Coastal Angler Magazine | February 2019 | Tampa Bay by Coastal Angler Magazine

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Blackfish Inshore Rigging Tips PHOTO COURTESY OF DARYN ANDREW WHITE VOLUME 23 â&#x20AC;¢ ISSUE 288

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O P P O R T U N I T I E S

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LIFE ON THE COAST IS BETTER WHEN YOU STAY CENTERED.

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Make the most of the open water with Yamaha’s 190 FSH® Series. Our all-new 19-foot center console boats have been redesigned from the ground up for more fishing and family fun. A saltwater corrosion resistant driveline protects you from the harshest elements. And with an extra spacious layout and new storage pods to keep all of your gear, the 190 FSH Series will put you in the middle of everything you love about living on the coast. Starting at $29,799.

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FROM SHIP TO SHORE

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FEBRUARY 2019

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Tampa Bay, A Jewel On

Florida’s Gulf Coast By Rosemary J. White

ampa Bay has some of the very best fishing in the state of Florida, which means it is some of the best fishing in the world. What makes Tampa Bay so unique is the many different varieties of both freshwater and saltwater fish to catch, as well as the many different ways to catch them. If you are not a boat person, Tampa offers the world’s longest fishing pier, the Old Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Here you can catch snook, tarpon, grouper, black sea bass, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, cobia, sheepshead, red snapper and pompano. That’s 10 species of highly desirable fish from just one location, without a boat! And if that list alone is not impressive enough, fishing the bridge is convenient, too. You’ll need some specialized gear, but once

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you’ve got it you can drive right onto the pier to your exact sweet spot and unload. It’s also lit at night! There’s no limit as to what time of the day you can fish. Feel like delving into the ocean world a little deeper than a concrete bridge? Tampa Bay boasts the stunning Fort Desoto County Park. Here you can simply slip on a pair of old sneakers and wade into cerulean blue waters and lush seagrass beds. Sound surreal? It is. Wading is a stealthy approach to fishing. In addition to species from the list above, you can also catch redfish, trout and flounder. Looking to fish the deeper waters of the bay? About 45 miles out, the water depths start to reach the 80-foot range. Out here, the possibilities are endless. Varieties of grouper, assortments of snapper, arrays of sharks, blackfin tuna, sailfish, mahi, amberjack, jack crevalle, permit and bonita can be added to the previously mentioned lists of available species. What if you tend to lean more toward the fresh side? Tampa Bay has some of the most diverse freshwater fishing opportunities one can imagine. Use a kayak to quietly glide through the tannic waters of our creeks to catch largemouth bass that grow upwards of 10 pounds. The creeks also hold massive bluegills, crappie, toothy alligator gar, tilapia, catfish and carp. The secret to what makes our freshwater fishing so thrilling is that you never know what you are going to catch. You see, many of our saltwater species inhabit our freshwater, as well. It is not only possible, but it is common to catch a big largemouth and then five minutes later a 15-pound common snook. Tampa Bay offers a temperate climate, direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, artificial reefs, a unique slowly sloping continental shelf, and an abundance of freshwater feeds. From grass flats and mangrove systems in our inshore ecological system, to the deeper channels throughout the bay and Intracoastal Waterway, anglers have the opportunity to catch anything from sharks to Goliath grouper. The potential for the catch of a lifetime exists on every cast.

*At Ma sal inc

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NauticStar Introduces

SEE IT AT THE MIAMI INTL BOAT SHOW BOOTH A237 The 251 Hybrid offers a fresh new look and a new 25-foot model to NauticStar’s very successful hybrid lineup. This unique multipurpose vessel offers the perfect size and features for a family friendly pleasure boat and a tournament ready fishing platform. NauticStar has also moved into the 30-foot plus category with its

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newest member of the family: the 32 XS Offshore. This outstanding saltwater performer delivers all the necessary fishing features for the serious angler with a smooth, dry, comfortable ride with cutting edge styling and comfort features never before seen in a boat of this style and size. With its 10’ 6” beam, the 32 XS Offshore offers a spacious and comfortable bow that features large forward lounge seating with arm rests and plush wrap-around bow seats. The head console has a fully lined interior with a sink, SeaDek floor and electric flush toilet. It has a spacious and ergonomic helm to allow for dual 12-inch or 16inch multifunction displays. The leaning post features ergonomically correct Llebrock double billfish seats with flip-up bolsters and pivot arms. It has a sink, tackle storage, and a slide-out, 35-quart YETI cooler. The D-channel, integrated T-top can be fitted with a variety of options such as a retractable shade and fold-down cockpit television. Aft, the jump seats flip-up for a spacious fishing deck with sizable, infloor fish boxes and large port side dive door. “Engineered for exceptional reliability and performance, the new 32 XS Offshore carries forward NauticStar’s 100-percent wood-free construction and one-piece foam filled fiberglass stringer system,” said Ryan Witt, director of engineering. “Additionally, we’ve added some great new design features such as sculpted hull sides, a sideentry cockpit door, and large insulated in-floor fish boxes. The 32 XS Offshore also features cutting edge technologies with NaviOP digital vessel control system and Klipsch custom-tuned audio system.” “I am very proud of the team and all they have accomplished over the past year,” Schiek added. “These new models are truly exciting and we look forward to introducing many great new models in the future.” The 251 Hybrid and 32 XS Offshore will be on display in Miami at booth A237 and available for test rides in the Yamaha in-water display. For more information on each of NauticStar’s new model introductions, please visit: 195 Bay - https://nauticstarboats. com/boats/nauticbay-boats/195-nauticbay/ 251 Hybrid - https:// nauticstarboats.com/boats/hybrids/251-hybrid/

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auticStar Boats, a subsidiary of MasterCraft Boat Holdings, Inc., has been reinvesting in the business at an accelerated pace, specifically, modernizing the plant and developing leading edge new products. The Company launched the new 195 Bay Boat in August, followed by the 251 Hybrid in September and will debut its largest offshore model yet, the 32 XS Offshore, at the Miami International Boat Show. “To say we have been busy at NauticStar is an understatement,” NauticStar President Tim Schiek said in a statement. “We have assembled a strong team of marine experts focused on delivering the highest quality and best performing boats in their segment. This is not only driving continuous improvement in our boat building processes, but throughout the entire organization. We have also implemented a more disciplined product development process that is delivering more new products, at a faster cadence, with increased consumer insights and innovation that ultimately will deliver the best boating experience for our consumers at a reasonable price.”

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With its sleek lines and stylish contours, the new 251 Hybrid offers a fresh new look and a 25 foot addition to the NauticStar Hybrid lineup. This unique multi-purpose vessel offers the perfect size and features for a family friendly pleasure boat and a tournament ready fishing platform. If you need a serious fishing machine for yourself or a boat with enough room for a large crowd, the 251 Hybrid is the boat for you! Check out all the incredible features of the 251 on our website and design the boat of your dreams.

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FEBRUARY 2019

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By Tom Schlichter

Winter Bulldogs Out Of Ocean City, Maryland By Tom Schlichter

Ron McClelland caught this 24-pound blackfish aboard the Fish Bound out of Ocean City, Md. in April of 2018. Mate Kevin Twilley helps hoist the beast. Photo courtesy of Fish Bound Charters.

enneth Westerfeld was expecting a big blackfish when he set up on a solid, single-tug while wreck fishing out of Ocean City, Md. back in January of 2015. What he wasn’t expecting was a new International Game Fish Association (IGFA) world record at the end of the line.

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“We were into big blackfish right off the bat,” explained the Queens, N.Y. angler, “and I knew immediately when I set the hook that this was a double-digit white chin. I got three quick turns on the reel and then all I could do was hold the rod high and tight while she dove for the wreck. More than half way to the top, however, she got a second wind and tore 40 feet of line from my drag, which was nearly locked tight. I couldn’t believe the power. That’s when I knew this one was more than special.” When the monstrous bulldog finally hit the deck, Westerfeld was stunned by its size. Back at Sunset Marina in Ocean City, the huge white chin officially tipped the scales at 28 pounds, 8 ounces. That blackfish, still the all tackle world record for the tough-lipped bottom feeders, was decked aboard Capt. Kane Bounds’ six-pack charter boat Fish Bound, a vessel on which Westerfeld has taken several ’teen-sized bulldogs over the years. “I’m convinced there’s even bigger blackfish in Maryland waters,” he said. “A couple of years ago, an experienced SCUBA diver reported seeing two giant blackfish on an offshore reef there—the smaller one he estimated at 30 pounds.” Capt. Kane agrees that bigger fish probably lurk in the 80- to 150-foot depths where he concentrates most of his blackfish efforts. “I think our ’tog have a little longer growing season than up north,” he reasoned. “That makes a difference with a fish that can live more than 30 years. In 2017 alone, we had five that broke the 20-pound mark. Three of those were released.” You’ll want to fish heavy in these waters if giant ’tog are your target. Bounds recommended conventional outfits with smooth drags and 50- to 60-pound test braided lines. He also goes big on hooks, choosing 5/0 and 6/0 sizes over more traditional 3/0 and 4/0 selections. Expect to need 8 to 12 ounces of lead to get to the bottom. Monster blackfish bite right through the winter months, with many of the largest fish decked each year in February, March and April. Westerfeld advised anglers looking for the blackfish of a lifetime to use fluorocarbon leaders no matter which rigs or hooks they choose. “Maryland’s waters are pretty clear in the winter and low visibility fluorocarbon leaders really provide an edge,” he said. “Seaguar’s 60-lb. test Blue Label fluorocarbon leaders have worked well for me. They have great abrasion resistance and impact strength, plus very little stretch—three things you really need with these brutes.” To fish with Capt. Kane on the six-passenger Fish Bound, contact: www. fishboundcharter.com; 443-497-1361. Open boat fans can check out the Morning Star (http://morningstarfishing.com; 410-520-2076).

