of these channels with goofy jigs, small buck tails and DOA jerk baits. This time of year brings cold air and wind which in turn creates wet conditions on the kayak. Having a pair of waders to keep you dry and warm in the chop is highly recommended.
Atlantic Coast Offshore
January is considered one of the best months to target sailfish. As always winter months are very weather dependent. There are typically only a handful of days during this month that the weather will allow you to get in the ocean without rolling your kayak in the process. Choose your days wisely and be sure to have all safety equipment onboard. Sailfish prefer smaller baits like smaller goggle eyes and pilchards. Keeping them up top on the surface and frisky is your best bet. Check us out Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for all the latest adventures my clients and I get into. See you on the water! Brian Nelli | 772-201-5899 Brian@tckayakfishing.com | www.tckayakfishing.com Planning on heading to the Lake Okeechobee this weekend, check-out our website for the latest fishing reports. We contact bait & tackle shops from around the lake and nearby communities for what’s hot and what’s not.
See you on the Lake VISIT US!
on facebook www.facebook.com/Okeechobee Coastal Angler Magazine www.CoastalAnglerMag.com/Okeechobee
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FISHING REPORT
SECRETS OF CHARLOTTE HARBOR, FT MYERS | BY FISHN’ FRANKS
O
K let’s talk about where to go fishing. To get the year started let’s go right to the Gulf. There are many species to be targeted in January such as grouper, snapper, king mackerel among others and most of them can be found at one spot not too far off the coast. It’s the old barge that is sunk 10.3 miles from Boca Pass. When preparing yourself for a trip to the barge I would take two different types of rod and reel setups. The first would be a 30 size two speed conventional reel with a 6 foot rod, maybe a bit shorter and stout, with 65 to 80 pound test braid, a 6 ounce egg sinker, a swivel, 60 pound fluorocarbon leader, and a 7/0 circle hook on the business end. From the hook to the swivel I like about 3 feet of leader more or less. For the swivel I use a 150 pound test AFW Swivel in a dull finish. I use a dull finish because I don’t want the flash of a shiny black or silver swivel attracting any toothy predators when I’m fighting the fish I’m trying to land. I put my egg sinker onto my main line before the swivel so the swivel keeps the weight from sliding down onto the hook which can interfere with my hookups.
B
pointy end allowing the tentacles to hang free. If there are no immediate strikes then you’ll begin to attract the smaller fish which are quicker and more aggressive. Once this occurs, switch out your full squid to a smaller bait and allow the smaller fish to begin a feeding frenzy. This burst of activity on the bottom will attract the bigger fish. Once the small fish action has heated up, slip back on a full squid, send it down and hold on for that monster bite. As a parting thought, when I first approach my spot to bottom fish, I get close to the mark and then stop the boat. I then turn the wheel hard to the left and put the boat back into gear and slowly circle my spot watching the bottom machine for signs of structure. Once I mark a good structure or fish I toss a buoy over the back of the boat so I have a point to reference. Though a G.P.S. is good for getting you to the spot, it’s almost impossible to get back to the exact same spot, so the buoy gives you a reference point you can see. The next important point is where you anchor. In the Gulf missing the structure by a few feet might as well be a mile off, so if you can, anchor to your buoy and adjust your anchor line pay-out until you locate the fish. Once you’ve located the fish you can send down a more permeant anchor for a day’s fishing. Good luck out there and I hope you enjoy this spot. The barge wreck is 10.3 miles off Boca on a heading of 226 degrees and it is in 48 feet of water. For your G.P.S the coordinates are 26-26.755N and 082-22.755W Fishin’ Frank Charlotte Harbor Secrets is written by Fishin’ Franks, located at 4425-D Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, FL and 14531 N. Cleveland Ave, Ft Myers, FL. We may not always be politically correct, but you can be guaranteed that, we will write it as how we see it! If you plan on visiting just remember, “This ain’t no Boutique, this is a Fishin’ store!” We can reached by telephone (941) 6253888 or on the web at http://www.FishinFranks.com
For bait on this set up I like frozen Spanish sardines, they’re not too expensive and they really catch fish. I prefer Spanish sardines because they are a soft, stinky, oily, nasty bait which all fish like to eat. The one problem with Spanish sardines is that they are difficult to keep on the hook and tend to fall off if you are not really gentle. So I use a trick to keep them on the hook. I lay a whole squid on its side and then slice a cross section of it maybe ½ inch wide. The piece I cut when held up looks like a circle or thick rubber band. I then take that squid ring and pull it over the head of the sardine and the push the hook through the squid, through the sardine and through the other side of the squid ring. This creates a keeper for the bait and the tough skin of the squid will help the sardine to stay on the hook. The second rod and reel combo is for snapper and for this I tend to use spinning tackle. This consists of a 50 or 60 size reel with a 6 to 6’6” rod, 30 or 40 pound test braided line, a 2 ounce sinker, a swivel, and again about 3 feet of 40 pound test fluoro-leader with a 2/0 circle hook. For bait all I put on is a chunk of squid which is usually all it takes. However I find that most fish prefer live shrimp but this offering is prone to attack from the bait stealers. So again I go back to the squid ring trick. Cut a thin slice of squid and put that on the hook, then put the live shrimp on the hook hooked through the head, and finally take the loose end of the squid strip and secure it to the hook locking in the shrimp’s head. The fish will whack the shrimp and maybe get away without being hooked but you’ll still have bait on your hook. So if you feel the bite and miss the fish, let it fall back down and wait. The fish will come back around for the squid which is still on your hook and tap-tap-tap, this time you got him. I understand you can use the sardine without the squid collar, or just the shrimp without the squid back up, or just a squid alone, but when you first drop your bait into a new spot use a large bait like a full squid to see if any large fish are at the ready. For this I double hook the full squid through the 10 OKEECHOBEE
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12/15/16 11:41 AM
FISHING REPORT
BY CAPT. DAVE STEPHENS | PEACE RIVER - PORT CHARLOTTE
CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVERWATCH By: Waterkeeper Alliance
Capt Dave S, Spotted Seatrout
F
ellow anglers it’s that time of year to put the cast nets up and get the shrimp tackle out. Water temperatures have steadily fallen enough that most of our game fish no longer want to chase their meal. This time of year I hear people talking that the fishing is bad, however I strongly disagree. The biggest secret to having a successful day when the water is cooler is to change your approach. Going out this time of year to target Snook would make for a long day of fishing. Luckily Charlotte Harbor has plenty of other game fish that are not affected as much by the changing weather. On the top of my list would be trout. In my opinion, this can be one of the best times to target these guys. However don’t expect to see your favorite summertime hotspots holding many fish. This is the time of year to start looking for fish in deeper water. Some great places to start are creeks and rivers that have good current flow and depth. I generally look for water over six feet deep. In these areas a shrimp on a jig head will be my bait of choice. The color of your jig head is very much a personal preference thing. I prefer a chartreuse one though I have also had great luck with white and red. If you are in an area with high current flow you might want to use a heavier jig. In most situations I use 1/8oz. I don’t like to pin it to the bottom, but bounce along with the current. While you’re searching the local creeks for trout you might also find yourself pulling on some Redfish. These guys also move into the creeks and rivers though most of the ones you’ll catch will be undersized. On warm sunny days the deeper potholes will be very productive. When I fish this way, I like to suspend a shrimp on a jig head under a float. There are way too many types of floats to mention but personally I prefer the good old’ popping cork, it seems to do the job for me. Another fish that is highly targeted during the winter months is the Sheephead. These bait thieves take a little practice to catch. Shrimp are great baits, you can also use fiddler crabs and sand fleas. Structure is the key to locate good Sheephead. I like to fish around old crusty docks and bridge pilings. A small circle hook and enough weight to hold the bottom works very well. To start a good Sheephead bite around heavily crusted piles, just scrap the sides of the pilings to get barnacle pieces chummed into the water or chum directly with crushed oyster shells or shrimp shells into the water. Once the bite starts the action should attract the other Sheephead in the area along with a few other forage type fish. So if someone tells you the fishing is bad during the winter months, just remember having a great day of fishing this time of year is very possible; you just have to change things up, be flexible and slow down. If you would like to experience some of southwest Florida’s finest fishing give us a call or send an email. All of our charters are private and customized to fit you and your party’s needs.
T
he extended dry period over the past six weeks in southwest Florida has allowed coastal waters to clear up a bit, but the situation has been complicated by sporadic low to moderate levels of red tide during November and December. Red tide has been the suspected cause of fish kills in Matlacha Pass and areas in greater Charlotte Harbor. Water clarity is important because turbid or colored water reduces light penetration important for seagrass recovery. As anglers are aware, seagrass is a vital component of fishery habitat, serving as a refuge for juvenile fish and their prey. Earlier this year, record rainfall and accelerated runoff has drastically altered the salinity envelope for coastal estuaries, particularly the Caloosahatchee and early reconnaissance has indicated significant damage to seagrass and associated fauna. These estuarine systems are badly in need of recovery. However, if the area does not get additional rain soon, the salinity envelope could change in the opposite direction creating unfavorable conditions for seagrass recovery in the mid and upper estuary due to elevated salinity. The Calusa Waterkeeper is recruiting “Rangers” to help monitor waters in southwest Florida including Lake Okeechobee. Those interested in learning more about the program should send a message to Waterkeeper@ CalusaWaterkeeper.org. For reporting fish kills, algae blooms or other problems with local waters call the Calusa Waterkeeper hotline at 239-444-8584.
IF YOU ADVERTISED HERE 10,000 READERS WOULD HAVE SEEN YOUR AD. Contact Ken Gabryel • 863.532.3671 keng@coastalanglermagazine.com for more information
Capt. Dave Stephens | 941-916-5769 | www.backbayxtremes.com WWW.COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/okeechobee • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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TOURNAMENT NEWS DEC. 10 & 11, 2016 ROLAND MARTIN MARINE CENTER SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP
Venue: Lake Okeechobee By: Ramon Iglesias Comments: CLEWISTON, FL – The 2016 Roland Martin Marine Center Series Championship is a wrap and the legendary Lake Okeechobee big bass hit the stage with some of the top anglers in the region all competing for the $15,000 winner’s check. In the end, it was the team of Gary Milicevic and Travic Drapal taking home the big check. With conditions out of Clewiston mild with gusty winds, the weather played a part in keeping the approaching spawn in a holding pattern, but with the highest paying team trail in Florida ready to put two names on a big check, the big sticks came out to play. After M.C. Chris Brill announced the final weight, Milicevic and Drapal were crowned the 2016 Roland Martin Marine Center Series Champions with a two-day total of 41.44 lbs earning the $15,000 winner’s check and the Interstate Batteries Champions Cup. “Patience was key and working a Gambler Fat Ace slow today at the North End of the lake,” said Milicevic. “I only had five bites today but they were all good bites. Then when the sun came out we switched to Medlock Jigs and picked up one more good one.” “We had our limit by noon,” said Drapal. “And we had a good feeling when the first one came early at over 7 pounds.” Finishing second was the team of Benny Townend and Jay Jastrzemski. The day-one leaders earned $5,000 with their two-day total of 39.28. “We left the ramp this morning with a similar game plan as yesterday,” Jastrzemski said. “We ran to the north end and stuck to the same plan and took us until about 2pm to fill out our limit. Then on the last pitch of the day, we hooked a four pounder, swung her into the boat, strapped everything down and made it back for the weigh-in.” “On the ride back in, we figured it would take about 40 pounds to win,” Townend said. “So we knew we were close.” 12 OKEECHOBEE
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Sticking to power fishing for the day one lead, the team switched up to a more finesse style on day two. Making the run to the north end each day paid off for the team. “Pitching beavers and throwing a fluke were key for us today,” Townend said. With a two-day total of 37.66, the team of Ron Yentz and Steve Forcell finished in third place earning $3,000. “With the east wind today, we figured the south end was our best bet,” said Yentz. “Throwing Brandon McMillian 4x4 Bass Jigs swim jigs and EZ swimmer trailers was the key in the stained water.” “Our goal was to go and get our kicker first like yesterday,” Forcell said. “But we started with a five pounder instead of seven like on day one.” U.S. Sugar Big Bass of day two went to Ronnie Martin with an 8.66 and Tom Littich was the day one big bass leader with 8.17 earing them a U.S. Sugar bonus check of $500 each. Handing out over $37,000 in money and prizes for the Championship, the 2016 Roland Martin Marine Center Series has plans to continue growing and remaining the highest paying team tournament trail in Florida. With plans already in motion for the 2017 season, just like the legendary bass of Lake Okeechobee, bigger and better is the story here. Happy Holidays and we’ll see you next season in Clewiston, FL.
