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SPRING
TIPS FOR REDS
POOR MAN'S
& TROUT
WANT TO BE A CHARTER CAPTAIN?
GIANT TREVALLY
MAR 21-24 • PBBOATSHOW.COM PHOTO COURTESY OF TOMMY MIANO
VOLUME 29 • ISSUE 348
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM
F R A N C H I S E
O P P O R T U N I T I E S
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W O R L D W I D E
MARCH 2024
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PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®.
KEEN SENSES
ARE ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS
By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
I
t is always important to pay attention to our surroundings as we go through life, and fishing is no exception. How many of you have been fishing without any action and find yourself daydreaming and going through the motions until you feel the tug on your line? Suddenly you are frantically trying to remember the cadence of your retrieve to duplicate the action, but you are dreaming of fish instead of trying to catch them. Well, in this article and the accompanying video for The Angler Video Magazine, I will go over a specific situation when paying attention paid off, and you can see it and hear me talk through it on the video. I will also share some wisdom from two incredible Texas guides whom I was fortunate enough to spend a few hours with on the topic of targeting big trout. While wading in knee-deep water that
4 NATIONAL
MARCH 2024
was about 61 degrees, I could see a few mullet jumping in their casual mullet way. It was enough to keep me interested in the area. The bottom had undulating depth with grass and scattered potholes, or sand pockets for those not familiar with the term. I was throwing a slowsinking soft-plastic jerkbait, letting it slowly sink between twitches where the sand and grass met. With a cast in mid-air, I saw a mullet do an abnormal flip. It was distinct from the norm of the day and not as if it were being chased, but different, nonetheless. I burned my lure back in and made a cast just beyond where the mullet flipped. When my lure paused near the area, a nice redfish slammed my soft plastic. Had I not been paying attention and blew it off as just another mullet jumping, I would not have caught that fish and a few more in the general area. Since we cannot always have a bird’s eye view,
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we need to utilize the birds’ eyes. Here are a few tips I picked up on during a conversation with guides. Birds do not always need to be feeding to point us to fish. There are subtle hints, such as a head turn of a gliding pelican. They don’t turn their head for no reason; they saw something. Maybe they saw a huge trout and kept soaring because it was too big for them to eat. Also, watch the lines birds are relating too. They may not dive, bait may not flee from the shadow, but they are flying that line for a reason, and maybe you should work your way toward the area. Pay attention on the water and in conversation with old salts. You might need to read between the lines, but the answers are there. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures®, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®.
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JACK CREVALLE: BATTLE THE BULLIES OF THE REEF
S
ometimes called the “poor man’s giant trevally,” jack crevalle will strike a surface lure or bait aggressively, and once hooked, engage the angler in a slugfest they won’t soon forget. Jacks are world-class fighters. These fish are perfect for small-boat anglers because they frequent inshore and nearshore waters. They can be caught in bays, inlets, canals and off reefs, where they target schooling baitfish. These fish are perfect for light spinning gear or a fly rod, as they will readily take any fast-retrieved bait imitation. They frequently show up in bays and estuaries following migratory baitfish like mullet. Strong current that concentrates bait is usually best, and you’ll find them at the mouths of the inlets on a strong outgoing tide. Any nearshore reef close to an inlet that has “nervous water” – a sure sign of bait schools—is prime territory for jacks. A 7-foot medium-action spinning rod equipped with a 6000 sized spinning reel and spooled with 40-pound braid is a prime tool for fighting these fish. I like a fluorocarbon leader in the 50-pound range for abrasion resistance. These fish are not leader shy. Jacks school up in large groups of juvenile fish under 10 pounds. The larger 20-plus-pound fish usually hunt in pairs. While a
By Mark Ambert
5000-class rod and reel setup will handle the smaller fish, a larger setup will be better for anything over 20 pounds. Pro-Tip: If you tangle with one of the larger fish, get a second bait or lure in the water for a double hook-up! Live bait and chum will usually find the biggest fish. Any local seasonal bait such as herring, pilchards, sardines or mullet will do the trick. For maximum fun factor, a topwater lure or fly stripped fast can’t be beat. I usually locate a school of feeding fish first then break out the fly or topwater spinning gear for sport. A 9- or 10-weight fly rod setup with an intermediate line is optimal. When fly fishing, a popper, Deceiver, Clouser or any streamer pattern will work. I use flies that cast easily and in colorful patterns to attract the fish. With spinning gear, any noisy or splashy plug such as a 3- to 4-inch Storm Chug Bug is ideal. I also use a 4-inch Heddon Zara Spook in white with a walk-the-dog retrieve. Watching this lure get knocked out of the water and eaten is worth the
price of admission. For sub-surface action, the Rapala X-Rap size 10 in Ghost finish can’t be beat. The initial run of a big jack is spectacular, with ever shortened runs to follow. Using lighter gear, you might have to chase bigger fish down, so be prepared to move. Once a fish is spent, I usually use a net or tail grab the fish boatside for a quick picture and safe release, as these fish have limited food quality. Now head out your local inlet and target these plentiful and eager sluggers. They will not disappoint. Find Mark Ambert on Instagram @marksgonefishing_™; Email: marksgonefishing25@gmail.com.