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

1/21/19 10:31 AM

Central Florida Bass Are On The Beds By Nick Carter • Photo by Brett Cannon

hile largemouth bass across much of the country remain hunkered down in a winter pattern, bass in central Florida are running full tilt in all three stages of the spawn. Right now tournament angler and guide Ricky Congero is wearing out big Florida strain largemouths on the eight Kissimmee Chain lakes around Orlando. Whether you’re an angler in need of a road trip or if you’re sitting in an easy chair waiting on your reservoir to get right, Congero’s tactics might help steer you to the largemouth of a lifetime. Starting in November and December, Kissimmee largemouths begin staging up in prespawn behaviors. The first big waves of fish hit the flats toward the end of January. They’ll move in and out with the passage of cold fronts, but from January into early March there will be fish in all stages of the spawn. The key to locating them among miles of thick vegetation is to find hard-bottomed shallow flats. “You can pattern them year-round based on the spawning flats,” Congero said. “During prespawn, they’ll be staged in the first grass maybe

100 yards off those flats. Postspawn, they’ll move out into the dense hydrilla and hyacinth.” Congero starts by covering water with moving baits like swim jigs and Chatterbaits in search of bass preparing to move up. When the smaller males arrive on the flats to fan out beds, it’s an indicator that fishing is about to get very good. “If you start catching a bunch of young bucks on the flats, the big females won’t be far behind,” he said. In the tannic waters of the Kissimmee lakes, it’s difficult to spot fish on the bed. Instead of sight fishing, Congero looks for the locations big females prefer. “You always find the bigger females bedded on isolated pads, as opposed to the big clumps of pads,” he said. “They’ll spawn right at the base of the stem.” And while heavy braid and heavy-duty tackle are mainstays for hossing big fish out of thick vegetation, fishing beds requires stealth and finesse. Sizing down to 17- or 20-pound fluorocarbon, Congero likes a short 5- or 6-inch Senko. A staple on the Kissimmee lakes is black with a blue tail. He Texas rigs it with 1-ounce tungsten bullet weight, which is pegged to the head of the worm. This allows him to feel when his bait hits the stalk, at which time he lets it sit on the bottom until the bass picks it up. “Don’t set the hook as soon as you feel her pick it up,” he warned. “She might just have the tail in her mouth and you’ll come back with half a worm. Wait until she’s swimming off with it. Reel up all the slack and give her a second or two before you set it.” For a guided trip, contact Congero at (973) 6998981 or email info@blackcloudfishing.com. Follow him on Instagram @Ricky_Congero.

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VISIT AND Visit andEXPLORE Explore Burnsville, NC Burnsville, N.C.

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hether you’re hiking, exhibits. The restaurant, conces- through Yancey fishing or camping sion stand and gift shop are open County. hether you’re hiking, fishing or Mountains and the South Toe in the mountains or May thru a fun camping in the mountains, at- October. River Campground Valley. StretchingEnjoy nearly has 9 tent sites only. attending a performance at Parkfilled day on tending a performance at Parkway 500 miles through the mountains the Playhouse ororcoming North Virginia way Playhouse comingtotothe theMt. Mitchell Winding of along the Carolina southern and water, catching Crafts Fair Crafts or Carolina Literary without a single red light, Mt. Mitchell Fair orMountains Caro- edge of Yancey County, the Blue the the fishBlue native to Festival, there’sLiterary alwaysFestival, a good day waiting Ridge one of the best lina Mountains Ridge Parkway givesParkway travelersisan our mountains. for you in Burnsville, North Carolina, espe- scenic drives in America. there’s always a good day waiting amazing view of the Black MounWe is guarantee cially for travelers who like to discover their The Blue Ridge Parkway the forown youjourney. in Burnsville, North Car- tains and the South Toe River your fishing only access to Mount Mitchell County is home State Park at Hwy andwill mileolina, Yancey especially for travelers whoto waterfalls, Valley. Stretching for nearly 500128trip be full campgrounds, hiking post It’s five miles sumSnakeroot Ecotours offers custom tours like to discover theirbackroads, own journey. milestrails, through the355. mountains of to of the fish-catching clean rivers, and six the 10tohighest peaks mit. and The Parkway by Civilian Con-Observation at Mount State Park. of one ofplatform the wildest andMitchell most scenic corNorth Carolina Virginia was – built Yancey County is ofhome experiences! in the eastern United States. servation Corps labor in the 1930s. Workers ners of Western North Carolina. They invite and not one single redlight – the waterfalls, campgrounds, backToe River, Located in southern Yancey County, used dynamite to blast tunnels through the you into astoundingly Southern diverse Appalachian habitatsMounand Blue Ridge Parkway is one the a Carolina roads, hiking trails,(6,684 clean feet) rivers,is the Hemlocks, Black Mount Mitchell highest mountains andofcarve road through rough, and reveal the mysteries of the Southern Appatains. More info at www.snakemountain of the peaks Mississippi River. It drives remote terrain. The Parkway rises to an el- lachian scenic in America. and six of theeast 10 highest in best Mountain Campgrounds are all lo-Mountains. See more info at www. rootecotours.com. was designated North evation over 5,000 as it off passes through snakerootecotours.com. Blue Ridge Parkway is thefeetcated Eastern America. the first state park in The Highway 80 in the South The Burnsville-Yancey ChamCarolina in 1916. Today it features an obYancey County. Located in southern Yancey only access to Mount Mitchell Toe River area of Yancey County. servation platform on the summit next to Enjoy a fun-filled day on the water, The Burnsville-Yancey Chamber of ber of Commerce and Visitor State Park at catching Hwy 128the andfish mileCounty, Mount Mitchell (6,684 State Park and and Visitor Center is located at Elisha Mitchell’s grave and an interpretive nativeMount to ourMitchell mountains. Commerce Center is located at 106 West Main post 355. It’s miles to thefishing feet) is the highest mountain East Crabtree Meadows by Main Street in Burnsville. Inside museum with historical and environmental Wefive guarantee your trip will be full are of accessed 106 West findofa inforhelpful The restaurant, standThe Parkway fish-catching experiences! was built by the Blue Ridge Parkway. you’ll find aStreet. of exhibits. the Mississippi River. It wasconcession des- summit. helpfulInside staff you’ll and lots and gift are park openinMay through River, Carolina Hemlocks andEcotours Black offers staff and lotslodging, of information mation shopping,on CCCOctolabor in theToe 1930s. Workers ignated the shop first state North Snakeroot cus-on attractions, ber. Theincampground limited to used only nine Mountain are all located off dining and local businesses and services. The attractions, lodging, shopping, dynamite to blastcampgrounds tunnels tom Carolina 1916. Today itisfeatures tours of area one of of the wildest tent sites. Highway 80 in the South Toe River Visitor Center and office are open Monday& dining, and local businesses through the mountains and carve an observation platform on the most scenic cornersthrough of West-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call Winding along the southern edge of Yancey County. Mountand Mitchell State Park road through rough, remote ter- ern summit to Elisha services. Visitor Center and office Carolina. Yanceynext County, the Mitchell’s Blue Ridge a Parkway and Crabtree Meadows areNorth accessed by theWe invite (828) you 682-7413. givesand travelers an amazing view ofrain. the Black Blue Ridge Parkway. The Parkway rises to an ele- into astoundingly diverse habitats open Monday thru Friday 9am to grave, an interpretive museum with historical and environmental vation over 5,000 feet as it passes and reveal the mysteries of the 5pm. Call (828) 682-7413.

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hat a wild, wet and woolly week it was for the fleet fishing the Pelican Yacht Club Invitational Billfish Tournament out of Fort Pierce, Fla. Jan. 9-12. First, the fleet of 30 fishing teams crushed all the records for the 39th annual tournament, and for the 65-year history of sailfish tournaments fished in eastern Florida waters. The final tally was 969 sailfish caught and released. The tournament’s second day of action wound up being the single best day in sailfish tournament history for any event fished north of Palm Beach County in waters of the Atlantic Ocean. A total of 712 sailfish were caught and released by the 27 boats on the water that day. The top three boats that day accounted for 121 sailfish by themselves — JT, led by Capt. Mark McDevitt, had 41 sailfish; Cowpoke, led by Capt. Mike Brady, had 40 sailfish; Alikai, led by Capt. Patrick Price, had 40 sailfish. The 41 by JT, owned by David Johnson of Beach Haven, N.J., stands as the new record for the tournament for a boat in a single day. Consider also that tournament rules stipulate fishing time as 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. But since the boat departed Fort Pierce Inlet each day, and the sailfish were concentrated in an area north of Patrick Air Force Base and south of Port Canaveral’s main channel some 45-50 miles north, tournament boats were forced to sacrifice up to 1:45 of fishing time each day just to reach the best fishing. But when they did, they were rewarded, at least for two days. The event began Jan. 9 when Grand Slam, led by Capt. David Grubbs

of New Smyrna Beach, sat down on an area so packed with hungry sailfish that it looked like a feeding frenzy under his boat. Grubbs felt it was going to yield some fish, and ran there because he knew it would produce bites. Few, if any, in the fleet knew his plan. By noon, the cat was out of the bag. Big time. He wound up with a Treasure Coast area then single-day record 38 sailfish catches that day and a substantial lead on his competitors, known to be some of the best sailfish skippers in the western hemisphere. Teams racked up catches of an incredible 86 double-headers, 45 triples and 15 quads. It was truly staggering. On Jan. 10 the fleet followed the leader, Grubbs and crew, to the fertile fishing grounds off the Space Coast and helped him achieve something many experienced sailfish specialists thought could only be accomplished in Mexico or Costa Rica. The captains called it epic and incredible, unbelievable and amazing. But it wouldn’t last. On Jan. 11 the fish had either scattered a bit, moved back north out of range, or simply quit biting, like fish of any species do. The fleet of 27 fishing that day picked up “just” 93 releases. Saturday, with a smaller fleet fishing because of lay days mandated by tournament rules, those numbers dwindled more. The final day anglers tallied only 29 releases, reminiscent of the season’s start in December when sailfish bites were very hard to come by.

