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BOOST YOUR CATCH w/RezBoostTM Technology
Interested in getting the most out of your own trusted transducer, or not sure you’re ready for the expense of installing a new CHIRP transducer? Furuno has a solution that will get the very best performance from your traditional narrowband transducer. Our RezBoostTM Fish Finders deliver clearer images than ever before, we’re talking up to 8x sharper. Whether it’s NavNet TZtouch2 or the FCV588/FCV628 stand-alone Fish Finders, RezBoostTM will boost your catch!
Get up to 8x sharper resolution, using a standard narrow band transducer, to more clearly define fish targets.
Assess individual fish size and depth based on echo strength for fish from 4 inches to over 6 feet.
Identify the sea floor composition from four types (Rocks/Sand/Gravel/Mud).
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Electronics GARMIN INREACH EXPLORER+ Going where the fish are often means exploring places where communication becomes very difficult. Whether you’re far offshore, deep in a marshy backwater or high up a remote mountain stream, wouldn’t it be reassuring to know you can connect with someone in the event of an emergency? Or you might just need to let someone know where the fish are biting? The Garmin inReach Explorer+ is a handheld GPS navigator and satellite communicator that allows you to explore anywhere and communicate everywhere. It is a rugged, compact unit that uses 100 percent global Iridium coverage for two-way text messaging and tracking anywhere in the world. Navigate with detailed, preloaded TOPO maps, follow routes, mark waypoints and find your way back with a high-detail bread-crumb trail. Using GPS tracking, you can easily share your location with family, friends, social media or emergency responders. In case of emergency, the interactive SOS allows you to communicate back and forth and receive confirmation that help is on the way. For added capability, use the free Earthmate app to pair your inReach Explorer+ with mobile devices and access unlimited maps, aerial imagery, NOAA charts, weather and more.
WWW.GARMIN.COM FURUNO DFF3D Turn your NavNet TZtouch or TZtouch2 MFD into a multi-beam sonar that can see 120 degrees port to starboard, allowing you to see the depth and direction fish schools are moving, while displaying the seabed condition in real time. Furuno’s DFF3D gives you real-time 120-degree port-starboard view of the water column and seabed in deeper than 650 feet of water, allowing you to find fish in deep water faster than conventional
single-beam sounders. Cross-Section displays the real-time sea column echo in 120 degrees port and starboard. This mode aids in understanding the distribution of baitfish and water column conditions. The 3D Sounder History provides an intuitive and easyto-understand 3D image of the seafloor, along with fish school icons. A single or triple-direction fishfinder image can be displayed. The triple beam display helps you understand the depth of fish and seabed condition in each direction, as well as the direction target fish are moving. Side scan clearly displays the shape of structure to port and starboard as a high definition image.
WWW.FURUNO.COM STANDARD HORIZON EXPLORER GX1700 GPS VHF RADIO The GX1700 makes DSC easy. With an internal 12 Channel GPS built into the front panel, there is no need to hassle with wiring the radio to a GPS for DSC. Out of the box and ready to go, DSC calling, position sharing, waypoint navigation and navigation to DSC distress calls can all be performed with just a few simple steps. The Explorer GPS VHF radio has a compact rear case of only 3.5 inches. The Built-In WAAS GPS receiver and antenna give flexibility to flush mount the radio in tight areas. The GX1700 is capable of entering and saving up to 100 waypoints, which may be navigated to by using a unique navigation compass display that shows bearing and distance to the waypoint. GX1700 is an ITU-R M493 Class D class VHF with a separate Channel 70 receiver, which allows DSC calls to be received even when listening to communications. The DSC DISTRESS function transmits a digital MAYDAY including vessel identification, latitude/longitude and time, to facilitate prompt response. Other features include a big, bold display; RAM3+ remote mic capability, easy position sharing, Clearvoice noise reduction technology, programmable channel names, NOAA Weather channels and Weather Alert. And it’s all backed by a 3-year waterproof warranty.
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Product Review ACR ELECTRONICS RESQLINK PLB
At 4.6 ounces, the ResQLink distress beacon weighs less than a couple of energy bars, and it’s smaller than the cell phone in your pocket. Small and mighty, the ResQLink PLB is a full-powered, GPS-enabled rescue beacon designed for anglers, pilots and backcountry sportsmen. With three levels of integrated signal technology—GPS positioning, a powerful 406 MHz signal, and 121.5 MHz homing capability—the ResQLink PLB quickly and accurately relays your position to a worldwide network of search and rescue satellites. A built-in strobe light provides visibility during night rescues. Even in extreme conditions and situations, the ResQLink activates easily. With its powerful 66-channel GPS, the ResQLink guides rescuers to within 100 meters of your position. And, in the continental U.S., search and rescue personnel are typically alerted in as little as five minutes. Other features include: no subscription fees, self-test and GPS-test features and typical performance 30 hours. If you have to use your ResQLink PLB, ACR will replace it free of charge.
WWW.ACRARTEX.COM
JL AUDIO MEDIAMASTER 100S BLACK EDITION The MM100s-BE is hitting the market just in time for summer. This latest Black Edition of JL Audio’s MediaMaster was introduced with an updated user interface that offers enhanced volume control flexibility and four fully variable zones, each with independent feature/control options; Volume, Tone, and Naming. NMEA 2000 interconnectivity is built into it and equipped with a NMEA2K Connector to integrate into existing networks, enabling MFD control functionality with Lowrance, Simrad and Garmin. Designed for today’s modern media environment, the MM100s-BE features a Digital AM/FM/Weather Band Tuner, Bluetooth connectivity, separate line level AUX and USB/iPhone inputs, and it’s SiriusXM-Ready. Available with an optional MMR-20BE Wired Remote. The MM100s-BE is a premium, single-chassis source unit with superb audio performance, excellent ergonomics and advanced audio features, specifically designed for marine applications. Check it out at http://www.jlaudio.com/. Available at HIGH TECH MARINE in Hialeah, Fla. 305-883-9700.
WWW.HIGHTECHMARINE.COM ANGLER’S PAL ELECTRONICS MOUNTS AND TROLLING MOTOR STABILIZERS
Boaters and anglers invest a small fortune in their equipment. Fishermen, for example, know that quality sonar, GPS, chart plotters and electric motors are vital tools that enhance their experience. For that reason, MarineTech Products, manufactures the Angler’s Pal line of electronics mounts and trolling motor stabilizers. Angler’s Pal mounts are designed to withstand the harsh marine environment and provide rock solid stability with minimal space requirements. The patented universal Ball Locking Device provides 360-degree adjustability and the strength to support the heaviest equipment without “drift.” The Angler’s Pal Trolling Motor Mounts feature a unique rubber lock-down strap that protects your trolling motor from accidental deployment or excessive vibration that can damage the shaft. Overall length: 10” and now THE NEW 14” model for longer shafts and deeper gunnels. They are made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel and hardanodized aluminum for fresh and saltwater use. They are available in a variety of lengths, and all Angler’s Pal mounts can be easily removed for storage. Angler’s Pal also manufactures 700 and 800 Series Rod Holders. For information, contact Marine Tech Products at 1 651-4862010.
WWW.ANGLERSPAL.COM
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BIG BEND : Mike McNamara • (850) 510-7919 • captmike@coastalanglermagazine.com BREVARD : David String • (321) 684-5888 • dstring@coastalanglermagazine.com DAYTONA/NEW SMYRNA BEACH : Don Meadows • (321) 436-5895 • donm@coastalanglermagazine.com FLORIDA KEYS : Cliff Lumpkin • (305) 849-9093 • cliff@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT LAUDERDALE : Gene Dyer • (954) 680-3900 • gene@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT MYERS : Nadeen Welch • (239) 595-8265 • nwelch@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER MIAMI : Scott Deal • (561) 945-6999 • scott@coastalanglermagazine.com Monica Isaza-Deal • (561) 945-8899 • monica@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER ORLANDO : Phillip & Giselle Wolf • (407) 790-9515 • phillip@coastalanglermagazine.com LAKELAND & SUMTER : Mary Brasher • (352) 598-4219 • maryf@coastalanglermagazine.com NAPLES : Mike Weber • (414) 531-4172 • mikew@coastalanglermagazine.com NC FLORIDA/NATURE COAST : Cary & Lynn Crutchfield • (352) 372-4237 • crutch@coastalanglermagazine.com NE FLORIDA : Danny Patrick • (904) 742-4696 • danny@coastalanglermagazine.com PANAMA CITY/FORGOTTEN COAST : Randy Cnota • (229) 834-7880 • randyc@coastalanglermagazine.com PALM BEACH COUNTY : Barbara Ryan • (561) 373-8040 • barbara@coastalanglermagazine.com SARASOTA : Phil Prevoir • (239) 257-4684 • pprevoir@coastalanglermagazine.com TAMPA BAY : Chuck Atkins • (239) 464-5153 • chuck@coastalanglermagazine.com TREASURE COAST : Misti & Gary Guertin • (772) 285-6850 • treasurecoast@coastalanglermagazine.com flahama@coastalanglermagazine.com
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ATLANTA/SW GEORGIA : Bob & Brenda Rice • (706) 614-8231 • bobr@theanglermagazine.com CHARLESTON/COLUMBIA : Eddie Hardgrove • (910) 264-5487 • eddie@coastalanglermagazine.com MYRTLE BEACH : Kenneth & Ana Moore • (843) 446-5777 • kenmoore@coastalanglermagazine.com TIDEWATER/OUTER BANKS : John Tiger • (757) 707-9654 • john.tiger@coastalanglermagazine.com Laura Seitz • (757) 707-9655 • laura@coastalanglermagazine.com SE & COASTAL GEORGIA : Tony Martin • (912) 269-9679 • tony@coastalanglermagazine.com Travis Harper • (912) 266-1430• travis@coastalanglermagazine.com UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA : Gregg Thompson • (864) 542-3112 • gregg@theanglermagazine.com WESTERN NC : Debra & Joe Woody • (828) 775-9663 • woody@theanglermagazine.com WILMINGTON/MOREHEAD : Kenny Ritter • (910) 550-9094 • woody@theanglermagazine.com
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INTERNATIONAL BAHAMAS : Misti & Gary Guertin • (772) 285-6850 • treasurecoast@coastalanglermagazine.com flahama@coastalanglermagazine.com PUERTO RICO/VIRGIN ISLANDS : Ace Bassue • (407) 285-9453 • ace@coastalanglermagazine.com © 2017. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Disclaimer: Coastal Angler Magazine / The Angler Magazine will not be held liable for injuries incurred while partaking in activities described herein, or for claims made against products or services provided by advertisers.
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Garmin Introduces
W
hether it’s by land, air or sea, Garmin has made a name for itself as the industry leader in navigational electronics. Its popular and varied GPSMAP product line offers the perfect tool for anyone who needs to know where they’re going. In November, Garmin brought powerful new tools to the realm of marine electronics with the introduction of several new networking chartplotters and combination models to the GPSMAP line. Unveiled at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, these units lured in boaters and anglers with high-end features at a more than reasonable price point. “These new GPSMAPs are designed for the budget-conscious customer who desires premium features typically found only in a higher-end product,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales. “We’ve packed these plotters with industry-leading features, builtin conveniences, and we’ve added two new screen sizes to our lineup—a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12-inch keyed—to offer something for every boater.” Ranging in size from 7- to 12-inches, these new plotters are available with and without built-in sonar.
gration, and a 10Hz GPS/GLONASS receiver for smooth on-screen navigation. These compact plotters offer full-network compatibility for the Garmin Marine Network, which allows support for sharing sonar, maps, user data, radar, IP cameras and Panoptix all-seeing sonar among multiple units. Plus, there’s NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183 support for autopilots, digital switching, weather, VHF, AIS and other sensors. Anglers, cruisers and sailors alike will benefit from the xs series that comes equipped with built-in 1kW traditional CHIRP sonar and CHIRP ClearVü scanning sonar capability for a near-picture quality view of what’s beneath the boat. Preloaded premium mapping features can be found on the GPSMAP 742/742xs and the GPSMAP 942/942xs, including both BlueChart g2 HD charts for the U.S., Canada and Bahamas and LakeVü HD maps. The GPSMAP 722/722xs and GPSMAP 922/922xs come preloaded with a worldwide basemap for general reference with support for optional mapping available at garmin.com.
GPSMAP 7x2/9x2 and GPSMAP 7x2xs/9x2xs Touchscreen Series
GPSMAP 10x2xsv/12x2xsv and GPSMAP 10x2/12x2 and Keyed Series
The GPSMAP 7x2/9x2 series plotters are 7- and 9-inch sunlight-readable touchscreen chartplotters perfect for any boater. The xs series offers the perfect solution for anglers with chartplotter/sonar combination units. These compact and powerful units are exactly what’s needed when functionality is essential and cockpit or deck space is at a premium. Building on the popularity of the 7-inch touchscreen Garmin pioneered in 2010, this series introduces a 9-inch touchscreen to the Garmin line. Both serve customers who value screen size as a compelling option. They feature builtin wireless connectivity for Garmin mobile apps and VIRB action camera inte10
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For those who prefer using a keypad, the all-in-one solutions offered by the new 10-inch GPSMAP 10x2xsv and the 12-inch GPSMAP 12xsv can’t be beat. With an all-new industrial design, these combos feature a large, sunlight-readable screen coupled with a keypad interface and new multifunction rotary control knob that offers precise, simple control for easy menu navigation and setting control, even in rough water. These units also offer four user-programmable hot keys for one-touch access to favorite features and functions. In addition to GPS and connectivity features also found in the GPSMAP 7x2/9x2xs series, the GPSMAP 10x2xsv and GPSMAP 12x2xsv also offer impressive sonar capabilities with built-in
CHIRP sonar, CHIRP ClearVü and CHIRP SideVü as well as support for Panoptix all-seeing sonar. Other premium Garmin sonar modules are also available, including two new CHIRP transducer options–the GT8HW-IH and GT15MTM. The GPSMAP 1042xs/1242xs come preloaded with BlueChart g2 coastal charts and U.S. LakeVü HD, while the GPSMAP 1022xs/1222xs offer a worldwide basemap. Two non-sonar versions, the GPSMAP 1022 and GPSMAP 1222 are also available with a preloaded worldwide basemap.
Advanced Features For Sailors
Premium sailing features have also been integrated into both new series, offering laylines, tidal information, enhanced wind rose, a current slider and other elements that prove beneficial to sailors. All new models also offer integrated ANT support for use with the quatix 3 marine smartwatch, the Garmin Nautix in-view display, gWind Wireless 2 transducer, GNX Wind marine instrument and wireless remote controls. Additionally, all sonar-enabled models feature built-in Quickdraw Contours software, a free, easy-to-use tool that lets mariners instantly create personalized HD maps with 1-foot contours on any body of water.
An Attractive Price Point
The GPSMAP 7x2/9x2 and xs series will range from $799.99 to $1299.99, while the GPSMAP 10x2/12x2xsv and non-xsv series will be priced from $1699.99 to $2999.99. This is exceptionally affordable pricing for top-quality electronics with so many sophisticated yet easy-to-use features. What more could you expect from Garmin, the company that was recently named Manufacturer of the Year for the second year in a row by the National Marine Electronics Association. For a full list of features and more information, visit garmin.com/newmarine.
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Adjustable cap with brim UV-blocking polarized sunglasses
F
Photo courtesy of Controlled Descent Lures
or nearly a century, Eagle Claw has provided premium hooks for all kinds of anglers using American steel and designing and manufacturing them right here in the U.S.A. Founded in 1925 in Denver, Colo., Eagle Claw is extremely proud of its long history of American-made fish hooks. And it is also proud of the high-quality product it produces. Trokar Eagle Claw’s Trokar hooks offer a competitive advantage for serious saltwater competitors. These premium quality hooks offer a faster, deeper, surer point penetration that requires half the pressure of the competition. Manufactured using cold forged high-carbon American-Made steel, they offer better durability and stronger holds for hard-fighting, big-game species. Trokar hooks are surgically sharpened, and their triple-sided points are regarded as the most innovative, sharpest, and most durable on the market today. The Platinum Black finish is designed to withstand repeated use in saltwater and harsh marine conditions. There are more than 20 models of Trokar hooks available for fresh and saltwater. A highlight of the Trokar saltwater line is the TK197 Primal Circle Hook, which is an awesome all-purpose bait hook with an offset, light-wire design. Made of high-carbon steel wire for strength and durability, this hook has a highly durable point and a salt-resistant coating. It offers stronger hold for battling fast and hard-fighting big game fish, and it is a dream come true for serious competition anglers who fish for serious saltwater species. Lazer Sharp Eagle Claw’s Lazer Sharp hooks are designed to be “Sharper, Stronger, Longer,” which means the patented Lazer Sharp needlepoint and forged technology ensures a sharper, stronger, longer hold than the leading competition. Lazer Sharp hooks feature uniquely blended coatings—Sea Guard, Platinum Black and Nickel— which are designed to be more durable and abrasion resistant after repeated use in saltwater. There are more than 30 Lazer Sharp saltwater models available. The L2004EL has become a staple on the boats of big-time billfish anglers. They are approved by the Billfish Foundation for tournament use, and were the original and once the only tournament-approved circle sea hook. The design of this non-offset, circle sea, with a wide gap, light wire and a forged point, results in more solid hook-ups and a much higher rate of fish hooked in the corner of the mouth, which equates to fewer escaping fish as well as less-stressful releases. To this day, the L2004EL is still the single best option for pro and amateur billfish tournament anglers looking for proven performance stemming from a decade of making champions out of competitors. Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle, Co. is an American-based company that has been designing and manufacturing innovative, high-quality fishhooks and fishing equipment for more than 90 years. Its family of brands includes Eagle Claw, Lazer Sharp, TroKar, Wright & McGill and Shappell. For more information about Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle Co. and its family of brands, visit www.eagleclaw.com, find them on Facebook at facebook. com/eagleclaw/, facebook.com/TroKarHooks/ and facebook. com/shappellcorp/ or call 720-941-8700.