First Place:
Gary Milicevic & Travis Drapal, 10-fish, 41.44 lbs Second Place: Ben Townend & Jay Jastremski, 10-fish, 39.28 lbs Third Place: Ron Yentz & Steve Forcell, 10-fish, 37.66 lbs Big Fish: Gregory Jones & Ronnie Martin, 8.66 lbs Stay tune for next season’s schedule.
RMMCSeries 1st place
DECEMBER 2016 BIG ‘O’ TEEN ANGLERS 2016 AOY AWARDS
Venue: Lake Okeechobee By: CAM Okeechobee Staff Comments: The Big ‘O’ Teen Anglers 2016 Season is in the books and it was a great year for our Okeechobee youth club. Twenty-three teams competed this year and they all did a fantastic job throughout the whole season. Bill Ellerbee’s group of kids would like to give a special thanks of gratitude for all the support they received from local volunteers, boat captains, businesses, friends and family that made this year such a success. In looking forward to the 2017 season, it’s already looking to surpass this past season with 27 teams already signed up. For those interested in joining the fun, or for those who want to volunteer, please contact Bill at (863) 697-8764. Boat captains are especially needed as the group continues to grow. Season 2017 starts on January 28th out of Okee-Tantie Park.
Older Division: 16-19 years old First Place: Blake Everett: 141.21 lbs Second Place: Parker Choate: 110 lbs Third Place: Keith Morgan: 90.81 lbs Younger Division: 11-15 years old First Place: Cody Wojcieszak: 96 lbs Second Place: Wyatt Cannon: 88 lbs
RMMCSeries 1st Place Gary Milicevic & Travis Drapal
Raith Sales: 85.16 lbs
Big O Top Finishers
WWW.COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/okeechobee • THEANGLERMAG.COM
12/15/16 11:41 AM
TOURNAMENT NEWS DECEMBER 4, 2016 GAMBLER FREE OPEN TOURNAMENT
Blake Everett 2016 AOY & Billy Ellerbee Capt. of the Year
Big Fish: Vern Copeland & Chris Hueston, 9.38 lbs Next Tournament: to come
Venue: Lake Okeechobee By: CAM Okeechobee Staff Comments: Though weather condition were nice, a field of 240 teams experienced a tough bite on the Big ‘O’. Still it took a weight of 18 lbs or better to place in the top 4. The team of James Sloan and James Hatch bested the field with a weight of 19.56 lbs. A big thank you goes out to Val Osinski of Gambler Lures and the great crew at Roland and Mary Ann Martin’s Resort in Clewiston for another fun day on Lake Okeechobee and another great Gambler event.
First Place:
James Sloan & James Hatch, 19.56 lbs Second Place: Wesley Wise & Luke Ferguson, 19.04 lbs Third Place: James Gunter & James Klein, 18.50 lbs
Cody Wojcieszak - 1st Place Younger Div
Gambler
Big ‘O’ Teen Anglers, Inc. 2017 Schedule TOURNAMENTS Event 1: January 28th Event 2: February 18th Event 3: March 25th Event 4: April 29th Event 5: May 27th Event 6: June 24th Event 7: July 29th Event 8: August 26th Event 9: Sept 30th Classic: Oct 28 & 29 All tournaments launch out of Okee-Tantie until further notice New members, Volunteers, and Boat Captains WELCOMED
Contact Billy Ellerbee for details (863) 697-8764 WWW.COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/okeechobee • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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TROPHY CATCH
& BIG CATCH
ANGLER RECOGNITION PROGRAMS
Big Catch Award Levels Trophy Catch: • Specialist 3 Easy Steps • Master Angler • Photo with weight visible on scale and entire bass body visible • Elite Angler • For Details Visit: • Bass must be released www.MYFWC.com/BigCatch • Submit entry to TrophyCatchFlorida.com Earn rewards for release trophy catch!
NEW 2016-17 Leader Sam Davis, 12.0 lbs., St Johns River
JT Snead, Bass 6 lbs, Palm Bch Canal
Evelyn Fryer, Bluegill 13ox, Josephine Creek
Robert Mott, Flier, 9-in
Notable catches
Top (L to R): Adrian Echols, Bass 10.68 lbs, Lake Istokpoga Darren Roberts, Bass 9.68 lbs, Lake Okeechobee
Kyle Petty, Bowfin 11.5lb, Lake Lochloosa
Bottom (L to R): Mark Lundgren, Bass 9.18 lbs, Lake Okeechobee John Wood, Bass 8-lbs, Little Red Water Lake 14 OKEECHOBEE
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David Baldwin, Mayan Cichlid, 1.18 lbs, Lake Osborne
David Baldwin, Butterfly Peocock, 4.75-lb Lake Osborne WWW.COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/okeechobee • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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Board
BRAG
Garland Wilmoth, warmouth-1lbs, Waltn Cty Pond
Top row, left to right: Charles Stubbs, 10-pt Buck, DeSoto County Ramsey Fisher, Bass 8.94 lbs, Lake Istokpoga Second row, left to right: Robert DiNino Bass 6.125 lbs, Lake Okeechobee James Pitchard, Bass 8.5lbs, Lake Josephine Terry, 9.5 lbs, Bass Tenoroc FMA Third row, left to right: Robert Farbee, 8-pt Buck, DeSoto County Sal Rinaldo, Bass 11.0lbs, Lake Aurora
Be sure to submit your Brag Board pictures to pics@okeechobeecam.com WWW.COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/okeechobee • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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TOURNAMENTS, CLAYS, AND GUNS JANUARY 2 Highlands Weekday Open Tournament Venue: Lake June-in-Winter City: Lake Placid
JANUARY 4
Highlands Weekday Open Tournament Venue: Lake Jackson City: Sebring
JANUARY 13
Highlands Weekday Open Tournament Venue: Lake Huntley City: Lake Placid
Highlands Weekday Open Tournament Venue: Lake Glenada City: Avon Park
Quail Creek Plantation Venue: Sheridan House Fun Shoot City: Okeechobee www.QuailCreekPlantation.com
Quail Creek Plantation Venue: MCBC Shoot City: Okeechobee www.QuailCreekPlantation.com
Okeechobee Shooting Sports Venue: Long Shoot City: Okeechobee www.OKShooting.com
JANUARY 6
Okeechobee Shooting Sports Venue: Long Shoot City: Okeechobee www.OKShooting.com
JANUARY 14
FLW BFL Gator Division Venue: Lake Okeechobee Ramp: Roland & MaryAnn Martin City: Clewiston www.FLWFishing.com
FLW College Fishing Venue: Lake Seminole JANUARY 7 City: Bainbridge ABA Ram Open Series FL South www.FLWFishing.com Venue: Lake Okeechobee Lakeland Rifle & Pistol Ramp: C. Scott Driver Club Gun Show City: Okeechobee Venue: Lakeland Center www.RamOpenSeries.com City: Lakeland www.LakelandGunClub.com Heartland Bass Anglers Club Venue: Lake Francis Quail Creek Plantation City: Lake Placid Venue: Florida Cattlewomen’s www.facebook.com/HeartlandBassAnglers Fundraiser City: Okeechobee Indian River Bass Anglers www.QuailCreekPlantation.com Venue: Lake Okeechobee Ramp: Lock 7 JANUARY 15 City: Okeechobee www.IndianRiverbBassAnglers.net Lake Placid Team Trail Venue: Lake Istokpoga Sebring Gun Show Windy Point Venue: Highlands County Fairgrounds Ramp: City: Lake Placid City: Sebring www.PatriotShows.com Lakeland Rifle & Pistol Club Sponsor: Patriot Productions Gun Show Venue: Lakeland Center JANUARY 8 City: Lakeland www.LakelandGunClub.com Quail Creek Plantation Venue: Monthly NSCA Shoot JANUARY 16 City: Okeechobee www.QuailCreekPlantation.com Highlands Weekday Open Tournament Sebring Gun Show Lake Placid Venue: Highlands County Fairgrounds Venue: City: Lake Placid City: Sebring www.PatriotShows.com JANUARY 18 Sponsor: Patriot Productions Highlands Weekday Open JANUARY 9 Tournament Venue: Dinner Lake Highlands Weekday Open City: Sebring Tournament Venue: Lake Clay JANUARY 20 City: Lake Placid Highlands Weekday Open JANUARY 11 Tournament Venue: Lake June-in-Winter Highlands Weekday Open City: Lake Placid Tournament Venue: Lake Francis City: Lake Placid 16 OKEECHOBEE
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JANUARY 21 Channing Crowder’s Tournament Venue: FL Everglades Ramp: Holiday Park City: Ft Lauderdale www.facebook.com/ccbasstourney
Florida Bass Federation Venue: Lake Okeechobee Ramp: C. Scott Driver City: Okeechobee www.FloridaBassFederation.com Quail Creek Plantation Venue: CCA Fundraiser Shoot City: Okeechobee www.QuailCreekPlantation.com
JANUARY 22
Florida Bass Federation Venue: Lake Okeechobee Ramp: C. Scott Driver City: Okeechobee www.FloridaBassFederation.com
JANUARY 23
Highlands Weekday Open Tournament Venue: Lake Jackson City: Sebring
JANUARY 25
Highlands Weekday Open Tournament Venue: Lake Huntley City: Lake Placid
Be sure to submit tournament results and pictures to pics@okeechobeecam.com
JANUARY 28
FLW Costa Series Venue: Lake Okeechobee Ramp: Roland & MaryAnn Martin City: Clewiston www.FLWFishing.com
JANUARY 27 FLW Costa Series Venue: Lake Okeechobee Ramp: Roland & MaryAnn Martin City: Clewiston www.FLWFishing.com Highlands Weekday Open Tournament Venue: Lake Clay City: Lake Placid Quail Creek Plantation Venue: St. Thomas Aquinas Fundraiser Fun Shoot City: Okeechobee www.QuailCreekPlantation.com
Quail Creek Plantation Venue: M.E’s Team Fundraisers Fun Shoot City: Okeechobee www.QuailCreekPlantation.com
JANUARY 30
FEBRUARY 1
Frostproof Church of God Youth Dept Open Tournament Venue: Lake Reedy Ramp: Contact Bob Walton 863-528-1249 City: Frostproof
Highlands Weekday Open Tournament Venue: Lake Francis City: Lake Placid
Okeechobee Shooting Sports Venue: Long Shoot City: Okeechobee www.OKShooting.com
JANUARY 26
FLW Costa Series Venue: Lake Okeechobee Ramp: Roland & MaryAnn Martin City: Clewiston www.FLWFishing.com
Okeechobee Shooting Sports Venue: Long Shoot City: Okeechobee www.OKShooting.com
FEBRUARY 4
Heartland Bass Anglers Club Venue: Lake Jackson City: Lake Placid www.facebook.com/HeartlandBassAnglers Great American Lake Wales Gun Show Venue: Lake Wales National Guard Armory City: Lake Wales www.GreatAmericanPromotionsllc.com
FEBRUARY 5 Great American Lake Wales Gun Show Venue: Lake Wales National Guard Armory City: Lake Wales www.GreatAmericanPromotionsllc.com
WWW.COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/okeechobee • THEANGLERMAG.COM
12/15/16 11:41 AM
Maintenance Tip
B O AT
GELCOAT MAINTENANCE By: CAM Okeechobee Staff
I
f you’re not a fan of sweating your butt off during the summer months to wax your fiberglass boat then now is the time to work on maintaining your boat’s gel coat. Maintaining your boat’s gel coat is a key ingredient in protecting your investment from the ravages of sun exposure, water pollutants, road grime, minor scrapes, and time. The first step in maintaining the condition of your boat’s gel coat is to routinely wash your boat. Whether you boat in fresh or salt water, rinsing your boat off after each trip is a quick and easy way to remove any containments you might have picked up after a day of boating. For saltwater anglers, most boat ramps have wash down stations so it becomes more of a routine to rinse your boat while you tie down your boat for transportation. For freshwater anglers, you generally have to perform this task at home and therefore many boaters overlook this step. Depending on the frequency of use, you should deep clean and wax your boat’s gel coat at least once a year if not more. Here is south Florida boating is a year round activity so twice a year for heavy users should be the minimum. When deep cleaning you gel coat you should always use products designed for marine applications. Household cleaners contain abrasive chemicals and compounds which can scratch your gel coat and do more harm than good. Start the maintenance process with a good wash down to remove all debris and stains. For more stubborn stains use a fiberglass cleaner and a soft brush or cloth to
remove the stains. Once completed inspect the gel coat for oxidation. Oxidation is a chalk-like film that is created by the breakdown of the gelcoat’s protective layer. If left untreated the oxidation will continue and could eventually lead to water intrusion into the fiberglass hull. For areas of light oxidation, a simple application of a fiberglass cleaner may do the job. For medium oxidation, in addition to the fiberglass cleaner an application of a stronger oxidation remover may be required. For areas of heavy oxidation you may want to consult a professional for this may require sanding and possibly repainting of the boat. If you do take on this task, be prepared to invest some long hours and follow the manufacturer’s recommended repair procedures. Once you have deep cleaned your boat and removed any gel coat oxidation, now you are ready to wax and polish your boat. Be aware that not all waxes are created equal and there is a reason for that. The condition of your gelcoat will determine which wax is right for you. If your gel coat is new or in excellent condition then a high quality beeswax, Carnauba or silicon based wax will be a good choice. If your gel coat has a slight level of oxidation and/or micro-scratches, you may want to opt for a cleaner/wax product and then follow up with a premium liquid paste wax for added protection. During this stage, using thicker paste waxes will take longer to apply but will last a lot longer. Though the liquid paste waxes are easier to apply they are designed for providing luster to the gel coat and not protecting the gel coat. However they are a good quick mid-season touch-up product to help restore than must have shine.