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Close Encounters of the Shark Kind By John Lidington

A diver observes a reef shark near Shark Canyon. In natural encounters, when sharks are not being fed, they rarely approach divers much closer than this.

“K

atharine the Giant Great White Shark Lurks Off Florida — Again” If Katharine was here, as the South Florida SunSentinal announced on Nov. 26, winter was on its way. Usually this snowbird shark from Cape Cod arrives first, and being a great white, she always makes the news. For divers, though, her arrival means the migrating lemon and blacktip sharks are on the way. It’s shark time for Florida’s Gold Coast! When I started diving in the 1960s, the arrival of sharks meant the departure of divers. Prevailing wisdom held that sharks were dangerous and unpredictable and should be avoided. That outlook on sharks began to change in the 70s. Scientists, such as the University of Miami’s Dr. Samuel Gruber, had turned shark behavior into a major study area. H. David Baldridge analyzed data from more than 1,500 cases in the worldwide shark attack file established by Dr. Perry Gilbert to identify the real factors behind shark “attacks.” The emerging picture showed an animal superbly adapted to its environment by its 400-million-year existence in the oceans. Man, as a newcomer to their world, was not seen as food, and usually ignored. In his 1974 book “Shark Attack,” Baldridge wrote: “I wish not to generate any

fear of sharks in the mind of any reader, yet a healthy respect for these beautifully adapted beasts would appear to be justified…” It took the PR genius of Jacques Cousteau to popularize this science and help dispel unnecessary fear of sharks. The air of authority gained from his highly regarded TV series lent credence to his book “The Shark: Splendid Savage of the Sea,” in which he documented divers regularly interacting with sharks. Sharks were becoming accepted in the diving world. But there was a bump in the road. At the same time “Shark Attack” appeared, Peter Benchley published Jaws. His depiction of sharks as malevolent killing machines was promptly translated to visual form in Steven Spielberg’s movie adaptation. The impressions from those twin horror assaults did eventually fade, but for quite a while it was the rare diver who didn’t experience flashbacks of huge toothy mouths while doing back entries. The twenty-first century has seen divers’ attitudes shift even more favorably toward sharks. Today many divers want to encounter sharks. They regularly visit sites naturally frequented by sharks in hopes of diving alongside these majestic fish. When diving Jupiter during the winter shark migration, your chances for shark encounters skyrocket! According to Shana Phelan of Singer Island’s Pura Vida Divers, “The most common sharks we see year round are nurse sharks, reef sharks and lemons. Our most active shark months are in the winter, with lemons in January and blacktips in January and February. Winter sightings are most likely at Shark Canyon and on some of the wrecks.” Shark Canyon, here I come! Pura Vida Divers hosts regular shark dives in February. To learn more about these awesome creatures, book a PADI Shark Conservation Specialty Diver class, or hop aboard their next charter. Contact Pura Vida Divers at 561-840-8750 or visit www.PuraVidaDivers.com.

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By Capt. Michael Okruhlik • Photo courtesy of Controlled Descent Lures

s a young boy growing up in a small town, being outdoors was the thing to do, and fishing was my favorite pastime. I have vivid memories of biking to ponds and creeks with my buddies and trips to the Texas coast with my family. When I wasn’t fishing, I watched fishing on TV. Hank Parker was one I tuned in on regular basis. So, you can imagine how humbled I was when I met Mr. Parker with my two sons. My youngest gave him the age-old trick of, high-five, down low, too slow! Mr. Parker doubled over laughing.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have published articles in a national fishing magazine, for which I am truly grateful to Coastal Angler. Nor did I imagine someday I would design and manufacture my own line of fishing lures. Without fishing, none of this would have been realized. Since we are in the season of giving, give the gift of fishing to a child so they can have similar memories. On a recent trip, I took both of my boys, 5 and 7, fishing in the kayak. This was a lure-only trip. The boys wanted to get some casting practice, and they wanted to trick a fish on Dad’s lures. The tides had been relatively high for the past several weeks, and I had been catching some good reds on one particular flat. The area had some small islands and a grass flat that tapered off to a cove that was about 6 feet deep. I explained to my boys the lay of the bay and explained how some areas had drains or slightly deeper channels that drained off the flat and into a cove. These were the areas where we would cast because the fish would use them like roads as the tide was falling. I explained it was like a leaf floating down a river. Once they selected the color of lure they wanted to throw, I strategically anchored the kayak in a position where they both had the opportunity to fish the area properly. It wasn’t long before we had the first fish, a 16-inch trout. After a few more trout for both, the excitement really began. My youngest hooked into a 7-pound red! The fish took him 360 degrees around the kayak, tangled in his brother’s line, and went under the anchor rope! After the fish was landed, we took a few photos and I continued to show them the value of catch and release, which we did with all fish that day. To say that I am a proud father is an understatement. In 2018, my oldest landed his largest trout, which weighed more than 5 pounds, and my youngest caught his largest red! Take a kid fishing and let them make their own memories. You never know where it might take them. Captain Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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TAMPA BAY FISHING REPORT BY: CAPT. WOODY GORE

nook fishing is one of those on and off again things in the cooler months. It also depends on the bait situation. Snook do seem to be making a recovery. The size being caught is average to small, but if the season remains closed the larger fish will come. If you can get live baits, you’re ahead of the game. Greenbacks off the flats usually run smaller during the cooler months, so downsize your circle hooks and leader. As temperatures drop, target snook in deep water canals, rivers and creeks with deep muddy bottoms. Redfish and snook are still catch and release until May 10, 2019. When the cooler weather shows up, the algae dies off, and the clearer waters can trigger some good site fishing. Also, the low winter tides make red fishing a shallow-water angler’s dream. As usual, the reds are hanging in mullet schools, so chunk in some cut or live bait. If you like walking shallow-water in waders, be sure to toss a few artificials into those sandy pot holes. There is also some exciting action when pitching soft plastics or MirrOLure topwater lures around

the mangroves. Redfish tend to be more active during tide changes. For spotted sea trout, take an incoming or outgoing tide, add a MirrOLure Top Dog lure and start walking it across the surface of a broken bottom grass flat. Don’t forget the old standby live shrimp or a DOA under a popping cork. The trout population is getting stronger and some larger ones are showing up. Don’t forget to put a few back since those over 20 inches are the breeders. Docks and other structure around Tampa Bay are holding snapper, especially the south end around the Skyway. Florida and Federal regulations require all anglers using natural baits and targeting any reef species including snappers, in Gulf waters and inshore waters (which includes Tampa Bay) must use in-line circle hooks. Be sure they are not off-set hooks, since hook manufacturers make both kinds. Sheepsheads are found around bridges, oyster bars and deep-water docks. Try using green mussels, fiddlers (if you can find them), small black rock crabs, shrimp or oysters and scrape the pilings to get them going. Over the years, depending on the depth and current, I’ve found a slip sinker rig very effective in catching snapper or sheeps.