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MARCH 2024
NATIONAL 7
DO YOU WANT TO BE A CHARTER CAPTAIN? By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon
I
went fishing while on Florida vacation about a decade ago. After returning home to Canada for two months, I drove back to pursue a career in the industry. I had zero experience, no connections, and less than half a clue on where to begin. For those with a similar dream, here’s what I learned. First, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been a weekend warrior. If you want to be a captain, be a deckhand first. You don’t know what you don’t know, and working for someone fishing the waters you plan to guide provides all kinds of information. Every fishery has its own etiquette and unspoken guidelines. Community is crucial, and paying your dues and earning respect goes a long way. Captains communicate about fishing on the water, and often, we are each other’s first responders. This same-team mentality is nearly currency. Beginning as a deckhand is difficult. Nobody wants to train you, yet you must be trainable. On your own time, practice skills like knot tying, bait rigging and net throwing. Veteran fishermen are usually happy to flex knowledge to those who ask for help humbly. No matter what you learn, be ready to have a captain you work for tell you it’s wrong. Adapt, and learn things their way. The expectations of deckhands are high, and everything on board will be their fault. You are expected to arrive early, stay late, come in on days off, anticipate your captain and clients wants, and do it on minimum salary. The biggest issue with new deckhands is they sometimes don’t show up. Finding a replacement at 6 a.m. is nearly impossible, and it affects the productivity of a charter. Being a fisherman takes a special kind of person. If can fish six days a week and still want to go out for fun on your day off, this job
may be for you. If you’re on the boat watching the clock, you won’t last long. Showing up to the dock consistently is a great way to make connections and get work. If you can’t find work, show up an hour before local charters head out. Walk the dock and ask if anyone had a no-show deckhand. If you do this consistently and pass out your number, eventually someone will call you. They will see you have the dedication to show up. Deckhands are also required to be on a drug consortium. Sign up and keep your paper with you. Lastly, if you hold a captain’s license and are working as a deckhand, make sure your “captain” has one too. You do not want to be held liable for someone else’s mistakes. Protect your future in the industry. If this is something you want to do, I highly recommend going for it. In 10 years, I have never regretted it or lost the smile it puts on my face. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Sweet E’Nuf Charters, Marathon, Florida Keys. Captainquinlyn.com; @captainquinlyn; (504) 920-6342.
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Snook fishing during this transition is very much dependent on the weather. A warming spell pushes snook out faster toward the passes and bays, while a cooling trend will slow them down. A cold snap will absolutely shut the bite down. If it breaks cold and clear the morning of your planned fishing trip, you’re better off targeting trout and reds. While snook are moving out, big schools of scaled sardines and threadfin herring start to show up close to shore. These baitfish, also known as whitebait or pilchard and greenbacks, respectively, become the favorite food source for snook as well as many other gamefish. When water temps reach the mid-70s, a snook’s metabolism ramps up and they’ll eat anything from crabs and shrimp to mullet, but a lively sardine or herring freelined on a 2/0 circle hook is as close to a sure thing as you’re going to get. Generally, these baitfish are also pretty easy to find this time of year. Where you find the bait is where you’ll find snook. Look at a map and draw a line between a known wintering hole and the passes where snook spawn in summer. In spring, they will be somewhere along this line, staged up and feeding on structure. Snook are ambush predators and prefer to hang in the slack water while the tide sweeps food in front of them. By CAM Staff On the beginning of an incoming or outgoing tide, look to the docks, bridges, points, channel swings, mangroves, oyster bars and anything else that provides a little current shade adjacent to faster water. River mouths are a good place to start your search. If there are greenies or whitebait present, there’s a very good chance a school of snook will be there feeding on them. Want to know for sure? Use a chum bat to sling a double handful of disoriented greenies where you think snook might be. If they’re there, you’ll know it in a hurry. Fresh live bait is the easiest way to catch fish, but the spring feed-up also provides lots of opportunity for anglers throwing artificials. If you’re someone who prefers to skip the hassle of catching and keeping bait, you can absolutely get the job done with a baitfish or shrimp imitation. Topwaters, soft-plastic paddletails, soft-plastic shrimp, twitchbaits, plugs and bucktails nook are hungry when they break out of the winter doldrums and go will all get bit. A couple benefits to artificials is you can use them to cover lots on the move this time of year. As spring temperatures begin to stabilize, of water quickly to find fish and they can be skipped up under mangroves they push progressively farther out of their backwater holes, and their and docks. migration intersects with the arrival of spring baitfish schools. It’s a recipe For more tips and tactics, go to coastalanglermag.com. for an aggressive feed-up ahead of the summer spawn.
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Every year, just after the New Year, American shad move from the northern states south. This year, my dad and I went to central Florida to see if we could find some shad making their way up a river. Unfortunately, after hours of constant jigging with light tackle and tiny jigs and a couple miles of paddling a tandem kayak, the shad were a bust. We decided to take a lunch break with lines out for a catfish or bowfin. We soaked baits for about an hour without even a nibble. At this point, I was more than a little disappointed after driving three hours without even a bite to show for it. Don’t get me wrong, the scenery was beautiful, but I was determined to catch something! I started jigging again as my dad slowly paddled us back to the truck. About a quarter of the way back, I got a bite, a cute little 10-inch largemouth. Despite the size, I was satisfied; I had beaten the skunk. I continued jigging until we were about halfway back, where this narrow part of the river opened wider. I made a “last cast” and had decided to call it quits. As I cranked my jig straight in, I was surprised when it got thumped! I laughed and told my dad we had been doing it wrong all day. To test the theory, I tossed my jig out and again just cranked it in. About two feet from the kayak, a huge swirl appeared where my jig was, and 4-pound line started By Emily Hanzlik ripping off my ultralight. My dad paddled to keep the fish a manageable distance from the kayak while also maneuvering defensively to place the kayak between the fish and the vegetation. After an extremely stressful nearly 20-minute fight, we netted a beautiful, 7-pound-plus Florida sunshine bass. I frantically checked the FWC website for the state record, which weighed 16 pounds, 3 ounces. However, I knew I had one more hope for a record. I checked IGFA and was more than pleased to find the women’s 4-pound-test record was a 5-pound fish. If approved, this will be my first record that was not targeted. When you’re hunting records, it’s key to be prepared. No matter where we go, I keep my certified Rapala scale and my tape measure in a glasses container in whatever bag we have that day. The other key is to make sure you always have accurate line on your reel. I use tournament Ande line so I don’t have to worry about my line over-testing. Other than that, it’s just the f you’ve read my column, you know that catching IGFA record fish is what luck of getting that big one. I love to do. I’ve caught more than 60 of them, and people frequently ask Emily Rose Hanzlik has caught more than 60 IGFA world records which is my favorite. It’s tough to pick, but the following recent record in various categories. Find her on social media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors. is at the top.