WWW.COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/okeechobee • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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COMMUNITY EVENTS Frog Leg Festival Venue: City Admin Park City: Fellesmere www.FrogLegFestival.com
JANUARY 3 Smithsonian Waterways Exhibit Venue: Okeechobee County Courthouse Jan 2 -28 M-F City: Okeechobee www.VisitOkeechobeeCounty.com Sponsor: Okeechobee TDC & Okeechobee Main Street
South Florida Fair Venue: South Florida Fairgrounds City: West Palm Beach www.SouthFloridaFair.com
JANUARY 20
JANUARY 7 Lee County Medieval Faire Venue: Lakes Regional Park City: Fort Myers www.Medieval-Faire.com
Be sure to submit community events to info@okeechobeecam.com
JANUARY 8 Lee County Medieval Faire Venue: Lakes Regional Park City: Fort Myers www.Medieval-Faire.com
JANUARY 12 YeeHaw Junction Bluegrass Festival Venue: Agri-Civic Center City: Okeechobee www.EvansMediaSource.com South Florida Fair Venue: South Florida Fairgrounds City: West Palm Beach www.SouthFloridaFair.com
JANUARY 13 YeeHaw Junction Bluegrass Festival Venue: Agri-Civic Center City: Okeechobee www.EvansMediaSource.com
JANUARY 14 Dragon Festival Venue: Wickham Pavilion City: Melbourne www.TheDragonFestival.com South Florida Fair Venue: South Florida Fairgrounds City: West Palm Beach www.SouthFloridaFair.com Lee County Medieval Faire Venue: Lakes Regional Park City: Fort Myers www.Medieval-Faire.com Taps & Tunes Craft Beer & Music Fest Venue: Centennial Park West City: Fort Myers www.sbdac.com/event/tapsandtune YeeHaw Junction Bluegrass Festival Venue: Agri-Civic Center City: Okeechobee www.EvansMediaSource.com
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JANUARY 15 Dragon Festival Venue: Wickham Pavilion City: Melbourne www.TheDragonFestival.com South Florida Fair Venue: South Florida Fairgrounds City: West Palm Beach www.SouthFloridaFair.com Lee County Medieval Faire Venue: Lakes Regional Park City: Fort Myers www.Medieval-Faire.com
JANUARY 16 South Florida Fair Venue: South Florida Fairgrounds City: West Palm Beach www.SouthFloridaFair.com
JANUARY 17 South Florida Fair Venue: South Florida Fairgrounds City: West Palm Beach www.SouthFloridaFair.com
JANUARY 18 30th Annual Antique Engine & Tractor Venue: Swap Meet Florida Flywheelers Ramp: Flywheeler Park City: Fort Meade www.FloridaFlywheelers.org Sponsor: Florida Flywheelers South Florida Fair Venue: South Florida Fairgrounds City: West Palm Beach www.SouthFloridaFair.com
JANUARY 19 30th Annual Antique Engine & Tractor Venue: Swap Meet Florida Flywheelers Ramp: Flywheeler Park City: Fort Meade www.FloridaFlywheelers.org Florida Flywheelers
JANUARY 2017
30th Annual Antique Engine & Tractor Venue: Swap Meet Florida Flywheelers Ramp: Flywheeler Park City: Fort Meade www.FloridaFlywheelers.org Sponsor: Florida Flywheelers Frog Leg Festival Venue: City Admin Park City: Fellesmere www.FrogLegFestival.com South Florida Fair Venue: South Florida Fairgrounds City: West Palm Beach www.SouthFloridaFair.com
JANUARY 21 Frog Leg Festival Venue: City Admin Park City: Fellesmere www.FrogLegFestival.com 16th Annual Riverfront Art and Music Festival Venue: Riverview Park City: Sebastian www.SebastianArtShow.com
JANUARY 22 Frog Leg Festival Venue: City Admin Park City: Fellesmere www.FrogLegFestival.com 16th Annual Riverfront Art and Music Festival Venue: Riverview Park City: Sebastian www.SebastianArtShow.com South Florida Fair Venue: South Florida Fairgrounds City: West Palm Beach www.SouthFloridaFair.com
JANUARY 23 South Florida Fair Venue: South Florida Fairgrounds City: West Palm Beach www.SouthFloridaFair.com
JANUARY 24 South Florida Fair Venue: South Florida Fairgrounds City: West Palm Beach www.SouthFloridaFair.com
JANUARY 25 19th Annual Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival Venue: Titusville Eastern FL ST College City: Titusville www.SpaceCoastBirdingAndWildlife Festival.org Sebring US Sport Aviation Expo Venue: Sebring Airport City: Sebring www.SportAviationExpo.com South Florida Fair Venue: South Florida Fairgrounds City: West Palm Beach www.SouthFloridaFair.com
JANUARY 26 19th Annual Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival Venue: Titusville Eastern FL ST College City: Titusville www.SpaceCoastBirdingAndWildlife Festival.org Sebring US Sport Aviation Expo Venue: Sebring Airport City: Sebring www.SportAviationExpo.com South Florida Fair Venue: South Florida Fairgrounds City: West Palm Beach www.SouthFloridaFair.com
JANUARY 27 Gasparilla Pirate Fest City: Tampa www.GasparillaPirateFest.com 19th Annual Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival Titusville Eastern FL ST College City: Titusville www.SpaceCoastBirdingAndWildlife Festival.org Charlotte County Fair Venue: Charlotte County Fairgrounds City: Port Charlotte www.TheCharlotteCountyFair.com DeSoto County Fair Venue: DeSoto County Fair Grounds Ramp: Arcadia Rodeo Arena City: Arcadia www.DeSotoCountyFair.org Sebring US Sport Aviation Expo Venue: Sebring Airport City: Sebring www.SportAviationExpo.com South Florida Fair Venue: South Florida Fairgrounds City: West Palm Beach www.SouthFloridaFair.com
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12/15/16 11:41 AM
21st Annual Lakeland Pigfest Venue: Sun ‘n Fun City: Lakeland www.LakelandPigfest.org
South Florida Fair Venue: South Florida Fairgrounds City: West Palm Beach www.SouthFloridaFair.com
Taste of Little Italy Venue: Tradition Square City: Port St Lucie www.TasteOfLittleItaly.net
21st Annual Lakeland Pigfest Venue: Sun ‘n Fun City: Lakeland www.LakelandPigfest.org Taste of Little Italy Venue: Tradition Square City: Port St Lucie www.TasteOfLittleItaly.net
3rd Annual Suncoast Blues Festival Venue: Sarasota Fairgrounds City: Sarasota www.SuncoastBluesFestival.com
3rd Annual Suncoast Blues Festival Venue: Sarasota Fairgrounds City: Sarasota www.SuncoastBluesFestival.com
JANUARY 28 Smithsonian Waterways Exhibit Venue: Okeechobee County Courthouse Closing City: Okeechobee www.VisitOkeechobeeCounty.com Sponsor: Okeechobee TDC & Okeechobee Main Street
JANUARY 29
Gasparilla Pirate Fest City: Tampa www.GasparillaPirateFest.com 10th Annual Port Salerno Seafood Festival City: Port Salerno www.PortSalernoSeafoodFestival.org 19th Annual Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival Venue: Titusville Eastern FL ST College City: Titusville www.SpaceCoastBirdingAndWildlife Festival.org 7th Annual Sunshine State Steak Cook-off Venue: Ave Maria www.SSSSCookoff.com 8th Annual Taste of Little Italy Venue: Tradition Square City: Port St Lucie www.TasteOfLittleItaly.net Charlotte County Fair Venue: Charlotte County Fairgrounds City: Port Charlotte www.TheCharlotteCountyFair.com Charlotte Harbor Chili and Beer Fest Venue: Laishley Park City: Punta Gorda www.PuntaGordaChiliFest.com
19th Annual Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival Venue: Titusville Eastern FL ST College City: Titusville www.SpaceCoastBirdingAndWildlife Festival.org 8th Annual Taste of Little Italy Venue: Tradition Square City: Port St Lucie www.TasteOfLittleItaly.net Charlotte County Fair Venue: Charlotte County Fairgrounds City: Port Charlotte www.TheCharlotteCountyFair.com DeSoto County Fair Venue: DeSoto County Fair Grounds Arcadia Rodeo Arena City: Arcadia www.DeSotoCountyFair.org South Florida Fair Venue: South Florida Fairgrounds City: West Palm Beach www.SouthFloridaFair.com Taste of Little Italy Venue: Tradition Square City: Port St Lucie www.TasteOfLittleItaly.net
JANUARY 30
19th Annual Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival Venue: Titusville Eastern FL ST College DeSoto County Fair Venue: DeSoto County Fair Grounds City: Titusville www.SpaceCoastBirdingAndWildlife Arcadia Rodeo Arena Festival.org City: Arcadia www.DeSotoCountyFair.org Charlotte County Fair Venue: Charlotte County Sebring US Sport Fairgrounds Aviation Expo City: Port Charlotte Venue: Sebring Airport www.TheCharlotteCountyFair.com City: Sebring www.SportAviationExpo.com
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COMMUNITY EVENTS DeSoto County Fair Venue: DeSoto County Fair Grounds Ramp: Arcadia Rodeo Arena City: Arcadia www.DeSotoCountyFair.org
JANUARY 31 Charlotte County Fair Venue: Charlotte County Fairgrounds City: Port Charlotte www.TheCharlotteCountyFair.com DeSoto County Fair Venue: DeSoto County Fair Grounds Ramp: Arcadia Rodeo Arena City: Arcadia www.DeSotoCountyFair.org
FEBRUARY 2 Charlotte County Fair Venue: Charlotte County Fairgrounds City: Port Charlotte www.TheCharlotteCountyFair.com DeSoto County Fair Venue: DeSoto County Fair grounds Ramp: Arcadia Rodeo Arena City: Arcadia www.DeSotoCountyFair.org
FEBRUARY 3 8th Annual Treasure Coast Pirate Festival Venue: Veterans Memorial Park City: Fort Pierce www.TreasureCoastPirateFest.com
Art of the River Venue: SoFL State College, DeSoto City: Arcadia Charlotte County Fair www.DeSotoArtsCouncil.org Venue: Charlotte County Fairgrounds Sponsor: DeSoto Arts & Humanities City: Port Charlotte Council www.TheCharlotteCountyFair.com Charlotte County Fair DeSoto County Fair Venue: Charlotte County Fairgrounds Venue: DeSoto County Fairgrounds City: Port Charlotte Ramp: Arcadia Rodeo Arena www.TheCharlotteCountyFair.com City: Arcadia DeSoto County Fair www.DeSotoCountyFair.org Venue: DeSoto County Fairgrounds Ramp: Arcadia Rodeo Arena City: Arcadia www.DeSotoCountyFair.org
FEBRUARY 1
FEBRUARY 4 8th Annual Treasure Coast Pirate Festival Venue: Veterans Memorial Park City: Fort Pierce www.TreasureCoastPirateFest.com Art of the River Venue: SoFL State College, DeSoto City: Arcadia www.DeSotoArtsCouncil.org Sponsor: DeSoto Arts & Humanities Council Artfest Fort Myers Venue: Riverfront City: Fort Myers www.ArtFestFortMyers.com Charlotte County Fair Venue: Charlotte County Fairgrounds City: Port Charlotte www.TheCharlotteCountyFair.com DeSoto County Fair Venue: DeSoto County Fair grounds Ramp: Arcadia Rodeo Arena City: Arcadia www.DeSotoCountyFair.org Lake Placid Arts & Crafts Country Fair Venue: DeVane Park City: Lake Placid www.lpfla.com
FEBRUARY 5 8th Annual Treasure Coast Pirate Festival Venue: Veterans Memorial Park City: Fort Pierce www.TreasureCoastPirateFest.com Artfest Fort Myers Venue: Riverfront City: Fort Myers www.ArtFestFortMyers.com Charlotte County Fair Venue: Charlotte County Fairgrounds City: Port Charlotte www.TheCharlotteCountyFair.com Lake Placid Arts & Crafts country Fair Venue: DeVane Park City: FLake Placid www.lpfla.com
TOWN OF MURALS:
The Jewels of Highlands County
T
he town of Lake Placid in Highlands County is known as the Town of Murals. With 46 outdoor painted murals depicting the rich heritage of its people and environment, it makes this small town a must see when visiting central Florida. This mural titled The Jewels of Highlands County displays one of Highland Counties most treasured resources, it dozens of lakes sprinkled across the county. Within the county there are over 100 lakes with Buck Lake at 10 acres being the smallest and Lake Istokpoga at 27,692 acres being the largest. With both shallow water lakes like Lake Istokpoga at 9-ft deep and deep water lakes like Lake Tulane at 70-ft deep, fishermen can experience a wide variety of fishing opportunities. Blessed with two summer seasons, the mild months of October through April and the warmer months of May through September, visitors and residents can enjoy boating, fishing, water skiing and many other water sports. With many local volunteer groups and local agencies eager to preserve these fragile environments, these resources will be available for future generations to enjoy.
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WWW.COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/okeechobee • THEANGLERMAG.COM