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ON THE COVER 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 Costa Rica Sailfish
FREE
The great shot of a Pacific sailfish that graces Pacific Sails the covers of this month’s Coastal Angler In Costa Rica Electronics Edition editions comes from Costa Rica Pro Staff member Francisco Mejias. Francisco is one of the great captains who provide monthly Striped Bass forecasts for our local Costa Rica edition, Are Running Local and he captures some stunning photography as well. Knowing one’s way around a camera is important for getting cover-worthy shots. And it definitely doesn’t hurt to have a target-rich environment like Costa Rica’s beautiful Pacific coast to snap photos of trophy fish. Inside this month’s magazine, Francisco and several other Costa Rica Pro Staff members came together to share the Pacific sailfish experience with our readers. From smaller boats, they pull spreads for sails that can top 200 pounds. The techniques and tools for catching and releasing them safely are laid out in the article, and they are techniques honed by the knowledge that can be gathered during 50-sailfish days. No kidding. The fishing down there can be that good. Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events
PHOTO COURTESY OF FRANCISCO MEJIAS, VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 267
COSTA RICA PROSTAFF
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THE ANGLER MAGAZINE Hudson River Striped Bass
FREE
All over the country, wherever striped bass Striped Bass live, spring incites migrations of these bruisers Are Running up the rivers to spawn. This is the time of year when very large fish can be caught in skinny water. In the Southeast, runs of landlocked Electronics stripes can be roughly timed by the blooming Edition Local of the dogwoods. In the Northeast, anglers Picky-Trout Tactics await the arrival of the Alewives. Dave Maneri, of Tivoli, N.Y., caught the big striper on the covers of this month’s The Angler editions. His buddy Paul Hughes Jr. snapped the photo while they were fishing the striped bass run on the Hudson River, which feeds the Atlantic Ocean at New York City. It was an epic day for the two anglers. They caught multiple fish, including the cover fish and another one about the same size, which Paul is holding in the photo that appears with the article. In that article, Dave tells us all about the Hudson River striped bass run and how he goes about catching big stripers from the shore as well as from a boat. The uninformed might assume there’s no fishing to be done in such close proximity to one of the biggest and busiest cities in the world. But striped bass and baitfish still run up the Hudson each year to spawn, just like they have since time immemorial. Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events
PHOTO COURTESY OF PAUL HUGHES JR. VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 267
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2017
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By Pro Staff Costa Rica • Photos by Francisco Mejias
T
he Pacific sailfish is one of the most sought after offshore game fish in Costa Rica. Growing larger than their Atlantic
counterpart, sailfish in Costa Rica average 60 to 80 pounds, but big ones can surpass 200 pounds! They are migratory, with the main concentration of fish arriving in our area of the Central Pacific as the dry season sets in the end of December. They move away as the wet season kicks in during early May. Even though this is the main migration, there are always sailfish present in our waters year round. We fish from smaller boats, so we use the traditional five-rod setup. A combination of natural baits and lures are used, and our main baits are ballyhoo. Our lures of choice are the Magna series from Santos. Variations of pink, lumo and blue combined with a Trokar hook are deadly combinations. If the bite is slow, we often sew a belly flap or strip bait into the lures for a more enticing bait. On the outriggers, we use teasers. A squid chain in pink on one side and a bigger lure like a Santos Carolina Seastalker on the other is a good start. The shotgun gets a Santos lure as well as the long rigger. The short rigger and the two corners are set up with naked swimming ballyhoos on Trokar 7/0 circle hooks. It is also handy to have a mullet, horse ballyhoo or tuna
rigged and ready to go as a pitch bait in case a marlin decides to crash the party. Once the fish is caught it is time for a few photos. This is a critical part of the process, as it involves fish handling. Even though some boats still bring up a sailfish for a photo, it is highly recommended to not do so, as it can be extremely harmful to the fish. It is the process of pulling the fish over the rail of the boat that causes problems. The protective mucus covering is scraped off, leaving an area of skin exposed to bacterial and fungal attack. This can result in death of the fish at a later time. Leave the fish in the water, and with a good pair of AFTCO gloves, grab the outer part of the bill and push the fish as far out from the boat as possible. Keep the head of the fish in the water as much as possible, and lift it briefly for a good photo. Take the shot from the tail end of the fish looking forward or from above if possible. Alternatively, grab the front part of the sail, pull it up and hold the bill with your other hand. Make sure the bill is always pointing away from you and not at you. Take the photo from the front of the fish. If you have never been to Costa Rica fishing, it is definitely worth it and you will be hooked! Pro Staff Costa Rica provides monthly reports for Coastal Angler Magazine’s Costa Rica edition. Search out Pro Staff Costa Rica on Facebook for more great photography, videos and fishing content.
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Spring Striped Bass Run The Hudson River By Nick Carter
E
ach spring, through the Hudson River’s mouth at bustling New York Harbor, a massive spawning migration of Atlantic stripers pushes some 150 miles upstream to the Federal Dam at Troy, N.Y. In this long stretch of tidally influenced river, striped bass show up when water temps reach the 60s. Dave Maneri, of Tivoli, N.Y., said the trick is to keep up with the migration and put yourself in the right place at the right time to intercept pods of transient stripers. “They move in big schools,” Maneri said. “Some days they’re there and you can catch them; other days they’re not. You gotta stay on the reports. They’re running the whole river, so you could travel to where the fish are or wait until they’re where you are.” Smaller schoolie striped bass show up first. They come with the spawning alewives, which are baitfish commonly called herring. Schoolies remain in the river for a couple months some years, and there’s also a year-round resident population. But Maneri said the big cows remain only for a week or two each season. They are always on the move, and connecting with them can lead to unbelievable action with big fish measuring past the 40-inch mark with weights heavier than 30 pounds. Fishing bait is generally the most productive tactic. The best bait is herring pulled right out of the river, either live or chunked. Most locals use a scap net to catch herring. A scap net is essentially a 4’x4’ dip net. The schooling herring will follow a swimbait right up to the net where they are captured. Maneri fishes his herring off the bottom using medium and medium-heavy rods with baitrunner-style reels that allow fish to run with the bait on free spool before the angler strikes to set the hook and engage the drag. He employs a main line of 30-pound braid with a 1 ½-foot leader of 15- to 20-pound fluorocarbon. A 7/0 Gamakatsu Octopus should be hooked through the bait’s mouth, and the whole rig is kept down with a 2- or 3-ounce slide swivel teardrop sinker. Maneri said stripers don’t relate to any kind of structure on their spawning run, so the good spots are the drop offs, channels and shallows where baitfish might be funneled. Obviously, a boat gives anglers the ability to move and seek out fish. But fishing from shore is also productive. When he fishes from the shore, Maneri uses rod holders made from PVC pipe and rebar. They can be wedged into rip-rap to free up the angler while waiting on a bite. And the bite can be a tricky thing. Maneri said these stripers have a knack for spitting the bait. One thing is for sure, though; when the hook sets solid and the drag is engaged, a big striped bass in heavy current is a formidable opponent. Dave Maneri is a team member of Catskill Outdoors. Look them up on Facebook.
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Tips For Catching Picky Trout
By Charlie Warfield • Photo by John Winkler, redhouseflyfishing.com
T
he upper end of the Delaware River, and more specifically the West Branch of the Delaware in the Catskill Mountains, is a favorite of many fly anglers in Pennsylvania and Upstate New York. It can also be frustrating place, as it holds some very picky trout. The river has a reputation for crystal clear water, and because it is a bottom-release tailwater, it has a very consistent temperature, which makes for great hatches and healthy fish year round. It is known for being very technical, and this is just a nice way of saying it will sometimes make you want to pull your hair out. The first time I fished it, I was tested, even frustrated by this beautiful waterway. But besides the beautiful mountain setting and endless hatches, it is in part the challenge that drove me to go back time after time. I persisted and figured out ways of tricking the beautiful native fish. I learned lessons there that have made me a better angler. The following are some insights that will give you a leg up when you go fish the Delaware or any other technical stream. Downstream Presentation: Many anglers learned to cast upstream and let the fly drift down. But when fishing for spooky or educated fish, this method can sometimes leave you frustrated. It’s harder to get a good, long drift with a downstream presentation, but many times it is your best bet. Next time you’re having a hard time getting a take, cast out at about 90 degrees to the bank, and quickly give an upstream mend, this will help you keep a drag free drift for as long as possible. Keep mending as often as needed, letting the fly swing to its full downstream position. Sweep-Style Hook Set: The downstream presentation should be matched with a sweep-style hook set. To use this technique, swing the rod downstream and strip the line at the same time, this will pull the line through the water, creating tension and giving a good hook set. By swinging the rod downstream, you are also pulling the hook into the corner of the fish’s mouth rather than pulling it up and away from the fish. Slow Down Your Hook Set: Ok, we have all done it before. It’s a tough day on the water and all of the sudden you get a strike, BAM you set the hook… and nothing. I have heard people say things like, “Next time, set the hook faster.” But most of the time the opposite is true. A good technique is to wait one second and then give the rod a gentle lift or sweep. Match the Hatch: Picky fish know what they want to eat. There can be significant variation in color, size and body shape in the same species of fly from region to region, and there are many subspecies for each type of fly we fish. So do your homework. I suggest hiring a local guide or at least stopping in at the local fly shop. It is good to support the community, and you can never beat local knowledge.
For more tips on trout fishing, go to
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FLORIDA
By Randy Cnota
F
olks are ramping up for grouper season. If you’re not geared up and properly prepared, you might be one of the many people at the dock talking about the one that got away. Here are some tips that work well when grouper are the target. Grouper are notorious for shattering an angler’s hopes of a fresh grouper dinner. Often, bait must be presented very close to the reefs grouper inhabit, and the reef is where they run the second they eat your bait. If they get back in their hole, it’s often game over! I try to up my odds of landing grouper by building leaders that can withstand the line-gnawing reefs. My grouper rig is simple; it consists of a 6- to 8-foot long leader of 300-pound-test monofilament with a 9/0 to 11/0 circle hook. Above that, I have a 4- to 8-ounce slip-sinker on a 12-inch leader of 300-pound monofilament. These two pieces are connected by a 250-pound-test barrel swivel. All swivels and the hooks are attached to the line using 1.9 mm crimp sleeves. Start your leader production by cutting the desired length of line for the hook leader. Crimp your hook to one end and a swivel to the other. Next cut a 12-inch piece of line and crimp a swivel to one end. Slide your weight onto the line, and then attach the opposite end to the swivel on the long leader. Be sure to crimp the center portion of the sleeve and then work your crimping tool toward the edge of the sleeve, but leave a slight flaring on the edges. If you crimp the edge of the sleeve, it can cut into your line. A fighting rod of 5’8” or longer, rated for line up to 200-pound test will do in most cases. My reel of choice is the Shimano Torium 30HG spooled with 65-pound-test braided line. The 6.2:1 gear ratio makes it fast and powerful enough to move big grouper in a hurry. The goal is to keep them out of the reef, but if they do get back to their hole, you’re prepared with a leader that can survive the fight. When I hooked the gag grouper in this picture, he immediately ran
back into his hole in the reef. For a few minutes he wouldn’t budge. I simply held pressure on him for a while and bounced the weight up and down. Then I just let the line go slack for a few minutes. Suddenly, he came out and it was game on again! I think when this happens the fish have forgotten they were hooked and decide to come back out of their holes. Other times, I’ve literally yanked these bruisers right out of their lairs. Either way, you need gear that will withstand the power of the fish and the perils of the reef. Required items to build your own grouper-busting leader: • 9/0 to 11/0 circle hook • Two 250-pound-test barrel swivels • Four 1.9 mm crimping sleeves • 10 feet of 300-pound-test mono • Crimping tool Randy Cnota is the co-publisher of Coastal Angler/The Angler Magazine’s Panama City/Forgotten Coast edition.
For more fishing with Randy Cnota, go to
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t’s time to register for the 12th Annual Ed Alber Tarpon Rodeo, which will be held June 8 and 9 in Tampa Bay. This catch-andrelease tournament will award cash prizes of $4,000 and benefit Tampa Bay Watch, a nonprofit that protects and restores marine and wetland environments of the Tampa Bay estuary through scientific and educational programs. The exciting pre-tournament Captain’s Banquet includes a silent auction, live auction and great food and drinks. The next day, anglers will launch from the starting point at the Fort De Soto boat ramp to hunt the silver king. Anglers will fish their favorite spots throughout Tampa Bay from 1 mile offshore running north to Redington Fishing Pier and south to Longboat Pass. Fish are called in by the boat captain and logged by professional judges. At the end of the day, all anglers meet back at Tampa Bay Watch for a well-deserved meal and tournament prize distribution. The tournament is open to the public, but registration fills quickly. To register, call Tampa Bay Watch at 727-867-8166 x234 or visit tampabaywatch.org/edalbertarponrodeo. All funds raised will be used to complete vital habitat coastal restoration projects in Tampa Bay as well as to teach thousands of children the importance of taking care of our environment through the Estuary EDventures programs at Tampa Bay Watch in Tierra Verde.
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Fine Tuning Fishing
By Patrick Sebile
M
any years ago I was a guide, making a living by taking anglers fishing all around the world—well, in 40 countries at least. I specialized in inshore and nearshore fishing, with some bluewater-specific trips. Besides that, I fished even more destinations just for fun or when I was sent to write articles for magazines. In total, I’ve fished in 64 different countries. Why do I tell you all this? Well, when I was focusing a lot on my lodges in Morocco, Guinea Bissau and Ivory coast, where I spent years guiding, it gave me the chance to learn little by little the best spots and how to fish them. But the majority of places where I traveled to fish, I only had a few days to find the hot spots before receiving a group of anglers. When they arrived, I wanted them to have the best chances of doing well and having fun. I didn’t have much time, usually three days up to a week, to seek out key places. In many cases, a local guide would give me hints; a good tip is always useful in that regard. But other than a direction and the approximate location of a day beacon, there was not much more helpful information out there. These areas had to be finetuned by reading and understanding them. These are two key steps for any successful fishing trip. The primary tool for achieving these two steps is the combination of GPS and fishfinder. Most of the time I travelled with a portable unit, just in case there weren’t electronics on the boats I was supposed to be using, and also in case they weren’t working properly. I experienced that problem a number of times in remote locations and developing countries. With this powerful technology, suddenly the bottom shape and depth were illuminated on the screen… and in my mind. I was picturing it as a three-dimensional image as best as I was able. The bottom structure and the currents were key to understanding water flow, which gives clues of where the food will pass through and where different fish species hold in the current or hidden from it. At that time, I remember dreaming of glasses that would see into the depths, turning the liquid into an invisible substance like the air, to actually see the fish and the bottom. This is a dream I believe has existed since the first boatman went on the water, or even before. Now it has pretty much become reality thanks to the incredible electronics of today. They show us the sea floor exactly as it is, and record true bottom shape and depth on maps thanks to Navionics. We can even see the fish down there. A new age of fishing is here thanks to this revolution. Now it’s possible to know, when fishing a new spot or an old one, just what it looks like under the waves. It’s even possible to target a fish and drop or cast a lure right in front of it. This is fine-tuned fishing at its best.
To learn more about Navonics, go to
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Our offshore banks Chasing Tarpon generate more interest.
From Big Pine sKey knab erohsffo ruO
.tseretni erom etareneg
By Nick Carter
T
here is no fish more iconically associated with the Florida Keys than tarpon. The allure of hooking into one of the ocean’s most powerful and aerobatic fish in skinny water draws anglers from all over the world to test their mettle on the flats and in the bays the silver king inhabits. Those who desire to concentrate singly-mindedly on that pursuit would be well served to spend some time at Big Pine Key. At mile marker 33 on Highway 1, Big Pine is situated on the top end of the Lower Keys, far enough from the bustling tourist activity of Key West and slap in the middle of some of the best tarpon fishing in the world. Capt. Nate Wheeler, of Waypoint Fishing Charters, specializes in these prehistoric beasts. Although he also runs jam-up inshore and offshore trips for all the awesome fishing the area has to offer, staying on top of often-difficult tarpon is a constant pursuit. Capt. Nate said smaller tarpon can be found year-round, but the action begins when water temperatures break the 72-degree mark. This is the magic temperature at which tarpon begin to feed, and the warm-up coincides with a large influx of big migrating tarpon. Generally there is some consistency to the bite beginning in mid to late April each year. This year, Nate said the Keys experienced a “Marchuary,” which means cool weather hung around longer than usual. As a result, tarpon fishing was a little slow in the early season, but by mid-April water temps had risen into the mid 70s and the silver king began to feed. “Tarpon are a real finicky fish. They are very sensitive to conditions,” Capt. Nate said. “It can be feast or famine, and that’s why guides do so well as compared to the do-it-yourself angler. We’ve spent years following them, and if they’re here, we know where they are.” The limestone strata of the Lower Keys and the north to south alignment of the islands have created a unique habitat of channels, shallow bays, flats and mangrove islands. Nate said laid-up tarpon can often be found on the flats and in shallow bays. It is an early season staple. This laid-up behavior, in which big tarpon lie at rest just under the surface, is something the waters around Big Pine Key have become known for. “Laid-up fish in the bays is the one time that fly fishermen have an advantage,” Nate said. Sight fishing for big, easily spooked fish when they aren’t actively feeding is best done with delicate presentations. In water seemingly too shallow for the size of the fish, floating lines and pinpoint accuracy with casts become paramount. That challenge, as well as the potentially explosive results of a take, are what many anglers live for. But there are easier ways to do it for those who want to maximize
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their chances of experiencing that explosion of activity. In spring and summer, big pods of tarpon push into the bridge channels. The Bahia Honda and Seven Mile bridges just east of Big Pine Key become an epicenter for anglers seeking the flashes and rolls of active tarpon. They can be caught on artificials and flies, but suspending and drifting a blue crab beneath a float offers as close to a guaranteed hookup as exists in tarpon fishing. Nate said fishing the tide windows is critical to maximizing chances of a bite. “We crush them in the summertime,” Nate said. “Especially on the fly.” That statement might have been directed toward the worm hatch. In summer, when tarpon are thick in the channel, the world’s most famous palolo worm hatch occurs at Bahia Honda. No one has it exactly figured out, but somehow the tide and moon phases trigger thousands of 3-inch long burnt orange sea worms to wriggle to the surface to reproduce. Tarpon go out of their minds when palolo worms swarm in the thousands. Giant fish can be seen gulping the little morsels on the surface and sometimes rising completely out of the water for them. Just to witness it is a spectacle. For those lucky enough to encounter it with a rod in hand, it is something else. But if baking in the summer sun is something to be avoided, Capt. Nate threw out one more option for anglers who want to tangle with a silver king. “The most consistent way to get them is at night, after dark,” he said. Tarpon need to eat to feed their massive bodies. During the daytime, that feeding is mainly opportunistic, an “it’s there so I might as well eat it” scenario. Nighttime is generally when tarpon actively seek out their meals and feed most aggressively. Capt. Nate said he’s had some tremendous evenings catching small tarpon as well as 40- to 50-pounders fishing with artificials and live bait. So, those are a few of the ways anglers can get their tarpon fix during the spring and summer out of Big Pine Key. Probably the most important piece of advice is to hire a guide for the best chance of achieving your goal of catching this notoriously finicky beast. s“Usually r ef fo y eK eniPbite gi Bpretty , sl aohconsistently S n a ci r e mat A the ot bridges, yeK eo”oCapt. L m oNate rF they’ll na nifilrthey’re am ,hsnot ifliasthere, morwe’ll F .hsifollow femagthem emitto -githe b fobays htlaand ew the a said. d “But flats andhfind t ailothem G dnwherever a kcajrebthey ma are. dez” is-tluav ot pot pu hsifgnik
ni fCapt. lesruoNate y t isWheeler op e d e mand oc Waypoint o S .p e e d Fishing n wod rCharters ep uo r Gat Contact 305-394-2177 .nruor tercaptnatewheeler@aol.com, ni hcum os teg ll’uoY .syand eK rsee ewothe L swebsite ’adirolFat www.waypointfishing.net. 2 2 73 . 2 78 . 0 0 8 .1 s yek r ewol / m oc. s yek - afl
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Our offshore banks generate more interest.