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Kayak Fishing W By: Eric Henson
ell, I'm finally able to get back out on the water as my wrist is almost fully healed! It's been a decently cold and wet winter this year, but March will soon bring in a new season. The fish that have been hiding in the backwaters will be inching their way out onto the flats and after the chilly winter they will be hungrily searching for their next meal! Some species will start to spawn, and some species will start their journey towards their spawning grounds. Nonetheless, this all makes for a great time of year to get your lines wet! Trout will begin spawning now and in general, will be the last time to catch a trophy Southwest Florida “Gator Trout” until next fall. You will find them in the shallows trying to warm up in the early mornings looking for an easy meal ticket. They are generally loaded with eggs getting ready to release for the trout’s future generations. Their mouths easily tear and have one or two dagger-like fangs on the top with lots of sheathed little teeth throughout the rest of it. One of the safest ways to handle them is by wetting your hand before picking them up so that it helps prevent removing their slime coat off, that keeps them protected from many things. Then if you would like a picture, snap a quick pic and get them back into the water as fast as possible. This is also a great time of year to catch trophy size snook as they make their way towards the gulf to spawn in the summer. These fish are very strong and a little bit hardier, they should also be held with extreme care. Snook can be easily held by their mouths, lipped like a bass but you must make sure to not hold (especially the big ones) just by their mouths and ensure you support their second half as well. If you hold a larger fish without any additional support to their body, you will break their spine and release a toxin into their bloodstream which will slowly kill them within a few days. These fish are also cold sensitive so a quick and gentle release goes a long way. Redfish will be all over the flats mostly in singles and doubles eating as much as possible before they group up for their great spawn. They are probably one of the strongest and hardiest fish out of the three gamefish but not invincible to misshandling. I generally release all these species by holding them by the tail upright in the water, slowly moving them side to side until they give a kick to let you know they are ready to go.
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By: Joe Sheaffer
On The Edge T
By: Joe Sheaffer
his winter has been quite cool in Southwest Florida this year. Low water, cool water temps, cool air temps and as usual breezy to say the least are the norm. Many anglers like to fish in creeks and canals where water temps can be warmer. Unfortunately, many like myself are limited because our boats just can’t get into shallower areas. Instead of being frustrated I try to focus on the positives. I have a boat and I have many different fishing opportunities near where I live and most of the time I can fish when I want. During the cooler months I like to focus on places that are near where I launch my boat. I’m close to a couple of passes to the Gulf, which creates plenty of current. With close access to the gulf there are many channels that provide waterways for boats to the passes. Channels that are adjacent or close to different types of structure can be very productive. I like to focus on the grass flats that create an edge along the channel. Fish like to be close to deeper water, many channels provide water depths that help fish feel comfortable especially during the cooler times of the year. I power fish in an area covering water quickly, looking for a sweet spot or key area holding fish. Once I get a bite or catch a fish, I slow down and spend time working that spot. Many times, a specific area will hold many fish, making for a great fishing day. These productive areas can be solid areas for future trips. I typically will use a slow steady retrieve with a swim bait to look for active fish. Once I get a bite I change to a much slower presentation, like a jig paired with a plastic Shrimp or Shad lure. Many times, fish may be relating to the bottom and the slower action will entice a bite. Focusing on shallow edges along deeper channels have been very productive for me and hopefully for you. Good luck and keep casting.
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The Silver Kings By: Jessica Harris
I
t’s nearing the time of tarpon season! Florida, also called the Fishing Capital of the World, has so many fishing opportunities, but one experience stands out among the rest - tarpon fishing. Tarpon, aka The Silver Kings, are such a unique catch. Pictured here, I had a wonderful trip in the tarpon capital of the world also known as Boca Grande. This was the experience of a lifetime! It was a full 10-hour day of tarpon fishing. Now if any captain knows, Boca Grande in May is not for the weak. You will be surrounded by other boats trying to catch tarpon. But if you can beat that, you’ll be in for a great time. My trip started out fast. Within the first hour, I had 2 tarpon hooked and got 1 to the boat. It was a learning process on remembering to put the rod tip down when they jumped. The whole day, I used crabs as bait and boy did it work. When you catch your first tarpon, remember to keep a scale for good luck! As the day passed, we had to stop at one of my favorite places for lunch, Cabbage Key. Then back at it we went. The tarpon were biting like crazy and at one point, we were the only boat out there and got to experience a wonderful sight of tarpon rolling at sunset. That was in itself, a once in a lifetime opportunity. The fishing came back on as the sunset, and we hooked up to 3 more! I was able to tag one and become more educated on their migrating, eating and the way they live in general. Each tarpon I caught, was hooked right in the button. (Right where you want it!) This trip and what I was able to accomplish reached a lot of people and I was able to speak about the experience on several radio stations. So, to be able to write about the experience all over again is really special to me. And I would like to give a huge shoutout to James of Boca Coast Bait Fish Chum and Airborne Outdoors Fishing Charters with Chris Fanelli for sponsoring me and making it happen. Happy Fishing!
4 SARASOTA/BRADENTON | MARCH 2024 | CAMSWFL@GMAIL.COM
FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINESARASOTA/ | MARCH 2024 | SARASOTA / BRADENTON 5
Springtime Fishing By: Caitlyn Gatrell
I
t’s that time of year again! The weather is warming up and the fish are coming out to play. Boat days are going to become a lot more frequent for us as we’ll be joining tons of other anglers for the new fishing season. We look forward to spring every year because it brings out some of those trophy game fish. We love to chase big snook, redfish, and tarpon, and the warmer temperatures provide plenty of opportunities. On a typical spring fishing day, we’ll head out to the island to scoop up some lively white bait. A little way offshore, the pilings also carry some large threadfin. Once we get the bait secured, we head inshore towards mangrove islands. Finding an area with a deep cut and a flowing current is the goal, and pulling up to action is a great sign. It’s especially exciting when the tarpon are present, as we’ll just see rolls all around. We’ve even seen a couple jump out of the water while chasing bait; it’s a surreal sight. Our go-to method in the spring is to free line our live bait on the mangrove lines or near drop offs. It usually doesn’t take long before we get a bite. That hard thump and drag screaming run makes the long winter wait worth it. When it’s a big fish on the line, it’s an insane experience. Each species has its own unique fight, and they are exciting and heart racing in their own ways. Getting the fish to the boat is an amazing feeling, and after snapping a few quick photos, we ensure a good release. Watching them swim back and eventually disappear is a humbling feeling. Spring season is really the “take off” for fishing season. For ourselves and our fishing friends, it’s when we finish fixing up the boat, dust off our gear, and get ready to face some new adventures. The springtime fights are extra fun in my opinion because the fish are feeding well. That means the hungrier fish there are, the more bites we’ll be getting. Another bonus with fishing in spring is that the time changes again, and the warm days become longer. The longer the days, the more time we have to be on the water. Fishing is pretty productive for us, and the sunset bite is the icing on the cake. Spring fishing in Southwest Florida is an excellent adventure that’s sure to keep your heart racing and your mind happy. Lots of popular species will be on the prowl, some preparing for spawning season, so the fishing opportunities are endless!
