Coastal Angler Magazine | June 2024 | Volusia County Edition

the importance of boat insurance

Do you love boating? Then you know how fun and relaxing it can be on the open water. But you also know that things can go wrong sometimes, like storms, accidents, theft, or injuries. That’s why boat insurance is so important. Here are some reasons why.

• Boat insurance can help you pay for damage to your boat, or to other boats or docks, up to specifed limits.

• If you borrowed money to buy your boat, your lender may require insurance. And if you want to explore different places, some marinas or waterways may ask you to show proof of insurance.

Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. and af fliates Coverages subject to policy terms and conditions.

• Boat insurance can also come in handy if you need an on-water tow, jump start, or fuel delivery with optional Sign & Glide® coverage. And if your boat sinks, boat insurance can pay for the cost of removing it from the water (if removal is legally required).

Get boat insurance from Progressive and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with it.

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Go to progressive.com to learn more.

PUBLISH YOUR OWN FISHING MAGAZINE

Swordfshing is great any time of the year, but during summer you can justify the fuel burn to get where they live. It’s nearly impossible to run that far ofshore in June and not come across diving birds indicative of mahi or tuna. With minimal efort, this can be a nice score to put something in the box if you don’t have luck with the swords. It is normal to get skunked while swordfshing, and I don’t recommend going if you can’t accept that possibility. Te best way to go into it is to be fully prepared for both a fsh of a lifetime or to just chill with friends. Make no mistake, when you do land one of these beasts, it’s some of the most exciting fshing you can experience, and it’s worth the skunk risk.

Although you don’t have to run as far, the same consolation prize applies to heading out for tilefsh, snowy and yellowedge grouper, queen snapper, barrelfsh and rosies. Mahi fshing to, from and during deep-dropping rounds out a trip nicely.

Be prepared for mahi when heading ofshore in summer. Keep at least four rods designated for working a school and more for trolling. J hooks are a must for these head-shaking, sky-rocketing, fippy-fappy, squirm-fsh, but just about any line and bait will do. Tese tasty little dummies aren’t picky and would strike a banana peel if you jigged it right. Tat said, the speed of the bait is a variable you might have to adapt to. Teir toddler mentality kicks in when you try to take a bait away from them, encouraging them to strike something they just turned their nose up at. If you get hit when reeling in your bait, open your bail and give them a chance to eat.

If you get excited about fsh with pointy faces, be prepared for a marlin encounter this time of year. I keep rigged ballyhoo in a trolling spread and a pitch rod set up. Marlin aren’t overly common here, but when you see one, you want to be prepared for more than to simply wave and think, “that was neat.”

SBy Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

SUMMERTIME’S BACK, BABY!

ummer in the Keys, albeit hotter than the devil’s you-know-where, is one of the best times to be on the water. With more calm days, open seasons for most species, and mahi peppering ofshore waters, this is the time of year to boogie out and hunt for whatever tickles your fancy.

the

and

of our

Marlin enjoy a mahi snack as much as we do and will pop up unexpectedly while mahi fshing. If you have a large live bait, toss that sucker out. If not, a mahi from the box will do in a pinch. Give her time to eat, hang on and enjoy the ride.

Mahi season is already of to a great start for both size and numbers. Come on down and fll your coolers!

Capt. Quinlyn Haddon; Sweet e’nuf charters, marathon, Florida Keys; @captainquinlyn; captainquinlyn.com; (504) 920-6342.

50,000 Plus Anglers Strong Promoting TakeAction Initiatives For Preserving Our Fisheries And Supporting Our Community.

At 18’2” in length and with a 70” beam, the Mosquito is a very capable hull for many situations – however it’s designed to do one thing with absolute perfection: silently stalk inshore

WHEN FISHING SHALLOWS,

YOU NEED A REEL WITH A REPUTATION THAT RUNS DEEP.

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FISH THE GREATER JACKSONVILLE KINGFISH TOURNEY JULY 13-20!

The “Grandaddy of all Kingfsh Tournaments” will get the First Coast buzzing July 13-20, as the 44th annual Greater Jacksonville Kingfsh Tournament presented by VyStar Credit Union hosts a full week of tournaments with more than $500,000 in cash and prizes.

Te competition kicks of July 13 with the Kingfsh Kick Of Beach Tournament, in which competitors are limited to state waters within 3 miles of shore. Tis event evens the odds for the smaller boats to haul in the largest kingfsh of the day and collect the $50,000 cash prize.

Fishing for the General Tournament begins Friday morning, July 19. Tis cornerstone event pays out to 20 places for both large fsh and aggregate. First place for largest fsh of the tournament will be awarded a Contender 28T with twin 200 Yamaha outboards, an Ameritrail Trailer and a custom T-top and leaning post by Custom Marine. Tis boat package is valued at more than $225,000.

Junior anglers have a shot at a 16foot boat with a 15 hp Yamaha, and the Junior Ofshore Tournament pays out to 25 places. Te Ladies Division pays out to 10 places.

cold beverages, hot food and vendors. Awards Day on Saturday, July 20 is all about celebration, with Kids Zone activities, rafes and seminars.

For inshore anglers, the popular Redfsh Tournament fshes on Saturday, July 20 with payouts of more than $12,000.

Jacksonville Marine Charities is the operating arm of the event, and it supports non-profts throughout the state. Recently, Child Cancer Fund, the Down Syndrome Association and the Child Guidance Center have beneftted from the organization, which also supports other local charity fshing events like Te Premier Trout, Flounder Pounder, Wounded Heroes on the Water and others.

For complete details, visit king fshtournament.com.

All the boats and fsh coming to the docks at Jim King Park and Boat Ramp at Sisters Creek Park in Jacksonville creates a festival atmosphere. Te

Trout are Eating Your Nymph More than You Realize

Alarge trout rising to a high-riding dry fy is one of life’s true pleasures. It’s pretty darn easy to see. Te fy is bouncing happily along the surface, and with a splash it’s gone.

On the other hand, that same fat rainbow trout sucking in a nymph 6 feet down in a dark run may not be as obvious. When you’re nymphing, speed is of the essence. In a second, that fsh will expel the fy. Tere are a bunch of diferent strike indicators designed to help you see the sometimes-faint signal of a hit. Some work well, some break, some slide, and some just suck.

I love yarn indicators for their sensitivity and the plastic air-flled bobbers for ease of use. Both styles rigged up the leader about twice the depth of the water you’re fshing help you detect the strike. Any hesitation, dive or shif in direction of your indicator might be a hit.

