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Heads Of Cold Steel Winter Steelheading In Upstate New York By Frank Geremski -The Angler Magazine of Upstate NY publisher
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inter steelhead fishing can be chilling, but once you hook into a 10-pound, lightning-fast bolt of silver, your blood will be boiling. The speed and explosion are what lures steelheaders to expose themselves to harsh Great Lakes winters. And there’s more. On Upstate New York’s Salmon River, there are plenty of beautiful, large, lake-run brown trout mixed in. Plus, today’s lightweight protective clothing provides comfort between strikes. The Salmon River in Oswego County, N.Y. (www.visitoswegocounty.com) offers consistent steelhead fishing during the late fall, winter and spring. In fact, the river has runs of trout and salmon from Lake Ontario all year long. With many quality tributaries along its length and a hatchery, this highquality wilderness river once was home to a legendary Atlantic salmon run. Rebounding populations of Atlantics still exist due to restoration projects, but Pacific salmon dominate the scene in late summer and fall. Huge chinook salmon, some heavier than 30 pounds, and coho salmon run up 14 miles of prime spawning and fishing waters each fall. A good number of steelhead (rainbow trout) follow the salmon to feed on the eggs dropped during this legendary fall salmon run. The steelhead feed aggressively during the salmon run, and they remain in this beautiful blue-ribbon river all winter, providing more than six months of explosive action. Winter thaws and early spring rains invite the remaining Lake Ontario steelhead to spawn and join their riverwintering kin. It’s a truly dynamic trophy trout experience. The Salmon River holds big fish. Ten-pound steelhead are commonplace. Fish in the teens are a definite possibility, and persistent steelheaders get chances every year on specimens in the 20-pound range. When salmon first enter the Salmon River in September and October, steelhead and lake-run brown trout mix in with pacific salmon making their spawning run. Both trout species feed on salmon eggs, and just when the salmon die off, the brown trout begin to spawn. Their eggs supplement the steelheads’ diet. Large numbers of giant trout and steelhead winter in the river, with additional fish running up from Lake Ontario all winter and early spring. When they first enter the river, these brightly colored bullets aggressively strike offerings like egg sacks, bright Estaz flies or beads that imitate eggs. Midriver matriculation brings them past the village of Pulaski, where there are about 10 miles of mostly public fishing access to deep holes, runs, rapids and every kind of trout water. Several high-quality tributaries flow in along the way and provide excellent spawning grounds up to what’s considered the upper section of the river. Natural reproduction does occur, and New York state operates a large hatchery on the upper end of the Salmon River. Since the Salmon River is a tailwater, this upper section is fishable all winter and never ices up. With egg availability diminishing, the winter steelhead diet evolves to more nymphs and stoneflies. Fly fishing is effective yet challenging. This section of river is ideal for fighting and landing large fish, with catch and release encouraged. Many trophy steelhead in the teens are photographed for replica mounts, and brown trout in the 5- to 10-pound range are caught regularly, with fish in the teens a possibility. 8
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The Salmon River has a reputation for tight quarters during the peak of the salmon run. Crowds diminish during winter steelhead season. Weekdays bring even less competition. Two very select permit-only resort properties are located on the two best sections of river offering managed access and exclusive riverside lodging. On the upper river, The Tailwater Lodge in Altmar, N.Y. has private southside access to Schoolhouse Pool and the runs and holes above and below. This is the prime wintering spot for a large percentage of steelhead and the best access for ice-free angling. The Tailwater is an Orvis-endorsed lodge, which includes an on-site fly shop, “The Woodshed.” Zero Limit Adventures Guide Service, also Orvis endorsed, has a collaborative relationship with Tailwater Lodge and provides outstanding guidance to this section and the entire Salmon River. They’ll get you dialed into current river conditions and what the fish are feeding on. The Tailwater Lodge’s opulent accommodations coupled with their location on the river and exclusive access make it the Mecca for Salmon River steelheading. This large section of river provides various speeds of current and holding water with ice-free conditions all winter. Tactics for hooking these giants include fly fishing, spinning, float fishing and center-pin techniques. The Angler Magazine highly recommends booking an experienced licensed guide on your first day to instruct you on equipment, fly or bait selection and technique. Allow Tailwater Lodge (www.tailwaterlodge.com) and Zero Limit Adventures (www. zerolimitadventures.com) ease the entry into this elite pursuit. Douglaston Salmon Run (DSR) manages more than 2 1/2 miles of exclusive access in the lower end of the Salmon River where steelhead first enter from Lake Ontario. Early steelhead action can be fast and furious. Winter access is dependent on weather conditions, as the middle and lower sections of the Salmon River get slushy or iced over during mid-winter cold speels. DSR (www. douglastonsalmonrun.com) publishes an accurate and honest daily report that functions as a great information source for river conditions and fish movement. The highly challenging adventure of hooking and battling your first 10-pound-plus Great Lakes steelhead will certainly not be your last. This divine experience will put you in a league of sportsmen who are the only ones to understand this trophy steelhead quest. It’s a feeling like the adrenaline rush of your first buck or sailfish. This heart-pounding adventure on a beautiful river will provide a memory that can be yours forever. To check out the “Men of Steel” video, go to
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12/15/16 3:09 PM
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Editor’s Note: Each month, Coastal Angler Magazine and The Angler Magazine staff search our vast coverage area for photos that will grace our covers. With well over a million readers in diverse coastal and inland markets, our magazines strive for broad national appeal as well as local-level intelligence to put anglers on fish. The cover is different depending on which edition you, the reader, are holding. The following is a little information about this month’s covers.
COASTAL ANGLER MAGAZINE Houma, Louisiana
FREE
The big black drum on the cover of Coastal Angler’s January editions was caught by Banging The Drums Of Jacki Shae, whose south Florida upbringing Houma, La. taught her a love of fishing from an early age. Winter Chrome In On a recent ladies-only fishing trip to the Upstate N.Y. marshes around Houma, Louisiana, Jacki learned a newfound respect for black drum. Local This often overlooked cousin to the everpopular red drum might not be much on looks, but it puts up a heck of a fight and grows even larger than the big bull reds prized by so many anglers. Rumor has it the fish on the cover was caught with one of those kids’ Barbie rods spooled with 30-pound test. With tutelage from their guide Brittney Novalsky, the ladies also did battle with some of the big redfish Louisiana is famous for. Four young women staying on a houseboat and hauling big fish from the Louisiana mud… what more could anyone ask for from a fishing expedition?
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The covers of this month’s editions of The Angler feature a beautiful chrome steelhead Winter Chrome In caught by Zero Limit Adventures Guide Rob Upstate N.Y. Reynolds. The photo was taken by Zero Limit Banging The Drums Of Adventures Guide Matthew DeRosa. The fish was caught on the Salmon River in Oswego County, New York. To learn more Local about this fantastic fishery view this month’s article “Heads of Cold Steel” by The Angler Magazine Upstate New York publisher Frank Geremski. Zero Limit’s diverse team of guides offer tailored trips of a lifetime and expertly fish many tributaries of central and western New York. They can be reached by e-mail via mderosa@zerolimitadventures.com by phone at 585-766-2421, or view their website at www.zerolimitadventures.com. Zero Limit has a collaborative relationship with the opulent Tailwater Lodge www.TailwaterLodge.com in Oswego County. Tailwater Lodge offers exclusive access and wonderful accommodations on the banks of the Salmon River, home of legendary trophy salmon, steelhead and brown trout runs from Lake Ontario. Call Tailwater Lodge for availability and reservations at 315-298-3434. To learn more about Lake Ontario, the Salmon River and Oswego County fishing go to www. visitoswegocounty.com or call 1-800-248-4FUN. Houma, La.
Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events
PHOTO COURTESY OF ZERO LIMIT ADVENTURES GUIDE MATTHEW DEROSA VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 264
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LADIES DRUM UP ACTION IN THE LOUISIANA MARSH By Jacki Shea
I
find myself staying in the strangest places when I go on fishing adventures. But as long as it involves fishing, sleeping on a couch or on the ground really doesn’t matter. On this particular trip, my friends and I found ourselves in a small houseboat on a river in the Louisiana marshes west of New Orleans. It was tiny, there was only one bathroom (picture four girls trying to use one bathroom), and the bed sheets smelled like a man after a long day of fishing. You might be wondering what brought us to such a place, and I will give you two very good reasons: redfish and black drum. Enormous specimens of these two drum species come into the marsh each fall and winter, 20 to 30 pounds to be more specific. If you plan on making the trip to Louisiana to do some inshore fishing, it is not necessary to stay on a houseboat; however, I highly recommend it. When
you wake up each morning, you are on the water ready to fish with your boat tied up next to you. Of the drum family, redfish seem to be the most popular inshore species. Redfish are always a great fight, especially the big bulls. But many anglers seem to overlook black drum, which are sometimes referred to as a “mud donkeys.” It is not an attractive fish, nor is it great for eating; therefore, it is not commonly targeted. This fish does, however, grow the largest of the drum species, and it fights with the same action and power as a bull red. Now that I’ve caught a few, I believe black drum can look very pretty once the Louisiana sun hits those scales just right. Redfish and black drum are thick in the Louisiana marshes all year, but the season for the monsters runs from September to January, when big fish move from offshore into the marsh following migrating baitfish. When the baitfish show up inshore, the big fish won’t be far behind. For bait you can use live or artificial depending on whether you are trying to sight fish or just toss a line out and wait. On our trip, we used a standard knocker rig, with an egg sinker and a hook, and sank split live blue crabs and shrimp to the bottom and waited. The fishing is quite simple when you know where the fish are, although a guide is recommended for those unfamiliar with the waters because it’s easy to get lost in the marsh. Keep an eye out for cold fronts. The cold fronts clean up the water and bring the fish closer to the surface, which makes for perfect sight fishing. The fish also enjoy the cooler inshore water, so they will be more abundant and active. Check out Jacki’s YouTube channel Jacki Shea Fishing for videos of her fishing adventures. Her guide for the Louisiana trip was Brittney Novalsky who can be contacted through www.fishingadventureswithbrittney.com. For more fishing with Jacki Shea, go to
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By Tom Karrow Researcher Tom Karrow assessing fishery health in Abaco with a Bahamian angling guide from the Delphi Club. Photo by Andrew O’Neill