This ad partially funded by sales of the Tampa Bay Estuary specialty license plate available at your local DMV.
6 SARASOTA/BRADENTON | MARCH 2024 | CAMSWFL@GMAIL.COM
oming e’ll be
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some adfin. nding action ust see g bait;
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FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINESARASOTA/ | MARCH 2024 | SARASOTA / BRADENTON 7
5409 Manatee Ave E Bradenton, FL 34209 941.795.8442
CORTEZ
March/2024 • 27°28’N 82°41’W
March/2024 • 27°38’N 82°34’W
www.USHarbors.com
Cortez, FL - Mar 2024
High
Date
3113 1st Street, Bradenton, FL 34208 941.746.6020
PORT MANATEE
www.USHarbors.com
Port Manatee, FL - Mar 2024
Low
High
Date
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Moon
Fri
3:50
1.0
2:37
2.0
8:39
0.7
11:09
-0.1
6:52
6:32
1
2
Sat
5:37
0.9
3:15
2.0
8:25
0.8
6:51
6:33
3
Sun
4:04
2.0
12:31
-0.2
6:50
6:34
4
Mon
5:14
2.0
2:01
-0.3
6:49
5
Tue
6:46
2.0
3:18
-0.5
6
Wed
8:16
2.1
4:18
-0.6
7
Thu
12:02P
1.2
9:28
2.2
5:06
-0.7
3:44
8
Fri
12:04P
1.3
10:30
2.3
5:47
-0.7
9
Sat
12:12P
1.3
11:28
2.2
6:23
10
Sun
1:24
1.5
11
Mon
1:23
2.0
1:39
12
Tue
2:19
1.8
13
Wed
3:19
14
Thu
15
Fri
16
Low
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
Fri
5:16
0.9
3:53
1.8
9:07
0.6
Rise
Set
6:52
6:32
2
Sat
6:50
0.7
4:25
1.8
12:02
-0.2
3
Sun
5:09
1.9
1:22
-0.3
6:51
6:32
6:50
6:34
4
Mon
6:19
1.9
2:43
6:33
-0.4
6:49
6:48
6:35
5
Tue
8:05
1.9
6:47
6:35
6:34
3:54
-0.5
6:48
6
Wed
9:36
6:34
2.0
4:50
-0.7
6:47
1.1
6:46
6:36
7
Thu
1:23P
1.1
6:35
10:44
2.1
5:38
-0.7
4:25
0.9
6:46
4:49
0.8
6:45
6:36
8
Fri
1:13P
1.1
6:35
11:43
2.1
6:19
-0.7
5:24
0.7
6:45
-0.5
5:44
0.5
6:44
6:37
9
Sat
6:36
1:22
1.2
6:55
-0.6
6:19
0.4
6:44
7:54
-0.3
7:37
0.2
7:43
7:38
10
Sun
12:38
6:36
2.1
2:39
1.3
8:28
-0.3
8:12
0.1
7:43
1.7
8:20
0.0
8:30
-0.1
7:42
7:38
11
Mon
7:37
2:32
1.9
2:59
1.5
8:58
0.0
9:06
-0.1
7:42
1:58
1.9
8:42
0.3
9:24
-0.3
7:41
7:39
12
7:38
Tue
3:28
1.7
3:23
1.7
9:23
0.3
10:02
-0.3
7:40
1.5
2:22
2.1
8:59
0.6
10:22
-0.4
7:40
7:39
7:38
13
Wed
4:29
1.4
3:48
1.9
9:44
0.5
11:00
-0.4
7:39
4:30
1.2
2:51
2.2
9:08
0.8
11:27
-0.4
7:39
7:39
7:40
14
Thu
5:38
1.1
4:17
2.0
9:50
0.7
7:38
6:26
1.0
3:25
2.2
8:45
1.0
7:39
7:38
7:40
15
Fri
4:49
2.0
12:04
-0.4
7:37
Sat
4:07
2.1
12:44
7:40
-0.3
7:36
7:41
16
Sat
5:29
2.0
1:17
-0.4
7:36
17
Sun
5:05
2.0
7:40
2:13
-0.3
7:35
7:41
17
Sun
6:33
1.8
2:42
-0.3
7:35
18
Mon
6:45
7:41
1.9
3:37
-0.3
7:34
7:42
18
Mon
8:23
1.7
4:07
-0.3
7:34
19
Tue
7:41
8:43
1.8
4:41
-0.3
7:33
7:42
19
Tue
10:03
1.7
5:13
-0.3
7:33
20
Wed
12:33P
7:42
1.4
10:01
1.8
5:28
-0.3
4:46
1.2
7:32
7:43
20
Wed
11:16
1.7
6:01
-0.3
5:17
1.1
7:32
21
Thu
7:42
12:34P
1.4
10:57
1.8
6:04
-0.2
5:39
1.0
7:31
7:43
21
Thu
2:05
1.3
6:36
-0.2
6:08
0.9
7:30
22
Fri
7:43
12:39P
1.5
11:43
1.8
6:33
-0.1
6:19
0.7
7:30
7:44
22
Fri
12:09
1.7
1:52
1.3
7:03
-0.1
6:47
0.7
7:29
23
Sat
7:44
12:43
1.5
6:57
0.0
6:54
0.5
7:29
7:45
23
Sat
12:51
1.7
1:50
1.4
7:27
0.0
7:24
0.5
7:28
24
Sun
12:23
7:44
1.8
12:47
1.6
7:16
0.2
7:27
0.3
7:28
7:45
24
Sun
1:29
1.6
1:59
1.5
7:48
0.1
7:59
0.3
7:27
25
Mon
7:45
1:01
1.7
12:54
1.8
7:32
0.3
7:59
0.1
7:26
7:46
25
Mon
2:06
1.6
2:12
1.6
8:08
0.3
8:36
0.1
7:26
26
7:45
Tue
1:39
1.6
1:05
2.0
7:46
0.5
8:33
-0.1
7:25
7:46
26
Tue
2:46
1.5
2:27
1.8
8:26
0.4
9:15
0.0
7:25
7:46
27
Wed
2:18
1.5
1:22
2.1
7:59
0.7
9:10
-0.2
7:24
7:47
27
Wed
3:29
1.3
2:43
1.9
8:41
0.6
9:56
-0.2
7:24
7:46
28
Thu
3:01
1.3
1:45
2.2
8:12
0.8
9:52
-0.2
7:23
7:47
28
Thu
4:19
1.2
3:02
2.0
8:51
0.7
10:41
-0.2
7:23
7:47
29
Fri
3:54
1.2
2:14
2.3
8:22
0.9
10:43
-0.2
7:22
7:48
29
Fri
5:19
1.1
3:25
2.1
8:55
0.8
11:34
-0.3
7:21
7:47
30
Sat
5:09
1.1
2:48
2.3
8:20
1.0
11:48
-0.2
7:21
7:48
30
Sat
6:35
1.0
3:56
2.2
8:54
0.9
7:20
7:48
31
Sun
3:31
2.3
7:20
7:49
31
Sun
4:36
2.1
12:38
-0.3
7:19
7:48
1
8 SARASOTA/BRADENTON | MARCH 2024 | CAMSWFL@GMAIL.COM
2:09P
1.3
PM 8:55A
ft 0.7
Moon
4419 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice, FL 32493 941.493.0025
VENICE INLET
March/2024 • 27°7’N 82°28’W
March/2024 • 27°20’N 82°33’W
www.USHarbors.com
www.USHarbors.com
Sarasota, FL - Mar 2024
Venice Inlet, FL - Mar 2024 High
Date
1485 S Tamiami Trl Venice, FL 34285 888.538.4052
SARASOTA BAY
Low
High
Date
Low
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Fri
4:12
1.0
2:59
1.9
9:06
0.7
11:36
-0.1
6:52
6:32
2
Sat
5:59
0.8
3:37
1.9
8:52
0.8
6:51
6:32
3
Sun
4:26
1.9
12:58
-0.2
6:50
6:33
6:34
4
Mon
5:36
1.9
2:28
-0.3
6:49
6:34
6:48
6:34
5
Tue
7:08
1.9
3:45
-0.4
6:48
6:34
6:47
6:35
6
Wed
8:38
2.0
4:45
-0.6