I tell clients, if they think a fsh might even be breathing on the fy to set the hook! You get a heck of a lot more strikes than you think you do when nymph fshing. Any slack between your indicator and fy allows a fsh eat and spit your nymph out, and sometimes go completely undetected.

At close range, high-stick or Czech-nymphing techniques work great. No indicator is needed, as diferent colored lines or coiled-line indicators that straighten when a fsh takes are the deal. A lot of the time, the trout is felt when it takes the fy, or you will see the line suddenly stop. Tis method is deadly in experienced hands.

Another method of strike indication is the use of a big dry fy as the

indicator. Usually, a piece of fuorocarbon tippet is tied to the hook and a nymph or two hang underneath. Tis is a good when the fsh might spook if a plastic bobber crashes on their heads. A buggy looking dry fy is a lot less scary.

Another cool way to catch trout on subsurface fies is to watch them eat it. I call this ninja fshing! You’ll need the sun at your back or directly overhead. Start by locating a particular fsh, and then tie on a brightly colored fy that stands out and is easy to see. Cast upstream of the fsh, and let it drif down to the fsh. Sometimes a fy bounced right into their face will get a refex strike. Tis is a good way to learn how fsh react to fies and how currents afect your ofering. If you are in a pool with several fsh, you might be amazed at how many fsh take a swipe at it. You will then realize how many strikes you’ve been missing.

David Hulsey is a North Georgia-based guide and fy fshing instructor. Call him at (770) 639-4001 and visit Hulsey Fly Fishing at hulsey fy fshing.com.

WIN A KAYAK FISHING TRIP

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ADVANCED MARINE SERVICES

Advanced Marine Services has been serving boaters in Central Florida for the past 24 years. Focusing on service, parts sales and repowers, Advanced is not like the others; customer service is their priority. Teir staf has over 100 combined years of experience in the boating industry.

As an authorized service and repower center for many brands including Yamaha, Volvo, Suzuki, Mercury, Evinrude and Cox Diesel, your needs will be covered. With a huge inventory of parts, they’ll likely have what you’re looking for. Advanced has also catalogued an inventory of over 5,000 used parts in case what you are looking for is no longer available or you can’t fnd it anywhere else.

Advanced ofers services such as routine maintenance, custom electronics, trolling motor and power-pole installation. Tey don’t stop there. Rewiring your boat, gauge and switch panel replacements, steering, canvas and Sea-Deck are also in their arsenal. Almost anything you can think of, they can handle including cutting custom dash panels with their computerized CNC router.

Ready for the latest in engine technology? Advanced Marine has an inventory of over 100 Yamaha and Mercury engines ready to bolt onto the back of your boat, and fnancing is available. Refresh your dashboard with the latest gauge and NMEA integration technology. Just give their repower specialist Harrison a call for an estimate, and you never know when the

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manufacturers will be ofering additional warranty promotions or engine pricing specials to sweeten the deal.

If you use your boat for work, such as a fshing guide, boat rental or marine construction company, exclusive additional discounts are available from Advanced, and they will get you back on the water FAST! Contact Advanced Marine today!!!

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By A. deGruchy

SCHOOLING PERMIT ON THE WRECKS

Permit schools have been sighted in the Florida Keys over the past couple of months, and June marks the fnal stretch of their journey. Tese elusive permit are wrapping up their ‘spring break’ routine and are heading to some of our ofshore wrecks to spawn.

Tis time of year can be great for permit, because they school up and provide ample opportunity for hook-ups. Pursuing a permit takes strategy and stamina, since these fsh are known for putting up a serious battle. Any angler who is interested in trying to land one of these

prized sportfsh needs to know what they are signing up for.

When fshing for permit on ofshore wrecks in Islamorada, we usually target schools around wreck sites like the Eagle in June. Tese wrecks are typically on the ocean side in deeper waters, ranging from about 30 to 100 feet deep.

For tackle, we typically use 6500 combos with fuorocarbon leaders and circle hooks. Spotting and sight-casting to permit is usually the goto method. Tis means looking for glimpses of fashing silver just below the surface. Permit love

crabs, and they have great eyesight. fcial crabs like the Savage Gear 3D Crab are very realistic, and they are ective and cost-friendly. However, it’s tough to beat a live blue crab for permit bait. Hook them through the shell to keep them lively. Let the crab swim freely to drif into the school of permit and prepare for action. ght, fne-tuning the drag is crucial with permit because overpowering them won’t do the trick. You want the drag set just right, enough to make progress when reeling in, but allowing the permit to run… and it will run.

Permit are one of the most sought-afer sportfsh in the Keys because they’re notorious for their incredible strength. Anyone who’s ever hooked one can tell you that they’re strong enough to make even the toughest angler break a sweat. Once you do land your frst permit, it is a moment you’ll never forget.

While they are a ton of fun, permit aren’t known as a particularly desirable food fsh. Catch and release is the way to go because they play a crucial role in our ecosystem, and releasing them safely helps ensure we’ll have permit to play with in the future. Land them as quickly as you can. Handle them gently for a quick release to minimize stress and ensure the fshery thrives.

Many times while permit fshing, we encounter exciting bycatch like other jack species, grouper and snapper. It’s all about the thrill of the catch in these beautiful waters of the Florida Keys.

To book a permit charter, visit www.beansportfshing.com.

One if by Land . . . Two if by Sea

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A 9-Year-Old’s First For-Real Fishing Trip

Remember the frst time you went fshing for real? For many of us, the earliest trips elicit memories of a blue plastic container of red wigglers, a red-and-white plastic bobber and the ripe muddy fsh smell of an active bluegill bed. But that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the frst time you went fshing for real.

Maybe it was the year you were fnally allowed on the annual charter trip? Or perhaps it was the long-planned bass fshing weekend with Grandpa? Whatever it was, the person who took you decided you were ready to grow beyond the pushbutton-reel stage of fshing. It was on that trip when you became one of the crew instead of the kid who stayed home with mom.

Remember gathering your gear in anticipation? Remember waking up throughout the night and checking the clock to make sure you didn’t sleep through the alarm?

Jackson Willer, 9, of Melbourne, Fla., recently experienced his frst for-real fshing trip. Really, Jackson has fshed most of his life. His frst fsh was a jack crevalle caught with his Pop-Pop, Chris Willer, and his Mimi, Joann Willer, when he was 3 years old. But the Willer men are saltwater people, and when Jackson’s older cousin Ryan Willer, 21, told him to be ready early the next morning because they were going fshing, it was something new and exciting… his frst trip as one of the boys.