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hen I first started fly fishing in the 80s, the sport was not nearly as popular as it is today. Shops carrying fly tackle were sparse, people with knowledge of the sport were few and far between and getting lessons was nearly impossible. When I think back to those days, recalling the number of flies I lost in trees, the frequent tangles I developed and the shear lack of fish I caught, it is a wonder that I kept with it. Indeed, if it were not for the fly tying component of the sport, I might well have thrown in the towel. I love fly tying; being able to create something to fool fish with is a marvelous achievement. In contrast to my early fly fishing days, today there is a seeming abundance of information on the sport, from equipment, to angling destinations; everyone seems to have some insights. On top of this has been the advent of the Internet, a treasure trove of information and misinformation. The fact of the matter is, fly fishing is not nearly as complicated as it may seem. It is simply a form of fishing that allows for lightweight or nearly weightless “lures” to be used, which without the added weight in the line could not be presented to a fish. In some cases, fly fishing is a far superior method for fooling fish and in others, deep waters for example, far more challenging. When it comes to heavily pressured or sensitive fish, especially those inhabiting shallow inshore waters, I would argue fly fishing can often out-produce other techniques. Being able to imperceptibly drop a fly in front of fish when they are used to loud splashes from heavy lures or live baits can often result in fooled fish. Fly fishing is sometimes called an art, perhaps because of the apparent delicateness of the cast, the manner in which the line travels out over the water, or because many incorrectly, consider it hard. So let me correct this fallacy. Fly fishing is not hard, it does not need to be complicated and it can be very easily learned. If you really want to learn to fly fish, I would suggest a trip to the Bahamas. The weather is beautiful, the waters are stunning, and the people, culture and food are marvelous. The chance of catching fish is very high, as the guides are great instructors and a week’s worth of fly fishing immersion would provide incredible advancement in understanding and skill level. Throughout my travels in the Bahamas, I have met many wonderful guides and visited many top-notch facilities. To highlight one Bahamian guide or lodge is simply impossible. However, when it comes to learning the sport, be honest. When booking a trip to a lodge, perhaps directly or through a travel company like Yellow Dog Fly Fishing or Frontiers International, tell them what you want. Tell them you are a beginner. Tell them you want to learn. Through this strategy, those in the know will put you with facilities and personnel best suited to an instructional 12
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Great equipment meets great Bahamian culture. Photo by Tom Karrow
environment. You want a location that offers everything, lodging and food of course but also equipment, casting lessons, fly tying lessons, safety instruction along with patient and professional guides. One common thread that has become apparent through my research in the Bahamas is the respect that Bahamians have for travelers, specifically bonefish anglers. Bahamians openly welcome tourists, recognizing the importance that bonefishing has on local Family Island communities. Bonefishing on some Bahamian islands provides employment for up to 80 percent of the local population. With that level of economic importance, industry professionalism is critical along with healthy fisheries. In the Bahamas you will find both a high degree of angling knowledge and amazing fisheries. The Bahamas are certainly an excellent place to consider taking a trip and a phenomenal place to learn to fly fish. What I find most attractive about the Bahamas is the shear diversity available. With more than 700 islands, there is something for everyone. And for anglers, old and new, there are always new opportunities to learn from. Tom Karrow is a sustainable tourism scholar from the University of Waterloo. His research focuses on the Bahamian bonefishing industry, centered on the guides and their knowledge, stories and experiences. For more on his research see: http://tomkarrow.wixsite.com/bahamasguide-tek, and follow Coastal Angler Magazine for updates and more. Tom Karrow can be reached at tkarrow@uwaterloo.ca or tomkarrow@ gmail.com. For more Bonefishing in the Bahamas, go to
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no weight reduction had gone into the components above the handle. The guides were large and weighty. As a result, the rod was annoyingly front-heavy, even when I mounted two of the spinning reels I had tabbed for the task. Lost balance led to lost feel and sense of control over my bait. It took an oversized reel to bring anything resembling “balance” to this rod, and the resultant combo was still cumbersome. “It’s hard to get a rod perfectly balanced without knowing the reel a guy plans to put on it,” said Russ Lane, a Bassmaster Elite Series angler known for his talent for tackle tinkering. Lane wraps many of his rods with Winn Superior Rod Wrap (www.winngrips.com) to give them the same advantages of hand control and comfort that he gets with the Denali Attax rods and other rods in his arsenal already fitted with Winn grips. But at times there’s a secondary benefit to the wrap. “Sometimes adding the Winn rod wrap can add just enough weight to balance a rod,” noted Lane. He faced a formidable “weight-forward” balance challenge with the flipping/pitching rod he uses to punch matted vegetation with soft plastic lures and 1.5-ounce tungsten By Mike Pehanich weights. “I needed to add more weight to the handle,” Lane recalled. As usual, he covered the cork mid-grip of this 7-foot, 6-inch Denali Lithium Flipping Stick (Xtra Heavy) with the ightness” has been the dominant thrust of rod evolution for years. Lightweight guides, skeletal reel seats, split grips… these and other polymer overwrap. Before he added the wrap to the butt grip, however, he developments have served rod builders in their ongoing quest to added Storm SuspenStrips—adhesive-backed rectangles of soft lead that he reduce rod weight and, in turn, diminish fatigue and enhance angler comfort generally uses to add weight to his jerkbaits—to the tapered butt grip. “You can get the balance perfect by adding just enough lead tape over the and feel on the water. Oddly enough, radical downsizing of rod components sometimes produces butt grip before adding Winn overwrap on top of it,” explained Lane. “Balance the opposite of its intended effect if rod balance is significantly compromised makes a big difference when you are flipping those heavy tungsten weights in along the way or when heavier-than-usual lures or terminal tackle enter the heavy cover all day long.” picture. Several seasons ago, a rod manufacturer asked me to road test a new midFor a word from Lester on the benefits of Winn Grips, go to priced spinning rod the company was planning to bring to market. The design team had taken the split grip concept to an extreme, virtually eliminating the mid (rear) grip altogether and adding a very airy foam to the butt grip. However,
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Shown above: Chad Roberson, President of H2O Sports congratulates Danny Amador on his new boat.
hat’s a real mouthful of salutations, but the winner of Coastal Angler and The Angler Magazine’s Boat Giveaway contest is certainly deserving of all three. Danny Amador was drawn as the winner of the 15’10” Cape Craft boat with 75 hp Honda engine and a Coyote trailer. A massive fire at H20 Sports Manufacturing delayed much of their manufacturing, and Danny Amador had to wait until Dec. 9 to pick up his brand new Cape Craft vessel. That’s where the story gets really interesting. Dec. 9 is Danny’s birthday. Yep, and as all December birthday people know it’s always “Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas.” Coastal Angler Magazine would like to salute Danny Amador for his patience in receiving his boat. Unforeseen circumstances can sometimes alter even the best of transactions. Danny Amador’s patience and H20’s commitment to fulfilling the contest award represented the best of our industry. In addition to Danny’s boat, motor and trailer, Chad Roberson, H20 Sports Manufacturing’s President, insisted on
throwing in a free bimini top and invited Danny Amador to pick his favorite custom color for the boat. Good things are worth waiting for. Special thanks to Top Notch Marine in Fort H2O Staff and Danny Amador shown at H2O Sports headquarters. Pierce, Fla. for their assistance in titling this boat to our Florida winner. Once again to Danny Amador: “Congratulations, Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas!”
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lthough beautiful to look at, the invasive lionfish poses a severe threat to Atlantic and Gulf waters. They are known for having spines that can sting if not handled properly, but the meat is perfectly safe and delicious to eat. In other words, they are venomous but not poisonous. Lionfish is becoming increasingly common on restaurant menus and is even available at Whole Foods grocery stores. Connoisseurs often compare the quality to hogfish – a fine, delicate white meat. The scientific community concluded that home aquarists are to blame. Much like the python in the Everglades, it only took a few released invasive individuals to begin the breeding cycle. Since they are a new and strange looking species, native fish are not consuming lionfish. Yet lionfish are consuming juvenile native species at an alarming rate. Adding to the problem, they also breed at an amazing rate. Females reach sexual maturity at six months and release up to 30,000 eggs every five days. They now cover the east coast of the U.S., the entire Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic side of Central and South America, and can be found between 2 and 1,000 feet deep. The most effective way of hunting them, by far, is spearfishing. Since they have no natural predators, they are not wary which makes them easy to spear. Just handle the spines with care and you will be rewarded with a delicious meal while helping the environment! Lionfish hunting tips: 1. First, you must find them! Unfortunately, they are everywhere—look on reefs, wrecks, sometimes out in the open and often in ledges and holes. 2. Handle them carefully and do not to let the fins puncture your skin. If stung on the hand, remove any rings right away. The best treatment is heat, which breaks down the venom. Heat packs or hot water collected from the boat exhaust can be used. 3. Use the specially designed pole spears (such as Neritic) and use lionfish containers (such as the Zookeeper), which are puncture-proof. These specialty items can be found on the LionfishHunting.com website or your local dive shop.
4. Once back on the boat/shore, place lionfish into cooler and continue to handle with care. The protein-based venom is broken down by heat but preserved by cold. 5. Lionfish can be filleted just like any other fish. See LionfishHunting.com for a good set of instructions with photos on how to fillet. 6. Lionfish can be prepared like any other white-meat fish. Many recipes can be found online. For an impressive presentation, they can even be cooked whole as cooking neutralizes the venom. P. S. The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo, which takes place April 2017 in Ft. Lauderdale, will have a Lionfish Pavilion featuring several exhibitors along with a cook-off event where several chefs will be showing off their best recipes and giving samples. Happy Hunting! Sheri Daye is a world-record holder, host of Speargun Hunter, and producer of “The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo” in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Follow “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram.
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The event also features Port Salerno’s finest restaurants. For the fourth consecutive year, the festival was voted the “Best Local Event in Martin County” by TC Palm Newspaper’s readers. This year will see continued enhancement of the Fishermen’s Village and Market. Here you can learn about the history of Port Salerno and go home with some locally caught fish. The festival features three stages with some of the area’s top bands performing, and a new Kids Fun Zone. Advance tickets are just $7 on our website and Facebook page. These tickets will be available for purchase until January 20 or until supplies run out. Admission at the gate will be $10 for adults, children 12 and under are free. The festival will also provide complimentary transportation to and from the event via trolley or water taxi. A portion of the festival proceeds is distributed to local charities. For complete festival information go to the website www. PortSalernoSeafoodFestival.org or call 888612-4192.
