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NEARSHORE BONANZA
OUT OF PANAMA CITY
By Nick Carter
T
he rising sun revealed unaddressed devastation as Capt. Randy Cnota backed his 22-foot Pathfinder down the ramp at Tyndall Airforce Base. Less than a year after Hurricane Michael rocked the Florida Panhandle, we launched near the heart of the destruction. Just east of Panama City and a short drive from the catastrophe that unfolded at Mexico Beach, this slice of the Panhandle is a community doggedly enduring the slow process of rebuilding. The bright boards of new framing show progress in neighborhoods of single-story homes. Blue-tarped roofs, shredded metal buildings and acres of tall pines snapped like so many twigs are reminders of just how far there is to go. At the docks, bare wood pilings and concrete footings are left from what was a bustling little marina before the storm surge. But the fish don’t care. And with an eager 8-year-old angler perched on the leaning post, Capt. Randy pointed us toward the open Gulf of Mexico. This was early July, during the Gulf red snapper season, and Capt. Randy’s numbers would take us a few miles out to some hard-bottom that promised big snapper. But first we had to catch bait, which was plentiful in the form of Spanish sardines balled up around the markers just outside the pass from St. Andrews Bay. The 8-year-old would have spent all day catching sardines on a Sabiki rig, but shortly we left the other boats jockeying for position at the marker. We had our bait, and Capt. Randy now had an idea of how the boy would handle his first fishing trip on the open ocean. The kid emitted enthusiasm, and it’s a good thing we didn’t make a several hour run. The waiting would have driven him mad. Bigger boats out of Panama City can comfortably take anglers dozens of miles out to deeper water, quick limits and huge fish, but this nearshore trip was more our speed. Less than 10 miles from the coast, and even inside the 9-mile state waters, there are wrecks, reefs and hard bottom in the 100-foot depths that offer plentiful bottomfish as well as shots at some big pelagics. Within minutes at our first drop, the boy was hooked up with a big bonito, and Capt. Randy was steering with one hand, while holding the butt of the rod with the other. The kid had a death grip on the handle and cranked with all his might. “You’re gonna have to come over here and make sure this rod doesn’t get pulled out!” Randy barked at me with both hands full. But I couldn’t. On the other side of the boat, I was pumping and grunting on what turned out to be a stud red snapper. Somehow, both
fish made it onto the deck, and Randy went right back to work feeding out a freelined sardine from the stern. “Where there’s Bonnies, there’s kings,” he called the shot. Shortly thereafter, he handed me a rod with line ripping off the spool. I came up tight on a good king mackerel. It was one of three kingfish we had on that morning, but it was the only one that made it in the boat. Through the morning, the fish kept us continuously busy. We caught more red snapper than we could keep track of as well as gag and red grouper. Capt. Randy was great with the kid. Seeing the big bottom rigs were too much for an 8-year-old, Randy tied up a chicken rig on a lighter rod, showed the boy how to bait and fish it and then set him loose. Although the beeliners we were hoping for didn’t show up, the boy had a field day hauling snapper and triggerfish off the bottom. He was particularly proud of an FWC-tagged trigger he caught. “Part of the fun is you never know what you’re going to catch when you’re out here,” said Randy as he unhooked a 2-foot-long smoothback pufferfish. The whole time out, we kept eyes peeled for weeds and surface activity that might belie the presence of mahi-mahi or cobia. In the week before our trip, Randy managed to put clients on a sailfish and a big blackfin tuna. Although we didn’t encounter these species, we did watch in awe as two 10-foot tiger sharks circled uncomfortably close to the boat. We went home with a cooler full of fish. But more importantly, while those meaty chunks of snapper sizzled in hot oil, the boy regaled his grandparents with stories of the trip. His first time was an experience he will never forget. Snapper seasons may be over along the Gulf Coast, but if you find yourself hankering for a good fishing trip that’s fun and easy, consider hiring a captain out of the Panama City area. Capt. Randy said fall brings better opportunities for sailfish and tuna nearshore, and with his smaller boat, he is also well equipped to fish inshore. The fall redfish and trout bite can be off the charts. These hurricane-battered communities remain in recovery, but the fish, beaches and visitor ammenities are still there. Go spend some time at Panama City and eastward along The Forgotten Coast. You’ll be glad you did, because the fishing is pretty spectacular. Capt. Randy Cnota is co-publisher of the Panama City/Forgotten Coast edition of Coastal Angler Magazine and owner of C-Note Charters. Check him out online at www.cnotecharters.com or call 229-834-7880.
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Urban Chrome In Grand Rapids, Michigan
Photo by Aaron Peterson Photography, LLC for Experience Grand Rapids
By Tom Werkman
W
hy do people feel the need to head to remote destinations a million miles from nowhere to fish? Some of the best fishing opportunities exist right under our noses, and many times they are very close to major metropolitan areas. The Grand River is just such a place. Michigan’s largest river runs through the heart of the state’s second largest city, Grand Rapids, and offers great fishing through its 252-mile run from rural headwaters in Hillsdale County down to Lake Michigan. Downtown Grand Rapids: Home to more than 37 craft breweries, Grand Rapids is Beer City. But there is another side of Grand Rapids that few know about. It offers the
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lure of big-river fishing in an urban environment. The river through downtown Grand Rapids offers the angler a unique opportunity to fish for steelhead in swift rapids beneath the city’s skyscrapers. On an early leg of their run up out of Lake Michigan, these fish are strong and as hot as they come. From October through December and again during March and April, droves of steelhead run through downtown as they migrate through and hold up in the rapids. Some of the best steelhead fishing lies between Sixth Street Dam and the Fulton Street Bridge. It’s not uncommon to see people wading the river, fishing from the banks or in boats landing these chrome bullets. When fishing here, the angler can expect to only move a few times to get on fish. Once you have your spot, you don’t want to move very much as it can be crowded at times. If you’re not on a fish right away, be patient. These fish get backed up at the dam and constantly move around in search of the fish ladder to pass through and continue their migration up the river. Lowell To Ada Section: Just minutes from downtown Grand Rapids, a roughly 10-mile stretch of the Grand River between the towns of Lowell and Ada offers fishing that is a little more secluded. From late spring through early fall, this section offers smallmouth bass and northern pike. There is little public access here, and the angler can expect solitude and no-pressure fishing in a remote river setting just outside Grand Rapids. A typical trip involves floating in a drift boat or jet boat from Lowell to Ada, covering a lot of water while casting to the banks, river timber and rocks. Bald eagles, osprey, blue heron and deer are common sights on this piece of river. Rarely will the angler lay eyes on another boat or fisherman. On the Grand River, one can enjoy spectacular fishing and then enjoy a cold beer and everything else the city has to offer. Tom Werkman, and his son Max, are owner/guides at Werkman Outfitters, a guide service on the Grand River in and around Grand Rapids, Michigan. Contact them at tom@werkmanoutfitters.com or check them out at werkmanoutfitters.com.
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FISH & FISHING
FOCUSING OUR EFFORTS MARK SOSIN
I
t may seem logical, but it’s not always right. My favorite example is George Westinghouse, the man who invented the air brake for oversized vehicles. Researchers relied on logical thinking and experimented continuously on using air to apply the brake. It didn’t work. Westinghouse took an opposite approach and used the air to hold the brake off the drum until the driver stepped on the brake pedal and released the air. The common approach to understanding fish behavior lies in applying human values with the assumption that a fish’s brain has the capacity to reason. Just because a particular lure looks good to us does not mean it’s a fish’s favorite, too. Few of us can boast even the slightest knowledge of the release that triggers a fish into striking or simply passing up an offering. And, we probably wouldn’t recognize it if we saw it. Repeated observations hold the key to helping us focus our efforts on techniques that have worked in the past. As an example, fish have an amazing alertness to movement. It can cause them to flee a situation or take advantage of it and feed. The same applies to underwater sound. Low frequency vibrations such as those that indicate a fish is in distress usually cause predators to investigate with the hope of finding food. The more natural a bait or lure appears to a fish, the greater the chance a strike will occur. When you can see your quarry
and observe hesitation of any type, assume that something in your offering appears unnatural. Fish may be curious, but they are seldom in the habit of wasting energy to pursue something needlessly. Many species have the ability to measure energy expended in chasing food against the value received. Because fish are creatures of habit, they tend to do the same things over and over. That’s why captains and guides boast the ability to find fish. The quarry may hold in one spot with uncanny precision day after day, month after month, and year after year. If that fish is caught or leaves for any reason, another will take its place. Those fish that work a tide follow the same pattern daily. Even offshore skippers understand reliable patterns that fish follow and troll the waters where their quarry should be. For some unknown reason, fish tend to hold at the same depth over a wide area. If another angler can tell you the depth where he found fish, you don’t need to know the precise spot. Keep in mind that water temperature can play a role. Each species has its upper and lower limits. As water temperature drops, fish tend to swim slower and chase an offering for shorter distances. Figuring out what motivates a fish to strike a bait or lure becomes a continuous challenge for leading anglers as well as the scientific community. The important thing to remember is that fish do not think like humans. Their basic approach is simple, yet it is not always easy to detect. The more you observe fish behavior and understand that it follows patterns and procedures established a long time ago, the more successful you are going to be.