From Looe Key to American Shoals, Big Pine Key offers a wealth of big-time gamefish. From sailfish, marlin and kingfish up top to vault-sized amberjack and Goliath Grouper down deep. So come deposit yourself in Florida’s Lower Keys. You’ll get so much in return. fla-keys.com/lowerkeys 1.800.872.3722 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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FISH & FISHING
MAKE IT COUNT
Y
MARK SOSIN
ou’ve heard it said before. The key to catching fish centers on presentation, presentation, presentation. Too many anglers nod in agreement, but fail to focus on it constantly. Whether you prefer natural bait or artificials, the best offering will bomb unless it looks realistic and natural to your quarry. Whether you are staring eyeball to eyeball with the fish of your dreams or simply covering the water with blind cast after blind cast, it all necks down to your ability to make your bait or lure tempt a fish into striking. My father was the consummate example. His lure of choice was a ¼-ounce or 3/8-ounce yellow Upperman bucktail. Dad would put a half-dozen of them in his jacket pocket and challenge dozens of species in saltwater or fresh. That artificial didn’t look like it would catch anything, yet Dad could outfish anyone in the boat with him. Professional guides were amazed what he could do with that lure. He was perfect proof that presentation was the key rather than the choice of lure. Almost all of his casts were blind, but somehow he managed to put that bucktail where the fish were and in a manner that they would eat it. No matter how hard I tried year after year, I have never come close to catching as many fish as he could on that bucktail. He never understood the technicalities of fish behavior. As an example, fish holding in any type of current face into it, expecting their food to be swept to them by the flow of water. Even in shallow water, predators tend to work into the current or across it. It’s essential to know where in the water column the species you seek happens to be. If you had to ask a successful angler one question, find out how deep the water was where he caught his fish. You don’t have to know the spot as long as you learn the depth. And remember, a fish hugging the bottom is not going to rise very far to inhale a bait. There are also places I refer to as seats in a restaurant. These are
very precise spots where a fish can hold easily with a minimum of current and then dart out to grab food being pushed along by the flow of water. If you catch a fish in a particular spot today, it could be a seat in the restaurant. By tomorrow or the day after, you can bet that another fish will be in that exact same spot. Predators do not expect to be attacked by their prey. Any retrieve that drags a bait toward your target will spook the larger fish. Your offering has to look like it is trying to escape. That also holds when you cast toward a particular spot where you think a fish is holding. If your bait or lure lands too close, it will scare your quarry. Instead, cast slightly away from the spot and let the current or your retrieve drag the bait past where your target is. No matter what bait or lure you choose, it still centers on presentation. When you present your offering correctly, your catch rate will rise and the smile on your face will telegraph the results.
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welcome. Fishing grounds are located just offshore of the two host marinas. There are no long runs to get to the fish. The two-leg tournament begins in Varadero June 5-8. Boats fish from the Marina Gaviota, the beautiful, modern 1,100-slip marina located on the tip of the Varadero peninsula. From Varadero, boats travel 90 miles west to Marina Hemingway in Havana for the second leg. Visas, flights and accommodations can be arranged by Cuba Travel Services, the travel company for the Gamefish Grande. Contact Marlen Batista for assistance. Marlen Batista Product Assistant/Specialist Cuba Travel Services 10 NW 42 Avenue, Suite 400 Miami, FL 33126 Email: marlen@cubatravelservices.com Office/Fax: 305-929-8790
H
ave you ever wanted to fish in Cuba? Fishing grounds that were once untouchable are now open to anglers! It is easy to take your boat to Cuba and fish. Simply file Form 3300 with the U.S. Coast Guard. They will approve your travel to Cuban waters and away you go! One of the best things about Cuba is its proximity to south Florida. Taking your center console can be a simple trip. You don’t need to have a sportfish to compete in the Gamefish Grande tournament this June–center consoles are
Participants will fish for three days in Varadero and then have a day to tour and experience Cuba before fishing the final three days in Havana. In an effort to preserve the future of big game fishing in Cuba, the Gamefish Grande is an all-release tournament. For online entry, rules and travel resources, visit www.gamefishgrande.com. Schedule of Events June 5: Arrive Marina Gaviota, Varadero Captain’s Meeting and Dinner June 6-8: Fishing Days June 8: Awards Dinner June 9: Travel to Marina Hemingway Tour Cuba (optional) June 10: Havana Captain’s Meeting and Dinner June 11-13: Fishing Days June 13: Awards Dinner For online registration go to: https://www.regonline.com/gamefishgrande2017registration To access Form 3300 go to: https://www.uscg.mil/d7/docs/Cuban%20permitCG3300.pdf
FISH THE 2ND ANNUAL GAMEFISH GRANDE IN CUBA Varadero: June 5 – 8, 2017 Havana: June 10 – 13, 2017
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T
he 24th Annual Sebastian Exchange Club Foundation Blue Water Open Charity Offshore Fishing Tournament Committee is busy putting final touches on this exciting event scheduled for June 3. This year, tournament headquarters will be at Capt. Hiram’s Resort on Indian River Drive in Sebastian, and it promises to be the best one yet! Through the years, the Exchange Club of Sebastian has raised over $495,000 through this tournament. All proceeds go to nonprofit organizations whose goals are to prevent child abuse, support youth and make a difference in the community. Some of the organizations who have benefitted from this event are Youth Guidance, Boys and Girls Club, local Boy Scout troops, Shiloh Youth Ranch, Sebastian Soccer Association SSA, Roseland Ecumenical Food Pantry and many others. Festivities begin Friday, June 2 at 6 p.m. at Capt. Hiram’s with the Captain’s Meeting, raffles, 50/50 and much more. There is even a special raffle to win a trip to Costa Rica! The 2016 Top Boat fishing team aboard Mow Money, with an aggregate weight of three fish There is $17,000 up for grabs for for a total of 72.85 pounds. those fishing the tournament, with of preventing child abuse and fostering youth guidance, contact Eva Chapman at 30 opportunities of winning some of the prize money. The Main Board fish categories are 772-783-5822 or Michael Natale at 772-664-0525. dolphin, kingfish, wahoo and grouper. Additionally, Whether you fish or just enjoy a good time, plan on attending The Sebastian Exchange Club Foundation Blue Water Open Charity Offshore Fishing Tournament there are “one biggest fish” $1,000 awards for cobia, amon June 2 and 3. berJack and new this year, tripletail. The Sebastian Exchange Club has been an active part of the community since The Sebastian Exchange Club is actively looking for A 45.25-pound gag grouper sponsors for the event. Besides lots of exposure for your 1982. If you are interested in working to prevent child abuse, foster youth, encourcaught by Brent Oakley business during the tournament, you will be invited to age Americanism or just promote good citizenship in the community, consider and his crew aboard Rock the awesome VIP Party on Friday night, held exclusiveattending a noontime luncheon at Capt. Hiram’s any Wednesday, except the first Bottom in 2016 Sebastian ly for tournament sponsors. Drinks and appetizers are Wednesday of each month. Blue Water Open. included. Should you be interested in helping the cause
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tarpon fly rod is a different tool than a trout or bass rod. The important part of a 10- to 12-weight tarpon rod is the ability to lift the fish at the end of the fight and try to break its spirit. So it’s not surprising to say the butt section is very, very stiff! Only the tip section of a tarpon rod can be loaded. In other words, only the tip bends. That is the “action” of the rod. There are a few important points to make when casting a tarpon rod. I know most of us think we have to learn to cast a long way when going tarpon fishing, and yes, it is important to know the essentials necessary to cast a long way, but more often it is a short, 40- to 60-foot cast in windy conditions. When casting a tarpon rod, you need to understand the construction of the rod so you can cast narrow loops into the wind. Simply stated, the butt of the rod is very stiff to give it lifting power. Only the tip section of a tarpon rod bends. I call this tip casting, because the rod is designed to only bend at the tip, as I’ve said at least three times now. The most common casting error in this case is the angler doesn’t make the necessary adjustment to the casting arc with a tarpon rod in his hand. More to the point, to form a tighter loop, shorten the casting arc. If the rod arc is too wide (45-90 degrees), the rod tip path will be convex, causing the loop size to be very large. Although it may be counterintuitive, try a shorter stroke length and arc (30 degrees) during the acceleration phase of the cast, and you will start to get that tarpon rod under control. Try it. Check out the Federation of Fly Fishers website. If you don’t know these terms, it will help you understand the following: To cast the heavier tarpon rods and achieve the straight line path of the rod tip (SLP) on the back cast, stop the rod a little sooner in an upward direction and then drift. On the forward cast, after translation and during the rotation, don’t drop the rod tip down much below the oncoming line. A few other tips: Remember to use the 180-Degree Rule, and the cast will perform much better. Here’s how it works. If you are casting into the wind, remember to use a back cast with a high trajectory, like the angle on the roof of your house. Then on the forward cast, aim low at the water. One last thing about the line, tarpon fly lines have specialty tapers. They have a short belly (fat part), so you don’t have to have a lot of line out of the rod tip to make those short casting strokes and load the rod like it should be. Try these tip casting tips. The next time you are in front of a tarpon coming at you with a 15 mph wind, stay calm. Good luck! COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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he 32nd annual Central Florida Offshore Anglers Tournament is just around the corner, and the fish are getting nervous. The Central Florida Offshore Anglers (CFOA) is excited to bring this tournament back again on May 20 in Port Canaveral. CFOA will award 1st ($1,000), 2nd ($500) and 3rd ($250) place for the biggest fish in the following species: dolphin, wahoo, kingfish, grouper and cobia. The tournament will also pay out 1st through 3rd place in the Juniors and Ladies categories. Bluepoints Marina, the Tournament Presenting Sponsor, will also award the biggest fish of the tournament with a grand prize of $2,500. Proceeds from the tournament will enable CFOA and its Marine Foundation to continue contributions to marine-related charities and provide angling education and opportunities for youth, the wounded and disabled, and families throughout the central Florida coast and greater Orlando area. This great event would not be possible for the community without the help of the tournament’s fine sponsors. Check out the full page ad in this edition for the tournament and list of all sponsors. The Captain’s Party will be held May 19 at Fishlips Bar and Grill from 6 to 9 p.m., and the party will consist of music, food, drinks and lots of raffle prizes. You can register for the tournament that evening for a fee of $150. A Calcutta will also be available to those captains interested. All captains or one of their crew must be present at the Captain’s Party. The following day, boats will be putting lines in at 6 a.m. and the Academy Sports + Outdoor Weigh-In Station will be open from 3 to 5 p.m. at Bluepoints Marina. If you aren’t fishing (or even if you are), bring your family out to our weigh-in party for food, live music, bounce houses and a water slide. Many fine sponsors will also be joining the fun that day with sponsor booths in the weigh-in area. The party will start at 2 p.m. and will run until the awards are presented. There will also be more raffles and giant fish being weighed on the stage, so don’t miss the fun and excitement! For more details, go to www.mycfoa.com.
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urrent Productions is excited to announce The Florida Boat Show at Halifax Harbor and Marina May 19-21 in Daytona Beach. The marine industry will come together to highlight new boats and exciting festivities. Halifax Harbor will come alive for a whole weekend of family fun. Power boats, sailboats, kayaks and marine accessories of all types will be featured throughout the 4 acres of dry park space and ‘in-water’ marina dock. The area’s industry leaders will be showcasing their best for the boating and fishing enthusiasts of the Southeast. Included in the $10 adult paid admission, all attendees will have access to the following exciting features in 2017: • New Boats and marine accessories for all types of boating • Boating Safety and Seminars • A Fishing Village hosted by pros and guides
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• The Dock Jam Seafood Music Festival (Saturday and Sunday) • Cold Beers—sponsored by Budweiser • LIVE Music – Saturday & Sunday including Brent Byrd, J Collins, Emma Moseley Band, Hayfire, DJ Bash, Hot Stuff - Donna Summer, Chieforia, Propaganjah, Groove Coalition, Diamond Dixie and Divided Hwy • Stand Up Paddleboard and Kayak Race and Demos • Hands-on Sailing Techniques • Boat Show Bikini Contest • World Famous Easy Tiki Bar with great specialty drinks and happy hour each morning from 10am-noon. • Variety of SEAFOOD Food Trucks including Willy T’s Crabshack, Marco’s Seafood, Big Island Bowls, Liberty Foods. Foodies, don’t worry, we have Manny’s Cuban Truck, Treemendous BBQ and Eat n Run American Grill. • Children under 16 are FREE • and Vendors GALORE! DATE: May 19-21 TIMES: Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. LOCATION: Halifax Harbor and Marina 450 Basin St. Daytona Beach, FL 32114 CONTACT INFORMATION: www.thefloridaboatshow.com; Facebook Page: The Florida Boat Show www.thedockjam.com; Facebook Page: The Dock Jam Seafood Music Festival
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The Heart Of The Season
In Nosara, Costa Rica
T
he best part of the fishing season is right around the corner for the northern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. The inshore bite for cubera snapper and grouper remains consistent up and down the Pacific Coast. These reef fisheries are less affected by bait movement, and seem to be more influenced by moon phase or tidal swings. Vertical jigs coupled with a cloud of chunked fresh bonita is the presentation that lures the big ones off of the reefs, with the more enterprising anglers dropping bridle-hooked live bonita. Boats going offshore are finding that the 1000-foot ledge at the 8-mile mark yields dorados of all sizes, from 5-pound schoolies to 60-plus-pound bulls. Dorado will rule this food chain until late May or early June when big yellowfin tuna will swarm in from the north. This changeover is marked by giant schools of spinning porpoises attacking the yellowfins mixed in with marlin and sailfish on the prowl. The extreme water clarity here dictates tackle choices when trolling for billfish, dorado and yellowfin tuna; brightly colored lures and complicated teasers tend to spook the fish. Successful captains report that a cleanly-rigged, unskirted Ballyhoo is the weapon of choice. The water temperature will stay high until late June, when the evening rains will begin to fill the rivers up in the mountains. In addition to taking the edge off the high water temperature, these rains will wash out trees into the ocean, and floating logs quickly become a full ecosystem for baitfish, table fare and predatory billfish. Protected bays dot the coastline of northern Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Peninsula on the central Pacific Coast, supporting old-school fishing villages even in the era of sprawling marina resorts in the southern region of the country. One such bay is Playa Garza, which is home to an armada of 30-
foot, sub-300 hp sportfishing boats operated by local captains. Visitors to this region trade the creature comforts and long boat rides of the big marinas for the chance to catch world-class billfish less than 15 miles from shore. In early April, the 2017 Ship of Fools Tournament was held in Playa Garza with 10 local captains vying for cash, prizes and bragging rights. The winning boat caught a 450-pound blue marlin approximately 12 miles from shore. Capt. Francisco Rosales on the 26-foot Explorer hooked the fish on a naked ballyhoo. The bite is expected to peak in July and August, just before the two-month rainy season begins. In August, it’s not unheard of to have double-digit sailfish releases on a single eight-hour trip. For the past few years, the late-summer action has been white hot with several boats reporting multiple billfish grand slams.
Flats or Bay, which one?
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GOING FISHIN’? BEFORE YOU GO, CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR YOUR AREA’S.... • Local Forecasts • Bragboard Images • Local Fishing Reports • Action Packed Articles • E-Magazine’s • And Much More... MAKE US YOUR PREFERRED FISHING RESOURCE!
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Bow River Bullets • Bo
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LIST
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BUCKET
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By TAM Staff
2017
Ri
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ithout a doubt, Alberta, Canada’s Bow River is a world-class trout fishery. Glacier-fed and flowing more than 350 miles from the Canadian Rockies through the foothills and prairies of Alberta, it is big and scenic by the time it reaches the 50-mile section southeast of Calgary that author Jim McLennan called “the Blue Ribbon Bow.” It is here in this blue ribbon stretch that anglers flock to get in on some of the best brown and rainbow trout fishing in the world. Stephen Laurie considers the Bow his home water. Although most guide operations fish the river from drift boats or rafts, he prefers fishing it from a kayak most of the time. He said it’s a good way to access smaller runs that larger, less-maneuverable vessels can’t reach. Some of his best days of fishing have occurred in back channels that don’t receive much fishing pressure. When speaking of good days on the Bow, one must consider that
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the river holds 2,500 rainbow and brown trout per mile. Laurie said fish average about 15 or 16 inches, and that large fish longer than 20 inches eat lures and streamers daily. He has a fondness for what he called “Bow River bullets,” which are big rainbow trout renowned for their fight. He said visiting anglers are often surprised by how hard these big-shouldered rainbows pull. Early spring to late fall offers a long window when the Bow fishes well. Either end of that time frame can present huge snow banks and bitterly cold temperatures, though. The best fishing can be found following the subsidence of the spring runoff in May and early June. Trout remain hungry and susceptible to a variety of tactics through the summer months. Laurie said fly anglers should bring boxes loaded with streamers like Clouser Minnows, Rubber Buggers and Crystal Zonkers. Nymphs are also very productive, and patterns like Hare’s Ears, Rainbow Warriors, Frenchies and worms are a necessity. And it is definitely worthwhile to stop in at a local fly shop to ask about what hatches might be coming off. The dry fly fishing can be spectacular during heavy caddis or mayfly hatches. “I have always taken a spinning rod when on the river, as the winds can pick up any time and cause some real fly casting issues, especially when fishing from a kayak,” Laurie said. “Having a spinning rod with me has saved a few wind-filled days. Most common lures would be Rapala CD7 and typical spinners in varying colors.” Although it is possible to access stretches of the Bow to wade, float trips are by far a better option because access points are spread out. A floating angler could bite off between three and eight hours worth of fishing or even an overnight trip depending on the put-in and take-out points and how long is spent stopping to wade fish the more productive stretches. With summer vacations coming up, now is the time to start planning a trout excursion to the Blue Ribbon Bow to experience some of the best fishing on the planet.
For more fishing on Canada’s Bow River, go to
TAMFISHING.COM
4/17/17 2:30 PM
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hind due to the late cold snaps in March. Look for stripers to shadow schools of shad in the lakes. Use the same shad imitation hard baits above. Sunshine bass have broken lines that easily identify them. Panfish – All day catching limits bestow the anglers with patience and a big can of red worms. The spawn is on for shellcrackers. Target them along sandy shorelines anchoring before or after the bends in the St Johns near the bank in 3-8 feet of water. Hook size should be #4; weight the wiggler to the bottom with Bass – Early morning schooling one or two split shots. Fly anbass can be found at first light glers using poppers will enjoy all near the St. Johns River mouths day action. of Lake Harney and Lake Monroe. Bass will readily eat the live Catfish – Bring on the rains! April shad if you can cast net some. is typically the lowest water levThis year the Heddon Spook Jr in el during the year; May is when bone color has been the topwa- levels begin to rise. One to three ter bait of choice. After the early days following a big rain, the bite, focus on deeper edges near water begins rushing from the lily pads or eel grass with Caroli- creeks into the St Johns River na rigged soft plastics – use dark system flowing north. This sigcolors. Live shiners are always nals catfish to swim upstream to good, wild shiners are best. spawn. Peeled fresh shrimp on a 2/0 circle hook works great in the Stripers – Fishing seasons river or creek bends. are running about a month beCold weather is behind us. May signals a more stable weather pattern, warmer weather, and hot fishing in Central Florida. Postspawn bass, stripers, spawning shellcracker, and spawning catfish are the freshwater targets this month.