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et in the mood for seafood! It’s time for the 11th Annual Port Salerno Seafood Festival. The fun begins The Port Salerno Seafood Festival Inc. is Saturday, Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. This local event a not-for-profit trade association dedicated boasts the best seafood that you will find at any festival, a great to preserving the heritage and integrity of the music line-up, arts, crafts and local business vendors, a Kids commercial fishing industry in Port Salerno. Fun Zone, mermaids, pirates and more. “There is a reason why the seafood is so delicious,” said Edward “Butch” Olsen, Jr., president of the Port Salerno To learn more about last years Port Salerno Festival, go to Commercial Fishing Dock Authority. “We serve the freshest seafood and locally caught fish when possible. The majority of our seafood is prepared by BluewaterSFC_half_pg_Feb2017 FOR PRINT.qxp_Layout the fishermen and their families. This is truly a family affair.” 1 12/7/16 11:18 AM Page 1
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s anglers, SCUBA divers and Florida beachgoers, using sustainable practices. we all have a stake in maintaining the health of One of the easiest ways to choose sustainable the natural areas that bring us so much joy. By seafood is to keep it local. Many restaurants and seafood integrating sustainable fishing and seafood practices markets throughout Florida feature the “Fresh from into our daily lives, we can ensure that local ecosystems Florida” designation. This endorsement by the Florida thrive for generations to come. Department of Agriculture guarantees foods and In fact, as an angler, you are probably already their ingredients are sourced from local suppliers and choosing your seafood in an eco-friendly way. Rod- producers, including seafood caught by local fishermen. and-reel fishing is one of the most environmentally Visit www.freshfromflorida.com for a list of restaurants beneficial ways to source our seafood. Staying within throughout the state that feature “Fresh from Florida” catch limits and taking home fish to feed your family food. lowers our dependence on commercial fishing. RodWhen local favorites aren’t available, or if you are and-reel catch practices facilitate natural fish stock new to the intricacies of sourcing sustainably caught replenishment, both inshore and on our reef systems. seafood, programs like the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Smaller, locally caught fish are also lower on the Seafood Watch can provide great guidance to help you food chain than their predators, like tuna, salmon and make informed choices. swordfish. Although popular on the dinner plate, larger Their straightforward system categorizes seafood predatory fish are more likely to accumulate toxins by location and ranks them into one of three groupings: within their systems. Catching fish puts you in direct “Avoid,” “Good Alternative” and “Best Choice.” The control over what reaches your dinner plate, ensuring Seafood Watch program comprehensively evaluates each you are able to make informed, healthy choices. fishery, so the same species may fall into two different The relatively recent introduction of biodegradable categories, based on how and where it was sourced. fishing line and the prevalence of monofilament Once you have the right tools, it is easy to choose recycling stations throughout local parks and piers sustainably caught seafood and improve your fishing are further increasing the long-term sustainability practices. Join Pura Vida Divers in January for a fun of fishing. Check out the Florida Fish and Wildlife social night and engaging presentation that will teach Conservation Commission’s Monofilament Recycling you the basics to sourcing seafood that’s best for your Program website to learn more about these important family and our planet. Visit the events page on our stations: www.mrrp.myfwc.com. website at www.puravidadivers.com for details, or call When species seasonality, weather conditions or us at 561-840-8750. the day-to-day bustle limits your ability to get out on the water and For more about choosing sustainably sourced seafood, go to catch your own seafood, there are still many ways to ensure the food on your plate was sourced
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accomplished, as they examine hundreds of species of local invertebrates, sea turtles, algae and fish from the Gulf, including sharks. The facility in Panacea, which is south of Tallahassee on the Gulf, is open at 222 Clark Drive most weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. For a modest entrance fee, a fee that
that’s where the staff of Gulf Specimen Lab comes in. Knowing the Gulf really well from years of exploring it, they go out in their boats, collect the requested specimens, take them back to their lab, carefully package them, and send them off to labs in the United States, Canada, Europe, and even outer space for use on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. All the while, the specimen collectors are very careful not to damage the coral and delicate ecosystems of the Gulf. Begun in 1963 by a truly remarkable man, Jack Rudloe, the lab is an independent, non-profit organization that has engaged in mariculture, farming the depths of the sea, studying endangered species, and—maybe most importantly for future generations— opening up their facilities to thousands of school children in hopes of educating the youngsters and maybe inspiring some of them to study marine science as their career. Every year thousands of school children and more than 20,000 ordinary visitors visit the facility and probably come away with awe and admiration for what the lab has
goes to the maintenance of the many tanks of live sea animals, visitors can photograph, read about and marvel at the exhibits, and even touch and hold some of the live animals. The facility has knowledgeable staff and interns who are eager to share their knowledge and answer questions. If you’re really lucky, you’ll get to meet and interact with the founder of the Lab, Jack Rudloe, author of fascinating books like “The Living Dock at Panacea,” “Potluck,” “Search for the Great Turtle Mother,” “The Erotic Ocean,” “The Wilderness Coast,” and—with his late wife, Anne—“Shrimp.” If you do meet the man, ask him about the influence of Nobel-Prize-winning author John Steinbeck on his own career. You’ll no doubt come away with an appreciation of a new kind of Florida fisherman: one who collects fish and other specimens for use in the fight against cancer and other terrible diseases.
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STUART TOURNAMENT ANGLERS HAPPY TO SEE SAILFISH By Ed Killer
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They’re baaack. Not long after Thanksgiving, anglers on Florida’s Treasure Coast set sights on the warm-water eddies spinning westward from the Gulf Stream. Typically, December and January make up the sailfish season in this region, as thousands of sailfish migrate south along the coastline to their winter spots off Mexico. Four tournaments take place on the Treasure Coast each season. For much of the last two sailfish seasons, the sailfish have been few in numbers. That all changed this year. The fourth annual Fish Heads Invitational Sailfish Tournament sailed out of Sailfish Marina on Stuart’s Manatee Pocket Nov. 29-30. A fleet of 18 boats compiled the young event’s catch record of 108 sailfish releases. Martha D with Capt. Scott Fawcett, owner Ryan Dayton of Wellington and Maryland, angler Dan Hall and mates Kyle Francis and Matt Coppelletta caught 14 sailfish to win the tournament. Miss Victoria led by Capt. Brian Speedy caught 12 to finish second. Ohana led by Capt. Eddie Wheeler placed third with 11 releases. Fawcett said his team’s big day, where they caught nine, came to the south of Stuart, off Juno Beach, in about 120 to 200 feet of water. The weather was oddly spring-like–warm with southeasterly winds. The 28th Pirates Cove Sailfish Classic saw 24 boats enter the tournament. Fishing patterns continued the same way for the three-day event, and the sailfishing was good. The tournament fleet racked up 222 sailfish. Capt. Josh Chaney led Champagne Lady with owner Tony Ingram of Stuart, anglers Carl Repetto, Rob Miller and Mark Donohue, and crewmen Connor Tillman, Mark McDevitt and Sean Young, to a day-high nine releases on the final day for a fleet-best 20 releases. Showtime! With Capt. Wink Doerzbacher and Vintage with owner and Capt. Hans Kraaz each caught 18 sails and placed second and third, respectively. Nice start to the month-long tournament season, but the area’s longestrunning event, the Stuart Sailfish Club’s 63rd annual Light Tackle Sailfish Tournament was next. And the sea conditions did not remain the same. The weekend of Dec. 9-11, the Light Tackle swung into action from Sailfish Point Marina. A fleet of 24 boats competing in traditional and amateur divisions endured very rough seas and high winds. The fishing was still pretty good, as the fleet caught and released 152 sailfish. Toast with Capt. Newt Cagle, owners Jared and Michael Gillman of Palm Beach, anglers Ron Martin, Anthony Rizzo, and Jimbo Brogan, caught and released 14 sailfish to win the event. Cagle and crew caught the go-ahead sailfish about 35 minutes before the tournament’s lines out call to edge out Showtime!, Challenge with Capt. Jim Hardee and Floridian with Capt. Glenn Cameron, each with 13 releases. Marlin Hunter with owner and team captain Kurt Von Seekamm of Sewall’s Point won the amateur division with six sailfish releases. So, with 75 percent of the Treasure Coast sailfish tournament season in the books, it’s good to see the area will not have to relinquish its earned nickname from the 1930s – Sailfish Capital of the World. Ed Killer is the outdoors columnist for Treasure Coast Newspapers and is part of the USA Today network.
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iami is the place to be over President’s Day weekend as more than 100,000 boating enthusiasts from around the globe are expected to flock to the Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show. Recognized as one of the world’s largest and greatest boat shows, 2017 marks the show’s second year at the Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin, where it will unveil a number of elements expected to further solidify Miami’s position as the boating capital of the world. Building on its 2016 success, the Miami Boat Show will unveil a number of enhancements in 2017—from transportation and product offerings to food and beverage—while maintaining all the elements that make the Miami Boat Show such a beloved experience for attendees and exhibitors. Highlights include: More Boats to Browse, Board and Buy: Organizers anticipate more than 1,300 new boats on display throughout this year’s show with more new model debuts than ever before. The number of boats in-water is expanding 35 percent to an estimated 550 boats and yachts—all located in the show’s marina. From
sport fishing and high performance boats to personal watercraft and wake sport boats, family cruisers and luxury yachts, there is something for every lifestyle and budget. More to Taste and Toast: The 2017 Miami Boat Show encourages attendees to come hungry and thirsty! A highlight of the 2017 show is an enhanced food and beverage program featuring more than 150 options ranging from luxe to casual fare. More Large Yachts: More than 100 new luxury yachts for sale, makes the Miami Boat Show one of the largest yachting exhibitions in the country. Attendees seeking the VIP treatment will have exclusive access to everything from premium bites and live music, to concierge services, VIP parking, and an exclusive on-water VIP lounge aboard the 111-foot Biscayne Lady. More Strictly Sail: The show’s second location, Strictly Sail Miami, will dock at Miamarina at Bayside and feature approximately 130 sailboats, a large selection of sailing and power catamarans, seminars and sailing gear. Free water taxis and shuttle buses run until 7 p.m. More On-Water Experiences: Sea trials will allow interested shoppers to take the boat of their dreams for a spin. This year, more boat exhibitors will participate, giving boat buyers a chance to test-drive a number of options. In addition, the show will offer its Discover Boating Hands-On Skills Training. Space is limited; advance registration is recommended. More Parking and Transportation Options: The Miami Boat Show will offer seamless transportation to and from Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin with water taxis, shuttle buses and abundant parking. The show will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. Tickets may be purchased in advance at www.miamiboatshow.com. For more information, see www.miamiboatshow.com or search the show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The phone number for the Florida office is 954-441-3220.
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Center colors and feather pattern selection for the avid fly tyer is endless. If you are willing to put in several days of hard hunting this winter, at the end of the season you very well could end up with enough waterfowl plumage to last you an entire year of fly tying. To add icing on the cake, as if harvesting your own fly tying material wasn’t enough motivation, wild duck will provide you with some of the most highquality table fare the Sunshine State has to offer. For those new to hunting, here are the licenses and permits you will need to hunt ducks in Florida; that way you can avoid an unpleasant encounter with the game warden. If you’ve never bought a hunting permit before, you will first need to take the online hunter safety coarse at www. myfwc.com. Once you have completed that, you will then need to purchase a standard Florida hunting license, a Florida By Brandon Tourigny • Photo Courtesy of Cohutta Fishing Company waterfowl permit, a migratory bird permit (which is free), and if you intend to hunt public land you will also need a Wildlife or all of us fly tyers, the cost of materials always seems to be a big set back, as it is with many art forms. The more addicted to the art of fly tying one Management Area (WMA) permit. The final thing you will need to purchase gets, the faster money will seem to fly out of the wallet. However, for those before you hit the marsh is the annual Federal Duck Stamp, which can also be who consider themselves all-around outdoorsmen, I have a simple solution to purchased at www.myfwc.com. Catching fish on your own handmade flies is one of the most rewarding help ease the pain of buying fly tying material: go duck hunting! Why would you go spend crazy amounts of money at fly shops to buy high- experiences in our sport, and using feathers that came off of waterfowl you quality waterfowl plumage when the great state of Florida is home to millions harvested makes the experience even better. Duck season is in full swing now of ducks and other waterfowl all found on public land. In the Sunshine State, until the end of January, so go get your license, pull out the old 12 gauge, and any duck hunter is allotted 6 ducks a day (with certain species restrictions), and go hunt! when push comes to shove a single medium sized duck such as a wood duck For more duck hunting and fly fishing, go to will provide you with a wealth of material to tie from. As it just so happens, nearly every single species of migratory duck that frequents North American flyways can be found within our borders, so the
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from your angling family here at
COASTAL ANGLER Panama City, The Forgotten Coast and Beyond JANUARY 2017 | facebook.com/CAMGulfCoast PUBLISHER Capt. Randy Cnota CO-PUBLISHER Dawna Cnota GRAPHIC ARTS & DESIGN Travis Poole PHOTOGRAPHY Capt. Randy Cnota CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Capt. Brent Romiti
Even little fish get big smiles
Capt Charlene Burke Capt. Mike McNamara Capt. Daryl Shumate Capt. J.R. Mundinger Capt. Paul Tyre Captain Jordan Todd
Bill with a nice trigger fish. FWC says there’s not enough for us to keep. Yeah right!