12/15/16 11:41 AM
SPECIES SPOTLIGHT
BULLSEYE SNAKEHEAD By CAM Okeechobee Staff
T
his month’s spotlight focuses on yet another non-native fish that is expanding its territory in some of south Florida waters. The Bullseye Snakehead, whose native range includes the countries of India, Pakistan, Thailand, Malaysia and south China, was first reported in the canals of western Broward County in the year 2000. They are thought to have escaped an illegal breeding operations during Hurricane Andrew and have since expanded their range into southern Palm Beach County. These torpedo shaped fish with a flattened head and razor sharp teeth appear similar to our native Bowfin. However due to an oversized head, their sharp teeth and aggressive demeanor they have earned the local street name of ‘Frankenfish’ and ‘Fishzilla’. A typical Bullseye Snakehead will have red eyes, a long anal and dorsal fin without spines, a body color that darkens with age, bright comma-shaped markings along its side and a red-orange eyespot (ocellus) near the base of the tail. There are thought to be twenty-nine species of Snakeheads worldwide with four species being reported in the United States. The Bullseye Snakehead is the species within the south Florida canal system and with a minimum cold water tolerance of 50°F, it is not expected to reach central Florida, but we all know how adaptive Mother Nature’s creatures can be. The largest documented Bullseye Snakehead weighed 14 pounds and had a length of 37 inches, but 3-6 pounders with a length of 23-28 inches are more typical. In south Florida, Bullseye Snakeheads are thought to spawn two to three times a year. The primary spawning period is March through May with a secondary period during August. Mating pairs are very territorial and stay with their brood until the young are a few inches long. The young are an off-orange color so if you spot these fry an adult fish is nearby. The Bullseye Snakehead can be found along the banks of an infested canal. They prefer patchy shoreline vegetation and submerged vegetation and structure. Being ultimate predators, they prefer areas that provide easy concealment and quick access to unsuspecting prey. Residing in shallow water, they are extremely spooky fish and have great eyesight. When targeting these fish, approach the canal banks quietly and minimize your presence both in the clothes you wear, no hunter blaze shirts or hats, and in the shadow you cast. They are also quick learners, if you get a strike and miss the hook set, that fish will most likely not return to your lure again. When targeting Bullseye Snakeheads, unless you’re one of those ultra-lite anglers, you should prepare to do battle with a powerful fish who strikes viciously and has plenty of energy and power for long drag stripping runs. Strong backbone rods are highly recommended along with 60-80 lb braided lines. Snakeheads feed on a large variety of creatures including baitfish, frogs, toads, lizards, crayfish, insects, and just about anything that falls from the canal bank into the water. The most common artificial baits are top water frogs and spinner baits. Natural colors seem to produce the best. Just be aware that due to the nature of the strike and ensuing battle, Snakeheads like to roll, most soft plastic baits and spinner baits will survive only one battle so don’t use your favorite $12.00 frog. Frogs that produce a nice top water disturbance like paddle-tail frogs work great. Snakeheads have hard mouths so you’ll need to set the hook with some authority. Unlike bass where you’ll find them on the deeper edge of the shoreline vegetation, Snakeheads prefer the bankside of the vegetation so casting onto the canal bank and dragging your bait into the water is a very effective technique. In landing a Snakehead do not pick up the fish with your fingers in the fish’s mouth, with their sharp teeth you’ll quickly be bleeding. Use either a landing net or jaw grippers to secure the fish. Being an invasive species, Bullseye Snakeheads are not to be released live back into the wild so before boating a Snakehead, give it a quick pop with a fish bat before you bring it onboard. The good news is that Bullseye Snakeheads are highly edible. Grilled, deep fried, or broiled, they make a tasty meal. They are also a great saltwater bait. Their tough skins and firm flesh make great bait for bottom feeding snapper and groupers. So if you’re a thrill seeking angler, fishing for south Florida Bullseye Snakeheads is a must have on your bucket list.
OUTDOOR REPORT BY MISTY WELLS | OUTDOOR DARLIN’
Reelin with Roland
R
oland Martin is a fishing legend and there is a reason for that, he is a “World Class” angler. It is not every day that when your buddies ask you “what did you do this weekend?” you get to say “I went fishing with Roland Martin”. The weekend of December 3rd I got to do just that and it was a once in a lifetime experience. Roland and I were able to be a part of something new, the 1st Annual Fishbrain ITrekkers Tournament held in Tampa Bay. This annual tournament was a CPR (catch, photo, release) event and Roland and I were hoping for an Inshore Slam-Trout, Redfish and Snook. We started the day with Capt. Mike Grasso of “Reel Pro Charters” and headed out to Weedon Island to get a little shelter from the wind and to return to a spot where we caught forty Snook during our pre-fish. The Fishbrain Tournament launched out of one of my favorite places, Hula Bay and had a great turn out. Once the anglers found out Roland Martin, “their favorite Fishbrainer” was going to be there they showed up in droves. Roland Martin has not only changed the way folks fish he is now changing the way they use their favorite “Fishing App” Fishbrain. Roland is sharing where he is fishing, how he is fishing and what he is using to catch all the monster fish he is reeling in, and it’s free. Getting free weekly information on how to improve your catches and fishing techniques direct from Roland is priceless. Did I also mention the pay-out was $5,000 for this Tournament? The proceeds from this Tournament went to benefit “A Reel Future”, a non-profit that works with children in group foster care and takes them fishing. To date over 1,000 kids have fished with “A Reel Future”. Tournament Director Tom Swick said, “It was a great first event with positive feedback and we are already planning our next event to be even bigger and better”. The fishing that day was tuff, it was windy and the the tide was pushing out. We headed across the bay and started fishing with some live bait, throwing close to the edges of the mangroves and the docks while we did a slow drift. Some of the places we wanted to check out we couldn’t because the water was just too skinny to get in. Still, we bent a few rods, caught some nice fish and I learned a lot from fishing with the master. Roland has some of the best fishing stories from his global adventures and I could have stayed out all day with him. Heading back to Hula Bay was a much nicer ride, the wind had died down and we were excited to see who was going to win the big money. We raised enough money from raffle ticket sales to sponsor forty “A Reel Future” kids to go fishing and some of the anglers walked away with a pocket full of Christmas money and lots of prizes. Fishbrain Exec Bojan flew all the way in from Sweden to be a part of this fun event. According to Bojan, “Hosting the 1st Fishbrain Tournament and having Under Armour as a title sponsor was a great success and we are still receiving not only great feedback from people who attended it but also tons of inquiries for the next one. We had great support from our users and from all of our sponsors and we are looking forward to growing it and doing more of them in 2017”. All I can say is fishing with Roland and spending time on the water with him was incredible, stay tuned you never know who I will be fishing with next. Happy New Year Coastal Angler readers, keep your “Lines Tight” for the New Year. Misty Wells is Co – Founder of “A Reel Future” a non-profit organization devoted to sharing knowledge and giving the passion of the fishing and the great outdoors to our future generation and kids in need. Misty is also the host of Radio & TV show “Let’s Take It Outside”. To get show information, to be a guest or to tune in go to www.mistywells.com and she can be reached at misty@mistywells.com
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INDUSTRY NEWS
PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNS OUTDOOR REC ACT INTO LAW
ASA – AMERICAN SPORTFISHING ASSOCIATION ALEXANDRIA, VA | DECEMBER 9, 2016 In a significant step forward for the outdoor recreation industry and the sportfishing community, President Obama signed into law the Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act of 2016. The bill, known as the Outdoor REC Act, passed the House of Representatives and the Senate in November. This new piece of legislation requires the Department of Commerce, in collaboration with the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, to assess and analyze the contributions of the outdoor recreation industry, including recreational fishing, to the United States economy. The legislation will help to ensure that sportfishing industry jobs and recreational fishing’s economic impact are accounted for as part of the gross domestic product (GDP). “At a time when jobs and economic opportunity are high on everyone’s list, the Outdoor REC bill’s passage gives the outdoor recreation industry its own metric by which to quantify its impact on the nation’s economic activity,” said American Sportfishing Association (ASA) President and CEO Mike Nussman. “We have advocated for years that recreational fishing and boating were significant economic drivers. It’s gratifying that the House and the Senate, in a bi-partisan effort, passed this bill which the President has now signed it into law.” Nussman continued, “It’s important to note that in many rural areas, where jobs are at a premium, it’s fishing, boating and other outdoor activities that provide steady employment for many people.” The passage of the Outdoor REC Act was needed to make sure that the outdoor economy—and it’s estimated six million jobs and $646 billion in economic activity— receives official government recognition for years to come. “ASA applauds Congress and the President for enacting this legislation, bringing the outdoor recreation industry’s importance to jobs and the economy into the national spotlight,” said ASA Government Affairs Vice President Scott Gudes. “We appreciate that outdoor recreation is now formally being recognized by the federal government for its impact on jobs, business and the economy.” Gudes further said, “The Outdoor REC Act will also ensure that the outdoor industry’s economic statistics will be measured in the same comprehensive way as other business sectors, such as the automotive and apparel industries. This is important because industry economic impact estimates also include data that show the nondirect impact that the activity has on the economy. For example, it would also include sportfishing’s contributions to travel and tourism, not just the purchase of tackle.” ASA is an active part of a team representing a wide-range of outdoor industries that will work with the Department of Commerce to shape how outdoor recreation is defined and ensure our reach and impact are recognized. In his post-campaign remarks, President-elect Trump
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has voiced his support for maintaining fishing and hunting on our nation’s public lands.