For more from Mark Sosin, visit
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t first glance, Alphonso Jackson’s 2-pound, 1-ounce redbreast sunfish might not seem all that impressive. But when you consider the size of your average redbreast, this thing is a monster. Jackson was fishing the Lumber River in central North Carolina’s Scotland County on June 10 when he caught the fish on a cricket. It bested a 36-yearold North Carolina state record for the species by 5 ounces. The previous record, caught in 1983 by Ronald Stanley in Big Swamp in Bladen County, N.C. weighed 1 pound, 12 ounces. Jackson’s fish also outweighs the world record. The current IGFA all-tackle world record for the species has stood at 1-pound, 12-ounces since 1984. That fish came from Florida’s Suwannee River. Wikipedia claims the heaviest redbreast on record weighed 2.3 pounds (2 pounds, 4.8 ounces), but there’s no information as to where that weight came from or whether it was angler-caught. So, if Jackson bothers to complete all the paperwork properly, he would definitely be the new IGFA record holder. Jackson, 43, is an avid fisherman, a passion he attributes to his father Johnny Jacobs who taught him how to fish when he was a boy, and one that he has passed on to his children, ages 23, 18 and 17. They were with him the day he caught the massive readbreast. “We started fishing in a pond but weren’t having any luck, so I said to my kids, ‘Let’s go back to where I learned how to fish.’ And this is what we caught,” Jackson said. “I’d like to thank my daddy for teaching me how to catch fish and where to catch fish.” COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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TIPS FROM A PRO
READ GRASS MATS FOR BIG BASS
BRANDON LESTER
L
ate summer and early fall absolutely scream for a frog. With big bass holed up in thick vegetation, working a frog across grass mats can lead to some of the most explosive strikes in fishing. I always look forward to the frog pattern setting up around this time of year. This year should be especially sweet because of the reemergence of Alabama’s Lake Guntersville as one of the best bass fisheries in the nation. This Tennessee River impoundment is frog fishing heaven. Over the last decade the Guntersville bass fishery saw a bit of a decline. But the “Big G” has come back in a big way. Bassmaster ranked Guntersville the No. 2 fishery in the nation in this year’s “100 Best Bass Lakes” listings. It is fishing lights-out, with five-fish tournament sacks regularly approaching and surpassing 30 pounds. I just came off a top-10 finish in the June Elite Series event on Guntersville. Some fish came off frogs, but the best patterns I found were deep cranking and worms. You can bet the frog bite will ramp up soon, though. No matter where you fish, the key to topwater frog fishing is reading the grass. To really dial in a pattern, you need to observe what’s happening on the lake. At Guntersville, the two prominent grass types are hydrilla and milfoil. There are other types, but these are the two you will encounter
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most often. From the time the grass first tops out in the summer until the first frost of the fall, I will concentrate on milfoil. Milfoil creates a great canopy and is hollow underneath, so the bass can get through it to get to your frog. When the hydrilla is still green, it is so thick that a bass has trouble seeing your frog on top of the mat. With that said, later on in the fall when the hydrilla starts to turn brown and break up, it starts to get hollow underneath. That is the time to start targeting it more. Another key to frog fishing is to listen and watch for “active” grass. Bass school up in grass mats just like they do on ledges, points and humps, so it is important to find a mat that has activity in it. Listen for bluegill popping the mat or watch for shad to flicker. Those are signs that bass are not far away. Also, look for points, turns and indentions in the mat itself. Anything different will often hold bass. Rod selection is important for hauling bass out of matted grass. I throw a MHX-MB-874. This rod is 7’3” heavy power with plenty of backbone, but more importantly it has enough action in the tip to allow the fish to eat the bait. I use 50-pound Vicious braid and a 7:1:1 reel. Try a topwater frog on your next trip out, or better yet plan an excursion to Guntersville for the trip of a lifetime.
For more Lester visit,
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Shore-Based Shark Fishing Permit & Education Available Online
The education and permit requirements also apply if you plan to fish from shore for any species of fish with tactics and tackle including: • fishing with a metal leader more than 4 feet long • Using a fighting belt/harness • Deploying bait by any means other than casting (kayaking for example) while using a hook that is 1.5 inches or larger at its widest inside distance OTHER REGULATION CHANGES:
F
• Prohibit of chumming when fishing for any species from the beach. • Require immediate release of prohibited shark species when fishing from the shore and require anglers to cut the leader or hook to prevent delaying release of prohibited species. • Require that prohibited shark species remain in the water (when fishing from shore or from a vessel). • Require the use of non-offset, non-stainless-steel circle hooks to target or harvest sharks when using live or dead natural bait (when fishing from shore and from a vessel). • Require the possession/use of a device capable of quickly cutting the leader or hook when targeting sharks (when fishing from shore or a vessel). These rules are intended to increase survival of released sharks, improve information-gathering from the fishery and address public safety concerns.
lorida’s new shark fishing regulations were enacted July 1, including a mandatory, no-cost, annual Shore-based Shark Fishing Permit and educational course for shore-based anglers and other requirements that apply to all shark fishing and fishing from the beach in general. The Shore-based Shark-Smart Fishing educational course and Shore-based Shark Fishing Permit are now available online. To take the educational course, which must be completed before getting the permit, visit MyFWC.com/SharkCourse. The permit is required for all shore-based shark anglers age 16 and older, including those 65 and older who are normally exempt from needing a fishing license. Those under 16 are required to take For more information, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on the educational course unless they are fishing with an adult who already holds the permit. Persons under 16 are not required to get the “Recreational Regulations” and “Sharks.” permit.
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FLORIDA LOBSTER SEASON
Sheri Daye
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he beginning of Florida lobster season gets many divers more excited than kids at Christmas. Barely able to sleep, the divers nestle all snug in their beds, while visions of lobster dance in their heads. Whether locals or out-of-state visitors, many arrange their vacation plans around this special time, either during the two-day mini-season or the actual start of lobster season on Aug. 6. Mini season falls on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July, while the regular season is Aug. 6 to March 31. Some will brave the two-day mini season, when tourists descend on the state, and some simply wait until Aug. 6 when things calm down. The most popular destination in Florida is The Keys, where shallow warm waters provide great breeding grounds and easy dives. However, the east coast from Miami to Jupiter and beyond can also be popular and productive destinations. Generally speaking, the farther north you go, the farther out and deeper you will need to dive, but you can also be rewarded with larger lobsters. The biggest challenge is finding lobster spots. Divers who find good spots tend to go back to them year after year and, understandably, don’t like to share their locations. However, there are
plenty of charter boats that specialize in taking new divers or tourists to productive spots. What you need to know: 1) A recreational saltwater fishing license and a spiny lobster permit are required to harvest spiny lobsters. Information is available online at MyFWC.com. 2) The recreational limit for spiny lobster is six per person, and the carapace must be longer than 3 inches. By law, it must be measured in the water. Possession and use of a measuring device are required at all times. You can google “how to measure a lobster” to be sure you are doing it correctly. 3) The possession of egg-bearing lobster is prohibited. Egg-bearing lobsters have hundreds of orange eggs that are easily visible and attached under the tail. While most lobsters have completed reproduction by the start of season, some still have eggs in August and beyond. 4) Do not take lobsters using any device which could puncture, penetrate or crush the lobster. The most common methods are the net and tickle stick combination or the looper. There are plenty of videos online to show you how to use each method. 5) Lobsters must be landed in whole condition. Separating the tail from the body is prohibited in state waters, so bring a cooler large enough to hold the entire catch until you reach land. 6) Although most people wring/twist the tail, it’s possible to get more meat by cooking the whole lobster. Just split it in two lengthwise and broil. Sheri is a world-record holder, host of Speargun Hunter, and producer of “The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo” in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Follow “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram.
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FLORIDA MARINE FLEA MARKET AND BBQ FEST
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lorida Marine Flea Market and BBQ Fest Sails Into West Palm Sept. 1415. The 10th Annual Florida Marine Flea Market and BBQ Festival will be held Sept. 14-15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Blvd, West Palm Beach, Fla. Bargain hunters looking for deals can visit marine booths, as vendors exhibit and sell their nautical and marine-related merchandise and services during the twoday festival. The marine flea market area will have offshore rods, reels, tackle, dock lines, halyards, sheet lines, anchor lines, ladders, seats, bimini tops, life vests, mooring whips and bases, gauges, wakeboards, skis, wake surfers, kneeboards, boat covers, scissors, fenders, antique collectibles and maps, marine artifacts, lures and lines, boating apparel, taxidermy, diving equipment, and all kinds of other marine items. Come by for some super discounts on surplus, liquidation, closeouts, new and used boating and fishing supplies. The event promises some super discounts on new and used boating and fishing supplies as well as liquidation and closeouts items. Speaking on the location, event promoter Larry Burdgick said, “The South Florida Fairgrounds is the perfect venue since it’s right in the heart of Palm Beach County. It offers the space we need along with free great parking for our guests.” The South Florida Fairgrounds is located at 9067 Southern Blvd West Palm Beach, Fla. The Marine Flea Market is easily accessible from I-95 and the Florida Turnpike and there are acres of free parking. Admission is $10 and Children 12 and under are free. Visit The Florida Marine Flea Market, Boat Show and BBQ Seafood Festival website www.FLNauticalFleaMarket.com for more information, discount tickets, vendor applications and specific driving directions. Contact Under the Sun Promotions, Inc. at 954-205-7813.
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UP TO
NEW FLORIDA
RECORD FLATHEAD
A
69.3-pound flathead catfish was recently certified as a new Florida state record. Measuring 47 inches long, with a girth of 34.25 inches, the monster Yellow River flathead bested the old record of 63.8 pounds. The angler, Marvin Griffin, of Santa Rosa County, is no stranger to the Yellow River or huge catfish. Griffin’s family has been fishing the Yellow River for years and they have caught exceptionally large catfish there. Griffin’s uncle, James Auston Jr., caught a state record flathead catfish in the Yellow River, which held the record from 2011 until 2016. “I have always wanted to catch a state reFWC Photo cord,” said Griffin. “After my uncle caught his, I made it a mission of mine to catch my own. “I wasn’t expecting to catch a state record when I started fishing that day with John Babb. But, it was the first and only fish we caught that day. I never would have been able to bring the fish into the boat without his help.” Flathead catfish are a non-native fish found in many northwest Florida panhandle river systems. Flatheads prefer long, slow-flowing, moderately turbid rivers. Their solitary lifestyle makes them more difficult to catch than other catfish. Adult flathead catfish feed primarily on live fish, crawfish, freshwater clams and mussels. To properly certify a new Florida state record, an FWC biologist must identify the fish species and witness its weighing on a certified scale. Anglers can check the current state records at BigCatchFlorida.com by clicking on “State Record,” and should notify the nearest FWC regional office if they believe they have caught a record fish. Contact information for FWC regional offices can be found at MyFWC.com/Contact by clicking on “Contact Regional Offices.”
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2019 GMC Sierra AT4
An American Hero Strong, Intuitive and Handsome For towing boats and hauling rods and tackle, pickup trucks are the preferred vehicle for serious anglers. The functionality of today’s trucks makes them more than just boat-haulers, though, and any angler in the market for a truck would do well to take a long hard look at GMC’s new Sierra models. They’ve got the power and torque to pull boats with ease, and a long list of innovative features makes them a perfect fishing and boating accessory. In search of our next corporate vehicle, Coastal Angler Magazine took a week-long test drive of a 2019 GMC Sierra AT4. This Next Generation Sierra is a full-sized truck specially equipped for off-road applications. At first glance, it has a sophisticated yet aggressive look that adds a touch of class to what is a hard-core truck at heart.
2 NORTH FLORIDA
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AUGUST 2019
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OFF-ROAD CAPABLE
As anglers, we’re looking for a vehicle to take us through mud and sand and over rocky trails to out-of-the-way places. With the extra ground clearance of a 2-inch factory lift, shocks and suspension tuned to off-road Ben Martin terrain as well as highEditor in Chief and low-range four-wheel Coastal Angler/Angler Magazine drive, the Sierra AT4 handled everything we threw at it without a problem. The locking rear differential might come in handy for loose sand, deep mud or mucky boat ramps, and extensive skid-plate coverage provides ample protection for the undercarriage.