Here’s my slip sinker rig. First, attach a 15 to 30-inch Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon leader directly to Seaguar 20-pound Smackdown Braided main line. Next comes a small soft glow bead, egg sinker (size depending on depth and current), another small soft glow bead and finally a 1/0 Daiichi in-line circle hook. The soft glow beads allow the leader to slip freely through the egg sinker without sticking on the leader-to-braid or leader-to-hook knots. This allows the bait to be held directly on the bottom and, if using live bait, it can swim free of the sinker. Cooler temps should push the cobia into or near warm water run offs at local power plants. When fishing these restricted areas be sure to adhere to the rules. “Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing” Captain Woody Gore is the area’s top outdoor fishing guide. Guiding and fishing the Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Bradenton, and Sarasota areas for over fifty years; he offers world class fishing adventures and a lifetime of memories. Single or multi-boat charters are available. WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM wgore@ix.netcom.com 813-477-3814

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TARGETING COLD WATER TOLERANT SPECIES THIS TIME OF YEAR IS KEY. BY: CAPT. MIKE ANDERSON

ebruary is the month I target sheepshead, speckled trout, silver trout and redfish. They are all very cold water tolerant and remain easy targets even in winterlike months. Normally, cold windy conditions this month drop water temps and make some species less active. Use live shrimp or artificial baits that you can work slowly for the best results. Shrimp digest much easier and faster than pilchards or mullet. With the cold water slowing down the metabolism of most fish this month, shrimp are an excellent bait choice. For sheepshead, I like to tail hook live shrimp on a ¼ ounce jig head and pitch them under docks or near bridge pilings. Use a jig head with a small hook if possible. They don’t call sheepshead convict fish for no reason! They will pick even the most seasoned anglers clean from time to time. This tactic will work on redfish as well. Target dock lines that are older and adjacent to deeper water. This gives the redfish a safe travel path and the safety of deep water if water temps should suddenly plummet. As for speckled trout and silver trout, they are probably the most active and easiest to catch

in a variety of ways. My favorite speckled trout and silver trout tactic is to throw soft plastic paddle tail baits at them like the MirroLure Marsh Minnow on a ¼ ounce jig head or the Strike King Trout Magic ¼ ounce. Working deeper grass flats, you can cover a lot of water and get your bait in front of a lot more fish, which increases your opportunities to catch. Live shrimp will work under a popping cork as well for both species. Target grass flats in 4 to 8-feet of water. I find better concentrations of fish on the lower tides. Moving water is always a key as is trying to find slightly warmer areas. Even a two-degree temp difference can turn the bite on. Target those areas with darker bottoms, as they tend to warm fastest on sunny days. Large schools of silver trout can also be found in deep water around the bridges and passes, as well as, up on the flats. February weather can sometimes be challenging, but targeting the right species with the right bait can make all the difference out there. Catch Capt. Michael Anderson every Saturday for Reel Animals Saturday on 970WFLA from 6:00am to 8:00am and Sunday mornings on AM620 for the TA Mahoney Co. Reel Animals Radio Show from 7am to 9am, or to book a trip call 1-866-Gamefish.

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RECIPE OF THE MONTH DUNGENESS CRAB BY: MICHELLE ATKINS Ingredients: • 2 pounds Dungeness crab • 1 stick butter • 1 lemon • 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning

Directions:

ost crab that we buy in the store is already cooked. You can serve them cold or hot. I prefer hot with drawn butter. This means the butter has separated from the butter fat. I also like to use Old Bay for seasoning. It is something we have used here for most of our lives and we don’t do a lot of crabs without it. Today I’m making Dungeness crab. They are sweeter than snow crab and I think they have more meat. This recipe is as simple as it gets.

Place crabs in a large pot with about an inch of water-add old bay. When the water comes to a boil, cover and steam about 8 minutes. If you prefer, you can use a steamer basket. Don’t overcook or the meat will stick to the shell. Melt butter on low in a small pot--you will see the fat go to the bottom. Roll the lemon on the counter to make it juicier Pull crabs out when done, put them on a plate, put the butter in a bowl, slice lemon in 1/2. Grab another bowl for the shells and dig in.

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CAPT. SERGIO’S CORNER BY: CAPT. SERGIO ATANES

ebruary is a good time for me to break the old habit of just fishing for redfish, trout and sheepshead. It’s time to start searching for gag grouper that migrate into Tampa Bay. As the water temperature drops in the month of February, the gag grouper will migrate from the Gulf of Mexico into the many rock piles and artificial reefs that are inside Tampa Bay. These gag grouper, which can range anywhere from 5 to 15 pounds, can be found along the edges of the shipping channel leading into upper Tampa Bay and some of the wrecks and artificial reefs. Fishing for gag grouper in shallow water can prove to be a very exciting experience using light tackle. Over the years, many local anglers have been able to find schools of medium to large grouper by trolling along the edge of the shipping channel. This angler prefers to find a good rock structure or one of the many sunken wrecks from the early 1900’s. By chumming these fish off the bottom, they will rise close to the surface, thus allowing us to use lighter tackle and providing a more exciting fight. Here’s a good tip: try to find some of the old charts from the 50s, 60s, or 70s. Many of these

can be found at yard sales in your neighborhood. They will show where all the old ships that sank in the early and mid-1900s are located in Tampa Bay. Most charts purchased at your local tackle store only show some of the current wrecks and artificial reefs, but have deleted the locations of the old wrecks. My favorite shallow water tackle for gags are medium heavy spinning rod and reel combo or light action conventional reel outfit. A 30 to 40-pound test braided line seems adequate enough to fish in these areas using a 3/0 circle hook, 2- or 4-ounce lead sinker and a 50-pound test monofilament leader. Fluorocarbon leaders are great for light tackle. But, when grouper fishing, I find monofilament works great and at a much cheaper price. Live pinfish or frozen Spanish sardines are one of my favorite baits to use in February. While fishing for gag grouper along the edges of the shipping channel and artificial reefs in Tampa Bay, don’t overlook some of the side benefits of finding flounder and mangrove snapper that hang around the same area. Tampa Bay is host to over five artificial reefs, 26 wrecks and who knows how many ledges and rock piles that are yet to be discovered. Trolling along the shipping channel, you need deep diving plugs. There are many on the market that work well. Some of my favorites are

the Livingston Lure #8100 Voyager for depths up to 15 feet and the 8200 Voyager 30 for depths of to 30 feet. You never know what color turns them on, so be prepared to carry a variety. My favorites are black back silver sides or blue back silver sides. Gags can be caught from Skyway bridge channel north to Gandy bridge. Both sides of the channel can produce fish. Sometimes current flow can change the bite, so try trolling at different times or change direction of your trolling. You want the lures to bounce of the bottom, so adjust your speed accordingly. Captain Sergio Atanes is a native resident of Tampa and has been fishing the water of Tampa Bay and Boca Grande for over 45 years. He is the owner and operator of S & I Charters which is one of the largest charter booking services in the West Coast of Florida with 55 professional captains on staff. Capt. Sergio Atanes can be reached at (813) 973-7132 or www.reelfishy.com

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GET JIGGY WITH IT BY: CAPT. ANTHONY CORCELLA

e have been catching limits of upper slot trout, mangrove snapper and sheepshead in addition to gag grouper up to 15 pounds. We also have hooked up to multiple releases of snook and redfish on most charters. Cobia should be around in the coming months adding additional opportunities to our fishing adventures The cold weather often leads to a hot bite. Artificial lures are the key to a great catch. Now is the time to break out those jigs

and put them to work. A new lure and tackle company we teamed up with is High Water Lures based out of Louisiana. We immediately fell in love with the Get’em Shad. This innovative paddle tail comes in a variety of colors including a few my fellow guides and I developed specific to Florida waters. They will be available for purchase soon in local fishing stores and online. These baits are incredibly durable, and you can catch multiple fish on one lure without having to change bodies.

They have an oversized paddle tail that sends out a fish enticing vibration. This is one feature that sets this lure apart from the rest. Incredibly, we completed a Florida inshore slam of snook, redfish and trout on the very first day using the Get’em Shad. We’ve also caught grouper, flounder, bluefish, and jacks on the lures. The baits come scented right out of the pack. They work great in clouded water. Fish literally inhale them. While fishing local residential docks we’ve caught multiple limits of upper slot trout and big over slot fish on most trips. The Get’em Shad is one of the fishiest lures we’ve ever tried. It’s not uncommon to have 50+ fish days throwing these lures. The High Water Lures Company not only believes in putting out a great product, but also in giving back. When anyone purchases

the “Pocket Change” color shad, a charitable donation will go to a wounded veterans organization. 2018 was filled with exciting fish filled trips with many great customers. We are looking forward to 2019. Pocket Change Charters would like to thank our partners: Pro-Cure, High Water Fishing Lures, Overslot Outdoors, CharterHook and Bada Bing Water Sports. What makes our charter service unique is that we cater to disabled veterans and wheel chair bound clients! Our boat is able to accommodate wheelchairs and is ADA compliant. IF YOU’RE A DISABLED VETERAN YOUR TRIP IS FREE!!! This is our way we give back to our veterans. Capt. Anthony Corcella Pocket Change Inshore Fishing Charter 727-432-6446 www.fishtampacharters.com Check us out on Facebook

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8 TAMPA | FEBRUARY 2019 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT

LAKE ALFRED, AUBURNDALE, WINTER HAVEN AREAS BY: RON SCHELFO

ass spawning season is in full swing during the month of February. This is the time you’ll find those big, beautiful bass. We’ve had great reports recently on excellent bass fishing--primarily from Lakes Winterset and Cannon on the South Winter Haven Chain and also Lakes Alfred, Rochelle and Haines on the North Chain. Lake Haines seems to be the best reporting of that group citing many bass in the 7 to 11-pound range. Lake Juliana in Auburndale has also seen premium fishing lately. Here’s a “Tip from Ron.” When trying to attract those large bass in our area, use a Bass Assassin Boss Shiner Swim Bait or a Fish Head Primal Vibe Swim Jig. Run those baits by the bed and you’ll see the fish jump to eat them! When you get a good catch, don’t forget to return the fish quickly back to the water on their bed area. We must be responsible to protect our bass environment. Note: If your catch is 8-pounds or larger, report it to TrophyCatchFlorida.com--you could be eligible for a prize! Spec fishing is also very good this time of year. Our area continues

to experience some of the best spec fishing in years. Anglers fishing the South Winter Haven Chain (canals) are reporting record size and lots of limits. Additionally, Lakes Alfred, Haines, Rochelle, Juliana and surrounding smaller lakes are having great success also. Year after year, with the cooler temperatures and higher water levels, Central Florida offers some of the very best fresh water fishing in Florida! The 20th season of Ron’s Tackle Box Weekly Bass Tournaments has now ended. Our Bass Tournaments, whether weekly or special events provide for great fishing and fun! Stay tuned for future developments DON’T FORGET . . Ron is always available for up-to-date fishing reports and locations--come see him or give him a call. Ron Schelfo, Owner RON’S TACKLE BOX, LLC 380 S. Lake Shore Way Lake Alfred, FL 33850 (863) 956-4990 www.ronstacklebox.com “Catch” my Weekly Fishing Report every Saturday (6-8 AM) on 970 WFLA Check us out on Facebook and like our page.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2019 | TAMPA 9