CHANGES AT PURE FISHING7
FTR: KEN DUKE | DECEMBER 6, 2016 Pure Fishing, the tackle industry giant that includes 17 brands including Abu Garcia, Berkley, PENN, Shakespeare, Fenwick, Hardy, Mitchell, Pflueger, Sebile, Spiderwire and Stren, has informed approximately 10 employees in its marketing operations that they are being terminated effective sometime between the end of the month and June 30, 2017. Last December, Jarden Corporation, the parent company of tackle giant Pure Fishing, agreed to an acquisition by Newell Rubbermaid Inc. for more than $15 billion in cash and stocks. The merger created a consumer goods company with $16 billion in annual sales to be known as Newell Brands. The new company encompassed not only Pure Fishing, but also additional outdoor brands like Coleman and Marmot as well as many household brands outside the tackle industry such as Sharpie, Paper Mate, Elmer’s, Rubbermaid, Graco, Mr. Coffee, Rawlings and Yankee Candle. According to reliable sources, remaining marketing staff will report directly to Rubbermaid personnel. The fates of sales staff, many of the smaller brands within Pure Fishing and dealer support efforts like the Berkley Experience trailers are uncertain, but more changes are anticipated within the next few months. When the acquisition was announced a year ago, financial analysts commented that it was all about “creating scale” — applying Newell’s system of integration, cost savings and selective reinvestment to create growth. Michael B. Polk, CEO of Newell Brands, hoped to squeeze $500 million in costs out of the business within four years. Cutting back on Pure Fishing marketing efforts and combining them with those of Rubbermaid appears to be a move in that direction. Calls to Pure Fishing had not been returned at the time of this posting, but it is the company’s policy not to comment on personnel issues.
BASS PRO/CABELA’S DEAL DELAYED FTR: JOE SILLS | DECEMBER 8, 2016 October’s blockbuster acquisition of Cabela’s by rival outdoor empire Bass Pro Shops has hit a snag, according to the Associated Press (AP). The AP reports that federal antitrust regulators have asked both companies for more time, likely a month, to review the $5.5 billion transaction. An approval by regulators with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) would clear the way for a nearly 40,000-employee company that would be the market share leader in outdoor retail. Potential Hurdles Antitrust review is standard in these situations. The fact that regulators are asking for a few more weeks to review this case doesn’t necessarily mean much. However, the
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FTC did block a merger between retail giants Staples and Office Space in May of this year. They also forced value store chains Family Dollar and the Dollar Tree to sell 330 stores before that merger was completed in July. The FTC is expected to take a city-by-city look at markets where Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s both operate, gauge the level of competition between other big box stores and local retailers and analyze the demographics of each customer base. Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s currently combine for 185 retail stores from coast-to-coast, though their strongholds largely reside in the east and west, respectively. The companies primarily overlap near the middle of those territories — in Texas, Missouri and Kansas. Under the 1976 Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, the FTC has the power to block deals that the federal agency says “substantially lessen competition.” Typically, the FTC says, any deal over $78 million automatically falls under scrutiny. If antitrust regulators determine that the merger between Springfield (Missouri — headquarters of Bass Pro Shops) and Sidney (Nebraska — headquarters of Cabela’s) will lessen competition in specific markets—most likely those where the two companies already overlap — they could force the sale of stores, or, in an unlikely scenario, block the merger entirely. For now, regulators have requested an extra month to review the situation, and the fishing tackle world sits on hold.
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Lake Okeechobee Conditions Avg Trending Precipitation: 1.90 Below Day Temp (F): 74 Above Night Temp (F): 50 Above Full Moon Name: Wolf Moon Current Last Year Avg Trending Lake Level (ft): 15.97 14.83 15.75 Steady Water Temperature (F): 84 — — Steady For Coastal Tides, visit http://www.saltwatertides.com
Solunar Table January 2017 Date Day Jan 1 Sun 2 Mon 3 Tues 4 Wed 5 Thur 6 Fri 7 Sat 8 Sun 9 Mon 10 Tues 11 Wed 12 Thur 13 Fri 14 Sat 15 Sun 16 Mon 17 Tues 18 Wed 19 Thur 20 Fri 21 Sat 22 Sun 23 Mon 24 Tues 25 Wed 26 Thur 27 Fri 28 Sat 29 Sun 30 Mon 31 Tues
Minor Major Minor Major Sun Sun Moon Moon Moon Moon Reflect AM AM PM PM Rise Set Rise Set Max Up Down % Phase 7:32 1:20 7:57 1:44 7:12 5:39 9:32a 9:01p 3:15p 2:50a 13% 8:27 2:15 8:51 2:39 7:12 5:40 10:14a 9:58p 4:04p 3:39a 21% 9:21 3:09 9:46 3:34 7:12 5:41 10:54a 10:56p 4:53p 4:28a 30% 10:15 4:02 10:39 4:27 7:13 5:42 11:34a 11:55p 5:42p 5:17a 41% 11:07 4:54 11:32 5:19 7:13 5:42 12:15p No Moon 6:32p 6:07a 52% 11:57 5:44 — 6:10 7:13 5:43 12:56p 12:55a 7:24p 6:58a 63% 12:20 6:34 12:47 7:01 7:13 5:44 1:41p 1:57a 8:18p 7:51a 74% 1:09 7:24 1:38 7:52 7:13 5:44 2:29p 3:01a 9:15p 8:47a 83% 2:00 8:15 2:29 8:44 7:13 5:45 3:21p 4:06a 10:14p 9:45a 91% 2:53 9:08 3:23 9:38 7:13 5:46 4:18p 5:09a 11:14p 10:44a 97% 3:48 10:03 4:18 10:33 7:13 5:47 5:19p 6:11a No Moon 11:44a 100% 4:46 11:01 5:16 11:30 7:13 5:47 6:21p 7:08a 12:14a 12:44p 100% 5:46 — 6:14 12:00 7:13 5:48 7:23p 8:01a 1:13a 1:41p 97% 6:45 12:32 7:12 12:58 7:13 5:49 8:24p 8:49a 2:08a 2:35p 92% 7:43 1:30 8:08 1:55 7:13 5:50 9:22p 9:32a 3:00a 3:25p 86% 8:38 2:26 9:01 2:50 7:13 5:51 10:18p 10:12a 3:49a 4:13p 78% 9:29 3:18 9:52 3:41 7:13 5:51 11:12p 10:49a 4:36a 4:58p 69% 10:18 4:07 10:40 4:29 7:13 5:52 No Moon 11:25a 5:20a 5:42p 59% 11:03 4:52 11:25 5:14 7:13 5:53 12:04a 12:00p 6:04a 6:26p 50% 11:46 5:35 — 5:57 7:12 5:54 12:55a 12:36p 6:47a 7:09p 40% 12:06 6:17 12:28 6:39 7:12 5:55 1:46a 1:13p 7:31a 7:53p 31% 12:47 6:58 1:09 7:21 7:12 5:56 2:37a 1:52p 8:16a 8:39p 23% 1:27 7:39 1:51 8:03 7:12 5:56 3:28a 2:34p 9:02a 9:26p 15% 2:09 8:21 2:33 8:45 7:11 5:57 4:19a 3:20p 9:50a 10:14p 9% 2:53 9:05 3:18 9:30 7:11 5:58 5:09a 4:09p 10:39a 11:04p 4% 3:39 9:51 4:04 10:16 7:11 5:59 5:58a 5:02p 11:29a 11:54p 1% 4:27 10:39 4:52 11:05 7:10 6:00 6:45a 5:57p 12:20p No Moon 0% 5:17 11:01 5:43 — 7:10 6:00 7:30a 6:54p 1:10p 12:45a 1% 6:10 11:54 6:35 12:23 7:09 6:01 8:13a 7:52p 2:01p 1:36a 4% 7:04 12:52 7:29 1:17 7:09 6:02 8:55a 8:50p 2:50p 2:26a 10% 8:00 1:47 8:24 2:12 7:09 6:03 9:35a 9:49p 3:40p 3:15a 17%
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LICE TOWN, BIMINI—Wahoo Smackdown VIII, hosted by the historic Bimini Big Game Club Resort and Marina on Nov. 10-12, saw more than 150 anglers competing for more than $25,000 in cash and prizes and landing over a ton-and-a-half (3,253.5 pounds) of fish in the process. With more than 50 record-setting catches in the waters around the island, Bimini has often been referred to as the Sport Fishing Capital of the World. “Bimini’s legendary fishing action held true once again,” said tournament director Capt. Robbie Smith. “Fish were everywhere, the action was competitive, and the fishing gods were with us.” A fleet of 35 boats fished, with 25 making it to the leaderboard. Over the two days, 133 fish were caught, the largest weighing over 84 pounds. Team Murderized, out of Grand Bahama, took top team honors with 11 fish weighing a total of 292.5-pounds, taking home $15,000 in cash winnings. Second place Team Monster Catch, out of Miami, earning $7,500 in cash winnings, caught the largest fish of the tournament, an 84.7-pound monster. They weighed eight fish for a total catch weight By Dr. Stefan Harzen • Photos Courtesy of Harzen/Brunnick, of 285.6 pounds. Team Box N Bull, out of Fort Lauderdale, finished third, taking Taras Oceanographic Foundation home $2,500 in cash winnings, with a total catch of 13 fish with a total catch weight of 262.8 pounds. tournament, and a closing awards party on the great lawn, featuring a buffet, Tournament coordinator Beth Watson said the weekend “went flawlessly,” live entertainment and a full open bar. adding the announced plan to refund tournament entry fees if the tournament Sponsors included Sysco, David Dunleavy Performance Fishing apparel, was called due to weather, attracted the largest number of entries since the Bost Lures, Sands Beer, InTheBite, Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill, Faro Blanco tournament’s inception. Resort and Yacht Club, Reef Safe Suncare, Bacardi Oakhart Key West Marlin Tournament festivities included live local entertainment nightly, a cocktail Tournament, Roffs, Tito’s Vodka, Tropic Ocean Airways, and Island Glass Art. reception poolside for the captains meeting, a cookout on day one of the
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Anglers For Conservation wishes to thank all of our Paddleboard SponsorS sponsors who generously Raffle Nance Cacciatore contributed to our 2016 Paddleboard House, Indialantic ProteCt our WAters Aloha Shirt Sponsor Blue Turtle Magazine fundraising event. Surf Silent Auction Sponsors
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AN OVERNIGHT SENSATION 30 Years In The Making
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The New Sailfish 236CC effectively combines the 30-year Sailfish legacy with the latest innovations in center console design, to deliver a truly amazing fishing platform. With its sleek, dynamic profile and 6th generation VDS hull, plus a amazingly functional layout and solid SailTech construction, the 236CC is truly the gold standard in the 23’ class. Powered by either Yamaha or Mercury outboards, the Sailfish 236CC is functional, comfortable and perfect for both offshore and inshore fishing and family fun. With an 8’ 6” beam, the Sailfish 236CC is easily trailerable with an integrated hard top frame that gives you more deck space than virtually any other 23’ boat on the market. Featuring an incredibly comfortable leaning post with optional built-in storage and second live well, an expansive hardtop for maximum sun protection, tremendous cockpit fishing space and plenty of coolers and fish boxes, the 236CC is perfect for inshore or offshore adventure. On the 236CC, rod holders and cup holders abound, along with two 120 quart bow fish boxes, a built-in 27 quart forward facing console seat cooler, large in-floor bow storage, handy console footrest locker, optional console top organizer and a console face that can accommodate today’s larger electronics. Innovative fold-up seating in aft means plenty of room in the cockpit and passenger comfort when underway. 24 FLORIDA
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While true to our fishing roots the 236CC is definitely family friendly – with comfortable deep bow seating, a stepdown head, comfortable deep bow seating, telescoping ski pole and the highest freeboard of any similar sized boat. A Fusion Bluetooth compatible stereo with USB port and four speakers is available as well as lighted speakers and a satellite radio upgrade. Each Sailfish is built to exacting standards using our proven Sail-Tech construction techniques. Kevlar reinforced hull, carbon fiber prisma beam supports in the deck, aluminum backing plates, chrome coated stainless steel hardware, top quality marine grade vinyl upholstery and high definition gel coats contribute to Sailfish’s reputation for durability and their high resale values. The New Sailfish 236CC is a boat to see if you are in the market for a new 23-footer. Receiving rave reviews since its debut this fall, the 236CC is clearly an overnight sensation – 30 years in the making.