Johnny with a big smile and tired after wrestling this beast aboard C-note Charters
Captain Jason Shingler Capt. Tom Adams (229) 834-7880 FACEBOOK.COM/CAMGULFCOAST www.CoastalAnglerMagazine.com
Scan theCheck code to follow on Facebook outusour and to see the latest news, Brag Board photos, for shingFacebook reports, contestPage offerings and more! No QR code scanner? No problem! Hook up with fishing videos, us on Facebook at TreasureCoastCoastalAngler.
pictures,COAST tips TREASURE and more!
Adam Sparks with a nice AJ
A big bull red caught aboard Mexico Beach Charters
This Deerpoint catfish ate a bladed jig so I insisted he come home for dinner
Inshore fishing heats up with cold temps so call one of the guides in this section to get you a SLAM!
PANAMA CITY BEACH / PANAMA CITY Capt. Daryl Shumate Liquid Native Charters 850-624-6968 Liquidnativecharters.com
Around the pass and bridges, there are some big bull redfish being caught, and some nice flounder. Most of the flounder have moved into the gulf around the shallow wrecks and buoys, and jigging on the bottom will do the trick. The always reliable mangrove snapper are being caught around most structures in and around the bay like Backcountry / Bay / Inshore: bridges, rocks, docks, and sea walls. A small hook and weight set up, The cold weather has settled in and the trout and redfish, as well as like a lightweight bottom rig baited with a small shrimp or just a piece most other species, have settled into their winter patterns. The trout of shrimp, will have even the unluckiest of fishermen eating snapper have moved into the canals, creeks, and rivers, and are very sluggish. for dinner. If you are using live bait like shrimp, finger mullet, etc., use just enough weight to keep the bait from swimming away. If you are using artificial baits like soft plastics, then your presentation must be very offshore: slow; just a slight twitch every 15 seconds or so will be enough to get a bite. The redfish are a little more active, but not by much. They will There are plenty of fish being caught off shore if you are willing be tucked in with the trout, but will move out on to the shallow mud to bundle up a bit. Snapper and grouper are chewing as well as flats on days where the skies are clear and the sun gets high enough amberjack. Some big trigger fish are also being caught. Red grouper to warm the mud. They will be sitting still in very shallow water so as well as scamp and most other groupers are open year round; just everything you do must be done deliberately and slowly. When you remember to check updated regulations. see fish, cast well ahead and let your live bait do its thing. If it’s an artificial lure, let it sit until the fish get to it, then give it a couple of If you want the water to yourself, now is the time. While a lot of people have headed for the woods there are a few who know the slight twitches. fishing never ends in our bay system, so head for the water and take a For some faster more aggressive action, there are plenty of big kid fishing. bluefish cruising the drop-offs in the bay. Live bait will do great, but casting a spoon, jig, or top water lure will also get plenty of action. I’ll see you there! There will also be some Spanish mackerel hanging with them as well.
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JANUARY 2017
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Just 70 short miles from Panama City lies, arguably, one of the best fishing lakes in the country. Lake Seminole sprawls over the Florida/Georgia border with almost 38,000 square surface acres of water. This pristine body of water not only harbors giant bass in large numbers, it’s home to some world-class crappie and bream fishing, tons of stripers, hybrids and white bass and big catfish. In fact, this lake has kicked out at least two state record catches with a 16.31 lb. hybrid (sunshine bass), caught by Thomas Elder in 1985, and most recently, a young Charles Patchen landed a 63.8 lb. flathead catfish out of the Chattahoochee River, which is essentially an upper arm of the lake. Seminole, however, always has been, and likely always will be noted for its incredibly large numbers of big bass. My best personal experience happened in June 2012 when I won a tournament by bringing five bass to the scales that weighed over 28 pounds; I found the right school and had an absolute banner day. The Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers, and Spring Creek, feed this impoundment, and the Jim Woodruff damn in Chattahoochee, FL, holds it all together forming this unique body of water. The main portion of the lake is easily navigable inside the marked channels, but anywhere outside of those markers, especially in Spring Creek and any backwaters, boater beware! There’s an abundance of stumps, rocks and grass beds that demand respect, so slow down. The advantage to all the hazards in this lake is the amazing amount of fish habitat they create. Couple this with the diverse and bountiful line-up of forage available for all species of game fish, and you can see why this place is a fisherman’s dream. But don’t just take my word for it, research the tournament statistics for a better understanding of what can happen here in a day of fishing. Recent tournaments, where anglers brought in fivefish limits that exceeded 35 pounds, should give you some perspective. This is not to say that every day is a banner day here, but it can’t be argued that this is the best
time of the year to catch numbers of big bass. I recommend you hire a good guide if you’re not familiar with the lake. Paul Tyre, long time guide and tournament competitor on Seminole, can get you to the spots and show you the tactics that will give you the best odds of firing up that school of big bass and turning a cold winter day hot with big bass action. Another advantage to hiring a guide is the lessons learned about navigating the waters, tactics and presentations, and equipment best suited for success. With so many species of fish in the Gulf off limits for harvest, consider a guided trip for hybrids and stripers. I’ve been having some great success with these critters, and some big ones too! Hybrids could arguably be the best tasting freshwater fish there is. I recently fried up a mess, and I’m hooked! I recommend you go see Monty in Sneads, FL, at the Seminole Lodge for lodging and ramp access, but other options are also available in nearby Chattahoochee. Give the Rutabaga Café in Chattahoochee a go, you won’t be disappointed. Nestled away in rural Florida, it’s a great get-away that won’t break your bank but will surely provide the entire family a great experience. Exotic fishing destinations exist all over the world, but Lake Seminole is sought out by folks from far and wide to experience world-class fishing, and it’s practically right here in our back yard. This winter don’t sit out your chance to experience what this gem has to offer, whether it be for giant bass, big slab crappie or monster hybrids…just go get em!
Lake Seminole Fishing Guide, Paul Tyre (850) 296-4071 paultyrefishing@yahoo. com Seminole Lodge & Marina (850) 593-6886 2360 Legion Rd, Sneads, FL 32460 seminolelodge. com/ Rutabaga Café (850) 663-3851 23 Jackson St, Chattahoochee, FL 32324 rutabagachattahoochee.com/
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panama city / forgotten coast 3
Deerpoint lake Captain Randy “C-note” Cnota C-note Charters cnotecharters.com (229) 834-7880
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The lake is low and fish can’t hide but this doesn’t mean fishing will be easy! However, this is the time of year that most monster bass are caught so if you’re looking for the big one, get out and brave the cold. Water temps will likely be the coldest they will be all year and fish can be very picky because of this. Depending on rainfall amounts, which I cannot predict, water clarity will be the biggest factor in my decision-making for tactics and locations. If the water is clear, I will key on two presentations: I’ll be throwing a suspending jerk bait like a Spro McStick or Smithwick’s Rattlin Rogue, and a whacky-rigged stick bait like the Gambler Ace or a Senko, winds will usually dictate which one. The jerk bait is more productive when there’s a breeze, but on calm days a green pumpkin colored Gambler Ace whacky rigged on a small hook and light line will get finicky bass to bite. If the water’s stained, slow-roll a spinnerbait or a bladed jig like a Chatterbait tipped with a Gambler Little EZ. A black or white Chatterbait tipped with a black or white trailer is always a good color choice. For a slower presentation, don’t overlook a jig; this is always a good choice for scoring a big bite. A Booyah Boo Jig or a Gambler Souther Swim Jig hopped slowly along creek edges will not always get a lot of bites, but it will get the bigger ones. Crappie should be suspending out in the deeper creeks, so use your graph to locate areas that look promising and troll jigs and live minnows at different depths to locate that “magic zone.” If you get bit with a rig that’s 5’ below, ECO SPORTY set all yourLIGHTWEIGHT rigs to that depth; at least for a while. They tend to move up and down the depth ranges some days, so always be ready to adjust but overall, the crappie bite should be great! Good fishing and God bless.
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HAPPY NEW YEAR! This will be my 20th anniversary of reporting on Lake Talquin. I hope all of you have enjoyed reading the articles, blogs and text as much as I have enjoyed bringing them to you. I’m guessing a lot of you received a new rod, reel, lures, electronics, or maybe even a boat for Christmas. If so, this is a perfect time to try them out! As water temperatures have cooled off, fishing for bass becomes a little tougher. Thank goodness for deep water! For those of you with electronics, now is the time to get out and search for bait because fish will not be far behind. The water temperature is now in the 50’s so bait fish will be near the main river channel. The cooler the lake gets, the deeper the baitfish will go. Bait fish congregate near deeper river and creek channels during extreme cold front conditions so they can move deeper to the warmest depths possible, then on sunny days they move up near the surface. Once you’ve found the mother-load of bait, start by mining the area with different style crank baits. Color patterns won’t vary much: firetiger, shad and orange are best, but size and running depths will make a bigger difference. If you are fishing 20’ of water and shad are being graphed at 10’ deep there’s no need to run a super deep-diving crankbait. When bass are feeding, they’re looking up. They like to single out a wounded or injured bait fish. Make sure your bait is running in or near the bottom of the school of bait. Another good tip is to use an erratic motion to mimic an injured fish. On windy days, you may find the same bait scattered on a nearby point or
turn in the river. This is a great time to try an Alabama rig. If you don’t have one you really need to try it. You’ll need beefy equipment to handle the size and weight of the bait, not to mention if you get hung, you’ll want to be able to retrieve your $30 lure from the stump or rock. I prefer my flipping stick. It’s 7’8” combined with a high speed reel and 80# test braided line. This may sound like overkill but trust me, it’s not! January is a very good month for big crappie, and many of them. Each year there’s a migration pattern that happens during the colder months. Bait fish migrate from the rivers toward the dam following the warmer water. Once they complete this journey, you can find them staging in the main lake just in front of major creeks like Harvey or Oklawaha, waiting to move in to spawn. Trolling twister tail jigs about 1 mph is the #1 method to find and catch these tasty fish. Just like bass, crappie feed looking up, so keep your jigs above the fish. They can be almost any depth, but when they feed they’ll be right under the bait. One last tip; troll with the current or wind, crappie like to feed facing the current. So until next month, be safe have fun and ALWAYS wear a life jacket while boating! For more info visit www.fishtallahassee.com. Email fishtallahassee@yahoo.com Phone (850)296-4071
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panama city / forgotten coast 5
C-QUARTERS MARINA C A R R A B E L L E , F L O R I DA
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The inshore bite in the Northwest panhandle has switched to a winter time fishery. Cold fronts have dropped the water temps enough to Traci Posey with her biggest redfish push most of our fish into our ever caught along the beach with Capt. freshwater inflows, such as Jordan Todd the intercostal waterway and river deltas. The deeper holes and edges along the channels of these waterways will be warmer, so that’s where the trout and redfish will congregate. Depth changes from 10-20 feet tend to be the best, and any structure on the bottom of the channels will hold more fish. They will tend to feed either on a hard falling tide as it’s bringing bait to them, or during the middle of the day when water temps are the warmest. Live shrimp on the bottom is the best way to catch them. The best set-up is to use a 1- to 2-ounce egg sinker, 20-to 25-lb. test leader to a 2/0 circle hook. There may also be some schools of bull reds in the pass or along the beach as they move close to spawn; look for birds diving and bait fish being chased along the beach. Drop larger live bait, like live croakers or mullet, in the passes on a falling tide with a 3- to 4-ounce lead sinker, 30- to 40-lb. test leader and 5/0 circle hook.