6:47
6:35
1.0
6:46
6:36
7
Thu
12:24P
1.2
9:50
2.1
5:33
-0.7
4:11
1.0
6:46
6:35
4:36
0.8
6:45
6:36
8
Fri
12:26P
1.2
10:52
2.1
6:14
-0.6
5:16
0.8
6:45
6:36
-0.5
5:31
0.5
6:44
6:37
9
Sat
12:34P
1.3
11:50
2.1
6:50
-0.5
6:11
0.5
6:44
6:36
7:41
-0.3
7:24
0.2
7:43
7:37
10
Sun
1:46
1.4
8:21
-0.3
8:04
0.2
7:42
7:37
1.6
8:07
0.0
8:17
-0.1
7:42
7:38
11
Mon
1:45
1.9
2:01
1.6
8:47
0.0
8:57
-0.1
7:41
7:38
1:56
1.8
8:29
0.3
9:11
-0.3
7:41
7:38
12
Tue
2:41
1.7
2:20
1.8
9:09
0.3
9:51
-0.3
7:40
7:38
1.4
2:20
2.0
8:46
0.6
10:09
-0.3
7:40
7:39
13
Wed
3:41
1.4
2:44
2.0
9:26
0.6
10:49
-0.3
7:39
7:39
1.1
2:49
2.1
8:55
0.8
11:14
-0.3
7:38
7:39
14
Thu
4:52
1.1
3:13
2.1
9:35
0.8
11:54
-0.3
7:38
7:39
Fri
3:23
2.1
7:37
7:40
15
Fri
6:48
0.9
3:47
2.1
9:12
0.9
7:37
7:40
16
Sat
4:05
2.0
12:31
-0.3
7:36
7:41
16
Sat
4:29
2.0
1:11
-0.3
7:36
7:40
17
Sun
5:03
1.9
2:00
-0.3
7:35
7:41
17
Sun
5:27
1.9
2:40
-0.3
7:35
7:41
18
Mon
6:43
1.8
3:24
-0.3
7:34
7:42
18
Mon
7:07
1.8
4:04
-0.3
7:34
7:41
19
Tue
8:41
1.7
4:28
-0.3
7:33
7:42
19
Tue
9:05
1.7
5:08
-0.3
7:33
7:42
20
Wed
12:31P
1.3
9:59
1.7
5:15
-0.3
4:33
1.1
7:32
7:43
20
Wed
12:55P
1.3
10:23
1.7
5:55
-0.3
5:13
1.1
7:31
7:42
21
Thu
12:32P
1.3
10:55
1.7
5:51
-0.2
5:26
0.9
7:31
7:43
21
Thu
12:56P
1.3
11:19
1.7
6:31
-0.2
6:06
0.9
7:30
7:43
22
Fri
12:37P
1.4
11:41
1.7
6:20
-0.1
6:06
0.7
7:30
7:44
22
Fri
1:01
1.4
7:00
-0.1
6:46
0.7
7:29
7:43
23
Sat
12:41
1.5
6:44
0.0
6:41
0.5
7:28
7:44
23
Sat
12:05
1.7
1:05
1.5
7:24
0.0
7:21
0.5
7:28
7:44
24
Sun
12:21
1.7
12:45
1.6
7:03
0.2
7:14
0.3
7:27
7:45
24
Sun
12:45
1.7
1:09
1.6
7:43
0.2
7:54
0.3
7:27
7:44
25
Mon
12:59
1.6
12:52
1.7
7:19
0.3
7:46
0.1
7:26
7:45
25
Mon
1:23
1.6
1:16
1.7
7:59
0.3
8:26
0.1
7:26
7:45
26
Tue
1:37
1.5
1:03
1.9
7:33
0.5
8:20
-0.1
7:25
7:46
26
Tue
2:01
1.5
1:27
1.9
8:13
0.5
9:00
-0.1
7:25
7:45
27
Wed
2:16
1.4
1:20
2.0
7:46
0.6
8:57
-0.2
7:24
7:46
27
Wed
2:40
1.4
1:44
2.0
8:26
0.6
9:37
-0.2
7:24
7:46
28
Thu
2:59
1.3
1:43
2.1
7:59
0.7
9:39
-0.2
7:23
7:47
28
Thu
3:23
1.3
2:07
2.1
8:39
0.7
10:19
-0.2
7:23
7:46
29
Fri
3:52
1.1
2:12
2.2
8:09
0.8
10:30
-0.2
7:22
7:47
29
Fri
4:16
1.1
2:36
2.2
8:49
0.9
11:10
-0.2
7:21
7:47
30
Sat
5:07
1.0
2:46
2.2
8:07
0.9
11:35
-0.2
7:20
7:48
30
Sat
31
Sun
3:29
2.2
7:19
7:49
31
Sun
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Fri
3:48
1.0
2:35
1.9
8:26
0.7
10:56
-0.1
6:52
6:32
1
2
Sat
5:35
0.8
3:13
1.9
8:12
0.8
6:51
6:33
3
Sun
4:02
1.9
12:18
-0.2
6:50
6:33
4
Mon
5:12
1.9
1:48
-0.3
6:49
5
Tue
6:44
1.9
3:05
-0.4
6
Wed
8:14
2.0
4:05
-0.6
7
Thu
12:00P
1.2
9:26
2.1
4:53
-0.7
3:31
8
Fri
12:02P
1.2
10:28
2.1
5:34
-0.6
9
Sat
12:10P
1.3
11:26
2.1
6:10
10
Sun
1:22
1.4
11
Mon
1:21
1.9
1:37
12
Tue
2:17
1.7
13
Wed
3:17
14
Thu
4:28
15
1
Moon
Moon
r u r o e y t a W e l u R 5:31
1.0
3:10
2.2
8:47
0.9
7:20
7:48
3:53
2.2
12:15
-0.2
7:19
7:48
Follow us on Facebook and sign up for email offers at www.CrowderBros.com Bradenton (941) 795-8442
5409 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, FL 34209
Lakewood Ranch (941) 748-8442
2401 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211
FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINESARASOTA/ | MARCH 2024 | SARASOTA / BRADENTON 9
FOR RENT N EW ESTAT E H OM E
Best Vacation...EVER.
Marathon MM50 Florida Keys
CENTRALLY LOCATED IN Marathon FL
6 BED 7 1/2 BATH
For more information, contact Mike Aranda, Founder/Broker
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c. 239.476.2301
$1,365 per night
mike@thenewhomespot.com www.latitude24.com
7 Night Minimum Disclaimer : Rental rate amounts do not include taxes, fees or ser vices
10 SARASOTA/BRADENTON | MARCH 2024 | CAMSWFL@GMAIL.COM
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s
This Time of Year By: Capt. Dave Stephens
A
fter coming off a very wet and colder winter than normal, we lighter leaders. Local creeks and deep-water tributaries are great places hope things this spring begin to shift into a normal pattern to locate early spring fish. Also, the local miles of residential canals will mode. March is the time of year when our water temperatures be holding good numbers of fish. Often times on cooler mornings if begin to steadily warm up kicking off a feeding frenzy for some of our the water temps get to cool the bite might be a little slower. Snook are local game fish. The fish that comes to most anglers minds this time a tropical fish, so water temperatures above 70 degrees is normally the of year is snook. During the winter months these fish lay dormant in optimal temp, so you might have