PULLING THE BOAT
Of course, wherever we go, our boat goes with us. Coastal Angler’s 26-foot tournament vessel weighs 7,100 pounds— which we thought was a pretty big boat—but it’s well below the Sierra’s 9,400-pound towing capacity. A newly available 6.2L V8 provides an impressive 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. Our boat felt like we were pulling nothing, which is exactly what we’re looking for. In acceleration or cold start on an incline, as is experienced when pulling a boat out of the water, the Sierra displayed truly awesome power. And it does it with technologically advanced Dynamic Fuel Management and smooth 10-speed transmission that deliver a very respectable 20 miles per gallon highway. Our test showed a higher rate of closer to 25 miles per gallon highway.
ADVANCED TOWING FEATURES
In addition to power, new Sierras offer advanced capabilities for those towing trailers. GMC’s ProGrade Trailering System goes way beyond the basic trailering package. • Sierra’s Rear Vision Camera incorporates guidance lines for the truck, and it also has a Hitch View mode to zoom in on the hitch for precision maneuvering. • After backing up to the hitch, Sierra automatically applies the parking brake when shifted into park, preventing further movement. • A tailgate lamp shines directly on the receiver hitch area. • Drivers can program trailer brake level settings to specific trailer profiles. Any boater will see the value in these handy features, and Sierra pulls the whole towing experience together with a new Trailering App, which is accessed through a thoughtfully designed infotainment system. The app monitors safety concerns such as tire pressure and trailer lights from the cab. It also provides a pre-departure checklist and extends anti-theft capabilities to protect the trailer as well as the truck. Other towing features of the 2019 Sierra include Tow/Haul Mode, Trailer Sway Control and Automatic Grade Braking. An available Trailering Camera Package integrates rear-fac-
ing cameras in the side mirrors for views down the side of the truck and trailer. This feature made backing the boat at the ramp and changing lanes on the highway a breeze.
CREATURE COMFORTS
The comfort afforded by the interior of the Sierra is comparable to a luxury sedan. With the Sierra AT4’s best-in-class crew cab front head and leg room, a 10-hour drive chasing the Gulf tarpon migration is like time spent in the easy chair. Sierra’s interior finishes are stylish and comfortable, and they’re also functional with clever built-in storage spaces for gear and all-weather floor liners for easy clean-up. The rear vents and added rear leg room were certainly appreciated by our fishing buddies. Equipped with available technology such as a first-in-class multicolor Heads-Up-Display, Rear Camera Mirror, HD Surround Vision and an 8-inch Digital Driver Information Center, the Sierra cab is technologically useful and plush, while retaining the toughness and functionality anglers are looking for.
BOMBPROOF BED
Ever tossed a 14-pound fluke anchor in the cargo box? We have—a few times—and it does a number on the finish. Add in a little Florida salt air, and it’s a recipe for rust with a standard steel cargo box. Sierra solved this problem with a new carbon fiber box that offers best-in-class dent, scratch and corrosion resistance. Sierra’s CarbonPro box is tough as nails, and it signals the end of expensive bed liners and coatings for Sierra owners.
TAILGATE INNOVATION
Tailgates are tailgates, right? Wrong! The new MultiPro tailgate on the 2019 Sierra is so much more than a seat to enjoy a cold beverage. GMC designers transformed the tailgate into an amazingly functional piece of equipment. With a smaller second gate nested within the primary conventional gate, the MultiPro tailgate features six different functions and positions. The primary tailgate is equipped with a torsion spring and damper for smooth, easy raising and lowering. It can be operated with release buttons on the tailgate and on the instrument panel, as well as remotely with the key fob. And that’s just the beginning. The MultiPro can be manipulated to serve as a vertical load stop to extend your bed when the primary gate is down. This is perfect for hauling longer items like kayaks. The inner gate can be lowered to ease access to the cargo box and it can also serve as 48-inchwide step or seat that’s rated for 375 pounds. There’s a hand grab that folds out of the cargo box to make getting in and out of the truck effortless. Finally, and this is infinitely useful for pre-tying rigs or tying flies by the water, the inner gate can be used as a standing-height work surface with a built-in 120-volt electric outlet. This tailgate is super cool. You need to see it to understand the multitude of situations when it could come in handy. For more information on the GMC Sierra AT4 go to GMC.com.
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COASTAL ANGLER Panama City, DESTIN & The Forgotten Coast AUGUST 2019 | www.coastalanglermag.com/panama-city
PUBLISHER Capt. Randy Cnota CO-PUBLISHER Dawna Cnota GRAPHIC ARTS & DESIGN Laura Kelly PHOTOGRAPHY Capt. Randy Cnota CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
e’s ler Magazin Coastal Ang ing. k ce ni r with a Nick Carte
J.R. Mundinger Capt. Chester Reese Capt. Jason Shingler Capt. Daryl Shumate
m Gavin Gonterman fro s xa Te Corpus Christi, ove ngr cranking up ma son. snapper with Capt. Ja
Capt. James Tew Capt. Jordan Todd Paul Tyre Capt. Peter Wright, Jr.
Capt B rett Sh umate sporting a 30 inc h trout. Many big trout ha ve been taken in our bays this yea r.
(229) 834-7880 CoastalAnglerMag.com/Panama-City
Chris Sabo is pumped over this Seminol tilapia...but look at the colors on this fish!
Check out our Facebook Page for fishing videos, pictures, tips and more!
Nicholas and C apt. C-note haulin’ snapper.
es are rothers guid Robinson B ipletail. ns of big tr sackin’ up to
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THE
See this section for forecasts and guide info to put you in the action!
BITEIS
HOT! TREASURE COAST
406_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 1
7/17/19 2:30 PM
Panama City Tides
www.USHarbors.com
Panama City, FL - Aug 2019 High
Date
Low
AM
ft
Thu
10:52
1.9
PM
ft
Rise
Set
9:17
-0.1
6:00
7:37
2
Fri
11:55
1.9
3
Sat
12:55
1.7
9:53
0.1
6:01
7:36
10:12
0.3
6:02
4
Sun
1:55
1.4
7:35
10:02
0.6
6:02
5
Mon
4:14
0.9
3:04
1.2
6:25
7:34
0.8
9:32
0.8
6:03
6
Tue
4:10
1.1
4:51
0.9
10:48
7:34
0.8
7:41
0.8
6:03
7
Wed
4:19
7:33
1.3
3:15
0.6
6:03
8
Thu
7:33
4:39
1.5
4:12
0.3
6:04
9
7:32
Fri
5:26
1.6
5:01
0.2
6:05
7:31
10
Sat
6:29
1.7
5:46
0.1
6:05
7:30
11
Sun
7:30
1.7
6:29
0.1
6:06
7:29
12
Mon
8:25
1.8
7:10
0.1
6:07
7:27
13
Tue
9:14
1.8
7:49
0.2
6:08
7:26
14
Wed
10:00
1.7
8:21
0.3
6:08
7:25
15
Thu
10:43
1.7
8:41
0.4
6:09
7:24
16
Fri
11:23
1.6
8:37
0.5
6:09
7:23
17
Sat
12:01
1.5
8:33
0.6
6:10
7:22
18
Sun
12:38
1.4
8:35
0.7
6:11
7:21
19
Mon
2:57
1.0
1:14
1.2
5:57
0.9
8:20
0.8
6:11
7:20
20
Tue
2:52
1.1
1:50
1.1
7:42
0.9
7:21
0.9
6:12
7:19
21
Wed
2:20
1.2
4:15
0.9
10:20
0.8
6:51
0.9
6:12
7:19
22
Thu
2:26
1.4
2:57
0.7
6:12
7:18
23
Fri
3:00
1.5
3:36
0.5
6:13
7:17
24
Sat
3:50
1.6
4:17
0.4
6:13
7:16
25
Sun
4:57
1.7
4:58
0.2
6:14
7:15
26
Mon
6:20
1.8
5:42
0.1
6:15
7:14
27
Tue
7:42
1.9
6:28
0.1
6:15
7:12
28
Wed
8:55
2.0
7:15
0.1
6:16
7:10
29
Thu
10:05
1.9
8:01
0.2
6:17
7:09
30
Fri
11:16
1.9
8:41
0.4
6:17
7:08
31
Sat
8:53
0.7
6:18
7:07
1
PANAMA CITY / East Bay
PM
12:26
ft
1.7
AM
ft
Moon
We have everything you might need for a great day of fishing.
Hello anglers! August is upon us and most of us know what that means…hot, hot, and more hot! There will be plenty to do out there, as most migratory fish are loving our panhandle water temperatures and bait fish are thriving throughout our bay system. Bay: I would suggest you tie up an arsenal to cover the bases: top-water plugs, soft plastics, slip sinker and free lined rigs for live bait will all produce trout and redfish in the shallows. I suggest early and late, but if you catch the tide moving, you have a good shot any time of the day. I like to work the shallow flats early, then move to docks, bridges and rocks as the day progresses. Plenty of mangrove snapper, redfish, sea bass and others will be caught this month near inshore structure. Live shrimp, and a variety of live baitfish will draw strikes around structure. Also keep a spoon or Gotcha Plug tied up for Dannon Dalton had his those surface disturbances. hands full with this monster GULF: The reefs just offshore spanish mackerel fishing on will be covered with fish. You can the Adrenaline boat. troll duster rigged cigars, free line live cigars or herring, or drop cut and live bait on or near these reefs this month and get bites from many different species of fish. Just remember the closer you are to the bank, the more important it is to rig light and go stealthy. They’ve seen the 8 oz. lead on 100 lb. test leader before. Surf: Sharks will be everywhere! Catch some ladyfish, hard tails or bonito on a spoon or Gotcha Plug, then you have fantastic fresh cut bait. You can also toss that hard tail out there live on a larger surf rod. Be sure you have plenty of line on that reel and a wire stinger on the business end for those big kings. If you are targeting sharks, be sure to check the FWC website for the shark fishing regulations, there have been some recent changes. Pompano will be schooling along our beaches all summer. Sand fleas or shrimp fished on light bottom rigs will produce. Thanks for reading. Fish on! Capt. Jason Shingler Adrenaline On H20 Panama City, FL (850) 348-2282
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(850) 871-1722
bob@lindlselectricmotors.com Conveniently located within minutes of St. George Island & Apalachicola
330 Hwy 98 • Eastpoint, FL 32328 • (850) 670-8808 2 panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast
406_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 2
AUGUST 2019
7016 E. HWY 22 Panama City, FL 32404 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
7/17/19 2:30 PM
BIG ! E M TI
Up Your Bass Fishing Game... Don’t just hire a guide...hire a coach!