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spearfishing forecast Capt. JAMES TEW KITCHEN PASS DIVE & FISHING CHARTERS 850-896-6476 Hey everyone, this is Capt. James Tew from Kitchen Pass Dive & Fishing Charters and I’ll be bringing you the new monthly Spear Fishing Forecast for Coastal Angler Magazine. In January, the things I consider before diving in the waters around Panama City are sea conditions, water temperature, and current. Typically, you can expect two feet or less wave height near shore, with a wind coming out of the north, and good water clarity of about 30 to 60 feet. The water temperature will most likely be between 50-65 degrees if the cold fronts keep coming, but this can help you with spearing because the fish are generally more sluggish, giving you time to pull off the perfect stunning shot. The currents, however, are always unpredictable in direction and speed. I’ve seen as many as three different currents at the same location, at the same time within the top, middle, and bottom water columns, all going in very different directions and speeds. Pay attention to what the water is doing at your dive spot when you get there; one good way to do this is to watch the bubbles from your boat when you get to the site. If they move away from your boat, then you know the direction and speed of the current on the surface. In January, not much is open to harvest but AJ’s, red and scamp grouper and flounder should be, but as always, keep watching our friendly FWC website. They’re always changing the rules because of the ever-changing federal regulations. When you see one of the fish you wish to take, STOP and think about the size limits, because you can’t release a live fish once speared. One good rule of thumb is that if it doesn’t make you say “WOW” then don’t shoot it, it’s
probably not big enough. Remember, the water makes everything look about 33% larger than it actually is. If you want to target grouper, I would suggest heading west to some hard bottom in waters about 70 to 100 feet deep. For AJs, find a wreck with 20 to 30-foot-high relief from the bottom. You can always find flounder in the sandy areas around the hard bottom or wrecks, you just have to slow down and look very hard because they are excellent at hiding. I hope this finds you well and remember, always plan your dive and dive your plan. I’m available year-round for diving or fishing. You can find me at wet130dm@gmail.com or call (850) 896-6476. Thank you for reading.
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Captain tom adams mexicobeachcharters.com (850) 381-1313 Capt. Tom Adams of Mexico Beach Charters says that the best bite for January is going to be the pompano and sand trout running the surf, and the AJs and trigger fish off shore. Pompano are biting just about anything. Live bait like shrimp work great, but small jigs are getting it done just as well. They can be found right off of the surf and around the barrier sand bar that runs from Mexico Beach towards Cape San Blas or Crooked Island Big AJs aboard Mexico Beach Sound. If you’re fishing from shore, Charters look for the cuts and fish near those. Big bull reds, some measuring up to 48 inches, are here in huge schools anywhere from 100 yards to a mile off shore. Look for the birds working baitfish and throw top-water plugs, big swim baits like Storm, and free-lined cigar minnows. When they’re schooled up feeding, they’re not too picky. On the offshore reefs in 50’ to 100’ deep, AJs and triggers have all but taken over. It’s nearly impossible to get any bait past these two species to catch anything else. Big baits are pounced on by big AJs, and triggers gobble up everything else. While current regulations may prevent us from harvesting these fish, they are reliable for rod-bending action all day long. The triggers are getting really big so hopefully we’ll be getting to harvest them soon.
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lake seminole Captain Paul Tyre PaulTyreFishing@yahoo.com 850-264-7534 Lake Conditions: Full Pool, clear and 62 degrees. Bass fishing has been excellent! The bass have been grouping up, feeding in schools in all of the arms of the lake, getting ready for winter. There are several patterns that are working: one of my favorites is fishing lipless vibratPaul Tyre with a 6 lb. Seminole ing baits, like a Strike King Red Eye Shad toad! in Neon Shad along the grass lines on the main lake. When using this lure, make sure you use braided line so you can work the bait through the grass effectively. Jerk baits have been working well in the Spring Creek area in the clearer water. A Strike King KVD Jerk bait in Green Gizzard Shad worked at a fast pace has been successful. When fishing a jerk bait, use a medium action rod and 12- to 15-lb. test fluorocarbon line.
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Stripers and Hybrids have been plentiful on the main lake where an A-rig is a great choice for these bait-chasers. I prefer to use a Strike King Titanium Umbrella Rig rigged with 1/8 ounce Squadron jig heads and 5” Strike King Swim-N-Shiners in Pearl. Crappie have been plentiful and big! They are biting well on both minnows and jigs, and are being found in 10’ to 12’ of water along the old river channel. You definitely need to keep an eye out for duck hunters this time of year. Wingate’s Lodge has had lots of duck hunters stay there already, and there’s plenty more on the way. We encourage everyone to respect each other out on the lake.
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Tyndall / East Bay / Crooked Island Sound Capt. Jason Shingler Adrenaline On H20 (850) 348-2282 Hello anglers and Happy New Year! The next 60 days will have the coolest water temps we will see all year. Expect a cold front every 6-9 days and plan accordingly. These fronts will mostly move from west to east and will be highly predictable. I like to fish just before the fronts, if possible, because any seasoned angler knows during the front, it’s going to rain, and after, the winds and seas will be intense. To go during or after the cold front is not always a good idea. Be safe out there! Bay I suggest finding some live shrimp and working deep docks, bridges and jetties. I use a slip sinker rig with a 20-30 pound fluorocarbon leader and a 1/0 live bait hook for most of these applications. Use just enough lead to get to the bottom. Lots of fish will be caught around deeper structure in the bay this month. The flats will slow down quite a bit as the water cools, but if you are dedicated enough and fish hard, you can still find some trout and reds in the shallows. I would stick to bayous and creek mouths and vary my lures and depths until I find fish. Gulf Season closures apply on many popular species, but you can still have some fun catching and releasing trigger fish, amberjack, grouper, and red snapper. If you are looking for a meal, I would target flounder, black sea bass, and mangrove snapper. Drag bull minnows or finger mullet on the bottom around near shore structures for flounder, and drop cut baits or live shrimp on small circle hooks over structure and around buoys for mangrove snapper and sea bass. Don’t forget, there’s always a bull redfish run this time of year in and around St. Andrews pass and they will eat almost anything during this time. Most reds will be over the slot limit, but they’re tons of fun. Handle them carefully and release quickly to ensure our kids get to enjoy them in the future. Most of this type fishing I do with spinning gear teamed with 30-pound braided line. Enjoy the challenge of the colder months. Thanks for reading and Fish on! 10 panama city / forgotten coast
JANUARY 2017
Capt. Eric Rogers with a nice Gag fishing with Capt. Jason
Capt. Jason with a respectable black snapper chummed to the surface , hooked on freeline
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Last January, bedding bass were being pushed out to deeper water as the first big cold front of the season came through; it looks like we’re on par for the same thing this year. I like to call this month Jerk-bait-January! Whether you’re using a hard or soft jerk bait, it’s probably going to work. The Rapala is my #1 hard bait choice when water temperatures are 58 and above. Below that, I like to use baits with a bigger wobble, like a Rattlin Rogue or Strike King. Black and silver top my color list, but black and gold or black and orange can be deadly when rain tints the water of this naturally clear lake. When choosing a size, bigger is better. I’ve even used a Magnum Rapala having had one in my tackle box since my days up north when I fished for muskie and northern pike. This bait is 9” long, so we’re not targeting smaller bass when we throw this baby, but typically, you’ll want to use one 4” to 5” long. There are also floating Julie Happersett with a and suspending jerk baits. My
rule is simple, floating for warmer water suspending for cooler water. Where the vegetation is too thick to throw hard jerk baits, throw the soft ones. Bass will use heavy cover, like grass and lily pads, to move in and out of in search of forage. Most times the water beneath lily pad clumps will be free of grass. This is a great ambush spot bass use when feeding, so keep that in mind when targeting January bass. Most all soft jerk baits sink slowly, so a weighted hook is needed; my favorite is the Owner brand. Depending on depth and retrieve speed, weight will play a big part, but 1/8-ounce is a good choice. The best colors include watermelon with a mix of red or greens, and natural shad. On overcast days, or when fishing deeper, try darker colors like junebug or black. This time of year is an excellent time to plan a trip to catch crappie too. Just like bass, crappie feed on shiners, only smaller ones. With all the bait available, crappie grow very fast. In January, as the grass and lily pads die off, crappie will suspend on the deeper edges of sink holes and boat runs. Working slowly along those edges with small shiner minnows, or casting small crank baits or spinners is not only a great way to catch them, but it’s a lot of fun too.