Well with the big tournament season for the Harris Chain now complete, it is time for our fish to settle down and start being caught by us locals. If anything was proven the last couple of months out here on the chain, it is that our fishery is alive and well. It is still taking 20+ lbs. to win local tournaments, after having three Major Tournaments in two months. Lipless crankbaits, and moving soft plastics at the mouth of canals have been great. Baits like chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, and frogs are starting to produce. Dora and Harris have been producing numbers, while Griffin has been the size lake. Stripers are showing up in Harris in the usual spots (Yalaha and Johnsons Point). Medium shiners and lipless crankbaits are the go to. Shellcrackers are in thick now and will continue through 2 ORLANDO
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as a devils horse to the flipping/ pitching technique. Most successful days recently have been using a variety of lures such as top water, spinner baits, senkos/ worms, c-rig used in certain areas of the lake and the flipping/ pitching technique using creaThe month of May marks the ture-style lures early in the mornend of the crappie fishing out on ing and late-afternoon to sunset the lake but for you hard-core timeframe. “speck” anglers try jigging with small minnows or small tube- Bream fishing has started on like plastic lures tipped with a jig certain areas of the lake and head early in the morning around provides some quick/fun action the Kissimmee River bridge pil- and is especially popular among ings. Down South, you have children and can easily go home the main lake cuts that drop-off with a cooler full in a short into some deep holes around the amount of fishing time provided South Bay/Belle Glade areas. that you find the right spawning For the bass anglers, late-spawn areas. Some areas to try for bass are still being caught but bass/bream can be the Harney please use extreme caution. A Pond area and Horse Island arlot of boat trails we all used not eas and some parts of Obserlong ago are now unusable due vation Shoal. Down South try to low water, so please use ex- around both Rita and Kreamer treme caution. Much of the bass and both East/West wall areas. fishing is for post-spawn which On the North end try around the can mean a wide array of artifi- Kissimmee River, Hendry Creek cial lures can be used ranging and parts of Kings Bar. from hard top-water lures such
black and blue, June bug, and watermelon seed.
June into July. Grass shrimp have been the #1 bait selection with red worms right behind. Lilly pad fields are the way to go. I tell people you will smell the spawn when you are close with a fishy smell giving their location. Dead River, Haines Creek, and Cracker Cove will be the starting points for most seasoned shellcracker anglers. Stop in and get all your live bait needs, and as always if we know, you will know. Be safe and we will see you on the water.
Summer is creeping up fast. The water tables are steadily dropping down to low pool for the summer rains and hurricane season. The hydrilla is now at the waters’ surface in open water and this makes it easy to see the edges where you can drop your baits down for largemouth bass action. At first Light I have been fishing open water schools of shad. The Bass are blowing up on the shad - usually this doesn’t last more than an hour after sun rise. Bait of choice is crank baits, x-raps, and rattle traps. A lot of the bass are heading out to open water hydrilla patches and will stay there all summer. Bait of choice in open water vegetation is soft plastic baits like Zoom speed worms and flukes are the hot baits this month. Colors are
Crappies are out in open water. It will be interesting to see if the fish go out to the open water fish attractors that the state put in this spring. Troll at various depths until you get a bite. Start with jigs in various colors, tipped with a minnow. Panfish - The bluegill have moved up into shallow water to compete for spawning areas. This is the best time to locate the spawning areas. The males are really aggressive and are starting to fan the beds. They will be easy to see. Shell crackers will also be mixed in the same area. They are finishing up and will be spawning a little deeper water. Both panfish prefer the same type of spawning area but will move out deeper to spawn due to the warming water temps. I love to catch them on a fly rod with a popping bug. Other good baits are beetle spins in various colors.
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tiful. Fish near the bait for best success. Fish the edge of the schools with a stealthy approach.
On the lagoon flats, redfish and spotted sea trout will provide the majority of the action for light tackle and fly anglers. For sea trout, fish your favorite top water plugs at first light in about two to three feet of water concentrating in areas were bait is present. My favorites are the Rapala Skitter Walk and the Storm Chug Bug in either red and white or baitfish colors. If the bite slows, try blind casting a ¼ ounce DOA CAL Jig, Arkansas Glow color in three to five feet of water along the edges of flats or spoil islands. The water has warmed to the point where the jack crevalle, ladyfish, snook, and tarpon will begin to show up in good numbers. Bait in May in the lagoons will be plen-
Keep an eye out for the rays. Every manta we see is loaded with cobia. Now is also the time frame we start seeing them free swimming out on the reefs. While you’re out there slow trolling for kings, keep your eyes out the back of the boat for that cobia trailing you. If your bottom fishing, keep an eye on what follows your fish up to the boat. Good numbers of dolphin have been caught the last few weeks and should only increase this month. Start in the 90-120 foot range as many seem to think you have to go to 300 feet right off the get go. Start looking for color changes and temp breaks. Also look for weed lines and currents, as that is a good place to start. I like to use smaller islander lures with small ballyhoo or strip baits. 4 ORLANDO
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Near-shore along the beaches, concentrate your efforts in the areas of active bait pods (pogies). Typically, when you see concentrated areas of bait with birds feeding on the surface, big predator fish are just as active underneath. The birds are usually picking off the wounded baits that the predators didn’t get all the way in their mouth. Species feeding on these pods include kingfish, tarpon, jack crevalle, redfish, cobia, and sharks. Also, tripletail and flounder numbers should be improving around the Port Canaveral buoys. Farther out in the 120-600 foot depths you should find Dolphin in the warm gulfstream currents.
Kingfish will continue to do well this month. Best bait is going to be the bunker. Now that the water is warming up, live bait is much more consistent. Some days you may have to ride far south to get it and some days its right there in the port but at least it’s around. Shark fishing has been on fire as well. I know many say I don’t want to deal with sharks or you can’t eat them. You are completely wrong. On light tackle they are so much fun and blacktips are great to eat. Ever wonder why many restaurants are out of the shark kabobs? And I assure you, there’s no shark shortage. Just take what you will eat. No waste. This report has been brought to you by Captain Chris Cameron of Fired Up Fishing Charters, your premier fishing guide charter of shark fishing Cocoa Beach, offshore fishing Port Canaveral, nearshore fishing Cape Canaveral, Orlando charter fishing and split fishing trips.
topwater action this month. Single hook lures will be easier to use with the abundance of floating grass and will cause much less harm to these delicate fish. Look for the best trout action to be where schools of small mullet are congregating. Sand bars and The summer pattern begins to spoil islands are good places to take shape this month. Calm look. mornings, hot days, afternoon sea breezes, and thunderstorms. Redfish schools will begin to The warm water and abundance break up but there will be some of bait will bring tarpon in to the schools that stay together all Lagoon. Small fish from 5-15 year. Giant redfish can be see pounds can be caught on red- tailing on shallow flats but the fish and trout tackle. The big fish tails will instantly go down when can top 75 pounds and you need they hear a noisy boat approachsome heavier gear to have a rea- ing or when a bait or lure lands sonable shot at them. They can next to them. Calm summer be seen rolling on the surface on mornings make it easy to spot calm mornings in deeper water the fish but also make it easy for such as the ICW. Live baits can the fish to hear the anglers. work but will often get devoured by the many ladyfish and sailfin In the northern Mosquito Lagoon, catfish that hang out in the same cuts, creeks, and channels offer areas. Casting a DOA sinking some nonstop action for a myriBaitbuster to rolling fish can be ad of fish from trout, redfish, and a more effective method to get drum to ladyfish, sharks, jacks, bites from the target species. bluefish, snapper, flounder and Use 50-80 pound leader with 20- more. Small shrimp on a #2 hook with just enough weight to get it 30lb mainline. to the bottom will result in some Seatrout will offer some excellent fast action.
entral Florida normally endures a “county” change of guard this month. Volusia and N. Brevard slow down and South Brevard/ Melbourne turn on. Historically, the shrimp run starts tapering down from New Smyrna Beach to Oak Hill in May. Titusville gets more erratic. Anglers head south to start scouting for shrimp in South Brevard waters and Melbourne Causeways. Don’t get me wrong, Titusville will keep swinging nets well into June. In Oak Hill the nights are warm, the bugs are fierce, and the size of the shrimp are getting smaller. Throw in spring pattern bait fish and warm water attracting catfish to our lights, and we quit. But is the end of the season really coming to an end in Volusia & Titusville?
Matthew in October. Swarms of large jumbo white shrimp (blue/ green tail) flooded Brevard County. Brevard was reporting full pulls during the day cast netting, and at night using cast nets, lights and dipping nets. The majority of the large/jumbo shrimp where the white specie with 12 - 15 inch antennae. We do not normally see a high volume of any size white shrimp during the winter. We do target them from South Daytona to Jacksonville starting in June/July when our waters warm up. Problem has been our water has been warm all winter hovering 68 – 70 degrees. It is very odd to see the white shrimp have such a strong presence in both Counties for 6 months. Titusville pier, Haulover and Railroad Bridge are on “hit and miss”, you have to put in your time and take a chance. It is not unusual for Haulover and Railroad Bridge to get full pulls in May/June. Melbourne is scouting all their Causeways.
This season we endured a coastal glancing blow from Hurricane COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM
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2017 Bassmaster Classic
They say they “Do It Bigger In Texas!,” One thing stands out during the 2017 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Conroe. The largest comeback in B.A.S.S. history for the World’s biggest bass fishing tournament, the Classic. As the news was announced in 2016 that after 30 plus years, the Bassmaster Classic was finally heading back the Texas, and on the famed Lake Conroe, anglers, media, spectators and more instantly became excited about the event. B.A.S.S. was preparing for more than just the largest event in their history. The expo, weigh-in and the fans would be coming out in the thousands, and the lone-star state needed to have their ducks in order for the massive amount of Classic fans that would take over and intrude Houston. The media started preparing, by watching some of the predicted favorites on Lake Conroe. Everyone was hoping that the pushed back date for the Classic would allow Lake Conroe to showcase their fishery. Lake Conroe is a 21,000 acre lake in Montgomery County Texas. Compared to our fishery here in Florida which is generally fairly shallow, Lake Conroe has depths of up to 79 feet deep. Fishing tournaments such as the Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) and other local tournaments have been held on Lake Conroe and left anglers looking like All-Stars because big giant largemouth bass are known as the staple on Lake Conroe. As the Classic date approached, all participants were hopeful that the colder weather would stay a bit longer and allow the anglers the opportunity to catch spawning bucket mouths. Anglers such as the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) Kevin Van Dam was fishing his 26 Classic, and you could see a humble, reserved past Champion as Day One for the 2017 Classic. Social media videos and more showed KVD as an emotional, down to earth, humble Champion, who was not only proud to be fishing, and happy that his beautiful family was able to attend, but excited to get out and do what he does best. That is catching fish. Fishing the Classic is one thing and winning the Classic is another. Fifty-two anglers compete in this three date event that is billed as the Super Bowl of fishing tournaments. From the defending champion Edwin Evers, to Elite Series Bracket Champion KVD, BASSFest Champion Greg Hackney, the top 35 anglers on the B.A.S.S. Elites, and the Open, B.A.S.S. Nation, College and Team Champion make up the most elite field of anglers on the planet. All competing for one trophy. Some have extensive knowledge of Lake Conroe, others are just happy to be in the mix with some of the greatest anglers on the planet. The Bassmaster Classic Championship is life changing. Not only from a financial standpoint, since winner receives $300,000.00 and that does not include sponsor incentives, but the recognition as Classic Champion stays with you for your lifetime. Some like our past Champion Edwin Evers bask and become Ambassadors to our sport. They promote, promote and promote the sport, themselves and share their stories. They give back to our community and tell us to teach our kids about the outdoors, and get those kids out fishing. You’ll be hard pressed to find a Classic Champion as good for our sport as Edwin Evers was during his 2016 reign.
the Classic. Leading up to the 2017 Classic anglers such as Keith Combs, who has won 3 TTBC tournaments on Lake Conroe and Alton Jones were the favorites to win the Classic. Keith and Alton were pressed nonstop for interviews and would have a crowd of anglers following them while they were fishing. Day One and Lake Conroe proved to be a lot tougher than what the media and spectators expected. Anglers who were thought to have an edge, struggled and dug themselves into a serious hole. 2016 Angler of the Year Gerald Swindle found himself in 51st position, Keith Combs finished day one in 41st and Auburn graduate and Elite Pro since 2014 Jordan Lee caught 8-6 and was in 37th place. With the field being cut to 25 after day two, a bunch of anglers needed a good day two to be able to fish on Championship Sunday. Brent Ehrler, one of the up and coming anglers who many feel is the future of B.A.S.S. finished on top with a bag of 23-3. Iaconelli, KVD, Justin Lucas and more were all in the spotlight and within reach of claiming the Classic trophy. Day two: Different day, same results. Anglers were quickly realizing that Lake Conroe, which was known to have very big fish, was not going to release it’s great vast wealth of giants to the anglers. While most anglers would “swing for the fences,” some anglers were scared and quickly realizing that catching their limit for the day was going to be tough. Ehrler, KVD, Iaconelli and the top 25 would make the cut and fish Championship Sunday. Ehrler finished #1 with a two day total of 43-4. Jordan Lee had a great second day moving into 15th, but was still just under 14lbs behind the leader. Day three and the top 25 head out to compete and possibly win the Bassmaster Classic Championship. Anglers now knew that the day was either bust or special. Top top anglers started struggling and Jordan Lee had figured it out. And figured it out BIG TIME. While the TV crews were following and filming Evers, KVD, Iaconelli and Ehrler, Jordan Lee was having the day we all dream of. Jordan was on fire and was catching fish after fish. “One 7lber, and then quickly another 7lber,” says Jordan, “and at that time I knew something was happening.” Jordan’s brother and family were watching BASSTRakk and could see that Jordan was doing the remarkable, but was it enough. As angler after angler came in and weighed their fish at Minute Maid Park, the buzz and excitement was in full effect. Could Jordan make the BIGGEST comeback in Classic history and win the Classic championship? As Jordan sat in the hot seat and watching the top 12 anglers weigh in their fish, it was obvious we were not only watching history but the biggest comeback happening just one year after the record was broken. Day three was tough for most of the anglers that they were not bringing in their 5 fish. As Brent Ehrler came up to the stage, you could see the tension and disappointment because he knew that he did not have the pounds to win the Classic. Ehrler brought in 5 fish for 11-10 for a total of 54-14and Jordan Lee had 5 fish for 27-4 for a total of 56-10, making Jordan Lee the 2017 Bassmaster Classic Champion.
During the last few years, local pros are the favorites and end up winning COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM
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Tuesday May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 – 5pm until Dusk, Jolly Gator Evening Bass Tournament Series, this is a 2 angler team event with a $40 entry fee, pay-out is 1 per 7 boats that fish and $10 per boat for Big Bass at each event. Point system for qualifying for the end-of-year Classic - must finish in top 10 in points or have won 1 event and have fished 21 of 25 events. Register at CS Lee boat ramp the day of the event, lotto for boat number. For more info contact Jim (Squirt) Chaudoin at 407-4322822 or Phil Wolf at 407-7909515. Wednesday May 3 - 630 pm, Join the members of the Seminole County Airboat Club at their host Jolly Gator Restaurant and Grill at the St Johns River on SR 46 next to CS Lee Park for their monthly meeting. This is a great club with a loyal following of members involved in several annual charity and River Clean-up events. Come join us for an evening of family FUN! New Owners at the Jolly Gator and great food and customer service! Monday May 8 – 630 to 900 pm, Central Florida Offshore Anglers (CFOA) will be hosting their monthly social meeting at their new meeting location, the Community Center at 721 W. New England Ave., Winter Park. This event is open to the public, members and guests. Special guest speakers will be Local Charter Captains and business owners, providing tips and tactics for better on the water experiences and putting more fish in the boat! Food will be available from start till end! Bring a friend and learn some new techniques. For membership information, please contact Bruce Reid at 407-421-0037 or visit www.mycfoa.com.
er in Okeechobee City. $100 entry fee and $5 processing fee. Annual membership fee of $25. 100% Pay-back, pays 1 place for every 5 boats, 2 Big Bass cash prizes. Angler of the Year gets FREE Entry to next season’s events. Looking for the best anglers in the area - contact Tournament Directors: Jimmie Murphy 352-789-5351 or Mark Lundgren 540-809-5238 or visit tohomarine.com. Saturday May 13 – Safelight until 3pm, Jolly Gator Bass Tournament Series, Register at CS Lee boat ramp the day of the event, loto for boat number. For more info or to register contact Jim (Squirt) Chaudoin at 407-432-2822 or Phil Wolf at 407-790-9515. Friday, Saturday May 19, 20 – CFOA 32nd Annual Fishing Tournament, join the members, volunteer staff and vendors for this great event. $2,500.00 for Biggest Fish! Captain’s meeting is Hosted at Fishlips Bar & Grill at Port Canaveral, at 6pm on Friday the 19th, registration, raffles, auction items and lots for vendors and sponsors, cold beer and great food. Tourney on Saturday, lines in at 6am, weigh-in at Blue Points Marina, scales open at 3pm & close at 5pm, family fun day starts at 2pm. Prizes and awards to follow weigh-in. For info or to register visit www. mycfoa.com
Saturday May 20 – “Sandy’s Open” Bass Tournament sponsored by Southern Tackleworks on the Harris Chain of Lakes, from Buzzard Beach Ramp on Hwy 441 in Eustis, 3rd Saturday of each month $50.00 entry per boat (2 anglers), starts at safe light until 2:30pm, to enter contact Nick or John at 352-742-0036 or sign-up at ramp prior to start, boat number based on time of Thursday May 11 – 7pm, entry. Backcountry Fly Fishing Association, monthly meeting lo- If you have an event or meetcations change and are TBD ing you would like included monthly, check our web-site in the “What’s Hitting Around just prior to meeting. This is Town” column, send your a “Free” club to join for more details to: Phil Wolf phillip@ info contact or visit www. coastalanglermagazine.com. bfaorlando Deadline for inclusion is the 10th of the preceding month. Saturday May 13 – Toho Marine Outdoors “Elite One Man” Bass tournament series on Lake Okeechobee at the Scott Driver Park and Boat Ramp on the Kissimmee Riv6 ORLANDO
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long accurate casts to a targeted area. When fishing with artificial lures like Rapala’s X-Rap Saltwater Sub Walk (silver or gold olive) it will be important to have a slow retrieve and allowing the bait fish to move in a side to side motion like a wounded bait fish. To begin with, the early morning During this time of year some of trout bite should be very good these trout can measure up to 20 throughout our region. Anglers inches long. can expect for these tasty fish to aggressively strike at live shrimp, In addition, several nice reds can small bait fish such as mullet, or also be caught throughout our small top water lures. This is es- region. One way to do this is to pecially true when fishing these sight cast your bait to a tailing baits along the flats. Trout are fish. This is especially true when most active during low light con- conditions are calm. Anglers will ditions such as during the first find that casting a live shrimp difew hours of the day as well as rectly in front of a tailing fish will the last hour of the day. When be a great way to hook up with a targeting trout it is important to red. Anglers should keep in mind have the right equipment in order that large bull reds have been to bring one to the boat. I suggest known to feed and can be caught using a 7 foot medium action throughout our area during the spinning reel combo equipped month of May. Some of these with 20 pound test braided line reds can measure over 40 inchand 15 pound test mono leader. es long. Anglers should keep in mind that trout have excellent eye sight and can be easily spooked. To overcome this, anglers should make
baits until you locate the fish with gold spoons, Zara Spooks, and the DOA swimming mullet. Once you locate the fish, slow down and work the area with more precision baits like DOA Shrimp, DOA Cal tails on a small jig head, May is the start of the spring or jerk baits, and small twitch fishing season with bait schools baits like Mirrolures. moving back into the area. Mullet, ladyfish, pigfish and pinfish Work the areas in and around will be abundant in the local la- shore lines and creek mouths goons. Keep in mind the spring early then as the sun gets highseason is young and so is the er target the open flats in 2 to 3 available bait so keep the bait feet of water around bait schools. size your throwing in proportion Remember, only hold the fish out to the size of the bait in the area of the water as long as you can - in other words match the hatch. hold your breath for the photo Redfish, spotted sea trout, black opportunity, and keep your fish drum, and tarpon will all be roam- in the water until the camera is ing the flats in and around the ready. Tight lines! Get out and bait schools. Start fishing around enjoy the season, and take a kid the edges of the school first and fishing. keep the boat noise down to a minimum. Try using the wind to your advantage by setting up a wind drift through the area you are fishing. This guide recommends start by throwing search
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$2,000 Guaranteed Big Bass!!