• Hone your skills on Lake Seminole, Talquin, Jackson, Deerpoint & the Apalachicola River Capt. Randy Cnota • Learn location and Proven tournament success and years of seasonal applicable pro experience techniques and tactics • Beginner to advanced fundamentals for tournament bass fishing success for young & old alike •
Redfish on the flats too! Bay fishing techniques and tactics to land tournament quality redfish.
229-834-7880
CnoteCharters.com PANAMA CITY BEACH / WEST BAY Backcountry / Bay / Inshore:
Now that most of the crowds are gone and the boat traffic has subsided, it’s time to get out and enjoy some fishing without so much pressure on the fish. This has been a great summer for big trout! The trick is getting after them when that bite window is open. When it’s hot like this, the bite only lasts about 45 minutes and it’s over. Check the tides to see when it is high and falling and be there ready to go when it goes down. It’s hard to beat live bait, but when the bite is on, they will readily hit top-water lures, suspending lures and soft plastics. If the tide movement is early in the morning or late in the afternoon after it has cooled off, don’t miss it. Target them around docks and other shallow structure on and near the grass. Redfish will be hanging in most of the same areas and will eat the same lures. The only difference might be that if you are targeting the redfish around docks, you made need to work your bait closer to the bottom. When rigging baitfish on your hook, remember, most bait fish will swim down if you hook them in the lip and will stay near the surface if they are tail hooked. The really big
offshore:
bull reds are still being caught under the big bridges and in the pass. Small blue crabs work best, but when they start feeding they will hit just about anything. Sheepshead and mangrove snapper are holding near the structures in the bay and are being caught with live shrimp on a lightweight bottom rig. Flounder are being found in their usual spots on sandy ledges, pot holes, and shallow structures. On the beach, tarpon are still cruising and will feed on live baitfish, crabs, soft plastics (white has been working well), and flies. Trolling down the
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
406_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 3
beach and around the buoys is producing some decent king mackerel as well.
Jessy, Landon & Tanner with a monster red drum.
AUGUST 2019
Red snapper season wrapped up last month and that signals the opening of amberjack and triggerfish season…if FWC opens a triggerfish season. Both are plentiful on the wrecks and structures offshore. Standard bottom rigs will do fine. If you can find live cigar minnows they will do great, but live pinfish will do well too. If live bait isn’t an option, the old standard of frozen cigar minnows will put fish in the boat. Don’t forget that gag grouper is still open and are biting well, as are red grouper, scamp, and mangrove snapper. Don’t neglect the weed mats offshore if you come across one. Have a couple of light weight rigs set up for mahi and tripletail because they will be holding to the sargassum. Capt. Daryl Shumate Liquid Native Charters 850-624-6968 Liquidnativecharters.com
panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast 3
7/17/19 2:30 PM
APALACHICOLA RIVER
Fs Bay & OF hOre Fi ts, Come Fish With Us! shing a Fl
VACATION RENTALS BY
850-653-8896 w m ww. floridaredfish.co
Apalachicola Tides
www.USHarbors.com
Apalachicola, FL - Aug 2019 High
Date
Low
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
Thu
6:51
1.7
3:46
2.2
10:42
1.5
Rise
Set
6:58
8:34
2
Fri
7:17
1.7
4:43
2.1
12:10
-0.2
11:40
3
Sat
7:37
1.6
5:42
2.1
12:51
-0.1
12:33
1.4
6:58
8:33
1.2
6:59
4
Sun
7:55
1.6
6:43
1.9
1:27
0.1
8:32
1:24
1.0
7:00
5
Mon
8:13
1.6
7:52
1.7
2:01
8:32
0.3
2:22
0.8
7:00
6
Tue
8:35
1.6
9:27
1.4
8:31
2:32
0.6
3:34
0.6
7:01
7
Wed
9:03
1.7
11:21
1.3
8:29
3:01
0.9
4:55
0.4
7:02
8
Thu
9:38
1.8
8:28
3:26
1.1
6:18
0.2
7:02
9
Fri
10:20
8:28
1.8
7:32
0.1
7:02
10
Sat
8:27
11:08
1.8
8:30
0.0
7:04
11
8:26
Sun
4:36
1.6
12:07
1.8
7:42
1.5
9:18
-0.1
7:04
8:25
12
Mon
4:57
1.6
1:17
1.8
8:41
1.5
10:01
0.0
7:05
8:24
13
Tue
5:18
1.7
2:19
1.9
9:22
1.4
10:42
0.0
7:05
8:23
14
Wed
5:40
1.7
3:08
1.9
10:01
1.4
11:18
0.1
7:06
8:22
15
Thu
6:01
1.7
3:50
1.9
10:41
1.3
11:48
0.2
7:07
8:21
16
Fri
6:19
1.7
4:31
1.9
11:22
1.3
7:07
8:21
17
Sat
6:34
1.7
5:13
1.9
12:12
0.3
12:00
1.2
7:07
8:20
18
Sun
6:47
1.7
5:56
1.8
12:32
0.4
12:35
1.1
7:08
8:19
19
Mon
7:01
1.8
6:42
1.7
12:52
0.5
1:10
0.9
7:08
8:18
20
Tue
7:19
1.8
7:34
1.6
1:15
0.6
1:47
0.8
7:09
8:17
21
Wed
7:41
1.8
8:50
1.4
1:41
0.8
2:33
0.7
7:10
8:15
22
Thu
8:09
1.8
10:38
1.4
2:10
0.9
3:34
0.6
7:11
8:14
23
Fri
8:45
1.8
2:45
1.1
4:55
0.5
7:11
8:14
24
Sat
12:47
1.4
3:34
1.3
6:29
0.3
7:11
8:13
25
Sun
10:27
1.9
7:46
0.2
7:12
8:11
26
Mon
3:47
1.7
11:29
1.9
6:47
1.6
8:41
0.0
7:13
8:09
27
Tue
4:26
1.8
12:41
2.0
8:09
1.6
9:30
-0.1
7:13
8:08
28
Wed
5:00
1.8
1:55
2.1
8:58
1.5
10:17
-0.1
7:14
8:07
29
Thu
5:29
1.8
2:59
2.2
9:43
1.4
11:04
0.0
7:14
8:06
30
Fri
5:51
1.8
3:57
2.3
10:31
1.3
11:47
0.2
7:15
8:05
31
Sat
6:08
1.8
4:57
2.2
11:25
1.1
7:15
8:05
1
9:32
1.9
PM
ft
4 panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast
406_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 4
Moon
AUGUST 2019
I have been able to spend some time on our beloved river since the hurricane and I think it’s safe to say that things have changed. While I cannot say with certainty whether it’s for the better or worse, things have certainly changed. Reports of fish kills around the Dead Lakes area right after the storm have some speculating that the bass population was hurt, but only time will tell if that is true and to what extent. My fishing success has been spotty, but I have had some success. I believe that the high and fluctuating levels have made the bite tough at times, but it seems that it may now be down and stable. This should make for better fishing going into August. With summer upon us, we should expect the river to hover around 4 feet and lower, but rain will obviously determine actual levels. Kyle Pridgen with a giant 9 lb. bass I’ve had better luck he caught on the Apalacchicola in the mid- to upper River. A rare find on this river. stretches pitching a Gambler Ace and a Stick-O around willow trees: dark colors have worked best. On the main run of the river in the current, a spinnerbait is always a good bet and has been producing well, but pitching a heavy weighted creature bait or worm to trees and stumps making current breaks will get plenty of bites as well. Peg a ½ or ¾ oz. weight above a stout flipping hook tied to 65 lb. test braid and get it right into the thickest part of the snags that line the bank. Be ready to hang up a lot with this technique but it will produce some big fish. A big ¾ oz. Gambler Double Weedguard jig tipped with a Mega Daddy craw works great fished the same way. The lower end of the river has produced very few bites for me, and most have resulted in small fish, so if you’re headed that way, I’d suggest trying your luck up higher than Wewahitchka. If you run a high performance bass boat like I do, I suggest you keep the throttle back in many areas until you’ve become very familiar with the changes to sand bars, navigation aids and debris from trees, docks and even derelict boats. Big fish are still there to be had as you can see in this picture of Kyle Pridgen with this 9 pound beast! Fish this size were hard to come by, even before the storm, so this bodes well for the overall health of this awesome and beautiful fishery. Good fishing and God bless. Capt. Randy “C-note” Cnota C-note Charters Panama City, FL cnotecharters.com (229) 834-7880 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
7/17/19 2:30 PM
destination Angler with capt. randy cnota
Epic TripleTail Fishing of Apalachicola Another gian t tripletail caught with Robinson Brothers.