pair of nice Jackson bass
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s anglers, we are frequently faced with the decision to stay with the game plan or change to another. This is often amplified in the winter due to lethargic fish, less bait and unfavorable conditions. The first week of December, I took a day trip from Texas to Louisiana to target flounder and found myself with this dilemma. Conditions: Pre frontal—within 24 hours Overcast Start of the trip: Wind east 3 knots End of the trip: Wind northeast 9 knots Water Temp: 59 stayed constant Air Temp: 58 rose to 59 Tide: Outgoing moderate increasing to strong Water Clarity: Green, 1 foot visibility Depth: 3 feet I had not fished this exact area before, but I did some satellite research of the area prior to my departure. My plan was to cover a long stretch of shoreline along a channel varying my cast from shallow to deep. When I got there, I used this tactic for several hundred yards without a bite. I spoke to a few fishermen along the way who had similar results. As I continued my wade, I reached an area that started to slope down at a sharper angle and stayed in that area for a while. After catching a few flounder, I struck up a conversation with someone who educated me with the bottom structure of that area. Now I knew this one area had the structure to hold fish longer than the desolate stretch I had previously walked. With this newfound knowledge, I decided to change my plan and spend the rest of my day planted in this spot. The flounder bite was more aggressive if I kept my tandem-rigged soft plastics moving, but not necessarily forward. I found they were more interested if the lures were constantly jigging, but with little forward motion. Since I was wading in shallow water, I kept my rod tip high, rapidly moving my rod tip with short quick twitches. I would slowly turn my handle to retrieve the slightest amount of line. This action kept my lures wiggling on the bottom and only moving forward at a snail’s pace. My change of plans to stay in this one area rather than pace back and forth along my pre-determined shoreline proved a wise choice giving up a limit of flounder. From my vantage point, I was able to see that others fishing in the area of my original plan didn’t fare as well. Often in the winter, if I am confident in an area, I will typically stay longer than I would in other seasons waiting for the bite. The newfound structure in this area gave me that confidence. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com. To learn more about My Coast Outdoors, go to
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The New Sailfish 236CC effectively combines the 30-year Sailfish legacy with the latest innovations in center console design, to deliver a truly amazing fishing platform. With its sleek, dynamic profile and 6th generation VDS hull, plus a amazingly functional layout and solid SailTech construction, the 236CC is truly the gold standard in the 23’ class. Powered by either Yamaha or Mercury outboards, the Sailfish 236CC is functional, comfortable and perfect for both offshore and inshore fishing and family fun. With an 8’ 6” beam, the Sailfish 236CC is easily trailerable with an integrated hard top frame that gives you more deck space than virtually any other 23’ boat on the market. Featuring an incredibly comfortable leaning post with optional built-in storage and second live well, an expansive hardtop for maximum sun protection, tremendous cockpit fishing space and plenty of coolers and fish boxes, the 236CC is perfect for inshore or offshore adventure. On the 236CC, rod holders and cup holders abound, along with two 120 quart bow fish boxes, a built-in 27 quart forward facing console seat cooler, large in-floor bow storage, handy console footrest locker, optional console top organizer and a console face that can accommodate today’s larger electronics. Innovative fold-up seating in aft means plenty of room in the cockpit and passenger comfort when underway. 24 FLORIDA
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While true to our fishing roots the 236CC is definitely family friendly – with comfortable deep bow seating, a stepdown head, comfortable deep bow seating, telescoping ski pole and the highest freeboard of any similar sized boat. A Fusion Bluetooth compatible stereo with USB port and four speakers is available as well as lighted speakers and a satellite radio upgrade. Each Sailfish is built to exacting standards using our proven Sail-Tech construction techniques. Kevlar reinforced hull, carbon fiber prisma beam supports in the deck, aluminum backing plates, chrome coated stainless steel hardware, top quality marine grade vinyl upholstery and high definition gel coats contribute to Sailfish’s reputation for durability and their high resale values. The New Sailfish 236CC is a boat to see if you are in the market for a new 23-footer. Receiving rave reviews since its debut this fall, the 236CC is clearly an overnight sensation – 30 years in the making.
Visit www.sailfishboats.com for the dealer nearest you.
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TIPS FROM A PRO
FRESHWATER WINTERTIME CRAPPIE FISHING
BRANDON LESTER
E
very year as my bass tournament season comes to an end, I start thinking about crappie fishing. I like to take a break and let the competitive flames refuel a bit. When the calendar strikes November and water temperatures dip into the 50s in Tennessee, I take several days to go crappie fishing. These fish make really good table fare, they are also very fun to catch, especially the big ones like you find in winter. I am well aware of how good crappie fishing is in spring. But for the way I fish for them around home, fall and winter are when you can really fill the livewell.
It works the same way when fishing laydowns. I look for laydowns on vertical banks that have a good-sized trunk. If they have a big trunk, I know there is a good-sized treetop out in the water. If they are there, I will see them on my SideVision. Once you find fish, cast exactly where they are or just beyond them, not 3 feet to the left or right. If you miss a crappie’s strike zone by 6 inches, you’ve missed it by a mile. Make the cast, count your bait down to the desired depth and reel just fast enough to maintain that depth. No jigging, nothing fancy, just a
Crappie stack up in large schools this time of year, at it’s not hard to catch them if you know what to look for. Crappie always hang around cover of some type. The two key pieces of structure on my home water are boat docks and laydowns. There are a few docks that seem to always hold fish, but I like to hunt for them with my Raymarine electronics. I turn on SideVision mode and start searching. Crappie will be in big schools, and I might go down a line of 50 docks with only one dock holding the mother lode. To see how big they are and to make sure they are crappie, I will put an Aqua Vu camera down there and check them out. Most of the docks I fish are floating, and the magical depth is normally at least 20 feet of water under the dock. The crappie will normally be suspended under these docks anywhere from 8 to 15 feet down, depending on the water clarity.
slow reel. My favorite jig head is a 1/32-ounce ball-shaped jig head with a good sharp Mustad hook, but I will go up to a 1/16-ounce if the wind is blowing or I’m fishing deeper than normal. Any soft plastic minnow imitation in the 2-inch range with a straight tail will work. Stay away from twist-tail grubs for this method because they cause your bait to rise too much. I use a S721 MHX rod built with supplies from Mud Hole Custom Tackle, including a Winn grip. It is 6-foot-long, super-sensitive and has the perfect action for controlling small baits. I team it with a 1000-size spinning reel and 4-pound Vicious Panfish line in fluorescent green. The green line helps me detect light strikes. These tips will help you all the way up until crappie start moving shallow to spawn. These fish are fat and healthy this time of year. So get out and have some fun this winter.
Get more tips from Lester at
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Surprising Winter is the Best Planting Time
I am often asked when is the best time to plant fruiting plants. My answer is usually the same; the best time is 20 years ago or today. The second best time to plant is during the winter months. Plants are dormant, and can be easily shipped and planted with no stress on the plant because there is not a lot of maintenance once the plant or tree has been planted. Simply dig a good hole, water thoroughly
at planting, and take the rest of the winter off. Even though there are no signs of growth above ground, the root systems will have time to get adjusted to their new location and begin to initiate new root growth. There are plenty of advantages of growing your own edibles. First of all, you know what has been done over the course of the growing season from a chemical stand point. Second, the fruit just taste
better coming out of your home orchard versus buying fruit from the grocers that have little to no flavors. Thirdly, it is good for your soul and you will feel more connected to the environment and nature. Whether it is an apple tree, muscadine vine or a blueberry bush; now is the time to plant. Let’s Grow Together. Greg Ison, Ison’s Nursery and Vineyards, 800733-0324, www.isons.com
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N
estled in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, Jackson County is home to the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail and its centerpiece, the Tuckasegee River, which dissects the county as it flows north to Fontana Lake. The “Tuck,” as it is known to the locals, is a beautiful tailwater trout fishery used for the 2011 USA Fly Fishing Championships, in which the Gold Medal was won by Team USA member Logan Egan. The most popular time to fish the Tuck is during the delayed harvest (DH) fishing season from Oct. 1 to the first Friday in June each year. During this time frame, the Tuck is a catchand-release fishery with artificial-lure, single-hook restrictions. This stretch of specially regulated water runs about 5.5 miles outside the small towns of Dillsboro, Sylva and Cullowhee. The boundaries of the DH are marked by signage on the banks. These regulations appeal to fly fishers and spin fishers alike. You will not only see anglers stripping streamers, drifting nymphs, and casting dries, but you will see a fair number of spinner fishermen taking good numbers of brook, rainbow and brown trout. Jackson County receives an annual stocking of 92,800 trout, the most in the state of North Carolina. In October and November 2016, the Tuck DH section was stocked with 19,600 trout. Rainbow and brook trout made up about 80 percent of this number, and the other 20 percent were brown trout. Normally, trout reach 12 inches in length before making it into the Tuck, but anglers should expect to see, and potentially land, some trophy-sized trout on any drift or presentation. Many anglers wade the river, and drift boats are also popular. Stream flow is controlled by Duke Energy, which posts three days of release schedules on their website, www.duke-energy. com under the Nantahala link. Duke Energy has also provided boat ramps on Old Cullowhee Road and North River Road that many drifters use while floating the Tuck. South River Road is a popular area for anglers and guides due to the number of pull-offs that parallel the river and make accessing the river easy. Access to the Tuckasegee is great compared to some other rivers in the area, but there is some posted private property. Be sure to avoid it. The Tuck is also part of the North Carolina Mountain Heritage Trout Waters program, which allows anglers to fish with a special three-day license that costs only $5. Many anglers opt to purchase a regular fishing license with a trout stamp since the fee is fair and it gives access to almost all the state’s trout waters. A non-resident can purchase a 10-day fishing license and trout stamp for $33 or an annual fishing license and trout stamp for $51. The Tuck DH runs very close to downtown Sylva, yet its beauty catches most first-time anglers off guard.
In fall, the red, yellow and orange leaves dancing on the trees highlight the contours of the surrounding mountains. A bald eagle might closely judge your fishing skills, watching for its opportunity to show you how it’s done. Winter brings cleansing and the occasional snowfall, in which many local anglers find solitude chasing trout on tiny midges. Winter fishing pressure is minimal, which makes it a great time to land a large trout if you’re willing to test your mental toughness wading in cold water. Spring comes to life with budding trees and insects hatching, signaling the coming summer. Anglers spend late evenings on the Tuck sight casting to rising trout honed in on larger dry flies and emerger patterns. Spring evenings can be very peaceful, since most anglers have broken down their rods by 6 p.m. and are headed to the local brewery or one of the many unique restaurants or food trailers in downtown Sylva or Dillsboro. There is a list of local restaurants and breweries at www.mountainlovers.com, or just ask local fly shop employees for their recommendation. In 2016, the North Carolina General Assembly proclaimed Jackson County the Official Trout Capital of North Carolina. Jackson County is home to 4,600 miles of trout streams with a good mixture of hatchery supported streams and wild streams. Check out www.NCTroutcapital.com for more information. Jackson County was also the first to have an officially designated Fly Fishing Trail, which highlights 15 different streams and rivers for any angler to test their skills. Many have taken the challenge of catching and releasing trout or smallmouth bass in each location. There is a map that gives detailed information about each stream, directions, and the type of fish anglers can expect to catch. More information is available at www. flyfishingtrail.com. If you are looking for a fishery with plenty of trout and the opportunity to catch a 25-incher, the Tuck is for you. It is relatively close to Atlanta, Knoxville, Charleston and Charlotte. The Tuck is just an hour west of Asheville, N.C., and it is at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Blue Ridge Parkway. This makes for a nice and easy weekend retreat, or it can be a popular destination for longer stays due to accessibility and other local attractions. Come and experience North Carolina trout fishing at its best! Shannon Messer owns Appalachian Flies and manages and guides at Blackrock Outdoors Orvis Authorized Fly Shop at 570 West Main Street, Sylva NC 28779. Contact him at 828-6314453 or appalachianflies@gmail.com.