to slow down and fish a little slowdeeper warm water. With spring coming and the water temps on the er. I often times will use a small split shot to slow my bait down, this rise these guys will be beginning to feed to recover loss of fat and get also seems to help get the laying fish to bite. Springtime will bring some ready for spawning. If your able to locate live bait such as pilchards exciting fishing to Southwest Florida and as we progress further into and live herring, these will be the baits of choice. However other baits spring things should only get better. such as small mullet, pin fish and large shrimp will also work well. If If you would like to experience some of Southwest Florida's finest you prefer throwing artificial lures, I suggest something that resem- fishing? Give us a call or send an email, all of our trips are private and bles the bait fish that is found in the waters your fishing. Such as a sar- customized to fit you and your party's needs. dine or pin fish pattern on the flats. Tackle is anglers’ choice, however Back Bay Xtremes |Backbayextremes.com I wouldn't recommend using less than 10# test line paired with a 30# 941-916-5769 shock leader. Snook have a very abrasive jaw and will chew through
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Red ght this ulf. G in the
V cau Jimmy
r out Groupe
32” Tarpon on soft white plastic for Earl Horecky in Pine Island Sound backcountry.
e -this on ne of 2 d! o d n a endrix itch ro Mark H ke his slow p o r b
Tony with a nice wintertime snook with Capt. Christian Sommer.
Christin e Mu big gro lka crushed t her lim uper making he it! of qu ality fis h!
Water temps are high enough to let George Peters of Bonita Springs get a limit of nice sea trout from Wiggins Pass.
Amy Lockhart, military vet, with a nice snook.
Julie Scott did good off Venice inlet.
Tim Wh eele while a r caught this 4 nchored 0” drum Naples just off the Pier.
Photos submitted Courtesy of Coastal Angler Readers and Contributing Writers Submit pics to: camswfl@gmail.com or text to 239.595.8265
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CA Florida STAR presented by Yamaha, boasts amazing prizes, is the largest familyfriendly saltwater fishing competition in Florida and it begins May 25. A unique combination of conservation, data collection and education, plus prizes and scholarships valued at over $500,000, makes CCA Florida STAR the state’s not-to-miss-summer-long fishing competition. No other fishing tournament in Florida has the ability to engage participants
of all ages and experience levels, and even nonanglers can win, just by collecting trash and debris. Heading into the tenth year, CCA Florida STAR presented by Yamaha has made it easier than ever to participate. The summer long fishing competition encourages thousands of anglers of all ages to fish with a purpose – conservation and winning. STAR is simplifying the competition to make it easier for participants to enter their catches
and win big. It’s not just about anglers winning but helping the fishery win too. Florida STAR focuses on conservation with its technology-based, CPR format and dedicated smartphone app. This format promotes the proper handling of species and allows participants who, at the time of their catch are members of CCA and registered in STAR to upload photos of their catch for an entry in the competition. STAR has set the bar for other fishing tournaments to follow by implementing conservation friendly alternatives, such as a trash division and conservation division with rewards of some really big prizes. The CCA Florida STAR competition presented by Yamaha has a division for everyone, from the non-angler to the experienced angler and targets inshore and offshore species. For the 2024 competition, CCA Florida STAR will once again offer over $500,000 in prizes and scholarships but has pared down the number of divisions to make participation simpler. STAR will offer a Tagged Redfish Division, Tagged Dolphin Division, an Inshore and Offshore Division, Native Watercraft Kayak Division, Realtree Youth Scholarship Division, Power Pole Conservation Division and Costa Kick Plastic Trash Division. With so many ways to win amazing prizes and help protect our marine resources, now is the time to get registered and make fishing in Florida more rewarding this summer. For more information on STAR, become a member and register, call 844-387-7827 or visit their Facebook page and ccaflstar.com.