In the morning, before Ryan and Jackson lef for Sebastian Inlet, Pop-Pop pulled a special surprise from the back of his truck. He handed the 9-year-old a Penn 450SS mounted on an Ugly Stik. With freshwater wash downs and occasional cleaning, these vintage reels spin smoothly for decades. Chris (aka Pop-Pop) had been fshing this one since he bought it in the 1980s.

“I’m going to take care of it for as long as I possibly can,” said Jackson

on receiving the gif. “It feels really special. He was the one that taught me how to use a shing rod and all that stuf.”

So…armed with the rod and reel and a tank of live shrimp, Jackson and Ryan fshing for “I thought, there he goes. He’s running with the pack now. He doesn’t need us anymore,” said Joann (aka Mimi).

It wasn’t exactly a jam-up day on the water, but that’s fshing, and Jackson had fun.

“First I caught a redfsh, and then I caught a snook,” Jackson said. “It was pretty fun trying to reel it in and everything. It was hard and it was fun.” Jackson also said he doesn’t know when the next trip is, but he’s excited.

And that’s the whole point. Even if it’s just another day on the water for you, remember that the kid you’re taking was likely lying awake last night seeing visions of monster fsh and epic drag-peeling battles.

If you’ve got a great fshing story to tell, email us at editorial@coastalanglermagazine.com.

VOLUSIA COUNTY

COASTAL ANGLER

Contributing Writers :

Marco PoMPano Freak on the Beach 386-212-4838

caPt. JaMie thraPPas Ponce Inlet and Backwaters www.YellowDawgFishing.com

caPt. Michael savedow Edgewater Backcountry www.EdgewaterRiverGuide.com

caPt. Bryn adaMs Central St. Johns River www.highlandparkfishcamp.com

caPt. evan sanders Sol Fishing with the Captain & Kids www.SolFishing.com

Blake aBBey Kayaking @kayakkingcharters

caPt. reeF Fly Fishing 386-679-6997

Franchise owners Jamie & Deidra Thrappas For

call Jamie at 386.366.3424 or email volusia@coastalanglerMagazine.com

Springtime is in the air. It’s time to bamba! The water blue-green at 70°. It’s sunny and dry, with some windy days, but extremely fishable. Springtime is my favorite.

Everything‘s running, especially the pompano.

“Once you start to fish for pompano you’re not gonna want to stop. it’s s a very good addiction.” - Direct quote from fisherman Larry Finch, Also, during spring time, it’s good to make repairs and changes to the fishing operation. I made the biggest change to my rusted-out tricycle, and went in for a new electric fat-tire trike. Electric Fat Trike also happens to be the name of the company out of Philadelphia. It’s a strong tricycle with 4-inch tires. They sent it to me all assembled. Perfect.

Now I can go from Ponce Inlet, Wilbur By the Sea to Ormond Beach to find the elusive pompano.

I set it up like a little fishing machine, with a four-pole rack on the back and an old-fashioned newspaper boy basket I found online, which will hold everything I need. Also, a 30-quart cooler in the other basket on the back. Ya, mon!

It is great riding the sand dunes, even with all the weight I carry. The first day I used it, it turned into one of my best days of my fishing year, so, all in all, it’s bona fide.

Getting back to my favorite subject. I just whacked two big pompano on my favorite bait today. They weren’t biting on my little sand fleas, but, as always, the big scouts hit the crab knuckles. One of them happened to have a shark bite out of it by the tail that healed! Now that was one damn bamba fish. I was almost sorry I ate it. Almost. (I roasted it). Ya, mon!

When I go looking for a spot to fish and I see a bunch of beautiful little pastel coquina shells on the beach by the ocean break, that’s where I’ll set up. The pompano love to eat these, and when I clean them, the stomachs are always full of them. I was driving down the beach on the trike for only about five minutes when I ran into a big patch of periwinkle and cocquina shells, live, floating in an inch of water.

Live coquina shells are really a small clam. That’s why the fish love them so much. They also become stones from days gone by, getting glued together to form all the big coquina rocks you see on the beach. This is where I’m setting up.

As soon as my lines hit the water, it was time to bamba. A real regulation, good pompano hit, even zipping a little line out, and as I’m pulling it in, my other pole goes slack which only means one thing: another fish on the line. I’m getting busy. I can’t even get my other two poles out.

I think I’ll just fish two for now. One on sand fleas and one on crab knuckles. It’s just starting.  Ya, mon!

It’s appropriate, I guess, that the Third World reggae band is on now playing “96° in the Shade” with all this beautiful warm weather. The ocean is warmed up. It’s a good choice. The fish will stay around for a while but me and the ones I caught are heading to the smoker.

Fishing Captain Directory

Hire

reel

harMony

reel harMony

Fishing charters

Fishing charters

Capt Marty Goldys

Capt Marty Goldys

Call for a 5 star Fishing Experience

Call for a 5 star Fishing Experience

Inshore • Snook • Redfish

Inshore • Snook • Redfish

Tarpon • Flounder

Tarpon • Flounder

386-679-0317

386-679-0317

www.reelharmonyfishing.com reelharmonyfishingcharters@gmail.com

www.reelharmonyfishing.com reelharmonyfishingcharters@gmail.com

new legacy Fishing charters

new legacy Fishing charters

Capt Marshal Wallot

Capt Marshal Wallot

Nearshore and Inshore Fishing

Nearshore and Inshore Fishing

Trophy Redfish & Black Drum

Trophy Redfish & Black Drum

Tarpon • Snook & More

Tarpon • Snook & More

386-214-9595

www.newlegacyfishing.com marshalwallot007@gmail.com

386-214-9595 www.newlegacyfishing.com marshalwallot007@gmail.com

yellow dawg

yellow dawg

Fishing charters

Fishing charters

Capt JaMie thrappas

Capt JaMie thrappas

Offshore • Inshore • Back Country If it swims we catch it! 386-366-3424 www.yellowdawgfishing.com