a massive Ali Hall with h Robinson tripletail wit de. rs Brothe Gui
I
f you’ve ever wanted to check the mighty tripletail off of your bucket list, then I can’t think of a better place to do this than Apalachicola, Florida. The population of this fish is extremely healthy in these waters and the captains and crews of Robinson Brothers Guide Service are ready to put you on them. Capt. John Sapp with Robinson Brothers consistently puts his clients on giant tripletail. He credits the area’s abundance of shrimp and other baitfish along with the flow of the Apalachicola River for creating the perfect scenario for tripletail to flourish…and flourish they do! Everyone around here knows these fish like to hang around floating structures, like buoys and channel markers, but John and guides like Capt. Ken Finch have these fish located on deeper and less obvious structures that most don’t know about. All the visible spots get a lot of pressure from anglers and while they will produce fish, hiring a local seasoned guide will greatly increase your odds for a really big fish…or several of them! While the size and numbers of fish that have been coming
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406_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 5
out of this area has been nothing short of amazing, they are heavily pressured. Finding and catching the bigger fish isn’t just as easy as pulling up to a buoy and tossing shrimp out. Understanding their seasonal moves, feeding habits and their locations around deeper structures that hold fish, makes all the difference. These guides know how to read conditions and account for tide and wind currents and know how to piece it all together and time the day perfectly putting clients in the best position for success. Anglers can harvest 2 tripletail over 18 inches, per person, and they are most excellent table fare! Florida fishing has so much more than running out into the deep blue for giant grouper, sailfish or snapper. Our inshore waters, especially the ones here, offer anglers a wide variety of species to pursue like speckled trout, redfish, jack cravelle and tarpon, just to name a few. Get to Apalachicola, Florida soon and check out this insane inshore tripletail action! For more information go to www.floridaredfish.com or call (850) 653-8896. ~ Capt. Randy “C-note” Cnota
AUGUST 2019
panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast 5
7/17/19 2:30 PM
DESTIN / Choctawhatchee BAY The Dog Days of Summer are upon us! For the last month or so it’s been very hot and will remain that way through August. The inshore side of things will be much tougher during these months, but if you put some work in, you can have some great fishing trips. Switch things up and fish deeper water working docks in the bayous and sounds. Fishing different times, like early in the morning, late afternoons, and at night, are the times you’ll want to concentrate on. The most crucial part of catching fish inshore right now is bait. First thing you’ll need is a good cast net and a good live well. With the warmer water it’s tougher to keep bait alive, so have a good live well system with plenty of water flow to oxygenate the water. You can find bait in bayous and around bridges mostly; just look for them schooling up at the top of the water. Once you get your bait, it’s time to go fishing! August has always been a good redfish month and you don’t usually have to go very far from the bait schools you find. Many big redfish will be mixed in with the bait. If you find an area where there’s a bunch of menhaden schools, start right there by working a few of the schools of bait with artificial lures including soft and hard plastics. Fish them deeper, underneath the schools. Fish will often be schooled up underneath the bait and this is the best way to find them. Once you find them, try to stick with that particular bait school. If you aren’t having any luck doing that, ease off into about 5- to 8-ft of water off of a grass bed or shoal and post up. Once you get ready, pitch a few free line menhaden back behind the boat. While you’re doing this, use a net or chum bat to throw out handfuls of live menhaden. Doing this will attract all kinds of fish. More than likely you’ll have to pick through the catfish, bluefish, and ladyfish, but you’ll catch plenty of trout and redfish as well. Once the sun comes up a little more you might see the bite slow. The best thing to do then
Capt. Lionel James putting clients on the tarpon.
is run to nearby bridges or deep water docks and work those with soft plastics. Use a heavy headed jig so you can work the bottom, too. If you do start getting a few bites around the docks or bridge pilings doing this, you can setup again and start chumming the water just like you were doing before on the grass beds. You’ll be surprised at what you can get started. Again, follow the bait because if you find the bait, you’ll find the fish. August is always a terrific month for nearshore/offshore fishing. This time of year we have all kinds of bait stacked in on the beach, which brings a lot of the fish in closer. King mackerel should really start to kick off good this month. Once again, bait is very important when fishing. Start off the morning by catching as many cigar minnows and herring as possible using a Sabiki rig, or you can always get a scoop from one of the bait guys out front. All the inshore wrecks less than 100ft of water will hold plenty of mackerel. Some of the best fishing is right out front within a mile of the pass. The large bait schools gathered on top of the water will have plenty of kings around them. Pitch a
6 panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast
406_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 6
AUGUST 2019
couple of live baits out and slow troll them around the schools and you’ll get some bites. Don’t be scared to run to different places to find them. They’ve been a little sporadic at times this year, so move around to find the bite. Once you find the bite, stick with it. August also brings back amberjack. Amberjack are one of the best fighting fish in the gulf, and are great to eat as well. The right bait is very important with these fish, too. There’s nothing a jack likes more than a live hardtail or blue runner. You can catch these baits just like you catch cigs and herring out front. Fish the lip and buoys with heavier Sabiki rigs and you should be able to catch your share of them. Even if you can only pick a dozen or so of the hardtails, spend the time to do it, but big herring and cigs will get you bites as well. You might have to run a little further offshore (90- to 200- feet) to catch the bigger jacks. Fish the big steel wrecks; anything big and steel usually holds plenty of jacks. Use heavier tackle around the wrecks because it’s much easier to get hung up around that type of structure. Try using a heavy lead
sinker (10- to 14-oz) followed with a long leader (approx. 6 feet) of 80- to 100-lb test, with a 10/0 to 12/0 circle hook. Fish the wrecks higher up in the water, usually about half way down, depending on how deep the water is. Most jacks will hang out up high in the water. Here’s an extra tip: if you catch a bluefish or two while bait fishing, keep them; you’ll get one hell of a bite dropping him down to a jack! August is one of my favorite fishing months for offshore fishing including marlin, dolphin, wahoo, and tuna. Whether the water is blue or not, fishing can still be really good this month so don’t let that slow you down. You don’t have to have a big Sportfisher to catch these fish either. Typically, this time of year, we have a lot of bait push further inshore around the Nipple and into water as shallow as 350 ft. When this happens, things really get cranked up, especially with the white marlin bite. When this happens your fathometer can be your best friend. Pick a starting point and start fishing. While you’re fishing keep a sharp eye on your sounder and any large schools of bait coming off the bottom and mark it. Fish multiple lines with rigged ballyhoo, mullet, and bonito strips. Use light leader, 150-200lb test with a smaller hook which most of the time will get you more hookups. If you start getting cut off by wahoo, you can always swap over to wire leaders. Work these schools of bait for a good while; if you don’t get any bites, move on, but keep that bait marked, you can always come back to it. Also look for big schools of bonito or blackfin tuna. These can have billfish stacked up around them too. Capt. Peter Wright Jr. The Ships Chandler 646 E. Hwy 98 Destin, FL 32541 850-837-9306 www.theshipschandler.com
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7/17/19 2:30 PM
Destin/Choctawhatchee Bay
www.USHarbors.com
Destin (Choctawhatchee Bay, East Pass), FL Aug 2019 High
Date 1
Thu
AM
ft
11:09
1.0
Low
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
10:02
-0.1
6:03
7:40
2
Fri
12:03
0.9
10:39
0.0
6:04
7:40
3
Sat
12:58
0.8
11:03
0.0
6:04
7:39
4
Sun
1:57
0.6
11:04
0.1
6:05
7:38
5
Mon
3:13
0.5
10:18
0.2
6:06
7:37
6
Tue
4:51
0.5
12:33
0.2
6:06
7:37
7
Wed
4:41
0.6
2:51
0.1
6:06
7:36
8
Thu
5:06
0.7
4:09
0.1
6:07
7:35
9
Fri
5:49
0.8
5:14
0.0
6:08
7:35
10
Sat
6:41
0.8
6:13
0.0
6:08
7:34
11
Sun
7:39
0.8
7:07
0.0
6:09
7:32
12
Mon
8:36
0.8
7:53
0.0
6:10
7:31
13
Tue
9:28
0.8
8:31
0.0
6:11
7:30
14
Wed
10:13
0.8
8:59
0.0
6:11
7:29
15
Thu
10:51
0.8
9:17
0.0
6:12
7:28
16
Fri
11:25
0.7
9:26
0.1
6:12
7:27
17
Sat
11:58
0.7
9:27
0.1
6:13
7:26
18
Sun
9:19
0.2
6:14
7:25
19
Mon
8:56
0.2
6:14
7:24
20
Tue
3:54
0.5
8:04
0.2
6:15
7:23
21
Wed
3:34
0.5
12:12
0.2
6:15
7:23
22
Thu
3:42
0.6
1:54
0.2
6:15
7:22
23
Fri
4:12
0.7
3:13
0.1
6:16
7:20
24
Sat
4:59
0.8
4:21
0.1
6:16
7:19
25
Sun
6:00
0.8
5:25
0.0
6:17
7:18
26
Mon
7:07
0.9
6:22
0.0
6:18
7:17
27
Tue
8:13
0.9
7:15
0.0
6:19
7:15
28
Wed
9:17
1.0
8:03
0.0
6:19
7:14
29
Thu
10:19
0.9
8:45
0.0
6:20
7:12
30
Fri
11:21
0.9
9:19
0.1
6:20
7:11
31
Sat
9:38
0.2
6:21
7:10
12:34
0.6
1:19
0.5
2:28
0.4
12:27
0.8
9:54
0.3
Moon
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panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast 7
7/17/19 2:30 PM
lake SEMINOLE
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St. Joe Bay Tides
www.USHarbors.com
Port Saint Joe, FL - Aug 2019 High
Date
Low
AM
ft
Thu
10:25
2.2
PM
ft
Rise
Set
11:22
0.1
6:59
8:35
2
Fri
10:38
2.1
9:53
0.4
3
Sat
4:50
1.0
11:01
1.9
10:39
0.6
7:51
0.3
7:00
8:34
12:20
0.2
6:48
4
Sun
5:20
1.1
11:27
1.6
4:00
1.6
0.9
8:22
11:25
0.9
1:02
0.4
5
Mon
5:51
1.2
11:54
1.3
5:01
7:46
1.3
1:37
0.7
8:45
0.9
6
Tue
6:20
1.3
12:21
1.1
7:04
2:12
1.1
9:58
0.9
2:59
0.9
7
Wed
6:25
9:58
1.4
4:16
0.7
7:02
8:31
8
Thu
9
Fri
5:23
1.6
5:47
0.5
7:03
8:30
5:31
1.8
6:56
0.3
7:04
10
8:29
Sat
6:08
1.9
7:47
0.3
7:04
8:28
11
Sun
6:55
1.9
8:28
0.3
7:05
8:26
12
Mon
7:53
2.0
9:05
0.3
7:06
8:25
13
Tue
9:04
2.0
9:41
0.4
7:07
8:24
14
Wed
9:59
2.0
11:12
0.5
7:07
8:23
15
Thu
10:35
1.9
9:16
0.6
7:04
0.6
7:08
8:22
16
Fri
11:01
1.9
10:01
0.7
12:08
0.6
7:30
0.6
7:08
8:21
17
Sat
4:32
1.1
11:12
1.7
10:28
0.9
12:25
0.7
6:29
1.0
7:56
18
Sun
4:57
1.1
11:14
1.6
12:32
0.8
7:12
1.0
8:21
0.8
7:09
19
Mon
4:58
1.1
3:18
1.4
7:55
1.0
8:43
0.9
7:10
8:18
20
Tue
4:19
1.2
11:41
1.3
4:06
1.3
8:41
1.0
1:47
1.2
8:58
21
Wed
4:34
1.4
12:00
1.1
5:00
1.1
9:40
1.0
2:21
1.0
8:07
22
Thu
5:01
1.5
3:05
0.8
7:11
8:16
23
Fri
5:32
1.7
4:03
0.6
7:12
8:15
24
Sat
6:05
1.8
5:02
0.5
7:12
8:14
25
Sun
6:40
2.0
5:58
0.4
7:13
8:13
26
Mon
7:25
2.1
6:56
0.3
7:13
8:12
27
Tue
8:48
2.1
7:52
0.2
7:14
8:11
28
Wed
10:02
2.2
8:43
0.3
7:15
8:08
29
Thu
10:48
2.2
9:41
0.5
7:16
8:07
30
Fri
3:04
1.1
11:20
2.0
8:56
0.7
4:58
1.0
6:39
0.6
11:11
31
Sat
3:29
1.2
2:38
1.9
9:53
1.0
5:57
0.9
7:10
0.7
7:17
1
PM
ft
AM
ft
8 panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast
406_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 8
Moon