Visit www.sailfishboats.com for the dealer nearest you.
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TIPS FROM A PRO
FRESHWATER WINTERTIME CRAPPIE FISHING
BRANDON LESTER
E
very year as my bass tournament season comes to an end, I start thinking about crappie fishing. I like to take a break and let the competitive flames refuel a bit. When the calendar strikes November and water temperatures dip into the 50s in Tennessee, I take several days to go crappie fishing. These fish make really good table fare, they are also very fun to catch, especially the big ones like you find in winter. I am well aware of how good crappie fishing is in spring. But for the way I fish for them around home, fall and winter are when you can really fill the livewell.
It works the same way when fishing laydowns. I look for laydowns on vertical banks that have a good-sized trunk. If they have a big trunk, I know there is a good-sized treetop out in the water. If they are there, I will see them on my SideVision. Once you find fish, cast exactly where they are or just beyond them, not 3 feet to the left or right. If you miss a crappie’s strike zone by 6 inches, you’ve missed it by a mile. Make the cast, count your bait down to the desired depth and reel just fast enough to maintain that depth. No jigging, nothing fancy, just a
Crappie stack up in large schools this time of year, at it’s not hard to catch them if you know what to look for. Crappie always hang around cover of some type. The two key pieces of structure on my home water are boat docks and laydowns. There are a few docks that seem to always hold fish, but I like to hunt for them with my Raymarine electronics. I turn on SideVision mode and start searching. Crappie will be in big schools, and I might go down a line of 50 docks with only one dock holding the mother lode. To see how big they are and to make sure they are crappie, I will put an Aqua Vu camera down there and check them out. Most of the docks I fish are floating, and the magical depth is normally at least 20 feet of water under the dock. The crappie will normally be suspended under these docks anywhere from 8 to 15 feet down, depending on the water clarity.
slow reel. My favorite jig head is a 1/32-ounce ball-shaped jig head with a good sharp Mustad hook, but I will go up to a 1/16-ounce if the wind is blowing or I’m fishing deeper than normal. Any soft plastic minnow imitation in the 2-inch range with a straight tail will work. Stay away from twist-tail grubs for this method because they cause your bait to rise too much. I use a S721 MHX rod built with supplies from Mud Hole Custom Tackle, including a Winn grip. It is 6-foot-long, super-sensitive and has the perfect action for controlling small baits. I team it with a 1000-size spinning reel and 4-pound Vicious Panfish line in fluorescent green. The green line helps me detect light strikes. These tips will help you all the way up until crappie start moving shallow to spawn. These fish are fat and healthy this time of year. So get out and have some fun this winter.
Get more tips from Lester at
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Surprising Winter is the Best Planting Time
I am often asked when is the best time to plant fruiting plants. My answer is usually the same; the best time is 20 years ago or today. The second best time to plant is during the winter months. Plants are dormant, and can be easily shipped and planted with no stress on the plant because there is not a lot of maintenance once the plant or tree has been planted. Simply dig a good hole, water thoroughly
at planting, and take the rest of the winter off. Even though there are no signs of growth above ground, the root systems will have time to get adjusted to their new location and begin to initiate new root growth. There are plenty of advantages of growing your own edibles. First of all, you know what has been done over the course of the growing season from a chemical stand point. Second, the fruit just taste
better coming out of your home orchard versus buying fruit from the grocers that have little to no flavors. Thirdly, it is good for your soul and you will feel more connected to the environment and nature. Whether it is an apple tree, muscadine vine or a blueberry bush; now is the time to plant. Let’s Grow Together. Greg Ison, Ison’s Nursery and Vineyards, 800733-0324, www.isons.com
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12/15/16 3:11 PM
N
estled in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, Jackson County is home to the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail and its centerpiece, the Tuckasegee River, which dissects the county as it flows north to Fontana Lake. The “Tuck,” as it is known to the locals, is a beautiful tailwater trout fishery used for the 2011 USA Fly Fishing Championships, in which the Gold Medal was won by Team USA member Logan Egan. The most popular time to fish the Tuck is during the delayed harvest (DH) fishing season from Oct. 1 to the first Friday in June each year. During this time frame, the Tuck is a catchand-release fishery with artificial-lure, single-hook restrictions. This stretch of specially regulated water runs about 5.5 miles outside the small towns of Dillsboro, Sylva and Cullowhee. The boundaries of the DH are marked by signage on the banks. These regulations appeal to fly fishers and spin fishers alike. You will not only see anglers stripping streamers, drifting nymphs, and casting dries, but you will see a fair number of spinner fishermen taking good numbers of brook, rainbow and brown trout. Jackson County receives an annual stocking of 92,800 trout, the most in the state of North Carolina. In October and November 2016, the Tuck DH section was stocked with 19,600 trout. Rainbow and brook trout made up about 80 percent of this number, and the other 20 percent were brown trout. Normally, trout reach 12 inches in length before making it into the Tuck, but anglers should expect to see, and potentially land, some trophy-sized trout on any drift or presentation. Many anglers wade the river, and drift boats are also popular. Stream flow is controlled by Duke Energy, which posts three days of release schedules on their website, www.duke-energy. com under the Nantahala link. Duke Energy has also provided boat ramps on Old Cullowhee Road and North River Road that many drifters use while floating the Tuck. South River Road is a popular area for anglers and guides due to the number of pull-offs that parallel the river and make accessing the river easy. Access to the Tuckasegee is great compared to some other rivers in the area, but there is some posted private property. Be sure to avoid it. The Tuck is also part of the North Carolina Mountain Heritage Trout Waters program, which allows anglers to fish with a special three-day license that costs only $5. Many anglers opt to purchase a regular fishing license with a trout stamp since the fee is fair and it gives access to almost all the state’s trout waters. A non-resident can purchase a 10-day fishing license and trout stamp for $33 or an annual fishing license and trout stamp for $51. The Tuck DH runs very close to downtown Sylva, yet its beauty catches most first-time anglers off guard.
In fall, the red, yellow and orange leaves dancing on the trees highlight the contours of the surrounding mountains. A bald eagle might closely judge your fishing skills, watching for its opportunity to show you how it’s done. Winter brings cleansing and the occasional snowfall, in which many local anglers find solitude chasing trout on tiny midges. Winter fishing pressure is minimal, which makes it a great time to land a large trout if you’re willing to test your mental toughness wading in cold water. Spring comes to life with budding trees and insects hatching, signaling the coming summer. Anglers spend late evenings on the Tuck sight casting to rising trout honed in on larger dry flies and emerger patterns. Spring evenings can be very peaceful, since most anglers have broken down their rods by 6 p.m. and are headed to the local brewery or one of the many unique restaurants or food trailers in downtown Sylva or Dillsboro. There is a list of local restaurants and breweries at www.mountainlovers.com, or just ask local fly shop employees for their recommendation. In 2016, the North Carolina General Assembly proclaimed Jackson County the Official Trout Capital of North Carolina. Jackson County is home to 4,600 miles of trout streams with a good mixture of hatchery supported streams and wild streams. Check out www.NCTroutcapital.com for more information. Jackson County was also the first to have an officially designated Fly Fishing Trail, which highlights 15 different streams and rivers for any angler to test their skills. Many have taken the challenge of catching and releasing trout or smallmouth bass in each location. There is a map that gives detailed information about each stream, directions, and the type of fish anglers can expect to catch. More information is available at www. flyfishingtrail.com. If you are looking for a fishery with plenty of trout and the opportunity to catch a 25-incher, the Tuck is for you. It is relatively close to Atlanta, Knoxville, Charleston and Charlotte. The Tuck is just an hour west of Asheville, N.C., and it is at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Blue Ridge Parkway. This makes for a nice and easy weekend retreat, or it can be a popular destination for longer stays due to accessibility and other local attractions. Come and experience North Carolina trout fishing at its best! Shannon Messer owns Appalachian Flies and manages and guides at Blackrock Outdoors Orvis Authorized Fly Shop at 570 West Main Street, Sylva NC 28779. Contact him at 828-6314453 or appalachianflies@gmail.com.