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

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he Mako 10 and 12-foot Kayaks are some of the lightest on the market, especially the Cross-Light (thermo ABS) models. These two Makos are also available in a CrossMax model which is a roto polymer construction. Both feature a light weight pedal drive with reversing prop, hand-controlled rudder, adjustable mesh seat, flush mount rod holders and plenty of in-hull and on-deck storage. Check one out at Jack’s Kayaks 1764 Missouri Ave. N. Largo, FL. 33770. 727-452-4684

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HERNANDO COUNTY

WINTER FISHING BY: CAPT. JOEL GANT

k, for you die hard anglers that don’t mind the cold, there is still some good fishing to be had-even in this colder time of year. You may have to change your tactics a little. One of the best is to slow down your presentation. When you think you have, slow it down some

more. Just think of it this way. With the cold-water temperatures, fish are just like us. They get cold and don’t want to move around much or expend much energy. Kind of like on a cold Sunday, when you’re nice and comfortable in your recliner watching football and the wife walks

by and you ask her “sweetheart, could you get me a snack.” It’s the same with fish. They like to hang by their favorite rock until a nice snack drifts by and they grab it. In both situations, very little energy is used. Now, with this scientific theory in mind, think of some of the situations you fish. If you’re bouncing a jig along the bottom, pause a little longer between twitches and slow the retrieve on top water or subsurface lures and see if this produces a few more bites. You will also notice the bite may be lighter. If you feel heaviness or a small tug, pause for a second and then set the hook. When in doubt, set the hook. Fishing in January was great. If we have some warmer weather in February, it should continue. The gag grouper bite was really good the two weeks before the closure. The bait we used was cut threadfin on a 7/0 circle hook with a 2 to 4-ounce lead weight. Even though the season is closed, catching and releasing these hard fighting fish is a blast! Also, try trolling plugs for grouper--

this can be a very productive For those that fish from shore, this is a great time for you. In our area, there are plenty of places to fish including Bayport Pier, Jenkins Creek Pier and park, Aripeka’s bridges, seawalls and miles of creek channels along the roads. All these places can produce a lot of different fish from redfish, trout, snook, sheepshead and black drum. Get out there on the water and make some memories with friends and family! Capt. Joel Gant operates Fishdaddy Charters out of Hernando Beach. Coast guard licensed, insured and Federal permitted. He knows the local waters like the back of his hand, and works both inshore and offshore trips. Check him out on facebook or you can reach him at (352) 279-1615. Visit his website, www.fishdaddycharter.com

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1/18/2019 7:27:07 PM

SKINNY WATER REPORT BY: DERICK BURGOS

ith all the cold fronts we have been having this month, now would be the ideal time to search for your first big trout. Despite the fact that they can be caught year-round, the cooler winter months have proven to produce some monsters. Fishing for them at the end of low tides early in the morning can’t be beat, as opposed to the other parts of the day. As the sun rises, it shines on the exposed sand, grass, and oyster clusters, which in turn, warms them up. As the tide starts rising, warm gulf waters begin to fill those areas up, making it prime real estate for hungry predatory fish. The last thing you’ll need to know about before endeavoring for your trophy trout, is lure selection. Many lures

have proven to catch trout, but for the sake of this write up, I’ll stick to what works for my clients and myself most frequently. Trout are very territorial fish and tend to strike at just about anything that crosses their path. For that reason, my favorite is the top water walk-the-dog style lures. When presented correctly, the side-to-side action of these lures attracts a highly aggressive strike, which can be both physically and visually enthralling. Top water lures can also be considered one of the best “search baits,” and are great for covering large areas of water. Another option for lure selection would be to use a simple jig head paired with a soft plastic. This combo is widely used in our area for not

only trout, but other species, such as reds, snook and cobia. Mullet patterns, chartreuse, gold, and root beer colors are some of the best that have produced great fish for me and my clients throughout the years. Start by rigging with an 1/8 ounce jig head and a paddle style tail soft plastic. Scan the area for potholes in the sand and grass, and start casting towards those areas. You will find that many trout and a vast array of species tend to congregate in these areas, thus making your hook up ratio increase. That’s it for now, see you next month for the next skinny water report--good vibes and tight lines always!

guide, owner of Phatfish Kayak Charters and Co-Owner of Pure Florida watersports in Tampa Bay. He has called the area waters his home for over 20 years. He specializes in Snook, Tarpon, Redfish and more on artificial lyres, live bait or fly. purefloridaws@gmail.com purefloridawatersports.com 813-602-8824

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12 TAMPA | FEBRUARY 2019 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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1/18/2019 7:27:11 PM

TALES FROM THE TUPPERWARE NAVY BY: BRUCE BUTLER

elcome back yak fans. Here we are in February already and it looks like our Florida winter has finally arrived for real. This means the winter patterns may finally be here to stay. The black drum are in and the big trout are showing up where they should be, as well as, way over slot redfish. All this leads me to believe the next few months ought to be a lot of fun, probably more than on my last trip up to Ozello with friend and longtime client Susan Perry for a day’s fishing. Susan, an avid fisherman, or I guess that should be fisherwoman, or maybe that should be fisherperson. God knows, I’m the least politically correct person you probably know! Anyhow, we put in at Pirates Cove, worked our way across and went back in by Bear island. The tide was going toward low, and I’m thinking this is going to be great. I love fishing that area on an outgoing tide. Bear island has lots of lime rock and structure, so it’s definitely a redfish happy spot. There seemed to be only one small problem with my plan and that was, the redfish weren’t there. We threw out in front of us with bait, jigs, and top water lures to absolutely no avail--finally getting frustrated. I decided to paddle forward and see what was going on. At this point, I figured out the situation. I won’t say it was a shining moment of clarity or the lightbulb came on, but you don’t have to be a brain surgeon to figure out you can’t catch fish that aren’t there! Well, we got out of there before we lost all the water and then headed back toward Char island. While Susan continued to catch fish, picking up a couple more nice trout sitting in the holes, I continue to find nothing. I mean, this was starting to get embarrassing. I guess to call a spade a spade, my job as a guide is to put my client on fish while I’m scouting for that next spot to have them fish. I can usually pick up a few myself--this is why I love my job! But this was not to be one of those days. The trout were hitting nicely on the MirrOlure gold and red Littlejohn matched up with a Charlie saltwater jig. A blowfish ate mine, so I switched over to the old standby gold brim and, of course, they wouldn’t touch it. On another note, this was my second trip with my new Tarpon 140 that I had to buy to replace the one stolen a while back--this one came equipped

with a rudder. I’ve never used one before, but I definitely will have one from now on. Doing a drift with the tide along the narrow creeks, I didn’t have to use my paddle once leaving both my hands free to be able to work the points and out ahead of me, having been doing this for multiple decades. This was a new experience, one that I have to say I liked. It stays out of the way in the shallows, and they’re quite easy to control with foot pegs. So, if you’re looking to get a kayak, I’d have to say that this is an option that’s worth getting! We ended the day with a mess of trout as well as a nice mangrove that Susan caught. Okay, actually Susan caught just about everything. We headed straight for the Island Outpost on Ozello trail. John and Diane, who are the proprietors of the Island Outpost, are great people. Diane’s always ready with the current fishing report for the area. Maybe I should talk to her the day before. Be that as it may, after Susan plied me with a couple of the island brew beers, I went out and cleaned the fish. John went to work frying up the trout and sautéing the mangrove. We shared our bounty with everyone at the bar. That is except for the mangrove, which Susan and I split. By the way, John did a great job with the frying. I first met John and Diane a few years back, shooting a TV show with Glen Pla and now try to get back any chance I can. And, if you’re not lucky enough to come in with fish, John makes a killer barbecue sandwich and there’s always the island brew to drown your sorrows or toast your luck, as the case may be. I’ll be heading back that way soon. If this cold weather holds, I’ve gotta make a trip up to the end of the barge canal and see about looking into some of the monster black drum that show up there this time of year. Bruce Butler of Indian Bay Outfitters is Hernando County’s premier kayak fishing guide with full and half-day charters available. Kayaks, tackle and gear provided. Just bring your lucky hat and a good attitude and be ready to see some pristine shoreline and great fishing. Bruce Butler “Stumbling Gypsy” (352) 428-5347 Bruce@IndianBayOutfitters.com www.IndianBayOutfitters.com

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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2019 | TAMPA 15