coastline charters

Capt kevin Gill

Ponce Inlet

Snook • Redfish

Flounder • Triple Tail

386-222-2805

www.fishponce.com

Instagram @fishponce

Facebook @Coastline Charters

Pole dancer

Pole dancer

Fishin’ charters

Fishin’ charters

Capt Jeff patterson

Capt Jeff patterson

Inshore & Nearshore Fishing

Inshore & Nearshore Fishing

Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach

Redfish • Snook • Triple Tail • Trout

Redfish • Snook • Triple Tail • Trout

386-451-4992

386-451-4992

www.smallboatbigfish.com captainpatterson@yahoo.com

www.smallboatbigfish.com captainpatterson@yahoo.com

caught uP Fishing charters

caught uP Fishing charters

Capt Bruno iMBrunone

Capt Bruno iMBrunone

Inshore and Offshore Fishing New Smyrna Beach

Inshore and Offshore Fishing New Smyrna Beach

Snook • Redfish • Tarpon • Cobia Snapper • Flounder

Snook • Redfish • Tarpon • Cobia Snapper • Flounder

386-689-7409

386-689-7409

www.caughtupfishingcharters.com caughtupfishingcharters@yahoo.com

www.caughtupfishingcharters.com caughtupfishingcharters@yahoo.com

driFtwood charters

driFtwood charters

Capt Jarrod tuttle

Inshore/Nearshore/Offshore Seasonal Wahoo, Swordfish, Tuna, Deepdrop trips

386-295-7908

Capttutt@gmail.com www.Gofishponce.com

CaptainKiDS

Captain & The Kids strives to always promote youth anglers both at the local level as well as nationally through our “Youth Angler Program.” If it was not for passing down techniques, traditions, and the love for the water, it would slowly fade away. It is our mission to always instill conservation and ethical fishing to our youth!

We are proud to announce that Penn, Fenwick, Fin Nor, and Plano are our latest Top Tier Sponsors for Captain & The Kids Youth Angler Program!! We will exclusively be using Penn reels, Penn rods, as well as Fenwick rods on all trips! You will also see all tackle being stored exclusively in Plano “Edge Series” tackle system boxes. We are very thankful for all of these amazing partnerships! With their help and support, everyone that steps foot on our new Tidewater 27 Custom will fish with nothing but the BEST products!

Capt. Evan started the Youth Angler Program after finding out how many kids in the New Smyrna Beach area had never been fishing, never been on a boat, and was born and raised in the area. Since that day Capt. Evan strives to getting more and more youth anglers on the water each and every year! Sol Fishing will do everything possible to make every young man or ladies fishing dreams come true. It does not matter if the kids want to go offshore or inshore, Sol Fishing will target whichever species they want to catch. Some of the most recent species that the youth anglers have been wanting to target are red snapper, lane snapper, cobia, amberjack, sharks, barracuda, redfish, and snook.

Captain & The Kids program is made possible by all of our retailers who stock Sol Fishing gear such as our hats, decals, shirts, and other apparel. Stop by New Smyrna Beach Outfitters, Yellow Dawg Bait & Tackle in Ormond Beach, Donald’s Bait & Tackle, 38 Live Bait, E & J Bait & Tackle, Sunglass Cabana, Shades of New Smyrna Beach, Boaters Exchange, and Pedego of NSB to get your Sol Fishing gear to help support Captain & The Kids! Sol Fishing’s amazing sponsors Penn, Fenwick, Plano, Fin Nor, Daiichi Hooks, Powerpole, Seadek Marine, Brighter Days Marine, and Castaway Customs also play a huge roll in the program!

EVan SanDErS Sol Fishing Charters & Gear

PONCE INLET & BACKWATERS FORECAST

June kicks off summer time fishing in the Ponce Inlet and surrounding areas. Summer time means 2 things that factor into your success you must take into consideration or face a not so productive day on the water: Hotter temperatures & crowds. To avoid both and enjoy the fruits of your labor I suggest 2 solutions… get on it early or wait till everyone is off the water and enjoy that evening bite! I will be focusing on redfish now that snook season is over as my main sportfish target. If my customers want to have a fish dinner it will be mangrove snapper or flounder as the species who will be in the cross hairs. I still get a nice amount of bull redfish around the inlet this time of year but most of the fish will be slot or upper slot. While we are still allowed to keep reds in Ponce, I rarely let clients keep them any longer and we practice very specific catch and release techniques. As a fishing community it’s important we preserve this species for years to come, and while we don’t condone keeping a slot for dinner from time to time, we do encourage more quick releases and less of a focus on red drum as table fare. That being said, the mangrove fishery is healthy and boy are they good to eat! I get tons of 14+” fish along docks, the jetties, bridges, nearshore artificial reefs, and wrecks. Live shrimp is the ticket and it’s a ton of fun! While flounder are somewhat harder to find they should be eating. My go to in June for flounder is live mud minnows, we call them flounder candy. No matter what even if you can’t get out early or in a weekday summer is here so get out on the water and if you see us out there, as always, say hello!

EDGEWATER BACKCOUNTRY FORECAST

June brings the official start of summer, kids are on school vacation, the Indian and Halifax River is a great place to teach them the basics of fishing at their skill level, make it easy for them to catch a bunch of fish. For younger children, the best way for them to learn new fishing skills is to fish for the small abundant pan fish, such as mangrove snapper and sailors choice, aka pinfish. They will learn basic techniques to use in years to come to catch bigger and better fish. A small hook will catch loads of smaller fish, but also will catch a surprisingly large fish when a bigger one bites, so use a #4 or #6 hook, a light weight, and a small piece of peeled shrimp. Fish in the right spot and the kids will catch fish one after another. They will learn to bait a hook, fight their fish, then safely unhook them, a quick photo of a few, and learn about catch and release. This is the best technique for them to learn good fishing skills and they will be better anglers in short order as they get older. For kids with a little more experience teach them to freeline fish with live shrimp or easy to use artificials, like a leadhead jig with soft plastic tail and they will catch seatrout, ladyfish, jack crevalle, and more. Don’t make it complicated, keep it easy and fun. Teach them about conserving our marine resources, and to be good stewards of our wildlife in to the future.

Snook season is closed June, July, and August so catch, photo, and release on linesiders until the first day of open season starts again September 1. Our area’s snook population is the best it has been in many years, use gentle care with them for release to keep the good numbers going for years to come. Redfish continue to be Catch & Release only in Mosquito Lagoon south of the SR44 bridge in New Smyrna. Spotted seatrout fishing with live pigfish and croakers is a summer tradition on Mosquito Lagoon. Pigs are also good for many other inshore fish, including redfish, snook,

snapper, tarpon, jacks, and ladyfish. In the Lagoon, fish them free lined and tail hooked along drop offs, sloughs, and off the edges of flats. Popping the rod gives a tug on the pig, pulling him up off the bottom, encouraging oinking, and attracting a fish to attack. In the Edgewater backcountry fish them along drop offs of any depth, for deeper drops free lined allows them to swim down the face of the underwater cliff. Shallower drops, small sloughs, and oyster bars, are all good to try, in shallower spots a float can be added, which will keep the pig suspended above the bottom as they will always try to swim down. Live baits on heavier tackle around structure and docks for Snook and others. Bigger pigfish, croakers, spots, and pinfish can be prime baits for bull redfish, snook, tarpon, and sharks. Lip hooked for drifting the main ICW channel from Edgewater to Ponce Inlet for big reds; sight cast to surface rolling tarpon anywhere from offshore Ponce, into the inlet, the ICW channel, all the area bridges over the intracoastal waterway and through New Smyrna south into the backcountry.