$10,000
TOURNAMENT DETAILS:
June 3rd, 2017 on Kissimmee Chain of Lakes to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project $175 per boat (includes Big Bass) Launching out of the City of Kissimmee ramp From Safe light until 3pm Registration will be accepted until May 26th
Guaranteed 1ST Place Based on 150 boats
Those interested in participating or sponsoring this event contact Joe Clements or Mark Lundgren
at 407-892-3200 or go to www.tohomarine.com and click on the tournaments tab
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presents
Jolly Gator Bass Series Tournament Dates - 2017 Tuesday Evening May 2nd Tuesday Evening May 9th Saturday May 13th Tuesday Evening May 16th Tuesday Evening May 23rd Tuesday Evening May 30th Tuesday Evening June 6th Saturday June 10th Tuesday Evening June 13th Tuesday Evening June 20th Tuesday Evening June 27th Note: All Tuesday Evening Series start at 5pm until Dusk, all Saturdays start at safelight until 3pm, 2 angler Team $40 per event, all events will launch at CS Lee Park at SR 46 at St. Johns River. All event weigh-ins will be at Jolly Gator Fish Camp & Grill. Events will continue through mid-August with Classic on August 12th.
Since our last article, the Seminole Junior Anglers have had a busy and successful month! First, they competed in the 2nd Annual North vs South High School Tournament on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. Twelve teams from each of the north and south sides of the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes made up the field. The Seminole Junior Anglers, representing the North, were led by a strong performance by Bobby Bakewell and Jake Hutcheson. They managed to weigh in a solid limit of fish at 18.15 pounds, and secured a 1st place overall finish. Other teams having strong showings were the teams of Joey Bloom and Dylan Westhelle, weighing in 15.85lbs, and Brandon Simmons and Logan Wright, weighing in 11.85 lbs. The South ended up defeating the North 127 lbs to 109 lbs. Next, a handful of Seminole Junior Angler teams compete in the B.A.S.S. Nation Florida High School State Championship held on the Harris Chain of Lakes. The two day tournament was the final tournament of the season for Florida B.A.S.S, and was the state qualifying tournament to advance to the national tournament. The organization had a strong showing from all of the teams who competed. The team of Ashton Schmitt and Zach Temperley had an outstanding tournament, finishing second place overall with a two day total of 30.66lbs which was enough to receive a bid to advance to the B.A.S.S. National Championship. But that is not the only team to qualify. The team of Joey Bloom and Colin Blanton captured huge honors and were named B.A.S.S. Florida High School Team of the Year, and will also be heading to the B.A.S.S Nation National Championship. The National Championship will be held on Kentucky Lake in June. This is the first time the organization has had teams earn a National Championship birth, and is very excited for these anglers to experience fishing at the next level. We would like to thank all of the sponsors that have stood behind these anglers all year, including Instant Insurance who has allowed us to share these young mens’ accomplishments in this column in Orlando Coastal Angler Magazine.
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Team Marine Services – Honda and Much More After spending several years at their previous Maitland address the owners at Team Marine Services moved to a new location near the intersection of Maitland Blvd (SR 414) and N. OBT in just west of Maitland in northwest Orlando. The new facility is much larger and better equipped to sever their growing customer base and Central Florida boater’s needs. The owners, Javier Sandoval and Leno Dial have been in the Marine Service industry their entire adult lives and are dedicated to providing the best service at an honest and fair price to their client base. With well over 40 years of service experience Team Marine Services can take care of your boat repair or service requirements. As a Honda Marine Full Line dealer, they offer all services and repairs to all Honda Marine Products, Warranty Repair, and carry all the parts needed to keep your Honda engine running like new. The service crew is the most knowledgeable and experienced crew for Honda outboards in Central Florida. Team Marine Services performs service and repairs on most outboard brands including Honda, Yamaha, Mercury, Johnson and Evinrude. Sterndrives and inboards like Mercruiser, Volvo Penta, Yanmar, and others are also professionally repaired here. It is definitely worth the time you spend in a phone call with Javier or Leno - ask them about your marine related issue. With today’s technology, troubleshooting engine problems without the right tools is almost impossible. That’s why at Team Marine Services we carry the right computer software and tools to troubleshoot and diagnose the majority of outboards and sterndrives. With the new Dyno they can pinpoint almost any running problem without having to take the boat to the water, avoiding extra charges to the customer. Honesty and fairness are the two keys to this business, and word of mouth advertising has been their best resource for many years. Check them out at www.teammarineservices.com or call them at 407-260-8326 or just drop by to see their new place. Tell them you read about them in the Orlando Coastal Angler Magazine for a special discount.
Sorella – Hair and More Ladies do you need a new look? Maybe you’re looking for a new hairstyle for a wedding or a photo shoot? Do you have blown boat hair from being out on the water all weekend or maybe just looking for a new hair stylist? Sorella located in New Smyrna Beach at 638 N. Dixie Highway (US Hwy 1) is a place that you should check out. Recently opened to serve both women and men, the owner Tammy Bruno is dedicated to providing her clients with the kind of experience you would expect from a personal hair and make-up care specialist. The new shop is just minutes away from world famous New Smyrna Beach, one of the few beaches in Central Florida that still allows you to drive on the beach. Maybe you schedule an appointment with Tammy when you are over in NSB for one of the many weekend events so you can look your best when you hit the streets for a night on the town with your man or meeting the girl’s out for the “Flagler Avenue Crawl”. Whatever the case may be, Tammy will be sure to take special care of your needs and make you look so good, you will be excited about coming back for your next visit. Not just women, Tammy also cuts, styles, shaves, clips and can trim-up men as well, getting them ready for the hot summer fun spent fishing or boating in the NSB waterways. Tammy’s experience in special occasions such as Weddings, Prom or photo shoots with both hair and make-up will get you looking your best to provide a lasting memory. Open 10am till 7pm Tues., Thurs., Fri., and Sat., and by appointment on Mon., and Wed. Contact Tammy at 386-235-3408 to set an appointment or stop in and give her services a try, you will love your look. Tell her you read about her in the Orlando Coastal Angler Magazine for a special discount.
Aamco East Orlando 6304 E. Colonial Dr. Orlando, FL 32807
FULL SERVICE MECHANICS
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Boat Dealers New & Consignment Sales 1 - Astor Marine (352) 759-3655 24535 FL-40, Astor, FL 32102 www.astormarine.com
15 - Fiberglass Plus (407) 915-6089
1470 Kastner Pl, Suite 100,Sanford, FL 32771
18 - Monroe Harbor Marina (407) 322-2910 31 N Palmetto Ave, Sanford, FL 32771 www.moroneharbor.com
2 - Nobles Marine (352) 787-5792
437 N Palmetto St, Leesburg, FL 34748 or 1931 N. Hwy 19, Crystal River www.noblesmarine.com
6 - Sea Tow of Central Florida Lakes
3 - Holiday Marine (352) 787-4824
1126 North Blvd E, Leesburg, FL 34748 www.deckboats.com
9 - Instant Insurance Agency (352) 735-5560 25833 State Road 46, Sorrento, FL 32776 www.instantinsuranceagency.com
4 - Triangle Marine (352) 343-6146
51 - A & D Custom Canvas (407) 331-8184
(877) 800-1492 12307 Wedgefield Drive , Grand Island, FL 32735
725 Montana St. Orlando 32803
11415 US-441, Tavares, FL 32778 www.trianglemarinecenter.biz
30 - Aamco East Orlando (407) 277-3311
Bait & Tackle Shops / Outfitters / Apparel
6304 E. Colonial Dr. Orlando FL 32807 Full Service Mechanics
5 - Lakeside Bait & Tackle (352) 742-3336
25 - Central Florida Marine (407) 647-6262 1021 N Orlando Ave, Maitland, FL 32751 www.centralfloridamarine.com
6 - Southern Tackleworks (352) 742-0036 325 E Burleigh Blvd, Tavares, FL 32778
38 - Orlando Boat Sales (407) 253-7111
935 N Bay St, Eustis, FL 32726
1000 W Burleigh Blvd, Tavares, FL 32778
3165 N John Young Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32804 www.orlandoboatsales.com
21 - Bitters Bait & Tackle (407) 699-6619 65 N US Hwy 17 92, Longwood, FL 32750 www.bittersbaitandtackle.com 43 - Bithlo Bait & Tackle (321) 355-0591
17162 Old Cheney Hwy, Orlando, FL 32833
10 - Get Hooked Bait & Tackle (407) 704-8755 670 Kissimmee Ave, Ocoee, FL 34761
44 - Big Toho Marina (407) 846-2124
69 Lakeview Dr., Kissimmee, FL 34741
Boat improvement / Service & Repair Centers / Replacement Parts 36 - All American Marine (407) 855-9988 7024 S Orange Ave, Orlando FL 32809 www.allamericanmarine.com
35 - All Star Marine (407) 423-9953
45 - Wojo’s Bait & Tackle (407) 891-1003 Oak Park Center, 4245 13th St, St Cloud, FL 34769 57 - Hollow Point Apparel (386) 547-5455 Real Apparel for Real People www.hollowpointapparel.com
48 - Mud Hole Custom Tackle, Inc.
28 W Jersey St, Orlando, FL 32806 www.manta.com
29 - Lake Fairview Marina (407) 295-0117 503 N Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32804 www. Lakefairviewmarina.com
49 - Martin Tree Service, Inc. (407) 359-1119 1215 Bob White Trail, Chuluota, FL 32766 www.martintreeserviceinc.com 50 - Campbell Renovations Inc. (407) 947-0016 285 Campbell Ranch Run, Geneva, FL 32732 www.campbellrenovationsinc.com 55 - Vapor and Company (407) 878-7397 3617 S. Orlando Dr., Sanford, FL 32773 www.vaporandco.com 56 - Ice Age Air Conditioning (407) 324-7283
Areas Best Picks for Restaurants 47 - Jolly Gator Fish Camp Bar & Grill (407) 349-5554 4650 E State Rd 46, Geneva, FL 32732 www.thejollygator.com
39 - Fish on Fire (407) 812-6881
7937 Daetwyler Dr, Orlando, FL 32812 www.fishonfireorlando.com
40 - High Tide Harry’s (407) 273-4422
4645 S Semoran Blvd, Orlando, FL 32822 www.hightideharrys.com
33 - Boston’s Fish House (407) 678-2107
Aloma Square Shopping Center, 6860 Aloma Ave, Winter Park, FL 32792 www.bostonsfishhouse.com
17 - St. Johns River Steak & Seafood (407) 878-0980 550 N Palmetto Ave, Sanford, FL 32771
16 - Monroe’s on the Lake Hotel & Banquet Hall (407) 878-1861 530 N Palmetto Ave, Sanford, FL 32771
(407) 447-7637 400 Kane Ct, Oviedo, FL 32765 www.mudhole.com
37 - Dancing Pig Deli (407) 270-5976
56 - Orlando Outfitters (407) 896-8220
22 - Huey Magoo’s (407) 706-6004
2814 Corrine Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 www.orlandooutfitters.com
Home Improvement Contractors & Service Providers
32 - Portside Marine (407) 249-1124 2730 Forsyth Rd, Orlando, FL 32792 www.portsideorlando.com
231 W Gore St, Orlando, FL 32806, www.thomaslumber.com
-DK Plumbing (321) 303-1426 Licensed and Insured dkplumbing@cfl.rr.com
14 - Boat Tree Marina (407) 322-1610 4370 Carraway Pl, Sanford, FL 32771 www.boattree.com
381 Evangeline Way, Sanford, FL 32771 www.rothrockmarine.com
34 - Thomas Lumber Company (407) 841-1250
11 - Highbanks Marina & Camp Resort
24 - Boat Max USA (321) 866-0306
12 - Rothrock Marine (866) 375-6143
451 Fairvilla Road, Orlando, FL 32808 www.codepyramid.com
7 - Owens Fishing & Marine (352) 357-3030
(386) 668-4491 488 W Highbanks Rd, DeBary, FL 32713 www.campresort.com
2953 Alafaya Trail, Oviedo, FL 32765 www.boatmaxusa.com 46 - Nations Trucks (888) 929-0482 3700 S Orlando Dr. Sanford, FL 32773 www.nationstrucks.com 14 - Boat Tree Marina (407) 322-1610 4370 Carraway Pl, Sanford, FL 32771 www.boattree.com
31 - Pyramid Cabinets (407) 947-8499
You Can Reach Us 24/7 www.iceageac.com
37 - Southeast Marine (407) 851-1965
7576 S Orange Ave, Pine Castle, FL 32809 www.southeastmarinesales.com
42 - Prestigious Landscaping (407) 242-1503 3410 Seminole Ave., Oviedo, Fl 32765 www.Prestigiouslandscaping.com
6807 S Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32809
160 Tuskawilla Rd #1204, Winter Springs, FL 32708 www.hueymagoos.com 3 Locations – Winter Springs – Altamonte Springs – Oviedo
23 - Talon Marine Services (407) 542-7600 439 Aulin Ave, Oviedo, FL 32765 www.talonmarineservices.com
6344 All American Blvd, Orlando, FL 32810
13 - Camp House Restaurant (407) 915-5401 100 S White Cedar Rd, Sanford, FL 32771 www.camphousebarandgrill.com
20 - Team Marine Services (407) 260-8326 8235 N. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando FL 32810 www.teammarineservices.com
27 - Orlando Painting Service (407) 896-0839 65 Harold Ave, suite B, Winter Park, FL 32789 www.orlandopaintingservice.com
52 - The Deli (407) 332-8800 4360 Carraway Pl, Sanford, FL 32771
19 - Ahoy Marine (407) 323-8373 511 E 25th St, Sanford, FL 32771 www.superpages.com
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MAY 2017
26 - DWR Plumbing LLC. (407) 293-3717
28 - Millennium Electric (407) 420-2001 4340 Edgewater Dr, Orlando, FL 32804 www.millennium-electric.com
41 - Water Works Pressure Cleaning & Sealing (407) 376-9526 490 Buck Lake Lane, Geneva, FL 32732 www.jmwaterworksinc.com
53 - T J’s Seafood Shack (407) 365-3365
197 E Mitchell Hammock Rd, Oviedo, FL 32765 www.tjsseafoodshack.com
54 - Otters On The River (407) 636-6300 4380 Carraway Place, Sanford, FL 32771
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM
4/16/17 9:07 PM
We Support Our Community Businesses!!
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2017
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Boat & Truck Dealers New & Consignment Sales Astor Marine
24535 FL-40, Astor, FL 32102 Phone:(352) 759-3655 www.astormarine.com
Nations Trucks
Specializing in Ford, Chevy, and Dodge Ram Pre-Owned Trucks Since 1969
Nobles Marine
Southeast Marine
Mako – Tracker – Nitro – Tahoe - Sportsman Yamaha - Mercury
Sylvan Pontoons – Stringray Boats – Blue Wave – Sea Doo Yamaha – Volvo Penta - BRP
Holiday Marine
Boat Max USA
Ranger – Nautic Star - Hurricane – Sweetwater – Bayliner Yamaha, Mercury and Evinrude
Blazer – Consignment Sales - Yamaha
Triangle Marine
Orlando Boat Sales
7576 S Orange Ave, Pine Castle, FL 32809 Phone: (407) 851-1965 www.southeastmarinesales.com
1126 North Blvd E, Leesburg, FL 34748 Phone: (352) 787-4824 www.deckboats.com
11415 US-441, Tavares, FL 32778 Phone:(352) 343-6146 www.trianglemarinecenter.biz Bennington Pontoons – TideWater Johnson – Evinrude – Yamaha
2953 Alafaya Trail, Oviedo, FL 32765 Phone: (321) 866-0306 www.boatmaxusa.com
Orlando Boat Sales
3165 N John Young Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32804 Phone: (407) 253-7111 www.orlandoboatsales.com “Your Pontoon Superstore” Avalon Poontoons Yamaha – Evinrude – BRP
Sonny’s Marine
Boat Tree Marina
Skeeter – G-3 – Sun Catcher Pontoons Yamaha
Crest Pontoon – Yamaha – Suzuki – Volvo Penta
Central Florida Marine
Rothrock Marine
Pathfinder – Hewes – Maverick – Mitzi Siff – Gheenoe – Yamaha Your Shallow Specialists
Spyder – Sea Born – Sundance – Yamaha – Suzuki
5820 W Colonial Dr., Orlando, FL 32808 Phone: (407) 293-7174 www.sonnysmarine.com
1021 N Orlando Ave, Maitland, FL 32751 Phone: (407) 647-6262 www.centralfloridamarine.com
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3700 S Orlando Dr. Sanford, FL 32773 Phone:(888) 929-0482 www.nationstrucks.com
Sylvan – Oasis - Sun Chaser Pontoon Boats Honda – Mercury – Suzuki - Yamaha
437 N Palmetto St, Leesburg, FL 34748 or 1931 N. Hwy 19, Crystal River Phone: (352) 787-5792 www.noblesmarine.com
12 ORLANDO
Nations Trucks
MAY 2017
4370 Carraway Pl, Sanford, FL 32771 Phone: (407) 322-1610 www.boattree.com
381 Evangeline Way, Sanford, FL 32771 Phone: (866) 375-6143 www.rothrockmarine.com
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM
4/16/17 9:07 PM
Boat Improvement / Service & Repair Centers / Replacement Parts All American Marine
Team Marine Services
Service All Outboard Brands – Stern Drives – Canvas – Interiors – Trailer Repair
Honda Outboard Sales and Service Boat Repairs, Maintenance, Parts
All Star Marine
Ahoy Marine
7024 S Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32809 Phone: (407) 855-9988 www.allamericanmarine.com
28 W Jersey St, Orlando, FL 32806 Phone: 407) 423-9953 www.manta.com Service for:Mercury – Yamaha – OMC – Suzuki – Mercuiser – Volvo Detailing - Boat Restoration – Fiberglass Gelcoat Repair – Trailer Repairs
Lake Fairview Marina
4503 N Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32804 Phone: (407) 295-0117 www. Lakefairviewmarina.com Consignment Sales – Outboard Service – Storage – Ship Store – Sailing Classes
8235 N. Orange Blossom Trail Orlando, FL 32810 Phone: (407) 260-8326 www.teammarineservices.com
AHOY MARINE INC.