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LIFE IS A BEACH
By Richard L. Matteson
COOL WATER SNOOK&THE MARCH FISHING FORECAST
I
t’s not like summer, but there are still snook on the beach here on the Treasure Coast. I caught a 21-incher a few days ago in the surf and released it. My main artificial rig is a 4-inch DOA pearl white paddletail on a chartreuse 3/8-ounce DOA jighead. Snook are looking for warmer water, so they’ll be around inlets and bridges where the water is deeper. Sometimes they run the beach because the ocean is better for them than the shallow water in the lagoon. Some large snook are being caught in deeper water of the St. Lucie, both North and South Forks, Crossroads and around deep piers and bridges as well as around deep water in both the St. Lucie and Ft. Pierce inlets. Large jigs and live or cut bait fished early morning, at dusk or at night work best. Live 6-inch croaker seem to be the preferred live bait. This month, you can harvest one snook in the 28- to 32-inch slot here in the IRL Zone. March is windy and will be the last good month for many of the winter fish like pompano, mackerel and bluefish. Some fish, especially bluefish, will remain, but the numbers are relatively small. Pompano can be caught on the beach with orange fish bites and sand fleas. In the lagoon, try jigging from bridges with pompano jigs on moving tides.
Chartreuse or hot pink are good colors. Permit have been caught on the beach on small crabs, fish bites or large sand fleas. Both permit and pompano are 50 to 70 yards offshore. The mackerel bite is good on the beach early in the morning when bait is present. This bite is in the trough around the close breakers. Small spoons like silver 1-ounce Krocodiles or gold Johnson spoons with treble hooks work best, but they will hit any lure retrieved quickly near the surface. There are mackerel still in the Peck’s Lake area where you’ll need a boat. The bluefish bite has been sporadic with fish chasing bait in early morning or when bait is present. Trout are scattered in the lagoon and can be caught on jigs and topwaters like Skitterwalks and Zara Spooks on warm afternoons. The best trout areas are north from the power plant to the Vero Beach flats. The flounder bite is still good on small the 5- to 10-pound range have been taken on jigs jigs and live bait on the flats and around the bridges. and shallow-running crankbaits. Some redfish have been caught on jigs tipped Remember, see the birds, find the bait, catch with live shrimp from the power plant north. the fish! Target mangroves on high tide in the afternoon or Richard L. Matteson Jr. is a long-time Coastal mangroves with deep water. As usual, there are scattered schools of ladyfish Angler contributor and staff writer for Stuart Rod & Reel Club. Contact him at (336) 414-3440. and jacks cruising the beaches. Some nice jacks in
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TIPS FROM A PRO
ISOLATED TARGETS FOR BIG BASS
TYLER WOOLCOTT
A
round the country, spring is either here or it is rapidly approaching. There is an amazing tip I want to share to improve your chances for catching big bass this time of year. In spring, bass flood into shallower areas of any lake. Whether that be a bank, pocket or a flat shallow area, they move shallow to start their transition and get ready to do their thing. They use any type of readily available cover to stage up and then eventually spawn. This takes a lot of the guesswork out of the search for where your next bite may come from. What I look for is isolated cover and structure. Types of cover that I look for differentiate from state to state and lake to lake, but the general concept is always the same. The more isolated the better! For instance, here in Florida, anything from a couple lily pads or a very small patch of vertical grass sticking up away from most of the other cover is the ideal spot for a big one to be sitting. In other areas of the country, it could be a single rock, a piece of wood or any kind of debris or cover that looks out of place. Shallow brushpiles near a spawning area that you find with your electronics are also an awesome thing to look for. Some of my biggest spring bass have come from something so obvious that most anglers
go right past it. Fish also often replenish on these places very quickly, so don’t overlook visiting the same piece of structure multiple times in a single day. One of my favorite things to do is cast to isolated lily pads. There could be two tiny little pads out in the middle of a flat on their own, and I might catch multiple fish off the same two pads by revisiting them throughout the day. I often pick apart these objects by dragging something slowly by or through the structure. Typically, a wacky-rigged weightless Senko or a very lightly weighted Texas-rigged stick bait are my go-to lures. When in Southern states that have some stain to the water, I stick with darker colors like blacks and blues or junebug. When the water is clear, I’ll go with more natural colors like a green pumpkin. You can keep your gear pretty simple, but remember you’re fishing around structure fish can wrap you around and break you off. Use heavier line. Try stepping up your leader size to 12- to 15-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon on a spinning rod, and use 15- to 20-pound when throwing a Texas rig on a baitcaster. The 13 have fun and be safe on the water. Fishing Defy series of rods are awesome and Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament affordable. I use the 7’6” MH for baitcasting angler and guide. Check out his website at rods and the 7’1” MH for spinning. www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com. Good luck out there this spring and always
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MARCH 2024
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DECEMBER GIVEAWAY WINNER ZIPPING AROUND WITH HER NEW OUTBOARD
ENTER TO WIN!
A PAIR OF WILEY X SUNGLASSES THROUGH MARCH!
I
n December, Coastal Angler and Suzuki teamed up to award one lucky reader with an extra special Christmas gift as part of the magazine’s regular contest drawings. Jeanette Harkin, of Edgewater, Fla., is now the happy owner of small, but feature-rich Suzuki DF2.5 outboard, which she plans to use on the inshore fisheries around Smyrna Beach. “I was super excited when I found out that I won, because we’ve been wanting to get a nice trolling motor for a long time,” Jeanette said. “It was an extra special Christmas present from you guys! Thank you again!!!” The Suzuki DF 2.5 weighs just 30 pounds, and the smooth, quiet and dependable engine is a perfect fit for the 16-foot Gheenoe Jeanette plans to put it on. She goes out frequently after whitefish, redfish and blue crabs on the Intracoastal near her home, and this little rig will be perfect for zipping around on the flats and backwaters. Coastal Angler’s current Giveaway drawing is for two pairs of awesome Wiley X sunglasses. These high-performance and stylish glasses will be just in time for all your springtime outdoor adventures. Go to Coastalanglermag. com, click the “Contest” tab, enter the drawing, and you could be sporting some free new shades on the water this spring. To enter, go to coastalanglermag.com/contest.