At the time of this writing, and due to recent rains, Lake Seminole is at full pool, and with the rainy and cloudy conditions, has dropped the water temperature down several degrees which has the big bass looking up and feeding on the surface. On recent trips we have had some explosive strikes on a variety of top-water lures like buzz-baits and frogs. The grass is healthy and is growing fast in areas that were devastated from hurricane Michael this past October. As we move into August, a variety of lures should continue to produce. A buzz-bait is a great top-water lure to efficiently cover water and find active areas along the grass lines. My favorite is a 3/8 oz. Strike King Pro model buzz-bait in white. This lure has an extremely sharp hook and a unique sound that drives the bass crazy! Hollow body frogs have been producing for our customers all summer. There are a lot of hollow body frogs on the market. My favorite is a Spro Bronzeye 65 for its durability and action. It’d equipped with a 2x strong Joshua Griffin out with Capt. Paul Tyre Gamakatsu EWG Double on a Lake Seminole Fishing Adventure. Frog Hook that can stand up to a big rod and heavy braided line; which is exactly what you need to get big bass out of the grass. I also recommend Cortland Master Braid because it stays true maintaining its strength, low stretch and color, cast after cast and day after day on the water. Bream fishing has been great this summer, with some bream still bedding and being caught on red wigglers and pitching crickets along the grass lines on the Flint and Chattahoochee River arms of the lake. We have seen many limits brought to the docks at Mac’s Point Lodge and Marina, formerly known as Wingate’s Lunker Lodge. For a Lake Seminole Fishing Adventure give us a call at 850-2647534 or email us paultyrefishing@yahoo.com. Follow us on Instagram @ lakeseminolefishingadventures and Facebook @paultyrefishing. Paul Tyre PaulTyreFishing@yahoo.com 850-264-7534
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AUGUST 2019
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St. Joe Bay / Indian Pass Heat and storms are the name of the game in August. The early riser will have the best chance to beat the heat and afternoon storms this month. The earlier you get started the better, because water temps are at their highest and tides can be slack or extremely high. Live bait is still key in August because most fish, like trout and redfish, are looking for just a few bigger baits to eat and find somewhere to chill out the majority of the day. Large pilchards and medium sized pinfish work very well fished on bottom rigs along the channel edges and deeper grass points in 4-6 feet of water. If using artificials, like plugs and larger swim baits, then slow down your presentation and cover an area more thoroughly because fish will be less aggressive. Presenting that bait several times in a fish’s face can yield a strike. Also be on the lookout for big jack crevalle because they like to cruise the flats in August in large schools crashing baits. Have a large top-water plug, like Rapala Skitterwalk, or large swim baits like a Slayer Inc Paddler in pearl white, Grande Size, tied and ready for when these schools swim by. Most important, remember to apply sunscreen as often as possible and drink plenty of water while on the boat. Capt. Jordan Todd Saltwater Obsessions 850-227-6550
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406_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 9
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850-227-3300
AUGUST 2019
panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast 9
7/17/19 2:30 PM
www.scallopCove.com
lake TALQUIN
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Lake Talquin is one of Florida’s best offshore fishing lakes. With bass caught this year up to 14lbs, you never know how big that fish will be on that first strike when ledge fishing. August will have boats gathered on similar bottom structure from one end of the lake to the other. Just like any other lake in the country, food is where you’ll find the best bass fishing. This means a decent fish finder is a must when targeting deeper bass that hang in and around river channel and main lake ledges. When they feed, there are many different lures and techniques that will work. Don’t head out without a Carolina-rigged worm or lizard, a crank bait and a jig. Those three things are pretty much all you need to fish Talquin in August…but you gotta find ‘em first. Another good thing about fishing here in August is low boat traffic. There may be a tournament or two on a Saturday, but they’re usually done by 2 or 3. Another great thing about August bass is that they tend to stay put for longer periods of time. Current is also important; you may get bit every now and then but when they open the gates the fun begins. Until next month, be safe, have fun and ALWAYS wear a life jacket while boating. JR Mundinger (850) 296-4071 fishtallahassee@yahoo.com
4310 Cape San BlaS Rd., Cape San BlaS, Fl 32456 OPen eveRyday • 850.227.1573
Ridge Faircloth & Chris Kincaid holding Kaylor Kincaid’s winning 12.35 lb bag of Talquin bass in her first tournament. Future champ!
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AUGUST 2019
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7/17/19 2:30 PM
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www.sundermatology.com LAKE JACKSON August bass fishing on Lake areas I look for when I want to bust Jackson is usually better during the a big one. low light hours as water temperatures Heavy duty equipment is needed soar into the 90’s. This year it may to wrestle those big bass out of the be a little different because recent thick grass. Braided line is key: not rains have raised water levels and are only for power but to detect even the keeping temps down in the mid 80’s. slightest of strikes. Weights shaped Pitching and flipping are great like bullets that weigh 1oz or more techniques this time of year, but along with a high speed reel are throwing top-water baits into and needed too. Baits are basic…pretty around submerged vegetation could much anything that resembles a produce even better. Bait fish are crayfish will work. Try different still key to finding bass; find the bait colors to maximize results. and the bass are most likely nearby. Lake Jackson has a great One thing you can’t see swimming population of large bream. Around around that bass absolutely love to certain moon phases, these tasty feed on are crawdads. That’s right! guys make bedding areas that could Most of us think crawdads are just be as large as 200 square feet! Most around rocks and shorelines, but of this type of fishing occurs in the that’s just not the case on Lake Crowder area. It’s shaped like a bowl Jackson. These guys live on lily with heavy shoreline vegetation. The pad stems and, when conditions middle is open water with scattered are right, you can not only catch grass beneath the surface. In monster bass—but many of between those spots is where them! There are places the bream beds are found. where the grass is so thick Find one of them, take a cane you can barely pole and a bucket get your boat in of worms or JR Mundinger position to fish… crickets and get (850) 296-4071 those are the the grease hot! fishtallahassee@yahoo.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
406_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 11
• Full Service Deli Restaurant • Southern Fried Chicken & Pizza • Groceries & Ice • Beer & Wine • Fishing & Hunting Supplies • Feed •Gas & Diesel
Crow’s Corner 29102 n.e. sr 20 Hosford, FL 32334 850-379-8958
AUGUST 2019
Conveniently Located at the Intersection of Blountstown Hwy (SR 20) & Lake Talquin Hwy. (SR 267) Just Minutes from the Famous Lake Talquin. facebook.com/CrowsCorner2003
panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast 11
7/17/19 2:31 PM
St. George Tides
www.USHarbors.com
St. George Island, Sikes Cut, FL - Aug 2019 High
Date 1
AM
ft
Thu
Low
PM
ft
2:41
2.1
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
10:59
0.0
6:58
8:33
11:40
0.2
6:59
8:32
6:59
8:32
2
Fri
6:44
1.7
3:48
2.1
9:49
1.7
3
Sat
6:54
1.7
4:52
1.9
11:18
1.5
4
Sun
7:06
1.7
5:58
1.8
12:17
0.4
12:34
1.3
7:00
8:31
5
Mon
7:27
1.7
7:22
1.6
12:49
0.7
1:54
1.0
7:00
8:30
6
Tue
7:53
1.8
9:04
1.5
1:14
1.0
3:02
0.8
7:01
8:29
7
Wed
8:24
1.9
11:22
1.5
1:29
1.2
4:09
0.6
7:02
8:28
8
Thu
8:57
1.9
1:38
1.4
5:20
0.5
7:02
8:28
9
Fri
9:34
2.0
6:22
0.4
7:03
8:27
10
Sat
10:17
2.0
7:13
0.3
7:03
8:26
11
Sun
11:10
2.0
8:00
0.2
7:04
8:24
12
Mon
8:45
0.2
7:05
8:24
13
Tue
5:19
14
Wed
15
12:11
2.0
1.8
1:08
2.0
8:11
1.7
9:31
0.3
7:05
8:23
5:29
1.8
2:01
2.0
8:49
1.7
10:15
0.3
7:06
8:22
Thu
5:47
1.7
2:53
2.0
9:54
1.6
10:54
0.4
7:07
8:21
16
Fri
6:03
1.7
3:44
2.0
10:38
1.6
11:28
0.5
7:07
8:20
17
Sat
6:13
1.7
4:33
1.9
11:10
1.5
11:57
0.6
7:08
8:19
18
Sun
6:24
1.7
5:20
1.8
11:39
1.4
7:08
8:19
19
Mon
6:42
1.7
6:13
1.7
12:18
0.8
12:16
1.2
7:08
8:18
20
Tue
7:04
1.7
7:25
1.6
12:33
1.0
1:02
1.1
7:09
8:17
21
Wed
7:27
1.7
8:51
1.6
12:50
1.2
1:57
1.0
7:10
8:14
22
Thu
7:50
1.7
10:23
1.6
1:11
1.4
2:55
0.8
7:11
8:13
23
Fri
8:11
1.8
1:30
1.5
4:04
0.7
7:11
8:13
24
Sat
8:37
1.9
5:33
0.6
7:11
8:12
25
Sun
9:15
2.0
6:37
0.4
7:12
8:11
26
Mon
10:08
2.0
7:27
0.3
7:12
8:10
27
Tue
11:25
2.1
8:15
0.2
7:13
8:08
28
Wed
9:05
0.2
7:14
8:07
29
Thu
5:04
30
Fri
31
Sat
12:44
2.1
1.8
1:54
2.2
7:44
1.7
9:55
0.3
7:14
8:06
5:08
1.8
3:03
2.1
8:52
1.6
10:40
0.5
7:15
8:04
5:13
1.8
4:11
2.1
10:14
1.4
11:20
0.7
7:15
8:03
Moon
• Full Line of Groceries • Fresh Produce • Fresh Cut Meats • Fresh Made Pizza • Hot Wings • Full Service Deli- Sandwiches, Subs & Wraps • Liquor | Beer | Wine • Twice The Ice Vending Open 24/7 • Beachwear • Beach Supplies • Clothing • Souvenirs • Gifts • Fishing Gear & Tackle
spearfishing forecast The water is great, with temps in the mid to upper 80s on the top and a few degrees lower at the bottom. The weather should be getting better and the seas calmer and this will make for great diving so, let’s get out there! Red snapper season is over but there are plenty of other fish in the sea. The big grouper are still a little further out, so don’t be afraid to travel longer and dive deeper on some hard bottom. The water visibility has been good on bottom about 30’ to 50’, but the vis in the upper parts of the water column has been less than perfect, only about 3’ to 10’. There is a lot of life on many of the wrecks, like stage 1 and 2, for you to take pictures or even harvest. However, Stage 2 is very close to shore, only about a mile out, and the fish are mostly small but still a great last dive of the day because its only about a 50’ dive. Stage 1, however, is about 12 miles offshore down about Matthew Tew with a 55 inch wahoo 100’ with big mangrove caught 35 miles offshore. snapper, gag grouper and beeliners. One bit of good news, the lionfish in nearshore waters are almost impossible to find. Great job everyone in working to get them out of our beautiful waters. Safety tip: If you want to do repetitive dives, I urge you to plan them very carefully. The best way I have found is to write them out on paper and go back to it throughout the day of the dive to make sure you are diving the plan you and your friends laid out. If you need help with the dive tables, any of the great dive shops in Panama City will be glad to help you. Always PLAN YOUR DIVE AND DIVE YOUR PLAN. Capt. JAMES TEW Kitchen Pass Dive & Fishing Charters 850-896-6476
Book Your Fishing Adventure Today! Grouper
Cobia
Kings
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At Cape San Blas Coffee & Ice Cream
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Redfish
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CnoTeChArTers.Com 12 panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast
406_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 12
AUGUST 2019
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
7/17/19 2:31 PM
Pro's Corner with capt. randy cnota
TriggerFish and the Need for the
Here’s Capt. C-note’s Speed Drop rig, made with a 6’ length of 100 lb. test mono, an 8/0 circle hook and a 10 oz. weight.