511 E 25th St, Sanford, FL 32771 Phone: (407) 323-8373 Mercury Marine Premier Service Center Mercury Marine Repower Center Factory Authorized Parts and Service Mariner Parts and Service
Fiberglass Plus
1470 Kastner Pl, Suite 100,Sanford, FL 32771 Phone: (407) 915-6089 Fiberglass Products – Compounds – Gelcoats – Tools – Resins – Boat Repairs
Portside Marine
Monroe Harbour Marina
Service for: Mercury – Yamaha – OMC – Mercruiser – Volvo Replacement Parts – Trailer Service & Repair
Wet / Dry Slip Storage – 35 Ton Haul-out Lift – Ships Store Service for: Johnson – Evinrude – Mercury – Honda – Force
Talon Marine Services
Sea Tow of Central Florida Lakes
Sea Ark Aluminum Boats – Suzuki – Yamaha
Free Member Towing – Captain Kerry Kline, Serving All of our Central Fl Area – One Call Service
Instant Insurance Agency
A & D Custom Canvas
Progressive Auto – Motorcycle – Boats
Boat Covers – Canvas & Bemini Tops – Custom Upholstery – Side Curtains
2730 Forsyth Rd, Orlando, FL 32792 Phone: 407) 249-1124 www.portsideorlando.com
439 Aulin Ave, Oviedo, FL 32765 Phone: (407) 542-7600 www.talonmarineservices.com
25833 State Road 46, Sorrento, FL 32776 Phone:(352) 735-5560 www.instantinsuranceagency.com
31 N Palmetto Ave, Sanford, FL 32771 Phone: (407) 322-2910 www.monroeharbour.com
12307 Wedgefield Drive , Grand Island, FL 32735-8413 Phone: (877) 800-1492
725 Montana St. Orlando 32803 Phone:(407) 331-8184
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM
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2017
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4/16/17 9:07 PM
Bait & Tackle Shops / Outfitters / Apparel Lakeside Bait &Tackle
1000 W Burleigh Blvd, Tavares, FL 32778 Phone: (352) 742-3336 Freshwater Tackle – Live Bait – Wild Shiners – Guide Service - Water Sports
Southern Tackleworks
325 E Burleigh Blvd, Tavares, FL 32778 Phone: (352) 742-0036
Fly fishing rods, reels and accessories. Fly tying tools and materials. Clothing and gear including Costa del Mar and Smith sunglasses, OluKai sandals, Tilley hats, and YETI products.
Hollow Point Apparel
Freshwater Tackle – Live Bait – Wild Shiners – Rod & Reel Repairs – Free Ice
Owens Fishing & Marine
Big Toho Marina
69 Lakeview Dr., Kissimmee, FL 34741 Phone:(407) 846-2124 Freshwater Tackle – Live Bait – Frozen Bait Wild Shiners – Rods /Reels – Apparel Breakfast & Lunch Grill -
Highbanks Marina & Camp Resort
Wojo’s Bait & Tackle
Freshwater Tackle – Live Bait- Fuel – Pontoon Rentals – Cold Beer – Snacks
Freshwater / Saltwater / Offshore Tackle – Live Bait – Frozen Bait - Wild Shiners – Rods /Reels Bulk Ice – Marine Boat Batteries
Boat Tree Marina
Toho Marine & Outdoors
Ships Store – Tackle - Live Bait – NonEthanol Fuel
Ranger – Triton – Blazer – Pheonix – Strato -- Express Yamaha – Mercury - Evinrude
Bitters Bait & Tackle
Mud Hole Custom Tackle, Inc.
Freshwater / Saltwater / Offshore Tackle – Live Bait – Frozen Bait - Wild Shiners – Rods /Reels – Apparel – Sunglasses
Rod Building Classes – Rod Components & Supplies – Tackle Crafting
488 W Highbanks Rd, DeBary, FL 32713 Phone:(386) 668-4491 www.campresort.com
4370 Carraway Pl, Sanford, FL 32771 Phone: (407) 322-1610 www.boattree.com
65 N US Hwy 17 92, Longwood, FL 32750 Phone:(407) 699-6619 www.bittersbaitandtackle.com
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2814 Corrine Dr., Orlando FL 32803 Phone:(407) 896-8220 www.orlandooutfitters.com
We Got You Covered! Real Apparel for Real People Michelle Campbell 386.547.5455 www.HollowpointApparel.com
935 N Bay St, Eustis, FL 32726 Phone: (352) 357-3030 Saltwater Tackle & Bait - Ballyhoo, Freshwater Tackle - Live Bait - Wild Shiners Costa - Shimano Top Shelf Dealer Outboard Service & Boat Parts Hunting & Snorkeling Accessories Bow Fishing
14 ORLANDO
Orlando Outfitters
MAY 2017
Oak Park Center, 4245 13th St, St Cloud, FL 34769 Phone: (407) 891-1003
1621 13th St, St Cloud, FL 34769 Phone:(407) 892-3200 www.tohomarine.com
400 Kane Ct, Oviedo, FL 32765 Phone:(407) 447-7637 www.mudhole.com
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM
4/16/17 9:07 PM
Home Improvement Contractors & Service Providers DWR Plumbing LLC.
6344 All American Blvd, Orlando, FL 32810 Phone: (407) 293-3717 Commercial – Residential – Re-Piping – Licensed – Insured – State Certified
Pyramid Cabinets
451 Fairvilla Road, Orlando, FL 32808 Phone: (407) 947-8499 Email: pyramidcab@live.com www.codepyramid.com Custom Cabinets Commercial / Residential – Kitchens – Entertainment Centers – Custom Closets
Orlando Painting Service
Thomas Lumber Company
Commercial – Residential Custom Homes – Re-Paint Specialist – Pressure Washing
Old Fashion Lumber Yard – Lumber – Trim – Custom Doors – Hardware – Delivery – Customer Service
65 Harold Ave, suite B, Winter Park, FL 32789 Phone: 407) 896-0839 www.orlandopaintingservice.com
Millennium Electric
4340 Edgewater Dr, Orlando, FL 32804 Phone: (407) 420-2001 www.millennium-electric.com Commercial – Industrial – Residential Service, Wiring & Repairs
231 W Gore St, Orlando, FL 32806, Phone: (407) 841-1250 www.thomaslumber.com
Prestigious Landscaping & Maintenance
3410 Seminole Ave., Oviedo, Fl 32765 Phone: 407-242-1503 www.Prestigiouslandscaping.com Landscaping – Lawn Maintenance – Mulch & Rock – Clean ups
Water Works Pressure Cleaning & Sealing
Campbell Renovations Inc.
Residential – Commercial – Fences – Walks – Driveways – Paver / Re-sand / Seal – Screen Enclosures
State Certified Contractor CBC 1255779 Residential & Commercial New Construction – Renovations – Kitchens – Bathrooms – Additions – Tenant Build Out
Martin Tree Service, Inc.
Vapor and Company
Residential & Commercial - Trimming & Removal – Stump Grinding
Electronic Cigarettes and E-Liquid Experts in Smoking Cessation Orlando Coastal Angler Magazine Approved! Altamonte Springs Location Too
Ice Age Air Conditioning
DK Plumbing
Residential + Commercial Service, Repair, Install Marine A/C Service Too!
Commercial, Residential and 24 Hr. Service
490 Buck Lake Lane, Geneva, FL 32732 Phone: (407) 376-9526 www.jmwaterworksinc.com
1215 Bob White Trail, Chuluota, FL 32766 Phone:(407) 359-1119 www.martintreeserviceinc.com
You Can Reach Us 24/7 407.324.7283 www.iceageac.com
285 Campbell Ranch Run, Geneva, FL 32732 Phone:(407) 349-0016 Cell: 407-947-5460 www.campbellrenovationsinc.com
3617 S. Orlando Dr. Sanford FL 32773 Phone:(407) 878-7397 www.vaporandco.com
You Can Reach Us 24/7 321.303.1426 Fax: 407.732.4058 dkplumbing@cfl.rr.com
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2017
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Areas Best Picks for Restaurants Otters On The River
4380 Carraway Place, Sanford, FL 32771 Phone:(407) 636-6300 River Side Fine Dining and Much More Free Docking for Lunch and Dinner 10AM – 10PM Landlubbers take Exit 104 on Interstate 4 Next to Boat Tree Marina on the St. Johns River
Fish on Fire
7937 Daetwyler Dr, Orlando, FL 32812 Phone: (407) 812-6881 www.fishonfireorlando.com Full Bar – Fresh Seafood – Steaks – Prime Rib – Chicken – Entertainment – Special Events
High Tide Harry’s
4645 S Semoran Blvd, Orlando, FL 32822 Phone:(407) 273-4422 www.hightideharrys.com Full Bar – Raw Bar / Oysters - Fresh Seafood – Steaks – Chicken
Boston’s Fish House
Aloma Square Shopping Center, 6860 Aloma Ave, Winter Park, FL 32792 Phone: (407) 678-2107 www.bostonsfishhouse.com Fresh Seafood Flown in Daily from New England – Beer – Wine
Motel – On Water Location - Special Events – Catering – Banquet Hall
Dancing Pig Deli
6807 S Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32809 Phone: (407) 270-5976 Specialty Deli – Fresh Deli Meats -Cuban / American Sandwiches – Catering
Huey Magoo’s
160 Tuskawilla Rd #1204, Winter Springs, FL 32708 Phone: (407) 706-6004 www.hueymagoos.com Fresh Chicken Tenders - 3 Locations – Winter Springs – Altamonte Springs – Oviedo
Camp House Restaurant
100 S White Cedar Rd, Sanford, FL 32771 Phone: (407) 915-5401 www.camphousebarandgrill.com American Grill – Full Bar – Cold Beer Wings – Burgers – Sandwiches – Salads
The Deli
On Water Location – Special Events – Full Bar – Steaks – Fresh Seafoodel
Best Philly Cheesesteak in Town
4360 Carraway Pl, Sanford, FL 32771 (407) 322-8800 Open: 8AM–2:30PM
T J’s Seafood Shack
Jolly Gator Fish Camp Bar & Grill
Award winning Fish Tacos - Fresh Seafood Specialties - Raw Bar 2 Locations - Oviedo - East Orlando
Gatortail – Seafood – Burgers – Wings – Entertainment – Airboat Tour Rides
197 E Mitchell Hammock Rd, Oviedo, FL 32765 Phone:(407) 365-3365
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530 N Palmetto Ave, Sanford, FL 32771 Phone:(407) 878-1861
St. Johns River Steak & Seafood
550 N Palmetto Ave, Sanford, FL 32771 Phone: (407) 878-0980
16 ORLANDO
Monroe’s on the Lake Hotel & Banquet Hall
MAY 2017
4650 E State Rd 46, Geneva, FL 32732 Phone: (407) 349-5554 www.thejollygator.com
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM
4/16/17 9:07 PM
UCF Reel Knights By Connor Byrne 401 Commerce Way Suite 101, Longwood FL 32750 www.respitecmedical.com • 407-834-2266 and 1-800-945-6685 Specializing in meeting rhe needs of the home respiratory and sleep therapy patients.
East Coast Tide Charts Tide Charts brought to you by these businesses
M AY 2 0 1 7 Time
1M
2Tu
3W
4Th
5F
6Sa
7Su
8M
9Tu
Miami, Government Cut
Height
1:18 AM 2.7 7:06 AM 0.1 1:35 PM 2.5 7:32 PM -0.2 2:16 AM 2.6 8:11 AM 0.1 2:37 PM 2.4 8:38 PM 0.0 3:18 AM 2.5 9:17 AM 0.2 3:44 PM 2.3 9:44 PM 0.1 4:21 AM 2.4 10:20 AM 0.2 4:50 PM 2.3 10:47 PM 0.1 5:21 AM 2.4 11:18 AM 0.1 5:53 PM 2.3 11:44 PM 0.1 6:16 AM 2.4 12:10 PM 0.0 6:48 PM 2.4 12:35 AM 0.1 7:05 AM 2.4 12:56 PM -0.1 7:36 PM 2.5 1:21 AM 0.1 7:48 AM 2.4 1:39 PM -0.1 8:19 PM 2.5 2:04 AM 0.1 8:28 AM 2.4 2:18 PM -0.1 8:59 PM 2.5
10W
11Th
12F
13Sa
14Su
15M
16Tu
17W
18Th
Time
Height
2:43 AM 0.1 9:06 AM 2.4 2:56 PM -0.2 9:36 PM 2.6 3:22 AM 0.2 9:42 AM 2.4 3:33 PM -0.1 10:13 PM 2.5 3:59 AM 0.2 10:19 AM 2.3 4:09 PM -0.1 10:50 PM 2.5 4:35 AM 0.3 10:56 AM 2.3 4:44 PM 0.0 11:28 PM 2.4 5:12 AM 0.3 11:34 AM 2.2 5:21 PM 0.1 12:08 AM 2.3 5:50 AM 0.4 12:14 PM 2.1 5:59 PM 0.1 12:49 AM 2.3 6:31 AM 0.4 12:57 PM 2.1 6:43 PM 0.2 1:34 AM 2.2 7:19 AM 0.5 1:46 PM 2.0 7:34 PM 0.3 2:23 AM 2.2 8:14 AM 0.4 2:42 PM 2.0 8:33 PM 0.3
Po nce de Leo n Inlet Hig h Ti de -11 m in ute s Lo w Ti de +19 m in ute s
(Approximate Times)
19F
20Sa
21Su
22M
23Tu
24W
25Th
26F
27Sa
Time
Height
3:16 AM 2.1 9:13 AM 0.4 3:44 PM 2.1 9:37 PM 0.3 4:12 AM 2.2 10:12 AM 0.2 4:47 PM 2.2 10:39 PM 0.2 5:10 AM 2.3 11:09 AM 0.0 5:50 PM 2.4 11:37 PM 0.1 6:07 AM 2.4 12:03 PM -0.2 6:49 PM 2.5 12:33 AM 0.0 7:02 AM 2.5 12:55 PM -0.4 7:44 PM 2.7 1:26 AM -0.1 7:56 AM 2.6 1:46 PM -0.6 8:38 PM 2.9 2:18 AM -0.2 8:49 AM 2.7 2:38 PM -0.7 9:30 PM 3.0 3:10 AM -0.3 9:41 AM 2.8 3:30 PM -0.7 10:22 PM 3.0 4:02 AM -0.3 10:33 AM 2.8 4:23 PM -0.7 11:13 PM 3.0
Time
Height
28Su 4:56 AM -0.2 11:27 AM 2.7 5:17 PM -0.6 29M 12:06 AM 2.9 5:52 AM -0.1 12:22 PM 2.6 6:14 PM -0.4 30Tu 12:59 AM 2.7 6:51 AM -0.1 1:19 PM 2.5 7:14 PM -0.2 31W 1:54 AM 2.6 7:52 AM 0.0 2:18 PM 2.4 8:16 PM 0.0 1Th 2:50 AM 2.4 8:54 AM 0.1 3:20 PM 2.3 9:19 PM 0.1 2F 3:48 AM 2.3 9:53 AM 0.1 4:23 PM 2.2 10:19 PM 0.2 3Sa 4:44 AM 2.2 10:49 AM 0.0 5:23 PM 2.2 11:15 PM 0.2 4Su 5:38 AM 2.2 11:39 AM 0.0 6:18 PM 2.3 5M 12:06 AM 0.3 6:28 AM 2.2 12:26 PM -0.1 7:07 PM 2.3
The semester has come to an end for us students and members alike at the UCF Reel Knights Fishing Club. First off, on behalf of all the board members of the club we would like to thank everyone for another awesome school year with the club. We appreciate everyone coming out to meetings, tournaments, and other social events we hosted and are also thankful for all our sponsors and supporters, we would not be where we are without them. The club has been active since 2006 and we are extremely proud to see how it has grown into not only the biggest collegiate fishing club in the state of Florida but one of the biggest and widely known in the country. This past month members of the club were not blessed with weather conditions we hoped for in terms of wind keeping many anglers away from fishing the lagoon especially in the club kayaks and paddle board. Some members that were able to find a break in the wind for a quick fishing trip did pretty well. One member in particular, Bobby Buzaki, was able to catch his fair share of redfish, black drum and a few upper 20 inch range trout. The events we hosted back in April went well such as the Bass Bankhopper. This tournament was a tough one with not many fish caught. However, the winners of the last tournament, Sandy Teaf and his partner Chad Bass were able to pull it off again and bring home the first place cash prize with our lady angler, Mandy Tuckus, bringing home second place. The CCA Talkin’ Trash Tournament was also another good event allowing us to all get together and clean up our home waters of the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River. Once again we would like to thank everyone for another great year and look forward to our next school year in August with the UCF Reel Knights Fishing Club. For more information about the UCF Fishing club and our events be sure to check us out at ucffishingclub.weebly.com and as always thank you for our supporters at Hells Bay and Orlando Coastal Angler Magazine. Tight lines!