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NATIONAL 11
WHERE THE SUWANNEE & STEINHATCHEE RIVERS MEET THE GULF OF MEXICO
PHOTO BY DAVID HAY JONES
GREAT FISHING!
Ne
Jus an
By CAM Staff
YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND A BOAT RAMP
DIXIE COUNTY
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REDFISH TIP:
THE GARRETT REDFISH DRAG
H
ere’s a quick redfish tip from Capt. Garrett Ross, of Miss Judy Charters out of Savannah, Ga. “While using a traditional adjustable style cork, adjust depth to allow the live shrimp to sit directly on the bottom. This means that your cork will be laying completely over on its side. Now, when the cold-water redfish decides to take the bait in its mouth, you will not know until the cork stands up right and starts to make way. It is suggested to reel lightly tight and allow the circle hook to do its job of lip hooking your redfish!” Capt. Garrett’s reasoning for the Ethan Long, 13, with a nice redfish caught effectiveness of his while fishing with Capt. Garrett Ross. technique is that a redfish has plenty of time to eat the shrimp and begin to swim away before the angler holding the rod even knows the fish is there. It might sound counterintuitive, but circle hooks have a way of coming unbuttoned when there’s an over-eager angler holding the rod. For more from Capt. Judy Helmey, visit missjudycharters.com. 12 NATIONAL
MARCH 2024
E
very saltwater angler knows the frustration of losing their hardearned catch to sharks. With a hard thump, that big, feisty cobia or snapper stops fighting and all that’s left to haul over the rail is a head. Those delicious fillets were donated to the taxman, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Well, it seems the U.S. Congress is at least willing to take a look at the issue of shark depredation, which is a shark hammering a fish on the line before it can be landed. The SHARKED Act is a piece of legislation working its way through Congress right now with bipartisan support. The bill is just a first step toward mitigating shark interactions with anglers, both recreational and commercial, but it’s one of those rare occasions when legislators might just come together. According to the American Sportfishing Association, shark encounters are increasing on all U.S. coasts. The Magnuson-Stevens Act of 2007—the sweeping legislation that gave us the decades-long red snapper fiasco in the Gulf of Mexico—has been successful, maybe too successful, in rebuilding populations of many shark species that were previously reduced by fishing. In addition to being frustrating to anglers, there is concern that sharks are negatively impacting fisheries, and there is already talk among fisheries managers of stricter regulations on anglers intended to offset or avoid shark interactions. With support from several sportfishing and conservation organizations, the SHARKED Act unanimously passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives, and at presstime it was headed to the Senate and potentially to President Biden to be signed into law. It would direct NOAA Fisheries to develop a task force to study the issue of shark depredation. The task force would be tasked with improving coordination and communication across the fisheries management community to identify research priorities and funding opportunities and make a plan to reduce shark/angler interactions. We can only hope this future plan puts limitations on the taxman and not on anglers.
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GRAND LAKE TO HOST
2024 BASSMASTER CLASSIC T
he field is set, and the grandest spectacle in bass fishing will be renewed for the 54th time from March 22-24. This year’s Bassmaster Classic will be held on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, with weigh-ins and festivities in Tulsa, Okla. Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees has more than lived up to its name. The 46,500-acre fishery provided some of the grandest moments in the history
of the event when Classics were held there in 2013 and 2016. Now the picturesque reservoir in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains will add to that grand lore when it again plays host the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing. As with past Classics held in Tulsa, daily weigh-ins will be held at the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa, with the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo across the street at the Cox Business Convention Center. Daily takeoffs will be held about 90 miles away at the Wolf Creek Park and Boating Facility on Grand Lake. During the first Tulsa Classic in 2013, former Elite Series pro Cliff Pace of Mississippi claimed a wire-to-wire victory during a frigid event when icy precipitation tested the toughness of the 53-angler field. In 2016, local favorite Jason Christie led Days 1 and 2 and seemed poised to earn his first Classic trophy until fellow Oklahoma pro Edwin Evers caught a five-bass limit that weighed 29 pounds, 3 ounces to claim a dramatic come-frombehind win. “The Grand River Dam Authority is excited to see the Bassmaster Classic make its return to Grand Lake in 2024,” said GRDA President and CEO Dan Sullivan. “Not only will the event provide a tremendous economic benefit to the region but it will once again showcase Grand Lake to interested audiences across the country. “GRDA places a high priority on caring for the natural resources under its control, and being a three-time host of the Bassmaster Classic reinforces Grand’s reputation as one of the nation’s top fisheries. GRDA is excited to once again support the Bassmaster Classic, which is known as a premier event and competition for anglers.” On last year’s list of 100 Best Bass Lakes by Bassmaster Magazine, Grand Lake ranked 17th in the Central Division. That marks the 11th straight year that the fishery has ranked in the Top 100. The field will include 56 anglers competing for a $300,000 first-place prize and a total purse of over $1 million. “Since its inception, the Classic has been a tournament that changes lives,” said B.A.S.S. Vice President of Tournaments Chris Bowes. “The payday is great, sure. But the opportunity to refer to yourself as ‘Bassmaster Classic champion’ for the rest of your life — there’s no greater clout in our sport.”
The Return of a
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With more than 60,000 surface acres and 1,300 miles of shoreline, Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees is one of the largest outdoor destinations in Oklahoma. Located on the Grand River, the lake is hugely popular with boaters, fishermen, campers and anyone else who loves spending time in the great outdoors. Anglers are sure to have a blast searching for largemouth bass, white bass, crappie, channel catfish, bluegill and the rare paddlefish on Grand Lake waters. And Grand Lake’s shores are lined with so many unique attractions, shops, restaurants, state parks and casinos that seeing everything in one trip is next to impossible. There’s truly something for everyone to love in the Grand Lake Area!
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