Mosquito Lagoon Flats Redfish Catch Photo Release

fLY fIShING FORECAST

I’m a firm believer that there’s no such thing as a trash fish, just trashy people. However, I still don’t understand how the Jack Crevelle ever made it on this list. These fish are highly underrated by most anglers and should not be overlooked. These Yellow submarines, regardless of their size, give 110% in every fight. Jacks are always punching above their weight class, with 5 pounders fighting like 10 pounders and 20 pounders fighting like they’re 40 pounds. Make sure you don’t get careless with your knots, especially the one connecting your fly line to your backing. Even the smaller Jacks will have you playing a game of peek-a-boo with your backing until you land them. Ghetto permit are not the fish you want to try and land on your 5wt trout rod. Beef up your gear - at a minimum, I recommend an 8wt and would prefer a 10wt for the bigger ones running the beaches. Upping your leader strength is a must. Jacks are notorious for wrapping and bumping into any structure they can get themselves in, even when you’re targeting them off the beach or offshore. Jacks are mostly found in large schools, and the other jacks will do their best to snatch your fly from your jack’s mouth. Always check your line after a catch and retie when needed. Jacks can be found in just about every environment in our local area, ranging from your favorite spot on the beach, the jetties and inlets, can even find them out in the backwaters and flats. You can find canal tuna in

most urban areas as well lurking under docks, running seawalls, around bridges, canals - literally anywhere. As the summer heat arrives, I target schools of jack working the beaches and jetties in the morning. After work, I’ll wait until it gets dark and target them around dock lights and bridges. As for flies, the smaller jacks under 20lbs will eat just about anything and everything you throw in front of them. When you start finding bigger fish,

the pressure is on. These fish are smart! They don’t get this big being dumb. They’re keyed in on local baits. You need to put some effort into matching the hatch and leading these fish on your cast. The big ones can be skittish at times and will turn down patterns that aren’t natural-looking. My favorite way to target Giant Crevelly is topwater! Flies like the Vals Banger and tequila poppers are my favorite. There’s nothing like watching 3-4 large jacks fight for your fly on the surface. Larger streamers and game changers are my preferred subsurface flies to throw. Don’t sleep on these fish! I hope you guys are able to get out and enjoy these fish like I do. They definitely don’t get the respect they deserve!

TRASh TO TREASuRE.

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20 Thu 7:44 2.1 8:20 3.3 1:57 0.1 1:27 -0.2 6:24 8:26

21 Fri 8:32 2.2 9:05 3.4 2:42 0.0 2:12 -0.3 6:24 8:27

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25 Tue 11:45 2.4 5:43 -0.2 5:29 -0.3 6:25 8:27

26 Wed 12:10 3.3 12:39 2.5 6:35 -0.2 6:33 -0.2 6:25 8:27

27 Thu 1:01 3.2 1:37 2.7 7:26 -0.3 7:40 -0.1 6:25 8:27

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29 Sat 2:51 2.7 3:41 3.0 9:05 -0.4 9:50 0.0 6:26 8:27

30 Sun 3:53 2.5 4:43 3.2 9:56 -0.5 10:56 0.0 6:27 8:27

Ormond Beach, Halifax River, FL - Jun 2024

hIGh BRIDGE FORECAST

Summer is here meaning great fishing but the key to success is “the early bird gets the worm”. In other words if you want to have success in the shallows near high bridge you can’t sleep in! Redfish will be active early, and with snook season closed most of us will be after the ol spot tail bruisers. Top water action at first light, followed by paddle tails & soft plastic mid-morning. As the bite falls off with sun getting higher in the sky, you can find fish in deeper holes and channels especially around oyster bars. Flounder and mangroves make a good mid-morning target for those looking to have a fish fry. On the beach the summer grind of pompano and whiting is in full swing. Sand fleas, frozen shrimp, and salted clams all tipped with fish bites is the key! Don’t waste your summer sitting in the AC, get up to our shop at High bridge in Ormond Beach and we will get you pointed in the right direction!

capT. JaMiE ThrappaS

Yellow Dawg Bait & Tackle

35 High Bridge Road • Ormond by the sea Instagram: @yellow_dawg_bait_and_tackle Facebook: Yellow Dawg Bait & Tackle 386-278-6208

RestoRing a Mighty RiveR

New group aims to unify outdoor enthusiasts for the benefit of Florida’s St. Johns River

At one time, Florida’s St. Johns River was known as the “Bass Fishing Capital of the World.” Sadly, habitat declines coupled with management challenges have led to a downward trend through much of the system. Few fishing guides still operate on the St. Johns, many tourist destinations have closed up shop and most anglers travel elsewhere. State agencies report the lowest gamefish numbers on record for much of the river.

A new group aims to combat this decline. Led by a diverse range of outdoor enthusiasts, Mighty River Recovery is a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring vital fish and wildlife habitat on the St. Johns River.

“As an avid fan of Florida bass fishing for four decades, I was surprised to learn how poor the fishing had become on the St. Johns River,” said Joe Balog, the group’s founder. A fishing-industry professional, Balog has witnessed the overwhelming success of other habitat restoration projects and the economic boosts they provide. “We felt it was time to organize stakeholders in an attempt to do something better. The current situation is simply unacceptable.”

Bryn Adams knows of the decline first-hand. A seventh-generation Floridian, and the third to operate her family’s fish camp, Adams grew up on the St. Johns. “We’ve operated Highland Park since before I was born. Everywhere I look are old photos of giant bass, yet I have very few fishermen that come to bass fish on the St. Johns River anymore.”

Once a thriving destination for bass anglers across the continent, the St. Johns River now ranks far down the list of popular destinations.

Area managers blame habitat decline, and attempts to restore the native aquatic plants that once thrived in the St. Johns are underway. Groups including the Florida FWC are building enclosures in several areas to give new vegetation a chance.

Mighty River Recovery supports this initiative, helping to organize volunteers and publicity. Still, Balog feels more can be done.