Ft. Pie rce Inlet, S. Jetty Hig h Ti de -31 m in ute s Lo w Ti de -18 m in utes
Po nce Inlet, Halifax Rive r Hig h Ti de +5 m in ute s Lo w Ti de +33 m in ute s
Jensen Beach Hig h Ti de +2 ho u r s, 17 m in ute s Lo w Ti de +3 ho u r s, 4 m in ute s
Po rt Canave ral (Tr i dent Pie r) Daily Pre dictio ns
Sewell Pt Hig h Ti de Lo w Ti de
Patr ick Air Fo rce Base Hig h Ti de -1 ho u r, 4 m in ute Lo w Ti de -38 m in ute s
Ju pite r Inlet, S.Jetty Hig h Ti de -10 m in ute s Lo w Ti de -9 m in ute s
Sebastian Inlet Br i dg e Hig h Ti de -48 m in ute s Lo w Ti de -24 m in ute s
Po rt Eve rgla de s - Tu r n in g Basin Hig h Ti de -31 m in ute s Lo w Ti de -13 m in ute s
+1 ho u r s, 13 m in ute s +2 ho u r s, 9 m in ute s
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Paddle Power
By Capt. Alex Gorichky We have an amazing number of kayak fishing areas here on the Space Coast. From the back waters of the Mosquito Lagoon, the North IRL, the NMZ, the 1,000 Islands of Cocoa Beach, and so many places in between. A common question is frequently asked, what is the best place to go kayak fishing? This decision can be mind boggling for even the most experienced anglers in our area. For some it may be the scenery, ease of access, or the lack of power boats like the NMZ that persuades this “call” one way or the other. As a guide it’s important to be consistent and give clients good shots at fish of a lifetime. To do this I don’t look at the spot as much as you might think. Just about any area you decide to fish is going to hold something worth your time. By being able to identify and feed the quality fish present, you will find your consistency greatly increases. One thing I recommend to anyone I meet is simple; yet surprisingly hard to do. Pick one area! Be it the 1,000 Islands, lagoon, NMZ, or any launch (closest one to home allows you most chances to get out) will do. Fish this area at every chance you get. Take that quick hour trip, or spend the day. Just keep going back every chance you get. In doing this for at least a year, but the longer the better; you can begin to understand why the predatory fish utilize certain sections at certain times. You will start to notice the small intricacies in said section of water that hold fish. Troughs, edges, mud bottom, shallow mangroves, deeper water, and the way bait comes and goes on a daily basis are all things that should hold your attention. And that’s because they hold the fish’s attention also. By studying the water and understanding the habits of those fish in any conditions you will put the pieces in place. Like how the seasons affect the bait amount and type, or how the fish react to low and high water periods. With this knowledge you are ready for any of our areas. These non-tidal lagoons of the space coast are basically the same. Our primary game fish carry mostly the same habits from lagoon to lagoon. The lack of tides means they are not forced out of areas due to leaving water, but leave as bait and conditions dictate. Once that confidence level has increased to a point your looking for different spots and launches you have the tools to eliminate the less productive ones. Starting that search can be as simple as bringing up Google Maps or a like service on your home computer and put that time on the water to use. Be sure to catch Kayak Fishing Radio every Tuesday evening for kayak industry news, hot tips on the bite, giveaways, and plenty of antics. Contact Capt. Alex @ 321-480-3255.
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with Native Eyewear Monster Redfish - Jen and Jamie
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Laura Mendoza with nice Tuna out of Port Canaveral
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Texas Wardens Break Up Illegal Seafood Ring
By TAM Staff
W
ith so much turmoil surrounding fisheries management in the Gulf of Mexico, Texas game wardens have announced a potentially huge bust of fishermen plundering important recreational species in the Gulf. The Galveston County Daily News reports that Houston chef, Bruce Molzan, 59, has been charged with multiple misdemeanors involving the purchase and sale of illegally captured fish through his Houston-area businesses. These charges are related to Molzan’s alleged involvement with an illegal seafood network of about a dozen unlicensed commercial anglers that has provided tons of illegally caught fish to his businesses. Illegally caught species include such important game fish as red snapper, tuna, amberjack, grouper and redfish. Officials believe the illegal seafood ring has been operating since 2013, according to the Daily News report. A break in the case came in April 2016, when the U.S. Coast Guard stopped a commercial fishing boat near Freeport, Texas with 1,900 pounds of red snapper alleged to have been illegally harvested off Freeport and Galveston. Game wardens have written more than 200 Class C misdemeanor citations in relation to the case. Two Freeport recreational anglers have been charged with felonies. Molzan owns Ruggles Black restaurant on Kirby Drive in Houston.
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few years ago, Alabama native Jordan Lee was a member of the Auburn University fishing team with dreams of the big show. In late March, at 25 years of age, he ascended to the pinnacle of the bass fishing world by winning the Bassmaster Classic. He collected a $300,000 check, and the trappings of a Classic win will fuel his career for years to come. Lee rose from near the bottom of the heap through the threeday tournament at Texas’ Lake Conroe to claim the coveted trophy. On Friday, he wasn’t even able to put together a five-fish limit and brought three fish to the scales that weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces. On Saturday, he had better conditions on a hard-bottomed point he found during practice and hauled in four fish that weighed 21-0. It was good enough to push him into 15th place and make the cut for the final day. He had obviously found a big-fish pattern. To that point, California’s Brent Ehrler was sitting atop the leaderboard with 43-4 after two rounds. Lee, with 29-6, would need a monster bag of fish and a little bit of help on the final day. He got both. With engine trouble negating his ability to move, Lee settled in on that same point and worked it for all it was worth, catching a big limit on a football jig dressed with a Rage Craw. After hitching a ride back to the docks with a spectator, Lee weighed in a 27-pound, 4-ounce sack for a three-day total of 56-10. Ehrler managed just 1110 on the final day and fell to third place behind Alabama angler Steve Kennedy, who finished second with 55-1. Of all the stories that come with such dramatics, the most useful is of the location Lee was fishing. About 100 yards offshore, he targeted a section of hard bottom on a flat point. Lee said he thinks it was rock or gravel, and there was no brush. Finding such a magic spot requires an angler to know their electronics. It’s easy to identify structure with today’s technology. Reading bottom composition can be a little trickier, but it’s easy enough if you know what to look for. Hard bottom, whether it’s shells, a roadbed, rock or gravel, can be a magnet for baitfish and bass. A hard bottom reflects sonar waves emitted by the transducer more efficiently than a soft or mucky bottom. On a traditional unit, a hard bottom will show up as a dense, deeply colored line because of strong echoes bouncing off a solid surface. With soft bottom, some sonar waves penetrate the bottom and are reflected back as weaker signals. The resulting image is a thicker line with less density. Color indicators vary by unit, but you can bet Lee knew what it meant when the bottom was a yellow line on his Lowrance. This barely scratches the surface of the capabilities of today’s technology, but it’s a good example of information that can be gathered when one knows how to read and operate their electronics.
4/17/17 2:30 PM
FLY FISHING
PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE
I
love this time of year. With the warming Pacific water temperatures and the arrival of pelagic species like bluefin tuna, I know mako shark season is only a few weeks away. There is not a better saltwater game fish on the west coast for the saltwater fly angler than the shortfin mako shark. These apex predators are big, fast and aggressive, which makes them a prime sight-fishing target with the fly. However, it’s a lot like hunting, and to hook one of these amazing fish, an angler must have lots of patience. Chumming for mako sharks can be boring. Sometimes it takes a few hours for the first mako to show up in the chum slick. So, what do you do when you’re waiting for Mr. Grinner to swim up the slick? You play with blue sharks! Pass Time With The Blues The blue shark has helped me pass many boring hours bobbing around in my skiff waiting for a mako to show up. In fact, it’s the blue shark that got me started in saltwater fly fishing. I remember it well. The year was 1993, and I was looking for some adventure in my life. Bored with casting to bluegill and bass at the local lakes, I wanted something bigger, more extreme, a greater challenge. I discovered the blue shark. I don’t cast to blue sharks much these days. I would rather appreciate their beauty and companionship, sort of like a pet dog. The Art Of Chumming The art of chumming for sharks is more about the time invested chumming; sometimes many hours than actually catching the shark. Three things I’ve learned over the years fishing for Mako sharks is: 1) Have good, fresh chum 2) Find a spot where there is plenty of current
3) Find a good temperature break And… be patient. The longer you stay, the bigger the payoff. As my shark-fishing mentor once told me many years ago, “Stick and stay, and make it pay.” Sage advice. www.conwaybowman.com
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napper and grouper seasons are opening, and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is reminding anglers who plan to fish the Gulf of Mexico that it is time to sign up for or renew participation in the Gulf Reef Fish Survey. Participation in the survey is for anglers who plan to fish from a private vessel for red and vermilion snapper; gag, red and black grouper; greater amberjack banded rudderfish; almaco jack; and gray triggerfish. To renew online, visit GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. Renewing the survey does not renew a fishing license. Anglers who do not plan to fish for these reef species in the Gulf of Mexico are encouraged not to renew participation in the Gulf Reef Survey. By only sampling anglers who plan on fishing for these species, Florida is improving recreational data collection. Contact FWC at marine@myfwc.com with questions regarding the Gulf Reef Survey.
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By Brandon Tourigny
Author Brandon Tourigny with a chunky bullseye snakehead caught on topwater.
O
ver my spring break from college, I knew the weather in Jacksonville was still too cool to find many fish eating on top. So, to find a solid topwater bite I decided to travel to south Florida for some warmer weather and some angrier fish. I used the advantage of my Ocean Kayak to slither through the thickest vegetation to reach sections of canals and hidden ponds that no full-sized boat would ever be able to reach. Once I got into these hidden oases of fish, I used baits such as the Rage Tail Shad to cover as much water as possible to find sections of canal holding the most aggressive fish. In the canal systems, I experienced great success hooking into large snakeheads casting these weedless topwater baits underneath trees and over the top
of matted grass. In the community ponds I also fished, there was very little structure along the banks. I had much greater success on largemouth bass using small topwater poppers like the Yo-Zuri 3DS popper. Here I found the bass were chasing small sunfish up shallow, so a small bluegill-colored popper cast at the bank was the ticket to success that day. When fishing any topwater bait in Florida, you should ideally be looking for areas with the thickest weed or grass mats, overhanging trees or docks. To put it simply, try to think to yourself where a fish will most likely encounter prey scurrying across the surface. Chances are bass will not be hunting frogs in the middle of the lake, but they most definitely will be searching for them underneath a tree, sitting on top of a thick clump of lily pads, or holding very close to the bank. In bodies of water lacking a lot of structure, using topwater baits like small poppers that mimic small baitfish can be a very successful tactic. Work them over shallow submerged grass in residential ponds. When deciding what type of topwater bait to use in Florida waters, a key thing to keep in mind is how far back into cover you will need to fish to reach the strike zone. If you see large grass mats or overhanging brush, use a bait that is weedless. It can be the difference between catching fish or catching salad. Regardless of where you are in Florida, as our temperatures continue to climb the topwater bite will progressively become more of a factor in catching fish, so go get out on the water and get ready for some serious blow ups. Good luck fishing and remember if you can, be sure to take a kid out fishing with you to experience our great sport!
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Try The North And South Forks For Tarpon, Snook
water that is the spawning ground and haunt of monster snook and tarpon. I’ve been lucky enough to fish both waterways with two of Stuart Rod & Reel Club’s finest fishermen: Jim Harter and Jim Bohrer. Harter is the king of the South Fork. He resides and fishes there daily. Bohrer has fished both forks of the St. Lucie for more than 17 years. The good news is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has stopped dumping polluted water from Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie because of low lake levels. Fishing for tarpon, snook, jack, redfish, bluefish and ladyfish is good. The trout are off this year because of lack of grass. As you motor up or down the North Fork or South Fork you’ll see tarpon rolling and snook busting bait. Try throwing a topwater in the morning or evening. If you cast to the edge of the mangroves with a 1/8-ounce CAL jig with 4-inch paddletail, be ready for snook to take your jig and take to the air. You can also get closer and flip or skip the jigs under the branches. In deeper water or around bridges, you can bounce the jig off the bottom or slow roll it. Harter likes to throw a D.O.A. Terroreyz around the bridges, and when I fished with him I caught two near-slot snook doing just that. Tarpon are the ultimate sport fish. If you’re lucky enough to “jump” a tarpon (set the hook and have it leap from the water), you’ll be triple-lucky to land one. A tarpon’s mouth is boney and hard, and getting a good hook set is difficult. Landing a 100-pound tarpon on light tackle is almost impossible… but it can be done. You have to follow the fish with the motor until the fish tires. Fortunately there are a number of catchable-sized tarpon in the 10- to 20-pound range. Bohrer and I were fishing the North Fork and saw tarpon rolling in an area by deeper water. We cast jigs into 6 feet of water and bounced them off the bottom. I felt a light hit and set the hook—wham! Fish on! A silver king erupted from the water jumping 4 feet in the air. “Tarpon!” I yelled. The tarpon exploded in the air again, nearly hitting the boat a foot away from Jim, who was operating the trolling motor. After a couple more exhilarating leaps, I brought it boatside and Jim clamped its mouth with his Boga Grips. How To Get There: One access to the South Fork in Martin County is the Palm City Bridge Boat Ramp. The North Fork can be accessed at the White City landing on Midway Road in Fort Pierce.
By Richard Matteson, Stuart Rod & Reel Club
S
ome of the best snook and tarpon fishing on central Florida’s east coast is found in the St. Lucie River’s North and South forks. The St. Lucie River is an 8-mile-long tidal estuary in St. Lucie and Martin counties. It empties into the South Indian River Lagoon at Sewall’s Point near the St. Lucie inlet. Both the North and South forks of the St. Lucie are known for deep stained
For information on the Stuart Rod & Reel Club, call 336-414-3440 . Meetings are the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at Flannigan’s on U.S. 1 in Stuart.
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“CONNIE KAY” 50’ 1999 VIKING CALL TONY MAGGIO: 561.818.1442
“SIDEWINDER” 47’ 1986 DAVIS CALL DAVE BERARD, SR: 772.341.3669
“ROLLING ROCK” 45’ 1969 HATTERAS CALL JIM HENSON: 206.949.1647
“BACKLASH” 42’ 1980 OCEAN CALL JERRY GILPIN: 772.359.5745
“EASY TOUCH” 40’ 1983 JERSEY CALL MARK MITCHELL: 407.435.6982
39’ 2008 SEA VEE CALL BRANDON O’CONNOR: 561.723.4737
“MARSHALL TIME” 38’ 1988 HATTERAS CALL MARK MITCHELL: 407.435.6982
“EVELYN” 37’ 2002 EGG HARBOR CALL CHRIS VACCHIO: 772.263.0547
“LADY IRISH” 36’ 2009 ALBEMARLE CALL SCOTT LEVIN: 772.263.1208
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“PANDEMONIUM” 34’ 1983 HINES FARLEY CALL JERRY GILPIN: 772.359.5745
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“CHINA LADY” 33’ 2006 RAMPAGE CALL GREG HUNT: 561.926.8017
“FISH ON” 32’ 2004 ALBEMARLE CALL JERRY GILPIN: 772.359.5745
“LIQUID ASSETS” 32’ 2004 LUHRS CALL SCOTT LEVIN: 772.263.1208
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By Capt. Michael Okruhlik Photo Courtesy of Controlled Descent Lures
ach spring, anglers are greeted with big winds, big tides and small baitfish. There is no time when the size of your lure is more important than the spring season. With the abundance of small baitfish in the water, it can be difficult to get the attention of your target species, especially when you are fishing with artificial lures. It is very common to find game fish gorging themselves on tiny glass minnows. This is routinely evident when you land a fish and they spit up these miniature meals. As anglers, we have two obstacles here: the sheer amount of forage in the water competing with your lure and the small size of the lure required. What I have found to be the most successful tactic is to use the smallest lure I can cast and appropriately present to the fish. Both hard and soft lures can be effective. Another key to success is color. I prefer a white-and-silver combination that closely matches the available forage. I like to fish these lures on the edge of large bait balls when possible. I try to keep my lure on the edge or under the school to let the fish focus on a single target rather than a large mass. Using a slow-sinking lure is also an advantage this time of the year. A lure that will suspend or sink slowly is ideal. This allows the predator time to target the lure and also gives the appearance that the lure is a wounded baitfish, which is always a plus. When the bait is this thick, every advantage to stand out is needed, but you still need to match the forage in size and color. The use of tandem rigs can allow a couple of advantages. Casting two smaller lures could equal the weight of one of your typical
offerings. This allows you to cast farther and still have the appropriate size lure. Rigging two small silver spoons with a white bucktail is a great combination when fishing glass minnow schools. I also like to use a small floater diver with a small spoon trailer. The diving action in conjunction with the added weight of the spoon is a unique combination of action to entice a strike. Downsizing your lure presentation in the spring can definitely upsize your catch. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
For more on Controlled Descent Lures, go to
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By Chris Beardsley
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imple for me means dumbing down my gear and dumbing down my approach. There are endless articles surrounding what bait to use, which rod is the most sensitive or casts the farthest and which reel provides the smoothest or strongest drag. Everyone has their favorite and my recommendation is to use it. For most inshore fishing a 7- to 10-foot medium to medium-heavy rod and a good reel that will hold 200 yards of 15-pound monofilament fits the bill perfectly. There are many other options regarding hook shape, leader material, line weight, rod constructions, etc. It can get complicated and overwhelming. Use what you’re the most comfortable and confident with, and go fishing. My favorite is a 7-foot medium-heavy rod and a 5000 series reel spooled with 15-pound Trilene Big Game mono. The business end consists of a 2-foot fluorocarbon leader and 2/0 circle hook rigged below
a swivel and a 1- to 3-ounce barrel or pyramid sinker. Tipped with a live shrimp, this simple fish-finder rig can be left to soak or dragged slowly across the bottom. I have found this to be very effective around oyster bars or grass flats and also extremely deadly fishing in the surf. One of my favorite techniques is to tip my fish-finder rig with a live, whole shrimp. I’ve used bits and pieces of shrimp, sand fleas, assorted cut bait with varying and sometimes very good success, but it seems the whole shrimp is just too much to pass up for most fish. It’s like that house you go to on Halloween that’s giving away the large size Snickers bars; you just have to get one. The whole live shrimp is like that Snickers bar, and fish just have to have one. Another simple addition is a popping cork. The ubiquitous bobber is familiar to anyone who has soaked a worm. Besides, the visual of a bobber disappearing below the waves is great fun. For pelagics in the surf or bull reds in the bay, the popping cork is a great addition to any tackle box. Artificial baits are hard to beat when fishing at daybreak or just before the sun starts to make some heat. A trusty gold spoon is by far the best lure for getting the attention of virtually anything that swims. It produces in salt and fresh water and is a common denominator in most tackle boxes. Trout love them, and it is my preferred method for putting one or more of those beautiful fish in the cooler. Granted, I have enough Gotchas, Gulps and Goofys to float a battleship, but some of my most successful days have been with the most basic setup. While it’s easy to get caught up buying the latest and greatest gear, it isn’t necessary. I love looking at and sometimes buying something new and shiny, but I often find myself going back to the old standbys because sometimes simple is better. Chris is a freelance writer from Wisconsin with an obsession for all things saltwater. Though growing up hunting and fishing in Wisconsin, an introduction to Florida’s Forgotten Coast provided a new outlet and exciting new challenges for anything with a forked tail.