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THE NIGHT STALKERS BY: PAUL PRESSON

verything is ready. The boat is sitting at the dock ready for boarding. This is no ordinary vessel. This group is going “old school,” Florida style, on an air boat. The boat is 16 feet long with a 500 Cadillac engine. The propeller is a 74-inch Sensenich made of Kevlar and carbon fiber--it is a sight to behold. At a distance, she seems to glow with her massive halogen lights pointing downward into the water. These lights, so illuminating, will prove invaluable in the experience that awaits. The adventurous crew begins to board. The first two climb to the top seating and the third into the lower

seating nearest the bow. The owner/ operator climbs into the position of responsibility--nestled in the middle. He will be maneuvering the boat through the darkness of the night. All but one member of this “night stalking” team are experienced in their upcoming endeavor. As the boat leaves the dock into the night, the sound from the giant “fan” is much quieter than one would expect. They move slowly--no need to hurry. The tide is outgoing, and they know just when they need to get to their destination. The crew consists of a husband and wife team (the owners of the boat) one of their

friends (the newbie) and a young captain that has made this trip many times. The vessel decreases in speed as they have reached their “hunting grounds.” The visual is eerie, with the lights reflecting off of the water into mangroves, it is something very few have ever seen. The waxing moon in the night’s sky will assist these hunters in navigating the waters. Two of the experienced members move to the bow of the boat. They reach down and grab what looks like handmade “Poseidon Tridents” with 10-foot-long poles. They lean over the bow and peer through the luminous, green water with their weaponry at the ready. This is fish gigging! The right conditions for successful gigging are imperative. Water clarity is a huge factor to find the mullet, black drum, sheepshead and flounder that will be their reward for this hard work. Mangroves and oyster beds are great locations to find this elusive prey. The first gig is lunged into the water-a fish, first throw. The pole of the gig is wiggling as the fish attempts to escape, then it is swept backwards into the boat. The first fish of the night is a beautiful black drum. The trick to gigging is to predict where the fish is going to go. Potholes, tree limbs and oyster beds are a few of the structures in which the fish hide. As the hunting proceeds, some fish are gigged while they are stationary and some while on the move. The giggers must know their fish and identify them to ensure a legal fish gig (size and species). As the two in the front continue to gig, they decide to switch and let the “newbie” give it her best shot. Throw after throw, she just misses. This is tougher than she thought, but she finally gets her first gigged fish. Once again, the crew switches positions so that everyone has an opportunity to bring home some “meat,” and they all do.

The cooler is filling up nicely and the weather is turning for the worse. The cloud covered sky lets loose--it is time to head home. The engine sounds like a jet turbine as the vessel moves swiftly through the water. The rain is pelting the already weary crew, but this has been a successful mission and nothing can dissuade the happy mood. They pull up to the dock and unload in the deluge. As soon as they are under cover, they all look into the cooler to see the spoils of the trip. Beautiful black drum, sheepshead and mullet are their bounty for the evening. The trip has been a complete success. Nothing but legal fish gigged all evening and the crew only takes home what they need, they are well under their limit. As far as adventures go, gigging fish from an air boat is really something special. To be out on the water at night, hunting elusive prey, is an experience of a lifetime. These are “old school” Florida outdoor individuals--these are the “Night Stalkers!” A special thanks to: Mike & Michelle Bick (owners of the boat), Captain Joseph Brandenburg (Capt. Joseph Charters), and Janet Jordan Paul Presson, outdoor writer and published cartoonist. He has fished the coastlines of Tampa Bay for 28 years, land based, wade, kayak and by flats boat. If he is not writing, he is out on the water!

16 TAMPA | FEBRUARY 2019 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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DUST OFF YOUR DECOYS AND START PRACTICING YOUR CALLS

TURKEY SEASON IS COMING

BY: MISTY WELLS

ow that we are wrapping things up with Whitetail season, it’s time to turn your attention to turkeys. Just like many other species that we hunt, turkeys can be tough and you need to bring your “A Game” to harvest that perfect tom. A few things that we hunters need to focus on more are turkey calls and decoys. Let’s get started with the wide range of sounds turkeys make and why it is important to know what they mean before heading out for the hunt. The yelp is the most heard sound from turkeys from both male and female. It is commonly a locator saying “I’m over here.” The purr is another sound you may hear a lot from turkeys--it usually means they are content. When they are feeding or communicating with one another, they will often use a purr. This is why a Purr Pot is important to have in your calling collection. Cutting is another important sound they make.

It is a series of slow and fast clucks with a few yelps thrown in. When a hen is fired up and wants attention, she may start cutting. This will usually get a tom’s attention pretty quick. Let’s not forget the gobble, the sound all turkey hunters want to hear. This is a clear indication that a tom is excited and looking to attract a hen. This is also used by a tom to let the other males in the area know he is there and is trying to deter them from coming in. My favorite brand of calls is Woodhaven Calls. The owner Mike Penetecost is a genius when it comes to designing them. Mike is an avid turkey hunter and an expert call designer. He has also teamed up with a few other experts to bring some new items to the line-up this year. The Black Reactor was designed by three-time Grand National Calling Champion Scott Ellis, the Blue Cutter/Vyper was designed by Grand National & World calling Champion Bill Yargus and Mike designed the Hyper Ninja. Why are decoys important? Turkeys see in color and have eye sight three times better than humans. A decoy can give you a chance to take the focus off the hunter and on the decoy. A

decoy is also important for a turkey to associate the call with. If a turkey comes in from a call and does not see a decoy, he may get confused. You defiantly want to have a hen and a tom decoy. This might help bring in the bird a lot faster. Toms want all the hens to themselves; so, if he sees a tom with a hen, he may move in fast to get rid of him, then get careless and give you a shot. I use Mojo Outdoor decoys. They have some great features and the price is right. For something different, I will be using my Mojo Outdoors Scoot N Shoot and my Tail Chaser Max. I think they are going to give me an advantage I didn’t have before. I will keep you posted. Good luck hunting this season and send me your pictures and hunting stories. I will be giving away a Woodhaven prize pack on Facebook this month, so make sure to like the Let’s Take it Outside page and comment Woodhaven to WIN. Misty Wells is Host of “Let’s Take It Outside” TV, Radio & Video series featured by the Tampa Bay Times, Outdoor Pro –Writer & Adventure Guide. Founder of “A Reel Future” a non-profit organization devoted to knowledge, conservation & the passion of fishing to foster kids Statewide. www.mistywells.com

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1/18/2019 7:27:15 PM

PASCO COUNTY BY: CAPT. BOBBY CARROLL

his is the time of the year when you don’t have to worry about getting up super early and getting that first light bite. Focus on what the tides are doing more than anything. I like to be at my first spot the last hour or so of the outgoing tide and fishing the troughs and holes that are holding water. The fish will slide into the deeper pockets and become trapped. This makes winter-time fishing that much easier. This is also a great time of the year for wade fishing and for kayak fisherman to get to their prime spots that boats can’t get into. If you’re going to wade the flats during the negative tide, look for the schools of mullet on the open flat and throw a topwater bait or a weedless swim bait. You will find that one school of mullet will have multiple redfish in it. After you catch one, continue to stay on the school for as long as possible to better your chances of catching multiples. Big trout seem to be plentiful this time of year. They are chewing on anything and everything. For the artificial angler, we have been

using the Slick Lure--producing tons of redfish and trout. We’ve also been throwing 1/8-ounce jigs rigged with the Lil Slick to give it a different style presentation. As stated in the previous months report, find the potholes and you’ll find the big trout waiting in them. This time of the year is very exciting for the numbers of trout that we produce. Try to keep only what you’re going to eat that day or so to protect our great fishery. Also, remember that you can only keep one trout over 20 inches. It’s hard to throw back such a beautiful fish at that size, but it’s what keeps our fishing great! To book a charter with Captain Bobby Carroll and the Florida Fishing Experience please call (727) 271-3257

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2019 | TAMPA 19

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ST. PETE REPORT LATE WINTER REDFISH!

BY: CAPT. CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR

t’s late winter and the fishing is going to get even better the closer we get to spring. February is known for its change in weather and redfish. There are many estuaries to choose from in Tampa Bay that are holding a good number of redfish willing to eat anything in front of them. St. Pete is one of the many hot spot areas for catching big redfish. The redfish being caught are averaging from 25 - 30 inches, and many fish 30 - 38 inches are being brought to the boat. With the month of February having an epic start, I estimate the redfish bite to carry itself into April. Target areas for catching these fish are mangrove lines and grass flats adjacent to any good span of mangroves or light structure. Preferably, fish the mangrove

lines during higher tides and the grass flats on lower tides. Finding moving water is key to locating fish. Still water will hold fish, however I find that many fish looking to eat are in areas of moving tides. When it comes to fishing for redfish, you must remain stealthy in your approach and pay close attention to the activity presented to you on the water’s surface. I make it a habit of noting any disturbance on top of the water. I wear a pair of polarized sunglasses to reduce the glare on the water and spot fish. Wearing polarized sunglasses can also help locate pot holes that may hold fish as well as “swash channels” (small lines made into the bottom from current flow). Fish often use these swash channels as a pathway to venture on the length of a shallow flat. Choice baits for redfish this month are scaled sardines and palm sized pinfish. I present these baits free-lined with a 2/0 to 3/0 hook on 25 to 30-pound fluorocarbon leader. When determining where to soak your baits, anchor your boat up in any of the areas mentioned before, depending on the tide and where the most water is moving. Be patient, you may have to wait for the bite to start picking up. However, when it does, the wait is well worth the effort. Captain Christopher Taylor Florida Reels Fishing Charters www.floridareelsfishingcharters.com (813) 220-6135