North Carolina’s Tuckasegee River, A Southern Gem By Shannon Messer
For more fishin’ on the North Carolina Tuckasegee River, go to
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FISH & FISHING
A DIFFERENT APPROACH MARK SOSIN
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t’s commonplace today, but more than a halfcentury ago few anglers even thought about it. The late Dr. Webster Robinson wanted to catch either a sailfish or striped marlin on a fly rod while casting from a boat that was out of gear so that the fly was not being trolled. Working with his skipper, Capt. Lefty Reagan, these angling legends fathered the concept of teasing a fish. They reasoned that if they could raise a billfish on a hookless bait, capture its total attention by keeping the tasty morsel just out of reach, work the fish within casting range and substitute a different offering at the last minute, the mission would be successful. I knew both men well and listened intently as Web Robinson described the process to me in detail. He even gave me a copy of the fly he used. Teasing ranks as an extremely effective technique for countless species in a variety of situations. Working on sailfish or marlin on the offshore grounds is just one phase. Sometimes known as bait-andswitch, it’s nothing more than using a live bait, dead bait or a certain artificial to excite a fish enough so it will eat the lure or bait you want it to devour on the tackle of your choice. Very light tackle enthusiasts often tease their quarry into striking so that the line doesn’t break on the initial contact. I’ve teased countless species from sharks, albacore and tuna to striped bass, redfish, barracuda, amberjack, snook and many more. Let me share a couple examples to show you how effective teasing can be. Using a spinning outfit, I rigged a plastic worm exactly the same way as I would for largemouth bass. Pacific sailfish normally don’t include plastic worms as part of their diet. We teased one with a bonito belly and, once the boat was out of gear, I cast the worm. My partner yanked the teaser out of the water and the fish inhaled a plastic worm faster than you can read this.
I met a man who showed me beautiful flies for offshore species. When I told him I could catch a sailfish on a cigar just as easily as with one of his flies, he laughed at me. We were shooting a television show in Panama, and late in the day Capt. Karl Anderson asked if I had a cigar. He rigged it with a leader and hook, attached it to a flyrod and waited for a sailfish to show in the trolled teasers. We stopped the boat, Karl yanked the teaser away from the fish, and I cast the cigar. Within seconds, the sailfish crashed the cigar, went airborne, and all you could see was tobacco showering through the air. As Karl put it, that’s no longer theory. Teasing fish opens a broad new dimension to the sport. As an angler, it allows you to hook fish on all types of tackle using any bait or lure you choose including cigars and plastic worms. Try it and you’ll become hooked on the technique just as I am.
For More Mark Sosin Visit
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FLY FISHING
CASTING FOR REDFISH: BEYOND THE DOUBLE HAUL
I
t is well-known that the double haul and the back cast are essential for fly fishing for redfish. Here are three more casts I believe are very important when targeting winter reds with a fly. Fly Repositioning Cast This cast is wonderful when you need to recast a fly to a redfish that refused it or when you missed your target. It works best when 20 or more feet of line are outside the tip-top. It is essential to the success of this cast to not rush picking the fly line up off the water. The key is to load for the back cast by beginning with the rod tip close to the water and slowly lifting the line off the water. Then wait to feel the rod load on the back cast. Once you feel the rod load, make a forward cast, allowing the fly to hit the mark. I’ve witnessed far too many fishermen rush to recast, and in doing so, miss their target on the second cast. The Quick-Cast For The Short Game When sight casting, you will need to execute some short, quick accurate casts. The short cast is one of the most difficult casts to make because a fly rod made for short casting has yet to be built. When red fishing, unless I know I’ll be making long casts, I keep roughly 40 feet of fly line stripped into a line management basket (a bucket if fishing from a skiff) and 20 feet of line outside the fly rod’s tip-top. The first 15 feet of the belly section of the line will easily load the fly rod with minimal false casting. Place the fly between the index finger and thumb of the hand not holding the rod. If a redfish is spotted at close range, make a back cast while at the same time releasing the fly from your hand and cast to the redfish.
Master The Cross-Wind Cast The wind blows where redfish live. The most difficult winds to a fly flinger are the cross-wind and the following-wind. Both are guaranteed to give the angler fits. The best cast for these challenging situations is the Belgian cast, a very quick cast that when executed correctly presents the fly under challenging conditions. The key is to make an extended side-armed back cast, followed by a high extended-arm overhead cast that will provide the angler distance when working in a big wind. A word of caution: The side cast may produce the painful problem of a fly imbedded in the angler if the wind is blowing toward the casting arm. Put It To The Test When targeting winter redfish, the fly angler will be presented with many different casting situations depending on weather conditions. It’s important to understand and execute each of the casting techniques discussed. Once mastered, a trophy redfish is only a cast away! Conway Bowman caught this 41.65-pound IGFA fly-caught world record redfish out of Hopedale, La.
For More Fly Fishing with Bowman, go to
CAMFLYFISHING.COM
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FISHING AND DIVING
The Maldives
By Capt. Terry Fisher
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t had been 20 years since I had boarded a followed by fishing. The Maldivian government live-a-board to fish and dive. My friend, Capt. is famous for it’s eco-friendly approach and Wayne Hasson, president of Aggressor and serious application to fish conservation. The Dancer Fleets, invited me to accompany him to government’s prohibition of net and long-line the Maldives for a world-class fishing and diving fishing for commercial purposes has sustained the expedition. Over the years, Wayne and I have abundance of fisheries. Commercial fishermen use fished and dived many exotic locations, including line and pole, preventing by-catch of species other waters of the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Pacific than their main target, which is tuna. Sport fishing, and Atlantic. This was my first visit to the Indian therefore, has thrived. Among the game fish found Ocean. are giant trevally, barracuda, wahoo, dorado, A three-leg flight from Miami through New yellowfin tuna, sailfish and marlin. Bonefish and York and Dubai landed us in Male, the small, permit inhabit the flats. bustling capital of the Maldives. Upon arrival, There are many charter fishing operations Wayne and I quickly cleared customs and were in the Maldives. I had numerous opportunities to assisted by a friendly and helpful crew of the be transported to beautiful sand beaches in the mother ship. We were transported aboard a ‘Dhoni’ middle of the Indian Ocean to fish for bonefish, (dinghy) by water, to lush accommodations aboard giant trevally, jack crevalle and other species. the Maldives Aggressor. This live-a-board vessel While sailing to new dive sites, we used a ‘Dohni’ boasts a full-service galley, huge salon, 10 guest to troll and catch tuna, sailfish, wahoo and dorado. state rooms and decks for relaxing, sunbathing, At night aboard the Maldives Aggressor, we dining under the stars or just getting away for bottom fished for grouper and snapper. some private time. This luxury yacht offered all Trolling, spinning, fly-fishing gear, including of the comforts and amenities of a five-star, land- lures and fly presentations are basically the same as based property with toilets, lavatory and shower we use in the states. Diving various locations and facilities to satisfy the most demanding guests. seeing up close the numerous species that I would This voyage, Dive with the Owners Week, fish for was an added and educational bonus. provided me the benefit of being surrounded Perfect water clarity offered a vast array of marine by a number of crew, divers and fishermen, life at every dive destination. representing more than 10 different countries. The Maldives is a nation of islands. It is also For information on this trip of a lifetime, visit the “Honeymoon Capital” of Europe and parts www.maldivesfishing.com or www.aggressorfleet. of Asia. Temperatures range from 77 to 86. There com. Contact Capt. Terry Fisher of Cape Coral, are 26 atolls with 1,190 islands. One island boasts Florida’s Fish Face Charters at fishfacecharters@ a rainforest. Only 209 of the islands are inhabited yahoo.com. with a total population For more fishing in the Maldives, go to of only 400,000. Tourism is the leading industry,
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A
ll tournament anglers want to win. The questions are: How bad do you want that win? How much are you willing to sacrifice? How much are you willing to put on the line chasing the big win? The answers aren’t cut-and-dry or crystal clear. Most tournament anglers I know are perfectly content competing at the club and local level for beer money. But don’t underestimate the will of those guys either. I recently competed in a Deerpoint Team Trail event with Travis Poole in which a win would have been a few hundred dollars for us to split. It was low threat, low entry fee and big fun. You’d think that given the conditions that day, any sane man would’ve stayed at home. Approximately 4 inches of rain fell that day, the wind blew and lightning popped around our heads all day. Still, most guys that entered the event that morning brought their catch to the scales in the pouring rain hoping to claim the prize. The weather didn’t seem to dampen their desires one bit. They wanted it bad enough, at least they did that day. For the professional angler, the weather is just one of many elements they must fight to stay in the game. Family, sponsorship obligations, mechanical problems and financial burdens are just a few of the non-fishing issues that require an angler to do a gut-check nearly every day. All these things must be tended to before the angler can even set out to find fish for a coming event, and he’s usually a one-man crew. Some of the top touring anglers have support networks taking on some of this for them, but rest assured, they didn’t get there with them. Stories from many of the top pros sound the same, tales about sleeping in the cab of their trucks for weeks on end, dining on peanut butter day after day, selling possessions off to fund the next event, and practicing in horrible weather because they only have two days to figure out unknown waters. If there was one thing I could define that separates the successful tournament angler from the others, it’s this: he wanted more. The guy in this picture is my friend Johnny Nguyen. He is a great example of what I just described. I can’t tell you how bad he wants it, but I can tell you he possesses at least one critical element for fishing success: the undeniable, unflappable, hard-core love for the sport. No tournament here, just him out fishing on a day he probably shouldn’t have been. But there he is, doing what he loves. Some get it, others never will. Randy Cnota is the co-publisher of Coastal Angler/The Angler Magazine’s Panama City/Forgotten Coast edition.
For More fishing with Randy ‘C-Note’ Cnota, go to
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hose of us who live life outdoors know it’s not always sunny. It can get downright ugly, and many times the best bite of the year is on the leading edge of a nasty front. With good foul weather gear, wind and rain should never stand between anglers and feeding fish. Pelagic Gear, a company founded on and devoted to the ocean lifestyle, has developed a line of gear that guarantees anglers will stay happy and dry, no matter what Mother Nature sends rolling in. Pelagic’s Dri-Flex Lightweight Jacket is perfect to throw in the bag for those dewy mornings or windy evenings when there’s a slight chill. Pelagic’s DRI-FLEX fabric provides the comfort of a lightweight jacket while protecting you from the elements with water repellant technology. When it’s time to take protection from the elements up a notch, anglers shouldn’t get caught on the water without
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Pelagic’s Hurricane Jacket. For more than a decade, this 100-percent waterproof outerwear has been the choice of hardcore captains around the world. It was designed specifically for the harsh conditions of the marine environment with technical features that cater to the needs of anglers. With welded zipper technology, reflective hex-safety patches and a moisture-wicking liner, the Hurricane Jacket keeps anglers dry and shielded in bad weather. And then there are those times when you need protection all over. Pelagic’s Stormbreaker Foul Weather Jacket and Bib are a full barrier to the elements. The suit is made of a lightweight PVC that is 100-percent waterproof, yet comfortable to wear. Again, it was designed specifically for anglers, with a loose cut for optimal maneuverability and plenty of ventilation. This is also the perfect rain barrier for the traveling angler. It is lightweight and packs easily, so an angler never has to leave the docks without the full protection from harsh conditions. Good foul weather gear is essential to every angler. When it comes to selecting protection from the elements, it makes sense to choose gear designed specifically for fishing. Any outerwear will do if the mission is a stroll through the park. Pelagic Gear’s line protects anglers and keeps them fishing in the kind of brutal conditions only found on open water. To learn more about the Pelagic Lifestyle, go to
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FITEC CAST NETS Fitec International has been providing the very best cast nets available to anglers for over 50 years. They are the world’s largest manufacturer of cast nets and their products are in stock or online with all major retailers and distributors where cast nets are sold. The superior quality in their handmade nets gives anglers the fun and performance they deserve while out on the water. Hold a Fitec net next to a competitor and you will see there is no comparison. Fitec’s Super Spreader and Ultra Spreader cast nets are simply the best! Fitec offers four distinct categories to ensure you are able to get the net you need. The patented EZ throw cast net is designed with a disc feature that is perfect for the novice. The RS, or Recreational Series, is designed for shallow waters or for the person who wants a lighter net. The SS, or Sport Series, nets are designed with a 1-pound per radius foot weight system and are the No. 1 selling cast net in the country. Finally, the GS, or Guide Series, nets are designed for the serious angler, built with the highest quality standards and the fastest sink rate. Fitec values your business. They go to work every day with you, their customer, in mind. Their mission is to “bring innovative quality products to customers, with drive and passion every day.”