“We haven’t really addressed the cause of the problem, but instead shifted blame to weather events that are, realistically, somewhat routine. There’s a huge need to learn more. To discover the effects of exotic fishes so prevalent in the river, to join other groups on water quality initiatives, expose siltation concerns and - perhaps most importantly - to learn more of the long-term effects of herbicide application.”

A cornerstone to the group’s mission is communication. “Freshwater resource management in Florida has become a deteriorating situation. Communication and public trust are at an all time low, with limited concern or progress by the management community. We intend to change that,” Balog added.

“The world is different today. Social media and digital platforms have created ways to inform thousands of people at once, and get them involved. There’s simply no reason to continue to accept the documented decline of Florida’s largest freshwater resource,”

Balog noted. “We can do better, and we will.”

For more information on Mighty River Recovery, visit www.mightyriverrecovery.org, or find them on Facebook and Instagram.

To reach out directly, email: info@mightyriverrecovery.org

By JoE Balog Founder,

Locally Owned With A Chef Inspired Menu

Locally Owned With A Chef Inspired Menu

Locally Owned With A Chef Inspired Menu

Locally Owned With A Chef Inspired Menu

Millie’s offers fresh LOCAL seafood, meat and produce.

Millie’s offers fresh LOCAL seafood, meat and produce.

Millie’s

Millie’s offers fresh LOCAL seafood, meat and produce.

Millie’s south

3218 S. Atlantic Avenue

Millie’s offers fresh LOCAL seafood, meat and produce.

3218 S. Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach Shores 386-275-1492

Daytona Beach Shores, FL 32118 386-275-1492

3218 S. Atlantic Avenue

Millie’s south

3218 S. Atlantic Avenue

Millie’s south 3218 S. Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach Shores 386-275-1492

Daytona Beach Shores, FL 32118 386-275-1492

Hours:

Daytona Beach Shores, FL 32118 386-275-1492

3218 S. Atlantic Avenue

3218 S. Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach Shores 386-275-1492

Monday 11am-9pm • Tuesday closed

Millie’s North 330 S. Atlantic Ave, Ormond Beach 386-238-9756

Hours:

Millie’s North

Daytona Beach Shores, FL 32118 386-275-1492

Monday 11am-9pm • Tuesday closed

Wednesday - Saturday 11am-9pm Sunday 9am-9pm

Hours:

330 S. Atlantic Ave, Ormond Beach 386-238-9756

Monday: 11am - 9pm tuesday: Closed

Hours:

Wednesday - Saturday 11am-9pm Sunday 9am-9pm

Hours:

Wednesday - sat: 11am - 9pm sunday: 8am - 9pm

Monday 11am-9pm • Tuesday closed Wednesday - Saturday 11am-9pm Sunday 9am-9pm

Monday: 11am - 9pm

tuesday: Closed

Monday 11am-9pm • Tuesday closed

Wednesday - Saturday 11am-9pm Sunday 9am-9pm

Wednesday - sat: 11am - 9pm

Monday: 11am - 9pm tuesday: Closed Wednesday - sat: 11am - 9pm sunday: 8am - 9pm

sunday: 8am - 9pm

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KAYAKING FORECAST

What’s up kayak family! The month of April was crazy for me on my kayak adventures. I went on two road trips from Ormond Beach, Florida all the way to Lake Norman, North Carolina. I also went and fished Lake Murray in South Carolina for the U.S.A. Team qualifier. This was my first time using a motorized kayak in my 11 years of kayak fishing. The kayak I want to tell you about is the Old Town Sportsman ePDL+. This kayak is one of a kind. The Old Town Sportsman BigWater ePDL+ is a power-assisted pedal drive that delivers unmatched adaptability. Seamlessly switch between manual pedal, power-assisted pedal, or fully motorized cruise control, giving you the freedom to move on the water the way you want.

Designed to keep anglers in the chase, ePDL+ combines pedal and battery assist to propel your fishing experience to the next level. With ePDL+ drive you have options. In it for the long haul? Fish all day with light to moderate motor assist. Need to get there quick? Crank it up and get there first. Need a break? Set it to cruise control and let the motor get you there. With motorized versatility at your fingertips, your odds out on the water just got a whole lot better. I’ve been

BRAG BOARD

fishing in Old Town kayaks for years so I know how stable and durable they are. With summer right around the corner I’m getting excited for Giant Tarpon to be smashing bait right off the beach up here in Flagler County. Matanzas inlet is a great area to target Tarpon in the 100+ range. When in comes to covering water and being in a kayak stable enough to handle fish of this size the ePDL+ is the kayak for me.

Baits: I like throwing an 8 inch NLBN paddle tail and slow rolling it on the bottom. I also like using giant live mullet and free line them behind the kayak while trolling at a very low speed.

tackle: I like using a 40lb mono/ floro leader with a 5/0 circle hook. You’ll need 250/300 yards of line behind your leader. Sometimes I’ll use a balloon and tie it to my line to keep my swimming bait in the surface.

The Tarpon run is one of the most exciting times of year and being in the right kayak to handle these giants is very important. I always recommend going with someone when going offshore because using another kayaker as a secondary drag helps a lot when the fish starts pulling you out to sea.

I hope you all have an opportunity to get out there and experience this. Catching a 100+ tarpon in a kayak is literally one of the coolest things in the world. Have fun. I’ll see ya out there.

BlakE aBBEy Kayak King Charters 916-476-1403 @kayakkingcharters

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2024 CCA FLORIDA STAR: WINNING IS EASIER THAN EVER!

CCA Florida STAR presented by Yamaha launched into year-10 on Memorial Day weekend! For 100 days, this unique fshing competition will award more than $500,000 in prizes and scholarships.

CCA Florida, the state’s leading marine fsheries conservation, habitat restoration, education and advocacy organization, holds the annual event to create awareness for conservation and support the protection and enhancement of Florida’s marine habitat.

Tis year, participating in STAR is easier than ever. Te competition has eight divisions including Tagged Redfsh Division, Tagged Dolphin Division, an Inshore and Ofshore Division, Native Watercraf Kayak Division, Realtree Youth Scholarship Division, Power Pole Conservation Division and Costa Kick Plastic Trash Division, and there are more than $500,000 in prizes and scholarships available!

“We are excited to kick of Florida’s largest family friendly saltwater

fshing competition for the tenth year,” STAR Director Leiza Fitzgerald said. “Tis year, it is easier than ever to participate in STAR because we have simplifed the competition to give anglers and non-anglers the chance to win big. Since 2015, we have given away more than $4 million in prizes, including $900,000 in college scholarships, and we can’t wait to do it again!”