3450 34th Street North (Hwy 19) Saint Petersburg, FL 33713 (727) 317-4949 www.stpetefishingoutfitters.com 20 TAMPA | FEBRUARY 2019 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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By Chris Beardsley

s an avid surf fisherman, I enjoy the variety of fish that can be caught from the beach. Of course, catching anything worthwhile can be a challenge. Depending on the tide, time of year, time of day, water temperature, lunar phase, what color socks the mailman is wearing and what uncle Eddie had for dinner last night can all play a part. This is especially true when targeting speckled sea trout, especially big gators. With so many things swimming just off the shore, targeting a

single species from the beach doesn’t always pay. There are, however, ways to increase your odds. Using the proper bait, lures and techniques are paramount. When surf fishing, I like to consider myself a jack-of-all-trades. In other words, I like to come prepared. If one thing doesn’t work, I don’t wait long to move on to the next thing. I have favorite confidence baits. There are times, however, when those fail and I’m quick to change it up. When targeting big trout from the beach, I like to throw a gold spoon. It’s a quintessential bait for nearly anything, and it rarely fails to produce. With low visibility or when it’s slow and the big gators, or little specks for that matter, just aren’t interested, a paddletail with contrasting colors is a great choice. Again, the gold spoon is killer in low-vis situations, but a 3-inch Bass Assassin Chicken on a Chain rigged with a red or chartreuse jig head also fits the bill perfectly. I also like the Berkley white paddletails with the same color jigs. Another way to put a good gator in the cooler is try bouncing a Doc’s Goofy Jig off the bottom, just like fishing for pompano. The pink and yellow seem to produce best, and don’t be afraid to be a little aggressive with them. When fishing a paddletail or a Goofy Jig, let the jig contact the bottom then give a sharp lift and let it drop until it contacts the bottom again. Raise your rod tip straight up and allow the jig to drag across the bottom. Give it an occasional twitch, and then repeat the sharp lift action. Changing the tempo of the retrieve and frequency of your lift can make all the difference. Long casts are crucial in the surf, and require a medium action rod at least 7.5-feet long. I use 30-pound-test braid. The super thin diameter coupled with the ability to really load up the rod provides plenty of inertia to launch relatively light baits a good distance into the surf. Targeting gator trout in the surf is challenging, and using the old standbys is often great strategy. But using a variety of baits and techniques can increase your odds of success.

By Steve Wayne

Florida pro Drew Benton with the BASS Elite Series 2018 Lake Travis Champion trophy. BASS Photo. 4

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f you have been living under a box of Whopper Ploppers and were unaware of the recent changes in professional bass fishing, the Bassmaster Elite Series roster of professional anglers has changed. With the newly created Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour, many Elite Series pros left the Elite Series in order to compete in the newly formed Bass Pro Tour. The Elite Series responded with a reduction of their tour roster to 75 anglers and welcomed many new faces. Here’s a lineup of the Florida Bass pros competing in the upcoming 2019 Elite Series. Who will you root for? • Drew Benton, of Panama City: The 2018 BASS Elite Series Lake Travis champion has amassed nearly $300,000 in winnings since 2016. Expect Benton to do very well in 2019 as he is beaming with confidence from a very successful 2018 season. • Drew Cook, of Midway: A BASS Opens qualifier, Cook had two top-three finishes during the 2018 season of the BASS Opens Series. He has had a good bit of success fishing a variety of waters outside of Florida. Expect him to be a contender for Elite Series Rookie of the Year. • Koby Kreiger, of Bokeelia: This seasoned

pro returns to the Elite Series after fishing the 2018 season on the FLW Tour. Kreiger has big-league experience and should fare well in both smallmouth and largemouth fisheries. • Kyle Monti, of Okeechobee: A second-year Elite Series pro, Monti returns after a season-high 34th-place finish at Grand Lake. Monti cut his teeth bass fishing on Lake Okeechobee, so expect him to do well at the first Elite Series stop on the St. Johns River in Florida and grass filled Lake Guntersville later in the season. • Cliff Prince, of Palatka: This veteran Elite Series pro returns with seven top-10 Elite Series finishes. Prince should be the odds-on favorite to do well if not win on his home waters of the St. Johns River Feb. 7-10. • Bernie Schultz, of Gainesville: This veteran Rapala pro has amassed over $1.2 million in Elite Series winnings. Schultz is deadly with everything from a spinning rod to a flipping stick. Watch him to do well in 2019. • Jessie Tacoronte, of Orlando: This second-year Elite Series pro returns after missing the 2018 season due to shoulder surgery. Look for Tacorente to bounce back after a sub-par first season. He should be healthy and ready to go for 2019.

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Transportation: Getting to the Miami Boat Show has never been easier! • Plan your travel to the show by visiting www.MiamiBoatShow.com • New for 2019! Take the new Brightline train from Fort Lauderdale or West Palm Beach. • Transportation options for locals and out of town guests include water taxi and shuttle bus service from downtown Miami, the Miami Metrorail and off-island parking. Where: Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin, 3501 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149 Show Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily Admission: Premier Day (Feb. 14) - $40 Adult (age 13+) - $25 Two-Day Pass - $45 Five-Day Pass - $100 Child (12 & under) – FREE VIP Experience - $150; $175 on Premier Day (Feb. 14) Tickets are available at http://www.miamiboatshow.com/tickets-and-parking Accommodations: Visit www.MiamiBoatShow.com/accomodations to book rooms at the best rates through the boat show’s official housing partner, OnPeak. Learn More and Stay Connected: www.MiamiBoatShow.com, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: #MiamiBoatShow. Show office phone: (954) 441-3220.

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onsider this an important decision. Other than deciding whether or not to use one, a surprising number of anglers seldom give leaders much thought. As long as there is some type of buffer against the deadly dentures of some species or the abrasive hide of others, fishermen tend to be satisfied. Their attention shifts to other aspects of the sport. Choosing the right material and proper construction for an effective leader are some of the most overlooked challenges in rigging. The ultimate, of course, centers on fishing a light line without a leader. That seldom is possible on the saltwater scene. Experience will prove to you that the fish you hook has teeth, abrasive skin, or the bottom is rugged. Any of these factors will end the battle almost before it starts. The general rule is that the heavier the leader material, the fewer strikes you will get. The solution demands a compromise. You want the strongest leader possible without sacrificing too many strikes. Monofilament leader invariably produces more strikes than single strand wire or nylon coated wire. Sometimes you have to use wire or every fish of a given species will cut you off. When you do use wire, rely on the shortest length that will produce favorable results. For offshore trolling, a short length of wire makes it easier to rig a bait. Some anglers even insist that a skipping offering being trolled works better if there is a short length of wire in front of it. The length of the leader is equally significant. From

MARK SOSIN a protective standpoint, if the species you seek has an abrasive body, the leader should be longer than the average fish you might catch. Then, when the fish is moving away from you and the line streams over its back, you have the protective advantage of a leader. This part of the leader does not have to be as heavy as the short length around its mouth and gills, but it should be stronger than the line. Fly fishermen become aware of a leader’s importance very quickly. In that type of fishing, the leader helps to turn over the fly properly so it lands on the water delicately. In very clear and shallow water, a longer leader enables the caster to enjoy a more delicate presentation where the fly line lands farther from the fish. This is particularly important on the saltwater flats for a variety of species including bonefish, permit, tarpon and redfish. Fly leaders take many basic forms, but the most important thing to remember is that each succeeding section should be shorter than the one before. The majority of tournaments and all recordkeeping organizations establish specific leader requirements. It makes sense to study them before you decide to compete or fish for a record. Leaders are a critical part of rigging each outfit you use. Cutting corners or ignoring details can be a serious mistake. If you lose a trophy fish because of a faulty leader, you’ll have a hard time forgiving yourself.

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Queen Conch In The Bahamas Sheri Daye

hile hunting for that perfect fish for dinner, you sometimes run across other tasty treats. One of my favorites is from the Bahamas: the famous queen conch. This creature is as delicious as it is beautiful and deserves to be treated with great respect. Their slow growth and late maturation makes them susceptible to overfishing. Once abundant in the Florida Keys, it became illegal to harvest them in the 1980s when they were harvested to the point of collapse. It’s taken quite a few years to see the beginning of a comeback, but they will likely need continued protection for years to come in the U.S. In the Bahamas, the importance of this valuable resource has been realized and rules are in place to protect it. The recreational limit is six, and they must have a thick, well-formed lip—meaning they had a chance to grow into adulthood and reproduce. Also, they must be harvested while freediving. Inside the conch shell is a soft-bodied mollusk, which is in the same family as clams, oysters, octopi and squid. They live near coral reefs and seagrass beds and can reach up to 14 inches long. Besides humans, they have a few predators in the water—loggerhead turtles, nurse sharks, spiny lobsters and more. The meat has been consumed for centuries by islanders in the Caribbean and serves in a multitude of dishes such as salads, chowders and fritters.