‘Speed Drop’
R
ecent harvest regulations on triggerfish have had a huge impact on the population in our area waters. Whether you feel like that impact is positive or negative, it doesn’t change the fact that our reefs are covered with them. This population explosion has, for many, created a bit of a problem; you can hardly get any bait, live or dead, to the bottom, where snapper and grouper bite, without being robbed by droves of hungry triggerfish on the way down. The best trick I’ve found to get my bait past the suspended triggers and presented to more desirable fish, is speed. This is a simple concept that basically amounts to heavier weights, but I’d like to share a few tips that may help you. There are many times where a finesse approach is needed; especially when fishing heavily pressured nearshore spots. In the past I’ve used light weights (2- to 5- ounces) and light leaders (30 lb. test or so) while reef fishing nearshore, but anymore these rigs just result in a hook picked clean by triggers before it even gets anywhere near the bottom. My answer has been to increase weight and leader sizes. Grouper are typically not line or tackle shy and if you can get a big live bait to the bottom, they’ll often eat it regardless of leader or weight size. Big snapper have been falling for this approach regularly as well. Tie a heavy duty swivel to your main line, attach your leader of 100 lb. test mono, or bigger, to the other end of swivel, then slide a 10 ounce or bigger egg sinker onto the line and tie your circle hook to the end of the leader that should measure about 6 feet or more…that’s it! If you nose hook your live bait it will fall faster and again, this is the goal. Drop this rig as fast as your reel will allow. Once at the bottom allow some slack in you line so the bait can swim away from the weight a short distance. Once hooked up, that fish has a good chance at getting into the reef or other structures so try to get the fish moving up COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
406_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 13
Capt. C-note with a fine snapper caught nearshore with a Speed Drop rig and a nose-hooked live cigar minnow.
as quickly as possible with rapid rod lifts and fast reeling. The reason I suggest the heavy leader line is because even if the fish does get into a snag, the heavy line can sometimes survive the abrasion and with persistence, you can even dislodge them and reel them to the boat. The snapper you see in this illustration was literally hung inside the reef for 10 minutes or more, before I got her turned and coming to the boat. The 100 lb. test mono leader barely survived, but I can assure you a 50 lb. or less would not have made it. I’ve had success in using leaders as big as 300 lb. test, and that size line stands up very well to the abrasive structures that grouper and snapper like to run into. Sometimes the simplest approach is the best, and this is a very simple approach: speed, heavy weight and heavy line will get you more fish in the boat and less bait donated to triggerfish. AUGUST 2019
panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast 13
7/17/19 2:31 PM
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Carrabelle, Dog Island & St. George Sound Heat and rain have made some fishing rather slow. The trout bite, however, has been fantastic on the flats from Alligator Point to the inside of St. George Island. Some of the biggest catches come from using a popping float with a lure attached to 3 feet of leader. Artificial baits and shrimp attached to the jig sweetens the deal. Redfish are on the same flats but they like a higher tide and can readily be caught on top water plugs. It sure is fun to see a red crash a surface bait. Try the mornings since the water heats up pretty quickly this time of year. Tripletail have been the best success story this year. We usually don’t find them on this side of the Sound, but this year it has been really good. They love to hang around any floating structure like a trap buoy or a navigation post. Besides a really good eating fish, they also give you a good fight on light tackle…I guess that’s because of the three tails! Offshore is strong this month for trolling baits and artificials due to the currents that spin off the deeper Gulf. Wahoo, dolphin (mahi) and tuna follow the sargasso weed since it holds flying fish and other prey. Inshore, the Spanish mackerel are all over Dog Island Reef along with some nice cobia when you can find them. The surf is holding lots of silver trout and you can take a swim if the fishing gets too hot. Remember to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. Good luck out there and be safe. And on another note from Capt. Chester… Being on the water is great fun and can be a wonderful experience for friends and family, but there are those who would spoil it. Last month we were running in from Dog Island and approaching the Carrabelle Harbor entrance when a boatload of young men passed me and sent a wake that almost swamped my new flats skiff. Luckily, my customer hung on and I was able to control the skiff by powering out and off to the side of the channel. They kept going to the ramp and did not even respond to the near collision. Just another weekend day on the Carrabelle River I suppose! We hear numerous stories of boats encroaching on anchored vessels just to take a GPS position and not caring that, besides being rude, there is a safety issue. Collisions between boats are one of the most dangerous events that lead to fatalities in Florida waters. By law, vessels must be 100 feet away from other boats and approach at idle speed. The increase in speed of outboard motored boats has made the reaction time for operators tight. Many operators only get limited time on the water with no formal training. This, coupled with alcohol, makes for some scary close calls or worse. You may be the best fisherman there ever was but if you do not practice good seamanship and courtesy on the water you are just another GUGAN….please don’t be one of those. Capt. Chester Reese Natural World Charters www.naturalworldcharters.com (850) 228-9060
Capt. Chester holding a jack crevalle caught by Sherry Schmitt.
14 panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast
406_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 14
AUGUST 2019
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
7/17/19 2:31 PM
Carrabelle Tides
www.USHarbors.com
Carrabelle, FL - Aug 2019 High
Date
C-Quarters Marina C a R R a b E l l E , F l O R i da
Low
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
1
Thu
5:26
2.8
2:21
3.5
8:29
2.4
9:57
-0.4
6:57
8:32
2
Fri
5:52
2.7
3:18
3.4
9:27
2.2
10:38
-0.2
6:57
8:31
3
Sat
6:12
2.6
4:17
3.3
10:20
1.9
11:14
0.1
6:58
8:31
4
Sun
6:30
2.6
5:18
3.0
11:11
1.6
11:48
0.5
6:59
8:30
5
Mon
6:48
2.6
6:27
2.6
12:09
1.3
6:59
8:30
6
Tue
7:10
2.6
8:02
2.3
12:19
1.0
1:21
1.0
7:00
8:28
7
Wed
7:38
2.7
9:56
2.1
12:48
1.4
2:42
0.7
7:00
8:27
8
Thu
8:13
2.8
1:13
1.8
4:05
0.4
7:00
8:27
9
Fri
8:55
2.9
5:19
0.1
7:01
8:26
10
Sat
9:43
2.9
6:17
-0.1
7:02
8:25
11
Sun
3:11
2.5
10:42
2.9
5:29
2.4
7:05
-0.1
7:02
8:25
12
Mon
3:32
2.6
11:52
2.9
6:28
2.4
7:48
-0.1
7:03
8:24
13
Tue
3:53
2.7
12:54
3.0
7:09
2.3
8:29
0.0
7:04
8:22
14
Wed
4:15
2.7
1:43
3.1
7:48
2.2
9:05
0.2
7:05
8:21
15
Thu
4:36
2.7
2:25
3.1
8:28
2.1
9:35
0.4
7:05
8:20
16
Fri
4:54
2.8
3:06
3.0
9:09
2.0
9:59
0.5
7:06
8:19
17
Sat
5:09
2.8
3:48
3.0
9:47
1.9
10:19
0.7
7:06
8:18
18
Sun
5:22
2.8
4:31
2.9
10:22
1.7
10:39
0.8
7:07
8:17
19
Mon
5:36
2.8
5:17
2.7
10:57
1.5
11:02
1.0
7:07
8:16
20
Tue
5:54
2.9
6:09
2.5
11:34
1.3
11:28
1.2
7:08
8:15
21
Wed
6:16
2.9
7:25
2.3
12:20
1.1
11:57
1.5
7:09
8:14
22
Thu
6:44
2.9
9:13
2.2
1:21
0.9
7:09
8:12
23
Fri
7:20
2.9
2:42
0.8
7:09
8:12
24
Sat
8:07
3.0
4:16
0.5
7:10
8:11
25
Sun
9:02
3.0
5:33
0.3
7:10
8:10
26
Mon
2:22
2.7
10:04
3.1
4:34
2.6
6:28
0.0
7:11
8:09
27
Tue
3:01
2.8
11:16
3.2
5:56
2.6
7:17
-0.1
7:11
8:08
28
Wed
3:35
2.9
12:30
3.4
6:45
2.5
8:04
-0.1
7:12
8:06
29
Thu
4:04
2.9
1:34
3.6
7:30
2.3
8:51
0.0
7:13
8:05
30
Fri
4:26
2.9
2:32
3.6
8:18
2.1
9:34
0.3
7:14
8:03
31
Sat
4:43
2.8
3:32
3.6
9:12
1.8
10:13
0.6
7:14
8:02
12:32
1.8
Moon
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406_Panama_City_FINAL.indd 15
AUGUST 2019
panama city, DESTIN & THE forgotten coast 15
7/17/19 2:31 PM
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NORTH FLORIDA 5
THE MOST INTENSE PART OF THE TRIP shouldn’t be the drive there.