STAR’s signature Tagged Redfsh Division presented by TH Marine ofers fve adult winners the choice of a Contender Boats 22 Sport, Dek Kat Boats 27 Flatz Kat, Spyder Boats FX19, Micro Draf Ski package that includes a Sea-Doo Fish Pro Trophy and a CanAm Defender. Each boat is powered by Yamaha and equipped with an Infnity trailer. For the frst two youth anglers, prizes include a tiller boat powered by Yamaha, a trailer, a Minn Kota trolling motor and Humminbird electronics.

In total, there are more than 160 prize-winning tagged red of Florida’s coastal counties. Citrus and Charlotte counties, STAR’s 2024 Destination Counties, ofer the best shot at a prize-winning received twice as many tagged reds as the other counties.

Te STAR competition also focuses on conservation with its CatchPhoto-Release format and smartphone app. STAR’s Trash Division has set the bar for other fshing tournaments to implement conservation-friendly alternatives.

All STAR entries must be photographed with the o Florida Measuring Device, which is available free of charge at locations throughout the state, including all Florida West Marine stores.

Te CCA Florida STAR competition presented by Yamaha has a division for everyone. Now with only eight divisions, plus ALL saltwater species included in the event and most winners determined by random drawing, anglers of all ages and skill levels can fsh from anywhere in Florida’s saltwater and have greater opportunities to win.

Registration is $40 for current CCA Florida members or $80 for nonmembers, which includes CCA Florida membership. Kids ages 6-17 can register for free with their current ($10) CCA Florida youth membership.

To register, visit ccafstar.com today!

888-POUND BLUEFIN CAUGHT OFF DESTIN!

In case you haven’t seen it yet, this enormous 888-pound bluefn tuna caught in late April out of Destin just might be the largest bluefn ever caught of Florida. It was brought to the docks at Boshamps Seafood and Oyster House on Destin Harbor, and although the fsh won’t qualify as a state record because landing it was a team efort, no one in Destin really seems to care. It’s a catch worth celebrating.

According to Te Destin Log, Capt. George Gill was piloting the Flat Dangerous on its frst Gulf of Mexico trip on Wednesday, April 24. About 68 miles out of Destin, the new 80-foot Viking encountered a massive school of surfacefeeding bluefns while the crew was fshing for bait.

With just four baits onboard, some small yellowfn, skipjack and blackfn, the captain gave chase, and the crew tossed baits into the school of bluefns. Tey lost three big fsh in short order, but the fsh of a lifetime for boatowner Warren Williamson, of Alabama, came tight on the fourth and fnal bait.

Te fsh died about an hour into the fght, and it was a team efort to haul it to the surface over the next four hours with 100-pound main line, 150-pound braid and 400-pound leader.

Te fsh measured 110 inches in length and weighed 888 pounds. Tat’s a heck of a fsh to break in a new boat!

Te existing state record, caught by Rick Whitley out of Destin in 2017, weighed 826.5 pounds. Another would-be new record was caught in 2022, also out of Destin by a team of anglers sharing time on the rod. Tat fsh weighed 832 pounds. Te Gulf of Mexico bluefn tuna record stands at 1,152 pounds. Tat fsh, caught of Louisiana in 2003, is the largest fsh caught by rod and reel in state history.

PHOTOS BY ANNE HINZE

CCW Petitions Big Sugar Over Everglades Restoration

Captains For Clean Water (CCW), a non-proft organized by fshing guides, is petitioning Big Sugar to drop its lawsuit seeking access to irrigation water from the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir.

Te EEA reservoir, which is currently under construction, is the centerpiece of Everglades restoration projects designed to provide relief from devastating Lake Okeechobee discharges and restore the fow of freshwater south, as nature intended, through the Everglades to Florida Bay.

Big Sugar, made up of sugar producers United States Sugar Corporation, Okeelanta Corporation (Florida Crystals) and Te Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida, claims farming interests in South Florida were promised water access by the federal government. Last year a federal judge threw out the case brought by Big Sugar, and this recent lawsuit is in the appeals process, with no projected timeline.

Explanation of the CCW petition reads: “If Big Sugar wins, they could push to use the EAA Reservoir as their personal taxpayer-funded water supply, upending years of restoration progress and sealing the fate of Florida’s future to include more damaging discharges, more toxic algae blooms, and more economic and environmental peril. It could also set a dangerous precedent, forcing Everglades Restoration projects to prioritize Big Sugar’s interests and replace their historical water supply over benefts to South Florida’s waters— regardless of how and when Sugar lost water supply since December 2000.”

To see more or to sign the petition, go to captainsforcleanwater.org. YOU THINK IT, WE INK IT! SCREEN PRINTING | EMBROIDERY STICKERS | BANNERS | SIGNS DECALS | WRAPS | LASER ENGRAVING DIRECT-TO-GARMENT PRINTING

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HIT-AND-RUN GROUPER

Tim Barefoot

I’ve long been a proponent of chumming up a place on the bottom with squid and then feeding grouper a big live bait.

However, afer the last few trips, I’m starting to rethink this tactic because of the number of sharks we’ve been catching.

I’ve never seen as many sharks as we are seeing right now. Te bottom is covered with them, and the top layer of the water column is full of them. Tis past trip, we put out fve Spanish mackerel on light lines hoping for a wahoo bite. We caught fve sharks almost instantly. One of these bites was the biggest tiger shark I’ve ever seen. It was at least 12 feet long and 2 feet wide across the head. Te rest of them were standard 6- to 9-footers; it takes a toll on you to get them to the boat for dehooking.

apart to create a lot of smell down on the bottom. Ten I drop live pinfsh or small snappers to the grouper drawn in by the “chum.”

Lately, I’ve resorted to dropping big, pretty live baits frst to see if we can get a few grouper bites before the taxman arrives, and it’s become a matter of WHEN rather than IF he shows up. It’s “hit-and-run” fshing. We pull up on a nice mark with pinfsh and grunts already rigged on the jig. I hit the spot lock on the Rhodan and drop in for a few good bites. When the sharks show up, we just move up or down the ledge. Lather, rinse and repeat as ofen as needed. Granted, we haven’t boated as many of the smaller snappers or seabass for the cooler, but we’ve caught some beautiful grouper with this “hitand-run” style of bottom banging. Te wahoo are diferent story. We quit putting the light line out due to the instant shark bite. I’ve got to fgure something out for that. From now until the end of October or the frst of November, wahoo will be everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Tey will come inside the edge of the Gulf Stream following big stacks of bait. As usual, some king mackerel fsherman will catch a 100-pounder on a live menhaden in less than 100 feet of water while chasing a tournamentgrade kingfsh.