North Carolina’s Tuckasegee River, A Southern Gem By Shannon Messer
For more fishin’ on the North Carolina Tuckasegee River, go to
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FISH & FISHING
A DIFFERENT APPROACH MARK SOSIN
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t’s commonplace today, but more than a halfcentury ago few anglers even thought about it. The late Dr. Webster Robinson wanted to catch either a sailfish or striped marlin on a fly rod while casting from a boat that was out of gear so that the fly was not being trolled. Working with his skipper, Capt. Lefty Reagan, these angling legends fathered the concept of teasing a fish. They reasoned that if they could raise a billfish on a hookless bait, capture its total attention by keeping the tasty morsel just out of reach, work the fish within casting range and substitute a different offering at the last minute, the mission would be successful. I knew both men well and listened intently as Web Robinson described the process to me in detail. He even gave me a copy of the fly he used. Teasing ranks as an extremely effective technique for countless species in a variety of situations. Working on sailfish or marlin on the offshore grounds is just one phase. Sometimes known as bait-andswitch, it’s nothing more than using a live bait, dead bait or a certain artificial to excite a fish enough so it will eat the lure or bait you want it to devour on the tackle of your choice. Very light tackle enthusiasts often tease their quarry into striking so that the line doesn’t break on the initial contact. I’ve teased countless species from sharks, albacore and tuna to striped bass, redfish, barracuda, amberjack, snook and many more. Let me share a couple examples to show you how effective teasing can be. Using a spinning outfit, I rigged a plastic worm exactly the same way as I would for largemouth bass. Pacific sailfish normally don’t include plastic worms as part of their diet. We teased one with a bonito belly and, once the boat was out of gear, I cast the worm. My partner yanked the teaser out of the water and the fish inhaled a plastic worm faster than you can read this.
I met a man who showed me beautiful flies for offshore species. When I told him I could catch a sailfish on a cigar just as easily as with one of his flies, he laughed at me. We were shooting a television show in Panama, and late in the day Capt. Karl Anderson asked if I had a cigar. He rigged it with a leader and hook, attached it to a flyrod and waited for a sailfish to show in the trolled teasers. We stopped the boat, Karl yanked the teaser away from the fish, and I cast the cigar. Within seconds, the sailfish crashed the cigar, went airborne, and all you could see was tobacco showering through the air. As Karl put it, that’s no longer theory. Teasing fish opens a broad new dimension to the sport. As an angler, it allows you to hook fish on all types of tackle using any bait or lure you choose including cigars and plastic worms. Try it and you’ll become hooked on the technique just as I am.
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FLY FISHING
CASTING FOR REDFISH: BEYOND THE DOUBLE HAUL
I
t is well-known that the double haul and the back cast are essential for fly fishing for redfish. Here are three more casts I believe are very important when targeting winter reds with a fly. Fly Repositioning Cast This cast is wonderful when you need to recast a fly to a redfish that refused it or when you missed your target. It works best when 20 or more feet of line are outside the tip-top. It is essential to the success of this cast to not rush picking the fly line up off the water. The key is to load for the back cast by beginning with the rod tip close to the water and slowly lifting the line off the water. Then wait to feel the rod load on the back cast. Once you feel the rod load, make a forward cast, allowing the fly to hit the mark. I’ve witnessed far too many fishermen rush to recast, and in doing so, miss their target on the second cast. The Quick-Cast For The Short Game When sight casting, you will need to execute some short, quick accurate casts. The short cast is one of the most difficult casts to make because a fly rod made for short casting has yet to be built. When red fishing, unless I know I’ll be making long casts, I keep roughly 40 feet of fly line stripped into a line management basket (a bucket if fishing from a skiff) and 20 feet of line outside the fly rod’s tip-top. The first 15 feet of the belly section of the line will easily load the fly rod with minimal false casting. Place the fly between the index finger and thumb of the hand not holding the rod. If a redfish is spotted at close range, make a back cast while at the same time releasing the fly from your hand and cast to the redfish.
Master The Cross-Wind Cast The wind blows where redfish live. The most difficult winds to a fly flinger are the cross-wind and the following-wind. Both are guaranteed to give the angler fits. The best cast for these challenging situations is the Belgian cast, a very quick cast that when executed correctly presents the fly under challenging conditions. The key is to make an extended side-armed back cast, followed by a high extended-arm overhead cast that will provide the angler distance when working in a big wind. A word of caution: The side cast may produce the painful problem of a fly imbedded in the angler if the wind is blowing toward the casting arm. Put It To The Test When targeting winter redfish, the fly angler will be presented with many different casting situations depending on weather conditions. It’s important to understand and execute each of the casting techniques discussed. Once mastered, a trophy redfish is only a cast away! Conway Bowman caught this 41.65-pound IGFA fly-caught world record redfish out of Hopedale, La.
For More Fly Fishing with Bowman, go to
CAMFLYFISHING.COM
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FISHING AND DIVING
The Maldives
By Capt. Terry Fisher
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t had been 20 years since I had boarded a followed by fishing. The Maldivian government live-a-board to fish and dive. My friend, Capt. is famous for it’s eco-friendly approach and Wayne Hasson, president of Aggressor and serious application to fish conservation. The Dancer Fleets, invited me to accompany him to government’s prohibition of net and long-line the Maldives for a world-class fishing and diving fishing for commercial purposes has sustained the expedition. Over the years, Wayne and I have abundance of fisheries. Commercial fishermen use fished and dived many exotic locations, including line and pole, preventing by-catch of species other waters of the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Pacific than their main target, which is tuna. Sport fishing, and Atlantic. This was my first visit to the Indian therefore, has thrived. Among the game fish found Ocean. are giant trevally, barracuda, wahoo, dorado, A three-leg flight from Miami through New yellowfin tuna, sailfish and marlin. Bonefish and York and Dubai landed us in Male, the small, permit inhabit the flats. bustling capital of the Maldives. Upon arrival, There are many charter fishing operations Wayne and I quickly cleared customs and were in the Maldives. I had numerous opportunities to assisted by a friendly and helpful crew of the be transported to beautiful sand beaches in the mother ship. We were transported aboard a ‘Dhoni’ middle of the Indian Ocean to fish for bonefish, (dinghy) by water, to lush accommodations aboard giant trevally, jack crevalle and other species. the Maldives Aggressor. This live-a-board vessel While sailing to new dive sites, we used a ‘Dohni’ boasts a full-service galley, huge salon, 10 guest to troll and catch tuna, sailfish, wahoo and dorado. state rooms and decks for relaxing, sunbathing, At night aboard the Maldives Aggressor, we dining under the stars or just getting away for bottom fished for grouper and snapper. some private time. This luxury yacht offered all Trolling, spinning, fly-fishing gear, including of the comforts and amenities of a five-star, land- lures and fly presentations are basically the same as based property with toilets, lavatory and shower we use in the states. Diving various locations and facilities to satisfy the most demanding guests. seeing up close the numerous species that I would This voyage, Dive with the Owners Week, fish for was an added and educational bonus. provided me the benefit of being surrounded Perfect water clarity offered a vast array of marine by a number of crew, divers and fishermen, life at every dive destination. representing more than 10 different countries. The Maldives is a nation of islands. It is also For information on this trip of a lifetime, visit the “Honeymoon Capital” of Europe and parts www.maldivesfishing.com or www.aggressorfleet. of Asia. Temperatures range from 77 to 86. There com. Contact Capt. Terry Fisher of Cape Coral, are 26 atolls with 1,190 islands. One island boasts Florida’s Fish Face Charters at fishfacecharters@ a rainforest. Only 209 of the islands are inhabited yahoo.com. with a total population For more fishing in the Maldives, go to of only 400,000. Tourism is the leading industry,
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A
ll tournament anglers want to win. The questions are: How bad do you want that win? How much are you willing to sacrifice? How much are you willing to put on the line chasing the big win? The answers aren’t cut-and-dry or crystal clear. Most tournament anglers I know are perfectly content competing at the club and local level for beer money. But don’t underestimate the will of those guys either. I recently competed in a Deerpoint Team Trail event with Travis Poole in which a win would have been a few hundred dollars for us to split. It was low threat, low entry fee and big fun. You’d think that given the conditions that day, any sane man would’ve stayed at home. Approximately 4 inches of rain fell that day, the wind blew and lightning popped around our heads all day. Still, most guys that entered the event that morning brought their catch to the scales in the pouring rain hoping to claim the prize. The weather didn’t seem to dampen their desires one bit. They wanted it bad enough, at least they did that day. For the professional angler, the weather is just one of many elements they must fight to stay in the game. Family, sponsorship obligations, mechanical problems and financial burdens are just a few of the non-fishing issues that require an angler to do a gut-check nearly every day. All these things must be tended to before the angler can even set out to find fish for a coming event, and he’s usually a one-man crew. Some of the top touring anglers have support networks taking on some of this for them, but rest assured, they didn’t get there with them. Stories from many of the top pros sound the same, tales about sleeping in the cab of their trucks for weeks on end, dining on peanut butter day after day, selling possessions off to fund the next event, and practicing in horrible weather because they only have two days to figure out unknown waters. If there was one thing I could define that separates the successful tournament angler from the others, it’s this: he wanted more. The guy in this picture is my friend Johnny Nguyen. He is a great example of what I just described. I can’t tell you how bad he wants it, but I can tell you he possesses at least one critical element for fishing success: the undeniable, unflappable, hard-core love for the sport. No tournament here, just him out fishing on a day he probably shouldn’t have been. But there he is, doing what he loves. Some get it, others never will. Randy Cnota is the co-publisher of Coastal Angler/The Angler Magazine’s Panama City/Forgotten Coast edition.
For More fishing with Randy ‘C-Note’ Cnota, go to
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hose of us who live life outdoors know it’s not always sunny. It can get downright ugly, and many times the best bite of the year is on the leading edge of a nasty front. With good foul weather gear, wind and rain should never stand between anglers and feeding fish. Pelagic Gear, a company founded on and devoted to the ocean lifestyle, has developed a line of gear that guarantees anglers will stay happy and dry, no matter what Mother Nature sends rolling in. Pelagic’s Dri-Flex Lightweight Jacket is perfect to throw in the bag for those dewy mornings or windy evenings when there’s a slight chill. Pelagic’s DRI-FLEX fabric provides the comfort of a lightweight jacket while protecting you from the elements with water repellant technology. When it’s time to take protection from the elements up a notch, anglers shouldn’t get caught on the water without
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Pelagic’s Hurricane Jacket. For more than a decade, this 100-percent waterproof outerwear has been the choice of hardcore captains around the world. It was designed specifically for the harsh conditions of the marine environment with technical features that cater to the needs of anglers. With welded zipper technology, reflective hex-safety patches and a moisture-wicking liner, the Hurricane Jacket keeps anglers dry and shielded in bad weather. And then there are those times when you need protection all over. Pelagic’s Stormbreaker Foul Weather Jacket and Bib are a full barrier to the elements. The suit is made of a lightweight PVC that is 100-percent waterproof, yet comfortable to wear. Again, it was designed specifically for anglers, with a loose cut for optimal maneuverability and plenty of ventilation. This is also the perfect rain barrier for the traveling angler. It is lightweight and packs easily, so an angler never has to leave the docks without the full protection from harsh conditions. Good foul weather gear is essential to every angler. When it comes to selecting protection from the elements, it makes sense to choose gear designed specifically for fishing. Any outerwear will do if the mission is a stroll through the park. Pelagic Gear’s line protects anglers and keeps them fishing in the kind of brutal conditions only found on open water. To learn more about the Pelagic Lifestyle, go to
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6-pak Special $69.00 w/ FREE Case
www.BALLYHOOD.com
FITEC CAST NETS Fitec International has been providing the very best cast nets available to anglers for over 50 years. They are the world’s largest manufacturer of cast nets and their products are in stock or online with all major retailers and distributors where cast nets are sold. The superior quality in their handmade nets gives anglers the fun and performance they deserve while out on the water. Hold a Fitec net next to a competitor and you will see there is no comparison. Fitec’s Super Spreader and Ultra Spreader cast nets are simply the best! Fitec offers four distinct categories to ensure you are able to get the net you need. The patented EZ throw cast net is designed with a disc feature that is perfect for the novice. The RS, or Recreational Series, is designed for shallow waters or for the person who wants a lighter net. The SS, or Sport Series, nets are designed with a 1-pound per radius foot weight system and are the No. 1 selling cast net in the country. Finally, the GS, or Guide Series, nets are designed for the serious angler, built with the highest quality standards and the fastest sink rate. Fitec values your business. They go to work every day with you, their customer, in mind. Their mission is to “bring innovative quality products to customers, with drive and passion every day.”