Conch Tips:

1) Regulations are subject to change so double check before harvesting any marine life. 2) When diving, it is easy to see that in certain places in the Bahamas, especially close to highly populated areas, the conch are 16

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not as abundant. Do not take any from these areas, even if it’s legal. 3) They are easy to spot and move slowly, so use good judgement. Target mature adults that have reproduced and are toward the end of their lifecycle. Consider taking less than the legal limit. 4) The mollusk is not easy to extract or to clean, so if you don’t know how, make sure you have a professional on hand at the end of the day to help you or teach you. 5) Don’t forget to check for pearls in the mantle. These pink pearls are beautiful and more rare than traditional pearls. 6) The inedible part of the conch (the guts, also called “slop”) makes excellent bait for fishing, especially for mutton snappers. Nothing goes to waste! 7) You might (or might not) want to eat the pistol, also known as “Bahamian Viagra.” It is part of the conch’s digestive system and looks like a clear noodle. 8) The Bahamas exports conch to the U.S., but bringing your own conch meat back to the U.S. by boat is strictly prohibited. Safe diving and Happy Hunting! Sheri is a world-record holder, host of Speargun Hunter, and producer of “The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo” in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Follow “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram.

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As fisherman, we all know how hard live bait can be to find. Seasonal weather patterns change the way fish are biting, so a variety of bait is key. Bait fishing is so important that fishermen spend weeks prior to tournaments catching bait and then keep them penned up all for a couple epic days of fishing. The last thing you want is for your bait to die because of a pump failure. At Hooker Electric, we have designed a durable, strong and long-lasting baitwell system. This system is capable of supplying multiple livewells with its adequate DC brushless motor. You will no longer need multiple pumps to supply each livewell. Now, by adding the Hooker Electric custom manifolds, you can divert water to the designated wells by adjusting the amount of water flow to each well with our variable flow knobs. This allows you to run all of the wells from one Hooker Electric pump and have another one for redundancy. The system is easy to use with the variable flow dial, without having to restrict the pump. This Hooker Electric livewell system is a plumb-andplay setup with a variety of sizes. It’s available in 2500, 4500 and 7500 GPH and we also offer an on/off feature for the pumps. For more information, visit www.hookerelectric.com or check out their Instagram page @Hookerelectric_pumps.

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he older I get, the more I like to fish inshore for all the usual suspects from the Northeast, down through the Carolinas all the way to the Keys. From stripers and specks, to drum and snook, every fish loves a shrimp or minnow imitation under a float. And this includes many freshwater predators. I always keep a float rig tied on when fishing inside. Popping, cigar and oval floats all have their place, and an added “clicking” sound adds value, especially when fishing a soft plastic shrimp under the float. There are plenty of commercially available floats, but I want to share a simple and effective way to achieve the same end result… and one that will rarely foul or tangle. Whether the beads are external or internal, the clicking sound is perfectly married with the splashing sound that drives fish bananas. To make the simple external-bead-style clicking float, view the video below. Allow 1/16- to 1/8-inch clearance (total, not both ends) between the beads and ends of the pegs to allow the beads to tap the plastic pegs. Follow the instructions below to make the internal-bead-style clicking float. Materials: 80-pound fluorocarbon; small plastic beads, like those found in sliding cork kits; small swivels; a commercially available foam slip cork with plastic pegs. Steps: • Thread braided mainline through the plastic peg and one of the small beads. • Feed the mainline through to the other side of the slip cork and then tie it to one side of the swivel. • For the other side, thread a fluorocarbon leader through the other peg, thread on a small bead and tie it to the other end of the swivel.

• Press one peg securely into the slip cork, and then pull the bead and swivel into the float’s interior channel. • Press the second peg into the cork, and your slip cork is now a clicking float. The tiny beads slide back and forth on the line to tap the plastic pegs inside the float. • Tie a 3/8-ounce jig head and a soft plastic shrimp onto the leader, and… just add water. There are a number of opinions on how deep to fish below the cork. I like between 18 and 24 inches of fluorocarbon, depending on water depth. This same tackle works extremely well in freshwater for striped and hybrid bass in moving water. Just use a fluke-style soft plastic instead of a shrimp. The largest largemouth bass I caught this year was under cigar float with an internal clicker. I was fishing a Super Fluke for striped bass. Smallmouth bass in rocky rivers are complete idiots over this same rig. Wherever you are, and whatever you’re fishing for, a float rig is something you should keep tied and ready on the deck. Visit Barefootcatsandtackle.com. For video instructions on making a clicking cork, see:

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nglers are catching a lot of big largemouths in Texas. Last year’s Toyota ShareLunker Program, which tracks bass heavier than 8 pounds, certified 486 bass caught from 89 Texas lakes in 2018, and that’s just the fish that were reported. At the beginning of 2018, the Toyota ShareLunker program debuted a new year-long season for anglers to enter bass for prizes, recognition, and to help enhance bass fishing in Texas. Anglers entered largemouths into four categories including six “Legacy Class” bass of 13 pounds or heavier that were entered during the spawning window Jan.1 through March 31 and loaned to TPWD for the selective breeding and stocking program. The total number of entries in other categories who provided citizen science data included: five “Lunker Legend” bass 13 pounds or heavier caught outside the spawning window or not loaned for spawning, 107 “Lunker Elite” bass weighing 10 to 12.99 pounds, and 368 “Lunker” bass at least 24 inches or weighing between 8 and 9.99 pounds. The top five ShareLunker producing lakes in 2018 included Lake Fork near Quitman with 73 entries, Lake Conroe near Houston with 41 entries, Lake Athens in Athens with 28 entries, Sam Rayburn Reservoir near Jasper with 21 entries, and O.H. Ivie Lake near San Angelo with 17 entries. For updates on the Toyota ShareLunker program visit https:// www.facebook.com/ShareLunkerprogram and https://texassharelunker.com/.

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FRESHWATER Nevada’s WORLD-CLASS CUTTHROAT

he International Game Fish Association (IGFA) keeps the most extensive list of fishing records in the world. With categories for all types of tackle and species, some records are more impactful than others. This potential all-tackle length world record for cutthroat trout is without a doubt an impressive fish. Adam Garcia caught and released this giant cutthroat on Nov. 11, 2018 while fishing Nevada’s Pyramid Lake. The fish measured 85 centimeters in length, or more than 33 inches. Once the paperwork clears, the fish could dethrone the old 81-centimeter length record. Garcia is no newcomer to the record books. According to IGFA records, he holds four line-class world records for weight, all cutthroats caught from Pyramid Lake in 2016 and 2017. Some of those were actually longer than his Nov. 11 fish. The biggest one, which holds the 16-lb. line class record, weighed 24 pounds. Pyramid Lake is a large and natural desert lake near the California border northeast of Reno. It is the world hotspot for giant cutthroat trout, where anglers can wade from shore and cast jigs for record-class fish. Every single one of IGFA’s line class cutthroat records were caught from Pyramid, as well as the all tackle world record, which was caught back in 1925 by John Skimmerhorn.

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

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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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TIPS FROM A PRO

Cold-Water Bassin' BRANDON LESTER

ebruary is one of those transition months. Spring is just around the corner, and it might have already arrived in some places, but it’s still wintertime for most of the country’s bass fisheries. Bass are cold-blooded animals, which means the colder the water is, the more the fish’s core body temperature decreases. That also means the fish’s metabolism slows down. Metabolism is the chemical processes that occur which allow the fish to maintain life, grow, heal and make energy. Humans are warm blooded, so our body temperature stays a steady 98.6 degrees. A fish’s temperature drops with the water temp, which makes them more sluggish the colder it gets. If you’re like me, you’re ready to eat three meals a day and some snacks 365 days a year. It’s different with fish. In warm water, fish feed every day, throughout the day and into the night. In the winter they don’t feed nearly as often. One reason is they don’t move around as much, so they don’t come into contact with prey. Fish feed-up heavily in the fall when the water is still warm to put on weight. Bait is plentiful then, and instinctually they feel cold weather coming. I have way more 20- and 30-fish days in spring than winter. You’re not likely set any records for fish catches in cold water. Fish bite for two basic reasons, either because they’re hungry and the bait looks like food or because the bait has come into their territory

and they instinctively attack it. Reaction strikes are greatly reduced during the winter. In water mid-50 degrees and lower, you really need to make the fish want to eat in order to catch them. I try and fish the warmest water on a lake, as fish in these areas will be more active. A couple degrees in water temperature can make all the difference. Slower-moving baits work best for cold-water bass. I like baits that stay in one place and can be worked slowly, like a jig. A suspending jerkbait with Mustad KVD trebles will hang in one place, hopefully right in front of their face. Use lighter line in cold water, as it allows the bait to move more realistically. Eight or 10-pound Vicious fluorocarbon is preferable on a jerkbait. Objects in the water, especially rocks, retain heat. On sunny days, the shallow water near rocks on the bank will often be warmer. Keep in mind that fish don’t bite nearly as hard in cold water. You will feel them kind of “load up” on the bait instead of slamming it. The fish are just picking up the bait and doing as little as possible to catch it. Those “light bites” increase the importance of having a sensitive rod. I build my own rods and will tell you that MHX Rods from Mud Hole Custom Tackle help me catch more fish, especially in cold water. Higher quality graphite makes a more sensitive rod. MHX Rods are much more affordable and the quality is better than a vast majority of rods out there. For extremely light bites, I recommend the NEPS series of blanks built with Winn Grips.

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