Between all the American red snappers—which we aren’t allowed to keep—and all the sharks, we’ve been run of of several square miles of bottom lately. Tankfully, we’ve found some of the grouper we’re looking for, but I’m seriously rethinking the “chumming” part of the tactics I usually employ. Normally, I begin on a spot by dropping whole squid on jigs, which the smaller fsh pick

I said all that to say this: We’re going to take more pinfsh and less squid to catch “hit-and-run” grouper. Someone please educate me on a bait that will not catch a red snapper!

For more info on the jigs and bait, check out Tim Barefoot’s YouTube channel and website, barefootcatsandtackle.com.

C-HAWK MITZI SKIFF: & Two Brands, One Philosophy

In the boating world, brand loyalty is earned. Over years, boater experiences with vessels— good and bad, on and of the water—are what build the reputations of boats. It might, or might not, come as a surprise that two brands that have garnered sterling reputations in the industry for functionality and dependability are manufactured by the same builder.

C-Hawk and Mitzi Skif are both built in the U.S.A. with the same philosophy that simplicity leads to vessels that are easier and more afordable to operate and maintain. A simple, well-designed and well-built boat, comes with less hassle, leaving more time to spend on the water. Especially among anglers, this philosophy has built large followings for both brands among people who are more interested in fshing and boating than they are in pampering their pretty boats.

“We build a keep-it-simple-stupid boat. If you want something you can sof scrub at the end of the day and put it away, you’re my guy,” said Brad Grubbs, the owner and manufacturer of C-Hawk and Mitzi Skif. “We set out to make boats that are afordable to operate and afordable to own, and the philosophy has worked.”

Mitzi Skiff

Although Mitzi Skif originated in the 1990s for a singular purpose, the same philosophy for simplicity applies. Fly fshing the fats drove Tom Mitzlaf to design a skif with quiet maneuverability, extremely shallow draf and a clean deck layout to make him a better fsherman. It was simple by necessity, and it revolutionized the industry.

Tree decades later, Mitzi’s line of 15’, 16’and 17’ skifs achieves those purposes exceptionally well, and they have led the way with innovations that make them the fats boats other boat builders imitate. A Mitzi does everything the pricier skifs do, yet they are afordable enough for any angler to own and operate.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fx it,” Grubbs quipped. Mitzi builds skifs for anglers more interested in fshing than in spending a lot of money.

Te 15’ remains a purpose-built fats boat for one or two anglers to sneak up on wary fsh in super-skinny water. Te 17’ models are more multi-purpose. Tey can fsh three anglers, and while they are primarily a fats boat, they perform admirably as bay boats with a modifed V-hull and an 11-degree deadrise at transom to reduce hull slap. Rolled gunnels knock down spray for an exceptionally dry ride.

Tey are solid and durable for long years of heavy use, and from hideaway pushpole holders to fush-mount hardware, Mitzi delivers clean and stable casting decks designed specifcally for hard-core anglers. www.mitziskifs.com

C-Hawk Boats

C-Hawk has been around since the mid1970s and ofers lines of bombproof 16’ to 29’ center consoles and 22’ to 29’ sport cabins that were originally developed for commercial applications. C-Hawks remain widely used commercially, and many recreational

boaters also see the value in a vessel that’s built to take a beating.

“Really, we just took a commercial-duty boat and put a little lipstick on it,” Grubbs said. “ Te boat is as tough as it ever was. It’s been the same boat for nearly 50 years.”

At their core, C-Hawks are hardcore workhorses, and the center console models have become popular with charter captains because they are built to withstand hard use for years of trouble-free boating. Grubbs pointed to C-Hawk’s 25 CC as a great example of what the brand has become. It’s an extremely stable fshing platform that drafs just 12 inches, and with a 300 horsepower max it’ll take you anywhere you need to go from skinny water to light ofshore duty. What’s more, it’s infnitely customizable from the factory.

“We can mix and match consoles, fsh boxes, full transoms, cut transoms, bare hulls… you name it,” Grubbs said. “ Tere are some recreational guys adding towers and sight fshing for cobia, and such. Everything we do is built around keep it simple, keep it efcient, keep it easy to maintain, keep it cost efective to own and operate. Tey are all unique… no cookie cutter trailer queens here. Te 25 is a great example of what C-Hawk is.” www.chawkboats.net

Every month, I provide tips to help make you a better angler. Tis month’s tip is one of the most important. With so many tackle and gear options on the market these days, staying organized on the water is difcult. Here are a few things I do that make me a more efcient angler because I know exactly where to go when looking for the right tool for the job.

Storage options vary depending on the type of fshing you do. I’m going to stick to bass fshing, but don’t be afraid to alter these tips to your style of fshing.

When storing baits, hooks, line and gear, your No. 1 enemy is moisture. Keeping your tools dry should be a priority because it keeps hooks sharp and everything else rust-free. I store almost everything in waterproof boxes or bags. Tese storage options might be a little more expensive up-front, but when compared to losing a whole box of lures or hooks to rust, your investment will pay for itself many times over.Another good trick I’ve learned is to use DampRid moisture absorbers. Here in Florida, where humidity is high and temperatures fuctuate, condensation builds up in boat compartments. Te best thing to do is to take your tackle out of the boat and move it inside, but this is not an option if you fsh a lot and have a lot of gear. DampRid containers help keep everything safe and dry by absorbing moisture from the air in your boat’s storage compartments.

Now let’s talk about organization. If you’re a bass angler, you have a ton of sof plastics in diferent styles and colors as well as packs of hooks, jigs and weights to fsh them. I use plastic Sterlite containers with latches to store my bags of sof plastics. You can buy them at Walmart. I organize my baits by the type of sof plastic they are, and I label each container. On the water, this makes it easy grab the style of bait I’m looking for. Also, before I leave the house, labels make it easy to load what I think I’ll need for the day and remove what I don’t.

On the hook side of organization, one mistake people make when organizing hooks is to take them out of the original packaging to place them in compartment boxes. Tis is a huge mistake. Hook packs are clearly labeled by size and style, which allows you to quickly identify them on the water. Also, hook packs are designed to keep hooks sharp, untangled and dry. You can store your hooks in a box, but you should leave them in their original packaging.

Hopefully, these tips help you be more efcient on the water and save you some money by protecting your investments.

Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfshing.com.

TYLER WOOLCOTT

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