WWW.CASTNETS.COM
Seeking to become the leading and most comprehensive manufacturer of all things diving and fishing, Hammerhead Spearguns has made another addition to its lineup of gear. They are proud to announce the launch of the Dentex NT, a utility glove so durable yet flexible it’s almost like having a second skin on the hands. The Dentex NT comes with an ANSI Cut Level 5 and Puncture Level 3 and is woven from Hammerhead’s signature red Dentex fabric, but now it has a Sandy Nitrile coating on the palm and fingers, giving it increased resistance to heat and chemicals, plus additional grip. The Dentex NT is also known to be extremely pliant, molding seamlessly into your hands, so no clumsy mitten-hands here. You can even pick up a penny while wearing them! The wide range of things you can do with the Dentex NT gloves is staggering. You can use them not just when you fish or handle tricky, spiny sea critters but also when doing repairs or squaring off with hazardous materials. Welding a piece of metal to fix your boat? Piece of cake! Filleting tuna? Sure thing! Changing lines and hooks? Say goodbye to line abrasions and getting pricked, stabbed, or poked on your fingers. Sharp tools and hot objects no longer pose a threat to your valuable hands.
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT ERGODOCK OFFERS IMPROVED RESILIENCE, AESTHETICS AND SAFETY
While many docks along the Florida coastline buckled to the force of Hurricane Matthew this fall, widespread reports from boaters and anglers indicated that docks utilizing ErgoDock technologies held up considerably better. With the damage and debris left in Matthew’s wake, the resilience of ErgoDock proved significant—not only because of its strength, but because of expected durability against future hurricanes that routinely batter the coast. The ErgoDock difference is its inherent structural augmentation. ErgoDock is designed to provide a matrix that evolves the dock into a single structural component instead of a succession of individual parts like most marine docks are constructed. Independent tests report that ErgoDock significantly outperforms all other dock options in comfort, safety and customization. ErgoDock’s unique texture, for example, enhances safety with a far more slip resistant material than wood or composite decking. The ErgoDock surface also is designed to allow more “give,” increasing comfort and safety by easing stress on ErgoDock owners’ feet, back and joints while also mitigating any potential injury from a fall. ErgoDock prevents deterioration, therefore reducing the need for maintenance. Its products adhere with an impervious membrane to seal all decking materials and are self-draining, to prevent UV or water degradation of existing decking or concrete surfaces. “Our purpose was to create a material that far outperforms all other dock options when it comes to safety, comfort, customization and longevity,” said Kent Weisenberg, founder and CEO of ErgoDock LLC. “There is nothing like it on the market. ErgoDock is a multi patent-pending marine surfacing system that is revolutionizing the dock design and repair industries.” Weisenberg, the sole named inventor on 28 U.S. and foreign patents, added, “We passionately pursue improving the world’s infrastructure with green technology. ErgoDock surfaces are made of sustainable materials that fight the depletion of our environment.” ErgoDock products can be used in various stages of a dock’s life whether for preservation, safety, aesthetics or for any combination of the three. Still want that traditional wood dock look? ErgoDock offers ErgoWood Decking, which is select-treated wood that is pre-dried and then encased in ErgoDock’s patented SafeTread material and prevents deterioration from sun and water while increasing a dock’s life by as much as 10 years over current decking materials. “Add it all up, and ErgoDock products represent a major leap forward in dock design and repair,” Weisenberg said. “We want people to know that there is another option out there–one that comes with ergonomic elegance and represents a resilient, safe and viable option that contractors will want to offer their customers.”
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT XTRATUF CAMO-LINED LEGACY BOOT Designed to keep fishermen sure-footed on the water, XTRATUF’s Camo-Lined Legacy Boot is the ideal boot for fishing in the elements. An interior camo lining and XTRATUF logo that are visible when the boot is rolled down adds a pop of color to XTRATUF’s classic performance boot. Not your typical rubber boot, the Legacy is triple-dipped to create a seamless coating of rubber that further strengthens an already watertight material, thus sealing the boots and making them impervious to fish oils and chemicals. The soft, pliable and lightweight neoprene latex rubber gives the Legacy boots unparalleled comfort and flexibility. The hand-laye r e d construction allows for flex and strength at critical stress points on the boot. A signature chevron outsole design and unique rubber compound provides maximum surface contact for ultimate traction and stability in even the most severe fishing and work conditions. These 100 percent waterproof boots will keep the warmth in and the cold out when the temperature drops.
P SU CO
LIMIT 800-42 purcha Offer presen
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WWW.XTRATUFBOOTS.COM
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$
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2000 WATT CONTINUOUS/ 4000 WATT PEAK SAVE POWER INVERTER
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139
ITEM 60432/63019/63018
$
Customer Rating 69662 shown
$
129
99
$
16999 $268.99
comp at
LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
WOW29 PIECE TITANATEIUMD SUPER COUPON
NITRIDE CO HIGH SPEED STEEL DRILL BIT SET
SAVE 78%
Customer Rating
$
ITEM 62281 61637 shown
19
SAVE $73
ITEM 60338 69381 shown
$
119
89
99
comp at 99 $163.06
LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
6" VARIABLE SPEED DUAL ACTION POLISHER Customer Rating ITEM 69924 shown 62403/62862
$
99 54 $ 99
comp at
69 $149.99
LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
R PE ON SU UP CO 1500
LB. CAPACITY DUAL WHEEL SWING-BACK BOAT TRAILER JACK ITEM 69779/67500 shown Customer Rating
SAVE 37%
$
99comp29 at $44.99
27
$
Limit 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day Parking Lot Sale item, automotive lifts, compressors, floor jacks, saw mills, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, trenchers, welders, Admiral, Badland, Bauer, Bremen, CoverPro, Creekstone, Daytona, Diablo, Doyle, Drummond, Earthquake, Franklin, Hercules, Holt, Jupiter, Lynxx, Maddox, Portland, Predator, Quinn, StormCat, Tailgator, Union, Viking, Vulcan. Not valid on prior purchases. Nontransferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17.
WOW
SUPER COUPON
$59.97
GAS RECREATIONAL GENERATOR
SAVE 95
ANY SINGLE ITEM
comp at
R 900 PEAK/ PE ON 700 RUNNING WATTS SU UP O C Customer Rating 2 HP (63 CC) 2 CYCLE
R PE ON SU UP CO $
20% OFF
$199299
.com or by calling our stores or HarborFreight t or coupon or prior LIMIT 4 - Good at used with other discoun 800-423-2567. Cannot be from original purchase with original receipt. days 30 Original coupon must be purchases after s last. Non-transferable. day. Offer good while supplie 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per presented. Valid through
$
VALID NOW ON 5,000 + ITEMS
99
LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
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How Does Harbor Freight Sell GREAT QUALITY Tools at the LOWEST Prices? We have invested millions of dollars in our own state-of-the-art quality test labs and millions more in our factories, so our tools will go toe-to-toe with the top professional brands. And we can sell them for a fraction of the price because we cut out the middle man and pass the savings on to you. It’s just that simple! Come visit one of our 700+ Stores Nationwide. R PE ON SU UP CO
RAPID PUMP® 1.5 TON ALUMINUM RACING JACK
WINNER
Customer Rating
– Truckin' Magazine
ITEM 95659 shown 61634/61952 • 580 lb. capacity
89
$
9999
$
99
7
$ 97 VALUE
LIMIT 1 - Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or prior purchase. Coupon good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Offer good while supplies last. Shipping & Handling charges may apply if not picked up in-store. Nontransferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one FREE GIFT coupon per customer per day.
WOW
SUPER COUPON
A
3 GALLON, 100 PSI OILLESS AIR COMPRESSORS A. HOT DOG
ITEM 69269/97080 shown
B. PANCAKE
ITEM 95275 shown 60637/61615
B
$3999 $
comp at
18 VOLT CORDLESS 3/8" DRILL/DRIVER WITH KEYLESS CHUCK
LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
R PE ON SU UP CO
ITEM 69651/62868 62873/68239 shown
Includes one 18V NiCd battery and charger.
$
19
99 16 99 comp at
$49.21
ITEM 69249/69115/69137 69129/69121/877 shown
Customer Rating
RETRACTABLE AIR HOSE REEL R PE ON WITH 3/8" x 50 FT. HOSE SU UPCustomer Rating ITEM 93897 shown CO 69265/62344
$ $
2999
49
99$69.99
comp at
LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
R PE ON SU UP CO
Blade sold separately.
12" SLIDING COMPOUND DOUBLE-BEVEL MITER SAW WITH LASER GUIDE
Customer Rating
$
12 VOLT, 10/2/50 AMP BATTERY CHARGER/ ENGINE STARTER Customer Rating
LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
SAVE $499 64% comp at $8.48
LIMIT 8 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
ITEM 60581/60653 shown
comp at
SAVE $259
LIMIT 7 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
SAVE 57%
5999 $98.62
$ 99
2
SAVE 65% $
Customer Rating
7 FT. 4" x 9 FT. 6" ALL PURPOSE WEATHER RESISTANT TARP
SAVE $129
$ $
99 59 99
89
comp at
$189
LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
Customer Rating
YOUR CHOICE
$319.01
LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
R PE ON SU UP CO
SAVE 59%
15999
$119.99
R PE ON SU UP CO
6 PIECE SCREWDRIVER ITEM 62728/62583 SET 47770/62570 shown
SAVE $219
$5999 comp at
WITH ANY PURCHASE
Customer Rating
ITEM 69252 68053/62160 62496/62516 60569 shown
$
FREE
26", 4 DRAWER TOOL CART
SAVE $60
• 3-1/2 Pumps Lifts Most Vehicles • Weighs 34 lbs.
SUPER COUPON
$
ITEM 69684 shown 61969/61970
99 139 99
199
comp at
$399
LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
WOW SUPER12"CORATUPREAONCHDERET BAR CLAMP/SP
ITEM 46807/68975 69221/62123/63017 69222 shown
SAVE 85%
$ 99 $399 .76
2
comp at
$20
Freight.com or by calling prior our stores or Harbor LIMIT 6 - Good at be used with other discount or coupon orreceipt. with original 800-423-2567. Cannot from original purchase be purchases after 30 dayss last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must day. Offer good while supplie 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per presented. Valid through
At Harbor Freight Tools, the "comp at" price means that the same • 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed • 700+ Stores Nationwide • HarborFreight.com item or a similar functioning item was advertised for sale at or above the "comp at" price by another retailer in the U.S. within the • Over 30 Million Satisfied Customers • Lifetime Warranty • 800-423-2567 past 180 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of "comp at" should be implied. For more On All Hand Tools information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate. • No Hassle Return Policy COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM JANUARY 2017 NATIONAL 33
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PENNFISHING.COM
LET THE BATTLE BEGIN The Slammer is back! Featuring a full metal body and rotor, IPX6 sealed gear box and spool design, a full Brass CNC Gear system,
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and a smooth yet powerful Dura Drag System. The Slammer is not only back…. it’s better than ever before.
12/14/16 2:59 PM
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