We have nine convenient locations where ever the fish are biting. Chiefland: 352.493.2533 (Open 7 Days a Week) Cedar Key: 352.543.6601 Dunnellon: 352.489.3391 Newberry: 352.472.3596 Williston: 352.528.5111
Bronson: 352.486.1050 Cross City: 352.498.5546 Inglis: 352.447.6000 Trenton: 352.463.7500
100 N.E 23rd Avenue, Gainesville FL 32609 • 352-372-4900 6 NORTH FLORIDA
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NORTH FLORIDA 7
CA_HMY_NFLJAX 7_19 submission.qxp_Layout 1 7/15/19 12:24 AM Page 1
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, KINGFISH BACK TO THE BASICS Photos by Gene Dyer
By Gene Dyer
K
6 barrel swivel. I like to stay on the long side with my leader to be a bit stealthier. This step will help to avoid line twist, especially when using a spinning reel. Now it’s time to put together some rigs. You’ll need some #5 stainless steel, coffee-colored wire, and depending on the bait that is available, octopus hooks ranging from 3/0 to 7/0 and some treble hooks in size 4 and 6. If you are using smaller baits like pilchards, you’ll want to use a smaller main hook and smaller treble hook for your stinger. For bigger baits like goggle eyes, blue runners and speedos, step up your hook size for your main hook and stinger. Use a haywire twist to attach a 20inch length of wire to the main hook. Don’t over do it, as four to five twists on a 45-degree angle will suffice. Finish off your haywire with three to four straight wraps to secure the connection. Now it’s time to attach your stinger to the main hook. Again, depending on the size of your bait, attach 4 to 8 inches of wire to your stinger hook with a haywire twist and then attach the other end of your stinger rig to the eye of the main hook with another haywire twist. It’s extremely important to rig your stinger with enough slack so that your bait will swim naturally. Now you are ready to attach your rig to your leader. Use an albright knot to connect your rig to your leader. If you don’t know how to tie an albright knot, do an Internet search and plenty of pages and videos will pop up. You can fish this setup a couple of different ways. If you will be drifting, fish at least two rods. You’ll want one bait on the surface and one deeper, from 30 to 60 feet. Send your surface bait out first and allow it to swim away from the boat. You can attach a balloon to your main line to help keep track of where your bait is. Depending on conditions, add 4 to 8 ounces of lead to your deep rod. Slip your lead on above the swivel or attach it to the main line with a rubber band. If you utilize the rubber band method, it’s highly likely that you’ll lose your sinker on the strike. These rigs can also be used for slow trolling baits. Slow trolling can help determine what depth the fish are in. Start trolling in about 60 feet and head out to 200 feet and then back to 60 feet. Once you find the fish, set up your drift at the depth. When kingfish strike, they typically go on a long run away from the boat. Take your time and slowly work the fish toward the boat. Don’t be surprised if you get it close and it takes off on another short run after it sees the boat. Let the fish run and tire out. You should then be able to get your fish back to the boat for a gaff shot to the head.
ing mackerel are aggressive predators with extremely sharp teeth. To catch them with consistency, you must prepare accordingly. Though there are many ways to rig your rods for kingfish, I’d like to focus on a few techniques that have worked for me over the years. These techniques can be utilized on both spinning and conventional tackle. To start, you’re going to want a rod in the 7-foot range that has a sensitive tip, so you can feel the bite, but also some backbone to turn the head of a smoker that just peeled off 100 yards of line in 20 seconds. Sometimes, a big king will swim right back at the boat after a blistering run, and you will have a better chance of coming tight with a higher speed reel. You’ll want nothing less than a 5-to-1 gear ratio. When it comes to line choice, you can certainly spool your reels with braided line, but I prefer 20- to 30-pound monofilament, as I’m kind of old school and learned to fish for kingfish before braid became so popular. That said, you’ll want to connect your main line to Gene Dyer is co-publisher of Coastal Angler Magazine’s Fort Lau4 to 10 feet of 40- or 50-pound fluorocarbon leader with a size 4 or derdale edition. Contact him at gene@coastalanglermagazine.com. 14
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FLY FISHING 16
CHUMMING UP MAKO SHARKS One of the greatest adversaries on the fly rod in saltwater is the shortfin mako shark. The mako is considered by many as the fastest of all sharks, but what makes this great gamefish stand out is not only its fighting ability but its tendency to leap 20 feet in the air once hooked! The mako shark is one of saltwater fly-fishing’s outstanding but unappreciated gamefish. Found on both in the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, a smaller mako in the 20- to 30-pound range can be perfect for the beginning saltwater fly fisherman; of course, fishing for sharks is a tad different than fishing for bluegills in your Uncle Ned’s farm pond. First, you’ll need a boat, preferably a boat over 18 feet that can handle fairly choppy seas. Most center-consoles will do; however, a skiff with a beam of 8 feet or wider and a not-too-deep V will settle in the water better and reduce pitch and roll to a minimum, guaranteeing a much more stable casting platform. A chum line is the most effective way of attracting makos into casting distance of your boat. Chumming attracts the larger makos and will allow you to sight-cast to them. Into a chum bag, place the belly sections or fresh carcasses of tuna, bluefish or bonito. Then place the bag into a milk crate or five-gallon bucket, lower this mess by rope over the side and listen for the musical score from the movie “Jaws” to begin. You won’t have long to wait once that chum slick begins to spread. Ideally, you should use fresh carcasses, but store-bought chum will suffice. One bit of important advice: Less is more when chumming; you don’t
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SEATECH MARINE KE SERIES ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROLS
Many boaters spend a small fortune repowering their boats, which makes sense considering the engine is one of the most important components. However, most people
fail to then upgrade their old engine controls. KE+ electronic engine controls should be your next step to refitting your boat. The technology cultivated through 40 years of producing the highest quality controls for marine commercial vessels, fishing vessels, yachts and small pleasure craft goes into the KE Series electronic engine controls. Guaranteed to provide the helmsman unequivocal reliability, ease of use and comfort, the KE Series electronic engine controls are perfect for installation in nearly every marine vessel. Contact Seatech Marine Products toll free at 866-456-1379 for more information, pricing and dealer opportunities. www.seatechmarineproducts.com
Canada Meds of Sumter County
Want to stay out of the donut hole?
Call or Visit 352-569-1484 • fax 352-569-1485 ON ALL INTERNATIONAL ORDERS * GREATER THAN $150
FREE SHIPPING
VIAGRA 100MG GEN -$4 EACH 512 N. MAIN ST CIALIS 20MG GEN - $5 EACH Eliquis 2.5mg 180 Tab Brand $239.72 BUSHNELL, FL 33513 Xarelto 20mg 84 Tab Brand $240.72 Symbicort 200/6MCG GEN 3X120 Dose Inhaler $130.87
BIG ICE TRAYS
MAKE YOUR OWN ICE!
-Makes six 4” Cubes -10 lbs. of Ice per Tray -Last twice as long! -No more plastic bags -Save money by easily reusing
bigice.com contact@bigice.com
contact@bigice.com | 504-710-7766
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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AUGUST 2019
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NATIONAL
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CAT TRAILER Headquarters
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World’s Original Manufacturer of Aluminum Immersible Boat Trailers.
Now Offering Catamaran Trailers. 772-562-5114 www.floatonparts.com 18
NATIONAL
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AUGUST 2019
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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
Steel Yourself
Limited Collector’s Edition
At $59, this blade of legendary Damascus steel is a real steal
D
amascus steel is the stuff of legend. Using a technique first mastered in the ancient city, swords made from Damascus steel were known to slice gun barrels in half and separate single strands of hair in two, even if the hair simply floated down onto the blade. Now, you can be a part of the legend. The 7 ½" August Knife features a blade of modern Damascus steel, inspired by the production techniques and legends of history. Damascus steel blade knives can cost thousands. So, at $59, the price itself is also legendary.
What customers are saying about Stauer knives...
êêêêê “Very hefty, well-built knife and sheath. Extremely goodlooking and utilitarian.”
Once a lost art, we sought out a knifemaker who — R., Lacey, Washington has resurrected the craftsmanship of Damascus steel to create the August Knife. The elusive, ancient production technique mixes different steel alloys to form a super steel–– the outcome is a beautiful one-of-a-kind pattern of banding and mottling reminiscent of flowing water. With the August Knife you’re getting the best blade money can buy. What you won’t get is the inflated price tag. We know a thing or two about the hunt–– like how to seek out and capture an outstanding, collector’s-quality knife that won’t cut into your bank account. Limited availability. Only a handful of artisans make these blades, with each handcrafted knife taking months to perfect. We currently can get less than 1500 this year, so we can’t promise they’ll stick around for long–– especially at this price. Call today! Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price. But we believe once you wrap your fingers around the August’s handle and experience the BONUS! Call today and you’ll also receive this beauty of its Damascus steel blade, you’ll be ready genuine leather sheath! to carve out your own legend.
August Knife non offer code price $149*
Offer Code Price Only $59 + S&P Save $90
1-800-333-2045
TAKE 60 % OFF INST ANTLY! When you use
Not shown actual size.
your
INSIDER OFFER CO DE
Your Insider Offer Code: AGK282-01 You must use the insider offer code to get our special price.
Stauer
®
14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. AGK282-01 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com
*Discount is only for customers who use the offer code versus the listed original Stauer.com price.
Rating of A+
• 7 ½" overall length • Genuine Damascus steel blade • Stainless steel guard • Leather handle • Includes genuine leather sheath
Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.™
Start the new boating season off right with the Ultimate 4-Stroke Outboard from Suzuki. Buy during our Spring Sales Event and get Suzuki’s 3-Year Limited Warranty plus 3 years of Extended Protection at no extra charge.There are Instant Savings on select models, and Low-Rate Financing is also available. See your participating Suzuki Marine dealer for all the details.
3 Years Limited Warranty + 3 Years Extended Protection
Six Years of Protection at no extra charge on all new outboards 25 to 350 HP.
INST
ANT SAVIN GS SAV
SELECE RIGHT N T SUZ UKI O OW ON UTBO ARDS
REPOWER FINANCE
Instant Savings on select models when you buy during this promotion. See your dealer for details.
Rates as low as 5.99% on new Suzuki outboards on approved credit.* [60 Months]
To learn more, visit www.suzukimarine.com. Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 04/01/19 and 06/30/19 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. Instant Savings apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 04/01/19 and 06/30/19. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Instant Savings must be applied against the agreed-upon selling price of the outboard motor and reflected in the bill of sale. (Suzuki will, in turn, credit Dealer’s parts account.) 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 04/01/19 and 06/30/19. “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. © 2019 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
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