WWW.CASTNETS.COM
Seeking to become the leading and most comprehensive manufacturer of all things diving and fishing, Hammerhead Spearguns has made another addition to its lineup of gear. They are proud to announce the launch of the Dentex NT, a utility glove so durable yet flexible it’s almost like having a second skin on the hands. The Dentex NT comes with an ANSI Cut Level 5 and Puncture Level 3 and is woven from Hammerhead’s signature red Dentex fabric, but now it has a Sandy Nitrile coating on the palm and fingers, giving it increased resistance to heat and chemicals, plus additional grip. The Dentex NT is also known to be extremely pliant, molding seamlessly into your hands, so no clumsy mitten-hands here. You can even pick up a penny while wearing them! The wide range of things you can do with the Dentex NT gloves is staggering. You can use them not just when you fish or handle tricky, spiny sea critters but also when doing repairs or squaring off with hazardous materials. Welding a piece of metal to fix your boat? Piece of cake! Filleting tuna? Sure thing! Changing lines and hooks? Say goodbye to line abrasions and getting pricked, stabbed, or poked on your fingers. Sharp tools and hot objects no longer pose a threat to your valuable hands.
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT ERGODOCK OFFERS IMPROVED RESILIENCE, AESTHETICS AND SAFETY
While many docks along the Florida coastline buckled to the force of Hurricane Matthew this fall, widespread reports from boaters and anglers indicated that docks utilizing ErgoDock technologies held up considerably better. With the damage and debris left in Matthew’s wake, the resilience of ErgoDock proved significant—not only because of its strength, but because of expected durability against future hurricanes that routinely batter the coast. The ErgoDock difference is its inherent structural augmentation. ErgoDock is designed to provide a matrix that evolves the dock into a single structural component instead of a succession of individual parts like most marine docks are constructed. Independent tests report that ErgoDock significantly outperforms all other dock options in comfort, safety and customization. ErgoDock’s unique texture, for example, enhances safety with a far more slip resistant material than wood or composite decking. The ErgoDock surface also is designed to allow more “give,” increasing comfort and safety by easing stress on ErgoDock owners’ feet, back and joints while also mitigating any potential injury from a fall. ErgoDock prevents deterioration, therefore reducing the need for maintenance. Its products adhere with an impervious membrane to seal all decking materials and are self-draining, to prevent UV or water degradation of existing decking or concrete surfaces. “Our purpose was to create a material that far outperforms all other dock options when it comes to safety, comfort, customization and longevity,” said Kent Weisenberg, founder and CEO of ErgoDock LLC. “There is nothing like it on the market. ErgoDock is a multi patent-pending marine surfacing system that is revolutionizing the dock design and repair industries.” Weisenberg, the sole named inventor on 28 U.S. and foreign patents, added, “We passionately pursue improving the world’s infrastructure with green technology. ErgoDock surfaces are made of sustainable materials that fight the depletion of our environment.” ErgoDock products can be used in various stages of a dock’s life whether for preservation, safety, aesthetics or for any combination of the three. Still want that traditional wood dock look? ErgoDock offers ErgoWood Decking, which is select-treated wood that is pre-dried and then encased in ErgoDock’s patented SafeTread material and prevents deterioration from sun and water while increasing a dock’s life by as much as 10 years over current decking materials. “Add it all up, and ErgoDock products represent a major leap forward in dock design and repair,” Weisenberg said. “We want people to know that there is another option out there–one that comes with ergonomic elegance and represents a resilient, safe and viable option that contractors will want to offer their customers.”
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT XTRATUF CAMO-LINED LEGACY BOOT Designed to keep fishermen sure-footed on the water, XTRATUF’s Camo-Lined Legacy Boot is the ideal boot for fishing in the elements. An interior camo lining and XTRATUF logo that are visible when the boot is rolled down adds a pop of color to XTRATUF’s classic performance boot. Not your typical rubber boot, the Legacy is triple-dipped to create a seamless coating of rubber that further strengthens an already watertight material, thus sealing the boots and making them impervious to fish oils and chemicals. The soft, pliable and lightweight neoprene latex rubber gives the Legacy boots unparalleled comfort and flexibility. The hand-laye r e d construction allows for flex and strength at critical stress points on the boot. A signature chevron outsole design and unique rubber compound provides maximum surface contact for ultimate traction and stability in even the most severe fishing and work conditions. These 100 percent waterproof boots will keep the warmth in and the cold out when the temperature drops.
P SU CO
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2000 WATT CONTINUOUS/ 4000 WATT PEAK SAVE POWER INVERTER
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139
ITEM 60432/63019/63018
$
Customer Rating 69662 shown
$
129
99
$
16999 $268.99
comp at
LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
WOW29 PIECE TITANATEIUMD SUPER COUPON
NITRIDE CO HIGH SPEED STEEL DRILL BIT SET
SAVE 78%
Customer Rating
$
ITEM 62281 61637 shown
19
SAVE $73
ITEM 60338 69381 shown
$
119
89
99
comp at 99 $163.06
LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
6" VARIABLE SPEED DUAL ACTION POLISHER Customer Rating ITEM 69924 shown 62403/62862
$
99 54 $ 99
comp at
69 $149.99
LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
R PE ON SU UP CO 1500
LB. CAPACITY DUAL WHEEL SWING-BACK BOAT TRAILER JACK ITEM 69779/67500 shown Customer Rating
SAVE 37%
$
99comp29 at $44.99
27
$
Limit 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day Parking Lot Sale item, automotive lifts, compressors, floor jacks, saw mills, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, trenchers, welders, Admiral, Badland, Bauer, Bremen, CoverPro, Creekstone, Daytona, Diablo, Doyle, Drummond, Earthquake, Franklin, Hercules, Holt, Jupiter, Lynxx, Maddox, Portland, Predator, Quinn, StormCat, Tailgator, Union, Viking, Vulcan. Not valid on prior purchases. Nontransferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17.
WOW
SUPER COUPON
$59.97
GAS RECREATIONAL GENERATOR
SAVE 95
ANY SINGLE ITEM
comp at
R 900 PEAK/ PE ON 700 RUNNING WATTS SU UP O C Customer Rating 2 HP (63 CC) 2 CYCLE
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20% OFF
$199299
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$
VALID NOW ON 5,000 + ITEMS
99
LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
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How Does Harbor Freight Sell GREAT QUALITY Tools at the LOWEST Prices? We have invested millions of dollars in our own state-of-the-art quality test labs and millions more in our factories, so our tools will go toe-to-toe with the top professional brands. And we can sell them for a fraction of the price because we cut out the middle man and pass the savings on to you. It’s just that simple! Come visit one of our 700+ Stores Nationwide. R PE ON SU UP CO
RAPID PUMP® 1.5 TON ALUMINUM RACING JACK
WINNER
Customer Rating
– Truckin' Magazine
ITEM 95659 shown 61634/61952 • 580 lb. capacity
89
$
9999
$
99
7
$ 97 VALUE
LIMIT 1 - Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or prior purchase. Coupon good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Offer good while supplies last. Shipping & Handling charges may apply if not picked up in-store. Nontransferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one FREE GIFT coupon per customer per day.
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SUPER COUPON
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3 GALLON, 100 PSI OILLESS AIR COMPRESSORS A. HOT DOG
ITEM 69269/97080 shown
B. PANCAKE
ITEM 95275 shown 60637/61615
B
$3999 $
comp at
18 VOLT CORDLESS 3/8" DRILL/DRIVER WITH KEYLESS CHUCK
LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
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ITEM 69651/62868 62873/68239 shown
Includes one 18V NiCd battery and charger.
$
19
99 16 99 comp at
$49.21
ITEM 69249/69115/69137 69129/69121/877 shown
Customer Rating
RETRACTABLE AIR HOSE REEL R PE ON WITH 3/8" x 50 FT. HOSE SU UPCustomer Rating ITEM 93897 shown CO 69265/62344
$ $
2999
49
99$69.99
comp at
LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
R PE ON SU UP CO
Blade sold separately.
12" SLIDING COMPOUND DOUBLE-BEVEL MITER SAW WITH LASER GUIDE
Customer Rating
$
12 VOLT, 10/2/50 AMP BATTERY CHARGER/ ENGINE STARTER Customer Rating
LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
SAVE $499 64% comp at $8.48
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ITEM 60581/60653 shown
comp at
SAVE $259
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SAVE 57%
5999 $98.62
$ 99
2
SAVE 65% $
Customer Rating
7 FT. 4" x 9 FT. 6" ALL PURPOSE WEATHER RESISTANT TARP
SAVE $129
$ $
99 59 99
89
comp at
$189
LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
Customer Rating
YOUR CHOICE
$319.01
LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
R PE ON SU UP CO
SAVE 59%
15999
$119.99
R PE ON SU UP CO
6 PIECE SCREWDRIVER ITEM 62728/62583 SET 47770/62570 shown
SAVE $219
$5999 comp at
WITH ANY PURCHASE
Customer Rating
ITEM 69252 68053/62160 62496/62516 60569 shown
$
FREE
26", 4 DRAWER TOOL CART
SAVE $60
• 3-1/2 Pumps Lifts Most Vehicles • Weighs 34 lbs.
SUPER COUPON
$
ITEM 69684 shown 61969/61970
99 139 99
199
comp at
$399
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WOW SUPER12"CORATUPREAONCHDERET BAR CLAMP/SP
ITEM 46807/68975 69221/62123/63017 69222 shown
SAVE 85%
$ 99 $399 .76
2
comp at
$20
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At Harbor Freight Tools, the "comp at" price means that the same • 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed • 700+ Stores Nationwide • HarborFreight.com item or a similar functioning item was advertised for sale at or above the "comp at" price by another retailer in the U.S. within the • Over 30 Million Satisfied Customers • Lifetime Warranty • 800-423-2567 past 180 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of "comp at" should be implied. For more On All Hand Tools information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate. • No Hassle Return Policy COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM JANUARY 2017 NATIONAL 33
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PENNFISHING.COM
LET THE BATTLE BEGIN The Slammer is back! Featuring a full metal body and rotor, IPX6 sealed gear box and spool design, a full Brass CNC Gear system,
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and a smooth yet powerful Dura Drag System. The Slammer is not only back…. it’s better than ever before.
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