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Caring For Bass At
Summer Tourneys
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By Steve Daniel here is nothing that gets my blood boiling like seeing a bass club killing bass released at their weigh ins. The top tournaments in the country pride themselves in having a 100 percent release rate, which is hard to achieve in the hot summer months. Here are my thoughts on conducting a summer weigh in. • Never allow anglers to use their own bags. No more than three official bags should be available. What this does is ensure bass come straight from the livewell to the scales. It eliminates time spent standing in line, when the bass are sitting in a bag with no aeration.
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• In the summer months, try to have an earlier weigh in, say 1 p.m. instead of the normal 3 p.m. Most summer fish are caught in the morning, and riding them around in boats the last hours of a tournament is the reason for a lot of the weak and dead bass. Remember, a weak fish usually dies later even if it was alive at the scales. • Get bass back into the water as soon as possible with the least amount of stress.
Tips For A Healthy Livewell
• Get fresh water in the morning and use a catch-and-release chemical. Put a bag of ice in the well if it’s hot. Ice in a cooler can be used later in the day. • Only recirculate water from the morning. Never run warm water from the lake into the well. • Use a scale to keep up with your catch. This will keep you from dragging bass out of the comfort of your well-maintained livewell for culling. • If you hook a fish deep, cut the hook off and leave it in the bass. The bass will do much better than you trying to remove it and possibly cutting a gill. • This is my last tip, and it works great in the summer here on lake Okeechobee where the water gets as hot as 96 degrees. I use an air pump, the same one I use to keep live bait alive. I hook it up to the trolling motor batteries. The pump, a Power Bubbles, is the size of a small brick and has two air lines that I run to the livewell. I put the air pump in a soft cooler with ice packs. It pumps cold air from my Techni Ice cooler into the livewell. At the end of the day, bass are harder to catch in the livewell than they were in Lake Okeechobee. An extremely successful professional bass tournament angler, Steve Daniel is a 30-year veteran Okeechobee guide and the voice of Okeechobee fishing on WRVO Radio Network 1’s Hooked up with Steve and Deb. Check out the show at www.renoviolaoutdoors.com. Contact Steve and Deb at stevedaniel84@yahoo.com or 239-5602704.
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TIPS FROM A PRO
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he importance of modern electronics in bass fishing can’t be overstated. Having the best, and more importantly knowing how to use it, is crucial to the competitive angler. For weekenders, you’ll enjoy trips more when catching fish, so I think everyone needs good GPS units, maps and sonar. There are a lot of very smart people working at the electronics companies, and they continue to provide great advancements. I work closely with Raymarine, which is owned by FLIR. I’ve run their units since turning pro and
seeing on my electronics. How many times have you seen fish on the screen and thought they were the target species only to spend time fishing for them and they end up being something else? In a bass tournament, I don’t need to spend time targeting walleye or pike. This integration of the camera as another tool in the same system is very handy. Chalk it up to Raymarine and Aqua Vu for making that possible. New to the market from Raymarine are the Axiom units with 3D. I got to see them in
absolutely love their products. I run three of their units on my boat. On the bow, I have mounted an ES128. I also have an ES128 on the console next to an ES127. Having these units really eliminates fishing a lot of unproductive water. With GPS and charts, they are incredibly useful for navigation. They also display Chirp Downvision, which is Raymarine’s sonar fishfinder. I can do a scan of an area and know where the baitfish and the fish themselves are instead of going on history and fishing blind. These tools are invaluable for any angler, and these days competitive anglers cannot compete without good navigation and sonar equipment. Another great thing about Raymarine is that my Aqua Vu Multi-Vu camera displays on my unit. It’s an underwater camera that helps me determine the actual species of fish I am
action at the Bassmaster Classic last month, and what I saw was crazy cool. I think it’s going to be the next level. It’s called RealVision 3D sonar and paints a real-time, three-dimensional picture. It’s a lot easier to tell how far fish are holding off the bottom and how they’re relating to certain structure. It’s a new look that we haven’t seen, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it very soon. The Raymarine Dragonfly series is one for those of you with smaller craft. All of their units are great value, but the Dragonfly puts a lot of technology in your hands at a very low price. There are models from 4 inches to 7 inches and you’ll absolutely thank me for telling you about these if you fish from a kayak, jonboat or other small craft. There’s never been a better time technology-wise to fish and I, for one, am thankful for that.
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Get more tips from Lester at
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By Nadeen Welch
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oing on vacation and trying to decide where your next excursion should be? Fort Myers and Sanibel, Fla. offer something for everyone. Beaches, hiking, kayaking, fishing, camping, birdwatching and shelling abound here. With mild temperatures and low humidity, outside is Photo courtesy of Capt. Terry Fisher/ where you want to be Fish Face Charters after being cooped up through the winter! If fishing is your activity of choice, you have made a great decision. You can take the whole family, only those interested or go it alone. Your best bet for a great day on the water is to hire a professional captain or guide. You can go out on a private charter, where you and your family are the only ones on board, or you may choose a “head boat” where there will be 50 other people fishing with you. Either way, almost everything needed will be provided—boat, license, rod and reel, bait, and a good time. Usually the only things not included are sunscreen and alcoholic beverages. Make sure you ask what is included, just to make sure. Charter guides usually specialize in a certain type of fishing. Inshore fishing trips will have you fishing the flats, mangroves and back-bays. The advantage of inshore fishing is it is usually a more active fishing day, and a windy day won’t ruin your day of fishing. Your guide will move to
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FRESHWATER
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estled in the south Georgia pines just southwest of Adel, Ga. is 3,500 acres of sportsman’s paradise known as Live Oak Plantation. Campbell Roberts and I arrived with Ranger bass boat in tow via a fence-lined, well-manicured slice of green earth that led us to the lodge at Live Oak Plantation. This is where we met our expert bass fishing guide, Max Gresham. Max is a seasoned bass angler and a member of the Valdosta State Blazers bass fishing team. Max perfectly planned our day of bass fishing. With 10 ponds and more than 500 acres of fishable water to choose from, he had his sights
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set on two main bodies of water that had been producing quantity as well as quality bass for the past several days. What a breathtaking sight it was as we traveled the winding road past Jim’s Backyard Pond just as the fog was lifting off the water. We made our way to our first destination, Gator Pond and launched at about 7:45 a.m. Yes, there is a reason they call it Gator Pond and yes, we did see a couple of resident gators. The pond was impeccable, with its splendor of bass cover including grass, dollar pads, lily pads and submerged timber. We had a deck full of rods with an arsenal of big bass lures tied on: buzzbaits, frogs, flukes, trick worms and jigs. Campbell was first to hook up on 3-pound bass swimming a fluke across visible grass structure. Max and I followed with several bass including two massive topwater explosions on frogs that resulted in the big bass of the day. Gator Pond was very good to us that morning, yielding about 25 bass in about four hours. We took a break and headed back to the lodge for a quick lunch and then it was back to fishing. This time we launched the boat in Outback Pond. This pond was heavy in willow trees, laydowns and grass. The bass numbers rose quickly in this pond, one after another. The action was nonstop, cast after cast, bass after bass. We located a ball of baitfish, and the bass were close by. The fluke bite was the strongest around these schoolers, and we managed to bag another 40 bass in about four hours. We all caught our fair share of bass on both of these fine bodies of water. You would need a week or two to thoroughly fish all the beautiful ponds Live Oak Plantation has to offer. When you visit, you must stay and dine at the lodge. The lodge will accommodate up to 12 guests in 10 rooms. There is a conference center that will accommodate groups up to 20. In addition to some of the best bass fishing in the state, Live Oak Plantation offers quail, deer and turkey hunting. They also offer tower pheasant shoots. For additional recreation, there is a well-manicured golf course that has three greens and three tee boxes per hole that allows for nine different holes of golf, and there is also a driving range. For additional Information on Live Oak Plantation, visit their websites www.fishliveoak.com and www.huntliveoak.com or call direct at 800-682-4868. Live Oak Plantation is located at 675 Plantation Road, Adel, GA 31620.
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UNDER THE SEA 26
Diving in Tonga with my new PLB
A
fter several years of traveling for work, I had enough frequent flyer miles to take my family to Australia to dive on the Great Barrier Reef. After returning home, we heard on the news that two Americans had accidentally been left at sea by the same dive operator we had chartered. The crew miscounted when tracking divers, and by the time the search began, they most likely suffered a slow, agonizing death. That nightmare incident was portrayed in a Hollywood movie. Unfortunately, these “left-at-sea” stories are not uncommon. Boats can become incapacitated; divers can get caught in a current; the possibilities are endless. According to U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmers, the key to getting rescued is to make yourself visible. A whistle or Dive Alert air horn might be enough to catch the attention of your boat if it is nearby. If lost, it helps if you are wearing a brightly colored wetsuit hood or deploy a brightly colored safety sausage. Even better, you can carry signaling devices such as flares, a mirror (requires sun), or glow sticks (at night). A small LED dive flashlight or strobe can be seen from afar—especially if the USCG is searching with night vision goggles. But what if your boat sank and no one was called? What if you are in a country where there is no coast guard? These thoughts rattled around in my head before a recent trip to a remote island off of Tonga. Fortunately, advances in technology continue to provide new solutions. PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons) on the market today are small, waterproof devices designed to alert search and rescue services of your location anywhere in the world. When activated, it transmits a message on the 406 MHz distress frequency which is monitored by the COSPASSARSAT satellite system. The alert is relayed to the nearest Rescue Coordination Center. Once in the area, rescue services pinpoint your location using the 121.5 MHz homing transmitter. Unlike EPIRBs, which are registered to a specific vessel, a PLB is registered to a person and can be carried wherever you go. Before my trip, I bought an ACR ResQLink PLB from Bass Pro for
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$249. It can be used on land or sea, but divers need to know that taking it deeper than 5 meters could cause the device to activate due to pressure changes, so it should either be secured to a flag float on the surface or stored in a dive canister if taken underwater. The increased peace of mind was well worth the price. There are several similar products on the market. The Ocean Signal rescueME PLB1 operates in a similar manner. Nautilus Lifeline makes a “Marine Rescue GPS” which broadcasts a distress message to all AIS equipped ships up to 34 miles away and to the marine radio on your own vessel. The ultimate survival tool is your ability to keep calm and maintain a positive attitude while taking action to make yourself visible. Prepare ahead of time, and your chances of rescue are very good. Safe diving! Sheri Daye is a world-record holder, host of Speargun Hunter, and producer of “The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo” in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Follow “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram.
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CAPTAINS OF FISHER GUIDING 28
A CAPTAIN AND HIS LUCKY LADY, FISHING THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
BY LUKE CAMBELL
R
obert Mitchell hasn’t stopped chasing marlin since childhood, when he would see the species or its larger-finned counterpart, the sailfish, mounted on walls of seafood restaurants. After catching plenty wall-worthy fish in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf of Mexico over the years, Robert chose the Virgin Islands to begin living his dream as a charter captain. Now, he takes guests on his boat, The Lucky Lady, to catch marlin and other trophy fish surrounding St. Thomas and St. John. After visiting St. Thomas frequently over the last 10 years, local mainstays on the island have helped Capt. Mitchell settle in since moving there permanently in January. Mitchell said, “Jimmy Loveland has been great to go over to and get advice. Getting to talk to a legend like Jimmy has been fantastic. Jim on the Black Pearl (a fellow USVI sportfishing charter) came over and welcomed me into town. He is a good guy, and I would do anything for these two people.” The name Jimmy Loveland may be familiar to those who follow sportfishing. Loveland founded Marlin Magazine and the USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament that runs every August in St. Thomas. In addition to advice from fellow anglers, Lady Luck has loyally followed Capt. Mitchell to teach him the nuances of fishing here. Mitchell explained, “Everywhere I have fished, I have been blessed with good luck in finding boils, birds and porpoise. Birds down here are very few. When you see a bird, you better follow it. When you see the porpoise, you might make one or two passes, but that’s it. The lonely bird has been far more successful. The other places I have fished, you looked for a flock of birds and when following the porpoise, you were just about guaranteed a tuna strike.”
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Another key difference anglers find in the Virgin Islands is distance. In contrast to other destinations Mitchell has fished, the boat ride is short. The South Drop is 6 miles from dock, and the North Drop is only 20 miles. These drops are famous. While fishing, Mitchell has watched the bottom drop from 90 to deeper than 3,000 feet in a matter of minutes. Paying close attention, and staying over the intended depth is important. Capt. Mitchell described a recent trip aboard The Lucky Lady when that awareness paid off for anglers. They started the day trolling around a FAD (fish-attracting device) when four out of six lines hit on a school of blackfin tuna. They put their spread out again, started trolling, and then the line popped with a 180-pound blue marlin. The group also caught a wahoo of about 45 pounds and a 25-pound kingfish. “It was a great day on the boat, and everybody got a chance to sit in the (fighting) chair and take a turn,” said the new captain. Luke Cambell is a co-founder of Fisher Guiding, an online marketplace to find and book fishing guides, which is proud to partner with Capt. Mitchell and The Lucky Lady.
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C
ustom rod building has entered an era of resurgence, with new components, fresh design concepts, and, most importantly, a broad base of sophisticated anglers and creative rod builders driving developments on multiple levels. Today’s avid angler understands the importance of the rod with respect to a given approach or technique. Credit this recognition in large part to the broader segmentation of the markets for fishing rods and lines. Anglers have a much broader selection of both to choose from. More importantly, they have learned to discriminate and apply the right variations to the proper settings. With better understanding and experience, a fisherman begins to dial in on the nuances that make a rod better suited to the technique and personal preferences. Custom rod makers can give an angler everything he wants from essential components to bells and whistles. While “personalization,” artistry and uniqueness drove custom rod making in the past, functionality and comfort are driving custom rod projects today. “I used to have three to five rods that I would use for a given technique,” recalls bass tournament angler and rod builder Chris Adams of Mud Hole Custom Tackle and a member of the Winn Grips pro staff. “One had the guides I liked. Another had a more comfortable reel seat that added to the rod’s sensitivity, but it didn’t have the backbone or action I wanted. Another had the right power and action but didn’t have the components I liked. I realized the easiest way for me to get everything I wanted into one rod was to build it myself, the way I wanted it!” Adams notes that rod grips from Winn (www.winngrips.com) factor into
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many rod-making decisions. The comfort and tackiness of these all-weather grips provide sure-handed angler control. Bass fishermen have driven a lot of technique-specific rod customization. But more and more saltwater anglers are tailoring rods to their task. Many saltwater anglers have taken up custom rod building as hobby or a basement business to build their own rod arsenals. Classes in rod building are available across the country. At the Saltwater Fishing Expo in Somerset, New Jersey, in March, the custom rod craze was evident. Fishermen were building rods for everything from flounder fishing to trolling for big game species. Saltwater anglers often have a more complex set of needs, from guides resistant to corrosion to rod handles that provide adequate control and comfort. A lot of attention at the Winn booth centered around the sneak preview of new tapered rod grips for heavy-duty saltwater fishing, available in multiple lengths and diameters, and the new Winn Rod Handle System. Winn also unveiled a durable and versatile extension of its very popular overwrap, Winn Superior Rod Wrap. Like its predecessor, it can be the primary material in an original rod handle or applied over an existing cork or EVA grip. Winn also will expand its Saltwater Straight Cylinder line of 1.25-inch diameter grips this summer with black grips ranging to 18 inches in length. Get to know a rod builder in your area to create the perfect rod for any technique or style of fishing. Or take up the practice yourself!
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# 1 SEL
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B
ack when everyone else was rocking a 3.5-inch grayscale fishfinder, Gary sported a color 7. He always seemed to catch fish. One day I had the nerve to ask him, “Hey Gary, how much did that thing cost?” “More than the kayak,” was the deadpan response. That was years ago. Since then, sonars are more and more capable and feature rich, for less scratch. A Lowrance Hook-7 will run you $449, much less than the kayak. Downscan and side imagining are commonplace. Over time, screen sizes grew until Gary was no longer the exception, he was the rule. So how big is too big? The answer depends on your bank balance and risk tolerance as well as the water you fish and the kayak you captain. Five to 7 inches seems like the sweet spot for kayak use. The screens are wide enough to offer high-resolution readability, yet compact enough to stay out of the way of a cast—or your foot. These days the better question might be, “How big is the transducer?” For peak performance, it’s best to mount a modern transducer in direct contact with the water. Some transducers require adapters such as the Lowrance Ready Total Scan plate to fit properly. Alternatively, kayak anglers can go the MacGyver route and craft their own adapters. Where there’s a will and fish to be caught, there’s a way. Just ask Gary.
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RAPID PUMP® 1.5 TON ALUMINUM RACING JACK ITEM 68053 62160/62496/62516 60569 shown
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99 79$129 .99
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suzuki spring savings Three Limited Time Offers Make A Good Deal Even Better Suzuki Gives You All Three So You Don’t Have To Choose One Or The Other
Buy a new Suzuki outboard from 25 to 300 horsepower and take advantage of not just one, but ALL THREE Suzuki Spring promotional offers.
Add cash rebates on select models and you can get up to $800 cash back. Plus our Repower Financing is available at attractive interest rates (on approved credit.*)
Just say, “Gimme Six!” and you’ll get six years of product protection. That’s right, you’ll get Suzuki’s three-year limited warranty and Suzuki’s 3-Year Extended Protection Plan at no extra charge.
See your participating Suzuki Marine dealer today and find out how you can get the ultimate deal on the Ultimate 4-Stroke Outboard.
Six Years of Protection at no extra charge on all new outboards 25 to 300 HP.
Cash Rebates on select models. See your dealer for details.
REPOWER FINANCE
Rates as low as 5.99% on new Suzuki outboards (OAC).*
For details and the name of your nearest participating Suzuki Marine dealer, visit www.suzukimarine.com
Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 300 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 4/01/17 and 6/30/17 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase. If an acknowledgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Cash Rebates apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 4/01/17 and 6/30/17. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Customer and participating Dealer must fill out the appropriate rebate form at time of sale. Customer will have the choice to either apply the cash rebate against the original dealer invoice (Suzuki will credit Dealer parts account) or have a check sent directly to the customer. There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 4/01/17 and 6/30/17. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2017 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
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You could get a discount when you combine your auto and boat policies.
for your boat geico.com | 1-800-865-4846 | Local Office Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. Multi-Policy Discount available to auto insureds that have purchased a boat policy through the GEICO Marine Insurance Company. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. Š 2017 GEICO
COMMON CVRS_0517.indd 3
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© 2017 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries
THIS SEEMS TO BE THE PLACE WHERE ALL THE FISH HANG OUT. I THINK I’LL DROP IN.
12”
PROGRAMMABLE
HOT KEYS
PRELOADED
BUILT-IN
BLUECHART® G2 + LAKEVUU¨ HD CHIRP SONAR + CLEARVUU¨ + SIDEVU¨
GPSMAP® 1242xsv
COMMON CVRS_0517.indd 4 Coastal Fishing Ad_US-8.125x10.875-CoatalAngler.indd 1 17-MCJT512 GPSMAP 1224xsv
4/17/17 PM 3/8/17 12:07 9:13 AM